New Zealand Masonry.

visit lodges under the English Constitution—reads as follows : " We cannot undertake to answer for others , but probably the reason is that the adherents of the New Zealand Constitution are too proud and too honourable to sail under false colours , and are , besides , quite content with visiting lodges where they are welcome . " We thank thee , New Zealand Craftsman , for this most monstrous of all pretences . It is long since we have had the good

fortune to meet with such a magnificent euphuism . The true reason , we apprehend ,. is because the lodges under the English Constitution will have nothing whatever to do with the members of the irregular New Zealand Constitution , but our contemporary at all events deserves credit for its smartness . It can at least assume a virtue , though it does not possess it . Unfortunately for it , the

assumption is too transparent to impose upon any one . The fox in the Fable deceived no one when it declared the grapes it could not reach were unripe , and the New Zealand Craftsman only raises a chorus of laughter at its own expense when it claims that " adherents of the New Zealand Constitution arc too proud and too honourable" to visit lodges under the English Constitution , which would not allow them to enter at any price .

Consecration Of The Eccentric Lodge, No. 2488.

CONSECRATION OF THE ECCENTRIC LODGE , No . 2488 .

This latest edition to the roll of London lodges was consecrated on the ? . oth inst ., in the Masonic Hall of the Cafe Royal , Regent-street , and the ceremony was numerously attended . It was a distinguished company which assembled , owing to the distinction which the originators of the lodge had laid down the lines for its attaining . Themselves brethren of

distinction in literature and art , they founded the lodge for the convenience of other followers of art and literature , and their intentions in doing so were so thoroughly appreciated by those confreres who are not yet bound by the mystic tie , that they received propositions for membership of the Brotherhood from numerous workers in the interesting field wherein they themselves wrought .

The founders comprised Bros . Sir Augustus Harris , P . G . Treas . ; F . Osmond Carr , P . G . Org . Cambs . ; Walter Clifford ; W . J . W . Beard , P . M . ; Will . E . Chapman , P . M ., P . S . G . W . Bucks . ; J . H . Hawkins , P . M ., P . P . G . D . of C . Surrey ; W . S . Hooper , Lionel Brough , J . A . Harrison , Arthur Tite , James Wyatt , T . Honey , P . M ., and S . H . S . Austin . The ceremonies of consecration and installation were performed by Bro .

Edward Letchworth , G . Sec , who was assisted by Bros . Thomas Fenn , as S . W . ; Robert Grey , as J . W . ; the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , as Chaplain ; Frank Richardson , as D . of C . ; and C . F . Matier , as I . G . The musical portion of the ceremony was performed by Bros . James Kift , Edward Dalzell , George May , and Arthur Strugnell , under the direction of Bro . James Kift .

The full list of the brethren present were as follows : Bros . E . Letchworth , P . G . D ., G . Sec . ; Thos . Fenn , President of the Board of General Purposes ; R . Grey , President of the Board of Benevolence ; the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; Col . G . Money , C . B ., P . G . M . Surrey ; Major-Gen . J . C . Hay , C . B ., P . G . D . ; Admiral Sir E . Inglefield , K . C . B ., P . G . W . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; ] . H . Matthews , P . D . G . D . C ; R . Turtle Pigott , P . A . G . D . C . ; Chas .

Belton , P . D . G . D . C ; C . J . R . Tijou , G . A . Purst . ; Sir Augustus Harris , P . G . Treas . ; J . D . Langton , P . P . J . G . W . Surrey , W . M . 2473 ; J . E . Bowen , P . G . S . Bucks ; G . F . Carr , P . G . O . West Yorks , W . M . 1542 ; W . E . Chapman , P . S . G . W . Bucks , Sec . ; VV . de Manby Sargison , G . Org . ; J . H . Hawkins , P . P . G . D . C . Surrey ; Sir Somers Vine , CM . G ., P . G . D . ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; W . Sergeant Lee , P . M . ; Gordon Harvey , S . H . S . Austin , W . M . Stiles , W . S , Hooper , Walter Clifford , B . Burton . W . Drew , L . J . Drew , P . M . ' ; H . Horner , J . A . Harrison , E . Sabel , William Lake , P . M ., Past Provincial Grand

Registrar of Cornwall ; H . Massey , 160 , P . M . 619 and 1928 ; Harry Nicholls , W . M . 2127 ; Walter J . Ebbetts , W . M . 2430 ; W . B . Fendick , W . M . 2460 ; A . Blackmore ; F . Osmond Carr , P . G . O . Cambs ., W . M . 859 ; J . P . Carr ; J . Wyatt ; W . H . Bolt , W . M . 1563 ; H . Lovett , P . M . ; W . J . Fisher , W . M . 2190 ; Lionel Gowing , 1928 ; W . Francis , P . P . G . D . C . Kent ; Arthur Tite ; F . Francis , P . M . ; S . ] . Petts , Arthur Strugnell , George May , Thomas Beard , P . M . 101 ; W . J . W . Beard , P . M . 101 ; W . Day ; T . Honey , P . M . ; J . Foss , Arthur Shirley , J . L . Shine , Edward Dalzell , James Kift , and E . G , Saunders

Bro . LETCHWORTH , in addressing the brethren after the opening of the lodge and the singing of the opening hymn , said : Brethren , —The object for which we are met this afternoon is one which [ think awakens the interest and enlists the sympathy of all those who have at heart the prosperity and advancement of our Order . I am here by command of the M . W . G . M ., and as his Royal Highness ' s most humble representative , for the purpose of constituting and consecrating this new lodge . It is a lodge which , haying

regard to the merit and the distinction of the founders , I venture to think is destined at no distant date to occupy a very prominent position among the lodges of this metropolis . It takes its name from an association with which the founders are connected , and which , I believe , comprises among its number many who are distinguished in literature and art , and 1 must congratulate the founders of this new lodge on having as their first Worshipful Master a very distinguished brother , whom the M . W . G . M . has

been pleased to designate as Worshipful Master of this lodge . I can only express a hope that this lodge may have before it a career of great prosperity . The Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG delivered the following oration : What are the essentials needful to make a new lodge a credit to the Craft y This is a question which must often be occurring to our minds in these days , when far and wide—in London and the provinces—consecrations of all kinds of Masonic bodies follow close ' y one after the other . I would not say one word to discourage

the healthy expansion of the Order . Were there no expansion—were we unable to show each year both an increase of lodges and and an increase of membersthen we might certainly conclude that something was wrong , that something was affecting the life of our Order . There can be no life without growth . Stagnation is a sure evidence of decay . But we must not shut our eyes to the fact that it is not an unknown circumstance to see a young lodge started under the fairest auspices , giving during the first few years the brightest promise , even doing for

some time most excellent work , gradually but certainly falling far short of those aspirations which the founders honestly set before themselves on the consecration day . Forgive me , then , if I venture to remind you of some of the dangers which 1 am sure the brethren of the Eccentric Lodge are both able and willing to avoid . ( 1 . ) I need not do more than mention the first and most obvious one , namely , the hasty admission of new members . Never propose—never second a man who is

not personally well known to you , whom you would hesitate to introduce into your own family or admit into your own business . ( 2 . ) I would urge upon you the importance of not letting one man or even two or three manage the whole lodge . One finds sometimes that the Worshipful Master for the year is content to be a mere worker of ceremonies and to leave the practical management of Ihe lodge to one or two permanent officers . Fully cognizant as I am of the value anil necessity of some good permanent officials in every lodge , it is ,

Consecration Of The Eccentric Lodge, No. 2488.

I maintain , neither fair on them or on the lodge to leave to them the whole responsibility of the business . We are a community in which every brother has a voice , It is to the interest of the community that in all possible matters that voice should be exercised with a sense of its responsibility . I am sure that some good lodges have fallen short of their early promise , because permanent officials have been forced to bear burdens which others ought to have shared with them . 3 . Look

beyond the narrow limits of your own particular lodge . Remember that our Craft has a past , a present , and a future . Learn what history teaches ; learn what is being done elsewhere , and in other Degrees . Be an intelligent Mason , seeking information , and not teaching others until you have learnt yourself . The lodge ceremony , the lodge work is the scaffolding only . It should lead you to the

intelligent study of what is both , as regards its past and present work , a real factor for good in the world . f am sure that , at all events , some lodges owe a sensible decline to the fact that the members stood still , and did not realise that they must always be learners . Time will not permit me to dwell further on the subject ; I will , therefore , only urge you to watch against anything which may tend to hamper that bright future which you desire , and for which you have our best wishes .

The remainder of the ceremony of consecration was then performed , and Bro . Sir Augustus Harris , P . G . Treas ., was installed by Bro . Letchworth the first W . M . of the new lodge . . Bro . J . H . Hawkins , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . Surrey , was appointed and invested to act as l . P . M . for the first

year . The other officers were Bros . F . Osmond Carr , P . G . Org . Cambs ., S . W . ; Walter Clifford , J . W . ; W . J . VV . Beard , Treas . ; Will E . Chapman , P . M ., P . S . G . W . ' Bucks , Sec ; VV . S . Hooper , S . D . ; Lionel Brough , J . D . ; j . A . Harrison , I . G . ; T . Honey , P . M ., D . C ; James Watt and Arthur Tite , Stwds . ; and Samuel Ellis , Tyler .

A vote of thanks was passed to the Consecrating Officers , the WORSHIPFUL MASTER remarking that no words of his were necessary in supporting the proposition , as every one who witnessed the performance of the consecration must have been struck with the most delig htful manner in which it had passed off . He had been at some few consecrations in his time , but never had he seen anything better arranged .

On the motion of Bro . CHAPMAN , Sec , seconded by Bro . HAWKINS , I . P . M ., the Consecrating Officers were elected joining members and were presented each with a founders' jewel . Bro . LETCHWORTH acknowledged the compliment , and Bro . CHAPMAN announced that the W . M . had presented to the lodge a complete box of working tools , and each officer had presented his own collar and jewel of office ( which , together with the Founders' jewels , were manufactured by Bro . George Kenning ) .

Ihe lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to a choice banquet , which was followed by the usual toasts , interspersed with some lovely singing by Bros . Kift , Dalzell , Day , and Strugnell . Bro . Sir AUGUSTUS HARRIS , in proposing " The Queen and the Craft , " said it was always a very pleasing task at banquets in their country for the Chairman to propose the toast that he had now the p leasure and honour of submitting—that of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , the Patron of

Freemasonry . He caught some words which fell from the Grand Secretary just before dinner—that short speeches were always the best , and short speakers were always the best . Tnerefore , he asked the brethren to judge him accordingly , for he was going to be the best speaker in the room . In proposing " The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " Bro . Sir AUGUSTUS HARRIS said as he knew the brethren wished to smoke , he

wished to be merciful although great . He was not going to grate on their feelings , but in as few words as possible he asked them to do their duty in drinking that toast . Any reasonable man in the country , whether he be Radical , Tory , Socialist , or Conservative—unless he was a maniac—drunk with pleasure to that toast . Under those circumstances , being informed there were no maniacs present , he trusted the brethren would drink that

toast with pleasure . In giving " The M . W . Pro G . M ., the R . W . Dep G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " Bro . Sir AUGUSTUS HARRIS said that lodge was the Eccentric Lodge , and its brethren hoped to show others how to do it . They did not propose to bring brethren there to listen to speeches unless they were worth listening to . He did not profess , and as he

hoped nobody else would , to be an orator on that occasion , speeches would be commended by their brevity , and necessarily by their wit . As a consequence all they did not say was best said . Therefore , in proposing this toast , he felt sure all the brethren present knew the Grand Officers so well that nothing he could say would make them love them better . The Grand Officers were a set of men who were always ready to do everything in the

cause of the Craft that they loved so well , and he thought they had got the pick of them there that night . Why he said that was that if there were any others who were as good they had forfeited that character somewhat by not coming . Therefore , he maintained , that the Past Officers and the Present Ollicers who were not present but away , were not as good as those

who were present . Under those circumstances , as they had the p ick there that night , he felt that he only had to ask the brethren to drink that toast as enthusiasticall y as they drank the last , and the Grand Officers would know how the lodge appreciated what they had done for it that day , and that was not a little .

Bro . Colonel MONEY - , in response , said he would try to be as brief as the W . M ., but he must ask leave to return the Grand Officers' most grateful thanks , not only for the kind way in which the toast had been drunk , but for the great hospitality shown them . There were Grand Officers present who

had taken part in the proceedings , who would afterwards describe more fully what they had done , whom they had done it for , and what would be the probable results . He would , therefore , content himself with commendable wit and brevity for the kind and willy way in which the Grand Officers ' health had been proposed .

Bro . HAWKINS , l . P . M ., said it was the unexpected which always happened , and for the last few weeks as soon as he had the knowledge thrust upon him that he was to be the first I . P . M . of the Eccentric Lodge , he was worried about one thing—how he should propose the health of the Worshi pful Master . Some were borne to greatness , others had it thrust upon them . He had had it thrust upon him , and when the W . M . that night gave out that he was the greatest man , he ( Bro . Hawkins ) wondered

how he could eclipse him . Although he had had a bad cold , he had still a small voice . It was an honour , indeed , to propose this toast , because no one but the VV . M . himself had the privilege of proposing one of such magnitude and importance . The brethren had that ni ght witnessed the very excellent way in which the Consecrating Ollicers had started the lod ge for those brethren who had the honour of belonging to the lodge , and termed themselves Eccentric . It was not eccentric to be a Freemason ; ''

was perhaps eccentric logo out of the way to give a brother who was an eminent orator an opportunity to dilate on the virtues of the Grand Secretary , who had come to consecrate the lodge . Those of the brethren wh °