Consecration Of The Aldwych Lodge, No. 3096.

• wish the Worshipful Master an agreeable and prosperous year of office , and he felt sure it would prove such . W . Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth was elected an honorary member , and on behalf of the founders the Worshipful Master presented him with a founder ' s jewel , for which he ¦ expressed his keen appreciation .

Bro . J . W . Webster , Secretary , then read propositions for eight initiates and two joining members , and apologies were read from Bro . Sir Borradaile Savory , the Bishop of Bunbury ( West Australia ) , and Bro . H . W . Baron , W . M . of Lodge 129 . The lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to a

well served banquet in the Crown Room , Freemasons ' Tavern . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were dul y honoured , and the Worshipful Master in proposing the toast of " The Grand Officers , " called upon W . Bro . James Stephens ,

P . Dep . G . D . C ., to respond . W . Bro . James Stephens , in reply , thanked the W . M . for the kindly compliments he had been good enough to bestow upon the Grand Officers . Bro . Rigg had said that the Grand Master was a worker ,

but that quality could also be applied to the Grand officers below him . He remembered the deep interest his Royal Highness took in laying the foundation stone at the Boys ' School at Bushey , and also the interest he and the other members of the Royal Family had taken in Masonic charities . Some weeks ago he ( Bro . Stephens ) had the honor to reply

to the toast of the Grand Officers , at the festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , when the R . W . Bro . Lord Stanley , P . G . M . for East Lancashire , and other prominent Grand Officers from that province were mainl y instrumental in raising the enormous sum of £ 39 , 500 which sum had since been increased to well over £ 40 , 000 . The Grand

Officers always had great pleasure in attending the consecration of a new lodge , especially one such as the Aldwych . The brethren were very fortunate in having Bro . Rigg for their first Worshipful Master , as they all knew -what an excellent W . M . he would prove , and he thanked

them for the very cordial reception they had given the toast . The Worshipful Master in proposing the toast of "The Consecrating Officers" said he had only witnessed one consecration ceremony before , and he believed the brethren present would look upon April 15 th as a reel letter day in

their Masonic career , as few who had witnessed the ceremony to-day would ever forget the manner in which V . W . Bro . Sir Edward Letchworth had rendered that beautiful ceremony , and he thought that they were fortunate indeed in securing the services of Sir Edward . They all deeply regretted that Sir Borradaile Savory was unable to be with them , and in the

absence of another Chaplain the brethren were specially indebted in having the services of W . Bro . T . Proctor Baptie , and for the very touching and impressive oration he had given them on brotherly love , relief and truth . He was also very grateful to Bro . Times for the manner in which he had carried out the duties of D . C He felt sure the toast would

receive a warm welcome , and with it he would couple the name of W . Bro . Hy . Times , P . D . G . D . C . In reply Bro . Times said he supposed that everything in the world was a matter of contrast , for after having heard Bro . Rigg , who was so accustomed to speaking in the House , and other circles , and then listening to a poor nervous man ,

and such a young Grand Officer as himself , they would readil y understand what contrast was . He was reall y very grateful to the brethren for the manner in which they had received the toast . He could assure them that it was a Grand Officer's delight to be called unon to take part in that most impressive ceremony of consecration . Personall y he

was delighted , as a total abstainer for ( he last seven years , to be one of the consecrating officers . He had now the very pleasing duty of proposing the toast of the evening , that of "The Worshipful Master . " He was sure they were all waiting lo hear his eloquent speech , and he knew they were

proud to have such a line man as their Worshipful Master . He esteemed it a higher honour lo be able to propose the toast of "The Worshipful Master" than to be one of the consecrating officers .

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