Consecration Of The Viator Lodge, No. 2308.

The large body of brethren present having assembled in the lodge room , the Consecrating Officers entered in procession and were appointed to their respective offices by Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec , who assumed the chair . The lodge was opened in the Three Degrees , and the hymn " Hail Eternal , by whose aid , " heartily sung .

The CONSECRATING OFFICER , addressing the brethren , said : " We are assembled to-day on one of those occasions which sometimes takes place in the City of London—but not often—the consecration and formation of a new lodge . It is , I need hardly say , one of the most important ceremonies that can occur in Masonry , because from the proceedings may spring a body that may add lustre to

the Order , or act in the contrary way . It is a ceremony which probably many of you have never had an opportunity of witnessing , and therefore evokes a great amount of interest . There are a large number of lodges in London , and therefore , unless good cause and reason is shown , there is a considerable difficulty in obtaining a new warrant . In this case a lodge springs from the fact that a large number of

brethren , who are engaged in the commercial world , and whose special avocations call them away from London from Monday to Friday , have petitioned to meet on the only day in the week on which they are in London , viz ., Saturday . The case is a peculiar one , and H . R . H . the M . W . Grand Master gave it a friendly reception , and the result was thev obtained the warrant they were seeking .

Thus it comes that we are here to consecrate a new lodge to be called the Viator Lodge . The founders are brethren who have more or less experience in Masonry . The W . Master designate , Bro . Harry Price , has especially a good record of Masonic service , having gone through the chair of another lodge with considerable success , and , therefore , I am sure the lodge will be conducted in a proper manner .

I feel it my duty on these occasions to say a word of warning . I usually point out the mistake that might be made in going on too fast , and in being fired with a desire to be a large lodge quickly , thus setting quantity before quality . I hope you will not think it is an excellent thing to have alarge number of candidates , but that each application will be specially considered , antecedents gone into , and

thought over , so that it will be decided whether a candidate is a person who will make a good Mason , and one whom they could be proud of . I have often said it is an easy thing to get a candidate into lodge , but it is a difficult matter to get rid of an undesirable member . I am sure these remarks are scarcely necessary on the present occasion , but there is no harm in giving a warning . I will commence the ceremony by asking the Chaplain to give us the benefit of prayer .

The brethren of the new lodge were arranged in order , and the D . C . having read the petition and warrant , they signified their approval of the officers named therein .

An excellent oration on the nature and principles of the Order was delivered by the acting Chaplain , Bro . Rev . G . W . WELDON , P . G . C ., after which an anthem" Behold how good and joyful a thing it is "—was sung . The ceremony was then proceeded with , and the lodge dedicated and constituted in the usual manner , concluding with the anthem " From the rising of the sun until the going down of the same . "

The impressiveness of the ceremony was considerably enhanced by the admirable rendering of the sacred music , which was performed under the able direction of Bro . Arthur Cranch , P . M . 1216 , assisted by Bros . H . Dutton , Arthur Weston , Wakefield Reed , and Frank Laughlin . The W . M . designate , Bro . Harry Nelson Price , P . M . 177 , was presented , and duly installed into the chair by Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec .

The Treasurer having been elected , the following officers were invested : Bros > Ernest A . G . Smith , S . W . ; W . T . Buxton , J . W . ; W . G . Ferguson , P . M ., Treas . ; T . Morris , Sec ; T . H . Hobbs , S . D . ; J . Stephens , P . M ., J . D . ; J . J . Higgs , I . G .. A . E . Kay , D . C . ; and F . Smith , Steward . The addresses were subsequently delivered by the Installing Master .

The W . M . proposed that a hearty vote of thanks should be accorded to the Consecrating Officers for the very impressive and able manner in which they had consecrated the lodge , and also that they be asked to accept the honorary membership of the lodge .

The motion was seconded by Bro . FERGUSON , P . M ., and carried " nem . con ., " and the WORSHIPFUL MASTER in addressing the Consecrating Officers remarked that it was not offered simply as a formal compliment , but as a sincere mark of the appreciation of the brethren .

The GRAND SECRETARY said he would lose no time in rising to return thank , for the kind expressions which the W . M . had been good enough to use towards the Consecrating Officers . He thought he spoke the sentiments of his colleagues when he said it was a great pleasure to them to be present and give their services . They

were gratified at the compliment offered in making them honorary members , which he need scarcely say they accepted with a great deal of pleasure , and hoped they would be able to make use of it to visit the lodge and see the way in which the work is carried on .

A Committee was elected to frame the by-laws , and seven gentlemen having been proposed for initiation , the lodge was closed in the usual manner . After an excellent banquet , the usual toasts were heartily received . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in submitting " The Queen and the Craft , " said the toast he had risen to propose was one that for a period of over 50 years had filled

the foremost place , and had never failed to awaken in the heart of every Englishman the most tender and spontaneous feelings of loyalty and devotion . The toast was " Long life and health to her Most Gracious Majesty , " who was the Patroness of their Order , and the mention of it was sufficient to ensure the same hearty and enthusiastic reception it had always received in every assembly , and especially

amongst Masons . Amongst her Majesty ' s relatives were many who took a prominent position in the Craft . During her reign there had been great advancement in science and art , and great development in trade and commerce ; and whether in the portion of Queen , wife , or mother , she shone oat as a brilliant example to their vast and mighty Empire .

The W . MASTER said the next toast he had to propose was bound up and inseparable from the former , as in the health and happiness of her children must rest the happiness of their Queen . Among the Royal Family connected with Freemasonry they owed their first allegiance and looked up to " H . R . H . the

M . W . G . M ., " under whose direction Freemasonry had flourished and had advanced and now stands on a firm and substantial basis . When they looked at the marvellous manner in which H . R . H . performed all duties , and considered his many and important engagements , they must be surprised to find that he had a moment to

Consecration Of The Viator Lodge, No. 2308.

spare to devote to Masonry , but he nevertheless performed his work as M . W . G M thoroughly and well . H . R . H . brought his son into Masonry , showing he had the Craft at heart , and no doubt in time H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor would fill a h \ a \ position . Long might H . R . H . the Prince of Wales live to remain in the position of M . W . Grand Master of English Freemasons !

In giving "The Grand Officers , " the W . M . said those brethren who had the privilege of attending Grand Lodge had had the pleasure of seeing how thoroughly and ably their assemblies were conducted when presided over by either the Earl of Carnarvon or the Earl of Lathom . When he spoke of the rest of the Grand Officers he found it was somewhat difficult to find words to express the appreciation

he felt of the services they had rendered to Freemasonry . They had with them that night , fortunately , several Grand Officers . They had all seen how abl y and how well the Grand Secretary had worked the ceremony of consecration , and he could assure them , from his own experience , and he felt certain they had experienced what he said , they would always find him at his post ready to give good advice

which his greater knowledge enabled him to do , and they were certain to receive a hearty and kindly welcome . Bro . Rev . G . W . Weldon had given them a very powerful address , which he ( the W . M . ) asked all the younger Masons to take seriously to heart , for if they followed that advice they would be better Masons . He had had the pleasure of seeing Bro . Frank Richardson act as D . C . on many

occasions , and to those brethren who had not seen him before he would say that Bro . Richardson was the D . C . They also had Bro . Belton , who had taken his position in Grand Lodge , acting as S . W ., and also Bro . Matier , who had ably assisted as J . W ., and without the assistance the Grand Secretary had received from these brethren , he would have found it difficult to carry out his duties so smoothly . There

was also present a very distinguished brother from a far country ( Bro , Macglashan D . G . M . of Jamaica ) , to whom , in the name of the Viator Lodge , he offered the warmest welcome it was possible for one Mason to offer another , and trusted it was not the last time they would welcome him . He asked the brethren to be upstanding and drink the toast , coupling with it the name of Bro . Macglashan .

Bro . J . MACGLASHAN , District G . Master Jamaica , said he had much pleasure in discharging the duty devolving upon him of returning thanks for the cordial welcome accorded the toast . Coming , as he did , from a . far distant clime , he had had but few opportunities of seeing such a ceremony as they had witnessed that day , and he should carry back a lively recollection of the extremely able manner

in which that ceremony was performed by those brethren in whose behalf he had the honour to return thanks , They did not often have the pleasure in the Colony of Jamaica of welcoming brethren from this country , but they would be pleased to see them . In the case of brethren hailing from this country—the home of their mother lodges—they would at all times be heartily welcomed . He thanked the

W . M . very much for the kindly offer made of welcoming him on future occasions , but feared they would not be frequent . He should , however , avail himself of the opportunity of spending such another pleasant evening as he had that day if possible , He thanked them on his own behalf , and on behalf of those for whom he had to respond .

The GRAND SECRETARY said that , as the Consecrating Master on that occasion , it became his privilege , and certainly was also his very great satisfaction to be able to give the important toast which stood next on the list—that of the very worthy , able , and energetic brother who had that night been installed into the chair of the Viator Lodge , He had on many occasions had the privilege of

giving the health of the first W . Master of a new lodge , and he had frequently on those occasions pointed out , and he had no hesitation in doing so again , the fact that whilst an ordinary W . M . arrived at his position practically by seniority , the W . Master of a new lodge was placed in a much higher position , because he was selected by . the founders as the best man for the post . He therefore thought a

special compliment was paid to a brother who was W . M . for the first year . As a rule he had found that compliment well placed , and the brother fully justifying the position to which he had been brought . That night he was quite certain there was no exception to that rule . He had had the pleasure of knowing Bro . Price , the W . M ., for some years as the W . M . of a very distinguished and old London

lodgethe Domatic—and he was aware of the energetic manner in which that brother had carried out the duties of that lodge , and therefore when Bro . Price came to him in a very insinuating manner and suggested there might be a lodge of this kind , he thought they had picked out a good man to represent them . T he petition which was sent in certainly lost nothing by having the name of Bro . Price down on it as the

first W . M . He was very glad the . Grand Master thought fit to grant the petition , because he thought the case put before H . R . H . was an exceptional one . They did not like granting new lodges , as there were about 400 in London , but cases occurred which were exceptions . The founders of the Viator Lodge had had their lodge consecrated that night , and they had a good brother in the chair . He thoug ht

Bro . Price was to be congratulated on the proud positiou he had arrived at , and he also congratulated the brethren on being presided over by him . He was sure the W . M . would carry on the traditions of the Domatic Lodge , for he saw several p * sent from that lodge , particularly their Secretary , and indeed there seemed to be a

stong tie between the two lodges . The Masonic traditions would be faithfully handed down under the gavel of their W . Master . He was sure all the brethren would join in congratulating Bro . Price on his appointment , wishing him and lus lodge every possible success , and drinking in commemoration of the very successful and interesting occasion of that night .

Bro . HARRY NELSON PRICE , W . M ., in reply , said he could not find words to express all he felt , or in which to thank the Grand Secretary for the kind manner in which he had proposed the toast . The G . Secretary had performed that task in most flattering terms , and if even half was true , he should consider himself a better man and abetter Mason . If all the G . Secretary had said was not correct

at the present time , he should do his best in the future to make them true to t " letter . As far as this lodge was concerned , it would always be his greatest hope to make it one of the first in the Craft , for he was surrounded by founders vvW > would assist him in every particular in carrying out his earnest wishes . In ' » preliminary meetings he had been materially assisted by Bros . Ferguson and &•

Smith , tor when , unfortunately , he was obliged to be away for a week , those brethre took the whole of the responsibilities , and the result was to be seen that nig He was obliged to the brethren for drinking his health , particularly on such a day when they celebrated a very celebrated event , that being the anniversary of victory of Lord Howe , the glorious First of June , which would always be ar letter day in the Viator Lodge . They would remember it and the coincidence .