Consecration Of The Old Boys' Lodge, No. 2500.

CONSECRATION OF THE OLD BOYS' LODGE , No . 2500 .

On Tuesday last the consecration was performed at the Guildhall Tavern , London , of the Old Boys' Lodge , No . 2500 , one of the few lodges which can claim as their origin the education of men at some particular school . Before the foundation of the Old Boys' Lodge , there were two special lodges in the Cily of this class , the Sir Thomas White Lodge , composed of Masons

who were educated in the Merchant Taylors' School , after whose founder the lodge was named , and the John Carpenter Lodge , named after the founder of the City of London School , and which lodge is composed of brethren who were educated in that establishment . The Old Boys' Lodge emanates from Montrose College , Brixton Hill , and , if appearances at the consecration meeting are to be relied upon , the Iodge will prove highly

successful . There were in all 94 brethren present at the ceremony and the banquet which followed , all of them enthusiastic Masons , and many of them well known as belonging to more than one other lodge . In this way the Duke of Cornwall , the Chough , and the Emblematic , had numerous representatives . The lodge was to have been consecrated by Bro . E . Letchworth , Grand

Secretary , but , in consequence of illness , he was , by the strict prohibition of his medical adviser , compelled to be absent . His place was taken by Bro . Frank Richardson , who had the assistance of Bros . Robert Grey , in the SAV . 's chair ; Bro . Col . Somerville H . Burney , in the J . W . ' s chair ; Bro . the Rev . ] . S . Brownrigg , as Chaplain ; Bro . J . H . Matthews , as D . C . ; and Bro . I . A . Farnfield , as I . G .

Bros . General Laurie , G . M . of Nova Scotia ; Chetwode Crawley , S . G . D , of Ireland , and D . P . Cama , P . G . Treas ., were among the distinguished brethren present . Bro . Herbert Schartau had the direction of the music , and with his corps of part singers performed the musical part of the ceremony . Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON apologised for the absence of Bro . Letchworth ,

which , he said , they all deplored ; Bro . Letchworth had down to the last moment almost determined to come , but his doctor would not allow him . Referring to the lodge , and informing the brethren how it originated , he said he had no doubt it would be well received , and that it would be prosperous . Hro . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . C , delivered an address , which was exceedingly well received .

After the lodge had been formally consecrated and dedicated , Bro . Frank Richardson installed Bros . Charles Mussared , P . M . 2264 , 35 W . M . ; Walter Martin , P . M . S 79 and 2264 , received the collar of acting I . P . M . ; Thomas Whitford , M . A ., S . D . 1321 , that of S . W . ; George A . Edwards , Org . 1423 , J . W . ; George Scott Miller , J . W . 2264 , Treas . ; Walter Scott Bunting , Hep . D . C . 2318 , Sec . ( who was presented at the same time with a handsome

jewel of Secretary , subscribed for by the founders , in recognition of his great services to the lodge and his arduous labours in connection with its formation ) ; M . John Almond , P . M . 36 , P . P . J . G . D . S . Wales , S . D . ; Lawson , for Frank Barnes , I . G . 231 S ( absent through serious illness ) , J . D . ; Alfred Neale , ltff ,, 1 3 21 , I . G . ; Walter J . Tilling , 765 , D . C ; Henry J . Drane , I - ' - ' . - * , J . W . 2318 , A . D . C . ; Walter Venner 901 , and Walter Scott Miller , 22 f , 4 . Stwds . ; F . Merton Clark , 2182 , Org . ; and Young , Tyler . With

the exception of the Tyler , the above brethren were all founders , as were also Uros . H . Saunion , 1423 ; L . J . Dunham , 1607 ; J . H . Price , P . M . 1321 and 2 <>*/> , P . P . G . D . Surrey ; Charles H . Lawson , P . M . 913 ; Alex . Reid , 1287 and 1321 ; and James Frederick Percival , 2264 . Immediately after the ceremonies were completed , Bro . BUNTING , Secretary , proposed the W . M . as Steward for the Girls ' School , as one of the principal objects of the lodge was benevolence ancl the establishment of a benevolent fund .

Ihc S . W . seconded , and on the motion being carried , the W . M . said he Kindl y accepted the honourable position . On the motion of the W . AI ., seconded by Bro . WALTER MARTIN , the Consecrating Ollicers were elected honorary members of the lodge . Rro . CHETWODE CRAWLEY , on behalf of Grand Lodge of Ireland , and as a member of Trinity College Lodge , No . 357 , Dublin , gave " Heartv good Whhcs . " ' -

lhe lodge was then closed , and thc brethren adjourned to banquet . mr 5 r ° " J * ' GREY > re P-y ing to the toast which included " The Grand , 1 , f , ' " congratulated himself on being able to address Bro . Mussared as C Vrl" ° f lhe 01 tl Boys' I , od £ e for t , le ,, rst tlme * 0 " t , le P oint of the jra iid Ollicers performing their duty properly , with efficiency and pleasure , leie was no occasion on which they performed it with more pleasure than at consecration

- ol a new lodge , lhe establishment of a new lodge was a P'ool lhat Freemasonry continued to flourish , and that the way in which it will met with thc a PP robation of tlic t : raft * When - was told he sli I I C t 0 rcs P l l 0 l , ie toast * naturally began to think what he thp l ' t Say ' ' Jut | vcierr > n % ' book of music before him , he saw as one ol " neve » r 3 uolations witl * whir *' 1 it was adorned— " They always talk who r tlnnk . " That supplied him with a very good hint ; he would think , ¦ mil not talk

l ) 0 e W . M . proposed "The Consecrating Officers , " but ( irst of all said he aTi ' ] " tllC brethren deplored the illness of the Grand Secretary , and svmn if * ' R -c' * arclso "> O ' behalf of the lodge , to convey their inorni wit ' 1 Bro " Letclnvorth t 0 ' very worshipful brother in the n fi * . Bro . Letchworth ' s place , however , had been thoroughly and

Consecration Of The Old Boys' Lodge, No. 2500.

efficiently filled and he congratulated Bro . Richardson on the very eloquent and impressive style in which he performed the consecration . All who listened to the performance would carry away with them the recollection of being present at the interesting ceremony . It would always be the endeavour of the Old Boys' Lodge to show themselves worthy of the performance by maintaining the efficiency of the lodge in every possible way .

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON acknowledged the toast , first expressing his regret at the illness of thc Grand Secretary who always performed these consecration ceremonies so beautifully . He had promised to see Bro . Letchworth the following morning and would tell him how the ceremony went

off and of the regret of the members of the lodge that he had not been present . No one had more reason to regret Bro . Letchworth ' s absence than he ( Bro . Richardson ) . Still , he had managed to get through the ceremony , and if he had done it to the satisfaction of the brethren he was happy and contented . But he must return his thanks to those Grand Officers who had

assisted him , because without their efficient help he did not know where he should have been , for he had taken the duties at a few hours' notice . It gave him very much pleasure to see that one of the first acts of the lodge after it had been consecrated was to take up the cause of the Charities . As a member of the House Committee of the Girls' School he took occasion to

thank the lodge in the name of Bro . Hedges , who was not present , for its intended support of that Institution . It wanted all the help it could get , because last year it was put to the extra expense of ^ 1500 through along spell of illness . He would now propose " The Health of the W . M ., " a toast which he knew would be received with acclamation . It was a great honour to be the first W . M . of a new lodge , as it showed that that brother ' s career had been a

very good one , not only Masonically but social ! )' . No body of Masons would put a brother in the chair for the first time of a new lodge unless he was hail fellow well met . By the number of lodges represented at this meeting it was clear that Bro . Mussared must have had a long and distinguished career . In entrusting the reins of office to him the brethren had made a very good

choice indeed , as they would find when he left the chair a year hence . He hoped Bro . Mussared would have a happy and prosperous year of office , and that the lodge would prosper . He knew that the work would be well done . As he ( Bro . Richardson ) had been elected an honorary member he should take an opportunity of visiting the lodge to see how they were getting on .

Bro . C . MUSSARED , W . M ., responded . Such an event as had taken place that night filled his heart up almost to the brim , and therefore he would like to say what he could not say ; he must leave it to the future to prove . He felt it was an honour—a great honour—to be selected as the first W . M . of a new lodge . When he was asked to fill that office hc had to think the matter over with a good deal of care , not being certain he was worthy of the position .

Having accepted it , it would be his earnest endeavour so to start the working of the lodge , and to carry out the beautiful . ritual of Freemasonry , which they all loved , in a perfect manner and in its entirety . Since they had started so splendidly with the hope of work in front of him , he would place his best efforts at the disposal ol" the Old Boys' Lodge . Recruits to Freemasonry

they expected confidently , for the source from which the lodge had sprung would furnish plenty of work for him and future Masters in the chair . He looked forward with pleasure to the work of the officers of the lodge , and he hoped that when the Grand Officers came to visit the lodge the brethren would be able to show a record of which they need not be ashamed .

Bros . Gen . LAURIE , CRAWLEY , and EDWARDS responded to the toast of "The Visitors . " In proposing " The W . M . and Brethren of the Recommending Lodge , the Chough Lodge , " the W . M . specially mentioned Bro . J . W . Dewsnap as a well known Mason , who bore on his breast decorations of every kind that

could be worn in Masonry . His name was known in several lodges as that of a most efficient worker and active Secretary ; he was the founder of three lodges . Many years ago they met in Masonry in the Joppa Lodge , where he ( Bro . Mussared ) was initiated . From that time there had been the closest friendship between them , and they had revelled in Freemasonry .

Bro . J . W . DEWSNAP , W . M . 2264 , said that what little that lodge had done for the Old Boys' Lodge they were happy to' do . They felt , perhaps , almost jealousy in helping brethren to form a lodge out of those so closely connected with themselves , but they had confidence in the brethren , and they were sure the Old Boys would not initiate against the success of thc Chough . If any credit , therefore , attached to thc Old Boys' Lodge , it would redound to the credit of the Chough Lodge . The W . M . was a tower of

strength in himself , He , Bro . Dewnap , and Bro . Mussared had worked together in Masonry . No better Mason , and no better man , no betterhearted man , ever moved ; he was a man and a brother who would do justice to the brethren ; hc would govern the lodge with care and kindness , and the brethren would look up to him with respect . He hoped Bro . Mussared would have a happy year of office and that the lodge would have every success . The Chough Lodge would always expect that the Old Boys' Lodge would do credit to the Chough's recommendation .

The W . M . next proposed " The Acting I . P . M ., Bro . Walter Martin , " and presented him , in the name of the Founders , with a handsome Past Master's jewel of the pattern all future Past Masters of the lodge were to carry . Bro . WALTER MARTIN acknowledged the toast and thc gift , and said he would be always ready to be of service to the Old Boys' Lodge .

I he 1 reasurer and Secretary respectively replied to the joint toast given in their honour ; the S . W . replied for "The Officers ; " and the Tyler's toast closed the proceedings , which throughout were admirably conducted .