Consecration Of The Honor Oak Lodge No. 1,986.

CONSECRATION OF THE HONOR OAK LODGE No . 1 , 986 .

A CONSIDERABLE amonnt of pleasurable interest and excitement was occasioned on Thursday afternoon , tho 8 th instant , i n the picturesque and rapidly improving suburb of Honor Oak , by the consecration of a new Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , a warrant having been obtained through tho influence of several brethren resident in the locality , and who had long desired such con .

venience for the members of the " mystic tie who , spending the greater part of their time in the City , have chosen this distriot as their place of suburban residence . The event had been long anticipated with much interest , and in spite of the nnfavonrable weather on Thursday , there was a very large and distinguished assemblage of the brethren , including many Grand and Provincial Officers , in

addition to brethren from the metropolitan Lodges , as well as from Brookley , Forest Hill , Anerley , Lewisham , Greenwich , and other parts . The ceremony was performed at the Moore Park Hotel , in the Westhall Road , which is to be the headquarters of the new " Honor Oak " Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , standing No . 1986 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England . Soon after half-past three

o clock , the brethren assembled at the hotel , when Lodge was opened , under the presidency of the V . W . Brother Shadwell Clerke P . G . D ., Grand Secretary of England , assisted by R . W . Brother Hugh D . Sandeman P . G . D . M . Bengal as Senior Warden , W . Brother Frank Richardson P . G . D . of England as Junior Warden , V . W . Brother the Rev . R . J . Simpson P . G . C . as Chaplain , W . Brother James Terry P . G . W . Norths and Hunts ( Secretary of the Royal Masonic

Benevolent Institution ) as Master of Ceremonies , Bros . Walter Hopekirk P . M . Worshipful Master designate , John Hammond P . M . P . P . G . D . Middlesex Senior Warden designate , Charles Henry Phillips Junior Warden designate , & c . Amongst those present were Bros . Colonel M . Ramsay 41 P . D . G . M . Pnnjanb , Joseph William Hartley , J . W . Wilson Haffenden 1854 , H . J . Maunder Williams 1669 acting Sec , Henry Stokes S . D . 141 , G . W . Knight J . D . 1507 , Edmund Bye sen . 141 , Herbert Hooper 1949 , & o . The Visitors included : —Bros . C . H .

Drew P . M . 905 P . P . G . S . W ., C . T . Walls W . M . 141 P . P . G . S . D . Middlesex , J . Mason 1567 P . P . G . S . D . Middlesex , Henry Lovegrove P . M P . P . G . Snpt . Works , W . Hammond P . M . P . P . G . D . Middlesex , James Stevens P . M . 1426 , W . Poore P . M . 186 , T . Cantrell P . M . 1397 , A . Darch P . M . 186 , B . Fulwood P . M . 742 . C . Hubbard P . M . 820 , C .

Pngsley P . M . 179 , George Kenning P . M . 192 , H . Sadler P . M . Grand Tyler , J . Kew P . M . 179 , C . Middlemass P . M . 957 , H . Stiles W . M . 1507 , A . Millward W . M . 1677 , Wringle W . M . 766 , A . R . Hanch S . W . 1669 , W . Dickeson S . W . 179 , W . C . Davey J . W . 1512 , W . T . Bell S . D . 1044 , John Hammocks 179 , T . P . Bedford 77 , W . E . Stark 1765 , L . Benit 179 , G . J . E . March 1586 , H . A . Lovell 179 , H . Sweeting

1901 , T . Seymonr 179 , F . France 862 , J . C . Woodrow 1297 , J . Light , foot 1901 , E . A . Francis 1658 , W . Carter 141 , J . Letch ford 1658 , C . J . Howe 1155 , J . Wicks 815 , J . Cotton 1155 , Frank Baker 1206 , C . W . Fox 1326 , A . Pelgrinl 625 , T . W . Aldwinokle 1328 , J . Holland 141 , J . Goodall 1672 , D . G . Hewitt 766 , D . Forbes 766 , S . W . Acock 1901 , J . F . Johnson 79 , W . Bosher 1901 , J . Ingram 172 , J . B . Lassam 742 ,

J . Sarjeant 1765 , G . C . Hudson 141 , J . C . Reynolds 1329 , and many others . Lodge having been opened in the three degrees , the hymn commencing " Hail ! Eternal , by whose aid , " was sung , when the presiding Officer addressed the brethren on the motive of the meeting , and prayer was offered by the Chaplain . The acting Secretary , Brother H . M . Williams then addressed the presiding Officer , setting

forth the mode in which the warrant was obtained , and stating the names of the founders who signed the petition , and Colonel Shadwell Clerke having replied , gave directions by which the brethren of the new Lodge were arranged in order . The acting Secretary read the petition and warrant , and the brethren having signified their approval of the officers named , an eloquent oration on the nature and

principles of the Institution was delivered by the Chaplain . An anthem , " The Lord is in His holy Temple , " was sung , and the first portion of the dedication prayer said , followed by the chant ( 0 nines ) "So mote it be . " The brethren then turned towards tbe East whilst the presiding officer gave the Invocation , and after the chanted responses , the Chaplain read 2 Chron . ii . 1 to 16 . The Lodge Board

was then uncovered and the Master and Wardens pro tem carried the elements of consecration three times round the Lodge , halting in the East at each perambulation . During the first circuit the brethren sang , " When once of old in Israel" ( Melcombe ) , and on arriving in the East the Consecrating Officer strewed corn , the emblem of plenty . During the second circuit the brethren sang

" When there a shrine to Him alone , " and the Consecrating Officer in the East poured wine , the emblem of joy and happiness , followed by the musical response , " Glory be to God ou High . " During the third circuit the brethren sang , "And we have come , fraternal bands , " the Consecrating Officer in the East pouring oil , the emblem of unity , followed by the responses . The Presiding Officer then dedicated the

Lodge , in accordance with ancient rites , and the anthem , " Glory be to God on High , " waa sung . The Chaplain then took tho censer three times round the Lodge ( solemn music being performed during his progress ) , and halting , in the East , he said the second portion of the dedication prayer , followed by tho chant , " So mote it be . " The Presiding Officer then constituted tho Lodgo , and tho anthem , " Glory

to God on high , " having been repeated , the ceremony closed with the final Benediction . Lodge was then resumed in the second degree , and a Board of Installed Masters having been constituted Bro . Walter Hopekirk P . M . was duly installed as the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge , the rite being most impressively performed . On tha readmission of the brethren the newly-installed Worshipfnl Master was greeted , and sainted with full Masonic honours , after which

he proceeded to invest his Officers for tho ensuing year , the collars being thus bestowed : —Bros . ('" -. ¦¦ " : ?! M . Ramsay P . D . G . M . Punjanb T . P . M ., John Hammond P . P . G .. lesex S . W ., Charles Henry Phillips J . W ., Edmund Bye s « usurer , H . Mauuder Williams Secretary , Henry Stokes S . D ., •" r illiam Hartley J . D . Herbert Hooper I . G ., G . W . Knight W .-i ., ' A . R . Johnstone A . S . '

Consecration Of The Honor Oak Lodge No. 1,986.

and C . Thomas Provincial Grand Tyler Herts Tyler . Several propositions for initiation and joining were entered , and after singing the hymn , " Now the evening shadows closing , " Lodge was closed in form , and tha brethren and visitors adjourned to a richerchi banquet , provided in most excellent style by Brother E . Bye , whose arrangements gave unqualified satisfaction to all present . The customary

Loyal and Craft toasts were proposed and duly honoured , and amidst an abundance of excellent vocal and instrumental music a thoroughly harmonious and agreeable evening was enjoyed . The Lodge-room is commodious and in every respect adapted for the purposes of the Lodge . We propose giving a report of the speeches at the banquet in our next issue

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor respondents . All Letters must bear the name anl address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

BE TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I can scarcely agree with your correspondent , an " AMUSED READER , " in the jaunty tone he assumed in the letter which appeared in the last issue of the F REEMASON ' S CHRO . NICIE . Discnssion of matters affecting the interests of the Craft , and especially of our Institutions , are wholesome and beneficial , and

many a time useful information has been elicited by tho interchange of even unpalatable truths . It is , therefore , unfair and impolitic to burke all such candid expressions , and try to laugh them down , either by sarcasm or abnse ; and I cannot help fanoying your " AMUSED READER " has treated us to a little of both . I do not happen to know much from personal experience of the inner life of onr Boys' School ,

from the fact , as yonr correspondent suggests , of my being one of those subscribers who , living in a distant province , are not often in London , and therefore have few opportunities of visiting the School . But , taking a great interest , as all Masons must naturally do , in the Charities of which we are so prond , I certainly was staggered at some of the statements contained in the anonymous correspondence , upon

which you have commented , I think , fairly and impartially . Still , it does not necessarily follow that because a man sees a fanlt , or imagines such a fanlt exists , and has the courage to declare his opinion , that he should be at once set upon and belaboured as a dissatisfied and dishonest Paul Pry , whose personal dignity has been offended , or who smarts under the idea of cavalier treatment . lean scarcely imagine a

brother setting to himself the task of concocting a gratuitous insult to the Managing Committee , and a gross libel npon the officials , if there were not " something in it . " And if there is any screw loose , if the boys look terror-stricken , and present such a forlorn aspect that the officials do not care for them to be seen by visitors , why the sooner some explanation is given the better it must be for all concerned .

Your version of the affair is satisfactory to me , as I have no doubt it will have been to the bulk of the subscribers ; but the . point I would aim at is , that correspondents should use a little less of personality , and not be ready to jump down another man ' s throat the moment he says anything in disparagement of any of our Institutions .

Charity is as valuable an attribute in correspondence as it is in other practice ; and an "A MUSED READER " should recollect that , though the shafts of satire are sharp , they are sometimes let fly at random , and do more harm than good . In all cases truth will prevail , and it needs not an angry or peevish pen to defend any of the interests of Freemasonry . I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , Torquay , 6 th Feb . 1883 . VIGIL .

Old Gravestones.

OLD GRAVESTONES .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have but just seen Bro . Jas . Lawton ' s letter on this subject , and , consequently , I mnst reserve fuller and accurate particulars till next week . Meantime , however , I am in a position to state that thero is a tomb in St . Helen ' s Church , Bishopsgate , to the memory of a worthy gentleman who is described on it as

a " Freemason , " and who died—if I remember rightly— in the year 1597 . The individual thus commemorated was unquestionably a man of position , but what meaning must be attached to the word "Freemason" must , in tho absence of further information , remain in doubt . In a letter to the Freemason , written some time since , I

suggested that possibly it might correspond with the present title of " City Architect , " and Bro . Hughan seemed to think this was not a bad suggestion . However , I will furnish further particulars , as I have said , in time for your next number , if you will kiudly find the required space . Fraternally yours , G . B . A . P . S . —I may add that Bro . ltylauds described the same tomb in the lata Masonic Magazine .