Consecration Of The St. Pancras Chapter, No. 2271.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . PANCRAS CHAPTER , No . 2271 .

On Monday , the 13 th instant , a new chapter , called the St . Pancras Chapter , and attached to the St . Pancras Lodge , No . 2271 , was consecrated at the Midland Grand Hotel , St . Pancras , by Comp . E . Letchworth , G . S . E .,

as M . E . Z ., who was assisted by Comps . Major-Gen . J . Grassland Hay , C . B ., asH . ; Rev . T . Studholme Brownrigg , G . Supt . Bucks , as J . ; C . F . Matier , P . D . G . D . C , as D . C . ; and C . E . Keyter , as S . N . Comp . E . P . Delevanti acted as Organist , and was assisted in the musical portion of the ceremonies by Comps . Sidney Barnby , Arthur Thomas , Henry Prenton ,

and Walter Banks . The following is a list of the other companions present : Comps . W . A . Scurrah , Henry Longman , H . R , Graham , M . P ., James Irvine , A . H . Scurrah , W . M . Stiles . M . Powell , T . C . Edmonds , Alfred C . Spaull , P . P . G . S . N . Middx . ; E . M . Money , P . Z . 28 ; G . H . Lewis . 1622 : H . Massey , P . Z . 619 and 1928 ; H

Sadler , G . janitor ; George Lambert , P . G . D . C ; Geo . Everett , P . ' G . Treas . ; J . E . Le Feuvre , P . G . S . B . ; W . F . Smithson , P . G . S . B . ; T . W . Whitmarsh , P . A . G . D . C ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . S . N . ; W . H . Lee , Prov . G . S . E . Middx . ; W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., G . L- James Stephens , P . Z . 749 ; Samuel Green , P . Z . 10 , P . P . A . G . S . Gloucestershire ; Henry Lovegrove , P . Prov . G . Treas . Middx . ; and J . T . Rowe , P . Z . 753 .

After the chapter had been formally opened , Comp . L ETCHWORTH , in commencing the proceedings , said : It is difficult to realise that nearly five years have passed since I was privileged to assist at the consecration in this building of a

lodge which has since been known as theSt . Pancras Lodge . That lodge started into existence under most favourable auspices . It had for its first Master an old and valued friend of my own , the late Sir Robert Fowler , and since then it has enjoyed a career of , I believe , unbroken success . Under such circumstances it is only natural indeed that

the members of the lodge should desire to place the copestone to the edifice they have built , and to have a Royal Arch chapter attached to their lodge . They accordingly petitioned the Supreme Grand Chapter , and Supreme Grand Chapter , as you all know , without the slig htest hesitation acceded to ii ,.:. nr » ,. r ^ nrl I am here to-dav for the purpose of

THE M . E . Z .. COM !' . W . A . SCUMIAH .

constituting and consecrating this new chapter . I think it is fortunate for the founders of this chapter that they have exercised a very wise discretion in selecting for their First Principal a companion who has had considerable pynpripnce in the Craft , especially in Royal Arch Masonry . He is an

enthusiastic Mason , a companion of experience , a companion of ability , and I feel sure under his able guidance this chapter will have a career not unworthy of that of the lodge . With these few words I will now proceed with the object we have in view in the consecration and constitution of this chapter .

Comp . the Rev . J . S . B ROWNRIGG delivered the oration , and said : The Masonic community to which he belonged was to the operative Mason of old ^ the home into which his whole professional life was gathered ; the centre round which all his professional interests revolved . He entered it as a boy , acquired a

knowledge cf his craft slowly and carefully , and by regular gradations worked himself up to an honoured position only when he proved

by his work that he was a skilled Mason , and by his general behaviour that he was an honourable man . It was almost an unknown

thing for him to leave the communitywhich had taught him his craft , and to transfer Ms work to another . All the traditions of his Order taught him loyalty to his mother lodge . To her alone

he devoted the energy of bis youth , the strength of manhood , and the matured wisdom of his old age . The speculative Mason of the last century was not unlike his operative brother .

He chose his lodge and kept to it , forming therein friendships which lasted a life-time . Even now some of the older members of our most honoured lodges are

men of one chapter and or . e lodge . 1 am fully aware that the altered circumstances of our age , the varied conditions under which we find ourselves , the new

THE H „ COJII' . 11 . LONGMAN .

work which is being done by our Craft , Its extension into every branch of society , and into every class of the commonwealth have obliged us to modify our old rules and customs . Many of us are called upon as a matter of duty to work under several Masonic jurisdictions , between which there is perfect amity and unity , but a difference of constitution , order , and procedure . It would not be possible or desirable to revert to the custom which prevented the great bulk of our

fraternity from joining other communities , and perhaps more than one Masonic body in each of those communities . Even in bye-gone days there were exceptions to the general rule when good reasons could be given , and the Grand Lodge of England has wisely refrained from imposing any limit to the numberof lodges and chapters to which a brother may belong . But is there no lesson to be learned from the old system ? Is there no danger that the present liberty may not run us into a dangerous extreme , and that perhaps our very zeal and interest may lead some of us into undertaking more than we are able to do properly and well ? It

Consecration Of The St. Pancras Chapter, No. 2271.

is no uncommon thing to hear a brother boasting of the number of lodges and chapters to which he belongs . It is thought by some to be a creditable thing to be able to write oneself down a subscribing member to many bodies in each of our great Masonic jurisdictions . I will frankly confess that I cannot help being a little suspicious that some of these most \ veU-mea . ning Masons are likely to fait to do good Masonic work because they are undertaking too much . But there is even a more serious aspect of the matter .

It is a real evil done to our Craft , a real scandal , if the practice of it is permitted to interfere with the more serious professional business of our lives , if we spend upon it money which duty tells us ought to be given elsewhere . Do not mistake me . I am not classing our Craft as a mere luxury and enjoyment , but I am emphasising the fact that it is subordinate to that profession or business unto which the Great Architect of the Universe has called us . That we are acting distinctly contrary to one of the fundamental principles of our Order if we became so

than you can do properly ; never allow claims upon your Charity and liberality to suffer through your expenditure upon the Masonic community to which you belong . After the completion of the consecration and dedication Comp . W . A . Scurrah , P . P . G . Soj . Middx ., P . Z . 749 and 2048 , was installed as M . E . Z .

engrossed in it as to neglect those things which demand our daily care and attention , or spend upon it money to which other objects have a prior and more natural claim . I cannot sum up these few words , which will , I hope , not be misunderstood , than by the simple advice never in the Craft undertake more work

by Comp . Letchworth . Major General Grassland Hay installed Comp . H . Longman first as J ., and then as H ., in splendid style , and Comp . Scurrah installed Comp . H . R . Graham , M . P ., H . 10 , as J . Comp . Arthur Scurrah was elected S . E ., Comp .

James Irvine as S . N ., and Comp . M . Powell , as 2 nd Asst . S . A special vote of thanks was passed to Comp . Letchworth , who was elected an honorary member of the chapter , and the same compliments were afterwards passed to the other

Consecrating Officers . Some formal business was then transacted , and the chapter was closed . A splendid banquet followed . After the usual opening toasts , Comp . BEACH , G . J ., responded to that of "The Pro G . Z ., & c , " and said it was a great thing to be

associated with two such excellent Masons as the Earl of Lathom and the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , who did their utmost to fulfil the trust placed in them . Since he ( Comp . Beach ) had filled the office of G . J ., he had felt he should do something to foster and encourage Royal Arch Masonry . He

had important Masonic duties in his own province , and he was but a Principal in London chapters , but he had not attended many until now . In his position of . G . J ., he felt it was his duty to attend every chapter to which he was invited . He thought he might congratulate the companions of the St . Pancras Chapter most sincerely on having established it in connection with the lodge . It was a legitimate ambition among Freemasons to aspire to extend their researches to a higher sphere and become Royal

Arch Masons . 1 he establishment of a Royal Arch chapter was a matter for congratulation provided there was sufficient stimulus and energy in the companions to enable them to carry it on with success . As he felt there was no doubt that the eminent Masons appointed to preside over the St . Pancras Chapter took deep interest in the Degree , he was sure Royal Arch Masonry in that chapter would be successful . He only hoped its services would be commensurate with the

expectations entertained of it . He had been very pleased himself to attend the chapter , and was sorry his Parliamentary

engagements did not allow him to come earlier . He wished the chapter entire success in the future .

Comp . Capt . PHILIPS also replied , and said that at the consecration of the St . Pancras Lodge he was J . W ., consequently he was very proud to be at the consecration of the St . Pancras Chapter .

Comp . W . A . SCURRAH proposed " The Consecrating Officer , Comp . Letchworth , " observing

that no one who had been accustomed to be present at the consecration of lodges and chapters had ever witnessed the

ceremony more impressivel y or ably done than it had been that evening . He thanked Comp . Letchworth most heartil y for his kindness and courtesy in

THE . ( ., COM ! ' . It . II . ( itIAIIAM , M . I ' .

attending and for the splendid manner in which he had done his work . Comp . LETCHWORTH said he availed himself of the earliest opportunity of thanking the M . E . Z . for the more than kind manner in which he had introduced this toast , and he also thanked the companions for their cordial reception of it . In the course of his remarks in the chapter that afternoon he referred to the fact that he had the privilege of being present and

assisting at the consecration of the St . Pancras Lod ge , and he could assure the companions that his feelings on the present occasion were not untinged with sadness . He could not forget that the two principal officers on that occasion were the late Colonel Shadwell J I . Clerke and Sir Robert Fowler . But it had been a great pleasure , nevertheless , to him to be present and . consecrate the chapter . He felt , however , that the success of the ceremony was due in . great measure to the very able assistance he had received from those who