Special Lodges.

SPECIAL LODGES .

GOMMENT has from time to time been made m . our pages as to the growing practice of creating " class" or special Lodges , but it would seem the principle of doing so is by no means so modern an

innoyation . as we and many others at one time imagined , in proof of which we may point to the Caledonian Railway Lodge , No . 354 on the Register of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , which has just

celebrated its Jubilee , and was established in 18 49 , under special conditions , one of which was that the Lbclgie should be composed entirely of Brethern connected with the Caledonian Railway service .

Here we have an instance of that " class " Freemasonry which we have from time to time criticised in our pages , and we must certainly admit we are somewhat surprised to find thus early an instance of such a restriction in " Free " -masonry . Of course we knew

of the existence of Military Lodges , long before the date of this one ' s foundation , but such Lodges are of so special a nature as to be quite outside the range of ordinary - consideration , and now that the question has

been : brought under our notice in such an altered aspect we feel we should like to learn more in regard to the subject . It would be interesting to trace if there are other examples of restrictive Masonry , particularly

under the English Constitution , thus early in the history of the Craft , or at an even more remote date , and " we shall be very pleased if any of our readers can supply information on the point .

It will be noticed m connection with this Caledonian Railway Lodge that it was made a condition , prior to the granting of the Charter , that the membership should be restrictive . In many modern instances

of the creation of class Lodges it is only in the form of an unwritten law , or in connection with the individual Bye-Laws , that such restrictive measures are adopted , and we therefore have another interesting point on which to seek for information and enlightenment .

Movable Lodges.

MOVABLE LODGES .

A NOTHER special condition attached to the **• Warrant of the Caledonian Railway Lodge , just referred to , was that it should be recognised as a " movable " Lodge , and have the power to meet at

suitable places on the line of the Company . This , we think , is an almost unique condition attaching to a Lodge in existence at the present time , although it is one that has often been desired , and advocated bv

those in a position to form an opinion as to what is best for Freemasonry as a whole , and special sections of it in particular . We do not think advantage is now

taken of this special feature of the Lodge , or it may be the privilege has been withdrawn , but we know it would interest a certain section of our readers if some

Movable Lodges.

information could be gathered as to the working of this rule in the earlier days of the Lodge—if advantage was taken of it—and the reason why the privilege has been discontinued .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

UNDER the patronage of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim , a special service was held on Sunday afternoon , 29 th ult ., in St . Nicholas ' s Church , Carrickfergus , the obiect being- to raise monev on behalf of the Belfast Masonic

Charities . There was a very large congregation , which included , of course , a great many Masons . The Brethren assembled in the Masonic Hall , Victoria Street , and , wearing their regalia , marched in processional order to the church .

The Lord Bishop of Down and Connor and Dromore Grand Chaplain of Ireland preached the sermon , and the prayers and lessons were read by the rector , Rev . George

Chamberlain . The Bishop selected as his text , " For in Him we live , and move , and have our being ; as certain also of your own poets have said , for we are also His offspring . " Acts xvii . 28 .

Bro . T . H . Roberts , of 158 Fleet Street , who has taken such active interest in the survivors of the Balaclava brigade , points out to a contemporary that the contributions in aid of the relief fund of these survivors has left an available balance

of £ 118 17 s , which will enable him to pay the men from 5 s to 10 s a week until the end of April . "After that date , unless further sums are received , these veterans will have to return to starvation and the workhouses , from which I have been able to keep them for the past eighteen months . "

There is a good time in store for English Freemasons , if we are to believe the " Gentlewoman , " which states that the Prince of Wales has delayed his visit to the Riviera , because he wishes to be present at two grand Freemasons' functions :

one to be held on February 28 th and the other on March 1 st , on which occasions H . R . H . will be first elected Grand Master of Mark Masons in England , and afterwards Grand Master of English Freemasons .

A social evening in connection with the Gilbert Greenall Lodge , No . 1250 , was held on Thursday , 2 nd inst ., in the Assembly Room of the Lion Hotel , Warrington . Though the attendance was not so large as at previous gatherings , the proceedings were of a most enjoyable character .

The Benevolent Fund of the Lodge of Israel , No . 205 ( which Lodge was founded in 1793 ) has £ 1 , 000 invested in consols , and a balance of £ 64 13 s 7 d in the hands of the Treasurer . There are not many Lodges which can boast of such a splendid reserve to meet emergencies .

The home of the Royal Jubilee Lodge of Instruction , No . 72 , has been removed from the Crown , Lambeth Road , to the Ship , Kennington Road , where meetings are held every Wednesday evening , at 8 o ' clock .

The Prince of Wales as Grand Master of Mark Masons has appointed Sir Edward S . Hill , M . P ., to be Provincial Grand Mark Master for South Wales .