Analysis Of The Subscription Lists For The Boys' School.

grand total of £ 938 3 s contributed during 1883 , and that , too , after numerous other good totals . May the brethren of this southern district ever be as mindful of tho Charities as they have been in the past .

Somersetshire comes next on our list , its total being £ 357 10 s 6 d . It was represented in Febrnary by one Steward , who took up £ 52 10 s ; and in May , also by one Steward , whoso list was £ 44 2 s . The total for the year is therefore £ 454 2 s 6 d .

The Western Division of South Wales , withalevel £ 350 , shews out well , considering its limited number of Lodges . The present is its first appearance in 1883 , but it is , we believe , the custom in this district to support one Charity each year , and give all attention to that alone—a very good system in small districts .

West Lancashire has been comparatively quiet this year , still its representatives have brought up £ 823 13 s 6 d for the three Institutions , viz ., £ 244 15 s for the Benevolent , £ 244 13 s for the Girls , and £ 334 5 s 6 d for the Boys . It

must not be forgotten , when comparing these figures with those of other districts , that West Lancashire , in addition to its donations to the central Charities , also supports a local Masonic Institution , as also do other of the Provinces in its neighbourhood .

Worcestershire stands out well this year , its members having contributed a total of £ 764 6 s , viz ., £ 218 13 s to the Benevolent , £ 217 7 s to the Girls , and £ 321 6 s to the Boys . A splendid results if taken in connection with the number of its Lodges , which are only eleven .

Devonshire now sends up £ 317 6 s , and with its previous totals of £ 74 lis for the Benevolent and £ 203 3 s for the

Girls , is deserving of praise . £ 595 in one year from such a Province as Devonshire is most gratifying . Suffolk is another district worthy of especial praise . Its total for the present year being no less a sum than £ 653 0 s 6 d . Of this amount £ 250 17 s 6 d was

contributed to the Benevolent in February , £ 136 10 s to the Girls in May , and £ 265 13 s to the Boys last month . We have now come to the end of those Provinces whose totals on this occasion exceed £ 250 . We propose to conclude our summary here , especially as we have already

given , a list shewing the amounts contributed by the remaining- districts . We clo not leave off at this point because we consider those which follow are undeserving of

mention , on the contrary , every district that puts in an appearance is deserving of praise , but the space at our disposal being limited , we are compelled to draw a luae somewhere .

Growth Of Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania.

GROWTH OF GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA .

WE have lately received a copy of the " Sesqui Centennial Proceedings of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , F . and A . M ., " and from its pages we extract the following address of Bro . the Hon . Pearson Church •—It has ever been the custom of mankind to preserve a record of any notable event in their political , their religious , or their social

life . Snch an usage , having tho sanction of Divine command , is the means whereby trne patriotism is fostered , religious zeal encon . raged , and brotherly love nourished . In conformity with this ancient and sacred cnstom , the Grand

Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania keeps this service . This day is unto ns a memorial . On St . John ' s Day , 24 th June , in the year of Light 5732 , there was held for fche first time in fche Province of Pennsylvania , and in this City of Philadelphia , a Grand Lodge of the Ancient and

Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons ; and at the same time Grand Officers for its government were duly chosen . There had been indeed prior to that time , Masons sojourning here who used to meet together as a Lodge nnder the auspices of a Grand Lodge of England .

Yet this day , one hundred and fifty years ago , is to us , as Pennsylvania Masons , " the Beginning of Days . " ( It is a coincidence to be noticed in passing , that it was then , as ifc is now , the Saturday of the week . ) It does not fall within the scope of my remarks to unravel the

network of intricacies which surrounds the Masonic jurisdiction of England during the last century , nor to rehearse the story of the consequent uncertainties of authority which exist in the chronicles of this earliest Grand Lodge . It is sufficient to remark that at one time there were two or more Grand Lodges in England , and two

Grand Lodges at the same time claiming jurisdiction in Pennsylvania . The older Body did nofc long survive the political Revolution of the Colonies . Our present Grand Lodge derives its real origin from " The Grand Lodge of the Mosfc Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and

Growth Of Grand Lodge Of Pennsylvania.

The Graud Lodge thus organized remained as a Provincial Grand Lod /? e under tho-authority of the Grand Lodge of England , known as the "Ancients , " until , on the 25 th of September 1786 , it was unanimously resolved by the members thafc ifc was improper that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania should remain any longer nnder the authority of any foreign Grand Lodge ; and thus the old Provincial Grand

9

Accepted Masons , ' according to the Old Constitutions , ' granted by His Royal Highness Prince Edwin , at York , in the year of our Lord 92 fi . " The Grand Warrant of our authority was issued on the 20 th of June 1 * TR , 1

Lodge became an institution of the pasfc . Immediately thereupon a Grand Convention was formed to take proper steps for the establishment of a truly independent Grand Lodge ; and there was then adopted , with like unanimity , an ordinance that the Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge form themselves into a Grand Lodge , to be called " The Graud

Lodge of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction thereunto belong , ing . " This official title , somewhat quaint , and still unchanged , differing , as I believe it does , from that of any of our sister Grand Lodges , sufficiently indicates that this Grand Lodge claimed and exercised Masonio jurisdiction outside the Province and Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania . This jurisdiction was thus exercised by the Provincial Grand Lodge in warranting subordinate Lodges in many adjoining and distant Colonies , in fche Island of Hayfci , in regiments of the Con . tinental Army , and even of the British Army . This Grand Lodge , after ifc attained its independence , granted warrants to subordinate Lodges in many distant States , in the West

India Islands , in Mexico , in different countries in South America , and in the United States Army . Many of these Lodges became extinct , and many became subsequently attached to other Masonio jurisdictions . The Act of Independence of our Grand Lodge was gracefully acknowledged ancl fraternally recognised by the Mother Grand Lodge

of England . In their congratulatory letter of brotherly love and of God-speed , occurs a passage so happily freighted with " thoughts that breathe and words' that burn , " that I may be pardoned for quoting it : " Having perused , " they say , " your Book of Constitutions , we reflect with pleasure that the Grand Lodge of England has given birth to a Grand Lodge in the Western World , whose strict adherence

to the ancient and immutable landmarks of our Order , re & ects honour on its original founders . . We conceive that in constituting your Grand Lodge , we necessarily communicated to it the same independent Masonio authority within yonr jurisdiction , which we ourselves possessed within ours ; amenable to no superior jurisdiction under Heaven , and subject only to fche immutable landmarks of the

Order . AU Grand Lodges in Masonry being necessarily free , independent , and equipollent within their respective jurisdictions , whioh consequently excludes the idea of subjection to any foreign authority or the establishment of an imperium in imperio . " Of this counsel , coming from our Alma Mater , this Grand Lodge has ever been mindful . As the instructive words of a prudent

father sink deep into tbe heart and understanding of au obedient and respectful child , so did this Grand Lodge , in its youth , cherish this message of wisdom from our ancient and honourable ancestor . The ancient and unchangeable landmarks , usages aud customs of our Order , and the no less trenchant doctrines of indepedent juris , dictional sovereign Masonio authoritv , have been the Jachin and

Boaz of onr Masonio edifice , reared and supported as it has been in Wisdom , Strength and Beauty . They have been to this Grand Lodge the pillar of clond by day , and the pillar of fire by night . They have kept us in the straight pathway which leads to true Masonio light and knowledge . Ifc would be a most interesting study to mark the many memorable

epochs , and to acquaint ourselves wifch the many notable events in . the long history of the Grand Lodge , and thus to follow its growth from infancy to maturity , bufc my limited time forbids me to do more than glance at one or two more promising episodes . The Grand Lodge had its period of gloom , and for a time felt the bitter blast , and breathed the noxious vapour of madness , fanaticism

and folly j but , as a laden atmosphere is purified by a violent thunderstorm , so , after its era of persecution , did our Grand Lodge , upheld and defended by its noble band of officers and members , who would not bend to the behests of illegally exercised authority , henceforth shine with renewed lustre and revived splendour . " The eyes of the Lord were open npon this House day and night , upon the place

whereof He had said He would put His name there . " The Ark of the Covenant had gained its resting place , and there was thereafter fco be found no Uzzah to lay his unhallowed hands upon its sacred form . There is one event in the history of the Grand Lodge which , to ua as Pennsylvania Masons of the present generation , appears strange .

In the year 1780 the Grand Lodge took into consideration the propriety and necessity of appointing a Grand Master over all the Grand Lodges formed or to be formed in these United States , and after it was so resolved , that Brother who was " First in war , first in peace , and first in the hearts of his countrymen , " was by this Grand Lodge unanimously elected Grand Master of Masons throughout the

United States . The concurrence in this movement by the several Grand Lodges of the United States was most strenuously urged by our Grand Lodge , and very persuasive arguments were used for the purpose of bringing about united action . In after years different and better counsels prevailed , for we find that , in answer to similar propositions from other ancl

Grand Lodges this Grand Lodge declared it to be inexpedient impracticable to establish a Supreme Superintending Grand Lodge in the United States . It was , however , the sense of onr Grand Lodge that a more intimate union should be formed , and a permanent intercourse established between the several Grand Lodges . All of these projects were finally abandoned , and never , so for as I am aware , was the subject again brought forward .