Consecration Of The Guildhall Lodge, No. 3116.

They had many principles in common . They knew that the three great principles of Freemasonry were brotherly love , relief , and truth , and might they not say also that they yielded to none—even in the ancient City of London with its successive Lord Mayors , and their continuous desire to help

others—in the cause of that Charity which was at all times so clear to the heart of Freemasons . Therefore , he thought there was something fitting in their presence , and he would point out that it was an example of the universality of Freemasonry . They were assembled in the Metropolis of the world , under the auspices of the Chief Magistrate , and one

of the principal guests was the Bishop of New York . As long as that universality continued , he felt , and he was sure the Grand Officers would feel , the responsibility that rested upon them to do their utmost to maintain and uphold the prestige of English Freemasonry , so that ( hey could hold their heads high amongst the Grand Lodges of the world .

So long as they were animated with that spirit , so long would this toast be received with the same kindly and cordial feeling as on the present occasion . In the name of the Grand Officers , he thanked them for the kindness with which they had received the toast . The Worshipful Alaster next submitted " The

Consecrating Officers , " and said that in the lodge he expressed in a few feeble words their thanks to the Grand Secretary and the other distinguished brethren who assisted in the consecration of the lodge . Their services deserved more than the gratitude already given , and , therefore , he would ask

them to join in drinking their health , and thus thanking them again for their kind services , hoping that they would live many years to repeat them . He did not suppose , however , that they would have another chance of performing the same ceremony in the Mansion House . The Grand Secretary ,

BRO . SI II . JOIIX IIIJXTZ , . 1 . 1 ' ., CO Phot ., I , i / Iteinholil Thirl ,-, Cham-ret / Lane , /¦ . " . (' . . "jj with his usual modesty , had asked him not to couple his name with the toast , and , therefore , as a reward for Bro . Letchworth ' s good services , he would ask Bro . Gibbs , AT . P . to reply . He asked them to join in drinking the health of

the Consecrating Officers with gratitude and thanks for their services . Bro . the Hon . Alban G . H . Gibbs , ALP ., J . GYV ., returned his hearty thanks on behalf of the Consecrating Officers for the way in which the toast had been received . He could

have wished that their brother , the Grand Secretary , had consented to crown and finish his work by responding in that eloquent manner in which he would have responded . He could not , however , but feel that there was a certain amount of fitness in being allowed to respond for the Grand Secretary ,

and all who had heard his excellent work . He owed grati tude to the Lord Alayor for having allowed him on the first occasion on which he had taken part in a consecration ceremony , to assist within those historic walls , and on what the Deputy Grand Master had rightly called—this unique and interesting occasion . He felt he owed the Lord Alayor a deep debt of gratitude for an opportunity which he should never forget , and he was sure the Consecrating Officers felt

IIHO . Slli HOMEWOOD CRAWFORD proud to have taken part in the ceremony . They thanked the W . M . and brethren for the kind welcome given them , and the kind way in which the toast had been proposed . Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , in response to many calls , said they had been compelled to listen

BRO . OEORGK HIIIGGS , C . C .

to his voice at very considerable length m the lodge room , and he felt he had no right to inllict another speech upon them . He wished , in words as sincere as they would be brief , to tender his warmest thanks for the compliment paid him in calling upon him .