Consecration Of The St.Martin's Lodge, No.2445.

Bro . J AMES TERRA - , Secretary R . M . B . I ., replying for "The Masonic Charities , " said that last year he had no difficulty in obtaining a Chairman for the Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , as it was the Jubilee , and brethren were crowding round offering their services as Steward . This time last year he had over 1000 brethren who had promised to act as Stewards ; but , unfortunately , this was likely to prove , after years of

prosperity , the first of another sort . It was a difficult matter not only to obtain a Chairman , but to get brethren to act as Stewards . That day he had the p leasure of announcing the name of the brother who was to be his Chairman on the occasion of the " forthcoming Festival . While they had had Provincial Grand Masters and distinguished brethren to fill the position , he thought it was as well to come to their own rank lo one who had done rood suit and

service . He had the pleasure of announcing that the brother on his right—Bro . Kcyser—as the Chairman , and he ventured to hope they would rally round and g ive him encouragement in the undertaking he had accepted , in the hope of doing good . He had had the pleasure of receiving the names of five Stewards since he entered the room , and hoped it would be increased to i ? before he left .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next proposed " The Treasurer and Secretary . " He regretted the Treasurer had been obliged to leave for Newcastle , but the Secretary was present . That brother was associated with them as Vestry Clerk and was held in high estimation by all connected with the Vestry . He was a Past Master of a lodge at Bromley , and had already acted as Assistant Secretary and therefore had sufficient credentials for his

present post . Bro . MURNANE , Sec , briefly replied , after which the WORSHIPFUL MASTER gave " The Officers . " Bro . T . P . BAPTIE , S . W ., in response , said the lodge had been exceedingly fortunate from its inception in being assisted and encouraged by the

Grand Officers . It only remained for the officers to support the W . M ., and he was hopeful they would not fail of being ideal officers . Masonry was most elevating and soul-inspiring exercise and they should not only commit the ritual to memory , but endeavour to extract fresh meanings from it and sec new duties in it , and make it a great social lever to raise humanity to a higher level .

Bro . J . WILLING , P . M ., J . W ., also responded , after which the T yler ' s toast closed the proceedings . The musical arrangements were ably carried out under the direction of Bro . Frank Swinford , assisted by Madame Eugenia Morgan , Miss Florence Oliver , and Bros . George May , Trefelyn David , Egbert Roberts , P . P . G . Org ., and Geo . Montague . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Consecration Of The West Sussex Mark Lodge,No.453,At Bognor.

CONSECRATION OF THE WEST SUSSEX MARK LODGE , NO . 453 , AT BOGNOR .

On Monday , the 9 th inst ., was consecrated at the Assembly Rooms , Bognor , in the Province of Sussex , a new Mark lodge named the West Sussex Lodge , No . 453 . The county of Sussex , therefore , now numbers 10 Mark lodges within its bounds . The ceremony of consecration was admirabl y carried through by Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., the Grand Secretary , assisted by Bros . Carter , as D . of C ; V , P . Freeman , P . P . G . W ., as S . W . ; J . Adames , Prov . J . G . W ., as J . W . ; Rev . J . Puttick , Prov . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; W . Wright , Prov . G . Sec , as Sec . ; and Major Carroll , as I . G .

Considering the inclemency of the weather there was a large and representative gathering on the occasion . The Consecrating Officer in his opening remarks referred in eloquent terms to the establishing of the West Sussex Lodge as a specially interesting event , inasmuch as it opened up fresh ground , being the first lodge of Mark Master Masons in West Sussex . The Deputy Prov . CM ., Bro . Very Rev . CI ' RRIK , Dean of Battle , gave a very eloquent oration , which , as from its impressiveness cannot fail to greatly interest our readers , we give in extenso .

Try and imagine the first and simplest conception that primeval man would most naturally form of himself and the world around him . Would not that conception be of the world as a circular plane , of which he . himself was the centre ? Thus we have the first conception of the universe as a vast circle with the ego as its centre , but man , moving from place to place , is and can be no fixed and constant centre . Hence followed the need of an . ' unchangeable and constant ego—the " I Am' 'of the revelation given to the Jews . The G . A . O . T . U . in Masonry , which was and

is , and is to come , the Almighty . The space comprehended within the circle of the horizon likewise changes with the change of the point of view ; but the circular form of the horizon , remaining ever constant and unchanged , would soon be adopted as the symbol of that which would seem most constant to human imagination . This circular form would accordingly early suggest the anti-type . The circle has neither beginning nor ending , and for this reason would early be adopted as the symbol of eternity . Among the Hebrews the central point took the form ,

it is said , of the letter Jod—the initial letter of the name Jehovah—and we thus come to the most sacred of all Masonic symbols—T . P . W . A . C . —Jehovah enthroned in eternity . To the original single point within a circle Pythagoras added nine more , arranging them in four lines . In the first he placed 1 ; in the second , 2 ; in the third , 3 ; and in the fourth , 4 ; thus forming an equilateral triangle , with four points in each side , which now became the symbol of God . According to Pythagoras , even number were to be regarded as feminine and allied to the earth ,

while the odd numbers were considered as endued with masculine virtue , and partaking of the celestial nature . According to this fanciful reasoning , 1 and 2 became the symbol of all things—1 + 2 = 3 , while 2 squared = 4 . We have , therefore , now the consecutive numbers i , 2 , 3 , and 4 , the sum of which—10—is called travTU ahtd [ lov—the signature of the universe . In T . V . O . T . S . L . we find a significance given to numbers . Here 3 is the signature of the Deity ; under this number he reveals himself in time , for as time is past , present , and future , so

of Him it is said that He was and is , and is come , the Eternal . Again , when the prophet Isaiah saw the vision of God ' s glory in the Temple , the adoration of the cherubim was the thrice repeated " Holy . " One cried unto another , and said " Holy , holy , holy is the Lord ot Hosts , the whole earth is full of His glory , " and we have identically the same in the Book of Revelation of St . John . The symbolism of Masonry associates the No . 3 with the Deity , for symbolically the lodge is supported by three great pillars , called wisdom , strength , and beauty , which are attributes of the G . A . O . T . U . From its association with the G . O . O . T . U . the

No . 3 becomes the symbol of government and authority , and hence three rule the lodge , as three is the signature ot God , the Creator , so four is the signature of the created world . There are four elements , and four points of the compass . We read , too , in holy writ , of four corners of the earth , and of the four winds of heaven . Hence , in the vision of the prophet Ezekiel , as in that of St . John , the four living creatures are probabl y intended to represent the whole creation . When we turn to Masonry we find it is essential that the lodge should be rectangular and quadrilateral , symbolically , to represent the world . Three being the signature of the Deity , and four that of the creation , the combination of these

Consecration Of The West Sussex Mark Lodge,No.453,At Bognor.

two become important—added together they give seven , multiplied by 12 . Seven then represents that which brings the creature into relation with the Creator —on His part the covenant on man's religion . Seven is , therefore , the signature of religion and perfection . T . V . O . T . S . L . begins with the first seven days , and its last book abounds in series of seven . The bow in the cloud , the sign and pledge of God ' s covenant with man , is itself composed of seven colours , while this

number marks the sincerity and perfection of forgiveness . The erring brother is to be forgiven until 70 times 7 . Masonically , seven makes the lodge perfect , and by seven steps we advance to the perfect knowledge of our mysteries . Threethe signature of the Creator—added to four—the signature of the creation—gives seven—that of the covenant , or religion—while these two multiplied together give 12—the signature of the covenant people , Israel , who comprised 12 tribes .

The square of 13 in thousands gives us 144 , 000—this mystical number of the servants of our God , who are sealed in their foreheads—thus receiving the approving mark of T . G . O . O . T . U ., as fitted to form part of that spiritual structure , that House not made with hands , eternal in the heavens , to which abode of joy and gladness—built upon 12 foundations—having 12 gates—and containing within

itself the tree of life , bearing 12 manners of fruit—may the G . O . O . T . U . of His goodness bring us all . The ceremony of consecration having been completed , votes of thanks to the Consecrating Officers for the admirable manner in which that rite had been performed were proposed and responded to .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master then took the chair , and installed Bro . Paxton , P . P . G . D . Hants and the Isle of Wight , as W . M . for the ensuing year , who invested as his S . W . Bro . A . Lloyd , and Bro . E . E . Street , P . P . G . W . Hants and the Isle of Wight , as his J . W . Several propositions for advancement and joining concluded a very instructive opportunity , and the brethren adjourned to banquet , presided over by the newly-installed W . M ., Bro . Paxton .

The usual toasts customary on these occasions were duly given , with the requisite accompaniments . The menu and wines were all that could be desired , as might have been expected when Bro . Booth was the caterer .

The Grand Lodge Of Ulster.

THE GRAND LODGE OF ULSTER .

BY HENRY SADLER . ( Continued from page 27 . ) That shortly after the meeting of May , 1808 , a letter was written by direction of the said Earl to the Grand Lodge printer , in which his Lordship took upon himself to nominate a Brother of the name of Marsh to be the Deputy Grand Secretary in Dublin , but that it appears the noble Earl was not able to carry such Nomination into effect in as much as a Br . William Francis Graham , also mentioned in the Transactions of March , 1807 , was appointed to the situation .

That thro' the entire of this proceeding the Brethern of Ulster did not find that " Freedom from partialities and Prejudices or that Principle of action having no other object in view than the honor and Interests of the Order" so warmly professed in the letter of the then Grand Master , but on the contrary they did meet with a determined system of Disrespect , Prejudice , Partiality , and Illegality , adopted and exercised for the purpose of endeavouring to subvert the Rights and Priviledges of the Masons of Ireland , and to establish a new and unheard of Claim of Patronage on the part of the Grand Master .

That under these and many other circumstances of Aggression and Insult on the part of the said Earl and his friends , the meeting called by the Provincial Grand Master of Ulster took place in June , 1808 , on which occasion , upwards of 300 Lodges attending , they declared themselves independent of the Grand Lodge of Dublin , which consisted of about 30 Lodges . That it is thus manifest that the illegal , arbitrary , and unmasonic conduct of

Mr . Jaffray , fomented by a party in Dublin to which he had sold his Influence , encouraged by the continued Neglect and Inattention of the Earl of Donoughmore to the various Representations made him of that conduct , and afterwards adopted , acted upon , and enlarged by the said Earl for the accomplishment of objects far different from that he was pleased so warmly to profess are the leading and sole causes by which the Masons of Ulster have been compelled to establish a third Grand Lodge in Ireland .

That having always acted according to the Laws of Masonry , neither knowing nor acknowledging any dispensing power or authority in any Individual and denying any right in the Grand Master to dictate to them on whom they should place , or from whom they should withdraw their confidence , the Brethern of Ulster would deem themselves undeserving the Name of British Subjects , unworthy the

Title of Masons , and disgracing the Character of Irishmen , should they by a servile and dastardly Relinquishment of their Rights and Privileges suffer themselves to be converted into a mere Machine governed by the whim or caprice of any Individual , or permit themselves to be practised upon to increase the Patronage or promote the Agrandisement of any Family , and still more iniquitous would be their conduct were they to become the willing Tools of Duplicity and Injustice .

That were any further proof wanted of the just Grounds on which the Brethern of Ulster withdrew their confidence from those Brethern in Dublin who opposed the lawfull exercise of their Privileges as Masons , it may be found in the recent conduct of those Brethern who have profusely expended the entire of the Charity Fund , £ 500 , which had been saved principally from the Contributions of the Brethern of Ulster in a Litigation calculated not to advantage the Order but to gratify the Resentment of Individuals .

That in a recent Publication coming from the Grand Lodge in Dublin it has had the Temerity to insinuate that the Sanction of High and illustrious authority has been obtained in support of the parties Guilty of those various Aggressions and to the Injury of the Rights and insulting to the feelings of the Brethern of Ulster . The Brethern of Ulster are humbly Confident that on the cool , deliberate , and impartial Review which the whole of their conduct will receive , it must appear

that neither as Men nor as Masons have they merited those Charges and Aspersions so illiberally and so unmasonically uttered against them . That were they inclined to recriminate they would feel no hesitation in asserting that whilst either the Laws of Masonry or the laws of the land are to constitute the Rule of Conduct , they should not esteem themselves much honoured by acomparison with those persons most active and most industrious in such abuse . Under all those circumstances the freemasons of Ulster venture to express their Humble but

confident hope that some measure will be adopted to relieve them from the Obloquy of those Insinuations levelled under the affected shelter of exalted Rank against Rights , which as Men and Masons they hold most dear , and that the Illustrious Personage whose Talents and whose Virtues are equally superior to praise as worthy of Imitation , will not suffer his favour or countenance to be exerted as a

means to force upon them Individuals who have forfeited their Confidence , nor permit his exalted Name and Dignity to be so basely and unworthily sported with to their Insult and Injury . Signed by Order , A . SETON , D . G . S . Ulster . { To be continued . )