First Events In Masonry In America.

* them , we think the following account of Freemasonry from London will not be unacceptable to our readers . This was followed , in the issue of Mny 6 , 1731 , by another article , consisting of a " Description of the Society

of Free and Accepted Masons , " taken from Chambers ' " Universal Dictionary of all Arts and Sciences , " issued in 1728 . The third earliest newspaper reference was that of

the same paper , of date June 26 , 1 / 32 , announcing the election of the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for 1732 .

The first Masonic letter written in America , of which any trace remains , was that from Bro . Benjamin Franklin , dated Philadelphia , November 28 , 1734 , signed " W .

Franklin , G . M . Pennsylvania , and addressed to Bro Henry Price , of Boston . The first Masonic book issued in America was printed in 1734 , by Benjamin Franklin , being a reprint of the A . D . 1723 edition of Anderson ' s " Book of Constitutions . " On the title page are these words : — " Reprinted in

Philadelp hia by special order , for the use of the Brethren in North America . " The first Masonic Hall erected in America was on Lodge alley , west of Second street , Philadelphia , built in 1754 by

the " Grand and First Lodges , " and called " The Freemasons' Lodge . " When sold , in 1793 the proceeds were given to the city of Philadelphia , to purchase fuel for the poor , and the funds are now under the control of the City Trust . The first Royal Arch Chapter in America was Jerusalem R , A . Chapter , No . 3 , of Philadelphia ( still flourishing ) whose minutes are in existence back to the year 1767 , while these refer to prior minutes .

The first Provincial Grand Master and Grand Lodge warranted by the " Ancients" or Atholl Masons , in America , was the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , Bro . William Ball , of Philadelphia , being Provincial Grand

Master ; the warrant bearing date June 7 th , 1758 , for Lodge No . 69 , and duly registered in London . Thus the earliest warrants granted both by the " Ancients " and the " Moderns " for America , were for Lodges in

Pennsyl-. The first Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter in America was the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania , organized November 23 rd , 1795 .

The first subordinate Commandery of Knights Templar in America was Philadelphia Encampment , No . 1 , of Philadelphia , chartered February 14 th , 1794 . The first Grand Commandery of Knights Templar in America was the Grand Commandery of Pennsylvania , organized May 12 th , 1797 .

The first Masonic periodical published in America was the Freemason ' s Magazine , issued in Philadelphia , commencing in 1811 .

The first American reprint of Derraott's " Ahiman Rezon , " was that revised by Bro . William Smith , D . D ., Grand Secretary of Pennsylvania , issued by authority of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , at Philadelphia , in 1782-3 , and dedicated to Bro . George Washington .

In addition to this , the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania chartered Lodges in tbe territory of the following States of the American Union , before independent Grand Lodges were organized therein : —New Jersey , Delawar , Maryland , Virginia , North Carolina , South Carolina , Georgia , Ohio , Indiana , Louisiana and the North-west Territory .

Who will venture to deny , after reading the foregoing record of facts , that Philadelphia is richly entitled to be styled the Mother-City of Masonry in America ?—Keystone

Attendance At Lodge Meetings.

ATTENDANCE AT LODGE MEETINGS .

| F there is anything that will discourage a zealous J - officer , it is non-attendance on the part of the members of his Lodge . An officer that performs his whole

duty , is early at his post . The faithful Master delights in opening his Lodge , performing the work to be c ' ° ne , and closing it , in due season , but , it' the brethren do not second his efforts , and loiter by the way , early means late .

,, *¦ ne degrees , to be properly worked , require more than the constitutional number to be present . Empty seats speak no words of encouragement to the faithful officer , "erefore , my brethren , if you would encourage your Officers in the faithful performance of their duties , come

Attendance At Lodge Meetings.

early , and stay ; do rot simply step in for n moment , plead business (?) rngage nents , and then spend ( he evening with convivial associates ; hut come tn stay , anl perf I'm your share of iho work that is to bo done .

Every Mnson has a duly to perform , which , ivon no account , must bo neglected , if they would sustain tho position held by our Lodges , or individual Masons .

It is your duty , my dnty , and every brothers duty , to closely examine tho material that is being offered . It is not the welfare of any one individual that must occupy our attention , but that of the whole Craft .

We must have perfect men ; not as much in a physical as in a moral sense . We must have good material , or none at all ; better , by far , have a few genuine Masons , than scores of imitation ones ; therefore , if he who asks for

admission , does not conform , literally , to the tests of true manhood , reject him , as you would a viper : better , by far , have a man that is not quite perfect physically , than one that is perfect physically , yet imperfect in mind , taste , habits , character , or morality .

Committees , to whom petitions are referred , do not always perform their whole duty . In by far too many instances , petitions are reported favourably upon without that due inquiry that there should be ; occasionally , thero

will be found committees that know their duty , and do not hesitate to perform it . On the supposition that the examining committee are derelect in the performance of their dnty , let each brother appoint himself a committee

of one ; let him examine closely into the character , habits , and associates of the petitioner ; and , if he does not conform to the true standard , nse the negative ballot , without fear or favour , and consequently benefit the Craft

more than any one act that can be performed . If the

petititioner is found worthy , then accept him ; but do not stop there . He has much to learn ; he is commencing a new life ; then take him by the hand , and teach him true Masonry . —Canadian Craftsman .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . SAMUEL DAVIES . WE regret to announce the death which took place on the 1 st instant of Brother Samuel Davies , Past Master of the Callender Lodge , No . 1052 , Manchester , after a prolonged illness , at the age of 57 . Our late Brother was initiated in the Callender Lodge , in 1872 , and was installed Master in 1877 . He occupied tho

chair with credit to himself and honour to the Lodsre . In private , and as a Mason , Bro . Davies was held in high estimation by all who knew him . About 20 of the brethren of his Lodge attended his funeral , and marched in advance

of the coffin , four of the oldest P . M . ' s officiating as pall bearers . The deceased was a member of the choir of St . Paul's Church , Withington , at which placo he was interred , ou Monday last , the 4 th instant , the members of

the choir rendering a full choral funeral service with great effect . The coffin was covered with magnificent wreaths of flowers , furnished by the members of his Lodge , by the choir of St . Paul's , and by many sorrowing and sympathising friends . =- )" .- ¦ ¦ -. ¦ w-grim . iruw ¦»">»«» -K-WH II nil rim III ! ' ¦¦ I ^—MIMIII———^^ MM ^— ——¦^ M ^—iM ^^ i i ¦¦

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H . R . H . the Prince of Wales tbe M . W . the Grand Master has been pleased to grant a warrant—on the recommendation of the R . W . Bro . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., P . G . M . of Middlesex—for a new Lodge , to be called the " Cama , "

to meet at the Mitre , Hampton Court . Our highly esteemed Bro . Dorabjee Pestonjee Cama is tho W . M . designate , Bi ' . \ John Read S . W . designate , and Bro . Henry Baldwin J . W . designate . The consecration will take p ! a : e at an early date .

The installation meeting of the Abbay Lodge , No . 2030 , will be held on Monday next , at the Town Hall , Westminster . The first W . M ., Bro . Bnrdett-Coutts , will instal as his successor Bro . W . H . Baker , who hitherto has served

the office of Senior Warden in the Abb y Lodge . On this occasion the W . M . and Officers of the City of Westminster Lodge , No . 1563 , will return the visit paid by the W . M . and Officers of the Abbey Lodge , a short time back .