Centenary Festival Of The St. Michael's Lodge, No. 211.

( the Hope and Unity ) also celebrated its centenary on the ioth inst . ; H . F . E . Harrison , W . M . 1793 ; C . Wells , J . D . 2323 ; H . A . Harris , 1421 ; and H . Appleford , 190 . There were also present Bros . W . G . Jennings , G . E . Abseil , F . W . Berry , G . C . Brightling , A . M . Usher , W . Parsons , W . J . Dyer , I . P . M . ; G . J . Copley ,

S . W . ; A . B . Spawforth , J . W . ; Alfred Green , P . M ., Treas . ; Wm . Radcliffe , P . M ., Sec . ; Cecil Mount , S . D . ; A . IL Collings , J . D . ; P . J . King , I . G . ; O . Cooper , P . M ., D . C ; E . C . Collings , Org . ; II . Lindfield , P . M ., Steward ; A . Dickson , P . M . ; W . Kirkland , P . M . ; and P . J . King , P . M . After the lodge had been opened .

Bro . RADCI . H- 'I ' , P . M ., Sec , read the correspondence between him and the Granel Secretary with reference to the centenary warrant , which it was afterwards resolved should be entered on the minutes .

This was followed by a motion by Bro . A . GREEN , P . M ., Treas . ( the father of the lodge ) , seconded by Bro . ORI . TON COOPER , P . M ., to commemorate the centenary by giving 10 guineas to the Boys' School to endow the S . W ' s . chair as a life subscriber to that Institution , and a similar sum to the Girls' School , to confer the same rank on the J . W ' s . chair to that Institution . The motion was carried .

A letter from the Grand Secretary was read in which that brother regretted bis inab'Iity to be present as he was at Oxford at the installation of Viscount Valentia , M . P ., as Grand Superintendent of Oxford , and stating that Bro . Stiles , G . Treas ., would present the centenary warrant . This letter was also ordered to be entered on the minutes . Bro . W . M . Stiles , G . Treas ., then rose and said the event was a very important one and everv brother Mason must be justly proud that their predecessors

in this ledge had carried out their duties so ably and kept the lodge minutes so well that there was no difficulty in obtaining the centenary warrant . During all his Masonic experience he had known the St . Michael ' s Lodge and had looked upon it as one of the grand old lodges of the City of London . He was pleased to present , on behalf of the Grand Secretary , the warrant from the Grand Master , and he hoped th ^ t during the Worshipful Master's year of office as well as afterwards the brethren would not forget that the St . Michael's Lodge had been in existence

100 years . He also hoped that the same good feeling would exist among the brethren as had existed hitherto and that every success might attend the lodge , and that the warrant might be handed down from W . M . to W . M . as pure and unsullied as Bro . Cockrell then received it . He also pinned on the breast of the W . M . a centenary jewel and congratulated Bro . Cockrell on his happy lot of presiding over the lodge in its centenary year , wishing him many years of life and health to be a Past Master ol St . Michael ' s Lodge .

Bro . GEORGE COCKRELL , W . M ., in accepting the presentation , said : On behalf of myself and the brethren of St . Michael's Lodge , I have to convey my thanks through Bro . William Mason Stiles , the Grand Treasurer , to the Grand Master and to the Grand Officers for kindly allowing us to celebrate our centenary and granting us this centenary warrant , and I hope that at the end of my year of office I shall hand the warrant over to my successor as pure and unsullied as I now receive il . 1 am sure that not only myself but also all of us wish to thank our Brotter Past Master William Mason Stiles , Grand' Treasurer , for presenting it and for the kind remarks he has made to the brethren of the lodge and to myself .

Centenary jewels were then presented to the members of the lodge , and " Hearty good wishes " having been given by the visitors , Bro . Cockrell said Brethren , your hearty good wishes are heartily reciprocated by me . The lodge was thereupon closed , and the brethren adjourned to a superb banepjet , at which Bro . Cockrell , W . M ., presided . The toasts were subsequently

honoured , and some first class singing was given by Madame Stella , Master S . Bennett , and Messrs . Challenger , Richmond , Bennett , Dorman , F . W . Humble , an ! Will Bowyer . Mr . J . Bennett was the accompanyist . In the course of the evening Bro . Orlton Cooper , P . M ., recited an ode specially composed by him for the occasion .

Bro . COCKKKI . I ., W . M ., in proposing "The Health ofthe Queen , " said the brethren all knew what a good Queen they had and how she was blessed with that virtue which was the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart . In giving the toast of " The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " Bro . COCKRELL said Freemasons were aware what a good Grand Master they had and how the Order had flourished throughout the nation by his influence . All the Prince of Wales ' s talents in Masonry were devoted to its best interests .

Bro . W . M . STILES , G . Treas ., replying to the toast of "The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Ofiicers , Present and Past , " said that the Grand Officers were very pleased to be present at this centenary festival , and their only regret was that the Grand Secretary was not among them . It was a proud moment for St . Michael's Lodge to be able to take its place in the ranks of the centenary lodges . He had to thank the brethren of thc St . Michael ' s Lodge for their recent efforts in securing for him the position of Grand Treasurer , without which he should not have been able to be there that evening in sush a distinguished capacity .

Uro . Dr . R . Geiomsu , P . G . D ., also responded , and congratulated the W . M , on being in the chair on such an auspicious occasion . He also congratulated the brethren of the lodge on having such a worthy brother to rule over them . Bro . W . J . DVER , I . P . M ., in proposing " The Health of the W . M ., " said the brethren of the St . Michael ' s Lodg-e knew what a good Mason Bro . Cockrell was , what an excellent Master he had prov : d himself to be , and how he had taken care of the lodge and had done the work as well as it was possible to be done . Visitors

who might not know Bro . Cockrell should be told that he was a worthy ornament in the long roll of Past Masters of the lodge ; he was in every way agood Mason ; ever since be bad been initiated he displayed the true principles of the Craft , and with regaid to the Charities he had done his duty . During his year of office he had served a Stewardship and taken up a list of £ 350 . Iiro . COCKKKI . L , W . M ., in acknowledging the toast , which was most enthusiastically received , said he felt very much flattered by Bro . Dyer ' s remarks . All the

brethren knew George Cockrell , and they knew he was very proud of the position he then held as their W . M . at that centenary festival . It was the proudest moment of George Ceckrell ' s life to be in that position , and to have his health propose el in so genial ami enthusiastic a way . As their W . M ., he had tried bis utmost to do bis duty , as he had taken an obligation 11 do when he was installed . He had nr . t hael an extraordinary ejuantity of work to do in the lodge , not half so much as he should like to have had , being capable and willing to take

Ihe management of any work brought before him . He had an initiation , a passing , a ( id a raising , which , if he had done to the brethren ' s satisfaction , he was very pleased . II any brother would bring him any more work he would be only too thankful to do it . The initiate ha had had wa > not present , but he had sent a telegram wishing every success . That member was very proud to bs one of the brethren of the St . Michael's Lodge , tn conclusion , llro . Cockrell said he

hoped to do his duty during the remainder of his yeir of office to the satisfaction of all , and to instal his surces or . llro . CucKKKi . i ., W . M ., next proposed thc to-. st nf "Thc St . Michael ' s Le ' ' :: <' , " which wis rcall ) the loast of that most festive night . It wasa proud position fur a lodge to bold -to have passed throne ; 1 100 years wi ' -tiotit breaking iis record , lie eonsidcred that tbat was due to those extraordinarily uood P . Ms , and members

Centenary Festival Of The St. Michael's Lodge, No. 211.

who had gone before them . All credit was due to the P . Ms , of that lodge for the splendid record they had established , and not doing anything that was wrong , and not swerving from their duty to Grand Lodge . It had inspired him in goinrr through al ! the offices of the lodge , and he hoped it would inspire all the oilicers and the young members who were coming on . IE they had the same inspiration as he had when he took office in the lodge , and when he became W . M ., they would

do their duty manfully , loyally , and Masonically , as the P . Ms , had done in the past . As Bro . P . M . Green was going to give them a history of the lodge , he would not trouble the brethren with further remarks , but in giving the toast of " St . Michael ' s Lodge , " he would hope that the lodge would have a splendid career for the next too years , and that the brethren ' s children and children ' s children might look ba-k with pleasure on that auspicious occasion .

Bro . A . GREEN , P . M . and 'Ireas ., in responding tothe toast , thanked the W . M . for coupling his name with it on a night which vvas the centenary of a lodge which had accomplished 100 years of useful Masonic work . He thought there was a great deal of ( ruth in the saying that we are all creatures of circumstances , for it was owing to circumstances , over which he had no control , that he was the senior P . M . of the lodge . In drinking the toast they were drinking thc p ious memory of those who in former days , with honour , fidelity , and uprightness

placed the lodge on a sure and firm foundation . Hoping not to weary the brethren he would give a sketch of the history oi the lodge . It was established on September nth , 1795 , by a warrant granted under the fourth Duke of Atholl G . M ., and was numbered 290 , on the so-called Grand Lodge of the Ancients , and met at the Dundee Arms , Wapping . Many of the brethren were aware , probabl y , that during the last century there were two rival Grand Lodges existing in London indeed , there were at one time as many as four separate authorities in the country

two of them , however , collapsed before the end of the century . The senior of these organisations , the mother of all Grand Lodges , which was established in London in 1717 , had had an unbroken , although cheeiuered existence , from the time of its foundation to the present day . Prior to this time it was believed there was no recognised head of symbolical Masonry , although the earlier writers spoke of Grand Masters in connection with Operative Masonry , or the science of Architecture . The Grand Lodge of the Ancients , under whicli St

Michael ' s Lodge was formed and enrolled , was not established till 1753 , and was probably formed by several old lodges whicli , through differences of opinion on fundamental points , had either seceded , or had previously never acknowledged their allegiance to the mother Grand Lodge of 1717 . Happily , for the prosperity and best interests of the Craft , these rival Grand Lodges in the year 1813 saw the advisability of coming to a reconciliation and agreed to unite , and the terms of the union were arranged by the most

eminent brethren of the day , selected from both sections of the Craft , who were constituted for that purpose into a special lodge called "The Lodge of Reconcili . ation . " The meetings of the St . Michael's Lodge were held on the second and fourth Fridays in the month throughout the year . In 1851 the meetings were finally settled for thc second Tuesday . Thc minutes of the lodge of instruction held under the lodge warrant showed that the brethren met on Sundays , either fortnightly or weekly , at the Angel Inn , High-street , St . Giles ' s . The Holy Royal

Arch chapter met on Sunday , and there were good attendances . In 1814 the number of the lodge was changed to 367 . This was after the Union , and the lodge apparently then had its quarters at the " Coach and Horses , " Comptonstreet , Soho . fn 1 S 20 Bro . W . Speight ' s name first appeared as Tyler , and this office he continued to hold till 1850— a period of about 30 years—when he was succeeded by his son , T . C . Speight , and this brother served the lodge for an equally long period , and died in the last decade . Thus father and son , both ol

whom were highly respected , and properly so , in the Craft , were associated with this lodge successively for something like 6 $ years , Bro . Green , continuing , said some of my brother Past Masters will still remember " sturdy little Speight , " his dignified ways—for , although short in stature , he was not short in dignity—and the hearty way in which he gave the Entered Apprentice ' s song , until advanced age and bronchitis incapacitated him . But , to return to the earlier records of the lodge , which are still preserved , we find that in 1 S 23 its destinies were

presided over by that worthy and distinguished brother who worked so zealously in the early part of this century to promulgate the great principles of our Order and preserve 'Is ancient landmarks—I refer to Bro . Peter Gilkes , whose name , by the way , is first mentioned in connection with the lodge about the year 1820 , This brother , who was one of the greatest authorities of his day on Speculative Masonry , and who was a perfect mister of thc whole of its ritual and ceremonies , was not only actively associated with many of the leading Metropolitan lodges ,

but was installed as W . M . of this lodge on four different Decisions between the years 1823 and 1833 . It was while occupying that position for the last time that he passed away to the Grand Lodge above . This remarkable student of Freemasonry was perhaps the most accomplished , as he was certainly the most careful and conscientious , worker of his day , and to those brethren who are not acquainted with his history , it may be interesting that they should read a short extract from his biography in the "Freemasons' Quarterly Review" of 1834 , as showing the

influence which Bro . P . Gilkes exercised in St . Michael s Lodge and the great respect entertained for him by the brethien . About a yr ; ar after Bro . Gilkes ' death , his old friend and pupil , Stephen Barton Wilson , the designer ot the monument to his memory , was elected a joining member of St . Michael ' s , and , like his illustrious predecessor , he became an active leader in its affairs . He filled the chair for two successive years in 1838-39 , and his services were so highly appreciated , that the brethren voted a costly jewel on his retirement . Although

the lodge migrated from the East-end of London very early in its career , the members appear to have wandered from one hostelry to another in centra ! London for several years , and did not find a really settled home until the year 1834 , when the lodge was removed to the George and Blue Boar , Holborn , and it was located therefor 26 years . It was then taken to its present abode , where it has remained uninterruptedly for 35 years . That , 1 think , speaks lolumcs forthe good management of this renowned establishment . I may here remind the brethren that the of

much-vexed question of the admission of thc fair sex to our assemblies is not such recent date as is sometimes supposed , for I find mention mule of it in Bro . Blake's year . This Bro . Blake , by the way , was installed W . M . of the lodge by his predecessor , Bro . S . B . Wilson , and he was afterwards appointed S . G . D . ot England , and Deputy Prov . Grand Master for Surrey . He died about the year 1875 . Another experiment was made , only in a different form , during the time I had the honour of filling the chair of the lodge in 18 77 . On that occasion we

invited our lady friends to a summer outing , which took place on the river Thames at Maidenhead . Wc spent a very enjoyable day , the only incident whicli occurred to mar the proceedings being that our good Iriend Bro . Radcliffe attempted to amputate his thumb with a soda water bottle , much to the alarm of the compM )'' and his better half in particular . Other summer outings followed , with more or less success , until about the year 1883 . Having spoken of some of out more distinguished Masonic ancestors , I must now call to mind the brethren ol light and leading in more recent times . My memory recalls with p leasure

many of the officers who at the time of my initiation in I , s 7 ' were prominent workers in St . Michael's . For example , Bro . Drysdale , I ' -M- ' who fulfilled the duties of Secretary for many years , having been W . M . of " > lodge in 1849 . Bro . Drysdale was a most eliicient worker as well as a mos sociable companion , and lw very kindly encouraged my youthful aspirations 0 ) introducing irie lo bis lodge of instiuction at Brixton . Contemporaneous wit him was our revered old friend , Hro . Greenwood , P . AL , who for some 25 year » occupied the position , lo whicb after his death the lodge did me the honour 0