Irish Freemasons At The Front.

IRISH FREEMASONS AT THE FRONT .

NEARLY all the principal Masonic Lodges of the country are represented at the front in the war in South Africa . Lord Roberts is an old and active Irish Freemason , and has held the rank of Past Warden in the Grand Lodge of England . Lord Kitchener , who is also an active Freemason , represents the Grand Lodge of Ireland at the Grand Lodge

of Egypt ; but the most remarkable fact of all is that at the present moment there are no less than eleven members of one Dublin Lodge fighting for Queen and country at the front . It may be added that Lord Wolseley is also an Irish Freemason . — " Dublin Express . "

Both the Scarborough Masonic ball and the Scarborough Rifle Volunteer ball have been abandoned for this year owing to the war in South Africa . o o o The Mayor of Portsmouth Bro . Harold Pink and the Mayoress entertained the wives and children of soldiers and

of the naval brigades serving in South Africa , in the Town Hall , Portsmouth , on the 28 th ult . More than 700 invitations were issued , but a number were unable to attend owing to sickness and the inclemency of the weather . The guests , numbering about 450 , were supplied with a bountiful tea ,

which was served in the large hall . While they were taking their seats performances were given on the organ , and subsequently a varied entertainment was provided . On leaving , all the guests received presents of clothing , cakes , and sweets , a local Lodge of which the Mayor is Master having furnished a portion of the gifts .

Under the auspices of the W . M ., Officers , Brethren and Friends of the Eyre Lodge , No . 2742 , a grand ball in aid of the Transvaal War Funds for our Soldiers' Families , Widows and Orphans , will be given on Tuesday , 23 rd inst ., at the Wellington Hall , St . John ' s Wood , N . W . ( kindly

lent for the occasion by Bro . C . B . Murless ) . There is already a long list of distinguished patrons and a goodly array of Brethren who are busy at work disposing of tickets , among the number being Bro . A . J . Barrell ( at the Wellington Hall ) . The music will be provided by the band

of the Honourable Artillery Company , while the price of tickets , including supper and light refreshments , is 15 s each . The Stewards include Bros . J . Stephens , E . S . Howard , G . T . Smith , G . E . Thompson , G . B . Crook ( Hon . Treasurer ) , and W . C . Bersey ( Hon . Secretary ) . Mr . S . Bishop has kindly given his services as M . C . for the occasion .

As was to be anticipated , the ramifications of the war are illustrating the universality of Freemasonry , and in no respect more strikingly than in regard to the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , a body having its headquarters here , but devoted to the world-wide study of the historical and

archaeological side of the mystic Brotherhood . Genei al Sir Charles Warren , who has now gone to the front , is one of the founders and was the first Master of this Lodge , and almost his last act in England was ' to put the finishing touches to a review for its published "transactions "; b t it is in " the

Correspondence Circle " of the Quatuor Coron ? : i that the war has made its influence most felt . That bod y now consists of close upon three thousand members , living in every region in the civilised globe ; and , as a large number of them live in the South African Republic , the Orange Free State , and the

parts adjoining , a special interest attaches in Masonry to their connection with the war . A more peaceful side of the labours of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , which has to own interest from Birmingham , is indicated by the approaching publication , under its auspices , and in connection with the Hamburgische

Zirkel-Correspondenz , of an English section of a great work upon Masonic medals of a commemorative character , which has been for some time in progress . Of British Masonic medals it is expected that sufficient will be ave . liable to fill twelve plates of illustrations , and the Quatuor Coronati

Lodge is taking a deep interest in the success of this volume , not only assisting financially to bear the loss which its publication entails , but , in the person of its members , assisting very materially in placing specimens at the disposal of the editors and providing the historical text . In conjunction , therefore , with the Hamburg Zirkel-Correspondenz , and for

Irish Freemasons At The Front.

the benefit of English students , it has been resolved to bring out at the same time a purely English edition of the British medals . This will contain the British medals only , and the text will be in English , every medal being illustrated obverse and reverse , described , and historically treated . It is expected

that it will be practically complete , and describe and figure every British Masonic medal of a commemorative character hitherto known , and certainly every one of which a specimen be found . It will be a separate work in itself , self-contained ,

and in no way dependent upon the other portions of the larger German work ; and not only Masons , but medallists , will be keenly interested in its success . — "Birmingham Daily Post . "

An almost incredible story comes from Durban , says the " Morning Herald , " incredible in that it would seem scarcely possible that a circumstance of such an extraordinary nature could occur . The telegram is to the effect that every member of the " Ermelo Netherlands" Lodge of Freemasons has

been killed in battle while fighting on behalf of the Boers . Such an incident could not possibly happen in England to any English Lodge , but in a country where men of all agesfrom beardless boys to grey headed veterans—take up arms the event is possible , though extremely improbable . It

would naturally be thought that some members were incapacitated , either through infirmity , weight of years , natural disease or other cause , from joining in the fight , but there is the bald plain statement in the telegram . Of course , Lodges have been deprived of their Charters in this country , also disbanded , but surely the absolute wiping out—the utter

annihilation of a whole Lodge—is an hitherto unheard of circumstance . As we are assured that the Lodge is a prominent one , and well-known to every member of the Craft who has visited the Transvaal , it would be intensely

interesting , not only to Freemasons , Odd Fellows , R . A . O . B . ' s , & c , as well as the general public , if particulars of any such similar calamity has previously happened . Our contemporary opens its columns for any such anecdotes based upon undoubted facts .

Talking of Freemasons , continues the same writer , we are reminded that a prominent English—or shall we say Welsh !—Freemason is doing good work on our side . Lord Llangattock Provincial Grand Master Eastern Division South Wales , and who is also Hon . Colonel of the 1 st

Monmouthshire Volunteer Brigade of Position Artillery , in which his son is Captain , has offered to contribute £ 500 towards the necessary expenses of setting out the Brigade . His lo rdship , who may be remembered as Mr . John Allan Rolls , J . P ., and

who was Mayor of Monmouth in 1887-8 , is a London as well as a Monmouthshire landlord , holding property in Southwark , Newington , Camberwell and Bermondsey . He was created a peer in 18 97 .

The annual reunion , concert and dance promoted by the Everton Lodge , No . 823 was held on the 28 th ult ., at the City Hall , Eberle Street , Liverpool . Despite the inclemency of the weather there was a very creditable attendance , the guests being received by the Worshipful Master Bro . J . A .

Griffiths . A capital programme of dance music was supplied by Bro . George Eyton P . M ., and incidental songs were ably rendered by Messrs . Cunningham , Bros . M . Cox , G . Smith ,

E . O . Roberts , C . Stewart , and Master W . Guilbert . Bro . Eyton accompanied at the piano . The duties of M . C . were effectively discharged by Bro . W . J . Guilbert P . M . The function was thoroughly successful .

The annual celebration of the festival of St . John was honoured as usual in Scotland , on the 27 th ult ., when most of the Lodges had festive gatherings . Almost all the Edinburgh Lodges met in a social capacity and exchanged fraternal greetings with sister Lodges . The Lodge of Edinburgh

( Mary ' s Chapel , No . 1 ) met in their Hall in Hill Street , under the chairmanship of the W . M . Bro . W . W . Robertson , of H . M . Board of Works . It was a coincidence that the chair should be filled on the occasion by a gentleman who now

occupies the position corresponding to that of "The King ' s Maister of Wark , " who three hundred years ago was Master of the Lodge . The menu card was of a tasteful design , the front representing artisans at the building of Holyrood Abbey by the founders of the Lodge .