The Consecration of The Earl Amherst Lodge No. 3230

The Consecration of the Lodge took place at the Great Eastern Hotel, Bishopsgate, E.C., commencing at 5 p.m., on Saturday, 25th May, 1907, "consent thereto having been obtained from His Royal Highness The Duke of Connaught, Most Worshipful Grand Master".

The Consecrating Officers were :-

V. W. Bro. Sir Edward Letchworth, F.S.A., Grand Secretary, Consecrating Master
W. Bro. H. Passmore Edwards, Senior G.D., S.W.
W. Bro. James Stephens, P.Dep.G.D.C J.W.
V. W. Bro. The Rt. Rev. The Bishop of Barking, P.G.C., Chaplain
W. Bro. R. Percy F.W. Simpson, Dep.G.D.C., D.C.
W. Bro. Henry Times, P.Dep.G.D.C., I.G.
Bro. Henry Sadler, Grand Tyler, Tyler

 

There were also present the following sixteen founders :-

W. Bro. Arthur Seymour Jennings, P.M. Mount Lebanon Lodge No. 73
W. Bro. Joseph S. Pointon, P.M. Claremont Lodge No. 1861 and
Selwyn Lodge No. 1901
Bro. Cecil Robert Hall Hygeia Lodge No. 2664
Bro. Charles Eggleston Star Lodge No. 1275
Bro. Herbert R. Bagot Star Lodge No. 1275
Bro. Walter Batkin Hygeia Lodge No. 2664
Bro. William J. Prior Lodge St. Aubyn No. 954
Bro. Henry Capsey Hygeia Lodge No. 2664
Bro. Edward Doust Victoria Park Lodge No. 1816
Bro. Walter Uden Southern Star Lodge No. 1158
Bro. Robert J. Goodwin St. Luke's Lodge No. 144
Bro. John S. Robinson Islington Lodge No. 1471
Bro. George I. Fowler Beadon Lodge No. 619
Bro. George Albert Harris Lodge of St. John No. 1306
Bro. Charles Bowden Temple Lodge No. 101
Bro. Arthur A. Kemp Culham College Lodge No. 2951

 

There were forty-six visitors representing, additionally, the following Lodges :-

27 Egyptian Lodge 1538 St. Martin's-le-Grand Lodge
87 Vitruvian Lodge 1686 Paxton Lodge
157 Bedford Lodge 1695 New Finsbury Park Lodge
177 Domatic Lodge 1981 Arnold Lodge
453 Chigwell Lodge 2381 Bushey Park Lodge
712 Lindsay Lodge 2411 Clarence & Avondale Lodge
879 Southwark Lodge 2535 Fellowship Lodge
933 Doric Lodge 2765 Earl's Court Lodge
1158 Rahere Star Lodge 2956 Robert Mitchell Lodge
1178 Perfect Ashlar Lodge 3075 Vectis Lodge
1298 Royal Standard Lodge 3115 St. Chad's Lodge
1507 Metropolitan Lodge

 

The Ceremony was performed by the V.W. the Consecrating Master in a most solemn and dignified manner, the V.W. Bro. The Rt. Rev. The Bishop of Barking giving the Oration. W. Bro. A.S. Jennings was then duly Installed into the Chair of King Solomon by the V.W. Consecrating Master, who proclaimed him Master of the Lodge for the ensuing year. The W.M., having been saluted in the three degrees, proceeded to appoint and invest his Officers (the Treasurer and Tyler being elected by a show of hands) after which the V.W. Consecrating Master, as Installing Master, gave the addresses to the W.M., the Wardens and the Brethren.

The Consecrating Officers were elected Honorary Members of the Lodge and each accepted a Jewel to commemorate the occasion. A letter from the M.W. Pro G.M. was read expressing regret at his being unable to attend and particulars were given respecting nine Candidates for Initiation and one Joining member.

The Grand Secretary did not stay to the excellent banquet, which was served under the personal supervision of Bro. J.M. Germaine, as it was Lady Letchworth's birthday. W. Bro. Stevens, in thanking the Brethren for the beautiful Jewels, said he felt all would agree that Sir Edward could hardly have stayed to the birthday celebration of the Earl Amherst Lodge and neglected the birthday of his spouse. A telegram was received from Lady Letchworth, in response to the hearty greetings of the Brethren.

The speeches brought to light that W. Bro. Pointon had been asked by W. Bro. Jennings to accept the first Mastership of the Lodge but he had declined, feeling that he could best serve the Lodge as Preceptor of the Founders' University, the Star Lodge of Instruction.

The W.M., in proposing the Visitors toast on behalf of the Founders "could not say yet that they were famous for their hospitality, but hoped soon to be able to boast such a distinction".

The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro. H.C. Nelthorpe, who had the assistance of Miss Mary Lund, the Alexandra Part Singers and Bro. Ernest Cherry "whose character sketches were the best items in the programme".

A report of the Consecration of the Lodge appeared in the "Freemasons' Chronicle" of the 1st June, 1907.

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Updated by John G Amos on Sunday March 25, 2007