Original Correspondence.

To THE EDITOR . SIR , —Dr . Ace has published a letter [ in the " Hull Times , " accusing the Vicar of Brigg of assuming " power to exclude , or rather excommunicate , both priests and people from the Church of England , and set up a capricious clerical test as a condition of public worship . " This is a serious charge to bring against a clergyman ,

especially when brought by another clergyman , " and a Doctor of Divinity of both English universities , " "I would therefore record my protest against this audacious aggression on the rig hts of conscience and the principles of civil and religious liberty " on the part of Dr . Ace ; for your readers should know that the Vicar of Bri ; rg simply exercised the discretion vested in every incumbent as to who should

officiate , and what service sh < uld be performed in the church entrusted to Yiis care , and in this discretion , and according to his conscience , he declined to allow the Chaplain of a secret society to officiate on Whit Tuesday % But Mr . Wylie and his curate officiated at 11 o ' clock on that day , when the Freemasons were assembling . The church was not closed against anybody , and some of the

Freemasons were present at the service . I presume it is no great breach of civil and religious liberty if some persons disapprove oi Freemasonry , and if a clergyman does so , or even is not a Freemason , he may very well decline to lend his church to be used for some service , or for the deliveiy of some address , or the entrance of some procession which he might possibly disapprove of , as it would be by your HUMBLE SERVANT .

To THE EDITOR . SIR , —The letter in your last issue , headed as above , should not be read by the unitiatcd as expressing the sentiments of a Freemason who desires to carry out the objects of the fraternity , which are truly stated to be " charitable feeling and Christian virtue ; " but rather of one who evidences his zeal and attachment to the Order by

contention , strife , and bitterness , instead of in virtue and brotherly love . The contemplation of all the vast and wonderful works of the Great Architect of the Universe shows us that their mutual dependence upon each other is necessary to establish the perfection of the whole ; and thus we derive the lesson , which it is the duty of all Freemasons to practise , namely , to breathe the purest spirit of love and harmony . Our Order has always excited the ridicule of some ,

and offended the religious opinions of others , and whatever may be the vicar ' s objection to Freemasons using the house of their God , let us not forget that we can only attain the summit of our profession by the means of charity in its most ample sense ; and to be a Freemason is to be in charity with all men . I am , yours obediently , P . M . 1882 .

Brigg , 22 nd June , 1876 . [ We do not think any good can be accomplished by a protracted correspondence on this subject , and in thus closing it would merely add that since clergymen and ministers invariably extol the practice of Odd Fellows , Foresters , and other friendly societies commencing their

festivities by attending Divine service , it would have been but a graceful action on the part of the Vicar of Brigg had he acceded to the request of the much more influential body of Masons who attended the late Provincial Grand Lodge . —ED . ] We quite agree with our contemporary .

Consecration Of The West Middlesex Lodge, No. 1612.

CONSECRATION OF THE WEST MIDDLESEX LODGE , No . 1612 .

This new lodge for the Province of Middlesex was consecrated last Saturday , at the Institute , Ealing . The assemblage of the brethren to witness the ceremony was both large and important , numbering as they did some of the principal members of thc neighbouring lodges .

Among those were Bros . B . Sidney Wilmot , William Hilton , J . Greer , A . Muskett Yetts , W . F . Savage , W . Savage , C . B . Payne , J . B . Lancaster , F . Lawrence , W . Kershaw , C . J . Taylor , C . F . Fogarty , Gardiner , W . M . 780 ; Walter Goss , E . H . Taylor , J . Large , R . E . Harris , P . Cocher , W . W . Morgan , and H . Massey ( " Freemason " ) .

The ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary , who was assisted by Bro . Thomas Fenn , P . G . D ., and P . A . G . D . C , as S . W . ; Bro . James Weaver , P . Prov . G . Organist Middlesex , as J . W . ; Bro . the Rev . O . G . P . Perrott , as Chaplain ; Bro . H . G . Buss , as D . C . ; and Bro . VV . J . Murlis , as I . G . Bro . Hervey having opened thc lodge , delivered a

powerful address to the brethren , in which he pointed out the growing necessity there was for caution in the introducduction of new members to the Craft , and advised the brethren of tbe West Middlesex Lodge to observe that caution in their dealings with the propositions for initiation . He afterwards reiterated the observations he made as to the use of thc black ball when he consecrated the Sir

Hugh Myddelton Lodge , which were duly repoited in the " Freemason " of thc 6 th of May last . The Rev . O . G . D . Perrolt delivered the oration . Worshipful Sir and Brethren , — Having already assisted at one consecration to-day , that of a neighbouring church , and melting , like several I see around me , under the present more than tropical heat , I

feel that this is not an occasion for making a long speech , anl I shall therefore not weary you by indulging in those usual commonplaces , not unfrequently perhaps insincere , about inability , & c , but proceed direct to the task assigned me , viz ., an oration , if I may venture to call such the few remarks I have to make respecting the nature and prin-( i ples of Freemasonry . In an age like the present , when every institution , whatever its antiquity and usefulness ,

Consecration Of The West Middlesex Lodge, No. 1612.

has suffered more or less from the inroads of the sceptical and levelling tendencies of thc day , it is not to be wondered at that our Craft " lias been from time to time assailed , ridiculed , and even anathematised , and if this is more especially true of its present history it is not less true of the past , and notwithstanding all that has been said against it , I make bold to say that never has the Craft

stood on a firmer basis than at present , rearing its head aloft at the grandest ceremony ever witnessed in the Albert Hall , and having for its chief H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . The uninitiated may well wonder what this system can be which exhibits such vitality , and has survived the many attacks that have been made against it . And , Worshipful Sir and brethren , without committing myself ,

of pledging you to an acceptance of those traditions which would point to Adam as the first Freemason , and would identify as brethren of the Craft the sons of Lamech , who are said to have engraved our secrets on certain stone pillars which should outlive the Deluge , it seems pretty certain that Freemasonry can boast nr . t only of considerable antiquity , extending back perhaps into the sphere of

immemorial tradition , but also of many persons of illustrious rank , and of men of genius ani talent , whose works survive as monuments of their ' greatness , and who have held the proud position of Grand Masters of our Order . I need mention only the names of Sir Christopher Wren , whose magnificent structure is at once the pride and ornament of our metropolis , of Inigo Jones , and of

Cardinal Wolsey , who , amid all his ambitious projects , is said never to have neglected his duties as Grand Master . And what is it , brethren , which has given such stability to our Order ? Is it not Irom the fact of its being based on the grand principles of " brotherly love , relief , and truth ' : " Yes , wc may point with pride to our chanties , which testify to the benevolence of past and present members of our

Order , no less a sum than ^ 2 , 000 having been raised this year ; and here 1 would lemark , quoting words which fell from the lips of our late revered Grand Master , that these charities ought not to be dependent on the generosity of the same few , who always give liberally , but that every brother should give his quota , remembering thc old adage " Mony a mickle makes a muckk . " 1 nee

not plead with Freemasons about the duty of givi . - . g , for it is a practical expression of our belief in brotherly love , and besides giving , to quote the words of another distinguished brother , it becomes our duty to take an interest in the working of our charities , and I feel sure that by occasionall y ! visiting ihem , and watching and aiding in their management , great good would result to the

charities . Let those who cannot make themselves at once life subscribers or life governors sink the pride they may feel in seeing their names recorded in print , and give according to their means towards endowing the different chairs in the lodge ; in this way , as is done in some of the provinces , greater power in the management of the charities is acquired by the lodge , a'id the success of one's

candidates at elections is assured . Another principle on which our Craft is based is truth ; we are required to rule our every action by that volume of unerring truth which lies open in every lodge , and which reveals to us thc Word of God . I fear that mu-. h of the ridicule to which we are exposed is owing to the licence and excess which some few brethren indulge in , and which the laws of thc land

do not tolerate even in places ot public resort . It was only the other day , when mentioning to a friend our ceremony of to-day , he observed " It is all moonshine , you arc no better than Antediluvian Buffalaes ; it is all knife and fork business with you Masons—only a question of eating and drinking . " Now , it can hardly be questioned that this is thc prevalent opinion amongst thc uninitiated , and

however true it may be with respect to some few amongst us , I venture to say that thc great majority of our brethren dc act up to the principles they profess , that though they may , just as any other mortals , have their differences , still they do forget and forgive with that brotherly love which they profess , and reflect in the general tenour cf their lives the grand principles of the Craft : and , brethren ,

may it please the Great Architect of the Universe to grant that all the members of this lodge may be bright members of the Order , and may become living stones in that Grand Lodge above , where all secrets shall be revealed . The ceremony of consecration was afterwards completed , the assistance of Bros . Wrighton , Delevanti , Lawler , Carter , and Baxter being given for the musical

portions . When the ceremony was completed , Bro . A . Beasley , of the managerial department of the Great Western Railway , and P . M . of No . 780 , was installed W . M ., and the following brethren were invested with their collars of office : —Bros . Brown , I . I ' . M . ; T . Kingston , S . W . ; II . Kasner , J . W . ; Brown , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Chambers

Roe , Sec . ; Bird , S . D . ; Greene , J . D .: Compton , I . G . ; the Rev . O . G . D . Perrott , Chaplain ; K . Delevanti , Organist ; Leonard , M . C . ; and Harrison , i ' yler . The charges were delivered by Bro . T . Fenn , and propositions were given in for initiation and joining . The W . M ., in proposing a vote of thanks to the consecrating officers , said he had no doubt that those

distinguished brethren were honoraiy members of a good many lodges , but they would none the less value honorary membership of thc West Middlesex Lodge on that account . All the brethren knew how much they were indebted to the Grand Secretary foi coming there that day , and personally he ( the W . M . ) felt he could not thank him sufficiently for attending on such a hot day such a long distance from

London . 1 hey were also exceedingly indebted to thc Rev . O . G . D . Perrott for attending and delivering the oration . He therefore proposed , along with the thanks of the biethren , honorary membership of thc lodge to the consecrating brethren , Bros . Hervey , Fenn , Weaver , Perrott , and Buss . Bro . Brown , I . P . M ., seconded the motion , which was l _ ien put and carried .

Consecration Of The West Middlesex Lodge, No. 1612.

Bro . Hervey acknowledged thc compliment on behalf of himself and thc other consecrating brethren , who , he said " appreciated the compliment as highly as he himself did ! They all felt that the little service they had rendered was acceptable to the members of the lodge , which thev trusted and felt would be a credit to the Order . They hoped to see it persevere in a path of usefulness . In

respectability it could not increase ; but while it increased in usefulness so long would it secure esteem , and so long would the consecrating officers feel proud to think that part of the lodge's usefulness was owing to themselves . After this the bye-laws were passed , and a suggestion was made that a photograph should be taken of the brethren who had participated in the consecration . This

suggestion was not , however , adopted , the W . M . stating that the brethren , who were certainly ornamental , had not yet gone through a year of office to shew they were useful , and until that end had been arrived at it might not be much encouragement to other brethren if they did see the portraits . He , however , thought that if a Master did go through his year of office well the

suspension of his likeness in the lodge-room would have a beneficial effect on his successors . Bro . Hervey said that he thought it would be a good rule to adopt that the brethren who were photographed should themselves pay for the work of art . Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to Bro . Brown ' s Railway Hotel , where an elegant banquet

was provided . After this had been disposed of , the toasts were given , and those of " The Queen and the Craft " and " The M . W . G . M . " were first duly honoured . Bro . T . Fenn , P . G . D ., responded to the toast of "The Pro Grand Master , the D . G . M ., and Grand Officers , " and in doing so said he had been a member of that body for about a dozen years , and he could safely say that he

believed the Grand Officers were willing and desirous on all occasions to perform any duty or service which might devolve upon them in the Ciaft . They were always desirous to advance the interests of Masonry , and it was on that account that they had been brought to the notice of the Grand Master and honoured with the purple . It was a great pleasure to see brethren so honoured , and he must

draw to tlieir particular attention the observations which had been made in lodge by Grand Secretary that afternoon , which would give them a good idea of what their duties as Freemasons were . He believed with the Grand Secretary that it was the selection of its members which lay at the foundation of a young lodge ' s prosperity . The W . M . next proposed " The Health of Bro . Hervey ,

Consecrating Officer . " He informed the brethren of the great assistance which he had received from Bro . Hervey in the establishment of this lodge , and of the kind advice he had given him whenever he went to consult him on the subject . His knowledge of the Book of Constitutions had been brought to bear on the advice he had given , and this had been of great service in directing the brethren . So

that it was not only for coming on that very hot day to consecrate the lodge that the brethren had to thank Bro . Hervey , but for that useful and important advice which he had furnished beforehand . Bro . Hervey , replying , said that on the occasion of consecrating a lodge , consecrating officers not unfrequently unbosomed themselves , and sometimes made theiiu-elves

agreeable and sometimes disagreeable by what they said , agreeable by saying flattering things , and disagreeable by telling unpleasant truths . He was afraid he might be considered as doing the latter that evening . Still it was not for him to say only smooth things . He must tell them those things which he thought profitable for them . Lodges were being consecrated now to a large number , and the

ceremonies were being very ably done . He was pleased that the ceremony that evening had given satisfaction to the brethren ; but it was not to him that praise alone was to be given , as the ceremony would have been poor but for the assistance he received from Bros . Fenn . Weaver , Perrott , and Buss . ( Hear hear . ) Enough of himself and of those who had acted with him . He now came to a more pleasant theme

" The Health of the W . M ., and Success and Prosperity to the West Middlesex Lodge . " Under the present W . M . he had 110 doubt that at no distant date the lodge would attain to great eminence . He knew it would be well handled and well ' conducted . As he had ventured to advise them to take care that good men only were initiated , men well known and well vouched for , he could not suppose for

one moment that his advice would not be acted upon , and consequently that the lodge would not prosper . The W . M . in the course of his response to the toast , which was most cordially received , said that all the brethren knew that what he had done for the lodge had been done with the most hearty good will , and with a sincere desire to benefit not only the Craft in general but this

lodge " very much in particular . " He remembered having been told two or three years ago that it was in contemplation to establish a lodge in Ealing . He said on that occasion that he should be very glad indeed to join it , well knowing that it would be composed in most part of his . ' personal friends . The movement did not , however , arrive at maturity , but was revived by a meeting being held which

he was asked to attend . Hc did so , 1101 knowing what the intention of the brethren was , and he was much surprised when he was asked whether he would accept the office of W . M . His answer was " Certainly not , if any other brother could be found willing to take it , but if not he would . " He was taken at his word , and from that moment to this he had felt it a great compliment , and the

brethren must allow him to express his obligations to them . The arrangement , control , and management of everything in connection with the lodge had been in his hands . Hsaid this , however , with a qualification , because the lodge would not have been so completely equipped with everything had it not been for the able assistance he had received from Bro . Roe , the Secretary , and he was quite happy in his mind to think that during his year of office .