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Consecration Of The Anglo-American Lodge, No. 2191.

CONSECRATION OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN LODGE , No . 2191 .

A GATHERING of a peculiarly interesting ancl distinctive character took place on Thursday evening , afc the Criterion , Piccadilly , when the Grand Secretary , Bro . Shadwell H . Gierke , consecrated the An _; lo-Amei-ican Lodge of Free aud Accepted Masons .

A numerous body of brethren assembled at four o ' clock , when tha Grand Secretary assumed the chair , and appointed Bros . Tho .- * . Fonn , President of the Board of General Purposes , to the Senior Warden ' s chair , Dr . Turtle Pisjotb as Junior Warden , Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg as Chaplain , Edgar Bowyer Past ; Grand

Stand . Bearer as Inner Guard . The other brethren present were : — Bros . General Brownrigg , H . D . Sandeman F . A . Philbrick , T . Fenn , Dr . Meadows , J . L . Thomas , H . Trueman Wood ( D . of 0 . ) , P . Cunliffe . Owen , G . Lambert , Col . Saunders , T . H . Tilton , J . C . Parkinson , S . Pope , P . de Lande Lon _ r , Glover , H . Garrod , Con .-Gen . Waller , A . _ I .

Broadley , Prince Ibrahim Hilmay Pasha , VV . A . Baskcomb , Colonel Hare , H . Sadler , Gates , Arnold , Rogers , VV . Groves , Colfcart , G . Kenning , Gen . R . H . Cunliffe , Col . Haldane , J . S . Cumberland , W . Lake , 0 . F . Matier , T . W . 0 . Jones , Meyer , Murray , Hubbard , G . II . Lambert , Dr . Cross , Lennox Browne , G . Plucknett , T . Donald , W .

Crawford , D . Harris , Wooleatnan , A . Woodliffe , R . Banc . ham , J . Williams , Roberts , Chapman , T . R . Watts , Stinsom , Gibson , Edwards , W . H . Baker , Little , W . E . Bush , Major Foster , F . Hurdle , 0 . Grassi , A . Leon , G . P . Bertini , W . W . Lee , W . W . Morgan , G . Coleman , Corby , Harris , A . A . Pendlebury , T . Bull , P . Parsons , Robins ,

Adams , Burnett , Mackway , Schartau , F . Olive , Ralph , C . Sfcuart Lodge , T . Reynolds , M . Pigofcfc , F . Binckes , Knapp Henderson , W . J . Viae , Quitman , Barnard , Soman , T . Bnraside , Perry , Brindley , Burroughs , Bayfcon , F . Gulliford , 0 . F . Ousel , Docker , A . Meyers , Wilkie Jones , Drew , Canderlier , L . Cornean , Williams , W . Penrose ,

Woodruffe , Charles Lambert , J . Rowe , G . Coop , F . W . Frigoufc , A Frigoufc , Wheatley , Fairclough , Jackson , J . T . Rowe , J . Wood , ward , Laundy , Richards , G . J . Dnnkley , H . Rambling , 0 . A Ifcter , George Everett , W . Pentridge , Jnval Webb , & c , &_ . Lodge having been formally opened , the Consecrating Officer , in

explaining the nature of the meeting , said for a very long periodcertainly for the lasfc twenty . five years—there had been resident in the metropolis a large number of brethren whose nationality was American , ancl those brethren , being Masons of standing , were very naturally desirous of exercising their privileges and enjoying social

intercourse in a Lodge where they could meet on a common platform with their English brethren . Considering that there were already upwards of 850 Lodges in fche London district , ifc had for some time past been held that it was inadvisable to grant any new warrants except under very exceptional circumstances . In the present cnse special circumstances bad arisen , and after mature

consideration , a warrant had been sanctioned for tho formation of the Anglo-American Lodge , which he trusted might prove of advantage and mutual benefit to brethren of the United States and England who wero brought in contact with each other , either professionally or commercially . Bro . Brackstono Baker , P . G . D . of England , had been

designated as the firsfc Worshipful Master , and unquestionably this was a most satisfactory selection , inasmuch as thafc worthy brother was fche representative here of a great many Grand Lodges and was well known for his active zeal in Freemasonry . Bro . Adolphus Clark P . M . was tho Senior Warden , aud Bro . Frederick Kedsre the

Junior Warden designate ; and he ( the Consecrating Officer ) asked the brethren if they approved fche names which had been mentioned as the firsfc Officers of tho Lodge . At the conclusion of the address a short , bat admirable oration was delivered by the Rev . Studholme Brownrigg , chaplain who

said—A very distinguished American writer , Judge Haliburton , in describing how , in a far west colony , a crowd of needy adventurers — men who to all outward appearance seemed unlikely to become good citizens—recognising tho value of law aud order , set themselves to work to form rules for their own government , and in a

very short time settled down as a well-organised com tn unity . lie describes all this as only " Sum Slick" can , and adds the following i ' - > mark ¦ — " What people on earth could do thia but tlie Anglo-Saxon ?' What better text for tho few words I have to speak to you to . iii _ . ht . We are welcoming a new Lodge , which hus in view the great object

nf drawing together our American and enr English brethren . Wc both belong to fche great Anglo-Saxon family , and aro both proud ff such descent . Rightly arc we proud . There is no race , not even the old Greek or Roman , which has produced so many great , so many noble , in every station of life . None have faced dangers and

difficult io .. with so much courage * none have been greater in lit . eratare , or art or science . Look at tho world ' s roll call of soldier .., sailors , statesmen , poets , artist . " , philanthropists , and divines , and yon will find thafc . yreat Jisfc full of Anglo-Saxon names . And look ijjso at tho crowd—tho pawns on the great chess board of the T ** - ¦ <> ~ ~— " -- ¦ -

* universe . Whafc people so intelligent , so industrious , so free , so keenl y appreciative of all that is good and true : so justly impatient oi" all that is- base aud dishonest as the people in whose veins * - 'nns the Anglo-Saxon blood ? And yet , brethren , do nofc let u . shut our eyes to the fact that too often the various countries

Consecration Of The Anglo-American Lodge, No. 2191.

and colonies of this great family spend , mis-spend , their great faculties in watching for one another ' s faults , looking out for points of diff .-i _ . nce , rather than in joining hand to hand , and strength fco strength in their work . Perhaps the reason of this is thafc men of the same family are naturally keen in the

preception of one another .- , faults . The failings of our own relations stand out before onr eyes more distinctly than thoso of a stranger . The inconsistencies and the littlenesses , and the peculiarities of our brethren jar more upon our feelings than those of another race . Ifc is fco this reason that I attribute fche f . icb that fche American and fche

Englishman so often misunderstand one another , and aro hindered from realising thafc brotherly affection which does exist though ifc He 3 hidden beneath the surface . You see our faults , and wo see yours . We both of us employ upon one another thafc power of judgment which is given for home nae and not for exercise upon our neighbours .

Intent upon the odious work of criticising our brother's peculiarities we forget thafc in his eyes our imperfections stand out with special clearness . An American speaking or writing about England ; an Englishman speaking or writing about America ; both find it hard fco do so perfectly fairly , because both cannot fail to see too clearly the

points of difference , and both are too apt to enshrine themselves in a fictitious position of infallibility , and from thence to formulate judicial sentences npon the shortcomings of their own kinsmen . Let this unmasonic spirit never find a place in the Anglo-American

Lodge . Let us rather strive to discover whafc is good in each , and to show the world how strong a power for good the Anglo-Saxon race is . Let every man employ the gavel npon his own excrescences , and leave his neighbour to do a liko work for himself . Lsfc ns each

learn from our brother . I believe there is much that an American can teach an Englishman , much also thafc an Englishman can teach an American . And further , do not lob us be ashamed to make use of our brother ' s work . One man ' s skill lies in this direction , another man ' s in the opposite . Oar ancient brethren recognised

this faefc . Every Craftsman was set to do that work which he could do besfc , and whafc he produced was used in conjunction with other work , different in kind bufc no less beautiful . Every work was a masterpiece — it lent beauty to and ifc borrowed beauty from other works . Both in nature and in art

absolute uniformity is impossible •ib is the skilful blending together of good details which is the perfection of every structure . So , brethren , strive in your Lodge to harmonize the peculiar excellencies of our two great •nations , and when the world recognises a society

strong and useful , becanse ifc rises above the narrow limits of prejudice and passion , it will say , with fche writer from whom I have borrowed my sentiment , —What people on earth could do this bat the Anglo-Saxon ?

The consecration ceremony was then proceeded witb , and on its completion Bro . Brackstone Baker was duly installed as Worshipful Master ; he in turn invested his Officers for fche year , as follow : — Bros . Adolphus Clarke S . W ., Frederick Kedge J . W ., J . B . Gumming Treasurer , G . Reynolds Secretary , Consul-G eneral T . Waller S . D .,

J . J . Woolley J . D ., and G . H . Reynold . I . G . The addresses were thon delivered by the Graud Secretary in his usually fluent manner , and on the motion of the Worshipful Master a cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Shadwell Gierke for his kindness in attending and performing tho consecration coromony in such masterly manner .

'the usual compliment of honorary membership was paid to the Grand Officers who took part in the proceedings , and some routine business having been disposed of , Lodge was closed iu form . Subsequently an elegant banquet was partaken of , when the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts wero propose ! from the chair and duly honoured .

In giving tho health of Her Majesty the Queen , fcho Worshipful Master referred to her as the daughter of a Mason , tho mother of Masons , and fche Ltraudmothcr of Masons . She continued to evince a deep interest in Freemasonry , of which she was the Patroness . This was a toasfc which he was sure would heartily commend itself to the

brethren of both nationalities , and he asked them to drink to it with loyalty and enthusiasm . Tho National Anthem having been sung , fcho Worshipful Master proposed the Most Worshipful Grand Master , and in course of his remarks said ifc bad been his good fortune to serve under three Grand Masters of England , namely , fcho

Earl of Zetland , the Marquess of Ripon , aud His Royal Highness the Prinoo of Wales . Ifc was gratify ing to know thab tbe Heir Apparent to the British Crown was certainly more popular than any of his predecessors , and his accession to office had given such an impetus to Freemasonry as ifc had never before received . Bro . A .

Clark Senior Warden nexfc gave the Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of fche Grand Officers Present and Past , and in doinrr so remarked that there never was a mora disinterested body of Grand Officers than those who afc present administered the affairs of Grand Lodge . Tho samo rule applied fco that body as did to tho

members of private Lodges , and unless they pulled together they could expect neither harmony nor success . But iu this respect the Grand Officers worked with the utmost unity and goodwill , and thus the result was eminently s . ti _ . fac . ory to the whole Graft . General Studholme Brownrigg , in reply , said the fact ; of his having

been called upon to do so was a matter of accident , ina . muon as the . Grand Registrar , Bro . Philbrick Q . C ., had not yet been able to put iu an appearance , owing to othor pressing engagements . Ho ( the speaker ) had been -15 years a Mason , and had witnessed during . hat time many consecration . ; but seldom , if over , had he seen the

ceremonies more beautifully rendered than they ' bad been that day . de . oferred to th . Oration which had been delivered by the acting Grand Chaplain , and which had been so , _; ac-iousiy received by 'ho S-rer . h . vii . Ho .-poke of the cordiality of Masonic and national ... t'liu" which existed between English and American Im-thren .

'fho health of tho Wor . hipful Master and s ,. cc .. _ i ; to the Anglo-American Lodge was proposed by the Grand Secretary , who iu the i-nur . e o- hi _ address spoke of the fitness of B * o . Brack . ton _ Baku . * for the position to which ho had been elected , being well-known as iho representative at Graud Lodge of England of ao less than fifteen Grand Lodtres of America . That in itself gavo him a pre-eminent