Consecration Of The Barnato Lodge, No. 2265.

so cordially received . He might say that the Grand Officers were gratified to come , whenever the call upon their time admitted of it , to assist on occasions like the present ; instead ol being a source of trouble to them , it gave them real pleasure to promote a worthy object . Bro . WELDON , P . G . C ., said that after what Bro . Lord John Taylour had said with regard to returning thanks for the Earl of Carnarvon , and

the Earl of Lathom , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , he felt himself very much behind and in the shade ; but it gave him much more than ordinary pleasure to return thanks to the W . M . and brethren for the kind way in which they had received that toast , for the lavish hospitality which they had put before them , and the extreme amount of sobriety with which that hospitality had been received . He was not going to trespass on

their attention that evening ; he had tested that sufficiently by the oration that he had delivered and he had nothing now to add about the principles of Freemasonry . He found himself that evening placed in a most extraordinary position which appeared like the effects of a feverish dream . If he looked through the window on one side and counted 13 lamps , at that spot was the home which he occupied six years ago , and if he looked

through the window on the other side he saw the towers of the church in which he officiated for six months . Little did he then think that he should be a guest that evening at the Old Cock to return thanks for the Grand Officers . If at that time he had been supposed to be a guest at the Old Cock he might have found it difficult to keep his reputation , but standing as he did then among brethren who were prepared to vouch for his integrity

he felt himself freed from the trammels of convention . But he was in a position of extreme difficulty in which he felt it difficult to express his feelings . That evening he had heard over and over again the name of Kimberley , the last town in which had lived his son , who was a Mason and who had now gone to the Grand Lodge above . Kimberley was a place which he trusted he should yet visit for that son's sake , and he was looking now upon

some who he was sure would then give him the right hand of fellowship , and with whom a friendship might be cemented upon the diamond fields of South Africa . No matter what colour the sun may have burnt upon the cheek ; no matter what religious or social relationship he had stood in towards them , he and they stood there npon the same grand level of universal brotherhood . Apart from all differences of social position they

were all men and brethren , and he trusted that the recollections of the meeting would go with them when they went forth into the world , and that they would never forget the evening at the Oid Cock . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER said he was then going to make a slight alteration in the toast list . He was about to exercise his discretion in making that alteration , and when he had explained what he meant he hoped they

would accede to it and say that he was right . He was about to drink to the health , success , and long life of the gentleman after whom this lodge was named ; for though he was not a brother yet he was about to become one . He asked them to drink to " The Health of Mr . Henry Isaacs Barnato , first candidate for Initiation in that lodge and after whom it was named . " The toast would be drunk with musical honours .

Mr . BARNATO was here admitted to the room , and in returning thanks said he was sorry that he was not in a position to address them as brothers . That introduction was rather a surprise to him as he had thought that he should be left outside . There was only one thing he could say , namely , that it would give him much pleasure when at a very short date he should be able to call them brethren .

The W . M . then rose and said that the toast he had then the honour to propose was one that they usually gave in a way that should be appreciated . That night they had enrolled many brethren , but among those brethren none could be received with greater honour than their V . W . Grand Secretary , Bro . Shadwell H . Clerke . The number of years he had been connected with Fieemasonry had been identified with the marvellous progress of the

Craft throughout the empire , and his indefatigable exertions in carrying out the duties of his office had endeared him to the hearts of those who had to be in contact with him . He felt sure that not only those Freemasons who had known Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke prior to that meeting would join in drinking this toast , but also those who had been brought in contact with him through the formation of that lodge . He would ask them all to rise and drink to "The Health of V . W . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke . "

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE said it was not only a duty but a pleasure for him to respond to the best of his ability to that toast . But he should be a very unkind friend to the lodge if he were to take up the time by making a long and stupid speech . Besides he had been talking to them for a couple of hours already . He would therefore confine himself to assuring them that he had had great pleasure in performing the small amount of

work which he had that day done , and in expressing his acknowledgments to those brethren who had so ably assisted him on that occasion , to Lord John Taylour and Bro . Philbrick who had acted as Wardens , to Bro , Weldon , P . G . Chap ., who had delighted them with his oration , and to Bro . Frank Richardson for the assistance he rendered as D . C . YVithout their assistance he ( Bro . Clerke ) would have been nowhere . For himself and

for them he might say that when they had good materials to work upon they were always very glad to do their Masonic services . He had then to ask the brethren to drink to the health of the distinguished brother whom they had appointed as their first Master . It was a very great honour , because the W . M . of a lodge worked up by seniority , but when a body of men came together who said we will have a new lodge , and the biggest swell and best

fellow of the lot is the man we are going to make W . M . And that had fallen to the lot of Bro . Da Silva . Bro . Clerke said he remember installing him into the chair of a Royal Arch Chapter , and was quite sure that the brethren had as the first Master got the ri ght man in the right place , because the man who in 11 years had achieved two Masterships must have great administrative and great executive capacity . At the same time he was to

be congratulated at the honour his founders had done him in designating him Master of the lodge . He svould not detain them longer but would ask them to join him in drinking to "The Health of the first xMaster of that which promised to be a most flourishing lodge . " Bro . Col . Clerke added that he had explained to Mr . Barnato that the ceremony which they had

gone through that day was preparatory to the ceremony which he would himself sh 6 rtly go through , and he ( Bro . Col . Clerke ) hoped that he should have the opportunity of witnessing such ceremony . They had the tongue of goqd report already about Mr . Barnato , and they greeted him there as the godfather of the lodge very heartily .

Bro . DA SILVA said that he had to return them his very sincere thanks for the very enthusiastic manner in which his health had been drunk . He took it as a compliment as much to himself personally , and as a tribute , and as a salutation to the Barnato Lodge . He took it , coming from the Grand Secretary , as welcoming them among the numerous lodges

Consecration Of The Barnato Lodge, No. 2265.

in London . He did not think after the very lengthy speeches which had been made that evening as to the Barnato Lodge that he should make an explanation as to why the lodge had been founded , but the reason of its existence was to re-unite under the banner of English Freemasonry very many Freemasons initiated under the banners of foreign Constitutions who came to abide once more in England , the founders of the lodge wished once

more to re-unite , and very many brethren who were constantly returning to England after years spent under the burning sun of Southern Africa the founders wished to re-unite them under the banner of Freemasonry , so that they could hold out the boast that the sun was always at its meridian with respect to the members of our ancient Order . The founders likewise desired to commemorate the lodge by its name with that wonderful diamond industry

but of a few years growth , but which had made its mark in the history of the world , and when that history came to be written , its fabulousness , its grandeur , its splendour would far outshine any dreams of the fairy tales . They could not find language to express the wealth of those diamond mines The Barnato mine was the largest and most wealthy mine in the world " . The riches that had already been taken from this mine was fabulous . It

was true its wealth could be measured , but when it was measured it seemed to be the ransom not of princes and kings , but of kingdoms and nations . And he must say that much in addition , that its wealth was unfathomable , for though they had already sunk to many thousand feet , they had not reached the bottom pit yet , so that for 20 years to come , and 20 years after that , they would be able to extract diamonds from the bowels of the earth . It was to

commemorate in their name that wonderful industry they had adopted as their emblem the diamond itself , not as when taken from the mines in its rough state , but as it was when it had passed through the hands of the skilled craftsman , cut , bevelled , and brought into perfect form ; and when they wore it , it should by its lustre and bright rays represent the Barnato Lodge , and would for ever shine like a bright star throughout the universe . Even more on behalf of the lodge itself than on his own behalf , he begged

to thank them for the hearty reception they had given to the Barnato Lodge . The W . M . said the next toast he had the honour to give was that of " The Visitors . " They were honoured by the presence of a large number of visitors ; and he was sure he hoped that the members of the Barnato Lodge would always hold out the hand of welcome towards visitors . Without detaining them longer he would give them that toast , coupling with it the names of Bros . J . L . Mather , P . A . G . D . D . C . ; C . McKay , and Dr . Woodman .

Bro . Dr . WOODMAN , in the absense of Bro . J . L . Mather , said he felt himself very highly honoured in being called upon to return thanks for the visitors . For the unbounded hospitality the lodge had shown them he returned them the most cordial thanks of the visitors ; and he might sav

that the Old Cock had done its best to welcome those who had assembled under its hospitable roof . From the first moment of his arrival he felt himself upon classic ground , and now he felt as if he had been reading " Kiug Solomon ' s Mines . " Bros . MCKAY , and A . J . HENOCHSBERGalso responded .

The W . M . said there was one thing in Freemasonry that they all had to remember—a duty which was taught to all Freemasons at their initiationthat of Charity . He rose now to propose a toast that he hoped and sincerely trusted would always be remembered by the members of the Barnato

Lodge— " Success to the Masonic Charities . " The Masonic Institutions meant a provision for the poor and needy ; which , given in view of the vicissitudes of life , might mean a provision for some then present and for their children . However , some one else would have to speak on that subject ; but he wanted the brethren to drink to the success of the Institutions with

the utmost enthusiasm ; he wanted them to drink to it , not only with their hearts , but , if possible , with their pockets , and he would couple with the toast the name of Bro . Binckes , the Secretary of the Boys' School . Bro . BINCKES , in reply , said that he was sure that by the numerous and distinguished brethren who were there present , and who took an active interest in the great Masonic Institutions , the toast would be most welcome ,

and the representatives of the Institutions were deeply grateful that on an occasion such as that a place had been found for that toast , and , for himself , he did not hesitate to say that he felt himself singularly complimented in having to respond to it . But he did not arrogate to himself with reference to the one Institution with which he was associated , but thanked them on behalf of all the Institutions . He felt a peculiar interest in that lodge , because he had a material interest in one of the South African diamond

mines , and he was delighted to be there to be one of themselves , though at the moment not the recipient of any benefit —( a laugh)—it was an entirely prospective benefit , which he hoped to live to see a reality . Bro . Binckes cleverly made the boasted wealth of the mines a text from which to argue that some of the overflow from this plethora of wealth should naturally be expected to find its way to the Masonic Institutions—a hope which , no doubt , will be realised .

Fhe toast to " The Secretary and other Officers of the Lodge was responded to by Bros . J ESSOP , the Secretary ; HOGARD , the acting I . P . M . ; and the Wardens of the Lodge . One or two additional toasts—including " The Health of Bro . Bernard Barnato "—were also drunk before the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings . During the intervals between the speeches the company were entertained with some excellent vocal music by Miss Kate Flinn , Miss Agnes Janson , Miss Louisa White , Bro . R . De Lacy , and Bro . Lawrence Fryer .

Consecration Of The Manchester Chapter, No. 179.

CONSECRATION OF THE MANCHESTER CHAPTER , No . 179 .

This chapter was consecrated at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on Thursday , the 14 th ult ., Comp . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Scribe E ., performing the ceremony , assisted by Comps . F . A . Philbrick , H . Truman Wood , and Rev . R . I . Simpson . At the conclusion of the ceremony

Comps-Walter Hopekirk , Henrv Albert Lovett , and James Kevv were severally installed First , Second , and Third Principals , and the other officers were appointed and invested , namely : Comps . Walter Dickeson , S . E . ; W . r < Hughes , S . N . ; T . Ellwood , P . S . ; E . C . Mulvey , 1 st A . S . ; T . WCain , 2 nd A . S . ; L . Benet , Treas . ; and Whitehead , Janitor .

The musical arrangements were under the direction of Comp . Schartau * while as regards the manner in which the ceremonial work was done , it is needless to say that it reflected the greatest credit on Comp . Co' « Shadwell H . Clerke and his coadjutors . The visitors included Comps . U " ; Ramsay , District Grand Superintendent of Malta ; Smith , M . ti ^ - * Edmonds , Dicke , P . Z .: and others .