Consecration Of The Pentalpha Chapter, No. 974 Bradford.

The CONSECRATING PRINCIPAL then addressed the companions on the nature of the meeting , and called upon the Director of Ceremonies to state the wishes of the companions , and he having done so , The REGISTRAR addressed ' the Principals . The CONSECRATING PRINCIPAL replied , and directed the Registrar to read the petition and charter .

The remainder of the ceremony having been performed as set forth in the programme , and the oration having been delivered by Comp . Mason , P . Z . 304 , P . P . G . H ., the chapter was duly constituted . Comp . J . L . Atherton , M . E . Z . 3 87 , P . Z . 600 , P . P . G . H ., then installed Comps . AV . C . Lupton , P . Z . 302 , P . P . G . S . N ., Z . ; Alfred Stott , P . Z . 275 , H . ; and Robert Nesvton Rhodes , 302 , J . And the M . E . Z . aftersvards

appointed and invested his officers as follosvs : Comps . Charles Maurice Wilson , S . E . ; Tom Ibbetson , S . N . ; Edward Linck , Treas . ; C . Wm . Osbrey Smith , P . S . ; Isaac Mossop , 1 st A . S . ; Claude Taylor , 2 nd A . S . ; Simeon Whiteley , Org . ; Walter Dickenson and Edgar H . Barraclough , Stwds . ; and George Beanland Janitor . Comp . ATHERTON gave the third address .

The following resolution , proposed by Comp . LUPTON , Z ., and seconded by Comp . STOTT , H ., was unanimously carried : " That a most hearty vote of thanks is due and is hereby accorded to Comp . Edsvard Letchsvorth , Grand Scribe E ., for his able services so kindly rendered in the consecration of the Pentalpha Chapter , No . 974 . "

Comp . LETCHWORTH , in replying , expressed the pleasure it had afforded him to meet his West Yorkshire companions and be of some small service to them .

The M . E . Z . proposed , and Comp . ALFRED STOTT , P . Z . 275 , seconded , and it vvas resolved that the following companions be elected honorary members , viz .: Comps . J . L . Atherton , M . E . Z . 387 ; J . W . Monckman , P . Z . 600 ; Simeon Whiteley , 302 ; and Geo . Beanland , Janitor 302 . " Hearty good wishes " vvere given for the success of the nesv chapter by every one present , after which the chapter was closed . The companions afterwards dined together , the M . E . Z . presiding . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts vvere given , and several companions added to the pleasure of the evening by ably rendering several songs , & c .

Consecration Of The Shurmur Ceapter, No. 2374.

CONSECRATION OF THE SHURMUR CEAPTER , No . 2374 .

It was but natural that in so prosperous a lodge as the William Shurmur Lodge—vvhich now numbers nearly 200 members on its roll and has , during a brief existence of two years , voted 600 guineas to the Masonic Institutions- -a desire should be evinced to have a Royal Arch Chapter

attached . A strong body of founders vvas formed with this object , and the petition having been granted by H . R . H . the ALE . Grand First Principal , the consecration ceremony took place under very favourable auspices at the Royal Forest Hotel , Chingford , Essex , on Thursday , the 1 st inst .

The founders vvere fortunate in securing the services of the distinguished companion after whom the lodge and chapter are named as the ALE . Z . designate , and there is , therefore , every reason to believe that under his guidance the chapter will have a brilliant and useful career . A good start

vvas made b y a phenomenal list of candidates being proposed for exaltation , and the charitable work carried out in the mother lodge vvas continued by voting a sum of 20 guineas—aftersvards supplemented to over 100 guineasto the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , a fact almost without precedent on the inaugural night of a Royal Arch chapter .

About 100 Royal Arch Masons vvere present to witness the consecration ceremony , vvhich vvas performed by Comp . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg ., G . Supt ., who vvas assisted by Comps . Rowland Plumbe , Prov . G . H . ; F . A . White , Prov . G . J . ; T . J . Railing , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . S . E . ; A . Lucking , A . G . D . C , Prov . G . D . C ; and H . P . Hobson , Prov . G . S . N .

The follosving founders vvere present : Comps . Wm . Shurmur , P . Z ., M . E . Z . designate ; Geo . Graveley , P . Z ., H . designate ; W . Ernest Dring , J . designate ; D . H . AlcGowan , P . Z . ; J . Pinder , P . Z . ; N . Fortescue , James Speller , AV . Stopher AVright , C iMcColIa , C Horst , B . Nicholson , B . Johnson , G . P . Pointer , VV . C Alann , J . Holland , D . P . Holness , P . Z . ; T . D . Birch , P . Z . ; and S . C Kaufman .

The chapter was opened , and The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT addressed the companions on the nature of the meeting . Having referred to the progress of Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Essex , and the success which had attended the William Shurmur Lodge , he expressed thc pleasure it afforded him to be present that day for the purpose of consecrating the Shurmur Chapter . He was

satisfied thu under thc guidance of the AI . E . Z . designate a wise care would be exercised in selecting good and worthy candidates , and in keeping strictly to the words contained in one of the charges as to the worth of all those recommended to a participation of this—the highest form of Masonry . On behalf of the province he expressed a fervent hope that the chapter would be an ornament and credit to Royal Arch Alasonry , and an accession of strength to the Order in the Province of Essex .

The ceremony vvas proceeded with in the usual manner , and a brief oration on the nature and principles of the Order vvas given by Comp . S . WHITE , Prov . G . J . The chapter was then dedicated and constituted . Comp . VV . Shurmur , P . Z ., was inducted into the chair of M . E . Z ., and afterwards installed Comps . Geo . Graveley , H . designate , and AV . E . Dring , J . designate , into their respective chairs in the presence of 53 Installed Principals . The following ollicers svere elected and invested : Comps .

D . H . McGowan , P . Z ., acting I . P . Z . ; James Pinder , P . Z ., S . E . ; J . Byford , jun ., S . N . ; N . Fortescue , Treas . ; James Speller , P . S . ; VV . Stopher AV right , 1 st A . S . ; C AlcColla , 2 nd A . S . ; C Horst , D . C ; B . Nicholson , A . D . C ; B . Johnson , G . P . Pointer , and VV . C Alann , Stewards ; Dr . J . F . Haskins , Prov . G . Org ., Org . ; and John Ives , Janitor . A beany vole of thanks vvas accorded the Consecrating Officers , and they were each presented with a founder ' s jewel as a souvenir of the

. The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT acknowledged the gift , and . said it had been a labour of love for them to be present . On the proposition of Comp . N . FORTESCUK , Treasurer , a sum of 20 guineas vvas voted to the Royal Alasonic Institution for Boys , to be placed on tbe list of the M . E . Z . who vvas appointed as Steward to represent the chapter .

The ollicers vvere elected a Committee to frame the by-laws , and 32 candidates vvere proposed for exaltation and five companions for joining . The chapter was then closed .

Consecration Of The Shurmur Ceapter, No. 2374.

After a well-served banquet , the usual toasts received hearty recognition Comp . E . J . BARON , P . G . S . B ., responded for " The Grand Officers ' Present and Past , " and said that looking back on the 25 years during which he had been a Grand Officer , he had seen a most wonderful progress in Royal Arch Masonry , not only in Essex but throughout the Kingdom and they must attribute that very largely to the Grand First Princi pal of the

Order . He could remember vvhen there were but four chapters in Essex As regards the Grand Officers , they always attended Grand Chapter in sufficiently large numbers to discharge their duties , and they thanked the companions for the kind compliments always paid them at other meetings . " The Grand Superintendent of Essex , Comp . Frederick A . Philbrick Q . C , G . Reg ., " vvas next proposed by Comp . WM . SHURMUR , M . E . Z . who

said that the honoured name of Philbrick vvas everywhere held in the hi ghest esteem and regard . A recent proof vvas the sincere expressions of sympathy tendered to him and his family during their trial and affliction . The founders of the Shurmur Chapter vvere sincerely grateful to their Grand Superintendent for having recommended his Royal Highness to grant them a charter of constitution , and the exquisite manner in vvhich their worthy

chief had carried that charter into effect by consecrating the chapter svas beyond all praise . It vvas a proof that his heart vvas in his work . Thev believed that the Grand Superintendent never so thoroughly enjoyed himself as vvhen acting in the discharge of Alasonic work , especially in the Royal Arch Degree in the province over vvhich he presided vvith so much grace and dignity .

The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT , in reply , said he hardly knew how to thank them for the kindness and warmth of his reception . Rightl y had the AI . E . Z . said that his heart vvas in Freemasonry , and especially in the Royal Arch Degree in the Provinceof Essex , forthere his sympathies weremost keenly bound up . That night he thought vvas a memorable one in the annals of the Craft in Essex . It marked the creation of this new chapter under distin .

guished auspices , and he would be a very poor prophet indeed for a sporting penny paper if he could not pick the winner with his eyes blindfold , and he could assure them they would all participate in the pleasing result if they endorsed his choice much more than if they vvere trying for the missing word . It was a peculiar pleasure and great pride to one , circumstanced as he was , to see an addition to their ranks at once so numerous , so strong in the quality of the companions , and everything in it so thoroughly Masonic

that the very first act of the Treasurer was to spend his funds in benevolence . There vvas , moreover , an unexampled strong list of candidates for exaltation and joining , and a very distinguished career should be before the chapter . As one got older and saw how matters went in the world , one felt that a lodge vvhich had attained unexampled success and prosperity found its legitimate fulfilment in a chapter . Those vvho read that

comparatively broad sentence in the Book of Constitutions found that pure and ancient Masonry as understood by the Grand Lodge comprised Three Degrees and the Holy Royal Arch , and he held , and always should hold , that no Mason thoroughly understood the full extent of that which lay before him unless he proceeded to the Degree of the Royal Arch . He then understands that which a Mason can steadfastly keep before him

as missing in the other Degrees , and he is acquainted with the whole of that great Masonic tradition vvhich , while it embodies a history of interest , not merely of events of antiquity , but that vvhich possessed many items and elements which appealed to all as one of those traditions in which existed those words of loving truth of vvhich they were the exponents in their time , and the dictators to those who came after . It vvas in this particular respect

that the Royal Arch was the crown and the development of the full career of a Alaster Alason . It was , therefore , vvith the greatest pleasure that he found that in the Shurmur Lodge , the success of vvhich vvas undoubted and the prosperity unexampled , they were desirous of having a Royal Arch chapter attached , and he was only too glad to recommend it to his Royal Highness , and to see that that recommendation had the desired result . He

congratulated the founders , and could do so upon the merits of the petition and the support attained , for the best of institutions depended in some degree upon those who administered them . He , therefore , congratulated not only the M . E . Z . and founders , but also the Province on this occasion of strength . There was but one thing that made him doubtful . They numbered nine , the number of the muses , and one

of the numbers the " ancient" magicians were pleased to charm with , and he had heard that night of something that vvould break even number 10 . He-was not quite sure that one should put trust in numbers , but he vvould put his trust rather in what he might see in the increase of numbers , and as long as they possessed element of strength and guarantees of stability , then the more numbers the better . Unless numbers meant real strength ,

and put backbone into the Order , they really meant weakness . He had thc great privilege of saying , as the Grand Superintendent of the province , that there vvas not a weakly chapter on the roll of Essex . He thought that in the latest addition the backbone was a very strong one . He thanked them for the kindness of his reception , vvhich was always kind amongst his Essex brethrenand let him say how lovingly he thoughtin some hours of

, , trouble , of the kind feeling vvhich was extended to him by all of them , and the manythat communicated to him , and the many who . with equal consideration , did not , how to all he vvas grateful for sympathy shown in an almost unprecedented calamity that fell on his family . They would forg ive him if he said a word which some communications made to him seemed

to make desirable to tell them , and take them into confidence on a private matter . Some of the companions had mentioned their desire to hear about the poor child . He was sorry he could not say so much as he could wish , but although under the blessing of Providence not absolutely left untouched the power of speech , they had great hopes that in the course of a day or two vvhen the pressure on the brain was relieved , there would be comp lete restoration . Having told them , he vvould add his deepest thanks for the

kind sympathy they had all shown . In conclusion , he vvould say that as one of their cardinal principles had been well anticipated by the founders that evening , he trusted it was not merely the beginning , but would go throug h the career of the Shurmur Chapter . On the part of the province he wished them all God speed in their good undertaking , and as p residing over them for the moment he would say how delighted he vvas to see that accession to their ranks , and with all heartiness conveyed the wishes of the province

towards them . Comp . J . TURNER , P . P . G . J ., acknowledged "The Provincial Grand Officers , " and said he lelt the duties they had to perform vvere very limited , as they vvere under thc care of the Grand Superintendent , who always saw they did their work properly . 'They thanked the chapter for the magnificent reception given them , and felt it an honour to be present . The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT then said that vvhen all the companions present were Consecrating Officers they would learn there was one privileg