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  • July 1, 1899
  • Page 3
  • ALDERMASTON LODGE.
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The Freemason's Chronicle, July 1, 1899: Page 3

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Consecrations.

submitted and received with great enthusiasm by the assembly . Bro . Railing responded for the Officers of Grand Lodge , and expressed the great pleasure all of them had in being present and witnessing the beautiful ceremony performed in

the grand old Abbey . He hoped the Lodge would prove worthy of the occasion , though the excellent Masons who were entrusted with its management left no room for doubt . Bro . Speller , in glowing terms proposed the health of the Provincial Grand Master . It was , he said , no wonder

that Freemasonry flourished in Essex , where they had so kind and genial a chief as the Earl of Warwick , and no greater proof of his popularity could be shown than the fact that the number of Lodges in the Province had advanced under his rule from nineteen to forty-two . The toast was drank with musical honours .

Lord Warwick , who was greeted with enthusiastic applause when rising to respond , thanked them all for their kind reception . It had been a very pleasant and profitable day to him . They had congratulated him upon the high honour bestowed upon him by the Grand Master , and he

would endeavour to do his duty in that position , which he considered he owed to the very successful manner in which Freemason ^ was conducted in the Province of Essex . With the assistance of his Officers he had enjoyed a very happy and prosperous reign , and he trusted he would remain among them for many years to come .

After proposing the Deputy Provincial Master and the Consecrating Officers , Bro . Speller presented each with a handsome album of views of the Abbey and neighbourhood . Colonel Lockwood responded with one of the stirring speeches for which he is noted , and hoped the enthusiasm ol

the members would be equalled by their work in the Province . Their duties were onerous and responsible , but he was sure the Brethren would not be found wanting , and

that when anyone talked of Essex Masons they would known that they were not only noted for their hospitality , but for the manner in which they carried out their ancient regulations and landmarks .

The W . M . having been complimented , Bro . Morrison McLeod responded for the Masonic Charities , and Bro . James Stephens for the Visitors . The Tyler then made his

apperance , and brought the proceedings to a close . It was altogether an unique and interesting day , and those responsible for the arrangements must be heartily congratulated upon the success that attended their efforts .

Aldermaston Lodge.

ALDERMASTON LODGE .

ABOUT two months since a party of Freemasons drove from Newbury for the purpose of holding a Lodge of Instruction in the picturesque village of Aldermaston , and the visit was attended with so much enjoyment and success that the suggestion was made that the formation of a Summer

Lodge in this delightful part of the County would prove acceptable to the Brethren of the Province of Berks generally , and to those of the Reading and Newbury Lodges specially . Happily •the idea met the approval of the genial Squire of Aldermaston , Brother Charles E . Kevser , who

further promised his support to the project , the ultimate success of which , therefore , became a foregone conclusion . Anything that Bro . Keyser takes in hand is carried out with an amount of earnestness and liberality which renders failure well-ni gh impossible , and this is specially the case as regards

his active and prominent association with Freemasonry . It is no exaggeration to say that among the thousands of energetic Masons to be found throughout the length and breadth of the land no member of the Craft can possibly

work harder , or serve the cause of the Masonic Charities with more princely generosity than Bro . Keyser , who has gained the affection and regard of a host of Masons in all parts of the country .

This cannot be a matter of surprise , even to the uninitiated , when we explain that Bro . Keyser has in the course of his distinguished and honourable Masonic career been installed Worshipful Master of no less than eight or nine Lodges , three of which he has practically foundedone

, hearing his own name as its registered title on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England—the Charles Edward Keyser Lodge . Nor is this all . Bro . Keyser holds the high and responsible position of Treasurer to the Royal Masonic

Institution for Boys , and some time since gave the munificent donation of 5 , 000 guineas towards the cost of erecting a chapel in connection with the new Masonic School Buildings in progress at Bushey . Next week Bro . Keyser will preside

Aldermaston Lodge.

at a great Festival to be held at Brighton , on behalf of the current expenses of the School . No wonder then , that the proposal to found a Lodge under the very shadow of his stately home—Aldermaston Court—should have proved popular , or that he should have been unanimously nominated

as its first Master . The great reputation Bro . Keyser had won as a Mason during his residence in Hertfordshire has been more than sustained since his settlement in Berkshire , where his liberality and activity in the more ordinary paths of duty—both public and private—are too well known and

acknowledged to need further reference now . It must , indeed , have been gratifying to him to find himself so quickly and readily supported by-a body of between thirty and forty founders—at once an assurance of the success and stability of the Lodge .

The Grand Master of the Order His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales having granted the necessary Warrant for the constitution of the Lodge , arrangements were promptly made for the Consecration ceremony , which took place under the most favourable auspices on Monday afternoon , 19 th ult .,

when charming summer weather prevailed , and the pretty village of Aldermaston , with its gabled , ivy-covered dwelling , and lovel y surroundings , looked particularly fresh and beautiful after the welcome rain that fell during the preceding night . Most of the Reading and Newbury

Brethren drove in two-horse brakes to what may accurately be described as the half-way house , the " Hind ' s Head " Hotel , at the foot of the village street—a roomy and comfortable house which in bygone years has been the scene of much local festivity . Here the county families were in the old days wont

to assemble at stated times and enjoy a dance , and the spacious apartment in which these gatherings were occasionally held is the identical room where on Monday was consecrated with solemn rites and ceremonies the Aldermaston Masonic Lodge ,

No . 2760 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England . The Brethren arrived between three and four o ' clock , and the afternoon ' sceremonieswere proceeded with in rigid accordance with the ancient landmarks and usages of the Order .

The Consecrating Officer Brother J . T . Morland Deputy Prov . G . M . presided , and the Wardens chairs were occupied respectively by the Senior and Junior Provincial Grand Wardens Bros . Burgess and Bonny . Bro . Martin Prov . G . Secretary officiated as Secretary , Bro . S . Knight jun . as Director of Ceremonies , and Bro . Margrett as I . G .

The Consecrating Officer addressed the Brethren , in reference to the auspicious event of the day , and called upon the Rev . F . F . Penruddock , who offered up prayer , after which the Provincial Grand Secretary read the Petition and Warrant .

The Provincial Grand Chaplain Rev . F . F . Penruddock , of Windsor , then delivered the following able oration , which was listened to with deep attention and evoked warm appreciation : —Brethren , —We are gathered together here , amidst these happy surroundings , to consecrate to the service

of the Great Architect of the Universe another Temple . A new start , a fresh departure , another step into the great unknown , must , it would seem to me , set all of us thinking . It would seem to me a time at which we may well cast forwards and backwards in thought—backwards to that great

past which the history of Freemasonry brings to us , forwards in cheerful hope , with happy augury for the future . It will only be a glimpse backwards and a thought for the future that I would venture on this occasion to put before you . Backwards as we carry our thought to past Masonic history ,

it is natural to ask ourselves what was the great idea in the minds of those great men , our Masonic forefathers in this land , as banded together by sacred and secret signs , they set

themselves to the great task of raising throughout the length and breadth of the land monuments which remain to this day and testify to their power and skill as operative Masons of the very first order ?

You will answer , that they , at least , had caught something of the spirit of our Grand Master Hiram , that their one idea was to leave such monuments here that the minds of thinking men might as they saw them insensibly revert to the G . A . O . T . U . You will answer that they were in the main

animated by the desire to communicate happiness to their fellow men , and to witness to the truth of the Almighty as He has revealed Himself to us in the Volume of the Sacred Law . You will say that they were animated by those three

great principles , which have been translated for us into simple terms— " Brotherly love , relief , and truth . " These are , as I would venture to call them , the Divine principles which have made Freemasonry great . We are nearing the end of a most eventful century , a

“The Freemason's Chronicle: 1899-07-01, Page 3” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 15 Aug. 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fcn/issues/fcn_01071899/page/3/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
THE BOYS FESTIVAL. Article 1
SUFFOLK. Article 1
CONSECRATIONS. Article 2
ALDERMASTON LODGE. Article 3
ST. MICHAEL LODGE. Article 5
SUSPECTED MASONS. Article 5
Untitled Ad 5
Untitled Ad 6
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Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
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Untitled Ad 6
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Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 7
Untitled Ad 7
Untitled Ad 7
Untitled Ad 7
Untitled Article 7
FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Article 7
PRIZE DAY AT THE SCHOOL. Article 8
Untitled Ad 8
Untitled Ad 9
REPORTS OF MEETINGS. Article 10
LODGE MEETINGS NEXT WEEK. Article 11
Untitled Ad 11
THE CITY OF NEW YORK RESTAURANT. Article 11
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The Theatres, &c. Article 12
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2 Articles
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2 Articles
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3 Articles
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Page 5

5 Articles
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13 Articles
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6 Articles
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2 Articles
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5 Articles
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9 Articles
Page 3

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Consecrations.

submitted and received with great enthusiasm by the assembly . Bro . Railing responded for the Officers of Grand Lodge , and expressed the great pleasure all of them had in being present and witnessing the beautiful ceremony performed in

the grand old Abbey . He hoped the Lodge would prove worthy of the occasion , though the excellent Masons who were entrusted with its management left no room for doubt . Bro . Speller , in glowing terms proposed the health of the Provincial Grand Master . It was , he said , no wonder

that Freemasonry flourished in Essex , where they had so kind and genial a chief as the Earl of Warwick , and no greater proof of his popularity could be shown than the fact that the number of Lodges in the Province had advanced under his rule from nineteen to forty-two . The toast was drank with musical honours .

Lord Warwick , who was greeted with enthusiastic applause when rising to respond , thanked them all for their kind reception . It had been a very pleasant and profitable day to him . They had congratulated him upon the high honour bestowed upon him by the Grand Master , and he

would endeavour to do his duty in that position , which he considered he owed to the very successful manner in which Freemason ^ was conducted in the Province of Essex . With the assistance of his Officers he had enjoyed a very happy and prosperous reign , and he trusted he would remain among them for many years to come .

After proposing the Deputy Provincial Master and the Consecrating Officers , Bro . Speller presented each with a handsome album of views of the Abbey and neighbourhood . Colonel Lockwood responded with one of the stirring speeches for which he is noted , and hoped the enthusiasm ol

the members would be equalled by their work in the Province . Their duties were onerous and responsible , but he was sure the Brethren would not be found wanting , and

that when anyone talked of Essex Masons they would known that they were not only noted for their hospitality , but for the manner in which they carried out their ancient regulations and landmarks .

The W . M . having been complimented , Bro . Morrison McLeod responded for the Masonic Charities , and Bro . James Stephens for the Visitors . The Tyler then made his

apperance , and brought the proceedings to a close . It was altogether an unique and interesting day , and those responsible for the arrangements must be heartily congratulated upon the success that attended their efforts .

Aldermaston Lodge.

ALDERMASTON LODGE .

ABOUT two months since a party of Freemasons drove from Newbury for the purpose of holding a Lodge of Instruction in the picturesque village of Aldermaston , and the visit was attended with so much enjoyment and success that the suggestion was made that the formation of a Summer

Lodge in this delightful part of the County would prove acceptable to the Brethren of the Province of Berks generally , and to those of the Reading and Newbury Lodges specially . Happily •the idea met the approval of the genial Squire of Aldermaston , Brother Charles E . Kevser , who

further promised his support to the project , the ultimate success of which , therefore , became a foregone conclusion . Anything that Bro . Keyser takes in hand is carried out with an amount of earnestness and liberality which renders failure well-ni gh impossible , and this is specially the case as regards

his active and prominent association with Freemasonry . It is no exaggeration to say that among the thousands of energetic Masons to be found throughout the length and breadth of the land no member of the Craft can possibly

work harder , or serve the cause of the Masonic Charities with more princely generosity than Bro . Keyser , who has gained the affection and regard of a host of Masons in all parts of the country .

This cannot be a matter of surprise , even to the uninitiated , when we explain that Bro . Keyser has in the course of his distinguished and honourable Masonic career been installed Worshipful Master of no less than eight or nine Lodges , three of which he has practically foundedone

, hearing his own name as its registered title on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England—the Charles Edward Keyser Lodge . Nor is this all . Bro . Keyser holds the high and responsible position of Treasurer to the Royal Masonic

Institution for Boys , and some time since gave the munificent donation of 5 , 000 guineas towards the cost of erecting a chapel in connection with the new Masonic School Buildings in progress at Bushey . Next week Bro . Keyser will preside

Aldermaston Lodge.

at a great Festival to be held at Brighton , on behalf of the current expenses of the School . No wonder then , that the proposal to found a Lodge under the very shadow of his stately home—Aldermaston Court—should have proved popular , or that he should have been unanimously nominated

as its first Master . The great reputation Bro . Keyser had won as a Mason during his residence in Hertfordshire has been more than sustained since his settlement in Berkshire , where his liberality and activity in the more ordinary paths of duty—both public and private—are too well known and

acknowledged to need further reference now . It must , indeed , have been gratifying to him to find himself so quickly and readily supported by-a body of between thirty and forty founders—at once an assurance of the success and stability of the Lodge .

The Grand Master of the Order His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales having granted the necessary Warrant for the constitution of the Lodge , arrangements were promptly made for the Consecration ceremony , which took place under the most favourable auspices on Monday afternoon , 19 th ult .,

when charming summer weather prevailed , and the pretty village of Aldermaston , with its gabled , ivy-covered dwelling , and lovel y surroundings , looked particularly fresh and beautiful after the welcome rain that fell during the preceding night . Most of the Reading and Newbury

Brethren drove in two-horse brakes to what may accurately be described as the half-way house , the " Hind ' s Head " Hotel , at the foot of the village street—a roomy and comfortable house which in bygone years has been the scene of much local festivity . Here the county families were in the old days wont

to assemble at stated times and enjoy a dance , and the spacious apartment in which these gatherings were occasionally held is the identical room where on Monday was consecrated with solemn rites and ceremonies the Aldermaston Masonic Lodge ,

No . 2760 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England . The Brethren arrived between three and four o ' clock , and the afternoon ' sceremonieswere proceeded with in rigid accordance with the ancient landmarks and usages of the Order .

The Consecrating Officer Brother J . T . Morland Deputy Prov . G . M . presided , and the Wardens chairs were occupied respectively by the Senior and Junior Provincial Grand Wardens Bros . Burgess and Bonny . Bro . Martin Prov . G . Secretary officiated as Secretary , Bro . S . Knight jun . as Director of Ceremonies , and Bro . Margrett as I . G .

The Consecrating Officer addressed the Brethren , in reference to the auspicious event of the day , and called upon the Rev . F . F . Penruddock , who offered up prayer , after which the Provincial Grand Secretary read the Petition and Warrant .

The Provincial Grand Chaplain Rev . F . F . Penruddock , of Windsor , then delivered the following able oration , which was listened to with deep attention and evoked warm appreciation : —Brethren , —We are gathered together here , amidst these happy surroundings , to consecrate to the service

of the Great Architect of the Universe another Temple . A new start , a fresh departure , another step into the great unknown , must , it would seem to me , set all of us thinking . It would seem to me a time at which we may well cast forwards and backwards in thought—backwards to that great

past which the history of Freemasonry brings to us , forwards in cheerful hope , with happy augury for the future . It will only be a glimpse backwards and a thought for the future that I would venture on this occasion to put before you . Backwards as we carry our thought to past Masonic history ,

it is natural to ask ourselves what was the great idea in the minds of those great men , our Masonic forefathers in this land , as banded together by sacred and secret signs , they set

themselves to the great task of raising throughout the length and breadth of the land monuments which remain to this day and testify to their power and skill as operative Masons of the very first order ?

You will answer , that they , at least , had caught something of the spirit of our Grand Master Hiram , that their one idea was to leave such monuments here that the minds of thinking men might as they saw them insensibly revert to the G . A . O . T . U . You will answer that they were in the main

animated by the desire to communicate happiness to their fellow men , and to witness to the truth of the Almighty as He has revealed Himself to us in the Volume of the Sacred Law . You will say that they were animated by those three

great principles , which have been translated for us into simple terms— " Brotherly love , relief , and truth . " These are , as I would venture to call them , the Divine principles which have made Freemasonry great . We are nearing the end of a most eventful century , a

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