Consecration Of The Drury Lane Lodge No. 2127.

After the hymn " Hail Eternal , by whose aid was sung , The GRAND SECRETARY , addressing the brethren , said : We are met here to-day on a very important and interesting occasion , and one which I am sure that will be fully appreciated by all who have the welfare of Masonry at heart . We are assembled to carry out the mandate of the M . W . the Prince of Wales , the Gtand Master , and to form and constitute a new lodge , which will add one more to the magnificent roll of lodges

under the Grand Lodge of England—the mother Grand Lodge of the world . We have at present nearly 350 lodges in London , and it is generally considered undesirable to add to that number unless there is good reason to do so . In the present case so strong and powerful a petition was sent in that the Most Worshipful the Grand Master felt himself justified in acceding to its request . This lodge is , as I understand it , to be a Masonic p lace of union for brethren in London who are connected with or interested in literature and the drama , and it is named the Drury Lane Lodge after

our great national theatre , within the precincts of which it will in future hold its meetings . Many of the founders are not only distinguished in theatrical circles , but also in the Masonic world , and they have done very wisely in choosing as the first Worshipful Master my R . W . Bro . Lord Londesborough , who for 30 years has been a Mason , and 25 of those years has been a Past Grand Senior Warden of England ., Under the sway of Lord Londesborough I believe the Drury Lane Lodge will have a future before it of unqualified success and prosperity , and I am sure we all unite in wishing it all success .

Bro . the Rev . C . J . MARTYN , as Chaplain , subsequently delivered the following oration on the nature and principles of the

Institution—V . W . Sir and Brethren—It has always seemed to me a rather grandiloquent phrase to designate by the name of "an oration " the few remarks which a Chaplain is asked to address to his brethren on occasions like the present . Still , as such has always been the word which has been used , it is not for me to find fault with it , but rather to crave your indulgence for myself , since I fear you will find little worthy of so pretentious a name in what I am now about to say to you . But first let me congratulate you , one and all , upon the happy and auspicious occasion which has brought us together . We are

assembled here to-day to consecrate the Drury Lane Lodge , a lodge which , if I mistake not , is destined to occupy a very leading , though perhaps somewhat peculiar , position in the Craft . Its members will , in all probability , consist of those who have have more or less made their mark upon Society , and who are therefore more or less known to thousands besides their immediate brethren in Masonry . And , from the fact that they will more or less belong to the dramatic profession , we are warranted not only in hoping , but in being tolerably certain , not only that the actual ceremonies themselves will be

faultlessly and perfectly rendered , but also that there will be a vast amount of that bonhomie and brotherly kindness which is such a distinguishing characteristic of this profession , but also that of an unusual amount of wit and intellectual talent will be exhibited when , the more serious business of the lodge room being finished , they are assembled around what is sometimes termed " the festive board . " Yes ; and there is another reason for congratulation with regard to the establishment of this particular lodge , and it is this , that we may be sure that amidst all the other distinguishing

features which it will possess , that virtue " which may justly be denominated the characteristic of a true Freemason ' s heart—I mean Charity "—will not only not be neglected , but will be practised in a remarkable degree . Brethren , the kindly , open-handed Charity and liberality of members of the dramatic profession as exercised towards those of their brethren " who , from circumstances of unforeseen calamity and misfortune , have been reduced even to the lowest depths of poverty and distress , " are well known , and are widely and deservedly appreciated , and in this respect , if in no other , the connection

between the profession and Freemasonry is very real and very apparent . They have their great and noble public charitable funds and institutions for the relief of their needy and aged brethren , and so have we , and most earnestly do I trust " that from the foundations laid this evening , in the consecration and establishment of this Drury Lane Lodge , may be raised a superstructure perfect in all its , parts , and honourable to the builders , " in the fresh , or rather I should say the renewed , impetus which will be given to those glorious principles which are , after all , the crowning point of our profession as men , as

artists , as Masons , and as Christians . Very earl y in our Masonic life the question was addressed to each of us , " What is Freemasonry ! " and the answer we gave was , " A peculiar system of morality , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols . " Not a bad description surely of what the Stage may be , and is , when properly and judiciously used . "Name the three grand principles on which Freemasonry is founded" were the next words which were addressed to us , a question which elicited the noble and most true reply " Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . " Brethren , were I preaching a sermon to

you 1 should say , there you have my text ; but as 1 am treating you to an oration , I shall say there is my motto , and the subject matter on which I would gladly extend all the powers ot my eloquence and of my oratory , if I were ( as , unhappily , I am not ) an orator indeed 1 But , as it is , 1 cannot surely do better than give you in words far better than any I could use , words which are well known to many of you , and which , those who do not know them , 1 hope may learn some day , a description , not indeed a thoroughly exhaustive description , but still a very excellent one , of these three grand principles on

which Freemasonry is founded—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . First , then , "by the exercise of Brotherly Love , we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family , and the high , low , rich , and poor , as all created by the same Almighty Parent , and sent into the world for the mutual aid , support , and protection of each other . On this grand principle Freemasonry unites men of every country , sect , and opinion , and thereby cultivates a ' : rue and sincere friendship among those who otherwise might have remained perfectly estranged from one another . " Secondly , "to relieve the distressed

is a duty incumbent on every man , particularly on us as Freemasons , who ought to be linked together by an indissoluble bond of sincere affection and brotherly love . Hence to soothe the unhappy , to sympathise with their misfortunes , to compassionate their miseries , and to restore peace to their troubled and agitated minds is the first object we should have in view , and on this basis we form our connection and establish our friendship as Freemasons . " Then , thirdly , " Truth is a divine attribute , and the foundation of every Masonic virtue ; to be good men and true is the first lesson we are taught at our

initiation . On this grand principle hypocrisy and deceit should be unknown amongst us , and sincerity and plain dealing should be our distinguishing characteristic , while , both with heart and tongue , we join in promoting each other ' s welfare , and rejoice at the prosperity of the Craft . " Such , brethren , is a description of the three grand principles upon which Freemasonry is founded , and on which it is based . May they ever be found not only in our heads , but also in our hearts . If used and practised rightly they cannot but make us good Masons and good men , terms which are often declared to be synonymous . By them we can best commend to the outside world the excellence and the reality

of our Masonic profession , and by their exercise we shall secure the testimony of a good conscience , the esteem of our felloiy men , and , best of all , the approval of our God . Brethren , I thank you for the attention you have accorded to me . May success and prosperity ever attend your lodge , and " may Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , in conjunction with Temperance , Fortitude , Prudence , and Justice ever actuate your minds and subdue your passions , " and may these " three grand principles and these four cardinal virtues " ever be practised by you all , and be " transmitted through your lodge , pure and unimpaired , from generation to generation . "— ' * So mote it be ! "

The ceremony of consecration was then regularly proceeded with , and , on its completion , Bro . Lord Londesborough was installed as Master . The W . M . appointed and invested as his officers Bros . H . Neville , I . P . M . ; Augustus Harris , S . W . ; Sir John Gorst , J . W . ; A . M . Broadley , Secretary ; Sir Edmund A . Inglefield , S . D . ; Henry Pettitt , J . D . ; Chas . Warner , l . G . Bro . Fleming , Treasurer of Drury Lane Theatre , who was

unanimously elected Treasurer , was also invested . Bro . Goddard was elected and invested as Ty ler . The W . M . proposed a vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers , and moved that they be elected honorary members of the lodge . The I . P . M . seconded the motion , which was unanimously agreed to . The GRAND SECRETARY : Brethren , let me thank you on behalf of myself and those officers who assisted me for the honour you have done us ,

Consecration Of The Drury Lane Lodge No. 2127.

We have felt it to be a great honour as well as a great pleasure to be here to-day . We heartily congratulate you on the formation of this lodge , and hope it may have long and continued success . Bro . BROADLEY : Brethren , we have been favoured to-day with the

presence of the Grand Master of a Forei gn Lodge , and I think it will be esteemed a great honour to the lodge if he will allow us to elect him an honorary member . I , therefore , propose that M . W . Bro . General Laurie , Grand Master of Nova Scotia , be added to our honorary members . The S . W . seconded the motion , which was carried by acclamation .

THE GRAND MASTER OF NOVA SCOTIA- . Brethren , in acknowledging this vote I have only one regret , that a Colonial Grand Lodge should be styled a " Foreign Grand Lodge , " and I would wish that some other word could have been used which would not have implied that we are outside the pale of our common mother country . I do not know what other word could have been used , and I thank you heartil y for the hi gh honour you have done me .

The following brethren were proposed as " joining members : Bros . Lord Suffield . P . G . W ., Prov . G . M . of Norfolk ; Thomas Tew , P . G . D ., P . G . M . West Yorks ; Sir John Monckton , P . G . W ., Past Pres . Board of Gen . Pur . ; Joseph C . Parkinson , P . G . D . of England , P . P . D . G . M . Middlesex ; Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . Org . ; Major A . G . Dickson , M . P ., 1150 ; James Tynte Agg-Gardner , M . P ., 82 ; Colonel Hughes Hallett , M . P ., 2 = ^; Dr .

Morell-Mackenzie , 2 S ; Thomas Henry Bolton , M . P . , 704 ; Charles Wyndham , 36 , Edinburgh ( S . C . ); Robson Roose , M . D ., 63 , S 40 ; Col . Robert Douglas , 1615 ; ' Alfred Cooper , M . D ., P . G . Steward , 259 , P . M . 1591 ; William Howard Russell , D . C . L ., St . John and St . Paul Lodge , 349 , Malta , Bulwer Lodge , 1068 , Cairo ; Herbert Edward Story ( Herbert Campbell ) , 667 ; C . J . Phipps , F . S . A ., Architect of Drury Lane Theatre ,

P . M . 41 , Bath , P . G . Supt . of Works Somerset ; Charles Dickens , P . M . 9 6 9 ; Lord Alfred Paget , 33 ; Charles Coote , Professor of Music , 1319 ; Captain H . V . Pirie , 5 th Lancers , 111 S ; Lionel Brough , 1319 ; James Fernandez , P . M . 1319 ; Alfred Gibbons , 96 ; Thomas Clarke , Sheriff of London and Middlesex , 1827 ; and Major Hymen Josephs , 3 rd M . A . V . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the

Freemasons Tavern , and sat down to a most recherche banquet . At the conclusion of the banquet , The GRAND SECRETARY said he was going to be guilty of an act of insubordination by addressing the brethren without the permission or even the knowledge of the W . M . They were all aware that Lord Londesborough was suffering from a sad accident to his eyes , but his love for Masonrv had

brought his lordship amongst them to take his place as the first W . M . of the Drury Lane Lodge . Now , he ( Col . Shadwell H . Clerke ) knew that their W . M . ' s doctors had told him that he must not onl y abstain from smoking himself , but that he must not be present where others were smoking . He therefore asked them , as an act of traternal courtesy , to restrain from smoking while the W . M . was in the chair . ( Hear , hear . )

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in proposing the first toast , said : No men it is well known are more loyal than freemasons , and therefore no words of mine are required to induce you to drink most heartil y ' * The Queen and the Craft . "—The Queen , God bless her . ~" The WORSHIPFUL MASTER : The next toast is the health of the most popular man in England , and therefore the most popular man in the world .

I give you " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , our Grand Master . " ( Cheers . ) It was my privilege to be present at his Royal Hi ghness ' s installation at the Albert Hall , and it was a sight which no brother who was there will ever forget , and large as that assemblage was , it would have been much more numerous if the lodge had been three times as large . ( Cheers . ) Everything the Grand Master does meets with the approval of Englishmen . ( Renewed cheers . )

Bro . Sir J GORST , J . W ., said he rose by command of the W . M . to propose the next toast , which was " The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Laihom , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " Without those distinguished brethren the Prince of Wales would not be able to carry on the duties of his

high office . This young lodge had been highly honoured by the presence that day of so many Grand Officers Present and Past , and they were very grateful for their countenance and support . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . General Brownri gg , Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex . ( Cheers . )

. Bro . General BROWNRIGG said there was an old adage that " they should never halloa until they were out of the wood . " That no doubt applied oiiginally to fox hunting , and he was in the position of a fox who had been obliged to break cover . He had not expected to be called upon , for he had forgotten for the moment that for 31 years he had been a Grand

Officer . He had been rattled out of cover , and he was sure he had the sympathy of all the Grand Officers , Past and Present . It was always a pleasure to aid and support a new lodge , and such an addition as this to the roll of lodges on the register of the Grand Lodge of England must be a satisfaction to all of them . He and the other Grand Officers wished them all prosperity .

Bro . Admiral INGLEFIELD next proposed "The Sister Grand Lodgeof Nova Scotia . " As an old sailor , he could say something of General Laurie , whom he had met abroad . General Laurie stood in the same position to the Freemasons of Canada as the Prince of Wales did to English Freemasons , and he was very worthy of that post .

The GRAND MASTER of NOVA SCOTIA , in response , said the form of the toast was especially grateful to him , for the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia was a child of the Grand Lodge of England . Some two years ago he had been present at the consecration of Lodge No . 2000 , and on that occasion , as on this , he had been struck with the beautiful manner in which the ceremony had been performed by the presiding officer . As to that day ' s

ceremony , he had rarely seen it better performed , if indeed so well . It was gratifying to him to find that the English lodges were progressing so well . With regard to this lodge , perhaps few professions could contribute so much to the progress of Freemasonry as the dramatic profession . It was the duty of Freemasons to improve and enlighten others , and there was no better instructors than the dramatic profession . This fact came home to him in a peculiar manner because he had just returned from Servia , where he found

there was a national theatre subsidised by the State to teach the people the history of the past , and to put before them patriotic aspirations and desires for the future . That stage had built up a national spirit and brought into the minds and lives of the Servians much that would otherwise not have come to them . In England and elsewhere the stage put before them important lessons . On behalf of the Sister Grand Lodge he thanked them . The GRAND SECRETARY , in proposing " The Health of the W . M ., " said the lodge had great reason to be thankful for the part taken bv the noble