Centenary Of The Domatic Lodge, No. 177.

and that the initiates of that night wou'd bear out the principles that had been inculcated in them , and which were taught in that Lodge It had had a long cireer , and ho was p leased to see that a worthy h'Stoian had l-pcord ^ d so much of the annals of the Lodge . In the interesting re-umo placet in thoir hands he saw some things w ich

wonld do honour to the Lodge . Some , however , wero different to what he had seen in some Lodge annals . In such he and Col . Shad , well IT . Clerke had sometimes seen how brethren had managed to get warrants and contrived to d'sp ' se of one of them , which was ntterlv opposed to anvthing now considered right ; but he had no doubt was , . , i

perfectly convenient and acceptable to the brethren of the past ; ho had s ^ en how , in the graphic reeord * of the Lodge—and onr L dge histories were like onr English histories—some brethren present , no doubt , had watched or seen what had been done with regard to the Commission which had been looking at tho records and manuscripts , . , ,

in our English families . Some might have noticed how the Commission had fonnd among onr English annals and in the records of the country which still remained , some of the most interesting details , not merely of political , bnfc of domestic life , which shed n light on the mnnnets and customs of our ancestors , and which .

possibly , explained some of those things which we , as Englishmen , had a difficulty to explain nnless we saw their origin . Now , he shonld be utterly pnzzlprl if going from the Lodge that night there was any disturbance . He did not suppose there would be one , or that the riots would have got so far as the sacred precincts of a Lodge , but if

a brother was to siy to somebody else that he was a snake against the Lodge , " he did not know that he should attach any particular meaning to it unless he had this book ; but here he found , in the interesting and grnphic records of nearly a century ago , that a brother who did not belong to the Lodge had disturbed its harmony and

told a brother of the Lodge that he was a smike against it : the words as recorded by the Secretary were— " he was a snake agen bim . " — and the self-contained digni'y of the Lodge was sufficient to say that the visitor who had thus committed

himself should merely be punished by evolnsion from the Lodge for the time being . He thonght this showed not only great courage and great fidelity in the Secretaivy of that period to record that which a century afterwards became an interesting event , but it showed that the Lodge at that timo was sufficientlv founded .

and felt sufficient strength in its own dignity , to be able to deal with an incident , of that kind as it so thoroughly deserved . Having seen , by the kindness of the Lodge ' s present admirable Secretary , a proof of this history in advance , be was enabled to cast big eye through it bef re he came to tho Lodge , and he could say , as it began so it was

worthily carried on , and he thought the success it had attained nt tho present moment was tho best gnaran'ee for the nsefnlness of the Lodge and for the fidelity with which it bad adhered to the great traditions . Apologising for detaining thern so long , he hoped thfy would forgive him for having made remarks npon the interesting rccrrds he

hael referred to . It was not . eve'y Lo Ige , nay indeed , there were very few Lodges in the Craft , that presented a perfect r 'cord like this CHIP , and he scarcely knew one that had added to a mere record of events in Masonry matters like thoso he had called attention to what gave a life and a real interest , to t . ho dry minutes of ordinary

proceedings . And now he would turn to the present . He would venture to offer to the brethren the hearty congratulations of the Grand Officers and Visitors on tho position of tho Lodge , on the numerous gathering , and the Masonic spirit which nnima'ed it . They WPre m < t on an occasion w hich was rare in t he annnl * of Freemasonry .

When , with a light heart and an easy vnicp , Bro . Col . Shadwell Clerke talked ahont these incidents gett ng common—well , for him to celebrate a hundredth birthday might not be a rare occurrence , but , for him ( Bro . Philbrick ) it was , and he felt tho honour of tho occasion , and that it was worthy of remark ; and when be saw tho great

gathering , and witnessed the interest tho brethren took in tho proceedings , he felt that it was no common subject of interest that had brought them together . They were met to vvidi prosperity to the Lodge , and to congratulate it upon the hundredth year of its existence . They hoped also that it would celebrate its bi-centenary

which had already been indicated . Long might it continue to chprish the true principles of Freemasonry , and to have worthy Masons belonging to it ; long might it recruit its members from men who would do justice to it , and in time rise np to administer its concerns with faithfulness and fidelity ; Jong might its success

be great , and long might its prosperity continue . Bro . G . Everett Past Master and Treasurer responded ; he said to be tho montbpiece of the Lodge wa 3 an honour , and he thanked the brethren heartily and cordially for the way they had received the toast . It was a great day in the Lodge ' s history . On the occasion

of the attainment of the 100 th year of the Lodge ' s existence it could not but be gratifying to the feeling 3 of all concerned , especially to those who had been so many years connected with it , as were those on his righ ' , to go into the Lodge history . In December a hundred years ago the Lodge rn » t nt a small honse—the Ship , in Little

Turnstile . Only Operative Masons could belong to ir . During the first year of its existence two persons ware proposed as joining members who were not Operative Masons . In 1787 , the second year of the Lodge ' s existence , the Lodge was not opened on one night bocanse the landlady was sick . On another occasion , in 1792 , one Adams , Esq .,

applied for relief , and was relieved to tho extent of 8 s 2 d . Tho Lodge from time to time removed from one hon . ^ n to another , till it got to the Green Dragon , Fleet-Street , to the Falrrm , in Fetter-lane , whore it was held for 20 years , and where he ( Bro . Wv-retr . ) became a member in 1885 . It afterwards wort to Anderton ' a Hotel , where it had been

for the last twenty-two ycais , and where it J , ad prospered . But of all this he did not propose to speak . The brethren would bo able to rend this for themselves . At the present time it had 113 members , and the Lodge paid every year on an average £ 45 to Grand Lodge .

For the last seven ypars they had voted twenty-fivo guineas to each of the Charities , and he hoped they wonld continue to be able to d " so . In spite of nil that they held themselves well . They had verv much to be proud of , for all this was clone out of a subscription of

Centenary Of The Domatic Lodge, No. 177.

. t two and a half guineas a year . Bros . R . Williams , T . H . Hobbs , J . Anley , and Elliott responded for the Initiates . Bro . Fonlger P . M . . proposed the Visitors , and Brother General Lanrie , G . M . of Nova > Scotia , in responding , said that thirty-two years ago he was . initiated in Lodge No . 176 , so that be was not a stranger

; o this jurisdiction , as that Lodge was under the Grand Lodge of England . He then thanked the Lodge for having given his son tho degree . He conld havo given him a dispensation for taking his three degrees before leaving Nova Scotii ; but he thought it would not . be right to allow any ties of blood to interfere with the usual

course . The W . M . next , proposed the Past Masters , 13 of whom were present . They att-nded nnmeronsly , and they always endeavoured fci be of service to tho L"dge . There were no less than 101 members of the Lodge present , which was aa extraordinary coincidence on the 100 th year of i's existence ; 100 members gave one for each year , and

there was one over for the ensning year . Bro . W . F . Smith res' ponded . Bro . E . White P . M . proposed the Treasurer and Secretary , both of whom had worked very hard , and with a great deal of energy , to promote the welfare of the Lodge on all occasions ; he referred to the fact that there were one hundred and

fortyeight members of the Lodge to show what a vast deal of work there mn * t be f •¦>¦ these Officers . Bros . Everett and Morris responded . Brother Herbag P . M . proposed the Officers ; he said there had been a succession of go id Officers . No brother accepted office who did not feel himself bound to attain proficiency . If this continned the

prestigo of the Lodge mnst bo maintained . The S . W . and Bro . Spurrell D . C . responded , and the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings . Dnring the evening some excellent singing was given—under the direction of Bro . Ru ? ehelmann—by Madame Riechelmann , and Bros .

W . F . Packer and Fraukliu Clive . The arrangements for the comfort of th-i brethren and tho success of the festival were unexceptionable , and reflected the greatest credit on Brother J . E . Spurrell D . C . and acting Steward , who left no stone unturned to give satisfaction to the members and visitors to the Lodge .

Wharton Lodge, No. 2045.

WHARTON LODGE , No . 2045 .

' J'HE anniversary of this popular voung Lodge was celebrated J- on Tuesday , when the first Worshipful Master , Bro . W . Side , installed his successor , Bro . James Jackson Gawith . Lodge was opened at five o ' clock at the White Hart Hotel , Willesden , where Bro . Side was supported by Bros . F . Davison P . G D . (•on . member ) ,

the Offi' -crs and members of his Lodge , and the following Visitors Bros . F . Brings 25 . Lewis Ascott P . M . 733 , John Va ' e 901 . J . StcmVns 177 W . M . 1425 , S . R . Wa'ker P . M . 733 , G . Divis P . M . 1632 , D . Hughes P . M . 901 . James Crook 1037 , John Hughes P . M . 901 , AT .

W . Stangor P . M . 197 P . G . S , A . F . Peacock 177 , W . M . Stiles P . M . 1507 , W . W . Mn . gan P M . 211 , G A . Dnko 1603 , W . F . Boydell 1981 , F . A . Russell 1996 , J . Chivers 901 , H . T . R « ed 1287 , P . C . Fryo P . M . 1612 . After the minnt ' s of the Lodge mooting of the 20 th of October

18 S » , and thoso of Emergency Meeting of F-bruary 1886 , had bean read for confirmation and passed , the Report of the Audit Cjrn - mittee was presented . Th i period comprised in tho first year ' s ( socalled ) working covered 18 months , and undoubtedly the first W . M . has made good use of his opportunities . The Lodge now boasts oE

something liko forty members ou its roll ; it has defrayed all liabilities attaching to its formation , and the second Master inaugurates his reign w th a substantial balanco to tho good . Iu duo courso our R"v . Bro . Wharton , after whom the Lodgo is named , presented the W . M . elect , and Rro . Side performed the ceremony of installation

in an eminently satisfactory way . After the B > ard of Installed Masters had been closed , the Worshi p nl Master was saluted in the three degrees , and he appoint > d fche following as his Officers : Bros D . Stroud S . W ., W . Th-mas J . W ., J . C . Wharton P . M . Treasurer , J . R . Mills Secretary , A . R . Brede S . D ., W . IT . Hargraue J . D , J . Salmon

I . G ., C . J . Wharton D . C , and G . Thomas Tyler . Brother Side then completed the installation ceremony , giving a scholarly interpretation of the addresses to Master , Wardens and Brethren , and was rewarded for the services he had rendered to the Lodge , as Founder and first Worshipfnl Master , by the presentation of an elegant Past

Master ' s jewel ; this he gracefully but briefly acknowledged . Bro . Wharton then announced that he had undertaken a Stewardship for the Royal Masonic Benevolent , and pointed out the absolute needs of this Institution at the present time . Hi 3 appeal was rewarded by a vote of ten guineas from the Lodge funds .

Hearty goo 1 wishes having been tendered , and other routine matters duly disposed of , tho Lodgo was closed , and the brethren ad . jonrned to banquet . At the conclusion of tho mpa « t Bro . Gawith , on rising to propose the t , oa 3 t of the Queen , intimated that it was his intention to adhere strictly to short speeches during his term of office .

The toast having been honoured , it waa followed by that of H . R . H . the Princo of Wales Grand Master , tho Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers Present and Past . With the toast w : is coupled ' .. he name of Bro . F . Davison P . G . D ., who in reply remarked that the capital music ho had just listened to had

somewhat diverted his attention . He had really not had an opportunity to consider the remarks he shonld offer in reply ; however , it wonld bo conceded on all hands that the Prince of Wale 3 was a thorough Mason at heart . He had many calls ou his time , but the readiness with which he on all occasions responded to the exigencies

of his public duties was thoroughly appreciated b y Englishmen . As Freemasons we could not possibly have a batter Master than the Prince of Wales . On behalf of the Grand Officers ho thanked the brethren moat heartil y for the reception they had given to tho toast , and , personally , hd was much gratified at tho succass the brethren

had achieved . He waa present at tho consecration of the Lodge , and trusted it would long continue its career of prosperity . The present Worshipfnl Master was an old friend , and ho angured mnch happiness for the brethren from Bro . Gawith ' s Mastership of the Lodge . Bro . Side proposed the health of tho Worshi pful Master , iu brief but happy terms . After a song by Bro . Marshall—the Powder Monkey