Consecration Of The Brooke Chapter, No. 2005.

empires crumble and vanished all along" its peaceful pathway . And why is this ? Is it not because quiet , unostentatious charity and liberal deeds have been , are , and must be characterizing its conduct ? It is extremely interesting to trace the rise and progress of both oriental and occidental Masonry ; and to realise the strength of Freemasonry in the British Isles one has only to examine the brilliant list of Grand Masters from Alfred the Great ( 872 ) to H . R . H . the Present Grand Master ( 1 S 75 ) . This includes kings , princes ,

bishops , nobles , statesmen , and artists ; and such a continuity of 1000 years cannot be shown in any other country . My privilege , however , to-day is not to go into the history of Freemasonry , much as I should like to , but rather to address you on the nature and principle of the Institution . ( 1 . ) What is Freemasonry as commonly received ? ( 2 . ) What are its principles ? ( 3 . ) Who are proper persons to be introduced into its mysteries ? Freemasonry is , as we are all well aware , a Fraternity bound by certain

secrets , governed by certain rules , and illustrated by symbols . Freemasonry differs very materially from any other secret society in the world , having far higher and nobler aims , and based on holier principles . It does not resemble those institutions well known to most of us , and of which probably many here , in common with myself , are honorary members . I allude to the Foresters , Oddfellows , & c These are provident clubs—grand institutions in themselves , splendidly managed , and most useful to the classes for which

they are intended , as I can testify from my experience as an employer of labour . Our three noble institutions are differently supported . They arise from the spontaneous Charity ofthe various members of the Craft , and are well worthy of the attention of every member of our Fraternity . There are , one regrets to know , other secret societies which also have their signs and tokens . 'I heirs is to endeavour to overthrow kingdoms , to commit outrages , and even have recourse to assassination . They do not scruple to

murder men against whom they have no personal hatred , but are persuaded into crime by the love of money , and are led by unscrupulous orators to dislike the government of the realm to which they belong and which they ought to protect . How different , how visibly different are the tenets of our Order ! Us object is not the overthrow o 5 kingdoms , hut loyalty to the throne . Its object is not destruction , but protection j not outrage , but virtue and honour ; not murder , but mercy and love . It stands pre-eminent in its

conception of all that is good , all that in noble , all that is holy . We are taught by it to lead ourselves away from that sordid and corrupt nature that humanity is subject to , and if we obey its tenets and follow its principles we shall fit ourselves so to pass through this life that we may hereafter be received in those realms above where the Great Architect of all reigns for ever and ever . What are the principles we have to follow . They consist , as we are told , in our liturgy of three grand principles and four cardinal virtues . The

former are—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . The latter—Temperance , Fortitude , Prudence , and Justice . It is needless for me to enter into each one among companions who are so well aware of their importance . Suffice it for me to say that each individual one is a grand trait in any companion ' s character , and taken collectively they form such a true character as we are enjoined to exhibit , and may they ever actuate our minds and guard our passions . Companions , I now come to the important question—Who are

proper persons to be introduced to our Institution . I am sadly afraid that sometimes there is not sufficient care taken with regard to this very important question . Lodges and chapters , especially in the provinces , are apt to think more of numbers than of the real character of those introduced , but from the names of those who are the founders of this Chapter , Arch Masonry need have no fear as to its future career . What should be the character of the candidate ? For this I will refer you to the lofty qualifications , probably

not before known to you , stated by one Adam Weishaupt . They are as follows : — "Whoever does not close his ear to the lamentation of the miserable nor his heart to gentle pity , whoever has a heart capable of love and friendship , whoever is steadfast in adversity , unwearied in carrying out whatever he is engaged in , undaunted in overcoming difficulties , whoever does not mock and despise the weak , whoever has a soul susceptible of conceiving great designs , desirous of rising superior to base , motives

and of distinguishing himself by deeds of benevolence , whoever shuns idleness , whoever , when truth and virtue are in question , despising the approbation of the multitude , is sufficiently courageous to follow the dictates of his own heart . Such a one is a proper candidate . " Finally , Freemasonry bases itself on three great principles which have been handed down from time immemorial—Fear God , Love the Brotherhood , Honour the King . With these it has breasted the storms of the past , with

these it must fight the dangers to come . It appeals not to prejudice and passion , nor to class enmity , but to love of honour , love of country , and to its principles and tenets . So long as it trusts to these , it cannot fail . I have only now to express a sincere hope , shared doubtless by all present , that this chapter , now about to be consecrated , may prove worthy of the name it bears , a source of thankfulness to its founders , and honour to our province , and a glory to Arch Masonry . „

Drummond's History Of Portland Lodge, No. 1.

DRUMMOND'S HISTORY OF PORTLAND LODGE , No . 1 .

Past Grand Master Drummond , of Maine , has written several Lodge Histories , and never fails to discover some interesting facts to preserve for the curious , and plenty of information for the Student . His History of No . 1 , Portland , Maine ( U . S . A . ) , is exactly what a Lodge History should be .

Mainly of value to the members , yet so full of important details respecting the origin and career of the lodge as to prove pleasant reading for the Craft generally . The Grand Lodge of Maine has been fortunate in its Historians , and as a consequence , most of its records of lodges , with aught that deserves preservation and publicity have been written of late years ,

and become a distinguishing characteristic Masonically of that State . Indeed , it is questionable , if any other Grand Lodge has , proportionately , done so much towards the publication of Lodge Histories as Maine , under the able and well directed researches and labours of Bros . J . H . Drummond , Stephen Berry , and other zealous Craftsmen .

The large volume devoted to the history of the senior lodge of Maine runs to considerably over 300 pages , and is literally '' crammed full " of information . The author begins by regretting that the history was not written during the lives of its founders or early members , especially as there is now so little material respecting the origin and career of the lodge

during the first few years of its existence . There is , however , " a record book from the organisation " preserved , but unfortunately even this is found to be a compilation of a later period , or rather , the original minutes were probably written on loose slips of paper and afterwards copied into this book , which evidently , even then is not complete , some particulars being missing . Another misfortune is that the minutes of the Masters' Lodge has not been preserved , the records of that degree being kept separate in early

Drummond's History Of Portland Lodge, No. 1.

days , quite distinct from those of the early lodge , though working under the same warrant . -However , whatever the drawbacks , there is no lack of reading—good reading , in fact—and the result is a history that may well be accepted as a model of its kind . The premier warrant for a lodge in Portland ( Falmouth )* was granted by

Jeremiah Gridley ( of Boston ) , Grand Master of North America , was dated 20 th March , 1762 , but it was never used , the W . M ., Bro . Ross , having been afflicted with a cancer and died in 1768 . In the latter year a petition was presented to Bro . Gridley ' s successor ( John Rowe ) , signed by nine brethren , the result being a charter for a lodge at Falmouth , dated 30 th

March , 1769 , the opening ceremony taking place on Sth May , following . The by-laws then agreed to are given by Bro . Drummond , and are excellent rules for the period . Originally there was but one ballot for the two Degrees , but in 1785 the vote was taken for each Degree . Candidates for the Third Degree were elected in the general lodge , as was customary then .

Sermons and Dances appear to have been an annual provision , but which was the better attended is not in evidence . The members acted wisely with respect to the difficulties in the " working , " for , though of " Modern " constitution , they determined to be fully informed with respect to the differences in the ceremonies peculiar to the " Ancient , " and so as to provide for such ,

they agreed in 1772 that " the lodge be opened one evening in the Modern form , and the next evening in the Ancient form . '' " Bro . Drummond remarks that the two sections " recognised each other as Masons and met in the same lodge . " Not so , however , in other provinces , for the rivals were not content without separate organisations and would not fraternise .

It would seem to have been the custom for the Wardens to be Mastet

Masons , as in 1785 Bro . Thomas Oxnard ( son of the G . M . of Massachusetts 1743-54 ) resigned the office of S . W . because he had not been " raised . " There were for years the "Fellow-Crafts' Lodge" and the "Masters ' Lodge , " as with many other lodges in America , as also in England . Ministers in those days were well treated by the lodge , and evidently

their services were gratefully acknowledged . " Parson Smith ' on St , John ' s Day , 1775 , was voted the sum of thirty-six shillings for his " entertaining , elegant , and pertinent , discourse . " The clergyman , accordingly

in his diary duly entered the following note ; "I prayed with the Freemasons ; had uncommon assistance , thank God . " The sum of 30 s . was also' voted to the preacher on St . John ' s Day for the future , and 6 s . to the sexton " for ringing the bells . "

In 1775 came the struggle with England , the membersof the lodge being divided in their allegiance . Portland was bombarded , and many of the brethren suffered exceedingly , yet when the war was over no animosity , Masonically , prevented the members being received as before , whatever may have been their predilections during the contest .

The lodge was reorganised in 1795 . with Edward Oxnard as VV . M . ( another son of Grand Master Oxnard aforesaid ) , the missing warrant having been recovered , and from this period may be said to date tne name of the Lodge " Portland , No . 1 , of Portland , Maine . '" New by-laws were adopted on April 12 th , I 7 Q 7 , the XVIII Clauses being given in the volume .

Difficulties fell to the lot of the members later on , especially in relation to the formation of a new lodge , about which the old lodge was absurdly sensitive , and a collapse was imminent . Happily , better councils prevailed , and in 1811 Lodge No . I was again active . To 1826 all went well , bui then that terrible nuisance and trial arose , which is known as the '' Morgan Excitement . "

The power of the anti-Masonic Party was undoubtedly used for Political purposes , and possibly that was the real motive for getting up the excitement and persecution . As " time rolled on , " the hollowness of the charges brought against the Masonic Body became apparent , and ultimately the conspiracy against the Freemasons ignominously collapsed . Meanwhile

however most lodges suffered , many were broken up , and all had reason to remember the unreasonable opposition to which the brethren were subjected . The lodge to which the Portland , No . 1 ., objected , when its formation was suggested , became a good friend to the latter during the ordeal , and its

members often made up the necessary quorum for meetings to be held by its old opponent ; co-operation became the rule , and ultimately the two lodges , by the well directed efforts of the proxies , secured the removal of their Grand Lodge to Portland , and also held joint meetings on St . John ' s Days .

The revival may be considered to date from 1846 , and from that period the extraordinary growth of the lodge , of the Grand Lodge , and of the Amercian Cratt , is a matter of history . The Centennial Celebration of the " Introduction of Masonry into Maine , " took place 24 th June , 1862 , the Hon . j . H . Drummond ( historian

of the lodge ) being then the M . W . Grand Master of Maine , and welcomed the numerous guests . Five hundred Knights Templars took part , and so great was the attendance of brethren irom all parts that the procession " took nearly an hour to march into ihe hall and be seated . " The Orator on the occasion was the Master of the Lodge No . 1 ., VV . Bro .

Moses Dodge . In 1866 , their Hall was burnt , furniture and property of every description , saving nothing but the Charters ot the several Bodies , and the Jewels and most of the Records of their Lodges . " At the last meeting held in that Hall , a sum of money was voted to aid the members of South Carolina , in refitting their Hall , to replace the one burned when their city was destroyed during the war . " !

The members did not lose heart however , and with much indomitable courage and perseverance soon set to work to repair the heavy loss . A list of members is appended , numbered I to 1207 , running really from 1768 to 1881 , particulars being given of each brother in a chronological order

I hen tollows an Alphabetical Roll ot Members , with the number to eacn in the foregoing Register , the preparation ot the able Secretary 01 tne lodge , Bro . C . O . Leach . We congratulate Bro , Drummond on this most meritorious publication .