Consecration Of The Southgate Lodge, No. 1950.

be under their blessed influence , and receive that happiness which their tcach-; r will produce . There was a time , ages and ages ago , wlu : ii God said , " Let there be lig ht ! and there was light . " But upon what did it shine ? Upon a dark and unformed mass which we now call earth . And that light , called forth by the Great Architect , permeated all creation ; and the dark mass began to How , and living things began to move

noon it ; and then God made man , we are told , beautiful and perfect , and in His own image . And then dark days came again through man ' s want ol obedience ; but through all God never forgot I lis light , and showered it down from time to time , sometimes more dimly than at- others , but always there wasli'ditaftcrllehadsaid it—until He I limsclf permitted our great prototype , Kin " - Solomon to build ihc Temple , from which we dale our orig in . And

there He dwelt , the trua Shckinah , on the Ark of the Covenant , between the cherubims , in the Holy of Holies . And "the people that walked in darkness saw a great light . " Now , brethren , I don ' t lor one moment mean to say that you have been walking in darkness , for from the time of your birth lhdit has been shining upon you , and from the time of building the Temple Masonic brig htness has been ours . Its beams have radiated upon many

hundreds of Masonic bodies , and to-day one ol them is about to fall upon your new lodge , and thai beam is to be kept in all its brightness by its members : it will become dim if you neglect your duties , and will burn again with splendour if you fulfil them . Be careful , therefore , always to keep the lamp trimmed , so that whenever the Great Architect may come to reckon with you , you may be ready , like certain virgins of old , who took oil in lluir

lamps , and not like those whose lamps had gone out when the Bridegroom came . The lights you have to keep burning are those great truths and teachings you received when you were initiated , passed , and raised ; the oil you have to feed it with are the beautiful tenets and principles which it has been my privilege to-day to bring before your notice . May you cherish these so that your new lodge , as a body , may exemplify " brotherly love , "

" relief , " and "truth , " and each member of it fulfil his social duties to the credit of your new society anil the glory of the Great Architect of the Universe . And now , brethren , for your attention receive my thanks . For your future success and happiness receive my hearty good wishes . May the princip les of our Order go with you , and you will never be wrong ; choose

your joining members carefull y ; and if difficulties or opposition should spring up avoid bitter words—be pitiful , be courteous . Life is far too short for anything but goodwill . If you see faults in any brother , seek to hide them ; try to win his heart with gentle words , for by this divided friendship has ofttimes been united . Do all the good you can ,

13 c not severe upon another s faults , Remember the heart ' s the man . The customary formalities were then observed , and the lodge was duly consecrated and dedicated to Freemasonry . Bro . Robert P . Forge , firo , was presented to Col . Shadwell II . Clerke to receive at his hands the benefit of installation . Having complied with the requisite conditions , Bro . Forge was

thereupon installed and saluted according to ancient custom , and the following brethren were appointed and invested as his ollicers for the year : Bros . Francis 11 . T ibbitts , S . W . ; Arthur Hancock , | . \ V . ; A . Lcfeber , Treas . ; Alfred Trewinnard , P . M . lOo , ^ , Sec . ; E , Woodman , S . D . ; F . Matthews , J . D . ; R . Butcher , I . G . ; Henry Sadler , P . M . 1 . 17 , M . C ; J . Cooper , and J , J . Whitmarsh , Stewards . Votes of thanks and ihe honorary membership of the lodge were

afterwards passed to the consecrating ollicers : Bros . Shadwell II . Clerke , G . Jjpc . ; Rev . Ambrose W . I lall , G . Chap . ; Thomas Fenn , P . G . D . ; Henry G . Buss , Assist . G . Sec . ; and Frank Richardson , P . G . I ) . Col . SHA » WI : I . L II . CI . ERKE , on behalf of himself and the other Grand Ollicers , thanked the brethren for the compliment paid to them , and assured

them of the great gratification it had been lo himself to aid in bringing this lodge inlo existence . I le wished the lodge every success , and congratulated the brethren on haying secured such a desirable home for their meetings . Propositions for initiation and joining were then given in , and the lodge was closed .

The furniture and appointments of the new lodge appeared to be of the first order , and , with a lew exceptions , were presented by the founders . A vcry handsome Bible cushion , which was much admired , was made by Mrs , Tidcombc , of Bushcy , and prcsescntcd to the lodge by Bro . Geo . Tidcombc , P . P . D . C . Middlesex , who was amongst the visitors , and who kindly acted as I . G . during the Consecration ceremony .

The brethren afterwards sat down to an excellent repast , the men 11 for which contained all the delicacies of the season . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . Bro . the Rev . AMBROSE W . HALL , CI . Chap ., responded to that part of the toast which referred to the present Grand Ollicers , and from his

acquaintance with these distinguished brethren could testify to the interest they look in all matters relating to the (' raft . He was happy to see this new lodge consecrated , and felt assured from the kind of brethren who belonged to it that it would be admirably conducted , and that it would become a most successful lodge . Fie felt assured that nothing would be wanting on the part of its present members to endeavour to lead it to a happy and glorious issue .

Bro . THOMAS FENN , P . G . D ., who had been called upon by the W . M . to reply on behalf of " The Past Grand Ollicers , " said he was undoubtedl y the oldest member of Grand Lodge who was present . I le was proud of the compliment that had been paid to him and other Grand Ollicers in making him an honorary member ol the Southgate Lodge . Always feeling an interest in Masonry , it was to him a source of pleasure when brethren who had sincerely the good of the Craft at heart projected a new lodge , and he was

glad that some good and true brethren had come forward to start a lodge in a locality with which some years back he had some acquaintance . Some lime ago he lived in a cottage in the neighbourhood , but many changes had occurred since then , and he feared he should not be able to find a trace of the spot he referred to . The lodge having started he wished it all prosperity , and he did not doubt it would show itself worthy of the confidence reposed in the petitioners by the Al . W . Grand Master .

In giving the toast of " The Consecrating Officers , " the W . M . stated that the brethren must all have been gratified with the way in which the consecration ceremony had been performed , and as many of them had seen the ceremony before , they were well able to judge of the ability displayed by Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke . J J }

The GRAND SECRETARY , in reply , said he could onl y reiterate what he had said in the lodge . The lodge seemed to be imbued with the true fraternal spirit , and the brethren composing it gave it all the elements of success . He repeated that difficulties existed in the present day in obtaining warrants for new lodges in the Metropolitan district , and it was only in those cases

Consecration Of The Southgate Lodge, No. 1950.

where the necessity for them , and other good causes were shown , that the- warrants were granted . In proposing " The Health of the W . M ., " Bro . Col . Shadwell II . Clerke said that he had been in every way much gratified with the result of the day ' s proceedings , and from what he had seen , and from what he knew of the W . M ., he fell confidence in his ability . Bro . Forge had obtained his knowledge in , certainly , two lodges , anil was appointed Treasurer to one he ( Bro . Col . Shachvell il . Clerke ) consecrated two months since .

In reply , the W . M . said , after thanking Grand Secretary for his complimentary remarks , that , with the assistance of several friends , he had applied for a warrant for the Southgate Lodge . Happily , they had been successful , and it was now their duly to strive lo make the lodge one of the best in the metropolitan district . With an earnest desire on his own part lo do so , and with the loyal aid of the other brethren associated with him , he fell sure their labours would not be in vain .

Bro . SCOTT , Deputy Prov . Grand Master for Sussex , in reply to the toast of " The Visitors , " referred to the Grand Secretary ' s remark in the lodge , thai il was very easy to make members but very difficult to get rid of tliem should they turn out discreditable , and he advised the brethren to give heed to the remark . Knowing the brethren , he fell no anxiety on this head . With reference to Bio . 11 . Sadler , he remarked that that brother was one of the best workers in the Craft , and any lodge might consider itself fortunate in having secured his co-operation .

Bro . R . P . DAVIES , of the recommending lodge , No . ifio . S , New Finsburv Park Lodge , drew the attention of the brethren to the great progress that was being made in the immediate district , and based upon that fact the existence of a necessity for a lodge there . "The Charities " and " The Press " were the next toasts .

Bro . W . W . MORGAN , in replying for the latter toast , observed that there were many calls just now on the secretaries of the several Institutions of the Order . He thanked the W . M . fcr having offered to become Steward for the next festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and urged the brethren generously to support their W . M . in his Stewardship . For himself , he could not but be gratified at the reception given lo the toast of " The Press " and the complimentary reiinrks o \ the W . M .

The W . M . then ( proposed the toast of "The Officers , " to which those brethren in a few well chosen sentences severall y responded , the J . W . creating much merriment by some humorous reference to the excellency of the accommodation at the large building over the way ( Colney 1 latch Asylum ); and Bro . E . SEAM IN replied to a toast proposed in honour of the musical arrangements . The Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close .

Inauguration Of A New Masonic Hall At Gateshead.

INAUGURATION OF A NEW MASONIC HALL AT GATESHEAD .

In the columns of this journal , on April 2 nd , last year , wc reported the proceedings in connection with the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Gateshead Industry Masonic 1 lall , and il ii now our p leasing duty to report the opening ceremony 011 the removal of the Lod ge i > f Industry , No . . tS , to the premises , which took place on Monday evening , the 23 rd inst . We have previously described the proportions of the building , both externally and internally , which has been erected in a most substantial

manner , and lo the entire sattslaction of the directors of the Masonic Hall Company , from the designs of Bro . A . M . Fowler , late Borough Surveyor of Newcastle , by Messrs . T . and K . Lamb , of Gateshead . The internal arrangements are eminentl y satisfactory , and rellecl great credit to everyone concerned in the erection and completion thereof , We congratulate the members of this old lodge on the acquisition of such an excellent and

permanent place of abode , after many vicissitudes and changes of residence since the removal of the lodge from Swalwell in the year 1 S 45 . The Industry was an operative lodge , and was established b y Sir Ambrose Crowley , at Swalwell , prior to the seventeenth century , where the meetings were held regularl y for upwards of 150 years , until it was removed to Gateshead , as just mentioned .

The furnishings of the new lodge are most elaborate and complete , and the Finance Committee are to be complimented on their devotion and attention in the responsibilities of combining a tout ensemble satisfactory to all concerned . The windows are glazed with variegated cathedral glass , of two shades in green . Those in the lodge-room have centres of stained floral designs , which greatly enhance the beauty of the decorations on the ceilings and sides of the room . The ceiling is picked out with a delicate green lint ,

and the colours of the walls are of a greyish hue . The seals placed around the room are raised , and covered with crimson cloth . The dais is of oval form , and larger than is usuall y seen ; its dimensions being 36 feet by 10 feet , by I foot 0 high . It is approached by two steps , each 0 inches hig h , 'flic dais is covered with Brussels carpet of a bright colour , and there is also a handsome Brussels carpet , of a darker pattern , in the body of the hall . The two massive Scagliola marble columns , presented to the lodge many

years ago by the late Earl of Durham , a P . G . AI . of the province , are placed in such a position as to give due effect lo the other furnishings . From the ceiling are suspended two massive and handsome brass chandeliers , and burnished to suit , while the side-lights setoff the lower portions of the room in an equally effective manner , flic carpets , curtains , linoleum for banqueting and ante-rooms , ccc , have been supplied by Messrs . Snowball , Son and Co ., of Gateshead .

The brethren assembled at seven o clock p . m ., when the lodge was opened by the W . M . ( Ilro . J . G . Smith ) , assisted by his ollicers as follows : Hios . Robert Whitfield , P . M ., as I . P . M . ; Kdward Liddell , S . W . ; Ii . W . Middlemast , J . W . ; Rev . Samuel Atkinson , Chap . ; W . lircwis Flsdon , Treas . ; K . F . Cook , P . M ., D . C . ; Adamson Rhagg , Sec ; John Moult , S . D . ; W . M . Pybus , J . D . ; William Dalrymple , as I . G . ; W . I ' . Raeburn , S . lj . ; R . Ferry , Org-. ; and Joshua Curry , Tyler . There was a capital muster of brethren of the lodge and of visitors , amongst whom we saw lirus .

M . Corbett , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . ; D . Sinclair , P . M . ; Jas . McCulloch , P . M ., P . J . G . W . ; M . II . Dodds , P . M . ; R . Wightman , P . M . ; J . 1 . Corking , W . Whitlield , W . F . Cannon , W . Brown , J . Scott , R . Urason , R . Tate , J . Snowdon , Geo . Parker , A . Simpson , R . Locke , J . G . Waddington , J . G . Joicey , J . A . Dixon , J . R . jBcwIey , J . II . Rowell , W . F . Brown , J . J . Davison , Thos . Lamb , J . T . Harrison , G . G . Davidson , T . Campbell , R . Hudson , P . M ., P . G . D . C . Durham ; Jos . ' Cook , P . M . . 181 , P . P . S . G . W . ;

John Duckett , P . M . 4 S 1 , P . G . J . D . ; 1 . Anderson , P . M . 1712 , P . G . Treas . ; W . Cooper , P . M . 1542 , P . P . J . G . D . ; S . W . Cockburn , P . M . 24 , P . G . S . W . Northumberland ; C . McN'amara , S . W . 97 ; G . T . Leatham , 124 ; J . Walker , 124 ; David Whitehead , 124 ; John Ilutton , 124 ; G . II . Welch , 124 ; G . F . Charlton , W . M . 1 GG 4 ; D . G . Anderson , S . W . 1 GG 4 ; T . Dinning , J . D . 4 S 1 ; T . S . Wraith , P . M . 4 ^ and 1 G 43 ; J . Probert , P . M . 424 ; W . Fckford , W . M . 16 43 ; W . M , Bell , P . M . 1557 ; W . Smith , S . W . 1342 ; J . Page , P . M . 40 O ; K . C . Symonds , W . M . 1 O 2 Q ; 11 . Usher ,