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Article CONSECRATION OF THE ADELPHI LODGE, No. 1670. ← Page 2 of 3 Article CONSECRATION OF THE ADELPHI LODGE, No. 1670. Page 2 of 3 Article CONSECRATION OF THE ADELPHI LODGE, No. 1670. Page 2 of 3 →
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Consecration Of The Adelphi Lodge, No. 1670.
difficult position , and it is not only the Wardens and the r > aeons but with the other officers of the lodge . In each ffice there is a certain duty to perform ; it is not a vcry I ffthy ° i and surety through the year the members { . ye an opportunity of attending lodges of instruction , d may get up that little and perform it well . I do a ot know any more painful display than when candidate round the
Deacon is piloting a fdee room , to see that he does not know what he is about , that he takes him to the right when he ounht to go to the left , and " vice versa . " Certainly , if there be officers upon whom the W . M . ought to depend it is upon the Deacons . I am sure , sir , the officers whom will have tp appoint to-day will be such as will
supyou / ? £ . 1— _ * - ** -rl . « At * n * 4 iit-1 A- ' > ir / vii Iff ill n-1 iTn 4-s- « narfni-m DOrt you in the arduous duties you will have to perform ; and I do trust that the recommendation 1 have now made to them t ° be punctual in their attendance to get up those duties which devolve upon them in each office , so that when the lodge is opened it may work as a whole , and that the machinery of the lodge will not be disturbed by the inefficiency or the absence of the officers . Brethren , I will
not say anything more , because presently the rev . brother on my right will address you in a much more eloquent strain than I can venture or hope to do ; but if any little truth which I can lay before you is of the slightest use , if it induces one of the junior officers to come when he mig ht say , ' No , I have got something to do ; I have got another letter to write , " then I think I have done some
rood . Again , I think that if brethren undertake office in a lodge they should not have " another letter to write ;" they should so arrange their business that they can perform their duties as Masons . Not that I for one moment would recommend brethren to neglect their own business for the sake of Masonry—no man ought to do that ; if he does so he is not performing the duty of a Mason ,
because he is devoting that time which ought to be devoted to the support of himself and his family for that which has frequently been called a luxury , for a luxury it is , and therefore a man ought not to neglect the ordinary duties of life for Freemasonry ; but I think he should so arrange his work , both Masonic and private , as to make them combine , and not neglect cither for the purpose of
performing the duties of the other . ( Cheers . ) The ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with , and the oration was delivered by Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C , who saitl : W . M ., Wardens , and brethren , —In Holy Writ we observe that places have been often intended by Almighty God to bring to the knowledge and remembrance of His people certain
remarkable events . It is not wuhout significance that today we are met in an old region of London , named Adelphi . It is a happy coincidence that this term , especially meaning brothers and brotherhood , should form the situation of a new lodge in this inth century . It carries us back to former days in our own land , and , as I have already observed , it carries us
back still further , to ancient days in another . I thought , therefore , as I came into town to-day , that this word might be a keynote to a few thoughts for yourselves and myself on an occasion like this . Brotherly love is a very common term amongst us Masons ; I would to God that that word should always rule our hearts and acts in Masonry as well as in the world . And perhaps if I say , and say without
fear of contradiction , that such brotherly love , to be true , to be stedfast , and to be permanent , must be based upon the love of God , I am only uttering a very great commonplace—a mere truism . We find recorded in one of the Prophets a question put by one who was enquiring what he could do to please the Lord ; and he proposed to give a " thousands of measures of oil , " nay to give his "
firstborn for his transgression , the fruit of his bod y for the sin of his soul j" but he was told by the prophet that he need do no such thing , that he need not make such sacrifices as these ; but he was only to do three simple things—grand words to be written on every Masonic lodge as well as upon the tablets of our heartshe was told , " What doth the Lord require of thee , but to
do justly , to love mercy , and to walk humbly with thy Gotl ? " Brethren , I cannot but feel upon an occasion like this that the recollection of these three sentences from the Sacred Volume may form very apt subjects of meditation . I will very briefly allude to each . " To do justly . " Alas ' . how many of the " wars and rumours of wars" in this our world , how many of the private feuds which disturb
• ociety , how many of the family broils which eat away domestic happiness , may be attributable to the want of that simple virtue , justice . " To do justly . " There can be no hrotherly love without it . To do justice even in the common matters of trade , in our daily business and avocation , whatever that may be , is no trifling part of the prosperity of the State or the happiness of ourselves . I
observe , and have heard from the mouths of many of those who have dealt with each other , how exceedingly difficult 11 is to be just and yet to live . I cannot but feel that if 'here be a God above us whose essential attribute is justice , 'he man who does "justly" in his ordinary matters of oufiness must in the long run be the prosperous and the happy man—the prosperous as well as the hapnv
man—° it " has the promise of the life that now is as well as 'hat which is to come . " And in society constantly , not a "ay of our lives passes but we have an opportunity of showing that nice discernment between what is just and " 'hat is unjust which may lead to the happiness of others as well as of ourselves . Well has thc old dramatic poet ?* - ' , " Be just and fear net , " and well , also , has thc old
-aim author said , " Fiat justitia ruat coelum . " But we , 'old , also , that we must " love mercy . " Need I say , . '' wren , how constantly we have an opportunity of showf *> fh ' virtue ? We have an opportunity in our own arid S cont ' " ) ° f showing kindness and tenderness -, sit T ' . ° ' allusions in Holy Writ to the necesh ' oid ' ' * or those wn ° are P ' aced at 'he bead of houses showing a tender and kind care for those who are
Consecration Of The Adelphi Lodge, No. 1670.
placed by God under their charge . And what holds good of the head of the family holds gootl of the head of the firm , of the head of thc establishment in trade , of the head of every body of men over whom wc may be placed . To show kindness and mercy , to endeavour always to do the pitiful , the kind , the courteous act , instead of the selfsufficient , thc proud , thc unkind , the contumelious—surely
this forms a very main part in brotherly love , and amongst us Masons in particular . What would Masonry be without it ? It would , to use a very common expression , be " Hamlet without the principal character . " We have our noble Charities ; God grant we may never cease to support them . " And every Mason is bound , according to his ability , to let that be part of his Masonry ; and not
only to support those Charities , but , I venture to say also especially to London Masons , to see those Charities , to be able in some measure to realize that which we have the blessing and the happiness to have and to uphold . And so I have always tried to impress upon the brethren that it is highly desirable that they should take a happy holiday , and do themselves the luxury of going to sec those Charities ,
and see the children and the old people in happiness and comfort . And , brethren , inasmuch as these two virtues must stand upon some basis , inasmuch as the building must have a foundation , I contend that we shall not " do justly , " and not " love mercy , " at least permanently and as a habit ( for every person may be just by fits and starts ,
and merciful by fits and starts ) , unless it is founded upon the love ^ af God , and unless we " walk humbly with " that God . And why is it that the prophet tells us to " walk humbly with thy God ? " Doubtless there were many men in ancient days , as in these , that held a high head , and by trusting to their strong arm , or by trusting to their great reason , walked proudly beneath the great
canopy in which the great Father and Governor of the world sits supreme . Brethren , it is an awful thing when men use that power antl reason , that health and f trength which God gives , to walk proudly before their God . I am satisfied that such a feeling as this , if it have place in any of our hearts , can never lead to true mercy lo others or justice to our brethren , and I believe if the
God we serve and worship were one of those terrible gods which some of the heathen worship , and which are supposed to inflict -vengeance continually upon their creatures , we should not attempt to walk proudly , but to walk humbly and softly enough . Let us then when we have strength devote it to His service . If we have reason let us never cloud it with anything like intemperance ; but
use that reason in His great high service , as well as in that of our brethren and ourselves . Thus , according to that beautiful charge , too seldom R iven to us now , because we have so much to tlo , we shoultl do our duty to God , our neighbour , and ourselves ; thus will our brotherly love be founded upon a sure antl lasting basis , antl then , whatever may be the shades of difference which may separate
us in the outer world , we can always contribute the beautiful colours of the rainbow to act on one another , and whatever the storms be that come across our families , our houses , our neighbourhoods , or our lodges , we shall see the rainbow with the smile of God coming to cheer us with that " hope which fadeth not away , " antl the Adelphi Lotlge amongst the rest shall form part of the excellent
band that is marching along thc course of time to thc course of improvement , and is helping to raise according to its ability human kind to thc great image which it has lost , and to the blessed and happy lodge to which we all hope to come . The rev . brother sat down amidst hearty cheering . Thc lodge was then duly consecrated , and Bro . John Llewellyn
Jones was installed W . M . The following brethren were invested with their collars of office : Bros . Robert Gallon , S . W . ; Harry Western , J . W . ; R . W . Dunn , Treas . ; William Shakespeare Webster , Sec . * , Grame Mc . A . Low , S . D . ; W . H . Stevens , J . D . ; Douglas Cox , I . G . ; and E . W . Chetwynd , D . C .
After the work of the lodge was completed Bros . John Hervey , the Rev . R . J . Simpson , and H . G . Buss were elected honorary members of the lotlge , antl votes of thanks to them and Bros . W . T . Howe , James Weaver , and Green , who had taken the chairs of S . and J . W . and the office of I . G ., for performing and assisting in the work of consecration .
Bro . Hervey acknowledged the compliment on behalf of himself and Bros . Simpson and Buss , and hoped they might visit the lotlge again , say , in twelve or thirteen years' time ( laughter ) ; and each of the other brethren responded individually for himself . Lodge was then closed , and thc brethren adjourned to the Caledonian Hotel , hard by , where a choice banquet
was awaiting their arrival . After the banquet the usual toasts were proposed in regular order . The Rev . R . J . Simpson , in responding to the toast which included " The Grantl Officers , " said : I thank you very heartily on behalf of the Grantl Officers , Present antl Past , for the compliment that you have paid them in
drinking this toast with such kindness and enthusiasm . I know that my excellent fricntl on my left ( Bro . Hervey ) will have to return thanks for another toast , and therefore lam not surprised , perhaps , that I should have been selected , as being senior by accident to himself , to return thanks for this toast . It is no use my speaking of Lord Carnarvon or Lord Skelmersdale , because to " paint the lily " is an exceedingly delicate operation , and one that is
likely to cast more responsibility on the artist than the object , 1 shall not attempt , therefore , to say more than this , that I think we are vcry happy in possessing such men as rulers in our Order . We have to thank you vcry sincerely for the kind welcome you have given us this day , and the hospitality which you have shown us in the Adelphi Lodge , and also for the compliment which you have paid us in electing us
Consecration Of The Adelphi Lodge, No. 1670.
as honorary members of this lodge , I hope , with my friend , that we shall visit it again ; but as he is a young man , and talks of fourteen years , I will venture to talk of fourteen months , and hope that in fourteen months I may have the pleasure of seeing you again . Brethren , I think we may fairly say that to-night , looking at the working of this lotlge , and looking at thc men who have been
selected to be its rulers , the present lodge appears to very much fall in with the Darwinian theory—I mean of natural selection . ( Laughter . ) The officers appear to be , as far as we have thc benefit of judging , as naturally the officers of a lodge as could well have been selected . But I venture to say that there is another point in this matter which is not to be lost sight of . There is an evolution of
species—of Masonic species , of course . I take it , notwithstanding the way we are denounced in some high quarters , we are a species of monkey -, and the link which seems to me to be established between the last Master and thc first Master—by the Prince of Wales , the major , and the Prince of Wales the minor—is remarkable , i ! I may judge of the likeness there seems to be along the 1670 generations , or
links , or whatever else they may be called , a certain remarkable continuity . ( Great laughter , occasioned by the reference to the stron g facial resemblance between the W . M . and the Prince of Wales . ) Brethren , I thank you very much to-night for having listened , as you have very kindly done , to the address of the Chaplain on this occasion ; and I was very much tempted , while speaking of
that even-handed justice and that nice discrimination which should characterise us all , to say there is one instance which I think is known to all Masons , and that is of one who , whether a Mason be the Prince of Wales , Lord Skelmersdale , Lord Carnarvon , or the humblest Masons amongst us , is always ready with the same kindness and affability , the same obliging , and good and
cheerful temper , to minister to our wants , to answer our most unreasonable questions , and to be ready on all occasions to give us his kind aid—I mean our Grand Secretary . ( Hear , hear . ) But I resisted the temptation because I do not like praising him too much ; hc gets too much conceited . ( Laughter . ) Brethren , I have ventured also to depart from the ordinary landmarks
of the Order in addressing you , as I have had the privilege of atldressing other lodges on the occasion of consecration , antl instead of addressing you an oration upon the principles of the Ortler , I have only ventured to throw off a few desultory remarks upon some point which I have happened to get into my mind . At the same time I trust that there may be a consistency even in that . A late
bishop of this diocese had two archdeacons who delivered charges upon these two different subjects : the composition of a sermon was the subject which one archdeacon chose , and extramural interments was the subject of the other ** , antl some persons remarked to the bishop how varied were the subjects which his archdeacons chose . The bishop saitl " Not at all , I think they arc remarkably alike , " and
upon thc questioner expressing his astonishment the bishop said , " Well , after all , they are very near ; one is on composition , and the other on decomposition . " ( Laughter . ) Well , I am very much afraid that many of thc addresses we give have a certain sameness in them ; at thc same time we are assured of this , we are amongst brethren and amongst friends , who will make all
allowances for our shortcomings , and will give us in charity the best sympathy for our deeds , and will try to get and extract the most benefit from them . ( Cheers . ) The W . M ., in proposing thc toastof " The Consecrating Officers , " observed upon Bro . Simpson ' s remark , that it was vcry difficult to say anything new in response to Masonic speeches , that it was much more difficult to
suggest anything new in proposing Masonic toasts . A man might by accident say som < thing new , and if he did it should be taken advantage of . A proposer was not in that happy position , and hc asked the brethren to make up for his deficiency in proposing this toast by the heartiness of their response to it . He , however , felt it his duty to say one or
two words . He was sure all the members of the lodge wishetl it might become a credit to Masonry , that it should not only be known as the first of the name , but also a thoroughly brotherly lodge in every respect . They owed a deep debt of gratitude to the Consecrating Officers for the excellent manner in which they had done their work . The W . M . then named all the brethren who acted as
officers at the consecration , and said they had set an example that evening which it would be very judicious to follow , and if they woultl come to the lodge as often as they pleasetl he hoped they would not be ashamed of the working ; that they might say , " Well , you may be young people , but you are learning to trot very nicely , and you have nice straight legs . " ( Laughter . )
Bro . Hervey , in reply , said : There is a saying , " Know yourself . " I thought I did know myself , and I thought I was a very motlest man until I was assured by my next door neighbour ( thc Rev . R . J . Simpson ) that it was quite the contrary . ( " Hear , hear , " from the W . M . ) Well , I , of course , if Bro . Simpson , the Grand Chaplain , affirms that I am not a modest man , and the Master of the lodge
ejaculates " Hear , hear , " must of necessity give way and plead guilty to being anything but a modest man . Well , sir , if I be not a modest man , at any rate I have enough p . ssurance , whether modest or otherwise , to thank you and to thank the brethren most sincerely for the toast which has just been so cordially proposed and received ; and I can only say this , sir , that if I had to do the whole
ceremony of consecration myself I do not think I could have done it so well as 1 have done it if I had not been so efficiently supported by those brethren who are now standing up with me . I am afraid when we take credit for ourselves we frequently ignore those who assist us over the stile , and we forget that those who have been in connection with us in any difficult undertaking have given us aid which we could very ill have spared in bringing the affair to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Adelphi Lodge, No. 1670.
difficult position , and it is not only the Wardens and the r > aeons but with the other officers of the lodge . In each ffice there is a certain duty to perform ; it is not a vcry I ffthy ° i and surety through the year the members { . ye an opportunity of attending lodges of instruction , d may get up that little and perform it well . I do a ot know any more painful display than when candidate round the
Deacon is piloting a fdee room , to see that he does not know what he is about , that he takes him to the right when he ounht to go to the left , and " vice versa . " Certainly , if there be officers upon whom the W . M . ought to depend it is upon the Deacons . I am sure , sir , the officers whom will have tp appoint to-day will be such as will
supyou / ? £ . 1— _ * - ** -rl . « At * n * 4 iit-1 A- ' > ir / vii Iff ill n-1 iTn 4-s- « narfni-m DOrt you in the arduous duties you will have to perform ; and I do trust that the recommendation 1 have now made to them t ° be punctual in their attendance to get up those duties which devolve upon them in each office , so that when the lodge is opened it may work as a whole , and that the machinery of the lodge will not be disturbed by the inefficiency or the absence of the officers . Brethren , I will
not say anything more , because presently the rev . brother on my right will address you in a much more eloquent strain than I can venture or hope to do ; but if any little truth which I can lay before you is of the slightest use , if it induces one of the junior officers to come when he mig ht say , ' No , I have got something to do ; I have got another letter to write , " then I think I have done some
rood . Again , I think that if brethren undertake office in a lodge they should not have " another letter to write ;" they should so arrange their business that they can perform their duties as Masons . Not that I for one moment would recommend brethren to neglect their own business for the sake of Masonry—no man ought to do that ; if he does so he is not performing the duty of a Mason ,
because he is devoting that time which ought to be devoted to the support of himself and his family for that which has frequently been called a luxury , for a luxury it is , and therefore a man ought not to neglect the ordinary duties of life for Freemasonry ; but I think he should so arrange his work , both Masonic and private , as to make them combine , and not neglect cither for the purpose of
performing the duties of the other . ( Cheers . ) The ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with , and the oration was delivered by Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . C , who saitl : W . M ., Wardens , and brethren , —In Holy Writ we observe that places have been often intended by Almighty God to bring to the knowledge and remembrance of His people certain
remarkable events . It is not wuhout significance that today we are met in an old region of London , named Adelphi . It is a happy coincidence that this term , especially meaning brothers and brotherhood , should form the situation of a new lodge in this inth century . It carries us back to former days in our own land , and , as I have already observed , it carries us
back still further , to ancient days in another . I thought , therefore , as I came into town to-day , that this word might be a keynote to a few thoughts for yourselves and myself on an occasion like this . Brotherly love is a very common term amongst us Masons ; I would to God that that word should always rule our hearts and acts in Masonry as well as in the world . And perhaps if I say , and say without
fear of contradiction , that such brotherly love , to be true , to be stedfast , and to be permanent , must be based upon the love of God , I am only uttering a very great commonplace—a mere truism . We find recorded in one of the Prophets a question put by one who was enquiring what he could do to please the Lord ; and he proposed to give a " thousands of measures of oil , " nay to give his "
firstborn for his transgression , the fruit of his bod y for the sin of his soul j" but he was told by the prophet that he need do no such thing , that he need not make such sacrifices as these ; but he was only to do three simple things—grand words to be written on every Masonic lodge as well as upon the tablets of our heartshe was told , " What doth the Lord require of thee , but to
do justly , to love mercy , and to walk humbly with thy Gotl ? " Brethren , I cannot but feel upon an occasion like this that the recollection of these three sentences from the Sacred Volume may form very apt subjects of meditation . I will very briefly allude to each . " To do justly . " Alas ' . how many of the " wars and rumours of wars" in this our world , how many of the private feuds which disturb
• ociety , how many of the family broils which eat away domestic happiness , may be attributable to the want of that simple virtue , justice . " To do justly . " There can be no hrotherly love without it . To do justice even in the common matters of trade , in our daily business and avocation , whatever that may be , is no trifling part of the prosperity of the State or the happiness of ourselves . I
observe , and have heard from the mouths of many of those who have dealt with each other , how exceedingly difficult 11 is to be just and yet to live . I cannot but feel that if 'here be a God above us whose essential attribute is justice , 'he man who does "justly" in his ordinary matters of oufiness must in the long run be the prosperous and the happy man—the prosperous as well as the hapnv
man—° it " has the promise of the life that now is as well as 'hat which is to come . " And in society constantly , not a "ay of our lives passes but we have an opportunity of showing that nice discernment between what is just and " 'hat is unjust which may lead to the happiness of others as well as of ourselves . Well has thc old dramatic poet ?* - ' , " Be just and fear net , " and well , also , has thc old
-aim author said , " Fiat justitia ruat coelum . " But we , 'old , also , that we must " love mercy . " Need I say , . '' wren , how constantly we have an opportunity of showf *> fh ' virtue ? We have an opportunity in our own arid S cont ' " ) ° f showing kindness and tenderness -, sit T ' . ° ' allusions in Holy Writ to the necesh ' oid ' ' * or those wn ° are P ' aced at 'he bead of houses showing a tender and kind care for those who are
Consecration Of The Adelphi Lodge, No. 1670.
placed by God under their charge . And what holds good of the head of the family holds gootl of the head of the firm , of the head of thc establishment in trade , of the head of every body of men over whom wc may be placed . To show kindness and mercy , to endeavour always to do the pitiful , the kind , the courteous act , instead of the selfsufficient , thc proud , thc unkind , the contumelious—surely
this forms a very main part in brotherly love , and amongst us Masons in particular . What would Masonry be without it ? It would , to use a very common expression , be " Hamlet without the principal character . " We have our noble Charities ; God grant we may never cease to support them . " And every Mason is bound , according to his ability , to let that be part of his Masonry ; and not
only to support those Charities , but , I venture to say also especially to London Masons , to see those Charities , to be able in some measure to realize that which we have the blessing and the happiness to have and to uphold . And so I have always tried to impress upon the brethren that it is highly desirable that they should take a happy holiday , and do themselves the luxury of going to sec those Charities ,
and see the children and the old people in happiness and comfort . And , brethren , inasmuch as these two virtues must stand upon some basis , inasmuch as the building must have a foundation , I contend that we shall not " do justly , " and not " love mercy , " at least permanently and as a habit ( for every person may be just by fits and starts ,
and merciful by fits and starts ) , unless it is founded upon the love ^ af God , and unless we " walk humbly with " that God . And why is it that the prophet tells us to " walk humbly with thy God ? " Doubtless there were many men in ancient days , as in these , that held a high head , and by trusting to their strong arm , or by trusting to their great reason , walked proudly beneath the great
canopy in which the great Father and Governor of the world sits supreme . Brethren , it is an awful thing when men use that power antl reason , that health and f trength which God gives , to walk proudly before their God . I am satisfied that such a feeling as this , if it have place in any of our hearts , can never lead to true mercy lo others or justice to our brethren , and I believe if the
God we serve and worship were one of those terrible gods which some of the heathen worship , and which are supposed to inflict -vengeance continually upon their creatures , we should not attempt to walk proudly , but to walk humbly and softly enough . Let us then when we have strength devote it to His service . If we have reason let us never cloud it with anything like intemperance ; but
use that reason in His great high service , as well as in that of our brethren and ourselves . Thus , according to that beautiful charge , too seldom R iven to us now , because we have so much to tlo , we shoultl do our duty to God , our neighbour , and ourselves ; thus will our brotherly love be founded upon a sure antl lasting basis , antl then , whatever may be the shades of difference which may separate
us in the outer world , we can always contribute the beautiful colours of the rainbow to act on one another , and whatever the storms be that come across our families , our houses , our neighbourhoods , or our lodges , we shall see the rainbow with the smile of God coming to cheer us with that " hope which fadeth not away , " antl the Adelphi Lotlge amongst the rest shall form part of the excellent
band that is marching along thc course of time to thc course of improvement , and is helping to raise according to its ability human kind to thc great image which it has lost , and to the blessed and happy lodge to which we all hope to come . The rev . brother sat down amidst hearty cheering . Thc lodge was then duly consecrated , and Bro . John Llewellyn
Jones was installed W . M . The following brethren were invested with their collars of office : Bros . Robert Gallon , S . W . ; Harry Western , J . W . ; R . W . Dunn , Treas . ; William Shakespeare Webster , Sec . * , Grame Mc . A . Low , S . D . ; W . H . Stevens , J . D . ; Douglas Cox , I . G . ; and E . W . Chetwynd , D . C .
After the work of the lodge was completed Bros . John Hervey , the Rev . R . J . Simpson , and H . G . Buss were elected honorary members of the lotlge , antl votes of thanks to them and Bros . W . T . Howe , James Weaver , and Green , who had taken the chairs of S . and J . W . and the office of I . G ., for performing and assisting in the work of consecration .
Bro . Hervey acknowledged the compliment on behalf of himself and Bros . Simpson and Buss , and hoped they might visit the lotlge again , say , in twelve or thirteen years' time ( laughter ) ; and each of the other brethren responded individually for himself . Lodge was then closed , and thc brethren adjourned to the Caledonian Hotel , hard by , where a choice banquet
was awaiting their arrival . After the banquet the usual toasts were proposed in regular order . The Rev . R . J . Simpson , in responding to the toast which included " The Grantl Officers , " said : I thank you very heartily on behalf of the Grantl Officers , Present antl Past , for the compliment that you have paid them in
drinking this toast with such kindness and enthusiasm . I know that my excellent fricntl on my left ( Bro . Hervey ) will have to return thanks for another toast , and therefore lam not surprised , perhaps , that I should have been selected , as being senior by accident to himself , to return thanks for this toast . It is no use my speaking of Lord Carnarvon or Lord Skelmersdale , because to " paint the lily " is an exceedingly delicate operation , and one that is
likely to cast more responsibility on the artist than the object , 1 shall not attempt , therefore , to say more than this , that I think we are vcry happy in possessing such men as rulers in our Order . We have to thank you vcry sincerely for the kind welcome you have given us this day , and the hospitality which you have shown us in the Adelphi Lodge , and also for the compliment which you have paid us in electing us
Consecration Of The Adelphi Lodge, No. 1670.
as honorary members of this lodge , I hope , with my friend , that we shall visit it again ; but as he is a young man , and talks of fourteen years , I will venture to talk of fourteen months , and hope that in fourteen months I may have the pleasure of seeing you again . Brethren , I think we may fairly say that to-night , looking at the working of this lotlge , and looking at thc men who have been
selected to be its rulers , the present lodge appears to very much fall in with the Darwinian theory—I mean of natural selection . ( Laughter . ) The officers appear to be , as far as we have thc benefit of judging , as naturally the officers of a lodge as could well have been selected . But I venture to say that there is another point in this matter which is not to be lost sight of . There is an evolution of
species—of Masonic species , of course . I take it , notwithstanding the way we are denounced in some high quarters , we are a species of monkey -, and the link which seems to me to be established between the last Master and thc first Master—by the Prince of Wales , the major , and the Prince of Wales the minor—is remarkable , i ! I may judge of the likeness there seems to be along the 1670 generations , or
links , or whatever else they may be called , a certain remarkable continuity . ( Great laughter , occasioned by the reference to the stron g facial resemblance between the W . M . and the Prince of Wales . ) Brethren , I thank you very much to-night for having listened , as you have very kindly done , to the address of the Chaplain on this occasion ; and I was very much tempted , while speaking of
that even-handed justice and that nice discrimination which should characterise us all , to say there is one instance which I think is known to all Masons , and that is of one who , whether a Mason be the Prince of Wales , Lord Skelmersdale , Lord Carnarvon , or the humblest Masons amongst us , is always ready with the same kindness and affability , the same obliging , and good and
cheerful temper , to minister to our wants , to answer our most unreasonable questions , and to be ready on all occasions to give us his kind aid—I mean our Grand Secretary . ( Hear , hear . ) But I resisted the temptation because I do not like praising him too much ; hc gets too much conceited . ( Laughter . ) Brethren , I have ventured also to depart from the ordinary landmarks
of the Order in addressing you , as I have had the privilege of atldressing other lodges on the occasion of consecration , antl instead of addressing you an oration upon the principles of the Ortler , I have only ventured to throw off a few desultory remarks upon some point which I have happened to get into my mind . At the same time I trust that there may be a consistency even in that . A late
bishop of this diocese had two archdeacons who delivered charges upon these two different subjects : the composition of a sermon was the subject which one archdeacon chose , and extramural interments was the subject of the other ** , antl some persons remarked to the bishop how varied were the subjects which his archdeacons chose . The bishop saitl " Not at all , I think they arc remarkably alike , " and
upon thc questioner expressing his astonishment the bishop said , " Well , after all , they are very near ; one is on composition , and the other on decomposition . " ( Laughter . ) Well , I am very much afraid that many of thc addresses we give have a certain sameness in them ; at thc same time we are assured of this , we are amongst brethren and amongst friends , who will make all
allowances for our shortcomings , and will give us in charity the best sympathy for our deeds , and will try to get and extract the most benefit from them . ( Cheers . ) The W . M ., in proposing thc toastof " The Consecrating Officers , " observed upon Bro . Simpson ' s remark , that it was vcry difficult to say anything new in response to Masonic speeches , that it was much more difficult to
suggest anything new in proposing Masonic toasts . A man might by accident say som < thing new , and if he did it should be taken advantage of . A proposer was not in that happy position , and hc asked the brethren to make up for his deficiency in proposing this toast by the heartiness of their response to it . He , however , felt it his duty to say one or
two words . He was sure all the members of the lodge wishetl it might become a credit to Masonry , that it should not only be known as the first of the name , but also a thoroughly brotherly lodge in every respect . They owed a deep debt of gratitude to the Consecrating Officers for the excellent manner in which they had done their work . The W . M . then named all the brethren who acted as
officers at the consecration , and said they had set an example that evening which it would be very judicious to follow , and if they woultl come to the lodge as often as they pleasetl he hoped they would not be ashamed of the working ; that they might say , " Well , you may be young people , but you are learning to trot very nicely , and you have nice straight legs . " ( Laughter . )
Bro . Hervey , in reply , said : There is a saying , " Know yourself . " I thought I did know myself , and I thought I was a very motlest man until I was assured by my next door neighbour ( thc Rev . R . J . Simpson ) that it was quite the contrary . ( " Hear , hear , " from the W . M . ) Well , I , of course , if Bro . Simpson , the Grand Chaplain , affirms that I am not a modest man , and the Master of the lodge
ejaculates " Hear , hear , " must of necessity give way and plead guilty to being anything but a modest man . Well , sir , if I be not a modest man , at any rate I have enough p . ssurance , whether modest or otherwise , to thank you and to thank the brethren most sincerely for the toast which has just been so cordially proposed and received ; and I can only say this , sir , that if I had to do the whole
ceremony of consecration myself I do not think I could have done it so well as 1 have done it if I had not been so efficiently supported by those brethren who are now standing up with me . I am afraid when we take credit for ourselves we frequently ignore those who assist us over the stile , and we forget that those who have been in connection with us in any difficult undertaking have given us aid which we could very ill have spared in bringing the affair to