Consecration Of The London Welsh Lodge, No. 2867.

CONSECRATION OF THE LONDON WELSH LODGE , No . 2867 .

INSTALLATION OF BRO . SIR J . H . PULESTON .

It has beeh said truly that there are more Roman Catholics in London than there are in Rome , more Jews than there are in Palestine , more Irishmen than in Dublin , more Scotchmen than in Edinburgh , and more Welshmen than there are in Cardiff . In view of the last-named fact , it is not surprising that such of the London Welsh as belong to the Craft should form a fodge which should be more than one ol the now popular " class " lodges ; a lodge that indeed may be considered a national lodge , in which compatriots may meet together to practise the sublime art of Masonry .

Some such consideration doubtless influenced the following founders of the London Welsh Lodge in applying for a warrant for a new lodge : Bros . Sir John H . Puleston , P . M . 235 ; W . VV . Woosnam , VV . M . 2022 ; E . R . Cleator , l . P . M . 2077 ; T . J . Harries , 3 ; T . Davies , P . M . 13 S 1 ; D . H . Treharne , 2606 ; J . Hinds , 1671 ; D . L . Thomas , 65 ; J . J . Lewis , 3 j Col . E . Pryce-Jones , M . P ., P . G . Stwd . ; T . Hinds , 1671 ; C . Davies ,

1632 ; Herbert Emlyn , 134 . 8 ; J . W . Foulkes-Jones , 2077 ; Edward Roberts , P . M . 606 , P . P . S . G . W ., Prov . Grand Secretary North Wales , P . D . G . S . B . Eng . ; John C . Davies , 1658 ; J . Owain Evans , 1604 ; E . Edward Jenkins , 1632 ; Thos . Jones , 166 S ; David Lewis , 1585 ; David Lewis , 1559 ; Thomas Lloyd , 3 ; Thos . Mathias , 201 ; Evan Richards , 1716 ; John Roberts , 201 ; Jno . W . T , Rowland , 1446 ; and David Williams , 1585 .

The ceremony of consecration was performed at Freemasons' Hall , on Monday evening , the 30 th ult ., by Bro . Edward Letchworth , F . S . A ., Grand Sec , assisted by Bros . Geo . Everett , P . G . Treas ., as S . W . ; Alderman and Sheriff Walter Vaughan Morgan . P . G . Treas ., as J . W . ; Rev . Canon Brownrigg , P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . D . G . Reg .,

as D . C ; and Wm . Lake , Asst . G . Sec , as I . G . The brethren , including a very large number of invited guests , having assembled in the lodge room , the Consecrating Officer , accompanied by the Grand Officers , entered in procession , and the former having taken the chairappointed his officers pro tern .

, The lodge having been opened , the ceremony of consecration was ably and impressively performed by the Grand Secretary . The musical portion of the ceremony was under the direction of Bro . Herbert Emlyn , and the Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . Canon Brownrigg , delivered an eloquent oration on the nature and principles of the Institution .

The lodge having been duly dedicated and constituted , the installation of Bro . Sir John H , Puleston , P . M . 235 , as W . M . was proceeded with , the Grand Secretary acting as Installing Master . During an interval in the ceremony Bro . Herbert Emlyn sang " Bs thou faithful , " from Mendelssohn ' s " St . Paul . "

Bro . Sir John Puleston having been duly installed in the chair of K . S ., appointed and invested the following officers for the ensuing year : Bros . W . W . Woosnam , W . M , 2022 , as l . P . M . ; E . R . Cleator , P . M ., S . W . ; T . J . Haines , J . W . j T . Davies , P . M ., Treas . ; D . H . Treharne , Sec-John Hinds , S . D . ; D . L . Thomas , J . D . ; John T . Lewis , I . G . ; Col . E . Pryce-Jones , M . P-, P . G . Stwd ., D . of C ; Thos . Hinds , A . D . C . ; Cyril Davies , Org . ; Herbert Emlyn and J . W . Foulkes-Jones , Stwds . ; and Chas . Plant , P . M ., Tyler .

A Committee to frame bye-laws was elected , and a proposition for membership received , the lodge being then closed . An adjournment was then made to the banquet , which had been prepared in the Cambridge Room , the brethren present , including members of the lodge and visitors , numbering 105 . At the conclusion of the banquet the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and duly honoured .

In proposing the toast of " The Grand Officers , " Bro . CLEATOR , S . W ., paid an eloquent tribute to the ability displayed by the Consecrating Officer in performing the ceremony of consecration , and expressed regret that the state of his health prevented Bro . Letchworth from being present at the festive board .

Bro . Rev . Canon BROWNRIGG responded on behalf of the Grand Officers , and in a humorous speech deplored the fact that the Welsh brethren were that night weighed down by a Saxon majority . ( Laughter . ) He was glad lo know , however , that they formed a strong minority . The VVelsh Saint Cylog had said that the strength of the Saxon lay in his

cunning ; the strength of the Irish—well , perhaps he had belter not repeat what the saint said of them ; but the strength of the Welsh , he averred , lay in their impatience , and London would never have been built but for the Welsh —( laughter )—and it would not have gone on but for them ; by their impatience they had kept the others up to the mark .

In proposing " The Health of the Consecrating Officers , " the VV . M . observed that the consecration of thc London Welsh Lodge was an event to evoke all the Welsh patriotism and fervour of the members ; and it was an event that would be remembered by their children after them . No one could possibly have added more grace and dignity to the ceremony than Bro . Letchworth , but in his absence he would couple the name of Bro . Everett with the toast .

The W . M ., before sitting down , took the opportunity of presenting the Consecrating Officers with jewels commemorative of the occasion , similar to those with which the founders had been previously presented . The jewels all bore a representation of the red dragon of Wales , which also appeared on the banner with which the lodge had provided them-. elves .

Bro . EVERETT , in response , expressed ngret at the absence of Bro . Letchworth , and assured his hearers of the pleasure always experienced by Grand Officers in assisting at the consecration of a new lodge . It was the first evenirg he had spent among so many "Tallies , " but he hoped it would not be the last . Bro . Alderman and Sheriff MORGAN also , on behalf of the G . Ollicers ,

briefly responded in VVelsh . Bro . WUOSMAN , l . P . M ., then proposed the toast of the evening , viz ., that of "The VV . M . " Sir John had identified himself with the welfare of the Welsh in London for the last 30 years , and for 20 years he had been an active Mason . He was the first Welshman who had been Constable of the Royal Castle of Carnarvon .

Bio . Sir J PII . KSTON , VV . M ., in reply , stated that he had accepted the Mastership of the lodge in the interests of Welshmen and the Welsh people , and hoped the 1 . ondon Welsh Lodge would be the means of bringing many young Welshmen in London together—young men who would be

Consecration Of The London Welsh Lodge, No. 2867.

proud to become Freemasons under the banner of a Welsh lod ge . Referring to his position at Carnarvon Castle , he said the best room in that historic building was occupied by a Masonic lodge . Nothing would give them greater pleasure than to entertain the members of the London Welsh Lodge within those historic walls . True , Welsh fire had been put into all the proceedings in connection with the lodge . He ventured to think it had been started with greater enthusiasm than any other lodge of any nation .

The toast of " The Visitors was responded to by Bros . BVERS , Rev . E . J ONES , Vicar of Llanidloes , DAVIES , POTTER , P . M . ; and Colonel MENZIES , P . M . The toast of " The Officers " was acknowledged by Bros . CLEATOR ,

S . W . ; HARRIES , J . W . ; DAVIES , Treas . ; and TREHARNE , Sec . A selection of music was rendered during the evening by Miss Maggie Davies and Miss Lizzie Tivy Davies , both of whom delighted the audience with their Welsh songs ; Bros . Herbert Emlyn , Jno . Sandbrook , J . Powell , P . M . ; and W . E . Edwards . Bro . Fountain Meen , P . M ., P . G . Organist , acted as accompanist . A most enjoyable evening was brought to a close with the time-honoured Tyler ' s toast .

London's New Civic Chief.

LONDON'S NEW CIVIC CHIEF .

On Saturday , in accordance with annual custom on the day preceding the festival of Michaelmas , the ceremonial of admitting the now Sheriffs of the City of London—Bro . Alderman John Charles Bell and Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall —was observed at Guildhall , in the presence of a large body of the citizens . Bro . the Lord Mayor , attended by his Chaplain , the Sword and Mace bearers , and the City Marshal , and accompanied by thc outgoing Sheriffs—Bros . Alderman Vaughan Morgan and Joseph Lawrence , M . P . —went in State from the Mansion

House to attend the proceedings , and were met at Guildhall by the Aldermen and the high officers of the Corporation , all wearing their distinctive robes , and carrying nosegays . The Sheriffs elect , who were accompanied by their Under-Sheriffs ( Mr . V . R . M . Phillips and Bro . J . D . Langton ) and their Chaplains ( Rev . J . W . Pratt and the Rev . Hugh Price Hughes ) , drove in their splendid new equipages , and were first conducted to the Aldermeu ' s Chamber , escorted thither by the Masters and Wardens of the Glovers ' , Fanmakers ' , and Stationers' Companies , to which one or the other of them belongs .

A procession being formed , the civic dignitaries went to the hustings in the great hall , which was strewn with sweet herbs . The Common Crier ( Major Ker-Fox ) called upon thc Sheriffs-elect by name to come forward and take upon themselves the office of Sheriff . Bro . Alderman Bell and Bro . Marshall presented themselves , amid loud cheers . Bro . Sir John Monckton . the Town Clerk , then administered to each the quaint oaths and declarations of office .

Later in the day the Liverymen assembled in Common Hall at Guildhall to elect the Lord Mayor for the year ensuing , which commences on the gth prox . Prior to the election , the Lord Mayor , Aldermen . Sheriffs , and high officers of the City , wearing their robes of office , and carrying bouquets , walked in procession from Guildhall to the neighbouring Church of St . Lawrence Jewry , to hear Divine service . The officiating clergy were Bro . the Rev . Stephen Barrass ,

Rector of St . Lawrence Jewry , and the Rev . G . A . K . Finlay , Priest-in-Charge of St . Katherine Coleman , Fcnchurch-street . The sermon was preached by the Rev . H . D . Macnamara , Priest-in-Ordinary to the King , and Chaplain to the Lord Mayor , from the text , Psalm exxvii ., verse 1 , " Except the Lord keep the city , the watchman waketh but in vain . " Returning to the Guildhall , the ceremony of election commenced .

Bro . Alderman Sir J OSEPH DIMSDALE expressed his thanks for his election , remarking that they were proud of their City—they were proud of their square mile , which , alter all , was the heart of the Empire . ( Cheers . ) In order to assert their privileges , he thought it right to move the following resolution , which he would ask them to pass : " That , in view of thc approaching Coronation of our Sovereign Lord the King and his Gracious Consort , all due and proper claims be made for preserving thc ancient rights and privileges of the City of London , and that the Town Clerk , as the Clerk of this Common Hall , be directed to sign thc same . "

Aldeiman Sir MAHCUS SAMUEL seconded the resolution , and it was agreed to unanimously . The retiring Lord Mayor and Sheriffs having been accorded the thanks of Common Hall for their services , the Lord Mayor and the Lord Mayor elect drove back in thc same State carriage to the Mansion House , preceded by trumpeters . Bro . the Lord Mayor elect ( Alderman Sir Joseph Cockfield Dimsdale , M . P . ) , is the eldest son of the late Mr . Joseph Cockfield Dimsdale , head of the firm ot Messrs . Dimsdale , Fowler , and Co ., bankers , Cornhill , and was born in Cornhill

in 1849 . He was educated at Eton , and is the first Old Etonian who has filled the civic chair for 130 years . He served the office of Sheriff in conjunction with Sirjohn Voce Moore in 1893-4 , and received the honour of knighthood in commemoration of the opening of the Tower Bridge and the birth of an heir to the Throne in the direct line ( Prince Edward of York ) . He is a leading member of the Grocers' Company , of which he has been Master . For six years h ; represented the City of London on the London County Council , and last year at thc General Election he was unanimously elected Member of Pailiament for the City .

Bro . Sir J . C . Dimsdale is a P . M . of the Grand Master ' s Lodge , No . l , which he represented on the Board of Grand Stewards in i 8 g 2 . He was also a Founder and the first VV . Master of the Empress Lodge , No . 2581 , which was consecrated early in the year fallowing that of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee . He is also a P . Z . of the Grand Masters Chapter , No . 1 , a Life Governor and Festival Steward of our three Institutions , and for some years was a member of the

the House Committee of the Girls'School . In 18 94 he was a candidate for oflice of Grand Treasurer , and was elected by a moderate majority of votes over his chief competitor , Bro . \ V . M . Stiles , who was , however , elected to thc same oflice in 18 95 . As Sir Joseph did not possess the necessary Royal Arch qualifications , he was unable to take oflice , as he would otherwise have done , as Grant ! Treasurer of Supreme Grand Chapter , but in 1899 he had the honour of beini ; appointed Grand Principal Sojourner .

Disabled Soldiers.

DISABLED SOLDIERS .

COTTAGE HOMES FOR REGIMENTS . The following statement is issued by the Hon . Secretary on behalf of V Committee of the Prince Christian Victor Memorial Fund : It is unnecessary to dilate on the wreckage of war . Besides actual loss 0 limbs , sight , or hearing , nnny must be left with shattered nerves , hearts strained by forced marches and over-exertion , health broken down as a result of en ^ V ^ or from exposure and hardship . It is inevitable that thousands who have f <* ¥ our battles in South Africa will become more or less objects of charity . *" '