Consecration Of The Duke Of Fife Lodge, No. 2345.

more than usual importance vvas to be considered in Grand Lodge the Pro Grand Master vvas ahvays at his post , and the applause vvith which he vvas invariably greeted vvas evidence of the esteem in which he was held . This remark equally applied to the Deputy Grand Master , who was looked up to with every possible respect b y all the members of Grand Lodge . Regarding the Grand Officers who had honoured them with their presence that evening , as the mouthpiece

of the members generally , he begged to sincerely thank them for their kindness in coming to assist at the birth of their new lodge . Especially he desired to thank Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , the Grand Secretary , and at the same time to congratulate him on having so far recovered from his late indisposition as to be able to attend and perform the consecration ceremony . It would have been a sore disappointment to all the

brethren if Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke had been absent . Many of the brethren present had never before attended a consecration ceremony , and he felt sure that they had been more than deli g hted at the beautiful working of the ceremony by the Grand Secretary and his very able assistants . They owed a debt of gratitude to Bro . Simpson , P . G . C , for his impressive oration , and their best thanks vvere due to Bros . Matthews , Col . Peters , Frank Richardson , and J . L . Mather for the

assistance they had rendered the Grand Secretary . They were also proud to see among them such eminent brethren as Bros . Cama and Eve , P . G . Treasurers ; C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br . ; Pendlebury , Asst . G . Secretary ; and Sadler , Grand Tyler . That lodge ought to feel very proud at its start to have so many distinguished brethren among them . Brethren who sought information at Grand

Secretary ' s office were always treated most courteously , and they found Bro . Pendlebury most obliging . It vvas rather apropos of that Duke of Fife Lodge that it should be consecrated at the Alexandra Hotel , and he thought the brethren would agree that they had made a very good start ' . He hoped that start augured well for the success of the lodge .

Bro . the Rev . R . J . SIMPSON , P . G . C , who was called upon to respond , said that for himself and the other Grand Officers be bad to thank the brethren for the

compliments paid them , for the hospitable manner in vvhich they had been entertained , and for their election as honorary members of the lodge , vvhich he trusted would be among the distinguished lodges of the Craft . He had already taxed their kindness and patience in giving the oration , which , however , had lasted only seven and a half minutes , according to the Grand Secretary . Had the Grand Secretary been in at all an obstinate humour , vvhich he very seldom vvas , he ( Bro .

Simpson ) would have been inclined to inflict 15 minutes , but as it was he vvas only too happy to give a short space . There bad been one compliment paid him which he must not pass over , though at the risk of being egotistical . The printer of the programme was good enough to credit him vvith being able to add to the Sacred Volume , and had put down the 62 nd Psalm as containing 16 verses instead

of 12 . Well , he could not originate four more verses , and he hoped that hiatus in the ceremony would not be put down to his ( Bro . Simpson ' s ) account . In conclusion he again thanked the brethren most heartil y for the reception they had given to the Grand Officers , who wished vvith all their hearts that the Duke of Fife Lodge might have a long and prosperous career .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in giving " The Health of the Consecrating Master , Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , " said the brethren all knew the trouble and the pain caused to the very worshipful brother to come to Clapham for some hours and consecrate that lodge . He vvas very glad he came , for the other ni ght he received a note from Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , in vvhich he stated he was not sure he would be able to be present . The downcast looks and almost tears in the eyes

of some of the brethren told the sorrow with vvhich they received the news . One brother said the consecrating ceremony would be like playing " Hamlet " with the Prince of Denmark absent . However , he vvas pleased to say Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke was sufficiently recovered now to be present , and the brethren hoped he would be spared many years to rule the affairs of the Craft in the excellent way

that he had done in the years that had passed . It vvas useless for him ( the W . M . ) to stand talking to the brethren of the merits of the Grand Secretary ; the character he had was not a character of to-day or to-morrow ; it vvas a character of many years , and the longer the brethren knew him the more they looked vvith respect and gratitude to him .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . Sec , in reply , said he was very grateful indeed to the W . M . for the far too kind and flattering way in vvhich he had introduced that toast . It had been a great pleasure to him to find that he was sufficiently recovered from a recent attack of illness he unfortunately had had to be able to be now with the brethren . Three days ago he felt a little doubt on the subject , but he determined that if he possibly could he would do the ceremony .

Although he was not quite up to running a race at Epsom , he hoped he was sufficiently well to get through the ceremony satisfactorily to the brethren . It had been a great pleasure to him to come to the lodge , and especially as he had been so well supported by the Grand Officers who had been referred to by Bro . Everett , because vvith their very excellent aid and assistance his small efforts had been successful , and between them they had been able to start the lodge on a career

which he hoped would be one of Masonic influence and usefulness in the future . He thanked the brethren again for the kind way in which he had been received . He would now propose "The Health of the W . M . " The position vvas one of great honour and certainly of very great difficulty , because in the hands of a Master for the first year of a new lodge lay really the fact whether a lodge should be a success or otherwise . It was for the first Master to mould the new vessel into

shape , to build up all the officers in the way they should go , and to direct the whole position and affairs of the lodge , and he was to all intents and purposes its father . The excellent brother whom the brethren had selected unanimously to fill the position vvas one who was capable of carrying out the onerous position in which he had been placed . There vvas luck it was said in odd numbers . This vvas the third chair Bro . Cochrane had filled in the Craft . He had just come from the chair of

No . 3 , and he was also Master of 1056 many years ago . He was therefore well skilled in all the mysteries , usages , and customs of the Craft , and in his capable and able hands the lodge would be brought on in an excellent manner , and at the end of his year of office he would hand it over to his successor ready equipped for the great Masonic struggle . They were starting under good auspices ; they had succeeded in obtaining an honourable and illustrious nameone connected with the

, Throne , one associated with Scottish Freemasonry , and he vvas sure the brethren would make the lodge worthy of it . The Duke of Fife would bave been present that night if his engagements would allow him , but no doubt he would hear of the consecration , and he would take an interest in the lodge vvhich vvas associated vvith his name . He asked the brethren to drink " The Health of the W . M . , " and to wish him all health and prosperity .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in responding to the toast , said he was only a youngster among the brethren of that lodge and he presided over them for the first time . He would , therefore , rather ask them to wait till the end of his year of office before they flattered him . Suppose that it was found at the end of his year of office that he had failed , what then ? He did not anticipate it . He vvas sure the ritual portion would be done , as far as the W . M . and his officers vvere concerned ,

with very good effect . He had three Preceptors among the officers , and there vvas not one that ni ght appointed who could not do the three Degrees intelligently and in first class way . Consequentl y the working of the Dukeof Fife Lodge would not be sli p-shod , because the lodge had been formed out of a lodge of instruction , and those brethren would not disgrace the lodge . He desired to thank the brethren , but he would not ask their opinion of him till the end of his year of office .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next proposed " The Visitors , " and remarked that one of the great charms of Freemasonry was that it made brethren who were totall y unknown to each other perfectl y at home with each other . They mi ght go

Consecration Of The Duke Of Fife Lodge, No. 2345.

into a lodge at home or abroad , and they were not there two minutes before they vvere as familiar with the brethren as if they had known them 20 years . As an instance of the fact , he would mention that he vvas told b y Bro . Westley when they wanted a lodge to recommend the petition for the Duke of Fife Lodge that if he went to a brother in Chancery-lane he would get the recommendation of the Gallery Lodge . Well , he went to that brother , a brother whom he had never seen

before , and found he vvas at the Law Courts . He went to the Law Courts , and introduced himself to that brother , and asked him if he could arrange with the W . M . and officers of the Gallery Lodge to recommend the petition . The brother said he should be delighted to do so , and he was sure the brethren of the Gallery Lodge would be most happy to recommend it . After that he thought there was something to be proud of in being a Freemason , and when he came out of the Law

Courts he thought what a fine thing it was to be received in such a manner , and be vvas glad he was a Freemason , and that while that sort of feeling existed among Freemasons so would it exist till the end of time , while they stuck together and determined to assist each other . Two soldiers , it vvas related—a Scotchman and an Irishman—in the Peninsular War agreed to stick b y each other . The poor Scotchman got his leg shot off and fell , and the Irishman lifted him , threw him

across his shoulders , and ran off vvith him towards the hospital . On his way a cannon ball shot off the Scotchman ' s head . An officer asked him where he was going , and when he told him , the officer said " Why his head is shot off , " when the Irishman said " Upon my conscience , your honour , he told me it vvas his leg . " As those two poor

soldiers stuck together , so let brethren stick together , when in lodge or out of lodge , at banquet or away from banquet , and in ordinary life . He coupled vvith the toast the names of Bro . Wyer , a Past Grand Officer of Kent , and Bro . La Feuillade , of the Lombardian Lodge , at the consecration of which he ( the W . M . ) was a visitor , and where he was treated most hospitably .

Bro . WYER , repl ying , said it had been quite a treat to see the consecration so beautifully performed . Started in such a way and with such a Master at the head , and with such officers , the lodge ought to be a great success . He thanked Bro . Shannaw for proposing him , and he would be most willing and happy to assist the brethren , among whom he hoped to spend many happy evenings . The lodge was started in a neighbourhood in vvhich it vvas sure to be successful , and he hoped it would be one of the most successful lodges in South London .

Bro . LA FEUILLADE said the W . M . had been pleased to mention the entertainment he received at a consecration in vvhich he was very much interested a short time ago . He could only say that at that lodge they only did what the brethren of the Duke of Fife Lodge had done—they did their best to entertain their visitors ; and although in point of numbers they exceeded the Duke of Fife , the entertainment did not . He felt perfectly convinced , knowing many of the founders of the lodge ,

that it would be one of the best working lodges in London . It was officered by some of the most efficient workers in the South of London . He sincerely trusted he should have the pleasure of visiting the lodge again , and he vvas sure after the reception that had been accorded to the visitors they would all be only too delighted , if circumstances permitted , to avail themselves of every opportunity of doing so .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next gave "The Officers , " and said there was not one amongst them but could work the Three Degrees excellently . That vvas not onl y true of the officers but of the founders and the joining members . That arose from the lodge of instruction at the Gauden Hotel , of which Bro . Westley

was the honoured Preceptor , a man who had done so much for Freemasonry as well in the north , east , and west of London . He ( the W . M . ) was also assisted b y the J . W ., Bro . Folkard , not so old a Mason as the S . W ., but he could do the ceremonies splendidly . Then there was Bro . Andrews , S . D ., the Preceptor of the Domatic Lodge ; so be thought they would not go short of ritual .

Bro . WESTLEV said the most difficult part of the ritual of Freemasonry was making a speech , he never could do it , and he never should , and he gave it up as a bad job . But whatever work the W . M . called upon the officers to do they would try to do it to the utmost of their ability . They would leave it to the end of the year for the W . M . to say how the work vvas done . The W . M . had been kind enough to say that the lodge sprang from a lodge of instruction . The founders vvere all good workmen . From what he knew of them he could say that if they did not do their best they would try to do their best .

Bro . FOLKARD was sure from the very successful start the lodge had made that the work would be carried out well' throughout this year and in future years . Although the present moment vvas a proud moment for him , he looked forward to a prouder moment . He hoped at the end of the year the W . M . would be able to congratulate the brethren on the manner in vvhich tbey bad worked .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER said he had one other toast vvhich was not on the programme—that of " The Worthy Secretary "—and'with that he should couple the name of another brother who had lent a hand and done his level best for them—Bro . G . Everett . He did not know whether those brethren took it all the worse or all the better that the toast was not in the list . Some brethren had said do not put the Secretary down ; he has done nothing , and so they thought

they would not put it down in the programme ; but he would propose it , because in the formation of the lodge the great bulk of the work had been done by Bro . Charlie Wood . That brother had borne the brunt uncomplainingly , and had been quite willing to do his own part , and what he had done he had done well . He ( the W . M . ) and other . brethren thanked him for what he had done . He had

worked day and night sending out notices , so that they could be received the first thing the following morning . Bro . George Everett had also worked hard , and had gone frequently to Grand Lodge , and he also had done his level best . Those brethren deserved the heartiest thanks of the lodge , and the heartiest good wishes . For himself he thanked them very heartily .

Bro . C . WOOD hoped he would have escaped . He thought he had done his share of talking in the past , perhaps too much , and so he thought he might be let off . Very often he had been on his legs in past times , when it would have been better if the W . M . had made him sit down . But that vvas all over . It vvas true that he had worked a little , but he felt quite satisfied vvith the position the W . M .

gave him . There was no position he felt more pleased to hold . He liked writing letters and running about ; he did not want peace . He hoped the W . M . would find any amount of work for him , find fault vvith him , and give him plenty of jacketings , and after that to say be was a good fellow . At the same time he thanked the W . M . very much for proposing that toast .

Bro . G . EVERETT also replied , and made some amusing remarks on the energy and activity of the Secretary , and his study of the Book of Constitutions . The Tyler ' s toast was then given , and the brethren separated , after cordially thanking Bro . Shannaw , the proprietor of the hotel , for his successful efforts to make the brethren happy and comfortable . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

L . A . MURATORI . —Born in 1672 , he died in 1750 . A learned Italian professor —or , as the French say , a " savant" —well known by several important archaeological and historical works , e . g ., " Remm Italicarum Scriptores , " 1725 ; " Antiquitates Italica ; medii a _ vi , " 173 8 ; " Novus Thesaurus Veterum Inscriptionum , " 1739 ; " Annali dTtalia , " 1744 . In 1740 , for some reason , the Roman Catholic

authorities and the Jesuits commenced a violent attack on Muratori by preaching and otherwise , though why we know not , and they even said , in their extreme folly , that from his name the " Liberi Muratori , " or travelling Muratori , vvere derived . The swallow of the Ultramontanes is often very large . Muratori , however , found a friend and protector in Pope Benedict XIV . —Kenning ' s Cyclopcedia of Freemasonry .