Consecration.

CONSECRATION .

— : o : — PHILBRICK CHAPTER .

THE consecration of this , the latest addition to the roll of Eoyal Arch Chapters of England , took place on Friday , the 2 nd inst ., at the Great Eastern Hotel , Bishopsgate Street , a dispensation having been granted for that purpose by Grand Chapter , in consequence of the insufficiency of accommodation at the Masonic Hall , Walthamstow , where the convocations will in future be held . As may be inferred from its name the

Companions will consist principally of Essex Freemasons , who have decided to show their respect and esteem for Judge Philbrick the Grand Superintendent of the Province by calling the Chapter after him . It was certainly a great disappointment to those present that his official duties prevented His Honour from being present upon so interesting an occasion , but from every other point of view the ceremony was most impressively and satisfactorily carried out .

Comp . Edward Letchworth Grand Scribe E . was the Consecrating Officer , and was assisted by Comps . Eichard Clowes as H ., Thomas Fenn Grand Scribe N . as J .. Frank

Eichardson P . A . G . So ] . as Director of Ceremonies , and F . Mead P . G . D . C . as Scribe N . Comp . Henry Sadler Grand Janitor also attended with the consecrating vessels . The Founders of the Chapter are Comps . E . E . Alexander 2256 , John E . Carter 2501 , Archdeacon C . G . C . Dunbar 1716 ,

J . C . Francis 2574 , Sydney Fortescue 2256 , George Graveley 2374 , William Garner 2472 , W . S . Hooper 2488 , William Harris 19 , Ben Johnson 2374 , T . H . Lloyd 2374 , Amos Oakden jun . 2472 , H . Osborne 2374 , William Shurmur 2374 , T . Courtenay Warner , M . P ., 2256 , and J . H . Wildash . The visiting Companions were James Boulton P . A . G . D . C ,

James Bunker H . 1471 J . 1158 , George T . Peale P . Z . 2501 , S . E . Baskett P . Z . 2501 P . P . G . E . Dorset , G . H . Fennell J . 1685 , ' John Byford jun . M . E . Z . 554 and 2374 , William Thomas Legg 2374 , H . J . Lardner P . Z . 3 , D . Campbell J . 1403 , C . J . E . Tijou P . A . G . P . England and H .-elect 1716 , Henry Massey P . Z . 619 and 1928 , J . E . Cleave S . E . 2488 , C . M . Long J . 2256 , Christian Horst 1471 , A . J . Skipper 2501 , G . E . Brown 2256 ,

A . F . Lay 2501 , C . J . Smith 2501 , Dr . T . Scoresby-Jackson P . Z . 2256 P . P . G . S . B ., C . G . Pannell 2501 , H . E . Herman 1365 , Joseph Atkinson 1158 , J . H . Whiity 1275 , C . E . Cutchey 1471 , W . D . Church 1471 , Orlton Cooper J . 483 P . S . 1928 , James F .

Haskins P . P . G . O . Essex , G . E . Gratton P . G . O . Essex , J . Tollworthy M . E . Z . 141 , John Hamilton 2374 , Charles F . Grey 120 , Frederick Hughes 192 , David Legg P . Z . 1365 , Thomas Welham 2374 , E . J . Lowther 1307 , J . F . Sanders 1507 and 2501 , & c .

The Chapter having been duly opened by the Principals , the Companions were admitted , and the opening hymn sung . Comp . Letchworth addressed the Convocation on the nature of the meeting . The signatories of the Petition were then arranged in the West , while Comp . Richardson read the Charter ,, and the

Companions signified their assent to the Officers nominated to preside over them . Comp . Letchworth next called upon Comp . Fenn , in the absence of Judge Philbrick , to deliver the Oration . This was a most interesting lecture on the history of Freemasonry , and was highly appreciated by the Companions .

The ceremony was proceeded with in the usual manner , and the Chapter was constituted accorded to ancient form . Comp . Letchworth gave the patriarehial benediction , and this part of the proceedings came to an end . We must not forget to record

the admirable musical arrangements provided by Comp . Haskins , who presided at the organ , while the singing of Comps . W . A . Frost , Alfred Kenningham ( both of St . Paul ' s Cathedral Choir ) , and T . H . Lloyd lent additional dignity and impressiveness to the service .

Comp . William Shurmur was placed in the chair of Z . as the first Principal of the Chapter , and then proceeded to instal Comp . John Henry Wildash as H ., and Comp . William Harris as J . The following Officers were next invested : —Comps . D . H .

McGowan acting I . P . Z ., H . J . Hallows P . Z . Treasurer , James Speller P . Z . Scribe E ., George Graveley P . Z . Scribe N ., William Gower P . S ., J . R . Carter 1 st A . S ., W . S . Hooper 2 nd A . S ., Ben Johnson D . C , J . F . Haskins Organist , J . C Francis and S . Fortescue Stewards , and T . J . Maidwell P . Z . Janitor .

Comp . Shurmur proposed to record the services of the Grand Officers by a hearty vote of thanks to be entered on the minutes of the Chapter , and as a more substantial recognition that they be made honorary members . He also asked their acceptance of a handsome silver mounted cigar case each , in lieu of more formal Founders' jewels .

* Comp . Letchworth returned thanks on behalf of himself and colleagues for their kind reception . They all felt it was a great pleasure to assist in such a ceremony . He was quite at a loss to account for Comp . Philbrick ' s absence , but he was doubtless

Consecration.

detained by his judical duties . ( A telegram was received later in the evening from this gentleman saying such was the case . ) The work of H . had however bean kindly undertaken by Comp . Fenn , at a moment ' s notice , who had given them an excellent Oration . Finally he thanked them for the handsome presents , and said they would only be too glad to become honorary members .

Numerous candidates were proposed for exaltation , so there is work enough in store to last for several meetings to come . Comp . Shurmur was appointed as Steward to represent the Chapter at the Centenary of the Boys School next year , and twenty guineas was voted from the funds to head his list . The Principals received the congratulations of the visiting Companions , and the Chapter was closed in solemn form .

The banquet took place in the large hall , and was admirably served by Comp . A . Becker , who personally superintended . Upon its termination Comp . W . Shurmur M . E . Z . proposed the Queen and Eoyal Arch Masonry He said that during Her Majesty ' s glorious reign it had pleased the Almighty Architect in His unbounded goodness to shower upon this nation the blessings of peace , progress and prosperity . Under the fostering care of

our Empress Queen the liberal arts and sciences had prospered in an astonishing manner , not only at home , but also in our colonies ; and when it was considered that at the commencement of Her Majesty ' s reign there were only about 450 English Lodges and now there were 2 , 700 , it was obvious that the noble science of Freemasonry had not been forgotten ; it had enjoyed the entire confidence of the Queen , as well as her patronage and support .

In giving the toast of the Prince of Wales Grand Z ., Comp . Shurmur referred to the late Albert Hall meeting , and added that the Prince of Wales had given a further practical proof of his devotion to the Brotherhood by consenting to preside at the Centenary Festival of the Masonic Boys School . They hoped that on that occasion it would require six figures in the £ column to express the amount donated .

The next toast , the Pro Grand Z ., Grand H . and J ., & c , led Comp . Shurmur to express the approval of the Order for the excellent arrangements made by Comp . Thomas Fenn for * the meeting at the Albert Hall . Comp . Fenn was a capital organiser , besides which the Companions had just seen that he was blessed with extraordinary ability and a most retentive memory . The Oration he had delivered was most impressive , and would long remain in the Companions' minds .

Comp . Thomas Fenn , in replying , said that through the unaccountable absence of Comp . Philbrick he had been called upon absolutely without a moment ' s notice to fulfil the important duties of Chaplain for the ceremony of Consecration . If he had had the advantage of half an hour ' s notice he would have given a better address . He had only delivered the oration once before , and that was many years ago , and therefore it required a little

consideration beforehand to deliver it properly . Again he was called upon at a moment's notice , without any opportunity of previously thinking on the subject , to respond for the Grand Officers . He was under the impression that he was a Consecrating Officer , not * that his name would be connected with this toast to reply , but that he would be proposed in the next toast . But as his name had been connected with this toast he thanked the

M . E . Z . very much for the complimentary terms lie had used with reference to himself . At the recent meeting at the Albert Hall no doubt many thought it was a great responsibility for him to undertake at his advanced age , in his 77 th year , but recollecting that he had been connected with Sir Albert Woods in other

important functions in Masonry for 33 years , and that his dear friend was struck down by illness and could not attend to his duties , by virtue of the exalted rank recently conferred upon him ( Comp . Fenn ) he could not refuse to undertake the duties , although he felt there was some danger of his strength failing . With the kind co-operation of Companions Frank Eichardson

and J . H . Matthews and some others he was able to get through his task with some success . With respect to the Grand Officers many Companions would have seen that in Grand Chapter the Grand Officers often outnumbered all the other Companions . In Grand Chapter they had not always had very important business to consider , but occasionally they had . There had been attempts

to alter the ceremonies , but these had been successfully combated . At the last meeting they had a decision brought before them which was very far reaching , and most important , but such cases were rare . At all events he hoped everyone who attended Grand Chapter would concede to Grand Officers they they did their duty .

Comp . W . Shurmur , in proposing the Consecrating Officers , said he approached the toast with a great amount of trepidation , or with fear that they could not adequately express their admiration and thanks for the perfect and dignified manner in which the ceremony of Consecration was performed . Grand Scribe E . had excelled himself . They had already spoken of Comp . J . ' s marvellous work at a moment ' s notice , and the Companions must have noticed the finished manner in which