Recognised Working.

RECOGNISED WORKING .

WE are all acquainted with the adage that great things often have a very insignificant beginning , and on that principle we shall await with some interest the ultimate decision in regard to a proposal made by a Private Lodge to determine which is the recognised form

of working under the Grand Lodge of England . We put the matter in this light , not because we imagine the Lodge in question has any intention of forcing the hands

of the Grand Lodge authorities in this direction , but because in the event of the proposal being sanctioned it would become an authoritative decision .

Those of us who can remember the controversy of some few years back in regard , to uniformity of working will agree with us that there is very little chance of Grand Lodge coming to a definite decision , and that being

so we suggest to the members of the Guardian Lodgewhich is the one now moving in the matter—to discover the probable ultimate fate of their proposed new bye-law before they take further trouble in the matter .

The suggestion before this Lodge is very good in its way , but it is not practicable . The proposal is to add a bye-law to the effect " That the Lodge working shall be the working of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , as

recognised by Grand Lodge , " and if this bye-law is agreed to it must be submitted to the Grand Secretary for the approval of the Grand Master , and as the authorities do not officially " recognise" any system of

working we do not see how it could be confirmed . It is quite within the power of the members to pass a law that their work shall follow that of the Emulation Lodge , but there they must stop . Their proposal is doubtless

purely a private one , but there are many Brethren in our midst who would like to get such a decision endorsed by Grand Lodge , and then make it the basis for a uniformity of working crusade .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

HHHE Quarterly Convocation was held on Wednesday , at JL Freemasons' Hall , London , when Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P , Prov . G . Superintendent Hampshire and Isle of Wight occupied the chair of Z ., with Colonel Robert Townley Caldwell , M . A ., Prov . G . Superintendent Cambridgeshire acting as H ., and the Earl of Euston Prov . G . Superintendent Norths a ' nd Hunts as J .

The minutes having been confirmed , the Report of the Committee of General Purposes was received and adopted , on the proposition of Comp . George D . Harris , seconded by Comp . Frank Richardson , the prayers of the different petitions referred to therein being severally granted .

The first motion standing in the name of Comp . John S . rrachan , Q . C , was carried , while the second , not being deemed necessary , fell through . Comp . Le Feuvre's motion was carried , while that submitted by Comp . Baskett , after being seconded by Comp . Fenn , was withdrawn .

Herefordshire.

HEREFORDSHIRE .

ALTHOUGH somewhat late in this auspicious year , it will not be doubted that the Freemasons of Herefordshire will pass with all respect and great enthusisam the Jubilee address which it is proposed to adopt at the Provincial Grand Lodge fixed to be held in the new Cathedral library on Monday next , under the presidency of Sir Joseph R .

Bailey Provincial Grand Master . The local Freemasons will not limit their part in commemorating the Queen ' s long and glorious reign by simply passing a congratulatory address to

Her Majesty , says the "Hereford Mercury , " as after Provincial Grand Lodge has been held , it has been arranged that the Brethren shall attend a special service to be held in the Cathedral at 2 . 15 p . m .

A procession will be formed and will proceed from the library to the Cathedral , where the service will be of a most ' interesting nature and entirely suitable to the occasion . It will commence with the now familiar hymn , " O King of Kings , whose reign of old , " written for the Jubilee by the

late Bishop of Wakefield and set to music by Sir Arthur Sullivan , sung as a processional hymn . A voluntary will be played on the organ by Bro . George Robertson Sinclair P . G . Organist , during which a collection will be made for the Masonic Charities , and the service will

be brought to a close by the singing of the hymn " O God of Hosts , the Mighty Lord , " and the ist verse of the National Anthem . A portion only of the nave of the Cathedral will be reserved for the Brethren , the rest being open to the general public , of whom it is expected there will be a large attendance .

Cumberland And Westmorland.

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND .

fjlHE Provincial Grand Master Lord Henry Cavendish X Bentinck , M . P ., presided on the occasion of the annual meeting of his Grand Lodge , held at Egremont on Friday , 22 nd ult . There was a large attendance , all but two of the twenty-. one Lodges of the Province being represented . The following were among the Officers invested for the year :

Bro . Col . W . H . Atkinson . -. , - - Senior Warden Dr . S . Braithwaite - - - - Junior Warden Bev . G . B . Armes - - - - ) # -i , , Rev . H D . Bawnsloy - - - } Chaplains B . J . Nelson - Treasurer D . L . Thorpe - Registrar

George Dalrymple - Secretary John Tolson - Senior Deacon James Jones - Junior Deacon J . M . Brickell - ' - - - Superintendent of Works Edmund Jackson - Director of Ceremonies

W . Kowley - - - - - Assistant Dir . of Cers . Isaac Maxwell - Sword Bearer John M . Clark - - - - ) „ , , , _ W . Matthews . ... } Standard Bearers Henry Hallowell - Organist .

Northumberland.

NORTHUMBERLAND .

T 1 HE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was JL held on Friday afternoon , 29 th ult ., at the Central Masonic Hall , Pilgrim Street , Newcastle , under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master Sir Matthew-White Ridle }? , Bart ., M . P . There was a very large

attendance of Brethren , including the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . Aid . Richard Henry Holmes , J . P ., P . M . P . Z . Past Grand Deacon of England , and many past Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge .