"Under The Black Flag." A Statement Of Facts.

¦ perform a dishonourable action can be held binding ou •"> man of honour ; Mr . Drummoud's eyes were opened to fche facts of the case ; he knew he was about to do wrong ancl he preferred to do it . So much for the morality of

the question . As for its legal aspect , fraud vitiates a contract . If the true facts of the case were not disclosed in the first instance by Yorston Eto Drnmmond , the latter should have backed out at once , and left Yorston to reap

the consequences of his deceit ; but by disdaining toava « of the locus penitential thafc was offered him , Drummond can onl y be said to have participated in the p iracy with his eyes open .

And here we leave him , to approach the case of F . T . Carson , which to us seems the worst of all . He resides in the same town as Yorston , and doubtless was au oourant of all the proceed !** : * : s from the commencement : yefc in

November 1883 , when Yorston had only received one letter from Jack , and that of a very unpromising nature , he lends himself to the issue of a circular or prospectus containing his name as a co-aufchor , and undertakes both to

write some portion of the Supplement and to get the other portions written . His activity did not even cease there , for he managed , according to Drummono ' s own statement , to very effectually hoodwink the latter , and with all the

correspondence between the two publishers before him , be resolutely closes his eyes to tlie overwhelming evidence which bears in favour of Mr . Jack . Ifc is true , that later . by Drnmmond , after a perusal of the same correspondence .

the piratical publisher has also been absolved from blame . Bnt as in neither instance is the evidence forthcoming on which the decision was based , we can only re-echo—though

we fear vainly—the wish of Bro . Gould , that Yorston ' s apologists would state on what grounds they adjudged him to be the victor in the dispute .

And now , with one final remark , weclose our review of this mosfc nnfraternal transaction , and we hope for ever . It is patent that Yorston has been well served b y the instruments of his choice , and not less so that he has found brethren

to assist him who have apparently never undertaken not to injure a Mason themselves by word or deed or suffer others to do the like . We know that Jack was , and Gould is , a Mason , but , alas ! so also is Yorston . Carson is a Depntv

of a Supreme Council 33 ° , and Past Grand Commander of Knight Templars ; and Drummond is a Past Grand Master of the Craft . We refrain from mentioning fche jurisdiction 1 " , because we are convinced that their Masonic compeers

cannot be proud of them , and would nofc thank us for too great a precision in our descri ption . The narrative is a sad one , bnt when brethren cease fco act on the square , and set

up a moral standard of their own , we can no longer expect them to remain good Masons and adhere wifch scrupulous fidelity to the solemn obligations of the Fraternity .

It will be in tho remembrance of many of his friends that Bro . J . J . Marsh P . M ., Past Grand Standard Bearer Middlesex , a few weeks back met with a serious accident . The first statements published were to the effect thafc Bro .

Marsh had fractured both his legs ; happily , however , this statement was incorrect ; the damage our brother sustained was a broken ankle . We are gratified in being able to state that he is getting about again , and is competent to fulfil all business engagements .

The ceremonies of consecration and installation will be rehearsed at the Covent Garden Lodge of Instruction , No . 1614 , held at the Criterion , Piccadilly , on Thursday , 19 fch inst ., afc seven o ' clock precisely , by Bro . James Terry

P . G . S . B ., P . P . J . G . W . Norths and Hunts , P . M . 228 , 1278 , 1366 , 1964 . Secretary to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . Brethren are requested to appear in fall Craft

clothing . The annual supper will take placo afc the conclnsion of the ceremonies ; Bro . W . C . Smith I . P . M . 15 '» 3 Preceptor , in the chair ; Bro . G . Reynolds S . W . 1614 Secretary , vice-chairman .

The " Old Masonians" announce that their second annual dinner will take place at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleetstreet , on Saturday , 21 st inst , Bro . Frederick Binckes , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boysfche

, President of the " Old Masonians , " has kindly consented to take the chair on this occasion , when we anticipate he will be supported by several well-known members of the Hrnft .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

ST . MICHAEL'S LODGE , No . 211 .

AT toe Albion , Aide :.-aa-e-street , Lond > u , on Tuesday , in the absence of Bro . A : ex . Dickson , the W . M ., throngh illness , Lodge was opened by Bro . Frederick T . Bennett , th : ) Immediate Past . Master ; Eros . Lindfie ' . d and Nash respectively filled their chairs as Wardens , and the acting Master was snpported by Past Masters A . Green ( Treasurer ) , W . Radcliffe ( Secretary ) , W . W .

Morgan , F . J . Hentsch ; several visitors , and a goodly proportion of the rn-mber ; - . In the eon >> e of tho processings £ 10 10 s was voted in laijipi ; -t of T ? io . Benne't ' s Sfc ; -wardship for the Royal Masonio Institntion for Gi :-lf-, and , na is usual at this Lodge , several snbstantial

amounts were added by the members fco supplement the List . Lodge was closed , and adjonrned till October next . Tho brethren , with their guests , afterwards spent a couple of hours together in a mosfc ay enable faid harmonious manner .

PORTLAND LODGE , No . 639 . TN lieu of tho Masonic ball , which used to be held annually in one of tho towns of North Staffordshire , Bro . J . B . Ashwell , W . M ., and ihe brethren of the Lodge arranged for a conversazione , which came off afc the Town Hali , Stoke , on Thursday evening , 5 fch inst ., and

VVPS highly successful in every respect . Tho wholo of the rooms afc the hall available for pnblic purposes wero "pen on the occasion . Tho assembly-room was used as a ball-room , and it was gaily decorated for tho occasion . The banners from somo of tho r . eighbouring Lodges , and the beautiful Jubilee slab of the Meettiri i Ledge , recording the

names of the Past-Masters , were a ' so er < b 1 . The Council Chamber / end the Mayor ' s Perlour we * o apo , rl ^ ,-d fco the purposes of art galleries , the walls being adorned with a magnificent collection of paintings in oil and water colours , with other interesting objects lent for the occasion . The Magistrates' Court wns used as a

supperroom ( refreshments being supplied by Bro . Riynes , Copeland Arms Hotel ) , while card-rooms and smoke-rooms were also provided . The company wasi numerous , and by tho time that isas nxnd for th <*> first

dance the assembly-room presented a brilliant appearance . There were about 400 present . Mosfc of the gentlemen wore the regalia of Mark , Royal Arch , or Craffc Masonry , while a few were in military uniform .

WELSHPOOL LODGE , No . 998 .

THE twenty-fourth annual festival was celebrated on Thursday , the 29 th ult . The members assembled at the Lodge-room , Railway Station , Welshpool , nnd after the general business had been transacted , the immediate Past Master , the Rev . T . Hnghes , M . A ., installed the Worshipful Master-elect , Bro . W . R . Hursfc , ns Master of the Lodge . The new Officers were then appointed , aa follows : —Bros .

A . J . Blair S . W ., W . N . Holt J . W ., W . Collender P . M . Secretary , D . Richards S . D . ( Treasurer pro tern ) , Lieat . J . Dovaston J . D ., Sir Pryce Pry cr-. Jones I . G ., and Lewis Andrew D . C . The Worshipful Master , on behalf of tho Lodge , presented Bro . the Rev . T . Hughes

with a Past Maker ' s jewel , as a recognition of distinguished services rendered to the Lodge . Bro . Hnghes having acknowledged the presentation , a life votg io the Girls' School was then granted , aud fche company adjonrned to the Royal Oak Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet was served by Bro . David Richards .

GUNDULPH LODGE . No . 1050

THB installation of Bro . E . Lemmon took place at the Council Chamber . Guildhall , Rochester , on the 4 th instant , when a large number of brethren assembled from all parts of Kent . The ceremony was ably performed by the retiring Master , Bro . F . G . Homan . Afterwards tho W . M . presented Bro . Homan with a

magnificent jewel , snbscribed for by tho brethren of the Lodge . The following Officers •were appointed for the ensning year , viz .: —Brothers Taylor S . W ., Parsons J . W ., Rev . — Fielding Chaplain , Fry Treasurer , Watson Secretary , Gilbert S . D ., Earla J . D ., Wyatfc LG ., Russell Organist , Ashton D . C , Brice and Nash Stewards . Later- in the day Iho brethren banqueted at the King's Head Hotel , the host , Bro . Logan , surprising his gnesfcs by the very excellent way he catered for them .

THE PILGRIM LODGE . No . 238

A MOST impressive ceremony , under the title of a Mourning Lodge , or Lodge of Sorrow , took place on Thursday evening , in the Great HaU afc Freemasons' Tavern , in honour of the late Emperor William . Prom the time of Frederick the Great downwards ifc has been tbe custom for the Crown Prince to hold the position of Protector of Freemasonry in Germany—a position

equivalent to that which is held here by his Royal Highness fche Prince of Wales , ns Graud Master of English Freemasons—an office which he holds while Crown Prince , and relinquishes on his accession to the Throne . The ceremony yesterday wa ? i held under the auspicas of the Pilgrim Lodge , iu which tho ritual is worked in the

German language , ancl as none but German-speakmg members are admitted , it may be taken to be a representative Lodge of German Freemasons in this country . All round the walls were funereal draperies of black cloth hung in double rows of festoons , relieved with white cords and fringes , tho upper row being ornamented afc

intervals with medallions bearing the Imperial eagle , anrl the lowerhaving in each of tbe fifty festoons the emblems of mortality . Tbe chairs and pedestals of the Master and Wardens were also draped in

black , and at the end of the room behind the Master ' s chair were heavy black curtains surrounding a large cscntcheon bearing the Imperial arms , and backed by a trophy of the flags of various nations , hi the c- » nr . re of t . ht > T „> d << e uUiod a biiidrapfd with black vnlv « l-