Consecration Of The Pen And Brush Lodge, No. 2909.

strengthen the mighty inlluence for freedom and fraternity , which by the Grace of God it is permitted to exercise in every quarter of the wide , wide world . On completion of the- consecration ceremony , Bro . W . S . Penley , P . AI . 1319 and 2771 , was installed as W . AI ., and invested his officers as follows : —Bros . W . H . Pike ,

Acting I . P . M . ; Holmes Kingston , S . W . ; Edward Salmon , J . W . ; Fred . Grundy , Treasurer ; Tom Browne , Secretary ; Rob . Sauber , S . D . ; P . N . Hasluck , J . D . ; Crandon Gill , I . G . ; Henry J . Drane , D . C . ; and E . Way Elkington , Steward .

UllO . IIOLMHS KINGSTON , S . W .

The Consecrating Officers and Bro . J . D . Langton , P . D . G . D . C ., were elected lion , members . The lodge was then closed and the brethren adjourned to a banquet . The loyal toasts were duly given and honoured . In proposing the toast of "The Grand Officers , " the

Worshipful Alaster remarked that it was hardly possible to say anything new about these worthy and distinguished Alasons , but he would express his hearty thanks to those who had assisted the Pen and Brush Lodge to obtain their warrant and had honoured them with their presence .

The Rev . H . W . Turner , P . G . C ., briefly replied . He was proud to be in a position to reply for the Grand Officers . If anything could increase the dignity of Freemasonry in every part of the world it was the services of such excellent workers as the Grand Secretary and Bro . Frank Richardson . He hoped that long after the present members of the Pen

and Brush Lodge had been called away , it might be said that the tenets of Masonry were , to use a phrase well known in connection with their W . AI ., " still running " and shedding " A Little Ray of Sunshine . " The'Worshipful Alaster then proposed the toast of "The Consecrating Officers . " The grand and impressive ceremony

they had witnessed that night could not fail to leave a lasting impression on their minds , not only from its symbolic aspect , but that such effects were obtained only by great labour and pains , and the members would endeavour to take it as their model in their work . He expressed their deep gratitude to all the

Consecrating Officers ; and to the Consecrating Alaster , Bro . Letchworth , he had pleasure in presenting , on behalf of the founders , a case containing a gold cigar case , cigarette case and match box , and with it hearty congratulations and best wishes upon his recent marriage ; they also wished to present a silver-mounted scent bottle in case for Airs . Letchworth .

Bro . Edward Letchworth , replying , said : Believe me , Worshipful Alaster and brethren , my heart is so full that I find it difficult to express what I desire to say . I thank you on behalf of the Consecrating Officers for the kind words you have uttered . It is a pleasure to us all to start into existence a lodge in whose future we have confidence , as we have in this case . Personally I thank you sincerely for the

unexpected kindness which you have shown me relative to a recent domestic event and which I keenly appreciate , and on behalf of Airs . Letchworth and myself I tender you my heartfelt thanks . Bro . John Strachan proposed the toast of " The Worshipful Alaster , " and remarked that it was his first privilege as an

lion , member . He was happy to have assisted at the consecration of a lodge where members of the pen and brush profession could congregate . Under such a Master as Bro . Penley the lodge was bound to succeed . It had occurred to him that some of the members may be brushly inclined and

some Penley inclined . He congratulated the Worshipful Alaster upon the way he had proposed the toast of the United Grand Lodge and the United Grand Secretary . Bro . Penley would be sure to draw in the lodge as he always did elsewhere . He was a member of his ( Bro . Strachan ' s ) mother

lodge , the Asaph , and he would ask them to drink long life and happiness to him . Alight he continue to amuse us outside and instruct us within the lodge . The Worshipful Alaster , replying , thanked Bro . Strachan for the terms in which he had proposed the toast , and was

delighted to find they had both been members of his mother lodge . Whatever his qualifications as a Alaster might be , he could only draw in his own way , but no one could have higher appreciation of and admiration for the tenets of Freemasonry than he had , and in looking after the welfare of the

lodge , its officers and members , he promised them his best efforts , and that they should have nothing to regret in having elected him as their first Alaster .

The toast of "The Visitors was proposed by Bro . H . J . Drane , P . AI ., D . C , who in the name of the founders extended to them a hearty welcome , and trusted they would come again to see the working of the lodge . Bros . Alostyn Piggott , P . G . S ., Bailey , Chapman and Bowater also responded .

The Worshipful Alaster proposed the toast of " The Officers . " He flattered himself that he knew the work they were capable of doing , and was confident they would rally round him . Especially he wished to thank his Senior Warden , Bro . Holmes Kingston , who had been the moving

spirit in the inception and foundation of the lodge , upon whose shoulders the principal work had fallen and to whose powers of organization it afforded him pleasure to bear tribute , for to him was clue the credit of the successful sendoff the lodge had received .

IlltO . KinVAIID SALMON , J . UV-- ( VliutuKlile Purl mil Co . )

Bro . Holmes Kingston , in response , thanked the Worshipful Alaster for his kind words , and said it was nearly two years since he first had the idea of founding the lodge ; gradually he had influenced Bro . Salmon and nine others , and when they looked round for the best man to be their first Alaster , they fixed upon and found him in Bro . Penley .