Consecration Of The St. Dunstan's Chapter, No. 1589.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . DUNSTAN'S CHAPTER , NO . 1589 .

A new Royal Arch chapter in connection with the St . Dunstan's Lodge , No . 1589 , was consecrated on Wednesday last at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , by Comps . James Terry , P . Z ., Prov . G . D . C . Herts , as M . E . Z . ; Lieut .-Col . H . Radcliffe , P . Z ., as H . ; and the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford ,

P . G . P . S ., P . Z ., and J . 2 , as J . There was a large attendance of companions present , amongst whom werc Comps . Walter Wellsman , H . W . Dalwood , A . Tisley , T . C . Walls , G . R . Richnell , George Manners , Henry Turner , George Kenning , P . Z . 192 ; D . W . Pearse , 11 . 1293 ; E . Kimber , W . Bristo , W . Lake , F . H . Clemow , John H . Dodson , E . Sharpe , P . Z . 28 ; J . W . Rogers ,

1 503 ; W . H . Hooper , Z . 1306 ; J . II . Naggs , Z . 1303 ; H . T . Whaley , 1319 ; George J . Palmer , P . Z . 11 ; George Campion , P . Z . 19 ; Edward Terry , Scribe E . 1319 ; J . W . Baldwin , P . Z . 73 ; William H . Wcare , 19 ; F . Lawrence Knyvett , M . E . Z ! 3 8 , Treasurer , Prov . G . Chapter Herts ; Harry F . Cox , 7319 ,-Thomas Preston , 720 ; F . R . W . Hedges , 1310 ; W . Ansell , 176 ; John Mason , P . Z . 7- ; ,

P . P . G . O . Middlesex ; Fredk . Dyer , 91 ; Thos . E . Taylor , H . 6 37 ; W . H . Lee , ist A « st . S . 975 ; C . B . Payne , G . J . ; and H . Massey , P . Z . dig ( Freemason ) . The musical arrangements were carried out by Comps . Seymour Smith , and G . T . Carter . After a few observations by Comp . J . Terry , following the opening of the chapter , ind the introduction of the

companions , thc Rev . A . F . A . Woodford delivered an " oration , " which , owing to pressure on our space , we are compelled to defer printing until next week , when it will appear " in extenso . " The consecration of the chapter was then proceeded with , and at its completion Comp . Lieut .-Col . H . Radcliffe , P . Z . Nos . 9 and 91 , installed Comps . Walter Wel' . sman ,

P . M . 1589 , as M . E . Z . ; Henry Wadham Dalwood , P . M . 1589 , as H . ; and John Henry Dodson , W . M . 1589 , as J . Thc officers appointed were Comps . A . Tisley , Scribe E . ; T . C . Walls , P . S . ; Manners , ist A . S . ; W . Lake , 2 nd A . S . ; and J . Gilbert , Janitor . Comp . W . Winthrop Praed , Treasurer , was not present , and his investiture was postponed . Comp . Dalwootl then proposed that Comps .

Terry , Radcliffe , and Woodford , the Consecrating Officers , be elected hont . rar ) members of the chapter . The motion was seconded by Comp . Dodson , antl carried unanimously , after the proposer , seconder , ami M . E . Z . hatl passetl a high culogium on thc splendid manner in whicii thc ceremonies had been conducted . Comps . Terry , Radcliffe , ami Woodford acknowledged thc compliment , antl trusted that the

chapter would have a prosperous career in furthering the interests of Freemasonry . Propositions for joining ami exaltation were then given in , and thc chapter was duly closetl . The companions afterwards adjourned to banquet , which was of a choice description , and was admirably served , The usual Royal Arch toasts were duly given .

The M . E . Z . in proposing " The Queen and Royal Arch Masonry" referred to Her Majesty ' s visit to Italy , and regretted that the weather she had had while there was not such as Englishmen had been led to believe was the usual climate of the Sunny South . But whatever the weather had been , thc people of that country , where constitutional government was on its trial , hatl received Her

Majesty with a warmth and cordiality for which Englishmen mu't ever feel grateful . In giving " The Health of thc Prince of Wales , the Grantl Z . nf thc Order , " the M . E . Z . saitl that thc St Dunstan ' s Chapter had its warrant signed by the Prince of Wales himself , and assured the companions that His Royal Highness took great interest in the Order , antl

required that the issue of warrants for Royal Arch chapters should be exercised with the very greatest caution . It was a matter which the St . Dunstan ' s Chapter would always be proud of , that their warrant bore His Royal Highness's sign manual . The M . E . Z . next gave " The Pro Grand Principal , and the Rest of the Grantl Officers , " antl called upon Comp .

Woodford to reply . Comp . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , Past Grantl P . Soj ., in responding to the toast , said that it was a very great privilege for anv member , whether a Past or a Present Grantl Officer of England , to return thanks for such an honour as had been done him that evening . The toast was always warmly given , antl in every company of Royal

Arch Freemasons at which hc had been present it hatl always been warmly receivetl . Hc coultl only say ftir those distinguished companions of the Order who presided with such ability in Grantl Chapter , as well as the subordinate members , that they were all animated by a wish for the good of Freemasonry , which they endeavoured on all occasions zealously to promote . The M . E . Z . hatl

been pleased to allude in flattering terms to thc ceremonial in which he ( Comp . Woodford ) hatl been taking part , and he felt it a very great compliment . He had heen asked to perform the part of J . to assist Comps . Terry and Radcliffe in the consecration of the chapter . The duty of J . on all such occasions was to his mind one of great importance . The truths that he put forward , and the

lessons he proclaimed to his companions , were intended to protluce a gootl effect , and he trusted they might not have been enunciated that day altogether in vain . He hatl endeavoured , almost at the close of a Masonic career , to put forward those princi ples which were imprinted in golden letters on the standard tit Freemasonry—reverence

to God , obedience ( o authority , antl love to one another . On those princi ples Freemasonry actetl , anil while it actctl on those principles it needed not the voice * of a prophet to say that it woultl prospir , ami that it woultl flourish in the worltl . Before he sat tlown he wished to say a few wortls with regartl to the present position o' Masonry . We * had in this country no intestine truul-le-s In combat ,

Consecration Of The St. Dunstan's Chapter, No. 1589.

no discords , and no quarrels . We had not to go far abroad to beholtl Freemasonry convulsed with struggles ; but in this country , happily , we keep aloof from all those hateful discussions which involved political questions , we banished all intrusions of political and religious topics . We proclaimed ourselves humble servants of our great Creator , lovers of our brotherhood , and friends of mankind ;

the principles by which Freemasonry in this country always hatl been actuated ; antl ^ hc hoped they woultl lead us year by year to be heltl more and more in estimation by our fellow men . But there was one other characteristic of Freemasonry which hc felt to be the keystone of the Order . Many of the companions present were interested in other charitable institutions—many of them took part in those

noble and magnificent hospitals and chanties in thc metropolis whicii adorned it ; but he asked , vvas there any Ortler , or body of men , whicii was really doing so much in such an unostentatious manner as Freemasonry , though in some countries it was excommunicated , and in others declared inimical to law , ortler , antl peace ? Though not a wealthy Order—an Order which had not many

millionaires in its ranks—it raised over £ 40 , 000 a year for the great Masonic Charities alone . They said nothing , when they mentioned that , of what they were doing in their Prov . Grand Lodges , and by educational institutions , antl free g ifts out of their lodge funds ; in addition to which it was not known to the world what was given month by month by the Lodge of Benevolence . When they " tottlcd "

it up , as thc saying was , it came lo a sum that all Freemasons mig ht be proutl of . He was inclined to say of Freemasonry , when any one asked the value of Freemasonry and what it does , as was said ol their great Master of the Lotlge of Antiquity , Si -noiiiimcitfiim . -ji ' -ms eirciiraspice , tor it supported the aged , and educated and trained up orphan children of thc brethren . Its great principles

were reverence for the Creator , loyalty to the throne , love of the brotherhood , toleration , liberty of conscience , equity , antl truth , and hc would say , and all would also echo the aspiration , he thought , " H 0 re . 1 t Freemasonry . " ( Applause . ) Comp . Terry proposetl " The Health of the M . E . Z ., " who , he saitl , had petformed his tluties in the St . Dunstan's

Lotlge with great ability , antl by so doing had earned thc position whicii Ihe Grantl Z . rf the Ortler had appointed him to in the chapter . Comp . Wellsman , in responding , saitl that companions who had served in a regiment as privates antl been asked lo come out anil command a battalion , knew what it was to get into a glorious state of confusion . Hc felt in a

similar position that evening—in thc position of being called forth as a private in thc Royal Arch to take command of a battalion . Whether he should do honour to the St . Dunstan ' s Chapter or disgrace it was in thc future . That he should not disgrace it lie hoped ; lhat he should tlo honour to it he doubled ; but it should be his most anxious effort . He hatl the honour of being one of the

founders and the second Master of tlie lodge , anil he hoped that thc same efforts as hc had made in the lotlge woultl be as successful in the chapter . When hc filled ihe chair of thc lodge hc endcavouretl to tlo his duty , antl the brethren were well pleased with him . It vvas a more arduous duty to fill the chair of the chapter . It seemed that the ceremonies of a lodge were nothing as

compared with those of the chapter ; but hc was earnestly preparing himself for the work , and he hoped he shoultl not disgrace the office , antl that the companions would be able to say at the end of his year that he hatl done all he coultl , if hc had not done all he ought . This chapter occupied a singular position in R . A . Masonry . He did not know that there vvas a parish chapter existing in

London . There were but few parish lodges , and the St . Dunstan's lotlge was thc only lotlge that had ventured to adtl a chapter to it . lie was disposed to think sometimes that gootl luck followed when Comp . Terry consecrated . When he consecrated St . Dunstan's Lodge he wished every good wish for thc Lodge , and it hail done nothing but prosper from that day to this . Thc lodge was full , there

were forty-nine brethren on the books , and unless there werc any accidental vacancies they woultl not add more to the number . If Comp . Terry ' s prognostications of the chapter were as true as of the lotlge , it was good for them that he had been with them . He hoped that all the good

wishes of Comp . Terry might be fulfilled to the utmost extent , and that when thc companions met next year they would hc able to say that the St . Dunstan ' s chapter was no disgrace to the lodge . Their first M . E . Z . woultl then he able to sit tlown with gratification , and feel that what he had proposetl to himself he had done .

The M . E . Z . then proposed " The Consecrating Officers , " antl so . i . 1 that in the works of Shakespeare , whose birthday it was " they have indeed bettered expectations . " He regretted it was only thc P . Z ' s . who coultl form an opinion of the whole of the work , as it vvas only them who had the privilege of being in the chapter the whole time . He was convinced that it was impossible to select from Royal Arch

Masons three Principles who coultl do the woik more completely then Comps . Terry , Radcliffe , and Woodford . 1 le hail seen that evening how difficult it was to get the ceremonies up . It required great memory and exactitude . Comp . Terry was " tothe manner born , " whether in consecrating a lodge or a chapter , or installing a W . M . or M . E . Z . he vvas always ready to tlo it . Comp . Radcliffe

had performed the difficult ceremonies of installation 111 a way which coultl be done by few . Col . Radcliffe , senior P . M . of his Craft Lotlge * was oneof his earliest instructors in Masonry , ami his mind naturally turned to Comp . Radcliffe , whin he selected an Installing Officer in the

chapter . Comp . Wi-Gilford had in his eloquent ointlon impressed thc companions wilh the knowledge of the true principles of Masonry , which he ho-ietl the companions woultl use their best endeavours " in season and out of season " to carry out in their lives . The chapter honoured itself in making tluse companions honorar / members .

Consecration Of The St. Dunstan's Chapter, No. 1589.

Comps . Terry , Radcliffe , and Woodford responded , and Comps . Knyvett and Kenning reponded for " The Visitors . " Comp . Knyvett wished success to the chapter , at the consecration of whicii hc knew when he received an invitation he should have a vcry great treat . That had been fully realised .

Comp . George Kenning said hc hatl been at the consecrations of many Royal Arch Chapters , but he had never seen one conducted more ably than that of thc St Dunstans Chapter . The M . E . Z . in proposing the toast had been pleased to mention his , Comp . Kcnning ' s name as thc proprietor of the Freemason . Some ten years ago hc established that paper , and he was proud

to say it hatl given satisfaction to the Craft . He felt very proud of the paper , the position of which , at thc present time , was highly satisfactory . It hatl been his endeavour to make it so , and no efforts were ever wanting to make it a thoroughly representative organ of the Craft . That was the course which hc , and those who conducted it , were resolved to pursue ; antl it was vcry satisfactory to

him to know t ' iat thc Craft at large appreciated it . He had been unable to be a member of thc St . Dunstan ' s Chapter , although a Fleet-street man , as its meetings happened on those evenings when he was otherwise engaged . Nevertheless , hc wished it every success , and had no doubt , from its favourable inauguration , that there was a brilliant future before it .

Comp . thc Rev . A . F . A . Woodford proposetl " The 2 nd antl 3 rd Principals , " antl from what hc knew of them , Masonically antl personally , he was sure the chapter coultl not have matle a better selection when recommending them to the Grand Z . The H . was a pillar of Masonry and a pillar of thc church , a church which boasteil of Dr . Donne antl Dr . lolonson . With regard to thc J ., his services as

Master of Lodge 33 had won for him , as they merited , the esteem antl confidence of the brethren , and as a Principal of the chajitcr they would equally tlo so . There were no more important officers than the three Principals of a chapter . As an old Mason , initiated in 1842 , he knew that the whole prosperity of a chapter depended on the three Principals . They gave thc tone with which to govern the

future of the chapter ; and knowing the three Principals of the St . Dunstan's Chaprer , he believed that thc same Masonic princip les which had actuated them in thc lodge would actuate them in the chapter . He predicted , as Comp . Terry hatl predicted , a similar future for the chapter , and expressed his most earnest aspirations that the prosperity of the chajitcr would be as great and eminent as had been that of St . Dunstan ' s Lotlge .

Comps . Dalwood antl Dodson replied ; after which Comps . T . C . Walls , P . S ., and Tisley , Scribe E ., responded to the toast of " Thc Ofliccrs , " and Comp . Gilbert having g iven the Janitor ' s toast the companions separated . A nice selection of music by Comps . Seymour Smith , G . T . Carter , and T . C . Walls were given during the evening , ami Ccmp . E . Kimber entertained the companions with a very humourous sketch of proceedings in the I louse of Commons .

The Proposed Grand Lodge For New South Wales.

THE PROPOSED GRAND LODGE FOR NEW SOUTH WALES .

Sir , —It is with extreme reluctance and regret that 1 retjucst you to publish the following correspondence , but it is a duty I owe to the " Most Worshijiful Grantl Master of England , " as well as to thc lodges and brethren of the

English Constitution , whom I am solemnly bound to guide , to guartl , and protect in Masonry . 1 am compelled to give this warning to those who are Freemasons , and also to others who are intending to become Freemasons , antl who might otherwise , from inadvertence or ignorance of facts , be led to join the self-constituted hotly called " Thc

Grand Lodgeof New South Wales , " thereby excluding them from admission or recognition by any of the lodges untlcr the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England . J OHN- WILLIAMS , District Grantl Master ami Grantl Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons , New South Wales , E . C .

" Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , " 2 nd December , 1878 . " Dear Sir and Right Worshipful Brother , —Bro . Machin , P . M . of No . 950 , Melbourne , having addressed a

letter to His lloyal Highness the Prince of Wales , inviting him to recommend the Grantl Lotlge of Englantl to recognise the proposed Grantl Lotlge of New South Wales , 1 beg , for your information , to enclose cojiy of thc letter I have written in reply , by command of the Prince .

• ' I remain , dear Sirand Right Worshipful Brother , yours truly and fraternally , "JOHN HERVEY . " John Williams , Esq ., R . W . District Grand Master , New South Wales , E . C . "

" 22 nd November , 187 8 . " W . Sir and Brother , —I am commanded by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Englantl , to acknowledge the receipt of 5 ' letter of the 31 st July , to which hc has devoted great consideration . His Royal Highness does [ not consider it necessary to answer your various arguments in detail ,

suffice it to say that hc cannot assent to them , nor appiovtof the course taken by—he is correctly informed—1 snw number of brethren to form an independent Grand Lodge of New South Wales . Thc Grand Master declines , therefore , to adopt the view you recommend , and to call UP " the Grantl Lodge of England to recognise the so-calk

Granil Lodge of New South Wales . " I am , VV . Sir antl Brother , yours fraternally , "JOHN H ERVEY . " Montague S . Machin , Rushcutter Bay , New South Wales . " —SI / IIIUII Morning Herald , Feb . 8 th , iM