Consecration Of The Sancta Maria Lodge, No. 2682.

M . Hkridfield Jones , M . D ., Sec . ; A . P . Luff , M . D ., S . D . ; Hy . Pearce M * R . C : S ..-J . D . ; P . P . Whitcombe , M . B ., I . G . ; E . A . Priddle , B . A ., D ; C *;; ' M . Mitchell Bird , M . D , C . D . Leyden , and W . J . Gow , M . D ., Stwds . ; and E . J . Mills , Tyler . " ¦ * The usual addresses were delivered by Bro . the Viscount Dungarvan , Prov . G . M . Somerset .

The DEPUTY MASTER read the following telegram from H . R . H ., the M . W . G . M .: " Hearty good wishes and a successful career to the Sancta M ; aria , L 6 dge- ^ ALBERT EDWARD . " ' - ' ^ Letters Of regret for non-attendance were announced from Bros . Sir Francis Knollys , Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) , Sir Reginald Hanson , F . West , and others .

' * . On * the * proposition of the DEPUTY MASTER , the M . W . the Pro Grand Mastcrwas electee ! an honorary member , and was presented with a jewel of the lodge . The M . W . the PRO G . MASTER thanked the members for the honour conferred . He could not help thinking and feeling that in some sense he belonged to that Iodge , which had the youngest son of his family in it as a member and officer , and he hoped he would be a credit to it . He could

only wish ( he lodge a prosperous existence . The following Grand Officers were also elected honorary members Bros , the Earl of Euston , Viscount Dungarvan , T . Fenn , Lieut .-Col . Lock wood , M . P ., the Rev . Studholme Brownrigg , F . Richardson , L eut ..-Col Bott Cook , H . Rose , and C . F . Matier . Bro . the Earl of EUSTON briefly acknowledged the compliment .

' ;* A long list of propositions for initiation were received , a Committee was appointed to frame by-laws , and the Iodge was closed . 'A'banquet was held in the large hall of Freemasons' Tavern , which was followed by the usual toasts . "The Queen and the Craft" was first honoured .

In giving '" " His Royal Highness , the M . W . G . M ., " the DEPUTY MASTER said that some years ago' it was discussed whether the time had not arrived for St . Mary's Hospital to start a lodge , and the conclusion then was that it Had not . The keel of the good ship Sancta Maria was afterwards laid iii this happy year of Jubilee— -1897 . At the first Committee Meeting , Bro . Stewart Brown said he hoped they would get his Royal Highness the

M . W . G . M . to be the first W . M ., that they would secure the services of the Pro G . Master to consecrate the lodge , and that the most illustrious of the Grand Officers would be present . Like Sarah behind the door * of the tent , he laughed . They approached his Royal Highness on the subject , reminding him that the foundation-stone of St . Mary ' s Hospital was laid by his illustrious father , the Prince Consort * , that his Royal Highness himself

laid the foundation-stone of the hew wing , and of the Praed-street extension ; that the Duke of York was President , and that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales had always taken a great interest in the Hospital . The reply of his Royal Hi g hness was such * that while giving them his health as M . W . G . M ., he ( the Deputy Master ) was also proud to give it as the first W . M . of the Sancta Maria Lodge .

The DEPUTY MASTER next proposed " The M . W . the Pro G . Master , " and * said that in every lodge holding a charter from the Grand Lodge of England the toast was drunk , and it must be that many loyal brethren only knew their Pro Grand Master as the peasant in Russia knew the Emperor for . whom he prayed . To the Sancta Maria Lodge the Pro Grand Master was something very real , having attended in answer to their request , to

consecrate the lodge . When that request was made the Pro Grand Master might well have said that he had spent so much time , thought , and energy , in arranging for the orderly expression of a nation ' s joy and thankfulness that he begged they would have him excused ; or that lately so much time and thought had been occupied in arranging for the expression of a nation ' s sorrow , and therefore he could not come . The Pro Grand Master did not

say ,. as he might have done , that he preferred on these autumnal evenings the side of his own hearth , but put those personal considerations aside to come and consecrate the lodge . The founders desired to express their sense of gratitude for that kindness . It would be ill-becoming for him to criticise the way in which the Pro Grand Master performed the ceremony , but he

might , venture to say that they were all agreed that the dignified and impressive manner in which that consecration was carried out was in every sense worthy of the sublime and everlasting ritual which their forefathers prepared fcr the ceremony . He gave them the health of the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom .

' The MiW . the PRO G . MASTER , in reply , said , I thank you sincerely for the kind way in which you have received the toast of my health . The Deputy Master has been too flattering and too kind in the terms in which he has spoken of the way I performed the ceremony . I can only say for my own part that I was disgusted for the simple reason , as you have noticed , that I have . 3 dreadful cold . Sometimes I pride myself on my voice , but to-night

1 had none . Never mind what the attractions of home , or hearth , or covert side , or hedge row waiting for the partridge , no matter the fatigue of jubilee yearr or oHate the sad duties referred to , nothing would have stopped me coming here to perform the duties I hope I have done to your satisfaction . You may say , why ? I say it again as I said in the lodge , that as you have done honour to me in honouring my son I felt I could not possibly be away

from this consecration on the occasion when my youngest son—a young son —was by your great kindness placed in the high office he occupies . I thank the Deputy Master and you for placing him there , and I only hope he will do credit to the oflice he holds . I will not attempt to speak to you at length , but thank you most sincerely for the kind way in which you have received this toast . '

. " The Deputy Grand Master and Grand Officers" was next given by the DEPUTY MASTER , who said he wished to refer to an omission on his part in the temple . In asking certain Grand Officers to become honorary members he forgot to mention one whom they all held in the greatest regard—the Grand Secretary . The founders wished him to say they begged Bro .

Letchworth would allow them to make him an honorary member . They were very much obliged to the Grand Officers for coming there to help them . On behalf of the lodge , and as members of the medical profession , they were more than grateful to the Grand Chaplain—Bro . Brownrigg—for his oration , which had touched them to the heart .

B'o . the Earl of EUSTON , Prov . Grand Master Norths and Hunts , brielly responded , expressing gratification at being allowed to assist in the ceremonial , and wishing the ledge every success and prosperity until time should be no more .

The M . W . the PRO GRAND MASTER gave the next toast — " Success to the Sancta Maria Lodge . " He thought that success was already assured , fbr-Trom lhe list of initiations read out , the W . M- would hardly find time

Consecration Of The Sancta Maria Lodge, No. 2682.

to perform his ordinary duties . The Deputy Master would have the able assistance of the I . P . M ., and it was a happy augury that a lodge starting with 50 founders should have some 15 nominationson the consecration night . He was a great advocate—as he had said before—of what he might call these class lodges . There was nothing more calculated to bring Masonry into favour than to find , as in this case—and as in the Rahere Lodge—great

bodies of professional men joining together and making a good lodge . Why fit for no other reason but because it brings theminto constant contact , friendly contact , with the junior members of the profession , and not only that , but when they are spread over the country and all over the world , they carried wi : h them the grand principles of Masonry and knew what good it had done . He had had some curious experience in these class lodges . He had in his

own province at the present mement three very curious instances . A Dramatic Lodge —a most excellent lodge—where the members were all hard at work in their own profession by 7 o ' clock in the evening , and , therefore , had to meet at 4 o'clock to get the lodge work over by that time . He had a bicycling and football lodge . That might sound curious but it was one of the most successful . A numberof young clerks in Liverpool went outforarun on

Saturday afternoons and came back to have their lodge meeting . Another curious instance was a Jewish Lodge which was also most successful and where the members could have their food after their own fashion . These " class " lodges were the best things they could have and he hoped to see them extended again and again . The army lodges had dropped out—the army being a movable body—but they recently instituted the Guards Lodge—a

successful Iodge—of which his son was Master at the present time . They also had a naval Iodge which was doing extremely well and altogether these class lodges were tending to do good to Masonry by bringing together the younger and older members . The Sancta Maria Lodge had the honour of having his Royal Highness the Grand Master as the first Master , although it was impossible for him to become their permanent Master . Having

spoken to his Royal Highness on the subject , he knew that his Royal Highness would have been glad to be present but it was impossible from his deep mourning and his other engagements . His Royal Highness had evidenced his interest by sending the telegram he had He congratulated the founders on their selection of a Deputy Master . Bro . Owen had told

him that he looked upon the first W . M . of the Rahere Laodge as his godfather in Masonry . If Bro . Owen would but follow in the footsteps of Bro . Godson , he could not follow a better man . The Rahere Lodge had been a great success , and he had no doubt would have the same—if not greater—success . He gave them " Success to the Sancta Maria Lodge " and " Hearty good wishes " to the Deputy Master .

Bro . EDMUND OWEN , P . M ., Deputy Master , thanked the Pro G . M . for his kind words . He hoped they were going to be a successful lodge . He happened to be , he was proud to say , an initiate in a lodge which was second to none in success—the Studholme Lodge . He thought very much of that success was due to the fact that they were ruled by a despot—his

friend Colonel Cook . He would not say before that brother whether his despotism was tempered with benevolence or not . For a lodge to be successful there should be one of the founders to take it under his Masonic wing . He hoped Bro . Stewart Brown was going to be the benevolent despot ol that lodge , and should ask him to say a few words .

Bro . STEWART BROWN , P . G . D ., said the only words he should use were those of love and good fellowship . At the instigation of the J . W , some five years ago that lodge was in embryo . Last Christmas came round and the fact was borne upon him that that was going to be the greatest year that England had ever seen . He thought the time was then ripe for that lodge , and had no difficulty in gathering together a good and strong list of

founders they had present that night . Therewere only five who failed—from varying circumstances—to become founders . Every founder had be in most courteous and kind in answering communications . In any matter of business there must be tact employed , and if there should be some who had not been entirely pleased , he could only say it was not his fault , for it was not given to any man to please everybody . Bros . Rev . Canon SHUTTLEWORTH and PERCY SIMPSON acknowledged " The Visitors , " after which the Tyler ' s toast was given .

Consecration Of The Victoria Diamond Jubilee Lodge, No. 2675.

CONSECRATION OF THE VICTORIA DIAMOND JUBILEE LODGE , No . 2675 .

The Victoria Diamond Jubilee Lodge , No . 2675 , was consecrated on the ioth inst ., at the Castle Hotel , Woodford—on the borders of the Masonic Metropolitan district—and attracted one of the largest gatherings seen at such an interesting function . The large body of founders present was augmented by a large number of visitors , the total present numbering about 225 . Bro . C . J . Smith . had the proud distinction of being the W . M .

des'gnate , with Bros " . G . Gratton and F . Rayner as Warden's designate , whilst Bro . Ffrench Bromhead—to whom in a large measure the success of the proceedings was due—occupies the onerous post of Secretary . The new lodge—as the name implies—is meant to be a permanent and useful reminder of the record reign , and also supply the brethren of the surrounding district with further opportunities of Masonic work .

The consecration ceremony , was , as usual in London lodges , undertaken by Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , assisted by Bros . Major Carrell , P . G . S . B ., as S . W . ; W . A . Scurrah , P . G . Std . Br ., as J . W . ; Ven . Archdeacon Stevens , P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C . ; C . J . R . Tijou , P . A . G . P ., as I . G . ; and W . Shurmur . P . G . Std . Br .

The Grand Officers entered in procession , the officers were appointed pro fern ., and the lodge was opened in the Three Degrees . A hymn having been sung , the CONSECRATING OFFICER addressing the brethren , said : Brethren , we are met together this evening for a purpose which I think cannot fail to awaken the interest and enlist the sympathies of all who have

at heart the interest of our Order . We are here to consecrate a new lodge , which 1 sincerely trust may be the means of advancing the very best interests of Masonry in this particular locality . As we shall shortly dedicate that lodge to the service of Almighty God , I will now call upon the Venerable Chaplain to give us the benefit of prayer .

The founders were arranged in order , the warrant was read by the D . C ., and they signified their approval of the officers named therein . Bro . Ven . Archdeacon STEVENS , P . G . Chap ., delivered an eloquent oration , in the course of which he said he might assums that all present