Consecration Of The Bushey Hall Lodge, No. 2323.

The following oration was next delivered by Bro . Rev . Wm . Quennell , Prov . G . Chap .: The duty which now devolves on me is one which I undertake for the first time , and I do it in the presence of v many eminent brethren of whom I would gladly learn . For both these reasons I feel that I need your indulgence . I am to speak of the nature and purposes of this Institution , and I would say , shortly , that in

its nature it enters into the deepest and hi ghest and eternal elements of our life ; and in its purposes , and we may add in its fulfilled purposes , it ennobles and enhances it . For the deepest and best parts of our life are concerned with ( i ) , religion , which binds us to the Supreme ; ( 2 ) , duty , the recognition of authority , and the bond of mutual consideration in our relations with one another ; and ( 3 ) , the law of self control , which regulates our inner personal life . The perfect man is

one who lives soberly , righteously , and Godly ; sober in his estimate of himself and in his use of his powers and opportunities ; ri ghteous or just in his dealings with others ; Godl y in his acknowledgment of the law of the Most Hig h with the worship of heart and voice and action . This perfection in man our Institution tends to form and strengthen . 1 . In all our meetings , in all our ritual , the name of God is invoked ; the work of His almi ghty handis recalled by the very name

by which we address Him , the witness that is all around us of His wisdom and power and goodness . The book of His revelation lies open among us in the most honoured place , and with the hand laid upon it as a . most sacred thing all our obligations are undertaken . If then our Craft speaks to the heart and conscience of each of its members on that holy subject , his personal reli gion , it says to him " In all thy ways acknowledge God , and He shall direct thy paths . " 2 . And no

less in the second element of the perfection of manhood does this Institution tend to foster all that is good . For within a lodge what do we find ? We find all meeting on a common ground of brotherhood , each with an equal share of privilege and of responsibility ; each bound to recognise and protect those equal rig hts of all , but at the same time the most profound reverence , the most perfect obedience to the Worshipful Master , the most respectful acknowledgment of his authority and

that of the officers under his control and direction by and with whom he rules and guides his lodge . All men who are bound b y their allegiance to obey the law of their country , and loyally to defend ( as far as in them lies ) the honour and dignity of their rulers , all men who in a free country are taught to maintain their own liberties by acknowled ging and protecting the equal liberties of their fellows , all such , I say , have these very principles , meeting them as the warp and woof of

the fabric of the mantle of Freemasonry . And if its first motto be " Fear God , " the others , " Love the brotherhood , honour the King , " follow hard upon . 3 . And that cannot be without the third point of perfection also receiving its encouragement . A man cannot duly recognise his brother ' s claim unless he has also acquired the habit of self control , and the opposite of selfishness is Charity . Charity , both as a habit of mind and as an active practice of life , is ever to the front in our

undertakings . I may affirm that no meeting of a lodge ever takes place but that sacred word is uttered , and something done or proposed under its name . This then is the nature and this the purpose of our Institution , the perfection of man . He who is a good Mason , true to the principles it inculcates , careful of the daily duties it enjoins , hopeful of the eternal privileges to which it points , is also a good

man , ruling himself , loving his nei ghbour , honouring his God , and looking forward to the hi gher and eternal service of the life to come . It is to serve this lofty purpose that this lodge is consecrated to-day , to be a new centre of Masonic life , a new energy in the striving after perfection , and may He in whose name we consecrate it guide it and all its members to the attainment of that noble end .

The anthem " Behold , how good and joyful a thing it is , " was next well rendered , and the ceremony successfully proceeded with , the lodge being dedicated and constituted .

The chair was then taken b y the Deputy Prov . G . Master , Bro . G . E . Lake , who , in the presence of a numerousl y attended Board of Installed Masters , duly installed the W . M . designate , Bro . C . E . Keyser , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W ., as the first W . M . of the lodge . Bro . Birch , P . M ., being unanimously elected as Treasurer , the officers for the ensuing year were invested as follows : Bros . Thos . Fenn , P . B . G . P ., acting I . P . M . and D . C . ; Jas . H . Renton , S . W . ; Wakeford May , J . W . ; C . E . Birch , P . M ., Treas . ; R . J . Banning , P . M ., Sec . ; E . W . Jaquet , S . D . ; E . de B . Barnett , J . D . ; Fred Romer , I . G . ; and J . MiddletonTyler .

, The addresses were given by the DEPUTY PROV . G . MASTER and Bro . KNYVETT , P . G . D . On the proposition of Bro . T . FENN , acting I . P . M ., the W . Master , Wardens , Treasurer , and Secretary were appointed a Committee to frame the by-laws . Bro . Banning , Sec , was elected to serve on the Provincial Finance Committee .

The W . MASTER , in proposing the election of Bro . Birch , P . M ., Treas ., as a member of the Provincial Charity Committee , pointed out that better arrangements should be made to ensure the success of Hertfordshire cases , the province possessing a strong voting power . The nomination of Bro . Birch was seconded by the SECRETARY , and carried unanimousl y .

The Prov . G . M . was elected an honorary member of the lodge and presented by the W . Master with a founder ' s jewel , for which he returned sincere thanks . The Deputy Prov . G . Master , the Grand Secretary , the Prov . G . Secretary , the Prov . G . Chaplain , and the Prov . G . D . C . were also elected honorary members . The W . MASTER having announced his intention of serving as Steward at the next _ Festival _ of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and several propositions having been made for initiates and joining members , the lodge was closed .

After an excellent banquet , the first toasts given from the chair were " The Queen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . " In proposing " The Grand Officers , " the W . MASTER said that no brother took more interest in Masonry than the Earl of Carnarvon , and with regard to the Deput y G . M ., the Earl of Lathom , whenever he honoured Grand Lodge by attending , he always met with an enthusiastic reception . With respect to the other Grand

Ufhcers , it was a matter of great pride to the brethren of the Province of Herts to feel that they came home to that toast at once . They were honoured that evening with the presence of five or six Grand Officers , two or three of whom had been obli ged to leave early . The name of Bro . Philbrick , the G . Reg ., was known to most of them , for they knew that in the last few months his name had become a household word from the fearless way in which he had acted as Chairman of the

Committee appointed to inquire into the management of the Boys' School , which was one of the most unpleasant duties that could be found . Everybody must acknowled ge that his duties had been carried out in a moderate and fair manner . He should certainl y have the privilege of coupling Bro . Philbrick ' s name with the toast . They were also honoured with the Grand Secretary , than whom there was no member of the Craft held in more universal esteem . They felt that a brother who had such multitudinous duties to perform had conferred a great honour b y attending that ni

ght . Then they had Bro . Fenn with them . For the President of the Board of General Purposes to become one of the founders was a matter of I p n / r Se t 0 m 0 St ° them- Hl * feIt that Br 0 * Fenn ' ** ing accepted the office of ii 1 and alS ° ' C- ' would be of the greatest benefit to him , for he knew he should make many mistakes , and in any case of difficulty he would have one ofthe highest authorities to appeal to . They had also their Prov . G . Master , to whom ne should refer at a later period , Bros . Knyvett , Matier , and others who had been obliged to leave . Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C , G . Reg ., said the W . M . had imposed a heavy duty Pon him . On the part of the Grand Officers , he would say how glad they were o be privileged to assist on an occasion like that . It was always gratifying to hose who took a deep interest in the success of an institution , and still more

Consecration Of The Bushey Hall Lodge, No. 2323.

gratifying to those who took a deep interest in the grand Institution they had so much at heart , to see its legitimate progress , and watch its inception under auspices like those which had attended the happy consecration that day . He could assure them that the Grand Officers viewed the extension of lodges that were likely to be sources of benefit to the Craft—places of happy meeting for the brethren and for all 'good , true Masonic purposes—with the utmost pleasure . While they were

called upon to see , and they saw without dismay , the number of lodges which rank under the banner of the Grand Lodge of England reduced seriousl y in number by the formation of Grand Lodges in Australia and other parts of the world , it had been with no grudging spirit , with no mere yielding to what mi ght be called the inevitable , that Grand Lodge had accorded a thoroughly hearty and fraternal recognition , for they had been pleased and proud to see that those who in great

measure had drunk of their source of Masonic spirit—from theirs the oldest Grand Lodge in the world—had founded themselves in other great countries , and carried to the uttermost parts of the globe those great principles of the Order in which they firmly believed , and which they were sure had done , and were still doing , practical good , and which would bring honour to the name of Masonry wherever they were carried . Therefore it was that they , as Grand Officers , could observe ,

and did observe , with the greatest pleasure the accession to the ranks of the lodges under the Grand Lodge , and they congratulated the province on having another lodge consecrated under the rule of the P . G . M . The W . M . had been pleased in his kind remarks to refer to the names of the Pro G . M . and the D . G . M ., of whom it was almost enough to say in an assembly of Masons that their names were household words , owing to the deep interest they took in the Craft . For the rest of the

Grand Officers he would leave it to the Grand Secretary to speak , and he no doubt would take up the burden of a speech left incomplete . The W . M . had referred to one matter of great importance with which he had associated his name . He was associated with other brethren who with him bore the part of the investigation , which to them was a painful duty . They felt they should ill repay the confidence reposed in them if they did not speak honestly and fairly the truth , and they felt

that if in so doing any consequences ensued , it was not their business to wei gh those consequences , but their duty was to tell the truth . He saw the brethren around him thoroughly appreciated what he had said . They might , it was quite true , have endeavoured to do that which painters do when they leave their workput on a coat of varnish—and he could assure them it would have been much more congenial to that Committee if they could have said that which would have done

as well , and felt they could do it and look their brethren in the face . He was sure he could speak for six of the Committee , and he was the seventh , they all felt their duty was a paramount one , and he hoped and trusted the kind confidence placed in them was not forfeited . The great matter they had at heart was the principle the brethren generally had at heart , and no matter who mi ght be the persons , if people had to yield they must yield—the great interest was the interest of the noble Institution which the generosity and liberality of the Craft had founded in

the past and now supports ; and long might it continue to be honoured in the Craft , and might an increased support , on better principles of administration , show they were believers and true successors of the Masons of old—believers of all that was good , and showed by their work that they struck , " no false joints . Their work should be founded on a rock , and that rock ought to be truth and honest y , and work so done would stand the strictest scrutiny of the Craft and the scrutiny of the G . A . O . T . U . He thanked the W . M . for his own humble part , and was quite sure the Grand Officers felt extremely grateful .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . Sec , also responded . Speaking personally , he assured , them of the deep interest he had taken in the lodge , and congratulated the founders on its evident success . For many months past he had been behind the scenes , and was fully persuaded from the opening proceedings , and from the brethren supporting it—including Bro . Fenn , who was an Eiffel Tower in Masonic knowledge—that if they did not make the lodge an excellent one in the province it would be their own faults .

The next toast given by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER was " The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P . " He could safely say it was a toast he would rather propose in Bro . Halsey ' s absence , for then he could say a good deal more ; but it was not necessary for him to say anything , for in the Hertfordshire lodges this toast always received a most enthusiastic reception . He did not believe there was any province which had greater regard for its Provincial Grand Master than they had . He mentioned in the lodge the great interest taken by the Provincial Grand

Master in the consecration of that lodge , for that distinguished brother would make no definite arrangements elsewhere until the date was fixed for that meeting . The Provincial Grand Master ' s presence was everywhere appreciated in the province , and he hoped that as Bro . Halsey had kindly consented to become an honorary member he would often honour them with his presence . He would ask the brethren to join in drinking his health , and might he long continue to reign as Provincial Grand Master , and though the lodges had more than doubled under his rule he hoped he would live to see them double again .

Bro . T . F . HALSEY , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., in reply , said he felt quite overwhelmed by the too generous terms in which the W . M . had commended this toast to their notice , and also by the extreme kindness with which it had been received . He could only say it had given him the greatest pleasure to assist in the consecration of the lodge , and from what he had seen and heard that night , and the constitution of the founders , and the names proposed as future members , the lodge was likely

to take that place in the province which it was his wish and desire all the lodges should hold . The W . M . had alluded to the fact that the lodges in the province , since he had presided , had more than doubled , but he hoped , if it should please the Great Architect to spare him , that he might live to see them trebled . When he first presided there were eight lodges , but that was the iSth . They did not want to multiply nominal lodges where few met , but flourishing

lodges that would spread the true principles and support the Charities , and uphold that prestige which their small province had already attained with regard to those Charities . It was the principle which animated the brethren of that province , and so long as that continued he felt sure it would prosper . From what he had seen that day he was convinced that lodge would be no mean addition . It had given him great pleasure to be present , and he trusted he should be able to visit them on many future occasions and watch its continued career of prosperity .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER then proposed " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past . " With regard to the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lake , who was in his first year of office in that position , they had known him as an excellent working Mason , he having filled the onerous post of Provincial Grand Secretary for many years . They congratulated Bro . Lake on the hi gh position he now holds , and trusted he would live long and have strength to fulfil his duties . He personally thanked the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for installing him .

Bro . G . E . LAKE , Deputy Prov . G . M ., said it was with a sense of the great responsibility attached to his words , when he looked round at the brethren , whose mouthpiece he was , that he rose to respond . He was sure , however , he should not greatly err in expressing the feelings of great pleasure with which they had been present on that occasion . It must always be a matter of great pleasure to those who had a true interest in Masonry to attend at the consecration

of a new lodge . It had been a peculiar satisfaction to himself , not only as a Mason who had seen a good deal of Masonry in that province , but as one who looked upon Bushey as his native place . He thought it was in 1882 that the Earl of Clarendon Lodge was consecrated , and , including that lodge , that was the seventh lodge added since that time . That showed that Masonry flourished in Hertfordshire , and they hoped it would continue . It was by no means the last lodge they hoped to welcome , for a charter for another had been granted , and they