Consecration Of The Æsculapius Chapter, No. 2410.

CONSECRATION OF THE ? SCULAPIUS CHAPTER , No . 2410 .

This new chapter—to be attached to the . Esculapius Lodge , No . 2410—was consecrated on the 16 th instant , at the Criterion , Piccadilly , by Comp . Edward Letchworth , G . S . E ., and a large number of Royal Arch companions wcre present on the occasion . The visitors were—Comps . W . Howel Key , 36 and 1578 , P . P . G . S . B . South Wales ( East Div . );

VV . H . Glynn Smith , H . 1691 ; T . W . White , P . A . G . D . C . ; Samuel Brooks , P . Z 975 , 1900 , Alfred C . Spaull , D . G . D . C . ; M . Callaway Girsch , H . 19 ; Charles Beckett , 1706 ; A . Kenningham , 19 ; W . A . Frost , 1706 ; Edwin G . Bell , 1524 ; H . E . Dehane , P . Z . 890 ; Wynn Westcott , P . Z . 329 ; Walter C . Blaker , S . E . -. 8 ; G . W . Taylor , 140 ; H . Mackintosh ; F . W . Hasty , P . Z . 9 H . S . French

P . Z . 9 ; J . H . Bentham , P . Z . 4 S 1 , P . P . G . H ., P . G . S . E . ; Frank W . Williams , M . E . Z . 101 ; H . Massey , P . Z . 619 and 1928 ; Frank Palm . er , 975 ; R . C . Cowes , O . C ., P . G . Std . Br . ; F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Supt . Essex ; J . F . Haskins , P . P . G . Org . Essex ; Ralph Gooding , M . D ., 289 , P . A . G . S . ; John Dixon , P . Z . 73 ; W . 1 . Spratling , S . E . t 6 oi ; and H . Sadler , G . Janitor .

The founders of the chapter were : Comps . K Krnest Pocock , M . O ., P . Z . ; Lennox Browne , F . R . C . S ., P . Z . ; Henry W . Kiallmark , P . Z . j Belgrave Ninnis , M . D ., R . N ., P . A . G . D . C ; J . Brindley James , P . Z . ; Thomas Dutton , M . D . ; G . Danford Thomas , M . D . ; Jacob P ' ickett , M . D . ; Frank Oldfield , Anthony Nutt , E . H . Ezard , M . D . ; C . Montague Simpson , J . Hilditch Bradshaw , Charles Gross , M . D . j Charles John Smith , P . Z .,

P . P . G . H . Sussex ; G . Russell Beardmore , Francis VV . S . Wicksted , P . Z ., P . P . G . T . Somerset ; and H . Naunton Davies , P . Z ., P . P . G . J . South Wales ( Eastern Division ) . The Grand Scribe E . was assisted in the performance of his duties by Comps . Major-General J . Crossland May , C . B ., P . Asst . G . Soj ., as H . ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg ' , Grand Supt . of Bucks , as J . ; C E . Keyser , P . G . S . B ., as S . N . ; and Frank Richardson , G . D . C , as l ) ir . of Cers .

The GRAND SCKHIK E ., in his opening address , said the / Esculapius Lodge , which was consecrated barely three years ago , had enjoyed a career of very great prosperity and success , and it was only natural and fitting that having attained that position its members should desire to have a Royal Arch Chapter attached to it . All the companions who were present at the last meeting of Grand Chapter knew how readily the prayer of the petitioners

for a charter for a chapter was granted by the Supreme Grand Chapter , and he congratulated the founders on having so promptly obtained their charter . Me congratulated them particularly on having as their first Principal a companion so able to guide and direct them in this the first , and most critical period of their existence . It had been his good fortune to be associated with Comp . Dr . Pocock in other branches of Masonry , and he knew how zealous

he was in the cause , and how great his ability in the work . Dr . Pocock also was fortunate in having such able and zealous companions associated with him . In conclusion he was only expressing the feelings of all the companions when he wished for the chapter a long career of prosperity and usefulness , that it might have a reputation , worthy of the lodge to which it was attached and of Ihe great profession to which its members belonged .

Comp . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG delivered the following address l'rom the very earliest days of our Craft , even in times when every Mason was an operative Mason , there was always the closest connection between the operation of the Craft and all scientific study . We realised that there were certain fundamental principles upon which all truth and all science depended , without which truth would soon lapse into falsehood , and science into

abysmal ignorance . It is , therefore , specially a matter of congratulation lhat the Masonic members of one of our most honourable scientific professions in London should have formed , and should now be extending their Masonic organisation . My own observation enables me to testify to the great work of Charity which is being done every day by members of the medical profession in this country . It is not sufficiently known that the

poor are being served in our hospitals and 111 our infirmaries by thousands of men who give their time and their money . I do not believe that there is any bod y of men who give to the poor so much money ' s worth of time and relief a < our doctors do . It is not a matter of which statistics are possible , but more than a quarter of a century ' s work in my own profession has convinced "" - ' i that I am not exaggerating . And it is relief , not merely to those who

wear the outward garb of poverty . There is no poverty so acute as that which wks under a decent coat and an outward appearance of prosperity . I have no doubt that there are some in this room who know of kindly refusals courteousl y made to take remuneration from those who are rapidly sinking to the ° \ vest spoke of Fortune ' s wheel . Let ' us trv to imitate the examde set 11 s .

h y should not business men , like medical men , more often give their time ! ° the poor ? Some do , and have found a rich . blessing . The horizon is lack with the social problems of the future . I have every confidence that nose problems are capable of solution , and I believe that a kindly sympathy " the pains and ills and sorrows of others are one of the many means which oci puts into our hands for making all things work together for good .

the consecration ceremony was then performed , the musical portions ' * 'Pg given unde .- the direction of Comp . J . F . Haskins , P . P . G . Org . Essex , ' Msted b y Comps . W . A . Frost , Alfred Kenningham , Charles Beckett , an Kdwin J . Bell . . , ' 'he conclusion of the consecration , Comps . Dr . F . Ernest Pocock was

-,. | " ed as Z . ; Lennox Browne as 11 . ; and Henry W . Kiallmark as J . ie other collars were bestowed on Comps . Dr . Belgrave Ninnis as I . P . Z . ; J' "nndley James , S . E . ; Dr . Thomas Dutton , S . N . ; Dr . G . Danford An ? t ' Treas - ! Hr . Jacob Pickett , P . S . ; Frank Oldfield , ist A . S . ; and I t 4- " * 2 nd A , S ' ' ''• H > Ki ! arc 1 ' 0 r C Montagllc Simpson . !• Hilditch Bradshaw , Stwds ,: Dr . Charles Gross , D . C ; and Henry

Consecration Of The Æsculapius Chapter, No. 2410.

Evenden , Janitor . The Consecrating Officers were elected honorary members of thc chapter . The honour having been acknowledged by Grand Scribe E ., the names of intending exaltees and of candidates for joining were proposed and seconded , after which the chapter was closed , and the companions adjourned to a choice banquet . The usual toasts followed .

Comp . PIIII . DRIC ' K , O . C , in replying to the toast which includes "The Grand Officers , " said he had seen , nursed , and carefully watched the development of the Royal Arch Degree in the Province of F ' ssex , over which he had the honour to preside , and he felt he mi ght well congratulate the . Esculapius Chapter upon its foundation . Grand Chapter of recent times had been doing what—not perhaps in England , but certainly in other parts

of the world and in other Constitutions had been done—was a change of a somewhat serious character , but which he thought would prove to be a vital change . Grand Chapter , in its wisdom , he thought—he did not use the phrase in the accustomed sense—but he believed thoroughly in the wisdom , in the wiseness of the act , had shortened the period of 12 months to a period of one month , almost unanimously , except for a protest of some

companions who thought that it mi ght be better made three months , from the taking of the M . M . Degree for the taking of the R . A . Degree . Mi ght he be pardoned for referring to that matter , and for saying , as having been in charge now for some 10 years and upwards of a province where he started as Grand Superintendent of a certain number of chapters , they had now multiplied them nearly fourfold , and he believed that no chapter had been

consecrated that had not proved a strong and a good working chapter . He thought the new alteration would prove of immense ultimate advantage to the Order . Practically , from the date when a brother was raised to the Third Degree to when he found his name on the summons for taking the Triple Tau and afterwards was exalted , three months would be elapsed . It was almost impossible to fix the thing in with the mathematical precision of a Chinese puzzle to one month permitted by the change in the Constitutions ,

but , as one who had watched carefully both the extension of the Craft , and the dependency of the Arch relatively to it , he did not fear that they were going to be swept away by a flood tide ; he thought that they would enlist perhaps with a better chance the more earnest and more enquiring of Master Masons , and he looked to the alteration with great hope , trusting that in the future it would show the wisdom of Grand Chapter . He then referred to

the consecration ceremony of the day , and the observations of Comp . Brownrigg on the supreme claims on the ultimate sympathies of mankind which the healing art ever had . Comp . Brownrigg had pointed out how especially they were accentuated in that chapter . Permit him to put another meaning on words familiar to all of them—bound as they Masons were to that profession which the / V . sculapian art so conspicuously professed , thev were sworn to " heal . " Whether the profession were able to do it or not was

a problem they would solve for themselves—he would not say , at the expense of the patient —( laughter)—but , seriously , no refit ctive human being could cast a thought back without feeling the obligations which mankind owed to them , nor could he if he be a Mason fail 10 recognise that thc way in which the profession had practised embodied the highest honour , the highest character , and the hi ghest example . With this feeling , all the Grand Officers wished the .-Esculapius Lodge and Chapter , which were composed of such men , a career of success and usefulness .

Comp . Dr . POCOCK , replying 10 the toast of " The M . E . Z ., " which was proposed by Major-Gen . J . CUOS . SI . AXI ) HAY , C . B ., said he felt he was unworthy of Ihe position in which he was placed , but le felt that the position was due in a great measure or entirely to the happy incident that he was now also Master of the / Esculapius Lodge . He trusted that those companions who were members of the lodge—and the majority of the founders

of the chapter were—knew him well enough to be sure that nothing would be wanting on his part to carry out not only ihe regulations of Royal Arch Masonry in general , but the bye-laws of thc chapter and such rules as I hey might make in the next month or two for the success of that chapter . They had started well ; they might congratulate themselves on that ; they had 19 petitioners ; it might not beat the record , but it was very nearly a record ; they had a large number of joining members coming on and a large number

of exaltees , a number which in succeeding months would be greatly augmented . It would lie in the companions' hands whether the chapter would be a success or not . I . ooking round on the numerous distinguished Royal Arch Masons present he felt that the three Principals as well as the other companions in office below thc chairs must do their very utmost , not only in the succeeding year , but in all succeeding years , to keep up what he trusted would be recognised in the Craft and in Royal Arch Masonry generally as the celebrated . Esculapius Chapter consecrated that night .

Comp . Licxxox BROW . VE , II ., wished to tell the companions that the whole success of the inauguration of the / Esculapius Chapter—the menu , the proceedings , the charming arrangements , both in chapter and at thc table—was due to Comp . Pocock . For the coming year they knew he would act by the Constitutions .

Comp . KIALLMARK , J ., also testified to the energy , indomitable perseverance and skill of the M . E . Z ., which had gone far towards making this inaugural meeting so successful . During his year the other two Principals and all the officers would render him all the assistance they could . Where Comp . Pocock took the lead everything went right , all the ceremonies were well conducted and performed , and the impression made upon the candidates

for initiation or exaltation was never removed from their minds . He owed the M . E . Z . the most sincere thanks for placing him in the chair of J . Comp . KIALLMARK , J ., proposed "The Consecrating Officers , " and in doing so expressed the regret of the companions that Comps . Letchworth , Keyser , and Brownrigg had not been able to attend the banquet . He trusted that at the next meeting of thc chapter a vote of thanks would be passed to the Consecrating Officers for their services that day .