Consecration Of The St.Martin's Lodge, No.2445.

it may have all prosperity is the wish of myself and those who have so kindly attended to assist me in the ceremony . Prayer having been offered by the G . CHAPLAIN , the founders signified their approval of the officers named in the warrant . The following oration was then delivered by Bro . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , Dep . Prov . CM . Bucks , acting Chaplain :

The name of your new lodge is suggestive of our second fundamental Masonic principles . You will all remember the story of St . Martin , the Roman soldier , dividing his cloak for the relief of an unknown fellow creature in distress . Most artistically have you displayed the scene as the crest of your lodge , and I have no doabt that you purpose that crest to be not only an ornamental heading , but also as a reminder of the duties which you must render , in the spirit of St . Martin , if you

would be true and faithful Craftsmen amongst us . What does the word " Relief " mean ? Alas , it has come to have a cold , ill-favoured sound . There is no word which the poor dislike more . It is associated in their minds with the official doling out of a maintenance just sufficient to keep body and soul alive , and so the word when used in our Masonic ceremonies seems hardly to express what we mean , seems to belong to the language of past rather than present days . And yet my

brethren , something more than a mere clinging to the language of the past , makes me hope that we shall not abandon it , but rather endeavour to restore to it its real and beautiful meaning . One thought of its origin reminds us that the real meaning of the word is the exact reverse of that which an unfortunate connection has impressed upon it . Relief does not mean a degradation . It means a lifting up both to the donor and the recipient . When St . Martin rode

back to the camp , the gilded youth of Imperial Rome jeered at the soldier who had not given the usual alms to the unknown beggar . They could have understood , they might even have applauded a freehanded largess . The peculiarity of the relief which he had given was that he had given something which he needed for his own use . He sank in their estimation , but his action lifted him to a higher and a better life . It was

the first step towards realising the great tie of human brotherhood , which sees in every fellow creature one linked to us by overwhelming claims upon our sympathy and upon ouraffection—to whom we owe something more than the mere flinging of a dole , the want of which we shall never feel . Yes , my brethren , the " relief " which lifts us is that which involves self sacrifice . In the eyes of the world it may seem poor , and mean , and cold , but the gift to God ' s poor , which has really cost us

something , and which brings us no earthly credit , will , like St . Martin's cloik , bring its own reward . But relief should" lift up , " not merely the giver , but also the recipient . The effect of poverty ( we must take the world as we find it , not as the poet ' s fancy wants its ) are "degrading . The outward aspect and surroundings ot misery are unsavoury , and sometimes even repulsive . One of the great social questions of the day is how can we lift up those whom circumstances have placed

on the lowest spoke of fortune ' s wheel . Even well disposed persons are ever inventing well sounding schemes which are practically unworkable , and which even if possible would not raise those for whom they are designed . What is the secret which will solve the problem ? It is this . As the donor must be " lifted up " by self-sacrifice , , so the recipient must be " lifted up " by teaching him to realise the nobility of life . The outward building may be marred and sullied

with human misery and weaknesses , but the creation of the Great Architect of the Universe is " very good . " His designs , if carried out , will in time make all things again perfect . You may may lift up the most unlikely object of your charity , if your relief shows that you believe him capable of self respect , and count him worthy of your brotherly love . It is no legend of a medi .-eval legend , but , thank God , a daily experience to those who work in the spirit of St . Martin , that there is a way by which darkness and distress may be transfigured into light and joy .

The impressive ceremony was then proceeded with , and the new lodge was duly dedicated and constituted . The anthems " Behold how good and joyful a thing it is , " "O how amiable arc Thy dwellings , " and "I have surely built Thee a house to dwell in" were effectively rendered in the course of the proceedings .

Bro . Chas . S . Lee , P . M ., was installed as the first Worshipful Master by Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , and invested the following officers : •—Bros . W . J . Farthing , P . M ., acting I . P . M . ; T . P . Baptie , J . P ., P . M ., S . W . ; Jas . Willing , P . M ., J . W . ; J . Strachan , P . M ., Treas . ; G . W . Murnane , Sec . ; W . B . Fendick , P . M ., S . D . ; Chas . Mason , J . D . ; Wm . Challice , I . G . ; H . T . Brickwell , D . C ; Geo . Marshall , Stwd . ; and Cook , Tyler ,

On the proposition of the W . MASTER , the Consecrating Officer and his assistants were unanimously elected honorary members , j the GRAND SECRETARY returning thanks for himself and colleagues . The Rev . J . F . Kitto , and many other gentlemen well known in connection with the parish , were proposed for initiation at the next meeting , and a Committee , composed of the W . M ., Wardens , Treasurer , and

Secretary , was elected to frame the bye-laws . The lodge was closed , and an adjournment made by the brethren to a recherche repast , which was followed by the customary toasts . " The Queen and the Craft" having been honoured , the W . M . proposed "H . R . H . " the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " observing that as his Royal Hi ghness was a resident of their parish , the members looked forward at a future date to see him enrolled as an honorary member of their lodge .

The W . M . then submitted "The Grand Officers . " He said he had been connected with Freemasonry for many years , but had never been associated with such a goodly array of G . Officers as they had present that evening . The brethren ought to give special attention to this toast , as they had experienced a most delightful evening in listening to the consecration ceremony which was one they rarel y heard . He trusted the Consecrating Officer and the other G . Officers who had been elected honorary members

would occasionally visit them , to watch their growth . Bro . Rev , J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . Chap ., said it was quite evident wh y the W . M . had selected Bro . Richardson and himself to respond . If they had required a learned speech , explanatory of the past history of lhat historical parish , the W . M . would have deputed his antiquarian friend , Bro . Lambert , to reply , and every one of the Grand Officers had some peculiar attribute in which he excelled . But there was one in which Bro . Richardson

and himself excelled—which was brevity . He thanked them . Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , P . G . D ., also replied and said that after the exhaustive speech of Bro . Brownrigg , there was little left for him to , say Hint was not the first time he had taken part in a similar ceremony , and it had given him great pleasure to have performed a small part for that lod ge , which he was sure would take a prominent part in Masonry of the future .

I'he Consecrating Officer " was next given by the W . M ., who said it Was very difficult for him to know how lo commence this toast . If he were | ° give them the history of the inception of the lodge , his first visit to the J-rand Secretary , and the many courtesies and kindly communications he

"au had with him since , he was afraid he should exhaust them . He rcmem-13 ered some few months ago , when they as Masons were astonished and grieve d to hear of the death of the never-to-be-forgotten Grand Secretary , jo'onel Shad well II . Gierke . After they recovered from the fact of his eal » , what was uppermost in their minds was who could adequately fill his

Consecration Of The St.Martin's Lodge, No.2445.

place . That position had been filled by the M . W . G . M . in the way in which he always discharged anything that fell lo his lot . His Royal Highness had found the right man for the place , and during his ( the W . M . ' s ) connection with that lodge when it was his privilege to call upon Bro . Letchworth and for the first lime lay the matter before him , he was received in the most courteous manner , and received the kindliest advice it was possible for a

W . M . to receive . Kver since that date the present Grand Secretary had laid himself open for him to call at any time in order that he should receive kindly advice , which he should personally never forget . Those events brought them there that evening , and none present would ever forget the way in which Bro . Letchworth consecrated the lod ge and installed him into the position he then held .

Bro . li . LETCHWORTH , P . G . D ., Grand Secretary , in response , said : I avail myself of the first opportunity to rise and acknowled ge the kind compliment paid me in the toast proposed in such very kind and I fear undeserved terms , by the Worshipful Master , and received by you with such cordiality . I can assure you that it has afforded me peculiar pleasure to be here this evening and to assist in bringing into existence a lodge which I

venture to think cannot fail in days to come to occupy a very hio-fi and prominent position among the lodges of this great Metropolis , " it has afforded me great pleasure to be here , not only as the very humble representative of our M . W . G . M ., but I feel I have a personal interest in the lodge when for the last 25 years I have resided in this immediate nei ghbourhood . I believe the spot in which I reside is not in the Parish of St .

Martin . It is in the Parish of St . James , but I am informed that that Parish for many years formed a part of this important Parish of St . Martin . I am sure I am giving expression to the feelings of those who have been , associated with me in the consecration of this lodge when I say it has afforded us all very great pleasure to be here . And now , brethren , it is my privilege to propose what is really the toast of the evening , and that is

'' The Health of the Worshipful Master , " whom I have had the great pleasure of installing into the chair of this lodge . As your Worshi pful Master has informed you , he and I have had many communications with regard to this lodge , and I have , therefore , had many opportunities of forming an opinion of him , and I most heartily congratulate the members of this lodge on having as their first Worshipful Master one so able to rule and guide them as Bro . Lee . We have already had some experience of his work in the

lodge , and if anyone doubts his capabilities to discharge the duties of Worshipful Master , I would only refer them to the Skelmcrsdale Lod ge , many of whom are present and will bear me out in saying that during the time he occupied the chair of that lodge he discharged the duties in a manner creditable to himself , and of great advantage to the lodge . I give you , with every possible pleasure , " The Health of your Worshipful Master , " and I am sure I am expressing the feelings of all present when I wish him a pleasant and most prosperous year of office .

Bro . C S . LEE , W . M ., said I scarcel y know how to find words adequately to express my feelings to-night . I can onl y thank the Grand Secretary for those kindly words he has expressed , and I only hope that I may be able to put into effect those expressions he lias made use of . I have Masonry very seriously at heart , and I am one of those individuals who , if 1 undertake anything , make a strong effort to carry it through lo the very

best of his abilities . I am sure that I see in the future a very great future for our St . Martin ' s Lodge . The founders who presented the petition to Grand Lodge were a very strong bod } ' of men , but we have at the back of them the very large number I was enabled to propose to-night . As soon as we get into working order , there is no doubt there are many members of the parish who will only too readily

join the lodge . Wc are very proud of our parish , which is a very historical and a very extensive one . Although a great number of people associate St . Martin ' s Parish with the Strand and Charing Cross , it extends as far as St . James ' s Park , the greater portion of Whitehall Gardens , and Carlton House Terrace . But what to me is a greater pleasure is that our venerable Vicar , the Rev . Mr . Kitto , was one of the first to undertake to

become an initiate , and among the founders we comprise the two Churchwardens , and , with one exception , the whole of the petitioning members were cither members of the Vestry , Board ot Overseers , or Guardians . Practically the whole of the parochial part of the parish are taking an interest in the lodge , and I think I am justified in believing that the prognostication made is likely to be an acknowledged fact , that we are

likely lo be a strong lodge , and comprise some of the most influential members of the parish , and be a lodge of which the Grand Lodge may be proud of having granted a warrant for . I know there arc very few warrants granted in London now , but I was venturesome enough , in opposition probably to one or two founders , to approach the Grand Lodge , with the result , I am pleased to say , you all know . The Grand Lodge readily

granted our warrant , and we will be just as ready in our humble way to see we arc a lodge that is worthy of the Grand Lodge . I am perfectly sure we have a great prospect before us , and I can onl y express the hope lhat the Grand Officers who have so kindly come to consecrate the lodge will come again at some future period to watch our growth , and will be proud of the lodge they have so ably and beautifully started this

evening . Bro . Col . J . C . RF . MINGTON , P . D . G . M . New South Wales , who acknowledged the toast of " The Visitors , " said he esteemed it a very high honour and great pleasure to be present . When he arrived in London from Australia in June last he found nearly all the London lodges were in recess , and was afraid he should see nothing of the working . Since he had

expressed this fear to the G . Sec . he had received very many invitations , and was afraid the epitaph that would be erected over him would be " Died of the hospitality of Freemasons . " He was pleased at this opportunity of being present at the inauguration of a new lodge . One of the last pieces of official work he performed before ending his year was to consecrate a new lodge in his own suburb , and he only wished it could be done over again , lhat he might profit by that evening ' s experience . The

lessons he had learned in Masonry in London would not be forgotten , for be expected to have a great deal of new light lo throw upon Masonry upon his return . Although they had a Grand Lodge of their own , they still looked upon England as their mother , and when framing their Constitutions and preparing their model ritual , it was to the mother country they looked , and from whom they copied . If brethren had the good fortune to visit Australia , they would find themselves as thoroughly at home as in the London lodges .

Bros . DAVEY , P . M ., and G . J . WOODMAN , Treas . 1599 , also replied , the latter brother referring to the excellent services rendered by Bro . C S . Lee to the Skelmcrsdale Lodge , and expressed the hope that he would be connected with it for many years to come . ^^