Consecration Of The Forest Hill Lodge, No. 2846.

In responding to the toast of " The Consecrating Officer , " V . W . Bro . the Grand Secretary , who was very enthusiastically received , said that the starting of a new lodge's existence was not the least pleasurable of the Grand Officers' duties . Referring to his assistant officers that evening , Bro . Letchworth remarked that the manner in which Bro . Frank

Richardson and his co-workers had arranged the recent great meeting at the Albert Hall , had called forth the approval not only of the Grand Master , but of His Majesty the King . In proposing " The Health of the Worshipful Master ,

Bro . James Speller , P . G . Std . Br ., " Bro . Letchworth stated that this occasion was certainly the sixth , if not the seventh , on which their much esteemed brother had been installed into the Master ' s chair , and he warmly congratulated the lodge on having so experienced a principal officer during the first , and therefore the most important , year of the lodge's existence .

THE TREASURER , U 1 IO . 11 . A . RANTER . Bro . James Speller , in briefly replying , said that he hoped it would not be long before the Forest Hill Lodge became one of the most prominent on that side of London . In replying to the toast of " The Visitors , " Bro . James

Terry said he had been only' too happy to be able to do anything to assist the founders with the work of the lodge previously to its consecration , and hoped that it was the first of many occasions on which he should be present with them .

THE HAXQUET

1 he Mayor of Lewisham , Bro . T . Williams , expressed his pleasure that the lodge would meet in the borough with which he happened to be connected . He had been greatly impressed with the ceremony he had that evening witnessed , and he believed that if the principles of Masonry could but be truly acted on , a reformation would speedily commence

throughout the world . Bro . H . E . Francis also responded . The Toast of " The Officers " was responded to by Bro . Baxter , who , as Treasurer , reported that a sum of £ 150 had that da } - been paid into the bank to the lodge ' s credit , and also

by Bro . Peirce , the energetic Secretary , to whom the greater part of the work which culminated in the arrangements of that evening had fallen , but who staled that he had received all the reward he desired for the time and work which he had given in the success that had met his efforts in the formation of the lodge .

THE SECRETARY , RRO . II . PEIRCE . Bro . Peirce also stated that the beginnings of the Forest Hill Lodge were made in the Chough Lodge of Instruction , No . 226 4 , most of the founders being members of the lodge

of instruction , which had for some months past held its meetings at the Forest Hill Hotel , where the new quarters of the lodge were to be . The S . W . and J . W . having replied , the proceedings , were brought to a close .