Consecration Of The Ellington Lodge, No. 1566, At Maiden Head.

CONSECRATION OF THE ELLINGTON LODGE , No . 1566 , AT MAIDEN HEAD .

Wednesday , the icth inst ., witnessed the inauguration ofa new Masonic Lodge , bearing the name of the " The Ellington Lodge , " and ranking as No . 1566 , in the rising town of

Maidenhead . The ceremony was fixed for 1 . 30 p . m ., and by that hour the brethren interested in the formation of the lodge assembled at the Bell Hotel , where they were joined by others , who had come many of them from a distance , to

assist in the inaugural ceremonies ; 111 addition to brethren fro . n London , the neighbouring Lodges Etonian and Windsor Castle , VVindsor , Union and Greyfriars , Reading , the Wycombe and St . John ' s , Maidenhead , were well

represented . The ceremonies ot constitution and consecration were undertaken by the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , Deputy Provincial Grand Masler for Berks and Bucks , who , in the course of the proceedings , delivered an impressive

address on a subject sufficiently important to brethren at large to warrant a repoit in exlenso . He remarked—It has always been the peculiar characteristic of English Freemasonry to avoid carefully all interference in political matters .

The Pro Grand Master of England , at the installation of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , emphatically asserted this fact . " In some countries , " he said , " it has been unfortunately the lot of Freemasonry to find itself allied

with faction and intrigue—with what I may call the darker side of politics . In England this has been signally the reverse . " His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales fully accepted and endorsed the sentiments of the Pro Grand

Master . " As long , " he said , " as Freemasonry keeps itself from being mixed np with politics , so long will , I am sure , this great and ancient Order flourish . " With these assertions , made publicly b y the two leading rulers of the Craft ,

it becomes our duty , surely , to guard this peculiar land tr . ark of our Order , to watch carefully any danger that may seem to affect it . I do think that in our intercourse—our fraternal intercourse—with foreign Grand Lodges

we must not forget the words of our Pro Grand Master . It cannot be denied that in some foreign countries to be a Freemason is practically always to be a member of one particular party . So long as and wheresoever this is the case , there must

be a wide difference between our princi ples and those of our foreign brethren . The Grand Lodge of England acts very wisely in her intercourse with foreign Grand Lodges ; she receives their representatives , and is represented at their

meetings ; but this must not be construed into an endorsement of the principles by which , in many matters , those foreign Grand Lodges are actuated . Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen did not commit herself to a de > potio line of

policy by her public reception of the Shah of Persia . The representative of the Sultan is received at the Court of St . James , but our country does not thereby accept the principles of Turkish finance , and so our Most Worshipful Grand

Master by the reception of a deputation from the Grand Orient of Italy at his installation , did not endorse , or give any opinion on the policy of that Grand Lodge . It is very important to keep these facts before our minds , as

there are not wanting indications that some Masons in this country are desirous of a closer union between us and foreign Masons , a union , in my humble opinion , likely to intetfere with our non-political character , and so to

alienate from our ranks those whom we can ill afford to lose . Many of us can labour heartily and conscientiously for the Craft as it is worked in England ; we shall be forced to re-consider our position if we are more closely identified

with the Grand Orients of Italy or France . I heartily trust that those words of our Grantl Master and of our Pro Grand Master which I have quoted may be long treasured and remembered by English Masons , may be a warning

and an incitement to us to presetve always pure and unsullied the genuine precepts and principles of the Craft . We have only to add that the whole of the inaugural ceremony was conducted in a most efficient and impressive manner , and that the

Consecration Of The Ellington Lodge, No. 1566, At Maiden Head.

musical arrangements were in the hands of Bro . Tolley , of Windsor . Subsequently W . Bro . Brownrigg installed the Worshipful Master , W . Bro . William B . Farr , 825 , Bengal , who , in turn , invested the following brethren with their insignia of office , viz . : W .

Bro . J . Fuller , S . W . ; Bro . J . J . Britton , J . W . ; W . Bro . H . H . Hodges , Sec . ; Bro . H . Turner , Treas . ; and Bro . H . H . Durrant , I . G . The proposition of a long list of candidates for initiation closed the proceedings . In the evening the tnetubars of the new lod ge

and their visitors sat down to an admirable banquet at the Bell Hotel . After the removal of the cloth the Worshipful Master proposed " The Queen and the Craft , " " The Prince of Wales , the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , " and other loyal and Masonic toasts , not omitting

that of "The Visitors . " "The Health of the Worshipful Master , and Success to the Ellington Lodge , " followed , and was responded to by the W . Master , who said that after the delay and difficulty that had been experienced he was rejoiced to see the lodge really formed . He was

confident that , in addition to the long list of names read , many others would join their ranks , " but , " he added , " let us each be careful who we introduce to the privileges of our Order , so that we may reckon our strength not so much

by our muster roll as by the individual worth of our members ; let us so guard our lodge that , from the foundation laid to-day may a superstructure be raised perfect in its parts and honourable to its builders . "

In closing our notice of the banquet we must not forget to add that the singing and accompaniments of Bios . Tolley and Videon Harding were warmly applauded .

Consecration Of A Masonic Hall At Rutherglen.

CONSECRATION OF A MASONIC HALL AT RUTHERGLEN .

The consecration of St . John ' s Masonic Hall , built by the members ' of St . John ' s Operative Lodge , No . 347 , took place on Friday evening , the 12 th inst ., in due form , by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire , East . The lodge was opened at 7 . 30 p . m . by Bro .

John Cunningham , R . W . M ., supported by his office-bearers as follows : —Bros . Wm . Gardner , I . P . M . ; Samuel Abbot , D . M . ; David Smart , S . M . ; John Murdoch , S . W . Thomas Alston , J . VV . ; Alex . Warnock , Sec . ; Wm . Miller , Treas . ; Wm . Young , S . D . ; Thomas Brodie , J . D . ; And .

Pearson , Chaplain ; Matthew Abbot , P . G . S . ; James Ritchie , S . S . ; and Wm . McKemmie , I . G . There were deputations from the several lodges in the province , as also from the lodges in Glasgow a : id neighbouring provinces . In all , there would be no less than about 350 brethren present , and

the holding capacity of the hall , which for all ordinary occasions is more than ample , was taxed almost beyond its utmost . The following R . W . Masters were present : —Bros . A . B . Thorburn , Kilwinning , 4 , Glasgow , -David Anderson , Cambuslang , 11 4 , Royal Arch ; William Ferguson ,

Rutherglen , 116 , Royal Arch ; David Allen , Pollokshaws , 153 , Royal Arch ; Joseph Singleton , Scotia , 178 ; John Morgan , Star , 219 ; R . M . Yuill , Shamrock and Thistle , 275 ; J . B . Macnair , Union , 332 ; Alexander Thomson , St . George , 333 ; James Anderson , Renfrew County

Kilwinning , 370 , Paisley ; William Harper , Clyde , 408 ; George Glen , Prince of Wales , 426 , Renfrew ; David Reid , St . Andrew ' s , 465 ; William Ferguson , St . John ' s , 543 , Dalmuir ; and Wm . Phillips , Clydesdale , 5 56 , and others ; also a large

number of Past Masters and other office-bearers from the respective lodges . The brethrenhaving all assembled , the R . W . M . then informed them that the office-bearers of the Provincial Grand Lodge were now in waiting , and requested all to be upstanding .

The P . G . L . then entered , and was received with the accustomed honours . The deputation consisted of Bros . Colonel Archibald , C . Campbell , of Blythswood , R . W . Provincial Grand Master ; Lieut .-Col . Reid , of Gallowflat , acting

Depute P . G . M . ; Ex-Baillie James Caldwell , of Paisley , P . G . S . W . ; James Gilmour , P . G . J . W . ; Rev . George Campbell , acting P . G . Chaplain ; L . R . Henderson , P . G . Sec . ; James B . Lamb , P . G . Architect ; John Carswell , P . G . M . C . ; Ex-Baillie John Fisher , P . G . B . B . ; James Buchan , P . G . S . B . ;

Consecration Of A Masonic Hall At Rutherglen.

Alexander McPherson , P . G . S . B . ; Andrew Wallace , P . G . S . D . ; and J oseph Forrest , P . G . Inner Guard . Having taken their seats on and around the dias , the R . W . M . ( Bro . Cunningham ) indue form handed over his mallet to and vacated his chair in favour of the P . G . Master , which the

latter similarly accepted ; and , on the formal request of the R . W . M ., proceeded to the work of consecration , the programme of the ceremonial being that authorised by Grand Lodge of Scotland , with slight modifications , and including a brief address by the P . G . Master , having reference

mainly to the wonderful corroboration of the Bible narratives of the early history of the world , which have recently been found as the result of Egyptian and Ninevite explorations by Mr . Smith , of the British Museum , and others . Tn concluding , he said that having dedicated that lodge

hall to the Almighty , and recognising Him in the proceedings throughout , they should remember in their lives that he was always looking at them . They had all got to do their duty in this world , but their souls were not bound down to the earth , and he believed that when the Almighty

called them to the Grand Lodge above they would find that it would not be a vague , purposeless existence there , but much more active than this , and they would look back and wonder how they could have loved this so much when they should see the glory that should be in the future .

( Applause . ) The Provincial Grand Master then declared the hall consecrated to the purposes of Freemasonry , and , in handing ) back the mallet to the R . W . M ., said he felt that he was returning it to a brother who would support all the objects of

Freemasonry , who would be an honour to his lodge , and a blessing to the Craft . ( Applause . ) The R . W . M . said he had now , in the name of Lodge 347 , to return the P . G . M . their heartfelt thanks for his kindness in officiating at the consecration . Before going to refreshment , he added ,

there was a duty which he thought they ought to perform there and then , and he had therefore much pleasure in proposing that honorary affiliation to the lodge should be bestowed upon the Acting Depute P . G . M ., Bro . Lieut .-Col . Reid , and the office-bearers of the P . G . L ., whom

they had that night with them . The proposal having been carried by acclamation , the brethren in question assembled round the altar , and were obligated accordingly at the hands of the R . W . Master . By command of the R . W . M .

the J . W . then transferred the lodge from labour to refreshment , when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , as also that of " The Three Grand Lodges , " were given from the chair and dul y honoured .

The Chairman next proposed "The Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire ( East ) , " coupled with the name of the R . W . P . G . M . In so doing he said they ought to be proud of such a Master , who not only occupied the hi ghest position in his province , but , as they were aware .

had been recently visited b y Royalty . ( Applause . ) The R . W . P . G . M ., in acknowledging thcomplimenr , said that nothing had given him greater pleasure than to be able to preside at meetings of that kind , accompanied , he would

say , by his Provincial Grand Lodge , because he had always found that when he made a mistake they were able to correct him . With regard to the reference made by the R . W . M . as to his lately having had a distinguished guest staying with him , he desired to say a word . He had

seen it stated that the visit of Prince Leopold to Blythswood , was done with an ulterior objectr Before them all , he declared that there was no truth in that whatever . He ( the speaker ) had no more notion a month or two before that event * that His Royal Highness was coming to

Blythswood than they had that he was going to come into this lodge . The sole reason of the visit was the Prince ' s friendship with his ( the speaker ' s ) brother , whom he desired to visit , and , when that wish was expressed , it was simply his duty to acquiesce . In concluding , the P . G . M .

stated that he had heard from Prince Leopold himself that his reception in Renfrewshire had caused him the liveliest delight , and tbe deepest and greatest satisfaction . ( Applause . ) A number of other toasts followed , including " The Visiting Brethren " from the [ chair .