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Article CONSECRATION OF THE STRAND LODGE, No. 1987. ← Page 2 of 3 Article CONSECRATION OF THE STRAND LODGE, No. 1987. Page 2 of 3 →
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Consecration Of The Strand Lodge, No. 1987.
past in order that you may bring them under the examination of our Masonic experts . I believe that for want of interest among the rank and file of the Craft many an old book has gone for waste paper , many an old jewel has been broken up , many an old piece of oak or china has gone to the dust heap which might have been rescued , and which would have been
priceless records of the past . But we live not merely for the past . Our chief interest should be with the present . I have said that Masonic records associate the Craft with all that is good . Let us be careful that the future can say this of us as honestly as we can say it of the past . Every lodge should do something towards raising the Craft in tho eyes of the world , it
can only do this by watching carefully the conduct of its members both within and without the lodge , by jealously shutting its door in the face of all who are likely to bring disgrace upon the Order . In this last point we must have something more than a mere money
qualification . No raising of the fees will keep out unworthy men . A mere money qualification will never be sufficient . Indeed , an experience of more than twenty years , during a considerable portion of which time I have been either Master or Secretary of a lodge , convinces me that some of our best members—some of those who contribute most
regularly to our Charities—and who are the last to come upon our Chanties for relief are the men who have great difficulty in scraping together the few pounds required for their initiation . I hope no undue raising ot our fees will ever exclude such men , who are the backbone of the Craft . Yes , I am sure that the first thing most essential at the present moment is to watch
the doors of our lodge ; to let no one pass the Tyler s sword as a candidate who" is not both in private and public life an honourable man . And then , further , must we not also remember each of us the character of the Craft , is to a great extent in our hands as individuals . The present generation is watching us and asking the question—How are men the better for
Freemasonry ? It is not enough to point to our Charities . If Masonry is worth anything it ought to be exercising a daily influence for good on the world . If what wc say in lodge is true , then we ought to be a real power in the universe . We might be this if we were more true to our professions . This is important , not merely for the present but also for ( he future . We
are making the history of the future . Future generations will search as I have asked you to search for what is recorded of the Craft . Our work , the work you and I are doing , will be tested by that critic which is in the long run a fair one—I mean time . We shall therefore do well , especially on so important an occasion as the present , to stop and ask ourselves the solemn
question—Am I contributing my quota towards preserving unsullied the fair page of history I have inherited from the past 1 Am I carrying on and bringing to perfection the work I have taken from the old builders , or am I by indolence and carelessness , perhaps even by something worse , bringing
i nto disrepute the whole system ? Pardon these words of exhortation , given perhaps too plainly , but not given through any lack of confidence that when the history of the time present is written the Strand Lodge will stand out as one of those which true to the old traditions did good and true work .
The ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with and completed , and Col . Shadwell H . Clerke afterwards installed Bro . James Willing , jun ., as W . M ., and the following brethren were invested as officers : Bro . Edward
Swanborough , P . M . i 3 ii ) , S . W . ; J . R . Stacey , P . M . iSoand 1541 , J . W . ; Wm . Stiles , P . M . 1507 , & c , Sec ; John Douglass , P . M . 1507 , S . D . ; Supt . Wm . Harris , P . M ., J . D . ; VV . T . Madge , D . C ; John T . Bristow , W . S . ; and John Daly Tyler .
After the delivery of the addresses by Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke a vote of thanks was passed to him and the other Grand Officers for consecrating the lodge , and Bros . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Philbrick , Grey , the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , F . Richardson , and Buss were elected honorary members of the lodge . Colonel SHADWELL H . CLERKE acknowledged the compliment .
A vote of thanks and the honorary membership of the lodge were also conferred on General Laurie , Grand Master of Nova Scotia . General LAURIE in reply said it had been a gain to him to be present at this consecration , as having a large number of lodges to consecrate it was an advantage to him to see the admirable way in which the Grand Secretary of England performed the ceremony .
A committee was formed to draw up the bye-laws of the lodge , and some letters of apology for inability lo attend were read from several brethren . Propositions for joining and initiation were given in and the lodge was then closed . The brethren afterwards sat down lo a sumptuous banquet . The toasts
were afterwards proposed . After the toasts of "The Queen and the Craft" and " The M . W . the Grand Master , " the W . M . proposed " The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and
referred to the services which the Grand Officers performed , alluding more particularly to the onerous duties which would now fall on them in revising the new Constitutions of the Order , after the suggestions that had been made by various brethren .
Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK in reply said the brethren had read in those sacred writings attributed to the Grand Master who had been mentioned in the ceremonies of the day , and whose name they revered as the founder of the Great Temple , that " a living dog is better than a dead lion . " But what was a dead dog to do in the presence of a living lion ? And he utterly
failed to comprehend why the W . M . had made the slip except that it was because he was young and inexperienced , of calling on him ( Bro . Philbrick ) in the presence of so much more distinguished Grand Officers to return thanks for the toast . In the first place as they were all , from the youngest to the eldest member of the lodge , bound to obey the W . M . ' s behests , however unreasonable they might consider them , whatever good reason they might
Consecration Of The Strand Lodge, No. 1987.
have to allege against them , however willing they might be - ( laughter )—( the brethren did him an injustice , he was not punning)—they were constrained by that mystic power to set an example of obedience . He was glad to see there were those in the lodge who were members by the kindness of the brethren who could as Grand Officers rise to respond to the toast . He did
not therefore feel that he was answering for strangers , and in the presence of the Grand Secretary , without at all trenching upon what would presently be his privilege and pleasure to announce , he might say that nothing delighted those who had the honour to hold or to have held Grand office more than to see the extension of the Craft on a sure basis—the multiplication of
lodges , while they knew that that multiplication meant a real accession of strength to the Masonic body . Anxious as were the duties of office , not less were the responsibilities . The W . M . had referred to some of the duties that were now before the Grand Officers . S peaking as one he could assure the brethren that the revision of the Constitutions so far as it might
come before them was simply a matter of how best they could consult the interests of the Craft , how best they could recognise in the written laws of Masonry the great position which the Craft had attained , and how best those laws mi ght be made to express the wants and wishes of the brethren and to maintain the high standing that the
Craft had achieved . If that be their view he trusted they would not lack the concurrence of every Mason in the Craft , and he knew that as far as anything had been proposed in the way of alteration of the laws , those who had proposed it had done it with a single eye to the interests of Masonry and with a perfectly open conviction if it could be shown that their proposition
did not conduce to the best interests of the Craft they were not wedded to any preconcieved idea , but were ready to do and to adopt all that could be suggested which could ultimately tend to the advancement of Masonry . He felt that so much was due to the brethren after what the W . M . had suggested . In conclusion he would simply say that while it had delighted the
Grand Officers as such to be present that day and to witness the interesting ceremony of a lodge rising , beginning its career in Masonry , knowing as it did from the eloquent oration of the Grand Chaplain the duties that devolved upon it , and the responsibilities which attached to their position after the very pointed reminder of the Grand Secretary , that their true strength lay
not in number but in the quality of their members . He was sure although there were numerous initiates and joining members proposed the brethren connected with the lodge were a guarrantee and a pledge for the future success of the Strand Lodge , and that there would be no undue leaps and bounds , but a legitimate career of Masonic success achieved by a true
adherence to the great principles of the Order . The WoRSHii'i'UL MASTER in proposing "The Grand Secretary and the rest of the Consecrating Officers , " said the brethren who petitioned for the warrant of the Strand Lodge did not feel half so grateful to the Grand Secretary after they got the warrant as they did before . If the brethen had
any difficulty—and if they had not—he would advise them to invent one , because it would be a pleasure to them to go and consult the Grand Secretary . If he ( the W . M . ) had had more time on his hands lately the Grand Secretary would have had less . The working that had baen done that evening was highly appreciated by every brother in the lodge . Several of
them had had many opportunities of witnessing the working ; they had heard it done well before , but no one had ever seen it done better than on that evening . The Grand Secretary very kindly when asked to consecrate the lodge after the warrant was signed said he would do so the first day he had free , and he had fulfilled his promise . With regard to the working of the other Grand Officers the brethren were equally delighted .
Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . S ., in reply said he must protest against the fiendish advice of the W . M . that the brethren should invent grievances in order to get an interview with the Grand Secretary . There were but 24 hours in the day , until some new bill was brought into parliament , and he could not sec the brethren all at once . However , it was a
great pleasure to give an interview to the brethren and to settle grievances whether imaginary or real as far as he could . It was also a pleasure to assist in consecrating new lodges . A brother told him the other day that he was a Masonic midwife . If he was he had the gratification of knowing that all his babies were doing remarkably well and he hoped very soon that
this one would be weaned and go to school With respect to the other Grand Officers who had assisted him the Grand Chaplain ' s oration certainly delighted him very much : he had never heard an address more plain or simple , or that went straighler to the point . Bro . Frank Richardson had
also greatly assisted him as he very frequently had , and that night he was as efficient as ever . He must also not forget Bro . R . Grey or the juvenile Bro . Buss . He quite agreed with the W . M . that he ( Col . Shadwell Clerke ) , was fortunate in his selection of his colleagues to assist him that evening .
The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in giving the health of "The Visitors , " said the lodge had done itself the honour of electing General Laurie as a member . General Laurie had under him in his province of Nova Scotia 100 lodges and 4000 or 5000 Masons , and he did all the work of the province
without the aid of a Board of General Purposes . Electing him a member was no empty compliment , for if ever he should be resident in England they would all be pleased to see him in the lodge ; and he might say the same with regard to Major Hamilton , Deputy Superintendent of Bengal .
General LAURIE , replying , said he felt the tremendous responsibility which devolved upon him in leturning thanks for such a large number of visitors , but , supported by Bro . Hamilton lie felt that that brother would shoulder a large amount of the responsibility . The
song which was to follow this toast was "lhrcc hundred years ago . " Well , they did not want to have anything to do with three hundred years ago ; they had more to do with the future . If he knew anything about 300 years ago his province would put hint on the retired list ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Strand Lodge, No. 1987.
past in order that you may bring them under the examination of our Masonic experts . I believe that for want of interest among the rank and file of the Craft many an old book has gone for waste paper , many an old jewel has been broken up , many an old piece of oak or china has gone to the dust heap which might have been rescued , and which would have been
priceless records of the past . But we live not merely for the past . Our chief interest should be with the present . I have said that Masonic records associate the Craft with all that is good . Let us be careful that the future can say this of us as honestly as we can say it of the past . Every lodge should do something towards raising the Craft in tho eyes of the world , it
can only do this by watching carefully the conduct of its members both within and without the lodge , by jealously shutting its door in the face of all who are likely to bring disgrace upon the Order . In this last point we must have something more than a mere money
qualification . No raising of the fees will keep out unworthy men . A mere money qualification will never be sufficient . Indeed , an experience of more than twenty years , during a considerable portion of which time I have been either Master or Secretary of a lodge , convinces me that some of our best members—some of those who contribute most
regularly to our Charities—and who are the last to come upon our Chanties for relief are the men who have great difficulty in scraping together the few pounds required for their initiation . I hope no undue raising ot our fees will ever exclude such men , who are the backbone of the Craft . Yes , I am sure that the first thing most essential at the present moment is to watch
the doors of our lodge ; to let no one pass the Tyler s sword as a candidate who" is not both in private and public life an honourable man . And then , further , must we not also remember each of us the character of the Craft , is to a great extent in our hands as individuals . The present generation is watching us and asking the question—How are men the better for
Freemasonry ? It is not enough to point to our Charities . If Masonry is worth anything it ought to be exercising a daily influence for good on the world . If what wc say in lodge is true , then we ought to be a real power in the universe . We might be this if we were more true to our professions . This is important , not merely for the present but also for ( he future . We
are making the history of the future . Future generations will search as I have asked you to search for what is recorded of the Craft . Our work , the work you and I are doing , will be tested by that critic which is in the long run a fair one—I mean time . We shall therefore do well , especially on so important an occasion as the present , to stop and ask ourselves the solemn
question—Am I contributing my quota towards preserving unsullied the fair page of history I have inherited from the past 1 Am I carrying on and bringing to perfection the work I have taken from the old builders , or am I by indolence and carelessness , perhaps even by something worse , bringing
i nto disrepute the whole system ? Pardon these words of exhortation , given perhaps too plainly , but not given through any lack of confidence that when the history of the time present is written the Strand Lodge will stand out as one of those which true to the old traditions did good and true work .
The ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with and completed , and Col . Shadwell H . Clerke afterwards installed Bro . James Willing , jun ., as W . M ., and the following brethren were invested as officers : Bro . Edward
Swanborough , P . M . i 3 ii ) , S . W . ; J . R . Stacey , P . M . iSoand 1541 , J . W . ; Wm . Stiles , P . M . 1507 , & c , Sec ; John Douglass , P . M . 1507 , S . D . ; Supt . Wm . Harris , P . M ., J . D . ; VV . T . Madge , D . C ; John T . Bristow , W . S . ; and John Daly Tyler .
After the delivery of the addresses by Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke a vote of thanks was passed to him and the other Grand Officers for consecrating the lodge , and Bros . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Philbrick , Grey , the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , F . Richardson , and Buss were elected honorary members of the lodge . Colonel SHADWELL H . CLERKE acknowledged the compliment .
A vote of thanks and the honorary membership of the lodge were also conferred on General Laurie , Grand Master of Nova Scotia . General LAURIE in reply said it had been a gain to him to be present at this consecration , as having a large number of lodges to consecrate it was an advantage to him to see the admirable way in which the Grand Secretary of England performed the ceremony .
A committee was formed to draw up the bye-laws of the lodge , and some letters of apology for inability lo attend were read from several brethren . Propositions for joining and initiation were given in and the lodge was then closed . The brethren afterwards sat down lo a sumptuous banquet . The toasts
were afterwards proposed . After the toasts of "The Queen and the Craft" and " The M . W . the Grand Master , " the W . M . proposed " The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and
referred to the services which the Grand Officers performed , alluding more particularly to the onerous duties which would now fall on them in revising the new Constitutions of the Order , after the suggestions that had been made by various brethren .
Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK in reply said the brethren had read in those sacred writings attributed to the Grand Master who had been mentioned in the ceremonies of the day , and whose name they revered as the founder of the Great Temple , that " a living dog is better than a dead lion . " But what was a dead dog to do in the presence of a living lion ? And he utterly
failed to comprehend why the W . M . had made the slip except that it was because he was young and inexperienced , of calling on him ( Bro . Philbrick ) in the presence of so much more distinguished Grand Officers to return thanks for the toast . In the first place as they were all , from the youngest to the eldest member of the lodge , bound to obey the W . M . ' s behests , however unreasonable they might consider them , whatever good reason they might
Consecration Of The Strand Lodge, No. 1987.
have to allege against them , however willing they might be - ( laughter )—( the brethren did him an injustice , he was not punning)—they were constrained by that mystic power to set an example of obedience . He was glad to see there were those in the lodge who were members by the kindness of the brethren who could as Grand Officers rise to respond to the toast . He did
not therefore feel that he was answering for strangers , and in the presence of the Grand Secretary , without at all trenching upon what would presently be his privilege and pleasure to announce , he might say that nothing delighted those who had the honour to hold or to have held Grand office more than to see the extension of the Craft on a sure basis—the multiplication of
lodges , while they knew that that multiplication meant a real accession of strength to the Masonic body . Anxious as were the duties of office , not less were the responsibilities . The W . M . had referred to some of the duties that were now before the Grand Officers . S peaking as one he could assure the brethren that the revision of the Constitutions so far as it might
come before them was simply a matter of how best they could consult the interests of the Craft , how best they could recognise in the written laws of Masonry the great position which the Craft had attained , and how best those laws mi ght be made to express the wants and wishes of the brethren and to maintain the high standing that the
Craft had achieved . If that be their view he trusted they would not lack the concurrence of every Mason in the Craft , and he knew that as far as anything had been proposed in the way of alteration of the laws , those who had proposed it had done it with a single eye to the interests of Masonry and with a perfectly open conviction if it could be shown that their proposition
did not conduce to the best interests of the Craft they were not wedded to any preconcieved idea , but were ready to do and to adopt all that could be suggested which could ultimately tend to the advancement of Masonry . He felt that so much was due to the brethren after what the W . M . had suggested . In conclusion he would simply say that while it had delighted the
Grand Officers as such to be present that day and to witness the interesting ceremony of a lodge rising , beginning its career in Masonry , knowing as it did from the eloquent oration of the Grand Chaplain the duties that devolved upon it , and the responsibilities which attached to their position after the very pointed reminder of the Grand Secretary , that their true strength lay
not in number but in the quality of their members . He was sure although there were numerous initiates and joining members proposed the brethren connected with the lodge were a guarrantee and a pledge for the future success of the Strand Lodge , and that there would be no undue leaps and bounds , but a legitimate career of Masonic success achieved by a true
adherence to the great principles of the Order . The WoRSHii'i'UL MASTER in proposing "The Grand Secretary and the rest of the Consecrating Officers , " said the brethren who petitioned for the warrant of the Strand Lodge did not feel half so grateful to the Grand Secretary after they got the warrant as they did before . If the brethen had
any difficulty—and if they had not—he would advise them to invent one , because it would be a pleasure to them to go and consult the Grand Secretary . If he ( the W . M . ) had had more time on his hands lately the Grand Secretary would have had less . The working that had baen done that evening was highly appreciated by every brother in the lodge . Several of
them had had many opportunities of witnessing the working ; they had heard it done well before , but no one had ever seen it done better than on that evening . The Grand Secretary very kindly when asked to consecrate the lodge after the warrant was signed said he would do so the first day he had free , and he had fulfilled his promise . With regard to the working of the other Grand Officers the brethren were equally delighted .
Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . S ., in reply said he must protest against the fiendish advice of the W . M . that the brethren should invent grievances in order to get an interview with the Grand Secretary . There were but 24 hours in the day , until some new bill was brought into parliament , and he could not sec the brethren all at once . However , it was a
great pleasure to give an interview to the brethren and to settle grievances whether imaginary or real as far as he could . It was also a pleasure to assist in consecrating new lodges . A brother told him the other day that he was a Masonic midwife . If he was he had the gratification of knowing that all his babies were doing remarkably well and he hoped very soon that
this one would be weaned and go to school With respect to the other Grand Officers who had assisted him the Grand Chaplain ' s oration certainly delighted him very much : he had never heard an address more plain or simple , or that went straighler to the point . Bro . Frank Richardson had
also greatly assisted him as he very frequently had , and that night he was as efficient as ever . He must also not forget Bro . R . Grey or the juvenile Bro . Buss . He quite agreed with the W . M . that he ( Col . Shadwell Clerke ) , was fortunate in his selection of his colleagues to assist him that evening .
The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in giving the health of "The Visitors , " said the lodge had done itself the honour of electing General Laurie as a member . General Laurie had under him in his province of Nova Scotia 100 lodges and 4000 or 5000 Masons , and he did all the work of the province
without the aid of a Board of General Purposes . Electing him a member was no empty compliment , for if ever he should be resident in England they would all be pleased to see him in the lodge ; and he might say the same with regard to Major Hamilton , Deputy Superintendent of Bengal .
General LAURIE , replying , said he felt the tremendous responsibility which devolved upon him in leturning thanks for such a large number of visitors , but , supported by Bro . Hamilton lie felt that that brother would shoulder a large amount of the responsibility . The
song which was to follow this toast was "lhrcc hundred years ago . " Well , they did not want to have anything to do with three hundred years ago ; they had more to do with the future . If he knew anything about 300 years ago his province would put hint on the retired list ,