Consecration Of The Guelph Lodge, No. 1685.

therefore , omitted his own address to the brethren at the opening of the lodge , but gave it at that period of the ceremony when the Chaplain is accustomed to deliver the oration . Having arrived at this period , Bro . Hervey said : —In the absence to-day of a Chaplain it will devolve upon me to say a few words to you , and they will be very few on the present occasion . I have

had so many lodges to consecrate lately that really it is impossible for me to find new subjects on which to address the brethren , and I find it difficult to sit down ( . in fact I have not time ) and write an oration or address for every new lodge it falls to my lot to consecrate . But I shall trouble you with a few words on this occasion , and as I said , they shall be few . It has given me pleasure recollect

to-day to attend here and consecrate this lodge . I that about nine years ago I came down here , not to this very house , but in its immediate neig hbourhood , to consecrate the Beacontree Lodge , a lodge which has maintained its reputation in a very high degree , a lodge which 1 am not ashamed to acknowledge as being one of my children . Ion that occasion , installed Bro . Barford as

, first Master , and I assure you that it has given me satisfaction to attend to-day in a house which is under his direction to consecrate another lodge , because I know that wherever Bro . Baiford is concerned everything will be done that will conduce to the respectability of Masonry , and that nothing will be forgotten which can add to the comfort of the brethren who come here . Since the time

I installed Bro . Barford I have been here again , not on one occasion only , but on many occasions , and one especially , not many months ago , in this room , when I consecrated the Constitutional Chapter , No . 55 . To-day I once more make my appearance on the old boards to consecrate tbe Guelph Lodge , which takes its name from that of the Royal family of England , which the lodge

has tbe special permission from the Prince of Wales to bear . I have upon many occasions impressed upon those I have addressed the necessity of being careful as to whom they introduce into the Craft , and I scarcely think it is necessary for me to-day again to speak upon that subject . It has been over and over again a cry not to introduce any persons except those who are well known—I do not

say casually known , but well known , to those who propose them for admission to a lodge . When you admit a man to a lodge you take him like a wife almost , " for better or for worse , " because you cannot say to him afterwards , "You are a disagreeable fellow , and we do not like you ; there ' s the door , and you had better walk off . " But you must find some tangible and legitimate reason why you

should get rid of him -, you must show , according to the Book of Constitutions , which lies now upon this pedestal , that he has done something which is contrary to the laws ol the Craft before you can reasonably and legally expel him from your ranks . A man may be , in one case , very disagreeable , and yet be a very good man in the main j but still be may not be one that you care to associate with

or that the brethren like , and therefore it is that when you are going to admit men into your ranks , you should look before you leap , and know whom you are admitting . Again , there is another subject which I have repeatedly alluded to , and that is the subject of blackballing . If you do not like a candidate that is proposed , the fairest way is to speak first to the brother who proposed him and tell him

candidly that his friend will not be agreeable to one or two who belong to the lodge , and therefore he would » ct wisely to withdraw him . But to go behind a man ' s back ( because I almost say it is going behind his back to put a black ball into a box ) simply ( and frequently it is done ) for no other reason than because one brother has not obtained office or because there is a disagreement with

the Master or the officers , or from some motive of that kind , I think it is like stabbing a man without giving him a chance of defence . Now those are two things which I would warn you against , which I hope the W . M . ( I dare say he has heard me before allude to these two subjects ) will guard against . On account of his having heard these things before , I have said very little about it now .

And now I would say a very few words to the officers of the lodge , and the manner in which they should serve the Master . It is very difficult for the W . M . to carry the work of the lo : lge properly unless he is well supported , and he ought to be well supported by the brethren in more ways than one . First , of all , they should be attentive to their duties , making themselves masters of what they

are undertaking , and being at all times in their places at the proper time , so that the machine of the lodge may move smoothly and well , and that there shall be no hitch in conducting the business which may come before the Master . 1 do not know anything more mortifying to a Master than to find himself in thechair ( and that must be especially mortifying in a young lodge , where punctuality

is more desirable because there are no Past Masters or old members to look to ) without Wardens or Deacons . A Master cannot perform all the duties of the lodge without assistance ; he cannot keep his pedestal , he cannot of course if a candidate is to be initiated—the Master cannot conduct him round the lodge and discharge those duties which devolve on a Deacon , and also those

which fall to a Warden . I trust , and I am sure , the officers of this lodge will give their best support to the Master . When I say 1 trust they will support the W . M ., as they ought to do , I mean that I trust they will make themselves masters of the duties they undertake to perform . Those duties are not at first very onerous-, but it is well for an officer to be a little zealous : it is well that he should learn

the duties of more than one office , and then he may materially assist the Master on many occassions in the performance of his duties . Brethren , I told you that I should not waste your time much to day . I hope that in the few remarks I have made you will—and I may venture to think you will—say 1 have not said too much . I do not think it is necessary to say a great deal , but I hope I have said enough , and that tbe very few irords I have used if they

Consecration Of The Guelph Lodge, No. 1685.

are' worth anything may produce their fruit : if not they will fall , as many words do from much more experienced men than myself in addressing assemblies , not quite down , but at any rate make some little impression on those to whom they are addressed . The ceremony of consecration was then completed , and Bro . Hervey installed Bro . Edwin Bare as first Worshi p-

ful Master of the Guelph Lodge , 1685 . The brethren invested with the collars and jewels of office were Bros . W . Charles Claridge , S . W . ; Ebenezer Skelt , J . W . ; Edward Brown , Treasurer ; J . B . Shackleton , Secretary ( W . H . Lee was invested with Bro . Shackleton ' s collar , Bro . Shackleton being absent in consequence of the death of his father ); J . W . Francis , S . D . ; S . N . Griffiths , J . D . ; R .

Vincent , I . G . -, TJaniel Sayer , D . C . -, and W . Steedman , Tyler . Bro . Hervey delivered the address to the W . M . ; Bro . W . T . Howe the address to the Wardens ; and Bro . Joshua Nunn , that to the brethren . On the motion of the W . M ., seconded by the S . W ., Bro . Hervey was unanimously elected an honorary member of the lodge ; and in acknowledging the compliment Bro .

Hervey said that although Saturday was the only day in which Grand Secretary and the brethren in his office got some little relaxation from their duties by leaving the office earlier than on other days , he could not find it in his heart to say no when he was asked to attend at Leytonstone to consecrate the Guelph Lodge . Having done so , and received the thanks of the brethren for wha

little he had done he had to tender his acknowledgments to the brethren for the hearty manner in which he had been received . He would just make one observation with respect to honorary members , that they could neither speak , vote , nor hold office in a lodge . Notwithstanding that , he was sure that if he came down to any of the meetings of this lodge he would be received very kindly , and although

he should not attempt to vote or speak , or put any brother out of office for his own purpose , anything he said would be accepted by the brethren with great kindness . The W . M . having proposed the names of several brethren as joining members , a vote of thanks to the Grand Officers for coming to consecrate the lodge was unanimously passed , on the motion of the S . W ., seconded by the J . W . Bro . H . G .

Buss , Assistant Grand Secretary , replied , and the S . W , having proposed , and the W . M . seconded , seven gentlemen as initiates , lodge was closed , and the brethren shortly afterwards partook of a choice banquet , which was pro . vided by Bro . Barford , the tajle being elegantly decorated with a profusion of summer flowers and fruit . Two splendid bouquets were presented to Bro . Hervey , one by Bro .

Barford and the other by a lady—a touching compliment , which he feelingly acknowledged at a later period of the evening . The speeches which followed the banquet were briefly given , and the introductory toasts having been disposed of , Bro . Joshua Nunn , in replying for the Grand Officers , after acknowledging the toast on behalf of Lord Carnarvon and Lord Skelmersdale , said that for himself

and the other Grand Officers present they felt highly gratified with the reception they had met with . At no consecration and at no banquet had they experienced such great satisfaction . The consecration had been admirably conducted ; the lodge room had been elegantly fitted ; and the beauty of the banquet table and the sumptuousness of the banquet were as unsurpassed as they were

unexpected . Going into the country the Grand Officers would hardly hope to find the banquets so perfect as they were in town , and they were not prepared to find such a display as they had witnessed at Leytonstone . From the way in which everything had been done that day tbe Grand Officers concluded that great success would attend the Guelph Lodge . Let them hope that years hence it

might be even more successful than it had been that day . They had heard some excellent names read out as proposed joining members and initiates , and where such brethren antl gentlemen were proposed there was every hope that they would be an honour not only to their lodge but to Masonry generally . Bro . Hervey proposed " The Health of the Vf . M ., and

Success to the Guelph Lodge . " In doing so he said—I have occupied a good deal of your time and attention this afternoon , and I was about to say that I hope this will be the last occasion that I Shall have the necessity of addressing you ; but I think the subject on which I am now going to speak is one which will interest you , which will tend to consolidate the

kind feelings , not only of the Guelph Lodge , but of all the brethren who are present . I have , as I said earlier in the evening , consecrated a great many lodges . 1 have been successful , more or less , in those consecrations ; but it has been a gratifying feeling to me that I have never yet consecrated a lodge which has been unsuccessful . I am quite sure that the Guelph Lodge-will not falsify my previous

experience , or the anticipations which I have formed of its future career . I must remind you that unfortunately some of us are tied by the leg this evening , but not tied by the leg in the manner in which I should like to be tied -, we ate compelled by that malicious demon the train to leave you somewhat early . I shall therefore say but few words more than I have already said . 1 think you will agree

with me that there is one toast which I , in the position that I occupy to-day , ought to propose ; and not that I ought to propose only , but propose with expressions of most confident hope for the future of the lodge . 1 am about to give you " The Health of the W . M ., and Success to the Guelph Lodge . " On the exertions of the W . M . of course m : ch of the future career of the 1 jdge must depend . That

he will exert himself to the utmost to carry out the duties of his office and ensure the success of his lodge . I have no doubt—I am sure you do not doubt it ; and I feel confident , as I told you early in the evening , that his officers will ably support him . Without that support the W . M . cannot effect the success which he hopes to be the result of his labours , and which he is entitled to . You are all bound , I may say , to assist him in securing the success of the lodge ;

Consecration Of The Guelph Lodge, No. 1685.

and if time were not so pressing , which I am reminded o ' by Bro . Nunn looking at his watch , I might again men tion those subjects which I spoke of in the lod ge with respect to the duties of the officers , and which , if borne in mind and acted upon , will materially assist the W . M during the period for which he will preside over you . B i 1 shall not detain you any further , though I did not intend to close my remarks so hastily as the train compels nie to do .

The W . M . in reply said : I am indeed most heartily obliged to our Very Worshipful Bro . Hervey , the Grand Secretary , for the kind manner in which he has pro . posed my health , and also for the very hearty manner in which he has wished this lodge every prosperity . J need scarcely repeat the very deep obligation which \ ve feel placed under to Bro . Hervey , for the kindness he has shown in coming here on the day , which perhaps of all

others , is the most inconvenient for him , because on that evening it is almost impossible to obtain the services of a Chaplain . Taking ail the duties therefore on himself entails much more labour , and this , I may say , must add to the obligation which nnder other circumstances we should owe him . While mentioning Bro . Hervey ' s name I would propose his health , and will do so without making any further remaiks , as he is anxious to save his train .

Bro . Hervey , in acknowledging the toast , " said the brethren had just drunk his health very cordiall y . He had found himself in that position very frequently , and he might frankly tell the W . M . and brethren that he should be very much pained if in any society of Freemasons with whom he might mingle he was not cordially received because that would imply some shortcomings on his part

and he should feel it very acutely . He had never arrived at that point , and he trusted he never should . He could only thank the W . M . and brethren for the way in which he had been received that evening ; and if he had done some little service to the lodge by bringing it into existance he was amply repaid by the cordiality and kindness of the brethren who were around the table . But there was

one thing which he confessed touched him not a little . He had had a bouquet presented to him by Bro . Barford , which he did feel to be an offering very kindly and very cordially given , one which had created in his mind a very sincere sentiment of gratitude , and for which he wished to tender Bro . Barford , now publicly , his very sincere and grateful thanks . But now there was a second bouquet ,

which had been sent to him by the wife of Bro . Hallows , for him ( Bro . Hervey ) to take home to his invalid sister . Now he had never had the pleasure of seeing this kind lady , Mrs . Hallows , more than once , a id then only for a few minutes , when he had the pleasure of consecrating the Beaconsfield Lodge ; but the recollection of the lady was vividly brought to his mini by the kindness which

had prompted her to send such a charming bouquet tot an invalid he had left at home . These were attentions which any one should be proud of , and they bound one still closer to Freemasonry , B'o . Hervey , who was deeply affected , then retired with the rest of the Grand Officers , amid a hearty salute . The W . M . afterwards proposed " The Health of the Visitors . "

Bro . Biancm was the first to respond . He said that as the Master of the Ley Spring Lodge , who had initiated , passed | and raised Bro . Bare , he felt very proud to see one of his own children occupy the position of Master of a lodge . It must be the height of ambition of any brother who took an interest in Masonry to arrive at the position of Master of a lodge . Bro . Bare would

probably have the same amount of work during his year of office as he ( Bro . Bianchi ) had , which was the initiation , passing , and raising 16 brethren . The Guelph Lodge would no doubt be as successful as the Ley Spring , which now number 27 or 28 members . Lodges which had a very large number of members were not always the most comfortable ; but he would challenge any lodge

in England to produce 16 members who were more fitted to be brethren than those 16 he had had the honour to initiate . In the Guelph Lodge he found that the W . M ., the J . W . ( he did not know how many more of the officers ) , the D . C , and the Treasurer , wete all initiates of the Ley Spring Lodge , and he thought this was a circumstance which he or any Master of the Ley Spring Lodge

might well be proud of . Bro . W . H . Lee , as one of the visitors , expressed the pleasure he had had in visiting the lodge , but said that that pleasure was mixed with a good deal of pain on account of the sad event which necessitated the absence of Bro . Shackelton , the Secretary , for whom he had that day acted . Bto . George E . Walters said that it had

given him unlimited pleasure to be present , as he had had the honour of proposing the W . M . as an initiate in the Ley Spring Lodge . He and the W . M . had many conversations together before the W . M . joined the Order , and many were the enquiries which Bro . Bare made of him previous to joining . No member of the Order was more qualified to be received into it than Bro . Bare : no man

possessed in a higher degree the qualifications of a Mason , lt had been a great gratification to him ( Bro . Walters ) to see the rapid strides Freemasonry had made in that district within the last few years . When he first came into it four years ago the only lodge held at that house was the Beacontree . When he went into the neig hbourhood he went to Bro . Barford and asked him if there was a lodge of instruction in the district . Bro . Barford told him no , that

they did not require one , as all the brethren down there were Past Masters . Suggesting to Bro . Barford that there mig ht be some new brethren coming down to reside there , and that it might be as well to have a lodge ot instruction , he asked Bro . Barford whether he mig ht rely on his ( Bro . Barford ' s ) co-operation if he triea to establish such a lodge . Ha said yes ; a ™ every one knew that anything in Masonry would hav Bro , Barford ' s co-opevation . The consequence was that