Consecration Of The Lennox Browne Lodge, No. 2318.

t pleasure both to himself and the D . P . G . M . and the other Grand Officers to ° e to inaugurate that lodge , which had every nppearance of a successful future . W ' shin ' them prosperity , his lordship concluded by thanking them for the jewel , h * rh he said , he should always wear amongst his other badges . W The W . M . then , with a few appropriate words , presented a similar jewel to Bro .

Philbrick , as Installing Officer . Rro . P HILBRICK , in reply , thanked the Master and brethren very sincerely for thit token of their regard , and for the marked kindness which had been shown to A j , y the brethren of the province ever since he had first become connected with them . He concluded by begging to echo the good wishes so well expressed by the

pG . M . The W . M . next proposed the appointment of Bro . Shurmur , J . W ., a Vice-Patron of all three Charities , to serve on the Provincial Charity Committee . i This was seconded by Bro . LENNOX BROWNE , who , in doing so , said that he honed every individual member of the lodge would subserve his own interests , to nlire his votes as far as possible in the hands of the Committee .

In acknowledging the mark of confidence which this resolution showed the brethren p laced in him , Bro . SHURMUR promised to do his best in the position to • vhich he had thus been called . A Committee was , on the proposition of Bro . LENNOX BROWNE , appointed to draw up the by-laws of the lodge ; said Committee to consist of the W . M ., the Wardens , the Treasurer , and the Secretary of the lodge .

The S ECRETARY read communications from Bros . Lord Euston , Lord Henniker , Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , the Lord Mayor of London , and several other distinguished Masons , regretting their inability to be present at the meeting . Several names were proposed as joining members , and also for initiation . This concluded the business before the lodge , which was then closed , and the company adjourned to the dining hall , where , after an excellent dinner , served by

Bro . A . C . Smith , the proprietor , the usual list of Masonic toasts was proceeded with . In proposing "The Queen and the Craft , " the W . M . said that , as an Esrex lodge , they must especially welcome the toast , for it was almost to that identical spot that her Majesty came when she came to declare the Forest open and dedicated to the public . The toast was enthusiastically drunk , and was followed by the singing of the National Anthem .

" The Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., was the next toast proposed by the MASTER , who said that under the Prince ' s rule Freemasonry had made more progress than under any of his predecessors . After referring to the great meeting , over which the G . M . presided , at the Albert Hall , two years ago , he said that as they would not have another opportunity before the Royal marriage took place , he would , on this occasion , in proposing that toast , wish long life , health , and happiness

to the bride and bridegroom . This toast was also drunk with enthusiasm , and received a very hearty fire . ' The next toast was "The Health of the Pro G . M ., the Earl of Carnarvon , the Dep . G . M ., the Earl of Lathom , & c , " and in doing so the W . M . said he had to express his sympathy with the Earl of Lathom in the loss he had recently sustained

in his family . He had also to couple with the toast the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . They were not , like some other people , willing to rest upon their laurels , but were at all times anxious to help their brethren who came after them . He fully appreciated the honour done to the Iodge by the presence of so many Grand Officers , and on behalf of the Iodge he would express the hope that this would not be the last time they would come to the Lennox Browne Lodge .

Sir J MONCKTON , P . G . W ., in reply , said he spoke for the Grand Officers who stood around him , and he was sure he was expressing their sentiments when he said that they attended there with great pleasure , because it was a gratification and a pleasure to attend the consecration of a new lodge , and observe how hearty on all sides were the wishes and hopes for its successful career ; it seemed more like a Provincial Grand Lodge than the inauguration of a new lodge , especially when they saw the Prov . Grand Master at the head of it . Sir John said that he

had , besides , peculiar pleasure in coming on that occasion for more than one reason ; one reason was that the lodge was named after an old and esteemed friend friend of his , who was a young Mason , but a most energetic one Then , again , he came on rather classic ground that day . He remembered that earl y in his years of office he came in his official capacity to Buckhurst Hill , on which occasion they came to a house which was known as Ellersley ' s . In the name of his brethren who stood about him , and for himself , he thanked them very heartily for the toast , and wished them a career second to none .

The W . M ., in rising to propose "The Health of the P . G . M . of Essex , the Right Hon . the Lord Brooke , " was received with deafening applause . He said that was a . toast which gave him very great pleasure to propose , and one which the brethren Were always pleased to honour . It was now just 12 months since the Prov . G . M . consecrated a lodge similar to that one . They felt most particularly indebted to

him for allowing the addition of this lodge to the province . He believed that this was the eleventh lodge that Lord Brooke had consecrated since he became Prov . wand Master . Let them hope that he might live to consecrate many more . Without further preface he would give them the toast "The R . W . Prov . Grand Master . " &

The toast was received with loud applause , and drunk with the greatest enthusiasm . . ., ' P ' y , Lord BROOKE said that it was a great p leasure to him to attend before he brethren that evening to address them there in the Lennox Browne Lodge . He id so , he knew , as a guest , and he hoped as a long-known and esteemed friend . t the same timethey had done him the great honour of electing him one of 1 11 \\ Jll \ 111111 kll \ sl CtbUI 1 1 ± bvill 111111 UI 1 \ J \

, very < ---w , HIUI IU-. J . ^ -O V J . IUIJWUv . |^ > C s * - emselves , and he could not hel p feeling that , coming among them as one of themelves , it was one of the pleasantest gatherings he had ever enjoyed . He had ever before seen at any private lodge so many distinguished Masons and jolly good fellows . It was a very difficult thing to make a speech , and to say mething fresh about It well topicto his mind uuuut 1 Viii t iv i iiu 111111

Freemasonry . was a -worn ; JJ # o — — " •» j . v , ** . ll j cut . ; Ill ¥ . IL try CUJ « . yif \* ll »» -vy ^ , j , v u ere '" Essex it was especially well known , because they had now so any lod ges about the county . There was so little of Essex unexplored by Free-* sonry that it was very difficult to know whether there was fresh ground for Masonic lod ° niSati ° n ' * It : was not *' ke the arid deserts o £ Africa , but here they had Masonic ges so thickly planted that it needed not a little tact to decide whether a new

an ? " p d not tread somewhat on another lodge ' s toes . It was not the wish of e . xt 1 and Lodge to see the province overcrowded with lodges , but it was t ( A } ' y gratif ying there was so much loyalty in that locality , and to see at the of R T P ' aybill ( if he mi ght use the expression ) the benign countenance L ' , * Browne * excel ? * ¦ u e ' ' ' gave *> ' hand , proceeded to say that they had a most Wi ™ TTb aster ' the chairone he was quite sure who would be a credit to the

, Wasth t flf ' ords ^ 'P went on to sa y that his idea with regard to a Masonic speech any \ VO _ i f ' *? ^ ex pressions were misplaced , but if there were any force in who w k ' ^ h ° Id 'ong that they might be of use in connecting those becauSg - ? y . ° V nger'han himself in promoting the good of Freemasonry ; not only 't conn r i 01 nec ' 'hem together in one happy colony , but , as he had said , because objects 'hem together with one set purpose—to do good to all men . Those tho went not only to their own localitiesbut thev extended usefulness all over

, lence coi 1 H A ^ ^ ad had many , many demonstrations of what Masonic benevo-Suc h effo t anc ' 'hose over whom he ruled were going on and prospering in there wa * ' ^ ^ hoped that they would continue to support him whenever Bro I T Masonic g ° to be promoted . health " nf + u ' , BR ° , acting LP . M ., proposeel the next toast , which was "The of the Pr 0 r , W * * F * A * Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg ., D . P . G . M ., and the rest ne eded no j Officers , Present and Past . " It was a toast he said which words from him , and he was sure as regarded Bro . Philbrick , that those

Consecration Of The Lennox Browne Lodge, No. 2318.

who knew him did not want any testimony to his excellence as a man and a Mason , and those who did not know him , seeing him that day working in the Iodge must have thought the ceremony one of the most impressive they had ever seen , as it was performed in a way that could not be surpassed . Bro . Philbrick had given a lifelong devotion to the Craft , and he had recently given up much valuable time to the

performance of a most difficult duty . That work had been performed b y him in a most impartial manner , and had been received with entire assent by all the impartial members of the Craft . He had no wish to touch upon any polemical matter , but he did not think there could have been any one chosen who would have arbitrated in a more judicial and impartial capacity than Bro . Philbrick and the brethren associated with him . It was a gratification to see that Bro . Philbrick had in the

last few days had given to him by the Lord Chancellor a position which showed that he was appreciated in his own profession . He could not say enough about his own personal regard for Bro . Philbrick , but he knew that that kindness which Bro . Philbrick had extended to him , he had extended to every brother in Essex with whom he came in contact . Bro . Lennox Browne then referred to the other Prov . Grand Officers , and concluded by proposing the health of them all .

Bro . PHILBRICK , in reply , said he must for one moment trespass upon their attention . If he had been able to do anything in that province , could they not tell why ? It was because it was a pleasure to all to serve under their respected head . As long as they helped him in the province they would see a united and a happy province , increasing not merely in the number of lodges , but also in the good work which they were proud to see going on , through the Masonic spirit which

animated the whole province . The Provincial Grand Officers were delighted to be there at the foundation of a new lodge named after an Essex man—Bro . Lennox Browne , the son of an Essex man ; and the foundation of this lodge bore evidence to the strength of a lodge founded quite recently , and of which Bro . Lennox Browne was the first Master . It was not , however , by founding lodges that Masonry was to be forwarded ; neither was it by merely numbering heads in lodges that

lodges prospered—it was by numbering good heads . It was an honour to a man to be a Freemason ; Freemasonry received no honour but from a worthy man . He felt sure that no word of warning was wanted by the Lennox Browne Lodge ; but it was a subject that all might take to heart that great caution should be exercised as to the candidates for Masonry , and that they should only be read y to hold out the rig ht hand of Masonic fellowship to any that they would not be sorry to

welcome to their own homes . He would add a word on oue other topic . His good friend , Lennox Browne , who proposed this toast , had referred to a matter with which he was connected which had reference to one of the great and noble Charities of the Order . Those present knew quite well that there were besides himself six other brethren—three from the great provinces of England , north , south , and west , and three from the Metropolis—whose names were honoured among Masons—Bro .

Samuel Pope , a man of the hig hest character , and eminent in his profession ; Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , a Rugby man , a Trinity Cambridge man ; and then again , there was Bro . John Derby Allcroft , the Treasurer of Christ ' s Hospital , who bestowed the greater portion of his time and his great ability in aid of that grand Institution . There were also Bro . John Malcolm , of Leeds , Bro . Lieut .-Col . A .

Thrale Perkins , from Somerset , and Bro . Robt . Wylie , from Liverpool , who was named by Lord Lathom to him ( Bro . Philbrick ) as the fittest person to take part in such an Inquiry . All those persons had been his colleagues , and they were all absolutely unanimous in what they thought , and therefore it was that , though the work was heavy , though the investigation was extremely painful , they thought it wiser , and better , and more conducive to that which would lead to the real interests

of the Institution that they should tell the truth honestly , without fear , or favour , or malice , and that it was better that they should let the Craft know as truly as they could that which they had to tell . The brethren must forgive him for having said so much ; but he trusted that the

result of their work would be the prosperity of the Institution which it concerned . For himself , he would say that though his name had been prominently associated with this action , he was but one of seven , all of whom took the full responsibility of that which they had done , and they were thankful that the calmer heads and the

thinking portion of the community had not thought fit to repudiate that which they had laid before them . Turning from personal matters for a moment , he would say that in Freemasonry as everywhere else they were nothing without a leader , and they desired to do honour to him who was placed over them in that lodge in the person

of their W . Master . i hey honoured the office , and , on this occasion , the man who filled it . To found a lodge and find a man to rule over it—a man of no mean ability—was a serious task , and seeing that that lodge had been founded b y 18 or 20 petitioners , they could not but feel assured

that the W . M . who had been chosen by them had good reason to be proud of the position he held . Bro . Philbrick concluded by proposing " The W . M . ' s Health , " trusting that the members would support him in his year of office in a true Masonic spirit .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in returning thanks , said that it would be his most anxious

endeavour so to act in his year of office that at the end of it he mi ght be able to feel that he had done his duty . After some further remarks , the W . M . proposed " The Health of the acting I . P . M ., " informing the brethren at the same time that it was Bro . Lennox Browne ' s birthday .

Bro . LENNOX BROWNE briefly replied , assuring the brethren that he never had had a more gratifying birthday gift than he had received that day . The W . M . did him no more than justice when he said that no one was more surprised than he was when he was asked to allow his name to be associated with that lodge .

As there was now only just time to catch the train for London , " The Health of the Visitors" was very briefly disposed of , and the meeting shortly after separated . The Founders' jewel of which we give an engraving , was designed and manufactured by Bro . George Kenning .

Bro . Lennox Browne , whose portrait we give as the sponsor of the new lodge , and who is well-known in the scientific world , is comparatively young in Freemasonry , as he was only initiated in 18 7 8 , when already 37 years of age , his mother lodge being the Maybury , 9 6 9 , of which the late Bro . Benjamin Webster , P . G . D ., was the principal founder and first VV . M . Bro . Lennox Browne , although a regular attendant at this lodge , and filling all the offices up to S . W ., was not

prominent in the Craft till 1885 , when hc was mainly instrumental in founding tho Empire lodge , 2108 , which started under the auspices of Sir Philli p Cunliffe Owen , as first W . M ., the late Admiral Sir Wm . Hewitt , first S . W ., and other influential brethren , with the avowed object of bringing closer together Colonial and Home Masons , at once took a prominent position , and has achieved an almost unique success . Bro . Lennox . Browne took the arduous post of first Secretary , and few who were present will forget the banquet in 1886—the year of thc India and