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Consecration Of Lodge La France. No. 2060.

CONSECRATION OF LODGE LA FRANCE . No . 2060 .

A N application having been made to tho Moot Worshipful the - £ j- Grand Master for a warrant for a Lncliro wherein tho membership shonld be confined to those who claimed French Nationality , the prayer , after receiving fnll consideration , was granted , and Monday lasfc ^ the 20 th instant , fixed as the date for the ceremony of conse . oration . The Cafe Royal , Regent-street , will be the headquarters of the Lodge , and Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke , Grand Secretary of

England , was nominated as the Consecrating Officer . On Monday he waa assisted b y Bros . T . Fenn , President Board of General Purposes , as S . W ., Robert Grey P . G . D . as J . W ., Rev . A . Hall P . G . Chaplain as Chaplain , and Frank Richardson P . G . D . as Director of Ceremonies . Amongst other brethren who were present wore Bros . E . H . Thiellay P . G . S . B . Middlesex the W . M . designate , E . Montennis P . G . S . S . W .

designate , H . Bne J . W . designate , L . A . Mesronze ( Secretary pro tern ) , E . Condelot and other Founders , F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Registrar , Levander P . G . D ., Cubitt P . G . P ., Kenning P . P . G . D . Middlesex , Dunn P . M . 72 , James Stevens P . M . 1426 , Marston P . M . 55 , Wright 1839 , Pendlehury 1056 , Barnne 63 , Burney P . G . D ., Coates 1922 . Matthews Grand Sword Bearer , Dodson P . M . 72 , Cooke P . M . 222 , Hosken W . M . 1820 , F . Binckes P . G . S ., Yialls P . M . 1820 , . Tervis W . M 14

Hopkinson P . M . 14 , Turner 222 , Lake P . M . P . P . G . R . Cornwall , Beyan 1706 , Coiffier 291 ( Celtic , Edinburgh ) , and H . M . Levy P . M . 188 , & o . Lodge having been opened in the three degrees the Grand Secretary explained the special reasons which had indnced the Grand Master to grant the warrant for the Lodge , —there being so many brethren of French nationality permanently residing in London . The usual ceremonial was then proceeded with . The oration , delivered 6 y Rev . Bro . Ambrose W . Hall P . G . Chaplain , was as follows :-

—Brethren , —I bail with feelings of nnmingled pleasure the advent of yonr Lodge to-day , and I rejoice that throngh yonr conrtesyl am permitted to address a few words to the Brethren and Founders npon fche anspioions occasion . My friend the very excellent Grand Secretary has ( as he always does ) spoken to yon so ably and so well npon the nature of yonr general duties , that bnt little seems

left for me to say ; still I am here as officiating Grand Chaplain , and ray office is to point out to yon the nature and principles of oar noble Order . These yon have to carry out at home and abroad , in yonr hearts and among your Masonic brethren ; and I consider ifc a source of congratulation that there should be found a number of Masons from onr sister country to form a Lodge nnder the rule of the

Grand Lodge of England . We live so near together , separated only by what is called fche little " silver streak , " that there shonld be at all times ( as two great nations ) those amicable feelings between ns which are generated in our beautiful rites and ceremonies ; it is true ( and I may speak ifc here ) ;—for the very circumstance of your forming a Lodge where the assistance of the Great Architect of the

Universe is all in all , shows that yon do not join their views ;—it is trne thafc in yonr great connfcry many , and some of fche most influential of onr Masonio brethren , have made such changes that can bufc fill our hearts with sadness , nnd have withdrawn from their Masonic teachings and their Masonic work a Name whioh should be above every name . Bnt , who knows ? even what we

are doing to-day may afc some future time be a help towards their retnrn fco the allegiance of the Great Architect . "A little leaven Ieaveneth the whole lump . " The tiny mustard seed grew into a mighty tree , and the birds , we read , nestled in its branches , and the small beginnings of to-day may produce Masonically a like effect in the changes we deplore in your bright land . God grant they may

Although afc present our guests in Britain , you doubtless , from time to time , visit your own country , and however occupied here , you all , like good sons , look forward to end your days in your mother land ; and when yon go back , and as you go back , yon will I am sure carry with you confirmed opinions of what the Great Architect does for us , and how , under his Almighty care , we are permitted to diffase and

carry out some of the purest principles of piety and virtue ever entrusted to the care of finite beings ; and who knows but that you , Masonio brethren of Lodge La France , may have before yon r . glorious future , in pouring balm upon tho now troubled waters of Masonry ; thafc you may be the "little leaven , " the " grain of mustard seed , " to call back our wandering and mistaken brethren to their fathers ancl

their rest . But , as T said before , my duty is to point out to yon the nnture and principles of Freemasonry , thongh I feel sure yon would not seek to bnild up the superstructure without first making yourselves well acquainted with the foundation upon which you erect it . Masonry teaches you tho evil effects of infidelity ; its foundation is

a belief in the'Creator ; it goes on to enforce the duty we owe to God , our neighbours , and ourselves . Ifc shows ns the value of time ( as in the twenty-four inch gnage ) ; it shows that we must cultivate "brotherly love " —the glory of the Institution ; that we musfc relieve the necessities of others . In fine , thafc we musfc practise not only

thafc " Charity " which thinketh no evil ; bufc that Charity also which inclines our hearts ( out of the abundance which God has given ns ) to succour the wants of others . And here I would , as in duly bound , call yonr attention to the three noble Institutions of the Order—the Boys' School , the Girls' School , uud the Asylum for the Aged ; do

Consecration Of Lodge La France. No. 2060.

\ vhnt yon can for them in vnnr Lodge , both hy fnmishitur Stewards afc the r"sn ^ oHvo Festival * , and strow » thonin ? thoir hands by liberal rnntrihntiitna . Do what yon can both eolloofc ' vely and individually lo carry ont those principles ; onHivato Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . Thon may von hope , when finally summoned , yon may hope to be transferred from your Lodge on earth to tho Grand Temple abovo , there to enjoy for ever the brightest of all Freemasonry , viz ., perfect Light , eternal Charity , and everlasting Peace .

And now to yourselves a few words of friendly caution . You create to-day another impirfcant band of brothers , who are , as years roll on , and T hope for many , to me ° fc and work together in harmony and good will . There must bo no differences , no jealousies , no envyings . Yon will have from time to timo to fill up gaps among your number , as outward circumstances take some , sickness others , or tho last catastrophe of

life claims its prey ; and yon place the acacia sprig npon a brothers rrave . Yon will have , T say , to choose others in thoir places ; be careful how yon make the choice ; soo that the candidate ' s moral and phy . sioal conduct render him likely to bo a kind-hoart ' d companion ; and look also to his general position , i . e ., whether he is likely fco leave those belonging to him in poverty or distress . I say this because I

feel , and with egret , that too manv join us nndor tho idea thafc Masonrj' is to a great extent a " Benefit Soo'Ofcy , " and that thoy may take less concern abont their own personal affairs because the Brotherhood will look well after their widows and children . And so the Brotherhood will , in all cases of unforeseen calamity and distress ; but this shonld never bo relied on . Wo have , it is true , opulence and

woilt . h among ns ; wo have grand and noble Institutions j we have private deeds of Masonic benevolence done daily ; but the applications , as yon will see from studying the statistics , exceed the means at hand , and many to our sorrow mnsfc be and are passed over . And now , vive Lodge La France ! May God speed you in your work to . day ! Yon , my French brethren , descendants of an ancient warlike

race , have pitched yonr Masonio tent in a land of commerce . May you increase and prosper in those great truths and teachings whioh are so well calculated to cement the harmony of two great nations . There have unfortunately been times when the links in the chain of harmony have heen broken . I trnst ifc may nofc be so arrain ; the rivets that secure thom seem more strongly welded now . I read a few days ago in the

Times newspaper a letter signed by Mr . M . Bentham Edwards , where he says : — " It has been my privilege to spend months , nay years , afc a time nnder French roofs , alike in Eastern and Western France ; among Catholics and Protestants , advanced Republicans , faithful adherents of the Empire , and of the House of Orleans ; and I have never found ( setting aside political and commercial interests ) any

feeling bufc that of the warmest sympathy for England . " And he concludes thus : — " We are better liked because we , are better under , stood than formerly ; that is the simple truth of fche matter . Bufc we must live in France , and break bread afc many a hospitable French board before we realise how alike in matters moral , intellectual , and social , the great , generous , unforgetting heart of the noble French

nation is with ns , knit in bonds whioh neither false steps in diplomacy nor selfish commercial interests can over displace , much less sever . " And I agree with him , ancl I believe that Freemasonry will do more to connect and continue this interchange of good fooling and social intercourse than other means thafc can hi offered . But I feel thafc I have now claimed your attention long enongb , and I thank you for giving

me your ear a little space . I have spoken to yon with every desire to impress npon your minds the fraternal good will which actuates us as English Masons in greeting brethren from another land . I shall always cherish and look with interest upon your efforts for the Craffc in this your English Lodges . For half a century I have been attached to the Order , and I have seen nothing connected with it to exceed in

interest our labours of to-day ; and in heart and soul my benison is with you . In conclusion , as your Locige goes on , speak no angry words , for life is too brief for aught but Brotherly Love . Seek to hide a brother ' s faults ; remember , gentle words revive the heart , and oftfcimes mend friendship ' s broken chain , and cause the afflicted to forget his sorrows . Thus walk , my brethren , in your Masonic course ;

" And live in Love , and do To all what good you can ; And if a brother ' s heart's sincere Give him your hand ; be not severe On little faults cr trifles here : The Heart ' s the Man ! "

The other portions of the Consecration ceremony were gone through in regular order . The Lodge was resumed in tbe second degree , and the W . M . elect presented for Installation . A Board of Masters was opened , and Bro . E . H . Thiellay was duly inducted in the ohair by the Consecrating Officer . There were 28 W . M . 's and P . M . 's present . On the readmittance of the brethren the W . M . invested as his

Officers Bros . C . Montennis S . W ., H . Bne J . W ., Mesrouze Secretary , Dubois S . D ., nnd Cadiofc J . D . The election of Treasurer ancl the appointment of l . G . and other minor Officers was postponed . Bro . Church was elected Tyler . Tbe W . M . had much pleasure in testifying tho high appreciation of Lodge La France afc the honour which it had received by the presence of the eminent and

distinguished brethren commissioned by H . R . H . the Most Worshipful Grand Master for its consecration . Ho had the inestimable privilege of proposing as Honorary Members W . Bros . Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke Grand Secretary , T . Fenn President of the Board of General Purposes , Robert Grey P . G . D ., Ambrose Hall Pasfc Grand Chaplain , Frank Richardson P . G . D ., aud H . C . Levander Past G . D ., this proposition was seconded by Bro . Montennis and carried unanimously .

The Grand Secretary having acknowledged the compliment , the W . M . begged to offer tho most sincere and heartfelt thanks of the members to W . Bro . Frank Richardson for the great personal interest he so kindly took in the formation and successful advent of the Locke . He also begged to offer their warmest thanks to the W . M . ' s and brethren of the Tuscan and St . Andrew Lodges respectively , for their valuable support , and proposed the election , as honorary members , of Bro . W . Jaryia G . Steward W . M , of the Ttisoan Lodge ,