Notice Of Meetings.

VW Bro . Fred . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Registrar D . P . G . M ., Bros . Thomas J . Railing P . M . and Sec . 51 P . G . Sec , Rev . W . Morgan Jones W . M . 697 P . P . G . C , J . J . 0 . Turner P . M . 51 P . P . G . O ., J . B . Wiseman P . M . 433 P . P . G . Assist . D . of C , G . A . Eustace P . M . 697

PPGStd . Br ., and H . E . Tinckam P . M . 214 P . P . G . Swd . Br . Hants and Isle of Wight , H . D . Marshall S . W . 771 , R . K . Bull and Warren H . Drake 1726 " and H . Hay 1627 . Also the following members of No . 276 : —Bros . A . C Voley P . M . P . G . Stwd . England , Arthur

Goodohild P M . P . P . G . W ., E . Shedd P . M ., A . Mead P . M . P . P . G . Supt . Wks . J . S . Brown P . M . P . G . D ., A . F . Ginn P . M . P . P . G . P ., Bros . J . W . Haii P . P . G . R ., John Taylor , F . H . Meggy , E . Durrant P . P . G . Sfcwd ., & o .

ROSSLYN LODGE , No . 1543 . A REGULAR meeting of this Lodge was held on Wednesdey , the 8 th inst ., at tho Saracen ' s Head Hotel , Dunmow , Essex , Bro . Walter Rowe W . M . presiding . The heavy storm whioh prevailed throughout the day greatly interfered wifch the attendance of brethren whose residences are distant from the Lodge-rooms , and apologies by telegram and post were more numerous than welcome .

Amongst those present were Bros . F . Warner acting as S . W ., James Stevens P . M . hon . member acting as J . W ., G . D . Clapham P . M . P . P . G . R . Secretary , J . L . Franklin J . D ., D . Milbank I . G ., A . Rattray P . M . P . P . G . D ., Mortimer Hall , John Wright , W . Rivers , P . M . Welch , C . Bins , R . Marsh , R . J . Scurr , R . Brazier , W . C Sams , F . P . Adams

2136 , & o . After confirmation of previous minutes , Bros . Welch and Rivers were raised to the third degree . In accordance with previous arrangement , Bro . Stevens then delivered a portion of his new lecture on Ritnal and Ceremonial , and greatly interested the brethren whilst imparting much valuable instrnction in Masonio

working . A large amount of information on many important points in the F . C and M . M . degrees were , on this occasion , condensed by Bro . Stevens within the limits of little more than an hour's space of time , and his remarks were listened to with the closest attention , and received general approval . After Lodge had been lowered to the

first degree , Bro . G . D . Clapham P . P . G . R ., and Bro . Rattray P . P . G . D . respectively moved and seconded , in eulogistic terms , a vote of thanks to the Lecturer , and thia being unanimously agreed to , Bro . Stevens expressed his thanks for the reception accorded him . A few items of routine business were disposed of , and Lodge was

closed and the brethren partook of an elegant repast . The customary Loyal and Masonio toast * were given , and the remainder of a very pleasant evening was passed in social harmony , to which Bro . Adams 2136 , several members of the Lodge , and Bro . Stevens , by recital of well-known Masonic poems , greatly contributed .

PRUDENCE LODGE , No . 2069 . THE regular meeting of this Lodge took place on the 11 th inst ., afc Leeds . The nevvly-installed Master ( W . Bro . Chas . L . Mason P . P . G . Treasurer West Yorks ) has inaugurated two improvements which will be heartily appreciated not only by the members of his own Lodge , but by the Masons of Leeds generally . Hitherto there have been bnt few lectures on tbe great principles and tennis of

Freemasonry delivered in tho Lodges of fche town , but thia reproach Bro . Mason has determined to wipe out . In connection with the Lodgo of Prudence a large number of lectures have already been arranged for . At the regular meeting in January thafc distinguished Mason the Rev . Bro . A . F . Woodford P . G . Chaplain has promised to

visit the town , where he is highly respected , and lecture in the Lodge of Prndonce . He is sure to be welcomed by a large assemblngp of West Yorkshire Masons . Another idea of Bro . Mason has been fco officially invite the W . M . ' s and Officers of the other seven Leeds Lodges to pay a visit to the Lodge of Prudence , and this ia a new

departure which is likely still further to promote that spirit of unity amongst the Bethren which happily already exists in so marked a degree in Leeds . On the 11 th inst . Fidelity , No . 289 , paid an official visit , being represented by the W . M . Bro . Alf . Scarf , and several Officers and Brethren , their reception being most cordial . The W M

was supported by the following Officers : —Dr . Smyth I . P . M ., Trevor S . W ., Watson J . W ., Abbott Treas ., Middleton SPC , Scott ' Yonng S . D ., Fretwell J . D ., Jameson I . G ., Rosser Chap ., Howarth Organist " Atkinson and Storey D . C's , Batfcerworfch and Milling Stewards Barraud Tyler . The Hon . and Very Rev . A . P . Puray-Cnst Past

Grand Chaplain England , P . P . G . M . Berks and Bucks , was present in response to an invitation , to read a paper for the edification nnd instruction of the brethren . There were also present W . Bro Embleton Prov . G . S . W . Bedford P . P . G . D ., Craig P . P . G . D ., Smithson P . P . G . D . Chairman of tho Charity Commission , Wilson P . P . G . Treasurer

Glover P . P . G . D ., France P . P . G . D . C . Brethren mustered in good force from Leeds , Huddersfield , Wakefield , Hnlifax , & c . Tho Mayor of Halifax ( Bro . Horsfall ) aud his son were also among the visitors . TheLodge having been opened in duo form , and the distinguished brother from York saluted according fco ancient custom , the ballot

was taken , and found clear for , Mr . Charles Malcolm , surgeon and Mr . Thos . Glover , commercial traveller . As these gentlemen were unable to present themselves they will be initiated at a Lod ^ e of Emergency , to be held on the 1 st of January next . Four other ^ caodidates' names woro mentioned , a proof that this Lodge , the youngest bufc in the is for itself

one province , making a position second to none . Tho routine business bavin ;;; been disposed of the Very Worshipfnl Brother the Dean of York P . G . Chaplain of England , and P . P D . G . M . Berks and Bucks , then delivered his address , entitled " Practical appreciation and experience of the Craft . " Tie an id : —I must in the

iirsfc instance , express my thanks for rho cordial reception you have given me . As loypl Masons you will I am sure nl—ayg i * eceivo a Past Officer of tho Grand Lodge with , the cordiality shown fco

me . My only doubt ; s whether I have any loam standi in Lod"o Prudence at all , and whether the part of prudence , so far as I am concerned , would nofc have been better shown by my hsivino * relegated the duty I have undertaken to discharge to abler hands

Notice Of Meetings.

than mine . My only plea is thafc I have followed that principle which is one of the distinctive features of fche Craft , namely , obelience , which shonld animate all Masons fco try as far as possible fco promote the welfare of the Craft . I come hero in response to au invitation , and I hope my address may prove useful and acceptable

to you . There are different ways in which Freemasonry may be treated . It may be treated historically , from an arohceological aspect , from a ritualistic , from a mystio aspect , and in many other ways . There are and must bo in any system which has existed so long as Freemasonry a great deal whioh entices the interest of tho different

members of tho Craft , and there must be an inexhaustible store and information to bo derived from it . I cannot pretend to enter to-night into any of the aspects of Freemasonry whioh I have mentioned . I will only venture to speak of my own experiences as a Mason , and what I feel myself to be fche practical advantages of

being a member of the Craft . I am not a Mason of yesterday , some 40 years have passed since , ns an undergraduate nt Oxford , I was initiated , and I have never regretted that step . On the contrary , I experience a steady and increasing feeling of thankfulness that in that now distant epoch of my life I became a member of the Craft .

I have always felt it an honour to be a Mason , nnd op a greafc many occasions I have found ifc to be of grant practical utility . I have often been questioned as to the reasonableness of a Christian being a Mason , for outsiders have told me that at best Masonry is bufc a system of Doism , and therefore Christian men , and especially Christian

ministers , shonld nofc belong to it . My answer has always bsen , thafc if Freemasonry was a thing of the present moment , if it were the creation of the day in which we live , then I should have had greafc hesitation in joining it . But Freemasonry has existed for a long period of years ; it is as old as any form of religion which ia known

to have existed ; ifc is coeval , we believe , with the first conception of the existence of a God ; it was the very first foundation stone of religion of any sort or kind , and I must say thafc ifc seems to me thafc recognising in Masonry its venerable character , and recognising its past history , one does not feel prepared to reject that whioh was so

eminently the earnest yearning of longing humanity for those very distant times . Freemasonry is like one of those grand notes which are evoked from an organ , whose depth of sound is the basis and foundation of beautiful harmonies , which are founded upon ifc . It seems fco me that Freemasonry is like thafc , and whilst you would not

accept the simple note as the whole of the music , yet in listening to the beautiful harmonies you would not forget thafc whioh underlies , and is the basis of them . Therefore Freemasonry deserves our reverence . It is not our religion ; we do not profess that ib is , but it has that religious character which is common to all religions , and whilst

notdisposed to give up the greater light and knowledge , to abandon our holy faith for the tenets of Freemasonry , yet recognising that Freemasonry is the substratum of religion , we value and reverence it as such . It has often been objected that it was not right for mo to support Freemasonry when many things had in the past taken

place in Lodges which could not be approved of by a Christian man ; my answer has been that indeed the history of Freemasonry was like tho history of everything else . In tho history of fche Chnroh thero had been seasons of use , and seasons of abuse , and , . is a clergy , man , I could not defend all that the Church had done in days gone

by . The same might be said in regard to Masonry ; n « I should most strongly repudiate any attack npon the Church of which I am a minister , because of her shortcomings in days gone by , so on the other hand do I hold similar views with regard to Freemasonry . In its past history things had the place which I would gladly draw a

veil over , yefc there is much associated in Freemasonry which makes ifc not only consistent but desirable for Christian men and clergymen to be members of the Craft . The first thing which makes Freemasonry valuable is its unity . Whilst Masonry is entitled to reverence on account of its great antiquity , it is also entitled to reverance because

it is supplying a want which I do not find to be supplied in any other way . It fosters a unir . y which is nofc to be found anywhere else , and unity was never more earnestly desired than ifc is in the present day . Tho reason I value ifc as a pattern of unity is becnuso * in the truest sense of the word it is unsootarian . It is not a system

of lafcifcudinarianism or unworthy compromise , bufc in the Lodge we can and do meet on a broad basis , and those who would be separated hopelessly in the world m ° et here as friends and brothers . As a flergyman it has thrown me into the society of men I should never have known but for Freemasonry ; it has put me on a k nl and

friendly footing towards them which conld not have been attained in any other way . Another great practical advantage in Freemasoiry is the order to be fonnd in our Lodges , both as regards subordinate p > - < itions and positions of authority . Hera we seo on the one hand th * . groat advantage of obedience , and on the other the greafc honour of

authority . If the spirit of subordination which reigns in a Freemason's Lodge so happily crmld permeate the world around us — the samo ready spirit of obedience — some ( f the great questions which will have to be settled would be much more easily solved than thoy wore likely to bo as matters now stani .

Authority in our Lodges is always tempered with moderation , b 3-cause it is the authority of thos * who have learned to obey , and who therefore are the best qmlified to command . Liberality is anothor great feature of the Craft . There is no ostentation in it , ifc is so quietly done thafc few know anything about ifc . Nofc until I became

a member of Grand Lodge had I any idea of the extent of the Craft ' s liberality , or of the admirable manner in which this liberality U dispensed . If there were no other advantage to be derived from being a Freemason tho manner in which our funds avo distributed would be sufficient reason why I should rejoice at being a membsr

of the Craft . I for one wish that what we do iu this respacfc could be move widely known . Some people say that Freemasonry is a strange jumble of serious and secular things , and thafc is another reason why it ia not consistent for a Christian to join ifc ; but , after

40 years experience as a Mason , I have never seen anything in the Lodge that is not consistent with true reverence and with the highest and mosfc sacred truths we hold . In those days when tho name of God is so apt to be forgotten I am thankful that in Free-