Consecration Of The Holborn Lodge, No. 2398.

Bro . Col . J . ELLIOTT , C . B ., D . G . M . Barbados , in reply , said the object of the toast was to do honour to the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Officers , and he only wished they could add to that list the Pro Grand Master of the past . Wherever that toast was drunk it was sure to be received with enthusiasm , and on behalf of Grand Lodge he thanked them for the reception accorded it . The Grand Lodge had achieved marvellous successes . Its Charities had extended

largely , and rei ' ef had been extended to brethren who , from age or calamity , were reduced to indigence , and that was something for them to be extremely satisfied at . There was not much for him who lived abroad to say about the working of Grand Lodge , especially in the presence of those who were on the snot and through whose influence and hard work Masonry had achieved success . They would all agree that among the Grand Officers there was none to whom

they were more indebted than their hard working Grand Secretary . He had always been taught in Masonry to feel that to he linked in the indissoluble ties of Freemasonry was to be allowed the privilege of performing little acts of kindness . When he claimed to be a Mason he claimed to belong to a Society the practice of the princip les of which had a natural tendency t > improve the mind of those who

properly followed its precepts . They should not blame an institution for the shortcomings of some of its members , but laud it for the praiseworthy conduct of others . They should look at the principles of the institution and judge them , and Masonry rather than Masons . They knew the princip les of an institution determined its merits and they gave honour to whom honour was due . He again thanked them on behalf of Grand Lodge , and also for the compliment paid himself .

The WORSHIPFUL M ASTER next proposed " The Consecrating Master , and his Assistants , " remarking that most of them remembered a short story about a great Dean of St . Patrick , who was once preaching a Charity sermon . Taking for his text the words " Whosoever giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord , " he preached a very short sermon by saying " If you ' re satisfied with the security , down with the

dust . " He should be equally short , and should try to be to the point in speaking of the brethren who had honoured them by the new lodge . The brethren saw their work , and the dignity with which it was performed , and they all knew the courtesy and genial kindness of the Grand Secretary . He should say no more , but ask them to drink the toast .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , Grand Secretary , said it was with very great p leasure that he rose to thank them , on behalf of the excellent and distinguished brethren who assisted him , for the kind way the toast had been received . He was delig hted to learn that the W . M . strongly objected to long speeches , especially as they had already heard him ad nausem that nig ht . His remarks would be brief indeed , and those vvould be to thank them for the kind and fraternal way they had

received his colleagues and himself in the performance of their duties , and to assure them it had been a great pleasure to them to be present to do what they could to launch that new ship into the ocean of Masonry . They had done so in the assurance that with proper steering it should be an excellent Masonic barque in the future . There was an excellent field to work on , for it was a large district , and he was delighted to know they were making it a local lodge , for all lodges should be

local . They were asked for , " for the convenience of their respective dwellings , " and gentlemen should not have to go 8 or io miles to be initiated , but should be able to be initiated near . They should have their lodges close to their own places , and it was intended that that should be local , and it would be recruited from that part of London . He hoped they would be careful to select their candidates carefully , and remember that quality was much better than quantity , and

that one good man was worth half a dozen bad ones . If they would simply bide their time and wait it would be the best thing for them . In the present day , when Masons was so much in evidence , and people read and thought about it , he was afraid that candidates were put forward who were not proper persons for Masonry , and he , therefore , asked them to be careful whom they admitted . He again thanked them for the way the toast had been received , and also thanked the

distinguished brethren who had assisted him with their kind services . If the Grand Officers would sit down he would go onto the toast more congenial to himself and more pleasing to the brethren . He was going to ask them to drink the health of the excellent brother , the first Worshipful Master of that new lodge . He was quite sure when the founders met together—and a large number there wereand began to consider how that lodge was going to be worked , no doubt

it was difficult to know who should be the Master . . He thought their selection was an excellent one , because Bro . Dr . Lloyd had done good suit and service in his old mother lodge—the Eclectic—and the W . M . of that lod ge had just told him that he was initiated by Bro . Dr . Lloyd . That showed him that Bro . Lloyd was an old and tried member of the Order , who knew his regulations aud ritual , and would do excellent service in his new capacity . The

founders could not have made a better choice , and following him came their highly respected Member for the Division—¦ Bro . Gainsford Bruce , Q . C . —and also Bro . Angel . He thought they had provided for the next two or three years in a manner auguring well for the future prosperity of the lodge . He would ask them to join him in drinking to the Holborn Lodge , wishing it all success , and joining with it the health of its first W . M ., Bro . Dr . Lloyd .

Bro . Dr . S . LLOYD , W . M ., said he was sure they would excuse him if he was embarrassed . He would first thank the Grand Secretary for the kind way he had proposed the toast , and for the kind words of advice and encouragement given them . He would assure the Grand Secretary that they would endeavour as far as 'hey could to carry out that kindly advice . He vvould next thank the brethren for the enthusiastic in which they had received the toastand thank them once more

way , for the distinguished honour conferred upon him in making him their first Master . What they saw in him to induce them to take that view he could not imagine . It was not for any excellence in the ceremonies , and he was therefore driven to the conclusion—a pleasant one—that the choice fell upon him simply from the esteem in which they held him , and , therefore , he thanked them from the bottom of his heart .

Bro . General LAURIE , P . G . M . Nova Scotia , returned thanks on behalf of " The Visitors , " and said that Nova Scotia was as English as England , as Scotch as Scotland . ^ They had the same feeling towards the mother country , and felt they were Englishmen . There were two representatives from Nova Scotia present that vening , and they thanked them for the opportunity g iven them of seeing another ghsh ' l ge . On behalf of the visitors he returned thanks for the privilege of ¦ eeing the ceremonies of consecration and installation , which were peiformed with ¦

ich dignit y . Especially they thanked the orator of the occasion for his admirable Mress , and he was certain the P . G . Chaplain never had greater attention paid , lm- Ihey also had to thank the lodge for its magnificent hospitality . Bro . GAINSFORD BFUCE , Q . C , M . P ., S . W ., proposed "The Treasurer and ecretary , " to whom , he said , tht-y were gieatly indebted , for they had devoted eniselves

to the welfare of the lodge , and very much of the success of that day as owing to their labours . They were indebted to the Treasurer for the care he d f . f * ° ' admirable way he expended the money . The Secretary was ingable , and had exerted himself to the utmost in all those numerous arrangenents necessary for success

. elp i ^ ' * *^ ' ¦"* LOVETT , Treasurer , returned grateful thanks for having been ed to the proud position of the first Treasurer , and assured them he would do utmost to lurther their interests so that 1 heir confidence would not be misplaced . airi * u ° ' , ELLIS , P . P . G . S . B . Cambs ., Secretary , also returned thanks , and nad

sa ne been assisted in the work bv all those whose hearts had been in the Wa * : P ! f as his own in the making of a lodge for the district of Holborn . It and h " P ecem } 3 er'ast that the present Junior ^ Warden spoke to him of the idea , ; ,, ' ^ rnediately consented to assist . Having looked round for the best men e nei ghbourhood , a petition was signed , which had resulted in that evening ' s

Consecration Of The Holborn Lodge, No. 2398.

proceedings . All they had done had been a labour of love . Sometimes it had been anxious , but at all times pleasant , and the present was the proudest moment of his Masonic life . As Secretary he thanked them most sincerely for the kind manner they had received his health , and anything he could do for the lodge he would always be found ready and willing to do .

Bro . GAINSFORD BRUCE , Q . C , M . P ., S . W ., responded for "The Officers , " and said their desire was to do everything they could to promote the interests of Masonry , and the welfare of the Holborn Lodge in particular . He should have to leave them for the House of Commons , and he could not help thinking how happily things would go on there if they could elect the Speaker as W . M ., with Messrs . W . H . Smith and Gladstone as S . W . and J . W ., which would be to the advantage of the country and the convenience of individuals there . The Tyler ' s toast brought a very successful meeting to a close . The musical arrangements were in the hands of Bro . Dr . J . F . Ha-jkins , assisted by Bros . R . Grice , C . Chilley , J . Bartlett , Dutton , and W . Devey .

Consecration Of The Prince Edward Chapter, No. 2109, At Heaton Moor.

CONSECRATION OF THE PRINCE EDWARD CHAPTER , No . 2109 , AT HEATON MOOR .

On Monday an addition was made to the roll of Royal Arch chapters in the Province of West Lancashire—numbering already some 41 or 42—by the consecration of the Prince Edward Chapter , No . 2109 , at Heaton Moor . In this residential suburb of Manchester , the progress of Masonry has of late been very marked . The Prince Edward Lodge , to which the new chapter is attached , has , since its consecration a few years ago , enjoyed a remarkable degree of prosperity , and in point of numbers , efficiency of working , and charitable effort , compares favourably

with any lodge in the province . The brethren at Heaton Chapel are fortunate in the possession of a handsome lodge room , and it never looked better than when prepared with beautiful new furniture and appointments for the ceremony of Monday . The Consecrating Officer was Comp . W . Goodacre . P . G . Std . Br . England , and P . G . S . E . West Lancashire , and he was assisted by Comps . Rev . T . Barton Spencer , P . A . G . Soj . England ; W . Johnson , P . G . J . ; J . Slyman , P . G . S . N ; J . J . Lambert , P . P . G . Reg ., acting S . E . ; J . ' D . Murray , P . P . G . Treas ., acting D . of C ; W . Piatt , P . P . G . O . ; and other provincial officers .

The impressive ceremony of consecration , undertaken as it was by such masters of the ritual , was faultlessly performed . In an eloquent oration Comp . the Rev . T . B . SPENCER drew many lessons from the Royal Arch Degree , and enforced upon the companions the duty of observing the high moral and religious aims set forth therein . The CONSECRATING OFFICER gave the invocation with all solemnity , and duly

dedicated and constituted the chapter . Comp . Murray upheld his right to be considered one of the ablest Directors of Ceremonies in the Order , and a choir of vocal companions , under the direction of the P . P . G . O ., rendered efficient service . At the close of the ceremony Comp . Goodacre installed as the first Z . of the chapter Comp . VV . Webster , and Comp . Slyman then installed Comp . E . Broadbent , as H ., and Comp . J . H . Wells , as J .

The following were invested as officers for the year ensuing -. Comps . T . A . Hopewell , S . E . ; S . I . Thomson , S . N . ; T . Thornhill Shann , Treas . ; J . W . Berra , P . S . ; J . Gardner , ist Asst . Sec ; W . M . EIroy , and Asst . Sec ; and W . Chesshyre , Janitor . The addresses to the Principals , officers , and companions , were delivered by

Comp . Goodacre . A goodly list of 11 candidates was proposed for exaltation . The M . E . Z . said the chapter vvould be carried on upon the principles which governed the Prince Edward Lodge , and he therefore moved that no intoxicating drinks should be introduced at their social board .

Comp . THOMSON * seconded the motion , and it was carried unanimously . Comp . HOPEWELL moved , and Comp . THOMSON seconded a cordial vote of thanks to the eminent companions who had performed the ceremony of consecration . Comp . BESRA , in supporting the motion , said the ceremony was the most beautiful he had ever witnessed in Freemasonry .

The M . E . Z ., in submitting the resolution , observed that it had been a real treat to him to see the ceremony performed as it had been , and , in particular , to listen to the beautiful words of exhortation , praise , and prayer . It had been to him a religious ceremony , and he felt that it had done him good , heart and soul . He hoped it had had the same effect upon the companions who had been privileged to be present . He could not too deeply express the obligation he was under to those who had undertaken the work . The resolution was passed with enthusiasm .

Comp . GOODACRE , in reply , said that upon Comp . Spencer he felt had devolved the greater part of the consecration . The beautiful oration he had given had been a treat to all of them . Personally it had given him the greatest possible pleasure to assist the companions of Heaton Moor to realise their hopes in the formation of the chapter . The Grand and Prov . Grand Officers present wished them every good wish for the prosperity of the chapter . In the evening there was a banquet , the M . E . Z . presiding .

The loyal and Masonic toasts were cordiall y pledged , the festival throughout being of the most enjoyable and fraternal character . The chapter was furnished by Comp . George Kenning .

1 J . A . VON STARCK was born in 1741 and died in 1816 . His name is familiar to those who have studied the history of German Freemasonry , as very intimately connected with the hi gh grade movement of Templary in Germany . As we think his views mistaken , and his proceedings hurtful to true Masonry , his biography will be short . He is said to have been made a Freemason in a French

military lodge , and to have been initiated in the Rite of Melesino in St . Peters * burg . He then joined the Strict Observance , and . subsequentl y dissatisfied , formed a clerical reform of it . What that really was does not clearly appear to us , and we prefer to leave it as is generally stated , though we are not satisfied that he arranged his Reformed Rite in the various grades generall y given ; and certain it is that it is not properly called the Relaxed

Observance—which seems to be a French mistake and misnomer . The Relaxed Observance , as we understand the German writers , was rather the whole English system or Craft system , as opposed to the Strict Observance of Templar Masonry . Starck is accused by German writers of being a Jesuit . He seems to have coquetted with the Church of Rome ; though he died , we believe , professedly a

Lutheran , he admittedly leant much both to the teaching and company of Roman Catholics , lie was perhaps an unconscious rather than a conscious agent of Jesuitism . But this we can say of him : that he did no good to Freemasonry , that his views were erroneous , and his efforts actuall y injurious to its tolerant and comprehensive principles . —Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry .