Consecration Of The United Northern Counties Lodge, No. 2128.

utmost hearty good feeling with the metropolitan lodges , and their great aim and object was good fellowship and brotherhood . " This lodge would be a means of drawing - the Northern brethren very much together , of taking them to Grand Lodge to see how Grand Lodge business was transacted as the centre of the Masonic system . After a humorous allusion to the names of the brethren who formed the lodge , the R . W . brother concluded by hoping that the lodge would be the finest and best in Freemasonry .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , P . G . D ., replied . He was the present Master of the oldest lodge in the Craft , the Lodge of Antiquity . Among the associations of the Lodge of Antiquity none would be more agreeable than the recollection that as Master of that lodge , and as one of its Wardens , he had been instrumental in recommending the United Northern Counties Lodge for a warrant . But he was not responding for the Lodge of Antiquity , but to a far more comprehensive toast . When he looked round him he saw

distinguished members of the most distinguished lodges , the Grand Stewards ' Lodge , the Alpha , the Prince of Wales , the Tuscan , and others . Among the provincial brethren were the most distinguished representatives of lodges in the north of England . On behalf of both sections he was justified in expressing the most earnest hope that the United Northern Counties Lodge might have before it a future of unclouded prosperity , and that brotherly love and affection might ever distinguish its members as men and as Masons .

Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C ., G . Reg ., who had just entered the room , and was received with a cordial greeting , on being called upon for some observations , said it gave him great pleasure to find himself among friends and brothers . He owed the lodge many apologies tor not being present at the consecration . He was sure the lodge had a career of usefulness before it . He was sure also that it supplied what was wanting , and he trusted

it would more than fulfil the wishes of those who had founded it in proving a rallying point and a home for those Masons from the north who sometimes wished to find such a home in the metropolis . He knew that whatever the brethren from the north put their hands to they were not apt to turn back upon . There was a good honest purpose and a set resolution about them which inspired success and insured it , and if that resolution was

continued and the brethren made a strong , hearty pull together , he felt that they would make this lodge a success , and an example to the other lodges in London . The co-operation of the Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire was a rallying point round which the brethren of the province would gather . He was very popular in his own province , and when he

came to London the brethren would follow his banner . It was the same with the other Northern provinces . Although it was a Northern invasion , the brethren of London were only too glad to hold out to them the hand of fellowship , as they felt that the more such victories were achieved on the great field of Masonry the better for the common cause they all had at heart .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in giving " The Consecrating Officers , " said they would try to deserve the kindness of those brethren for after again explaining the objects the brethren had in view in establishing the lodge . Referring to Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , he said he had received from him even before he was Grand Secretary many kindnesses , and it had that day given him very great pleasure that he should have consecrated this lodge .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE said it had given him great pleasure to consecrate the lodge . He was always pleased to see Masonry progressing as it was all over the world , and more especially in the formation of such good and worthy lodges as this lodge promised to be . Bro . WOODALL , G . Treas ., proposed " The Visiting Brethren . " On the other side of the Atlantic and in Germany the greatest kindness and sympathy had been extended to him , and it had made a deep impression on his heart .

Bro . ROBT . BERRIDGE responded , and after thanking the brethren for their hospitality , hoped that on the foundation laid that day would be built a superstructure honourable to the builders . Bro . SMITHSON , S . W ., proposed " The Masonic Charities . " Having been an earnest worker for West Yorkshire , he wished to show what had been done by the Charities . The Girls' School had something like

2 3 T girts in it , at a cost of £ 9000 a year . That Institution had had for many years , and had still , great support . It had had an extra cost of £ 700 entailed upon it by the establishment of a Preparatory School , and also an expense of £ 6500 for some extra ground , which the friends in the north considered a most judicious investment . The Boys' School had in it 230 boys , at a cost of £ 10 , 000 a year . This

redounded very much to the credit ot the Masons to whom they appealed annually for support , considering there was so little funded capital at their disposal . Taking the great energy of Bro . Binckes in founding a Preparatory School , and the warm-heartedness of the Craft in supporting it to the extent of , £ 20 , 000 , he thought the youngest lodge in the country should , at any rate , put its shoulder to the wheel to assist this Institution . As to the

Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows , these poor people got from it a splendid annuity , and there were 375 of them on the books , at a cost of £ 14 , 500 a year . The lodge should also lend a helping hand to that Institution . He was glad to find that Bro . Tew was going to be the lodge's Steward at the next Festival of this Institution , and he could assure him that he should have the heartiest support and sympathy from himself ( Bro . Smithson ) on that occasion .

Bro . J AMES TERRY said it was not the first time he had had to thank the Yorkshire brethren for assistance . The West Yorkshiremen were always found to the front in sending Stewards . He had no doubt that when the Festivals came round for the Aged , for the Girls ' , and for the Boys' Institutions , this lodge would be well and worthily represented .

Bro . F . BINCKES said each of the Institutions had a special ground of appeal . The Boys' School was finishing a work forced upon it by the Craft , at a cost of £ 20 , 000 . £ 3500 of that sum was not originally contemplated , and at the end of the year they would be from £ 300010 , £ 5000 short , and he did not see where it was to come from , save from the sympathy and good feeling of the Craft . All the Institutions had their peculiar claims .

The Girls' School had had to buy a piece of land . The Grand Chaplain had said that , while Masons were agreed upon essentials , they were allowed to differ as to details , and he was perfectly certain that , while there might be some fancy that these appeals to the brethren for the support of the Institutions ought to be made more carefully , there was not a Mason who had

not the interests of all the Charities at heart , and who would not grieve very deeply and sincerely if those Charities lacked the support needed . It would be a bad day " for Freemasonry when these appeals were not made . He was sure that in this lodge , formed as it was by brethren who had been in the past distinguished for the support of the Institutions , an appeal by the Secretaries of the Institutions was not out of place , or they would not have been invited to attend . Their was not one of the Secretaries that had

Consecration Of The United Northern Counties Lodge, No. 2128.

not 111 times gone by had to express their thanks to the Northern brethren for their support , and they must thank those brethren for founding a home in London , which would bring them in closer connection and contact with the glorious Masonic Institutions . The toast of "The Masonic Press , " proposed by the TREASURER , was responded to by Bro . H . MASSEY .

To the toast of " The Officers , " Bro . MASTERS replied , and hoped that the brethren would come to the lodge to see its working . No matter how they criticised , the lodge would be glad to see them , and he could promise them the officers would do the work according to the best ritual . The VV . M . was an excellent worker , and the officers would emulate his example . They were all indebted to the W . M . for the very great trouble he had taken in

the formation of the lodge , and it was their duty and their privilege to do what the } ' could to bring the lodge to a state of success . Every one of them thanked the VV . M . for what he had done , and anything they could do to second his efforts would be done by them with the greatest pleasure and sincerity , and as a bounden duty . The Tyler's toast concluded the proceedings . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Consecration Of The Cama Lodge, No. 2105.

CONSECRATION OF THE CAMA LODGE , No . 2105 .

This new lodge for the Province of Middlesex was consecrated on Wednesday evening , at the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court , by Bro . Colonel Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex . The

Right Worshipful brother was assisted on the occasion by V . W . Bro . Raymond H . Thrupp , P . G . Asst . D . C , Deputy Provincial Grand Master ; the V . W . Bro . J . F . H . Woodward , P . M ., Prov . G . Secretary ; VV . Bro . Henry Lovegrove , P . M ., P . Z ., P . Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; VV . Bro . Thos . C . Walls , as D . C . ; and the Prov . G . Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . S . T . H . Saunders .

The other brethren present on the occasion were Bros . Mark Tanner , M . D ., P . M . Yarborough Lodge ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; H . Massey , P . M . 619 and 1928 ; H . De Lacy , Orpheus Lodge , 1206 ; Henry J . Dutton , 1706 ; W . R . Palmer ; H . D . Cama , Harmony Lodge ; D . C . Dharwar , 1159 ; S . W . Kaka , Earl of Carnarvon Lodge ; A . Lawrence Fryer , 1624 ; Thomas Poore , P . M . 720 ; John Gilbert , Prov . G . Tyler ; and C . J . Axford , S . W . 204 S .

The founders of the lodge were Bros . D . P . Cama , W . R . Palmer , John Read . N . D . Fracis , H . D . Cama , John Church , Thomas Poore , D . C . Dharwar , and S . M . Kaka . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . John Read , P . M ., P . Z ., and J . W . designate , who was assisted by Bros . Dutton , Frier , and R . De Lacy , of St . Paul ' s Cathedral choir . The lodge having been opened in usual form ,

Sir FRANCIS BURDKTT , addressing the brethren , said he had around him so many excellent Masons that it was scarcely necessary for him to say much to them as to the ceremony for which they were assembled , and he was sure that the W . M . designate was such a good Mason , and understood the work of Masonry in general so well , that it was also not necessary to say anything to him about it . The W . M . designate had for some time been

working as a good Mason , and when he was installed in the chair of a new lodge , and when he was called upon to exercise his authority , he must be reminded that unless he was properly supported by his officers and brethren he could not do it properly . It was always supposed in Masonry that Masons were all on a perfect equality , but no institution could exist

without having a head , and there must be one ruling power , and that one power must be centred . When there was such a Master designate as on this occasion , there was little doubt he would be a proper ruler . At the sains time he would exercise his authority with mildness , and at the same time with an amount of power in which he would certainly be supported bv the Wardens and other officers , and Grand Lodge brethren in general . If any

question sof difficulty should arise it would be for the W . M . designate to decide whether these questions were right or wrong . On several occasion- ; Worshipful Masters had been called upon to state their reasons why they decided in a particular manner , and in most cases they had been found to be right by Grand Lodge . These cases required considerable care and

attention . The W . M . ought to be able to rule the lodge persuasively , but at the same time with an amount of determination which would enable him to carry out the duties of the lodge in a manner which would reflect credit not only on the lodge , but on the Order in general . The Rev . S . T . H . SAUNDERS then delivered a very eloquent address .

The usual ceremony of consecration and dedication was then proceeded with , and when these ceremonies had been completed , Bro . Dorabjcc Pestonjee Cama , P . M ., was installed by V . W . Bro . Raymond H . Thruup , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex , as W . M . of the Ca ' ma Lodge , No . 2015 , for the ensuing year . The brethren appointed and invested

as his officers for the year were Bros . W . R . Palmer , S . W . ; John Read , J . W . ; John Church , Treas . ; Thomas Poore , Sec ; the Rev . S . T . H . Saunders , Chap . ; H . D . Cama , S . D . ; Thomas C . Walls ( for Bro . N . D . Fracis ) , J . D . ; D . E . Dharwar , l . G . ; S . M . Kaka , D . C ; and Harrison , Tyler .

A vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers was proposed by the W . M ., and seconded by the S . W ., and carried , and the Consecrating Officers were elected honorary members of the lodge . The musical brethren were also elected honorary members . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER afterwards announced that he should stand

as Steward for the lodge at the forthcoming Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and he solicited the assistance of the brethren in making up a good list , at the same time informing them that he should stand as Steward for the lodge at the Festivals of the other Masonic Institutions .

The lodge was then closed , and the brethren partook of an exceedingl y choice banquet , provided by the proprietor of the Mitre Hotel , Bro . Sadler , who personally superintended the arrangements . After the banquet the customary toasts were proposed . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in proposing " The Empress of India and the Craft , " said the Queen of England was his old Sovereign . She was