Further Comments On " Facts And Fictions."

Masonry was more Ancient than the Grand Lodge of England , and after he had bamboozled the Grand Lodges of Ireland and of Scotland with a belief that the Grand Lodge of 1717 never had the true Master's word , and that they were mere Masonic pretenders ; when peoplo began to believe so , when Dermott ' s ancientness began to be

admitted by writers of the other side , then of course a better class of candidates began to pour into the Ancients ' Lodges . The price of a Warrant was also raised , for the Philadelphians wero charged something like £ 3 10 s for the document they received ; the price for initiation

was probably also advanced . The Ancients could not , indeed , boast of high cultured members . The fact that a fellow like Harper was suffered to occupy a high position among them shows their poverty in that respect .

But I have no doubt that the rank and file of the Ancients in 1770 was far ahead of what it was before Lord Blessington lent his name to them as G . M . Against all who were initiated in the Ancients' Lodges I have not a word to say . But about Dermott and his associates of 1751-2 I cannot find words strong enough to condemn

their unscrupulousness . I will now endeavour to exhibit the comparative longevity of the Ancients' earliest Lodges ; five of which assembled on the 17 th of July 1751 , and the sixth joined

them on the 29 th following , thus : — No . 2 . —Declared vacant 4 th June 1783 . This No . was purchased by No . 32 in 1784 . No 3 . —Ceased to meet regularly in the latter end of 1751 . Last entry , 7 th Dec . 1757 . No . 4 . —Lapsed about 1765 . No . 5 . —Lapsed in 1761 . No . 6 . —Lapsed in 1754 . No . 7 . —Erased 27 th December 1752 . The above items I have copied from Bro . Lane ' s Masonic

Records . Owing to the vagueness of the Ancients' record , Bro . Lane had in some cases to use the word " about , " which means uncertain . I have , however , no doubt that

in both organizations Lodges were retained on the Lodge list for some years after they ceased to exist . We see above that No . 3 " ceased to meet regularly at the end of 1751 , " but it was retained on the list until 1757 . And such was the case with Lodge No . 2 , which was declared vacant in 1783 , but from Gould ' s " Atholl Lodges " I learn that ; No . 2 was offered for sale in February 1778 . Thus we know that No . 2 took up its abode at the " One Tan in the Strand , " in 1769 ; how long it lived after that date remains

to be found out . Since the above was written I learn from Bro . Lane ' s Preface , that Nos . 7 and 10 , after , their erasure in 1752 , were replaced by two younger Lodges . The last No . 7 was

sold in 1783 , and tho second No . 10 "lapsed about 1768 , " and , if I am not mistaken , it is a curious fact that ,, out of sixty or more Lodges chartered by the Ancients up to 23 rd December 1756 , only six of these survived up to the end of the last century .

I must further add , that on page 12 of the " History of the Lodge Caaongate , Kilwinning , " by Bro . Allen Mackenzie , I find as follows , viz . — " There were no such Officers as Senior and Junior Deacons during the last century ; the

first appointment of that nature having taken place in 1816 , " and I hope that some one will inform us as to when the other Scotch Lodges began to appoint Senior and Junior Deacons . Boston , U . S ., 19 th February 1889 .

Tho first number of a new weekly journal , entitled " Work : an Illustrated Magazine of Practice and Theory for all Workmen , Professional and Amateur , " will make ita appearance on tbe 20 ih March In the pages of " Work" will be found a clear and practical

expusition of methods to be followed m every art , craft , and science that bears directly or indirectly on handiwork of a constructive or decorative character , freely illustrated with sketches , diagram ? , or working drawings to scale . Messrs . Oassoll and Company nro tho publisher ?

11 OI / LOWAY ' S PIT . IS AND Oi . NTitt : NT exert a rapidly favourable effect in ail those diseases which are induced by exposure to damp or by . great chamjas in temperature . They will therefore I e found eminently serviceable to those who work in iron foundries , copper minen , und collieries . These well-known remedies present manifest advantages iu respect of use and effectivene .-s , beiii"

entirely compounded of vegetable drugs selected with the greatest care and regardless of price . When used in accordance with the ample printed di rections which accompany them , they act surely and mildly , but do not interfere with tho daily work . There are but few diseases which lire not capable of cure —or , at all events , ol great relief— -if Holloway ' s remedies are perseveringly used .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

BRITANNIA CHAPTER , No . 312 . ON Monday , 4 th inst ., the membera assembled , at the Masonio Hall , West Cliff , Whitby , for the installation and investiture of Principals and other Officers for the ensuing year . Comp . W . H . Falkingbridge , having been re-eleeted , had not to be installer ) , bnt the installation of the other Principals was proceeded with , the ceremonies being abl y and efficiently performed by Comp . John

Stevenson P . M . P . Z . The Principals and Officers of the Chapter for the ensuing year are as follows : —Comps . VV . II . Falkingbridge M . E . Z ., W . G . Lockey 2 nd Principal , J . Tinley Stewart 3 rd Principal , Silvester Reed S . E ., J . N . Lawson S . N ., J . Brooks P . S ., W . H . Atllay aud T . Atkinson Assist . Sois ., Joseph Oliver Dir . of Cere ., T . H . Trneman

Janitor , H . Wald Steward . At the conclusion of the ceremony the Companions sat down to a sumptuous banquet , provided in first class Btyle by Mr . T . Walker , at the Crown Hotel . The M . E . Z . presided , and the P . S . occupied the Vice-chair . The toasts appropriate to the occasion were duly honoured . "

Star Chapter of Instruction , No . 1275 . —This Chapter met as usual on Friday , 8 th inst ., when there were present Comps . F . Hilton P . Z . Preceptor , Moore M . E . Z ., Grummant , H ., Patrick J ., C . II . Stone S . E ., Addington S . N ., Stone P . S ., and Woods . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , with Comp . Woods as candidate . A vote of thanks was accorded Comp . Patrick for hi 8 work of 3 rd

Principal , for the'first time in this Chapter . Comp . Grummant was elected M . E . Z . for the next meeting . Comp . Stone S . E . reported that the first annual supper ( tickets 2 s 6 d eaoh ) would tak « place at the Stirling Castle , Camberwell , on Friday , 5 th April , when Comps . F . Hilton P . Z . Preceptor would aot aa chairman , and Addington M . E . Z . 1275 aa vice-chairman .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

•0- \» HAWTON LODGE , No . 100 . THE annual meeting was held , on the 6 th inst ., to instal Bro . C . B . H . Sellick S . W . as Worshipful Master for the year ensuing . Tba Installing Officer was Worshipful Bro . James Gidley , assisted by Bros , the Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., H . Cole , R . Lavers , S . Jew , Aitken Davies , T . D . Ford , J . D . Cobledick , W . R . Velvin , F . Etenwood . The Officers were invested , as follow : —Bros . Hen wood I . P . M ., Shepbeard

S . W ., Coyte J . W ., Sellick M . O ., Mudge S . O ., Barley J . O ., C"le Treasurer , Ford Secretary , Mudge S . D ., Balkwill J . D ., Br . midge I . G . The brethren , to the number of thirty-five , adjourned to Bro . Mortimer ' s , King ' s Arm ' s Hotel , where an excellent dinner was prepared

and presided over by the Worshipful Master . Some good songs and recitations were given by Bros . J . Shepheard , S . ' Jew , T . W . Lemon , Giles , Balkwill , Arcott , Cobledick , Wiles and others , a most eojoyable day being spent by all present .

DEVON LODGE , No . 215 .

AT the Masonio Hall , Newton , on the 4 th instant , Bro . Jarman , the W . M . elect , was installed by Bro . Martin , assisted by the following board of Installed Masters : —Bros . Lane P . G . O . Enyland , L . E . Boirne P . P . G . J . W ., Charles Stevens P . P . G . J . D ., John Olver P . P . G . A . D . C ., and F . C . Hallett P . P . G . Superintendent of Works . The W . M . iu vested his Officers , ns follow : —L . E . Bearne I . P . M .,:

Lewis Stevens S . W ., S . E . Endacott J . W ., W . S . Gervis M . O ., VV . H . Lauder J . O ., W . Vicary Treasurer , G . Towusend Warner Chaplain , J . OWer Secretary , C . Stevens Registrar , Thomas VV .

llayden S . D ., R . H . Humbly J . D ., E . VV . Rocke I . G ., Charles Popj D . C ., K . H . Grimbly Organist , J . Haywood Tyler . The brethren afterwards adjourned to the banquet hall , and a very pleasant evening was spent .

Wherever some Masons go there is a chill . Malaria is bad , bnt not worse than a continually fault-finding Mason . How hippy some Craftsmen would be if there were never any designs on the trestle board ! Inordiuato fervency and zeal may be as harmful as lukewarmnes ? .

LITTLE POINTS .

Worthy non-affiliates possess the rights of Masons , but not tho privileges of Lodges . Immortality is the crown of true Masonic faith and conduct . Tho anchor of Masonic faith is fixed beyond the vail of death , surely and stedfiistlv .

To labour well and honourably is a great Masonic privilege and duty . Well planned Masouic industry and perseverance bring sure reward . The only Masonic U 30 for " dampers " is that of subduing appetites and passions . •Like the light and heat of the sun , Fremasonry rccomplishes its beneficent purposes .

He who truly trusts in God is never without an unfailing and invincible friend . Masonic Master-building requires all tho symmetry of wisdom , all the strength of mind and spirit , and all the force and beauty of trnth .

If each day was Christmas , or New Year , how little it would be enjoyed ! How common and irksome it would seem ! Just so it would be to Masons if all their days were alike , and they had no festivals . —Voice of Masonry .

"VJO MORE DEAF . —Nicholson ' s Patented Artificial Ear Drums 1 . 1 cure Deafness and Noises in tho Head in all stages . 132 pasie illusn atcd Book , with full description free . Address J . H , NicnoLsojr , 21 Bedfordsuiuue , London , W . O .