Consecration Of The Guildhall Lodge, No. 3116.

Bro . Sir Joseph Dimsdale , P . C ., ALP ., G . C . V . O ., P . G . W ., P . G . Treas ., acting I . P . M ., said he rose to propose a toast which although they had had many important ones preceding - it must undoubtedly be considered absolutely the toast of the evening . He need hardly say it was " The Health of the

W . M . " They had heard it said in the work upstairs that the occasion was unique in the annals of Alasonry . He ventured also to say that it was a very rare occurrence for a Past Grand Warden and Past Grand Treasurer to propose the health of one who was also Past Grand Warden and Past

Grand Treasurer . They had that clay consecrated a lodge , which , to his mind , absolutely carried out what the Deputy Grand Alaster had touched upon—the universality of Freemasonry . It was a lodge associated with the Corporation of the City of London , and could they imagine a more Catholic

body in the City of London ? The realised , as Corporators , that they were the successors of those who tor centuries in the City of London had been the pioneers of religious liberty They , in their public life , knew no political bias or religious feelings . They were the representatives of the first

Corpora-BUO . HARVKY l'RKKX , C . C tion in the world , and representatives of the oldest and grandest municipality in the kingdom , and endeavoured , as their forefathers had endeavoured , to work for the welfare

and happiness not only of the citizens of London , but mankind in general . Could they imagine a more appropriate combination to make into a Alasonic Lodge ? He was not going to say that Masonry was absolutely a religious organisation , but he would say that Masonry was established upon

religion , and he should be sorry if the day arrived when ; they did not look upon it as a religious body , although nonsectarian . It knew no Alaster but the Great I Am . The Corporation had that clay clone a great work in establishing that friendship and intercourse which should exist between

man and man . He was not unmindful that he spoke in the presence of Aldermen of the City of London , and as one of their officers , but he thought nothing could do more good in the Corporation of London than to meet together and exchange greetings of goodwill towards each other , which

was one of the first principles that they held as Alasons . If it was appropriate to start a lodge of this kind , surely it was most appropriate they should have as their first Alaster the Lord Mayor of London . They honoured him as Lord Alayor , as the head of that great Corporation .

They respected him as a Alason and by his position in life . They respected him for something more than that . They respected him for his qualities , which had placed him in

theifirst position in the City of London . Those qualities were integrity , uprightness , and rectitude . He was , moreover , an English gentleman , and during the whole of his life had inspired the respect and honour of all with whom he had come in contact . They now found him holding the high position of Chief Magistrate of the City of London

IIDO . T . V . BOWATKR , C . C . J'holo hi / Cutlinf , South Xortcuotl . and the first Worshipful Alaster of the Guildhall Lodge . He ( Bro . Sir J . Dimsdale ) wis' . ied he could in adequate terms : paint the picture , but he would ask them , without further

comment , to drink the W . Alaster's health , and wish him a successful time during his year as Chief Afagistrate , and

IIIIO . SIR I 1 KXBY KXIGIIT . health and strength in the chair of the lodge , and might God ' s richest blessings be showered upon him . The W . AI ., in a very brief reply , said they could hardly expect him to give an appropriate response for the eloquent

proposition of the toast . He only wished he could deserve