MASONIC.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 4139, 16 September 1882, Page 2

MASONIC.

CONSECRATION OF DE BURGH ADAMS LODGE ROOMS. The De Burgh Adams Lodge, No. 446, under the constitution of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, has been engaged for some time past in erecting a lodge-room for the better accommodation of the Masonic Lodges in New Plymouth. The building — a description of which appeared in a former issue — is a distinguishing feature in Robe-street, and marks another improvement in the gradually-increasing prosperity of our district. The consecration of the lodge-rooms to the use of the brotherhood according to their ancient and mystic forms was performed last evening by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Irish Constitution in New Zealand, Bro. Geo. P. Pierce, of Auckland, assisted by Bro. W. J. Rees, Very Worshipful Provincial Grand Secretary ; Bro. C. W. Page, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies ; and a brilliant and numerous assemblage of the brethren from all parts of the Provincial District. Representatives of fourteen different Masonic Lodges appeared at the ceremony, the following being the names of those present :—: — The Deßurgh Adams Lodge, 446, 1.C.— A. King, W.M. ; J. Ellis, P.M. ; J. S. McKellar, P.M. ; J. Davidson, P.M. ; R. W. Holmes, S.W. ; R. Cock, jun., J.W. ;H. H. Brown, Chaplain ; W. F. Brooking, P.M., Secretary ; A. Goldwater, organist ; J. Ward, SID. ; B. W. Buttler, J.D. ; E. Snowball, 1.G. ; W. Appleyard, Tyler ; John Avery, F. S. Best, R. 0. Bridle. T. Bland, A. Bos well, J. C. Brewster, D. Gilmour, N. Golding ; H. J. Honeyfield, jun., A. E. Horniman, R. 0. Hughes, A. Muller, E. Newham, G. O'Connell, F. W. Revoll, H. M. Skeet, J. Thomson, G. E. Troughton, H. Willis. Mount Egmont Lodge, 670, E.G. — G. F. Robinson, W.M. ; J. C. George, P.M. ; J. H. Holford, P.M. ; J. W. Sheppee, S.W. ; W. H. Skeet, J.W. ; J. Bellringer, W. Cottier, A. Calder, 0. Deacon, H. J. T. Edmonds, J. Murray Gibbes, S. Howell, S. W. Jackson, E. Petty, J. 11. Parker, W. Sefton, — . Wolmer. Sir Donald McLean Lodge, 1646, E.C.— W. Tutty, W.M. ; J. Cameron, P.M. ; F. Bluck, Treasurer ; J. D. Baker, G. Box, J. Coldwell, C. Coomber, T. Leedom, A. Parkinson, F. Rolfe, W. Snell. Ilawera Lodge, 652, S.C.—E. G. Pitcher, R.W.M ; W. Bate, W.D.M. ; C. H. Bowman, Secretary : J. Ferguson, B. Innk M. D. King, J. W. Shore. Miscellaneous Lodges. — G. Gordon, P.M., Winchester Lodge, South Canterbury ; E. Dockril!, Coromandel Lodge ; D. Fitzhern, Sir Walter Scott Lodge ; M. Flynn, Patea Killwinning Lodsre ; G. Rhind, Panmure Lodge ; J. H. Schwabach, St. Andrew's Lodge ; Robert Allen, Alexandria Lodge : A. Mackie Lodge, No. 178 ; E. McCarthy Lodge, No. 432. The lodge, which was beautifully decorated with the different insignia of the craft, was tyled at 6 p.m., and the Provincial Grand Officers having taken their seats the Chaplain read a portion of Scripture, after which the anthem, " Behold how good and joyful a thing it is," was rendered by the choir. A procession was then formed by the Director of Ceremonies and his assistants, and the brethren proceeded to St. Mary's Church were Divine Service was conducted by the Chaplain, Bro. Rev. H. H. Brown, M.A. The Church w.a« uneu lo overflowing with people auxious to view the ceremony. A most impressive service was performed, and at the close of which the brethren returned to the LodgeRoom, and the Masonic portion of the consecration ceremony was then performed by the Provincial Grand Master. When the brethren had taken their places the prayer of Benediction was offered by the Chaplain, and was responded to by the brethren* all standing up and answering aloud, "Glory to God on High." The President of Trustees then shortly addressed the P.G.M., after which the Architect presented the plans. The dedication anthem, " 0 first and sole Foundation !" was sung, and the invocation pronounced by the P.G.M. Bro. A. King, W.M. of the Lodge, Bro. G. F. Robinson, W.M. Mount Egmont Lodge, and Bro. W. F. Brooking, P.M. of the Deßurgh Adams Lodge, took respectively the corn, wine, and oil, the symbols of consecration, and poured them upon the room, whilst the Provincial Grand Master solemnly dedicated the Hall to Freemasonry, Religion, and Universal Brotherhood. The hymn, " Genius of Masonry descend," being rendered by the choir during the dedication. The Right Worshipful Past Master, Geo. P. Pierce, then addressed the brethren as follow : — Worshipful Sir and Brethren, — Any person who has resided for a length of time in one place, and finds it needful to change his abode, is apt to experience a painful wrench in the removal. The associations connected with a dwelling cling around us, even for years ; the rooms in which we played as boys, where our children were born, our fathers' fireside, are all bound up in our memory, and I take it, brethren, that this new house in which we are now gathered, will not be so pleasant to many of you as the old Lodge-room, associated, as it must be, with the thoughts of many happy hours spent within its walls, where you worked in love and harmony with brethren now gone to the Grand Lodge above. Memory will call up to you friendships formed there, many acts of kindly hospitality, of gracious charity, of even-handed justice done in that old Lodgeroom. May what was good cling around us here ; a thing of goodness, like a thing of beauty, is a joy for ever. It is my earnest hope that this new Lodge-room may become a centre of light, peace, goodwill, and happiness to those who assemble within its portals. From it may there radiate light, as from that great luminary depicted in our lodges, the emblem of the wisdom, power, and goodness of God. Here, at least, amidst the busy cares of life, may there be found a home where brethren may assemble, all animated by one common object, to be happy and to try to increase the happiness of others ; avoiding the heart-burnings and party shibboleths of the outer world, living in love, peace, charity, and forbearance with one another. It may be well to bo reminded, on the consecration of a new lodge-room, what have been, and also what will be, the genuine limits of our time-honored institution everywhere. Freemasonry is founded . on piety and virtue, attended by those ' three grand principles — brotherly love, relief, an! truth. In all our dealings with our brethren let us never forget these beautiful feelings. Wo begin and close all our lodges with prayer, and on all our proceedings we invoke a Blessing from the Great Architect of the Universe. The Holy Bible is ever open in our lodges; and the very first charge delivered to the young Mason recommends tho consideration of 1

the Sacred Law. It bids him consider that to be the unerring standard of truth and justice, and it bids him regulate his actions by the divine precepts therein contained. Let us all bear constantly in mind the glorious promises which the Great Architect made and recorded ages sinee — promises which are still true, and will continue to be so in every country of the world till the world's end: — '' Put thou thy trust in the Lord, and be doing good : dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." " The Lord knoweth the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall endure for ever." " The Lord ordereth a good man's going, and maketh his way acceptable to Himself." "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand." " Flee from evil, and do the thing that is good ; and dwell for evermore." " For the Lord loveth the thing that is right; He forsaketh not His that are godly, but they are preserved for ever." Having then, brethren, these precepts and generous promises, let us be diligent to perform the threefold moral duties to God, to our neighbour, to ourselves; to the Great Architect of the Universe, by holding His name in deepest reverence; to your neighbour, by acting with him on the square; and to yourself, by enjoying God's bounties without abusing them. Let charity be practised by you without stint ; render to your brethren every kind office in your power; relieve tljeir distress; help to soothe and comfort the sorrowing bosom and the wounded heart. And lastly, with regard to truth, exemplify this virtue by fidelity and honesty in all your dealings; and show to your brethren — aye, even to the world at large — that a Mason's word is his bond. We brethren are not restricted to any profession or creed ; we have nothing to do with sects or parties. Freemasonry embraces the world in its arms, and its duration will be as long as the " everlasting hills." In many parts of the wide world we find brethren ready to share our joys and participate in our sorrows. Freemasonry appeals to the common sympathies of humanity, and excludes no race, colour, or kindred of men. We claim freedom of conscience ourselves, and we are bound to protect it for others. We look on every son of Adam, despite the difference of colour and creed, as a brother of the dust. It is painful, in this age of enlightenment, to be obliged to say a word in defence of our Order against the attacks of those who misunderstand our principles ; but it is well known to you that the Church of Rome has put its ban on Masonry, classing us with Socialists, Nihilists, and Fenians, and even declaring it a " deadly sin" to be a Freemason. Oae of the rules laid down in our Book of Constitutions is, that " No discussion on religious or political matters shall, under any pretence whatever, be permitted in any Masonic assembly." Happily for us, in these Colonies and in our mother country 6uch perversions of Freemasonry are altogether unknown. Let us prove, brethren, that these charges against us are fallacious, by our peaceable, law-abiding, loving conduct, remaining faithful to our God, our country, and our Queen. In every relation of life, not only amongst our brethren, but in the world at large, many Masons set such a noble example of every moral and social virtue, that those words of our Reverend Brother <*„,.n ■»_.. £»i..>d unoeaf»"crlj' t-"», whon ho said : " Masonry does not have to depend on its great men of the past, nor on its connection with religious reformations, to justify its existence. Neither does it rely upon its great antiquity for its future success. It possesses the inherent principle that will command respect. It needs no apologist ; its acts, its kindness, its deeds of benevolence, have spoken to the ages and to all the nations of the earth." As your P.G. Master I should not be fulfilling my duty did I not, on this, the first opportunity of my having the pleasure of addressing you on the principles of our order in general, add a few parting words on your Lodge in particular. It was my great pleasure and privilege to be on the most intimate and friendly terms of acquaintance with our lamented brother, Henry de Burgh Adams, whose honoured name has been associated with this Lodge since its dedication in 1865. I was appointed by him, and acted for a long time as his P.G. Secretary, and he was very anxious, when leaving New Zealand, that I should succeed him in the chair of King Solomon. This was not to be ; and during some considerable time after he left this country the P.G. Mastership was held by a brother who could not conscientiously continue to fulfil the duties of that high and responsible office. It may be interesting to many of you to see the original requisition, which has been kindly lent to me by an old and respected member of this odge, W. Brother E. S. Willcocks, Districtl Grand Superintendent Works, bearing the signatures of many old and well-beloved Past Masters, then resident in this district, to form the De Burgh Adams Lodge ; and it is a matter of deep satisfaction to me to know that this lodge, from its very commencement, and for a long series of years, has maintained an untarnished name for honour and usefulness. Long may it continue to be an ornament to our beloved order. It rests with you, my brethren. "Love one another," that is the grand principle on which our order exists, " a principle in which is condensed every doctrine that has yet been invented for the good of the human race, and in which a tangible shape is given to every philantrophic effort to every benevolent aspiration." May the Great Architect of the Universe prosper, not merely this particular lodge which we are here met to consecrate, but Freemasonry everywhere, in every part of the globe ; so that it may be able to carry forward with greater success its benignant purposes, to the promotion of His glory, and the general welfare of mankind. After a prayer by the chaplain, the choir rendered " 0 Praise God in His Holiness." The benediction was then pronounced by the chaplain, and the psalm, " All people that on earth do dwell," was sung, after which the lodge was closed.