Centenary: Lodge Of Hope, No. 302.

Institutions , and he had seen other aspects of their Craft , and he believed that Freemasonry contained important elements for the help and comfort of man . The toast was acknowledged by Bro . Gaukroger 61 , Bateman Fox 208 and Charles Skidmore 1610 . Brother

Gaukroger referred to the fact that the Probity Lodge , of which he was a member , was estabished in the year 1738 , and was the oldest Lodge , he believed , in the Province of West Yorkshire .

During the evening solos and glees were admirably rendered by Bros . C . Blagbro , W . Knight , D . J . Miller , H . Wadding-ton , T . P . Sykes , C . W . 0 . Smith , A . P . Rendell , William Nichols and W . Thornton , Bro . F . W . Nicholson acting as accompanist . — " Bradford Observer . "

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

THE Quarterly Communication was held in Free-_ . _ masons' Hall , Edinburgh , on the 3 rd inst .,-about 200 being present . The throne was occupied by Dr . James Middleton Provincial Grand Master of Roxburgh , Peebles , and Selkirkshires .

A letter was reported from the Grand Secretary of England , intimating that the Grand Master had been pleased , on the recommendation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , to appoint the Earl of Haddington to be

representative of the Grand Lodge of England at the Grand Lodge of Scotland , in room of Sir Michael R . Shaw Stewart , resigned , and also to approve the

appointment of the Earl of Lathom , C . B ., as representative of the Grand Lodge of Scotland at the Grand Lodge of England .

The Grand Secretary submitted a statement of the number of intrants recorded in the books of Grand Lodge in each year between 1800 and 1893 , both inclusive , showing a grand total of 230 , 074 , and 2447-59 as

the average annual registration in the 94 years embraced in the return . In respect of the loose system obtaining in Lodges during the early parfc of fche present century , several thousand intrants were never reported for

registration . The lowest number , 661 , occurred in 1832 , the year of the first visitation of cholera to the country In the first decade of the present century the highest number of intrants , 2785 , was attained in 1810 ; in the

next , 3073 , in 1814 ; in the third , 2541 , in 1825 ; in the fourth , 1213 , in 1833 ; in the fifth , 1169 , in 1850 ; in the sixth , 2765 , in 1860 ; in the seventh , 4319 , in 1868 . In 1877 , the year in which the business departments

of Grand Lodge were reorganised , the number of intrants was 5365 ; in the ninth decade 5828 was reached in 1889 ; while the first year of the tenth decade , 1891 , furnishes the highest number of intrants ever before

enrolled in any one year , the figures reaching 6078 . The marked decrease of intrants in 1893 might , it was added , be attributable to depression of trade at home and in the colonies .

On Sunday evening , the 29 th ult ., a special Masonic service was held at St . Paul's , Deptford , when Bro . the Rev . J . W . Horsley , M . A ., Chaplain Ordnance Lodge , preached . A dispensation had been granted for Brethren

to appear in regalia , and accommodation was provided in the vestries of the church for this purpose . There were about 400 Freemasons present , representing thirtythree Lodges . The prayers were read by the Rev . Dr .

Hodson , assisted by the curates , and the lessons by Dr . Hodson and Bro . Pakes P . M . Bro . Horsley preached an excellent sermon , says the " South Eastern Herald , "

in which he insisted upon the fact that the doctrines of Freemasonry were founded upon the Bible . A collection in aid of St . Paul's Restoration Fund realised £ 44 7 s .

o o o We learn with pleasure that a new monthly , " The Masonic Visitor , " edited by the Rev . C . W . Ganly P . M . 116 , etc , is about being issued in the interests of Irish

Freemasonry . The journal will supply a want long felt , ancl under such capable editorship , the " Carlow Sentinel " has no hesitation in predicting an unqualified success to the undertaking . It will be published at 12 Dawson Street , Dublin , at 3 s 6 d per year , post free .

Errors Of Masonic Writers.

ERRORS OF MASONIC WRITERS .

[ COMMUNICATED . ] IT does seem a terrible pity that Brethren before they " rush into print , " do not make themselves familiar wifch the elementary facts of Masonic History . Unless they do , better far to let such work alone .

We have just been shown a historical sketch of the Lodge of Hope , No . 302 , Bradford , from 1794 to the present year of Grace , in which two or three mosfc flagrant errors appear , and which ought not to have

been printed in such a pamphlet , intended as ifc is , not only for the information of the members , bufc as a souvenir of a mosfc interesting and important celebration .

The Lodge was warranted on 23 rd of March 1794 , by the R . W . Bro . Richard Slater Milnes as Provincial Grand Master of Yorkshire , by authority ( as ifc is stated on the document inserted in the " Sketch " ) of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England . Signed on Bro . Milnes' behalf by Wm . Spencer " A . D . P . G . M . "

This clear statement leads the writer of this History of 302 , Bradford , to observe , " The Lodge of Hope was constituted under a Warrant issued by the Grand Lodge of all England at that time established at York , and exercising certain of the powers of Grand Lodge . "

This is a most serious error , for the Charter was granted under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England , having its head quarters at London ; and had no connection whatever with the body at York , thus noted . Besides , in 1794 it had literally died out !

Then it is gravely asserted that " the London and York Grand Lodges were united in 1813 , " which was some twenty years after the latter organisation had collapsed ; another inexcusable error , for ifc was the two rival Grand Lodges in London that united .

We much deplore fche publication of such a travesty of Masonic History .

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CRITERION RESTAURANT . EAST EOOM FOR REOHBECHE DINNERS & SUPPERS A LA CARTE . THE WEST EOOM , DINNER , 5 / - ; SUPPER , 4 / - Instrumental Music 11 . 0 to 12 . 30 . Grand Hall 3 / 6 Dinner , AT SEPARATE TABLES , 6 TO 9 . Accompanied by the Celebrated " SPIERPON" ORCHESTRA . Academy Luncheon in West Room , 2 / 9 .