Lodge Of Repose, No. 802.

tho lie plus ultra of English Craft Masonry ; and I am sure that as English R-A . Masons it behoves all of us to do our utmost to support not only tho degree itself , but the general Institution of English Masonry in thi 3 country . Wo cannot bettor carry out this laudable object than by setting onr faces against spurious Masonry , which is nothing more nor less than open rebellion against our own Grand

Lodge and its illustrious sister the Grand Lodge of Italy , having its centre at Rome . Although my official duties may interfere with my attendance at every particular meeting , my heart is always with you . The regular Masons of Tunis , and you English Masons especially , may always count on my support and aid . I trust tho Officers of the Chapter will bo punctual in attendance and zoalous in tho

performance of their duties , each ouo carefully studying tho part allotted to him . I trust that during tho present winter many may join this beantifnl degree , and that , working with nnion and harmony during tli 9 coming twelvemonths , tho Ancient Carthago Chapter will not regret having bestowed upon me tho highest honour in its possession . The address of tho M . E . Z . was loudly applauded . Bro . Broadley

Bpoko at some length of his stay in England , and visits to varions Chapters . The following illustrious R . A . Masons were unanimously elected honorary members of Chapter 1717 : —M . E . Comps . R . Bower P . G . H . P . of Iowa , U . S . A ., T . B . Whytehead Z . 1611 , H . C . Levander G . S . E . Middlesex , Rev . Thomas Robinson P . G . H . Kent , and James Lewis Thomas Z . 1328 P . G . S . B . England . It was resolved to send to each of these brethren one of the highly artistio certificates

designed by Bro . Whytehead , of York , and a special letter of thanks to M . E . C . Comp . Robinson for tho very valuable information given to the P . Z ., which would greatly improve the working of tho Chapter . After the charitable oolleotion , the Chapter was closed , and tho Companions adjourned to the usual installation banquet .

The History Of Craft Masonry In Reading.

THE HISTORY OF CRAFT MASONRY IN READING .

An Address , delivered hj Bro . Chas . Oades W . M . to the Union Lodge 414 , on Tuesday , Wth December 1879 . BEFORE commencing my address , I will road extracts of a letter I received from the A . G . Sec . of England : "There were two Lodges at Reading , under tho Athol , or Antient Constitution , ono of which appears to be Lodgo of Virtue , to which you allude . 1 st ,

the ( Athol ) Lodge , No . 80 , was founded in 1759 , to meet at the Ship , Reading , but it appears , from a memo in the Register Book , that the Lodge did not pay the fees for the Warrant , nor mako any Return of Membors , & c , and , therefore , cannot claim any existence . 2 nd , tho ( Athol ) Lodge , No . 122 , was founded on the 14 th October 1763 , to meet in the 2 nd Division of Marines , but appears to havo

been transferred to the Swan , at Reading , in 1 S 08 . It was held at the Upper Ship , Reading , in 1809 , or thereabouts , and in " Ahiman Rezon , " edit . 1813 , it is stated to be held there . At the Union , 1813 , it became No . 147 , and then appears by the name of Virtue . It ceased working , and the warrant was returned in 1827 . " The oldest minute book that I have been able to discover is that

of January 1813 , tho Lodge being No . 122 . Bro . J . B . Monck was in office two and a half years ; the W . M . was olected annually . As an example of tho expeditious way of getting on in the olden time , Bro . J . J . Blandy was initiated October 1814 ; passed and raised the same evening , November 1814 ; acted a 3 S . D . in December , as J . W . in January , and as W . M . pro tern in April following . The first

Officers in 1813 were—J . B . Monck W . M ., J . Parker S . W ., J . Hornbuckle J . W ., Jos . Warry S . D ., Thos . Williams J . D ., Matthew Boulter Treasurer , Nathan Elliott Secretary . I am unable to discover any further records—a minnto book must have been mislaid or lost . On 8 th May 1822 is a memo , that two years previously the Lodge seemed well attended . In September , October and December , the Lodge

could not be opened , there not being enough members present , but Btrange to say , at the last recorded meeting , three candidates were proposed ; what became of them we know not . There appears to be a vacuum in our history for twelve years ; no record can at present be found . The fnrniture and effects were removed to Coley Park , the residence of J . 15 . Monck , Esq ., M . P ., for safe custody , and on tho

17 th September 1833 , the Lodge of Union , No . 597 , was opened , with a new Warrant , to meet in a room at tho back of the Wheat Rick Inn , on the east side of London Street . The names of the founders were Bros . G . Rackstraw W . M ., Baker S . W ., Mnnday J . W ., also Bros . Drysdale Smith , Cheeseman , Pocock , Coxhead , Boulter , and Hone . The celebrated Bro . Peter Gilkes was deputed by the P . G . M . to

consecrate the Lodge and instal the W . M . On tho 8 th October 1833 business was suspended , and upwards of fifty ladies were admitted to see the decorations of the Lodge , and kindly condescended to stay an hour and a half in the company of the brethren . It did not appear a peaceful commencement , for at the Lodge 12 th November , two months after its formation , the record states : "In

consequence of certain reports being circulated detrimental to the interest of tho Lodge , and the same having been traced to Bro . Cheeseman , he was called on to explain and exculpate himself . That brother , who appears to be the landlord of the Wheat Rick , did not bow to the decision of the Lodge , either at that or either of the two following Lodges ; therefore , the Lodge was removed to the Upper Ship , 17 th

December 1833 , when they passed a strong vote of censure on Bro . Cheeseman . On the 31 st January 1834 , Bro . W . Baker was installed as the second W . M . On the 11 th May 1835 , tho Lodge voted one guinea to the Boys' and one gninea to the Girls' School , to be paid when the funds admit of it ! In March 1835 , it is recorded , " Bro .

Cheeseman having apologized for his behaviour , was forgiven , and received back into the Lodge . " In the same year tho P . G . M . attended ¦* ho installation , and granted a dispensation to the brethren to attend the funeral of Bro . Charles Smith in Masonio form . A resolution ¦ ^ 13 passed that the Lodge do annually subscribe to both of the

The History Of Craft Masonry In Reading.

Schools , and al 3 o to havo weekly meetings of instruction at tho Woolpack . In 1 S 3 G , they resolved to "discontinne suppers until tho Treasurer was in funds . " In August , an address was forwarded to H . R . H . tho Dako of Sussex G . M ., congratulating him on the successful result of an operation which restored hi 3 sight .

In January 1837 , they moved the Lodgo to tho Woolpack , in March to the Crown Hotel , and in May to the Masonic Hall , Forbnry . In November , the late Bro . Dr . Woodhouse was installed W . M . Ho was re-elected for 1838 , and in April of that year he proposed " that tho Lodgo dues bo increased to two guineas—that the brethren dine together at least six time 3 a year—a contribution of 2 s 6 cl per head

to bo paid from tho Lodge funds . " Tho brethren intended going in procession to tho laying of tho foundation stone of the Royal Berkshire Hospital , but being refused permission by tho P . G . M . to take the candles and the volume of tho S . L ., they declined going . In 1840 , tho Rev . Sir J . W . Hayes joined the Lodge—ho is the

oldest living member . In 1841 , 1 find tho names of tho late Bros . Cbarlo 3 Blandy and John Simonds as initiated . In October 1842 , Bro . Ramsbofctom , tho P . G . M ., held a P . G . Lodge , and went in procession from the Town Hall to tho Cemetery , to lay the foundation stone of the Episcopal Chapel . ( To be continued ) .

A CHINESE BANQUET . —As a substitute for table-napkins , every ons wa 3 supplied with a considerable number of sqnares of paper figured over in various devices . Tho chairs arranged round tho table were made with marble backs , not so luxurious perhaps , but more suitable to the climate than the pndded lounges in . general use elsewhere . Nothing could bo more perfect , or served in better style , than tho

entire banquet . The Bignon of the district , as if aware that he was catering for connoisseurs , seemed to havo been anxious to surpass himself in the preparation of the many dishes that crowded the menu . For the first course were handed sugared cakes , caviare , fried grasshoppers , dried fruits , and Ning-Poo oysters . Then followed successively , at short intervals , ducks , pigeons' and pewits' eggs poached ,

swallows' nests with mashed eggs , fricasses of ginseng , stewed sturgeons' gills , whales' sinews with sweet sauce , freshwater tadpoles , fried crabs' spawn , sparrows' gizzards , sheep ' s eyes stuffed with garlic , radishes in milk flavonred with apricot kernels , matelotes of holithurias , bamboo sprouts in syrup , and sweet salads . Tho last course consisted of pine-apples from Singapore , earth-nuts , salted

almonds , savoury mangoes , the white fleshy fruits of the " long-yen , " the pulpy fruits of the "lit-cbee , " chestnuts , and preserved oranges from Canton . After tho dessert rico wa 3 served , which the guests raised to their months with little chop-sticks , according to the custom of their country . Three hours was spent over the banquet . When it was ended , and at the time when , according to European usage ,

salvers of rose-water are frequently handed round , the waiting-maid 3 brought napkins steeped in warm water , which all the company rubbed over their face 3 apparently with gveat satisfaction . The next stage of tho entertainment was an hour ' s lounge to bo occupied in listening to music . A group of players and singers entered , all pretty young girls , neatly and modestly attired . Their performance ,

however , could scarcely have been more inharmonious ; it was hardly better than a series of yells , howls , and screeches , without rhythm and withont time . The instruments were a worthy accompaniment to the chorus ; wretched violins , of which the strings kept entangling tho bows ; harsh guitars covered with snakeskins ; shrill clarionets , and harmoniums all out of tune , like diminutive portable pianos . The girls

had been conducted into the room by a man who acted as leader of tho Charivari . Having handed a programme to the host , and received in return a permission to perform what he chose , he made his orchestra strike up " The bouquet of ten flowers , " a piece at that time enjoying a vast popularity in the fashionable world . This was followed by other pieces of a similar character , and at the close of

the performances the troop , already handsomely paid , were enthusiastically applauded , and allowed to depart and gain fresh laurels from other audiences . After the concert was over the party rose from their seats , and having interchanged a few ceremonious sentences , passed to another table . Hero were laid six covered cups , each embossed with a portrait of Bodhid-harama , the celebrated Buddhist

monk , standing on his legendary wheel . The cups were already full of boiling water , and each member of the party was provided with a pinch of tea , which he pnt into the cup , withont sugar , and at onco drank off the infusion . And what tea it was ! Europeans would havo exclaimed in wonder at its flavour , but these connoisseurs sipped it slowly , with the air of men who duly appreciated its quality . They

were all men of the upper class , handsomely attired in " hunchaols , " a kind of thin shirt , " macooals , " or short tunics , and "haols , " long coats buttoned at the side . On their feet were yellow slippers , and open-work socks , met by silk breeches that were fastened round the waist by tasselled scarves ; on their chests they wore a kind of stomacher elaborately embroidered in silk . Elegant fans dangled from their girdles . —JULES VEBNE in Leisure Hour .

An exhibition will shortly open , which at a time when there is s much controversy on the subject of female beauty , promises to be ' sfi some interest . The proprietors of tho Qraphic have commissioned most of tho leading artists of the day , each to paint a head typifying his conception of beauty . They havo taken np the idea with great

spirit , and the result is a number of ' admirably painted heads , and doubtless there will be many discussions and differences of opinion as to which is the most beautiful . The Gallery , which is situated at No . 14 Grafton-streefc , one door from New Bond-street , will bo opened to the public on Monday , the 16 th of February ; and the entire proceeds will be given to a Charitable Fund for Artists .