Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Vaga Lodge, Hereford.
Master and had not yet been installed . When this high and distinguished office was offered to him , he would have hesitated to undertake the duties were it not that he was confident that he had the support of the Provincial Grand Officers and brethren generally in the province , and should have as guide and counsellor one who had for many years
been distinguished as a brother Craftsman—he meant Bro . H . C . Beddoe , who had been a member of the Palladian for something like sixty years , and had acted as Deputy Provincial Grand Master for something like thirteen years . He ( the Dean ) was aware that he followed one who was Master
of the province for a quarter of a century , and had fulfilled those duties with great ability and most excellent tact . In the course of a further graceful reference to the late Lord Glanusk , the Dean said it was a curious coincidence that almost at the same time as their Prov . Grand Master was
called away from amongst them , his ( the Dean's ) own relative , the late Lord Leigh , who was Prov . Grand Master of the neighbouring Province of Warwickshire for over half a century , had also been called away . He was very much touched by the kindly references to his late brother during
the ceremonies witnessed in the Birmingham Town Hall a short time ago , when there were something like 2 , 000 Masons gathered together to instal the Marquis of Hertford as the successor of Lord Leigh . The Province of Herefordshire
was very different from that of Warwickshire in one respect , inasmuch as compared with their live lodges—now six—there were thirty-live in the Warwickshire province , twenty of which were in Birmingham alone , but as Bro . Cowling had remarked , numbers did not always make for success , and it was in the small lodges and small provinces that they should
find brotherly love and friendship in exceeding degree . He appealed to the brethren of this province to be lenient with him in any shortcomings , and to help him zealously and confidently in the performance of his duties . He was initiated in the Shakespeare Lodge at Warwick over forty
years ago . He was not able to take much part in Masonic matters while in his big London parish , owing to so many other duties , but as soon as he had come to reside in Hereford and to be connected with their cathedral , his interest in Masonry had been revived . He found , too , that in the years
which had passed , there were many dignitaries of the cathedral who had been Craftsmen . In front of him , now he saw the portrait of the late Archdeacon Lane Freer , who was Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and to whom a magnificent memorial window was erected in the cathedral .
The Dean pointed to one or two other portraits of cathedral clerics Masonically clothed , and , in conclusion , said he would once more express his gratitude to the company for their hearty welcome and promise of help in the performance of his duties .
The W . M ., Bro . Dr . Sinclair , in proposing " The Consecrating Officers , " said he found it difficult to express sufficiently the gratitude of himself and the other founders of Vaga Lodge for the kindness of the consecrating officers in coming so far to help them . London was a long distance from Hereford , and it must have been at considerable
inconvenience that the Grand Officers had come so far . And the gratitude of all the brethren present was clue to them also for the perfect and enlightening style in which they had performed that day ' s ceremony . It had been a lesson to them all how to conduct Masonic ritual and ceremony , and
it would be to them a pleasant and lasting memory . Bro . Dr . Sinclair expatiated on the grace , dignity , reverence , and elocutionary excellence with which the ritual had been enunciated by the consecrating officer and his assistants , and the perfect way in which the arrangements had been made
by the Director of Ceremonies . The toast was received with honours . Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth reciprocated the compliments paid by Bro . Dr . Sinclair , and observed that this lodge started under most favourable auspices , and he hoped it had
in store very many years of great prosperity . The W . M . announced a collection of _ £ 6 12 s . for the local charity .
Bro . Albert Neville , P . G . D ., proposed " I he Masonic Charities . " From their initiation onwards the brethren were taught that the prominent characteristic of Freemasonry was Charity , and the results of that teaching were to be seen in their magnificent schools for sons and daughters of poor Masons , the Benevolent Institution , and their various local
charities . He trusted that none of them would be missed from their minds , but that all would be felt worthy of their continued support . Bro . Colville Smith , P . G . D ., Secretary of the R . M . Ben . Institution , in the course of a reply of similar effect , said
what a pleasure it was to him to see his old friend , Bro . Dr . Sinclair , installed into the Chair of King Solomon , and he offered him his warmest congratulations and best wishes . Referring in detail to the Masonic Charities , Bro . Smith invited Masons , when in London , to visit the Masonic
Institutions . Bro . the Rev . C . A . Treherne , P . P . G . Chap . Berks , and Hereford , submitted the toast of " The Visitors , " which was responded to by the Mayor of Hereford , Bro . Edwyn C . Gurney . W . Bro . Rootes , after a few prefatory observations , said
he felt very proud indeed of being asked lo propose a toast which although so low clown on the list he considered w . is the principal item of the evening , viz ., the toast of "The W . M . of Vaga Lodge , 3146 . " Speaking in complimentary
terms of the W . M ., he said he did not think his brother founders would object to his telling the company of the reasons which had actuated them in selecting Dr . Sinclair to be their lirst Worshipful Master . It was necessary , in the lirst place , that they should have a Mason of experience , if possible a Past Master , and one whose merits and virtues
were so manifold and manifest that they would be able t . > look up to him . Bro . Rootes then enumerated Dr . Sinclair ' s achievements in the Masonic world , as already stated in the introductory of this article . Those were some of the reasons , and there were othere equally powerful . Dr . Sinclair had ,
as was required , been indefatigable in his energy as a Mason , zealous , assiduous , and very courteous and sympathetic to any Brother who had to approach him . All these characteristics Bro . Dr . Sinclair possessed in an eminent degree , and there was no doubt he would fill the chair with pleasure to himself ami
profit to Freemasonry in general and Vaga Lodge in particular . Bro . Dr . Sinclair , in returning thanks , said that a certain amount of sentiment appealed to all of us and that quality
was raised to a very high degree in Freemasonry . He appreciated very much indeed the confidence which was placed in him by the founders unanimously appointing him as their first Master . He felt very deeply the responsibility , and hoped that the lodge which had begun well would continue to work on true Masonic lines , so that they might
always be able to look back upon an unsullied career . Further than this he did not think he need say ; those who knew him best knew he was not incapable of gratitude . Before he sat clown , he wished to give the toast of " The Officers and Brethren of Vaga Lodge . " He was sure that
they all felt the responsibility of their duties in their new lodge as much as he did , and he was confident that if they continued to work together as they had commenced they would bring the lodge to a condition of great prosperity and much inlluence for good . He trusted that they would take a
forward position in regard to the Masonic charities , as Bros . Neville and Colville Smith had so eloquently appealed to them to do .
The W . M . further referred to the assistance he had received from the brethren who had been associated with him in the founding of the lodge and in that day ' s ceremony . Bro . M . J . G . Scobie , I . G ., in a brief but effective reply , said he fully endorsed what had already been said of the
success of the day's proceedings , and on behalf of his brother officers further assured the W . M . of their loyalty to him both now and during his term of oflice , and their intention to further the work of Masonry generally and in Vaga Lodge particularly .
The Tyler ' s toast ended a most enjoyable and memorable Masonic gathering .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Vaga Lodge, Hereford.
Master and had not yet been installed . When this high and distinguished office was offered to him , he would have hesitated to undertake the duties were it not that he was confident that he had the support of the Provincial Grand Officers and brethren generally in the province , and should have as guide and counsellor one who had for many years
been distinguished as a brother Craftsman—he meant Bro . H . C . Beddoe , who had been a member of the Palladian for something like sixty years , and had acted as Deputy Provincial Grand Master for something like thirteen years . He ( the Dean ) was aware that he followed one who was Master
of the province for a quarter of a century , and had fulfilled those duties with great ability and most excellent tact . In the course of a further graceful reference to the late Lord Glanusk , the Dean said it was a curious coincidence that almost at the same time as their Prov . Grand Master was
called away from amongst them , his ( the Dean's ) own relative , the late Lord Leigh , who was Prov . Grand Master of the neighbouring Province of Warwickshire for over half a century , had also been called away . He was very much touched by the kindly references to his late brother during
the ceremonies witnessed in the Birmingham Town Hall a short time ago , when there were something like 2 , 000 Masons gathered together to instal the Marquis of Hertford as the successor of Lord Leigh . The Province of Herefordshire
was very different from that of Warwickshire in one respect , inasmuch as compared with their live lodges—now six—there were thirty-live in the Warwickshire province , twenty of which were in Birmingham alone , but as Bro . Cowling had remarked , numbers did not always make for success , and it was in the small lodges and small provinces that they should
find brotherly love and friendship in exceeding degree . He appealed to the brethren of this province to be lenient with him in any shortcomings , and to help him zealously and confidently in the performance of his duties . He was initiated in the Shakespeare Lodge at Warwick over forty
years ago . He was not able to take much part in Masonic matters while in his big London parish , owing to so many other duties , but as soon as he had come to reside in Hereford and to be connected with their cathedral , his interest in Masonry had been revived . He found , too , that in the years
which had passed , there were many dignitaries of the cathedral who had been Craftsmen . In front of him , now he saw the portrait of the late Archdeacon Lane Freer , who was Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and to whom a magnificent memorial window was erected in the cathedral .
The Dean pointed to one or two other portraits of cathedral clerics Masonically clothed , and , in conclusion , said he would once more express his gratitude to the company for their hearty welcome and promise of help in the performance of his duties .
The W . M ., Bro . Dr . Sinclair , in proposing " The Consecrating Officers , " said he found it difficult to express sufficiently the gratitude of himself and the other founders of Vaga Lodge for the kindness of the consecrating officers in coming so far to help them . London was a long distance from Hereford , and it must have been at considerable
inconvenience that the Grand Officers had come so far . And the gratitude of all the brethren present was clue to them also for the perfect and enlightening style in which they had performed that day ' s ceremony . It had been a lesson to them all how to conduct Masonic ritual and ceremony , and
it would be to them a pleasant and lasting memory . Bro . Dr . Sinclair expatiated on the grace , dignity , reverence , and elocutionary excellence with which the ritual had been enunciated by the consecrating officer and his assistants , and the perfect way in which the arrangements had been made
by the Director of Ceremonies . The toast was received with honours . Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth reciprocated the compliments paid by Bro . Dr . Sinclair , and observed that this lodge started under most favourable auspices , and he hoped it had
in store very many years of great prosperity . The W . M . announced a collection of _ £ 6 12 s . for the local charity .
Bro . Albert Neville , P . G . D ., proposed " I he Masonic Charities . " From their initiation onwards the brethren were taught that the prominent characteristic of Freemasonry was Charity , and the results of that teaching were to be seen in their magnificent schools for sons and daughters of poor Masons , the Benevolent Institution , and their various local
charities . He trusted that none of them would be missed from their minds , but that all would be felt worthy of their continued support . Bro . Colville Smith , P . G . D ., Secretary of the R . M . Ben . Institution , in the course of a reply of similar effect , said
what a pleasure it was to him to see his old friend , Bro . Dr . Sinclair , installed into the Chair of King Solomon , and he offered him his warmest congratulations and best wishes . Referring in detail to the Masonic Charities , Bro . Smith invited Masons , when in London , to visit the Masonic
Institutions . Bro . the Rev . C . A . Treherne , P . P . G . Chap . Berks , and Hereford , submitted the toast of " The Visitors , " which was responded to by the Mayor of Hereford , Bro . Edwyn C . Gurney . W . Bro . Rootes , after a few prefatory observations , said
he felt very proud indeed of being asked lo propose a toast which although so low clown on the list he considered w . is the principal item of the evening , viz ., the toast of "The W . M . of Vaga Lodge , 3146 . " Speaking in complimentary
terms of the W . M ., he said he did not think his brother founders would object to his telling the company of the reasons which had actuated them in selecting Dr . Sinclair to be their lirst Worshipful Master . It was necessary , in the lirst place , that they should have a Mason of experience , if possible a Past Master , and one whose merits and virtues
were so manifold and manifest that they would be able t . > look up to him . Bro . Rootes then enumerated Dr . Sinclair ' s achievements in the Masonic world , as already stated in the introductory of this article . Those were some of the reasons , and there were othere equally powerful . Dr . Sinclair had ,
as was required , been indefatigable in his energy as a Mason , zealous , assiduous , and very courteous and sympathetic to any Brother who had to approach him . All these characteristics Bro . Dr . Sinclair possessed in an eminent degree , and there was no doubt he would fill the chair with pleasure to himself ami
profit to Freemasonry in general and Vaga Lodge in particular . Bro . Dr . Sinclair , in returning thanks , said that a certain amount of sentiment appealed to all of us and that quality
was raised to a very high degree in Freemasonry . He appreciated very much indeed the confidence which was placed in him by the founders unanimously appointing him as their first Master . He felt very deeply the responsibility , and hoped that the lodge which had begun well would continue to work on true Masonic lines , so that they might
always be able to look back upon an unsullied career . Further than this he did not think he need say ; those who knew him best knew he was not incapable of gratitude . Before he sat clown , he wished to give the toast of " The Officers and Brethren of Vaga Lodge . " He was sure that
they all felt the responsibility of their duties in their new lodge as much as he did , and he was confident that if they continued to work together as they had commenced they would bring the lodge to a condition of great prosperity and much inlluence for good . He trusted that they would take a
forward position in regard to the Masonic charities , as Bros . Neville and Colville Smith had so eloquently appealed to them to do .
The W . M . further referred to the assistance he had received from the brethren who had been associated with him in the founding of the lodge and in that day ' s ceremony . Bro . M . J . G . Scobie , I . G ., in a brief but effective reply , said he fully endorsed what had already been said of the
success of the day's proceedings , and on behalf of his brother officers further assured the W . M . of their loyalty to him both now and during his term of oflice , and their intention to further the work of Masonry generally and in Vaga Lodge particularly .
The Tyler ' s toast ended a most enjoyable and memorable Masonic gathering .