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Article DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. Page 1 of 3 Article DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Douglas, Isle Of Man.
DOUGLAS , ISLE OF MAN .
CONSECRATION OF THE ELL AN VANNIN LODGE , No . 2049 , and ST . TRINIAN'S LODGE , No 2050 .
FROM THK Tsr . E OK MAN TIMES . AN event unprecedented wo believe in the history of Freemasonry has ocenrrerl in Douglas , that of tho establishment of two now Craft Lodges in one town within tho brief apace of forty-eight bonis Theso two new Ledges aro tho Elian Tannin , numb trod 2010 , nnd tho St . Trinian ' s , numbered 2050 on tho Registry of the (! .-..:, ! I . > 1 ;;
of England . Amongst tho rapidly increasing Masonic body in Douglas aro many members of remarkab'o enthusiasm in their endeavours to promote the welfare of the Order , and by them it was determined that the event should be celebrated iu such u manner US would make it an era in the history of Manx Masonry . The dates of the two cons'crations having boon fixed to suit the convenience ol
Bro . Colonel Shadwell IT . Gierke , Grand Secretary of England , who had been appointed by the Most Worshipful tho Grand Master hi * Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , to perform tho ceremony , committees from the founders of each Lodge wero appointed to make the necessary arrangements for tho ceremonies . Tho Grand Secretary arrived hero on Friday evening , the 24 th nit ., accompanied bv a
nnmber of Officers of the Grand Lodgo of England , amongst whom wero Bros , the Rev . C . VV . Spencer Stanhope P . Grand Chaplain , 0 . J . Bannister P . G . S . B ., Edgar Bowyer P . G . St . B . . Frank Richard , son P . G . D ., and Colonel FI . S . Somerville Bnrnoy P . G . D . Several of theso distinguished brethren became the guests of Rro . Major , T . S . Goldie-Taubman , at the Nunnery , who very generously extended his
hospitality , and who is entitled to tho thanks of the local brotherhood for his efforts in moro ways than one to make this tho first visit to the Island of the Grand Officers a pleasant one . The consecration of the EUnn Vantiin Lodgo wns fixed for Saturday , the 25 th nit ., at four o ' clock in tho af rernoon ; and by that hour there was a large gathering of tho Craft from all parts of tho Island ;
the " ylers book having been signed by no fewer than forty-eight brethren , of whom exactly one-half wero P . M . 's of the Order , amongst these being severed from England . The founders of tho Lodge who signed the petition aro tho following : —Bros . John A . Brown P . M . 1242 P . Z . 1004 , J . S . Goldie-Tanhman W . M . 1212 , G . H . Smith P . P . G . S . B . ( N . Mnnster ) , James Hodgson , Rov . Rlnndel Brown , A .
Bruce , J . E . Hunt , Dr . J . Beynalds P . Z . ( S . C . ) , R . Whiteside , Dr . Dearden W . M . 1004 , J . A . Mylrea , W . Dobson , G . 0 . Heron P . M . 1004 P . Z . 1004 , G . H . Quayle ' P . M . ( I . C . ) , Dr . T . A . Woods , Dr . Friend , Claude Caunell , and F . Browne . All the .--o brethren wore present except two . In their petition to tho Grand Lodge tho petitioners had nominated Bro . J . A . Brown to be tho first W . M .,
Bro . G . H . Smith tobo their first S . W ., and Bro . James Hodgson to be their first J . W . The brethren assembled in the Tynwald Lodgeroom , and received tho representatives of Grand Lodge in duo form . the Grand Secretary having , as Consecrating and Installing Officer , taken tho Chair , appointed his Officers as follow : — Bros . C . J . Bannister P . G . S . B . as S . W ., Edgar Bowver P . G . St . B . as J . W ., Rev .
Charles W . Spencer Stanhope P . G . Chaplain as Chaplain , Frank Richardson P . G . D . as Director of Ceremonies and Colonel 11 . - S . Somervillo Burney as I . G . The Lodge having been opened , the Consecrating Officer proceeded with the consecration ceremony , which is of a most impressive and imposing nature . Ho was ably assisted by the other Grand Officers , the entire proce din / s , under the
experienced direction of the Director of Ceremonies , passing off without the slishtest hitch . The Presiding Officer , in his address to the brethren , before commencing the bnsiness , dwelt upon tho motive of the assembly , and gave a brief history of the establishment and progress of Freemasonry in the Island . There was , he said , a rumour to the effect
that it was under tho auspices of the Grand Lodge of Scotland that Freemasonry was first introduced here ; but , so far as ho could learn , there was no trustworthy evidence on that point . Under the Irish Grand Lodge , however , more than ono Lodge had been established on the Island . One which had for years existed in Douglas finished its career in the year 1862 ; but tho Lo'Ige of Mona , with a Chatter
from the Grand Lodgo of Ireland , dated so far back as the 8 th of June 1857 , waa still flourishing in Gaatletowi-. Tho first establishment of English Freemasonry in Douglas was 1864 , tho consecration of the Athole Lodge having taken place in tho April of that year . Some idea of the progress which Freemas-nry is making under tho fostering care of the Grand Lodgo of England , with Brother his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as its present head , may be gathered from the fact that tho Athole Lodge is numbered 100 t on the Registry of the Grand Lodge of England , whereas the Lodge which he now had the pleasure of consecrating was numbered 2049 , so that in the twenty years which had elapsed since the establish . ment of the Athole Lodge tho Order had moro than doubled itself .
In the December of the very year after the establishment of thr Athole Lodge , the St . Maughold Lodge , afc Ramsey , numbered 1075 on the Registry of the Grand Lodgo of England , was consecrated . Nc further progress , so far as increasing tho number of Lodges W . ' concerned , was made during tbe next three years . Then camo n petition for a warrant for the Tynwald Lodge , number 1242 , and in
the December of 1868 that Lodge wns consecrated by their excellent brother Bannister , whom ho . had now the pleasure of seeing in tin Senior Warden ' s chair in tho Tynwald Lodge Rooms . In the yen 1870 the Athole Chapter , attached to the Athole Lodge , was established , the consecration taking place in the . May of that vear . From
1870 a lapse of 14 years took plnee without any further proposals tincreaso the number ' of Lodges in Douglas ; but in the early part o > this year the authorities of tho Grand Lodge wore somewhat startled by receiving , almost simultaueously , petitions for Charters for two Lodges to bo established in Douglas . Snch P . U event as this was quite unprecedented ; but , on finding thafc the two new Lodges were
Douglas, Isle Of Man.
not likely to clash with each other , nor with tho existing Lodges , his Royal Highness w- de ; . -. 1 to grant the prayers « f tho }>¦¦ ifioners , and , in pursuit ..-., . f the Grand Master ' s command , ho ( tho Grand Secretary ) am ! or her Otliors of the Grand Lodge had como to the Island to perform tho cansecration ceremony ami to duly constitute the petitioners into two Lodges of "Ancient Freo ami Accepted
-Masons . " Bvforo proceeding with tho ceremony ho wonld like to uttor a few words of caution . Tho magnificent progress of tho Order in late years had led to enormons numbers of persons endeavouring to procure admission to Masonry , many with tho selfish and sordid object of unduly availing themselves of its undoubted privileges or to push forward their business . Members should , therefore , bo ¦ ¦
•| IL- ii ! ' ; - :. ::. . ;¦ ' !! ' ' not to propose any persons for initiation into tho Order unless they felt convinced that they wonld reflect honour and credit on their choice . Thr-re was no difficulty in getting candidates — too many wero only too anxious to join tho Order—but before thoy .-. vt-e a ,:. v- [ iteil for initiation iheir character should bo considered , their temper studied , their antecedents inquired into ; and thus tho
entrance of unworthy persons into the Order would be guarded a . 'atri ^ . No L-: d : / o should bo in too great a hurry to nssnino largo proportioi . s . Tiny h-. id far better advance slowly , and with duo care build up a Lod ' . 'o which would rofleot honour on tho Brotherhood . Tho ceremony was then proceeded with . During its progress tho Grand Chaplain ( tho Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhopo ) delivered the following oration on tho nature and principles of tho Masonic Institution : —
Tho appearance of a new houso , whoso site , style , or surroundings are of special beanty and appropriateness , naturally leads tho boh >! ? er to speculate upon tho character and condition of tho owner . An I tho consecration of a uow Lodge seems equally to call for ronrirk upon tho timo honoured Institution which is hero to havo its home . What , then , briefly , is Freemasonry ? Originally , no doubt , a
guild of artificers , dating from the reign of King Solomon , and organised by his marvellous wisdom ; with valuable trado secrets to keep closo among themselves , and a careful system of passwords , signs , and tokens , for thoir preservation ; a regular classification of the brethren into convenient groups or Lodges ; orderly arrangements for government and discipline ; periodical examinations of the junior
workmen , to ascertain tho progress they were making ; solemn forms and ceremonies for admitting now members into the Brotherhood , passing successful candidates to higher degrees of proficiency , and investing them with conspicuous badges of merit ; special times and places for tho discussion of business matters , with a rigid exclusion of all exciting topics of debate , snch as religion and politics , so as not
to disturb the harmony so essential to tho successful accomplishment of the grand work of Temple building , which was being carried on by tho diverse nationalities of Judaea and Phoenicia in conjunction . With tho prestige of a lofty origin like this an I ita nocesaavy connection with tho liberal arts and sciences , such as painting , sculpture , and the rest , tho Masonic association rapidly developed and extended to
every quarter of tho civilized world . A powerful organization of this kind , with its ever accumulating stores of knowledge and experience , conld not fail to produce extensive and important results . And , accordingly , wo cannot be surprised to learn that to Freemasonry wo aro indebted for the wonderful structures—beautiful even in their ruin—erected under Greek and Roman auspices before tho Christian
era ; and , in especial , for the magnificent mansions , castles , churches , and cathedrals that sprung up everywhere , in Great Britain and the Continent , during the comparatively quiet period of the eleventh and four following centuries . Nor can we wonder that men of other trades and professions , even kings and princes , eagerly sought admission into an Order of such high renown for the sake of
companionship with tho illustrious masters of art and science who ennobled it , and whose splendid labours did so much to enhance the national pride and glory . By degrees , however , "Speculative Masons , " who , by special favour , were accepted to fche freedom of the Of " . ft , so far out-numbered their "operative " brethren , that , cuckooliko , thev ousted tho original owners from tho Masonic nest , and
stayed in it themselves ; retaining the outward shape and form of the ancient guild , with its working tools and badges ; its stringent vows of secrecy , fidelity , and obedience j its elaborate and impressive ritual ; and its oral triadic instruction ; bnt turning all into parable and metaphor ; so that , as we have it uow , it is simply " a beautiful svptem of morality , vailed in allegory , and illustrated by symbols ;"
a , system possessing many important , secrets and valuable privileges , and a history of unquestionable fact , embroidered with a variety of cut-ions myths or legends , to furnish a plausible explanation of passwords , signs , and tokens , whose real origin and primitive significance hive , in all probability , passed away from us for ever . Snch is Freemasonry in the past . What , then , are its claims
arm us in tho present ? And why aro we here to-day doing oar utmost to perpetuate it in the future ? Now , to answer these inquiries , we must call to mind that Masonry may be viewed under two aspects—a lower and a higher , viz . ( 1 ) , as connected with Lodges 1 : i-e on earth , and their members as citizens of tlie world ; and ( 2 ) , a connected with Grand Lodge above , whero the G . A . lives and reigns
for ever . In its lower aspect it has three special claims upon our atten . lion and regard , viz ., as : —( a ) A bond of union and brotherhood between all tho widely separated families and classes of humanity . ( 6 ) A neutral ground of meeting , for freo and social intercourse , among less widely separated neighbours and acquaintances , ( c ) A universal letter of introduction to entire strangers , and a special medium for
assisting'ho needy and distressed . In its higher aspect it is still iiicro worthy the eulogy and encomiums that have been lavished upon it by tho brethren in every age . As one of our fraternal charges well expresses it : —'" Tis not mere blind fanatic zeal that prompts ; he brethreu of the rustic tie to speak thus highly of tbe Masons '
Graft . lor well they know that it is the best and truest handmaid to religion that over man devised , and admirably fitted to assist him in his search for light and knowledge through all the stages of this mortal life , from the cradled helplessness of infancy to the final darkness of the grave . It is founded on a triad of deep mysterious
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Douglas, Isle Of Man.
DOUGLAS , ISLE OF MAN .
CONSECRATION OF THE ELL AN VANNIN LODGE , No . 2049 , and ST . TRINIAN'S LODGE , No 2050 .
FROM THK Tsr . E OK MAN TIMES . AN event unprecedented wo believe in the history of Freemasonry has ocenrrerl in Douglas , that of tho establishment of two now Craft Lodges in one town within tho brief apace of forty-eight bonis Theso two new Ledges aro tho Elian Tannin , numb trod 2010 , nnd tho St . Trinian ' s , numbered 2050 on tho Registry of the (! .-..:, ! I . > 1 ;;
of England . Amongst tho rapidly increasing Masonic body in Douglas aro many members of remarkab'o enthusiasm in their endeavours to promote the welfare of the Order , and by them it was determined that the event should be celebrated iu such u manner US would make it an era in the history of Manx Masonry . The dates of the two cons'crations having boon fixed to suit the convenience ol
Bro . Colonel Shadwell IT . Gierke , Grand Secretary of England , who had been appointed by the Most Worshipful tho Grand Master hi * Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , to perform tho ceremony , committees from the founders of each Lodge wero appointed to make the necessary arrangements for tho ceremonies . Tho Grand Secretary arrived hero on Friday evening , the 24 th nit ., accompanied bv a
nnmber of Officers of the Grand Lodgo of England , amongst whom wero Bros , the Rev . C . VV . Spencer Stanhope P . Grand Chaplain , 0 . J . Bannister P . G . S . B ., Edgar Bowyer P . G . St . B . . Frank Richard , son P . G . D ., and Colonel FI . S . Somerville Bnrnoy P . G . D . Several of theso distinguished brethren became the guests of Rro . Major , T . S . Goldie-Taubman , at the Nunnery , who very generously extended his
hospitality , and who is entitled to tho thanks of the local brotherhood for his efforts in moro ways than one to make this tho first visit to the Island of the Grand Officers a pleasant one . The consecration of the EUnn Vantiin Lodgo wns fixed for Saturday , the 25 th nit ., at four o ' clock in tho af rernoon ; and by that hour there was a large gathering of tho Craft from all parts of tho Island ;
the " ylers book having been signed by no fewer than forty-eight brethren , of whom exactly one-half wero P . M . 's of the Order , amongst these being severed from England . The founders of tho Lodge who signed the petition aro tho following : —Bros . John A . Brown P . M . 1242 P . Z . 1004 , J . S . Goldie-Tanhman W . M . 1212 , G . H . Smith P . P . G . S . B . ( N . Mnnster ) , James Hodgson , Rov . Rlnndel Brown , A .
Bruce , J . E . Hunt , Dr . J . Beynalds P . Z . ( S . C . ) , R . Whiteside , Dr . Dearden W . M . 1004 , J . A . Mylrea , W . Dobson , G . 0 . Heron P . M . 1004 P . Z . 1004 , G . H . Quayle ' P . M . ( I . C . ) , Dr . T . A . Woods , Dr . Friend , Claude Caunell , and F . Browne . All the .--o brethren wore present except two . In their petition to tho Grand Lodge tho petitioners had nominated Bro . J . A . Brown to be tho first W . M .,
Bro . G . H . Smith tobo their first S . W ., and Bro . James Hodgson to be their first J . W . The brethren assembled in the Tynwald Lodgeroom , and received tho representatives of Grand Lodge in duo form . the Grand Secretary having , as Consecrating and Installing Officer , taken tho Chair , appointed his Officers as follow : — Bros . C . J . Bannister P . G . S . B . as S . W ., Edgar Bowver P . G . St . B . as J . W ., Rev .
Charles W . Spencer Stanhope P . G . Chaplain as Chaplain , Frank Richardson P . G . D . as Director of Ceremonies and Colonel 11 . - S . Somervillo Burney as I . G . The Lodge having been opened , the Consecrating Officer proceeded with the consecration ceremony , which is of a most impressive and imposing nature . Ho was ably assisted by the other Grand Officers , the entire proce din / s , under the
experienced direction of the Director of Ceremonies , passing off without the slishtest hitch . The Presiding Officer , in his address to the brethren , before commencing the bnsiness , dwelt upon tho motive of the assembly , and gave a brief history of the establishment and progress of Freemasonry in the Island . There was , he said , a rumour to the effect
that it was under tho auspices of the Grand Lodge of Scotland that Freemasonry was first introduced here ; but , so far as ho could learn , there was no trustworthy evidence on that point . Under the Irish Grand Lodge , however , more than ono Lodge had been established on the Island . One which had for years existed in Douglas finished its career in the year 1862 ; but tho Lo'Ige of Mona , with a Chatter
from the Grand Lodgo of Ireland , dated so far back as the 8 th of June 1857 , waa still flourishing in Gaatletowi-. Tho first establishment of English Freemasonry in Douglas was 1864 , tho consecration of the Athole Lodge having taken place in tho April of that year . Some idea of the progress which Freemas-nry is making under tho fostering care of the Grand Lodgo of England , with Brother his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as its present head , may be gathered from the fact that tho Athole Lodge is numbered 100 t on the Registry of the Grand Lodge of England , whereas the Lodge which he now had the pleasure of consecrating was numbered 2049 , so that in the twenty years which had elapsed since the establish . ment of the Athole Lodge tho Order had moro than doubled itself .
In the December of the very year after the establishment of thr Athole Lodge , the St . Maughold Lodge , afc Ramsey , numbered 1075 on the Registry of the Grand Lodgo of England , was consecrated . Nc further progress , so far as increasing tho number of Lodges W . ' concerned , was made during tbe next three years . Then camo n petition for a warrant for the Tynwald Lodge , number 1242 , and in
the December of 1868 that Lodge wns consecrated by their excellent brother Bannister , whom ho . had now the pleasure of seeing in tin Senior Warden ' s chair in tho Tynwald Lodge Rooms . In the yen 1870 the Athole Chapter , attached to the Athole Lodge , was established , the consecration taking place in the . May of that vear . From
1870 a lapse of 14 years took plnee without any further proposals tincreaso the number ' of Lodges in Douglas ; but in the early part o > this year the authorities of tho Grand Lodge wore somewhat startled by receiving , almost simultaueously , petitions for Charters for two Lodges to bo established in Douglas . Snch P . U event as this was quite unprecedented ; but , on finding thafc the two new Lodges were
Douglas, Isle Of Man.
not likely to clash with each other , nor with tho existing Lodges , his Royal Highness w- de ; . -. 1 to grant the prayers « f tho }>¦¦ ifioners , and , in pursuit ..-., . f the Grand Master ' s command , ho ( tho Grand Secretary ) am ! or her Otliors of the Grand Lodge had como to the Island to perform tho cansecration ceremony ami to duly constitute the petitioners into two Lodges of "Ancient Freo ami Accepted
-Masons . " Bvforo proceeding with tho ceremony ho wonld like to uttor a few words of caution . Tho magnificent progress of tho Order in late years had led to enormons numbers of persons endeavouring to procure admission to Masonry , many with tho selfish and sordid object of unduly availing themselves of its undoubted privileges or to push forward their business . Members should , therefore , bo ¦ ¦
•| IL- ii ! ' ; - :. ::. . ;¦ ' !! ' ' not to propose any persons for initiation into tho Order unless they felt convinced that they wonld reflect honour and credit on their choice . Thr-re was no difficulty in getting candidates — too many wero only too anxious to join tho Order—but before thoy .-. vt-e a ,:. v- [ iteil for initiation iheir character should bo considered , their temper studied , their antecedents inquired into ; and thus tho
entrance of unworthy persons into the Order would be guarded a . 'atri ^ . No L-: d : / o should bo in too great a hurry to nssnino largo proportioi . s . Tiny h-. id far better advance slowly , and with duo care build up a Lod ' . 'o which would rofleot honour on tho Brotherhood . Tho ceremony was then proceeded with . During its progress tho Grand Chaplain ( tho Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhopo ) delivered the following oration on tho nature and principles of tho Masonic Institution : —
Tho appearance of a new houso , whoso site , style , or surroundings are of special beanty and appropriateness , naturally leads tho boh >! ? er to speculate upon tho character and condition of tho owner . An I tho consecration of a uow Lodge seems equally to call for ronrirk upon tho timo honoured Institution which is hero to havo its home . What , then , briefly , is Freemasonry ? Originally , no doubt , a
guild of artificers , dating from the reign of King Solomon , and organised by his marvellous wisdom ; with valuable trado secrets to keep closo among themselves , and a careful system of passwords , signs , and tokens , for thoir preservation ; a regular classification of the brethren into convenient groups or Lodges ; orderly arrangements for government and discipline ; periodical examinations of the junior
workmen , to ascertain tho progress they were making ; solemn forms and ceremonies for admitting now members into the Brotherhood , passing successful candidates to higher degrees of proficiency , and investing them with conspicuous badges of merit ; special times and places for tho discussion of business matters , with a rigid exclusion of all exciting topics of debate , snch as religion and politics , so as not
to disturb the harmony so essential to tho successful accomplishment of the grand work of Temple building , which was being carried on by tho diverse nationalities of Judaea and Phoenicia in conjunction . With tho prestige of a lofty origin like this an I ita nocesaavy connection with tho liberal arts and sciences , such as painting , sculpture , and the rest , tho Masonic association rapidly developed and extended to
every quarter of tho civilized world . A powerful organization of this kind , with its ever accumulating stores of knowledge and experience , conld not fail to produce extensive and important results . And , accordingly , wo cannot be surprised to learn that to Freemasonry wo aro indebted for the wonderful structures—beautiful even in their ruin—erected under Greek and Roman auspices before tho Christian
era ; and , in especial , for the magnificent mansions , castles , churches , and cathedrals that sprung up everywhere , in Great Britain and the Continent , during the comparatively quiet period of the eleventh and four following centuries . Nor can we wonder that men of other trades and professions , even kings and princes , eagerly sought admission into an Order of such high renown for the sake of
companionship with tho illustrious masters of art and science who ennobled it , and whose splendid labours did so much to enhance the national pride and glory . By degrees , however , "Speculative Masons , " who , by special favour , were accepted to fche freedom of the Of " . ft , so far out-numbered their "operative " brethren , that , cuckooliko , thev ousted tho original owners from tho Masonic nest , and
stayed in it themselves ; retaining the outward shape and form of the ancient guild , with its working tools and badges ; its stringent vows of secrecy , fidelity , and obedience j its elaborate and impressive ritual ; and its oral triadic instruction ; bnt turning all into parable and metaphor ; so that , as we have it uow , it is simply " a beautiful svptem of morality , vailed in allegory , and illustrated by symbols ;"
a , system possessing many important , secrets and valuable privileges , and a history of unquestionable fact , embroidered with a variety of cut-ions myths or legends , to furnish a plausible explanation of passwords , signs , and tokens , whose real origin and primitive significance hive , in all probability , passed away from us for ever . Snch is Freemasonry in the past . What , then , are its claims
arm us in tho present ? And why aro we here to-day doing oar utmost to perpetuate it in the future ? Now , to answer these inquiries , we must call to mind that Masonry may be viewed under two aspects—a lower and a higher , viz . ( 1 ) , as connected with Lodges 1 : i-e on earth , and their members as citizens of tlie world ; and ( 2 ) , a connected with Grand Lodge above , whero the G . A . lives and reigns
for ever . In its lower aspect it has three special claims upon our atten . lion and regard , viz ., as : —( a ) A bond of union and brotherhood between all tho widely separated families and classes of humanity . ( 6 ) A neutral ground of meeting , for freo and social intercourse , among less widely separated neighbours and acquaintances , ( c ) A universal letter of introduction to entire strangers , and a special medium for
assisting'ho needy and distressed . In its higher aspect it is still iiicro worthy the eulogy and encomiums that have been lavished upon it by tho brethren in every age . As one of our fraternal charges well expresses it : —'" Tis not mere blind fanatic zeal that prompts ; he brethreu of the rustic tie to speak thus highly of tbe Masons '
Graft . lor well they know that it is the best and truest handmaid to religion that over man devised , and admirably fitted to assist him in his search for light and knowledge through all the stages of this mortal life , from the cradled helplessness of infancy to the final darkness of the grave . It is founded on a triad of deep mysterious