Consecration Of The Aldermaston Lodge, No. 2760.

The attendance included : Bros the Deputy Prov . G . M ., J . T . Morland , P . G . D . Eng . ; Thomas F . Halsey , M . P . ' i Pr 0 V- G > M - Herts > ' Charles E . Keyser , P . G . D . Eng ., Treas . R . M . I . B . ; Richard Eve , Past G . Treas ., President of the Board of Governors of the Boys ' School : J- M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; Henry Sadler , G . Tyler ;

Tames Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; S . G . Kirchhoffer , P . D . G . D . C . Eng . ; 1 W Martin , P . A . G . D . C . Eng . ; C . O . Burgess , P . S . G . W . ; W . Bonny , P . ] . ft w ' ¦ Rev . J . L . Turbutt , P . G . Chap . ; F . F . Penruddock , P . G . Chap . ; W . B . ' Biddies , P . J . G . D . ; S . Knight , jun ., P . A . G . D . C ; D . Wilton , P . G . Std . Br . ; Vernon Knowles , P . G . Org . ; E . H . Simmons , P . Asst . G . Sec . ; A . H . Bull , P . G . Stwd . ; J . F . Stevens , P . G . Tyler ; and others .

The Past Provincial Grand Officers also present included : Bros . ] . F . Ferguson , P . P . S . G . W . ; E . Margrett , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . Ravenscroft , PPS . G . W . ; W . G . Flanagan , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . H . Belcher , P . P . G . Reg . ; S . Knight , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . G . Millar , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . Fenton , P . P . G . Supt . Wks . ; E . Prince , P . P . G . Supt . Wks . ; W . W . Ridley , P . P . A . G . D . C ; Capt . E S . Heard , P . P . G . S . B . ; and G . J . Cosburn , P . P . A . G . Purst .

The other brethren present were : Bros . Col . Gerald C . Ricardo , W . M . 574 ; W . E . Kington , W . M . 771 ; E . J . Lewis , W . M . 1101 ; Rev . E . R . Adams , J . J . Simcox , P . G . Treas . Bucks ; C . Fleck , T . S . Cambridge , J . Wright , W . J . Langley , D . Haslam , jun ., E . O . Farrer , T . H . White , T . Rowland Kent , E . Langston , W . G . Crombie , L . W . Fleck , F . Tunbridge , Sidney Smith , P . M . 209 ; J . Stradling , E . Turner , G . F . Murrell , C Wells , W . M . 2323 ; B . Mills , Malcolm Boyle , C . Nightingale , J . Atleet , G . H . R . Holder ., Wilfred Kearton , Percy Coward , S . P . Burton , Everett , and others .

The Consecrating Officer , Bro . J . T . Morland , presided , and the Wardens' chairs were occupied respectively by the Provincial Senior and Junior Grand Wardens , Bros . Burgess and Bonny ; Bro . Martin , Prov . G . Sec , officiated as Secretary ; Bro . S . Knight , jun ., as Director of Ceremonies ; and Bro . Margrett , as I . G .

The C ONSECRATING OFFICER addressed the brethren in reference to the ausp icious event of the day , and called upon the Rev . F . F . Penruddock , who offered up prayer , after which the Prov . G . Sec . read the petition and warrant , the latter bearing the signature of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , as Grand Master of the Order .

Bro . Rev . F . F . PENRUDDOCK , of Windsor , Prov . G . Chap ., then delivered the following able oration , which was listened to with deep

attention : Brethren , we are gathered together here , amidst these happy surroundings , to consecrate to the service of the Great Architect of the Universe another Temple . A new start , a fresh departure , another step into the great unknown , must , it would seem to me , set all of us thinking . It would seem to me a time , at which we may well cast forwards and backwards in thought—backwards to that great

past which the history of Freemasonry brings to us , forwards in cheerful hope , with happy augury for the future . It will only be a glimpse backward and a thought for the future that I would venture on this occasion to put before you . Backwards as we carry our thoughts to past Masonic history , it is natural to ask ourselves what was the main idea in the minds of those great men , our Masonic forefathers in this land , as banded together by sacred and secret signs , they set

themselves to the great task of raising throughout the length and breadth of the land monuments which remain to this day and testify to their power and skill as operative Masons of the very first order ? You will answer , that they , at least , had caught something of the spirit of our Grand Master Hiram , that their one idea was to leave such monuments here that the minds of thinking men might as they saw them insensibly revert to the G . A . O . T . U . You will answer that they

were in the main animated by the desire to communicate happiness to their fellow men , and to witness to the truth of the Almighty as He has revealed Himself to us in the Volume of the Sacred Law . You will say that they were animated by those three great principles , which have been translated for us into simple terms— " Brotherly love , relief , and truth . " These are , as I would venture to call them , the Divine principles which have made Freemasonry

great . We are nearing the end of a most eventful century , a century , the latter years of which have seen an immense advance in the number of Fieemasons and in the number of Masonic lodges , not only in this and other lands , but in all the Dependencies of the British Empire . It is natural then that we should ask ourselves " What of the future ? " That lies in higher hands than ours : but surely you will say that this future can only be secured by keeping to

the ancient landmarks that have made Freemasonry great . A fraternity of men that departs from its ancient tradition in main principles must be on the down grade ; because such departure is bound , as it seems to me , to lead to dissension , and separation , and separation means weakness . In this connection that was a valuable object lesson in that order that was read emanating from the Grand Lodge of England , excommunicating the Grand Lodge of Peru , because the

Volume of the Sacred Law had been removed from their altar ; and the sequel that came after some months , reinstating the said G . Lodge because the Bible had been restored to its proper place , and was recognised as the standard of truth . It is then , as we believe , these principles being kept inviolate , which will render our Masonic foundations for ever sure , and Freemasonry will be kept , as we believe , great in the future , by being very careful that those whom we admit to the

privileges of our brotherhood shall be those who will keep ever to the front the principles on which the Order is founded . Here , then , we have come to consecrate this lodge , this temple not made of inanimate stone , but of living stones , and here there is , as we believe , full surety that the principles that have made Masonry what it is will be kept to the fore in the future . Surely it is a good omen for the future , I would say it without a touch of flattery , but as a statement of fact

, that everyone here will acknowledge , that the brother who will preside over your lodge has been inspired with that great principle of brotherly love , which has led him , having the power , to put into practice the second great principle , " relief , " and be so noble a patron of what we call our Masonic Charities . And again , going only to the second name on the list ol your ollicers , the name of your I . P . M . that alone would be sufficient testimony that

, here in this new Temple the principle of Charity will be interpreted aright . Purel y it is a good promise for the future , without going on to say nice things , as one might very easily , and with much personal gratification , without going lurtner in your list of Founders than this , surely it is a good omen that he who will preside over you has so nobly shown his Masonic spirit . This new lodr / e

f ,. > * understand , what is called a summer lodge . It will meet at that time ot the year when this beautiful world of the Great Architect ' s specially appeals to « s , as it does now , in all the glory of a " leafy June . " It will give the weary and worn brother opportunity in wholesome recreation and social intercourse , to recreate and stimulate those powers which the Almighty has given to us for His icrvice

. ^ Meetings such as will be held here will help to rub off all " excrescences , and bring men nearer to one another by the bond of human kindness . viasonry strikes a blow against that selfishness and materialism which lives only ¦ or the present , because it is of the essence of Masonry lo make a man look to iners more than to self , to make a man look to another world rather than this M L ? U - ha PP ' - ' - Let " brotherly love , relief , and truth " ever reign here . Broil ! I T \ ° ge flourish ' and bear other witness to that great truth of " the "fomerhood of Man / ' which Freemasonry strives to inculcate !

Consecration Of The Aldermaston Lodge, No. 2760.

The musical brethren ( Bros . Percy Coward , Wilfred Kearton , Malcolm Boyle , and Bertram Mills , from St . George ' s . Chapel , Windsor ) then rendered an anthem , Bro . Vernon Knowles presiding at the organ . The dedication prayer was offered , and the remainder of the impressive ceremony proceeded according to the ancient ritual , closing with another finely sung anthem ( " Glory to God in the highest" ) and the Benediction .

The next item on the lengthy programme was the installation of Bro . C . E . Keyser , of Aldermaston Court , as the first W . M . of the lodge , the ceremony , like that of the consecration itself , being carried out with great efficiency and impressiveness by the able and much-respected D . P . G . M ., Bro . J . T . Morland , who expressed the regret felt by the brethren generally that another engagement prevented the attendance of the Prov . G . M ., Lord Wantage , V . C .

The newly-installed W . M . appointed and installed his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . Edward Margrett , P . M . 1101 , P . G . W . Berks and Bucks , I . P . M . ; T . S . Cambridge , S . W . ; J . Wright , J . W . ; Rev . E . R . Adams , P . P . G . C . Sussex , Chap . ; Lieut .-Col . G . C Ricardo ,

W . M . 574 , Treas . ; W . Bonny , P . M . 414 . Prov . J . G . W ., Sec . ; A . H . Bull , Prov . G . Stwd ., S . D . ; W . G . Crombie , J . D . ; E . Prince , P . M . 209 and 2671 , P . P . S . G . W ., D . C ; F . Tunbridge , I . G . ; Vernon Knowles , Org . ; T . R . Kent and W . J . Langley , Stewards ; and J . F . Stevens , Tyler .

The Grand Lodge Officers present , and also the Provincial Grand Officers , who had actively assisted in the consecration ceremony were thanked by the W . M . and unanimously elected honorary members of the lodge . At six o ' clock the business was brought to a conclusion , having occupied about two hours .

By the kind permission of the W . M ., the installation banquet was served in a marquee erected beneath the leafy shade of one or two of the noble trees which adorn the park . The catering had been entrusted to Bro . Wright , and afforded entire satisfaction , while the day ' s arrangements generally devolved upon the Secretary , Bro . W . Bonny , P . M ., who had spared no effort to ensure a thoroughly successful result .

Grace was beautifully sung by the glee party from Windsor , and the customary toasts were subsequently proposed and honoured . The W . M ., who presided , supported by the Grand Officers , successively proposed the toasts of " The Queen and the Craft , " and " The M . W . the Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., " which were drunk with loyal enthusiasm , and the National Anthem and " God bless

the Prince of Wales" were respectively sung . The next toast submitted by the W . M . was that of "The M . W . the Pro Grand Master , the Earl Amherst ; the R . W . the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick ; and the Grand Officers of England , Present and Past . " ( Cheers . ) The W . M . congratulated the brethren upon being honoured with such a representative body of Grand Officers , and he especially thanked his friend Bro . Halsey , Prov . G . M . of Hertfordshire ,

who had at great inconvenience to himself travelled to Aldermaston to take part in the day ' s functions . He regarded Bro . Halsey ' s presence as a great personal compliment . He also thanked Bros . Eve , Morland , Kirchhoffer , Martin , Terry , McLeod , and Sadler for having honoured them by attending , and bore his personal testimony to the great amount of hard woik which these various brethren had performed for the good and advancement of Masonry . ( Cheers . )

Bro . 1 . F . HALSEY , M . P ., in the course of his reply , said he felt a special pleasure in responding to the invitation of his esteemed friend and brother , the newly-installed W . M ., because no one could testify more than he could to the excellent work which had been performed by Bro . Keyser in founding and assisting to keep up lodges in different parts of the country .

What Bro . Keyser was now doing in the Province of Berkshire in promoting the well-being and success of Masonry himself , and its noble charities , and in stirring up others with the same object , he had been doing for many years in the Province of Hertfordshire and elsewhere . ( Cheers . ) The success of the candidates for the different Charities from the Hertfordshire Province

had been mainly due to the energy , skill , and liberality of Bro . Keyser ; and they could fully rely upon similar service from him in the Province of Berkshire . ( Cheers . ) The speaker heartily congratulated the brethren of the newly-founded lodge upon having commenced under such favourable auspices , and with such an able and liberal-hearted a W . M . as Bro . Keyser . ( Cheers . )

Bro . RICHARD EVE made an eloquent response , and described the newly-installed W . M . as a splendid brother for work ; indeed , he had never known a Mason who could perform the duties of the chair in all its varied forms as Bro . Keyser could . He ( Bro . Eve ) regarded it as a great honour to be an officer of the Grand Lodge of England , which represented a brotherhood of men who carried out the great principles of brotherly love ,

relief , and truth to an extent and complete ' ness equalled by no other institution in the world . ( Cheers . ) He felt that the Grand Lodge of England had still a great future before it . It was not only increasing rapidly in numbers , but also in influence , and its capacity for good and justice and right was continuing to expand . ( Cheers . ) They had no differences

because they were agreed upon one common basis of action , and they rt joiced in the fact that all kinds and all classes of men could be embraced by their organisation , which had already done so much for humanity , and which was destined to do more in that direction than any other body in the world . ( Cheers . )

The W . M . then gave the toast of "The R . W . the Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire , Lord Wantage , V . C , K . C . B ., P . G . W . of England , and the Provincial Grand Officers of Berkshire , Present and Past , and also the Consecrating Officers . " ( Cheers . ) Bro . Keyser said they must all feel very sorry that Lord Wantage had been unable to attend , as they had no doubt he would have greatly enjoyed taking part in the first lodge consecration in the province since his appointment as P . G . Master , and realised

the success likely to result therefrom . ( Hear , hear . ) He then referred in grateful and eulogistic terms to the Deputy P . G . M ., Bro . Morland , who had so ably conducted the ceremonies of the day . Bro . Morland had been in charge of the province for many years , and he was deservedly held by the whole ot the brethren in most affectionate regard . ( Hear and cheers . ) The W . M . also thanked the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers who had so ably assisted in the interesting function which they had witnessed that afternoon .

The DEI " . PROV . G . M . replied in graceful terms , and reciprocated the expressions of regret at the unavoidable absence of the Provincial Grand Master , whom they hoped , however , to have the pleasure of seeing in the chair at the forthcoming Provincial Grand Lodge at Sandhurst . ( Hear