Consecration Of The Ulster Lodge, No. 2972.

Consecration of the Ulster Lodge , No . 2972 .

THE roll of lodges meeting in London , of which the members are of Irish nationality , received an increase on Friday 13 th November , by the consecration of the above lodge at the " Hotel Cecil . " As its name implies , the founders are , and the initiates Avill be , recruited from those who have a connection with

Ulster , either by birth , residence or descent . The ceremony , which took place in the presence of a large number of brethren , was performed by V . W . Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , assisted by V . Wor . Bro . J . V . Vesey Fitzgerald , K . C ., P . Dep . G . Registrar , as

S . W . ; W . Bro . the Rev . O . C . Cockrem , LL . D ., P . G . D ., as J . W . ; V . W . Bro . the Rev . Canon Brownrigg , P . G . Chaplain , as Chaplain ; V . Wor . Bro . Frank Richardson , P . Dep . G . Registrar , as D . C . ; and W . Bro . Major R . L . S . Badham , Dep . G . D . C , as I . G .

BRO . A . I . W . JIACOAMLEY . The impressive ceremony was performed with great dignity , in the course of which a stirring oration was delivered by the Rev . Canon Brownrigg . At the conclusion ,

Wor . Bro . A . E . W . MacCamley , P . M ., was installed Wor . Master , and invested his officers as follows : —Wor . Bro . J . B . Crowe , S . W . ; Wor . Bro . T . Dunwoody , J . W . ; Bro . Rev . F . Graham , Chaplain ; Bro . R . A . McQuitty , Treasurer *; Bro . John Irwin , Secretary ; Bro . J . Crawford Hillis , S . D ;

Bro . Dr . Hugh Knox , J . D . ; Bro . R . J . Stevenson , I . G . ; Bro . H . Hastings Jones , D . C . ; Bro . Capt . Vaughan Jones , W . S . ; Bro . J . McCabe , W . S . ; Bro . R . Coulter , W . S . ; Bro . T . Williams , Tyler . After thc disposal of the business of the lodgea vote of

, thanks was accorded to the Consecrating Master and officers for their services , together with hon . membership and a replica of the founder ' s jewel was also presented to them . Many letters of regret at inability to attend were read b y the Secretary , from amongst others the following distinguished

brethren : —The Most Wor . Grand Master , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , K . G ., & c , & c . ; R . W . Bro . the Duke of Abercorn , Grand Master of Ireland ; R . W . Bro . the Hon . James Hozier , G . M . Mason of Scotland ; Field Marshal Earl Roberts , K . G . ; the Earl of Donoughmore , P . G . W . ; Lord George Hamilton ; W . R . McConnell , K . C . ; and R . H . H . Baird , J . P ., & c .

At the banquet which followed , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . The toast of " The Grand Officers " was responded to by V . Wor . Bro . J . V . Vesey Fitzgerald , K . C , who remarked that the lodge they had seen consecrated that clay tapped a new vein in Masonry , and one which was bound to be of

advantage to the Craft in London . He thanked the brethren for the reception they had accorded the toast of the Grand Officers . The Wor . Master , proposing the toast of " The Consecrating Master and Officers , " said that nothing new

could be said about the manner in which V . Wor . Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth and his officers had performed the ceremony , but he could say that it had equalled , if not excelled , anything he had previously seen . It had deeply impressed all those who had seen it for the first time , and the

more deeply impressed those who had witnessed it before . The dignified and reverent manner in which this religious ritual had been rendered had lost none of its freshness . V . Wor . Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth , replying on behalf of himself and the other Consecrating Officers , tendered his

warmest thanks for the hearty introduction and reception of the toast . It was two years since he had been associated with some of the brethren present , at the consecration of the lodge at Erin , which had nourished and become sponsor to the " Ulster Lodge , " which he trusted would prove worthy

of its sponsor , and set an example in London as to how work should be done . They congratulated the founders upon their successful start in life .

The Acting I . P . M ., Wor . Bro . S . M . Barry , proposed the toast of the Wor . Master , and felt the great honour which had reflected upon him by proposing that toast for the first time in their lodge . The " Ulster Lodge" was an outcome of the " Ulster Association , " and their proceedings that night would go

down to history . Their Wor . Master had spent great labour to bring the lodge to a success , and was possessed of more zeal than he could tell them . The office of first Master was one of great worth , and they had in it a man worthy of the post .

The Wor . Master , replying , believed the most difficult part of his duties would be replying to toasts so affectionately proposed as the one they had just listened to . It was traditionally reported that loquacity was the distinguishing feature of Irishmen , but they would do their utmost to disprove

the assertion , and show that they could work as well as talk . The " Ulster Lodge" had been formed by Masons who wanted to make work and not to talk , and they could not have brought it to such a satisfactory consummation without work . The Toast of " The Visitors " was proposed by W . Bro .

J . B . Crowe , who considered himself fortunate to have such a popular toast , on such an auspicious occasion , allocated to him . The visitors present were many in number , and representative of the four nationalities of Great Britain and Ireland . As Irishmen they were pleased to rub shoulders

with them all . It had been said repeatedly , with a large amount of truth , that Irishmen got on better with Englishmen than with their own countrymen . He was pleased to see present so many members of the " Commercial Travellers ' Lodge , " including Wor . Bro . Tidmas , its First Master .

Wor . Bro . Higety was gratified at being called upon to respond to the toast of " The Visitors . " His heart was thoroughly in their undertaking . The Wor . Master had said that they were going to be workers , not talkers . As a worker himself he could sympathise and appreciate , their position . He was confident the lodge would be a success . The

founders knew well the man they had chosen for their first Master , of his Masonic ability and zeal , and he would discharge the duties in a way to redound to his credit .