Provincial Grand Chapter Of Middlesex.

2 nd and 3 rd Provincial Grand Principals would not enable him to dilate upon them , but he had no doubt that having been elected , they were worthy Masons and had earned the great honour conferred upon them . Comp . R . H . THRUPI ' , 2 nd Prov . G . Principal , in charge , in response , said his friend was always too good in expatiating on his merits . He vvas only one of those many companions of the Order—and hc sincerely believed

in that province—who had only one aim and desire , to promote the best interests not only of the Order but of the companions they met . He had been among them both in the Craft and Royal Arch Masonry for some years and had done what he could to promote the welfare of the Order , and he must say that wherever he had been he had always received most

uniform kindness , and had made many friendships among the companions , which he happily prized . When people outside asked him what Masonry was he told them that some of the best friendships he had were made in Masonry . He thanked them all for coming to support him , and was glad to say the Provincial Grand Chapter of Middlesex was , and ought to be , prosperous and flourishing .

" The Visitors " was next proposed by Comp . THRUPP , who extended to them a kindly welcome . There were two Grand Ofiicers present who had already spoken , and there was one companion whom he could hardly call a stranger in Middlesex—Comp . Room—who , unfortunately , did not belong to a Royal Arch chapter in the province . Comp . HOWARD H . ROOM , P . Z ., said he was very much obliged for having his name coupled . Although it was a compliment , he hardly

deserved it , for Comp . Thrupp certainly conveyed a slight reproach in telling t-em he was not a member of the Royal Arch in the province . ' He had a reason for this , vvhich was that his sole attention should be centred in the Cralt in Middlesex . The work , as far as the Royal Arch was concerned , was so ably looked after by his esteemed friend and colleague , Comp . Lee , that he did not think it would be right to interfere . He ( Comp . Room ) belonged to three Royal Arch chapters , so that they would not think him

neglectful . Speaking on behalf of the visitors , he was grateful for the opportunity of spending a most delightful evening , and for the hospitality extended to them . It was a source of gratification to know that the welfare of Royal Arch Masonry in the province was still in charge of Comp . Thrupp , who had for many years looked after the welfare of the province . He was sure that Comp . Thrupp's services and valuable assistance in every matter connected with Masonry in Middlesex would be deeply cherished as long as the members lived .

" Ihe Provincial Grand Officers" vvas submitted by Comp . I \ URUIT . He said they had always had good officers , and that evening really good men had been appointed to assist him in ruling the province . The companions had chosen a very good Provincial Grand Treasurer—Comp . Langley—who was one of the most zealous and earnest Masons in the province . In the Prov . G . P . S . they had a man vvho in another sphere had shown how he could rule and manage men . He referred to Comp . Fisher , who was an excellent companion , and would assist them in the province .

Comp . W . FISHER , Prov . G . P . S ., in response , said he had been a Mason for over 25 years , and a Royal Arch Mason for 20 years . He had had an ambition to wear the rainbow collar , and that ambition had been fulfilled . He prized it exceedingly , and hoped to advance the prosperity of the province for many years . The rewards he had received would stimulate him to further exertions for the good of the Order . The proceedings then terminated .

Consecration Of The Rye Chapter, No. 2272.

CONSECRATION OF THE RYE CHAPTER , No . 2272 .

The consecration of the Rye Chapter , No , 2272 , took place at thc Peckham Public Hall on Monday , the 12 th inst . The interesting ceremony was performed by Comp . E . Letchworth , G . S . E ., assisted by Comps . R . Gooding , P . A . G . S ., as H . ; Thomas Fenn , P . P . C . G . P ., as J . ; P . A . Nairne , P . G . S . B ., as S . N . ; and Frank Richardson , G . D . C , as D . C .

the founders of the new chapter , all of whom were present , are Comps . Dr . W . Cock , P . Z . 1297 , 2005 , P . P . G . S . N . Essex ; | . W . Dewsnap , P . Z . 188 , 1839 ; P . G . Philps , M . E . Z . 1297 ; F . Dunn , P . Z . 72 ; F . Swinford Smith ; W . J . Warner , H . 2005 ; T . Piper , S . N . 2005 ; T . M . Wright , A . S . 1839 ; W . H . Mackley , A . S . 2005 ; C . Thomson , H . 1297 ; and R . Lyon . The following visitors were also present : Comps . VV . Davies , M . E . Z .

1901 ; H . Sadler , G . Janitor ; S . Scott Young , P . P . G . D . C . East Lanes . ; T . Grummant , P . Z . 1275 ; W . Clifford , P . Z . 2182 ; J . Newton , P . Z . 174 ; A . Weston , 1572 ; W . Dunn ; H . F . Bing , 1524 ; R . F . Macdonald , 1216 ; E . J . Bell , 1524 ; R . H . Broom ; R . Brown ; A . Bentley ; I . Dunn ; F . Witit , 101 ; C . G . Clarke ; and W . W . Lee , J . elect 1524 . The chapter was opened , and an opening hymn sung .

The CONSECRATING PRINCIPAL , addressing the companions , said : It is unnecessary on the present occasion that I should occupy your time for many moments vvith any preliminary remarks on the object of our meeting . We are here , as you know , for the purpose of constituting and consecrating a new Royal Arch chapter . The chapter will hereafter be known as the Rye Chapter , attached to a lodge which , I believe , vvas consecrated some four or

five years ago—the Rye Lodge . That lodge has had a career of very considerable prosperity and it is gratifying to know they feel they are sufficiently strong to nave a Royal Arch chapter attached . I most heartily congratulate the founders on the fact that thc Supreme Grand Chapter at once granted a charter and I further congratulate thc founders oh having as their

Principals , three companions vvho have already served in all the chairs and are therefore qualified to rule over thc chapter in this the first , and therefore the most critical period of its existence , ll only remains for mc , on behalf of myself and those associated with mc , to wish every possible prosperity to this chapter .

I he founders signified their approval of , thc officers designated in thc petition , and an interesting oration vvas delivered by Comp . Thos . Fenn , P . P . C . G . P ., acting J . Thc chapter was then dedicated and constituted with thc usual formalities .

I he Grand S . E . inducted thc following companions into their respective chairs . Comps . Dr . W . Cock , M . E . Z . ; J . W . Dewsnap , H . ; and P . G . Philps , [ . ; and the following officers vvere invested : Comps . F . Dunn , Treas . ; ' F . Swinford Smith , S . E . ; VV . J . Warner , S . N . ; T . Piper , P . S . ; T . M . Wright and VV . H . Mackley , Asst . Stwds . ; C . Thomas and R . Lyon , Stwds . ; and Bowler , Janitor . The M . E . Z . said he had an exceedingly pleasing duly lo perform in proposing a hearty and cordial vote of thanks to those Grand Officers who had

Consecration Of The Rye Chapter, No. 2272.

attended to consecrate the chapter , and also to ask them to do the founders the honour of accepting the honorary membership . He hoped they would not consider this simply formal , but regard it as a heartfelt expression of gratitude for the trouble and inconvenience of attending . The GRAND SCRIBE E . acknowledged the compliment , and said the

position of honorary member was one they accepted with great pleasure and as they would all take the deepest interest in the welfare of the chapter . A notice of motion , expressing sincere thanks to . the M . E . Z . for his liberal gift of the furniture , having been given , the chapter was closed . After banquet , the customary toasts were honoured .

" Ihe Queen and Royal Arch Masonry vvas given , after which the M . E . Z . asked the companions to drink heartily to " The Health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " not only as the first subject of the realm , and as the Heir to their mighty Empire , but also as the Grand Z . of the Order . In giving " The Grand Officers , " the M . E . Z . said the Pro Grand Z . was a Mason amongst Masons , who devoted a great deal of his time and

experience and his many distinguished abilities to the advancement of Royal Arch Masonry . The Grand H . was also a very distinguished Mason , whose whole heart and soul was in Masonry , who had endeared himself to all , especially in the Province of Cornwall . As regards the other Grand Officers , they were selected simply because they had qualified themselves . Of the Grand Officers present , Comp . Letchworth , the G . S . E ., was one of whom

they were proud , who had taken a prominent position m Masonry , and who vvas already held in respect and esteem as was the late Colonel Clerke . Wherever Masonry was known Comp . Fenn ' s name was a household word , and was associated with everything respecting the value of Freemasonry , more especially in connection vvith the ritual . Comp . Richardson was always

attending consecrations as D . C , than whom they had not a better in connection with Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter . In Comp . Gooding he had a neighbour and confrere who was a thorough Master of all the ceremonies , and Comp . Nairne was also a close neighbour . They were proud to have two of their South London brethren assisting in the consecration that day , and regarded it as a compliment .

Comp . THOMAS FENN , P . P . Com . G . P ., returned thanks . Of the Earl of Lathom and the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe it was unnecessary to say much , because they were frequently with them . The business of Grand Chapter was generally routine work , as the recommendations of the Committee were usually adopted . With respect to the other Grand Officers , he

must apologise for having presumed to give what was ostentatiously called an oration , but thanked them for their attention . He thanked them all for the compliment paid the Grand Officers , and assured them they were always ready to discharge any duties , either in the consecration of chapters or assisting the chapters in their work .

The M . E . Z . submitted "The Consecrating Officers , " and said he need not say much about the admirable way in which the ceremony was carried out , but if he might be allowed to be a judge , he should say it was as near perfection as it was possible for anything to be . Ihe G . S . E . had not had the experience of the late G . S . E ., but they would agree with him that no ceremony of consecration had been performed in a more perfect , splendid ,

or Masonic manner than the work they had witnessed that evening . Wherever the G . S . E . presented himself , either as a Consecrating Officer or a visitor , he always received a hearty and truly Masonic reception . Although Comp . Fenn had apologised for appearing in another man's clothing , his oration was attentively listened to and highly appreciated . Without an excellent D . C , such as Comp . Richardson , everything must necessarily become chaotic .

Comp . E . LETCHWORTH , G . S . E ., expressed his warmest thanks for thc more than kind terms in which the M . E . Z . had proposed thc toast . It had afforded him the greatest pleasure to render the very small services that day , but was most fortunate on the present occasion in being assisted by an array of Grand Officers whose work , they would agree , had been most admirable . They would all join in regretting that the work of H . vvas so

small , but what could he say of Comp . Fenn who had thought it necessary to apologise for having undertaken the duty of J . ' ! He had had some little experience in consecrations , but hc might say , without fear of contradiction , the work was never done better and he had never listened to a better oration . With regard to his dear friend , Comp . Richardson , no consecration could go off vvith success unless he was present . He relied implicitly

upon him , for he knew that if he was present everything would be in order . He could not do otherwise than refer to Comp . Sadler who on all occasions was present , and as they were aware , they had in him one of the most accomplished Masons of the present day . With these few remarks hc thanked the companions for the compliment paid thc Consecrating Officers . He then had the privilege of proposing " The Health of the Three Principals

of the Chapter . ' He had had great pleasure in installing Comp . Cock in the chair as First Principal . In the presence of the founders and members of neighbouring chapters it was needless to dilate upon his many excellencies . He was well known to them all for his Masonic worth , and they also knew what a generous Mason he was . They heard in chapter what a generous

and liberal patron of the Order he was , for the chapter was indebted to him for the beautiful furniture which adorned it . ' He ( the G . S . E . ) was convinced that under the M . E . Z . 's rule , assisted as he would be by the two other Principals , the Rye Chapter would in a very short time occupy a position second to none on that side of the Metropolis .

Comp . Dr . W . COCK , M . E . Z ., in response , said it was no easy matter for him to express himself adequately in returning thanks for thc very able , and to use a hackneyed term , the very flattering terms in which the Grand Scribe E . had proposed the health of the Principals . That was a red-letter day in his Masonic diary . He little thought a few months ago when hc was asked by a P . M . of the Rye Lodge to propose him as an exaltee in a chapter

with which he was connected that that Rye Chapter would be in existence . It occurred to him that the Rye Lodge had been successful , and that Royal Arch Masonry was about now the most popular Order of the day , and he thought why not have a Rye Chapter associated with the Rye Lodge . He mentioned his ideas to one or two members , and they quickly promised to support him in the application for a charter , and they knew with what

result . Reference had been made to his liberality , but hc did not for one moment want them to think he had bought his position in the Rye Chapter-That vvas the last ol his thoughts . He had had a little experience in Craft and Royal Arch Masonry , and knew the expense necessarily entailed , and . therefore , said that if the companions would support him he would willing' )'

present the furniture . lt was not the first thing hc had done for Masonr ) . and hoped it would not be the last . He was speaking for his co-Princip"" *' and his II ., Comp . Dewsnap , was a tried Mason , and had been of greatassistance and support in carrying out the work . The J ., Comp . Philps , wab an old friend and neighbour , but lie Wits sorry to say he had bcen obliged to