Consecration Of The Lewis Chapter, No. 1185.

CONSECRATION OF THE LEWIS CHAPTER , NO . 1185 .

A neyv chapter was consecrated on Saturday last at thc . , A , Wood Green . The chapter is attached to l Levels Lodge , No . 1185 , and bears that name and tlic , „ The ceremonv of consecration was performed numncr . - ,... , . „ „ ,..,, 1 n , „ GSE ( who consecrated the

j Comp . l ° hn Hervey , ... , L ' is Lodge ' nine years ago ) . He yvas assisted by Comp . A A . Richards , yvho took the chair of 11 . ; Comp . James Tciry who took the chair of J . ; Comp . thc Rev . C . J . B - 1-ryvay , 0 f Buckhurst Hill , who acted as Chap . ; Comp . n Basil Ringrose , S . E . ; Comp . H . G . Buss , as B . C . ; anil mc folloyving companions : —Arthur Leared , G . J .

Koyv Alfred Durrant , George Newman , J . Berrie , Sim ' uel May , C . T . Speight , F . Binckes , Raynham VV . Steyvart , J . Rawcs , T . Vesper , W . Worrell , W . "Morgan , H . ' 1 ' - Thompson , H . Garrod , Seymour Smith , H . Massey ( " Freemason" ); Taylor , S . J . Reynolds , aiid Power . Comp . W . Worrell presided at the organ , nnd Comp . Seymour Smith led . After chapter had

been opened , and Comp . Hervey had addressed the companions present on the nature of their meeting , the other portions of the ceremony were gone through up to the point yvhere the Chaplain delivers the oration . Comp . Hervey then called on thc Rev . C . J . Ridgyvay to perform this office , yvhich thc Rev . Companion did as folloyvs : — M . E . Z ., Principals , and Companions . The

beautiful ceremony prescribed to be used at the consecration of a neyv lodge or chapter includes as a prominent feature an oration on the merits of Freemasonry . We should be doing the wisdomjif our ancient brethren who devised this ceremony a great injustice if wc supposed that this yvas meant to be confined to an euloeism on thc system or on those who profess it . The

former is unnecessary , for the science of Freemasonry speaks for itself ; neither yvould the latter be congenial to its spirit , for the practice of Freemasonry carries with it its oyvn reward to those yvho practise it aright , and they value not the praise or flattery of men . The purpose of an oration has a higher and a nobler aim , for as every human institution is liable to be deterioiated and

corrupted by the wear and tear of ages , it is intended to carry thc mind back to the first principles of the Order , to trace the stream of Frcemasoniy through the quicksands yvhich beset its course , to clear away the rocks and shoals yvhich time has accumulated until yve reach the clear pellucid fountain from which floyv the pure and crystal waters of charity , morality , and justice . It is intended to

enforce on thc members of cyery new chapter that they are to guard it ' s landmarks with zealous care , and to extend its principles yvith unflagging , self-denying zeal . Such is , 1 believe , the object of this prescribed oration -, and I could only wish that I had power of language sufficient to enforce upon you thc importance of exercising this care . I pray you to remember that on you is throyvn the

responsibility of evincing to thc Craft at large that the confidence placed in you by tbe Supreme Grand Chapter has not been misplaced . I trust you will never forget that this chapter should be so conducted as to improve the quality of Freemasonry rather than to increase the numbers of professing' Freemasons ; above all that it may be a great centre for the diffusion of brotherly love , relief ,

and truth ; in brotherly love , as sheyvn in mutual forbearance and forgiveness , mutual aid and sympathy , joy in a companion's joy , nnd grief in a companions grief , relief of his wants , freely and ungrudgingly given , relief not only lo his bodily but to his mental yyants , relief not only to himself but to those yvho are nearest and dearest to him , in the persons of his yvidovv and his orphans ; and above

all , that the hand of a brother given to a brother Mason should be thc sure pledge eif brotherhood ; ay , and when given to any of the outer yvorld should be received as an obligation binding as any the layv of man could devise , because given by a Mason . Above all , let charity and benevolence be your motto , yvords tending to the same end , but by different means ; charity to give when you

have the power , to every one of your fellow creatures in the hour of their need , and his handmaid , benevolence , to yvish yvell to , and to strive well for every good cause , even yvhen , as in the apostle ' s case , " silver and gold yve have none " to give . Remember that thc noblest instinct of man , his noblest attribute , is labour , to work through the morn , to yvork through the noon , to work through the

evening of life , until " the night cometh yvhen no man can yvork . " And what man is in muscular life , he should be in the higher domain of spiritual life . The highest ami most complete state of man , which his nature most longs for , and in which it fulfils its most sublime instinct , is work , bodily and intellectual , leading up lo moral and religious yvork . For as the race began with an outward

paradise which , being lost , many yet offer the type of a higher paradise to be gained , so each individual life begins yvith muscular life , that passing through thc hard strugg les of yvork , in yvhich body , mind , and soul are alike engaged , it may carry its ideal with it , and emergent last into a state of inspired liberty and spontaneous beauty , 't may be a gigantic task that yvhich has been

sketched out for us by the wisdom and selfaenia , of our forefathers in the Order ; but if any of 'he objects of human activity are worth living for at all—* ' on the whole it is not the highest wisdom to say , " Let us cat and drink , for to-morroyv we die "—it is impossible to imagine a nobler or more stirring object of ambition , a cause for yvhich a man could with more complete satisfacin

' ° n , or which he yvould be sure to meet with a fuller or 1 " "ward , and to yvhich he could devote all the energies of his life as a Mason , than to carry out to their limit . j P " nciples inculcated by Freemasonry . Let each in V . ° ™ sphere , each according to the talents with which vvhi 1 , r endowe ( l him » take up his share of the yvork for 11 at his door waitin *? 'o be done . There is work shnu ,- lf Masons would but do the work which they > ° uid do , then would they be fulfilling indeed what- they

Consecration Of The Lewis Chapter, No. 1185.

had undertaken in thc First and Second Degrees to perform . Then of them it would be said , and if deserved , hoyv sweet yvould it be to hear said , " When the car heard me , then it blessed me ; and when the eye sayv me , then it gave witness to me ; because I relieved the poor that cried , and the fatherless and him that had none to help him ; the blessing of him that yvas ready to perish came

upon me , and I caused the yvidoyv s heart to sing for joy . " God imposes on us serious duties ; we must struggle in the interests of humanity against the strong when they abused their strength , and against the powerful when they abuse their power . From time to time the struggle is interrupted to contemplate its fruits—the oppressed delivered from the tyrant , the poverty or disease stricken man

snatched from the abyss of want and sent forthwith rejoicing on a neyv career of life ; the widow encouraged , protected , and supported yvhen she believed she was forsaken by all the yvorld ; the orphan once wan and emaciated now lighted up and rosy in the splendid dayvn of its young life . Thus do we pass from indignation to tenderness , and we understand the aim of life . Then may yve

thank God , yvho , giving us the task to combat the powerful and wicked , gives us also to succour the innocent and the feeble , and who , side by side yvith the grave duties of life has placed the cheerful ones , the latter to uphold thc former . The man who so understands and practises Freemasonry , isabetter Mason and better acquainted yvith its symbolical teachings than he who , having taken every

degree under the sun , nas never earned into everyday life the principles and teachings which Freemasonry has perpetually enjoined upon him . He is a Mason who can , and he is not a Mason who cannot , " GraTp the whole yvorld of reason , life , and sense In one close system of benevolence ; Happier , as feeling , in whate ' er degree ,

The height of bliss in height of charity . " The ceremony of consecration and dedication of the Lewis Chapter yvas then completed , and the installation of the Principals and induction of the Officer ' s commenced . At the installation of the Principals there yvere no less than 15 installed Principals present . Comp . James Terry first installed Comps . Leared , Royv ,

and Durrant in the J . chair ; afterwards installing Comps . Leared and Royv in the II . chair . Comp . Hervey then installed Comp . Leared as Z ., and the other companions were then admitted , and Comp . Dr . Basil Ringrose was appointed S . E . ; Comp . George Newman , S . N . ; Comp . J . Beirie , P . S . ; Comp . Samuel May , P . Z ., Treas . ; and Comp . C . T . Speight , Janitor .

I he Chapter voted thanks to Comps . Hervey , Richards , Terry , Buss , and Ridgyvay for consecrating and assisting in the consecration of thc chapter , of yvhich they yvere then elected honorary members . Comp . Samuel May informed them that they yvould always be yvelcomc whenever they yvould honour the chapter yvith their presence . Comp . Hervey , in acknowledging the compliment for

himself and the other companions , said it had given them all much pleasure lo attend arid launch a neyv chapter . They wished the Principals and companions health and strength to carry out the arduous duties that were in preparation for them during the ensuing year , and at the same time they yvished every success to the chapter . The Principal Sojourner proposed Comp . Grabham as

a joining member , and Comp . I reasurer proposed 24 brethren for exaltation . Comps . H . T . Thompson and Jones , 3 S 3 , were also proposed as joining members , and there being no further business on hand the chapter was closed , a id the brethren adjourned to banquet . The usual toasts folloyved .

Comp . Raynham \\ . Steyvart , in responding for "The Grand Officers , " said that he as well as several of the other companions present had the honour of attending thc consecration of the Lewis Lodge by Comp . Hervey , and he yvished the same success to the chapter as had been the good fortune of the lodge . Iu giving the toast of "The Consecrating Officers , "

Comp . Leared said that Comp . Hervey yvas the oldest Mason in the room , but for all that he hoped they would frequently see him for many years at their meetings . He expressed thc same wish yvith respect to the other companions who had assisted Comp . Hervey . Comp . Hervey replied , and said that as thc shades of evening were closing round them he won ' t ! best consult

the wishes of thc companions by being brief . Comp . Leared had bcgundiis speech rather ominouslyby alluding to him as the oldest companion in the chapter . Whether he meant it as a compliment or as a reproach he did not know , but be did not for one moment think he meant it as a reproach . Certainly , it was a very questionable compliment . ( Laughter . ) But whether

he yvas the oldest or the youngest he was none the less grateful to the M . E . Z . and the companions for the toast . Returning thanks for himself and thc older consecrating oflicers , hc might say that if the little service they had been able to perform had been satisfactory it yvas ample reward for any trouble they had taken . Speaking for himself , if it had not been for the good

support hc had received from Comp . lerry and the other companions hc did not knoyv yvhere he yvould have been . He was afraid he should have been not only the oldest man but the most incapable . However , a combination of forces had existed , and they had all contributed their mite to make the ceremony go off yvell . For this he thanked the companions yvho had assisted him , and all the companions who had taken part in the ceremony . There

yvas noyv something else for him to do than to respond for the toast . He had to propose " The Health of the M . E . Z ., " because there yvas no authorised officer at the consecration of a chapter to do it . He therefore proposed the toast , and coupled yvith it " Success to the New Chapter . " The companions present were most anxious that the chapter should flourish , and that at the end ofthe M . E . Z . 's year he might find it in as flourishing a condi-

Consecration Of The Lewis Chapter, No. 1185.

tion as would be gratifying to the M . E . Z . He ( Comp . Hervey ) yvas sure that the M . E . Z . and his officers would do their utmost to carry out the duties they had so solemnly engaged themselves to perform in a manner that yvould redound to their own credit and that of the chapter which had been inaugurated . He trusted , and felt satisfied that yvhen they yvere assembled together , probably

about that time twelvemonths , to celebrate the first anniversary of that chapter , there would be a good account to render of their proceedings for the year ; that the M . E . Z . would retain the good health he noyv enjoyed , as well as the goodwill of the companions yvhom he had undertaken to govern for the year . The toast having been enthusiastically drunk ,

Comp . Leared said that thc consecration of the Lewis Chapter had been a long talked of affair . They had long tried to get it up , and at last they had done so , as he thought , yvith every prospect of success . That day they had been particularly fortunate . All they had to do noyv was not to let it die out , and as far as he yvas concerned he yvould not let it die out if he could in any way

help it . Comp . Leared next proposed " The H . and J . " As they yvere untried companions he could not say much about them . He must wait until that day twelvemonth . All that could be done now yvas to drink their health , - and hope they yvould be good officers and do their duty . Comp . Row responded iu nearly the same terms . The

H . and J . yvere at present untried , and did not kuoyy yvhat they could do . They were only young in Royal Arch Masonry , but he was sure they would ' do their utmost to fulfil their offices to the satisfaction of the chapter , and he hoped in another year there would be at least tyventy-five members of the chapter . " The Visitors " was the next toast , and Comp . Leared ,

in proposing it , said that Comp . Binckes , who was one of the visitors , yvas the first Master of the Leyvis Lodge , yvhich had been very prosperous . The augury was a good one , and he should single him out to respond . Although it was the first time he was present , he hoped it would not be the last . Bro . Binckes replied , and said he spoke , he was sure the

sentiment of every one present yvhen he said how pleased he yvas to be there that evening to witness the consecration of the Leyvis Chapter at Wood Green . For himself he might say it carried him back some nine years since yvhen Comp Leared , their good friend Comp . Hervey , their Treasurer , Comp . May , met to give " a local habitation " at Wood G : een to the Leyvis Lodge , which had already

had a " name . " He ( Comp . Binckes ) felt very much the honour of being its first Master . Comp . Hervey consecrated the ladge and installed him . Naturally he ( Comp . Binckes ) felt a great interest in this district ; and when he sayv sitting on the Most Excellent ' s right and left , occupying the positions of II . and J ., companions both of yvhom yvere initiated into Freemasonry by him ( Comp . Binckes ) in

the Lewis Lodge , he need hardly say with what pleasure he saw his youngest " children" arrive at such high dignity . Anything in connection with Freemasonry and thc lodge at Wood Green must always have his utmost support and sympathy . Whatever the occasion might be hc came doyvn and renewed those old associations and very pleasurable recollections yvhich alyvays hung

round freemasonry . Many had questioned the possibility oi thc success of the lodge . That was noyv an established fact ; and hc entertained the most extreme confidence that the same success yvould attend the neyv chapter . At all events , that it might be so was his most sincere wish , and he yvas sure it was the wish of every companion yvho had had the honour of being invited to this happy ceremony * .

Bro . C . R . Jones , of South Australia , also responded , and said that when a Mason got to Australia he was sure to be yvell received in lodges . But there was a practice prevailing there yvhich he should much like to see herethat of having very strict examination of a brother who presented himself for admission if he was not known . It was an extremely difficult thing for a Mason to get into a

lodge , and if he could not satisfactorily go through a very searching examination he was rejected . The Freemasons there did it with the view to the best interests of the Order . There yvere several spurious Masons about , and the portals of the lodge were closely guarded against them . None but the true Mason could gain admission , and he would like to see the same vigilance observed in this country , as

it had struck him that admission to lodges here yvas far too easy . The M . E . Z . having proposed "The Officers , " Comp . Binckes proposed " The Charities , " a toast which he thought should not be forgotten on the opening night of a new chapter , although it was not to be expected that anything practical could be done then for the

institutions . He should therefore ask them for nothing more than a sentimental approval , yvith which he should be perfectly satisfied . He spoke yvith gratitude of what the Leyvis Lodge had done for thc charities . He begged the companions , yvhatever they did , never to lose sight of the charities , for on them depended at once the foundation and thc copestonc of the Order . He coupled yvith the

toast the names of Comps . Durrant , J ., and Terry , the former of whom yvould represent the Lewis Lodge on the 28 th inst . at the Boys' Festival . Comp . Durrant said that as far as he was concerned he believed in charity . It summed up a great deal of Masonic history . As representing the Lewis Lodge at the Boys' Festival , he hoped to take up a list which yvould be r . o discredit to himself or that

lodge . Comp . Terry , after regretting , the absence of Comp . Little , who yvas away on account of ill-health , and thanking the Lewis Lodge for all which it had done for the Girls' School , thanked the Lewis Lodge for ^ yvhat it had done for the Benevolent Institution , of which it had enrolled itself a Vice-President . There were 240 annuitants upon the fund , taking £ 9000 a year from it . || The Man-