Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THE General Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and tho Widows of Freemasons met on Wednesday , the 14 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Gt . Queen-street , Bro . Col . Creaton P . G . D . V . P . in the chair . The Secretary , Bro . Jas . Terry , read the minutes of the former meeting , which were con firmed . In pursuance of a notice of motion , Bro . R . W . Stewart P . G . D .

proposed , and Bro . J . Constable seconded , That , owing to the numerous calls upon the time of Miss Norris , by the residents of the Institution at Croydon , she be appointed matron , with a salary of £ 30 per annum , tho appointment to date from the 1 st of March last . The death of a male annuitant was announced . The list of the brethren elected to servo on the Committee was read . The Secretary stated

that 19 male annuitants were admitted without election , and 21 females , being one more than was placed on the list . The report of the House Committeo was then read and adopted . A vote of thanks was unanimously carried to Bro . Dr . Strong , for his presentation of a very handsome clock , which has been placed in the Institution . The members of the Finance Committee were re-elected , and the following

were elected on the House Committee : —Bros . Col . Creaton P . G . D ., B . Head P . G . D ., R . W . Stewart P . G . D ., J . E . Saunders P . G . D ., and J . A . Farafield . Bro . Col . Creaton said one candidate at the last election had lost by three votes . This candidate was over eighty years of age , and two more applicants being also over that age , it was carried unanimously that they be placed on the list of annuitants . A

vote of thanks was accorded to the chairman , and the meeting was adjourned . Among those present were Bros . B . Head , S . Rawson , J . Brett , W . Hale , J . Constable , R . W . Wheeler , J . M . Case , H . J . Warren , J . Stevens . Hilton , H . Massey , Griffiths Smith , R . W . Stean , R . W . Stewart , L . Stean , Hyde Pullen , T . Cnbitt , H . M . Levy , C . Hogard , & c .

Lodge Of Lights, No. 148, Warrington.

LODGE OF LIGHTS , No . 148 , WARRINGTON .

PRESENTATION OF A CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS TO BRO . SIR GILBERT GREENALL , BART . M . P . THE Masonic world at Warrington was fully alive on Tuesday , 6 th June last . The Craft has a history in this thriving manufacturing town . The distinguished antiquary , Eliaa Ashmole , was initiated there in 1648 , and so pleased was he with all he then saw and heard that he carefully recorded the fact of his initiation in his diary , which can be seen at the British Museum . From that time

down to the present the Craft has been well cared for . Some twenty years since , however , it was in rather a languishing condition , but , thanks to the present Secretary of No . 148 , and others , new life was infused into the working , and from that time to the present Warrington has been looked npon as a model of correct , well-interpreted ritual . At the time of the " revival" the old Lodge , which was the

only one , had about twenty members ; now there aro two Lodges and a Chapter , and the muster roll records nearly two hundred names . In the early part of the present year Bro . Greenall , one of the senior members , was made a baronet , and a unanimous desire was at once expressed to present that worthy brother with an address of congratulation . Tho first convenient opportunity of presenting the address

was during the Whitsuntide recess , and , accordingly , a Lodgo of emergency was summoned for five o ' clock on Tuesday , 6 th June , the W . M ., Bro . W . H . Robinson , was supported by his Wardens , Bros . Thomas Tunstall and Joseph Pickthall , and a large number of brethren . The Lodge was opened in due form , and it being reported that Bro . Greenall sought admission , he was duly received , and under the

direction of Bro . John Bowes , was saluted as became his rank . Tho W . M . riaingfrom his chair , said : Right Worshipful Bro . Sir Gilbert Greenall , we are met for the especial purpose , as you are aware , of presenting to you an address of congratulation on the occasion of your elevation to a Baronetcy . I assure you we are all actuated by one single desire , and that is , in a feeble manner , perhaps , to give expression to the

intense gratification we experience on the present occasion . You have lived amongst ns all yonr life , and for more than a quarter of a century been " one of us . " In filling the various offices you have secured credit to yourself and great advantage to your brethren . Snch being the case , we all felt a brotherly desire of giving you some tangible proof of our esteem and regard . I now call npon our

esteemed Secretary , Bro . Bowes , to read the address , of which he is the author , after which I shall invito those brethren who desire the opportunity to support the sentiments briefly expressed in tho address . Bro . Bowes then read the address as follows : " To Sir Gilbert Greenall , Bart . M . P ., P . M . R . A . C ., P . Prov . G . S . W . W . L . and Past Senior Grand Warden of England .

"Right Worshipful Sir and Brother , —We , the W . M ., Wardens , Officers and Members of the Lodge of Lights of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons , No . 148 , Warrington , beg your acceptance of our fraternal congratulations on the occasion of you being raised to tho dignity of a Baronetcy by Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen . " As members of your Mother Lodge we experience peculiar pleasure

on this occasion , because yon have been long and intimately associated with ns in the promotion of the best interests of our ancient Craft . " You were admitted to Masonic light on Monday , 28 th January , A . L . 5850 , and wo are proud to know that in your Mother Lodge you wore promoted to those positions which qualified you for tho high Masonic distinction vou now enjoy .

" During the first year of your Mastership of the Lodge , A . L . 6856 , we celebrated our Centenary Festival , and wo havo good reason to remember the great importance your official position amongst us imparted on that interesting occasion . " That the Most High may long preserve you and Lady Greenall , and when this transitory life shall have passed away , that the Lewis —upon whose birth it was our pleasure and privilege to congratulate

Lodge Of Lights, No. 148, Warrington.

yon—may sustain the high distinction conferred upon hia father , with equal honour , dignity and grace , is our ardent prayer " So mote it be . " We are , Right Worshipful Sir and Brother , Your faithful brethren ,

Signed on behalf of the Lodge , W . H . Robinson , W . M . Thos . Tunstall , S . W . Jos . Pickthall , J . W . John Bowes , P . M . and Hon . Sec « Masonio Rooms , Sankey Street , Warrington . 27 th March , A . L . 5876 .

Bro . James Hepherd , P . M ., J . P ., on the invitation of the W . M ., said that he felt it a great honour , as one of the senior members of the Lodge , to take part in the interesting proceedings of that day . The members of the Lodge of Lights felt proud that they numbered among their members a brother who deserved so well of his Queen

and country . Bro . Greenall was well known to all present and to know him was to esteem and respect him . As a Mason he held high rank , as ho deserved to do , and they felt proud of him in that respect . He cordially endorsed the sentiments conveyed in the address drawn up by their excellent Secretary , and , in common with every member of the Lodge , he tendered to Bro . Greenall his hearty congratulations .

Bro . Pickthall , J . W . said he could not let the occasion pass without adding his congratulations to those of his brethren . Bro . Sir Gilbert Greenall had their best wishes . Thoy all united very heartily in the prayer with which the address closed , and he hoped their distinguished brother would assure Lady Greenall , and the Lewis , how sincerely they prayed for their health and happiness .

Bro . Thos . Tunstall , S . W ., said : As one of the younger members of the Lodge , he begged on behalf of himself and that section of the members to express the extreme gratification they all felt at his elevation to a Baronetcy , The name of Greenall was a household word amongst them , and it was their aim to emulate his good example in carrying put the sublime precepts of their ancient and honourable Order .

Bro . Sir Gilbert Greenall , in reply , said he begged to express hia heartfelt thanks for the very kind sentiments expressed towards him by the W . M ., his Wardens , Bros . Hepherd , Bowes , and other brethren , and for the presentation whioh had just been made to him as a token of regard from the brethren of the Lodge . He received them with pleasure and delight , and he should ever remember his having been

amongst them on that occasion . He always felt that there was amongst them that good and kindly feeling which ought always to exist amongst brethren , members of the Masonio Order . He felt especially grateful for the reference which had been made to him in the position he held as a Mason . He was first attracted to Masonry by the respect which he had for some excellent friends who were

Masons , and having voluntarily offered himself as a candidate for the mysteries and privileges of the Order , he could most sincerely assure them that he had never had the least reason to regret having taken that step . The honour that it had pleased her Majesty to bestow upon him would in no way alter their friendly relations . He felt towards his brethren as he ever had done , and he hoped to meet them

again and again iu Lodge , and in the discharge of those great and important duties which they had in common undertaken to perform . He felt very grateful to them for the kind allusions which had been made to Lady Greenall , and tho good feeling expressed for the welfare of his and her son . Ho was suro his wife would highly prize their good feeling , and ho hoped that if their son was spared to grow

up to manhood that he wonld be a good and useful man , and , like his father , be attached to Masons , and in due time be a good and true Mason himself . He again bagged to thank them for their kindly expressions and the token thoy had given him of their friendship , which he should always look upon with pleasure , and prize very

highly . The address was beautifully written and illuminated , in book form , on vellum , and elegantly bound in blue morocco , with suitable Masonio emblems in their proper colours . The work was executed by Bro . Hine , of Manchester .

Early History Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

EARLY HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIK AND BEOTHEK , —It was with extreme pleasure I read "Masonic Investigator ' s" letter , and am glad to find we have such a brother in Ireland . Wonld that we had a few more such . The records of the Onnrl r ,., Iw , f Munstor , to which our brothar

alludes , are in the pu'v . j .- ;^ .,., : : « . ¦ present Provincial Grand Lodge of Mnnster , where Lhoy b ;> . ' / a foxn ever since their recovery , many years ago , by our estoMru and valued brother George Chatterton , 33 ° and P . P . D . G . M . of Minister . The earliest date in these records is 1721 , not 1726 , this 1721 record being signed by Lord Kingston G . M . and Spriggest Penn D . G . M .

What is alluded to in Bro . Spencer ' s catalogue of I 860 is , I think , a MS . copy of part only of theso original reoords , being those from 1726 to 1733 . This MS . copy may havo been tlio one used by the printer when printing part of these original records for Mr . Hewitt . Much praise is due to our brother George Chatterton for having scenred theso invaluable records . They were found by him , after much trouble , in tho shop of an old book dealer in Cork .

Could our Bro . Chatterton bo persuaded to wi i ; . ¦ ' a history of this Grand Lodge ? No brother is so competent , or has the information to do it . I shall be glad to receive our brother "Masonic Investigator ' s " -iddress , so as to enter into a Masonic correspondence with him . Yours fraternally . 5 Upper Mount-street , Dublin , JAMES H . NEILSON , 13 th Jane 1876 ,