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GBSS &^ tVmWJU l ^}/ S B >& 5 B r WfM , MM S^^^ S^^ Bsmwwww-w ^ 23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .

Consecration Of The Southgate Lodge, No, 1950.

CONSECRATION OF THE SOUTHGATE LODGE , No , 1950 .

THE consecration of this Lodge took place afc the Railway Hotel , New Southgate , on Thursday , 19 th January , afc 2 . 30 . Ths ceremonies of consecration and installation were performed by Bro Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke Grand Secretary , assisted by Bros . Rev , Ambrose W . Hall , M . A ., Grand Chaplain , Thomas Fenn P . G . D . as S . W ., Henry G . Buss Assistant Grand Secretary as J . W ., while Frank

Richardson P . G . D . acted as Director of Ceremonies . Amongst those who were present were Bros . J . H . Scott P . G . D ., R . Pearcy P . M . 228 , A . J . Berry Sec . 1695 , R . P . Davies S . W . 1695 , John Baker 1471 , Edwin Moss S . W . 1929 , A . W . Fenner P . M . 1227 , James Kift 1791 , J . Woodman 209 , S . J . Byng P . M . 902 , J . F . Rothschild 1288 , Frank Rothschild P . M . 1281 W . M . 1677 , J . Eldridge P . M . 167 , T . Tremere

S . W . 1929 , W . A . Frost 1728 , J . W . Forge 619 , W . W . Morgan Sec . 211 , H . Hollis P . M . 167 , G . Tidcombe W . M . 1549 , W . Lewis Steward 1385 , A . Ginger P . M . 901 , William Waller 901 , F . J . Dnnsford 186 , J . Osborn W . M . 1692 , Edward Seaman P . M . 619 , R . Birkett 569 , J . A . James S . W . 1766 , A . Macpherson 354 S . C , H . Hall S . W . 1693 , W . Harrison 1766 . Afc three o ' clock the brethren assembled in

the ante-room and proceeded in procession to the Lodgo room , when the presiding Officer took the chair , and appointed the Wardens pro tem . The Lodge was then opened in the three degrees , and the presiding Officer addressed the brethren on the motive of the meeting , and called upon the Chaplain to give the prayer . In due course the brethren of the new Lodge were arranged in order , and the acting

Secretary read tho Petition and Warrant . After the brethren had signified their approval of the Officers named in the Warrant , Bro . the Rev . Ambrose Hall delivered the following Oration : — Brethren , —The consecration of another Lodge to-day reminds us forcibly of the great increase of our Order . Ifc is making rapid strides—some say too rapid—and where will it end ? Certainly we

should look on with anxiety for their prosperity as Lodge after Lodge springs np around us—with anxiety , but with hope that they will fulfil the purposes of their Creator . I am nofc one of those who fear for the end , being assured that the Great Architect permits it , because the principles of Freemasonry inculcate those blessed virtues which will ensure His favour to tbe children of men . And if

the cause is good , the more it penetrates to the north , south , east , and west , the more will it carry with it good tidings to the faithfnl and obedient of the human race . It is always a pleasure to the Consecrating Chaplain to know thafc he is working in a good cause , and in this position I hail yonr undertaking , and I feel additional gratification in assisting afc the upraising of the Southgate Lodge ,

because I think that those who are to be its supporters are coming forward with the feelings of a father at the birth of his firstborn , and I trust with a prayer to the Great Architect to enable them to look upon their Lodge as a child of their own creation , to be cherished and watched over by the aid of the beautiful teachings we possess , and to be guided by those ancient rules and regulations

which , throughout all ages , have been the supports of good Masons , and which will establish you and your Lodge on the pinnacle of Masonic fame—a beacon-li ght to the brethren , and a comfort to the afflicted , and a blessing to yourselves , until the world and all its doings , " like the baseless fabric of a vision , " shall dissolve , and your Lodge merge in the Grand Lodge above , where we trust the better

parts of onr Masonic teaching will become , nnder the Divine will , the ' source of our happiness in the Almighty ' s heavenly Temple . To-day , according to ancient custom , I have to address you upon the nature and principles of Freemasonry . The great duties arising ont of these ypu are no doubt fully conversant with ; still a few words from me ca so important an occasion as the consecration of

the Southgate Lop ' ge cannot be out of place , and I will now ask your attention to a ^ bnef explanation of the responsibilities they entail upon you . First , for the Nature of Freemasonry . What is it ? lb is a moral system , illustrated by symbols , bidding us not forget the most sublime truths in the midst of our social pleasures ; a system which guides ns in the paths of science , and to the practice of

virtue , teaching us tho most valuable moral lessons incumbent on all men . And now , and in the second place , for a few words npon the threo great Principles of our Order . The first , Brotherly Love , is the great bond by which all Masons are united ; this must be pure in profession and practice , and it will ennoble yonr nature , and at last conduct yon to the eternal Grand Locige , where you will find

perfect wisdom ancl perfect happiness . Tho second great principle is Relief—the glory and foundation of our ancient Institution , nor has this great principle been forgotten by ns , witness onr noble Charities for thoso who neorl onr care—the Girls' School , the Boys ' School , the Benevolent Asylum for the Aged and Infirm ; and these , npon yonr opening day , I earnestly commend to your notice :

in the future of your Lodge do nofc forget to help them by all means in your power . You are told npon the hi ghest authority , that "Freely ye have received , and freely yo are to give ; " you are told , again , that " whosoever shall give a cup of cold water even to one of these Httle ones , verily he shall in no wise lose his reward . " These Charities are bright ^ jewels in our Masonic crown , and the Mason who possesses the virtue of charity in its true sense , may justly be

Consecration Of The Southgate Lodge, No, 1950.

said to havo his foot on the second step of the Masonio ladder , and fco havo fulfilled that precept which says , " He that loveth God should love his brother also . " And now a word or two npon onr third great principle—Truth . This is a virtue which involves the peace and happinesss of ns all , and is especially essential in Masons ; make , therefore , the principles of truth the guide of all your actions . One ^^ k

of tho first lessons that we learn is " to be good men and true ;" avoid , therefore , deceit and guile , bo plain and straightforward in yonr dealings , and with heart and tongue unite in rejoicing with those who rejoice , and sympathise with those who mourn . Snch , my Brethren , are the threo great Principles of our Order ; may you , as a Lodge , ever bo nnder their blessed influence , and receive that

happiness which their teaching will produce . There was a time , ages and ago , when God said , " Let there be light , and there was light . " Bufc upon what did ifc sbiue ? unon a dark and profound mass which we now call earth . And that light , called forth by the Groat Architect , permeated all creation , and the dark mass began to glow , and living things began to move upon

ifc , and then God made man—we are told , beautiful , perfect , and in His own image ; and then dark days came again , throngh man ' s want of obedience , but throngh all God never forgot his light , and showered it down from time to time j som times more dimly than at others , but always there was light after ho had said it , nntil he himself permitted our Great Prototype , King Solomon , to build the Temple

( from which wo date onr origin ) . And there he dwelt , the true Shekinah , on the Ark of the Covenant between the Cherubiras , in the Holy of Holies , and " the people that walked in darkness saw a great Light . " Now , brethren , I do not for one moment mean to say that you have been walking in darkness , for from the time of yonr birth light has been shining upon yon , and from the time of building the Temple

Masonic brightness has been ours . Ifcs beams hare radiated upon many hundreds of Masonio bodies , and to-day one of them ia abont to fall upon yonr new Lodge , and that beam is to be kept in all its brig ht , ness by its members j ifc will become dim if you neglect your duties , and will burn again with splendour if you fulfil them . Be careful therefore always to keep the lamp trimmed , so that whenever the Great Archi .

tect may come to reckon with you , you may be ready , like certain virgins of old , who took oil in fcheir lamps , and nofc like those whose lamps had gone out when the bridegroom came . The Light yon have to keep burning are those Christian truths and teachings you re . ceived when yon were initiated , passed , and raised . The Oil you have to feed it with are the beautiful tenets and principles which ifc

has been my privilege to-day to bring before your notice . May you cherish them , so thafc your new Lodge . as a body may exemplify " Brotherly Love , Belief , and Truth , " and each member of it fulfil his social duties to the credit of your new society and the Great Architect of the Universe . And now , brethren , for your attention receive my thanks . For your future success and happiness receive

my hearty good wishes . May the principles of our Order go with yon , and your will never be wrong . Choose your joining members care * fully , and if difficulties or opposition should spring up , avoid bitter words . Be pitiful , be courteous . Life is far too short for anything bufc goodwill ! If you see faults in any brother seek to hide them . Try to win his heart with gentle words , for by this divided friendship has ofttimes been united !

" Do all the good you can . Be not severe npon another's faults . Eemember , the Heart ' s the Man . " The Consecration ceremony was then completed , according to established custom , and Lodge was resumed in the second degree . Bro . R . P . Forge , the W . M . designate , was then introduced , and the Grand

Secretary regularly installed him as first Master of the Soufchgate Lodge . After the W . M . had been saluted , the following brethren were appointed as the Officers of the Lodge : —Bros . Francis H . Tibbitts S . W ., Arthur Hancock J . W ., A . Lefeber Treasurer , A . H . Trewinnard Secretary , B . Woodman S . D ., F . Matthews J . D ., E . Butcher I . G ., H . Sadler M . C , J . Cooper Steward , J . J . Whitmarsh

Steward . Bro . Pattison now rose and gracefully acknowledged the services rendered by the Consecrating and Installing Officer , and highly complimented the Grand Chaplain on the ability displayed by him in delivering the oration . He had greafc pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to those brethren who had taken so active a part in the day ' s proceedings , and thafc Bros . Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke ,

Hall , Fenn , Bnss , and Richardson , be elected honorary members of fche Lodge . This proposition having been seconded , was put to the meeting , and carried unanimously . The Grand Secretary , on behalf of his colleagues , thanked the members for the compliment . It had afforded them infinite gratification to officiate on the occasion . They wero intensely gratified with fche general arrangements of the day ,

and congratulated the Lodge on its having secured such desirable pre - mises . Propositions for candidates for initiation and joining were then handed in , and after the expression of hearty good wishes , Lodge was closed . After a short interval , the banquet was served . Tho catering had boen entrusted to Bro . C . G . Slawson , of 736 Old Kent road , * and right well did he carry onfc tho wishes of the Founders that

fcheir gneats should be well entertained . The attendance—a most important item fco tho enjoyment of fcho good things of this life—was all that could bo wished , and all expressed [ their appreciation of Bro . Slawson's efforts . Bro . Forge , on rising to propose tho first coast—tlio Qnocu and the Craffc—reminded the brethren that thoy had many distinguished Masons present , and doubtless they would

prefer hearing them than listening to any lengthened utterances of his . Undoubtedly by so doing they would have an opportunity of acquiring knowledge and instruction , and ha thought ifc desirable they should avail themselves of tho privilege . Ho would therefore afc once call on them to honour tho toast . After the National Anthem , the

VV . M . gave that of tho Grand Master , and " God Bless the Princo of Wales" was sung . With tho toasfc of the Pro Grand Master , tbe Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , was associated the name of Bro . Ambrose Hall Grand Chaplain , and on behalf of the Fast Grand Officers the W . M . would call on Bro .