Athleticism And Masonry.

reports of the great strength and muscular power of a mnn named Thomas Topham , who kept the Red Lion Publichouse , nearly opposite the old Hospital of St . Luke , and was called , as a mark of his pre-eminence in Athletic feats , the STRONG MAN * . He appears to have settled in this

locality for its close proximity to the famous ring in Moorfields , where athletic exercises of all kinds , such as boxing , wrestling , sword-play , cudgelling , & c . were performed , under the superintendence of a well-known character of the day , who was familiarly called Old

Vinegar . This latter appears to have been a very truculent-looking fellow , —broad-backed , big-fisted , and strong as a giant . Topham , however , experienced not the slightest difficulty in lowering his pride , throwing him in the ring as though he were a cork , to the infinite delight of

a numerous band of spectators , many of whom had been obliged to succumb to the powerful acidity of Old Vinegar . The first , and perhaps the most remarkable feat which Bro . Desaguliers saw Topham perform for evidencing his immense strength was the following : —A powerful

carthorse was harnessed and placed on one side of a low wall , which in those days separated the upper from the lower portion of the Moorflelds , Topham being on the other . The latter then taking hold of the traces , planted his feet firmly against the wall , and bade the spectators flog the horse

• with all their might and main , in order , if possible , to make it move . Their efforts , however , proved unavailing . Two legs proved more powerful than Four legs , and Topham remained victor in the contest . He afterwards essayed a

similar feat with two horses , and Bro . Desaguliers , who was present , is reported to have been convinced that , " if placed in a proper position , he ( Topham ) would have sustained the efforts of four horses without the slightest inconvenience . "

Topham appears to have been a very worthy fellow . With all his strength , he was meek as a lamb , and appears to have been ruined and driven from his home by a termagant wife . It was just at this juncture that Bro . Desaguliers became his friend and patron , taking , as Professor of

Experimental Philosophy , a great interest in his performances . Accordingly he placed him in another public house at the Hermitage , one bearing the sign of the " Ship . " He made him also a Mason , and established a Lodge at his house as a means of increasing his business . This

Lodge was very well conducted , Bro . Desaguliers being himself its head as W . M ., and in the course of a short time rapidly increased both in numbers and respectability . The Cognizance was , and no doubt is still , the redoubtable Thomas Topham himself , matching his strength against

that of a horse and his feet propped up by the fragment of a wall ; the name being that of THK STRONG MAH LODGE . Topham latterly fell into bad habits and the business passed into other hands , but tho Lodge went on prospering , and as we have already said ,

figures in the Masmic Galendar as No . 45 in the list of Lodges . Possibly some of the officers and brethren belonging to this Old Lodge may have the leisure and disposition to furnish us with any further particulars that may be intereiting to our readers . If they are so minded , we a hall have great pleasure in inserting their communications .

Tho 6 th annual Grand Vocal and Instrumental Concert , in aid of the Metropolitan and City Police Orphanage , under the patronage of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , will be held , by permission of Bro . Col . Henderson , O . B ., on the 23 rd instant . The vocalists are Misses Edith

Wynne , Matilda Scott and Emily Mott ( daughter of Bro . Jas . Mott ) , Mr . Sims Reeves , Mr . W . H . Cummings and Mr . Lewis Thomas . Miss Lily Mott , pianoforte ; Mr . H . Reynolds , cornet ; and the band of the A Division will play , under the direction of Mr . Allcock . On the 1 st of

April the annual ball , in aid of the same charity , will be held at the Cannon Street Hotel , under the patronage of the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor , Bro . D . H . Stone , the Sheriffs and Under-Sheriffs , Major Bowman , Bro . Lieut . F . Kent , CO ., and a number of Stewards . Bro . T . Butler will act as M . C .

HOLLOWAY ' PUIS J . H » OIHTMBHT . —Dangerous catarrhs , bronchitis , asthma and influenza are rife at this season of the year ; hepatic and senal con . jestions frequently occur as the result of checked skin action , giving rise to serious symptoms , and preventing attention to business or pleasure . No time should be lost , on tho first appearance of any indications of the invasion of these diseases , for the symptoms may be checked effectually by the use of these valuable remedies ; the penetrating local effect of the Ointment acts surely on the affected parts , and restores them to a healthy condition , and the Pills , judiciously taken , in accordance with the lucid directions , relieve the conjestive capillaries and materially lessen the chance of serious mischief supervening .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

f \ 8 Wednesday evening , 3 rd March , the Quarterly Communication ^ - ' of tho Unitod Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England wag held in Freemasons' Hall , Groat Queen -street . Tho fact that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales would bo elected Most Worshipful Grand Master had attracted the brethren from all parts , consequently a

more numerous assembly has not been congregated in the Temple in which the meeting was held for several years . Brother Hugh D . Sandeman , District Grand Master of Bengal , presided ; supported by Lord Henry Thynne , M . P ., as Senior Grand Warden , and T . Pattiaon as Junior Grand Warden . Brother the

Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , Provincial Grand Master for Staffordshire , acted as Depnty Grand Master , and on the dais we noticed the Earl of Limerick , Provincial Grand Master for Bristol , who acted as Past Grand Master ; Sir Albert W . Woods , Garter ; Colonel Bnrdett , Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex ; Brother Samuel Tomkins

Grand Treasurer ; Bro . S . Kawson , Pro . Grand District Master for China ; Bro . Thomas Fenn , Bro . J . B . Monckton , P . G D . Pres . Board of General Purposes ; Dr . Hogg , Captain Piatt , Bro . J . Glashier , Bro . Joshua Nnnn , the Revs . C . J . Martyn ( who acted as Grand Chaplain ) ,

R . J . Simpson , Sir J . Warren Hayes P . G . Chaplain , A . B . Frasev , James Simpson D . L . C . Bros . J . Rucker P . G . D ., Clabon P . G . D . Piesident Board of Benevolence , J . Nunn P . G . S ., Spiers P . G . S . B ., J . Havers P . G . W ., Ex Sheriff Button G . D ., Fenn P . G . D ., C , J . C . Parkinson D . G . M ., Middlesex , Kuho G . O ., W . Ganz P . G . O .,

Frasor P . G . C ., J . Savage P . G . D ., Major Creaton P . G . D ., Hyde Pullen P . G . S . B ., J . Boyd P . G . P ., J . Coutts P . G . P ., J . Smith

P . G . P ., Ough P . G . P ., T . Adams P . G . P ., C . A . Cottebrune P . G . P ., T . Cnbitt G . P ., Wright A . G . P ., and Bros . March , R . Spencer , J . R . Stedwell , H . Norman , H . Dicketts , Marsh , J . Constable , G . Bol . ton , G . Demaid , Do Solla , Carpenter , E . Gottheil , J . Ross , T . Bull , G . S . Statey , Palmer , Carter , H . Massey , Thompson , F . Binckes ,

W . Parsons , J . Mander , S . Rosenthal , Bennett , H . G . Buss , Pendlebury , and numerous other Past Grand Officers . The Grand Secretary ( Brother J . HERVEY ) read a communication from the Grand Lodge of Scotland , acknowledging the receipt of the resolution of condolence passed in Grand Lodge on the 2 nd of

September last , on the decease of the Earl of Dalhonaie , Past Grand Master Mason of Scotland . On the motion of the Earl of SHREWSBURY , seconded by tho Earl of LIMEIUCK , an address of condolence was unanimously passed to the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro-Grand Master , on the sad affliction which

has befallen his lordship by tho death of the Countess of Carnarvon . Bro . S . G . GHADY then proposed his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for Grand Master , and , iu doing so , reminded his brethren of the distinguished services his Royal Highness had performed for Freemasonry , how he had presided at the annual festivals of each of

the Masonic charitable institutions , being Master of two Lodges , and had initiated two of his brothers into tho Order . He also pointed out that his Royal Highness had yet another claim on the loyalty of the Craft , for he had readily accepted the office of Grand Master when it became vacant bv an unexpected cause ; and if a further claim were

wanted it was to bo found in the fact that he was descended from an illustrious line of ancestors , many of whom were conspicuous by their attachment to Freemasonry , and particularly to the fact that the Dnke of Sussex was Grand Master at the time of the Union of the Ancient and Modern Grand Lodges of England .

Bro . GREY , Deputy-Master of the Prince of Wales ' s Lodge , seconded the motion , which was then put to Grand Lodge and carried unani . mously , amidst great cheering .

His Royal Highness was then proclaimed , by . Sir Albert Woods , as duly elected Grand Master for the ensuing year . Bro . JOHN HERVEY read the following letter , from the secretary of the Prince of Wales : —

" His Royal Highness has fixed the ceremony of his installation to take place at the Grand Festival on Wednesday , the 28 th of April , at the Royal Albert Hall ; and with a view to assist the executive in carrying out the arrangements of the day he proposes to authorise

the appointment of a certain number of stewards in addition to the Grand Stewards of the year , and to cause a jewel to be struck , and to permit the brethren who may be named as stewards to wear the same . "

This communication was received with loud applause . Dr . Erasmus Wilson moved , and Dr . Ramsey seconded tho resolution that Bro . Satr . uel Tomkins ( of the firm of Willis , Percival and Co . ) be re-elected Grand Treasurer . On the motion being put , it was carried with acclamation .

Bro . Tomkins thanked Grand Lodge for the honour they had conferred on him ; this made the twenty-fourth year he had hold tho office . He contrasted the present position of the Order and | its great prosperity with that which he witnessed when he first became

Grand Treasurer . Under the presidency of the Prince of Wales he felt confident that the brethren might hope and believe that there was a great period of prosperity before them . Grand Lodgo then passed a resolution acknowledging the Grand