A report from The Freemason's Quarterly Review June 1851

Freemasons Quarterly Review 30 June 1851

From th

From the Archives

The Freemasons Quarterly Review - 30th June 1851

ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF THE LATE BRO. PETER THOMSON'S LODGE OF INSTRUCTION.

The thirty-fourth Anniversary of the Lodge of Instruction, under sanction of the Lodge of Stability (meeting at the George and Vulture Tavern, Cornhill), was specially held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, on Friday evening, the 25th April, last. Bro. Henry Muggeridge, P.M. 227, successor of the late Bro. Peter Thomson, as W.M. when the Lecture in the First Degree was worked in sections by the following Brethren:—

   1st Section, Bro. Richard Sharpe, S. D., Lodge No.225.
   2nd Section, Bro. David Samuels, W.M., Lodge No 364.
   3rd Section, Bro. James H. Townend, W.M., Lodge No 36.
   4th Section, Bro. Charles W. Steel, S.D., Lodge No 18.
   5th Section, Bro. Richard Bevington, J.W., Lodge No 30.
   6th Section, Bro. James Morris, Lodge No 227.
   7th Section, Bro. Richard H. Townend, P.M., Lodge No 36

After the business of the evening had been satisfactorily completed, the Brethren partook of a very elegant cold collation. The W.Bro. John Havers, P.G.S.D., presiding as Chairman, supported on the right by the Worshipful Bros. R. G. Alston, P. J. G. AV.; Potter, P.J.G.D.; Philipe, P.G.S.B.; Patten, P.G. S.B.; Breitling, G.P.; and Bonorandi, Rep. of the Grand Lodge of Switzerland : on the left by Bros. Muggeridge, John Savage, Satterly, Crew, R. Barnes Snr., and about 150 Brethren.

Grace having been sung by Bros. Jolley, Genge, Smith, and Jolley Jnr., the Chairman rose to propose the first toast, in doing which he said—1 C there be one nation on the face of the globe which may be reasonably and naturally proud of its sovereign, and of its institutions, that nation is our own. If there be a country in which a sovereign reigns, not by the terror of the laws but in the hearts and affections of the people—that country is happy England. If there is one nation more charitable than any other - more loyal than another, it is our own; and if there is a society more charitable and loyal than another, it is our own time-honoured Order. I therefore give you "the Queen, God bless her, and the Craft." Immense applause followed this toast, and the National Anthem was then sung by the vocalists, in which the company rapturously joined.

The next toast- was "the Earl of Zetland M.W.G.M." The Chairman, availed himself of this opportunity to eulogise the noble earl, as the friend and benefactor of the Craft, and congratulated the Brethren on his Lordship's recovery from the effects of intermittent fever, and the prospect of his being sufficiently recovered to preside at the Grand Festival. The cordial and warm manner in which the health of the M. W. G. M. was received, was another proof bow much his worth is appreciated by one and all of the Brethren.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of the "Earl of Yarborough, D.G.M., Bro. R.G. Alston, and the rest of the Grand Officers," paying a high and well-merited compliment to the active services and zeal, for the cause of Masonry, of Bro. Alston. A letter was here read from Bro. Bellamy Webb, P.G. S.B., regretting that he was prevented being present by severe indisposition.

Bro. R.G. ALSTON returned thanks in a most eloquent speech and expressed the great gratification he felt at the admirable working of the Lodge of Instruction: be also expressed regret at the absence of his Brother, Francis B. Alston, the S.G. Warden, who bad appointed to meet him there, but who was, doubtless, unexpectedly and unavoidably prevented doing so.

The next toast was " the Visitors, coupled with the name of Bro. Bonorandi, tins worthy and esteemed representative of the Grand Lodge of Switzerland."

Bro. BONORANDI responded for the visitors, expressing his acknowledgements for the honour done to himself, and to his country. He assured the Brethren that Freemasonry in Switzerland was esteemed most highly; that Lodges existed in good working order in eight Cantons and in six of those Cantons there were sixteen Lodges of one thousand Members, in which Masonry was well supported and carried out.

The CHAIRMAN then rose to propose the next toast, in doing which he said - If I consulted my own feelings, I should have proposed this toast without any comment, but I owe it to many present, who did not know Bro. Thomson so well as I did, to say that thirty four years ago, in conjunction with Bro. Broadfoot and Satterly he founded this Lodge of Instruction, during which long period he was constantly engaged in giving instruction to the Members of the Craft, or working its beautiful lectures : many of those present knew his intrinsic worth, his irreproachable life, his extensive charity; though the voice is now hushed, which so long stimulated Freemasons to perfect themselves in the beautiful working of the Craft, yet long will his memory dwell with us. On my left hand sits one who was his most intimate friend and pupil whose greatest ambition I know is to endeavour to supply his place in this Lodge of Instruction. I therefore call upon yon to drink to the "Memory of the late Bro. Peter Thomson." (Drunk in silence.)

The CHAIRMAN said - I have now another toast to propose, in which I am sure all present will concur. Although it is advantageous, in some respects, to follow in the steps of a great man, it is also disadvantageous in many others : the successor is expected to do not only as much, but frequently a great deal more than his predecessor ; for myself I feel a peculiar interest in this Lodge of Instruction, it was here I gained my Masonic knowledge, and I am sure Bro. Muggeridge will carry out Bro. Thomson's system in all its purity, - I therefore give yon "The Lodge of Instruction, and Bro. Henry Muggeridge."

Bro. MUGGERIDGE said in rising to return thanks for the good wishes and kind feelings which have been manifested towards this Lodge of Instruction, and myself, I assure you I do so with mingled feelings of sorrow and gratification. It would be strange, indeed, if I did not feel sorrow when I look around in vain for that old friend and instructor, with whom I have been so intimately associated for years past, but sorrow will not bring him back; and the best proof we can give of veneration for his memory is to endeavour to maintain the efficiency and permanency of the Lodge of Instruction in which he took such strong interest, and to promulgate the beautiful system which he worked and taught for nearly half a century. I am happy to say, that through Iris kindness I trust I shall be found capable of disseminating that knowledge, and shall always consider the office to which I have succeeded, as held by me in trust—every instruction I can give is freely at the service of any Brother who may claim it at my hands ; in every respect I will endeavour to carry out Bro. Thomson's principles and his system to the utmost. I thank the Brethren for their patient attention this evening, and for the satisfaction they have expressed ; I trust they will excuse any defects they may have found, as no arrangements could obviously be made till a very late period of the session; next year there will be more time, and we then hope to be better enabled to elucidate the more advanced portions of our beautiful science.

After the address of Bro. Muggeridge, which was very cordially received, Bro. R.G. ALSTON proposed the health of "the Chairman. In doing this, be spoke very highly of the splendid talents of Bro. Havers; and expressed his gratification at having, through Masonry, been enabled to enrol him amongst the number of his friends.

Bro. HAVERS returned thanks with feeling and eloquence, bearing testimony to Bro. Alston's remark that Masonry if it had no other merit might at least boast of bringing together in social and benevolent intercourse, the good, the great, and the titled of the land ; and concluded by proposing the health of "the Brethren who have worked the Sections," expressing his entire satisfaction at the correct manner in which they bad performed their several parts, a subject on which be felt competent to give an opinion, having himself formerly assisted on similar occasions.

Bro. R.H. TOWNEND the S.W., rose to reply and spoke in the following terms: -On behalf of the Brethren who have had the honour to work the Sections this evening, whose names you have brought so prominently before the Brethren, I beg to offer my most sincere thanks. Some of them have bad the pleasure to appear before this Lodge on former occasions. In prosecuting the duties with which we have been intrusted, we have invariably found it to be, as Bro. Alston has stated, that an attentive study of the principles of Freemasonry brings with it its own reward ; and we ourselves know of instances, more than one or two, which have come under our own immediate notice, in which the inculcation of those very principles have been acted out in the life, and have been made the means of restraining the pernicious habits of intemperance and vice. We have been reminded this evening of the severe loss we have sustained during the past year, a loss we bad at one time considered to be irreparable, but we rejoice to know that the mantle of the former Instructor has fallen on the shoulders of another, and though Bro. Peter Thomson has been removed from the sphere of his labours on earth, we believe Bro. Henry Muggeridge, who has been called to fill his place, will be found to be an equally efficient, willing, and competent Instructor. The Great Architect of the Universe has thought fit to call away Bro. Peter Thomson and Bro. Pryer, but the structure of which we form a part is not like the idol temple of Dagon in Philistia of old; it depends not for its support on two pillars alone, however solid or stately. Death, like Sampson, may grasp Jachin and Boaz, the one with his right band, the other with his left ; be may bow himself with all his might, and lay both pillars in the dust, yet the foundation of Freemasonry remaineth, and so long as that foundation is fixed on the Volume of the Sacred Law, and the key or cape-stone of the building is that pure disinterested charity, which forms the brightest gem in the system of Freemasonry, the superstructure can never fail ; and we pledge ourselves to uphold this Lodge of Instruction to the utmost of our ability, as a means of carrying out and supporting that system so time-honoured and so noble, in which we delight, and which we are satisfied is so well calculated to benefit the world at large. It is not to be supposed that any Brother can know anything of the beauties of Masonry by merely listening to the ceremonies; it is only by a close study and acquaintance with the lectures of which you have heard a small part this evening, that its various beauties can be understood and enjoyed.

The speech of Bro. Townend, of which the above report is but an imperfect outline, made a great impression on those who beard it, and will doubtless serve as a stimulus to increase their exertions in behalf of a society, which possesses the many valuable qualities, upon which the Brother dilated so feelingly and appropriately.

The CHAIRMAN next proposed "the Masonic Charities, viz. the Girls' and Boys' Schools, and the Widows' and Annuity Funds," charities of which Masonry might well be proud. He fully expected to have seen the respective Secretaries of those Institutions present, but no doubt they were unavoidably absent; he was glad, however, to see in his place Bro. Crew, the excellent and indefatigable Secretary of the Girls' School, whose worth every one present must appreciate. He gave "the Masonic Charities and Bro. Crew."

Bro. CREW returned thanks at some length : in the course of his observations he stated, that be bad the pleasure to assure the Brethren that the Girls' School was in a very prosperous condition, so much so that the present premises having been found inadequate for the accommodation of the children, and their lease having nearly expired, the House Committee had been able to purchase and pay for a new piece of ground on which to erect a suitable building, and that the plans and specifications bad been supplied by the W. Bro. Phillip Hardwick, G. Sup. of Works, who bad estimated the cost at 7000/.

After several other toasts, enlivened by very excellent and appropriate music, the meeting separated at low twelve!

We cannot conclude this notice without recommending this and similar Lodges of Instruction to all Brethren; we sincerely congratulate this Lodge in particular, on the great benefit it has conferred on the Craft by such meetings, such excellent working, and the exhibition of such good and kindly feelings as pervaded this crowded assembly; ail of which not only do honour to the Craft, but tend, more than we may be generally disposed to think, to the advancement of the best interests of Masonry, as well as to the qualification of young Masons for the duties which will speedily devolve upon them. - ESTO PERPETUA!

The Freemasons Quarterly Review: 30th June 1831, page 92 - Library and Museum of Freemasonry