Lodge Histories.

tho interim . Possibly , says tho historian , tho records had uot beoa written before 1762 . At any rate , in that year the Lodgo seemed in a prosperous condition , which in part

may bo accounted for from tho fact that " in 1701 the Grand Lodge of York was revived , aud several Lodges warranted by it . "

The first recorded meeting , 10 th November 17 G 2 , was hold at the Rose and Crown , to which tho Lodgo hacl removed , apparently from tho Black Bull , to which it is accredited in tho engraved lists of 1740 and 1750 . R . W .

Bro . William Newby was iu the chair on tins occasion . Tho minute records tho opening " an Apprentic ' s Lodgo iu ample Form , " after which tho Lodge duly and regularly went " thro' tho Apprentice Work . " Bro . John Hindson

was proposed as a candidate for Masonry , and the Lodgo was closed to tho following Tuesday—ICth November 1702 . Tlio next mimito refers to this date , which is described aa ail " Extraordinary Lodge night , " and records tho

initiation of tho candidate proposed at the preceding meeting . From the Treasurer ' s book it appears that tho " i'xpeuses in making Bro . John Hindson—all tho members . ••greed to mako him gratis , ho being for tho Tyler "—

amounted to 16 s 6 d . Bro . Crossley refers to the fact that at theso oarly recorded meetings the visitors were fairly numerous * , and this leads him to suppose tbat although tho Lodgo was the only one known in fche district at the

date , there mast havo been Lodges of some kind in the immediate neighbourhood . In this connection Brother Crossley refers to Bro . Sadler ' s " Facts and Fictions , " in which it is recorded that in various parts of tho country thero wero Lodges in existence thafc were unattached to

any Grand Lodge . If we havo devoted a large share of attention to these

early doings of the Probity Lodge it is becanse wo havo been so interested in what wo have thus far read of Bro . Crossley ' s work , and for the same reason we have extracted largely from it , both in the hopo of interesting our readers ,

aud also with the object of circulating the views and the opinions he has formed in connection with tho earlier doings of tho Craft iu Halifax . Wo hopo others may equally enjoy tho result of Bro . Crossley's labours . ( Tobe continued ) .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Hooka intended for Review should bo addressed to the Editor of Tlie Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , * N * . "Oonstitucioucs Artis Gcmotritu Secundum Euclydom . " A facsimile

of the early poem on Freemasonry from tho original MS . presented by King George II . to tho English Nation in 1757 , now in the British Museum , [ 1 'ibl . lieg . 17 , A . 1 . ] London : Spencer and Co ., Great Queen Street .

MASONIC students will readily-accord thoir thanks to Bro . Whymper , C . I . E ., Fast Deputy District Grand Master Punjab , for tbo admirable manner in which he has reproduced , in facsimile , this well known Poem , whioh is supposed to be the oldest document of the Craft available at tbe present day . The work is perhaps better known as

the Halliwell MS ., mainly from the fact that the late Mr . J . O . llallivvell-Pbillips was tbe first who drew attention to the essentially Masonic character of its contents . The original is written on vellum , and will be found classified as No . 17 , A . 1 ., iu tho liibl . lieg . British Museum . Brother Whymper , in his Introductory

Itcmarka , tells us that " the MS . formerly belonged to Charles Theynr , a collector in the seventeenth century , " and is described iu Bernard ' s " Catalogus Mannsoriptorum Auglhu" ( Oxford 1 ' 5 ' ) 7 ) . Its existence was well-known , bnt it does not seem to havo been generally understood until 1838-9 , when Mr . Halliwell

drew attention to it in a paper " On the Introduction of Freemasonry into England . " Later on this gentleman published two small editions of his work " The Early History of Freemasonry in England , " find therein gave a transcript of tbe poem . "The fac simile itaelf bus been entrusted to Mr . F . Compton Price , a skilled lithographic

artist , who was pupil to Mr . Italliwell ' s copyist , Mr . Joseph •NeLliorcliffc . Dating the tracing , Mr . Price has referred , word by word , to the Halliwell transcript , and it ia therefore trusted the inoscut production is absolutely accurate . "

Wo may add that tho work now offered is the exact size of the "t ' iginal . It lias tho Koyal Arms stamped on both covers , Hnd U . . 11 . II ., with the date , 1707 . Tho lettering ou tho back has been reproduced . Tho Masonic Student will Had much to interest bim in a studv of its contents .

Uio result of the i * ecent examination of girls of the Koyal Masonic Institution for Girls , in science aud art , at the ( Science and Art Department , ( South Kensington , was that out of oU girls submitted for ¦ 'xamiuatiou , nine passed in thy linit class , and 20 in thy aecouci .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — PROV.GRANDCHAPTEROEKENT. ri ^ llltl annual meeting of tho Provincial Grand Chapter of JL Kent was held at tho Clarendon Hotel , Gravesend , ou Tuesday afternoon , tho 30 th ult . In consequence of the unavoidable absence of Earl Amherst , Graud Superintendent ( who was engaged in attending au important meeting

of the Bath aud West of England Society ) , Comp . J . S . Eastes P . G . H . presided , and opened tho Provincial Grand Chapter . Tho report of tho Audit Committee waa approved and adopted , aud on tho recommendation of that body the sum of £ 105 , from tho funds , was voted in grants

to tho Male and Female Funds of the Royal Benevolent Institution , and tho Boys' and Girls' Schools . The following Companions were appointed Provincial Grand Oflicers for tho ensuing year , and each duly invested with tho collar and iewel of his otlice , viz : —

Comp . Jas . Smith Eastes P . Z . 503 , 709 H . Horatio Ward Z . 1273 ... J . s Thos . Samuel Warne P . Z . 20 ... S . E . Wm . Jas . Colleus P . Z . 77 ... S . N . Fredk . Wood P . Z . 1973 ... Registrar

Win . Henry Cronk P . Z . 1114 ... P . S . Chas . V . Cotterell P . Z . 1837 ... 1 st A . S . Thos . Watson P . Z . 1174 ... 2 nd A . S . Silas Wagon Z . 503 ... Sword Bearer John Conlter P . Z . 20 ... Standard Bearer

Wm . Carter P . Z . 31 ... D . of C . 11 . J . E . Brown P . Z . 15 S ... A . D . of C . A . Hans Holbein P . Z . 558 ... Organist T . E . S . Champion Z . 829 ... Assistant S . E . Johu Cooke 709 ... ... Janitor

Comp . William Russell was unanimously elected Prov . Grand Treasurer , in the place of Comp . B . K . Thorpe , who has resigned that appointment consequent on his removal from tbe Province . A cordial voto of thanks was given to Comp . Thorpe for the able way in which he had discharged

tho Treasurership of Prov . Grand Chapter from its foundation , aud a Committeo was appointed to make tho arrangements for presenting him with a suitable testimonial . After tho transaction of other business Provincial Graud

Chapter was closed , tho Companions afterwards partaking thoir annual banquet , under tho presidency of Earl Amherst , when the customary Masonic and other toasts were given aud dulv honoured .

Prov. Grand Chaper Of Devon.

PROV . GRAND CHAPER OF DEVON .

rjnilE annual Convocation of tho Provincial Grand X Chapter of Devon was held on tho olst ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth . Comp . Major G . C . Davie Prov . G . S . I ' . ] , officiated as Prov . G . Supt . pro tem , aud

he was supported by a large number of P . G . Officers aud visiting brethren . Comp . Davie apologised for the absence of Viscount Ebrington , M . P ., tho P . G . Superintendent . His Lordship , he said , had made every arrangement to

attend that Convocation , ancl had arrived in the West for that purpose , when he was unexpectedly recalled to London to attend to his Parliamentary duties . Comp . W . G , Rogers P . G . H . was also unavoidably absent , through a

meeting of tho Exeter City Council being held that day , which he had to attend as City Treasurer . Tbe acting P . G . S . B . reported that twenty-seven Chapters had forwarded their returns and dues . The P . G . Treasurer

reported that the receipts for tho year had been £ 07 loa , and thafc the present balance in hand available for the votes of the Chapter was £ 42 . Comp . Kerstoman proposed , aud Comp . Du Pro seconded , that 'JO guineas be voted to tho

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Widows , the sum to be placed on the Steward ' s list of Comp . the Rev . T . W . Lemon . Comp . Lord proposed tbat £ 7 10 s each be voted to tho Fortcscuo Annuity Fund and the Devon

Masonic Educational Fund . Comp . Cornish seconded , and both propositions were unanimously adopted . On tho proposition of Comp . J . Kinton Bond , seconded by Comp .

Du Pre , aud supported by several other members , Comp . J . W . Cornish was elected the Treasurer . Comps . J . Ii . Lord and J . Kinton Bond were elected the Auditors . The acting P . G . Superintendent then invested fcho Oflicers for the

year : — Comp . W . U . Honors 112 ... ... Hud Principal Major J . S . Swan 847 ... 3 rd Principal Major G . C . JJayie 251 .. •S . E .