The Four Old Lodges.

THE FOUR OLD LODGES .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Referring to the kindly remarks of Bro . W . J . Hnghan , in yonr impression of tho 12 th instant , tho truly fraternal tone of which I much appreciate , I am sorry to havo been so far unsuccessful in converting this esteemed brother to my own way

of thinking with regard to tho present status of Original No . 3 ( now Fortitude and Old Cumberland ) . Very shortly I trust to put my views as to this Lodge ' s position

before the Masouic public in a connected form , but meantime the readers of tho CHRONICLE may perhaps bear with me if I claim a little of your space , wherein to supplement , by a few additional remarks , what has already appeared in your columns in respect to this Lodge .

1 . Tho acceptance of a Warrant iu 1723 was followed by no penal consequences until 1720 . 2 . The adjustment of the precedency of Lodges was left to tho ( four ) Grand Officers , amongst whom < me . only of tho four old Lodges ( Original No . 4 ) was represented .

3 . Immediately after tho publication of the engraved list for 1729 , when for the first time Lodges were shown in order of seniority , a protest was registered by Original No . 3 , against their misplacement in the printed book , whereby they lost thoir rank . "

I submit , therefore , that the degradation of this Lodgo six years after the occurrence , upon which the decision of the "four Grand Officers " was based ( approved , however , by Grand Lodge , who dismissed the appeal of the parties concerned ) , besides being an ex post

facto law , was an undoubted violation of the Original Constitutions ( embodied in tho solemn compact of 1721 ) by which only the four old Lodges wero governed , and was , moreover , in manifest breach of the LANDMARK set up as a check to innovation and absolute dominion , viz .:

—" Thafc every privilege which they ( the four old Lodges ) collectively enjoyed , by virtue of their immemorial rights , they should still continue to enjoy , and that no law , rule or regulation , to be hereafter made , shonld deprive them of snob privileges , or encroach on any landmark which was afc that time established as tho standard of Masonic Government . " Yours fraternally , R . F . GOULD .

Old Lodges.

OLD LODGES .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Tho following extract from tho Warrant of Confirmation under which we of tho Straus- Man are now working

may assist in clearing up tho mystery with which the career of the Lodye is surrounded , and f some brother of the Medina would kindly publish a similar extract , we shonld then know the positions wc do and ought to occupy . Yours truly aud fraternally , H . J . D .

After the customary greeting , the warrant reads : — " Whereas , it appears by the Record of our Graud Lodge , that a warrant , bearing date the 2 nd day of February , 1734 , was issued under the seal of Masonry , enabling certain brethren therein named to open and held a Lodge of Freemasons at the Ship Coffee House , Hermitage-Bridge , London , to be called the Strong Man Lodge , which

Was then ! No . 110 ; and whereas , by the genetal closing up of the list of Lodges in the year 1740 the said Ledge became No . 98 . By the closing up of the list of Lodges in the year 1756 it became No . 68 . In the year 1770 the said Lodge became No . 57 . By the closing up of tho list of Lodges in the year 1781 it became No . 44 . And by the

closing up of the list of Lodges in 1792 it became No . 41 , and which Lodge , in consequence of the Onion of the two Fraternities of Freemasons on the 27 th clay of December 1813 , became and is now registered iu the books of the United Grand Lod ^ e No . 61 , aid meets at the Svsav . Tavern , Mansel-siu-et , Goodman ' s Fields , Loudon . " P . S . —Since then tho Lodge has been No . 53 , and its present No . is 45 . 30 th Oct . 1878 .

Things One Would Like To Know.

THINGS ONE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DKAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Why Past Masters , or actual Officers of one Lod- c , when visiting another Lodge , wear their collars of Office t > the di-traction of other Visitors , and sometimes to I hat of tho W . M . ? Is there any Coustitutional law relating thereto ? Fraternally yours , FORTE . 30 th October 1878 .

DRAMATIC . —The Sheffield Masonic Amateur Dramatic Society gave two performances at the Freemasons' Hall , Sheffield , on Thursday and Friday 21 th and 25 th Oct ., and they were both most successful . The pieces represented were Charles the Second , My Uncle ' s Will , nnd Still Waters / , '? ' )! . De /> , —the male characters being taken by tin

Snelfield brethren ; the Ladies' parts by Miss Mario Montgomery . and Miss Frederica Taylor , of London , who respectively made thJii mark as Florence Marigold in My Uncle ' s Will , and Mrs . Steruhold in Still Waters . We understand that two more such entertainments are to tako place towards tho end of this mouth .

Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

Paxton Lodge , No-1686 . —The anniversary meeting ot this Lodge ; was held on Saturday last , at tho Crystal Palace , Sydenham . The Lodge may bo described as an off-shoot of the Stockwell Lodge , No . 1339 ; it was consecrated in July of last year , and has performed its duties and responsibilities in a manner that has merited the commendation of all who wish well to the Craft universal . The Lodgo

was opened by the W . M . Bro . J . M . Klonck , who was supported by Bros . F . W . Goddard ancl H . Thompson P . M . as Senior and Junior Wardens respectively , and a good assemblage of members and visitors . After tho minntes of last meeting had been read and confirmed , Bro . H . E . Frances P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . Surrey , took the chair as Installing Master , and Bro . Klonck introduced the W . M . elect , Bro .

F . W . Goddard , to the presiding Officer to receive at his hands the benefits of installation . After Bro . Goddard had signified his intention to conform to and support tho ancient Charges and Regulations , tho obligation was administered , a Board of Installed Masters was formed , and the ceremony proceeded . On the re-admission of the brethren , the appointment of Officers was made : —Sawyer S . W .,

Boswell J . W ., J . M . Klonck I . P . M . Treasurer , H . E . Frances P . M . Secretary , Woodhams S . D ., Basnett J . D ., Dodd I . G ., Walker D . C , Frank Goddard W . S ., Partridge A . W . S ., Radford Tyler . In investing bis Officers Bro . Goddard made some happy remarks in reference to the responsibilities they were severally taking upon themselves , aud urged one ancl all to assist him in promoting tho welfare of the

Lodge . The addresses wero then delivered by Bro . Frances , who resumed his seat amidst the congratulations of all present . The W . M . then roso for the purpose of presenting a Pasfc Master ' s jewel of most artistic design to Bro . Klenck I . P . M ., and io doing so , Bro . Goddard congratulated Bro . Klenck on tho success of his Mastership , ancl

tendered him tho hearty good wishes of thoso over whom he had so genially presided . Ho also expressed a hopo that the recipient of tho jewel mig ht long wear it on his breast , and thafc he might long continue a member of the Lodgo wbich owed its foundation to him . The jewel had on it the following inscription : —

" Paxton Lodge , No . 1686 . Presented to Bro . J . M . Klenck , in appreciation of his services as First W . M . aud Founder . Oct . 1878 . " Bro . Klenck acknowledged tho gift in appropriate terms , but was brief in his remarks , as he had to address the meeting later in the evening . Bro . Goddard then rose and presented , for the acceptance of the Lodge , a banner of elegant design ,

and beautifully wrought by Bro . Frances , Secretary ; and on the motion of Bro . Klenck , a vote of thanks was unanimously passed , ancl ordered to be inscribed on the minutes . The vote having been duly acknowledged , Bro . Frances rose aud said , he , too , had a banner which he begged the Lodge would do him the favour to accept . Ifc was intended to show the intimate connection existing

between Freemasonry and Charity , aud had inscribed on it the wines of three brethren , members of the Lodge , who had qualified as Vice-Presidents of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Though the number was at present limited , he trusted that in due time the banner would be filled with names of those who had similarly distinguished themselves . The banner was accepted , and a suitable vote

of thanks passed and acknowledged . It may be as well to add thafc this , too , was tho work of the donor , and the wonder is that he can find time to produce so many works distinguished by snch artistic merit . On the motion of Bro . Goddard it was agreed that for the fntnre the Lodge should meet on the last Saturday in March , April , May , September , and October . Bro . Basnett having proposed a vote

of thanks to the auditors ( carried ) , and several letters of apology , from Colonel Burdett , Colonel Peiers , Rev . R . J . Simpson , Captain Durrant , and other brethren , expressing their regret afc being unable to be present , having been read , Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to banquet . The menu , it is needless to say , was an excellent one ; Brothers Bertram and Roberts were the

caterers on the occasion . After tho usual Loyal and Masonio toasts had been proposed and acknowledged with tho utmost heartiness , Bro Klenck rose and proposed the health of the W . Master . He remarked that the brethren had known him from the foundation of the Lod «; e as being one of the founders , and therefore they had had every opportunity of judging of his mnits . He ctngratu .

lated Bro . Goddaid , who was a true man and Mason , on tho position he occupied , and felt sure he would acquit himself worthily of his duties and responsibilities . Bro . Goddaidj though acknowledging himself " poor in thanks , " yet very gratefully acknowledged the kindness of the I . P . M . in proposing the toast in such laudatory terms , ancl the brethren in so heartily endorsing

them , and at the close of a neat response , proposed the health of the Installing Master , Bro . Frances . This was responded to , Bro . Frances remarking that he had felt no hesitation in installing Bro , ' Goddard , because ho knew the W . M . was one who won'd never disgrace the chair . It , then became the duty of the W . M . to propose

i lie health of the I . P . M .. aud at tho samo time to present to that worthy brother a further evidence of tho esteem aud respec iu which he wns hold . Tin ' s evidence was in the lorm of a very hand . some testimonial on vellnm , enclosed in a deep gold frame , and bearing the inscription : —

" Presented to John Matthew Klenck , P . M ., iu testimony of the high esteem iu which he is held by his brother members ; his exertions . n behalf of the Masonic Charities ; his efficient services to the Lodge ; and to commemorate his being tho first W . M ., aud ono of the 'bnnders . "

The testimonial was the work of Bro . Frances , aud in every way worthy of his ability as an artist . The design was a most elaborate me , and beautifully carried out ; and what adds greatly to its value is a U'Stimonlil is the fact of the portraits of tho several founders of the Lodge , with their autographs , having been introduced , and ably worked in , so as to harmonise with tho general design .. BVOUIQV Klycck espieswcj , as fuv as ft