Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Wanderers Chapter, No. 1604.
CONSECRATION OF THE WANDERERS CHAPTER , No . 1604 .
On Tuesday evening this new chapter was consecrated at Freemasons' Hall , by Lieut .-Gen . J . S . Brownrigg , C . B ., Prov . Grand Superintendent Surtey . The chapter is attached to the Wanderers' Lodge , No . 1604 , a military lodge , which was consecrate d in 1 S 76 , and the
Wanderers' Chapter is to be a military chapter . The Wanderers' Lodge is one of the few exceptions to thc rule laid down by Grand Chapter not to Errant a charter to a lodge for holding a chapter unless the lod < je shall have been in existence for at least three years . The brethren cf thc Wanderers' Lodge , knowing that they had a sufficient number of PastMa-ters ot lodges as their members to keep
up a supply of Principils for a chapter for several years , applied to Grand Chapter , after bemg a twelve month old , for a charter for a chapter , but this petition was , in the first instance , refused . At Grand Chapter , in November last , they however appliedagain , and they obtained such strong support that the petition was unanimously erantcd . Among the supporters of the petition was General Brownrigg , who spoke very strongly in favour of granting the prayer of the
petition , and also very s'rongly in favour of the Wanderers' Lodge . General Brownrigg was therefore asked to consecrate thc chapter , and he very readily accepted the invitation . On Tuesday , then , he consecrated it , and he was assisted in his duties by Comn . J . A . Reed , who took thc cha ' r of II .: and Comp . the Rev . J . Simpson , P . G . C , who took thc chair of J . ; Comp . C . A . Cot ' ehrune acl « l as D . C , and Comp . W . H . Bird as S . E . Thc companions
present , among others , at the ceremony , were Comp ' . Geo . Bouhon , Malthew Leslie , J . Brown , W . H . Bird , F . J . Wray , T ) . Barton , P . T . Fuller , C . A . Cottebrune , H . Hack-r , M . E . Z .. 723 ; Rev . P . J . Simpson , J . Reed , P . Z . 180 , Src , Louis Beck , 176 ; Dempster , J . yCfi ; Rev . R . C . Halpin , 167 ; H . Massey ( Freemason ) , E . Mount , 723 ; H . Wocid , H . 538 ; J . Sharp-r , 13 ; E . G . Klighan ,
13 ; E . P . Albert , P . Z . 188 ; H . W . Lindus , P . Z . 53 S ; John D . Carter , 771 ; C . Burmeister . 53 S ; John Dipro ' se , jun ., J . 507 ; W . C Parsons , Z . elect 180 ; John Hervey , G . S . E . ; and Charles B . Payne , G . Tyler . After the chapt-r had been formal ! ¦ •opened General Brownrigg , addressing the . companions , said they wrre met that day to lay another stone—and be hoped
an important stone—111 the Masonic structure . He could assure the companions that it gave him very great pleasure indeed to be asked to preside on that occasion . Tt was very congenial tn his feelings to know that the companions of this new chapter were composed , hob-lieved , principally of members cf thc profession in which hc himself had served so many years Besides this , he felt an interest in
the chapter , because he had been able to assist in a certain decree in obtaining its charter at an earlier period than was orcinanly tbe rase . lie tViougVit the rule ol Grand Chapter which required three vears to elapse before a lodge hnd : i charter rjratilt d ( n it for a chapter vvas a good one ; but like .-ill nthir nils there mieht he exc ? pt'ons made to it orciMonnUv ; and hc * va- so convince I that thc exception ought to he made , and that it was just
and reasonable that it should be made , that hc had extreme pleasure in recommending it to the Supreme Grand Chapter . It vvas to the course he then took that hc attributed tbe honour tha * . had been paid him in asking him to consecrate the new Chapter . The ceremony was then proceeded with , and General Brownricrcr called upon Comp . the Rev . R . J . Simpson P . G . C to deliver the oration
1 he R-v . R . J . Simpson then delivered an oration as follows : —M . E . Z . Comps ., the M . E . has given me two very good keys to the few observations which I will make tonight , the first is that I , as well as be , have been honoured by being present lure to-night at the request of my companions ; not because I have had great experience in Royal Arch Masonry , but I attribute the honour paid to me in a
great measure to this , that I was on a former occasion favoured with a . request to be present and take part in the consecration of the Wanderers' Lodge . I have come here this evening with very great pleasure , and when the Most Excellent has stated that we are to add one other stone to the building , he reminds me of afact of wliichwecannotbe too often reminded , that our whole system is a symbolical
system , tbat is , a system by which we arc taught great and solemn truths in connection with human life through certain outward symbols which more or less suggest those truths . I propose in the very few remarks I make to compose whit may be consideied a moral arch , the two limbs of which shall be laid on Faith and Hope , on which we shall raise a superstructure of Virtue , Temperance , Patienc ,
and Brotherly kindness , completing the arch by the grand keystone , Charity . I have said that tbe arch must be laid m Fa * * th and Hop-. With regard tn the former , companions , I need scarcely remind you that recent facts have taught us to value the great foundation stone upon which our superstructure rests , and that a belief in , an obedience to , and a recognition of the G . A . O . T . U . must
form the basis upon which any enduring arch must rest . The world around us , in its marvellous and beautiful structures , reminds us continually ofthe fact that a Great Designer , Planner , or Architect must exist ; and it does seem impossible that any man with his eyes to see , and with his ears to hear , can possibly by any means doubt the presence of thc governing power of the G . A . O . T . U .: in fact , I btlieve that the ereatest miracle
that could be found is a man who in his full senses could aver that there was none . I need scarcely remind you , companions , that the Great Architect has in distant ages ban 'ed down lhfou ; jh onc great and wondrous people His Divine will , which ferms , as we know , the firm and enduring basis upon which Freemasonry rests . I need not tell you cf the noble worthies from Abraham downwards , who in ancient limes with faith in God have left all for the purpose of seiving Him . Thegreat stream of time rc-
Consecration Of The Wanderers Chapter, No. 1604.
veals many and many such glorious men , and we , " upon whom the ends of the world have come , " must try to remember that—Lives of great men all remind us , We can make our lives sublime , And departing , leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time . Bnt this reminds me , too , that we must have Hope . These are but sands of time ; we must leave them . But what should we be , if the Great Architect had not planted in our heart that grand feeling of Hope , Hope that buoys us up from infancy , that teaches us to look forward with bright pr . imise into life—life perhaps filled with many a
sorrow instead of bright happiness , on which , still leaning as " an anchor of the soul , " we march through life trusting that we may , by God ' s blessing , be enabled to realise the dreams of early days . And when life itself is ended what have we but that Hope , the Hop : of being able to enter the Great Lodge above , and there to rej-iin the companions of our former toils . And if this Hope be
in us , it will produce the practice of Virtue , without which , we as men are but poor indeed . This Virtue , a very wide word , covering a great amount of moral truth , stood the world in good stead when brighter light was wanting and the sense of morality , the discerning between right and wrong , "the law written on man ' s heart" by the Great Creator , has been his guide in very dark periods
of the world '* history and has enabled some of the most eminent of the human race to write their names broadly nn the annals of time , f need not speak of the immortal Plato , and the crreat Aristotle , and ofthe intellectual giants who lived in days when virtue or mi rai truth vvas the only guide of the world . And as it was thc gui Ic then , so it must be a subordinate guide now . There arc few of us ,
whatever may be our distinctive views , who do not feel that we are under a great law ; and it is only for us to look round upon the world and see what breaches of that law have brought to pass , to shew us that the keeping of that law is perfect wisdom ; and in this category let us not forget that some of the brightest characters in history have been eminent examples of exalted virtue . And when I
speak of virtue , let us not forget onc very dear to Masons , I mean the virtue of Temperance , another stone in this Royal Arch . Perhaps , there are few things which we men are more practically called upoi to look upon as th " . guide of life than this great virtue , temperance of thought , temperance of word , and temperance of living . Il is a very blessed three in one . And as surely as the man who seeks
to practise virtue , seeks to practise it so as to carry it out in his conduct towards his fellows and in performance of his duty to God , so will he endeavour to practise that temperance which in aU tilings , as has been said in memorable words , must give a man "the mastery . " If he strives for a mastery he " must he temperate in all things . " I need not say , companions , to yon , bow practical a virtue
this is for us to exercise , and how important as Alasons , whither Craft 5 men or Royal Arch Masons , to follow it , not only as go-d for ourselves , our bodies , and our sidiits , hut as commending our noble and venerable Ordtr to the admiration of the outer world . And we must aI . * o have Patience . It is a grand thing to be able to " endure hardness . " amidst the many ills of
human life . Among continual bickerings , and the strife of tongues , " amon- ; daily trials of domestic life , among the political battles , which must needs be fought especially in an age and a country like ours nnd in tho = e unhappy discords which creep even into our temples of pence , Patience is a j-lorious virtue . Calm reliance upon the truth , the determination not for a moment to swerve
from the path of rectitude , and yet to learn to b-ar kindly , bear charitably , those blows which we * must nccessaril / receive in this earthly warfare—this is , indeed , a great blessing to others and agreit blessing to ourselves . But these various virtues are necessary lo us as men . The last stone except the keystone , is especially necessary to us as Masons—Brotherly ki-d-css . That courtesy , that generous
feeling which gentlemen and Masons must ever feel to each other and which smoothes over many of the asperities of human lile , this is indeed a blessed thing . And certainly the experience of Masonry for many years proves tn me that there is no virtue which more practically makes Masonie life happy and p leasant than that Brotherly kindness , which , whether in 1 adge or out of lotlge ,
should distinguish those who are hound hy even a closer tie than ether men . And lastly , when the arch has thus far been raiseil we come to that great kevstone of Charity which is not bound to any particular virtue , but which covers the wholewhich is a link between earth and Heaven , which when faith fails and hone dies shall still exist in another and
brighter sphere , giving us the light of God ' s countenance , instead of the poor arid miserable lights which the world affords , and affording us after all thc storms of life are over , the rainbow of promise to gild man's future life , and tell him that the floods of ungodliness shall come upon him no more . Blended together , these virtues , like the prismatic lights of the great bow in the vault of
heaven , shall harmonize in tbat Charity which hc has begun in practice here , and which , as a Mason and a man , he has sought to improve himself in . Certain I am , that in that charity ( and by that I do not confine myself merely to those charities in the way of giving , whether it be to schools or to the aged , which , thank God , as Masons , wc prarticc but ) in its largest and fullest sense , our Order teaches that supreme
tluty which , as I said before , unites heaven and eaith . Companions , I have no better wish with which to conclude these words than to trust that that Divine charity may ever fill your hearts and mine , and thrt whether we meet here or elsewhere , wc may practise its noble principles , may endeavourto speak kindly of others , to attribute tbe kindest motives compatible with outward acts that we can possibly frame , and that as we are de-
Consecration Of The Wanderers Chapter, No. 1604.
parting to our own great account , we may hope we shall be forgiven even as we have forgiven others . May this Wanderers' Chapter be a happy embodiment of the virtues , which 1 have imperfectly alluded to , and may tbe moral arch which I have ventured to raise be found the arch under which every one of us may pass to a hi gher and a brighter sphere .
The consecration ceremony was afterwards completed , and at its conclusion Comp . T . H . Meredith was installed , M . E . Z . ; Comp . W . J . Parish , II . ; atil Comp . T . R . Mclllwham , J . The following companions were invested W . H . Bird , S . E .. * , G . Boulton , S . N . ; F . J . Wray , W . S . ; B . Barton , ist A . S . ; M . Leslie , 2 nd A . S . ; C . Fuller , Treasurer ; and J . Lackland , Janitor . Votes of thanks
were then passed to the Consecrating Officers , and Comps . General Brownrigg , the Rev . R . J . Simpson , C . A . Cottebrune , and John Hervey were elected honorary members of thc chapter . General Brownrigg in replying said he was much honoured by the compliment paid him in asking him to consecrate the chapter . If the companions were pleased with his performance of the ceremony he was satisfied .
His association with this chapter gave him gratification . It did not signify what height a man arrived to in the honourable service to which he belonged . A man ' s heart was always in it , and whatever their difference of rank might be they were all guided by one sentiment , that of doine their duty to their Queen and country , and this was a bond which united them together wherever , or under
whatever ri-cumstances , tbey might be . Chapter vvas then closed , and the companions adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern , where au admirable banquet vvas provided for them by Bro . Best , thc proprietor . At the conclusion of thc banquet , they honoured the usual Royal Arch toasts . Comp . John Hervey , G . S . E ., in reply to the toast of
"The Grand Officers , " said he was sure he need not say anything about the Earl of Carnarvon or Lord Skelmersdale , as they were too well knovvn . among Masons to require eulogium from him , especially after it had been so well pronounced in thc eloquent speech of the M . E Z . For thc other Grand Officers hc thanked the companions for the compliment , and for himself he felt he was
somewhat ot a delinquent for having come to the chapter at so late an hour . But he was detained on official business over which he could have no control , and , to make matters worse , after the Board of General Purposes which he had had to attend they had a Committee which detained him longer than usual . He felt therefore that in complimenting him as the companions had done they had
almost complimented him for not doing that which he ought to have done . He should have been glatl to be with the companions at an earlier bour ir it had been possible , and he should have been very sorry to have been absent altogether . He know , however , the work was admirably done liy bis excellent friend General Brownrigg . Very nearly two years ago he had the honour of consecrating
thc Wanderers' Lod-fe , and that event had not passed from his memory . It was a day that vvas a triumph for tbe army ; i * WHS something of a triumph also for those associated with thc consecration to which they might well look back with pride , for it was one which reflected honour upon thc lodge and to the Craft to which they all belonged . Happy vvas hc to find that the lodge had
succeeded so well . It had been well conducted aid well worked . A short time ago he was in the lodge and saw the work , and he did not think hc ever saw the work done in any lodge in London better or more ably . He trusted that tbe Wanderers' Chapter would do the work equally well with the Wanderers' Lodge . If they did , the chapter would have equal success .
The M . E . Z . next gave " The Consecrating * Officers . " In doing so lie said a chapter could only be consecrated once , and it was a great pride to the companions of the Wanderers' Chapter that it had been consecrated by such a distinguished officer in Her Majesty ' s seriice as General Brownrigg . That distinguished companion had also been assisted in the ceremony of consecration by their esteemed
friend and companion , the Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C , and by their old and esteemed friend as D . C , Comp . C . A , Cottebrune . The chapter had now the pleasure of claiming all these companions as members of the chapter . With wbat had been said by G . S . E . he entirely agreed , and he might inform him that it was the intention of the founders of thc Wanderers' Chapter to emulate the success , perhaps
the numbers , of the Wanderers' Lotlge , which was consecrated in the same room nearly two years ago . That day week , two years ago , the Wanderers' Lodge was consecrated , and it was a very grea t pleasure to the brethren of tbat lodge that they had now a chapter connected with it . General Brownrigg , who responded to the toast , said he
did not wish to repeat what he bad already said with reference to the shorter period than usual at which the Want ' . erers' Lodge obtained the charter for a chapter ; but he could not help saying he thought it was a good rule of Grand Chapter that a lodge should be established three years at least before it had a chapter . As hc had said before , there were always exceptional circumstances ,
anil unlesshe could have honestly gone up to Supreme Grand Chapter and pleaded the cause of the petitioners he would nr . t have done it . But there was everything to recommend it ; and what had impressed him very favourably and led him very much to think well of thc petition was the admirable way in which he had seen the work in the Wanderers' Lodge carried on . As an old soldier
he knew it wis necessary to learn the drill and it became a second nature to a soldier to feel that what had to be done must be done well . If they wanted to advance in rank tbey must learn their drill and their duty . If any did not perform their duty well it threw the . others out . He trusted that this chapter would always do its work well , and hc was quite certain that they had a happy augury of the future of the Wanderers' Lodge . General Brownrigg
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Wanderers Chapter, No. 1604.
CONSECRATION OF THE WANDERERS CHAPTER , No . 1604 .
On Tuesday evening this new chapter was consecrated at Freemasons' Hall , by Lieut .-Gen . J . S . Brownrigg , C . B ., Prov . Grand Superintendent Surtey . The chapter is attached to the Wanderers' Lodge , No . 1604 , a military lodge , which was consecrate d in 1 S 76 , and the
Wanderers' Chapter is to be a military chapter . The Wanderers' Lodge is one of the few exceptions to thc rule laid down by Grand Chapter not to Errant a charter to a lodge for holding a chapter unless the lod < je shall have been in existence for at least three years . The brethren cf thc Wanderers' Lodge , knowing that they had a sufficient number of PastMa-ters ot lodges as their members to keep
up a supply of Principils for a chapter for several years , applied to Grand Chapter , after bemg a twelve month old , for a charter for a chapter , but this petition was , in the first instance , refused . At Grand Chapter , in November last , they however appliedagain , and they obtained such strong support that the petition was unanimously erantcd . Among the supporters of the petition was General Brownrigg , who spoke very strongly in favour of granting the prayer of the
petition , and also very s'rongly in favour of the Wanderers' Lodge . General Brownrigg was therefore asked to consecrate thc chapter , and he very readily accepted the invitation . On Tuesday , then , he consecrated it , and he was assisted in his duties by Comn . J . A . Reed , who took thc cha ' r of II .: and Comp . the Rev . J . Simpson , P . G . C , who took thc chair of J . ; Comp . C . A . Cot ' ehrune acl « l as D . C , and Comp . W . H . Bird as S . E . Thc companions
present , among others , at the ceremony , were Comp ' . Geo . Bouhon , Malthew Leslie , J . Brown , W . H . Bird , F . J . Wray , T ) . Barton , P . T . Fuller , C . A . Cottebrune , H . Hack-r , M . E . Z .. 723 ; Rev . P . J . Simpson , J . Reed , P . Z . 180 , Src , Louis Beck , 176 ; Dempster , J . yCfi ; Rev . R . C . Halpin , 167 ; H . Massey ( Freemason ) , E . Mount , 723 ; H . Wocid , H . 538 ; J . Sharp-r , 13 ; E . G . Klighan ,
13 ; E . P . Albert , P . Z . 188 ; H . W . Lindus , P . Z . 53 S ; John D . Carter , 771 ; C . Burmeister . 53 S ; John Dipro ' se , jun ., J . 507 ; W . C Parsons , Z . elect 180 ; John Hervey , G . S . E . ; and Charles B . Payne , G . Tyler . After the chapt-r had been formal ! ¦ •opened General Brownrigg , addressing the . companions , said they wrre met that day to lay another stone—and be hoped
an important stone—111 the Masonic structure . He could assure the companions that it gave him very great pleasure indeed to be asked to preside on that occasion . Tt was very congenial tn his feelings to know that the companions of this new chapter were composed , hob-lieved , principally of members cf thc profession in which hc himself had served so many years Besides this , he felt an interest in
the chapter , because he had been able to assist in a certain decree in obtaining its charter at an earlier period than was orcinanly tbe rase . lie tViougVit the rule ol Grand Chapter which required three vears to elapse before a lodge hnd : i charter rjratilt d ( n it for a chapter vvas a good one ; but like .-ill nthir nils there mieht he exc ? pt'ons made to it orciMonnUv ; and hc * va- so convince I that thc exception ought to he made , and that it was just
and reasonable that it should be made , that hc had extreme pleasure in recommending it to the Supreme Grand Chapter . It vvas to the course he then took that hc attributed tbe honour tha * . had been paid him in asking him to consecrate the new Chapter . The ceremony was then proceeded with , and General Brownricrcr called upon Comp . the Rev . R . J . Simpson P . G . C to deliver the oration
1 he R-v . R . J . Simpson then delivered an oration as follows : —M . E . Z . Comps ., the M . E . has given me two very good keys to the few observations which I will make tonight , the first is that I , as well as be , have been honoured by being present lure to-night at the request of my companions ; not because I have had great experience in Royal Arch Masonry , but I attribute the honour paid to me in a
great measure to this , that I was on a former occasion favoured with a . request to be present and take part in the consecration of the Wanderers' Lodge . I have come here this evening with very great pleasure , and when the Most Excellent has stated that we are to add one other stone to the building , he reminds me of afact of wliichwecannotbe too often reminded , that our whole system is a symbolical
system , tbat is , a system by which we arc taught great and solemn truths in connection with human life through certain outward symbols which more or less suggest those truths . I propose in the very few remarks I make to compose whit may be consideied a moral arch , the two limbs of which shall be laid on Faith and Hope , on which we shall raise a superstructure of Virtue , Temperance , Patienc ,
and Brotherly kindness , completing the arch by the grand keystone , Charity . I have said that tbe arch must be laid m Fa * * th and Hop-. With regard tn the former , companions , I need scarcely remind you that recent facts have taught us to value the great foundation stone upon which our superstructure rests , and that a belief in , an obedience to , and a recognition of the G . A . O . T . U . must
form the basis upon which any enduring arch must rest . The world around us , in its marvellous and beautiful structures , reminds us continually ofthe fact that a Great Designer , Planner , or Architect must exist ; and it does seem impossible that any man with his eyes to see , and with his ears to hear , can possibly by any means doubt the presence of thc governing power of the G . A . O . T . U .: in fact , I btlieve that the ereatest miracle
that could be found is a man who in his full senses could aver that there was none . I need scarcely remind you , companions , that the Great Architect has in distant ages ban 'ed down lhfou ; jh onc great and wondrous people His Divine will , which ferms , as we know , the firm and enduring basis upon which Freemasonry rests . I need not tell you cf the noble worthies from Abraham downwards , who in ancient limes with faith in God have left all for the purpose of seiving Him . Thegreat stream of time rc-
Consecration Of The Wanderers Chapter, No. 1604.
veals many and many such glorious men , and we , " upon whom the ends of the world have come , " must try to remember that—Lives of great men all remind us , We can make our lives sublime , And departing , leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time . Bnt this reminds me , too , that we must have Hope . These are but sands of time ; we must leave them . But what should we be , if the Great Architect had not planted in our heart that grand feeling of Hope , Hope that buoys us up from infancy , that teaches us to look forward with bright pr . imise into life—life perhaps filled with many a
sorrow instead of bright happiness , on which , still leaning as " an anchor of the soul , " we march through life trusting that we may , by God ' s blessing , be enabled to realise the dreams of early days . And when life itself is ended what have we but that Hope , the Hop : of being able to enter the Great Lodge above , and there to rej-iin the companions of our former toils . And if this Hope be
in us , it will produce the practice of Virtue , without which , we as men are but poor indeed . This Virtue , a very wide word , covering a great amount of moral truth , stood the world in good stead when brighter light was wanting and the sense of morality , the discerning between right and wrong , "the law written on man ' s heart" by the Great Creator , has been his guide in very dark periods
of the world '* history and has enabled some of the most eminent of the human race to write their names broadly nn the annals of time , f need not speak of the immortal Plato , and the crreat Aristotle , and ofthe intellectual giants who lived in days when virtue or mi rai truth vvas the only guide of the world . And as it was thc gui Ic then , so it must be a subordinate guide now . There arc few of us ,
whatever may be our distinctive views , who do not feel that we are under a great law ; and it is only for us to look round upon the world and see what breaches of that law have brought to pass , to shew us that the keeping of that law is perfect wisdom ; and in this category let us not forget that some of the brightest characters in history have been eminent examples of exalted virtue . And when I
speak of virtue , let us not forget onc very dear to Masons , I mean the virtue of Temperance , another stone in this Royal Arch . Perhaps , there are few things which we men are more practically called upoi to look upon as th " . guide of life than this great virtue , temperance of thought , temperance of word , and temperance of living . Il is a very blessed three in one . And as surely as the man who seeks
to practise virtue , seeks to practise it so as to carry it out in his conduct towards his fellows and in performance of his duty to God , so will he endeavour to practise that temperance which in aU tilings , as has been said in memorable words , must give a man "the mastery . " If he strives for a mastery he " must he temperate in all things . " I need not say , companions , to yon , bow practical a virtue
this is for us to exercise , and how important as Alasons , whither Craft 5 men or Royal Arch Masons , to follow it , not only as go-d for ourselves , our bodies , and our sidiits , hut as commending our noble and venerable Ordtr to the admiration of the outer world . And we must aI . * o have Patience . It is a grand thing to be able to " endure hardness . " amidst the many ills of
human life . Among continual bickerings , and the strife of tongues , " amon- ; daily trials of domestic life , among the political battles , which must needs be fought especially in an age and a country like ours nnd in tho = e unhappy discords which creep even into our temples of pence , Patience is a j-lorious virtue . Calm reliance upon the truth , the determination not for a moment to swerve
from the path of rectitude , and yet to learn to b-ar kindly , bear charitably , those blows which we * must nccessaril / receive in this earthly warfare—this is , indeed , a great blessing to others and agreit blessing to ourselves . But these various virtues are necessary lo us as men . The last stone except the keystone , is especially necessary to us as Masons—Brotherly ki-d-css . That courtesy , that generous
feeling which gentlemen and Masons must ever feel to each other and which smoothes over many of the asperities of human lile , this is indeed a blessed thing . And certainly the experience of Masonry for many years proves tn me that there is no virtue which more practically makes Masonie life happy and p leasant than that Brotherly kindness , which , whether in 1 adge or out of lotlge ,
should distinguish those who are hound hy even a closer tie than ether men . And lastly , when the arch has thus far been raiseil we come to that great kevstone of Charity which is not bound to any particular virtue , but which covers the wholewhich is a link between earth and Heaven , which when faith fails and hone dies shall still exist in another and
brighter sphere , giving us the light of God ' s countenance , instead of the poor arid miserable lights which the world affords , and affording us after all thc storms of life are over , the rainbow of promise to gild man's future life , and tell him that the floods of ungodliness shall come upon him no more . Blended together , these virtues , like the prismatic lights of the great bow in the vault of
heaven , shall harmonize in tbat Charity which hc has begun in practice here , and which , as a Mason and a man , he has sought to improve himself in . Certain I am , that in that charity ( and by that I do not confine myself merely to those charities in the way of giving , whether it be to schools or to the aged , which , thank God , as Masons , wc prarticc but ) in its largest and fullest sense , our Order teaches that supreme
tluty which , as I said before , unites heaven and eaith . Companions , I have no better wish with which to conclude these words than to trust that that Divine charity may ever fill your hearts and mine , and thrt whether we meet here or elsewhere , wc may practise its noble principles , may endeavourto speak kindly of others , to attribute tbe kindest motives compatible with outward acts that we can possibly frame , and that as we are de-
Consecration Of The Wanderers Chapter, No. 1604.
parting to our own great account , we may hope we shall be forgiven even as we have forgiven others . May this Wanderers' Chapter be a happy embodiment of the virtues , which 1 have imperfectly alluded to , and may tbe moral arch which I have ventured to raise be found the arch under which every one of us may pass to a hi gher and a brighter sphere .
The consecration ceremony was afterwards completed , and at its conclusion Comp . T . H . Meredith was installed , M . E . Z . ; Comp . W . J . Parish , II . ; atil Comp . T . R . Mclllwham , J . The following companions were invested W . H . Bird , S . E .. * , G . Boulton , S . N . ; F . J . Wray , W . S . ; B . Barton , ist A . S . ; M . Leslie , 2 nd A . S . ; C . Fuller , Treasurer ; and J . Lackland , Janitor . Votes of thanks
were then passed to the Consecrating Officers , and Comps . General Brownrigg , the Rev . R . J . Simpson , C . A . Cottebrune , and John Hervey were elected honorary members of thc chapter . General Brownrigg in replying said he was much honoured by the compliment paid him in asking him to consecrate the chapter . If the companions were pleased with his performance of the ceremony he was satisfied .
His association with this chapter gave him gratification . It did not signify what height a man arrived to in the honourable service to which he belonged . A man ' s heart was always in it , and whatever their difference of rank might be they were all guided by one sentiment , that of doine their duty to their Queen and country , and this was a bond which united them together wherever , or under
whatever ri-cumstances , tbey might be . Chapter vvas then closed , and the companions adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern , where au admirable banquet vvas provided for them by Bro . Best , thc proprietor . At the conclusion of thc banquet , they honoured the usual Royal Arch toasts . Comp . John Hervey , G . S . E ., in reply to the toast of
"The Grand Officers , " said he was sure he need not say anything about the Earl of Carnarvon or Lord Skelmersdale , as they were too well knovvn . among Masons to require eulogium from him , especially after it had been so well pronounced in thc eloquent speech of the M . E Z . For thc other Grand Officers hc thanked the companions for the compliment , and for himself he felt he was
somewhat ot a delinquent for having come to the chapter at so late an hour . But he was detained on official business over which he could have no control , and , to make matters worse , after the Board of General Purposes which he had had to attend they had a Committee which detained him longer than usual . He felt therefore that in complimenting him as the companions had done they had
almost complimented him for not doing that which he ought to have done . He should have been glatl to be with the companions at an earlier bour ir it had been possible , and he should have been very sorry to have been absent altogether . He know , however , the work was admirably done liy bis excellent friend General Brownrigg . Very nearly two years ago he had the honour of consecrating
thc Wanderers' Lod-fe , and that event had not passed from his memory . It was a day that vvas a triumph for tbe army ; i * WHS something of a triumph also for those associated with thc consecration to which they might well look back with pride , for it was one which reflected honour upon thc lodge and to the Craft to which they all belonged . Happy vvas hc to find that the lodge had
succeeded so well . It had been well conducted aid well worked . A short time ago he was in the lodge and saw the work , and he did not think hc ever saw the work done in any lodge in London better or more ably . He trusted that tbe Wanderers' Chapter would do the work equally well with the Wanderers' Lodge . If they did , the chapter would have equal success .
The M . E . Z . next gave " The Consecrating * Officers . " In doing so lie said a chapter could only be consecrated once , and it was a great pride to the companions of the Wanderers' Chapter that it had been consecrated by such a distinguished officer in Her Majesty ' s seriice as General Brownrigg . That distinguished companion had also been assisted in the ceremony of consecration by their esteemed
friend and companion , the Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C , and by their old and esteemed friend as D . C , Comp . C . A , Cottebrune . The chapter had now the pleasure of claiming all these companions as members of the chapter . With wbat had been said by G . S . E . he entirely agreed , and he might inform him that it was the intention of the founders of thc Wanderers' Chapter to emulate the success , perhaps
the numbers , of the Wanderers' Lotlge , which was consecrated in the same room nearly two years ago . That day week , two years ago , the Wanderers' Lodge was consecrated , and it was a very grea t pleasure to the brethren of tbat lodge that they had now a chapter connected with it . General Brownrigg , who responded to the toast , said he
did not wish to repeat what he bad already said with reference to the shorter period than usual at which the Want ' . erers' Lodge obtained the charter for a chapter ; but he could not help saying he thought it was a good rule of Grand Chapter that a lodge should be established three years at least before it had a chapter . As hc had said before , there were always exceptional circumstances ,
anil unlesshe could have honestly gone up to Supreme Grand Chapter and pleaded the cause of the petitioners he would nr . t have done it . But there was everything to recommend it ; and what had impressed him very favourably and led him very much to think well of thc petition was the admirable way in which he had seen the work in the Wanderers' Lodge carried on . As an old soldier
he knew it wis necessary to learn the drill and it became a second nature to a soldier to feel that what had to be done must be done well . If they wanted to advance in rank tbey must learn their drill and their duty . If any did not perform their duty well it threw the . others out . He trusted that this chapter would always do its work well , and hc was quite certain that they had a happy augury of the future of the Wanderers' Lodge . General Brownrigg