Herefordshire.

Bro . Rev . Evan Williams 2240 ... Senior Warden T . Matthews 338 - - - - Junior Warden Rev . H . A . Barker 120 - - - Chaplain J . E . S . Hewett 338 ... Treasurer J . A . White 120 - - - - Registrar E . Maddison 751 .... Secretary

F . P . Young 2240 - Senior Deacon E . Stephens 120 .... Junior Deacon W . V . Tuson 892 - - - - Superintendent of Works S . G . Yates 338 ... - Director of Ceremonies L . U . Wooler 338 - - - - Assist . Dir . of Ceremonies J . W . Lloyd 2240 - - - - Sword Bearer T . E . Hall 2240 .... Organist

J . D . Evans 751 .... Pursuivant W . W . Robinson 120 A . Outfield 338 Z . B . Evans 751 - - - - ¦ Stewards A . G . Hudson 892 - C . W . Lloyd 2240 - C . A . Stephens 120 - - - - Tyler .

Sir Joseph Bailey stated his intention of holding the next Provincial Grand Lodge at Hereford , under the banner of the Palladian Lodge . A collection of alms on behalf of the Hereford Masonic loca . 1 charity association amounted to £ i 6 s 3 d . Shortly afterwards the business was completed , and the

Brethren subsequently dined together , under the presidency of Sir Joseph Bailey , afc fche Burton House Hotel , when the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and honoured , the proceedings being enlivened by a first-rate rendering of an excellent musical programme . —" Hereford Mercury . "

Consecrations.

CONSECRATIONS .

BERESFORD-PEIRSE LODGE

FRIDAY , the 24 th ult ., was a fed-letter day at Bedale , owing to the consecration of a new Lodge , to be called the Beresford-Peirse Lodge , No . 2610 , The Lodge was constituted in fche Town Hall , Bedale , there being a very large attendance of Brethren from the North and East Sidings and South Durham , amongst those present being Lord Bolton Deputy Prov . Grand Master .

A letter was read from the Prov . Grand Secretary Bro . M . C . Peck P . G . St . B . Eng ., regretting his absence , for the first time for thirty years , owing to indisposition . After the Brethren had taken their places , the Eight Hon . Lord Bolton P . G . W . England and Deputy Provincial Grand

Master opened the Lodge in the three degrees . The opening hymn having been sung , the Consecrating Officer addressed the Brethren , after which the Acting Prov . Grand Secretary Brother Bedfearn requested the Consecrating Officer to constitute the new Lodge .

The seven Founders of tbe Lodge then stood forward Brothers B . C . Backhouse P . M . P . P . G . W . Durham , Sir H . B . Peirse , W . J . Plews , J . S . E . C . Hood , H . Wilmot , George

Atlay and J . Swinbank , and they approved of the Officers named in the Warrant to preside over them . The dedication then took place , the anthem and the sanctus being sung , Brother Gaskill Provincial Grand Organist presiding at the organ .

The Provincial Grand Chaplain Bro . F . Griffiths then read the lesson , after which the Lodge board was uncovered , and the Consecrating Officer went round the Lodge , sprinkling corn , wine , oil , and salt , after which the Lodge was duly consecrated .

- Bro . C . H . Backhouse was installed W . M ., and he appointed the following Officers : Bros . Sir Henry Beresford-Peirse , Bart S . W ., W . J . Plews J . W ., Eev . J . S . E . Cockburn Hood Chap . ' , Henry Wilmot Sec , Hon . W . G . Algar Orde-Powlett S . D ., Geo . Atlay J . D ., Jno . Swinbank I . G ., and E . Wilkinson Tyler .

The Lodge was then closed , and the Brethren adjourned to the Black Swan Hotel , Bedale , where a well-served banquet was partaken of . Brother Backhouse W . M . was in the chair , and

Bros . Sir H . B . Peirse , and W . J . Plews in the vice-chairs . Bro . Sir H . B . Peirse , after the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts had been drunk , proposed the Marquis of Zetland and the Provincial Grand Officers .

Lord Bolton , on behalf of the Marquis of Zetland and himself , tendered their sincere thanks . The Provincial Grand Master regretted exceedingly that he was unable to be present . Brother Barstow , in appropriate terms , submitted the Worshipful Master , and Bro . Backhouse suitably replied . Other toasts followed . — " Yorkshire Herald . "

Bro . Jack , of Lodge Clydesdale , No . 556 , who is engaged on the Glasgow to New York service of steamers , has demonstrated that he can attend the meetings of No . 556 once a month , says " The Mallet , " ancl , in the interval , have a week ' s stay in New York , where he takes the opportunity of attending a Lodge meeting there .

Grand Mastership Victoria.

GRAND MASTERSHIP VICTORIA .

AT the opening of United Grand Lodge of Victoria , on Monday , 16 th March , the M . W . G . M . Bro . Sir W . J . Clarke said that at the former Communication he had stated his unwillingness to continue in the position of Grand Master . He now repeated that wish , and as at the last Communication he had nominated Bro . Lord Brassey as G . M ., and he was now the only

candidate , he had much pleasure in declaring him duly elected as Grand Master of the Constitution . There was a spontaneous outburst of applause , and it was generally acknowledged that the tact displayed by Sir W . J . Clarke cemented the respect and esteem of the Brethren over whom he had presided so Jong . — " Masonry . "

Papal Bulls Against Freemasonry.

PAPAL BULLS AGAINST FREEMASONRY .

I HAVE been requested by a member of the Craft to inform him when the Papal authorities first showed their antagonism to Freemasonry . I may say that the first Bull against the Craft , " In eminenti apostulatu speeuly , " was issued on 26 th Apiil 1738 , by Pope Clement XII . Italy was at that

time divided into a number of small states , and although the rulers of them strictly followed the Papal dictum , and opposed secret societies , Freemasonry managed to exist , but meetings were held by the Brethren at very great risk , as the penalty , if caught , was death and the confiscation of their worldly goods .

In an old diary by Valesio , which forms part of the historical archives in the eapitol of Rome , a considerable amount of information is given respecting the persecutions to which members of the Craft were subjected in the early part of the lasfc century . He mentions that on 21 st January 1736 a Roman , who was a

Mason , was incarcerated by order of the inquisition , but was released after two days , as he could not be made to reveal the secrets of the Order . Again , on 22 nd February of the same year , an Englishman named Gurge , who was au officer on one of the Papal galleys , was taken to the dungeons in Castle St . Augelo

because he belonged to the Society of freemasons . No mention is made of his release , and Gurge very probably , like a good many others , never saw the light of day again . Valesio , in writing of the Craft , mentions " the square , level , and mallet , " and also refers to the Brother who " stands at the outer door with a drawn

sword fco keep off intruders . " Twenty days after the Bull of Clement XII . had been issued , Valesio writes in his diary as follows : "A decree has been promulgated by the Pope , who places under the penalty of excommunication all those who enroll themselves in the Order , introduced from England , of the

Freemasons . They take a horrible oath not to reveal what takes place at their meetings . So bitter was the feeling againsfc the Craft that a Masonic ritual , which fell into the hands of the authorities , was publicly burnt by the hangman . In 1743 proceedings were instituted against tbe members of a Lodge in

Naples , and it is a noted fact that for twenty-five years this case was before the law courts . Pope Benedict IV ., influenced by noticing the persistency with which the Brethren in Naples stuck to their colours , and seeing also that their cause was gaining

popular sympathy and support , issued another Bull in 1751 . A number of Bulls have since then been published against the fraternity , but , like the proverbial brook , ifc goes on for ever , continuing the " good work " undisturbed by fulminations , Papal or otherwise . —P . M . Geo . Robertson , in " N . Z . Craftsman . "

A proposal fco apply for a charter to constitute a Lodge in Glasgow for the convenience and advantage of members of English Lodges resident in the city was mooted about three years ago , and received with much favour by Englishmen . The proposal , which includes that the Lodge shall be conducted on lines similar

to those followed in most English Lodges , has been recurring at intervals since the firsfc suggestion , but as yet the proposal has made no progress . The subject is again on the tapis , and to enable English Brethren to have an opportunity of talking the matter over in company , instead of in twos and threes , " The

Mallet , in his column in the " Glasgow Evening News , says he will be pleased to receive from Brethren who are in sympathy with the proposal their names and addresses . A meeting could then be arranged , and the matter discussed . Address " The Mallett , " " News " Office , Glasgow .

The Joppa Lodge of Instruction , No . 188 , will in future meet at the Moorgate , 15 Finsbury Pavement , E . G ., every Tuesday , at 7 * 30 p . m . The first meeting at the new address was held on Tuesday , 28 th ult . The Moorgate is one minute from Moorgate Street Station on the Underground Railway , three minutes from Broad Street , and close fco fche Trams from North London , & c .