Consecration.

CONSECRATION .

HUGH OWEN LODGE

A DESIEE having been widely expressed among Poor Law Officers that their Service might have a special Lodge , a Committee was formed to take the necessary steps to obtain a Warrant from Grand Lodge for that purpose ; and it was unanimously determined , with his kind permission , to name the Lodge after Sir Hugh Owen , K . C . B ., the Permanent Secretary of the

Local Government Board . Thus it happened that a distinguished company assembled at the Frascati Eestaurant , Oxford Street , W ., on St . Valentine ' s Day , for the purpose of taking part in the ceremony of consecration . Bro . Edward Letchworth Grand Secretary presided , and was assisted by Bro . Colonel A . B . Cook

P . A . G . D . C . as Senior Warden , Dr . F . Ernest Pocock D . G . D . C . as Junior Warden , Eev . J . Studholme Brownrigg P . G . C . as Chaplain , and Frank Eichardson P . G . D . as Director of Ceremonies . Among those present were the Founders , viz . : —John H . Eutherglen P . M . 1642 W . M ., J . W . Hartley P . M . 1986

I . P . M ., H . G . Holland P . M . 2353 S . W ., E . H . Nicholls J . W

Dr . W . Chapman Gngg P . M . 10 1635 and 1591 Treasurer , H . Eoberts Secretary , J . W . Hunt S . D ., H . Bamsbottom J . D ., J . Elliott Organist , C . G . Eidgway I . G ., E . A . Frith D . C , H . T . Willis and A . E . Lee Stewards , together with E . Brown P . M . 1558 ,

F . G . Soper , H . Tull , J . A . Battersby , J . Claxton , J . E . Musto , T . Badcock , H . C . Eussell , A . A . Hunt , E . C . Cryer , H . T . Kobelt , T . P . Warwick , J . 0 . Glover , G . Clark , J . C . Morgan , C . Spencer , T . W . Norman , M . F . Cadmah , H . D . Aslett P . M . 1892 , and S . Fussell .

VISITORS : —Bros . Col . A . Lockwood , M . P ., P . G . W ., Sir Charles Dilke M . P ., Walter H . Long , M . P ., E . H . Bayley , M . P ., Atherley Jones , M . P ., T . J . Patrick S . W . 2353 , M . M . Huish W . M . 1642 , Thos . J . Bolton S . W . 1687 , Beg . C . Barke P . M . 46 , Barclay Eoberts 503 , William Shurmur P . M . 2374 Prov . G . Tr . Essex , C . B . A . Griffin 2317 , Thos . Hubbard 829 , W . Lawrence W . M . 2168 , Bobt . L . Simmonds Secretary 2168 , James Stephens P . M . 2150

H . Deedman 1929 , John Scannell 1384 , Fred W . Hunt P . M . 163 , A . B . Timothy P . M . 87 , William Curry Treasurer 2331 , George Paxton 742 , J . Gibson 2030 , E . J . Badderley 1624 , C . F . Chamberlm P . M . 355 , Chas . H . Bestow S . W . 2374 , H . C . Cuttress 217 , G . E . Brooking 1604 , E . H . Dowson 1306 , E . Pallihs 742 , Francis Clabon P . M . 1366 , A . A . Millward 2168 , John Bexworthy P . M . 1728 , W . B . Stephens 1642 , James Lee 221 , Ben George

1287 , Alfred Kempton 1287 , E . O . Mulvey 179 2246 , B . J . Morley 2589 , B . Clay 766 , Nathan Bobinson P . M . 55 , J . Wells P . S . G . W . South Australia , H . Massey P . M . 619 1928 , Edward White P . M . 177 , H . Sadler G . Tyler , Frank Wint I . P . M . 101 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , W . J . Harris P . M . 1273 , Herbert Black P . M . 1273 , George Goble P . M . 1273 , Henry Morris P . M . 1273 , Nevil H . Simmonds Secretary 2384 , P . Newbould P . M . 426 , T . P . Warwick J . D .

145 , H . B . Spaull S . D . 145 , John Larkin S . W . 10 , B . Hendry 1767 , W . H . Neville P . M . 1767 , Lewis Beale S . W . 1767 , E . C . Piper 2030 , Wm . F . E . Stephens 1567 , C . J . Taylor P . M . 1987 , B . T . West 1744 , F . Deeiing P . M . 2384 , G . Eade 1677 , B . J . Barnsdell 2373 , A . J . Brown 1063 , W . J . Barlow 1063 , C . M . Collingwood 1437 , C . B . Shelsvvell W . M . 2384 , A . G . Goodinge P . M . 1818 , A . J . Brown P . M . 1461 P . Prov . G . S . B . Hants .

The beautiful ceremony was splendidly rendered by the Grand Officers above mentioned , and its impressiveness was materially enhanced by the musical arrangements admirably carried out by Brother Herbert Schartau P . Prov . G . Organist of Middlesex . Bro . John Henry Eutherglen , Superintendent Eegistrar of Kensington , and a Past Master of 1642 , was then

installed as first Master of the Lodge , and appointed his Officers as stated in the list of Founders . After the addresses had been given by Brother Letchworth the W . M . presented him with a Founder ' s jewel , on behalf of the members , as a mark of their thanks and appreciation of his services in consecrating the Lodge .

It may be well to remark here that the jewel , which has been designed by Bro . Eutherglen , is intended to express the functions of the Poor Law , for whose Officers the Lodge has been specially established . The principal figure represents " The

State " in its aspect of affording relief to the destitute , as typified by the aged and infirm man , and the widow with her infant in the foreground ; the orphan is represented as being taken more directly under her sheltering protection , while the building at the back indicates the form of " Indoor Belief . "

Bro . Letchworth suitably returned thanks , and expressed the pleasure that his companions and himself had in taking part in the auspicious ceremony . It was also resolved that the Consecrating Officers , together with Bros . Sir Chas . Dilke , Col . A . Lockwood , Walter H . Long , T . H . Bayley and Atherley Jones > be made Honorary Members of the Lodge .

A letter was received from Sir Hugh Owen , thanking the Officers for the honour done him by naming the Lodge after him , and heartily wishing them success . The letter was ordered to be entered on the Lodge minutes . Several names were

proposed as candidates for initiation and joining membership . A Committee was appointed for the purpose of framing the byelaws to be submitted to Grand Lodge ; and , the W . M . having received the congratulations of the Visitors , the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to the banquet room . The customary Loyal and Masonic toasts were given with somewhat unusual fervour by the W . M ., and if the subsequent

Consecration.

speeches savoured something too much of politics for a Masonic meeting , it must not be forgotten that the majority of the company were Poor Law Officers , and that a Bill largely affecting their interests is now before Parliament .

In submitting the toast of the Grand Officers , the W . M . took occasion to present Brother Colonel A . B . Cook with an illuminated testimonial , in acknowledgment of his services in assisting the Founders to obtain their Warrant .

Brother Cook , in reply , said he little thought he should be present that day , and still less that he should be the recipient of a testimonial for his small service . As a Chairman of Committee and a member of a Board of Guardians he never regretted his connection with the officials of the Local Government Board and he hoped that meetings such as this would cement and strengthen the ties that bound them together .

Dr . Ernest Pocock also responded , and said that as a Poor Law Officer it had afforded him much pleasure to be present . He would have liked to have been one of the Founders , but circumstances had intervened . He thought the Lodge had a great future before it , and he should watch its progress with much interest .

Brother Edward Letchworth acknowledged the toast of the Consecrating Officers , and thanked the Brethren for their kind reception . He . felt sure that under the able and generous direction of the W . M ., who had great experience in the Craft , the Lodge would take a proud place among the other metropolitan Lodges .

Bro . Sir Charles Dilke proposed the Worshipful Master , and said he was sorry that so good a toast had such a wretched Mason to propose it . He had been initiated about eighteen years ago with Bro . Eutherglen , and had since been associated with him in various capacities , so that he knew what an efficient Poor

Law Officer he was . He knew that politics were excluded , but he could not help wishing that the House of Commons could be turned into a Masonic Lodge , so that it would be properly tyled , and no one would know what went on inside . He considered it

quite right that so important a body as Poor Law Officers should have a Lodge , and he thought no better title could have been selected than that of Sir Hugh Owen , as no name stood higher or was better beloved than his among the valuable public servants of the country .

Bro . Eutherglen returned thanks . He was quite aware of the deep sense of his responsibility , although no apology was necessary for founding such a Lodge , and he quite agreed with Bro . Sir Charles Dilke that the name of Sir Hugh Owen was the most suitable . Forty years ago Charles Dickens had depicted

Mr . and Mrs . Bumble as a type of Poor Law Officer , but all was altered now . Constant intercourse with the poor often engendered hardness of heart , and blunted one ' s sympathies , but Freemasonry would correct all that , especially if the Brethren would practise charity , the real charity of St . Paul . He hoped the Lodge would

be distinguished in this connection . He should go up as a Steward at the next Girls School Festival , and looked to them for assistance .- He also hoped that during his year of office he might raise a sufficient sum to found a " Hugh Owen " scholarship for Girls , in gratitude to the founders .

Colonel Lockwood in a humourous speech responded for the visitors , and thanked the Brethren for their pleasant entertainment . They had been right royally welcomed , and he heartily wished them success and prosperity .

Bro . Nathan Eobinson , L . C . C ., expressed his great admiration of the grand ceremony in the Lodge , and the excellent manner in which the W . M . had invested his Officers . He had long been connected with the Poor Law , and had been a Guardian for many years . He was glad to be present , and he hoped that the Lodge which had such a jubilant infancy might have a ripe old age .

Bros . Grigg Treasurer , Holland S . W ., and Nicholls J . W . responded for the Officers , and the Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close .

It may be mentioned , in connection with the consecration of the Lewisham Lodge , No . 2582 , reported last week , that the working tools were presented to the Lodge by the W . M ., a very handsome Lodge banner , designed by Bro . W . H . Kendrick , by Dartmouth Lodge ; a jewel by Bro . A . Caddick ; a charity box by Bro .. Hadley ; and wands for Wardens by Bro . Eeynolds .

Brother O . E . Eiche W . M . of the Woodgrange Lodge , No . 2409 , had the gratification of finding that the second annual ball arranged by his Lodge , for the 5 th inst ., proved a complete success , and it is likely that the West Ham Hospital will be

benefited by the financial result . About 250 ladies and gentlemen were present , and enjoyed the pleasure of the festive dance , there being a brilliantly decorated hall , a grand floor , and all that could be desired in the way of incentive , as Brother Dan Godfrey ' s orchestral band supplied the music .