CONSECRATION OF THE RA.HERE LODGE OF FREEMASONS.

49

Master of England, acted as consecrating officer and then

took the chair. He was supported on his right by the Prince
of Wales and the Crown Prince of Denmark, while the 8eniorWardens chair was occupied by Lord Roberts of Candahar,
The following is the answer by Mr. Sharp (Chairman of Grand Senior Warden, the Junior Wardens chair being
the School Accommodation and Attendance Committee) to filled by Lord Skelmersdale. The duties of director of
ceremonies were undertaken by Bro. Frank Richardson ; the
the foregoing questions :Dean of Gloucester, Grand Chaplain, acted as chapain ; and
It may be well to premise my remarks by observing that Mr. Riley
labours under a misconception in assuming that the local medical men Bro. P. H. Waterlow, Past Grand Deacon, as inner guard.
The brethren received the two Grand Masters in due
appointed by the Board have consented to examine medical certificatts, or that medical certificates will besubmitted for examination to Masonic fashion, and accorded to each the salute due to his
the aforesaid doctors. These local medical men have been appointed
The lodge presented a very brilliant spectacle, over
to examine cases in which the medical certificate produced is con- rank.
sidered by the divisional superintendent to be doubtful, or in which it 300 grand officers and brethren being present.
Among them
is desirable to have a definite medical opinion."
we noticed :-Viscount Dungarvan, Provincial Grand Master
Mr. Sharp then said that categorical answers would be mis- of Somerset; Colonel Le Gendre Starkie, Provincial Grand
leading to the Board, so he preferred to make the following Master of East Lancashire ; General Laurie, Past Grand
statement. After quoting his letter, which appeared in our Warden; W. M. Stiles, Grand Treasurer; Rev. Cooper
Smith, D.D., Past Grand Chaplain ; Lennox Browne,
columns of April 30th, 1895, he continued :—
Director of Ceremonies ;
R. Loveland
From the foregoing statement it will be seen that it is incorrect to Past Grand
Board
of
the
President
of
General
that
all
the
submitted
cases
which
have
been
to
the
local
Loveland,
Pnrposesr .
suppose
medical men appointed by the Board have been cases in which certifi- R. Horton Smith, Q C. ; H. F. Frost, Grand Organist ;%
cates have been given by other medical men, but which have been con- E. Cutler.
Q.C., Past Grand Organist; Dr. Balfour Cockburn,
sidered for some reason or other to be unsatisfactory. As a matter of
fact, so far as I have information, the majority of the cases which have Provincial Grand Master of Guernsey and Alderne ; Dr.
been submitted to these gentlemen have been cases in which no medical
Hugh Mackintosh and Bro. Chas. Martin, Past Assistant.
certilieate has been produced by the parent, and in which it was con- Grand Directors of Ceremonies ; the Earl of Euston, Prosiclered by the divisional members to be difficuit, if not impossible, to
and Huntingdonobtain such certificate. With reference to the latter cases, I might vincial Grand Master, Northamptonshire
mention that, in some parts of London, at any rate, I have evidence shire ; Alderman Walter Vaughan Morgan ; General J. C.
that district medical officers of the guardians refuse to furnish, without Smith, Past Grand Master of Illinois. There were present
payment, such certificaates to persons in receipt of parochial medical a large number of medical brethren, including Bros. Reginald
relief. In these cases, therefore, the divisional committee must, in
order to satisfy themselves as to the correctness, or otherwise, of the Harrison, Henry Morris, Edmund Owen, W. P. Hemcham,
statement made by the parent as to the alleged illness of the child,
Samuel West, Arbuthnot Lane, A. A. Bowlby, R J. Reece,.
either at once proceed with the prosecution before a magistrate or Eisex
Wynter, Leopold Hudson, Howard Tooth, Alban Doran,
obtain a medical opinion in their own behalf. In those cases in which
W.
H.
H. Jessop, Bruce Clarke, H. J. Waring, C. A. Parker,
the child is ascertained to be unable to attend school, the Board are
saved both the expense and the odium of unsuccessful legal proceed- Danford Thomas, and F. W. Clark.
ings, and the parent is saved the unnecessary pain and annoyance of a
The impressive ceremony of the consecration was proprosecution before a magistrate."
ceeded with, the Earl of Lathom giving the invocation,
We should like to know what is the difference between while the Dean ofGloucester delivered the oration, and the
"examining medical certificates considered to be doubtful " anthems were sung by Bros. Frost, Kenningham, Fryer,
and "examining cases in which the medical certificate is and Stubbs. The Grand Master then constituted the lodge,
considered to be doubtful." After this preface Mr. Sharp the following officers being appointed :-Bros. Clemert
changed his ground and went on to explain that most Godson, M D, P.G.D. (W.M.); Thomas Trollope, M.D., P.G D.
of the cases submitted to the medical men were those in (Acting I.P.M.) ; Alfred Cooper, F.R.C.S., P.G D. (8 W.) ;;.
which no medical certificate had been obtained. If this is W. J. Walsham, F.R.C.S., P.M. (J.W.); DArcy Power,
all the Board wanted why did it not accept Mr. Rileya F.R.C.S., P.M., P.G.J.W. Warwickshire (Treas.); T. G. A.
amendment of May 30th?
Burns, M.R.C.S., P.M., P.PGD. Surrey (Sec.); Walter
Mr. Sharps statement is simply playing with words. We Gdpper, M.B., P.M. (S.D.); Phineas S. Abraham, MD.
will put the whole case in plain language. 1. The Board, by (J.n.); G H. R. Holden, M.D. (LG.); F. Swinford Edwards,
means of its divisional superintendents, considers certain
F.RC.S. P.M. (D.C.); J. H. Gilbertson, M.B.C.S, P.M.,
medical certificates to be doubtful. 2. These certificates are P.P.SGD. Herts (Stwd.); C. B. Lockwood, F.R.C.S.,
presumably signed by qualified medical men. 3. The Board W.M. 1150 (Stwd); C. P. White, M.B. (Stwd.) ;
has appointed certain other medical men to examine these Ernest Clarke, F.R.C.S. (Org.); Madden, Librarian of
particular cases in which the certificate is consider6d St. Bartholomews Hospital (Tyler).
doubtful. 4. That is to say, the Board has appointed one
Among the other founders of the Lodge are Bros.
set of medical men to revise or examine, or set aside the W. Haig Brodie, B. Latter Tandy, A. G. R. Foulerton,
i
diagnosis and opinion of another set of medical men. Let H. D. Lauchlan, G. H. Forman, J. E. Sandilands, C. A
Mr. Sharp deny this if he can without beating about the Parker, A. A. Bowlby, F. W. Clark, W. T. Partner
bush. We warn the School Board, as we warned it in our J. Pickett, and R. J. Reece.
ishue of June 8h, that the result will be that no medical
The first act of the new Lodge was to enrol its first
man will sign certificates at all, but will rather give evidence
honorary member in the person of the Prince of Wales.
in case of a prosecution, and then, as Mr. Sharp pathetically The Benediction having been pronounced, Their Royal
puts it, the Board will "incur the odium of unsuccessful Highnesses took their departure, and on leaving the hospital
legal proceedings," and, in our opinion, it will well deserve received an ovation from the students gathered in the
this result.
quadrangle. The guard of honour was furnished by the
St. Bartholomews Hospital Company of the Volunteer
Medical Staff Corps. The brethren afterwards adjourned to
CONSECRATION OF THE RAHERE LODGE a banquet at the Albion, Aldersgate-street, the toast of
"The Visitors" being responded to by General Smith of
OF FREEMASONS.
Illinois.
We wish this new professional lodge every success ; it has.
SATURDAY last wa3 a red-letter day for St. Bartholomews
received a magnificent christening, and the number of joinmg
Hospital. In the great hall of the hospital a new Masonic members is already very large.
Lodge was consecrated, named after Rahere, the founder of
the hospital seven and a half centuries ago.
Everything
combined to make the function a success-a bright and
A MAHOMEDAN DOCTOR ON THE
sunny summers afternoon, the presence ofH.R.H. the
MECCA PILGRIMAGE.
Prince of Wales, the Grand Master, and a brilliant representative gathering of those whose names are equally well
MUCH has been written concerning the pilgrimage to
known in Masonry and Medicine.
Mecca, but, as a rule, such writings are somewhat one-sided.
At 5 oclock lodge was opened, the Masters chair being Either the writers are
Mahomedans who know nothing
occupied by Bro. E. Letchworth, Grand Secretary. Shortly of the Western exigencies with
regard to sanitation, or else
afterwards the Prince of Wales arrived, accompanied by the
are
not
are therefore out of
and
Mahomedans,
Crown Prince of Denmark, who is Grand Master of the Free- they
The Earl of Lathom, Pro-Grand sympathy with the pilgrims, are not allowed to approach the
masons of his own country.
3. The proportion these bear to the total number of certificates issued
in these divisions.
4. Whether the certificates signed by the aforesaid doctors are
examined with (a) the knowledge and (b) the permission of the signatory in each case.

"

"

THE NEW WATER SCHEME FOR BELFAST.

50
and

consequently often

the

criticise what they have

pilgrimage ; that those who are allowed to start should
Dr. Saleh Soubhy, as Doctor and have a circular given them indicating what sort of clothes
Laureate of the Paris Faculty of Medicine, may be expected and provisions they should take ; and that portable
to take a Western European view of the sanitary diffi- pharmacies should form part of the luggage of every caravan.
culties attending the pilgrimage; while, as a good There are no pharmacies, it appears, at Mecca, Mouna, and
Mahomedan, he is in full sympathy with the pilgrims. Yambo, yet thousands of pilgrims pass through these places
This sympathy does not render Dr. Soubhy blind to the suffering from diarrhoea, fever, purulent ophthalmia, and
grave dangers caused by the utter want of sanitation. abscesses. Then the Red Sea ships are not only overcrowded
Speaking of the town of Djeddah, where the pilgrims land, by pilgrims, but also by the unnecessary luggage they take
he says : " The cleansing of the town is a matter of the with them ; and we are assured that there are often more
atmost simplicity; the rain does this work, and I must hasten pilgrims on board than the number sanctioned by the law.
to add that it only rains once or twice in the year-and then ! Nor are the rules as to the presence on board of a surgeon
It is not necessary to make a great effort of imagination to and of a medicine chest strictly observed. As for the sanihave some idea of the state of affairs within the town. tation of the towns, as there is the desert close at hand it
The entire surface of the soil is encumbered with the would be easy enough to dispose of the sewage if a system
debris of vegetables, with spoilt fruits, and refuse of all of drainage was established.
descriptions, and giving off all sorts of odours. Horned
Finally, Dr. Soubhy quotes the Prophet, who said, "You
animals, donkeys, horses, camels, and wild dogs leave must avoid entering a country contaminated by an epidemic,
the trace of their passage, but we must not complain of so as to respect the will of God (God having said, Thou shalt
this, for the dogs and goats which wander everywhere not throw thyself into danger), and you must not leave a
are, after all, the only scavengers of the town, as they eat contaminated country, so as not to show that you are flying
much of what would otherwise decompose on the soil. On from the will of God." In accordance with this Dr. Soubhy
the other hand, the population which crowd on a relatively proposes that pilgrims from the south-India, Java, &c.restricted space have a system of drainage that is really coming from countries where cholera is endemic should visit
surprising. It is a country of expedients. Nothing is more Mecca alternate years, taking the uneven numbers, 1895,
simple. When a cesspool is full a hole is dug close at hand 1897, &c. Pilgrims from the north-Turkey, Egypt, Morocco,
and the contents of the cesspool are emptied into it. The hole Algeria, &c.-could
go in the years with even numbers,
ds then covered over. Of course, infiltrations from these holes 1896, 1898, &c.,
and thus avoid meeting those who came
leach the neighbouring wells, whence the water is drawn from cholera-infected countries, and in this manner carry out
which the pilgrims drink." When we consider the great the precept laid down by Mahomed.
heat that prevails in the daytime, and the damp that reigns
at night, it is not surprising that cholera often breaks out at
Djeddah. The water is extremely foul. Large animalcula
can be seen in it, even without the aid of a microscope. The THE NEW WATER SCHEME FOR BELFAST.
Turkish Government has given a considerable sum to construct an aqueduct to bring good water to the town, but
ON June 25th, on the invitation of the Chairman of the
somehow the canal has never worked properly. This failure Belfast Water Commissioners, a number of Belfast merchants
is attributed to the action of the proprietors of the wells, and others visited the " Silent
Valley," the site of the prowho desire to preserve their lucrative privilege of selling foul
new
which
it
is
reservoir,
posed
thought will be completed
water to the camel drivers and pilgrims.
within
another
This
Silent
Valley is situated in a
Dr. Soubhy next protests against the folly of women
year.
but
district
in
Mourne Mountains,
the
the
of
remote
the
period
gestation.
charming
attempting
pilgrimage during
He describes how the oscillatory movement of the camel about five or six miles from the well-known seaside resort,
produces miscarriages, followed frequently by haemorrhage Newcastle, in county Down. This new water scheme is by
and the death of both mother and infant. The caravan, far the most important ever undertaken for Belfast,
however, cannot stop, and it is impossible to nurse effi- and it is said it will cost upwards of three-quarters
ciently the mothers while the march continues. If any portion of a million pounds sterling. The new catchment area is
of the caravan stopped it would certainly be attacked by the upwards of 9000 acres in extent, but it can be added to
Bedouins, who, Dr. Soubhy explains, are not true Mahome- in the future. It has an elevation varying from 450 ft. to
dans. On questioning a Bedouin as to the nature of his harvest nearly 2800 ft. above sea-level, and it consists of high
he cynically replied, "My harvest is the pilgrim." Speak- mountain slopes, largely composed of granite and boulders
ing of Mecca, Dr. Soubhy contents himself with saying on the surface; hence it is of the very best description for a
that the condition of the town is very similar to what he domestic water-supply. Another advantage it possesses is that
saw at Djeddah.
Nor does he say anything about the
is free from cultivation and pollution of any kind, is
danger of contamination at the holy well of Zimzim. He uninhabited, and is in close proximity to the sea. The
simply relates that, according to popular belief, this well whole of the lands in this area will be purchased by the
leads to Paradise.
Consequently several pilgrims have Belfast Water Trust to preserve its present character and to
thrown themselves into the well. As the bodies were prevent risk of any future pollution. At present the water
never recovered it is natural to conclude that there are is collected by the Kilkeel and Annalong rivers, which
eubsoil currents of water of considerable dimensions and empty themselves into the sea between Kilkeel and Newcastle.
power. This may be some protection. The Sultan has, The Kilkeel river will be intercepted in the " Silent Valley"
however, now caused a high railing to be placed round by means of a large storage reservoir having an earthen
the well so that the faithful cannot so easily jump embankment some 520 yards long across the valley, and it
into the water, and must perforce wait till a more will be upwards of 90ft. high over the present river-bed.
natural death opens the gates of Paradise. Speaking The top water area will be nearly 250 acres, and the total
- of the Courban-BaYran festival, Dr. Soubhy estimates that holding capacity will be 2850 million gallons of water. The
This total supply available from the whole of the Mourne districts
at Mouna some 900,000 animals are sacrificed.
custom, at least, he has the courage to denounce." It will be, when fully developed, about 30,000,000 gallons per
is easy to imagine what dangers this state of things day. The supply will be drawn from this reservoir for use
may engender, what epidemics may be caused by these in Belfast through a number of large-geared valves at
thousands of carcases in putrefaction, and how insufficient is different levels on the outlet standpipe, which will allow the
the recent order, emanating from the Turkish Government, to water to pass in large or small quantities through the main
bury this multitude of carcases." To barn the carcases outlet tunnel into the main gravitating conduit, which will
and convert them into animal manure would be a better and be formed of concrete, having a maximum carrying capacity
of 30,000,000 gallons per day, the size being 5ft. 6 in.
more profitable solution of the problem.
In an appendix dealing purely with the sanitary question by 5 ft. 6 in., and with a regular fall of 18 in. per mile. The
Dr. Soubhy suggests that a railway from Djeddah to Mecca, main conduit will be continued along the mountain slopes to
then to Medina and Yambo, would pay and would save a near Newcastle, where it will be carried through Slieve
great loss of life resulting from the painful journeys on Donard and St. Thomass Mountains in a tunnel some two
foot across the deserts. He also urges that children under and a quarter miles in length, with a fall of 12 in. per mile,
ten years of age, women in the period of gestation, and a maximum capacity of 30 000,000 gallons per day.
the old and infirm, those who have not been vaccinated Some parts of this tunnel will be 600 ft. below the surface of
within three years, and those who have not sufficient means the ground. The service reservoir will be made large enough
ifor their maintenance, should not be allowed to embark on to meet the demands of the city, having a storage capacity

holy places,

not been able to see.

it