Consecration Of The Mizpah Lodge, No. 1671.

Benevolence for the last year , 187 ( 1 , were £ 7804 , and of General Purposes £ 12 , 474 . So much , brethren , for the increase in the lodges and the increase in the Craft ; and I do most sincerely trust that thc increase in thc respectability of thc Craft is in a like ratio with thc increase in Ihe number of lodges . I do not think we have any cause of comp laint on that head . I think we go on increasing ,

and certainly , looking back to the records of Grand Lodge 1 do not think we have as much bickering or as much difficulty of keeping together now , at any rate , than wc had in former times when the numbers were far scantier That there is a good deal , and a great deal more dissension in the Craft than there ought to be , I am afraid my good friend , the brother who is now occupying the

S . W . chair , would say was the fact , occupying as he does the very onerous position of President of the Board of General Purposes , before whom come a great many of the difficulties of the Craft ; but if brethren would do their utmost in their own lodges to try and smooth difficulties down , to endeavour , when an opportunity occurs , not of fanning the flame , but of allaying any little

excited feeling which may present itself , I think those difficulties would still further decrease than they do now . Brethren , I told you I would not delay you many minutes to-day , and I think I have kept my word . Probably the little detail which I have given you may not be uninteresting to you ( hear , hear ) ; but be it as it may , I think you will listen with far more gratification to my reverend

friend on my left , who will presently address you , than you would to the weak and feeble words which I can put together . I will now ask the brethren to stand to order while the Grand Chaplain gives the opening prayer . The ceremony was then proceeded with , and thc Rev . R . J . Simpson delivered the following address : — Worshipful Master , Wardens , and brethren , —It was my

privilege on a late occasion , tn connection with our highly esteemed brother in the chair , to assist in consecrating the Skelmersdale Lodge , and on that occasion I took the opportunity of sayinj- * a few words upon a subject which is , and must be , of interest to all Masons—I mean thc subject of Masonic unselfishness , both in the lodge and out of it . I propose on the present occasion to say a few

words upon a branch of that subject , which , I think , may he highly desirable , especially at a time when , as' our Master has told us in the very interesting resume' he has given us , Masonry has become so largely increased in numbers , and with those numbers there has come so large an amount of discussion . I propose to say a few words upon the subject of moral courage . There are two

lights by which wc , as men and Masons , are guided ; one is the light of conscience , lhat inner light which burns within the breast of every Mason who is an educated and a civilised being ; the other is the light of the Holy Law of the Gieat Architect of the Universe , revealed to men in his mercy and goodness . Now , in the latter we find no insignificant opportunities of remarking upon the practice of

that virtue of which I have spoken . In the very earliest time we find the great preacher of righteousness standing forth amidst his fellows , and standing forth as the witness of God's most Holy Law , as delivered to mankind at that early period of our history . And he was honoured by becoming the builder , by the Divine inspiration of that by which the fragments of tbe

human race were preserved and a new generation was left to thc world . We find Moses , thc great lawgiver , in like manner standing amidst his fellows as a witness for tlie truth . We find him followed by Joshua , the great general of the Lord , who carried out his duties in such a manner , that he was made on his death to say , " As for me and my house , whatever others do , we will serve the

Lord . " Job , 111 his generation , though tempted to " curse God and die , " was likewise , though solicited in many ways to forget the Great Architect of his fortunes , as well as of his life , still manfully persevering in the course of duty . King Josiah came to the throne , young , it is true , hut noble-minded , pure-hearted , and determined , amidst " a wicked and adulterous generation , " to do his duty and

to bring Israel in the right path . We find a little later on one of the greatest prophets standing on Mount Carmel , and , surrounded by a host of idolatrous priests , standing up as the single witness of Jehovah , a sight on which the angel hosts must have looked down with admiration to see a child of Adam doing so for Jehovah . And we may remember the three common men , neither prophets ,

Wngs , nor lawgivers , but three ordinary men like ourselves , declining to bow down to the golden image upon the plains of Dura , and willing to sacrifice life itself rather than act contrary to their conscience . This noble roll of worthies which ive have handed down to us in that Holy Volume , which is given for instruction and for example , point out to us clearly , I think , our duty

and our privilege as men to exercise that conscience with which God has endowed us for his high glory and the benefit of our fellow men . It is impossible that we can i gnore the fact that that which essentially separates us from all the other creatures of God Is this , that He gives us the power of choice . We have a will even under God ' s will ; and if we had not the power of choice and

will we must sink into mere machines . If we have that power of choice and will , what is the next clear duty of every man of independent and of noble and religious princi ple ? It is to express it . No man has a right to teke the light with which God has blessed him and put ! t " under a bushel . " He is bound to place it on a candlestick , that he and others mav sec ; not that he

rnay use it for his own boastful purposes , but that he may ! ' glorif y his Father in Heaven . " If that be the case , how 'ncumbent it is upon us as men and Masons , that we should observe this rule in our dealings not only with our brethren but with the outer world ; and I venture ' ° say , sir , though it may appear a paradox , that it » the want of this honesty and independence of character and opinion that too often creates that

Consecration Of The Mizpah Lodge, No. 1671.

strong discussion and those bickerings which we all of us in common deplore . If men would speak out , not unkindly , not uncharitably , not dictatorially , but honestly , bravely , as Englishmen and Masons , and as if acting under a higher power , what they think , whether it be right or wrong , 1 believe that we should have much fewer discussions , bickerings , and misunderstandings than we

have at present . Now , in public matters , outside of Masonry , I need not say that this is highly valued , and that , whether in one department of society or in another , the man who openly , frankly , and conscientiously states his opinion may possibly at the time meet with unpleasantness , but eventually must claim respect , nay even from those who may differ from him . And coming to Masonry

itself , it is very clear , sir , that in a society which counts so many members , and , therefore , so many minds , minds constituted differently , men of temperaments very varied , which must be , when men act upon conscience , considerable difference of opinion must prevail , not in our principles , but in the application of our principles , for it is , after all in the application of principles to the acts of common

life that we really find a great difficulty . Now there arc many subjects in Masonry , aye , even at this moment , which demand very great consideration , and there are some which probably will come up causing considerable discussion . But I venture to think that if we wish to find a solution of those difficult problems , for some of them will be difficult , whether

they be problems m connection with the subject to which allusion has been made on a recent occasion by our most respected , and I will almost say our beloved Grand Secretary , which has been taken up and made almost a world-wide question—whether that great question , or whether the smaller questions which agitate the Craft , come up , let us frankly , and clearly , and honestly state our

opinions , and have the moral courage not to follow any man or any ret of men , but simply and honestly to speak , and do , and think as we feel . This will avoid an immense amount of misunderstanding ; for I very often find it to be the case that men utter one opinion when they are talking to their fellows in private , and when they come into public their opinions seem to have altered in a remarkable

manner . I think , therefore , that consistent moral courage to speak , whether in the presence of opponents or of friends , will save an immense amount of heart-burning and of trouble . Now , I think there is a still more important field , upon which we may show our moral courage —I mean our moral conduct and example as men . There are , I believe , in the heart of every man those

principles of right conduct in the work of life , especially in regard to moral truth , which would often find their way to the surface were it not for the want of moral courage . A man fears , perhaps , " the finger of scorn" more than he would fear "the cannon ' s mouth . " But why should he ? Why should not every man among us , when we feel that that

which is right is what we feel ami wish to do , never fear to express before our fellows that which we believe in our hearts to be the right ? " Be just , and fear not , " says one old poet , and I am sure that the man who follows out those principles of purity , and temperance , and truthfulness , and honesty in our dealings with men and among our brother Masons , the more we shall attract their

respect at any rate , and the more we shall bring upon us Ihe smile of God . But , "bowing down to the golden image , " or to mere rank , has been been well portrayed by that same old poet in a remarkable passage , well known to us all , where the favourite of the king says , as a reflection at the end of life , " Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal

I serv'd my King , he would not in mine age Have left mc naked to mine enemies . " But , brethren , be assured that whether it be the Mizpah Lodge or any other lodge , we shall best carry out the design in our own creation , as we'l as the creation of that af ? gregate body to which we belong , by displaying the moral courage which is the immediate offspring of our

good conscience , and which , I am quite sure , will lead to the happiest results . I trust that in this lodge , begun under such happy auspices , that as well as every other Masonic virtue may not only be planted but flourish , and that we may , carrying out the good example set by noble Masons who now adorn the Craft , whether in high or subordinate positions , not only look to them , but to

those who have gone before , and , in the words of old Longfellow , they may feel those words , which I believe are peculiarly Masonic : " Lives of great men all remind us We may make our lives sublime , And , departing , leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time .

Footprints that , perhaps , another , Travelling in life's troubled plain , Seme forlorn and shipwrecked brother , Seeing , may take heart again . Let us then be up and doing ,

With a heart for any fate , Still achieving , still pursuing , Learn to labour and to wait . " The reverend brother resumed his seat amidst loud cheers , and the ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with and concluded .

After the consecration of the lodge , Bro . Hervey installed Bro . Nelson Reed as W . M ., and the following brethren were invested as his officers : —Bros . David R . Still , S . W . ; Walter W . Medcalf , J . W . ; James Jackson Avery , Treas . ; H . G . Buss , Sec . ; W . Vilven , S . D . ; J . Bergmann , T . D . ;

Schmidt , I . G . ; and Henry Shaw , Tyler . The addresses were delivered by Bro . C . A . Murton , James Terry , and Montagu Scott . Votes of thanks were passed to the consecrating brethren , and the honorary membership of the lodge was conferred on them . Bro . Murton acknowledged the compliment on behalf of himself and Bros . Htivey ,

Consecration Of The Mizpah Lodge, No. 1671.

Simpson , Terry , and Monckton . Ten guineas was voted to the list of the W . M ., as Steward for the next festival of the Girls' School . The lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to banquet . The ceremonies of consecration and installation were musically accompanied by Bro . G . C . Searle , Org . 1572 , who in the course of the proceedings played Bro . Seymour Smith ' s " Installation March . "

After the banquet thc usual toasts were honoured . Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson responded for "The Grand Officers . " Bro . Monckton , in proposing "The Health of the W . M ., " said that all the brethren would , from what they had seen of the W . M . 's working that day , agree with him in the line he quoted from Shakespeare , — " The Master ,

he is a good one , and his workmen doth challenge much respect . " If one of the brethren differed from it , let him stand in his place and say so . They knew that they had met on an exceedingly interesting occasion ; they knew beforehand that they would see the work well done in the youngest lodge under the British Constitution . and they were entitled to expect perfection on the part of ; the consecrating officer because he knew his work by heart . But they were not

altogether entitled to expect such working as they had from the Master , because there was that work which a new Master need not do unless he pleased . But the W . M . had done it , and whenever he ( Bro . Monckton ) sat in the lodge it was remarked that the new Master was up to his work . He would be painting the lily if he said more , and he should simply ask them to agree with the great man Wm . Shakespeare , in the line he had quoted from him .

The W . M . replied , and in the course of a very brief speech said he was glad to see at the table the brethren who proposed and seconded his introduction into Freemasonry . He added that it was only two years that evening that he was raised to the degree of a M . M .

Bro . Hervey replied to the toast of " The Consecrating Officer . " Bro . Filer for " The Visitors , " and Bro . Terry for "The Charities . " Bro . Buss responded for "The Secretary , " and Bro . Still for " The Officers ; " and Bro . Shaw having given the Tyler's toast , the brethren separated . r

Under thc direction of Bro . Searle , Bros . Willcocks , Brown , Whitaker , Bergmann , Clarricoats , Pearce , and Stevens sang some excellent songs , and Bro . Montagu Scott gave a recitation .

Masonic And Generral Tidings.

Masonic and Generral Tidings .

The Bayard Lodge ( No . 1615 ) , has within twelve months of its consecration become a Vice President of the three Masonic Charities . We are also informed that its first W . M ., * Bro . Lieut-Col . Somerville-Burney , will have had the gratification of initiating no less than

30 candidates , at the six meetings which have been held under his able Mastership during the year , a striking proof of the estimation in which the "W . M . is held by the members of this distinguished lodge , and is an example worthy of emulation by both old and new lodges .

Bro . H . Gabb , the chairman of the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum for the year 1876 , was on Tuesday entertained at a banquet at St James ' s Hall , given him by his late colleagues on the Board of Management and a number of past officers and other friends of the institution , and presented by them with a silver epergne , in recognition of his eminent services during his year of office .

City Press . Bro . H . R H . Prince Leopold , R . W . P . G . M . Oxford , has been elected E . P . for the ensuing year of the Cceur dc Lion Encampment of Knights Templar , Oxford . Bro . the Rt . Hon . the Lord Mayor will lay the foundation stone of the National PennyjBank , which is to be erected in Shoreditch some time in May .

STATUR or LORD CANNING . —On Saturday afternoon , at the Manor Ironworks , Chelsea , the casting of a large equestrian statue of Lord Canning took place . The original model was designed by the late Mr . Foley , R . A . When completed the statue will be shipped to Calcutta , where it is to be erected . The funeral of Admiral Sir Edwd . Belcher

K . C . B ., took place on the 23 rd inst ., at Brompton Cemetery . Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught was entertained at dinner by the members of the Dublin Lodge , No . 12 ( I . C ) , on Thursday , the 15 th inst . The 139 th anniversary festival of the Royal Society of Musicians will take place at Freemasons' Tavern , on April 18 . Bro . the Right Hon . Lord ( Skelmersdale

R . W . Deputy Grand Master , will be the president of the day . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire will be holden April eth , at Bradford , in the New Masonic Hall , Darly-street . Huddersfield , which was always in Lord Ripon ' s time , the place of annual meeting , gave way last year to

Wakefield , and this year gave way to Bradford . We are requested to inform our readers that the meetings of the Earl of Carnarvon Lodge of Instruction , No . 1642 , are held every Friday evening at half-past seven o'clock , at the Mitre Hotel ( private entrance ) , Goulbourn-road , North Kensington . Bro . W . F . Savage , P . M . 1425 , & c , is the preceptor .

Willesden Junction , where not even a penny bun has hitherto been permitted to be sold to semi-famished railway travellers , is at last to be furnished with the convenience of a railway buffet . —Mayfair . •The fifteenth annual sailing barge match will be sailed over the usual course , from Erith to the Nore Light and back , on June the jth . Bro . J . A . Farnfield is hon . sec . to thc committee .