Consecration Of The University Of Edinburgh Lodge, No. 2974.

Consecration of the University of Edinburgh Lodge , No . 2974 .

THE consecration of the above lodge , founded among past Graduates of the University of Edinburgh resident in London , took place at the Hotel Cecil on Monday , October 26 th , and proved a most interesting function . The ceremony Avas admirably performed by Bro . Sir Edward LetcliAVorth Grand Secretaryassisted bBrosVice

, F . S . A ., , y . - Admiral W . H . C . St . Clair , P . G . D ., as S . W . " ; P . Colville Smith , M . A ., P . G . D ., as J . W . ; Sir Borradaile Savory , Bart ., P . G . Chaplain , as Chaplain ; Frank Richardson , P . Dep . G . Registrar , as D . C . ; and J . Percy Fitzgerald , P . G . Std . Br ., as I . G . ; in the course of Avhich an interesting oration , Avhich

commended itself forcibly to all present , Avas delivered by Bro . Sir Borradaile Savory , Bart . At the conclusion of the consecrating ceremony the Grand Secretary installed Bro . S . H . T . Armitage , M . D ., as Worshipful Master , Avho inyested bis officers as folloAVs : —

Bro . Dundas Grant , M . A ., M . D ., S . W . ; G . C . Cathcart , M . A ., M . B ., J . W . ; R . Cathcart Bruce , M . D ., Treasurer ; Fredk . J . McCann , M . D ., Secretary ; Benjafield , M . B ., CM ., S . D . ; Porter , M . D ., J . D ; Peart-Thomas ^ M . D ., I . G . ; E . H . Ezard , M . D ., D . Sc , D . C . ; W . W ilson , M . B ., and A . W . George , M . D .. SteAvards .

BliO . I ) H . S . It . T . ARM'TAUE . A hearty vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers Avas passed , and they Avere unanimously elected lion , members and presented with a replica of the founder ' s jeAvel as a souvenir of the event . The Worshipful Masters of the

University of London Lodge , the Apollo Lodge , Oxford , and the Isaac Newton Lodge , Cambridge ( the three University Lodges ) , Avere also elected lion , members . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were dul y honoured . The toast of " The Grand Officers " Avas responded to by

Bro . the Rev . Sir Borradaile Savory , Bart ., Avho expressed the pleasure the Grand Officers had had at being present , more particularly speaking for himself , he being a link betAveen the English and Scotch Constitutions , having held the office of Grand Chaplain in England and Grand Chaplain in Scotland ;

further , during his four years in Edinburgh he had many embryo doctors of the University among his congregation . He therefore felt it fitting that he should reply to the toast in a lodge formed out of that University . Speaking both as a Past Grand Officer of England and a Past Grand Officer of Scotland , he wished this UCAV lodge of Scotchmen every success .

The Worshipful Master next proposed the toast of " I he-Consecrating Officers , " and desired to express the deep debt of gratitude they all felt towards Bro . Sir Edward Letch-Avorth for the admirable Avay he had rendered the ceremony and for his many kindnesses to them when founding the lodge . Although he had made many demands upon his time ,

he had always been received with urbanity and geniality , Avorthy of the excellent Freemason he Avas . The ceremonial had been performed Avith that dignity Avhich their liturgy solent itself to . They had also been deeply impressed with the magnificent oration of their Rev . Brother , which Avas worthy

of his high reputation . Bro . Frank Richardson he considered absolutely perfect and unapproachable as a Director of Ceremonies . The Grand Secretary , replying , wished , as representing those associated in consecrating the lodge , to tender their

warmest thanks for the kindAvords of their Worshipful Master . A lodge connected with such a university could not fail to be an advantage to Freemasonry in London . They all wished it that success Avhich it deserved to achieve . The Grand Secretary then proceeded to the toast of " The Worshipful Master , " whom , he said , it had been a A'ery great pleasure for him to install that evening . The founders could not have selected a better Master than

Bro . Dr . S . H . 1 . Armitage with his forty years experience of Masonry . It was just that time ago when he was initiated in the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge , No . 2 , in Edinburgh . He had joined several lodges in the north of England , and had receiA * ed from the hands of the late Earl of Zetland , the Provincial Grand Master of North and East Yorkshire , the

high position of Senior Grand Warden of the Province . He Avas also attached to the Province of Hertfordshire , in one of whose lodges he was Worshipful Master , and he held the post of Deacon in the Drury Lane Lodge ; so the lodge could congratulate itself upon the Masonic activity of their first Master , and under his rule he felt certain the lodge

Avould enjoy great prosperity . The Worshipful Master , in replying , said he was deeply imbued Avith the beauties and ritual of Freemasonry , and after an interval of Masonic inactivity for twenty years , he had returned to it with the enthusiasm of youth , although he

had given hostages to the future in the person of seven sons , three of whom had lost their lives in the service of their country , and he was now in the sere and yelloAV leaf . It Avas a proud moment for him to occupy the chair of the first-Master of the University of Edinburgh Lodge , and he would conclude his thanks with a quotation from LongfelloAv : —

" Lives of great men all remind us Ave should make our lives sublime , And departing leave behind us footprints in the sands of time . " In proposing the toast of " The Visitors , " the Worshi pful Master expressed his appreciation at the honour done them

by the presence of so many distinguished visitors ; perhaps , like Abraham , they were entertaining angels unawares . One prominent feature of Freemasonry was its hospitality . He was very pleased that they had that night representatives from the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; the Isaac Newton University

Lodge , Cambridge ; Bros . Colville Smith and Sit * John Heron Maxwell , representing the Apollo University Lodge , Oxford ; and the Worshipful Master of the University of London Lodge , who had so kindly recommended their petition and extended to him and his fellow founders great kindness and hospitality .

Replying on behalf of the visitors , the Grand Secretary representing the Isaac Newton Lodge regretted the absence of the Worshipful Master , AVIIO , in his official capacit y of Proctor , was detained , guarding the morals of the undergraduates . Bro . Colville Smith thanked the Worshipful Master and the members for the kind mention made of the Apollo