Inauguration Of The Eos Lodge At Crefeld.*

prietor and editor of Die Bank idle having kindly placed the engravings at our disposal . Bro . Fronuum says that if the installation of a new Lodge is a cheering event for Masonry , tho inauguration of a Masonic temple is certainl y not a less important and cheering occurrence in Masonic life . Although tho possession of a suitable building—were it even a palatial edifice—ivould not be considered a criterion of Masonic xeal , it is nevertheless true that under other similar

extraneous circumstances the possession of a proper temple is not only a most striking evidence of earnestness in the cause of Masonry , but many a Lodge would infer from the foundation of proper homes , that Masonry was acquiring a really firm basis . This however is certain , that there is not a more effectual

means to promote Masonic activity than when brethren , instead of merely assembling on clays appointed for Masonic labours , feel the want of a place of meeting which can be daily made use of . In a building specially adapted to this end brethren are able mutuall y to give utterance to their sentiments and wishesto form resolves of furthering the

, welfare of their fellow men , and in such fraternal intercourse to become really conscious of life ' s highest enjoyment . Yet these precious advantages are only obtainable by the possession of a proper domicile . This lot has now fallen to the young Lodge Eos , in the Orient of Crefeld , which has been scarcely six years in ex-¦

istence and if , indeed , I permit myself to bring the inauguration of the new Lodge hall , on the 22 nd of August last , to the knowledge of the Masonic world , this may appear justified by my sincere wish to stimulate by this communication the brothers of those Orients ivhich do not yet rejoice' in the possession ol a Lodge hall of their ownto endeavour to acquire

, such a one . Besides this , I was the visitor who on that occasion had come from the farthest distance , and moreover as a Mason not belonging to the same system with the Lodge Eos , 1 trust I shall receive the credit of giving an unbiassed and faithful account .

The building—a view of ivhich we give above , as well as a copy of its ground plan—has been erected at Crefeld , on a most suitable spot ; thanks , on the one hand , to the pious sacrifices of all the brethren , ancl on the other to the disinterestedness of the two architects , Bros . Aug . Jardges , and C . F . Steinert , at the comparatively small cost of 1 , 500 fchalers

, Prussian currency , including the purchase of an extensive piece of ground , and the construction of spacious and convenient apartments . To give a description of the architectural beauties , both internal ancl external , is not my present intention ; still I cannot pass over in silence the tact that the hall of the Lodge of Eos will bear comparison

with tho premises belonging to older established and wealthier Lodges , at any rate the larger number in Germany—both as regards capacity for large meetings and for acoustic disposition . The actual inauguration at ono o ' clock , in a solemn manner and in conformity with the ritual in use for Provincial

Grand Lodges of Freemasons in Germany , was performed by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . John Frederick . Louis di Dio . In this system of working the Deputy Provincial Grand Master is styled "Most Enli ghtened and Illustrious" ; hut Bro . di Dio is assuredl y , whatever the system , most deserving of respect from his ' brethren . On the procession

arriving at tho portal with a demand for admission , the temple , which had been hitherto closed and . wrapped in darkness , was thrown open , and instantaneously and completely illuminated by an ingenious gasli ght contrivance , in a manner ivhich created general surprise ancl admiration . When all the brethren had taken their lacesthe Most

p , Venerable Bro . di . Dio invested the several officers ivith then- insignia , adorned the altar with every requisite , and lastly handed over to the Very Venerable . 'Bro . Nonneiibruch , Master of the Lodge Eos , his warrant for conducting the labours , This latter brother then opened the Lodgo in due

form , ancl the business was proceeded with . First a vote of thanks to the Most Venerable Provincial Grand Lodge of Germany was expressed to Bro . di Dio as representing the Grand Master of the Order , and also to him . personally as Provincial Grancl Master ; after which the one hundred and forty-two visitors jiresent from thirty-one Lodges ( among

them twelve Masters of Loclges ) were hospitably welcomed by the Eos Lodge . After a suitable valedictory reference to the old Lodge building—which hacl been left for live years gratis iu the occupation of the brothers by the amiable Bro . Olierheini , prompted to this act of liberality by the beautiful motto ,

"Peace , joy , ancl harmony "—the Worshipful Master in tbe chair tersely explained the sense of this ejiigrapb , and then called upon the Venerable Bro . Orator Greeven to address the brethren . In the address which followed , the Orator expressed himself thoroughly penetrated -with a desire for the advancement of the Craft ' s causeand without any vanity

, , yet ivithout any misplaced modesty , dilated on what the brethren of the Eos had done , and of ivhich that day gave manifest proof . He emphatically asserted that all monumental edifices of antiquity were proofs of the energy and the resolute will of one sole individual j and that only since the Christian era monuments like the minsters of Strasburg and

Cologne , had been produced by the cooperation of whole communities . Ancl so was their Lodge hall , he said , for all the brothers of Crefeld , a noble monument of architecture and of the enthusiasm that animated them for the Craft's welfare . The Secretary then read , seriatim , letters received from the Prince of Prussia , protector of the three Prussian

Loclges , from his royal highness Prince Frederick William , from the ( Supreme Grancl Master of the Grand Lodge of Germany , Bro . v . Selasinsky ; and congratulatory letters from five Lodges , and from a great number of brothers privately , having been duly noticed , there followed the unprofitable acknowledgments of thanks on the part of the

various special deputations ; but these addresses , though in substance quite ajiprojn-iate to the occasion , and certainly most creditable as to diction , became , nevertheless , through interminable repetition , evidently tedious and wearisome to the majority ofthe listeners . At length the Very Worshiji ful Master of the Lodge of Duisburg made a short speech ,

and in pity to the audience dispensed with the remainder of these acknowledgments and relieved the hearers of their suffering . It would certainly be advantageous if large meetings , such as installations , inaugurations , and jubilees , were turned to profit by making effective speeches to evoke new ideas , or in discussing- projects having for their aim the welfare of the whole community—remitting to one individual the care of expressing thanks for the hospitable reception of the visitors ,

which , though in itself very proper , becomes useless through repetition from each visiting brother . This applies , likewise , to the bringers of friendly greetings . Upon closing as npon opening the Lodge , a heart and soul stirring anthem had been chanted by musical brethren , gifted with great vocal powers , which disposed the mind to solemnity . The Very "Worshi p ful

Master closed the Lodge with prayer in tho same iirqiressivo and deeply felt manner in which he had at its opening invoked the blessing from on hi gh on the proceedings of the -day . The labours of the Lodge were followed by an elegant but simple repast , in which , two hundred and ton brothers

participated . The fare was proportionate to the jn-ico ; tho viands , though simple , were of the best kind , and dressed in a style that did honour to the stewards , albeit lint new to their ollico ; the various toasts were enhanced and supported by the musical brethren . I . hardly need add that at Crefeld ( as this happens also in other places ) when once the tongue is unfettered , enthusiastic projects , the offsprings of youthful imaginations , occasionally blended with , the Masonic sentiments of their elders , were warmly