Consecration Of The Hugh Owen Lodge, No. 2593.

o l inson ( L . C . C . ) , P . M . ss ; 1- Wells , P . S . G . W . South Australia ; H . Massey , oM 102 S ; E . White , J . P ., P . M . 177 ; F . Wint , P . M . 101 ; C . H . Waterer , P ' ' W Bradford , LG . 216 S ; C . J . Taylor , P . M . 1487 ; G . Eade , 16 77 ; Col . itrkwood , M . P ., P . S . G . W . ; J . M Sillitoe , 2353 ; O . Cooper , P . M . 211 ; A . C . ir . j inee , P . M . 1 S 18 ; A . Appleby , 1706 ; J . F . Croager , 30 ; S . A . Atherleye , M . P ., VV . M . 1361 ; Sir Charles Dilke , M . P ., S 34 ; James Bailey , M . P .,

, „ \ V M . ' ' 974 Herbert Schartau , 1569 . P . P . G . Org . Middx . ; R . Green , P . M ., Sec . . $ ' , 2 ; A . Kempton , 12 S 7 ; and R . T . West , 1744 . The lodge having been opened , and a hymn sung , the Consecrating Officer addressed the brethren in a few appropriate remarks , observing that hp was there by commandjof his Royal Highness the M . W . G . M . to

consecrate the lodge , and he hoped the lodge might have before it a career of great prosperity . The ceremony was then proceeded with , and Bro . STUDIIOI . ME BROWNRIGG P . G . Chap ., having delivered a very eloquent oration on the nature and princip les of the Order , the new lodge was solemnly consecrated and dedicated .

The Consecrating Officer next inducted into the chair the W . M . desig nate Bro . John H . Rutherglen , P . M . 1642 , who invested the following as his officers : Bros . J . W . Hartley , P . M . 19 S 6 " , acting I . P . M . ; H . G . Holland , P . M . 2353 . ' S . W . ; R . H . Nicholls , J . W . ; VV . Chapman Grigg , M D P . M . 10 , 1635 , and 1591 , Treas . ; H . Roberts , Sec . ; J . W . Hunt , I D 23 i 3 , S . D . ; H . Ramsbottom , J . D . ; J . Elliott , Org . ; C . G . Ridgway ' , I . G . ; E . A . Frith , D . C . ; H . T . Willis and A . E . Lee , Stwds . ; and A . Campion Tyler .

The W ORSHIPFUL MASTER rose , and in eulogistic terms , referred to the work done that day by"the Consecrating Officer , the Grand Secretary , and he asked him to accept a jewel as a memento of that auspicious occasion . In acknowledging the jewel , the GRAND SECRETARY observed that it had given him great pleasure to act as Consecrating Officer . The Consecrating Officers were afterwards unanimously elected honorary members .

The following were also elected hon . members : Bros , the Right Hon . Walter H . Long , M . P ., the Right Hon . Lord Glenesk , the Right Hon . Sir Chas . Dilke , M . P ., James Bailey , M . P ., E . H . Llewellyn , M . P ., Col . Lockwood , M . P ., P . S . G . W . Essex ; W . Thompson-Sharpe , M . P ., L . Atherley-Jones , M . P ., and M . M . Bhownaggree , M . P . The W . M . read the following letter which he had received from Sir Hugh Owen , and it was ordered to be entered on the minutes :

" Local Government Board " Whitehall , S . W ., "Feb . 14 th , 1896 . " Dear Mr . Rutherglen , " It has given me much pleasure to receive the beautifullyilluminated copy of the resolution passed by the founders of the ' Hugh

Owen Lodge , ' as to the association of the name of my father and myself with the lodge which has been established especially for members of the Poor Law Service . I greatly appreciate the fact that the services of my father in connection with the old Poor Law Board are still remembered by Poor Law officers . As to myself , I feel that the indebtedness as to the use of the name is entirely on my part , and the proposal was very gratifying

me . " I most heartily wish the new lodge all success and prosperity . " Believe me , dear Mr . Rutherglen , " Very truly yours , " HUGH OWEN . " The resolution referred to in Sir Hugh Owen's letter was as follows :

" At a Meeting of the Founders of the Hugh Owen Lodge , No . 2593 , held on Thursday , 30 th January , 1 S 96 , it was Resolved Unanimously , —That the Founders of this Lodge , established especially for members of the Poor Law Service , desire lo convey to Sir Hugh Owen , K . C . B ., their grateful thanks for his kindness in permitting the use of his name , and to express

their pleasure in believing that in all time his name will be thus connected with a Service which owes to him and his father before him a deep debt ol gratitude for guarding the interests of Poor Law Officials of every class . " Signed on behalf of the Founders , "J H . RUTHERGLEN , " Worshipful Master Designate . "

Many propositions were received for initiates and joining members , and the lodge was closed . A recherche banquet followed , which was well served under the personal superintendence of the manager , Bro . E . Kalla . The first toast afterwards submitted was " The Queen and the Craft , " the W . M . observing that she was the first Lady in the world , and he referred

ner sad bereavement by the death of Prince Henry of Battenberg , who had lost his life in the service of his adopted country . The W . M . gave "The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " ' ? rking that it was a great honour and advantage to have as their •> LVV . Grand Master their future King . I" proposing " The Grand Officers . Present and Past . " the W . M .

tstedI that it was a toast which commended itself to all Masons . It had not been his good fortune to have made the personal acquaintance of many of Grand Officers , but there was no doubt that those appointed were splendid workers . They had a special array of Grand Officers who had honoured inc lod ge with their presence . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Cook had rendered good service in getting the warrant from Grand Lodge , and he took that opportunity to present him with an address on vellum as a small token of what 1 (

1 r members felt towards him for his kind services in the formation of the Dr p t als 0 mcn . tl 0 ned tne Grand Secretary who had appointed Bro , ¦ ocock one of his Consecrating Officers , which the founders very much He i ' i k Br 0 , Dr * Pocock was a very oId friend of his ( the W . M . ) . and If a very aclive Mason and was now a most distinguished one , ii as s ° ciated his name and that of Bro . Col . Cook ' s with the toast . nrn r ^ l r > r . . ^ ^ ^ . . . ......

. rccei A ,, v , UUK i r . A .. U . D . C , on rising to respond was enthusiastically Owe 1 A Said he hardlv thought that when he first heard of the Hugh Grand OfT " he W ° uld have been there to respond to t , le toast of thc addrc ¦ ^ ^ " ' " ' serv ' ce ne nad rendered did not warrant the one M ? had been Presented to him as what he had done was what ment » , wouId do ' < "" another . His connection with the Local Governbr-cn - lau ght him to appreciate the necessity of the lodge which had Bro n crated that day - l & ke na r ¦ \ C 0 CK > D . G . D . C , stated it afforded him very much pleasure to TheW M " consecration of the lodge which had a great future before it . i . was a good man and Mason and he would be able to do everything

Consecration Of The Hugh Owen Lodge, No. 2593.

to forward the interests of the lodge . He would like to have been a founder and he should watch the progress with much interest , but he felt certain that their initiates would ba of the right sort and would keep up the dignity of the Craft . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER gave "The Consecrating Officers , " which he said was the toast of the evening , as without them the lodge would not

have been in existence , and on behalf of the lodge he conveyed to them his best thanks for their great services . It would be presumptuous on his part to criticise the working of the Grand Secretary , but might he say that he and all that were present had had a delightful treat and one he should never forget , as it was the first consecration he had ever attended . It gave him very much pleasure to couple with the toast the name of the Grand Secretary , Bro . Letchworth .

The toast was received with much enthusiasm , as was Bro . LETCHWORTH on rising to acknowledge it . He said that after listening to his voice for so long that evening he would be very brief . On behalf of himself and those who had so kindly assisted him , he begged to thank them for the way they had been received . Under the rule of the Worshipful Master , who had had some experience , the lodge would not fail to be a

great success . Bro . the Right Hon . Sir CHARLES DILKE , MP ., proposed " Success to the Hugh Owen Lodge , " and said it was a pity that so important a toast should have fallen into the hands of so miserable a Mason as he was , but his time was so much occupied that he could not give any of it to Masonry . It was then iS years since the W . M . was initiated , and he ( Sir Charles )

was present , but he little thought to see him founder as well as installed the first W . M . of such an important lodge . He had been connected with him for many years , and he was a most efficient Poor Law Officer , and he had the great support of all those officers throughout the Kingdom . It was most appropriate that the Poor Law Officers should have a lodge of their

own . They certainly could not have a better name for their lodge than that of Hugh Owen , who was the head , and rightly so , of Poor Law matters . He could not say too much in praise of Sir Hugh Owen , and the lodge was honoured in having such a good name , and he joined with the toast the name of the W . M .

In response , \ he W . M ., Bro . RUTHERGLEN , said that Bro . Sir Charles Dilke had anticipated an apology for the establishment of such a lodge as theirs . It was thought desirable to form the lodge , and he was honoured by being asked to be the first W . M . Although a Mason for 18 years , he had not been an active one , and he supposed it was the little he had done for the whole of the service that he had been elected the Master . No other

suitable name could be found than that of Hugh Owen , and both he and his father had been their best friends in the service . Then , as to himself , as W . M ., if he had in the past been able to render any service he was glad , and their reception in consequence of having elected him W . M . was , he thought , proof that he was appreciated . He hoped everything would be done in the lodge that would make it perfect in the Masonic world . He

referred in eloquent terms to the Charities , and urged all to give liberally , and as he was going up as Steward for the Girls , he hoped to have their great support . There was a movement on foot to form a Scholarship for the Boys , which was good . He wanted to form a Scholarship for the Girls , and he thought the Poor Law Masons would be able to form such a Scholarship . On behalf of the founders , he earnestly thanked them for the way the toast had been received .

The W . M . gave " The Visitors , " and said they were honoured with the attendance of a large array , many of whom were distinguished . He had received letters from Bros . Lord George Hamilton , Right Hon . Walter Long , Ritchie , LordJ Glenesk , Sir Albert W . Woods , and many others , regretting their inability to attend to take part in the proceedings . He

mentioned the principal visitors , several of whom were M . Ps ., but who had had to return to the House of Commons . Bro . Col . Lockwood , M . P ., had remained , and he was [ a distinguished Mason . He hoped all their guests had been well entertained , and that they would carry away with them a good impression of what they had seen and heard . He joined with the toast the names of Bros . Col . Lockwood , M . P ., and Nathan Robinson .

Bro . Col . LOCKWOOD , M . P ., responded . He said that it was a most important night in the House of Commons , but he was there , and he intended to stop so long as they made him welcome . The visitors had come from all parts , they had made many sacrifices to be present , and right well had they been received and entertained . He concluded his speech in a very humorous strain , which was received with great laughter .

Bro . NATHAN ROBINSON , P . M ., L . C . C ., said he had nothing but admiration for the splendid ceremony of the Grand Secretary , and for the very able manner the W . M . had invested his officers . The banquet was good and everything perfect , but when he heard he had to respond he felt at a loss . Although he had attended many dinners , he was sadly puzzled to know what he could say in the presence of such intellectual giants . He had had much experience of the W . M ., and they could have no one better as the first W . M ., and might the Hugh Oiven Lodge have long life and

prosperity . The toast of "The Officers" followed , and was responded to by the TREASURER , S . W ., and J . W ., and the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings of a very happy and successful gathering . The musical arrangements were most ably carried out by Bro . Herbert Schartau , P . P . G . Org . Middx ., assisted by Bros . ( no . Birtlett , Arthur Appleby , Wm . Bradford , Miss Claribel Hyde , R . A . M ., an J Miss Grainger Kerr . Bro . R . J . Morley was Toastmaster .

Dinner To Bro. William Jaffrey.

DINNER TO BRO . WILLIAM JAFFREY .

On Tuesday night , the iSth inst ., a club dinner was given to our old and dear friend , Bro . William Jaffrey , P . P . G . D . E . Lanes ., the late Chairman of the Freemasons' Hall Company , Manchester , and who had held that office for 13 wiiiiam ine nairman

years , rsro . orooKcs , r . ju ., present ^ , presioea . During the time Bro . Jaffrey has been Chairman the Club has had many vicissitudes , but he stuck firmly to the helm , and before resigning has brought it to the success which it now enjoys .

It was a very congenial gathering of friends to do honour to the occasion , and many were the speeches which were made and responded to . During the evening an illuminated address was presented to him , in the