The District Grand Lodge Of Bombay.

required by the Book of Constitutions by the brother acting in that office . " The second recommendation was to the effect " that a suit of Past Deputy District Grand Master ' s clothing , consisting of apron , collar , and jewel , be presented to Wor . Bros . H . W . BARROW and W . H . HUSSEY , in recognition of their most excellent and lengthy services to the Craft in

Bombay and its Territories . " As to the latter of these proposals—which , be it remarked , was carried nem . con .. —we shall do no more than offer our congratulations to Bros . BARROW and HUSSEY on the handsome manner in which their distinguished services have been recognised . " As " to tHe ' earlier proposal , it will be enough if we state the reason assigned fo : it by the Deputy

District Grand Master in charge , namely , that as it had been the custom for each District Grand Master to purchase his own clothing , the District Grand Lodge was unprovided with a suit for the Acting District Grand Master to wear when fulfilling the duties of the District Grand Master . The other important business which was submitted for the consideration of Dist . Grand

Lodsfe was a series of resolutions by Bro . NANU N . KOTHARE for establishing a Mason c library " either in connection with the Freemasons'Hall Committee or independently by the District Grand Lodge . " There was a general concurrence of opinion as to the desirability of establishing such a library , but there were some slight differences as to the manner in which effect should

be given to the proposal . The resolutions , however , with some slight modifications in one or two of them , were carried , among them being one providing that the Grand Lodge of All Scottish Freemasonry in India should be approached on the subject , with a view to ascertaining if it would co-operate

with the District Grand Lodge in carrying out the scheme . That the establishment of a Masonic library will be a boon to the brethren generally is beyond question , and we can only hope that the difficulties in the way of carrying out the idea which were referred to in the discussion will not prove insuperable .

Consecration Of The North Kent Lodge, No. 2499, At Bexley Heath.

CONSECRATION OF THE NORTH KENT LODGE , No . 2499 , AT BEXLEY HEATH .

The consecration of the above lodge on Saturday , the 2 nd inst ., following so soon after ihe opening of the Snirley-Woolmer Lodge , at Sidcup , is ample proof that Masonry is not languishing in the County of Kent , but rather goes to prove—at any rate , as far as the D iriford Division is concerned , that there is plenty of vitality amongst the Brotherhood . For some time past , endeavours have been made by Masons residing in Bexley Heath

and district , to open a lodge there , but the difficulty of finding suitable quarters had always proved an insurmountable one . At length , however , with the assistance of some Bexley brethren , the prospects of forming a strong lodge became particularly favourable , and a determined effort was made to find a suitable home . The Public Hall Company was approached , and , as the resu't of sundry negotiations , they decided to build at the back of the presmt hall such rooms as would accommodate the Masons , and thus

make the formation of a lodge possible . The visitors on the 2 nd instant were loud in their praise of it , and expressed sa'isfaction with all the arrangemerts made . The new hall communicates with the old building , and thus , in addition to a commodious and well-proportioned room for lodge puiposes , there is practically urder the same roof a large banqueting room , capable »> f accommodating some 200 or more persons , in addition to the usual anterooms .

The requisite body of founders having been formed , all that remained was to proceed forthwith with the requisite detailsof organisation . Numerous meetings were held , the following brethren being associated together as founders of the lodge , lobe known as the North Kent , No . 2499 : Bros .

George Rattcliff Sttel . P . M . 1 , P . G S . ; F . J . Street . P . M . iSoj Robert Ha'greavs Rogers , 463 ; Newton Dunn 1 ; Rev . H . L . Fry , 1209 ; T . Jenkins . P . M 2991 G . B . Chapman , P . M . 27 and 299 . P . P . G S . of W . ; " F . Cib-tt , 1839 and 1873 , Sec ; Obed . O . Dale , J . W . 299 ; David Rogers , 299 ; and E . R . Buulter , 288 .

The ail important warrant for the consecration of a new lodge having bpen obtained from Grand Lodge , and all arrangements having been completed , Saturday , the 2 nd in > , t ., was fixed for the ceremony , and despite the Arctic weather prevailing , there was a large and influential gathering of many leading Masons present . Tt e company which assembled , included

Bros . Earl Amherst , Prov , Grand Master ; James S . Eastes , D . P . G . M . ; W . Russell , Prov . G . Treas . ; Allan Tassell , Prov . S . G . W ., Ed . Burton , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . Aug . Jackson , P . G . Chap . ; Horatio Ward , D . G . S . B . Eng ., D . C ; John Pollard , P . G . S . B . ; AH . Spencer , P . G . S . B . Eng ., P . G . Sec ; James C . Dimsdale , I , Grand Treas . ; T . Hastings Miller , P . G . S B . ; J . R . ' Kirby Johnson , Deputy G . M . ( S . C . ) , India ; W . Greig , P . M . 299 , P . P . G . P . ; C . J .

DOyley Mears , W . M . 299 ; J . R . Elliott , 1973 . P . P . S . G . D . ; Fred . Wood , W . M . 1973 , P . P G . R . ; J . M . Longley , P . M . 299 , P . P . J . G . W . ; C . C . Potter , P . M . 299 , 1343 , P-P . G S . B . ES ; . ex ; W . E . Lucas , W . M . 1837 ; Noblett R . Smith , W . M . 857 ; H . B . Wooldrid ^ e , 1 ; J . P . Griffin , 1 ; Jas . Rock , S . W . I ; C . Watson Sm > th , W . M . 133 ; Percy Lettwich , 1 ; T . Burton , 299 ; B . ] . Hancock , 13 ; T . H . Harrison , 1803 ; B . Hammond , 913 ; H . H . Cooke , 180 ; F . W . Wood , 31 ; E . Tomkins , P . M . 615 , 299 ; Francis L . Thomas , 706 , 1 S 79 ; Harold

Woodcock , 2470 ; Charles S . Houlder , 2020 ; David A yling , 861 ; George S . Elliott , 749 . P . P . G . D . C ; W . C . Stunt , P . M . 133 ; W . H . Brownsword , P . M . 180 ; H . C . Sinclair , H . M . Newbyn , 180 ; W . H . Hayes , 1790 ; George Dennington , 2077 ; Joseph Dale , 2400 ; John G . Dale 2400 ; E . J . Allan , 1185 ; E . Vaughan , 23 ; James B . Sarjeant , P . M . and T . 1765 ; C . J . W . Hartley , P . M . and Sec . 1986 ; G . W . Taylor , 913 ; W . H . Sleaney , 913 ; Arthur H . Sarjeant , 65 ; George E . Todd , 2146 ; H . Shelmerdine , 88 ; T . W . Bush , S . D . 299 ; T . S . Bolton , 180 ; and J . L . Anderson , P . M . 206 .

In the course of his address , the PROV . GRAND MASTER congratulated the lodge upon their handsome and tommodious apartment , and charged the new h dge lobe carelul whom they admitted , for the character ot the Order was n . > t dettrmined by the number of members , but by their personal

worth . Each mother had it in his power to heighten or diminisn the credit of the Craft . They should not seek for numerical increase , but see that the candidates were such as were likely to prove a crtdit to the Order and good social companions . He was sure they all wished the new lodge well , and with those lew words he would proceed to perform the ceremony . The interesting and impressive ceremony was ably performed by the Prov . Grand Master , who was assisted by Bros . Eastes , D . P . G . M . ; Allan Tassell ,

Consecration Of The North Kent Lodge, No. 2499, At Bexley Heath.

P . M . 133 , Prov . S . G . W . ; Edward Murton , P . M . 31 , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . Aug . Jackson , M . A ., P . M . 77 , Prov . G . Chap . ; Horatio Ward , P . M . 31 . D . G . S . B . Entr-, P . J . G . W ., as D . C . ; and John Pollard , P . M . 2147 , Prov . G . S . B . The Prov . G . Chap ., Bro . Rev . Auo ; J ACKSON , M . A ., P . M ., delivered an interesting oral ion , in the course of which he said :

Provincial Grand Master and Brethren , —We are met together to-day solemnl y to dedicate this lodge to the honour and glory of the Most High , and for the promotion of brotherly love , relief , and truth . Now , Freemasonry teaches us that , of the three principal steps of the ladder which reaches from earth to heaven , the grestest is Charity or love . Ever lovely in itself , it is the brightest gem that can adorn the Masonic profession ; without it , all our doings are nothing worth ; it is the surest proof of the sincerity of our actions . It is the bond of

peace and of all virtues , and he who has it not , is counted dead in the presence of the Most High . Happy is the man who possesses this most excellent gift of Charity . He envies not his neighbour—he believes not the tale of the slanderer —he is willing to forgive the injuries of men , and to him who is in want he is ever ready to stretch out a liberal and helping hand . Such is the first grand principle upon which our Order is founded . The second is like unto it . To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent upon every man , particularly upon

Freemasons . It is not merely pecuniary assistance to our brethren , that is our duty , but personal . Believe me , that bread when hungry , and medicine when sick , shelter , and the wherewith hemaybeclothed , however necessary these things may be , are not all that a man requires from his fellow man . Kind offices and kinder prayers , smiles for his joys , and sympathy for his sorrows , a word of hope , a look of love , for these things , rather a man shall bless you living , and when dead . Men were not made to be mere masters and servants , but brethren and neighbours , fellow worshippers of the same God , and fellow heirs of the

same destiny ; and , therefore , every man about us , be he who or what he may , has a right to our love , our guidance , and our prayers . Let our neighbour be as ignorant and as unthankful as he can , he is still a man—a mysterious being with a soul as deathless and as priceless as our own . He stands exactly as we do in the conflict of immensities . His destiny and his origin both ennoble him into a brother , his fraction of time encircled by eternity—his hairbreadth of space environed by infinitude—therefore as we hope for mercy so should we be ever ready to show it . But is this always so ? How often , alas , it may be

said—There ' s mercy in each ray of light That mortal eyes e ' er saw , There ' s mercy in each breath of air , That mortal lips can draw , There ' s mercy both for bird and beast , In heaven ' s indulgent plan ; There ' s mercy in each creeping thing , But man has none for man .

In Freemasonry , however , as well as in the sacred law , " Mercy and truth are met together , righteousness and peace have kissed each other . " Therefore , pass we on to the consideration of the last and grandest principle upon which our Order is founded—viz ., Truth . What is truth ? It is a divine attribute , the foundation of every Masonic virtue—and where is truth to be found but in the works and words of the Almighty Creator ? The late Charles Kingsley , in a work called by her name , describes the beautiful but hea'hen Hypatia as discoursing upon truth

in the following strain : " Truth , she asks , Where is truth but in the soul itself ? Facts , objects , are but phantoms , matter woven— ghosts of this earthly night , at which the soul , sleeping here in the mire and clay of matter , shudders , and names its own vain tremors , sense , and perception . Yet , even as our nightly dreams stir in us the suspicion of mysterious and immaterial presences , unfettered by the bonds of time and space , so do these waking dreams , which wt call sight and sound . They are Divine messengers , whom Zeus , pitying his

children , even when he pent them in this prison , house of flesh , appointed to arouse in them dim recollection of that real world of souls whence they came . The volume of the sacred law is , however , the foundation of all moral truth and virtue . Therefore to be good and : true is the first lesson we are taught at our initiation—on this grand principle hypocrisy and deceit are unknown among us , sincerity and plain dealing are our distinguishing characteristics , while the heart

and tongue join in promoting each other's welfare , and rejoice in the prosperity of the Craft . W . M . elect ! May the moral and social virtues ever beautify and adorn the North Kent Lodge ! May peace be within its walls ! May the Great Architect of the Universe vouchsafe to direct , sanctify , and govern both the hearts and bodies of its members in the ways of His laws and in the works of His commandments . And now , in the words of the sweet Psalmist of Israel , " For my brethren and companions' sake I will wish thee prosperity . "

Bro . J . S . Ea-tes , D . P G . M ., then took the chair , and installed Bro . G . Rattcliff Steel , P . M . 1 , P . G . S ., as the first W . M . The following officers were invested , Bro . F . J . Street , P . M ., being appointed as l . P . M .: Bros . Robert Haigreaves Rogers , Fo . 4 63 . S . W . ; Newton Dunn , 1 , J . W . ; Rev . H . Lawrence Fry , 1209 , Chap . ; Thos . Jenkins , P . M . 299 , Treas . ; Geo . B . Chapir an , P . M . 27 and 299 , Sec , ; F . Corbett , Sec . 1839 and 1973 , S . D . ; Obed . O Dale , J . W . 299 . J . D . ; and David Rogers , 299 . I . G .

Bro . Royle was elected as the Tyler , and Bro . Jenkins , P . M ., was chosen to represent the lodge on the Charity Committee of the province . The whole of the founders were appointed a committee to frame by-laws . After three propositions for initiations , and two for joining members had been received , the lodge was closed .

The company then adjourned to the Public Hall adjoining where the banquet was served . The spacious room had been gaily decorated with flags and draperies , while a number of choice fljweringand fol age plants , supplied by Mr . A . Parris , lent a charming appearance to the scene , a group in the centre of the hall being specially noteworthy . The banquet was admirably served by Mr . Stephens , of Bexley ,

At the conclusion of the repast , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed , that of "The Grand Oliicers" being acknowledged by Bro . T . HASTINGS MILLER , P . G . S . B . "The R . W . Prov . G . M . of Kent , Earl Amherst , " was submitted from the chair , and responded to by Bro . J . S . EASTES , D . P . G . M ., and the next toast—that of " The W . Dep . P . G . M ., Bro . J . S . Eastes ; and the Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past , " was proposed by Bro . NEWTON DUNN , J . W . I and acknowledged by Bros . ALLAN TASSELL , P . S . G . W ., and H . W ARD ,

P . M . "The Worshi pful Master" was proposed by Bro . F . J . STREET , P . M-I and suitably responded to by Bro . STEEL , W . M . " The Visitors , " of w om there were a large number present , was responded to by Bro :. GRIFFIN , W . M . i ; J . R . KIRBY J OHNSON , D . G . M . S . C . India ; C . J . D OYLEY MEARS , W . M . 299 ; F . WOOD , W . M . 1973 ; G . S . ELLIOTT , 749 , P . P . G . D . C . ; and J . ROCK , S . W . 1 ; " The Olhcers ol the Lodge , " by the Senior and Junior Wardens ( Bros . HARGREAVES ROGERS and DUNN ) , the Tyler ' s toast concluding the list .

Songs were interspersed with the speeches , the musical arrangements being well carried out by Bro . B . J . Hancock , F . R . C . O .