Occasional Papers.—No. Ix.

encroachments on its authority by the London Grand Lodge , when the latter established two new Lodges in York—one in 1734 and the second in 1738 . Preston observes that from the constitution of the latter " all correspondence between the two Grand Lodges ceased , " as

well it might have done , seeing that from 1730 to 1701 one of the two bodies was in abeyance , while I have already stated that in 1767 a communication passed between the two , in Avhich reference was made by Grand Secretary Lambert , of York , to the discontinuance of the

Lodge No . 259 , Stonegate , which had been wan-anted by tbe Grand Lodge of London . There is , I think , no evidence whatever to show that , directly or indirectly , the Grand

Lodge at York had anything to do with the secession of brethren from the ranks of the Grand Lodge of London , or with their subsequent establishment of the Grand Lodge of so-called " Ancient" Masons in 1753 . How could it when

it was all the time in abeyance ? Kloss thinks the innovations I have noted " were not by any means a sufficient reason for disunion in the Fraternity . He points out , however , that—see ¥ indel's " History of Freemasonry , " p 474— " the war in Flanders from

1741-48 , brought the English and French Masons into closer proximity , who bad then an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the newly-devised so-called high degrees ; and with the invasion of the Pretender Charles Edward Stuart , 1745-46 , an offshoot was probably transplanted into Scotland . Tbe seeds thus disseminated had the

more time to thrive as the Grand Master Byron from 1747-52 , was constantly absent from tbe country , and the Grand Lodge became completely powerless , as no regularity in the business was observed . " There is no doubt considerable force in these

views , at least as to the effect of Lord Byron's absence from the conntry and its consequences . No doubt , too , it was the development of the Royal Arch Degree , which strengthened the determination of the seceders to remain aloof from tbe Grand Lodge . Yet I hold , with Findel , that

the Secession began about 1738-9 , and , as I have argued , I believe it arose from the measures taken against the unworthy brethren who had made Masons clandestinely and the innovations introduced into the Society in connection

with the Grand Stewards' Lodge . The question , as I said at the outset , will in all probability be set at rest , and therefore I must leave my hearers to form their own opinion of the merits of the case as I have stated it .

What happened in the ranks of the Seceders prior to 1753 , beyond the establishment of a Grand Committee as a governing body , is not known . Suffice it to say , that in that year a Bro . Robert Turner was chosen as Grand Master . In 1754 he was succeeded by the Hon . Edward

Vaughan . In 1756 the Earl of Blessington , who had been Grand Master of Ireland in 1738-9 , was elected Grand Master , and in 1760 was succeeded by the Hon . Thomas Mathew . In 1771 John , third Duke of Athole , who was Grand Master of Scotland 1773 , was appointed ,

and after his death in 1774 John , fourth Duke of Athole , took his place , and retained it till 1781 , being chosen G . Master of Scotland in the interim—1778-9 . During the year 1782 the office of Grand Master was vacant , but the authority was exercised by Bro . W . Dickey , the late

Deputy Grand Master , as President of the Grand Committee . From 1783 to 1791 , however , Randal Earl , and subsequently Marquis , of Antrim , Grand Master of Ireland in 1773 and 1779 , was Grand Master of "the Ancients , " and then the fourth Duke of Athole resumed the office , and

continued to hold it till 1813 , when he resigned , in order to make way for H . R . H . the Duke of Kent , and the re-union of the whole body of Englisb Masons under one Grand Lodge . From the long connection of the Athole family with the " Ancients , " it will be easy to understand how they came to be known as the " Athole " Masons .

PORTSMOUTH FREEMASONS' HALL COMRANY . —The ordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Freemasons' Hall aud Clnb Company was held in tbe banqnet hall of tbe clnb on Monday , 10 th inst ., Mr . Alderman W . D . King , J . P ., in the chair . The Secretary ( Mr . E . S . Main ) read the report and balance sheet , which declared a

dividend of five per cent ., and was unanimously adopted . Messrs . S . K . Ellis and J . Graven were re-elected , and Mr . J . Willmotb was elected in the place of Mr . George Wilkins , as directors . The nsnal votes of thanks were passed , and Messrs . T . Pratt Wills and T . H . Casey were elected auditors .

J . E . SKAJTD & Co ., Wine Merchant ( Experts and Valuers ) . Well fermented old Wineaand matured Spirits . 2 Albert Mansions , Victoria-street , London , S . W .

The Grand Master At Portsmouth.

THE GRAND MASTER AT PORTSMOUTH .

ON Sunday evening H . R . H . the Prince of Waks , M . W . G . M ., paid a visit to the Masonic Club , Cornmeroial-road , Portsmouth , and was received by the Chairman of Directors ( Alderman W . D . King ) and the Secretary ( Mr . E . S . Main ) , by whom His Royal Highness was escorted through the handsome Lodge and the capacious ban . quoting room . Before leaving , the Prince expressed his best wishes for the snecess of the Institution . On Toesday at 1230 the members

nf the Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar Lodge , No . 1 , 903 , of which Commander Lord Charles Beresford , who is now on duty in the Mecli . terranean , is the first W . M ., assembled in their Lodgo room , the Masonio Hall , Portsmouth , to receive the Prince of Wales , who had on the previous day intimated to Brother A . L . Emanuel , tho Hon . Secretary , his desire to visit the Lodge . The staircase leading to

the Lodge was dressed with red cloth , and the brethren ranered on either side of the entrance . The Prince was accompanied by Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar ( who , although not a member of the Craft , was invited to be present , ns it was not proposed to ty le the Lodge , the compliment being paid to His Serene Highness in recognition of the honour he had done the Lodge by allowing it to be named after him ) ,

Lord Carrinsrton , and several Officers . His Royal Highness , on entering , was introduced to Rrother H . W . Townsend the I . P . M . who is actinsr W . M ., and conducted through the line of brethren to the Lodge , where the Officers were severally introduced . The band of the 2 nd Battalion Royal Highlanders ( Black Watoh ) were stationed below , and , under the direction of Brother Buck , played " God save

the Queen , " as the Lodge was entered . Bro . Silvester sang " God bless the Prince of Wales , " tbe chorus being taken by tbe brethren , and Brother J . Winterbottom , the Organist , accompanying on the harmonium . Blotter Townsend said : "My Lord , Gentlemen , and Brethren , —In the absence of Brother the Worshipful Master Lord Charles Beresford , it is my pleas i ng duty to ask you to drink the

health of the Most Worshipful Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , who has kindly honoured us with his presence here to-day . It will need but few words from me to ensure for this toast a hearty reception . Scarcely twelvemonths has passed since the idea waa first entertained of forming this Lodge , and I think the promoters of it could scarcely have anticipated that in so short a time it wonld

become , as it now is , one of the strongest Lodges in the Province of Hampshire . This , I am snre , is mainly due to the faot that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and bis two illustrious brothers have graciously honoured us by becoming honorary members of the Lodge . I ask you , brethren , witbont any further comment , to drink most heartily the health of the Most Worshipful Grand Master the Prince of

Wales . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , in reply , said : I thank you very much for the compliment you have paid me to-day , and I assure you it has given me great pleasnre to come to this new Lodge , of which I have heard so much through your Worshipful Master , Bro . Lord Charles Beresford . It is with great p leasnre I have heard and seen what I have , and experienced yonr kind reception . All I have

now to do is to ask you to drink , as I do most cordially , the health of the Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar Lodge , conpled with tbe name of your Worshipful Master Lord Charles Beresford , whose absence we all , I am snre , deeply regret to-day . Captain Haldane : On the part of the members of the Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar Lodge , I beg to return our most hearty thanks to His Royal Highness for the

honour he has done us in coming to this Lodge , and proposing the toast he has done . Brother Townsond next asked those present to drink the health of His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar . Prince Edward said he was very obliged to them for drinking his health in that Masonic Lodge , which they had done him the honour to call after him . He felt very much flattered at it , and very

mnch pleased indeed to have attended with His Royal Highness . The Prince then retired , and as he left the bnilding was received with cheers by the people who were collected outside . " Albert Edward G . M . " heads the list in the Lodge book , in whion the other entries were : —Members of the Lodge—Bros . H . W . Townfend I . P . M ., T . Page S . W ., Lieutenant Sackville H . Carden , R . N ., J . W ., Rev . P . H .

Good Chaplain , H . Threadingham Treasurer , A . L . Emanuel Secretary , R . Martyn S . D ., Lieutenant Southwell T . Bourke , R . N ., J . D ., John Lind P . M . M . C , J . McLeod ( Sergeant-Major Royal Eng ineers ) I . G ., John Winterbottom Organist , Sam P . Knight S . ; P . M . ' s James Knight , G . Haldane , Emanuel Hyams ; William C . Primmer , Simon Hyne , George Backler , William Royston Pike T . Tufnell , A . E .

Elmes , H . Lane , J . C . Hay , Ian Fraser , W . A . Marshallsay , W . Maybour , John G . Livesay , C . J . D . Mumby , G . L . Green , Major H . M . E . Bruncker , Colonel George R . Bray , General A . Lacy , Sir H . Drammond Wolff , G . M . Nelder , J . Gieve , J . W . D . Pillow , Edward Day is . Visitors : — -Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar , Bros . W . B . Goldsmith ,

E . M . Wells , R . A . Hancock , W . G . Buck , G . Reading , M . Emannol , I . Simpson , P . H . Emanuel , Henrv P . Foster , Thomas O . Harding , J . W . Gieve , W . D . Parkhonse , Li ' ent .-Colonel Descharmes , George Johnstone , Colonel Stanley Clarke , Lord Carrington , and R . King . — Portsmouth Times .

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