Consecration Of The Bolingbroke Lodge, No. 2417.

CONSECRATION OF THE BOLINGBROKE LODGE , No . 2417 .

One of the last official duties upon which the late Grand Secretary was engaged was the completion of the arrangements for the consecration of the Boling broke Lodge , No . 2417 , the ceremonies of which he had , as usual in the Metropolis , undertaken to perform . Bro . F . A . Philbrick , O . C ., Grand

Registrar , kindly stepped into the breach and consecrated the lodge at Stanley Hall , Clapham Junction , S . W ., on Wednesday , the 6 th instant , assisted by Bros . J . H . Matthews , P . D . G . D . C , as S . W . ; R . Turtle Pigott , D . C . L ., P . A . G . D . C , as J . W . ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , D . P . G . M . Bucks , as Chaplain ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . of C ; and J . S . Cumberland , P . P . G . W ., as I . G .

The founders of the new lodge were Bros . Dr . P . IT . Davis , F . R . G . S ., W . M . designate ; R . R . Collick , P . M ., S . W . designate ; J . A . Randall , J . W . designate ; G . Squires , W . M . Chinnery , C . W . Munslow , VV . G . Boswell , M . R . C . V . S . ; J . A . Marshall , H . J . Giller , P . M ., P . P . G . P . Herts ; R . Evens , P . M . ; T . H . Hanne , J . J . Calder , G . Gill , P . M . ; VV . G , Stott , and F . France . The visitors present

included—Bros . General J . W . Laurie , P . G . M . Nova Scotia ; C . Donaldson , Treas . 196 ; W . J . Fawcett , G . Woolf , 1963 ; T . W . Keddy , T . W . Lightfoot , 1585 ; F . Morrell , 1963 ; [ . W . Folkard , S . W . 2345 ; J . S . Tavener , S . W . 1044 ; A . C . A . Hegarty , P . M . 1044 , P . P . G . D . Surrey ; Dr . W . H . Kempster , G . Stwd . ; G . Street , S . D . 172 ; T . J . Brooke , 1441 ; T . C . Austin , P . M . 1733 ; J . W . Fortescue , 1585 ; R . Judd Green , 1585 ; A . C . Woodward , 1585 , P . P . G . D . Surrey ; J . Pilditch , P . M . 1420 ; H . Arding , 1287 ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; A . Browne , 1764 ; E . Dare , P . M . ; W . W . Lee , S . W . 2381 , S . D . 1807 ; and others .

The lodge having been opened in the Three Degrees , and a hymn sung , the C ONSECRATING OFFICER addressed the brethren on the nature of the meeting . He made a touching reference to the late Grand Secretary , who was to have consecrated the lodge , and having explained the object of the meeting , concluded by urging the founders to be extremely careful whom they admitted as members to the'Iodge .

The brethren of the . new lodge then signified their approval of the officers named in the petition and warrant , after which the following oration was delivered by Bro . the Rev . J . STUDHOLME BROWNRIGG , D . P . G . M . Bucks , acting Chaplain :

Every word of our ceremonies , every symbol of our Order , teaches in addition to the special lesson which it enforces , the general one that life is not to be dreamed or called away , but is to each man a solemn reality , allotting to each hour its duty and its responsibilities . Those duties and responsibilities are as varied as they are numerous , sometimes great and sometimes small , but always important . " Whatever thy hand findeth to do , do it with thy ' might , " are the inspired words

of one whose name is intimately connected with our Craft , and he adds the reason "for there is no work , nor desire , nor knowledge , nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest . " Our ancient Operative lodges were living exponents of this great lesson . It was not sufficient that a man should work ; he must also work well , thoroughly , and perseveringly . No mere skill or talent , however great , was valued unless it could be devoted to some useful end . Brilliancy of intellect , artistic

touch , boldness and grandeur of design , were only valued if they could be so controlled and directed as to effect what the duty and responsibilities of the present life required . And so work was well done , because it was done with the whole might of the Craftsman . I know no better thought for a new lodge . If we are to succeed , in the highest sense of the word , either in the lodge or out of the lodge , it can only be by giving the utmost attention of body ,

soul , and mind to every aqtion , word , and thought of our daily lives , whether they be great or little . And I am sure that to-day this homely , common-place truism is forced home to our thoughts by the memory of the open grave around which many of us stood only seven days ago , by our affection for the brother who , had he lived , would have to-day occupied that chair . Those who served with him as a soldier , those who worked with him as a Mason , those who loved him as a friend ,

well know that lam not overstating the truth when I say that his life was a daily oration on the word " duty . " No drudgery , no detail was ever shirked . The smallest matter was entitled to and got the utmost care . If a thing was worth doing at all it was worth doing well . " In all labour there is profit , " so speaks our Grand Master Solomon , and surely the labours of our friend have been profitable to thc world in general , and to our Order in particular .

Thc ceremony was resumed , and the lodge was solemnly dedicated and constituted in the usual form . Bro . Dr . P . H . Davis , F . R . G . S ., W . M . designate , was next installed into the chair by the Consecrating Master , and invested the following officers : Bros . R . R . Collick , P . M ., S . W . ; J . A . Randall , J . W . ; C . W . Munslow , Treas . ; R . Evens , P . M ., Sec ; W . G . Boswell , S . D . ; F . France , I * G , j G , Squires and J . A . Marshall , Stwds . Bro . Austin was elected Tyler .

On the proposition of thc WORSHIPFUL MASTER , the Consecrating Officers and his assistants were accorded a hearty vote ot thanks , and were elected honorary members of the lodge . Bro . F . A . PIIILIJKICK , Q . C ., G . Reg ., returned thanks for himself and colleagues , and b y desire of thc Worshipful Master , invested the founders with jewels commemorative of the occasion .

Several propositions for initiation and joining were announced , and the lod ge was closed . After banquet the usual toasts were honoured , the musical programme being abandoned owing to thc recent death of the Grand Secretary , Bro . Col . Shadwell II . Clcrke . "Thc Queen and the Craft" and "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " were heartily received .

Ihe WORSHIPFUL MASTER then gave "The Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and thc rest of thc Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and said he would also include the next toast of " The Consecrating Officer , Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg ., and his Assistants . " With reference to the Grand Officers ' the brethren had had a specimen of what they could do that evening . Although he wished to do justice to the toast he did not wish to flatter , so , avoiding fear on the one hand and rashness on the other , hc would strike thc happy medium from thc sublime to the

Consecration Of The Bolingbroke Lodge, No. 2417.

ridiculous and thank them heartily for attending that evening and performing the consecration ceremonies . Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C , Grand Registrar , in reply , said the W . M . was too old a Mason and too much of an autocrat for him to venture to dispute his will . In the presence of Bro . Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , his senior Grand Officer , it therefore became his duty to break the ice on this toast .

He was only glad that if Bro . Brownrigg had a wandering thought in his mind that he should continue his oration , circumstances had now brought Bro . Brownrigg round to the happy position of being able to criticise the remarks he was about to make . He trusted thc Prov . Grand Chaplain would forgive him in the question of Masonic precedence—and he did not

think there ever could be a wry word between them—and allow him to return thanks for the distinguished names coupled with the toast . It was only the previous day that the Earl of Lathom , Pro G . M ., undertook the long journey from Ormskirk in consequence of the circumstances in which they were unhappily placed owing to the death of their lamented and dear friend the Grand Secretary . When thev remembered the Pro Grand Master

was not merely a great nobleman , but a great officer of State as well , he thought they might be well furnished with an answer if objection be made when they found Freemasonry attracted such men to its service—men of the importance and calibre and position in the world like Lord Lathom . With regard to Lord Mount Edgcumbe , who recently came to the position of Deputy Grand Master , he felt sure those who had seen him

preside in Grand Lodge , and knew his reputation in the province where he was so deservedly respected and esteemed , would feel that he was about to g ive to the Craft generally the same services that had won him the reputation of the brethren over whom he had presided so many 3 'ears with such success . They were happy in their Grand Officers , and it was partl y because of the position which the Craft holds , and partly because of the

position which they held in the Craft that the one acts and the other re-acts . He would say a word upon a subject which he touched in the lodge . He was sure none of them would desire that anyone there would play the part of the skeleton at the Egyptian banquet , but still as they were told in eloquent terms the lesson of the open grave was not a lesson which a Mason was called upon to learn for the first time . The loss which they had to

deplore in the person of their Grand Secretary brought home to them with peculiar force the great lesson they were taught on their entrance into the Craft , but to many of them who were privileged with a more intimate acquaintance , thc loss was accentuated by being that of a dear friend . To all the loss was great : how great to English Masonry he doubted if anyone at that moment could thoroughly realise . But so it was , and why he

ventured to refer to the subject was because their hearts were full , and they were anxious to pay the last tribute of respect to his death , and also because he felt that they might well consider that it was not those who at the moment were administering Masonry , it was not those entirely who in the past had administered , and it was not those to whom its great traditions would be handed down that would entirely make Masonry . It was the great principles

on which it was founded . As long as they continued to respect and adhere to those principles and worthily carry them out , so long he was quite surewhile they in their turn should have a loss which was common to human nature to deplore—so long should they find that the best of mankind would be attracted . Hc felt that the principles of Masonry might well on occasions like this be prominently brought before thc attention of the brethren forming a new lodge with benefit , and it was because hc felt thc circumstances under

which they had met and the loss they had sustained that he had thus spoken , and they would forgive him . On the part of the Grand Officers he thanked them for the kindness with which they had been received , and assured the founders they looked upon the creation of this lodge with great interest , and would watch its progress and rejoice in its success . Bro . Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , Deputy Prov . G . M . Bucks , also briefly replied .

" Thc Worshipful Master " was next proposed by Bro . PHILBRICK , who said that Bro . Davis had undertaken a great responsibility , but no doubt his Masonic capabilities and those around him would make thc lodge a great success . They all wished it might be so , and as this was the beginning of the year , he hoped the good wishes which attended the beginning of thc one would equally attend the beginning of the other , He had said a word or

two , prompted by the administration of a province , about whom they should admit into their lodge . He was quite satisfied , speaking at the social table , that a good rule was that those whom hc would be glad to sec in their houses were fit and proper persons to come amongst them in the lodge , and as long as that was born in mind he was sure the lodge would be prosperous , and

the brethren harmonious , and it would be a lodge which carried out tne true Masonic maxims they so much cherished . He gave them with all good wishes that the season aspired , with all the good wishes the occasion demanded , and with all the good wishes personally they bore towards himthe health of the W . M . and their hopes for a happy and prosperous year of office .

Bro . Dr . P . H . DAVIS , W . M ., in response said there was a favourite saying with after dinner speakers that the present was the happiest moment of their lives . If he knew the man who originally wrote those words , and had it in his power he would transport him . Hc bore malice because the present was the unhappiest moment he had ever experienced , and he was manly enough to confess it . Hc was not an after-dinner speaker , and for

once he had got into a position hc should be glad to get out of , Hc had p leasure in seeing a number of brethren around him who knew him in private life , and they would readily understand the affliction hc had been going through of late , and that he should be at home instead of in his present position . There were some present who knew his professional and commercial career , and they would also know thc anxious time hc had lately

experienced . It was indeed an honour to be the Worshipful Master of a new lodge which must become a powerful lodge within a short time . Hc was certain of it , and those who knew him well knew that whatever he put his hand to he succeeded in , for he did not start unless sure of success . Hc was grateful to the Grand Registrar for having spoken so feelingly , and wished his knowledge of him had been longer .

Bro . General LAURIE , P . G . M . Nova Scotia , acknowledged "The Visitors , " and referring to the late Grand Secretary , said that the dear brother they had lost and he were at Sandhurst together , and were both in thc Crimea . As a private friend and as a P . G . M .. he knew the Grand Secretary ' s worth , and that hc relieved Grand Lodge from many knotty questions by his diplomacy .

Bro . Dr . KEMPSTER , Grand Steward , also replied , and said he intended giving thc brethren some interesting facts relative to Freemasonry in Battersea , but as the hour was late he would defer them to a future visit . Other toasts were given , and the Tyler ' s toast terminated the proceedings .