Dedication Of A New Masonic Hall At Oswestry.

Dedication of a New Masonic Hall at Oswestry .

AN interesting feature at the annual communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Shropshire , held recently at Oswestry , was the dedication of a new Masonic Hall for the use of the brethren of the two prosperous lodges meeting in that town . The building

consists of a hall ( 33 feet by 22 feet ) and a dining room ( 23 feet by 18 feet ) , so arranged as to be capable of being thrown into one large room , with retiring rooms and other conveniences . Viewed from the exterior , the hall presents an imposing appearance , the frontage being in the

Renaissance style and faced with red brick and buff terracotta dressings . The building is from the designs of 'the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . W . H . Spaull , F . R . I . B . A . After the usual preliminary business of Provincial Grand Lodge had been transacted , the dedication was proceeded

with . The ceremony began with prayer by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . Reginald W . Williams . The RAV . Provincial Grand Master of North Wales , Bro . Lord Harlech , as Chairman of the Board of Directors , was to have given an explanation of the commencement , progress ,

THE NEW MASONIC HALL .

and completion of the building ; but , still suffering from his recent accident , his lordship was unable to be present , and the explanation , in his absence , was given by Dr . O'Conor . The Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . T . Redfern , then delivered an oration . The consummation of their hopes that clay , in the building and dedication of that

lodge-room to the purposes of Freemasony , and of Freemasonry only , he said , was a matter of the greatest satisfaction to them , and , they believed , would redound materially to the advancement of the Craft in their town and neighbourhood . The appearance of a new house

amongst them naturally led the beholder to speculate upon the character and condition of the owner , and the solemn dedication of a new lodge-room seemed equally to call for remarks upon the time-honoured institution which was thenceforward to have its home there . The rev . brother

then entered on an able and exhaustive history of the origin and aims of Freemasonry . Originally , no doubt , a guild of artificers , to whom the world was indebted for its great buildings of the middle ages , it was good Masons in the future . Masonry , he said , was a not to be wondered at that such a powerful

organisation , with its ever accumulating stores of knowledge , should attract to itself men of other trades and professions , even kings and princes eagerly seeking admission into an Order of so high a renown for the sake of companionship with the illustrious masters of art and science who enobled

it , and whose splendid labours did so much for the national pride and glory . By degrees , however , these " Speculative " Masons , who at first by special favour only were accepted to the freedom of the Craft , so far outnumbered their " Operative " brethrenthat- —as it had been put—cuckoo-like , they ousted

, the original owners from the Masonic nest and stayed in it themselves , retaining the outward shape and form of the Masonic guild , with its working tools and badges , its stringent vows , secrecy , fidelity , and obedience , its elaborate and impressive ritual , turning it all into parable and metaphor ,

so that as they had it now it was simply a beautiful system of morality , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols . Such , said our brother , was Masonry in the past , and in eloquent terms he went on to describe what should be the aims of all precious jewel , which demanded a goodly setting , and they

could confidently invite their brethren to rejoice with them upon the completion of that admirable hall which was now to be consecrated to its use . Our reverend brother strongly urged on the brethren the importance of providing such buildings as they were then assembled in , in preference to meeting at hotels and other places of public resort .

The more lodges—even at some material sacrifice to their members—meet in their own independent lodge rooms , away and entirely apart from everything and everybody unconnected with Masonry , the more would the Craft win upon the esteem of the outside world

, and the more would it deepen its hold on the admiration of its own members . In concluding , the Provincial Grand Chaplain said they all hoped that the lodges which henceforward would meet in that home , dedicated that day , would do their utmost to realise the high ideals of

their Order , and to hand on unimpared to those who succeeded them as Freemasons in Oswestry the glorious heritage which had hitherto been entrusted to their keeping in that town and district . The ordinary business of Provincial Grand Lodge was then resumed and concluded .