Consecration: St. Andrews Lodge.

CONSECRATION : ST . ANDREWS LODGE .

THE steady growth of Avonmouth during the last few years , both commercially and residentially , is a matter of common knowledge , and the progress of tho village has from time to time been marked by the introduction of various institutions calculated to promote the comfort , happiness , and social welfare of those

who do business or dwell in the locality . The go-ahead characteristics of the residents have recently been further accentuated by the establishment of a new Lodge and of a Masonic Hall for the accommodation of those belonging to the Fraternity who live at or near Avonmouth .

The Lodge is to be called the St . Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 2541 , arid is in the Masonic province of Gloucestershire , the Provincial Grand Master of which is Sir Michael Hicks Beach , Bart ., M . P . The new Lodge owes its origin to a meeting called at the Eoyal Hotel , in May last , when the opinion was expressed on all hands that it v / as desirable to create a branch of the Order at

Avonmouth , and it was resolved to take the necessary steps for obtaining a warrant for the same . At this gathering Bro . Charles Holtom , who is in reality the founder of the Lodge , was elected Acting Secretary , and the arrangements throughout have been placed almost unreservedly in his hands . Owing to the illness

and the absence from home of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master Bro . E . V . Vassar-Smith , the matter remained in abeyance for some months ; but eventually the Deputy Provincial G . M . granted Bro . Holtom an interview , and the proposal began to take definite shape .

Bro . J . L . Bretherton P . M . 839 P . P . S . G . D . consented to become the first Master of the new Lodge , and Bro . John Weston P . M . P . P . G . P . was selected to be I . P . M . and Treasurer . The

other Officers were designated as follows : Bros . Charles Holtom S . W ., E . J . Pillers J . W ., C . Hardwick Secretary , M .. P . S . Tozer P . M . 1752 D . C ., Thos . H . Gore S . D ., S . Humphries J . D ., C . E . Eeilley I . G ., and P . W . Trachy

Tyler . These gentlemen , together with Bros . C . J . King , D . Moore , and J . Hargell , as founders of the Lodge , signed the petition to the Grand Master . The Lodge was named " St . Andrew ' s , " and it was decided to meet during eight months of the year .

A committee was appointed to draw up draft Bye-Laws , also to obtain suitable premises and furnish them . Accordingly the Old Working Men ' s Club , in Meadow Street , was acquired

for the purpose , and on 11 th December a letter was received from the Provincial Grand Secretary , stating that the Warrant had been granted , and that the number of the new Lodge would ¦ be 2541 .

It may be interesting to mention that the wives of the Founders defrayed the cost of the purchase of the Lodge banner , and the Eev . A . J . Harvey , "Vicar of Shirehampton , presented the Lodge Bible , whilst Messrs . Bick , Wright , and Company supplied the seatings , carpets , linoleum , chairs , & c .

The ceremony of consecrating the Lodge took place on Tuesday , at the National Schools , in the presence of a large number of Brethren , chiefly from the Provinces of Gloucester and

Bristol . Nearly 200 were in attendance , notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather . The Provincial Grand Master took the leading part , being ably assisted by the Deputy and other Prov . Grand Officers .

As the Consecration of a Masonic Lodge is not an everyday occurrence , the deeply-interesting proceedings were watched and followed with great interest by the Brethren . A detailed description of the ceremony cannot , of course , be given , but we may be permitted to state , without divulging any of the secrets of

Freemasonry , that the proceedings consisted largely of the singing and chanting of appropriate hymns , passages of Scripture , and anthems ; an oration by the Prov . Grand Chaplain on the nature and principles of the institution , dedication prayers , and perambulations of the Lodge , during which the Prov . Grand Master

as Consecrating Officer strewed corn ( the emblem of plenty ) , poured wine ( the emblem of joy and happiness ) , and oil ( the emblem of unity ) . Salt ( the emblem of friendship ) was also

sprinkled . The Lodge-Eoom was also censed by the Prov . Grand Chaplain , who , in the course of his oration , warned the members of the new Lodge that quality and not quantity was what they should look for in receiving candidates .

The musical arrangements , which were very effective , were under the direction of Bro . Frank Forty Prov . Grand Organist . After the Benediction , which closed the Consecration ceremonial , the W . M . designate was installed by the Deputy Prov . Crand Master Bro . Vassar-Smith , and the appointment of Officers of the Lodge ( whose names appear above ) followed .

The Lodge having been closer ] , a large number of Brethren dined together at the Eoyal Hotel , the banquet being provided by Bro . Eeilley .

In responding to his health ; Sir Michael Hicks Beach said , although Avonmouth was a remote corner of his Masonic Province , he was not absolutely unknown in the neighbourhood , and , therefore , it was with a double kind of pleasure he found

Consecration: St. Andrews Lodge.

himself there that day . The Brethren had received them with very great kindness and hospitality , and lie was sure they were deeply indebted to their Worshipful Master and their energetic Brother Holtom for the very admirable arrangements for the necessary ceremony . They had chat day taken part in what he

thought they would agree with him was a most interesting ceremony , namely , in addiug one to the number of their Lodges in Gloucestershire . Ever since that Province was formed it had been the determination of those who had held rule over it not to sanction the constitution of a new Lod ^ e unless they were

satisfied that it did not interfere with existing Lodges , and that it was capable of holdiug its own . He was bound to say that , when application was first made to him for his sanction to the constitution of a Lodge at Avonmouth , he felt some little doubt

about the matter . He was not sure that the foundation of such a Lodge might not interfere with the Province of Bristol ; he was not sure that it would not withdraw Masonic support from it , which would not be fair to that Province . He therefore

requested his Deputy to carefully inquire into the matter . That had been done , and he thought he saw by the manner iu which the foundation of the new Lodge had been received by the D . P . G . M . of Bristol , and by many of the Brethren of Bristol , that the St . Andrew ' s Lodge at Avonmouth carried with it the

complete sympathy and accord of the Brethren from Bristol . He was also satisfied that the Lodge at Avonmouth was able to maintain itself in a manner creditable to Masonry in Gloucestershire . He thought those who had taken part in the ceremony must recognise that it was to a large extent a religious ceremony .

It at all events pointed out to them that there was something in Freemasonry beyond an ordinary social club . Social clubs were in themselves good things , but social clubs were apt to sometimes lead to differences and to hostility among their members . The first lesson learnt from the constitution of the Order of

Freemasonry was that hostility must bo removed from it at once . A Masonic Lodge must be a temple of peace and harmony , and , whatever differences of opinion might exist among them on political or religious or other important questions , it was a haven of rest from the storms of life , which in no other club could

possibly be found . There was another characteristic of Masonry . Charity was one of the principal objects of Masonry—charity to those Brethren who might be in want , and to the widows and orphans of Masons , and to those who were educated in their charitable institutions . He was quite sure that though that

Lodge was a young Lodge , starting as an infant , as it were , yet from the spirit already manifested , the members of that Lodge would do their very best for charity , as their other older Lodges in Gloucestershire did . He hoped and believed that that Lodge would not consider the ceremonies of Masonry as of no

importance . It was true that whatever was worth doing was worth doing well . After giving some wholesome advice to the Officers of the Lodge on this subject , the Eight Hon . Baronet said he trusted that what had begun so well that evening might

be continued , and that the relations between the Lodge and their neighbours of Bristol might always be of an amicable character . He concluded by proposing the health of the St . Andrew ' s Lodge , and in doing so said he trusted prosperity and happiness might attend the Lodge till time shall be no more .

The W . M . acknowledged the compliment ; and some other toasts followed , Bro . Bramble D . P . G . M . responding for the Prov . G . M . of Bristol and the Prov . Grand Officers , which was proposed by Bro . Vassar-Smith .

An interesting incident in the proceedings in the Lodge-Boom was the presentation by the W . M . of a Founders' jewel to Bro . Holtom S . W ., in recognition of his exertions as Secretary to the preliminary Committee . — " Bristol Times and Mirror . "

The friends of Mark Masonry in Derbyshire have good reason for feeling gratified at the excellent start given to the new Province . It has commenced its career amid the good wishes of many of the most distinguished leaders of the Degree , and

substantial tokens of a quickened interest on the part of its local supporters . On all hands it is agreed that the affairs of the Province are in able and competent hands , and the new P . G . Master has given strong proof of his shrewdness in the selection

of his first batch of Officers . A more enjoyable and instructive gathering than that of the 14 th has seldom taken place in our midst , and I shall be surprised if it be not followed very quickly

by extensions in several of the populous east and north Derbyshire towns , whose Masonic residents could not be expected to associate themselves with the movement whilst its head-quarters were at Leicester . — " Derby Eeporter . "

In Mexico a semi-annual receipt for dues must be exhibited besides the usual examination , before a visitor is admitted into a Lodge . This , says the " Canadian Craftsman , " is not required of Americans .