Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Masonic Illustrated
  • May 1, 1904
  • Page 14
  • At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar
Current:

The Masonic Illustrated, May 1, 1904: Page 14

  • Back to The Masonic Illustrated, May 1, 1904
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar ← Page 2 of 3 →
Page 14

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

of about 1800 ; a silver snuff-box presented to the lodge by Lord George Bentinck when J . W . in 18 43 ; a line old Book of Constitutions dating back to the close of the eighteenth century ; the banquet ticket issued for the centenary celebration of No . 88 in 1854 , and a number of other valued possessions of the lodge . <© <© o

Shortly after half-past five the brethren repaired to Great St . Mary ' s Church , where a special service was conducted . A large number of ladies had previously assembled and helped to swell the congregation , which otherwise would have been limited almost entirely to members of the Order . The brethren wore their full regalia . The sermon was

preached by the Rev . Carey Crump , and in the course of his remarks the Rev . brother gave some interesting particulars of the lodge history .

o < j > © " Originally constituted in London on 29 th March , 1754 , the ' Scientific' Lodge was removed to Cambridge seven years afterwards , and has ever since been honourably associated with the annals of this centre of intellectual light

and learning . Doubtless the lodge has from time to time experienced fluctuations and vicissitudes ; but we may be rightly proud of its almost unbroken records and its long roll of Masters and officers . Most of these have long ago been received into the cold bosom of the grave . Their doings for

the most part belong to the dusty past of libraries and bookworms . But , I ask , have they therefore no claims on the practical living , thinking , high-pressure-working members of to-day ? Are we to just leave the dead past to bury its dead ?

Must we regretfully admit that there is neither good nor force , hope nor inspiration to be derived from it ? Far from it brethren ! Such an idea were alien to the spirit of our ancient Institution . And the present has need of such a stimulus . To-day , as we lay the record of another 50 years beside that of its preceding century , there is scope for the

animating power of the past . Those marauding Moabites are no strangers to us . They have their counterparts in the carking cares and ceaseless struggles of daily life . They keep us in a condition of constant anxiety and chronic restlessness . Oftimes they rob us of peace and press us sorely .

Shall we not then gladly welcome that inspiration which the past history of our lodge can furnish ? For its members it has been the embodiment of those grand principles which underlie our Craft . "

«© < s > ¦© The " Ladies' Night" of the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 , was held last month at the Criterion , Piccadilly . The Gallery Lodge is the only press lodge in the Craft . The W . M ., Bro . Henry Lewis Bell , presided , and presented to Mrs . George

Robbins , wife of the Immediate Past Master , a handsome watch-bracelet in recognition of the great services rendered to the lodge by Bro . Robbins as W . M . during the past year . About no of the brethren , with ladies and visitors , were present at the banquet , which was followed by an excellent musical entertainment .

© * < s > The Ahlershot News , apropos of the laying of the foundation stone of the Soldiers' Institute by Sir Augustus Webster , thus describes the popular Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight . He is just a few days

over 40 years of age . He is the eighth baronet , and he succeeded his father in 1886 . Two years before that he was lieutenant in the 2 nd Battalion Grenadier Guards , and subsequently he retired as captain . Sir Augustus is a handsome man , with an olive complexion and close curling hair , tinged with grey . He has a rich , deep voice , and a most dignified and impressive way of performing the Masonic ritual .

The Masonic banquet given on the 29 th March to Bro . Sir Henry Thoby Prinsep , retiring Grand Master of Bengal , was a fitting tribute to greet personal worth , administrative excellence , and unbounded tact in the government of the

lodges in Bengal , which he leaves in an exceedingly prosperous condition after over a quarter of a century ' s rule . © <©> o The District Grand Master was supported on his right by Lord Kitchener , District Grand Master of the Punjab ,

and on his left by Wor . Bro . Cruikshank , on whose left sat Mr . Justice Burkitt who had journeyed all the way from Allahabad .

o © © Bro . Cruikshank , in proposing "The Health of the District Grand Master , " remarked that in order to understand and appreciate the value of R . W . Bro . Prinsep ' s services to Masonry in Bengal , it was necessary that they should have

some knowledge of the extent and nature of the work that he had clone , the difficulties he had encountered and overcome , and the splendid success that had crowned his labours . With regard to the extent of the work , he would remind them that for the last 26 years R . W . Bro . Prinsep had

administered the affairs of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal with hardly a break in the continuity of his administration . In the years 1878 and 18 97 , when he did not hold the actual position of District Grand Master , he ruled the district for a great part of the time as Deputy District Grand

Master . But , as many of them knew , the work of the present District Grand Master had not begun and ended with the rule of the District Lodge only . Bro . Prinsep had been a member of seven lodges in the district , two of which he founded—that he had filled the Eastern chair of three of

them , in one instance no less than four times . In the Royal Arch Degree Bro . Prinsep had held the office of Grand Superintendent almost contemporaneously with that of the District Grand Mastership , and he had filled the First Principal ' s chair in two chapters of the Order .

© <©> © After giving in detail an account of the many and great services rendered to Freemasonry in India by Bro . Prinsep , Bro . Cruikshank said that Sir Henry Thoby Prinsep was not only the foremost Mason in Bengal , but he was also an

honoured servant of the Crown and a distinguished citizen of Calcutta . His career in the public service had been characterised by rapid promotion culminating in the high appointment which he adorned , and from which he was now about to retire . His public services had been acknowledged

by the honour of knighthood , which was conferred upon him in 18 94 , and by the Order of Knight Companion of the Indian Empire , which had been conferred upon him quite recently , while the estimation in which he was held by the Government , by the bench , the bar , society generally , had been manifested to him in various ways .

© © © In the . course of an exhaustive speech covering much ground of Masonic interest , Bro . Prinsep dwelt on what he considered the peculiar attractions of Freemasonry in that country . In other parts of the world , and especially

in highly-civilised places like England , Freemasonry was apt to be constituted by clubs or members of the same grade of society and of the same habits . In India it was otherwise . He himself could speak with the greatest satisfaction that from the earliest days when he became a Freemason

in i 860 to the present time , he had found the greatest satisfaction in meeting and knowing brethren who but for Freemasoury would not have been found even an object of interest and would be absolutely unknown . Even in India the essence of Freemasonry was that not only different classes but men of different creeds and colour could meet on terms of equality and friendship .

« 3 > © © " The Health of the District Grand Master of the Punjab " having been proposed , Lord Kitchener , in reply , paid a warm tribute of praise to Bro . Prinsep , and expressed a hope that some one would arise among them to carry on the principles of Masonry as worthily as he had done .

“The Masonic Illustrated: 1904-05-01, Page 14” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 30 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mil/issues/mil_01051904/page/14/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
United Grand Lodge of England. Article 2
The New Grand Officers. Article 2
Installation Meeting of the Galen Lodge, No.2394. Article 9
Installation Meeting of the St. Martin's Lodge, No. 2455. Article 10
Installation Meeting of the Borough of Bethnal Green Lodge, No. 2896. Article 11
Untitled Ad 12
Untitled Ad 12
Untitled Ad 12
Untitled Ad 12
The Masonic Veteran. Article 12
At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar Article 13
Untitled Ad 15
Untitled Ad 15
Installation Meeting of the Willing Lodge, No. 2893. Article 16
Untitled Article 16
An American Host. Article 17
Untitled Ad 17
Untitled Ad 17
Consecration of the Vincent Lodge, No. 3031. Article 18
Untitled Ad 18
Grand Lodge of Scotland. Article 18
Untitled Article 18
Untitled Ad 18
Some Memorials of the Globe Lodge, No. 23, and of the "Red Apron.'' Article 19
A Concise History of Freemasonry. Article 22
Untitled Ad 22
Untitled Ad 23
Untitled Ad 24
Masonic Benevolence in West Yorkshire. Article 24
Untitled Ad 24
Untitled Ad 24
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

3 Articles
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

1 Article
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

1 Article
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

2 Articles
Page 12

Page 12

5 Articles
Page 13

Page 13

2 Articles
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

3 Articles
Page 16

Page 16

2 Articles
Page 17

Page 17

3 Articles
Page 18

Page 18

7 Articles
Page 19

Page 19

1 Article
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

1 Article
Page 22

Page 22

2 Articles
Page 23

Page 23

2 Articles
Page 24

Page 24

5 Articles
Page 14

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

of about 1800 ; a silver snuff-box presented to the lodge by Lord George Bentinck when J . W . in 18 43 ; a line old Book of Constitutions dating back to the close of the eighteenth century ; the banquet ticket issued for the centenary celebration of No . 88 in 1854 , and a number of other valued possessions of the lodge . <© <© o

Shortly after half-past five the brethren repaired to Great St . Mary ' s Church , where a special service was conducted . A large number of ladies had previously assembled and helped to swell the congregation , which otherwise would have been limited almost entirely to members of the Order . The brethren wore their full regalia . The sermon was

preached by the Rev . Carey Crump , and in the course of his remarks the Rev . brother gave some interesting particulars of the lodge history .

o < j > © " Originally constituted in London on 29 th March , 1754 , the ' Scientific' Lodge was removed to Cambridge seven years afterwards , and has ever since been honourably associated with the annals of this centre of intellectual light

and learning . Doubtless the lodge has from time to time experienced fluctuations and vicissitudes ; but we may be rightly proud of its almost unbroken records and its long roll of Masters and officers . Most of these have long ago been received into the cold bosom of the grave . Their doings for

the most part belong to the dusty past of libraries and bookworms . But , I ask , have they therefore no claims on the practical living , thinking , high-pressure-working members of to-day ? Are we to just leave the dead past to bury its dead ?

Must we regretfully admit that there is neither good nor force , hope nor inspiration to be derived from it ? Far from it brethren ! Such an idea were alien to the spirit of our ancient Institution . And the present has need of such a stimulus . To-day , as we lay the record of another 50 years beside that of its preceding century , there is scope for the

animating power of the past . Those marauding Moabites are no strangers to us . They have their counterparts in the carking cares and ceaseless struggles of daily life . They keep us in a condition of constant anxiety and chronic restlessness . Oftimes they rob us of peace and press us sorely .

Shall we not then gladly welcome that inspiration which the past history of our lodge can furnish ? For its members it has been the embodiment of those grand principles which underlie our Craft . "

«© < s > ¦© The " Ladies' Night" of the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 , was held last month at the Criterion , Piccadilly . The Gallery Lodge is the only press lodge in the Craft . The W . M ., Bro . Henry Lewis Bell , presided , and presented to Mrs . George

Robbins , wife of the Immediate Past Master , a handsome watch-bracelet in recognition of the great services rendered to the lodge by Bro . Robbins as W . M . during the past year . About no of the brethren , with ladies and visitors , were present at the banquet , which was followed by an excellent musical entertainment .

© * < s > The Ahlershot News , apropos of the laying of the foundation stone of the Soldiers' Institute by Sir Augustus Webster , thus describes the popular Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight . He is just a few days

over 40 years of age . He is the eighth baronet , and he succeeded his father in 1886 . Two years before that he was lieutenant in the 2 nd Battalion Grenadier Guards , and subsequently he retired as captain . Sir Augustus is a handsome man , with an olive complexion and close curling hair , tinged with grey . He has a rich , deep voice , and a most dignified and impressive way of performing the Masonic ritual .

The Masonic banquet given on the 29 th March to Bro . Sir Henry Thoby Prinsep , retiring Grand Master of Bengal , was a fitting tribute to greet personal worth , administrative excellence , and unbounded tact in the government of the

lodges in Bengal , which he leaves in an exceedingly prosperous condition after over a quarter of a century ' s rule . © <©> o The District Grand Master was supported on his right by Lord Kitchener , District Grand Master of the Punjab ,

and on his left by Wor . Bro . Cruikshank , on whose left sat Mr . Justice Burkitt who had journeyed all the way from Allahabad .

o © © Bro . Cruikshank , in proposing "The Health of the District Grand Master , " remarked that in order to understand and appreciate the value of R . W . Bro . Prinsep ' s services to Masonry in Bengal , it was necessary that they should have

some knowledge of the extent and nature of the work that he had clone , the difficulties he had encountered and overcome , and the splendid success that had crowned his labours . With regard to the extent of the work , he would remind them that for the last 26 years R . W . Bro . Prinsep had

administered the affairs of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal with hardly a break in the continuity of his administration . In the years 1878 and 18 97 , when he did not hold the actual position of District Grand Master , he ruled the district for a great part of the time as Deputy District Grand

Master . But , as many of them knew , the work of the present District Grand Master had not begun and ended with the rule of the District Lodge only . Bro . Prinsep had been a member of seven lodges in the district , two of which he founded—that he had filled the Eastern chair of three of

them , in one instance no less than four times . In the Royal Arch Degree Bro . Prinsep had held the office of Grand Superintendent almost contemporaneously with that of the District Grand Mastership , and he had filled the First Principal ' s chair in two chapters of the Order .

© <©> © After giving in detail an account of the many and great services rendered to Freemasonry in India by Bro . Prinsep , Bro . Cruikshank said that Sir Henry Thoby Prinsep was not only the foremost Mason in Bengal , but he was also an

honoured servant of the Crown and a distinguished citizen of Calcutta . His career in the public service had been characterised by rapid promotion culminating in the high appointment which he adorned , and from which he was now about to retire . His public services had been acknowledged

by the honour of knighthood , which was conferred upon him in 18 94 , and by the Order of Knight Companion of the Indian Empire , which had been conferred upon him quite recently , while the estimation in which he was held by the Government , by the bench , the bar , society generally , had been manifested to him in various ways .

© © © In the . course of an exhaustive speech covering much ground of Masonic interest , Bro . Prinsep dwelt on what he considered the peculiar attractions of Freemasonry in that country . In other parts of the world , and especially

in highly-civilised places like England , Freemasonry was apt to be constituted by clubs or members of the same grade of society and of the same habits . In India it was otherwise . He himself could speak with the greatest satisfaction that from the earliest days when he became a Freemason

in i 860 to the present time , he had found the greatest satisfaction in meeting and knowing brethren who but for Freemasoury would not have been found even an object of interest and would be absolutely unknown . Even in India the essence of Freemasonry was that not only different classes but men of different creeds and colour could meet on terms of equality and friendship .

« 3 > © © " The Health of the District Grand Master of the Punjab " having been proposed , Lord Kitchener , in reply , paid a warm tribute of praise to Bro . Prinsep , and expressed a hope that some one would arise among them to carry on the principles of Masonry as worthily as he had done .

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 13
  • You're on page14
  • 15
  • 24
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy