Consecration Of The St. Pancras Lodge, No. 2271.

he injures that grace of Charity in his soul which is a tender plant and cannot bear rough usage . The key which lies and does not hang will never open truly our mysteries . The tongue of every Freemason should hang in a brother ' s defence and never lie to his prejudice . If it cannot speak well of him in his absence as in his presence it should adopt that excellent virtue of the Craft , which is silence . So , my brethren , I come back

to my point , we welcome your lodge because we believe that it will open its doors to men who , in business , in politics , in religion , do not see or feel alike , and will teach all the tluty of seeking that which is fair and not that which is foul in his brother ' s life . The true Mason is not a collector of filth and garbage . There are plenty without us to do that unsavoury work . We seek rather the fair flowers which are from God in every life . within

Our object is to develope them . . Meet anyone in this spirit and you strengthen him all that is good and noble . He feels and realises that you want to see the best and not the worst side of his character , and he will show you the best side . Oh , how many a life which might be useful is by us idle . How many a faculty which might be employed for man ' s good and God's glory is being wasted , simply for want of sympathy .

If our Craft without pretending to those higher duties which must remain with religion and with religion alone , accepts the great , the unostentatious work of cultivating brotherly love and mutual forbearance , it will have discharged an office most needful in our present times , and be one of the many instruments which the G . A . O . T . U .

condescends to use for the perfecting of his creatures , and fashioning them into His likeness . The ceremony was then proceeded with in the usual form . The musical portion of the service was very well rendered , and concluded with a beautiful anthem' ( dedication prayer of King Solomon ) , and the final Benediction brought the ceremony to a close .

The lodge was then resumed in the Second Degree , and Bro . Sir R . N . Fowler , Bart ., was installed W . M . of the St . Pancras Lodge , this ceremony also being performed by the Grand Secretary . This was followed by the investiture of the officers as follows : Bros . John Powdrell , 1745 , S . W . ; H . R . Graham , J . W . ; W . A . Scurrah , P . P . S . G . W . Middx ., Sec ; R . G . Webster , Treas . ; H . Longman , S . D . ; W . T . Perry , J . D . ; R . S . Chatty , I . G . ; and Whiting , Tyler .

On the motion of the S . W ., seconded by Bro . SCURRAH , the whole of the founders of the lodge were constituted a Committee to draw up the bylaws .

Bro . Sir R . N . FOWLER , W . M ., then rose and proposed that the heartiest thanks of the lodge be given to their most distinguished Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , who had come there to consecrate the lodge , for the admirable way in which he had discharged that duty . He thought they must all feel

it a great advantage to a lodge to be constituted by such a brother , who was a great authority on Masonry , and that they should most gratefully thank him for being there . He would propose , further , that Col . Clerke should be elected an honorary member of the lodge .

The proposition was seconded by Bro . SCURRAH , and carried unanimously ; and The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in informing the Grand Secretary of the result , begged him , in the name of the lodge , to accept a jewel , to remind him from time to time of the day on which he consecrated the St . Pancras Lodge .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE would lose no time in thanking the Master and brethren for the double honour they had conferred upon him , especially for the very flattering terms in which these honours had been conveyed to him .

It was moved by Bro . WEBSTER , Treas ., and seconded by the J . W ., that the very hearty thanks of the lodge be given not only to the Grand Secretary , but also to the other Grand Officers who had come to assist Col . Clerke in the opening of that lodge for North London ; and that these brethren also should be elected honorary members of the lodge , namely , Bros . Sandeman , Past D . G . M . Bengal ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . C ; J . H . Matthews , P . G . Std . Br . ; and Letchworth , P . G . D .

The motion having been carried unanimously , Bro . SANDEMAN returned thanks for himself and the rest of the Consecrating Officers . Several new members were proposed , and their names having been handed in to the Secretary , the lodge was closed , and the brethren of the lodge and their numerous guests adjourned to the banquet room , where an

elegant dinner was served , Sir R . N . Fowler , W . M ., presiding . The company included the following : Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . ; Hugh D . Sandeman , P . D . G . M . Bengal ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; ] . H . Matthews , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . Chap . ; Edward Letchworth , P . G . D . ; J . W . Smith , P . M . 1744 ; D . P . Cama , P . G .

Treas . ; H . Dickie , I . P . M . 1744 ; Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; F . A . Philbrick , G . Reg . ; S . Greene , P . P . S . G . D . Gloster ; ] . K . R . Cama , W . M . 2202 ; Jas . Irvine , S . W . S 62 ; W . M . Stiles , W . M . 1732 ; W . De L . Waters , P . M . 727 ; A . Laurence Fryer , 1624 ; T . W . Hanson , 2185 ; John Read , W . M . 2105 ; G . Stanley Smith ,

1929 ; W . Sexton , 1321 ; W . Jaques , W . M . 1744 , ; F . Marx , P . M . 957 ; W . Hewett , J . W . 959 ; Frank C . Joseph , I . G . 204 S ; Horace White , W . M . 10 ; H . Hollands , J . W . 1744 ; Arthur Scurrah , Sec . 2206 ; Robt . W . Moffery , W . M . 957 ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; W . Goodchild , P . M . ; Hy . Munday , 569 ; J . F . Wright , 142 ; W . W . Morgan , P . M . 211 ; and E . C . Ma'sey .

After dinner several loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed from the chair , and were very heartily received by the company . When "The Queen and the Craft , " and * ' The M . W . G . Master" had been duly honoured , The CHAIRMAN , on rising to propose " The Health of the Present and PastG . Officers , " said that as regarded the Earl of Carnarvon , he was a

nobleman who had devoted his great talents to Masonry ; and his services to Masonry , not only in England but throughout the world , were well-known . He had lately been through the Colonies , and they knew that he had taken care to look to the well-being of those great Masonic bodies which existed in our Colonies throughout the world . The Earl of Lathom had devoted

himself very much to the good of the Order , and he ( the Chairman ) thought that they had practically to thank him on this occasion , because , if he recollected right , their warrant was signed by the Prince and the Earl of Lathom . This toast was always drunk with pleasure , but it must be regarded with peculiar satisfaction on this occasion , when they were honoured

by the presence of many distinguished members of Grand Lodge . The Chairman , after naming all the Grand Officers present , concluded by coupling with the toast the name of his old friend , Sir John Monckton , who , for a long course of years 'filled a most important position in connection with Grand Lodge ,

Consecration Of The St. Pancras Lodge, No. 2271.

Sir J MONCKTON , in replying , said the response which he was honoured by being called upon to make must be considered as given in two capacities , individually and collectively . Collectively , he represented an absent body of Masons . He supposed there were few , if any in the room who were not acquainted with some or many of the Grand Officers of England , or who did not know that that position might be attained by

any Mason who gave his heart to the Craft . Individually , he had to thank the founders of the lodge for permitting him to come as an officer , with nothing to do , on that occasion . However , he thought he had some sort of right to be there , because he had got an annual dinner to get out of Sir Robt . Fowler ' s installations . The present was the third , and he believed he should once a year get the opportunity he had so highly enjoyed that

evening . It was a strong test of fortitude and fidelity to come on the Saturday before Bank Holiday . Still , he had come with pleasure , and remained with greater pleasure , for the work had been well done , and the creature comforts had been well attended to . In the name of the Grand Officers who stood up with him , and in the name of those who were absent —Present and Past Grand Officers—he thanked the lodge very heartil y .

The CHAIRMAN said he had now to propose the toast of the evening , "The V . W . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , the Consecrating Officer . " Well , as regarded the Consecrating Officer he need not in that assembly say anything , because they had all seen the admirable way in which their distinguished friend had performed the consecrating ceremony . He would remind them of what the late Lord Derby said , " that it

was difficult to speak with the words of the Right Rev . Prelate ringing in his ears , and in the ears of every one whom he addressed . " In the same way the Grand Secretary was still present in the minds of himself ( the Chairman ) and those whom he had the pleasure to address . That was a reason for drinking the toast with cordiality , and , therefore , he need not enlarge on the point . But they had to look further , to the great services

which their distinguished friend had paid to this lodge and to Masonry in general . For many years he had occupied a position of considerable importance , though it was a position which required the exercise of very great tact and very great discretion . He ( the Chairman ) was nominall y a member of Grand Lodge , but he spoke in the presence of many gentlemen who knew what were the important duties which devolved upon it , and the

difficult questions that devolved upon it in the presence of his friend who had just sat down , and in presence of the Grand Registrar , who discharged his duties with regard to the most responsible questions on which he advised Grand Lodge with the greatest discretion and the greatest ability . Now , speaking in the presence of these distinguished friends , he thought he might pay a tribute to the way in which the most arduous duties connected with

their illustrious Order were discharged by his honourable friend . They had now drunk to the health of the M . VV . the Grand Master ; he represented Royalty . They had drunk to the health of the Earl of Carnarvon and Lord Lathom ; they represented the aristocracy who had done so much to place England in its present position . And now he would , as one of the middle class himself—the great middle class to which they all belonged ,

which was to be looked at as the third estate of the realm—do honour to the Grand Secretary , who in Freemasonry most admirably discharged the duties of the class to which they all belonged . His honoured brother had to advise upon questions both of home and foreign interest , and he must have a busy lime who attended constantly at Freemasons' Hall , and regulated the proceedings of the Order . Now , he thought they would all feel

that that was most ably done by his distinguished friend whose name he coupled with the toast . He filled a high and important position as Grand Secretary of England , and he , therefore , thought that in asking them to drink the health of one to whom they were all deeply indebted , he was asking them not only to return gratitude for services they appreciated , but to join in drinking health , long life , and happiness of one with whom the interests and honour of the Craft were very closely associated .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , m reply , said that he really felt it a most difficult thing to return thanks for this toast , because the W . M . had been good enough to propose it in such kind , laudatory , and flattering terms that he ( Bro . Col . Clerke ) felt himself undeserving of them . He could assure them that his whole heart and soul was devoted to Masonry , and he was delighted to do anything he could to further the cause of

the Order . It was quite true that the Grand Lodge of England had a large business at the present moment , and he was proud to be its executive officer , and he worked hard to carry out the important duties placed on his shoulders . If his work met with the approval of his brethren in the four quarters of the globe he was amply repaid . He trusted that he might be spared for some years to do the work . As for that evening , he was greatly pleased to be able to be there . Sir John Monckton remarked that it was an awkward

day-WeU . it was an awkward day . but there werea great many good Masons there who had thrown over Bank Holiday to support the lodge , and were glad to do what they could to start a good lodge for North London . His two Wardens—Bros . Sandeman and Capt . Philips—his eloquent Bro . Brownrigg , who had been obliged to leave early , Bro . Matthews , the D . C , and Bro . Letchworth , who had been the trusty watch dog at the portal , had ably assisted him , and he thanked them for their kind services . That had been

a most pleasant day to him , and he could not be too grateful for the way m which he had been received . He was now going to another matter , which was to propose " The Health of the Master of the Lodge . " There was a trite , stale saying about the toast of the evening , which was worn to death ; but if there was an occasion on which such an expression should be used , it was when the health of a new Master of a new lodge was given . But when

it was the first Mastership it entailed a large amount of responsibility , because upon the well doing or the bad doing of the first Master depended the well-being of the lodge . That night , however , they were quite safe , because they had one of the kindest of men and the best of Masons to preside over them . They had all known him as Chief Mag istrate oj London ; they remembered when , from an unfortunate event , he was called

on to fill the civic chair a second year , and how pleased they were whe her Majesty bestowed honours upon him , and when his Royal Hig hness appointed him J . W . of the Grand Lodge of England . And now , not content to rest upon the laurels he had so well deserved , he had taken the Mastership of a new lodge . Such a man was worthy of all esteem an worthy of all recognition , and he was sure they would join with htm ' thanking Sir Robert Fowler for accepting the chair of that new

lodge-In reply , the WORSHIPFUL MASTER said he had to thank their dist "" guished brother for the kind and far too flattering way in which he had p posed his ( the Master ' s ) health . It certainly struck him that he was on