Consecration Of The Bedford Charity Lodge Of Royal Ark Mariners, No. 115.

CONSECRATION OF THE BEDFORD CHARITY LODGE OF ROYAL ARK MARINERS , No . 115 .

The consecration of the Bedford-Charity Lodge ot Royal Aik Mariners , No . 115 ( the first Royal Ark mariners lodge in Warwickshire ) , attached to the gedford Lodge of Mark Master Masons , was performed by the Most Noble Bro . the Marquess of Hertford , Pro Master of land

Grand Eng , & c , and Prov . Grand Master 0 f Warwickshire , at a- meeting held at the Masonic HaU , New-street , in the city of Birmingham , on Friday , thesSth ult , where the lodge will in future be held . Prior to the consecration ceremony the VV . Bro . William Vincent , A . G . D . C , opened a Royal Ark Mariners lodge , with the assistance of the founders present , the D . P . G . M . of Worcestershire , W . Bros . A .

Green ; W . L . Ball , P . C . N ., P . G . Stwd . ; T . F . Bland , W . C . N . $ g ; W . H . Williamson , P . C . N ., P . G . Stwd . ; and the Rev . W . J . Down , Prov . G . M . Chap . Worcestershire . The other founders present were Bro . J . G . Bennett , S . D . 430 , Org . 59 ; XV . Bros . Lloyd Owen , W . M .

Howe Lodge ( T . L ) , P . G . Stwd ., Prov . G . Treas . ; Robert Barton Morgan , P . M . and D . C . 115 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Thos . Rowbotham , W . M . 430 , S . O . 115 , I ' rov . G . S . O . ; Edward Mallard , I . P . M . 430 , W . M . iiq , Prov . G . M . O . ; William Hillman , P . M . 115 , Prov . S . G . W .: Bros . Walter Glover , 430 , J . W . 115 , P . G .

S . B . ; Frederick E . Wattis , Sec . 115 , D . C . 430 ; John A . Dexter , S . O . 430 , S . D . 174 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; Thos . H . Pearce , S . D . 430 , Prov . G . Stwd . ; Walter Herbert Rollason , Stwd . 115 ; J . Attwood , M . O . 115 , Prov . G . R . of M . ; Arthur George Boys , 430 ; Wm . G . Smith , J . D . 174 ; W . Bros . Joseph Candelent . W . M .

318 ; Samuel Jenkins , I . P . M . 318 , Prov . G . J . O . Staffordshire ; Felix Jones , P . M . 174 , P . P . G . M . O . ; and Bro . VV . P . Hoskins , J . O . 174 . The following brethren were elevated to the Degree of Royal Ark Mariners by W . Bro . Wm . Vincent , A . G . D . of C , the ceremony being performed in strict accordance with the rites and ceremonies of the Degree

and in a masterly manner , the rendering doing very great credit even to an A . G . D . of C . of the Grand Lodge , the elevated brethren appreciating the impressive , clear , and perfect exposition of the beautiful ceremony by giving their most earnest and respectful attention to every part thereof , viz .: Bros . VV . Wilson , P . G . Sec , J . W . Howe Lodge ( T . L ); Bros . J . C . Aston ,

P . P . G . S . B ., S . W ., C . D . Eaton , J . O ., W . H . Cox , S . D ., A . C . Kellett , I . G ., J . A . Turton , Stwd ., and Charles Hodgkinson , all of 115 j W . Bro . G . W . Hardy , P . M ., Prov . G . D . of C , and Bro . W . J . Ginder , I . G . of 174 ; Bros . Rev . VV . H . Poulton , M . A ., Chap ., Prov . G , Chap ., Sir James Sawyer , M . D . M . O . Henry Penn

, , , Sec , Richard O . Wills , Org ., P . P . G . Org ., Frederick Garratt , Stwd ., Joseph Round , Joseph Stainton , Stwd ., Horace Lindzey , and A . Dalley , Tyler , Prov . G . Tyler , as Warder , all of 430 ; and W . B . Stocker , 318 . The Most Noble Pro G . M . M . and Prov . G . M . of

Warwickshire , the Marquess of Hertford , with his Grand Oflicers and Prov . Grand Officers , being announced , the founders and newly-elevated brethren and visitors received them with all due honours and with the usual and respectful fraternal greetings and salutations . s B

W . Bro . VV . Vincent having vacated the chair , the I ro G . M ., as Consecrating Officer , was installed therein and greeted with acclamation . He then called upon his Deputy G . M . M ., Bro . the Rev . VV . Trevor Parkins , to assist him in the consecrating ceremony as Chap . ; Bro . A . Green , D . P . G . M . Worcestershire , as J . Bro . ¦ J

. * -. Lloyd Owen , P . G . Std ., as S .: R . W . Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec , as D . C . ; and VV . Bro . Wm . Vincent , A . G . D . C , as Warder . 1 TL 6 C m , remony ° consecration was then performed by the Pro G . M ., the Noble Marquessin a truly

im-, pressive , Masonic , reverential , and dignified manner , me rendering of the beautiful ceremony reflecting great "edit and proving the trul y Masonic skill and ability of tne noble and eminent Pro G . M . of the Grand Lodge of England . & c . **

Iiv ! "S the ceremony the ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN- devered an impressive oration , exhorting the brethren TI , M ** truly Masonic Principles and virtues , ine Noble Marquess then vacated the throne , and ul ed upon the R . Bro . W . Vincent to perform the inflation ceremony , the R . W . Bro . C . F . Matier , vv rV acting as D * C * i ,,..: * * Edward Mallard , VV . C . N . designate , having

insiXJ * - , ed t 0 the Insta « 'ng Master , he was duly IW , A ' i " H " 5 Chair of the Bedford Char'ty L °

the brP , ? rem 01 7 ° installation having been performed the us ,, ai n , lod S e were re-admitted , and , after '" vestPrf , P ' t'ons and salutations , the VV . C . N . RowbnH , ? cers as follows * W - Bros- Thomas \ V H pM * -Robert B . Morgan , S . j Bro . Rev . ° wen ' M ° n "| . * * ' *~ P- ; W . Bro . D . C . Lloyd Salter r \ ' reas ' ; Uros- T- H - Pearce , Scribe ; Bfc Cte * * ! W * H * Rollason , J . D . j W . Or ,. . . * V ' H' » man , D . of C . ; Bros . Richard O . Wills , A - G . Bov 1 £ Wr 00 d * G *; J * A * Dexter ' E * Wattis ' a "d A r ,, *?* J * ?¦ Bennett , and Henry Penn , Stwds .-, The ' w p / ' Wardertl , e Pro G M * u intimated to the noble brother , " ••« ., that it was the desire of the brethren of

Consecration Of The Bedford Charity Lodge Of Royal Ark Mariners, No. 115.

the lodge that he as Prov . G . M ., the Prov . G . M . M . of Worcestershire , the R . W . Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P . ; his worthy Deputy , W . Bro . A . Green ; the R . W . Bros . C . F . Matier and W . Vincent ; together with the W . Bro . Murray Haynes , P . C . N ., the latter having greatly assisted the W . C . N , and the founders in founding the lodge , should accept the position of

honorary members . The noble brother , having signified his gracious assent to the proposition , said that he and the brethren named would feel proud of the distinction . The W . C . N , then in the name of the lodge requested the honorary members to accept a souvenir of the occasion in the shape of a founder ' s jewel . The

W . C . N , in pointing out the excellence and beauty of the design , said the jewel was the work of one of the founders , W . Bro . Samuel Jenkins , and then thanked the noble Marquess , in the name of the lodge , for allowing his coat of arms , or the the centre shield , scroll , and motto , to be incorporated therein . The NOBLE MAHOUESS , in accepting thc jewel on

behalf of himself and the other honorary members , expressed his gratitude to the lodge for the honour they had conferred upon him in associating his name with the lodge , and incorporating his coat of arms in the manner they had done . The W . C . N , then requested the NOBLE MARQUESS to condescend to present the founders each with a copy of

the jewel , assuringhim that the gilt would be more valued and more highly prized by the founders if they came direct from his hands . The NOBLE MARQUESS then , assisted by the R . W . Bro . C . F . MATIER , decorated the 19 founders present with founders' jewels . The W . C . N , then expressed a desire that the brethren

of the lodge , not being Honorary Members , should commemorate the day of consecration and birth by stamping the lodge as a Charitable Institution . He pointed out to them that all they had done up to that moment was for the honour and glory of their own province , and expressed a very strong desire that they would fall in with the proposal , pointing out to the brethren that there was a noble Institution connected

with the Mark Masters and Ark Mariners Degree , viz ., the Mark Benevolent Fund , which was doing signal service to poor Mark Masters and their widows and children , and he appealed to them on behalf of this fund , and showed that from the list of subscribers and donors compiled by the excellent Secretary , Bro . C . F . Matier , that there was no Ark Mariners lodge in the

world up to that moment which ranked as a Vice-President of that Institution , and said he hoped that the bretliren would not allow him to sit down until they had promised , individually or collectively , to give him the modest sum of 50 guineas to enable him at the next festival to place the new lodge in front of all the Ark Mariners and the majority of the Mark Masters '

lodges in what he designated the scroll of fame , viz ., the list of donors and subscribers of the Mark Benevolent Fund . The suggestion was cordially received by an almost unanimous assent , the brethren preferring to subscribe out of their own pockets pro rata . The VV . C . N ., VV . Bro . T . Rowbotham , J ., and the

Noble Marquess and Pro G . M . further offered to subscribe five guineas each if necessary to make up any deficiency . The fund , therefore , is an accomplished fact , and does the lodge and the VV . C . N . great and lasting credit . The W . C . N , announced his intention to attend the festival as the W . M . of the Bedford Lodge and the

representative of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Warwickshire , & c , with donations from them of io guineas and 15 guineas . The W . C . N , then closed the lodge , and the whole of the brethren adjourned to the banqueting room , where a recherche banquet was placed before them by the able and attentive manageress and curator of the hall , Mrs .

S . Whitfield . The VV . C . N . presided at the banquet , having on his right the Noble Bro . the Marquess of Hertford , Pro G . M ., with his Grand Officers and the P . C . N . 's and Grand Officers and visitors , and was supported on his left by the P . G . M . Chaplain of Worcestershire and the

whole of the newly-elevated brethren and founders of the lodge . The usual loyal toasts of " The Queen " and " The Prince of Wales as the G . M . M . of England , & c , & c , " and "The President of the Grand Masters Royal Ark Council , with the Grand Mark Officers , " were duly honoured .

The W . C . N , then proposed "The Health of the Noble Marquess as Pro G . M ., and Prov . G . M . of Warwickshire , with thc Officers of the Grand Lodge and Prov . Grand Lodge . " The VV . C . N ., in proposing the toast , said he had received private instructions , which , although they came from the Pro G . M ., he refused to obey , as they were to the effect that he was to

draw it mild in respect of the work of the noble brother . The W . C . N , said his life would not be worth a minute ' s purchase if he did not do his duty , and express the unanimous love , admiration , reverence , and esteem which the whole of the members of that lodge , and also the whole of the Mark Master Masons of Warwickshire felt towards him , and said that the Mark

Masons of his lordship ' s province were never happier or felt more honoured than when they were condescendingly visited and fraternised with b y the noble Marquess , and he assured him that it was the hope and desire of every Mason in the province that he would long condescend to reign over them , and that he would always as long as he lived remain their respected chief and governor .

Consecration Of The Bedford Charity Lodge Of Royal Ark Mariners, No. 115.

Thc PRO G . M ., in acknowledging the toast , expressed the very great pleasure it had given him in consecrating the first Royal Ark Mariners lodge in his province , and congratulated the members of the lodge upon their selection of a W . C . N ., who had proved at least the charitable part of his disposition by bringing about such a noble donation to the Mark Benevolent

Fund , and he expressed a hope and desire that the ark would prosper , and also expressed the great satisfaction he felt in leaving it in the hands of such a capable body of officers , who represented all the Past and Present officers of his provincial lodge . He also complimented the lodge upon thejr very truly representative constitution , seeing that they were members of not

only all the Mark Lodges in the province now in working order , but also represented with the honorary members the Mark Lodges ot the neighbouring Provinces of Staffordshire and Worcestershire . The NOISI . E PRO G . M . then proposed " The Health of the VV . C . N ., " congratulating him upon the grand success , financially and socially , of the movement .

the W . C . N , having replied , The W . Bro . Tims . ROWBOTHAM , J ., then proposed " The Mark Benevolent Fund . " He said as Masons in every Degree and in every Order they delighted in giving to that toast the prominence and importance it deserved , and thought they might justly be proud of the good work their Mark Benevolent and other

kindred Institutions were doing . It was a pleasure to feel that the hearts of their less fortunate brethren and their widows might be cheered , and the lives of their children brightened , besides giving to them an education second to none , and fitting them in every respect for the battle of life which lay before them . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . C . F . Matier ,

S . G . W . and G . Sec , who , he said , was the life and soul of that noble and benevolent Institution , and to whose credit was to be attributed the fact that no applicant for relief had ever been turned from its doors , and also that up to the present time no expense of any election had ever been charged to its funds . He also congratulated Bro . Matier upon the zeal and ability he

had always displayed , and the deep interest he had taken in the present movement , and hoped that he would return to London perfectly satisfied that he had that day assisted in the constitution not only of a Royal Ark Mariners Lodge in the worldly sense of the term , but in the constitution and creation of a Charitable Institution in the first Ark Mariners Lodge in the

Province of Warwickshire . Bro . C . F . MATIER , in response , repeated in effect the eulogisms of the Pro Grand Master as to the grand success of the lodge , and thanked the brethren most heartily for the friends of his pet Institution , and assured the W . C . N ., and the officers , and brethren present , that anything he could do for Mark Masons or

Mark Masonry would be done most readily and willingly . The toast of " The Newly-elevated Brethren" was then proposed by the W . Bro . WM . VINCENT , A . G . D . of C , who , in speaking to the toast , complimented the newly-elevated brethren in the interest they had taken in his performance of the truly Masonic and

beautiful ceremony , at the same time he exhorted the newly-elevated brethren to keep the true principles of Masonry to the fore , and never neglect the brightest of all ornaments of the Order , that of Charity . He thanked the brethren who were elevated , one and all , tor the earnest attention they had paid to the ceremony , and took it as an augury of their desire to imbibe all

that was good and noble in the principles and practices of the Order . Bro . Sir J SAWYER , on behalf of himself and the newly-elevated brethren , thanked Bro . Vincent for his kind words of hope and exhortation which he had addressed to them , and in a very eulogistic speech , said that although a very young Mason , he had already

become enamoured of the art , and assured Bro . Vincent that the impressive manner in which hc had performed the offices which had been alloted to him that evening had more deeply impressed him than he had been before with the true respect and admiration for the Order and its principles and virtues . Hea lso assured the brethren present , that he , as a newly-elevated

brother , would do all that he possibly could to promote the success of the newly-constituted lodge , although lie had no ambition to seek office . Bro . R . B . MORGAN then , in a cordial and hospitable speech , proposed "The Health of the Visitors , " and tendered the thanks of the lodge for their kind and brotherly assistance .

The toast and sentiments of the speaker were cordially and enthusiastically endorsed , and the healths of the visitors were drunk in a hearty and cordial manner by the brethren . W . Bros . T . F . BLAND , VV . C . N ., and WILLIAMSON , W . C . N .. responded , thanking the brethren of the lodgo for the very great privilege which had been conferred

upon them by being invited to the ceremony . The W . C . N , then proposed " The Officers of the Lodge , " which was replied to by Bro . HILLMAN , S . G . W . of the poovince . The musical part of the proceedings were ably con « ducted by Bro . Richard O . Wills , P . P . G . Org ., and Organist of the new lodge . His one song , " Old Noah he built himself , & c , " after the toast of the

W . C . N , being given in his iniinitaole and very genial and skiltul style , and was received in a most nilarous manner and rapturously applauded . The birthday gifts to the loage by the oliicers and brethren were numerous and cosily , and constituted a complete and beautiful combination ot paraphernalia working tools and Masonic appointments . We understand that the lodge will start with a good balance in hand .