Consecration Of The Beckenham Lodge, No. 2047.

very similar lo other friendly societies . . Our lodges met without exerting much influence either for good or evil on the outside world . Now , my brethren , this is no longer the case . The enormous increase of members , the large increase of lodges , has made our Order a very important factor in the social and moral status of our country . Go where you will you will . find yourself within cable tow ; mix in whatever society you like and you

will find members of our Fraternity . I believe , my- brethren , that day by day we are becoming more and more a power which may exert its influence either for evil or for good . Is it possible to exert our growing influence for evil ? I hope not . Everything that can be done to' fence in our Order and guard it from false steps has been done by the laws and regulations ol the Supreme Authority under which we act , and I rejoice to think that every

Masonic jurisdiction in this country has herein followed the example of Grand Lodge , and has with anxious and zealous care guarded our Order . But , brethren , it will be well for us to remember that much depends upon us as individuals—that we are under a , solemn obligation in this respect to preserve both the letter and spirit of our safeguards . Do not let us shut our eyes to the fact lhat there are countries where Masonry has positivel y become

a power for evil , where its influence is altop-ether bad , where it is most justly condemned and discountenanced by all right thinking men . Why is this ? Not " because of any evil interest to the Craft , but because men have imported into it their own prejudiees and passions and have so far made their prejudices and passions whicli are eivil , part of their Masonic system that the two are now practically inseparable . The parasite has so turned itself

round the old structure that the two stand or fall together . Brethren , let us take warning . Remember , I repeat , that all laws and regulations against evil are useless , unless the community combines to support and respect them . Let us watch with jealous care the importation of any evil into any lodge which may in any way draw us away from those principles which have especially distinguished the Craft in England . What are these

princi p les ? We have always held and taught that we are not to any man a system which can be to him what his religion is . The man who looks upon the Craft as a religion is putting her into a position which in England she has always disclaimed . We are not a religion ; but wc are a body which opens its doors only to religious men . Let us preserve these simple principles , and we shall never deserve the accusation of being

the foe of any religious system . Our doors are shut to the infidel ; open to all others . But let mc turn to the olher side of the question . It is not sufficient for us merel y to abstain from evil , not sufficient even tohave done good . Every human institution must submit to the test question—What are you doing ? And even further than this . It is not sufficient to do good within the particular limits of our own institutions . One of our Masonic jewels

bears the inscription " Civis mundi . " Great and important as our Masonic Charities are , we must remember that true Charity , though it begins , does not stop at home . Our Grand Master is herein very frequently setting us an example . When history records his Masonic reign—and may the Great Architect of the Universe long defer the day when that reign is ended—it will , I think , be said of his Grand Mastership that he , more perhaps than

any of his illustrious predecessors , associated our Craft with every good work , whether Masonic or otherwise ; Hardly any historic structure reared by the •Operative Mason of old has been so reverentially restored and beautified ; but , either personally or by . deputy , the Prince has , as a Mason , encouraged the good work . The cathedrals of Truro , St . Alban ' s , Peterborough , Bangor , Worcester , and many others bear record to our interest in them .

Hardly any work , either of charity or of public interest , occupies public attention , but our Grand Master is ready to represent us in thc matter . The Indian Institute at Oxford , the St . Anne ' s Schools at Redhill , and numberless other important public works have received the sympathy and encouragement of the Craft by his presence . Let us , theii ^ in our private lodges imitate his example . Let the good works of our immediate locality—the

hospitals , the infirmaries , ana the numberless other Charities—have our help . I am quite sure that our Masonic Charities will not suffer by the extension of our Charity . Certainly the best answer that we can give to unjust and ungenerous attacks upon our Order , which sometimes describe us as harmless and useless , sometimes as harmful and aggressive , is the golden answer of good deeds , making it evident to the worid that we do concern

ourselves in advancing all that does good to our fellow-men , whether they be Masons or not . " For so is the will of God that , with well-doing , ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men ; as free , and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness , but , as the servants of God , honour all men , love the Brotherhood , fear God , honour the king .

Bro . Shadwell H . Clerke then , in his well-known able manner , proceeded to install the Worshipful Master , Bro . Ralph S . Archbold , P . M , 19 , into the chair of King Solomon . Bro . Archbold then appointed his officers as follows : Bros . Geo . Phillips , S . W . ; Alfred Ayden , J . W . ; R . Fenner , S . D . 5 Dr . W . Carpenter , J . D . ; A . Wilkie , I . G . ; W . Lapworth , I . P . M . ; E . W . Owles , Sec . ; J . J . Brown , Stwd . ; and F . S . Newcombe , Org . -Bro .

r . P . Alhston was unammou-ly elected 1 reas ., and L . G . Reinhardt , Tyler . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE then delivered the usual addresses . A committee was afterwards appointed to frame the bye-laws , and a vote of thanks was passed to the Consecrating Officer , who was also elected honorary member . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , Grand Secretary , thanked the brethren heartil y . for their kind recognition of the services the consecrating brethren had rendered .

Some valuable presentations were made to the lodge , among them being a very handsome set of ivory gavels , by the W . M . 5 a box containing a complete set of working tools , by the S . W . j a Bible and cushion for the W . Sl . ' s pedestal , by the J . W . ; a carpet , by the I , P . M . ; , and a windlass with rough and perfect ashlar , by the S . D . A large list of candidates for initiation and joining was next read b y the Secretary , after which the lodge was closed .

After the banquet which followed , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , that of " The ( Jrand Officers " was replied to by Bro . Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . Chap . "The W . M ., Bro . . Archbold , was next given , and most heartily received ; "The Consecrating

Officers , " piopo'ed by the W . M ., and replied lo b y Bro . Col , Shadwell H . Clerke "; "The Visitors , " proposed by Bro . F . P . Alliston , and " The Officers , " responded tu b y Bro . Genrce Phillips , S . W ., followed . The Tyler ' s toast concluding a most interesting ceremony and an enjoyable evening .

The music incidental to the ceremony , and during the evening , was under the direction of Bro . Frederick S . Newcombe , ' assisted by several talented artistes . The lodge was furnished b y Bro . George Kenning . In addition to the Consecrating Officers named above , there were also present thc following '

Consecration Of The Beckenham Lodge, No. 2047.

Visitors : Bins . Ganz , P . G . Or " - . ; Sadler , G . Tyler ; Ion H . Isaacs , P . M . Koyal Somerset ; T . | . Masters , 3 rd Lodge of Ireland ; J E . Fax , 297 ; John ^ addington , 1702 ; F . K . Glover . 14 ; Vincent Cottrell , 1 S 37 ; G . V . A . Schofield , 162 ; VV . Soden , 12 S 7 ; R . K . btilhvell , 92 ; Arthur Leake , go 1 , Tasmania ; Honischer , 19 ; John Cox , 1 S 1 ; Geo . Biugs , 435 ; S . W . Hopw .. oH , 2 ; G . T . Kair , J 92 ; A . F . Lamette , 271 ; M . Tapp , R . S . O . N . Lond . ; R . Boyre , 1762 ; H . | . Dutton , 170 ( 1 ; VV . Hampson ; A . \\ . Hubbard , S 13 ; li . Scobell , 1692 ; id . l . 'hcmll , ur , 6 ; C . F . Blor < -, no' ); F . > . Newcombe , 170 G ; George Kenning , P . G . D . Middx . ; K . H . Crmvdrn , P . M . 1297 ; Page , 2015 ; C . G . Boxall , 46 ; J . Green , 1974 ; and A . Rosenthal ! , P . M . 1673 . Ihe founders are Bros . R . S . Archbold , Geo . Phillips , A . Ay den , Dr . W . Carpenter , J . J . Brown , H . Lapworth , Eustace Wm . Owles , A . Wilkie , R . Fenner , and F . P . Alliston .

French Freemasonry Fifty Years Ago.

FRENCH FREEMASONRY FIFTY YEARS AGO .

It is almost painful for the thoughtful Freemason to reopen the pages of the past annals of the Grand Orient of France , and note the vast difference in French Freemasonry between now and then . To-day lhe Grand Orienthas dismissed lrom us formularies all recognition of God , all reverential acknowledgments of lhe Great Creator of the world and man . It is still in a state ol commotion and unrest , and seems to be . iciu illy preparing lor itself , by fresh revolutionary changes , a position of such an absurd and

unreasonable nature , that—to use the words ol one of its most devoted members at thc present time—ils suppression by even a Republican Government as a hurtful secret society-seems only to be a question of lime . Filty years ago its views were as sound , its doctrines as peaceful , religious , loyal , and sensible , as those of the Grand Lodge of England itself . We give our readers some specimens of old French Masonic teaching , especiall y in poetry , as fairly representing the current teaching of French Freemasonry of 50 years ago . Let us first take their profession of Masonic

faith—Je crois au Dieu que l'Univers Reconnait poursun Architecie , Dont la rnain au plus haul des airs Soutient cette voute celeste ; Au Dieu de qui la majestc Anntince le Koi dela terre , Tandis que sa noble bunt e Le montre au humains commie un Pere .

How different is this from French Masonic teaching to-day , which is either based on Positivism , " La Morale Independante , " or a sort of barbarous Atheism . As all prayer to T . G . A . O . T . U . is now forbidden by the G . O . of France , we are glad to print this French Masonic invocation to T . G . A . O . T . U . 50 years ago , as illustrating thc normal teaching of French

Freemasons and Freemasonry then : — PuUsant Architecte du nioiide Des Francs-Maeons entends les vueux , Pour vivre unis , pour etre heureux Sur Toi seul leur espoir se fonde . Preside a tous leurs travaux ___

Au sein des plus sacres mysleres , Mets la vertu sur leurs equerres , Et le vice sous leurs marteaux . At this period , when T . G . A . O . T . U . is utterly unrecognized in French Freemasonry under the G . O . of France , and when any such invocation of His presence , help , blessing , is absolutely proscribed in the rilual , such ' words are surely very significant , and mark the wide gulph between modern

and older French Freemasonry . In 1778 , just after the reception of Voltaire himself , over 100 years ago , •even the following spiritualization of Masonic emblems was current , and contrasts forcibly with the mournful and painful moral Nihilism of to-day , which dominates the lodges ol the French Grand Orient ; Le compas demontre un cceur juste , Si necessaire a tous Macons ;

Des apprentis la pierre brute Symbolise nos passions ; Le Niveau , I'Aplomb , et PEquerre , Sont Sagesse , Force , et Bcaute , Et l'embleme de la lumiere Annonce La Divinite . Even in Voltaire ' s days we see the ideaof an agitated and perverse Atheism

had nol entered into French Freemasonry . We commend the following touching little Masonic petition to the notice of some very ardent politicians in the French Grand Orient : Grand Architecte , O source de lumiere , Das I ' univcrs fais triompher nos lois ; Du genre humain fais un peuple de fretes , A nos banquets fai ^ asseoir tous les rois .

The following little piece of Masonic morality is entirely " 011 all fours " with our English teaching . We only wish that French Freemasonry to-day would have adhered to our leaching of 50 years ago . Franc Macon connais toi , mets ton esprit en Dieu Prie , evite 1 'eclat , contente toi de peu Econte sans parler , sois discret , fuis les traitres , Supporte ton egal , sois docile i tes maitres ;

Toujours actif et doux , humble and piet a souffrir , Apprends l'art de bien vivre et celui de mourir . What , indeed , can be truer teaching ? We find a good warning against that Intolerance , in which the G . O . of France is imitating admirably the old Roman Curia . Fuzez barbare intolerance-Prejuges dont l'alfreux poison

Broyc par la triste ignorance Fait tant de mal ii la raison . A new value for Masons' marks is discovered in the following stanza , which we commend to the notice of our readers , and with which we close this desultory

paper—Si dans la barque Du Nautonnier Caron , Le sort t'embarque , ' 1 u lui diras , —Patron ' . A cet'e marque Reconnais un Franc Macon ,

English Freemasonry Before 1717—No. Iii.

ENGLISH FREEMASONRY BEFORE 1717—No . III .

When we come to gather up together the scattered portions of seventeenth century evidence , we see that the utmost they prove , so far , is , afler all , thc existence of a Society of Freemasons in the seventeenth century . I omitted one bit of evidence in my last , which I think it well 10 advert to to-day—I

mean that of the well-known Sloane MS ., containing the •' Secrets ot the Freemasons . " A carelu ! study of the chirography shows thatit need not be limited to 1715 , 3 s was once held , by a blunder ; but m-iy mn lrom 1 OS 0 downwards to 1715 j and whatever its handwriting its verbiage is certainly te * enleenth century . Mr . Wallbran always said it \ va __ an early seventeenth cen »