Consecration Of The Vaga Lodge, Hereford.

Consecration of the Vaga Lodge , Hereford .

MMIE ancient city of Hereford was the scene of a notable I Masonic gathering last month , on the occasion of the consecration of the Vaga Lodge , of which W . Bro . Dr . George R . Sinclair , Past Grand Organist , and Organist of Hereford Cathedral , was the Master Designate . The founders unanimousl y selected the title "Vaga , " which is

the Latin name of the beautiful River Wye . For the purposes of the consecration and in anticipation of a large number of visitors being present , the lodge was held at the Town Hall Assembly Rooms , a handsome apartment which admirably suited the stateliness and solemn

grandeur of the ceremony . The brethren assembled to the number of about 250 , each wearing emblems of mourning in memory of the late Provincial Grand Master . The consecrating officer was V . W . Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth , F . S . A ., Grand Secretary , and he was assisted

veiy ably b y Bros . R . V . Vassar Smith , P . G . Deacon , as Senior Warden ; P . Colville Smith , P . G . Deacon , as Junior Warden ; the Very Rev . the Dean of Gloucester and the Rev . Sir Borodaile Savory , Bart ., P . G . Chaplains , as Chaplains ; Albert G . Neville , Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies , as D . C . ; and J . Brulon , Past A . G . D . of C , as Inner Guard .

W . liRO . 1 > H . C . KOKCiF . R . SINCLAIR , l ' . Ii . ORI 1 ., W . M . The musical arrangements were entrusted lo Bro . Percy Hull , and were of high-class excellence . A choir , including soloists , was stationed in the gallery , consisting of Bros . E . C . Bioadhurst , organist of St . Michael ' s College , Tenbury ;

A . Blackall , organist ot Warwick Parish Church ; Dr . Charlton Palmer , organist of Ludlow Parish Church ; Herbert Crimp , organist of Leominster Parish Church ; Stephens , J . James , W . J . Ineson , and W . Bradford ; the organist being Bro . Hull . The hymns , anthems , and chants were very beautifull y

rendered , the prayers and bible readings reverently and eloquently expressed , while the rest of the ritual was scriptural and symbolical , sacred , and of course inviolable by the uninitiated . The recitals were both dramatic and elocutionary , and very impressive . Indeed , the consecration

was a ceremony of simple solemnity and much beauty , the ritual of the Order being finely expressed by Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth , whose commanding personality and grace of style imparted unusual dignity and impressiveness to the scene . The oration for the occasion was composed and delivered by the Dean of Gloucester . The Lodge Vaga ,

No . 314 6 , having been duly constituted i'i its spiritual and corporate sense , the hymn , " Hail ! Masonry Divine , " was sung , and the pronouncement of the patriarchal benediction concluded the dedicatory proceedings . Bro . Dr . Sinclair had then the distinguished honour of being installed Worshipful Master bv the Grand Secretary ,

assisted by the other Grand Officers . Bro . H . H . Parry was elected Treasurer , and a committee was appointed to frame by-laws for the new lodge . The W . M . appointed his officers for the ensuing year as follows , investing those who were present : —Bros . A . W . Foster , S . W . ; M . J . G . Scobie , J . W . ; H . H . Parry , Treasurer ;

N . H . Matthews , Secretary ; Rev . R . Barges-Bayly , Chaplain ; Rev . C A . Treherne , S . D . ; H . F . Roberts , J . D . ; Dr . J . Herbert Jones , I . G . ; C . H . Cowling , D . C ; Percy Hull , Organist ; G . Calder Woods , S . Steward ; W . Hewitt , J . Steward ; and C . H . Ramsden , Charity Steward . The

appointment of ly ler was deferred . Bro . Dr . Sinclair then presented the founders' jewels to the consecrating officers on behalf of the founders . From their labours the brethren proceeded to the Green Dragon Hotel , where , in the large room of the Palladian , they sat clown to a banquet . By special dispensation all Grand

and Provincial Grand Officers wore their collars and jewels , and Bro . Edwvn C . Gurney , as Mayor of Hereford , wore his civic chain of office in addition . Accordingly , the assemblage formed a brilliant picture , surrounded as they were by portraits of numerous eminent Masons of the province . Bro . Dr . Sinclair took the chair as W . M ., supported by Bro . Sir

Edward Letchworth and other Grand Officers , and Bro . the Dean of Hereford and other Prov . Grand Officers . After the toast of " H . M . the King , Protector of the Craft , " the W . M . proposed "The Most Worshipful the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . G ., " toasts which were received with the usual Masonic honours .

W . Bro . Beddoe gave ( he toast of " The Most Worshipful the Pro Grand Master , the Earl Amherst , the Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , the Right Hon . T . F . Halsev , and the officers of the Grand Lodge of England . " He observed that it was a unique event to have the presence of so many Grand Officers at Hereford , and their presence

was much appreciated by the brethren . He coupled with the toast the name of W . Bro . R . V . Vassar Smith , P . G . Deacon , D . P . G . M . Gloucester . W . Bro . Vassal- Smith , who met with a flattering reception , acknowledged the compliment in eloquently humorous

terms charmingly expressed , and referring affectionately to his life-long connection with the old city of Hereford . W . Bro . Cowling proposed "The Prov . G . M . and Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , Past and Present . " Although the Herefordshire province consisted of only live lodges , he

believed that it had done splendid work in regard to Masonic benevolence , and had made its inlluence felt in the councils of Masonry in England . Their strength was not in numbers , but in the personality of its members . They had sustained a great loss in the death of the late Lord Glanusk , but they

now tendered their loyally and transferred their affection to the Dean of Hereford as his successor in the Provincial Grand Mastership . He was sure they all wished him many years continuance in that important position . Bro . Cowling expressed pleasure at noticing a large attendance of the

Palladian brethren . He knew they were all proud to belong to the mother lodge of the province , but viewed with affectionate encouragement the foundation of the Vaga Lodge , ar . d was sure that these two Hereford lodges would step out into the future , hand in hand , prepared together to

do what they could for Masonry . Bro . the Dean of Hereford , as Provincial Grand Master , humorously remarked that it had been said of him that he did not belong to the past or the present , but to the future , because he had not yet received his patent as Prov . Grand