Provincial Grand Lodge Of Herefordshire.

Bro . J . Wellington Lloyd , 22 4 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Z . B . Evans , 751 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, G . R . Sinclair , 120 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, A . G . Hudson , 8 <) 2 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ H . H . Parry , 120 ... ... ... ** ) „ G . W . Star , 751 ... ... ... ( Prov . G . Stwds ,, H . Gosling , 802 ... ... ,.. )

After the Prov . Grand Lodge had been closed , the brethren formed in precession in the Cathedral Library . On arriving in the nave they halted and opened to the right and left , and faced inwards , so as to leave a passage for the Deputy Prov . G . M . up the centre , he being preceded by the Sacred Law , the P . G . Chaplains , the Deputy P . G . M ., his Standard Bearer and Sword Bearer , the brethren following him from the rear . The Jubilee Hymn— " O , King of Kings , " was sung as a processional , and the brethren having taken the places reserved for them in the nave ,

Bto . the Rev . J . HAMPTON , P . M ., P . P . G . Chap . Worcestershire , opened Ihe service with thespicial exhortation—I . Tim ., ii ., 1-3 , and the order for evening prayer followed . The DEAN based his sermon on I . Peter , cii ., v . 17 , " Honour all men ; love the brotherhood , fear God . Honour the King . " He said : Brethren , —We are met here to-day as representatives of a large and influential body of God-tearing , peaceable , charitable , and loyal men and citizens , who are

bound by fraternal sympathy to help each other in all part's of the world ; and I do not know of any exhortation more suitable to the occasion than those familiar words of the Apostle Peter which I have selected for my text , and which were addressed by him to his Christian converts , for they represent exactly the rules by which every good and faithful brother should regulate his Conduct . In old days the brethren were practical as well as theoretical Masons , as the walls of this grand old temple of the Almighty bear witness . It is much to be regretted

that in restoring the wails ot this sacred edifice a good deal of the surface of the old stonework with the Masonic marks was obliterated , but still you may see in the south and south-east transepts signs of the craftsmen ' s work on the ancient stones . We owe a great debt of gratitude in this country to the Masonic body for the glorious work which each man took a delight in doing , and which consequently was executed in a thorough , solid , and substantial manner . No doubt , in 01 her countries and in other days Freemasons had much also to do with the erection

of these magnificent cathedrals , but in the country which I have just returned from visitinj- * , I mean Italy , I could ascertain nothing concerning their work , and the reason is plain , viz ., on account of the bitter animosity that exists between the ecclesiastical authorities and the body of Freemasons . No doubt there have been faults on both sides , and it is clear that the Freemasons in Italy have allowed themselves to be diverted from the oiiginal principles of their Order , and to become political agitators and secret plotters against the ecclesiastical authorities .

They certainly have not followed on the principles of the injunction of St . Peter , otherwise this wide gulf of separation would never have been made . Happily we are in a very different position in this country . We are not a political society ; there is no animosity shown between the Church and our Order , and we , above all things , desire peace and goodwill towards all . There may be a few who regard with certain suspicion Fieemasonry , but this is because they are ignorant of its precepts , and look upon it only as a secret society of little benefit to the world in

general . Wherein , then , is contained the beauty and excellence of Freemasonry ? It is chiefly in that virtue so much dwelt upon by the early preachers of Christianity when dwelling upon the great advantages of the religion of their Lord and Master . The chief ornament of our Craft , be it known , is Charity . It never faileth , but is inexhaustible , opening the rich treasures of its stores to the earnest enquirer after its mysteries . Freemasonry is not . as some would insinuate , a mere convivial club of choice spirits met together for eating and drinking . It is not a

mere secret institution lo be suppressed as dangerous . It is not even a society merely for the distribution of alms , although this is one of its noblest features . What is it then ' . Freemasonry is a society of enlightened men inculcating pure and active virtue on the sacred principles of Gospel truth . Its design is to instil into lhe minds of its members a series of useful and interesting precepts , and to promote benevolence , philanthrophy , and brotherly love , and it ought to be the endeavour of every honest and true Mason to keep up this high standard ;

for upon the action of each individual brother must depend the honour and stability of the Craft at large . Our lodge stands on holy ground , for the grand foundation on which it is erected is the word of God , and for that foundation reaching upwards to the celestial canopy of the heavens is that ladder likened into Jacob's , the principal staves of which are Faith , Hope , and Charity , by which we hope to reach the ethereal mansions of bliss on high now veiled from the mortal eye on earth . Faith is the first step from the foundation . Without faith

in the Great Architect of the Universe it is impossible to love Him , to fear Him , or to please Him . Faith leads on to hope , hope contained in the sacred volume . Hope opens to us the second gate , and that leads on to charity—brotherly love . Faiih , Hope , and Charity j but the greatest of these is charity . Faith it is sustains us , and hope it is that cheers us on our way . The one helps us manfully to overcome difficulties , and the other cheerfully to bear the sorrows and disappointments that we may encounter in our onward and upward struggle . But charity

is the greatest . Faith must come to an end , when what we now believe in shall hereafter be accomplished , when what we now see as in a glass darkly we shall then see face to face . Hope will end when our hopes are realised , and all we long for shall have been attained . But charity will but increase the nearer we approach the great Author of it . It is a virtue crowned with immortality . Nor are our brethren of the Craft one whit behind in their manifeslions of loyalty . No firmer adherents of her Majesty are to be found than among the Freemasons

of England , Australasia , Canada , and the Indian Empire ; and that there exists a film union between Royalty and Freemasonry i . s evident by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales occupying the high position of Grand Master , and almost all the Princes of Royal blood being members of the Fraternity . No greater manifestations of their loyalty could have been exhibited than were shown at the Albert Hall a few months ago , when every part of that immense building was crowded to do honour to their Prince and Grand Master . Yes , brethren , weare a loyal body , a

religious body , a Charitable body ; we are ready to render to Gesar the things that are Cesar ' s , and to God the things that are God ' s . We go to the fountain-head for cur instructions , our principles rest on a sure foundation—God ' s Holy Word . There should we search out the great ideas which are the groundwork of the entire Masonic superstructure—reverence to God , the Architect and Upholder of

the Universe , and love to man . Conforming to these laws , the true Masonic brother will be enabled to exercise all Masonic , which are also Christian , virtues , and to adorn his profession by a consistent life ; with the blessing of God resting on him and the Divine Law as his guide , he will find that all the social and moral virtues do pretail in his Order , and , in the future as in the past , the prosperity of Masonry and the progress of the world will be commensurate and continual .

Immediately after the service the DEPUTY P . G . M . presented to each of the youthful bearers of the Sacred Law a volume of Hol y Writ as a memento of the occasion . After the sermon , Bro . G . R . Sinclair played a voluntary on the organ , duiing which a collection was made for the Royal Masonic and Hereford-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Herefordshire.

shire Masonic Charities , and hymn 23 S , A . and M ., followed by the first verse of the National Anthem , was sung . The Benediction having been pronounced , the brethren re-formed the procession , led by the choir , and returned to the Provincial Grand Lodge . Subsequently over 100 brethren dined at the Green Dragon Hotel , under the presidency of the acting Prov . Grand Master , when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly given and honoured .

Consecration Of The Sancta Maria Lodge, No. 2682.

CONSECRATION OF THE SANCTA MARIA LODGE , No . 2682 .

1 he rapidly increasing number of " class " lodges received a valuable addition on the 15 th inst ., by the consecration of the Sancta Maria Lod ge , No . 2682 . the interesting ceremony taking place in the Temple , Freemasons ' Hall . The new Iodge is in connection with St . Mary ' s Hospital and starts with a strong body of founders—numbering about 50—all well known in the medical world and in connection with this useful Institution . The S incta

Maria Lodge has the proud privilege of having his Royal Highness the M . W . G . M . as its first W . Master , while the consecration ceremony was performed by the M . W . the Pro Grand Master , Bro . the Eul of Lathom , G . C . B ., who subsequently had the pleasure of seeing his youngest son invested as the first Senior Warden . An interesting feature of the proceedings was that all the Consecrating Officers are members of the Studholme Lodge whbh recommended the petition for the founders . Starting under such

exceptionally favourable auspices the anticipations for a successful future so confidently expressed at the inaugural proceedings , were abundantly justified , The Deputy Master , Bro . Edmund Owen , M . B ., F . R . C . S ., -will be supported by Bros , the Hon . Reginald Bootle Wilbraham and J . Ernest Lane , F . R . C . S ., P . P . G . D . Middx ., in the Wardens' chairs , and also by Bro Stewart Brown , F . R . C . S ., the acting I . P . M ., to whose indefatigable effjrts the success of the initiatory steps are mainly due .

Lodge was opened in the Three Degrees by Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , assisted by Bros . Clement Godson , P . G . D ., as S . VV ., and A . Cooper P . G . D ., as J . W . ^ The M . W . the Pro Grand Master and the other Grand Officers entered in procession , and the Pro Grand Master , on taking his chair—and having

been duly saluted—appointed his officers as follows : B-os . Thomas Fenn , P . G . W ., as S . W . ; Lieut .-Col . M . Lockwood , M . P ., P . G . D ., as J . W . j the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . Chip ., Dep . Prov . G . M . Bucks , as Chaplain ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C . ; Lieut .-Cjl . A . Bott Cook , P . G . D ., as I . G . ; and H . Rose , P . G . Org ., as Org . The opening hymn was sung , and

The M . W . the PRO G . MASTER , addressing the brethren , said : We are met to-day for the purpose of consecrating a new lodge to be called the Sancta Maria Lodge . I need not tell you with what pleasure I came here to perform that duty in the place of the Grand Master , who , I am hippy to say , has undertaken to be the Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . I will not attempt to say more as my voice is in bad order . We are abaut to

consecrate this lodge to the glory of the Great Architect , and therefore I will ask the Grand Chaplain for the opening prayer . The Grand Secretary read the warrant , and the brethren signified their approval of the officers named , after which the following oration was delivered by Bro . Rev . J . STUDHOLME BROWNRIGG , Dep . Prov . G . M Bucks . :

There is no profession which better deserves its class lod ges than the important one to which the Sancta Maria Lodge owes its foundation . Wherever God ' s truth and light have evolved order out of chaos , and men have been taught that the end and aim of existence is not self , but God , then , as a natural consequence , the mind and soul of man has been lifted to higher things . Man turned from self to others , and it became part of his acknowledged duties not to leave his fellow to

suffer unpitied and unaided . Care for the sufferings of the body ; care for the sufferings of the mind , both proceed from the same fountain—the all holy and pure love of God . Touch that fountain , and if you touch it truly , there must spring up within your hearts the desire to mitigate suffering wherever it may be . And so one of the results of real civilisation and real progress has always been an ennobling and proper appreciation of the medical profession . The doctor and the

teacher—the specialist for the body and the specialist of the soul—were under the Roman empire mere slaves ; the appendage to the rich man ' s household , where he could afford them -, the poor , both as regards body and soul , were uncared for . When the worship of the true God replaced idolatry , at once both the teacherand ' the physician came , as a national consequence , into their proper places . In the catacombs , in every historical record of the past , we can trace the immediate and

the permanent change . And certainly the history—the private history of England —shows how in all times our physicians and our surgeons have been men of the highest honour and the highest Charity . Time will not permit me to dwell on the long list of men who have left their mark for good on the past history of our country . And at the present moment where is the country ; where is the pro . fession which rings truer to the best of Masonic precepts and principles than the

medical profession of England I say it advisedly that there is no profession which does more for others , often on terms which are manifestly unfair to the services rendered . The young man enters the profession , has to work harder and to work longer than any other learner before he receives even the scantiest return for his work ; and when the medical man has made his way ; even when hard and honest work has placed him at the head of his particular branch , and his reputation is then is he not to

European ^ even expected give—and does he not give—to the poor a larger amount of unpaid work than any other profession in the world V Of this our London hospitals are a very present and striking illustration . Have I not , brethren , proved up to the hilt my contention that no profession better deserves its special lodges ? and that we can give to the founders no better advice than to be true in their lodge to those precepts and principles which they are daily exemplifying in their daily work .

The ceremony then proceeded , and the new lodge was solemnly dedicated and constituted , the musical portions being rendered under the able direction of Bro . H . Rose , F . R . A . M ., P . G . Org ., assisted by the Dilettante quartette .

Bro . the Earl of Euston , Prov . G . M . Norths and Hunts , next installed Bro . Edmund Owen , P . M ., as the Deputy Master , the officers for the year being invested as follows : Bros . A . Stewart Brown , F . R . C . S ., acting I . P . M . the Hon . R . Bootle Wilbraham , S . W . ; J . Ernest Lane , F . R . C . S ., J . W . Rev . H . S . Cronin , M . A ., Chap , ; Malcolm Morris , F . R . C . S ., Treas . '