Masonry Eleven Thousand Years Ago In America.

to-day cannot be the language of 11 , 500 years ago , or even ono thousand years ago , —language is too variable for that . Proud as we should be to think that America is the old world ( so to speak ) , and the seat of the earliest

civilisation , and that Freemasonry existed here 11 , 000 years atro , with all due respect we must say that Dr . Le plongeon has not presented to us facts that warrant any such conclusion . He gives Philadelphia the just credit of

having , in 1732 , a Masonic Lodge , " held in Tun Tavern , ' bat he mistakenly says : " Henry Price was the first Provincial Grand Master , appointed by the Grand Lodge of England on April 30 th , 1783 . " The records themselves

of the Grand Lodge of England show that Daniel Coxe ¦ was the first Provincial Grand Master , for New York , New Jersey and Pennsylvania , appointed on June 5 , 1730 . Bro . Le Plongeon ' s work is illustrated with over thirty

engravings , including a ground plan of the " Temple of Mysteries , " Cross-bones and Skeletons carved on the cornice of the Sanctuary , extracts from the Troano MS ., and a map of the Maya Empire . The work is dedicated

to Mr . Pierre Lorillard , through whoso liberal patronage it was published . Bro . Le Plongeon tells us he has a work in MS . entitled " Monuments of Mayax , and their Historic Teachings , " which he says throws much additional light

upon America ' s antiquities . It no doubt has value , but if it should claim less , it might prove more . The author begins the volume under review by saying : " Not a few , and I among them , earnestly believe that Masonry existed before Adam was created . I believe it , because I am

convinced that this pretended ancestor of man is a mythand has never existed . " Dr . Le Plongeon doubts so much himself , that he will doubtless pardon us for doubting whether Masonry existed in Yucatan 11 , 500 years ago . — Keystone .

Lodge Histories.

LODGE HISTORIES .

CENTENARY OF THE PHCENIX LODGE , NO . 257 .

ON Saturday , the 31 st tilt ., a Masonic ceremony that will long bo remembered by those who had the pleasure of taking part in it , was conducted in connection with the 100 th birthday of the Phoenix Lodge , and in presence of the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathon ) , Deputy Grand Master of England , W . W . B . Beach , Esq ., M . P ., J . Lo Feuvre Esq ., the Provincial and Deputy Provincial Gtaud Masters of Hampshire and the Isle of VVight , most of tho Officers of

the Provincial Grand Lodge , several Masters of Lodges , and a very large number of other influential Masons of the district , including amongst others Sir Samuel Wilson , M . P . Tho ceremony was conducted jointly by Lord Lathom and Col . Crease , R . M . A ., the Master of the Lodge , although it is right to say that the greater part of the work rested on the shoulders of the latter gentleman , who is an enthnsiastic Mason . The brethren having assembled in the

handsome and commodious building in Highbnry-street , Portsmouth , and the usual processions having taken place , the Earl of Lathom briefly addressed the gathering , stating the pleasure that it gave him to attend the Centenary Festival of so renowned a Lodge as that of the Phoenix of Portsmouth . He congratulated the members of the Lodge upon its long list of distinguished Masters ; he was sure that it had

done good service not only in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth , bat to Masonry in general , and nothing would give him greater pleasure than to come amongst them on many occasions , but he must ask them to remember that , in addition to his public duties , he had the honour to discharge those of Grand Master of a large Northern province . He took the greatest interest in Masonry , and he was glad

to find it flourishing in the South , as it undoubtedly did in the North of England . The warrant for the constitution of the Lodge and the warrant for the centenary jewel having been read , the following interesting historical memorandum , giving the names of distinguished members of tho Lodge , was read by Bro , J . Ilidd Hayniau , who , at its conclusion , received the cordial and grateful thanks of the Lodge for

tho trouble he had taken in its compilation . The Phcoiiix Lodge was constituted under a warrant of the Grand Lodge of England , dated the 20 th of May 1780 , but from tho fact that tho Royal Arch Chapter attached to it is considerably older than the Lodge itself , and that twenty years prior to this there were no less than five lodges in existence in Portsmouth , there is very little

doubt that the Lodge whoso centenary was celebrated on Saturday was a revival of a much older one . Prom the years 1786 to 1794 tho Lorlgo met at the George Inn ; from 1791 to 1 S 0 O at private rooms ; from 1800 to 1814 at the Fouutaiu Iun ( now tho Soldiers' Institute ) ; from 1814 to 1822 at the Gt ; orgo Iun ; from 1822 to 1821 at the King ' s Arms ; from 1821 to 85 |

^ . at private rooms ; and from 185-1 to the present time at tho Lod ge Rooms , 110 iligh-streut , which vvero formerly the mess rooms ° f the Iloyal Murine Artillery . Tho first VV . M . was Bro . Samuol Palmer , a P . M . of King George Lod ge , Sunderland , aud among tho founders was Thomas Telford , tho celebrated engineer , who , his biographer records , took a warm interest in tho welfare of the Lodge . Bro . Palmer was succeeded in tho office by Bro , John Rankin , his S . W ., who presided over the

Lodge Histories.

Lodge for seven years . During the century of its existence the Lodge has numbered among its members some of the most distinguished Officers of both Services , whilst the names of most of the leading local families iu Portsmouth and the neighbourhood will be found on its muster roll . Tho first three brethren initiated in the

Lodge were officers of the Royal Marines , and their names were Lieutenants Charles Wright Cartwright , John Mascell , and John James . The first naval officer initiated was Commander John Withers . The following are a few noteworthy members of the Lodge : — 1786 . —Richard Barber , a banker and influential citizen .

1787 . —Roger Callaway , a leading solicitor of the town , the founder of the business now carried on by Messrs . Hellard and Son . He be . came Master of the Lodge in 1792 . 1787 . —William Grant , grandfather of Mr . William Grant , of the banking firm of Grant , Gillman , and Long .

1787 . —Admiral Sir Roger Curtis , Bart ., who was an active member . 1791 . —Captain Thomas Byam Martin , who was created a G . C . B . for his distinguished services , and made Admiral of tho Fleet in 1854 1805 . —Edward Casher , Mayor of Portsmouth .

1807 . —Dr . John Porter , an eminent physician . 1813 . —Thomas Edgoumbe , father of a member of a well-known firm of solicitors . 1823 . —Lord John George Lennox , W . M . of the Lodge 1830 , and Grand Warden of the Province in 1850 . In connection with other

members of the Lodge , Lord John Lennox took an active part in organising the banquet to the naval and military forces eugaged in the war with Russia in 1854-1856 . 1825 . —William Minchin , another well-known local solicitor . He was W . M . in 18421844 , and and Senior G . Warden of the Province in

the latter year . 1825 . —Rev . James Henville , Vicar of Wymeriug and Widley , and brother of the Vicar of Portsmouth . 1826 . —Lieutenant ( afterward General ) Whylock . 1827 . —General Sir James LyoD , Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmonth .

1827 . —Sir Lucins Curtis , Bart ., being at that time a Captain R . N . He died an Admiral of the Fleet . He was W . M . of the Lodge in 1834-1835 , was appointed S . G . W . of the Provinoe in the first of these years , Deputy P . G . Master in 1837 , and P . G . M . in 1840 , which

office he held for 29 years . 1827 . —Lienteriant-Colonel Lord John Lennox , Brigade-Major of Portsmouth . He was made a Grand Warden of England . 1827 . —Bro . John Lindergren , an influential local banker and West

India merchant ( who built the Baltic Wharf at Portsmouth ) , waa W . M . in 1827 , and Senior Grand Warden of the Province in 1850 . 1827 . —Major Joseph Oates Travers , for a great number of years an active Magistrate of the Borough . 1829 . —Lieutenant Samuel Perkins Pritchard and Lieutenant John

White Pritchard , both afterwards Admirals . 1829 . — Lord William Paget , Captain R . N ., then commanding H . M . S . North Star . 1831 . —Lord George de La Poor Beresford , son of the Marquis of Waterford .

1832 . —Dr . George Deane Meadows and Dr . Edward Scott , two well-known physicians . Dr . Meadows was Master of the Lodue for two years iu succession , and was Junior G . W . of the Province in 1840 . Dr . Scott was also Master in IS 13 . 1832 . —Sir William Eden , Bart , ( a brother of Bishop Eden ) , afterwards ono of the Lords of the Admiralty .

1832 . —Admiral Hyde Parker , C . B ., ( then Captain of H . M . S Rodney . He died in 1854 , at which time he was Senior Lord of the Admiralty . 1832 . —Viscount Torrington , at that time a youth of 20 . He

afterwards rose to great distinction , and tho University of Oxford conferred upon him the Degree of D . C . L . He was for several years Governor of Ceylon . He was a great favourito of the Princa Consort , aud was his Lord-iu-Waiting for sixteen years .

1832 . —Lacy Walter Lee , then a subaltern , who was killed at Sebastopol , where he displayed conspicuous bravery . 1836 . —Admiral Sir James Whitley Dears Dnndas , G . C . B . ( M . P , for Warwickshire ) , at that time in command of H . M . S . Britannia . 1837—J . Brent Mackay , a well-known chemist . He is still a

subscribing member , and is believed to be the oldest living member of the Lodge , and the brethren cordially welcome him to the Lodge today . 1841 . —Lieutenant ( afterwards Captain ) Andrew Robert Savage , who was one of the most conspicuous working membprs of the Lodg « ,

He was Master in 1846 , J . G . W . iu 1846 , and S . G . W . of the Province in 1855 . 1811 . —Dr . Perks , a well-known member of the medical profession , svho is still living at Portsea . 1841 . —Major General Sir John Eardley Wilmot Inglis , then a

Lieutenant in the 32 nd Kegiment . 1841 . —Major Ferris Charles Robb , who was untiring in hi * exertiotis to promote tho interests and iufiuetice of the Lodge . He was ono of its most liberal benefactors , and his virtnes aud miniific ? n < -o are emblazoned on the walls of the Lodge . The whole << f the urnqne

Lodge furniture waa his gift , including the handsome bronze chandelier in the centre of the Phoenix Lodge-room . He also formed a valuable collection of books , but like many other Masonic libraries it gradually became dispersed , and the varinns volumes now form a part of private libra'ies . Major Robb was W . M . of the Lclo' f . r

two years in succession , and Senior G . W . of the Province m 1817 . 1812 . —Richard VV . Bradley , the oldest surviving Past Msis'er , ; iml one of the most valued members of tho Lodge . ! '• c old-r br thron gratefully remember tho iuvaluablo services rendered to ih . ; Phceaix

Lodge in particular , and Freemasonry generally , by Bn > . L 5 ialley , and after many years of retirement the brethren offer him a cordial and fraternal welcome to tho Centenary Festival . Bro , Bradley was W . M . of the Lodge in 1849 , aud Senior Grand Wardeu of the Pro vinco in 1852 ,