The Right Of Perpetual Jurisdiction.

Master so energetic a brother as Bro . Bartley Denniss . He had had the pleasure of knowing the W . M . for many years , and had seen his work in other spheres , and knew that no one entered upon his various duties with more energy . With such an excellent Master at their head , with such a S . W . as Bro . Littler , P . D . G . R ., and an experienced J . W ., he was sure that lodge would be second to none .

Bro . H . SADLER , Grand Tyler , also responded , and expressed the great gratification he felt to be present on that occasion , especially as he had the honour of being acquainted with some of the founders . He was always very pleased to attend a consecration , particularly in the rising and flourishing Province of Middlesex . Having had peculiar experience in Masonic matters generally , and especially in the formation of lodges , he could as a

rule give a pretty shrewd guess as to what the lodge would turn out . He always had an idea , when he found the founders were earnest men and had taken considerable trouble to ensure the success of the consecration ceremonies , that there was a good prospect of the lodge being a successful one . He was happy to be able to inform the visitors that a great deal of trouble had been taken in the formation of that lodge and the successful carrying out of the ceremony , and was sure it was a good very augury of success .

The WORSHIPFI ' MASTER next proposed "The R . W . Prov . G . Master and the Consecrating Officers " and said they were grateful to the Prov . G . Master for launching one more craft upon the bosom of Masonry . In his time , Bro . Lord George Hamilton had launched many stately battleships to fight for the name and honour of England , and had also consecrated many worthy lodges in the cause of brotherly love , relief , and truth . His

presence that night was peculiarly appropriate , because many of the happiest days of his life were spent upon that hill . As an old Harrow boy , the Prov . G . Master had , doubtlesss , been pleased to take part in the birth of a lodge named after the ancient firm of that old town , whose members were Harrow people , almost without exception . Of all the distinguished men who , as boys , were brought up at Harrow School ,

their Prov . G . Master was one of the most distinguished . The founders were especially proud that their lodge had been brought into being by the Prov . G . M ., whose interests were so closely allied to the place where they would hold their meetings . Their thanks were due to him for the admirable way in which the ceremony had been performed , and hoped the lodge would be worthy of such an auspicious commencement . He ( the W . M . ) was

sorry that Bro . Raymond Thrupp , the Dep . Prov . G . M ., was not present , but his place had been most ably supplied by Bro . Ro . im , the Prov . Grand Sec . They were all very much obliged to Bro . Room for many useful hints which had enabled them to secure a prosperous meeting . He was also indebted to Bro . Adams , the Prov . G . D . C , for his kindness in making their path smooth . In conclusion , he would say that that lodge , started by Harrow people in Harrow town , would strive to keep up the reputation of

that ancient and venerable town , and they hoped that as it had been consecrated by the Prov . G . M . in person , it would be worthy of him , and that the Prov . G . M . would always find his most loyal supporters amongst the brethren of the Herga Lodge . One of the Harrow School songs entitled " Harrow on the Hill , " by John Farmer , was then sung and enthusiastically received , the verse quoted below received an especially hearty reception :

Men of honour in English realms , Harrow upon the Hill . Have roamed as boys beneath her elms , Harrow upon the Hill . And round thc School which loves to claim

The heirloom of their noble name They cast the halo of their fame . Harrow upon the Hill . The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in reply , said the W . M . had struck a very responsive chord , when proposing his health and that of his colleagues , when he alluded to his past connection with Harrow . In the course of his life he

had moved over a good many quarters of the globe and in many capacities in Middlesex , but he might tell them there was no place upon the faceof the earth which appealed to him with such pleasant recollections and reminiscences , and to which he felt more closely allied than the old Hill of Harrow . He came there many years ago—so many he should not like to count them—a wretched little boy , and enjoyed himself very much even

during the period when he was richly and properly kicked . But he enjoyed himself a great deal more when he became the kicker , and he hoped all the little boys he then chastised eventually enjoyed a similar experience . His ties to the old school were closer , because his two boys were there . They had left , and he was glad to say as a result of the training , they were both enabled to start well in the work and business of life . It was a great and

additional interest to come back in a new capacity and take part in the consecration of this new lodge . When he was first offered the post he now occupied—that of Prov . G . M . —he had some hesitation in accepting , because he knew the province was increasing rapidly in population and that a large amount of work would be entailed , and he was not sure he had the necessary qualifications . He accepted because there was no more capable Prov . Grand

Lodge than that of Middlesex . The anticipations he formed as to the efficiency of those wjth whom he was associated had been more than realised . The province stood high in its work which the brethren performed in connection with the various lodges , and he believed no man had done more to promote that efficiency than the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , whose absence they all deplored . In taking part in a similar ceremony a few weeks back ,

a well-known brother was with them—Bro . Col . Noel Money , Prov . G . M . Surrey , a man of distinguished military career , who had done excellent work in the Brotherhood . Although in good robust health , owing undoubtedly to the inclemency of the weather he was now no more . It behoved them , with weather such as the past , to impress upon the brethren that they should not unduly expose themselves in that exceptionally coin airand it that account

, was on alone that Bro . Thrupp was not present . Although they were sorry he was not present , it aff rded the brethren an opportunity of seeing the capacityof the P . Grand Secretary , Bro . Room , and that he could at the shortest possible notice disch rrge the most difficult d uties which could bs imposed upon a brother . Perhaps they would allow h im to go on with the next toast , and propose ' The Health of their Worship ful Master . " A rule was established in the Prov . G and Lodge before he

accepted omce , and it was to this effect : I nat the multiplication of Lodges should not be encouraged unless it was clear that a local want was supplied , and that the Lod ge consecrated would be supported by brethren in the locality . Living in the immediate neighbourhood of the populous centre of the Metropolis , it was most inadvisable that a number of lodges should be formed which would be entirely supported by brethren who do not live in the province . Therefore they exercised their discretion when petitions were put forward for acceptance , but as soon as they realised

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lays it down , clearly enough , that " no person can regularly be made a Mason or admitted a member of any lodge without previous Notice , and due inquiry into his character . " This law , in our humble opinion , is sufficient for all legitimate purposes . Every lodge desires that its members shall be good men and true , and it seems to us that there is no better way of

ensuring this than by inquiring into the character and antecedents of these who aspire to be received as members . The Grand Lodge of England will yield to none in its desire to maintain the highest possible standard of character among its members . Its principal officers are never weary of impressing upon lodges the necessity of looking carefully

into the character of those they accept as membsrs . No new lodge is ever constituted but the Consecrating Officer calls upon the founders to be cautious whom they admit , and here at all events the old Charge has been found sufficient . We know nothing whatever of this absurd dogma of " perpetual jurisdiction . " A lodge rejects a candidate if it does not

consider him worthy of b : ing one of its members ; or if worthy of being a Mason , not precisely the kind of man with whom they are in the habit of associating . This same person offers himself as a candidate for the second time , but to another lodge , if the latter does its duty , there will be no difficulty in determining , after "due inquiry "

has been made into his character , whether or not he is a fit and proper person to be accepted for initiation and membership of that lodge . It seems to us an absurdity that a Grand Lodge should go out of its way to lay

down a new and preposterous law , when there is already one in existence , which is admitted by all reasonable men to be a good one , and which , if care is taken to enforce it , will secure lodges from the intrusion into their ranks of men who are unworthy of being Masons .

Consecration Of The Herga Lodge, No. 2548.

CONSECRATION OF THE HERGA LODGE , No . 2548 .

The Herga Lodge , No . 2543 , was consecrated at Harrow House , Harrow-on-the-Hill , on Saturday , the 16 th instant , in the presence of the founders and numerous well-wishers , with every indication of a prosperous future . The interesting ceremony was performed by Bro . Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., P . G . W . Eng ., P . G . M ., assisted by Bros . J . Church , P . S . G . W . ; Dr . N . Goodchild , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . P . Henderson Aitken , M . A ., P . G . C ; Howard H . Room , P . G . Sec ; John Adams , P . G . D . C . ; and R . W . Bilby , P . G . Treas .

The founders of the new lodge were Bros . E . R . Bartley Denniss , I . P . M , 14 60 , 2489 , W . M . designate ; C . J . Wharton , P . M . 706 ; R . D . M . Littler , C . B ., O . C ., P . M . 263 . 1610 , 2033 , P . D . G . Reg . Eng ., S . W . designate ; J . F . Clnlds , P . M . 510 . P . P . G . R . Cornwall , J . VV . designate ; R . E . H . Fisher , 1 : 540 , I . G . 2489 ; F . S . Conway , J . D . 1549 ; E . Winterbottom , I . G . 1549 ;

W . T . Ball , P . M . 435 , 2076 , 2279 ; F . S . Winkley , 1549 ; F . W . Provost , 1549 ; S . W . Hunt , 1549 ; C . Billows , 2361 ; ' G . Browning , 90 ; I . E . B . Cox , 1974 , 2489 ; A . C . Fisher , 24 S 9 ; W . J . Overhead , 1549 ; G . H . Thurston , 9 , 1310 ; J . L . Winkley , 1549 ; R . T . Wreathall , 2455 ; and R . Procter Wright , 2361 .

The visitors present included Bros . R . Loveland Loveland , Pres . B . of G . P . ; C . Butlers , I . P . M . 209 S ; W . Sergeant Lee , P . M . 1207 ; C . Marrian , Sec . 2489 ; S . S . Stow , 2022 ; W . Rapley , I . G . 1987 ; Stanley Machen , S . W . 2489 ; Captain \ V . Davis , 1964 ; ] . Morley ; F . Atkins , P . M . 435 ; T . H . Gardiner , P . M . 659 ; W . R . Barr , 16 32 ; W . H . C .

Crump , 58 ; F . Tooker , P . M . ; W . W . Mansfield , W . M . 1549 ; W . H Beccroft , 330 ; C . Veal , P . P . S . G . D . ; A . C . Goodinge , P . M . 1 S 1 S ; B Campbell Gowar , I . P . M . 1 549 ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; G . Black , 1731 ; H W . Schartau , P . P . G . Org . ; B . Schwerze , 335 ; W . Bradford , 2168 ; V Bennetts , 2309 ; J . Brand , 1706 ; H . Grant Greig , J . W . 24 S 9 ; G . Ball , P . M . 435 ; Vv . W . Lee , W . M 18 97 ; and others .

Lodge having been opened in ihe Three Degrees by the Provincial Grand Secretary , th * Provincial Grand Master entered , and was duly saluted . The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER then bri-fly explained that they had assembled on ihat occasion for the purpose of consecrating a new lodge , and that he had been directed by the M . W . G . M . to act as his Deputy for the time being , and perform the requisiie ceremonies . In obedience to the authority invested in him , he would call upon the Provincial Grand Chaplain for the opening- prayer .

Bro . the Rev . P . HENDERSON AITKEN . Prov . G . Chap ., delivered an oration on the nature and principles of the Order , and the new lodge was afterwards solemnly dedicated and constituted . The W . M . designate , Bro . E . R . Botley Dennis , I . P . M . 1460 , was installed by Bro , Howard H . R om P G . Sec , and invested the following

officers : Bros . R . D M . Lntler , C . B ., O . C ., P . D . G . R ., S . W . ; J . F . Childs . P P . G . Reg . Cornwall , J VV . ; it E . H . Fish-r , S ^ c . ; F . S . Conway , S . D . ; E . Wmterboitom , J . D . ; W . T . Ball , P . M ., D . C . ; F . S . Winkley , I . G . ; F . W . Provost , and S . W . Hunt , Stwds . ; and C . Billows , Org . Bro . C . J . Wharton , P . M ., will act as I . P . M . during the ensuing

year . The Consecrating Officers and founders of the lodge were presented with a handsome jewd the gift of Bro . I . E . B . Cox , as a souvenir of the occasion . The honorary membership <> f the lodge was conferred upon the Consecrating Officers , and routine business having been transacted the lodge was closed .

A banquet was afterwards held at the Public Hall , under the presidency of the W . M ., at which the usual toasts were honoured . BRO . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , President of the Board of General Purposes , replying for " The G'and Officers , " said that many of the brethren from time to time had seen ihe Pro G M . and the Dep . G . M . in Grand Lodge carrying on the work of that great body , and must have seen how

very « ell they performed iheir duties . It was also well known how well they managed th <^ ^ ffiirs of their respective provinces . The rest of the Grand Officers hid a three-fold du » y to perform . First ot all in the administration of the aff < irs of the Craft , in looking after the great M-rsonic Charities , and in doing good siit and service whenever called up in in the riiu-d which

belonged to their Order . The Grand Officers were always ready to come to the assistance of any lodge where , by illness or other unforeseen circumstance , the officers were not present . He was sure he m ght say on behalf of the Grand Officers present that they hoped this lodge—which had b ; en so auspiciously consecrated by the Prov . Grand Master—would flourish and prosper , and he congratulated the lodge on having as their first Worshipful