Consecration Of The Wickham Lodge, No. 1924.

needful he could add his testimony to Bro . Murton ' s high qualifications . There were other brethren whose names were connected with this lodge whom he had great pleasure to see . They were regular attendants at the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and who would follow in the footsteps of those eminent and distinguished brethren . The ceremonies of the day then proceeded , and the Rev . Ambrose W , Hall , P . G . C ., delivered the following oration :

It is no easy matter , now that Masonic lodges are springing up so thickly around us , for the Chaplain who is called upon to address you on the " Nature and Principles of Freemasonry " so to vary his words as to gain your full attention . Time after time has it been my privilege to put forward the beautiful teachings of our noble Order on occasions like the present , and I have felt the difficulty of impressing , as 1 would wish , upon the brethren assembled to raise up another society , whose motto should be " Excelsior " in all that is good and true . The real nature of the institution of Ereemasonry is

very imperfectly understood by the outer world , and many members of the Order are apt to put ceremonies before those virtues which the ceremonies beautifully inculcate . I am to-day requested , according to ancient custom , to call your attention ( by way of what is termed an oration ) to the great and fundamental principles of the Craft ; and I ask you to bear with me a little space whilst I endeavour , according to my own light , to throw what light I can upon the teachings , responsibilities , and workings which are this day to be entrusted to your charge . Perhaps at no time is the necessity of the

objects and principles of Freemasonry being rightly understood more essential than when a new lodge is being consecrated ; and therefore , the Chaplain addresses the brethren before the ceremony is actually performed in order that they may be perfectly aware of the great responsibilities they are about to undertake ; for I may compare an unformed lodge to the clay ground in the plains of Jordon ( where Solomon had cast the vessels for the Temple ) , as yet easily capable of receiving impressions for good , and ready to take any form for honour or dishonour ; like the heart of a little child ,

dependant for its bringing up on those who have tt in charge . When I horam walked with King Solomon , and they came upon the soft , uncultivated earth in the low ground of Jordan between Succoth and Zeredathah , there , linding it suitable for the purpose , the King had cast the beautiful vessels of the Temple . And to your new lodge , now breaking into being , would 1 liken this , for you as yet ( Masonically speaking ) are as an uncultivated soil , like that between Succoth and Zeredathah ; and as there the King modelled offerings worthy of God ' s House , so do you as you ( as a lodge } bear fruit

and grow , try to become models of the virtues and teachings which should be , and I hope are , our pride as Masons . Although from the Masonic position of the founders and members of the Wickham Lodge 1 feel it unnecessary for me to enlarge upon the duties its enjoins , or its nature and pnnciples , still , at this time , it is a custom ( and a custom good and old , which I would not wish to see departed from ) to explain them to the brethren , which 1 would do as briefly as possible . The nature of Freemasonry , as you well know , is to make us better servants of the G . A . O . T . U ., better subi ' ects of our

Queen , better citizens , better neighbours , better fathers , brothers , and sons . Us principles are founded on the purest sources of piety and virtue . They embrace the noble attributes of Brotherly love , relief , and truth . Brotherly Love may be considered the whole duty to our neighbour , viz ., to love him as ourselves , and to do unto all men as we would they should do unto us . Relief or charity has ever been our distinguishing feature . It is rendering to our brother every kind office in our power that mercy may suggest—relieving his distress , soothing his affliction , and sympathising in his sorrow .

1 don t think there is any bod y of men more famed for their liberality than Masons . Look at our Charitable Institutions ; look at the large sums to which our private contributions and public subscriptions annually amount . 1 don't speak of it as a boast , but I do speak of it with , 1 hope , proper pride as the outpourings of generous hearts ; and I am sure this new lodge will not be behind in their support of our excellent Boys ' School , and Girls' School , and Aged Men and Womens' Institution ; and for this let me recommend you to form a Benevolent Fund ( if you have not thought of it already ) to

be supported by your members by a collection at each meeting , either in lodge or at the banquet , so that you may always have something in hand to assist any brother who from time to time may offer himself as a candidate for the office of Steward at the festivals of our respective Charities . And , lastly , there is Truth—one of the most important of all virtues . Our first charge is " Ye shall be good and true men to God ; true to your neigbours , without falsehood , without envy , doing as you would be done by ; true to your love , and truly do your duty in the state of life to which it has pleased

God to call you . " These , brethren , are the " Nature and Principles of Freemasonry" — most noble ! and , as the history of the Order carries you along the stream of time , practice these , and look back on the glorious monuments of Masonic industry , and take a lesson from your ancient brethren in their pious work ; emulate them , but with a higher and holier purpose , viz ., that of turning every living brother ' s heart into a temple dedicated to the worship of the G . A . O . T . U . Remember , while time crumbles all else into dust , the spiritual edifice is eternal ; and that those who bear the ennobling

banner of moralit y are the best exemplifications of Masonic truth . And now , brethren , I would close , and thank you for your attention to this brief address . May your hearts be ( figuratively ; like the soft clay ground of Zeredathah to which 1 have before alluded , and receive a firm impression ol aught that I may have said worthy to be treasured there . My heart is with you in your good work , and 1 bid you—God speed . My Masonic day has been a bright one , but 1 feel it is passed , and as each year rolls over me it becomes duller ; ard yet streaks of Masonic lights remain to gladden—bright specs like this carrying my thoughts back to the time when 1 , too , approached the science

( now nearly half-a-century ago ) , and I look back with pleasure on the rising of every new lodge . May your future career , as a bod } ' , be attended with all the happiness which has markeel my personal Masonic walk ; and when , as time goes on , others hold the sacred trust that to-day will be delivered to your lodge , may they be as good and worthy Masons as you arc , and transmit its beautiful teachings to their successors as pure as 1 am sure they will have received them from you ; and as your lodge receives Alasonic light to-day , so may you receive from above light without darkness , truth without error , life without death . May God illuminate your souls , and guide your feet into the way of peace .

Pilgrims walk on and live , that when you have departed Your names may still on earth with joy be heard ; And in the memory of the loving-hearted Be ever cherished as a household word . And yet so live , that not for earthly fame Alone , shall you life's chequered race here run , But to hear God himself , in heaven exclaim Of you , when this brief life is past , " Well done !"

1 he ceremony of consecration was then perfected . The beautiful music accompany ing the ceremony was chiefly from the pen of Bro . Gadsby , the anthem , " Behold how good and joyful , " being written by mm especially for this occasion . Bro . Wilmer Hollingworth , P . M . ° 3 > was installed as W . M ., and the following brethren were invested as officers : Bros . C . A . Murton , P . G . D ., S . W . ; Frecth Dennant , W . M . J 4 o , J . W . ; Adam , Treasurer j Abbott , Secretary ; Spratling , S . D . ; C .

L-owther Kemp , J . D . j S . W . Hooper , I . G . ; Newding , D . C . j Burton , oteward ; and Parkinson , Tyler . After Bro . Fenn had delivered the aadresses . votcs of thanks were passed to the consecrating officers , and ¦ os . * ' •l '' enn , and Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , and Robert Grey were elected honorary members of the lodge . Bro . Thomas Fenn acknowled the compliment , and Bros . Abbott , Kemp and Stradling were elected a Committee o draw up-the bye-laws . Candidates for initiation and ioinincr were afterarcis

proposed and seconded , the lodge was closed , and the brethren prowl I i ° liM £ . House Hotel by the Brighton and South Coast Railway , . i . , 1 ac j placed special saloon carriages on the train for the convenience of vid I lren- At the bridge House Hotel a splendid banquet was pro-« . „ and abol 't seventy brethren sat down . After banquet the usual toasts were proposed and honoured . of , i . , ii . e toasts of " The Queen and the Craft" was disposed of , that posiZ > " . Wales , Af . VV . G . M . " was given , and the W . M . in prog it said that when he was in Sweden some time ago he went to see

Consecration Of The Wickham Lodge, No. 1924.

some lodge rooms , which he found fitted up in a style not unknown to the brethren in this country , but in a more elaborate and realistic style than here . The brethren were very strict in their examination , and he was not allowed to pass without proving more than once that he was a member of that Order to which the Prince of Wales belonged , who was remembered in Sweden , where he was made a Mason , as a good Mason who carried with him the affection of the Craft wherever he went .

The W .-M . in proposing " The Earl of Carnarvon , the Earl of Lathom and the rest of the Grand Officers Present and Past , " confessed to the arduous duty that fell to his lot in speaking of the Grand Officers . There was really nothing new to be said of them . They were known to all Masons as having their heart and soul in Masonry and doing their best for it wherever they might be . He was sorry not to have more of them present . Some who were at the consecration had not

been able to come to the banquet . He was also sorry not to have present the two members for Greenwich , Bros . Boord and De Worms , the former being in the country and the latter in Russia . Those Grand Officers who were present had tended to increase the lustre of the ceremony . He wished the brethren to understand what the Grand Officers did for the Craft . When there were 100 , 000 paying members the brethren must wonder how

the Grand Officers could transact the business of so many men with so little friction as took place . He did not know whether it was due to the legal acumen of the Grand Registrar , the soldierly capacity of the Grand Secretary , or the diplomatic tact of Bro . Monckton ; but to whatever it was due , it was very seldom a dispute was heard of , and this did the greatest credit to the Grand Officers .

Bro . the Rev . A . W . HALL , G . C ., replied . He said there were times when duty became a pleasure and when pleasure became an honour ; and it was both a pleasure and an honour to respond to this toast . From the Prince of Wales to the humblest officer in Grand Lodge he believed that only one feeling prevailed—the good of the noble Order to which they belonged . FYom his association with them he was quite sure they met all the

difficulties of the offices that from time to lime came before them with ability and with satisfaction , because they were all well supported by the members of the Craft . The W . M . said right when he said that , while there were so many thousands who ranged under the banner of the Order over whom they had control , the Grand Officers did their duty ably and well . He felt it would have been litter that Bro . Fenn should have been called upon to respond

to the toast , as he had had so much more experience of the way in which the Grand Officers had performed their duties . When they looked at the way in which the various brethren who had been alluded to that night had performed their duties ; the way in which Bro . Mclnlyre settled the differences in Grand Lodge ; the time that Bro . Monckton gave to the business of Grand Lodge j besides the assistance given by Bro . Fenn , and the

attendance given by these and other Grand Officers at the consecration of lodges , he must conless that the Grand Officers did their duties well ; and they did so because they wished to promote the good of the Craft . The good of the Cralt meant the advancement of a science which would make us ' better men and better servants of the Great Architect of the Universe ; better neighbours , and better and worthier members of society . It was a noble thing to promote that work , and every Grand Officer desired as far as he could to do so .

The W . M . next gave " The Consecrating Officers . " A great and lasting feeling of gratitude was due to those brethren for the able way in which the Wickham Lodge had been consecrated . Had Bro . Hervey been alive it would have taken a great deal to prevent him being present that evening , as there were those present to whom Bro . Hervey was very sincerely attached , and he would have welcomed this accession to the lodges of Kugland with

delight . They all continued to feel his loss j but they must all feel that the consecration of the lodge could not possibl y have been more abl y done than it had been that evening . A remark had been made to him which went straight to his ( the W . M . ' s ) heart—it was , that the work looked as if it had been thoroughly rehearsed beforehand . This only showed the true

heartiness of every brother's feeling that was put into the work . They were all deeply indebted to Bro . Fenn , who had consecrated the lodge . They looked upon him as more immediatel y a brother with them than many other brethren , because he had been associated twenty or twenty-five years with him ( the W . M . ) , Bro . Murton , and Bro . Grey . He did not know any one who had Masonry more sincerely at heart than Bro . Fenn .

Bro . T 11 OMAS FENN , P . G . D ., replied . It had given him the very greatest pleasure to be selected to preside at the consecration of a lodge which promised so bright a future . The respectable element of which the lodge was constituted at present was a guarantee ot an excellent and permanent ' future , and he was indeed gratified to hear the W . M . say that night in lodge that they were not desirous hastil y to ir . cre . ise their numbers , but wished to

wait till those who approached it were worthy to be introduced into the lodge , and being a credit to it and the Craft in general . He was gratified also to hear that the performance of the ceremony of consecration had given the brethren satisfaction , but he believed this wasmoredue tothceloquence of Bro . the Chaplain , and to the musical intelligence of Bro . Gadsby . Still he was extremely gratified that the brethren should have thought he himself

had pcrlormed his duty satisfactoril y . Before sitting down he would propose " 1 he Health of the W . M . and Success to the Wickham Lodge . " He had known Brc . Holhngsworth for years , and he was sure the brethren had selected one to preside over them who would do credit to the lodge , whose future prosperity was assured . Bro . Hollingworth could perform his duties ably , and he also held a high position in the neighbourhood in which the lod

ge was held , and it would add to the reputation of the lodge and of the Craft that such a brother , so well known among his neighbours should take a prominent part in the constitution and management of a new lodge . The principal reason for forming the lod ge was that some of the best people in the neighbourhood insisted on joining Masonry . The knowled ge that a brother of high characlcr was at the head of the lod ge would tend to brin "

in eligible people . When he ( Bro . Fenn ) wished to join Masonry he said there was something good in it when men of such high position took part in 111 it , and he thought this would be the case with such an excellent lodge in the neighbourhood of Brockley . He repeated that he felt sure there was a very great and prosperous future in store for the lodge , and it would give him great pleasure to see it .

The W . M . replied , and said that the founding of the lodge had been a very anxious time for those engaged in it . They looked upon themselves in the light of criminals or defendants waiting for the verdict of the jury whether they had a right to be in existence as a lodge or not . Of course they had , because they had the warrant of the Grand Master , and that was not lightly granted now . It was the opinion in many quarters that there were enough lodges and enough Masons . Therefore they might suppose