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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Craft Masonry.
The W . M . first proposed "The King and the Craft , " and said that the great Oueen whom they mourned had been succeeded bv that illustrious Prince who for more than 25 years reigned over the Craft . To his Majesty King Edward VII . their loyal devotion was due , and would be ungrudgingly paid . Tliey trusted the Great Architect would prolong his reign for many a year over a nation united under his sceptre . "The M . W . the G . M . " was next given by the W . Master , who said that his Majesty the King had promised to continue to take a deep interest in the affairs of the Craft , and no better earnest could be found than in the choice of his brother as the M / VVG . M . '
_ „ . ., . ... The W . M . then proposed " The M . W . the Pro Grand Master and the G . Officers . " He said their Fraternity was highly favoured in the great personages who had been selected to fill high offices , and especially were they fortunate in the M . W . the Pro G . Master , who had done that lodge the honour of visiting them that night . Often as that toast had been proposed from the chair of a London lodge , he believed he was right in saying that seldom , if ever , had it fallen to the happy lot of a W . M . of a London lodge to receive the Pro G . M . in person . Those who had attended Grand Lodge had seen the dignity , ability , and courtesy with which Earl Amherst performed the duties of
his high office . He was sure he expressed , however inadequately , the sentiments of the members in tendering to the M . W . the Pro G . M . a very cordial and hearty welcome , and in saying how much they appreciated the honour paid to an ancient lodge by coming amongst them . The Pro G . M . was supported , as he should be , by some of the most eminent of the Grand Officers . Amongst those present were Bros . Strachan , K . C , G . Reg . ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., upon whom devolved the important duties of the aged G . D . C . ; D . Mayer , S . G . D . ; Fitzroy Tower , D . G . D . C ; and Percy Soper , G . Steward . They were also favoured with the presence of many
P . G . Officers , the lodge numbering many amongst its own members . These included the energetic Treasurer , Bro . Hall , P . G . S . B ., and the indefatigable Secretary , Bro . F . West , P . G . D . Another brother , whose genial presence lightened their hearts , was Bro . Hugh Mackintosh , P . A . G . D . C . There were also two brethren who illustrated the opposite sides of musical thought—the operative and ecclesiastical—Bros . Ganz , P . G . O ., and Hoyte , P . G . O . The Grand Officers , while not unmindful of the dignity of their office ,
were always ready to give instruction to the brethren in the lower ranks . The M . W . the Pro Grand Master said : I am extremely obliged to the W . M . for the kind manner in which he has proposed my health and that of the Grand Officers and to you in this lodge for the kind manner in which you have received this toast . Of course , I ought to make myself out a martyr to duty , but after your kind reception I can only plead in return the arduous post I happen to fill . Although the duties I am called upon to fill arejsomewhat onerous , they are very pleasant indeed . No great
BANQUET ROOM OF THE ROYAL SOMERSET HOUSE AND INVERNESS LODGE , NO . 4 . Photo by Fradelle and Young , Regent St ., W .
society like ours can possibl / go on unless a certain number of brethren take some trouble about it . Your lodge could not go on unless the W . M . and officers took some trouble , and Grand Lodge equally could net go on unless those called upon to do official work took some trouble about its affairs ; and surely when that trouble is exercised on behalf of the welfare of a great body like ours it is a work of pleasure as well as a work of some trouble . With our increase in numbers and enormous increase of influence a heavy duty devolves upon me and those at the head of the Craft . As
the Craft was handed over to us in a thoroughly prosperous condition , whatever dim * culties we may encounter and whatever work wc may have to do , we shall hold that star before us , to hand over the affairs of the Craft in no less prosperous condition than when we were called upon to take office . When the Grand Master was . installed we had some 1200 lodges , we now number 2500 . A contribution to our Charities of a sum ol £ 1000 was then something to be proud of , and I was immensely congratulated on a total of £ 4000 . Now , if we only got that , the Institutions would fare but badly indeed ;
£ 15 , 000 , £ 20 , 000 , £ 25 , 000—50 it goes on , and the sums subscribed indicate the increase in our monetary affairs as the Craft grows greater and greater . All the Grand Officers standing round me have their reward , for whenever we come amongst our brethren we find our labours are recognised in the most kindly way , and we know we have the support and the sympathy of all the brethren . Wc know there is no brother from the first to the last in the Craft —from the Grand Master to the Entered Apprentice initiated yesterday—' . here is no
brother who does not wish well to the Craft and do his best to support us in our duties . There are one or two matters about which I should like to say a few words in such a representative gathering as this . Ever since that glorious success we had at the Albert Hall , the Centenary ot the Boys' School , when £ 140 , 000 was the result announced , there had been a constant desire on the part of some outside the Craft for our help . I will give you a case in point . Only the other day , very soon after her Majesty's death , I got a l « Uer from a high dignitary in the church who is justly respected . He said " Surely the Masons of England would like to initiate some memorial to her Majesty ' s name and what
numoiial could be better than a stained glass window in my cathedral ? " I said we had our Charities to support and we had heavy calls upon us—having something . "" i . £ 50 , 000 to provide for them during the year—and although some might individuall y subscribe to the window , 1 could hardly sanction an official appeal on behalf of an object of that kind . It is all very well for the brethren of the provinces to do something for their respective sacred edifices and cathedrals—ind I am Th ' ° ^ some ^ ^ something for these buildings to make them more beautiful , 'hat is a private business , but if we were once to allow official appeals to be made for "iese objects , where should we end ? There would not be a single clergyman whose
Craft Masonry.
church was out of repair but would soon discover that some distinguished Freemason had slumbered through the sermon , and therefore the Freemasons should help . It devolves upon us at the head to guard the purses of the Craft in these matters . We must occasionally , I am afraid , say "No , " and say "No " very decidedly . Grand Lodge , out of its accumulated funds , may vote a sum for a special object—such as a National Memorial—but anything else would be injurious to the interests of Freemasonry . There is also , side by side with that , a growing tendency , to ask the servicesof those holding high rank in the Craft on every possible occasion . We are continually asked
to lay foundation-stones with Masonic honours . If it is the first stone of a Misonic temple or anything connected with the Masonic Order , well and good . Freemasonry may well step in there , and the high officials take upon themselves to lay the stone with Misonic honours . We who hold office ought to carefully guard ourselves against being drawn into the performance of these ceremonies , unless upon very special occasions , whether Masonic , or of large public utility . These are two of the things that have been growing up lately , and I am glad to have the opportunity of addressing so large and representative a gathering as we have to-day . These are two things we must guard against , and I
trust we shall have unanimous support in the lines I have shortly laid down to you this evening . One word personally . I am much obliged to you for your kind hospitality . I ought to have come here on the night of the installation of your W . Master , but we were placed in deep mourning shortly after the death £ of her Majesty , and I could not attend such a meeting , as the installation of a VV . Master would be , so soon after her Majesty ' s death . I asked the W . Master to give me another chance , and I am glad to be amongst you , and visit one of the oldest lodges on our roll , and hear the excellent work of the W . Master in the chair . Although I did not come in for the whole of the
ceremony , it was enough to assure me how perfectly he had got up the work . If you never get a worse W . Master you need never be ashamed of the working . I hoped to have unearthed some peculiarity of working ; and I should be very sorry indeed to see these ceremonies reduced to one dead level of uniformity . I have seen the curious jewels of your lodge , which tell of strange old days and customs , and I hope your officers will wear them in a most prosperous and happy lodge . Let me , in return , drink " Prosperity to the Somerset House and Inverness Lodge , " and again thank you very much for your kind reception .
Bro . J . Strachan , K . C , G . Reg ., in proposing "The Health of the W . M .. " said he felt honoured that at his first visit to this lodge he should have been entrusted with the gavel to propose a toast which was bound to be received with enthusiasm by the members . From the work witnessed in the lodge it was evident they had the right man in the chair in Bro . Devonshire . The W . M . was not only well-known to them by his own merits , but was the worthy son of a worthy sire , who held the office of P . G . D . for
remain by Immemorial Constitution . In conjunction with Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 , and two other lodges which had ceased to exist , they formed the Grand LiJge in 1717 . Their ancient lodge was at one time an operative lodge , probably before th : Grand Mastership of that great man who had done so much in erectin ; stately edifices—Sir Christopher Wren . He regretted that no peculiarities of ritual survived , but the lodge had some peculiarities of a negative character . The warrant was not in the keeping
some time , and was also Treasurer of the lodge . They would all , therefore , drink to the health , prosperity , and happiness of the W . M . and an excellent year of office . Bro . R . L . Devonshire , G . Stwd . . , W . M ., having thanked the Grand Registrar , said they were all indebted to him for his interesting speech . He was deeply sensible of the honour paid him in having the toast proposed in such warm and felicitous language . It must always be a great honour , and one not lightly to b ; prized , that a Mason should be placed in the chair of his lodge , but he was peculiarly alive to the responsibility of the position he was permitted to occupy as W . M . of one of the two lodges which still
of the Worshipful Master , because there was no warrant . Another thing was they omitted to do that which every careful lodge did ; they never signed their minutes . It was a peculiar pleasure for him to be W . M . of this lodge . His father was an old member , and on two separate occasions filled the ollice of W . M . It was his ambition , it was his duty , to endeavour to maintain and uphold the reputation and honourable traditions of this ancient lodge , and if during his year assisted by those able and experienced Masons who he had the good fortune to count as hi ] officers , he should attain some success , he should be amply rewarded .
The Visitors" was next given and responded to by Bro . Llewellyn Evans , from the Prov . Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire . Amongst the distinguished company present were Bros . Earl Amherst , M . W . Pro G . M . ; J . L . Thomas , P . A . G . D . C ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; F . Richardson , P . G . D . ;
J . Strachan , K . C , G . Reg . ; Sir A . Trendell , C . M . G ., P . A . G . D . C .: C . F . Matier , P . G . S . B . ; J . C . Fitzroy Tower , D . G . D . C ; Sir G . D . Harris , P . G . D . ; J . D . Langton , P . D . G . D . C . ; Fredk . West , P . G . D . ; Gresley Hall , P . G . S . B . ; Rev . A . W . Oxford , P . G . D . ; Hugh Mackintosh , P . A . G . D . C . ; Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . O . ; Stephenson Hoyte , P . G . O . ; C . B .-lton , P . G . U . ; E . E . Harding , P . A . G . D . C . ; T . P . Griffin , P . G . D . ; H . Bue , P . G . S . B . ; W . II . Cummings , P . G . O . ; Sir W . N . Abdy , Bart ., P . G . D . ; E . A . Smith , P . D . G . D . C ; D . Mayer , S . G . D . ; Percy Soper , G . Stwd . ; R . L . Devonshire , G . Stwd ., W . M . ; and many others .
A choice selection of music was performed under the direction of Bro . Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . Org ., assisted by Bros . Herbert Thorndike , Senor Guetary , and Stevenson , Hoyte , P . G . Org .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Craft Masonry.
The W . M . first proposed "The King and the Craft , " and said that the great Oueen whom they mourned had been succeeded bv that illustrious Prince who for more than 25 years reigned over the Craft . To his Majesty King Edward VII . their loyal devotion was due , and would be ungrudgingly paid . Tliey trusted the Great Architect would prolong his reign for many a year over a nation united under his sceptre . "The M . W . the G . M . " was next given by the W . Master , who said that his Majesty the King had promised to continue to take a deep interest in the affairs of the Craft , and no better earnest could be found than in the choice of his brother as the M / VVG . M . '
_ „ . ., . ... The W . M . then proposed " The M . W . the Pro Grand Master and the G . Officers . " He said their Fraternity was highly favoured in the great personages who had been selected to fill high offices , and especially were they fortunate in the M . W . the Pro G . Master , who had done that lodge the honour of visiting them that night . Often as that toast had been proposed from the chair of a London lodge , he believed he was right in saying that seldom , if ever , had it fallen to the happy lot of a W . M . of a London lodge to receive the Pro G . M . in person . Those who had attended Grand Lodge had seen the dignity , ability , and courtesy with which Earl Amherst performed the duties of
his high office . He was sure he expressed , however inadequately , the sentiments of the members in tendering to the M . W . the Pro G . M . a very cordial and hearty welcome , and in saying how much they appreciated the honour paid to an ancient lodge by coming amongst them . The Pro G . M . was supported , as he should be , by some of the most eminent of the Grand Officers . Amongst those present were Bros . Strachan , K . C , G . Reg . ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., upon whom devolved the important duties of the aged G . D . C . ; D . Mayer , S . G . D . ; Fitzroy Tower , D . G . D . C ; and Percy Soper , G . Steward . They were also favoured with the presence of many
P . G . Officers , the lodge numbering many amongst its own members . These included the energetic Treasurer , Bro . Hall , P . G . S . B ., and the indefatigable Secretary , Bro . F . West , P . G . D . Another brother , whose genial presence lightened their hearts , was Bro . Hugh Mackintosh , P . A . G . D . C . There were also two brethren who illustrated the opposite sides of musical thought—the operative and ecclesiastical—Bros . Ganz , P . G . O ., and Hoyte , P . G . O . The Grand Officers , while not unmindful of the dignity of their office ,
were always ready to give instruction to the brethren in the lower ranks . The M . W . the Pro Grand Master said : I am extremely obliged to the W . M . for the kind manner in which he has proposed my health and that of the Grand Officers and to you in this lodge for the kind manner in which you have received this toast . Of course , I ought to make myself out a martyr to duty , but after your kind reception I can only plead in return the arduous post I happen to fill . Although the duties I am called upon to fill arejsomewhat onerous , they are very pleasant indeed . No great
BANQUET ROOM OF THE ROYAL SOMERSET HOUSE AND INVERNESS LODGE , NO . 4 . Photo by Fradelle and Young , Regent St ., W .
society like ours can possibl / go on unless a certain number of brethren take some trouble about it . Your lodge could not go on unless the W . M . and officers took some trouble , and Grand Lodge equally could net go on unless those called upon to do official work took some trouble about its affairs ; and surely when that trouble is exercised on behalf of the welfare of a great body like ours it is a work of pleasure as well as a work of some trouble . With our increase in numbers and enormous increase of influence a heavy duty devolves upon me and those at the head of the Craft . As
the Craft was handed over to us in a thoroughly prosperous condition , whatever dim * culties we may encounter and whatever work wc may have to do , we shall hold that star before us , to hand over the affairs of the Craft in no less prosperous condition than when we were called upon to take office . When the Grand Master was . installed we had some 1200 lodges , we now number 2500 . A contribution to our Charities of a sum ol £ 1000 was then something to be proud of , and I was immensely congratulated on a total of £ 4000 . Now , if we only got that , the Institutions would fare but badly indeed ;
£ 15 , 000 , £ 20 , 000 , £ 25 , 000—50 it goes on , and the sums subscribed indicate the increase in our monetary affairs as the Craft grows greater and greater . All the Grand Officers standing round me have their reward , for whenever we come amongst our brethren we find our labours are recognised in the most kindly way , and we know we have the support and the sympathy of all the brethren . Wc know there is no brother from the first to the last in the Craft —from the Grand Master to the Entered Apprentice initiated yesterday—' . here is no
brother who does not wish well to the Craft and do his best to support us in our duties . There are one or two matters about which I should like to say a few words in such a representative gathering as this . Ever since that glorious success we had at the Albert Hall , the Centenary ot the Boys' School , when £ 140 , 000 was the result announced , there had been a constant desire on the part of some outside the Craft for our help . I will give you a case in point . Only the other day , very soon after her Majesty's death , I got a l « Uer from a high dignitary in the church who is justly respected . He said " Surely the Masons of England would like to initiate some memorial to her Majesty ' s name and what
numoiial could be better than a stained glass window in my cathedral ? " I said we had our Charities to support and we had heavy calls upon us—having something . "" i . £ 50 , 000 to provide for them during the year—and although some might individuall y subscribe to the window , 1 could hardly sanction an official appeal on behalf of an object of that kind . It is all very well for the brethren of the provinces to do something for their respective sacred edifices and cathedrals—ind I am Th ' ° ^ some ^ ^ something for these buildings to make them more beautiful , 'hat is a private business , but if we were once to allow official appeals to be made for "iese objects , where should we end ? There would not be a single clergyman whose
Craft Masonry.
church was out of repair but would soon discover that some distinguished Freemason had slumbered through the sermon , and therefore the Freemasons should help . It devolves upon us at the head to guard the purses of the Craft in these matters . We must occasionally , I am afraid , say "No , " and say "No " very decidedly . Grand Lodge , out of its accumulated funds , may vote a sum for a special object—such as a National Memorial—but anything else would be injurious to the interests of Freemasonry . There is also , side by side with that , a growing tendency , to ask the servicesof those holding high rank in the Craft on every possible occasion . We are continually asked
to lay foundation-stones with Masonic honours . If it is the first stone of a Misonic temple or anything connected with the Masonic Order , well and good . Freemasonry may well step in there , and the high officials take upon themselves to lay the stone with Misonic honours . We who hold office ought to carefully guard ourselves against being drawn into the performance of these ceremonies , unless upon very special occasions , whether Masonic , or of large public utility . These are two of the things that have been growing up lately , and I am glad to have the opportunity of addressing so large and representative a gathering as we have to-day . These are two things we must guard against , and I
trust we shall have unanimous support in the lines I have shortly laid down to you this evening . One word personally . I am much obliged to you for your kind hospitality . I ought to have come here on the night of the installation of your W . Master , but we were placed in deep mourning shortly after the death £ of her Majesty , and I could not attend such a meeting , as the installation of a VV . Master would be , so soon after her Majesty ' s death . I asked the W . Master to give me another chance , and I am glad to be amongst you , and visit one of the oldest lodges on our roll , and hear the excellent work of the W . Master in the chair . Although I did not come in for the whole of the
ceremony , it was enough to assure me how perfectly he had got up the work . If you never get a worse W . Master you need never be ashamed of the working . I hoped to have unearthed some peculiarity of working ; and I should be very sorry indeed to see these ceremonies reduced to one dead level of uniformity . I have seen the curious jewels of your lodge , which tell of strange old days and customs , and I hope your officers will wear them in a most prosperous and happy lodge . Let me , in return , drink " Prosperity to the Somerset House and Inverness Lodge , " and again thank you very much for your kind reception .
Bro . J . Strachan , K . C , G . Reg ., in proposing "The Health of the W . M .. " said he felt honoured that at his first visit to this lodge he should have been entrusted with the gavel to propose a toast which was bound to be received with enthusiasm by the members . From the work witnessed in the lodge it was evident they had the right man in the chair in Bro . Devonshire . The W . M . was not only well-known to them by his own merits , but was the worthy son of a worthy sire , who held the office of P . G . D . for
remain by Immemorial Constitution . In conjunction with Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 , and two other lodges which had ceased to exist , they formed the Grand LiJge in 1717 . Their ancient lodge was at one time an operative lodge , probably before th : Grand Mastership of that great man who had done so much in erectin ; stately edifices—Sir Christopher Wren . He regretted that no peculiarities of ritual survived , but the lodge had some peculiarities of a negative character . The warrant was not in the keeping
some time , and was also Treasurer of the lodge . They would all , therefore , drink to the health , prosperity , and happiness of the W . M . and an excellent year of office . Bro . R . L . Devonshire , G . Stwd . . , W . M ., having thanked the Grand Registrar , said they were all indebted to him for his interesting speech . He was deeply sensible of the honour paid him in having the toast proposed in such warm and felicitous language . It must always be a great honour , and one not lightly to b ; prized , that a Mason should be placed in the chair of his lodge , but he was peculiarly alive to the responsibility of the position he was permitted to occupy as W . M . of one of the two lodges which still
of the Worshipful Master , because there was no warrant . Another thing was they omitted to do that which every careful lodge did ; they never signed their minutes . It was a peculiar pleasure for him to be W . M . of this lodge . His father was an old member , and on two separate occasions filled the ollice of W . M . It was his ambition , it was his duty , to endeavour to maintain and uphold the reputation and honourable traditions of this ancient lodge , and if during his year assisted by those able and experienced Masons who he had the good fortune to count as hi ] officers , he should attain some success , he should be amply rewarded .
The Visitors" was next given and responded to by Bro . Llewellyn Evans , from the Prov . Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire . Amongst the distinguished company present were Bros . Earl Amherst , M . W . Pro G . M . ; J . L . Thomas , P . A . G . D . C ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; F . Richardson , P . G . D . ;
J . Strachan , K . C , G . Reg . ; Sir A . Trendell , C . M . G ., P . A . G . D . C .: C . F . Matier , P . G . S . B . ; J . C . Fitzroy Tower , D . G . D . C ; Sir G . D . Harris , P . G . D . ; J . D . Langton , P . D . G . D . C . ; Fredk . West , P . G . D . ; Gresley Hall , P . G . S . B . ; Rev . A . W . Oxford , P . G . D . ; Hugh Mackintosh , P . A . G . D . C . ; Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . O . ; Stephenson Hoyte , P . G . O . ; C . B .-lton , P . G . U . ; E . E . Harding , P . A . G . D . C . ; T . P . Griffin , P . G . D . ; H . Bue , P . G . S . B . ; W . II . Cummings , P . G . O . ; Sir W . N . Abdy , Bart ., P . G . D . ; E . A . Smith , P . D . G . D . C ; D . Mayer , S . G . D . ; Percy Soper , G . Stwd . ; R . L . Devonshire , G . Stwd ., W . M . ; and many others .
A choice selection of music was performed under the direction of Bro . Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . Org ., assisted by Bros . Herbert Thorndike , Senor Guetary , and Stevenson , Hoyte , P . G . Org .