Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

a continuance of that philanthropy and benevolence with which thc Craft was so intimately connected . He begged to thank them most heartily for thc honour they bad been good enough to confer upon him , and he only trusted that in subsequent years they would find by his actions that hc was not unworthy of thc confidence placed in him . Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , O . C , Grand Reg ., in response for ' " The

Visitors , " returned hearty thanks . It was not often that Masons wcre privileged to bc present on an occasion of this kind , and hc was quite sure that thc visitors present that night to welcome the advent of another reign in the Province of Middlesex were satisfied that the province had been entrusted to hands which would for the future make a great success , ancl would conduce to the spread of the great principles which the Craft

holds so dear , and which it was so desirous of propagating . Ihey as visitors mi ght be pardoned for congratulating the province on the accession of Bro . Lord George Hamilton to the most distinguished position which the M . W . Grand Master could bestow in Middlesex . In fitting terms the Provincial Grand Master had alluded to Sir Francis Burdett , whose memory would always be green amongst Middlesex Freemasons . He could not say

with the Provincial Grand Master that he had succeeded to a position which it would be difficult to fill , and thc brethren present would agree that the earnest given that night foreboded well for the province , and that they all concurred that the M . W . Grand Master had made a most happy and most felicitous choice . The visitors united in sincere wishes for the health , happiness , and prosperity of the Provincial Grand Master , and success to the province over which he had been so worthily called to preside .

Bro . Lieut .-Col . W . RUSHTON , Prov , S . G . W ., responded for " The Provincial Grand Officers , " and said they felt highly honoured in having been called upon to fulfil positions under the new Provincial Grand Master , and would use their utmost endeavours to carry out their duties and uphold the position of the Province of Middlesex . They esteemed it an honour to be Provincial Grand Officers of so distinguished a province , and which was so representative of the prosperity of the Craft .

The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings , which were enlivened by an excellent progiammc of music ably rendered by Bro . Oliver , P . P . G . Org ., and the Schartau Part Singers . The unqualified success of this , the largest meeting which has probably ever bcen held under the banner of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex , was due to a few brethren , who worked energetically to ensure so

happy a result , but particularly to the indefatigable Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . Howard IT . Room , whose unceasing efforts and genial courtesy have rendered him so deservedly popular in the province . Letters expressing inability to attend were received from the following : Bros , the Duke of Abercorn , G . M . Ireland ; the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ,

Deputy G . M . ; Earl Amherst , P . G . M . Kent ; Lord Carrington , P . G . M . Bucks ; Earl of Radnor , P . G . M . Wilts ; T . F . Halsey , P . G . M . Herts ; Earl of Yarborough , S . G . W . ; A . Akers-Douglas , O . C , J . G . W . ; Sir j . B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; G . E . Lake , D . P . G . M . Herts ; J . S . Eastes , D . P . G . M . Kent ; Col . Lord Claud J . Hamilton ; and many other distinguished brethren .

Consecration Of The Hortus Lodge, No. 2469.

CONSECRATION OF THE HORTUS LODGE , No . 2469 .

The Hortus Lodge , No . 24 C 9 , was consecrated at Freemasons' Hall , Great Oueen-street , on the 27 th ult ., by Bro . Edward Letchworth , G . Sec , assisted by Bros . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg ., as S . W . ; C E . Keyser , P . G . D ., as J . VV . ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , Deputy P . G . M . Bucks , as Chaplain ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C ; and H . I . Adams , P . G . S . B ., as I . G .

T he founders of the new lodge are Bros . A . W . G . Weeks , P . M . ; H . B . May , P . M . ; VV . | . Nutting , P . M . ; N . N . Sherwood , P . M . ; W . Y . Baker ; B . Wynne , P . M . ; J . H . Laing ; A . Turner , P . M . ; Lynch White ; A . Outram ; and C E . Osman . , After the formal opening nf the lodge , a hymn was sung . The CONSECR vri NGOITICKR then addressed thc brethren and said : We are met together

on an occasion of great interest , for the purpose of constituting and consecrating a new lodge , and of adding one more to the long list of lodges on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England . The lodge we are about to consecrate to-day will bear a name suggestive of fragrance and beauty—the Hortus Lodge—and it will bc composed in a great measure of brethren devoted to the study and pursuit of horticulture . 1 regard myself very

fortunate that on the present occasion I have the benefit of the assistance of brethren who arc not onl y distinguished members of the Craft , but arc among the foremost patrons of that very interesting pursuit . At a time when Masonry is increasing by leaps and bounds , it is not considered b y His Royal Highness , the M . W . G . M ., very desirable to increase thc number of lodges , and , therefore , I think the founders of this lodge may bc

congratulated on the fact that His Royal Highness at once acceded to the prayer ol this petition and granted tlie warrant . I fell sure that under the able rule of Bro . Weeks , who has alread y had some experience as a Master , the duties of this lodge will be carried out in a manner as to relied , credit on the Craft . I am sure I am onl y giving expression to the feelings of all present , when I hope it may have before it a career of unbroken success . .

The founders then signified their approval of the officers named in the petition and warrant , and an oration was delivered b y Bro . Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , Dep . Prov . G . M . Bucks . The lodge was then dedicated and constituted , and Bro . A . W . G . Weeks , P . M ., was dul y installed as the first VV . M .

The following officers were invested : Bros . N . N . Sherwood I P M H . B . May , P . M ., S . VV ' . ; VV . [ . Nutting , P . M ., J . W . ; VV . Y . Baker ' Treas . ; H . Wynne . P . M ., Sec . ; A . Turner , P . M " ., S . D . ; J . II . Laing , I . D . ; Lynch White , D . C ; A . Outram , Stwd . ; R . Sebastian Hart , P . M ., Org . ; and Samuel Ellis , Tyler . Other business was transacted , including the proposition of several candidates for initiation , and the lodge was closed .

A banquet was afterwards held at Freemasons' Tavern , and the usual toasts were subsequently duly honoured . " The Queen and the Craft " and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " were first given , and heartily received . In proposing the next toast , the WOKSIIII ' IUL MASTER said the brethren

all knew how very valuable the services of the Grand Officers wcre , and if any doubt existed one had onl y lo look at the agenda at each Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , and see the amount of lhought , '" wisdom , and labour that must be spent on the various subjects . There was a selfishness in gratitude , and they were not only grateful lor the past , but hoped Llie Grand Officers would live to do more for them in thc future . Hc would

Consecration Of The Hortus Lodge, No. 2469.

couple with the toast the name of Bro . Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , whose name alone would be sufficient to make it enthusiastically received . Bro . Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . Chap ., in response , said he did not desire the credit given him respecting the Grand Lodge circulars . He was quite prepared to take all the credit that belonged to him as a Grand Officer

but with regard to ths paragraphs which their late Grand secretary so clearly and concisely set forth , and which the present Grand Secretary so well followed in , he could claim no credit . On behalf of the rest of the Grand Officers who were equally proud of those labours he begged to return thanks .

In giving " The Consecrating Officers , " the W . M . said he thought it was Tennyson who said that " Things seen are mightier than things heard of . " That toast commended itself much more to them because they had seen the most beautiful working of the Consecrating Officer that evening .

He was sure the ceremony in itself was one of the greatest Masonic treats one could imagine . He had one regret , and that was that he omitted in the lodge to propose a vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers , but if they would forgive him the omission he should be grateful , for it was for want of thought and not want of feeling .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , said he rose at once to acknowledge the great compliment paid himself and the other Grand Officers who had honoured him b y assisting , and the manner the brethren had received the toast proposed in such kind , although he feared , so far as regarded himself , undeserved terms . It was , as they knew , one of the duties of his office to undertake the consecration of lodges as the unworthy and most humble

representative of the M . W . Grand Master , but he regarded his duty as a very great privilege , and could assure them that the ceremony he had performed that ni ght had been to him a labour of love . It had been a great pleasure to one and all to consecrate that lodge , and they would all watch its career with a very great deal of interest . He knew he was only expressing

their feelings as well as his own when he expressed the hope that that lodge might have before it a career of unbroken prosperity . He had also on their behalf to thank the W . M . for the reference he had made to what he was pleased to term an omission , and to thank him most heartily for the kind reference to their services .

Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C , G . Reg ., then said that the emblem of authority which had been entrusted to him conveyed to every Mason the toast he was about to propose . It was "The Health of their Worshipful Master . " The W . M . was the head of the Hortus Lodge , which he thought at that period of the evening could hardl y be fairly described as a hortus siccus . He was sure thc VV . M . was at home there amongst gardeners ,

but before he had listened , as they all did , with admiration to the remarks which fell from the Grand Chaplain ' s lips , the W . M . was wondering what possible connection there was between Masonry and gardening . He confessed to being rather astounded at the secure arguments in the Grand Chaplain ' s oration . How could their ancient brethren have managed to live on the face of God's earth had it not been for the animals of the chase

and the fruits of the field , and therefore it struck him that the first Masons were indebted to the first gardeners , and that without the efforts of those who had tilled the soil there would never have been those who raised the structures of the past . When he heard how the higher civilisation brought the Doric , Ionic , and Corinthian Orders , and raised the edifices that have been thc wonder of mankind in ancient Greece ,

and which with modern science they were vainly trying to rival in a spirit of union , he thought they might well say " We have gone forward in the gardening science and have nothing of antiquity to look back upon that we cannot surpass . " The illustrious men in horticulture might be found in the Hortus Lodge , and the flower of that lodge was most certainly its Worshi pfu Master . Here in this lodge he was glad to think there were traditions of the highest antiquity as well as traditions that had come down from past

ages and which had brought them to the present state of perfection . 1 he latest development was this lodge and he did not think it need be considered as an example . The new lodge just started would strike a deep and vigorous root into its native soil and would become a sturdy strip ling with a goodly number of young fruit , and that was their most earnest and sincere wish . He gave them with the greatest pleasure the health of the W . M .. and was sure it was a fortunate day that the founders selected Bro . Weeks to preside over the lodge as he had done that night with so much grace and dignity .

Bro . A . W . G . WEEKS , W . M ., said he responded with great pleasure , mingled with dillidencc , to the toast so ably and kindly proposed by thc Grand Registrar . Hc thought that if that worshipful brother had kept on for another 10 minutes hc would have persuaded him ( the W . M . ) that he deserved some of thc praise . He might tell them that three months ago nothing was further from his mind than that he should ever occupy the chair of VV . M . again , but , being invited to take the position by some of his friends

in Masonry , hc felt highly flattered , and could not refuse . It was gratifying to him as representing one of the oldest , if not the oldest , firms in the horticultural world . He took an interest in -Masonry and he need not say how much he took in his profession . Nothing should be wanted on his part to make the lodge the success they were told it should be , and what he said he would do , he generally did . He thanked the brethren very cordially for the kind manner in which they had received the toast .

Bro . Lieut .-General LAURIE , P . G . M . Nova Scotia , acknowledged "Tl ' Visitors . " Bro . Rev . M . WILLIAMS , P . G . Chap . Victoria , also replied , and said the kindness he had received convinced him of thc real brotherhood ol Masonry . He had been absent nearly 50 years , but whenever he visited a Masonic lodge he fell amongst friends . This feeling was not only on one side , for on behalf of the brethren of Victoria hc could sav there was no

higher feeling than that of their love and affection for their mother land and for the Grand Lodge of England , which was still the mother lodge of their affection . Hc came amongst them as a learner , and had learned a gr-p deal that night . In the Colonies they could hardly attempt the precision and correctness with which thc brethren had performed their functions tha evening , but he hoped to take something back with him for thc benefit 0 the brethren in Victoria .

Bro . WYNNE , P . M ., Sec , replying for " The Officers , " said it had ahva ) *'' struck him that amongst such an eminent body of men as horticulturist they had never had a Masonic lodge of their own . The foundation of tn Hortus Lodge would , he believed , add greatly to thc benefit of horticulture , and he trusted would be an honour to Freemasonry . , Bro . MAY , P . M ., S . VV ., also responded , after which the Ty ler ' s toa * closed thc proceedings . ., ( The musical arrangements wcre ably carried out by Bro . Sabasl ' Hart , assisted by Bros . Frost , Kenningham , Gawtlirop , and Tinney .