Consecration Of The Chough Lodge, No. 2264.

General Lord John Taylonr J . G . W . said ho folt highly complimented in being called upon to respond . The W . M . of tho Chough Lodgo had said it was laid clown iu their Lodge that the speeches should be distinguished by brevity and point . He cortaintly sbonld keep to the brevity . On behalf of those very distinguished brethren tho Pro

Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master , as well as for the Present and Past Grand Officers , he returned his very sincere thanks for the kind way in which the Worshipful Master had proposed the toast , and for the cordial manner in which the brethren had received it . The Worshipful Master next proposed the Consecrating Officer Bro .

Col . Shadwell H . Clerke Grand Secretary . Nothing could be more difficult than to tell a brother to his face what you think of him , but that was a task he had to perform in the presence of their Consecrating Officer . Among men of tho world it was looked upon aa a little out of form to speak tho truth of a brother when he was

present . Well , it was a good rule to say what was pleasant to friends to their face , and then what was bad of them behind their backs . Bnt in this instance he wished to say what was good of Col . Clerke and in his presence it was very difficult . However , as no Mason should neglect his duty , it was right he should tell their gallant friend

that the Chough Lodge was much indebted to him for tho magnificent style in which he had consecrated the Lodge . The brethren learned from it the dignified order of conducting business , and how they should always do everything decently . The tonching and feeling way in whioh Col . Clerke performed the work would not be forgotten by

those present . His noble example they would imitate . He would now call upon the brethren to drink his health , and wish him all tho happiness he so richly deserved . Col . Clerko in acknowledging the toast said , as a brother of a somewhat unsually modest and retiring disposition , he could scarcely tell tho brethren how much he had been

taken aback by the remarks of their W . M . In vain he had suggested that he had better retire from the room for a few moments , but the W . M . would not listen to him , consequently ho had still to sit and hear all this—abuse . Joking apart , be felt greatly flattered by the far too high encomiums whioh the W . M . had beon

good enough to bestow npon him . As a matter of dnty , as well as inclination , ho was bound to do his best ; he had done his best , he hoped to the satisfaction of the brethren . More no one could do ; but he must say he could not take all the credit to himself ; no one could be more sensible than he of the assistance of hi 3 distinguished

colleagues—tho Grand Chaplain , who gave them a charming and unconventional oration ; the J . G . W . Lord John Taylour , Bro . Philbrick , Bro . Richardson , without whom he could do get on ; he acted as Director of Ceremonies ; and Bro . Hobbs , who guarded the door most efficiently . With their assistance , he managed to get through the ceremony . The

Grand Officers were gratified , one and all , with the kind reception given them ; they thanked the brethren for the recognition their services had had . They trusted the Lodgo had a grand future before it ; as he said in the Lodge , they had a magnificent field to work npon , a fine musical society , of 600 members , all bound together ; all

men of refinement naturally , or they would not be musical men ; and if out of these materials they did not make a magnificent Lodgo , it would be their own fault . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke again roao ; the last time he spoko he made a personal remark ; ho was now a rover , and could talk of something outside his own personality .

The task was a very agreeable one , because it fell to his prerogative to propose the health of tho worthy brother who , by the universal suffrages of the members of tho Chough Lodge , now occupied the ohair as its first W . M . In had been on very many occasions his lot to propose the health of Masters on the night of their installation ;

he had proposed the health of Masters on the night of the consecration of their Lodges , and he did it with great satisfaction , because he felt it was a peculiar toast . He had often said that while it was an honour to a brother to work up in Lodges to the top , and get more or less by seniority , it was an unusual privilege to be the first among his

equals and among the founders of a Lodge , to be selected by them to take the lead on the night of a consecration . It showed that the brother must be looked on by them as being the most deserving and fit man to take that position . It was always an exceedingly great compliment to be the first Master , and therefore he congratulated tho

W . M . of tho Chough Lodge on his proud position ; he had succeeded to a noble heritage ; he ought to have shortly a large clientele ; he had good men around him now , and it would be his own fault if he did not have a large number in the Lodge . He was a P . M . of nine or ten years' standing , had had experience , had gone through the

mill as it were , and the year would be a good one under his management . Their good brother in the chair would do all he could , and that was a great step towards f urthering its success . He ( Colonel Clerke ) would point out one little matter to show that tho W . M . 'a whole soul and heart was in it . He had the pleasure of

hearing in tho Lodge tho first name proposed for initiation waa that of tho W . M . ' s son . It spoko volumes when tho W . M . proposed his son on a first night ; it showed ho was going to do hit ) level host . At the time ho congratulated , tho Lodgo on having Bro . Edwards for its first W . M ., he congratulated Bro . Edwards on being in that proud position . Tho W . M ., in roply , thought he ought to say ,

Oh wad some power the giftie gi' us , To seo oursels as ithors see us . " Bro . Colonel Clerke had been most flattering in painting hia portrait , still he hoped it waa a likeness . Col . Clorku ' s kind remarks took two forms , one which he must pass without comment , and tho other which

he must notice . . The first rolated to hiui 3 elf , but the remarks relating to his duties ho must say a few words upon . The advice Col . Clerke had given him , ho sjhould , with tho aid of tho Great Architect of the Universe , try so to follow , that he hoped when at tho ond of his venr

ol olhce he handed his gavol to iiis successor tho brethren would say , ' ¦ ' ¦ Well done , good aud faithful acrvaut . " He hoped to conduct tho Lodge with all the dignity whioh befitted his ollice , without levity , j but with a full appreciation of tho importance of his duties . Tho duty of initiation , and tho initiation of his own son waa no light duty . He would endeavour to feel that responsibility , aud if ho

Consecration Of The Chough Lodge, No. 2264.

failed it would not be for want of attention , or for want of trying ; it would only be from want of capacity . If anything went wrong the brethren must put it down to his want of ability . He mnst say , with Shakespeare , " In thanks lam a very beggar . " Unfortunately wo passed through life without sufficient knowledge of onr frieuds

and acquaintances , and without their knowing anything of us . These communications gave a mutual opportunity of onr showing what we thought of them , and their showing what they thought of us . Ho thanked them heartily for drinking the toast . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton P . G . W . proposed Prosperity to the Chough Lodge .

Bro . Saxelby Treasurer replied ; If the Chough Lodge should be anything like the success the Chough Musical Society had been , they would in a few years have reason to congratulate themselves on achieving a great success . Tho Musical Society had been a success .

He had beon on its Committee from tho beginning , aud ho knew the efforts that had been used to make the Society a success . Those efforts would bo continued on behalf of the Lodge . There is among the brethren a de 3 i ' ro that it should become one of the first iu

London . He know very woll that sentiment had been expressed at their meotings by every fonuder , and if they could do that they would show thoir appreciation of the kind terms in which this toast had been proposed . For the Visitors Bro . Griffiths replied ; ho could look back when , 30 years ago , he was a Master in the Craft , aud remembered

how ho had enjoyed the Craft in all its phases . Ho conld remember when not long ago he was Master of the Earl of Morniugton Lodge , a musical society , and its success had beon maintained . He had visited many Lodges ; he had seen tho consecration of Lodges ; but he never saw a more charming performauco than that by tho Grand Secretary

that evening . He was sure the elements of the Lodgo would r- * "ble it to be a success . The Orpheus Lodgo he was also a member of , and the elements of that Lodgo were the same . Every visitor of the Chongh Lodge would feel he was coming not only to an enjoyment of the duties of the Craft , but to an enjoyment of harmony , which the

members of the Lodge could afford . Bros . Michael Watson and Charles Body also replied . Bro , Philbrick noxt said it was a very difficult task indeed to interrupt harmony , but he hoped the brethren would forgive him for doing so . In the speeches that had been dilivered they had been told that brevity wa 3 the soul of wit ; witty

had been the speeches , but eloquent had been tho songs . And now he was about to trespass upon tho time of the brethren by asking them to listen to somethiug uumelodious , but ho must obey the command of the W . M ., and therefore he rose to propose the Founders and Officers of the Lodge , who , he was sure , would fulfil all those

good wishes that had been so well and eloquently expressed for them . Bro . Walter B . Marcus S . W ., in reply , said Bro . Philbrick had laid down certain lines for the guidance of tho brethren which coincided with what the founders of the Chough Lodgo had laid down for themselves , which was to make their Lodge a success , the talk of the

City , and of the West-end also , and if the Grand Officers would only do as they had hinted—pay the Lodge a visit from time to time—he was sure they would make it what they proposed . He could aafoly promise tho W . M . that the Officers would respond to his wishes with alacrity aud do all they could to mako his year of office the most

successful of any W . M . ' s For himself , ho had so far endeavoured to do all he possibly could and ho knew all the other Officers had tried very hard , and had left nothing undone which they thought would conduce to success . They hoped the success with which they had started would continue , and that they would bring forward a largo

number of truo men who desired to join the Chough Lodge . The W . M . then gavo the Masonic Press , to which ho attribu : ed much of tho success of the Masonic Charitable Institutions . Before iho Masonic Press took these Institutions up , Lodges used to be content

with giving small sums ; now , through the discreet and judicious way in which the Masonic Press hnd presented the best objects of Freemasonry , the sums contributed were very large . Trio toast was acknowledged by Bros . Massey and Morgan . Tho Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

Consecration Of The Rye Lodge, No. 2272.

CONSECRATION OF THE RYE LODGE , No . 2272 .

HIS Royal Highness the Grand Master having issued his warrant for the establishment of this Lodge last July , the founders and their friends assembled at the Peckham Public Hall , Ryc-lauo , on Mouday last , for tho purpose of witnessing the ceremonies of consecration aud installation of the first Worshipful Master . Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke P . G . D . Grand Secretary was the

Consecrating Officer , being assisted by Bros . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Registrar as S . W ., Dr . Turtle Pigott P . G . A . D . C . as J . W ., Rev . G . W . Weldon P . G . C . as Chaplain , Frank Richardson P . G . D . as D . C , and Mostyn Pigott aa I . G . Among those present wore Bros . J . W . Dowsnap W . M . designate , Williams Cock S . W . designate , Frederick Dunn J . W . designate , Fj ,. . . Dresser .. Rojpr ^ . L . F . Littoll , II . Sadler

Grand Tylor , II . Massey , F . Hilton , Alf . Bannister , J . Alsopp , T . C . Corpe , Johu Newton , S . Wood , Collier , F . T . Dubois , Cray , NightingtAa , Warner , Castlcdino , Philps , Given field , Warner , and many others , forming a goodly company . Tho brethren having assembled in tho Lodgo room , tho Consecrating Officers wore duly announced , Col . Clerke beinu- escorted to tho ohair by the D . C . Tin

above-mentioned Grand Officers were then appointed pro ram , and tho Lodge duly opened iu tho throe degree ? . A hymn , vas .-. ung , and lite Consecrating Officer addressed the brethren oa tho nature of tho meetin !? , afterwards calliiur upon tho Chaplain to givo tho opening

prayer . Tho brethren ot ' the now Lo lgo were arr urged in order while tho D . C . read the petition aud warrant . The brethren having ei . rrnifleJ thoir approval of tho Officers to bo appointed , the President called noon the Ch . ' ^ ffiu ' n to give the oration . This fonsiV . oi of a

ithort but highly impressive address » y Lav . Liu . Weldon on the nature and principles of the Institution . An anthem , the words of which were taken from 133 rd Psalm , was then smu ; , and the first portion of tho Dedication Ptayer given ; the brethren turned to tho cadfc , while the Consecrating Officer delivered the invocation ,