Inquiry Of The Nearest Lodge.

marks of the Craft recognise this fact , and adopt the usage to which wo refer . Tho Lodgo of the placo of residence of an applicant alone can determine whether ho is qualified for Masonic initiation .

We will suppose a Lodge to receive this inquiry , in due form , from a distant Lodge : Is there any Masonic objection to Lodge , No . — , afc , acting on the petition for initiation and membership of , age , & c .

Wo will here premise , that such an inquiry , while proper to be addressed directly to a subordinate Lodge where both Lodges are in tho same jurisdiction , if the inquiring Lodge is in a different jurisdiction , it should be sent through the Grand Lodge channel of the Grand Secretary ' s office .

How shall the Lodge inquired of proceeel to act ? The thoughtful and skilful Secretary at once makes the inquiry known to the W . M . of his Lodge , who directs the Secretary to place proper notification of the inquiry upon the notices to the members for the next stated meeting of the Lodge .

This expedites the inquiry . The Lodge may , at that meeting if prepared so to do , directly vote upon the question , or , if there be a doubt in the matter , a Committee of Inquiry should be appointed by the W . M ., to report at the next stated meeting , and the inquiring Lodge should be notified that proper action will then be taken .

Note the significance of the inquiry . It is , —Is there any Masonic objection ? Not , —Would you prefer to have the applicant as an initiate for your Lodge ? but , —Does he possess the requisite moral , mental and physical qualifications for initiation in any Masonic Lodge ? The members

decide this question by their Masonic consciences . Mere jealousy of another and distant Lodge should never enter at all into the question . The interrogatory is , —Is there Masonic objection ? and not , —Is there objection ? Of course , we may not fancy losing local material , but we have no

absolute right to ifc , and as we had the option to apply to any Lodge , Ave should accord that same option to all others . The provisions governing this class of cases in Pennsylvania are fully set forth in the Ahiman Iiezon , Article

XVII ., §§ 60 , 61 , 62 , G 3 , 64 and 65 , to which we especially refer Pennsylvania Brethren . The principles we have outlined are enunciated therein , and by the usages and customs of the Craft incident thereto . The points are :

( 1 ) The right of an applicant for initiation to petition any Lodge , anywhere . ( 2 ) The duty of a distant Lodge to inquire of the Lodge of the place of residence of the applicant : Is there

a Masonic objection to the applicant r ( 3 ) The duty of tho Lodge inquired of to acknowledge tho receipt of the inquiry , notify its members of its details , inquire of the Grand Secretary , act promptly upon it , and as promptly notify the inquiring Lodge of the result .

Theso aro the fraternal duties which Lodges anel Free masons owe equally to each other and to the Craft . —Keystone

Bro , Joseph Cox ( 813 , P . M . 17 G 6 ) , proprietor of the Hackney Express and Shoreditch Observer , has again been elected premier member of fche Shoreditch Board of Guardians , polling 152 votes beyond any other candidate . Bro . Cox having conducted the local journal for the past

twenty years , and taken a foremost part in social , educational , and parochial movements in the district , is to be honoured with the presentation of a testimonial . John Beauchamp , Esq ., of 15 Sun Street , Finsbury , is chairman of the Testimonial Committee .

Bro . James Stevens ( of Bristol ) , son of Bro . James Stevens P . M . P . Z ., was passed to the seconel degrce . in the Bagshaw Lodge , No . 1457 , afc Loughton , Essex , on the 13 th inst ., by the W . M . Bros . William James Shadrako , who also on the same occasion raised Bros . Godfrey

LaAvford and Walter Sydney Cuff , and initiated a new member . The perfect Avorking of the W . M . in all the ceremonies gave tho numerous brethren present great satisfaction . Tho after proceedings were characterised by a musical entertainment of no mean order , the several performers in which were all members of the Lodge .

Ad00402

FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . Q . A . HTJTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , "W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

SUN , SQUARE ATTD COMPASSES LODGE , No . 119 . A CONTROVER ! / urosi a short time ego respecting jhe claims of tho abovo Lod ^ o ro Centarian honours . Owing chiefly to the exertions of Bro . R . W . Moore P . M . the matter has been brought to a satisfactory issno , Grand Lodge having emphatically declared that the Lodgo was founded in 1768 . At a special mooting of tho

Lodgo , held at Whitehaven , on Monday last , Bro . C . J . J . Harris W . M . in the chair , Bro . J . Barr P . M ., on behalf of the members of the Lodge , presented Bro . Moore with a beautiful Past Master ' s jewel , in recognition of his services to the Lodge in connection with tbe dispute about its age .

LODGE OF JUSTICE , No . 147 .

npHB closing meeting for the season took place on Wednesday even--L ing , the 9 th inst ., at the White Swan Hotel , High-street , Deptford , when Bro . tho Rev . T . W . Embloton Thomas , Curate-inoharge St . Nicholas , Deptford , was invested by the W . M . Bro . John Dixon as Chaplain of the Lodge .

ALL SOULS' LODGE , No . 170 .

AT a meeting recently held at Weymouth Bro . Sir R . N . Howard , Past Grand Deacon , on behalf of the local members of the Craft , presented Bro . Zilwood Milledge P . G . D . 0 ., and one of tbo most distinguished Masons in the province , with his portrait in Masonic clothing , painted by Mr . T . Wallis , of Yeovil . In making the

presentation Sir R . Howard alluded to Bro . Milledge ' s valuable services to tho Dorset Charity and to the Craft in general . Having acknowledged the gift , Bro . Milledge requested thafc the painting should be hanged on the walls of the lodge .

GOOD FELLOWSHIP LODGE , No . 276 .

THE Centenary of this Lodge , W . Bro . Thomas Rymer Jarvis W . M ., was celebrated at Chelmsford , on Thursday , the 3 rd instant , The exceptionally interesting proceedings attaching to the function commenced in tho Corn Exchange , where the Lodge was held by dispensation , when tho Provincial Grand Master Lord Brooke , M . P ., pres ^ nted the charter whioh had been granted by the M . W . Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and the brethren received from

him the Centenary jewels , whioh they are now entitled to wear . Amongst the distinguished Provincial brethren present were the D . P . G . M . Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand Registrar England , Bro . T . J . Railing P . G . Recretary , and Bro . Sadler P . G . Treasurer . Tho banquet was subsequently held at tho White Hart Hotel , Mr . and Mrs . Hipkin serving in first class stylo a recherche repast .

Tho W . M . presided , and in the course of the evening gave the toast of the R . W . P . G . M ., > vhich was received with tho utmost enthusiasm . Lord Brooke , M . P ., in responding , expressed bis gratification at taking part iu so important a ceremony , and warmly congratulated the brethren npon tho event . He had perused with great pleasure in Lodge somo records of faithful fidelity of the brethren in

the early history of 276 , and he fully appreciated the assistance so freely given to the work of tho Province over which he had the honour to preside . Ho was deeply sensible , too , of tho feeling terms in whioh reference had been mado to the illness which had necejsitated his absence at recent Provincial ceremonies . The W . M . proposed the health of the V . W . D . P . G . M . aud Prov . Grand Officers past and

present , mentioning tbe fact that Freemasonry bad been practised in Chelmsford for nearly 200 years ; and although continuous records were not forthcoming , there was no doubt the Lodge of Good Fellowship had a much older history than tho date of tho charter ( 1789 ) under whioh they now worked . From 1810 to 1820 was a period of Masonic decay throughout the Province , bnfc the W . M . showed , by

extracts from the old Minute books , that there were certain brethren of the Lodge who , by constant efforts to promote active organisation , were at length rewarded by the required D . P . G . M . being appointed , a Provincial Grand Lodge being held at Chelmsford , and the appointment of Provincial G . Officers . TheW . M ., in comparing that period with tho present time , alluded to the exceptional talents of

the D . P . G . M ., and to the efficiency of the Prov . G . Secretary and P . G . Treasurer , and submitted that it was owing to the efforts of the Provincial Grand Officers present and past that such great progress had been mado by tho Craft in Essex . He especially instanced the recent additions to the roll of Lodges iu the county , tbe constant increase of members , and the marked success which had attended the efforts of the Essex Provincial Charity Committee . The

D . P . G . M . ( Bro . Philbrick , Q . C . ) replied in eloquent terms , aud pointed out that Masonic precepts , faithfully applied , brought peace and prosperity to Lodge , Province , and Nation . The Prov . G . M ., in proposing the health of the W . M ., congratulated him upon occupying the chair during a year of such great interest to the Lodge , and wished him a successful term of office , assuring him and tho brethren that he ( Lord Brooke ) shonld retain a most pleasing recollection of his visit to the Lodge .

LODGE OF ST . JOHN , No . 1306 .

THE annual meeting of this Lodgo was held on Wednesday , the 9 th inst ., at the Three Nnns Hotel , Aldgate , when Bro . VVilliam Odel Swettnan wa * . inttailed is Worshipful Master . There waa i » largo gathering of iemboi-3 of the Lodge , together with iho following Visitors :-F . E . Corfieid P . M . 1592 , T . W . Veuner 90 ; , C . N . Fox

S . D . 1319 , E . W . Clements S . W . 1816 , H . Sinclair W . M . 1810 , W . C . Thorne 65 , L . Taylor 554 , B . Wickiug 107 G , E . H . Johnson S . D . 169 , J . J . Berry P . M . 554 , W . J . Upton 1421 , E . G . Cherry 861 , E . Gosheron 193 , W . J . Sampson 1716 , J . Swanston 117 , W . J . Bassetfc 212 , Dormer 1571 . The business of the day comprised two ceremonies ,