Consecration Of The Savage Club Lodge, No. 2190.

CONSECRATION OF THE SAVAGE CLUB LODGE , No . 2190 .

The ceremony of consecrating the new lodge originated by members of the Savage Club was performed on Tuesday last , at Freemasons' Hall , where a large number of brethren assembled for the purpose of taking part in it . The company was a distinguished one , embracing not only brethren of high position in the Craft , but men of note in literature , music , and the drama . Among these were the founders of the

lodge—Bros . Sir F . W . Truscott , Henry Irving , Sir J . R . Somers Vine , Thos . Catling , W . E . Chapman , Thos . Burnside , John Maclean , Bernard Tucker , and Archibald McNeill ; and Bros . Lord Londesborough , P . G . W ., W . M . Diury Lane Lodge , No . 2127 ; Wm . Clifford , 1706 ; G . A ~ . Potter , P . M . 1964 ; A . M . Broadley , P . D . D . G . M . Malta : Magnus Ohren , P . A . G . D . C ; John H . Laughlin , P . M . ; J . J . Brown , C . Greenwood , 192 S ; J . H . Thomas , P . M . 101 ; James P . Fitzgerald P . M . 1364 , J . W . 2 ifiS ; Henry J . Dutton , 1706 ; Robert De Lacy , 1706 ; Frederick George 2 S ; A . Laurence Fryer , 1624 ; T . W . Hanson , 2182 ; David Law , 394 ; W .

, Ebhetts , 14 ; Charles J . Phipps , 2127 ; Bram Stoker , 1150 ; H . Massey , P . M . 619 and 192 S ; Henry Coulter , P . M . S 3 i W . H . Pike , P . M . 156 ; Henry Walsham , 519 ; lames Catliner , 441 ; Wm . Phillips , P . M . 435 ; E . J . Odell , 217 ; Geo . E . Fairchild , ' P . M . 1319 ; P . L . Simmonds , 141 , 554 , and 1159 ; P . T . Duffy , 33 ; A . F . Pearce , P . M . 1572 ; George M . Atkinson , J . D . ; J . D . Beveridge , 1319 ; W . J . Fisher , 192 S ; Edmund A . Smith , P . M . 7 ; George J . Dawson , P . M . 1853 ; A . R . Rogers , P . M . 1670 : F . I . Potter , 1321 ; Robt . D . Cummings , P . M . 1677 ; Harry Tipper , W . M ,

2000 •Hy . Wm . Pyatt ( Commercial Lodge , Nottingham ); Edwin Penn , 35 ( Maine , U . S . A . ); H . Truman Wood , A . G . D . C ; S . George , P . M . S 13 ; Edwin Bending , 1706 ; H . Herman , 1319 ; C . Basil Cooke , 192 S ; Beaufort Hinks , 217 ; J . Potter , 10 S 7 : Augustus Harris , W . M . elect 2127 ; C F . Matier , P . G . W . Greece ; Capt . N . G 7 Philips , P . G . D . ; E . Letchworth , P . G . D . ; R . F . Castellari , P . D . G . W . Punjab ; F . A . Philbrick , O . C , G . Reg . ; P . J . Wharter , 65 ; H . Dicken , S . W . 1744 ; J . Herbert Kew , 179 ; Henry Guy , W . M . 1706 ; W . A . Scurrah , G . S . of W . Middx . ; W . Lake , P . M . 131 , P . P . G . Reg . ; C . Townley , 201 ; Joseph D .

Langton , P . J . G . W . Surrey ; W . B . Fendick , P . M . 1321 ; J . Kew , P . M . 179 ; ] . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . ; James L . Smith , W . M . 1744 ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; E . Milner , P . M ., P . G . S ., P . P . G . R . Surrey ; James Willing ; J . Willing , jun ., P . M . * 77 > 1507 , ' 744 > J 9 S 7 > and 'S'P ; Peter de Lande . Long , P . G . D . ; Thos . P . Grayson , 272 ; C . W . Blake , 11 S 5 ; Robert Grey , President of the Board of Benevolence ; Robert H . Goffin , P . M . 1572 ; Wm . Stiles , P . M . 1744 ; E . Swanborough , P . M * . 1319 ; John Chester , P . M . 905 ; James H . Smith , 192 S ; C . Sheath , 1507 ; and G . F . Swan , P . M . 1 3 21 , as Tyler . The Consecratinsr Officers were V . W . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke ,

P . G . D ., G . Sec ; R . W . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W ., acting as S . W . ; V . W . Bro . Thomas Fenn , President of the Board of General Purposes , as J . W . ; V . W . Bro . the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . C , as Chaplain ; W . Bro . J . H . Matthews , P . G . S . B ., as D . C . ; and W . Bro . Edgar Bowyer , as I . G . After the formal opening of the lodge in the three Degrees , Bro . Col . S HADWELL H . CLERKE addressed the brethren , and said they had met that day on an occasion which was both interesting and important

to al ! Masons—to add one more name to that illustrious roll of lodges which already existed under the Grand Lodge of England . It was just twelve months ago that he had the honour of consecrating a lodge in the City of London , which was specially devoted to the interests of brethren of the literary , musical , and dramatic professions . The lodge they were about now to consecrate was , if he might be permitted to say so , to run on somewhat similiar lines , and he could only say that if it was able to achieve the

success of its sister lodge it would be an extremely fortunate lodge . As they were aware , there were at the present time a very large number of lodges within the metropolitan area—about 350—and it was , therefore , of course , proper and right that the M . W . G . M . should be very loth to establish new lodges unless he found good and sufficient reason given to him for such an increase . It happened that in the present instance the brethren who were members of a well-known and celebrated Society in London—the Savage

Club—had thought it desirable that they should bind themselves together in the Masonic bonds of friendship by having a lodge associated with their club , in which they might meet . Those brethren , therefore , had petitioned the Grand Master to grant them a warrant , and his Royal Highness , after having duly considered the matter , had come to the conclusion that the reasons they had advanced were good and sufficient , and decided that they

should be warranted as a lodge . The brethren had been fortunate in selecting as their first Worshipful Master a distinguished brother in every walk of life , both Masonic and otherwise—Bro . Sir F . Wyatt Truscott , Past Grand Warden—and under his kind , social , and genial sway this , their last venture of the Savage Club Lodge would no doubt attain to a high position among the lodges of London .

Bro . the Rev . J . STUDHOLME BROWNRIGG , P . G . C , delivered the following oration : — We are told at an important epoch in our Masonic career that we are " expected to make the liberal arts and sciences our future study , " we hail , therefore , to-night , with satisfaction , the consecration of a new lodge composed of those who are carrying this precept into practice . Anyone who carefully considers the history of our Craft , written as it is in those letters of imperishable stone which connect the present with the

remote past , cannot fail to observe how every work of our ancient bretbren bears upon it an impress peculiar to the age in which it was executed . The expert will tell us at a glance almost the exact year in which the fabric was raised . Every age has its excellencies and its defects . The massive structures of a primaeval age show a sturdy strength and perseverance—a generous expenditure of time and labour , but they show also a lack of skill and beauty . Again there are times when perfect skill and lavish ornamentation are marred by a want of vigour and truth . The most perfect architecture

is that which combines our three great Masonic virtues of wisdom , strength , and beauty . It is rarely , if ever , that we find those attributes perfectly combined , and , bretbren , when we consider the history of the liberal arts and sciences do they riot tell the same story ? Every age has its peculiar beauty , every age its peculiar faults . Nothing human is perfect . It is ever hard to shake off the depressing and vicious influences peculiar to the generation in which we are living . Hard to cultivate those truths which are neglected by our fellow men . I know that you may urge that intellect ought

to guide and not to follow the age , but though 1 believe it does influence , 1 am sure also that it is not easy to avoid being in some degree infected by the evil—be it what it may , which in each time is predominant . Our literature , our drama , our science will always find it difficult to rise superior to its surroundings . To educate and not to pander to the degenerate tastes of the day . And here I hope that it is no idle boast to say that England occupies the proud position of having more than any other country avoided degenerating influences . We have our difficulties . But " the difficulties " I quote the

words of one of the deepest thinkers of the day , which press us most sorely are really the discipline through which God is teaching us , veiled promises of coming wisdom . Through every conflict the truth is seen in the majesty of its growing vigour . " Yes , here is our real _ Masonic secret— a secret which we are ready to teach to all who will learn it . Truth is the only power which can weld together wisdom , strength , and beauty . When the practical question is asked—How are we in art , in literature , in sc ' ence , in the drama , to do work which will last , work which will attract

and elevate public taste ? The answer is , let our work be true and honest . Our failures are almost always owing to the prevailing faults of the day—hurry and want of thought . We are ever seeking to produce great and immediate results , without bestowing on our work that time , labour , and attention which the most elementary principles of truth teach us to be needful for all honest work whether of the brains or the hands , but get over difficulties not by facing them but by staving them over . The mistaken opinion of the hour is that we want to be popular , and I am using the word in its good and true sense , we must ^ produce something dashed off at a minute ' s notice , and without care or prepara-

Consecration Of The Savage Club Lodge, No. 2190.

tion . I believe nothing can be more unsound . True brilliancy , the true way to win and keep public attention is to give it something worth attending to . This applies equally to the most elaborate scientific work , and to the lightest effort of the novelist ' s or dramatist ' s pen . For , note this , it is a misrepresentation of truth to suppose her to occupy herself only with obtruse and difficult matters . Truth is not a dull , cold , lifeless speculation , but a living reality which enters if you will but let it enter into every

social enjoyment and amusement of life which enhances and never mars the pleasure of our being . Is it not so , are not the books which in our hours of relaxation we read over and over again , those in which truth has made the tone wholesome and pure ? Why is it that whilst many efforts to bring men together for profit and enjoyment fail , but year after year our Masonic lodges increase and multiply , is it not because in an assembly

like this , whilst recognising to the fullest every honest pleasure of life we are true to the just law of our being , that man is the image of God , and that we are pledged never to sully that image by aught that is ignoble or untrue ? Let us as men and as Masons bring this thought into every word and action of our daily life , for thus only shall we be able to produce work worthy of our Master ' s acceptance .

The ceremony of consecration was thereafter proceeded with and completed , and Bro , Col . Shadwell H . Gierke installed Bro . Sir F . Wyatt Truscott , P . G . W ., as W . M . of the lodge . The following brethren received the collars of office : Bros . John Maclean , P . M ., was appointed to act as I . P . M . ; Sir J . R . Somers Vine , S . VV . ; Thomas Catling , J . W . ; Henry Irving , Treas . ; Archibald McNeill , Sec . ; W . E . Chapman , S . D . ; Tom

Burnside , J . D . ; and B . Tucker , P . M ., I . G . pro tem . On the motion of Bro . Somers Vine , S . W ., seconded by Bro . Catling , J . W ., the Prince of Wales was elected the first honorary member of the lodge , and on the motion of Bro . Chapman , S . D ., seconded by Bro . Burnside , J . D ., Bro . Sir Francis Knollys was elected the second honorary member . The consecrating officers were next elected honorary members ; Bros . Chapman , Tucker and

Burnside were elected a Committee to frame the by-laws ; and Bro . McNeill , Sec , announced that he had received letters and telegrams regretting inability to be present at the proceedings of the day from Bros , the Duke of Abercorn , the Earl of Carnarvon , the Earl of Bective , the Bishop of New Westminster , Sir J . Whitaker Ellis , Sir P . Cunliffe-Owen , Ex-Sheriff Clarke , the Mayors of Newcastle and Cambridge , and Lord Randolph Churchill .

The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet at Freemasons' Tavern . The usual toasts followed . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in giving the toast of " The Queen and the Craft , " said that in this lodge , consisting as it did of members of the most

loyal club in London , this toast would be loyally received . They must not forget that the Queen was not only the daughter and niece ot Masons , but the mother and grandmother of illustrious Masons . During this year she would receive a great ovation . As to her reign he might say in the words of the poet :

Entire and sure the monarch ' s reign is proved , Who finds her safety in her subject ' s love . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next gave " The M . W . G . M ., " and said it was a great episode in this day ' s proceedings , not only that H . R . H . had granted the charter of the lodge but that he had become a member . He had ever been a prominent member of the Savage Club . There was not the slightest doubt he took a great interest in their proceedings , and , as

many of the brethren were old Masons when he was kind enough to undertake the office of Grand Master , they remembered the situation in which the Craft then was . The wonder was that his Royal Highness was so successful in the results so far as Grand Lodge was concerned . The progress of Masonry had been marvellously rapid , and no doubt by and bye it would require not only 350 lodges , but 500 in the Metropolis to meet the wants of the brethren .

In giving " The Earl of Carnarvon , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " the . WORSHIPFUL MASTER said he could not pass over the services of the Grand Chaplain , both in the impressiveness and in the general character of his addresses . Bro . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . C , in reply , said in the presence of so many distinguished brethren it was impossible to be solemn or

impressive , more especially as he saw on the menu card representations of savages treating the paraphernalia of the Grand Officers with anything but solemnity . He was afraid therefore that the Savages present would treat his speech in the same way . In taking part in the ceremony of the evening he thought he might have spoken with some misplaced emphasis ; he felt , indeed , that with such good working that there was he had a hard task ;

still the kindness of the brethren made his task pleasant , and his honorary membership he should always value . Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . S ., proposed "The Health of the W . M . and Prosperity to the Savage Club Lodge . " It was a great honour for brethren to arrive at the rank of Master after a period of servitude ; but when a new lodge was founded it must be a still greater honour to be

selected by the founders to be the first occupant of the Master ' s chair . The Savage Club Lodge would no doubt be an important one . It had been founded by many influential brethren , and they had in the exercise of a very wise discretion selected a true , trusty , and distinguished Mason to preside over them ; a brother who had not only shown his good services in the working of Masonry , but in every situation of life he had always proved his

capabilities . Thebrethren were aware that the W . M . had held the office of Chief Magistrate of London . He remembered Lord Mayor Truscott of 1880 , and the efficient manner in which he carried out the hospitality of the City , and showed himself a good citizen as well as a good Mason . It was just tomorrow seven years , after he ( Col . Clerke ) had been for the first time appointed Grand Secretary , he had the honour of being present in Grand Masters' Lodge and seeing Sir F . Truscott installed in the Master's chair .

That year the Grand Master recognised the great Masonic worth and merit of Sir F . W . Truscott by appointing him to the high and distinguished honour of a Grand Warden of England . He was therefore an old soldier in the dignified position of W . M ., and therefore the brethren of the Savage Club Lodge were very fortunate indeed in securing the services of such a Mason and citizen to rule over them in the first and most important year of the lodge ' s existence .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in reply , said it was a very high honour to take the chair of the Savage Club Lodge as its first Master . It was with very great diffidence he accepted the nomination to that office . He thought they might have found a more able representative from their ranks , but when asked he felt he could do no less than place his services at their command , and therefore it was that he found himself in that proud position . He would have wished that some one more strong in health than himself

should have undertaken the duties of Master . But so far as he could his best abilities were at the service of the brethren and the prosperity of the lodge should be uppermost in his thoughts . He was the first honorary member of the Savage Club , and he was proud that they had called upon him to be the first Master of the lodge . His gratitude would not be bounded by the position he held in the Club , but it would be extended by the position he held in the lodge .