Free Masonry In South Africa.

service in 1831 . On thc 9 th March last it was totally destroyed by lire , and it _ was onl y natural that the brethren ' should ' be anxious to exhibit their sympathy with Bro . Dr . WlRG . MAN Intaking part m the ceremony of laying thc memorial-stone of the restored building . Hence the presence of the District Grand

Master and his officers and the brethren generall y at thc function , which was witnessed as well b y crowds of " people gathered together from all parts of the Colony . But our Port Elizabeth brethren do not seem to have thought that the annual Communication of the District Grand Lodge on the Wednesday and the

laying of the memorial-stone were sufficient , seeing that the attendance of members of the Craft was exceptionally large . Hence District Grand Lodge was entertained at luncheon on board the Currie mail steamer , the Dunottar Castle , which happened to be l ying convenientl y at anchor in Port Elizabeth

harbour at the tunc , while thc day was brought to a close with a ball in the Town Hall , got up b y the local lodges , at which , including ladies , brethren , and non-Masons , there are reported to have been present some 500 guests . It is evident there is a large amount

of up-to-date earnestness and zeal among our South African brethren , who possess the happy knack of combining business and pleasure to a degree and in a manner which Masons in far older jurisdictions mi ght well envy .

Consecration Of The Empress Lodge, No. 2581.

CONSECRATION OF THE EMPRESS LODGE , No . 2581 .

On Monday , the 14 th instant , Bro . Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , consecrated the above new lodge at the Empire of India Exhibition , Earl ' s Court , in the performance of which ceremony he was assisted by Bros . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg . ; the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . C . ; Frank Richardson , PTG . D . ; and C . F . Matier

P . G . Std . Br . Bro . W . S . Hoyte , P . G . Org ., led the music , in which Bros . William NichplI , Arthur L . Oswald , Reginald Groome , and W . Bradford took part . The brethren present on the occasion were—Bros . Sir J . C . Dimsdale , P . G . Treas . ; Ross Robertson , P . G . M . Canada ; Sir J . B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; Sir Reginald Hanson , P . G . W . ; Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . C ; E . Letchworth , P . G . D ., G . Sec . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . ; Ralph Gooding , P . G . D . ; G . P . Goldney , P . G . D . ; Sir

Somers Vine , C . M . G ., P . G . D . ; Major-Gen . J . C . Hay , P . G . D . j J . Lewis Thomas , P . A . G . D . C . ; Richard Eve , P . G . Treas . ; G . Everett , P . G . Treas . ; W . M . Stiles , G . Treas . ; F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg . ; Thomas Fenn , P . P . B . G . P . ; Rev . Dr . Marks , D . G . Chaplain , P . D . D . G . M . Burma ; C . Purdon Clarke ; C . Belton , P . D . G . D . C ; J . H . Matthews , P . D . G . D . C ; Lennox Browne , P . D . G . D . C ; R . Turtle Pigott , P . A . G . D . C . ; Charles Martin , P . A . G . D . C ; F . Mead , P . G . S . B . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; Will E . Chapman , P . P . G . S . W .

Bucks ; Alderman W . S . Treloar , John Morgan , Frank Karuth , W . Newman , C . E . Daniel , P . P . G . Supt . of Works Somerset ; W . J . W . Beard , P . M . 101 ; J . E . Somers Vine , E . Rosenthall , W . M . 2190 ; A . Tite , G . R . Blades , J . W . Clark , J . D . Langton , P . P . J . G . W . Surrey ; J . Dimsdale , J . H . Dimsdale , T . P . Griffin , W . M . 1 ; C F . ' Monckton , A . Howe , G . D . Coleman , R . M . Meyer , Edgar Barnes , H . Crawford , P . M . 1 ; G . Monteuuis , P . G . S . B . ; J . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; Hastings Miller , P . G . S . B . ; G . Reid , P . G . Std . Br . ; R .

C . Sudlow , iP . G . Std . Br . ; W . Hoyte , P . G . Org . ; W . Lake , A . G . Sec ; H , Pritchard ; H . S . Wellcome , P . M . 3 ; G . Cook , P . M . ; G . Kennaby ; J . M . McLeod , P . P . S . G . W . Derby , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; H . Thompson Lyon ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; H . Tipper , P . A . G . P . ; L . Ascott ; C . Ardeshir , D . G . S . Bengal ; J . S . Bhumgaree ; P . Bevan ; Woodthorpe ; E . Dioust ; N . W . Hodgson ; E , N . Alpe ; Major-General Bedford ; O . A . Fry ; C . L . Carson ; W . f . Ebbetts .

P . M . , 14 ; B . Hamilton ; T . Catling , P . M . 2127 ; C . A . Walter , P . M . ; T . Blanco White , P . M . ; M . Fortescue , J . P . ; R . Case , P . G . S . Dorset ; Sir J . D . Linton , H . T . Harrison , F . C . Van Duzer , M . M . Bhownaggree , M . P . ; Imre Kiralfy ; J . Bailey . M . P . ; Ii . J . Wade , H . Hartley , T . H . P . Hartley , T . Green , Sir W . Abdy , Bart ., P . G . S . W . Essex ; Dr . Jackson , P . M . ; W . B . Fendick , P . M . ; E . Storr , P . M . ; J . Pain , jun . ; A . Grey , Capt . Heath , R . J . Maitland Coffin , W . Nicholl , R . Groome , A . L . Oswaid , W . Bradford , and G . C . Fricker .

After opening the lodge in the three Degrees , Bro . LETCHWORTH said : Brethren , —I will not presume to occupy your lime for many moments with any words of my own on the present occasion . We are met , as you all know , for a very interesting and at the same time a very solemn object—the constitution of a new lodge , and its dedication to the service of God , and I am honoured by the command of the M . W . G . M ., his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , to undertake the performance of

the ceremonies . I can only express my sincere hope that under thc very able rule of the distinguished brother whom I shall shortly have the privilege of installing in the chair the lodge will have both a happy and a prosperous career , and I am sure I am only expressing thc feelings of all present when I also say I hope its career will be one of great usefulness . The oration was delivered by Bro . the Rev . J . S . BKO WNKKU ; as follows : Brethren , —The name of your new lodge is one more proof of the affectionate

loyalty with which every English subject regards the gracious lady who rules over this vast empire . Other nations find it difficult to understand how that loyalty is produced and sustained . At any great crisis , wherever it occurs , if the honour of England is endangered , we know , by experience , that the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown are not , as some would wish us to believe , an element of weakness , but , on the contrary , a source of boundless strength . India , Canada , and Australia are ready at a moment's notice to concentrate their native forces wherever the Empress needs them ; ready to light side by side with their

brothers from England , Scotland , Ireland , and Wales , under the same colours , for Ihe same cause . The universe is realising the fact , though it fails sometimes to understand the reason . No doubt the foundation of English loyalty is that virtue which is engrained in the English character—obedience to constituted authority . Even that hateful product of Ihe present century—the professional Agitator—has failed to do any serious damage to the law-abiding character of the ' -nglish nation . But , brethren , over that truly Masonic foundation there has been raised during the past 57 years a superstructure perfect in its parts and honourable to the builder , and the loyalty which commands an affectionate enthusiasm

Consecration Of The Empress Lodge, No. 2581.

wherever the English flag flies is even more the result of the personal influence of our gracious Oi : e ? n and Empress , than of any inherent good quality of our race . She deserves it ; and how has she won it ? First , by the great fact that whenever there has been difficulty , or trouble , or danger , either at home or abroad ( and there have been many such difficulties during the present reign ) ; moments when

the wisest statesmen , the most gallant soldiers , have not concealed their anxiety ; then the first to face any crisis in the history of the world , with the most unflinching courage and the most assured belief in her country's power was the Empress of this realm . If others for the moment lost their heads , and their tempers , and their faith , she remained thc rallying pcint of the State . Dicu el mon Droit—the motto which encircles her coat-of-arms—has been to her not an ideal counsel of

perfection , but the principle upon which every decision of the State must rest . But there is something which even more than her wisdom and her courage has won for her the affection of the Empire . It is the worn inly sympathy which she is ever showing to every class of her subjects . She "dwells among her own people . " Their joys and their sorrows are hers . At any moment of great national triumph or great national joy , when , for instance , the Imperial Army has shown the

world that it can go anywhere and do anything , then always the great message of congratulation , worded with the most exquisite skill , is one from the English Sovereign , conveying her warmest thanks to all who have done service to her Empire . But domestic and commonplace matters are not beneath her care . When we read in the press some sad story of a serious accident in a mine or on a railway ; when women and children are clustering round the pit mouth anxiously watching to see whether the next bod y brought to bank belongs to them ; when

the debris of a shattered train are being removed , to see what is underneath it ; then if we read on , we never fail to see one paragraph to the effect : the Queen has telegraphed to enquire after the sufferers , and to convey her gentle , kindly sympathy to the widow and to the orphan . And this sympathy of a good woman tells upon the whole Empire ; its surpassing beauty works together with her wisdom and her strength to superadd to our loyalty a personal devotion of which your new lodge is intended to be a respectful manifestation .

At the conclusion of the ceremonies of consecration and dedication of the lodge , Bro . Letchworth installed Bro . Sir Joseph Cockfield Dimsdale , P . M ., P . G . T ., as Master of the lodge . Bro . C . Purdon Clarke , P . M ., was appointed and invested to act as I . P . M . The other investitures were

as follows : R . Maitland Coffin , M . D ., F . R . C . P ., S . W . ; Imre Kiralfy , J . W . ; H . Pritchard , P . P . G . T . Middx ., Treas . ; Will E . Chapman , P . P . S . G . W . Bucks , Sec ; J . Holdsworth Dimsdale , S . D . ; E . N . Alpe , J . D . ; A . Gray , I . G . ; Thomas W . Heath , P . M . 1642 , D . C . ; Gay C . Fricker , Stwd . ; and Terriss , Tyler .

The Consecrating Officers were then elected hon . membsrs of the lodge , and made the recipients of a vote of thanks and a handsome founder ' s jewel ; and the W . M . afterwards announced that he would take the Stewardship of the lodge for the next Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , at which the Earl of Yarborough , Prov . Grand Master for Lincolnshire , would preside .

A long list of intending initiates and joining members was afterwards read by Bro . Will E . Chapman , Sec , and the lodge . having been closed , the brethren adjourned to a choice banquet . This being finished , the toasts were honoured , aid sorrje capital singing was performed , with Bro . James Rift as accompanist , | by Bros . W . Nicholl Arthur L . Oswald , Reginald Groome , and W . Bradford .

Bro . Sir JosEi'ii DIMSDALE , W . M ., in giving the toast of "The Queen and the Craft , " said : I have the pleasure to give you a toast which is always considered second to none when given in the presence of Masons . I ask you to drink the health of one who , as monarch , as wife , as mother , and sympathising English woman , has ever shown virtues which may be imitated , but never excelled . Truly may be said of her the same words which , to quote Shakespeare , were said of another English

princess-She shall be , lo the happiness of England , An aged princess . ; many days shall see her ; And yet no day without a deed to crown it . Brethren , happy is the family that has such a mother ; blessed is the nation that has such a Queen . I give you " The Health of our Empress-Queen ; — may the Great Architect of the Universe bless her richly—and the Craft . "

Bro . Sir J OSEPH DIMSDALE next said : We know perfectly well the old adage that " Good wine requires no bush ; " neither do old friends require any flattering introductions ; and certainly in any bodies of Mason * the toast of " His Royal Highness the Most Worshi pful Grand Master , " requires no orator to sing his praises . We , as Masons , appreciate his work ; we , as

Masons , know that to him we owe much for the development and extension , and the still developing powers of Masonry . He gathers around him the affection and love of every Mason , and it is an honour and pleasure whenever his toast is proposed in their presence for them to respond with enthusiasm and heartfelt gratitude to him .

The toast , which , like the former , was most cordially received , was followed by the toast which includes all Grand Officers . Bro . Sir J OSEI-II DIMSDALE said thc next toast is the natural sequence to the one we have just drunk with the honour and respect due to it , viz , " The M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; the R W . the Dip . Grand Master , the Earl of Mount Edgcambc : and the rest of the Grand

Officers , Present and Past . " No words of mine can for a moment add to the respect and esteem that we feel for Grand Lodge , for at the present moment 1 must claim not to be a member of that august assembly . It is to no small extent owing to the members of Grand Lodge keeping in touch , and feeling what is necessary to be in touch with the several lodges , which leads us as members of the Masonic world to look up to them with reverence

and esteem . We all know the parable of Dives and Lazarus . To-night we see it exactly the reverse ; we see so much interest taken by the members of Grand Lodge in Masonry , that those who are clothed in purple and line linen sit down with the members ol the youngest and humblest lodge in England . I think this shows the sympathy and co-operation which exist between Grand Lodge and the lodges throughout the ountry as the great

secret of the success and welfare of the Fraternity . I have the greatest pleasure in associating with this toast a long and valued friend of mine . He is valued and respected , and rightly honoured and respected—1 refer to Sir Reginald Hanson . We know him as a Mason ; I know him in other spheres of life ; I know him as a good husband , an excellent father , an excellent corporator of the City of London , the representative

—and the worthy representative—of one oi the blue ribbjn constituencies of this Kingdom in the City of London ; and you , as I , know him as a staunch and unswerving friend . And while g iving this toast it is with more than ordinary pleasure that 1 find associating with it one who is such a representative Mason , and , to sum it up , such a representative English gentleman .