Consecration Of The Dalhousie Chapter, No. 860.

von , the Earl of Lathom , and Lord Leigh , that it was difficult to find words properly to respond to it . He felt as all other Grand Officers of this Degree did—that to have one ' s name coupled with the names of such noblemen was a great honour , and the Grand Officers ought therefore at all times to be ready and willing to lend a helping hand whenever called upon to assist Royal Arch Masonry . There was no task they took so much pleasure and delight in as the bringing a new chapter into existence . They knew that

great care was taken by those who ruled in Grand Chapter that no chapter was warranted unless properly recommended and attached to lodges which ought to possess a chapter . They were glad to see new chapters all doing good service , and before long to take a great place on the roll of Supreme Grand Chapter . He was quite sure the Dalhousie would in due time take such a place . The Dalhousie Lodge had a foremost place on the roll of Grand Lodge , and he was glad the Royal Arch Masons who belonged to it had taken the necessary steps to perfect the lodge .

Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE proposed " The Principals . " That the founders of the chapter had chosen these three companions for the first year of office was , of course , a very high compliment . The Three Principals were good and true Royal Arch Masons . Comp . Dodson had done excellent service in Masonry for many years . He was an old P . M . of the lodge to which this chapter was attached—indeed , he was the senior P . M .

and father of the lodge—and he had that night been so fortunate as to be run suddenly through the three chairs . He hoped Comp . Dodson remembered all he had told him . ( Laughter . ) However , here he was , a fullblown First Principal in the course of a very few hours . He congratulated him on such a leap—he would not say " in the dark , " but a leap . At the same time , the new chapter might be fairly congratulated also on having such a good and energetic Mason at its head , Comp . Dodson believed that

in a few years every member 01 the Dalhousie Lodge would be a member of the Dalhousie Chapter . He ( Col . Shadwell H . Clerke ) hoped they would . They must remember that the Royal Arch was the completion of the Master Mason ' s Degree , and he thought every M . M . ought in the fulness of time to be a Royal Arch Mason . He was glad that more opportunity was given in the present day than was the case a few years ago for taking the Degree , and therefore for completing the Masonic curriculum .

The M . E . Z ., in responding to the toast , said he had told the companions before that his heart was rather too full for him to make long speeches ; but he had been so impressed with the ceremony of that evening that it really made him feel more on his head than his heels . Comp . Frank Richardson had asked him to repeat the pass words he had received from the chair ; but he would be very much puzzled to do it . He trusted this chapter would prosper , and that Comp . Shadwell Clerke would come to see them when

the chapter was in prosperity , and when it had companions round the board and young members coming forward in the position of exaltees . He had laboured very hard to gain the knowledge he now possessed , and he trusted the Great Architect of the Universe would give him strength to carry the work through , and when Comp . Burleton next year took the chair , that the Dalhousie Chapter would muster not only those brethren who had been proposed as exaltees that night , but fourfold the number .

The M . E . Z . next proposed "The Consecrating Officer , Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , " whose high position in the Arch and the Craft all the companions were aware of . It seemed as if it were only a day or two ago when they were forming the Dalhousie Chapter , and he ( Comp . Dodson ) was made the representative to go and see Comp . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke . He felt a little flurried and dubious at first , but when he met

Comp . Col . H . Clerke he found him a gentleman whom it would please the heart of any one to go and see . Nervousness left one as soon as he began to talk with him . You had only to explain the nature of your visit , and you were at home with him there and then . He thanked Comp . Col . Clerke on behalf of himself and of the other founders of the chapter for his kindness in coming that night to consecrate the Dalhousie Chapter , which

the members of the chapter would never forget . He trusted Comp . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke would live many many years to see the chapter flourish , and that he would come many times to witness the working . Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . S . E ., replying , said it had been a very great and sincere pleasure to him to be there that day to take whatever part fell to his lot in launching this new chapter into existence . He

need scarcely tell the companions that he felt a very deep interest in the Order , and he was only too glad to put his shoulder to the wheel to further its interest . He wished to take this opportunity of expressing his thanks to the other Grand Officers who had been associated with him . He was quite sure that without the assistance of Comps . Simpson , Bowyer , and especially Comp . Richardson , he should never have managed to carry out the ceremony so well . As for himself , he was deeply gratified by the way in which

his official services were always so kindly acknowledged , both in the Craft and in the Arch . Holding a high official position , it was his pleasure , as it was his duty , to do everything he possibly could to further the interests of Masonry , and he could only hope that those efforts were successful . The companions and brethren were kind enough to say they were successful . He could only promise that , so far and so long as he could , he would continue to do all he could to promote the honour and prosperity of Masonry , which he had so much at heart .

The M . E . Z ., in proposing "The Visitors , " said he hoped the visiting companions would forgive all imperfections they might have seen , but he would assure them that the work would be carried out thoroughly when the chapter met for work . The chapter was very pleased to see the visitors and to welcome them on any future chapter evening . He trusted at the first regular meeting the companions of this chapter would be able to show the visitors that the Dalhousie Chapter would keep up the prestige of the

Dalhousie Lodge for its working . Comp . A . TISLEY said they knew that imitation was the sincerest form of flattery , Comp . Dodson and the other Principals had imitated him in initiating a soiree . They had also imitated him in starting a chapter . But they had beaten him that night , because when the St . Dunstan ' s Chapter was consecrated the then G . S . E ., Comp . Hervey , was unable to perform the ceremony . He must say that he never heard the ceremony so beautifully performed as it had been that evening by Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke . The companions had had a great Masonic treat .

Comp . J . BOULTON , J . 898 , and ist A . S . 933 , and Comp . F . WALTERS also responded .

1 he M . E . Z . next gave the toast of * ' The Officers of the Chapter . " The companions , he said , had had no opportunity of seeing the work of the officers yet , but they were all good and true Masons and companions of the Order . The longer the chapter lived the better the officers would be known . The officers of the chapter were members of the Dalhousie Lodge , whom he had worked with for years . He had seen them go through their different

Consecration Of The Dalhousie Chapter, No. 860.

offices . The W . M . of the lodge he had seen go from office to office up to the chair which he now occupied , and he was sure that he would be an ornament to the chapter that had been so well consecrated that ni ght . The other officers would also do all in their power to assist him and the two other principal officers in working the ceremonies they had to perform .

Comp . M . CHRISTIAN , J ., in responding , said he had not expected to be left to respond , as he thought his superior officer , Comp . Burleton , would have been able to stay . However , as he was called upon to reply , he would say he would not trouble the companions with a lengthened speech , but he would simply thank them for the kind way in which they had drunk the toast . The companions shortly afterwards separated .

Consecration Of St. Eilian Mark Lodge, No. 360, At Amlwch.

CONSECRATION OF ST . EILIAN MARK LODGE , No . 360 , AT AMLWCH .

On Tuesday , the 22 nd ult ., the R . W . Bro . Capt . Hunter ( Play Coch ) , Prov . Grand Master , consecrated the new lodge—St . Eilian , No . 3 G 0—at the Castle Hotel , Amlwch . The lodge has been formed by Bro . Owen Thomas ( Neuadd ) , as first W . M ., and the Wardens are Bro ! the Rev . H .

Thomas ( Rural Dean ) and Bro . the Rev . Henry Lloyd ( Amlwch ) , and the petitioners , with Bro . Owen Thomas , being Bro . Dr . T . C . Roden , M . D ., and Bro . J . Lloyd Griffith ( Holyhead ) . Bro . Capt . Hunter was assisted by Bro . Dr . T . C . Roden , D . P . G . M ., and the Prov . Grand Officers , and Bro . Geo . L . Woodley ( Llandudno ) , P . G . Sec , Past G . Stwd . of England , acted as Installing Master .

An address was given by Bro . Capt . HUNTER to the brethren on Mark Masonry , and the great progress the Mark Degree has made in North Wales , and an interesting ceremony followed . The Prov . Grand Chaplains were Bro . the Rev . Hugh Thomas ( Rural Dean ) and Bro . the Rev . Henry Lloyd .

Bro . Williams , Organist of Christ Church , Carnarvon , presided at the organ , and conducted the musical arrangements . Col . Tudor . Prov . Grand Master of Staffordshire ( a Past Grand Warden of North Wales ) , was present . After the consecration the brethren adjourned to the Dinorben Hotel ,

where they dined . Capt . Hunter presided , and was supported on his right by the R . W . P . G . M . of Staffordshire and the W . M ., Bro . Owen Thomas , and on his left by the Prov . Grand Chaplains and the Rural Dean of Llanulian . After a pleasant evening , most of the brethren had to leave by the 7 . 30 train , having to go long distances .

Free Craftsmen Of Edinburgh.

FREE CRAFTSMEN OF EDINBURGH .

A curious work was published at Edinburgh in 1826 , entitled " An Historical Sketch of the Municipal Constitution of the City of Edinburgh . " The name of the author is not stated ; but , as the dedication to the Lord Provost was by permission , we may be assured that the volume is authoritative .

The loss of early charters is a great misfortune for the City ; but it is believed to have been a Royal Burgh in the time of King David I . The interest of the work Masonically , however , is what we have to consider , and so we pass over the learned introduction as to the antiquity of the " Modern Athens . " James I ., it appears , empowered the handicraftsmen to elect a Prams for their different branches , who was called " Deacon , " or Kirk-Master . This was in 1424 ; but two years later the office was abolished , to be again

instituted 1457 in part , and generally restored among the artificers soon after . The office of Deacon was an important one , and carried with it so many privileges , some being considered detrimental in character , that it is declared to have been finally abolished in 1555 . It is curious that if this statute has never been repealed how the office was so soon revived , and as the years rolled onward the Craltsmen had more privileges extended , such as a voice in the election of Magistrates , Council , & c .

The " Decreet-Arbitral " pronounced by King James VI ., 1580 , provides that the Council consists of " theauld Provost , four auld Baillies , Dean of Guild , and Treasurer of the next year preceiding , and three other Merchants to be chosen to them , and also to consist of eight Craltsmen thereof , sex Deakens , and two other Craftsmen , makand in the hail the said Counsel

eighteen persons . The fourteen crafts are thus enumerated : " Chirurgyans , Goldsmyths , Skynners , Furriers , Hammer-men , Wrights , Masons , Tailyeours , Barters , Fleshers , Cordiners , Webslers , Waulkers , Bonnetmakers . " It will be remembered that the Hammer-men and Masons granted a charter to St . Clair of Roslin in 1628 , which has been erroneously termed his appointment as Grand Master of the Freemasons .

No one was allowed "to use merchandice ( 15 S 0 ) or occupy the handiewark of our free Craft within the Burgh , without he be Burgess and Freeman of the same . " The " Collectioun " or fee to the general fund payable by Apprentices , who were not to be bound for a less period than five years , varied , according

to the Craft selected , from twenty shillings to ten ; that of the Masons being , as with the Wrights ( Carpenters ) 13 s . 4 d ., and for their " up-set , " £ 3 6 s . 8 d . ; Merchant Apprentices not connected with either of the Crafts thirty shillings " the day of their binking , " and £ 5 at " his-up-set " ( end of the term ) .

The constant occurrence of such descriptions as " Frie-men , " " Uu-Friemen , " " Frie-Burgess , " is a strong evidence in favour of Bro . Gould ' s contention that /<" ra ; -Mason , means Free to be a Mason , i . e ., Free of the Guild , rather than that the prefix is a corruption of the word Frerc ( Brother ) , as Bro . G . F . Fort contends .

There are many voluminous lables , containing the names of Aldermen and Lord Provosts from 1296 to 1826 , as also other important Officers . The List of Deacon Conveners from 1578 to 1730 is an interesting one , John Milne being noted from 1653-4 and 1657-S , and Andrew Wardrop 1721-2 . The other years were filled in by the Hammermen , Surgeons , Tailors , & c .

John Milne ( or Mylne ) was Deacon of . the Lodge of Edinburgh and Warden from 1636 , and before that year was Master Mason to Charles I . His portrait and particulars of the Milne family of Masons , from the 16 th to the 19 th centuries , will be found in the History of the Lodge of Edinburgh , by the Scottish Masonic Historian ( Bro . D . Murray Lyon ) .

Then follows a reprint of "An Historical Account of the Blue Blanket , or Crafts-Men's Banner , by Alexander Pcnnecuik , Burgess and Guild-Brother of Edinburgh , 1722 , " of which we shall have a few words to say another time .