Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Clapham Lodge, No. 1818.
nan never hear too often or practise too much—I mean " to do to others as we should wish to be done by . " But though the heathen philosophers of ancient times knew much about justice , and practised it too , they knew comparatively little of that heavenly , that Divine virtue , which the prophet alludes to in the next passage— " to love mercy . " It was reserved for another era and a brighter
time to have that sweet ' angel from heaven revealed to men ; from the cold and stern precepts of a dry philosophy , man was enabled to proceed to that most glorious attribute of Divinity—I mean mercy or charity ; and I need scarcely here dilate , to use the words of our ritual , upon that virtue . Brethren , we are quite assured of this , that there is nothing that can more tend to cement men , whether differing in
political or religious life , together in the bonds of common brotherhood than that charity , or mercy , or brotherly love , which is , as you know , foremost upon all the pages of our history as Masons , and I hope written upon our heaits as men , Our noble and glorious Charities stand out in broad relief as showing that we Masons wish to practise the virtue we profess to admire , and though there
be , as 1 hold there are , many opportunities still of making those Charities still grander as Masonic landmarks than they are , and practising justice , and still adding mercy , still I can never reflect upon those Charities or speak of them in the outer world without a flow of conscious satisfaction and thankfulness , and I will not add pride , that the Freemasons of England have Charities
whicli can bear comparison with any in this great country , so celebrated for similar institutions , and that the amount of money raised by those indefatigable men who are especially interested in those Charities , so well backed up as their efforts are by the liberality of true hearts among our brethren—that thos ; Charities , l say , are at once an ornament to our Order and a blessing to many a poor distressed
Mason . But , brethren , if justice and mercy alone were to be looked upon as the landmarks of a Mason , we should be but " poor indeed , " nay , we should seem to lack that motive power , that great centre from which these blessings proceed ; for I hold it that , as we must gather our ideas of a Supreme Being from His glorious works , and from our own inner consciousness , we must conclude because
we admire and love what is just , admire and love what is charitable , therefore the Great Being from whom we proceeded must himself be the fountain of all justice , the fount of all benevolence ; so we make a way for ourselves up the ladder till we reach God himself ; and God is love , and God is justice ; and it is clear that with such a God , so just , so good , so holy , so powerful , it is at once our duty ,
and I may say our very instinct , to " walk humbly with Him . " The pride of man too often raises up barriers against his better feelings finding their way to God . The world that we are engaged in , so full of complex matters of various kinds , in business and in pleasure , too often intercepts our clear vision in looking upon our God , and often men are tempted , by reason of their intellect and the
education with which God has been pleased to bless them , to throw out doubts even as to His existence , to say nothing of those Divine attributes which He has planted even in their own hearts ; and , therefore , it grieves us , as Masons , when we find that , whether in other nations or even among ourselves , there may be found perverse men who will raise puny hands against the Great Architect of
their own being . Let us cultivate , brethren , especially m the present day , a pious spirit , one deeply submissive to the true God who made all , and thus , brethren , shall we be led more and more along the pathway of safety till we reach the Grand Lodge above . Certain I am that Freemasonry does give us between our home and the world a very happy resting place to consider these blessed truths , for when we
come from our homes into the world we know that there are many things which lead us away from such thoughts . If , therefore , we made a good use of our Masonryif we make a good use of our glorious ritual , if we make a good use of the noblest sentiments that man can feel , either to his fellows or to his God—then I say Masonry may be instrumental in doing us a great deal of good , in
making us happier men , and of imprinting upon our hearts those three great truths—that we should do justly , that we should love mercy , and that we should walk humbly with our God . I humbly pray that these three great truths may be implanted upon your hearts and mine , and may help the Clapham Lodge to be illustrious among its fellows , of leading now the Masons of this district to
that high eminence in our Order to which many of our recent lodges have attained ; and , above all , that it may lead us to be ready for our departure from these tents of time until we shall land on the shores of an eternal future . The lodge was then formally consecrater " , Bros . F . H . Cozens , H . Ashton , A . Hubbard , and G . T . Carter
performing the musical portion of the ceremony . When the lodge had been dedicated Bro . Terry installed Bro . Louis Hirsch as W . M ., and the following brethren were invested as officers : —rBros . Dr . Charles T . Pearce , S . W . ; Archibald Fairlie , J . W . ; Robert F . Fairlie , Treasurer ; William Worrell , Secretary ; Alfred Pocock , S . D . ; Wm . Carlton Hale , J . D . ; R . Clay Sudlow , l . G . ; and Reinhardt ,
Tyler . Bro . Terry delivered the address to the Master ; Bro . Clarke addressed the Wardens ; and Dr . Dixon , the brethren of the lodge . In a very complimentary speech Bro . Louis Hirsch proposed the thanks of the lodge to the Consecrating Officers , and the honour of membership . The S . W . ceconded the proposition , which was unanimously
carried , anil Bro . Terry acknowledged the compliment . A long list of intending initiates and joining members was read by Bro . Worrell , after which lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banqui t . The first toast given by the W . M . was that of " The Queen and the Craft . " No body of Englishmen welcomed this toast with more loyalty and greater warmth than our ancient and honourable fraternity , and he , therefore , called
Consecration Of The Clapham Lodge, No. 1818.
upon the brethren to drink to the long life and happiness of Her Majesty in a bumper . This was followed by the National Anthem . In giving " The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " Bro . Hirsch alluded to the excellences of that brother , and pointed out the benefits derived by Masons in having him at the head of affairs . The period during which His Royal Highness had ru led over
the Craft had been one of continued progress , and he trusted that such might long continue . With the toast the W . M . coupled that of " The Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family . " The toast of " The Pro G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , " was always received in Masonic assemblies with great favour . The earl is well known as one of the most energetic Freemasons in
England . That of " Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " followed . The W . M . said the Freemasons of this country have every reason to be thankful to the Grand Officers for the great interest they take in promoting the welfare of the Craft . With this toast were coupled the names of Bros . Simpson and Buss . Bro . Simpson tendered the thanks of the Grand
Officers for the honour that had been paid them . For himself he was extremely gratified at the way in which he had been received . Masonic lodges owed , as did most othei things in this life , much of their piosperity to a good start . He could compliment the brethren on the beginning they had made in choosing Bro . Louis Hirsch as their first Master , and felt sure it could have but one result . He
then proceeded to dilate on what he was pleased to term his hobby—the Charities . Our reverend brother ' s peculiar ideas on this subject arc well known , and it is equally well known that they are antagonistic to the views of the Craft at large ; it will not , therefore , be surprising to know that the brethren did not express concurrence therewit h . In fact , some disapprobation was expressed in consequence of
our brother advocating the attendance of members at the uu-Masonic meeting of the Charity Organisation Society at the very hour that a really Masonic gathering was to take place at the Alexandra Palace in aid of the funds of our Boys' School . Bro . Buss followed , and paid a compliment to the brethren now at the head of Masonic affairs . He expressed the
pleasure he felt at having been able to take a part in the consecration of the lodge , which he . hoped would have a prosperous career . Bro . James Terry , in the absence of any Past Master , proposed "The Health ofthe W . M ., " detailing his varied labours on behalf of the Craft and its members , but particularly in the cause of Charity . He had for some . time
past given a prize to the Girls' School for the best knowledge of the German language , and in other ways supported our Institutions . His position as first W . M . of the lodge was far from easy . It was necessary for him to consolidate the interests of all the brethren who had united with him in the foundation of the lodge and generally lay down plans of operation
for the future . He felt assured that every duty would be discharged in the most satisfactory manner , and that the heads of our Order would never have occasion to regret having granted a warrant to Bro . Hirsch and his colleagues . The W . M . having thanked those present for their hearty reception , assured them that no effort on his part should
be spared to ensure the proper discharge of the duties entrusted to him . It would ever be his endeavour to promote the happiness and interests of the members , and he trusted that , at the expiration of his year of office , he might hand the warrant of the lodge to his successor pure and unsullied . He next called upon the brethren to honour the toast of" The Consecrating Officers . " The members of
the Clapham Lodge had , he considered , every reason to be deeply grateful to Bro . Terry , and those who had assisted him in the ceremony of the day . He felt personally greatly indebted to them for their kind advice , generous expressions , and heaity co-operation . Bro . Terry replied . He was pleased to learn that in the discharge of their duties the Consecrating Officers had given
satisfaction . They were amply repaid for the little trouble they had gone to by receiving such hearty thanks as had been accorded both in lodge and at the banquet table . If at any future time there was anything they could do to further the interests of the lodge , they would be only too pleased to do it . The toast of " The Visitors " followed .
The Master was pleased to see so many distinguished brethren present , but most sincerely regretted that no member of the Koyal Leopold Lodge , which had so kindly recommended the warrant for their own , were among them . He felt he need hardly assure the guests that they were most heartily welcome , nor that it would give the members great pleasure to see them again at one or the other of
their meetings , when they might have ] an opportunity of judging how the members were able to ] perform the work of a lodge . Bro . J . Morrell replied . The W . M . now proposed " ^ Prosperity to the Masonic Charities , " advising those who had never visited our institutions to go and see for themselves what good was being
done . He trusted the Masonic Charitable Institutions would long be considered worthy of the support of the Order , and was sure that the brethren of the Clapham Lodge would make every effort to promote their interests . As a substantial proof of this he was pleased to announce that it was the wish of the lodge that he should lepretent them as a Steward at the next festival of the Benevolent
Institution , on which occasion he hoped to take up a substantial amount . Bro . J . Terry , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , replied . In the course of his speech he referred to the remarks made by Rev . Bro . Simpson . He assured the brethren that very much was required of the Craft , more , in fact , than they had done in the past . He hoped that the exertions of the W ; M . would be the
Consecration Of The Clapham Lodge, No. 1818.
means of adding considerably to the fund next year , and that on many occasions the brethren of the Clapham Lodge would show the true Masonic spirit of Charity . With great pleasure the W . M . rose to propose " The Health of the Officers . " Not the least part of the satisfac . tion he felt at the day ' s proceedings was the knowled ge that he was supported by earnest and zealous officers , bre .
thren who had undertaken , with himself , the arduous duties and great responsibilities of bringing the lodge into life . He felt assured the officers would do all in their power to cement the ties of brotherhood by their good working and understanding of our beautiful rites and cere , monies , and thereby promulgate the great truths of Free , masonry , to the glory of God and benefit of our fellow
creatures . For the assistance he had received from each of the founders he desired to tender his best thanks . He specially referred to the way in which Bro . Worrell had ful . filled the dnties of Secretary , and hoped the lodge would have his assistance for many years . Bro . S . W . replied , tendering the thanks of his fellows
for the reception that had been accorded them . He was a young Mason , but hoped that he should prove himself efficient in the duties required of him . Bro . J . W . followed . He felt that he could not have done better than join the brethren who had laid the foun . dation of this lodge , and hoped he might be spared to prove that he was worthy of the position that hadbeen accorded him .
Bro . Worrell assured the brethren that he should endeavour to carry out the business of his office in such a way as would ensure their approval . He complimented the Master and his assistants on the way in which the duties had been performed . One would have thought that all the officers were Past Masters , or , at least , brethren who had served their respective offices before , but when they
came to know that they were air new to the work he con . sidered that especial praise was due . He referred to the many previous applications which had been made for a lodge for the district , all of which , he said , had been re . fused , so that he considered Grand Lodge must have a good opinion of the petitioners to whom they had granted the warrant under which the meeting of the day had been
held . Bro . Sudlow also replied . The W . M . was about to rise and pay the honours of a special tcast to the originator of the Clapham Lodge ( Bro . Alfred Pocock ) , who is highly esteemed by the founders , and greatly valued by the W . M ., but the exigencies of the train service precluded the possibility of the visitors remaining , consequently Bro . Reinhardt , the Tyler , was was summoned , and gave the usual closing toast .
Consecration Of The Marquis Of Dalhousie Chapter, No. 1159.
CONSECRATION OF THE MARQUIS OF DALHOUSIE CHAPTER , No . 1159 .
The new chapter attached to the Marquis of Dalhousie Lodge , No . 1159 , was consecrated on the 19 th inst . at the Masonic Hall , 33 , Golden-square . The Consecrating Officer was Comp . Lieut .-Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Past Grand Principal Sojourner , who was assisted by Comp . H . D .
Sandeman , Past Grand Superintendent Bengal , as H . ; Comp . the Rev . John Studholme Brownrigg , Past Grand Assistant Sojourner , as J . ; Comp . R . W . H . Giddy , Grand Superintendent Griqualand , as Director of Ceremonies ; and Comp . John Read , as Organist . The other companions present on the occasion were Comps . Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . S . N . ; S . Rawson , P . G .
Supt . China ; Hyde Clarke , Hyde Pullen , Thomas Fenn , J . M . P . Montagu , G . Simmonds , Lord Alfred Churchill , S . Leith Tomkins , P . G . P . S . ; Randolph Glover , W . M , Venn , and Octavius Hansard . After the chapter had been opened , and the petition and charter had been read by Comp . Giddy , Col . Shadwell Clerke called upon the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg to deliver the
oration , whereupon The Rev . J . S . Brownrigg said : Companions , Masonry is a progressive science . Is this , companions , a truth to which we hold fast ? Do we understand and accept it in its only true meaning ? We must advance in Masonic knowledge—and Masonry itself , our Craft , must not stand still , but must be always advancing into truer and fuller
light . As the operative Mason of old was not content with the flint axe , but accepted and used the square , the level , and the plumb rule , when those implements of labour came to his hand ; and as also the operative Mason of the present day uses with advantage to his work every means that the inventions of a hi gh civilisation put within his reach—so must we as speculative Masons be
ready to use means , and to do work , suitable and useful to the times in which we live . But do not mistake me here . I am in no way advocating any abandonment of our ancient landmarks , or any disturbance of our old foundations , but I am urging a constant progression in the science of which those landmarks are the safeguard . I am urging the erection of a fair structure upon those old foundations .
It is our duty not merely to keep our Craft as it was but also to make it useful for the present time . If Masonry is not practically useful for the present time it is a mere relic of a bygone age—an archaeological curiosity—interesting arid harmless , but useless . Companions , I claim for Masonry a higher position . I hold that the Craft is and ought to be a practical living influence for good , and not a mere lifeless memory of the past . Our chapters and our
lodges ought to be something more than meetings for the careful and accurate rendering of impressive ceremonies . We must in the time present leave our mark on the outside world , as our ancient brethren left theirs in the time past . They lived and worked not merely for themselves and their own Craft , but for all whom they could influence for good . Within tlielimits of the time allowed me 1 cannot treat fully this important aspect of our duties . I can only offer one or two practical ways in which we may try humbly to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Clapham Lodge, No. 1818.
nan never hear too often or practise too much—I mean " to do to others as we should wish to be done by . " But though the heathen philosophers of ancient times knew much about justice , and practised it too , they knew comparatively little of that heavenly , that Divine virtue , which the prophet alludes to in the next passage— " to love mercy . " It was reserved for another era and a brighter
time to have that sweet ' angel from heaven revealed to men ; from the cold and stern precepts of a dry philosophy , man was enabled to proceed to that most glorious attribute of Divinity—I mean mercy or charity ; and I need scarcely here dilate , to use the words of our ritual , upon that virtue . Brethren , we are quite assured of this , that there is nothing that can more tend to cement men , whether differing in
political or religious life , together in the bonds of common brotherhood than that charity , or mercy , or brotherly love , which is , as you know , foremost upon all the pages of our history as Masons , and I hope written upon our heaits as men , Our noble and glorious Charities stand out in broad relief as showing that we Masons wish to practise the virtue we profess to admire , and though there
be , as 1 hold there are , many opportunities still of making those Charities still grander as Masonic landmarks than they are , and practising justice , and still adding mercy , still I can never reflect upon those Charities or speak of them in the outer world without a flow of conscious satisfaction and thankfulness , and I will not add pride , that the Freemasons of England have Charities
whicli can bear comparison with any in this great country , so celebrated for similar institutions , and that the amount of money raised by those indefatigable men who are especially interested in those Charities , so well backed up as their efforts are by the liberality of true hearts among our brethren—that thos ; Charities , l say , are at once an ornament to our Order and a blessing to many a poor distressed
Mason . But , brethren , if justice and mercy alone were to be looked upon as the landmarks of a Mason , we should be but " poor indeed , " nay , we should seem to lack that motive power , that great centre from which these blessings proceed ; for I hold it that , as we must gather our ideas of a Supreme Being from His glorious works , and from our own inner consciousness , we must conclude because
we admire and love what is just , admire and love what is charitable , therefore the Great Being from whom we proceeded must himself be the fountain of all justice , the fount of all benevolence ; so we make a way for ourselves up the ladder till we reach God himself ; and God is love , and God is justice ; and it is clear that with such a God , so just , so good , so holy , so powerful , it is at once our duty ,
and I may say our very instinct , to " walk humbly with Him . " The pride of man too often raises up barriers against his better feelings finding their way to God . The world that we are engaged in , so full of complex matters of various kinds , in business and in pleasure , too often intercepts our clear vision in looking upon our God , and often men are tempted , by reason of their intellect and the
education with which God has been pleased to bless them , to throw out doubts even as to His existence , to say nothing of those Divine attributes which He has planted even in their own hearts ; and , therefore , it grieves us , as Masons , when we find that , whether in other nations or even among ourselves , there may be found perverse men who will raise puny hands against the Great Architect of
their own being . Let us cultivate , brethren , especially m the present day , a pious spirit , one deeply submissive to the true God who made all , and thus , brethren , shall we be led more and more along the pathway of safety till we reach the Grand Lodge above . Certain I am that Freemasonry does give us between our home and the world a very happy resting place to consider these blessed truths , for when we
come from our homes into the world we know that there are many things which lead us away from such thoughts . If , therefore , we made a good use of our Masonryif we make a good use of our glorious ritual , if we make a good use of the noblest sentiments that man can feel , either to his fellows or to his God—then I say Masonry may be instrumental in doing us a great deal of good , in
making us happier men , and of imprinting upon our hearts those three great truths—that we should do justly , that we should love mercy , and that we should walk humbly with our God . I humbly pray that these three great truths may be implanted upon your hearts and mine , and may help the Clapham Lodge to be illustrious among its fellows , of leading now the Masons of this district to
that high eminence in our Order to which many of our recent lodges have attained ; and , above all , that it may lead us to be ready for our departure from these tents of time until we shall land on the shores of an eternal future . The lodge was then formally consecrater " , Bros . F . H . Cozens , H . Ashton , A . Hubbard , and G . T . Carter
performing the musical portion of the ceremony . When the lodge had been dedicated Bro . Terry installed Bro . Louis Hirsch as W . M ., and the following brethren were invested as officers : —rBros . Dr . Charles T . Pearce , S . W . ; Archibald Fairlie , J . W . ; Robert F . Fairlie , Treasurer ; William Worrell , Secretary ; Alfred Pocock , S . D . ; Wm . Carlton Hale , J . D . ; R . Clay Sudlow , l . G . ; and Reinhardt ,
Tyler . Bro . Terry delivered the address to the Master ; Bro . Clarke addressed the Wardens ; and Dr . Dixon , the brethren of the lodge . In a very complimentary speech Bro . Louis Hirsch proposed the thanks of the lodge to the Consecrating Officers , and the honour of membership . The S . W . ceconded the proposition , which was unanimously
carried , anil Bro . Terry acknowledged the compliment . A long list of intending initiates and joining members was read by Bro . Worrell , after which lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banqui t . The first toast given by the W . M . was that of " The Queen and the Craft . " No body of Englishmen welcomed this toast with more loyalty and greater warmth than our ancient and honourable fraternity , and he , therefore , called
Consecration Of The Clapham Lodge, No. 1818.
upon the brethren to drink to the long life and happiness of Her Majesty in a bumper . This was followed by the National Anthem . In giving " The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " Bro . Hirsch alluded to the excellences of that brother , and pointed out the benefits derived by Masons in having him at the head of affairs . The period during which His Royal Highness had ru led over
the Craft had been one of continued progress , and he trusted that such might long continue . With the toast the W . M . coupled that of " The Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family . " The toast of " The Pro G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , " was always received in Masonic assemblies with great favour . The earl is well known as one of the most energetic Freemasons in
England . That of " Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " followed . The W . M . said the Freemasons of this country have every reason to be thankful to the Grand Officers for the great interest they take in promoting the welfare of the Craft . With this toast were coupled the names of Bros . Simpson and Buss . Bro . Simpson tendered the thanks of the Grand
Officers for the honour that had been paid them . For himself he was extremely gratified at the way in which he had been received . Masonic lodges owed , as did most othei things in this life , much of their piosperity to a good start . He could compliment the brethren on the beginning they had made in choosing Bro . Louis Hirsch as their first Master , and felt sure it could have but one result . He
then proceeded to dilate on what he was pleased to term his hobby—the Charities . Our reverend brother ' s peculiar ideas on this subject arc well known , and it is equally well known that they are antagonistic to the views of the Craft at large ; it will not , therefore , be surprising to know that the brethren did not express concurrence therewit h . In fact , some disapprobation was expressed in consequence of
our brother advocating the attendance of members at the uu-Masonic meeting of the Charity Organisation Society at the very hour that a really Masonic gathering was to take place at the Alexandra Palace in aid of the funds of our Boys' School . Bro . Buss followed , and paid a compliment to the brethren now at the head of Masonic affairs . He expressed the
pleasure he felt at having been able to take a part in the consecration of the lodge , which he . hoped would have a prosperous career . Bro . James Terry , in the absence of any Past Master , proposed "The Health ofthe W . M ., " detailing his varied labours on behalf of the Craft and its members , but particularly in the cause of Charity . He had for some . time
past given a prize to the Girls' School for the best knowledge of the German language , and in other ways supported our Institutions . His position as first W . M . of the lodge was far from easy . It was necessary for him to consolidate the interests of all the brethren who had united with him in the foundation of the lodge and generally lay down plans of operation
for the future . He felt assured that every duty would be discharged in the most satisfactory manner , and that the heads of our Order would never have occasion to regret having granted a warrant to Bro . Hirsch and his colleagues . The W . M . having thanked those present for their hearty reception , assured them that no effort on his part should
be spared to ensure the proper discharge of the duties entrusted to him . It would ever be his endeavour to promote the happiness and interests of the members , and he trusted that , at the expiration of his year of office , he might hand the warrant of the lodge to his successor pure and unsullied . He next called upon the brethren to honour the toast of" The Consecrating Officers . " The members of
the Clapham Lodge had , he considered , every reason to be deeply grateful to Bro . Terry , and those who had assisted him in the ceremony of the day . He felt personally greatly indebted to them for their kind advice , generous expressions , and heaity co-operation . Bro . Terry replied . He was pleased to learn that in the discharge of their duties the Consecrating Officers had given
satisfaction . They were amply repaid for the little trouble they had gone to by receiving such hearty thanks as had been accorded both in lodge and at the banquet table . If at any future time there was anything they could do to further the interests of the lodge , they would be only too pleased to do it . The toast of " The Visitors " followed .
The Master was pleased to see so many distinguished brethren present , but most sincerely regretted that no member of the Koyal Leopold Lodge , which had so kindly recommended the warrant for their own , were among them . He felt he need hardly assure the guests that they were most heartily welcome , nor that it would give the members great pleasure to see them again at one or the other of
their meetings , when they might have ] an opportunity of judging how the members were able to ] perform the work of a lodge . Bro . J . Morrell replied . The W . M . now proposed " ^ Prosperity to the Masonic Charities , " advising those who had never visited our institutions to go and see for themselves what good was being
done . He trusted the Masonic Charitable Institutions would long be considered worthy of the support of the Order , and was sure that the brethren of the Clapham Lodge would make every effort to promote their interests . As a substantial proof of this he was pleased to announce that it was the wish of the lodge that he should lepretent them as a Steward at the next festival of the Benevolent
Institution , on which occasion he hoped to take up a substantial amount . Bro . J . Terry , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , replied . In the course of his speech he referred to the remarks made by Rev . Bro . Simpson . He assured the brethren that very much was required of the Craft , more , in fact , than they had done in the past . He hoped that the exertions of the W ; M . would be the
Consecration Of The Clapham Lodge, No. 1818.
means of adding considerably to the fund next year , and that on many occasions the brethren of the Clapham Lodge would show the true Masonic spirit of Charity . With great pleasure the W . M . rose to propose " The Health of the Officers . " Not the least part of the satisfac . tion he felt at the day ' s proceedings was the knowled ge that he was supported by earnest and zealous officers , bre .
thren who had undertaken , with himself , the arduous duties and great responsibilities of bringing the lodge into life . He felt assured the officers would do all in their power to cement the ties of brotherhood by their good working and understanding of our beautiful rites and cere , monies , and thereby promulgate the great truths of Free , masonry , to the glory of God and benefit of our fellow
creatures . For the assistance he had received from each of the founders he desired to tender his best thanks . He specially referred to the way in which Bro . Worrell had ful . filled the dnties of Secretary , and hoped the lodge would have his assistance for many years . Bro . S . W . replied , tendering the thanks of his fellows
for the reception that had been accorded them . He was a young Mason , but hoped that he should prove himself efficient in the duties required of him . Bro . J . W . followed . He felt that he could not have done better than join the brethren who had laid the foun . dation of this lodge , and hoped he might be spared to prove that he was worthy of the position that hadbeen accorded him .
Bro . Worrell assured the brethren that he should endeavour to carry out the business of his office in such a way as would ensure their approval . He complimented the Master and his assistants on the way in which the duties had been performed . One would have thought that all the officers were Past Masters , or , at least , brethren who had served their respective offices before , but when they
came to know that they were air new to the work he con . sidered that especial praise was due . He referred to the many previous applications which had been made for a lodge for the district , all of which , he said , had been re . fused , so that he considered Grand Lodge must have a good opinion of the petitioners to whom they had granted the warrant under which the meeting of the day had been
held . Bro . Sudlow also replied . The W . M . was about to rise and pay the honours of a special tcast to the originator of the Clapham Lodge ( Bro . Alfred Pocock ) , who is highly esteemed by the founders , and greatly valued by the W . M ., but the exigencies of the train service precluded the possibility of the visitors remaining , consequently Bro . Reinhardt , the Tyler , was was summoned , and gave the usual closing toast .
Consecration Of The Marquis Of Dalhousie Chapter, No. 1159.
CONSECRATION OF THE MARQUIS OF DALHOUSIE CHAPTER , No . 1159 .
The new chapter attached to the Marquis of Dalhousie Lodge , No . 1159 , was consecrated on the 19 th inst . at the Masonic Hall , 33 , Golden-square . The Consecrating Officer was Comp . Lieut .-Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Past Grand Principal Sojourner , who was assisted by Comp . H . D .
Sandeman , Past Grand Superintendent Bengal , as H . ; Comp . the Rev . John Studholme Brownrigg , Past Grand Assistant Sojourner , as J . ; Comp . R . W . H . Giddy , Grand Superintendent Griqualand , as Director of Ceremonies ; and Comp . John Read , as Organist . The other companions present on the occasion were Comps . Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . S . N . ; S . Rawson , P . G .
Supt . China ; Hyde Clarke , Hyde Pullen , Thomas Fenn , J . M . P . Montagu , G . Simmonds , Lord Alfred Churchill , S . Leith Tomkins , P . G . P . S . ; Randolph Glover , W . M , Venn , and Octavius Hansard . After the chapter had been opened , and the petition and charter had been read by Comp . Giddy , Col . Shadwell Clerke called upon the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg to deliver the
oration , whereupon The Rev . J . S . Brownrigg said : Companions , Masonry is a progressive science . Is this , companions , a truth to which we hold fast ? Do we understand and accept it in its only true meaning ? We must advance in Masonic knowledge—and Masonry itself , our Craft , must not stand still , but must be always advancing into truer and fuller
light . As the operative Mason of old was not content with the flint axe , but accepted and used the square , the level , and the plumb rule , when those implements of labour came to his hand ; and as also the operative Mason of the present day uses with advantage to his work every means that the inventions of a hi gh civilisation put within his reach—so must we as speculative Masons be
ready to use means , and to do work , suitable and useful to the times in which we live . But do not mistake me here . I am in no way advocating any abandonment of our ancient landmarks , or any disturbance of our old foundations , but I am urging a constant progression in the science of which those landmarks are the safeguard . I am urging the erection of a fair structure upon those old foundations .
It is our duty not merely to keep our Craft as it was but also to make it useful for the present time . If Masonry is not practically useful for the present time it is a mere relic of a bygone age—an archaeological curiosity—interesting arid harmless , but useless . Companions , I claim for Masonry a higher position . I hold that the Craft is and ought to be a practical living influence for good , and not a mere lifeless memory of the past . Our chapters and our
lodges ought to be something more than meetings for the careful and accurate rendering of impressive ceremonies . We must in the time present leave our mark on the outside world , as our ancient brethren left theirs in the time past . They lived and worked not merely for themselves and their own Craft , but for all whom they could influence for good . Within tlielimits of the time allowed me 1 cannot treat fully this important aspect of our duties . I can only offer one or two practical ways in which we may try humbly to