Occasional Papers.—No. Viii.

Drake was chosen Grand Master , who appointed Bro . G Reynoldson as Deputy Grand Master and Bros . G . Ooafccs aud Thomas Mason Grand Wardens . Bros . Charles Conlton and Martin Crofts were of those present of fche old members , while eleven brethren assembled afc fche meeting as

Visitors , of whom Brother Tasker was made a member and then Grand Secretary . Bro . Howard also joined ancl five candidates were proposed . It is worthy of note thafc fche record oi these candidates being initiated and passed , and a Brother Mayer raised , is the first in which any reference

to the second and third degrees is made in the minutes of the old York Lodge . On 8 th June a Brother Preston was present , and on 13 fch June a Brother Calcott . On the 31 st January 1764 Masonic glees and songs were purchased for the use of the Lodge . From after December 1767 the

minutes were better kept , and Brother Lambert , who was Secretary , was presented with an honorarium of five guineas for his assiduity in the discharge of his duties . On the 31 st July 1769 , at the instance of a Brother Atkinson , a visitor from Ripon , a Constitution was unanimously granted

for the establishment of a " Royal Oak Lodge m that city , with Brother Atkinson as Chairman or Master , and Brother G . Dawson as S . W ., while on the 30 th October following a second constitution was granted to Bros . Cateson , Rexell , and Kefcar , for the " Crown " Lodge at

Knaresborough , these brethren having been previously raised to tbe degree of Master Mason . In December 1770 , after a procession to St . John ' s Church , where a sermon on the text , " God is Love , " was preached by a Brother , Sir Thomas Gascoigne was appointed Grand Master , many

brethren from Ripon and Knaresborough being present at the Festival , and many charitable gifts being bestowed on Institutions and individual brethren . According to Findel , Bro . W . Preston became a member pro tem in 1774 , in the Grand Mastership of Bro . Stapleton , but after this scarcely

anything of local interest occurred worth recording . The Lodge gradually fell away , and though it appears a brother William Siddall was Grand Master 1776-79 , and a brother Francis Smyth in 1780 , this is about the extent of the information that can be gleaned . After a further period

of dormancy from 1780 to 1792 a minute of the latter year records the election of Bro . Edward Wolley as Grand Master , and then this old Lodge passes away altogether . Bufc little remains to be added in order to complete my story , but that little is of some moment and no slight

interest , especially to the student of Masonic history . In consequence of a statement made by the learned author of the " Hlustrations of Masonry , " to the effect that the Grand Lodge of York viewed the action of the Grand Lodge of London , in constituting Lodges in the North of England

as an encroachment on its prerogatives , and when this conduct was repeated in 1738 , that communication between the two bodies ceased , a pretty general belief has prevailed that tbe relations between them were the reverse of friendly , if they were not actually hostile . Yet , a closer

examination into the circumstances will demonstrate this was not fche case . In 1724 . the London Grand Lodge warranted a Lodge in Durham county , but Findel , in reference to Bro . Drake ' s oration , already referred to , remarks that the lattter , in reliance on the Legend of the Guild , claims that

" the firsfc Grand Lodge ever held in England was held at York , " and he then quotes the following passage from the same speech , in which Drake adds , " This is sufficient to make us dispute the superiority with the Lodges at London ; but as nought of that kind ought to be amongst

so amicable a Fraternity , we are content that they enjoy the title of Grand Master of England , but the Totius Anglice we claim as our undoubted right . " Consequently , in 1726 , or two years after the constitution of the aforesaid Lodge in Durham , the Masonic relations between York and

London were of a peaceful character . A still stronger piece of evidence belongs to the year 1767 , when Bro . Lambert , Grand Secretary , York , wrote to inform Bro . Spencer , Grand Secretary ( Moderns ) , London , that the Lodge ao . _ 259 in Stonegate , York , which had been constituted bthe

y London Grand Lodge had been discontinued , and consequentl y that the York Grand Lodge was the only one \ f i ( * ; xist . ence in tf , at cit y- And Bro . Lamberfc further s ated , " This Lodge acknowledges no superiors and owes sub jection to none ; she exists in her own right , giving Constitutions

and Certificates , in the same way as the L . of England in London has asserted her claims there iroui time immemorial . Her Charity Fund she distributes nerselF according to true Masonic rules . . . . Doubtless the Grand Lodge of London will pay all due respect

Occasional Papers.—No. Viii.

to all the Brethren made by this Lodge , which Ins always shown all due respect lo the Brethreu who work under the Constitution of tlie London Lodge . Ifc will always be thu endeavour nf this Grand Lodge to promote the hononr and dignity of Masonry in general , for she is most cautious

whom she admits as members , and never initiates a Mason but on true and worthy motives . In all that appertains to the general good , and especially that of the Fraternity afc large , tin ' s Grand Lodge is ever ready fco work in concert with the one in London , and demonstrate all

proper respect for any information or advice she may impart . " The letter concludes with an expression of brotherly greeting on behalf of the Grand Master , & c . One other circumstance must be mentioned . When Bro . Preston ancl other members of Antiquity Lodge separated from the

Grand Lodge Moderns , they entered into a sort of alliance with the York Grand Lodge , and are said to have obtained the sanction of the York Lodge for setting themselves up as the Grand Lodge of " all that part of England situated to the south of the river Trent . " Findel gives a reasonable

explanation of this circumstance , but what mostly concerns us is the fact thafc by the establishment , no matter how accomplished , or through what motive , of this South of the Trent Grand Lodge , there were for a brief space of time in England no less than four separate and distinct

Grand Lodges , namely , the London Grand Lodges "Modern" and "Ancient , " the Grand Lodge of all England afc York , and the Grand Lodge of England South of the Trent . And thus ends my story of the York Grand Lodge .

What Is The Practical Worth Of Masonry.

WHAT IS THE PRACTICAL WORTH OF MASONRY .

FROM THE KEYSTONE . THB qnestion has been , and is often asked , by those not membera of the Masonic Fraternity , What is its practical worth , ancl of what practical nse is ifc to its members ? It is not meant , practical worth in the light of dollars and cents , but in a moral , intellectual and relictions point of view .

I am only too well aware that ifc is a question which is difficult to answer in a language thafc the uninitiated can understand ; and perhaps the same remark may apply to many who are members of the Institution , or at least call themselves snch . Masonry , as every one of its followers fully nnderstands , is something bosides an ideality—a creation of the imagination—a mere

farce which means nothing , and is productive of no good results . It is a stern , strict , undeniable reality , based upon facts , founded npon truths and principles fraught with all thafc pertains to truth and justice , which are inculcated in every step forward that the Mason takes , in every grade of membership . Those anti-Masons whose chief aim in lifo is to vilify and traduce

our good name , base their ideas of facts npon a mistaken view of the Institution . Ifc is not that reality which they would have others believe ; as , for instance , they would have ifc that one Mason is bound to support another , right or wrong , " through weal or woe , " gcod or evil ; that we must stand by and protect a Brother Mason in every instance , even if he flagrantly violates the laws of morality , as

well as the laws of the country in which he lives . Such is not a fact of Masonry ; it is bufc the creature of the diseased imagination and bigoted brain of those who promulgate such ideas . In the majority of instances , such views are promulgated through malice , backed up by ignorance . Tho Masonic Institution has ever proven itself to be a law-abiding ,

peaceful , God-fearing Institution . Ifc obeys , ns a body , strictly fcho laws of fche country in which its followers reside . Ifc ever endeavours to enforce upon its own members the full intent and purposes of the moral law . Ifc is nofc bound by any of its covenants to shield tho wrongdoer because he is a Mason ; on the contrary , ifc plainly condemns him . Ifc firsfc endeavours fco " whisper good counsel in the ear

of an erring Brother , and " to assist in his reformation ; ' by pointing out to him the errors of his ways ; if that fails—if he will not listen to the gcod counsels of his brethren , then the full sentence of tho Masonic law is imposed npon him , and he is deprived of his membership amongst us , and is debarred from all the benefits thafc Masonry has to bestow . Neither is the Masonic Fraternity known

to conspire against the laws of Ihe country , or to promnlgate sedition or conspiracy iu any form . Oar opponents wrongfully acense us of being snch an institution , bnt it is as false as the lives and hearts of those who so accuse ns . Its mission is thafc of peace and goodwill towards all men ; it is nofc the promulgator of envy and discord ; it bears malice towards none ; it meets tho attacks of its

fanatic opponents with contempt and scorn , resting secure in its own professions . Its absolute refusal to recognize sectarianism only proves thafc it gives its members absolute freedom of thought and action in all matters pertaining to the worship of the Supreme Power above .

Bnt ifc does most emphatically stipulate thafc its followers shall profess faith in an All-Wiee Power , which rules all things , and decidedly and firmly insists thafc all who apply for admission shall assert their belief in Deity before they can even enter the outer doora of Masonry ; but ifc leaves fche manner and form of their worship of