Notes From An Old Freemason Publication.

NOTES FROM AN OLD FREEMASON PUBLICATION .

I CAME across a publication in book form the other day ( writes a correspondent of the Glasgow Evening News ) of the year 1809 , written in a very quaint style , and purporting to be an " authentic key to the door of Freemasonry . " The writer is what is known in Mis-onic circles as a " Cowan , " bnt tho work itself is entirely flattering to the Order . Although an eavesdropper , his

finding on what he saw and heard is : — " I am inclined to think that the chief design of the establishment is to rectify the heart , inform the mind , and promote the moral and social virtues of humanity , decency , and good order , as much as possible in the world . " Among other items of interest in the book I find that

Sfc . Alban formed fche first Grand Lodge in Britain in A . D . 287 . In 926 Prince Edwin formed a Grand Lodge at York , and though through a long visfca of years there is little recorded of the Order , it seems to have been gi * owing in power , for in 1425 Masons' assemblies were prohibited by Parliament . Twenty . five

years later Henry VI . was initiated into Masonry , and in 1690 the a erefc of the Order was revealed to William III . privately . The Freemasons inaugurated the building of St . Paul's Cathedral , London , in 165 V , and completed ifc in 1733 . The office of Grand Secretary for England was first established in 1723 , and the

following year a Grand Treasurer was appointed . Ifc was in the two succeeding years that a " general fund for distressed Masons" was proposed , and a " Committee of Charity " appointed , who founded a system whioh haa grown till now it has assumed proportions of great magnitude . Indeed , so firm a hold has ifc obtained , that at

a meeting held recently in London , over £ 50 , 000 was subscribed by those present for Masonic charitable purposes . The plans for a Freemasons' Hall , in London , were approved by Grand Lodge of England in 1769 , bnt it is not till four years later that any definite steps seem to have been taken . A Hall Committee was appointed

in 1773 , and the year following a site for this building was purchased . The first stone of this building was laid in 1775 , and tbe same year five thousand pounds towards the building of the hall was raised by means of a tontine . The hall was dedicated in 1776 , and the following year the anniversary of the dedication was ordered to be

kept . It waa nofc always merry with the Masons , however . It ia recorded that in 1757 fourteen persons were expelled the Order for irregularities , and that in 1762 several others shared the same fate . In 1777 several Masons had to submit to the indignity of imprisonment at Naples , bnt on what pretence it does not appear . His

Eoyal Highness the Dnke of Cumberland was elected Grand Master in 1782 , and during his tenure of office ( 1788 ) fche Eoyal Camberland Freemason School was instituted . Afc his death , in 1790 , H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , initiated in 1787 , was elected to the

vacancy . It is worthy of note that at the date on whioh the book was published ( 1809 ) H . E . H . George Augustus Frederick the then Prince of Wales filled the office of Grand Master of Englaud , a position which is held in this year of grace , 1889 , by Albert Edward Prince of Wales .

An American Masonic Dispute.

AN AMERICAN MASONIC DISPUTE .

A telegram from Scranton , Pa ., says : Considerable excitement prevails in Masonic circles here over tho condemnation , by the Grand Master M'Calla , of a Lodge belonging to the Cerneau rite of Scottish Masonry . The introduction of the Cerneau rite into this region was regarded by the ancient northern jurisdiction as a sort ; of Masonio schism . It is alleged against the new rite that it confers

degrees easily , unworthily , and cheaply , and sometimes sold its honours for solid cash . As a result , men of no merit were found displaying evidences of Masonio dignity to which they were not entitled . These and other offences moved the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to declare the Cerneau rite clandestine .

The monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , under the presidency of Bro . J . A . Farnfield P . A . G . D . C , Treasurer of the

Institution . There were also present Bros . Cotter , Hubbert , Bolton , Ferryman , Garrod , Mercer , Purchas , Dr . J-ibcz Hogg , Perceval , West , C . A . Cottebrune , Kempton , Forsyth , Making , Cox , Newton , Hill , Haslip , Brooks ,

Lacey , Tattershall , Mead , Smith , Brett and James Terry ( Secretary ) . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , the Secretary reported tho death of three annuitants ( one male aud two widows ) . The

Warden ' s report for the past month was read . A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the Houae Committee ofthe Boys' School for their kindness in granting permission to tiie School Band to attend on the occasion of the

Stewards' visit to the Institution . The report of the Finance Committee was read , adopted , aud ordered to be entered on the minutes . The recommendation as to the appointment of au Accountant was agreed to , aud also that

ho be requested to examine the books of ihe Institution and report thereon . Bro . j " . S . Cumberland gave notice of a motion for the next meeting , and the proceedings then concluded with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

— : o : — Adelphi . —The revival of Dion Boucioault ' s Irish drama " The Shaughraun" is certainly a happy choice ; for these Irish revivals have proved attractive on previous occasions , and , judging from appearances , are likely to do so now . " The Shaughraun" ia a

capital piece , full of interesting and exciting situations , while the comedy parts are admirably conceived . The scenery has been painted by Brnce Smith , and it does thia gentleman credit . The company that Messrs . Gatti have selected is one that can do ample justice to the play . Mr . William Terriss and Miss Millward are in

tho caste , and enact the parts of Captain Molineaux and Claire Ffolliott respectively . Needless to say these popular artistes do fcheir work splendidly , and score well wifch tbe audience . Mr . J . D . Beveridge is an ideal Corry Kinchela , and Mr . W . L . Abington a good Robert Ffolliott . Mr . J . L . Shino , as Conn , is the favourite with the

audience , and what with the fun that has been provided in the book , and his own " gag , " Mr . Shine ia most amusing . Messrs . John Maclean , Robert Pateman , Mrs . John Carter , Misa Clifton , and Mrs , Brunton , all render good service . "The Shaughraun" ia nightly received with favour , and we hope this will continue for some time to

come . Messrs . Groves and Bacon ' s matinee of " My Uncle " takes place at Terry ' a , on Tuesday , 16 th inst . ; and at the same theatre , on Wednesday afternoon , 24 fch inat ., Miss Muriel Wylford will produce " The Catspaw , " a new play , by John Tresher .

" Sweet Lavender " will reach ita 500 fch performance on Friday , 2 nd August , when the following ladies and gentlemen will appear in it : —Messrs . Edward Terry , Alfred Bishop , Brandon Thomas , H . Dano , H . R . Smith , Sant Matthews , P . Miller ; Mesdamea M . A . Victor , Blanche Horlock , Annie Irish , and Carlotta Addison .

The oldest Lodge in the district of Dunedin , the Otago Lodge , E . G ., passed a unanimous resolution on 1 st May ,

" That it is desirable that a Grand Lodge for New Zealand be constituted , " and appointed Bros . W . M . De Renzy , Dr . Fitchett , Barth , the Rev . Ronaldson , and M'Gregor as

Delegates to the Convention in Wellington , during the next session of Parliament , to arrange the basis of the Union , proclaim a Grand Lodge , and elect the first Grand Master .

The annual excursion of the Freemasons of Paisley took place on Tuesday , under the moat favourable auspices as regards weather . The brethren , to a large number , left ; Paisley early in the forenoon and were conveyed by Brother Wm . Young , carriage hirer , by way of Glasgow , Milngavie , aud Finnick Glen to Drymeu . At the glen

the party halted and spent a short time in viewing that beautiful spot . In the course of the day , Buchanan Castle and grounds , the residence of the Duke of Montrose , were , by permission of hia Grace ,

visited . In the afternoon the party sat down to dinner in the Buchanan Arms Hotel . The return home was made iu fche evening by way of Balloch , Bonhill , and Bowling , and Paisley was reached afc a reasonable hour , after a day of thorough enjoyment .

On Wednesday , 26 th ult , Mr . H . Phillips , who for a period of 34 years has been caterer and caretaker at the Masonic Hall , Portland St ., Cheltenham , and Tyler for five Masonic bodies , was recipient afc the hands of Bro . Baylis , W . M . of the Foundation Lodge , of a timepiece , and Mrs Philips of a purse of gold , as a mark of esteem

for their past services . Mr . Phillips is retiring from the pojition of caterer and caretaker , bub retains the office of Tyler . The presentation was mado in open Lodge by the W . M . in a brief but approp iate

speech . Tbe timepiece bore the following inscription : —Presented to Bro . H . Phillips by the brethren , present aud past , of the Foundation Lodge , No . 82 , as a token of their appreciation of hia services to the Lodge during the last 34 years . June 26 , 1889 .

PRINTING OFFICE SECRETS . —It is an unwritten law of the printing office that all its operations shall be considered confidential , and in an experience of many years we have never known of a wilful violation of this rule . Yet its observance is , of late years , becoming more lax . It is not an unusual thing to hear printers from various offices talking

together about fche works that pass through their hands , and even disoupsing fchem with outsiders . Thia ia all wrong . No operative has any right to afford any imformation concerning a job to any one except his immodiato superiors or the customer , and a cast-iron rnle should bo enforced to this effect . Thcngh it may nut bo expressly

stipulated that the work in hand is to be considered " confidential , " it should be treated as such . No outsider should be allowed to know even that any certain work is in hand , much more what is its import , tho number to be printed , or anything else concerning it . It is not uulikely that an unprincipled person might take advantage of the

indiscretion of printers to obtain iuforrnation concerning the affairs of a rivnl , to the great detiiment of the latter . Certain it is that no business man is anxious or willing to announce beforehand what are his pl'ins and purposes , or to have them discussed by uninterested pirtiea , even though it may be hia intention to give them , afc the

proper tim ** , tlie widest publicity . Tt might seem to the unthinking printer that it could not mako any difference * if the matter should be mentioned , find yet at the same time it might wr . rk irreparable inj u * y—ay it cert-iinlv would great annoyance—to th ^ customer . Tu

many offices tho sensible nils ia observed of so keeping all copies , proof ? , & c , that th r y cannot be in »[) "cted by casual visitors , and this ehonld be adopted in all offices . Tho printer holds a confidential relation toward the cur-tora ^ r ; and he has no more right fco betray that confidence than bus the customer ' s b -rk-kt ept-r or olerkj . —The Print ing Times and Lithographer ,