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Article CONSECRATION OF THE EMPRESS LODGE, No. 2581. ← Page 2 of 2 Article CONSECRATION OF THE EMPRESS LODGE, No. 2581. Page 2 of 2
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Consecration Of The Empress Lodge, No. 2581.
Bro . Sir REGINALD HANSON , P . G . W ., in reply , said : It is a particular gratification to me that I am called upon , not because I am the Seni > r Grand Officer , and certainly not because I am one of the best working Grand Officers , to return thanks for this important toast , which includes such an intelligent , h gh-minded , and good-looking body of gentlemen standing up around the room , but some of those with better
qualifications than mine are reserved for a future toast . You have spoken in terms of high commendation of them who rule the Craft , and it is , no doubt , to their exertions the Craft owes so much , and if it was not for their tncouragement 1 q lestion whether so many lodges would be added to the roll of Grand Lodg-i of England . But when we find that so many gentlemen are desirous of founding new lodges—lodges which have come forward
undirsuch good auspices as the Empress , which has been consecrated in such a siyb this day—we may believe much in the future of Masonry . The lodge has begun well , and , although I am speaking on behalf of the Grand Officers , I may congratulate you , Sir Joseph , that so many of light and leading in the Craft have been present and seen the ceremony , which , as
far as I am concerned , has never been seen done better before . It will be your privilege presently to propose the Consecrating Officers , but I think I may venture , on behalf of those who will not be included in the toast , to express in anticipation our perfect approbation of what you will no doubt say in regard to myself .
Bro . Sir J OSEFH DIMSDALE next said : It is now my privilege and pleasure to endeavour on your behalf—and I feel conscious it will be very in adequately done—to do my best to convey to the Consecrating Officers our deep debt of gratitude to them for coming among us to-night . I feel confident that the oldest Mason and the youngest Mason in this room were alike deeply impressed with the manner in which that religious and grand
ceremony was carried out . As I had the privilege of saying in lodge , Masonry is established upon religion—non-sectarian religion , but universal religion . We often find , thc ( 1 ppant side , perhaps , if I may use the expression , of Masonry put too much to the fore , but the real , deep , and lasting side of Masonry is that which teaches us our unswarving confidence and belief in thc Great Architect of the Universe , and leads us to the natural sequence of
doing our duty to our fellow men ; and I unhesitatingly say that wherever you go and wh itever consecration you may be at , you will never see the consecration more religiously and more devotionally carried out than you have seen it to-night . The manner in which our Bro . Letchworth conducted the ceremony was alike pleasing and impressive to us all . The beautiful oration of our Chaplain , inspired with that enthusiasm which is present in
the breast and permeates through the breasts of all of us who are subjects of our Empress Queen , and I can assure our Consecrating Officers 1 feel confident on your part as well as my own that to-day we have had a very great honour conferred upon us by having our lodge consecrated in such an impressive and religious manner . Bro . Letchworth , I feel that to you there is something even more due than an acknowledgment of your impressive
consecration . There are many little details which have to be threshed out and looked after . You have always bjen ready and open to us ; you have assisted us in every way , and I can assure you that the only feeling that we have had in establishing this lodge is our love to Masonry and our desire to see it still further developed . I thank the Consecrating Officers on behalf of this lodge , and I trust that every happiness and every blessing may be theirs ,
and the richest prosperity showered down upon them and theirs by the Great Architect of the Universe . I associate with this toast , I need hardly say , the name of B : o . Letchworth , one beloved in the Craft , one who holds a most responsible position and a most difficult position j but the difficulty and anxiety have been more than overcome by his loyalty and geniality to every Mason who comes in his way .
Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , in reply , said : After you have listened to me at considerable length elsewhere , I should , indeed , be ungenerous if I were to occupy your time further than to express , as I desire to express on my own behalf and on behalf of those Grand Officers with whom I have had the privilege of being associated , my warmest thanks for the honour you have done us . Tne W . M . has been pleased to refer to the small service it
has been my privilege to render this lodge ; he has done so in terms as flattering as I fear they are undeserved ; but I can assure you that among the many duties I am called upon to perform in the discharge of the functions connected with my office , I feel there is no duty which gives me half the pleasure the consecration of a lodge gives me , and that pleasure is greatly enhanced when I am assured as 1 am this evening that the lodge we have assisted in starting into existence has such a splendid future before it as I
venture to believe the Empress Lodge has . I cannot sit down without acknowledging the very admirable arrangements which has been made lor our comfort this evening , and I think that we recognise in those arrangements the kind thoughtfulness and powers of organisation exhibited by the Junior Warden ( Bro . Kiralfy ) , assisted , as I know he has bsen , by our Bro . Chapman . Bro . Sir J B . MONCKTON , P . G . W ., proposed "The Worshipful Master . "
Bro . Sir Josi ; rn DIMSDALE , in reply , said : Sir John Monckton , I thank you very sincerely for the words which you have said with regard to myself , and , brethren , I can assure you I desire to thank you also for the enthusiastic manner in which you have received those eloquent words . But I am not unconscious that this toast really means success to thc Empress Lodge , and I think it is but due that I should say a few words as
to what has bem in the mind j of the founders with regard to the establishment of this Empress Lodge . Doubtless all of us remember the story of the mother of the Gracchi , who , whsn asked by her friends to show them her jewels took them to her nursery , and displayed her children . Surely if England was asked the cause of her greatness and of her unique position , she would point with pride over the ocean waves to the Indian Empire and
her Colonies which belt the world , in whom she lives , in whom she flourishes , in whom she triumphs . If we look to the east , that region to which we owe so much , the beginning of all learning , bath human and divine , there we find an empire containing 3113 millions , and among that population some of the most astute and learned of mankind , but we find that astute and learned population , with all its learning and all its
greatness , is proud to be under the rule of our Empress Oueen . If on the other hand we turn to the west we cannot but see with pride and with pleasure the vitality and the vigour of the younger branches of the British oak . There we see new n uions being reared , there we see new empires being formed , all under the same constitutional government whic ' i has made England herself great . If wc go on year by year we see our family thus progressing ; we s ; e , and wc arc thankful to sec , civilisation and icligion being extended in all portions of the glob ::.
Consecration Of The Empress Lodge, No. 2581.
" Regions Cesar never knew , Our posterity shall sway , Where his eagle never flew , None invincible as they . " Those were the feelings which animated the founders of the Empress Lodge ; they felt that there was an opportunity given to them to extend
the blessings and the advantages which we as Masons know and prize and deeply value ; it was to establish a lodge here in which those who come from the domains of our Empress Queen would find a rallying point whether they came permanently or occasionally . We members of the Empress Lod ge have to thank you visitors for coming amongst us to-night and giving us your approval and approbation . Our desire is—and we hope we shall be able to
carry it out—to make at least an effort of peace , justice , and righteousness to a portion of our fellow mankind , and this I look with confidence and hope to the Empress lodge in the future , young though it is at present , developing and extending and adding lustre and greatness to Freemasonry , which we all have at heart and know how to prize . Brethren , I thank you on behalf
of this lodge ; I thank you on my own behalf ; and I feel that you possess with us sympathy and co-operation in wishing us God-speed in the future . Bro . Sir J OSEPH DIMSDALE , in proposing " The Visitors , " with which he coupled the names of Bro . T . P . Griffin , "W . M . No . r , and Bro . M . M . Bhownaggree , M . P ., said that in the latter the brethren had a most excellent representative of the Eastern Empire .
Bro . GRIFFIN , in responding , said he was only echoing the feelings and wishes of every visitor when he expressed the hope that the Empress Lodge might have a most happy and prosperous future . In Sir Joseph Dimsdale the members of the lodge could feel no doubt at all , and as future Masters went into the chair they would uphold the dignity and prestige of the lodge . He ( Bro . Griffin ) had attended many lodge consecrations , but he had never heard the consecration ritual delivered more perfectly than it had been that evening . It was a great intellectual treat .
Bro . BHOWNAGGREE said he entered on his public life through a Masonic lodge , about a quarter of a century ago . He was very much pleased to have attended this consecration and witnessed the magnificent ceremony . He felt flattered at being mentioned in connection with this toast , but he could not hide from himself the feeling that it was a great privilege to be asked to respond to the toast of the visitors . He spoke now in the name of India , and he freely admitted that among the great many
blessings the British Empire had bestowed upon that Continent , the blessings of Freemasonry had not been small . India was a land of many castes , of many religions , of many feelings , and of many sentiments ; but the one agency through which the diversified classes of feelings of India had been brought on one platform was Freemasonry , and he recognised in the institution of the Empress Lodge a great event , and auspicious as had been the
circumstances under which the lodge had been inaugurated , he was perfectly sure that when the report of this night ' s proceedings went to India , the event would be hailed far and wide throughout that country by many sects , and by many races . He was grateful that a powerful body of Englishmen had selected as the name of this lodge the Empress , meaning the Empress of India . In the Oueen Empress of the British domains , India recognised a Sovereign who had
bestowed numberless and untenable blessings upon the Empire of India , The administration of England had carried a great many blessings to India . This was not the time , and this lodge was not the place , to recount in historical detail those blessings , but he could tell the brethren in brief that if India to-day rejoiced in the blessing of a sound , steady , and prosperous government , it was due to the Government of Great Britain , and that the
head of the Government , her Majesty the Q ueen Empress , was deservedly beloved throughout the length and breadth of that Empire . In selecting the title of " Empress " for the lodge held in the grounds of a part of England or a part of the Metropolis of the Empire which had so ably and accurately reproduced the Empire of India , he might say it was appreciated here , yet more appreciated throughout the community of India . He sincerely thanked
the founders for giving the lodge that name j it was of more far-reaching extent than they could conceive , and he trusted that in the future for many a long year to come—he hoped , for ever—the lodge founded that ni g ht would carry an impression to the millions of the population of India , which would do a great deal to cement the bonds which existed between Britain and the
Continent of India . He could only express his gratitude , and he hoped on this auspicious occasion , when politics did not enter into the sphere of the brethren's comments , he might speak in the name of India , in the name of all the races , and say that this lodge was an emblem of that far-reaching effect which the Government of England had produced on the fortunes of India .
Bros . Dr . COFI ' IN , S . W ., and IMRE KIRALIT , J . W ., responded to the toast of " The Officers . " Bro . PRITCHARD having replied to the toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary , " Bro . WILL E . CIIAI-MAN said it was indeed a pleasure when one worked to feel that the work was appreciated by those for whom he hid worked , and he was sure the kind words the W . M . had used more than expressed
the work he ( Mro . Chapman ) had been able to do . He could not under the circumstances sit down without acknowledging his pergonal feeling of gratitude to the Grand Secretary for the kind assistance and advice he had given in the details which he had had to work up for the past fortnight . It had been most valuable to him ( Bro . Chapman ) , and the result was the great success which had been aclusved that night by the new lodge . He trusted that this baby lodge would , when it arrived at full stature and came of age , be worthy of the great name it bore .
The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings at a late hour . [ A portrait of the W . M ., Bro . Sir J oseph Dimsdale , will appear i : i our Portrait Gallery next week . ]
MASONIC FESTIVAL AT SOUTHPORT . —The annual festival of the West Lancashire Alpass Henevolent Institution was held at the Prince of Wales Hotel , Southport , on Wednesday evening . Bro . Col . Baldwin , J . P ., P . P . G . W ., presided at the banquet , which was attended by over 100 ladies and brethren . After the usual loyal toasts ha teen honoured , the chairman proposed " The Health of the Right Hon . the Earl p in
Lathom , and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He said they West Lancashire ought to feel especially proud that they had for their leader such an illustrious brother as his lordchip , who bad the interest of the Craft very much at heaiv Subsequently the chairman proposed the toast of " The West Lancashire "' l ? j Benevolent Institution , " remarking that since its formation 10 years a ? o , 45 widows n been placed on the foundation , and 41 were at present receiving the benehts ol Institution , at an annual tost in annuities of ^ uS . Bro . Armstiong , Hon . Sec , mtioned that the donations to the Institution this year amounted to £ 736 10 s .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Empress Lodge, No. 2581.
Bro . Sir REGINALD HANSON , P . G . W ., in reply , said : It is a particular gratification to me that I am called upon , not because I am the Seni > r Grand Officer , and certainly not because I am one of the best working Grand Officers , to return thanks for this important toast , which includes such an intelligent , h gh-minded , and good-looking body of gentlemen standing up around the room , but some of those with better
qualifications than mine are reserved for a future toast . You have spoken in terms of high commendation of them who rule the Craft , and it is , no doubt , to their exertions the Craft owes so much , and if it was not for their tncouragement 1 q lestion whether so many lodges would be added to the roll of Grand Lodg-i of England . But when we find that so many gentlemen are desirous of founding new lodges—lodges which have come forward
undirsuch good auspices as the Empress , which has been consecrated in such a siyb this day—we may believe much in the future of Masonry . The lodge has begun well , and , although I am speaking on behalf of the Grand Officers , I may congratulate you , Sir Joseph , that so many of light and leading in the Craft have been present and seen the ceremony , which , as
far as I am concerned , has never been seen done better before . It will be your privilege presently to propose the Consecrating Officers , but I think I may venture , on behalf of those who will not be included in the toast , to express in anticipation our perfect approbation of what you will no doubt say in regard to myself .
Bro . Sir J OSEFH DIMSDALE next said : It is now my privilege and pleasure to endeavour on your behalf—and I feel conscious it will be very in adequately done—to do my best to convey to the Consecrating Officers our deep debt of gratitude to them for coming among us to-night . I feel confident that the oldest Mason and the youngest Mason in this room were alike deeply impressed with the manner in which that religious and grand
ceremony was carried out . As I had the privilege of saying in lodge , Masonry is established upon religion—non-sectarian religion , but universal religion . We often find , thc ( 1 ppant side , perhaps , if I may use the expression , of Masonry put too much to the fore , but the real , deep , and lasting side of Masonry is that which teaches us our unswarving confidence and belief in thc Great Architect of the Universe , and leads us to the natural sequence of
doing our duty to our fellow men ; and I unhesitatingly say that wherever you go and wh itever consecration you may be at , you will never see the consecration more religiously and more devotionally carried out than you have seen it to-night . The manner in which our Bro . Letchworth conducted the ceremony was alike pleasing and impressive to us all . The beautiful oration of our Chaplain , inspired with that enthusiasm which is present in
the breast and permeates through the breasts of all of us who are subjects of our Empress Queen , and I can assure our Consecrating Officers 1 feel confident on your part as well as my own that to-day we have had a very great honour conferred upon us by having our lodge consecrated in such an impressive and religious manner . Bro . Letchworth , I feel that to you there is something even more due than an acknowledgment of your impressive
consecration . There are many little details which have to be threshed out and looked after . You have always bjen ready and open to us ; you have assisted us in every way , and I can assure you that the only feeling that we have had in establishing this lodge is our love to Masonry and our desire to see it still further developed . I thank the Consecrating Officers on behalf of this lodge , and I trust that every happiness and every blessing may be theirs ,
and the richest prosperity showered down upon them and theirs by the Great Architect of the Universe . I associate with this toast , I need hardly say , the name of B : o . Letchworth , one beloved in the Craft , one who holds a most responsible position and a most difficult position j but the difficulty and anxiety have been more than overcome by his loyalty and geniality to every Mason who comes in his way .
Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , in reply , said : After you have listened to me at considerable length elsewhere , I should , indeed , be ungenerous if I were to occupy your time further than to express , as I desire to express on my own behalf and on behalf of those Grand Officers with whom I have had the privilege of being associated , my warmest thanks for the honour you have done us . Tne W . M . has been pleased to refer to the small service it
has been my privilege to render this lodge ; he has done so in terms as flattering as I fear they are undeserved ; but I can assure you that among the many duties I am called upon to perform in the discharge of the functions connected with my office , I feel there is no duty which gives me half the pleasure the consecration of a lodge gives me , and that pleasure is greatly enhanced when I am assured as 1 am this evening that the lodge we have assisted in starting into existence has such a splendid future before it as I
venture to believe the Empress Lodge has . I cannot sit down without acknowledging the very admirable arrangements which has been made lor our comfort this evening , and I think that we recognise in those arrangements the kind thoughtfulness and powers of organisation exhibited by the Junior Warden ( Bro . Kiralfy ) , assisted , as I know he has bsen , by our Bro . Chapman . Bro . Sir J B . MONCKTON , P . G . W ., proposed "The Worshipful Master . "
Bro . Sir Josi ; rn DIMSDALE , in reply , said : Sir John Monckton , I thank you very sincerely for the words which you have said with regard to myself , and , brethren , I can assure you I desire to thank you also for the enthusiastic manner in which you have received those eloquent words . But I am not unconscious that this toast really means success to thc Empress Lodge , and I think it is but due that I should say a few words as
to what has bem in the mind j of the founders with regard to the establishment of this Empress Lodge . Doubtless all of us remember the story of the mother of the Gracchi , who , whsn asked by her friends to show them her jewels took them to her nursery , and displayed her children . Surely if England was asked the cause of her greatness and of her unique position , she would point with pride over the ocean waves to the Indian Empire and
her Colonies which belt the world , in whom she lives , in whom she flourishes , in whom she triumphs . If we look to the east , that region to which we owe so much , the beginning of all learning , bath human and divine , there we find an empire containing 3113 millions , and among that population some of the most astute and learned of mankind , but we find that astute and learned population , with all its learning and all its
greatness , is proud to be under the rule of our Empress Oueen . If on the other hand we turn to the west we cannot but see with pride and with pleasure the vitality and the vigour of the younger branches of the British oak . There we see new n uions being reared , there we see new empires being formed , all under the same constitutional government whic ' i has made England herself great . If wc go on year by year we see our family thus progressing ; we s ; e , and wc arc thankful to sec , civilisation and icligion being extended in all portions of the glob ::.
Consecration Of The Empress Lodge, No. 2581.
" Regions Cesar never knew , Our posterity shall sway , Where his eagle never flew , None invincible as they . " Those were the feelings which animated the founders of the Empress Lodge ; they felt that there was an opportunity given to them to extend
the blessings and the advantages which we as Masons know and prize and deeply value ; it was to establish a lodge here in which those who come from the domains of our Empress Queen would find a rallying point whether they came permanently or occasionally . We members of the Empress Lod ge have to thank you visitors for coming amongst us to-night and giving us your approval and approbation . Our desire is—and we hope we shall be able to
carry it out—to make at least an effort of peace , justice , and righteousness to a portion of our fellow mankind , and this I look with confidence and hope to the Empress lodge in the future , young though it is at present , developing and extending and adding lustre and greatness to Freemasonry , which we all have at heart and know how to prize . Brethren , I thank you on behalf
of this lodge ; I thank you on my own behalf ; and I feel that you possess with us sympathy and co-operation in wishing us God-speed in the future . Bro . Sir J OSEPH DIMSDALE , in proposing " The Visitors , " with which he coupled the names of Bro . T . P . Griffin , "W . M . No . r , and Bro . M . M . Bhownaggree , M . P ., said that in the latter the brethren had a most excellent representative of the Eastern Empire .
Bro . GRIFFIN , in responding , said he was only echoing the feelings and wishes of every visitor when he expressed the hope that the Empress Lodge might have a most happy and prosperous future . In Sir Joseph Dimsdale the members of the lodge could feel no doubt at all , and as future Masters went into the chair they would uphold the dignity and prestige of the lodge . He ( Bro . Griffin ) had attended many lodge consecrations , but he had never heard the consecration ritual delivered more perfectly than it had been that evening . It was a great intellectual treat .
Bro . BHOWNAGGREE said he entered on his public life through a Masonic lodge , about a quarter of a century ago . He was very much pleased to have attended this consecration and witnessed the magnificent ceremony . He felt flattered at being mentioned in connection with this toast , but he could not hide from himself the feeling that it was a great privilege to be asked to respond to the toast of the visitors . He spoke now in the name of India , and he freely admitted that among the great many
blessings the British Empire had bestowed upon that Continent , the blessings of Freemasonry had not been small . India was a land of many castes , of many religions , of many feelings , and of many sentiments ; but the one agency through which the diversified classes of feelings of India had been brought on one platform was Freemasonry , and he recognised in the institution of the Empress Lodge a great event , and auspicious as had been the
circumstances under which the lodge had been inaugurated , he was perfectly sure that when the report of this night ' s proceedings went to India , the event would be hailed far and wide throughout that country by many sects , and by many races . He was grateful that a powerful body of Englishmen had selected as the name of this lodge the Empress , meaning the Empress of India . In the Oueen Empress of the British domains , India recognised a Sovereign who had
bestowed numberless and untenable blessings upon the Empire of India , The administration of England had carried a great many blessings to India . This was not the time , and this lodge was not the place , to recount in historical detail those blessings , but he could tell the brethren in brief that if India to-day rejoiced in the blessing of a sound , steady , and prosperous government , it was due to the Government of Great Britain , and that the
head of the Government , her Majesty the Q ueen Empress , was deservedly beloved throughout the length and breadth of that Empire . In selecting the title of " Empress " for the lodge held in the grounds of a part of England or a part of the Metropolis of the Empire which had so ably and accurately reproduced the Empire of India , he might say it was appreciated here , yet more appreciated throughout the community of India . He sincerely thanked
the founders for giving the lodge that name j it was of more far-reaching extent than they could conceive , and he trusted that in the future for many a long year to come—he hoped , for ever—the lodge founded that ni g ht would carry an impression to the millions of the population of India , which would do a great deal to cement the bonds which existed between Britain and the
Continent of India . He could only express his gratitude , and he hoped on this auspicious occasion , when politics did not enter into the sphere of the brethren's comments , he might speak in the name of India , in the name of all the races , and say that this lodge was an emblem of that far-reaching effect which the Government of England had produced on the fortunes of India .
Bros . Dr . COFI ' IN , S . W ., and IMRE KIRALIT , J . W ., responded to the toast of " The Officers . " Bro . PRITCHARD having replied to the toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary , " Bro . WILL E . CIIAI-MAN said it was indeed a pleasure when one worked to feel that the work was appreciated by those for whom he hid worked , and he was sure the kind words the W . M . had used more than expressed
the work he ( Mro . Chapman ) had been able to do . He could not under the circumstances sit down without acknowledging his pergonal feeling of gratitude to the Grand Secretary for the kind assistance and advice he had given in the details which he had had to work up for the past fortnight . It had been most valuable to him ( Bro . Chapman ) , and the result was the great success which had been aclusved that night by the new lodge . He trusted that this baby lodge would , when it arrived at full stature and came of age , be worthy of the great name it bore .
The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings at a late hour . [ A portrait of the W . M ., Bro . Sir J oseph Dimsdale , will appear i : i our Portrait Gallery next week . ]
MASONIC FESTIVAL AT SOUTHPORT . —The annual festival of the West Lancashire Alpass Henevolent Institution was held at the Prince of Wales Hotel , Southport , on Wednesday evening . Bro . Col . Baldwin , J . P ., P . P . G . W ., presided at the banquet , which was attended by over 100 ladies and brethren . After the usual loyal toasts ha teen honoured , the chairman proposed " The Health of the Right Hon . the Earl p in
Lathom , and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He said they West Lancashire ought to feel especially proud that they had for their leader such an illustrious brother as his lordchip , who bad the interest of the Craft very much at heaiv Subsequently the chairman proposed the toast of " The West Lancashire "' l ? j Benevolent Institution , " remarking that since its formation 10 years a ? o , 45 widows n been placed on the foundation , and 41 were at present receiving the benehts ol Institution , at an annual tost in annuities of ^ uS . Bro . Armstiong , Hon . Sec , mtioned that the donations to the Institution this year amounted to £ 736 10 s .