Consecration Of The Somersetshire Lodge, No. 2925.

Consecration of the Somersetshire Lodge , No . 2925 .

ON the 28 th of July this , the latest addition to the rapidly increasing roll of County Lodges in London , was consecrated at the Trocadero Restaurant in the presence of a large assemblage of brethren , many of whom had journeyed from the West of England for the express purpose of supporting their friends among the founders .

BRO . VISCOUNT DUNGARVAN , PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , WORSHIPFUL MASTER . The ceremony was impressively performed by V . W . Bro . Edward Letch worth , Grand Secretary , assisted by Bros . His

Honour Judge Philbrick , K . C ., as S . W . ; Dr . Clement Godson , P . G . D ., as J . W . ; the Rev . Canon Brownrigg , P . G . Chaplain , as Chaplain ; Frank Richardson , P . D . G . Registrar , as D . C . ; and Lieut .-Colonel G . H . N . Bridges , P . G . Sword Bearer , as I . G .

Bro . the Rev . Canon Brownrigg delivered a short but eloquent oration , in the course of which he said : " It is an acknowledged fact that the great strength of our Empire depends on many races—witness the loyal support of our ever increasing Colonies , yet every Colony , like every

English County , has its peculiarities and traditions ; it would be a misfortune if those racial distinctions and differences became narrowed or obliterated . Somersetshire men had come to the determination to preserve the traditions of the West Saxon , and of the good King Alfred , who

governed well with the aid of his people , and whose memory would ever be green and clear to the hearts of Englishmen . The founders of the lodge would strive to act up to the highest Masonic principles , thus making it worthy of the great county after which they were named . "

At the close of the ceremony of consecration , R . W . Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , Provincial Grand Master of Somerset , was installed Worshipful Master . He invested Bros . T . A . Bullock , P . G . Sword Bearer , as Acting I . P . M . ; T . Whitemore Chant , P . M ., S . W . ; Henry New-land , P . M ., J . W . ; Dr . Danford Thomas , as Treasurer ; and Bro . Trehawke Davies , Secretary .

lhe Consecrating Master and Officers were elected lion , members , for which V . W . Bro . E . Letchworth expressed their appreciation . Letters of regret at inability to attend from several brethren , including Sir Henry Irving and the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells , were read and the lodge was closed .

At the banquet which followed , after the usual loyal toasts , the Worshipful Master proposed the toast of " The Grand Officers , " coupled with the name of a veteran Mason , R . W . Bro . Colonel Daly , District Grand Master of British Guiana .

Bro . Colonel Daly , in reply , thought it hard to have come 4000 miles to reply to the toast of " The Grand Officers , " but he considered it a great honour , for which he thanked the Worshipful Master . In their distant part of the Empire they were always glad to welcome not only Grand Officers , but all Masons , and especially those from

whom they could learn , and he wished many an absent brother could have seen the work that night . Under Lord Dungarvan ' s control the Somersetshire Lodge would be sure to prosper and do honour to the Craft . In proposing the toast of " The Consecrating Officers , "

the Worshipful Master said that there was in starting a new lodge a certain amount of anxiety as to how the first meeting might go off , but the ceremony had been performed in an admirable manner by those most capable of doing it . He was sorry that Colonel Calley had not arrived to take his

part , but a soldier's duty had first call upon his time . Bro . His Honour Judge Philbrick he could claim as a Somerset man now , as he was resident at Yeovil , and they were pleased to have him there . Bro . Canon Brownrigg was well known as one ever ready to give his services . Bro . Frank

Richardson had won a reputation as a perfect ceremonialist , and the name of Bro . Colonel Bridges was one well known and respected in Somersetshire . He had kept Bro . Letchworth ' s name until the last for a particular reason . He had recently experienced the happiest event in a man ' s life , and on behalf

of the founders he asked him to accept a silver inkstand as a memento of the day ' s proceedings . The inkstand was a replica of a handsome antique .

{ l'huln Klitr l ' urh'uil Co . ) BRO . T . A . liCLI . OCK , PAST GRAND SWORD HEARER , ACTING I . P . M .