Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
New Masonic Lodge In South Africa——Algoa, No. 2886.
Like Rome , Port Elizabeth is built upon seven hills , which rise abruptly from the waters of Algoa Bay on its south-western shore . The strip of foreshore and sundry hillocks between the hills and the water-line , upon which the curious gaze of the Albany settlers of 1820 rested when
the fleet of sailing ships which brought them from England had cast anchor after a three months' voyage , has by the industry and courage of those settlers and their successors been long reclaimed from waste , and is covered to-day by the crowded buildings and streets of the " Liverpool of
South Africa . " This piece of the original littoral is almost entirely given uji to business premises , residential Port Elizabeth being found on the slojies and hills referred to . For live years past an admirable system of electric tramways has reached every part of the scattered town , no less than eleven miles of line being in use , with extension shortly clue
to a suburb . It is the scattered nature of the town that has led to the formation of the Algoa Lodge , No . 2886 . For the convenience of their respective dwellings , a number of brethren living in the south end of the town met together three years ago , and under the presidency of Bro . the Rev . W . Wilkinson Rider , P . M ., discussed the feasibility
of instituting a new lodge conveniently near their homes . The war , which is now hajijiil y at an end , broke out soon after the first meeting of the brethren interested in the new venture , and by common consent further action was deferred until the jiolitical and social outlook of the country grew brighter . Finally , towards the close
of 1901 , the necessary stejis were taken to jietition for a warrant of constitution , and , with the kindly helji of the District Grand Alaster of the Eastern Division , no time was lost in obtaining the sanction of the Grand Alaster , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught .
On Thursday , April 2 nd , the event long looked forward to took jilace . The resjiected District Grand Alaster , Bro . Dr . C . J . Egan , was not able to come from King William ' s Town to consecrate the new lodge , but had delegated that important duty to his Deputy , Bro . A . E . Austen , who came from Cradock—about 200 miles away—esjieciallv for the
jiurjiose . A large bod y of Alasons who had jireviously assembled in the temjiorary lodge-room respectfully received the Consecrating Officer , who was abl y assisted by the Past Alasters from loclges 711 , 86 3 , and 1590 . Bros . R . R . Perrot , 711 ; E . R . Smyth , 86 3 ; and T . Cunningham , 1590 , also
assisted in other cajiacities . The established rites of consecration were proceeded with , and as is customary , an oration by the Acting Chaplain , who on this occasion was Bro . the Rev . W . Wilkinson Rider , who dwelt at some length ujion the operative antecedents of Freemasonry as we know it , drawing esjiecial attention to the
continuity of guilds of builders among the nations of antiquity , whose giant works , remaining to this day , attest not onl y their skill and devotion , but the fact also that the ) ' laboured in consonance with the jilans laid down by master minds . A
most interesting account followed of the building of Solomon ' s Temple , the sacred writings and our traditions being skillfully passed into the effort to delineate in language the ¦ appearance of the great fabric and the symbolical lessons of moral worth taught by its complicated but harmonious design . The building guilds of the days of Rome ' s splendour
were described , as were the itinerant loclges of Craftsmen who went out from the Imperial City to erect throughout Europe the churches and public buildings which began to grace the several countries . Equally interesting was the narration of the events which led to the institution of
speculative Alasonry , the brethren listening with very marked attention to the history of how the events of nearly two centuries ago linked them as Freemasons with the operative Craftsmen of an earlier period . But it was in connection with the purposes of Freemasonry that the oration was most
• emphatic and most esteemed by the brethren . Drawing upon his by no means scanty experience in the formation of new lodges , Bro . Rider spoke in terms of high eulogy of Freemasonry as a unif ying agency , calculated to lessen the differences which separate men . He urged the brethren
who were to be the first members of the new lodge to be careful about ceremonial working and adherence to the constitutions and land-marks , and , in addition , to attentively study the ethics of Alasonry , with a view to making the new lodge a centre of jieace and unity in a land much rent and vexed by jiolitical and racial strife . The oration was well
received , and elicited valued words of commendation from the Consecrating Officer . In clue course the Algoa Lodge , No . 2886 , was declared to be constituted , and the brethren , at the call of the Dejiuty District Grand Alaster , ceased from labour for the space of half-an-hour .
On resuming labour , the Worslujiful Alaster elect , bro . the Rev . W . Wilkinson Rider , P . M ., was jireseuted for installation as the first Worshijiful Alaster of the infant lodge . The Dejiuty District Grand Alaster conducted this part of the inaugural jiroceedings with the dignity and efficiency which had characterised his work in the ceremony of
consecrating the lodge . The newly installed Worshipful Alaster then jiroceeded to invest his officers as follows : — Bros . T . Cunningham , P . M ., T . P . M . ; J . L . Williamson , S . W . ; the Rev . G . T . Burbidge , J . W . ; G . H . W . Poole , Treasurer ; G . T . Hart , P . M ., Secretary ; j . Timmer , S . D . ; C . Coles ,
J . D . ; W . H . Brookes , D . of C . ; Harold Gill , I . G . ; C . B . Hurd and R . AI . Cells , Stewards ; A . H . Horn , Organist ; and W . Campbell , Tyler . The Dejnity District Grand Alaster was elected to honorary membershiji of the new lodge , and it was resolved
that a sjiecial jewel of honour be jireseuted to him . Bro . A . E . Austen gracefull y and gratefully accejited the honour .
The Worshijiful Afaster was then addressed by the Deputy District Grand Alaster , who exjilained that he had been commissioned by the District Grand Alaster to jierform an extremely jileasing duly . To mark the Coronation of his Alajesty the King , certain "honours" had been authorised by the Grand Alaster , and the District Grand . Master had
selected Bro . the Rev . W . Wilkinson Rider for the appointment of Past Senior Grand Warden in the District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Division of South Africa . The announcement of the conferring of this dignity was very heartily received by all jiresent . Bro . Rider , who was evidently deejily moved by the
entirely unexjiected announcement , resjionded briefly in acknowledgment . His interest in Freemasonry was wellknown , and he had taken jiart in establishing in all four lodges in South Africa . The honour conferred ujion him to mark that great event , the Coronation , would incite him to labour yet more assiduously for the institution he loved so well .
The jiroceedings terminated formally at 5 . 30 ji . m ., but at 8 p . m . a banquet was held , at which a large company was jiresent . There are many evidences already that the Algoa Lodge has begun a successful career . It affords a Alasonic home to a large section of the jiojiulation of the town , jiarticularly
the officials and emjiloyees of the Harbour Board of Algoa Bay . There is a determination to aim at quality rather than quantity in the personnel of the new lodge , and the several exjierienced Alasons who occujiy the jirincijial offices may be relied upon to carefully guard the portals of entrance . The founding of the lodge adds to the number of Alasonic
centres which under the Southern Cross are teaching and practising the tenets of Freemasonry . Who can doubt that in the period of the jiolitical reconstruction of South Africa which has already begun the influence of Alasonry shall be for the healing of the contending jieojiles ? The Algoa Lodge , true to our ancient charges , will not intrude ujion the
jiolitical sphere , but the brethren will endeavour to practice out of the lodge the lessons they learn within it , and among such lessons is inculcated the necessity , the bounden duty , of promoting the jieace and good order of society . This lesson is being taken to heart b y the brethren who have just been formed into a warranted lodge of Free and Accejited Alasons .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
New Masonic Lodge In South Africa——Algoa, No. 2886.
Like Rome , Port Elizabeth is built upon seven hills , which rise abruptly from the waters of Algoa Bay on its south-western shore . The strip of foreshore and sundry hillocks between the hills and the water-line , upon which the curious gaze of the Albany settlers of 1820 rested when
the fleet of sailing ships which brought them from England had cast anchor after a three months' voyage , has by the industry and courage of those settlers and their successors been long reclaimed from waste , and is covered to-day by the crowded buildings and streets of the " Liverpool of
South Africa . " This piece of the original littoral is almost entirely given uji to business premises , residential Port Elizabeth being found on the slojies and hills referred to . For live years past an admirable system of electric tramways has reached every part of the scattered town , no less than eleven miles of line being in use , with extension shortly clue
to a suburb . It is the scattered nature of the town that has led to the formation of the Algoa Lodge , No . 2886 . For the convenience of their respective dwellings , a number of brethren living in the south end of the town met together three years ago , and under the presidency of Bro . the Rev . W . Wilkinson Rider , P . M ., discussed the feasibility
of instituting a new lodge conveniently near their homes . The war , which is now hajijiil y at an end , broke out soon after the first meeting of the brethren interested in the new venture , and by common consent further action was deferred until the jiolitical and social outlook of the country grew brighter . Finally , towards the close
of 1901 , the necessary stejis were taken to jietition for a warrant of constitution , and , with the kindly helji of the District Grand Alaster of the Eastern Division , no time was lost in obtaining the sanction of the Grand Alaster , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught .
On Thursday , April 2 nd , the event long looked forward to took jilace . The resjiected District Grand Alaster , Bro . Dr . C . J . Egan , was not able to come from King William ' s Town to consecrate the new lodge , but had delegated that important duty to his Deputy , Bro . A . E . Austen , who came from Cradock—about 200 miles away—esjieciallv for the
jiurjiose . A large bod y of Alasons who had jireviously assembled in the temjiorary lodge-room respectfully received the Consecrating Officer , who was abl y assisted by the Past Alasters from loclges 711 , 86 3 , and 1590 . Bros . R . R . Perrot , 711 ; E . R . Smyth , 86 3 ; and T . Cunningham , 1590 , also
assisted in other cajiacities . The established rites of consecration were proceeded with , and as is customary , an oration by the Acting Chaplain , who on this occasion was Bro . the Rev . W . Wilkinson Rider , who dwelt at some length ujion the operative antecedents of Freemasonry as we know it , drawing esjiecial attention to the
continuity of guilds of builders among the nations of antiquity , whose giant works , remaining to this day , attest not onl y their skill and devotion , but the fact also that the ) ' laboured in consonance with the jilans laid down by master minds . A
most interesting account followed of the building of Solomon ' s Temple , the sacred writings and our traditions being skillfully passed into the effort to delineate in language the ¦ appearance of the great fabric and the symbolical lessons of moral worth taught by its complicated but harmonious design . The building guilds of the days of Rome ' s splendour
were described , as were the itinerant loclges of Craftsmen who went out from the Imperial City to erect throughout Europe the churches and public buildings which began to grace the several countries . Equally interesting was the narration of the events which led to the institution of
speculative Alasonry , the brethren listening with very marked attention to the history of how the events of nearly two centuries ago linked them as Freemasons with the operative Craftsmen of an earlier period . But it was in connection with the purposes of Freemasonry that the oration was most
• emphatic and most esteemed by the brethren . Drawing upon his by no means scanty experience in the formation of new lodges , Bro . Rider spoke in terms of high eulogy of Freemasonry as a unif ying agency , calculated to lessen the differences which separate men . He urged the brethren
who were to be the first members of the new lodge to be careful about ceremonial working and adherence to the constitutions and land-marks , and , in addition , to attentively study the ethics of Alasonry , with a view to making the new lodge a centre of jieace and unity in a land much rent and vexed by jiolitical and racial strife . The oration was well
received , and elicited valued words of commendation from the Consecrating Officer . In clue course the Algoa Lodge , No . 2886 , was declared to be constituted , and the brethren , at the call of the Dejiuty District Grand Alaster , ceased from labour for the space of half-an-hour .
On resuming labour , the Worslujiful Alaster elect , bro . the Rev . W . Wilkinson Rider , P . M ., was jireseuted for installation as the first Worshijiful Alaster of the infant lodge . The Dejiuty District Grand Alaster conducted this part of the inaugural jiroceedings with the dignity and efficiency which had characterised his work in the ceremony of
consecrating the lodge . The newly installed Worshipful Alaster then jiroceeded to invest his officers as follows : — Bros . T . Cunningham , P . M ., T . P . M . ; J . L . Williamson , S . W . ; the Rev . G . T . Burbidge , J . W . ; G . H . W . Poole , Treasurer ; G . T . Hart , P . M ., Secretary ; j . Timmer , S . D . ; C . Coles ,
J . D . ; W . H . Brookes , D . of C . ; Harold Gill , I . G . ; C . B . Hurd and R . AI . Cells , Stewards ; A . H . Horn , Organist ; and W . Campbell , Tyler . The Dejnity District Grand Alaster was elected to honorary membershiji of the new lodge , and it was resolved
that a sjiecial jewel of honour be jireseuted to him . Bro . A . E . Austen gracefull y and gratefully accejited the honour .
The Worshijiful Afaster was then addressed by the Deputy District Grand Alaster , who exjilained that he had been commissioned by the District Grand Alaster to jierform an extremely jileasing duly . To mark the Coronation of his Alajesty the King , certain "honours" had been authorised by the Grand Alaster , and the District Grand . Master had
selected Bro . the Rev . W . Wilkinson Rider for the appointment of Past Senior Grand Warden in the District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Division of South Africa . The announcement of the conferring of this dignity was very heartily received by all jiresent . Bro . Rider , who was evidently deejily moved by the
entirely unexjiected announcement , resjionded briefly in acknowledgment . His interest in Freemasonry was wellknown , and he had taken jiart in establishing in all four lodges in South Africa . The honour conferred ujion him to mark that great event , the Coronation , would incite him to labour yet more assiduously for the institution he loved so well .
The jiroceedings terminated formally at 5 . 30 ji . m ., but at 8 p . m . a banquet was held , at which a large company was jiresent . There are many evidences already that the Algoa Lodge has begun a successful career . It affords a Alasonic home to a large section of the jiojiulation of the town , jiarticularly
the officials and emjiloyees of the Harbour Board of Algoa Bay . There is a determination to aim at quality rather than quantity in the personnel of the new lodge , and the several exjierienced Alasons who occujiy the jirincijial offices may be relied upon to carefully guard the portals of entrance . The founding of the lodge adds to the number of Alasonic
centres which under the Southern Cross are teaching and practising the tenets of Freemasonry . Who can doubt that in the period of the jiolitical reconstruction of South Africa which has already begun the influence of Alasonry shall be for the healing of the contending jieojiles ? The Algoa Lodge , true to our ancient charges , will not intrude ujion the
jiolitical sphere , but the brethren will endeavour to practice out of the lodge the lessons they learn within it , and among such lessons is inculcated the necessity , the bounden duty , of promoting the jieace and good order of society . This lesson is being taken to heart b y the brethren who have just been formed into a warranted lodge of Free and Accejited Alasons .