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Freemasonry In Leicester.

FREEMASONRY IN LEICESTER .

BEING on a visit to Leicester , and having an evening to spare , it occnrred to mo that a visit to one of the Masonic Lodges would be a profitable mode of spending the time . Consulting my Calendar , I found that a meeting of the John of Gaunt Lodge , No . 523 , was to be held that evening . Consequently ; about seven I wended my way

to Halford Street , where the Masonio Hall is situated . After a little difficulty I found a most unpretentious looking building , as viewed from the outside , with nothing to indicate its particular character . Entering and proceeding up a couple of flights of stono stairs , I discovered a room in whioh several of the brethren were preparing

themselves for tho duties of tho Lodge . On asking for the Secretary , Bro . Brice came forward , and to him I introduced myself . He gave me a cordial greeting , and forthwith introduced me to the W . M ., Bro . Charlesworth . While expressing my desire to be present at the meeting , I assured the W . M . I did not wish to intrnde . His reply was

sufficient to satisfy any scruples , and to make me feel perfectly at home . Being a perfect stranger to every one present it was of course necessary that some one shonld " try and prove me , " and at the request of the W . M . this duty was performed by Bro . Waring S . W . Both this brother and tho W . M . apologised for the necessity of this

ordeal , but I assured them that no apology was required , that it was a source of pleasure to find them acting strictly to their Masonic duties . Entering the Lodge room , I found a number of the brethren assembled , and on the W . M . taking his seat the Lodge was duly opened . An inspection of the notice paper—neatly printed in blue ,

with Masonio emblems in silver and grey—showed me that there was no ceremonial work to be performed , but one of the members , Bro . A . Laurence , the Organist of the Lodge , was asked to give an exposition of the Lecture on the first Tracing Board , which he did very creditably . The correspondence included a letter from Bro . Kelly ,

P . M . and Past Provincial Grand Master , intimating that he had much pleasure in presenting to the Lodge , in fulfilment of a promise made some time ago , the portrait of their late Bro . Reeve , This portrait consisted of a photograph beautifully coloured in oil and elegantly framed . The inscription , which was inscribed on vellum , was as follows : —

" Portrait of Bro . W . Napier Reeve , F . S . A ., J . P ., Deputy Treasurer and Clerk of the Peace for the County of Leicester . He was tho first of six candidates for initiation in the John of Gaunt Lodge on its opening day , 26 th March 1846 , and afterwards served as Secretary and

Junior Warden of the Lodge . He was also a Founder of tho Lodge of Instruction ( now the Union Lodge ) , and in 1857 was appointed A . G . D . C . in Provincial Grand Lodge . He was also a Royal Arch and Mark Master Mason . He died , universally esteemed and regretted . 21 st April 1888 . "

In his letter Brother Kelly suggested that the portrait should be hnng in tho space above the chair of the Junior Warden , and a resolution was passed adopting this suggestion . The Lodge was then closed . It would have afforded me much more pleasure to havo seen some actual working , but , nevertheless , without setting myself up as

a critic in Masonry , I can state that what I saw was done well , and there was evidence throughout tho meeting of heartiness and sincerity in | everything , which impressed me strongly . . As I was about to leave the Lodge room the Worshipfnl Master gave me an invitation to stop to supper . This I accepted , and was ushered

into the banquotmg . room . The meal certainly was most enjoyable and it was served in a highly efficient manner . Then came the Masonio toasts , whioh were of the usual character , but given by the W . M . with a brevity as neat as it was commendable . Tho health of the W . M . was proposed by the I . P . M ., Brother Newsome Prov . Grand

Standard Bearer , in words which were few but hearty , and the toast was received in a manner equally satisfactory . Brother Thorp P . M . P . P . G . S . W . gavo the toast of the Visitors , and in doing so referred to the value of keeping up a friendly intercourse between different Lodges . He mentioned that one of thoir Visitors was from tho

Metropolis , and attended as a representative of TIIK FIUOE ' IASON ' S CHRONICLE , a journal which had done good work for Masonry , of which ho could speak well . My reply was given in the usual words : hearty thanks for thoir hospitality to tho Worshipfnl Master and Brethren generally , and grateful appreciation of Brother

Thorps remarks ancnt the CHROMCI /** . Dnring the evening musical selections were given by Bros . Brice , Knight , Brocklebank , Birch , Marriott and Barrow , the last named presiding afc the piano most efficiently . Beforo leaving I expressed a wish to see the pictures and contents of the Lodge-room , somo of which are of an

interesting character . Bro . Thorp kindly offered to meet me tho next day , and explain everything in his power . Accordingly I paid a second visit to tho hall , where I was joined by Bro . Th -rp and subsequently by Bro . Waring S . W . Under their guidance 1 made au inspection of tho ball . The Lodge-room , ono of tho largest I havo

ever seen , has its walls covered with pictures , including several largo oil paintings of prominent Freemasons . Tho first of theso is that of Sir Frederick Gnstavus Fowke , Bart ., who wns Deputy Provincial Grand Master from 1833 to 185 G . Then comes ono of Earl Howe P . G . M ., presented by a brother in LS ( iO ; another of Brother Kellywhoso name is mentioned in the early part of thia sketch—who was

Freemasonry In Leicester.

Proviacial Grand Master in 1884 . Tho photographs include one of the Prince of Wales , in Masonio clothing ; another of Brother Clement Stratton Provincial Grand Senior Warden , Mayor of Leicester in 1878 aud 1879 , and Worshipfnl Master of St . John's Lodge in 1871 and 1873 ; also a photograph copy of the address which

was presented to the Prince of Wales on his visit in May 1882 In another part of the Hall are copies of Craft and Rose Croix certificates , issued by the True Friends of Order Lodge , " in 1810 . This Lodge was composed entirely of French prisoners , of war , who founded it at Ashby de la Zouch , in tha year mentioned . Accomu

panying the copy is a translation and also a printed extract from Bro . Kelly ' s sketch of the History of Freemasonry in Leicestershire , giving a most interesting account of the doings of one of the members of tha above mentioned Lodge . Bonis Jean , the certificate holder , who it appears married a Leicester lady , "Wnd took her back with

him to France , where he afterwards died . ' His widow and daughter thereupon returned to Leicester , where they resided for some years in rather poor circumstances , until discovered by a Freemason , who interested himself satisfactorily on their behalf . Further on is a photo of Mosaic pavement , found in a Masonio Temple at Pompeii ;

a medallion worked on horn , containing a representation of all the Masonic emblems , —this is said to be 450 years old six engravings , executed about the middle of the 18 th century , illustrating the Prestonian ideas of Masonry ; a pen and ink sketch of the Duke of Sussex , whioh is in the form of a portrait , but the lines forming it

consist of writing , whioh gives a complete account of his pedigree ; an old portrait of Cardinal Wolsey , who was supposed to have been a Freemason ; also one of the Earl of Moira , as Grand Master . Over the chair of the W . M . is an interesting memento in the shape of a trumpet banner , left by Major ( then Cornet ) Pack on leaving for the

Battle of Waterloo in 1815 . From the Lodge room wo proceeded down a wide staircase to the banqueting room , stopping a moment to look at the portrait of Bro . Hammett , a former W . M . of one of the Leicester Lodges , for whom , he being totally blind , a special dispensation had to be obtained . From the record of this Brother ' s

term of office , which has been handed down , it appears , to have been moat successful , and fully justifies the exceptional favour conferred by the G . Master of that time . In the Lodge room are several interesting portraits on the walls , among them may be mentioned one of the celebrated Masonic writer , Dr . Oliver ; a photograph of Masonio

windows in St . John ' s Church , Clerkenwell ; another of Alexander Howard , of Beyrout , who was initiated in 187 Q . This was framed in wood from the Mount of Olives , the corners being ornamented with gavels made from the same kind of Olive wood . Our next move was to the Library , in the preparation room . This contains about

600 volumes , a description of which would require a special article . Opinions differ as to the value of Masonic information gathered from books , but there can be no difference of opinion with regard to tho value of a number of these books and the information to be gained from them . Here again I was fortunate in having the services of

Brother Thorp , who has spent many a spare half hour in the perusal of books in this library . The collection includes a number of French works on the History of Freemasonry , and a quantity of English volumes of a similar nature . There aro bound volumes of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE from 1875 , and The Freemason as far

back as the year 1869 . These , have been presented by Bros . Partridge and Toller conjointly , and afford a valuable record of Masonic events during the period mentioned . There are also volumes of the Masonic Magazine , the Freemasons' Magazine , and the Freemasons Quarterly Review . Other interesting items which I had time to

glance at were a bound volume of Lodge summonses compiled , by Brother Partridge ; tho miuuto book of the Ranoliffe Lodge , No . 608 , which was dissolved in 1846 ; and a Book of Constitutions dated 1784 . Tho minute books of all the Leicester Lodges are carefully stored here for reference , and form a useful record of Masonic work in

Leicester extending over nearly a century . Before leaving I did not neglect to very heartily thank my guides , Bros . Thorp and Waring , and was then by the latter introduced to Bro . Partridge , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , one of the oldest , most prominent , and industrious Masons in the Province .

A record of hia Masonic career—which . occupies three pages of small type , accompanied by a good-portrait—is published in the " Masonic Directory and Calendar for the Province , " for the current year . The Calendar referred to was first issued by Bro . Partridge , then Provincial Grand Secretary , in 1877 ,

and a most useful little volume it is . Those brethren who read the remarks of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Sussex at a recant meeting , will understand the utility of such publications . Each Lodge in the Province contributes pro rata to the cost of production , according to the nnmber of members , and thero is not the

slightest doubt that they get good value for their money . In this , as in all other points which came under my notice , one could but bo impressed with tho earnestness of the Leicester brethren , with the evidenced fact thafc by them the highest and noblest principles

of the Craft are nofc only studied , bufc put into practice . Tho memory of my visit will nofc soon be forgotten , and I hopo shortly to have an opportunity of renewing an acquaintanceship to mo so profitable and pleasant .

ST . JOHN'S LOJJQIB , No . 270 . IT must have been intensely gratifying to oar dear and highly respected Bro . William Kelly P . M ., Pasfc Provincial Graud Master of tho Province of Leicestershire and Rutland , fco see , ou Wednesday lasfc , tho brilliant and representative body of Freemasons who assembled afc the Masonic Hall , Leicester , to join him in celebrating tho 50 th Anniversary of his initiation into Freemasonry , and to congratulate him on the intoro-itinsr facfc thafc he had attained hia

Jubilee aa a subscribing member to this Lodge , which—like many . -mother on the roll of United Grand Lodge—has had its ups and downs , ifc . 3 term of prosperity and its share of vicissitudes . We have mauy instances ou record of men who have been associated with tho Order , more or lead , for fifty years , bufc v / o know of no