Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.

feeling and appreciation manifested by the members generally which has g iven that work its vitality and interest , and which endows this Drury Lane Lodge with a strength and force peculiarly its own . That I should receive from you this exquisite , this almost sentient triumph of scientific and mechanical art , this most effective speaking monitor which henceforth by night and day , at home and abroad , in sickness and in health , all through

the time left to me , far away into old age if old age be granted , shall live with me , pulsate and tell with musical tongue of your generosity and my gratitude—aye , and which will continue , thus to speak , as an heirloom long after my heart and voice are stilled—all this inspires feelings and reflections which are almost overwhelming ! What can I say that will express my emotions adequately ? How can I , looking round me , rise to the dignity of this occasion ? I will

not attempt the impossible . I will not try . Rather , in the words of a great man I once heard speak in this very hall , let me hope that in my reticence , in my enforced silence , in all I do not say—you may find some traces of that eloquence which lies deeper than the richest words . Throwing myself upon the generous interpretations and consideration which have never failed me yet , let me say that for your uniform indulgence to my efforts , and your unbroken goodness to me at all times , of which this is the latest tangible expression ,

I can no other answer make Than thanks , and thanks , and ever thanks . Bro . AUGUSTUS HARRIS , I . P . M .: I feel at a great disadvantage in having to rise after the eloquent speech of Bro . Parkinson . I hardly think if I had seen the arrangements I should have agreed to Bro . Parkinson proposing the toast to which I am to respond . I did not know that Bro . Lord

Londesborough was not going to be present , and it was only when I came here to-day I heard of his indisposition . It is a disadvantage speaking after Bro . Parkinson , who is always so eloquent , and who therefore puts my little light very much in the shade—especially as I do not profess to be an orator . I think that one of the reasons why he should not have proposed this toast is that he was , to a certain extent , proposing his own health , for

all who have seen the working will agree that if any brother is a Past Master of the lodge , Bro . Parkinson certainly deserves that title . ( Applause . ) Bro . Parkinson has done more work than either Lord Londesborough or myself , and that he should get up and propose the toast of the Past Masters is very much like proposing his own health . I am delighted he has said so many kind things , and in reference to the success

of the lodge , I am sure you must all agree that in the two years we have been constituted this lodge has made great strides , and has become very popular . ( Cheers . ) I need not refer to the Jubilee year , when I tell you that of the brethren who received Jubilee honours , a large number belong to the Drury Lane Lodge . That of itself shows that this lodge is by no means a lodge consisting of nobodies . We have in our ranks

members of every profession , I may say leading members of every professun , and it has been a great pleasure to me to be W . M ., and to preside over so many good and true men . 1 hope that the future of the lodge will be no less brilliant than the past . When we meet , as I hope we shall meet , a year hence , I trust it will be still more prosperous than it is to-day .

( Applause . ) I do not desire to break through the rule of brevity laid down by the W . M ., but I wish to tell the brethren present that I shall be pleased to welcome them within the old portals of Drury Lane , where they can see our worthy Junior Deacon present herself before them in her regal robes , and I am sure our Sister Nicholls and our Brother Campbell will be as happy to see you as I shall be .

Bro . A . M . BROADLEY , P . D . D . G . M . Malta , Secretary : The Drury Lane Lodge is nothing if it is not representative , and if the duties of the Secretary are not altogether a sinecure , he receives an ample reward when he is allowed to propose the toast of " The Visitors . " This is the third occasion on which I have been privileged to propose that toast in this lodge . It is impossible for me to conceal from you my conviction that had it not

been for the amiability of Bro . Harris , I . P . M ., the Drury Lane Lodge would not have been what it is to-day . ( Cheers . ) To Bro . Harris will belong the greatest credit for the foundation of this lodge , and I hope for many years to come he will be the moving spirit in it . Looking back , he will feel considerable pride at the gathering assembled this evening to inaugurate the reign of his successor . There is no doubt that in Sir John Gorst we

have found a W . M . who will maintain the traditions of this lodge , and I think that if there is one thing that may be taken as an augury of his reign it is the gathering of to-night . ( Cheers . ) There are scarcely any lodges that can boast of having received within their walls the Provincial Grand Masters , not only of the neighbouring counties , but brethren who have come from Monmouthshire and Lancashire and across the seas from the Isle of

Man and Jersey . We have also Bro . Sandeman present , whose memories will ever be associated with the District of Bengal . We have had a rare distinction , and have received not onl y Lord Herschell , the past Lord Chancellor , but also the brother who now adorns the distinguished position of Lord High Chancellor . This is not all . If we were to ask what profession is not represented among us there would be no exceptions . In the law we

have the Lord Chancellor ; in the Church we have a powerful body of Past Grand Chaplains ; and , as far as medicine is concerned , we have a great many distinguished members present . I am glad to see Bro . A . Cooper , who adorns his profession , and , with regard to the Army , we have Lord A . Paget , who holds a position in the Queen's Household ; whilst the Navy is ably represented b y Lord Alcester . With a gathering like this we can onl y

hope that the lodge will go on and prosper , and I can say that if the Secretary can do anything for the lodge , his services are at your disposal . I must be permitted to express my great satisfaction that Dorsetshire , in which 19 years ago I was initiated , is so well represented by Bro . Montague . I thank lhat brother very much for his presence , and I trust he will take

back to Dorsetshire a good report . I will conclude by expressing the pleasure we feel at receiving visitors from all parts ot the world , and allow me to couple with the toast the names of those brethren who represent a great tower of Masonic strength , whom we are proud to receive , and whom we shall be pleased to see again within the portals of the Drurv Lane Lodge—the Lord Chancellor and Lords Milltown and Alcester .

The LORD CHANCELLOR : I yield not a tittle to the desire which has been expressed by my noble brother near me in obedience to the constituted authorities , but you and he will forgive me when I tell you that I always think the advantage is in the obligation , and not in the abstract principle . ( Applause . ) I have never yet heard an orator begin by assuring his audience that he intended making only a few remarks , without trembling at what would be the result . I should like to say , if he will forgive me , that I am somewhat jealous of the title which he has assumed for the party

Drury Lane Lodge, No. 2127.

to which he belongs . I always understood we were the stupid party —( laugh , ter)—and I protest against anybody taking from us that title . ( Laughter . ) I noticed that the W . M . suggested that the reason why the speeches should be short was that some of you had other avocations to perform , and I am not surprised that he sunk in the depth of that phraseology which is peculiar to the occupation to which he referred . I have no doubt that he refers to that place where speeches are not short , and where that brotherl y

love which we admire is not always prevalent . ( Laughter . ) I can only say that those who , like myself , belong to another region , feel the deepest commiseration for those who go to , what the Master described as other avocations . ( Laughter . ) It is a pleasing thing to be invited to such an occasion as this , and , in order to show you that I recognise the obligation , I will content myself with simply thanking you for the kindness I have received .

The Earl of MILLTOWN : I have at one moment and at the same moment to thank and find fault with those who have been the organisers of this vast gathering . I have , following the custom of most of those statesmen whose eloquence adorns the Senate , been studying such impromptus as they are in the habit of using . The organisers of this entertainment asked my noble brother to respond first , and he has taken it

out of my power to deliver to you that eloquent oration with which I was prepared . I , as a humble member of the great profession of which my learned brother is the head , and as a humble member of that great assembly over which he presides , will not occupy your time in attempting to compete with him in the speech he has delivered . I must say this—that as a rule , in Masonic lodges , one brother is quite sufficient to answer to the

toast , but I think that upon this occasion an exception has been rightly made , for though I have been present at many ^ estivities , and though I am fully acquainted with the great qualities which distinguish our brotherhood , I will at this moment confine myself to returning thanks for the hospitality we have received . Never before have I received anything approaching the

splendid hospitality of which we have been the recipients . On behalf of the visitors , and only regretting that they have not someone more worthy to represent them than I , I beg to return hearty thanks for the high honour paid us , and beg to convey our hopes that you will again favour us with an invitation .

Bro . Lord ALCESTER : I am rather hardly placed in coming after the Lord Chancellor and Lord Milltown , but I am sure I thank you for the honour you have paid me . There are many old Masons present who would be more properly coupled with the toast than I . I beg to again return you my sincere thanks .

Bro . the Earl of EUSTON : A toast has been placed in my hands which is rather different from those preceding it . The toast I have to propose is that of " The Officers , " and I am quite certain that all present will rejoice at the discrimination displayed in the selection of those officers . ( Hear , hear . ) They consist of men who have made their mark ; some of them having made their name and who are now resting on their laurels ; and

some who are coming on in Masonry . The Junior Deacon , Bro . Nicholls , has gone to that place where he represents the temale sex , and does it right well too . The S . D ., Bro . Bancroft , is a man who has been at the head of his profession , and is ready and willing to take his part in the work of the lodge . The Secretary , Bro . Broadley , has a long list of Masonic performances , and has for 19 years taken a very active part in Masonic work . He has taken

an immense deal of trouble with regard to the arrangements of this evening , and which reflect upon him the greatest praise . In your Treasurer you have a man well trusted , and who will ably manage the large amount entrusted to his care . The J . W . is working hard in his profession , and your S . W ., Sir . E . Inglefield , is one of those old hearts of oak . 1 am sure that in coupling his name with the toast I shall be including one whom a year hence you will be proud to welcome at the helm .

Bro . Sir E . INGLEFIELD , k . C . B .: As my memory reminds me that the W . M ., at the early part of the proceedings , said the speeches were to be short , I will content myself with returning thanks for the officers of the lodge . I have to return thanks not only as far as I am personally concerned , but also for those who have not been called upon . I wish to say that to Bro . Parkinson we are indebted for the instruction we have received . It is

40 years ago since I was initiated . I had been so long out of Masonry that I was rusty , but under Bro . Parkinson ' s guidance I am able to take my place in the lodge . On my own part , and on behalf of my brother officers , I beg to return our sincere thanks . Bro . J . FERNANDEZ , J . W . : The subject of the toast entrusted to me is one so pregnant with feeling , that it is only the remark of the W . M . with

regard to the time that sways me in the direction of brevity . We all know that the scope of the Masonic Charities is vast and far reaching , and communicates help , not only to our brethren , but also to the widows and children . We are nearly three months from the Centenary Festival of our Girls ' School , and I think that having regard to the exertions of the brethren who have

preceded us , we can take pride in the good that has been reflected in the forthcoming Festival . It is enforced , not by words , but by practical illustration , that loving kindness is greater than law , and I am sure it will be with loving kindness that you will respond to the appeal on behalf of the Masonic Charities . The toast I propose to you is " Continued Success to the Masonic Charities . "

Bro . F . BINCKES , Sec . R . M . I . B . * . After the experience of 27 years responding to the toast of the Masonic Charities , I only find myself in a position ot difficulty . Only this very night week , when called upon to discharge this duty in a new lodge at a place , the name of which is so dear to every member of this lodge—1 mean Stratford-on-Avon—when this toast was proposed in language perfectly unique , I found myself unequal to the

duty of responding . I leel myself in a similar position to-night through the kindness of your J . W . —I shall take the opportunity of calling him my good friend—who has so kindly introduced the toast to you . In responding to this toast I do so with mingled feelings of pleasure and regret—regret that Bro . Hedges , the Secretary of the Girls' School , is not here to respond for the desire so kindly expressed for the success of the first centenary

that has ever been celebrated by one of our Masonic Institutions . There is no brother will express a more sincere wish that the result of that unique celebration will be all that its best friends can desire . At the same time , I am sure , you will permit me to observe that it is not without some little anxiety that the other Institutions regard

the effect that Festival may have upon them . The large-heartedness of the Craft will not , I am sure , permit the success of one Institution to be built upon the ruins of the others , and therefore we hope and trust that , however successful the Centenary of the Girls' School may be , the Benevolent Institution will meet with that success it deserves , and that the Boys' will also receive that success which it so much needs and desires . I was very