Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Turkey.
retained the chair of the Deutscher Bund . The AVorshipful brother is also Prov . S . G . W . for the district . Tbe installation ceremony was very ably performed by Bros . Silly , Mountain , Thompson , and Smorfitt , P . M . ' s . There were , in addition , some AV . M . ' s of other lodges not under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England ^ Bro . A eneziani , of the Lodge Italia , and others . Tbe attendance of the brethren was numerous . After the usual ceremonialthe AA . M . proceeded to invest the
follow-, ing brethren as officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . J . O'Connor , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., as S . AV . ; C . Theodoride , J . A \ r . ; R . T . Allan , Prov . G . S . B ., Treas . ; R . A . Carleton , Prov . G . Sec , as Sec . ; ' J . Broad , S . D . ; G . AVarren , J . D . ; Henry Arnold , I . G . ; and T . Cipriotti , Tyler . After the investiture of the officers , the brethren adjourned to a most excellent banquet . Aftor justice had been done to the good farethe AV . M .
proper , proposed " The Queen and tbe Craft , " drunk with loud applause . This was followed by '' His Majesty the Sultan , " " Tbe M . W . G . M . the Earl of Zetland and the Grand Officers , " which was received with full Masonic honours . "The 11 . AV . Prov . G . M . for Turkey , the Right Hon . Sir Henry L . Bulwer , G . C . B ., and the Provincial Grand Officers , " which was also duly honoured . The Prov . G . Sec ., Bro . R . A . Carleton , returned thanks . The
AV . M . then gave "Our newly-initiated Brethren , " which was responded to by Bro . G . Gurgilio , of the Ottoman Navy ; "The Alsiting Brethren , " responded to by Bro . Capt . Currey , of Newcastle . Bro . Smorfitt , P . M ., then proceeded in some very felicitous terms to propose the health of the newly-installed AV . M ., Bro . W . AV . Evans , whose nomination to his present position wouldhe felt assuredbe hailed with the liveliest
, , satisfaction by every friend to the spread of Masonry in Turkey . It was a toast that required no preface from him , and he had therefore not the slightest hesitation in calling upon them to drink to the health of one they all had every right to hold in the highest esteem , whose zeal and exertions had placed him in the foremost rank of the brethren in this country— "The Health of the AV . M . Bro . AV . W . Evans . " The toast was drunk
, with full honours , and received with long-continued applause . Bro . J . Smorfitt , I . P . M ., in appropriate terms , proposed the health of the newly-installed AV . M ., Bro . AV . AV . Evans , which ¦ was iVmnk with all the honours . The AV . M . in returning
thanks said—Brethren , before I thank you for the very kind manner in which my health was proposed and received , let me beg to call your attention to a retrospect of the proceedings of the Oriental Lodge from its infancy . The origin of this lodge is somewhat peculiar . In 1856 , there was a Mason in Constantinople , named Honnegar . AA e subsequently ascertained that he was a mere adventurer . However , to him may really bo ascribed the formation of the Oriental Lodge . This brother , with
the assistance of a Bro . Rothschild , hunted up—I don't know a more appropriate word—nearly all the Freemasons in Constantinople . What Bro . Honnegar ' s object was I subsequently ascertained , and so did other brethren , I am sorry to say , to our cost . Tbe two brethren had circulars printed—the lodge had afterwards to pay the account—and sent them to tho brethren , calling a meeting at Baltzer ' s Hotel , on Sunday , tbe 7 th of September 1 S 56 ; the meeting was stated to be held for the
, purpose of considering the best measures to be taken to form a Masonic lodge in Constantinople . At that meeting there were sixteen brethren present ; Bro . Silly presided . The first business was to read a letter from a well known brother , who stated his religious scruples prevented his attendance at a meeting of Masons held on a Sunday , and if I am not mistaken the Royal Athelstone Lodge hold their regular meetings likewise on a Sunday . Wellafter this subject had been discussedit was
, , unanimously agreed to form a Masonic lodge at Constantinople , and in order to do so the brethren present were requested to shell out at once to tho best of their ability . I am happy to say that this call was well responded to , tbe sum of £ 25 being at once subscribed ; the two promoters—a modern word very applicable to the parties—putting their names down on the list for £ 5 each , which amount they quite forgot to pay . After
this , a long discussion ensued ; eventually it was proposed to send a memorial praying for permission to hold a lodge of Masons in Constantinople to her Majesty ' s Ambassador , requesting him to lay it before the Sultan . This proposition was , however , negatived . It was also proposed that the warrant should be obtained from tbe Grand Lodge of Turkey at Smyrna , but fortunatel y this was not carried out , as it was subsequentl y ascertained that the so-called Grand Lodge of Turkey was a self-constituted and irregular lodge . The warrant , as you are well aware , was obtained from the Grand Lodge of England .
AVe , the founders , held altogether seven meetings , at which everything necessary for the foundation of the lodge was arranged , the total amount of donations at tbe end of 1856 amounting to £ 114 4 s . — -not a bad beginning . Of the difficulties and delays tho founders had to encounter I shall not waste your time by describing . Suffice it to say that , after waiting for several months , the warrant , furniture , and paraphernalia arrived at the end of Julin the ensuing 1857 ; and on tbe 7 th
y year , August of that year this lodge was consecrated in due form , and the first AV . M ., Bro . Silly , installed , the requisite ceremonies being most efficiently performed by Bro . F . Hahnel , to whom the thanks of this lodge are especially due , as he not only obtained the warrant and furniture for ns , but also rendered other valuable services , which I am sure will never be forgotten . In 1857 twelve meetings were heldat which 293 brethren
at-, , tended , 20 gentlemen were initiated , and 21 brethren joined the lodge . In 185 S , Bro . Silly was again elected to the chair ; he held twenty-six meetings—tolerably good work—at which 691 brethren attended . Iu that year there were 20 initiations , and 5 brethren joined the lodge . In 1859 , Bro . S . Aznevour was elected to the chair ; ho held sixteen meetings , at which 34-7 brethren attended ; there were 8 initiations , and 10 brethren
joined the lodge . In 1 SC 0 , Bro . G . Laurie was elected W . M . ; lie held 17 meetings , at which 357 brethren were present ; there were 7 initiations , and 1 brother joined the lodge . I am sorry to say to say that , in consequence of a long and painful illness , I was not able to complete my statistics of this lodge . I hope to be able to do so at a period not far distant . I trust , my brethrenthat I have not trespassed too long on your
timeim-, , proved tedious ; my object was to give the younger members of the lodge a history of its foundation , of which most of them , I believe , were unacquainted . But now to return to the toast of the W . M . of tbe Oriental Lodge ; and , brethren , let me beg to state that I know of no office in which a man may justly feel more proud than being a Master of a lodge , and more especially of this lodge , the pioneer of Freemasonry in
Turkey . I need scarcely assure you that I esteem very highly the honour of being elected to that position in this lodge . If it should please Providence to spare me during the ensuing twelve mouths , I hope to be able to support and
maintain the dignity of the chair , to which I have tins day been elevated , and to perform tho duties allotted to me in a satisfactory manner . I can assure you that I shall endeavour to carry out the principles of Masonry , and if I fail in the proper discharge of my duties , yon must not attribute it to a want of good intentions . Hitherto , however , as twice Secretary , Junior Warden , Senior AVarden , and again Secretary , I have always rendered yon satisfaction , the proof of which is this very
handsome gold snuff-box , as also a testimonial on vellum which accompanied it , presented to me by the lodge as an appreciation of my services . I think we shall be able , brethren , to get on well together , and at the conclusion of my year of office , as Bro . Kinnock would say if he was in my place , "I trust that the ship being placed under my command , worked by good officers and an efficient crew , 1 shall safely steer the vessel into portafter performing a safe and prosperous voyage . I beg to
, express my gratitude at the kind manner in which my health was proposed and responded to by you , and wish you all many happy new years , with health , prosperity , and happiness . The AA ' . M . resumed his seat amidst loud applause . The health of the P . M's . was then given and suitably replied to by Bro . Mountain , P . M . The W . M ., in proposing the health of the AA ardens and Officers of the Oriental Lodge , said—The next
toast is one that affects me deeply ; for it must be borne in mind a Master , however proficient himself , is awkwardly situated without good officers . I have appointed as my officers brethren in whom I have the greatest confidence , and I believe I shall not look in vain for their co-operation and support . I hope they will be constant in their attendance , for I consider them equally with myself to be in a position , the claims of
which should be forestalled by nothing but actual duty or sickness ; and I sincerely trust that we shall thus get on harmoniously and comfortably during the ensuing year . Bro . J . O . Connor , S . \\ ., in a few appropriate remarks , returned thanks for tbe Officers . The AV . M . then proposed " The Founders of the Lodge . " The loving cup was then passed round , and after the toast " To all poor and distressed Masons , " the festivities
were concluded by tho brethren singing " God Save tho Queen . " During the evening , Bros . T . Lamb and Brewer sang several duets , and other songs were given by the AV . M ., and Bros . O'Connor , Freeth , and Broad .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Turkey.
retained the chair of the Deutscher Bund . The AVorshipful brother is also Prov . S . G . W . for the district . Tbe installation ceremony was very ably performed by Bros . Silly , Mountain , Thompson , and Smorfitt , P . M . ' s . There were , in addition , some AV . M . ' s of other lodges not under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England ^ Bro . A eneziani , of the Lodge Italia , and others . Tbe attendance of the brethren was numerous . After the usual ceremonialthe AA . M . proceeded to invest the
follow-, ing brethren as officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . J . O'Connor , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., as S . AV . ; C . Theodoride , J . A \ r . ; R . T . Allan , Prov . G . S . B ., Treas . ; R . A . Carleton , Prov . G . Sec , as Sec . ; ' J . Broad , S . D . ; G . AVarren , J . D . ; Henry Arnold , I . G . ; and T . Cipriotti , Tyler . After the investiture of the officers , the brethren adjourned to a most excellent banquet . Aftor justice had been done to the good farethe AV . M .
proper , proposed " The Queen and tbe Craft , " drunk with loud applause . This was followed by '' His Majesty the Sultan , " " Tbe M . W . G . M . the Earl of Zetland and the Grand Officers , " which was received with full Masonic honours . "The 11 . AV . Prov . G . M . for Turkey , the Right Hon . Sir Henry L . Bulwer , G . C . B ., and the Provincial Grand Officers , " which was also duly honoured . The Prov . G . Sec ., Bro . R . A . Carleton , returned thanks . The
AV . M . then gave "Our newly-initiated Brethren , " which was responded to by Bro . G . Gurgilio , of the Ottoman Navy ; "The Alsiting Brethren , " responded to by Bro . Capt . Currey , of Newcastle . Bro . Smorfitt , P . M ., then proceeded in some very felicitous terms to propose the health of the newly-installed AV . M ., Bro . W . AV . Evans , whose nomination to his present position wouldhe felt assuredbe hailed with the liveliest
, , satisfaction by every friend to the spread of Masonry in Turkey . It was a toast that required no preface from him , and he had therefore not the slightest hesitation in calling upon them to drink to the health of one they all had every right to hold in the highest esteem , whose zeal and exertions had placed him in the foremost rank of the brethren in this country— "The Health of the AV . M . Bro . AV . W . Evans . " The toast was drunk
, with full honours , and received with long-continued applause . Bro . J . Smorfitt , I . P . M ., in appropriate terms , proposed the health of the newly-installed AV . M ., Bro . AV . AV . Evans , which ¦ was iVmnk with all the honours . The AV . M . in returning
thanks said—Brethren , before I thank you for the very kind manner in which my health was proposed and received , let me beg to call your attention to a retrospect of the proceedings of the Oriental Lodge from its infancy . The origin of this lodge is somewhat peculiar . In 1856 , there was a Mason in Constantinople , named Honnegar . AA e subsequently ascertained that he was a mere adventurer . However , to him may really bo ascribed the formation of the Oriental Lodge . This brother , with
the assistance of a Bro . Rothschild , hunted up—I don't know a more appropriate word—nearly all the Freemasons in Constantinople . What Bro . Honnegar ' s object was I subsequently ascertained , and so did other brethren , I am sorry to say , to our cost . Tbe two brethren had circulars printed—the lodge had afterwards to pay the account—and sent them to tho brethren , calling a meeting at Baltzer ' s Hotel , on Sunday , tbe 7 th of September 1 S 56 ; the meeting was stated to be held for the
, purpose of considering the best measures to be taken to form a Masonic lodge in Constantinople . At that meeting there were sixteen brethren present ; Bro . Silly presided . The first business was to read a letter from a well known brother , who stated his religious scruples prevented his attendance at a meeting of Masons held on a Sunday , and if I am not mistaken the Royal Athelstone Lodge hold their regular meetings likewise on a Sunday . Wellafter this subject had been discussedit was
, , unanimously agreed to form a Masonic lodge at Constantinople , and in order to do so the brethren present were requested to shell out at once to tho best of their ability . I am happy to say that this call was well responded to , tbe sum of £ 25 being at once subscribed ; the two promoters—a modern word very applicable to the parties—putting their names down on the list for £ 5 each , which amount they quite forgot to pay . After
this , a long discussion ensued ; eventually it was proposed to send a memorial praying for permission to hold a lodge of Masons in Constantinople to her Majesty ' s Ambassador , requesting him to lay it before the Sultan . This proposition was , however , negatived . It was also proposed that the warrant should be obtained from tbe Grand Lodge of Turkey at Smyrna , but fortunatel y this was not carried out , as it was subsequentl y ascertained that the so-called Grand Lodge of Turkey was a self-constituted and irregular lodge . The warrant , as you are well aware , was obtained from the Grand Lodge of England .
AVe , the founders , held altogether seven meetings , at which everything necessary for the foundation of the lodge was arranged , the total amount of donations at tbe end of 1856 amounting to £ 114 4 s . — -not a bad beginning . Of the difficulties and delays tho founders had to encounter I shall not waste your time by describing . Suffice it to say that , after waiting for several months , the warrant , furniture , and paraphernalia arrived at the end of Julin the ensuing 1857 ; and on tbe 7 th
y year , August of that year this lodge was consecrated in due form , and the first AV . M ., Bro . Silly , installed , the requisite ceremonies being most efficiently performed by Bro . F . Hahnel , to whom the thanks of this lodge are especially due , as he not only obtained the warrant and furniture for ns , but also rendered other valuable services , which I am sure will never be forgotten . In 1857 twelve meetings were heldat which 293 brethren
at-, , tended , 20 gentlemen were initiated , and 21 brethren joined the lodge . In 185 S , Bro . Silly was again elected to the chair ; he held twenty-six meetings—tolerably good work—at which 691 brethren attended . Iu that year there were 20 initiations , and 5 brethren joined the lodge . In 1859 , Bro . S . Aznevour was elected to the chair ; ho held sixteen meetings , at which 34-7 brethren attended ; there were 8 initiations , and 10 brethren
joined the lodge . In 1 SC 0 , Bro . G . Laurie was elected W . M . ; lie held 17 meetings , at which 357 brethren were present ; there were 7 initiations , and 1 brother joined the lodge . I am sorry to say to say that , in consequence of a long and painful illness , I was not able to complete my statistics of this lodge . I hope to be able to do so at a period not far distant . I trust , my brethrenthat I have not trespassed too long on your
timeim-, , proved tedious ; my object was to give the younger members of the lodge a history of its foundation , of which most of them , I believe , were unacquainted . But now to return to the toast of the W . M . of tbe Oriental Lodge ; and , brethren , let me beg to state that I know of no office in which a man may justly feel more proud than being a Master of a lodge , and more especially of this lodge , the pioneer of Freemasonry in
Turkey . I need scarcely assure you that I esteem very highly the honour of being elected to that position in this lodge . If it should please Providence to spare me during the ensuing twelve mouths , I hope to be able to support and
maintain the dignity of the chair , to which I have tins day been elevated , and to perform tho duties allotted to me in a satisfactory manner . I can assure you that I shall endeavour to carry out the principles of Masonry , and if I fail in the proper discharge of my duties , yon must not attribute it to a want of good intentions . Hitherto , however , as twice Secretary , Junior Warden , Senior AVarden , and again Secretary , I have always rendered yon satisfaction , the proof of which is this very
handsome gold snuff-box , as also a testimonial on vellum which accompanied it , presented to me by the lodge as an appreciation of my services . I think we shall be able , brethren , to get on well together , and at the conclusion of my year of office , as Bro . Kinnock would say if he was in my place , "I trust that the ship being placed under my command , worked by good officers and an efficient crew , 1 shall safely steer the vessel into portafter performing a safe and prosperous voyage . I beg to
, express my gratitude at the kind manner in which my health was proposed and responded to by you , and wish you all many happy new years , with health , prosperity , and happiness . The AA ' . M . resumed his seat amidst loud applause . The health of the P . M's . was then given and suitably replied to by Bro . Mountain , P . M . The W . M ., in proposing the health of the AA ardens and Officers of the Oriental Lodge , said—The next
toast is one that affects me deeply ; for it must be borne in mind a Master , however proficient himself , is awkwardly situated without good officers . I have appointed as my officers brethren in whom I have the greatest confidence , and I believe I shall not look in vain for their co-operation and support . I hope they will be constant in their attendance , for I consider them equally with myself to be in a position , the claims of
which should be forestalled by nothing but actual duty or sickness ; and I sincerely trust that we shall thus get on harmoniously and comfortably during the ensuing year . Bro . J . O . Connor , S . \\ ., in a few appropriate remarks , returned thanks for tbe Officers . The AV . M . then proposed " The Founders of the Lodge . " The loving cup was then passed round , and after the toast " To all poor and distressed Masons , " the festivities
were concluded by tho brethren singing " God Save tho Queen . " During the evening , Bros . T . Lamb and Brewer sang several duets , and other songs were given by the AV . M ., and Bros . O'Connor , Freeth , and Broad .