Consecration Of The Warner Chapter, No. 2256.

1437 i C . Hart ; J . F . Saunders , D . C . 1507 ; T . Humpheys , H . 1437 ; J . H . Collingridge , 1 403 ; H . Forss , 1623 ; J . T . Bailey . Z . elect 51 ; F . Jameson , 210 S ; R . Martin ; I . T . Davies , 134 S ; Lennox Browne , P . Z . 210 S ; T . B . Goodfellow , Z . 11 S 3 ; J . Bunker , 1471 ; T . W . Eastgate , I . P . Z . 1000 ; W . Maclure , P . Z . 1305 ; S . C . Kaufman ; J . W . Cain , P . S . 179 ' ; J . M . McLeod , P . P . G . S . B . Notts , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; W . A . Frost , 1706 ; S . J . Vaughan ; E . J . Bell , 1524 ; and W . W . Lee , 1524 .

The convocation having been opened , the GRAND SUPERINTENDENT , addressing the companions , said they had met together for a very happy and , he trusted , very auspicious occasion , which they recognised and understood as a very interesting one in the history of Royal Arch Masonry , and which always commanded the sympathies of members of the Order . They had met to consecrate a new chapter , which would make the seventh , a number to be noted by all Masons as truly

Masonic . It was , moreover , the consecration of a chapter to be attached to the Warner Lodge , which had been in existence in the province something like two years or rather more , and which starting with good auspices had thoroughly fulfilled the hopes of those who were privileged to take part , as he was , at the consecration and the hopes of the founders , and had in a most legitimate and thoroughly Masonic spirit progressed andjflourished that it was seeking to have a

chapter attached to it . He thought , therefore , that on that occasion they might feel the lodge had done good service , and worthily upheld the name of a respected brother ( Bro . Courtenay Warner ) whose name it bears . The task of founding Royal Arch chapters was one not undertaken by many lodges entitled . It involved responsibility of a greater and higher degree , as the Degree itself was higher than

Craft Masonry , but when the proposition to start the chapter came before him he had pleasure in recommending it . As he would have an opportunity later in the evening to remark upon Royal Arch Masonry in the province , he would not detain them further , but proceed with the ceremony by calling upon the acting Scribe E . to state what the proceedings had been which led to the meeting .

The ceremony proceeded , and an oration was delivered by Comp . FINCH , acting J ., after which the chapter was dedicated and constituted . •Comps . W . Shurmur , P . Z ., and D . P . Holness , P . Z ., were inducted into the chairs of M . E . Z . and H . respectively , and Comp . T . Scoresby Jackson was

impressively installed as J . by Comp . W . S . Whitaker , P . Z . The following officers were elected and invested : Comps . J . Wilson , P . Z ., acting I . P . Z . ; Courtenay Warner , Treas . ; H . Ffrench Bromhead , S . E . ; G . W . Knight , S . N . ; J . Speller , P . S . ; J . Badkin , P . Z ., ist A . S . ; B . Nicholson , 2 nd A . S . ; N . Fortescue , D . C . ; G . Cackett and J . J . Briginshaw , Stewards ; J . Verry , Janitor ; and Ives , Asst . Janitor .

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Consecrating Officers , who were each presented with a founder ' s jewel and elected honorary members of the chapter . The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT returned thanks , and expressed the pleasure it had afforded them to be present . The M . E . Z . was elected to represent the chapter as Steward at the . next Festival of the R . M . L for Boys , and numerous propositions for exaltation and joining having been made , the chapter was closed . After banquet the customary toasts were duly honoured .

Comp . J . L . MATHER , P . D . G . D . C , replied for " The Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and said that nothing gave those companions greater pleasure than to attend these meetings and do all they could to uphold the integrity , harmony and prosperity of Grand Chapter . They had experienced great pleasure in assisting

at the consecration that day . He felt it an honour to have been elected an honorary member and to receive the handsome jewel , which he should wear with pleasure . In thanking the companions for their kindness , he hoped to be present on many future occasions , when he should have more time to thank them than on the present occasion .

In proposing "The Grand Superintendent , " the M . E . Z . said Comp . Philbrick had by his geniality , kindly condescension , and natural kindness of heart endeared himself to every Mason who had had the good fortune to come into contact with him . The founders , and also the visitors , were deeply indebted to him for the beautiful and impressive manner in which he had carried out that splendid consecration ceremony .

Comp . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C , Grand Superintendent , in reply , remarked that if he did not feel at home amongst his companions of the Essex chapters , and of that the youngest of them all , he should be a little taken back , not at the kindness , for that was no new thing to him , not at the heartiness , for they were nothing if not hearty in Essex , and not for the want of Masonic feeling , for that he was happy to say was always shown in the unity of the province in which they had

had happily no unfortunate circumstance to deplore . Therefore he felt in rising to respond to the toast so kindly proposed by the senior officer of the youngest chapter in the province , that he must , as being in charge of the province , heartil y congratulate it on No . 7 . It was late , perhaps , that evening to refer to matters so distinct from Masonry as the smaller poems which were taught and learned by the younger of their daughters , but " We are seven " was always a little pathetic

and always arrested attention , and , as he said previously , the number was trul y Masonic . Since he had the honour to be called to the position which by their kindness he held , they had increased the number of chapters from four to seven and , if what he heard on a previous night was true , they should increase to eight , and therefore it would be a hundred per cent . In the words of the glorious ritual they had heard that night it had produced fruit a hundred-fold , and it was indeed

good fruit—the full year of the ripe corn ; not brought perhaps by the oldest lodge in the province , not brought perhaps by the most numerous lodge , but still brought by one of the lodges which knew and recognised most fully the true principles of Masonry , and which felt , as every Mason who had seen the light of Royal Arch Masonry must know , that that Supreme Degree was the cope-stone and the crown of Craft Masonry . In a peculiar sensethereforeRoyal Arch

, , Masons enshrine the best traditions of the Craft , and carry them out to their legitimate and proper consummation in the Royal Arch . He had watched with peculiar pleasure the progress of the Warner Lodge , and had seen how well it had borne glorious fruit , and he was glad on the part of the province to acknowledge that , and to welcome the large increase to their numbers . He was sure he should be expressing the wish of all present when he said he

trusted the new chapter would have a long , prosperous , and successful career . For those who had started it , there should be no doubt in their minds : for those who were to continue , he was not sure that the goodly list of names announced might not be quite sufficient warrant that it would last as long as they could hope to continue . It had their sincere wishes , and , starting as it did , had the best augury of success . While thanking them very sincerely for the kindness with which they had received him , in conclusion he expressed his heartiest wishes for the

success of the chapter as a chapter , and to its founders individually , and his great trust that whatever chapters might be founded , and however numerous might be the recruits to the Order in Essex , the Warner Chapter would be always able , both by the quality of those it admitted to the honours of membership , and by the excellence with which it worked according to the traditions of the Order , and by the great vitality with which it adhered to the great principles it professed , ' it would be an example , and one to be followed by all the chapters and the province .

Comp . FINCH , Prov . G . J ., responded for "The Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and expressed the regret of the Prov . G . H . at not being able to attend . It was his ( Comp . Finch ' s ) privilege to be a Warden at the consecration of the Warner Lodge , the success of which had been great . On behalf of the Provincial Grand Officers he thanked them , and trusted the Warner Chapter would be equally successful .

"The Three Principals" was given by the GRAND SUPERINTENDENT , who said he regarded the privilege as a great one on the present occasion . They all knew what an active and energetic man and Mason the M . E . Z ., Comp . Shurmur , was , and he was the ri ght man in the ri ght place , for he occupied his position , not

Consecration Of The Warner Chapter, No. 2256.

merely with the good will of the founders , but with the good will of all present , for they had seen how admirably he had conducted the proceedings . With regard to his assistants the M . E . Z . could not say " How happy could I be with either , " as he required both . The H . and J . would support Comp . Shurmur during his year , and if at any time were called upon to occupy a similar position would worthily endeavour to discharge their duties and make the chapter a great success .

Comp . W . SHURMUR , M . E . Z ., thanked the Grand Superintendent very sincerely for the cordial manner in which he had proposed the toast , and the companions for their hearty reception . It would be their desire , as he said in the chapter , to make the Warner Chapter one of the best in Essex , over which province their beloved Grand Superintendent presided . There were good working companions in the chapter , and he thought that perhaps they would be able to

make the working second to none in the world . Comp . Holness , H ., was his father in Freemasonry , and what he knew he attributed to him , and but for his kindness and encouragement he should have remained a full private in the ranks of Masonry . Since he had been a working Mason , however , he had tried to fulfil his duties efficiently and well . In the J . they had a companion who had discharged his duties in the Craft most excellently , and given entire satisfaction . In conclusion , he again thanked them for the cordial reception given the toast .

Comp . D . P . HOLNESS , H ., replied , and remarked that the Grand Superintendent had well said that those appointed to support the M . E . Z . would endeavour to follow in his footsteps as far as the working was concerned . No efforts would be wanting on his part to support the M . E . Z ., and although he came among them as a stranger with a little reputation , he should endeavour to sustain the good opinion they had of him .

Comp . SCORESBY J ACKSON , J ., said the success of the Warner Lodge was due to the unanimity of the working , and he trusted the members of the chapter would work in the same spirit . Comp . the Rev . Dr . DUNBAR , replying for "The Visitors , " said it was one of the greatest honours and pleasures of life to attend such a meeting as that . He thought the Grand Superintendent had put before them in words and expression

and given them time to fully realise his meaning—the meaning of the surroundings they had seen , and the feelings which accompanied those surroundings . There was something indeed very grand and magnificent in Royal Arch Masonry , and he fully realised that it was the climax of Masonry . He regretted it had been his lot for many years not to know much of Arch Masonry , but he thought the

ceremonies they had seen performed must have deeply impressed the visitors . He must congratulate the members on the happy name they had selected for the new chapter , for if he were called upon to express what Masonry was he would say look upon Mr . Courtenay Warner , and he would defy anyone to be in that companion ' s company without being comfortable , being at good will with all mankind , and that was the foundation of Masonry .

Comp . W . S . WHITAKER , P . Z . 14 . 71 , said the M . E . Z . could not have chosen a companion to reply who could more earnestly wish the chapter God-speed . It might be possible to have too many lodges , but it was barely possible to have too many chapters , providing the necessary lodges were forthcoming . He thanked the M . E . Z . for the kind remarks made with reference to the small services he had rendered in installing the J ., in which he did his best , and was pleased to think his efforts had met with their approbation .

Comps . WILDASH , T . C . EDMONDS , P . Z ., CAMPBELL , J . BUNKER , 1471 , and others also responded . "The Masonic Charities" was next given , and replied to by Comp . J . M . MCLEOD , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , who thanked the members for appointing a Steward to represent them , and asked the companions to heartily support their M . E . Z . in his efforts .

" The Officers was heartily honoured , and the Janitor s toast closed the proceedings . The musical arrangements were ably carried out under the direction of Comp . Dr . J . F . Haskins , assisted by Comps . Frost , Bell , and A . Kenningham . In addition to the 97 companions attending the ceremony , letters of regret for

non-attendance and expressions of good wishes for the success of the chapter were received from Comps . Lord Euston , Lord Dungarvan , Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . S . E . ; A . A . Pendlebury , A . G . S . E . ; Asher Barfield , P . G . Treas . ; Rev . T . S . Raffles , Prov . G . Chap . ; S . Barton Wilson , J . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Secretary R . M . B . I . ; and many others .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

The annual meeting of this body was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Surreystreet , Sheffield , on Wednesday , the 29 th ult . A lodge of Mark Masters having been opened by the W . M . and officers of the Britannia Lodge , No . 53 , the P . G . M ., Bro . Charles Letch Mason , accompanied by his Deputy and the P . G . Officers , entered the room . The Provincial Grand Lodge was duly opened , and the following officers were present -. Bros . Rev . Dr . Thomas C . Smyth , P . G . Chap ., D . P . G . M . ; Henry J . Garnett ,

P . G . D ., P . S . G . W . ; John Barker , P . G . I , of VV ., P . P . G . VV ., as P . J . G . W . ; J . W Monckman , P . P . G . VV . ; J . Unwin , P . G . I . G ., P . P . G . W . ; Christopher William Fincken , P . G . M . O . ; Thomas Myers , P . P . G . I . of VV ., as P . S . G . O . ; Hugh S . Holdsworth , P . G . Stwd ., P . P . G . W ., as P . J . G . O . ; J . E . Darling , P . P . G . O . ; John Shaw , P . P . G . O . ; Rev . J . H . Evans , M . A ., P . G . Chap . ; Rev . Wm . Dunn , M . A ., P . P . G . Chap . ;

John P . Hewitt , P . G . Reg . ; Wm . Cooke , P . S . G . O ,, P . G . Sec . ; Simeon Whiteley , P . S . G . D . ; Charles Woollons , P . P . G . D . of C , as P . J . G . D . ; Francis Smith , P . P . G . W ., as P . G . I , of VV . ; Robert Drake Kendall , P . A . G . D . of C , P . G . D . of C . ; Alfred Gill , P . G . S . B . ; Charles J . Schott , P . G . Std . Br . ; Wragg , P . P . G . Org ., as P . G . Org . ; Edwin Billington . P . G . l . G . ; and Wm . Haigh , Isaac Eyre , Frederick Simpson , and Alfred Parkin , P . G . Stwds .

The P . G . D . C . then called upon the brethren to salute the P . G . M . and his Deputy . In reply to the salutation , The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER addressed the brethren at considerable length . He thanked the brethren for the hearty reception accorded to the Provincial Grand Lodge , and especiall y the brethren of the Britannia Lodge , under whose banner they had met , and congratulated the Sheffield brethren on the increase of their numbers . After a sympathetic reference to the loss the Craft had

sustained in the death of the Pro Grand Master , and the loss to the province b y the death of Bro . Normanton , he went on to notice the prosperous condition of the funds of the Mark Benevolent Fund , and other matters more especiall y connected with the province , and finally referred to the resignation of the Provincial Grand Secretary in the following terms : There is one other matter which I must refer to , viz ., the resignation of our very worthy and esteemed Prov . Grand Sec , Bro . William Cooke . Bro . Cooke intimated to me some time ago that he was desirous of

retiring , more especially as he felt so keenly the loss of his old friend and fellowworker , Bro . Normanton . After some hesitation , and after again being pressed to allow him to retire , I reluctantly accepted his resignation . Bro . Cooke was initiated into Masonry on the 30 th June , 1858 , in the Loyal Antient Lodge of St . James , now No . 448 on the roll of the Grand Lodge . From the very first he took an active interest in Masonry , and rapidly rose to be W . M . of his lodge in 1862 . He

was one of the founders of De Warren Lodge , No . 1302 , and with a short break has acted as Secretary ever since its consecration . He was appointed P . A . G . D . of C . by Bro . Sir Henry Edwards in 1878 . In Royal Arch Masonry he has also taken an active part . But it is to his connection with our own Order we are more particularly concerned to-day . Bro . Cooke joined Mark Masonry in 1862 , at the old Mark lodge at Eastwood , shortly before it gave its allegiance to