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  • CONSECRATION OF THE WICKHAM LODGE, No. 1924.
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Consecration Of The Wickham Lodge, No. 1924.

needful he could add his testimony to Bro . Murton ' s high qualifications . There were other brethren whose names were connected with this lodge whom he had great pleasure to see . They were regular attendants at the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and who would follow in the footsteps of those eminent and distinguished brethren . The ceremonies of the day then proceeded , and the Rev . Ambrose W , Hall , P . G . C ., delivered the following oration :

It is no easy matter , now that Masonic lodges are springing up so thickly around us , for the Chaplain who is called upon to address you on the " Nature and Principles of Freemasonry " so to vary his words as to gain your full attention . Time after time has it been my privilege to put forward the beautiful teachings of our noble Order on occasions like the present , and I have felt the difficulty of impressing , as 1 would wish , upon the brethren assembled to raise up another society , whose motto should be " Excelsior " in all that is good and true . The real nature of the institution of Ereemasonry is

very imperfectly understood by the outer world , and many members of the Order are apt to put ceremonies before those virtues which the ceremonies beautifully inculcate . I am to-day requested , according to ancient custom , to call your attention ( by way of what is termed an oration ) to the great and fundamental principles of the Craft ; and I ask you to bear with me a little space whilst I endeavour , according to my own light , to throw what light I can upon the teachings , responsibilities , and workings which are this day to be entrusted to your charge . Perhaps at no time is the necessity of the

objects and principles of Freemasonry being rightly understood more essential than when a new lodge is being consecrated ; and therefore , the Chaplain addresses the brethren before the ceremony is actually performed in order that they may be perfectly aware of the great responsibilities they are about to undertake ; for I may compare an unformed lodge to the clay ground in the plains of Jordon ( where Solomon had cast the vessels for the Temple ) , as yet easily capable of receiving impressions for good , and ready to take any form for honour or dishonour ; like the heart of a little child ,

dependant for its bringing up on those who have tt in charge . When I horam walked with King Solomon , and they came upon the soft , uncultivated earth in the low ground of Jordan between Succoth and Zeredathah , there , linding it suitable for the purpose , the King had cast the beautiful vessels of the Temple . And to your new lodge , now breaking into being , would 1 liken this , for you as yet ( Masonically speaking ) are as an uncultivated soil , like that between Succoth and Zeredathah ; and as there the King modelled offerings worthy of God ' s House , so do you as you ( as a lodge } bear fruit

and grow , try to become models of the virtues and teachings which should be , and I hope are , our pride as Masons . Although from the Masonic position of the founders and members of the Wickham Lodge 1 feel it unnecessary for me to enlarge upon the duties its enjoins , or its nature and pnnciples , still , at this time , it is a custom ( and a custom good and old , which I would not wish to see departed from ) to explain them to the brethren , which 1 would do as briefly as possible . The nature of Freemasonry , as you well know , is to make us better servants of the G . A . O . T . U ., better subi ' ects of our

Queen , better citizens , better neighbours , better fathers , brothers , and sons . Us principles are founded on the purest sources of piety and virtue . They embrace the noble attributes of Brotherly love , relief , and truth . Brotherly Love may be considered the whole duty to our neighbour , viz ., to love him as ourselves , and to do unto all men as we would they should do unto us . Relief or charity has ever been our distinguishing feature . It is rendering to our brother every kind office in our power that mercy may suggest—relieving his distress , soothing his affliction , and sympathising in his sorrow .

1 don t think there is any bod y of men more famed for their liberality than Masons . Look at our Charitable Institutions ; look at the large sums to which our private contributions and public subscriptions annually amount . 1 don't speak of it as a boast , but I do speak of it with , 1 hope , proper pride as the outpourings of generous hearts ; and I am sure this new lodge will not be behind in their support of our excellent Boys ' School , and Girls' School , and Aged Men and Womens' Institution ; and for this let me recommend you to form a Benevolent Fund ( if you have not thought of it already ) to

be supported by your members by a collection at each meeting , either in lodge or at the banquet , so that you may always have something in hand to assist any brother who from time to time may offer himself as a candidate for the office of Steward at the festivals of our respective Charities . And , lastly , there is Truth—one of the most important of all virtues . Our first charge is " Ye shall be good and true men to God ; true to your neigbours , without falsehood , without envy , doing as you would be done by ; true to your love , and truly do your duty in the state of life to which it has pleased

God to call you . " These , brethren , are the " Nature and Principles of Freemasonry" — most noble ! and , as the history of the Order carries you along the stream of time , practice these , and look back on the glorious monuments of Masonic industry , and take a lesson from your ancient brethren in their pious work ; emulate them , but with a higher and holier purpose , viz ., that of turning every living brother ' s heart into a temple dedicated to the worship of the G . A . O . T . U . Remember , while time crumbles all else into dust , the spiritual edifice is eternal ; and that those who bear the ennobling

banner of moralit y are the best exemplifications of Masonic truth . And now , brethren , I would close , and thank you for your attention to this brief address . May your hearts be ( figuratively ; like the soft clay ground of Zeredathah to which 1 have before alluded , and receive a firm impression ol aught that I may have said worthy to be treasured there . My heart is with you in your good work , and 1 bid you—God speed . My Masonic day has been a bright one , but 1 feel it is passed , and as each year rolls over me it becomes duller ; ard yet streaks of Masonic lights remain to gladden—bright specs like this carrying my thoughts back to the time when 1 , too , approached the science

( now nearly half-a-century ago ) , and I look back with pleasure on the rising of every new lodge . May your future career , as a bod } ' , be attended with all the happiness which has markeel my personal Masonic walk ; and when , as time goes on , others hold the sacred trust that to-day will be delivered to your lodge , may they be as good and worthy Masons as you arc , and transmit its beautiful teachings to their successors as pure as 1 am sure they will have received them from you ; and as your lodge receives Alasonic light to-day , so may you receive from above light without darkness , truth without error , life without death . May God illuminate your souls , and guide your feet into the way of peace .

Pilgrims walk on and live , that when you have departed Your names may still on earth with joy be heard ; And in the memory of the loving-hearted Be ever cherished as a household word . And yet so live , that not for earthly fame Alone , shall you life's chequered race here run , But to hear God himself , in heaven exclaim Of you , when this brief life is past , " Well done !"

1 he ceremony of consecration was then perfected . The beautiful music accompany ing the ceremony was chiefly from the pen of Bro . Gadsby , the anthem , " Behold how good and joyful , " being written by mm especially for this occasion . Bro . Wilmer Hollingworth , P . M . ° 3 > was installed as W . M ., and the following brethren were invested as officers : Bros . C . A . Murton , P . G . D ., S . W . ; Frecth Dennant , W . M . J 4 o , J . W . ; Adam , Treasurer j Abbott , Secretary ; Spratling , S . D . ; C .

L-owther Kemp , J . D . j S . W . Hooper , I . G . ; Newding , D . C . j Burton , oteward ; and Parkinson , Tyler . After Bro . Fenn had delivered the aadresses . votcs of thanks were passed to the consecrating officers , and ¦ os . * ' •l '' enn , and Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , and Robert Grey were elected honorary members of the lodge . Bro . Thomas Fenn acknowled the compliment , and Bros . Abbott , Kemp and Stradling were elected a Committee o draw up-the bye-laws . Candidates for initiation and ioinincr were afterarcis

proposed and seconded , the lodge was closed , and the brethren prowl I i ° liM £ . House Hotel by the Brighton and South Coast Railway , . i . , 1 ac j placed special saloon carriages on the train for the convenience of vid I lren- At the bridge House Hotel a splendid banquet was pro-« . „ and abol 't seventy brethren sat down . After banquet the usual toasts were proposed and honoured . of , i . , ii . e toasts of " The Queen and the Craft" was disposed of , that posiZ > " . Wales , Af . VV . G . M . " was given , and the W . M . in prog it said that when he was in Sweden some time ago he went to see

Consecration Of The Wickham Lodge, No. 1924.

some lodge rooms , which he found fitted up in a style not unknown to the brethren in this country , but in a more elaborate and realistic style than here . The brethren were very strict in their examination , and he was not allowed to pass without proving more than once that he was a member of that Order to which the Prince of Wales belonged , who was remembered in Sweden , where he was made a Mason , as a good Mason who carried with him the affection of the Craft wherever he went .

The W .-M . in proposing " The Earl of Carnarvon , the Earl of Lathom and the rest of the Grand Officers Present and Past , " confessed to the arduous duty that fell to his lot in speaking of the Grand Officers . There was really nothing new to be said of them . They were known to all Masons as having their heart and soul in Masonry and doing their best for it wherever they might be . He was sorry not to have more of them present . Some who were at the consecration had not

been able to come to the banquet . He was also sorry not to have present the two members for Greenwich , Bros . Boord and De Worms , the former being in the country and the latter in Russia . Those Grand Officers who were present had tended to increase the lustre of the ceremony . He wished the brethren to understand what the Grand Officers did for the Craft . When there were 100 , 000 paying members the brethren must wonder how

the Grand Officers could transact the business of so many men with so little friction as took place . He did not know whether it was due to the legal acumen of the Grand Registrar , the soldierly capacity of the Grand Secretary , or the diplomatic tact of Bro . Monckton ; but to whatever it was due , it was very seldom a dispute was heard of , and this did the greatest credit to the Grand Officers .

Bro . the Rev . A . W . HALL , G . C ., replied . He said there were times when duty became a pleasure and when pleasure became an honour ; and it was both a pleasure and an honour to respond to this toast . From the Prince of Wales to the humblest officer in Grand Lodge he believed that only one feeling prevailed—the good of the noble Order to which they belonged . FYom his association with them he was quite sure they met all the

difficulties of the offices that from time to lime came before them with ability and with satisfaction , because they were all well supported by the members of the Craft . The W . M . said right when he said that , while there were so many thousands who ranged under the banner of the Order over whom they had control , the Grand Officers did their duty ably and well . He felt it would have been litter that Bro . Fenn should have been called upon to respond

to the toast , as he had had so much more experience of the way in which the Grand Officers had performed their duties . When they looked at the way in which the various brethren who had been alluded to that night had performed their duties ; the way in which Bro . Mclnlyre settled the differences in Grand Lodge ; the time that Bro . Monckton gave to the business of Grand Lodge j besides the assistance given by Bro . Fenn , and the

attendance given by these and other Grand Officers at the consecration of lodges , he must conless that the Grand Officers did their duties well ; and they did so because they wished to promote the good of the Craft . The good of the Cralt meant the advancement of a science which would make us ' better men and better servants of the Great Architect of the Universe ; better neighbours , and better and worthier members of society . It was a noble thing to promote that work , and every Grand Officer desired as far as he could to do so .

The W . M . next gave " The Consecrating Officers . " A great and lasting feeling of gratitude was due to those brethren for the able way in which the Wickham Lodge had been consecrated . Had Bro . Hervey been alive it would have taken a great deal to prevent him being present that evening , as there were those present to whom Bro . Hervey was very sincerely attached , and he would have welcomed this accession to the lodges of Kugland with

delight . They all continued to feel his loss j but they must all feel that the consecration of the lodge could not possibl y have been more abl y done than it had been that evening . A remark had been made to him which went straight to his ( the W . M . ' s ) heart—it was , that the work looked as if it had been thoroughly rehearsed beforehand . This only showed the true

heartiness of every brother's feeling that was put into the work . They were all deeply indebted to Bro . Fenn , who had consecrated the lodge . They looked upon him as more immediatel y a brother with them than many other brethren , because he had been associated twenty or twenty-five years with him ( the W . M . ) , Bro . Murton , and Bro . Grey . He did not know any one who had Masonry more sincerely at heart than Bro . Fenn .

Bro . T 11 OMAS FENN , P . G . D ., replied . It had given him the very greatest pleasure to be selected to preside at the consecration of a lodge which promised so bright a future . The respectable element of which the lodge was constituted at present was a guarantee ot an excellent and permanent ' future , and he was indeed gratified to hear the W . M . say that night in lodge that they were not desirous hastil y to ir . cre . ise their numbers , but wished to

wait till those who approached it were worthy to be introduced into the lodge , and being a credit to it and the Craft in general . He was gratified also to hear that the performance of the ceremony of consecration had given the brethren satisfaction , but he believed this wasmoredue tothceloquence of Bro . the Chaplain , and to the musical intelligence of Bro . Gadsby . Still he was extremely gratified that the brethren should have thought he himself

had pcrlormed his duty satisfactoril y . Before sitting down he would propose " 1 he Health of the W . M . and Success to the Wickham Lodge . " He had known Brc . Holhngsworth for years , and he was sure the brethren had selected one to preside over them who would do credit to the lodge , whose future prosperity was assured . Bro . Hollingworth could perform his duties ably , and he also held a high position in the neighbourhood in which the lod

ge was held , and it would add to the reputation of the lodge and of the Craft that such a brother , so well known among his neighbours should take a prominent part in the constitution and management of a new lodge . The principal reason for forming the lod ge was that some of the best people in the neighbourhood insisted on joining Masonry . The knowled ge that a brother of high characlcr was at the head of the lod ge would tend to brin "

in eligible people . When he ( Bro . Fenn ) wished to join Masonry he said there was something good in it when men of such high position took part in 111 it , and he thought this would be the case with such an excellent lodge in the neighbourhood of Brockley . He repeated that he felt sure there was a very great and prosperous future in store for the lodge , and it would give him great pleasure to see it .

The W . M . replied , and said that the founding of the lodge had been a very anxious time for those engaged in it . They looked upon themselves in the light of criminals or defendants waiting for the verdict of the jury whether they had a right to be in existence as a lodge or not . Of course they had , because they had the warrant of the Grand Master , and that was not lightly granted now . It was the opinion in many quarters that there were enough lodges and enough Masons . Therefore they might suppose

“The Freemason: 1881-10-29, Page 3” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 1 Aug. 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_29101881/page/3/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
CONTENTS. Article 1
Untitled Article 1
SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER. Article 2
CONSECRATION OF THE WICKHAM LODGE, No. 1924. Article 2
CONSECRATION OF THE FITZ ROY CHAPTER, No. 569. Article 4
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS. Article 6
PRESENTATION OF THE PORTRAIT OF COMP. GLAISHER, F.R.S., TO THE BRITANNIC CHAPTER, No. 33. Article 6
MASONIC HISTORY AND HISTORIANS. Article 6
DUNEDIN NEW MASONIC HALL. Article 6
OFFICERS OF LODGES. Article 6
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET. Article 7
PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF LANCASHIRE. Article 7
Obituary. Article 7
Untitled Article 8
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 8
To Correspondents. Article 8
Untitled Article 8
Original Correspondence. Article 8
Reviews. Article 9
Masonic Notes and Queries. Article 10
THE GRAND LODGE OF QUEBEC. Article 10
DEDICATION OF A MASONIC HALL AT SHANKLIN, ISLE OF WIGHT. Article 12
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS Article 12
INSTRUCTION. Article 13
Royal Arch. Article 13
Mark Masonry. Article 14
Knights Templar. Article 14
Amusements. Article 14
Births, Marriages, and Deaths. Article 14
Masonic and General Tidings. Article 15
METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS Article 16
MASONIC MEETINGS IN WEST LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE Article 16
Untitled Ad 16
Untitled Ad 16
Untitled Ad 16
Untitled Ad 16
Untitled Ad 16
Untitled Ad 16
Untitled Ad 16
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Consecration Of The Wickham Lodge, No. 1924.

needful he could add his testimony to Bro . Murton ' s high qualifications . There were other brethren whose names were connected with this lodge whom he had great pleasure to see . They were regular attendants at the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and who would follow in the footsteps of those eminent and distinguished brethren . The ceremonies of the day then proceeded , and the Rev . Ambrose W , Hall , P . G . C ., delivered the following oration :

It is no easy matter , now that Masonic lodges are springing up so thickly around us , for the Chaplain who is called upon to address you on the " Nature and Principles of Freemasonry " so to vary his words as to gain your full attention . Time after time has it been my privilege to put forward the beautiful teachings of our noble Order on occasions like the present , and I have felt the difficulty of impressing , as 1 would wish , upon the brethren assembled to raise up another society , whose motto should be " Excelsior " in all that is good and true . The real nature of the institution of Ereemasonry is

very imperfectly understood by the outer world , and many members of the Order are apt to put ceremonies before those virtues which the ceremonies beautifully inculcate . I am to-day requested , according to ancient custom , to call your attention ( by way of what is termed an oration ) to the great and fundamental principles of the Craft ; and I ask you to bear with me a little space whilst I endeavour , according to my own light , to throw what light I can upon the teachings , responsibilities , and workings which are this day to be entrusted to your charge . Perhaps at no time is the necessity of the

objects and principles of Freemasonry being rightly understood more essential than when a new lodge is being consecrated ; and therefore , the Chaplain addresses the brethren before the ceremony is actually performed in order that they may be perfectly aware of the great responsibilities they are about to undertake ; for I may compare an unformed lodge to the clay ground in the plains of Jordon ( where Solomon had cast the vessels for the Temple ) , as yet easily capable of receiving impressions for good , and ready to take any form for honour or dishonour ; like the heart of a little child ,

dependant for its bringing up on those who have tt in charge . When I horam walked with King Solomon , and they came upon the soft , uncultivated earth in the low ground of Jordan between Succoth and Zeredathah , there , linding it suitable for the purpose , the King had cast the beautiful vessels of the Temple . And to your new lodge , now breaking into being , would 1 liken this , for you as yet ( Masonically speaking ) are as an uncultivated soil , like that between Succoth and Zeredathah ; and as there the King modelled offerings worthy of God ' s House , so do you as you ( as a lodge } bear fruit

and grow , try to become models of the virtues and teachings which should be , and I hope are , our pride as Masons . Although from the Masonic position of the founders and members of the Wickham Lodge 1 feel it unnecessary for me to enlarge upon the duties its enjoins , or its nature and pnnciples , still , at this time , it is a custom ( and a custom good and old , which I would not wish to see departed from ) to explain them to the brethren , which 1 would do as briefly as possible . The nature of Freemasonry , as you well know , is to make us better servants of the G . A . O . T . U ., better subi ' ects of our

Queen , better citizens , better neighbours , better fathers , brothers , and sons . Us principles are founded on the purest sources of piety and virtue . They embrace the noble attributes of Brotherly love , relief , and truth . Brotherly Love may be considered the whole duty to our neighbour , viz ., to love him as ourselves , and to do unto all men as we would they should do unto us . Relief or charity has ever been our distinguishing feature . It is rendering to our brother every kind office in our power that mercy may suggest—relieving his distress , soothing his affliction , and sympathising in his sorrow .

1 don t think there is any bod y of men more famed for their liberality than Masons . Look at our Charitable Institutions ; look at the large sums to which our private contributions and public subscriptions annually amount . 1 don't speak of it as a boast , but I do speak of it with , 1 hope , proper pride as the outpourings of generous hearts ; and I am sure this new lodge will not be behind in their support of our excellent Boys ' School , and Girls' School , and Aged Men and Womens' Institution ; and for this let me recommend you to form a Benevolent Fund ( if you have not thought of it already ) to

be supported by your members by a collection at each meeting , either in lodge or at the banquet , so that you may always have something in hand to assist any brother who from time to time may offer himself as a candidate for the office of Steward at the festivals of our respective Charities . And , lastly , there is Truth—one of the most important of all virtues . Our first charge is " Ye shall be good and true men to God ; true to your neigbours , without falsehood , without envy , doing as you would be done by ; true to your love , and truly do your duty in the state of life to which it has pleased

God to call you . " These , brethren , are the " Nature and Principles of Freemasonry" — most noble ! and , as the history of the Order carries you along the stream of time , practice these , and look back on the glorious monuments of Masonic industry , and take a lesson from your ancient brethren in their pious work ; emulate them , but with a higher and holier purpose , viz ., that of turning every living brother ' s heart into a temple dedicated to the worship of the G . A . O . T . U . Remember , while time crumbles all else into dust , the spiritual edifice is eternal ; and that those who bear the ennobling

banner of moralit y are the best exemplifications of Masonic truth . And now , brethren , I would close , and thank you for your attention to this brief address . May your hearts be ( figuratively ; like the soft clay ground of Zeredathah to which 1 have before alluded , and receive a firm impression ol aught that I may have said worthy to be treasured there . My heart is with you in your good work , and 1 bid you—God speed . My Masonic day has been a bright one , but 1 feel it is passed , and as each year rolls over me it becomes duller ; ard yet streaks of Masonic lights remain to gladden—bright specs like this carrying my thoughts back to the time when 1 , too , approached the science

( now nearly half-a-century ago ) , and I look back with pleasure on the rising of every new lodge . May your future career , as a bod } ' , be attended with all the happiness which has markeel my personal Masonic walk ; and when , as time goes on , others hold the sacred trust that to-day will be delivered to your lodge , may they be as good and worthy Masons as you arc , and transmit its beautiful teachings to their successors as pure as 1 am sure they will have received them from you ; and as your lodge receives Alasonic light to-day , so may you receive from above light without darkness , truth without error , life without death . May God illuminate your souls , and guide your feet into the way of peace .

Pilgrims walk on and live , that when you have departed Your names may still on earth with joy be heard ; And in the memory of the loving-hearted Be ever cherished as a household word . And yet so live , that not for earthly fame Alone , shall you life's chequered race here run , But to hear God himself , in heaven exclaim Of you , when this brief life is past , " Well done !"

1 he ceremony of consecration was then perfected . The beautiful music accompany ing the ceremony was chiefly from the pen of Bro . Gadsby , the anthem , " Behold how good and joyful , " being written by mm especially for this occasion . Bro . Wilmer Hollingworth , P . M . ° 3 > was installed as W . M ., and the following brethren were invested as officers : Bros . C . A . Murton , P . G . D ., S . W . ; Frecth Dennant , W . M . J 4 o , J . W . ; Adam , Treasurer j Abbott , Secretary ; Spratling , S . D . ; C .

L-owther Kemp , J . D . j S . W . Hooper , I . G . ; Newding , D . C . j Burton , oteward ; and Parkinson , Tyler . After Bro . Fenn had delivered the aadresses . votcs of thanks were passed to the consecrating officers , and ¦ os . * ' •l '' enn , and Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , and Robert Grey were elected honorary members of the lodge . Bro . Thomas Fenn acknowled the compliment , and Bros . Abbott , Kemp and Stradling were elected a Committee o draw up-the bye-laws . Candidates for initiation and ioinincr were afterarcis

proposed and seconded , the lodge was closed , and the brethren prowl I i ° liM £ . House Hotel by the Brighton and South Coast Railway , . i . , 1 ac j placed special saloon carriages on the train for the convenience of vid I lren- At the bridge House Hotel a splendid banquet was pro-« . „ and abol 't seventy brethren sat down . After banquet the usual toasts were proposed and honoured . of , i . , ii . e toasts of " The Queen and the Craft" was disposed of , that posiZ > " . Wales , Af . VV . G . M . " was given , and the W . M . in prog it said that when he was in Sweden some time ago he went to see

Consecration Of The Wickham Lodge, No. 1924.

some lodge rooms , which he found fitted up in a style not unknown to the brethren in this country , but in a more elaborate and realistic style than here . The brethren were very strict in their examination , and he was not allowed to pass without proving more than once that he was a member of that Order to which the Prince of Wales belonged , who was remembered in Sweden , where he was made a Mason , as a good Mason who carried with him the affection of the Craft wherever he went .

The W .-M . in proposing " The Earl of Carnarvon , the Earl of Lathom and the rest of the Grand Officers Present and Past , " confessed to the arduous duty that fell to his lot in speaking of the Grand Officers . There was really nothing new to be said of them . They were known to all Masons as having their heart and soul in Masonry and doing their best for it wherever they might be . He was sorry not to have more of them present . Some who were at the consecration had not

been able to come to the banquet . He was also sorry not to have present the two members for Greenwich , Bros . Boord and De Worms , the former being in the country and the latter in Russia . Those Grand Officers who were present had tended to increase the lustre of the ceremony . He wished the brethren to understand what the Grand Officers did for the Craft . When there were 100 , 000 paying members the brethren must wonder how

the Grand Officers could transact the business of so many men with so little friction as took place . He did not know whether it was due to the legal acumen of the Grand Registrar , the soldierly capacity of the Grand Secretary , or the diplomatic tact of Bro . Monckton ; but to whatever it was due , it was very seldom a dispute was heard of , and this did the greatest credit to the Grand Officers .

Bro . the Rev . A . W . HALL , G . C ., replied . He said there were times when duty became a pleasure and when pleasure became an honour ; and it was both a pleasure and an honour to respond to this toast . From the Prince of Wales to the humblest officer in Grand Lodge he believed that only one feeling prevailed—the good of the noble Order to which they belonged . FYom his association with them he was quite sure they met all the

difficulties of the offices that from time to lime came before them with ability and with satisfaction , because they were all well supported by the members of the Craft . The W . M . said right when he said that , while there were so many thousands who ranged under the banner of the Order over whom they had control , the Grand Officers did their duty ably and well . He felt it would have been litter that Bro . Fenn should have been called upon to respond

to the toast , as he had had so much more experience of the way in which the Grand Officers had performed their duties . When they looked at the way in which the various brethren who had been alluded to that night had performed their duties ; the way in which Bro . Mclnlyre settled the differences in Grand Lodge ; the time that Bro . Monckton gave to the business of Grand Lodge j besides the assistance given by Bro . Fenn , and the

attendance given by these and other Grand Officers at the consecration of lodges , he must conless that the Grand Officers did their duties well ; and they did so because they wished to promote the good of the Craft . The good of the Cralt meant the advancement of a science which would make us ' better men and better servants of the Great Architect of the Universe ; better neighbours , and better and worthier members of society . It was a noble thing to promote that work , and every Grand Officer desired as far as he could to do so .

The W . M . next gave " The Consecrating Officers . " A great and lasting feeling of gratitude was due to those brethren for the able way in which the Wickham Lodge had been consecrated . Had Bro . Hervey been alive it would have taken a great deal to prevent him being present that evening , as there were those present to whom Bro . Hervey was very sincerely attached , and he would have welcomed this accession to the lodges of Kugland with

delight . They all continued to feel his loss j but they must all feel that the consecration of the lodge could not possibl y have been more abl y done than it had been that evening . A remark had been made to him which went straight to his ( the W . M . ' s ) heart—it was , that the work looked as if it had been thoroughly rehearsed beforehand . This only showed the true

heartiness of every brother's feeling that was put into the work . They were all deeply indebted to Bro . Fenn , who had consecrated the lodge . They looked upon him as more immediatel y a brother with them than many other brethren , because he had been associated twenty or twenty-five years with him ( the W . M . ) , Bro . Murton , and Bro . Grey . He did not know any one who had Masonry more sincerely at heart than Bro . Fenn .

Bro . T 11 OMAS FENN , P . G . D ., replied . It had given him the very greatest pleasure to be selected to preside at the consecration of a lodge which promised so bright a future . The respectable element of which the lodge was constituted at present was a guarantee ot an excellent and permanent ' future , and he was indeed gratified to hear the W . M . say that night in lodge that they were not desirous hastil y to ir . cre . ise their numbers , but wished to

wait till those who approached it were worthy to be introduced into the lodge , and being a credit to it and the Craft in general . He was gratified also to hear that the performance of the ceremony of consecration had given the brethren satisfaction , but he believed this wasmoredue tothceloquence of Bro . the Chaplain , and to the musical intelligence of Bro . Gadsby . Still he was extremely gratified that the brethren should have thought he himself

had pcrlormed his duty satisfactoril y . Before sitting down he would propose " 1 he Health of the W . M . and Success to the Wickham Lodge . " He had known Brc . Holhngsworth for years , and he was sure the brethren had selected one to preside over them who would do credit to the lodge , whose future prosperity was assured . Bro . Hollingworth could perform his duties ably , and he also held a high position in the neighbourhood in which the lod

ge was held , and it would add to the reputation of the lodge and of the Craft that such a brother , so well known among his neighbours should take a prominent part in the constitution and management of a new lodge . The principal reason for forming the lod ge was that some of the best people in the neighbourhood insisted on joining Masonry . The knowled ge that a brother of high characlcr was at the head of the lod ge would tend to brin "

in eligible people . When he ( Bro . Fenn ) wished to join Masonry he said there was something good in it when men of such high position took part in 111 it , and he thought this would be the case with such an excellent lodge in the neighbourhood of Brockley . He repeated that he felt sure there was a very great and prosperous future in store for the lodge , and it would give him great pleasure to see it .

The W . M . replied , and said that the founding of the lodge had been a very anxious time for those engaged in it . They looked upon themselves in the light of criminals or defendants waiting for the verdict of the jury whether they had a right to be in existence as a lodge or not . Of course they had , because they had the warrant of the Grand Master , and that was not lightly granted now . It was the opinion in many quarters that there were enough lodges and enough Masons . Therefore they might suppose

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