Old Cumbrian Lodges.

OLD CUMBRIAN LODGES ,

IN a paper entitled " Some notes on old Cumberland Lodges , " read before the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , Loudon , No . 2 U 7 G , Bro . W . F . Lamonby deals with thy controversy which occurred some time ago concerning the right of the Sun , Square aud

Compasses Lodge , No . 119 , at Whitehaven , to style itself a centenary Lodge . This old Lodge , Bro . Lamonby says , was warranted by the " Antients" on 18 th May 1768 , under the number 157 , without any name ; indeed , its present designation , though in use , was not registered until 1851 . That the antagonists to the

centenary claims of the Lodge had evidence and reason on their side was borne out by the fact that from 1708 to 1801 there was a complete hiatus to be bridged over , there beiug no documentary evidence to prove that the Lodge had been working all these years , the first minute book of the Lodge being dated ' 25 th June

1804 . An interesting circumstance that proved No . 119 to have been working five years anterior to the first existing minute book occurred recently , when Brother G . W . Kenworthy P . P . S . G . W . of Cumberland and Westmoreland ( St . Bees ) had the good fortune to become the possessor of four original annual

returns to the Clerk of the Peace for the county arising out of the Act of Parliament passed in the 39 th year of King George III . These documents were handed over to Bro . Kenworthy by the descendant of a former Justice of the Peace , having turned up when sorting some family papers . One of these documents

was a list of the members of Lodge 167 , dated September 1799 . Another of the lists handed to Bro . Kenworthy referred to the Concord Lodge , No . 154 , Whitehaven , also an " Antient " Lodge , and it was dated 22 nd March 1806 . This Lodge became defunct in the thirties ; was a " Gentlemen ' s Lodge , " a , s is proved

by the fact that the bye-laws provide for a half-crown fine on Officers not present at the opening of work , and double that sum for total absence on any occasion . Another list of members is dated 7 th May 1801 , and refers to the Sun and Sector Lodge (" Moderns" ) then No . 312 , at Workington . This Lodge was

founded 22 nd April 1774 , by dispensation from the Provincial Grand Master of Cumberland , and was erased in 1821 for nonpayment of dues . In 1863 , another Lodge of the same name , now No . 962 , was founded , and it is the lucky possessor of tho Bible and furniture belonging to the old Lodge . The reflection ,

Bro . Lamonby says in conclusion , will doubtless cross many Brethren ' s minds that there are dozens of other papers and manuscripts of much older date , and of even greater importance , stowed' away in different parts of the country . It is reasonable

to imagine that the present descendants of some of the old Cumberland Masons possess , unknowingly , some of the archives of Masonry as it existed in the border county during the last century . — " West Cumberland Times . "

"Our Brother's" Bed.

"OUR BROTHER'S" BED .

WE have often had occasion to refer to the wide distribution of Masonic benevolence , which , as our readers are aware , finds outlets in many quarters far removed from the great channels of the Central Institutions ; although , in the eyes of some of the outside world those are regarded as the sole extent

of the benevolence of English Freemasons . Not that the Craft need be ashamed even if that were the case , but as we havo frequently said they by no means represent the total of what is done , indeed we are sometimes led to the opinion that the work

carried on by the two Educational Funds and the Benevolent Institution counts for but one half of what is accomplished by the members of the Craft in this country , even if that is not putting the estimate too low .

" Our Brother s bed is an instance in point , and bears out our present remarks . It has been established in connect with the " Free Home for the Dying , " of which Bro . W . Portlock Dadson is the Hon . Secretary , and is the outcome of an appeal he addressed last summer to a few personal friends , whom he

asked to aid him in establishing a " Brother ' s " Bed in the Home . ' The response he met was so satisfactory as to allow of his proposal being carried into effect , and he now desires to make a wider appeal for the necessary funds to maintain the bed for the present and future years .

Bro . Dadson tells us one hundred pounds will provide all that is needed , there being no paid staff' at the Home , and he earnestly asks for " donations of five shillings from all who look upon Charity as one of the brightest Masonic virtues . " The Bed has already been of service , having rescued a

Brother Mason from the Workhouse . This Brother , formerly a Civil Engineer in good practice , had broken down in the world ' s battle , and would probably have ended his days amid the cold

surroundings of the Union but for this little effort made iu the name of Masonic Benevolence , and so amply fulfilling its mission . As some of our readers may desire to know move of the Homo we reprint the appeal that has been sunt us by Bro . Dadson , with

"Our Brother's" Bed.

the hope that those who are in a position to do so will send him the small contribution he asks , iu order to help maintain " Our Brother ' s " Bed . The Free Home for tlio Dying , situate at 82 The Chase , Clapham , S . W ., i < iiu institution which must appeal to the sympathy of all who have ever uursi'd a dying friend or clear relative . It was opened after an appeal kindly

inserted ' m the' •Tillies , " on Christmas Day 1891 . It provides ten beds for poor persons certified as in a dying state , who have neither friends nor home available . Its aim is to cheer the last days of the dying by surrounding them with the comforts of a real home , with loving caro and tender nursing , as , until reduced by illness , many of them have known comfort , and even luxury , while able to work for their living .

As might be expected , the majority of the inmates are either in the advanced stages of consumption , or suffering from cancer in various forms , requiring constant attention and entailing heavy expense . Thoy are of all classes ; the list including an Actress , an Artist , a Musical Composer , a Clerk , an Upholsteress , an ex-Policeman , several Soldiers , Dressmakers ,

Domestic Servants , Nurses , and even Children . Thoy come from all parts of the country , nn the recommendation of Ministers of Religion , District Visitors , Charity Organisation and Hospital Officials . There is no distinction of country , colour , or creed , inmates being allowed to receive visits from tho Ministers of their religion . The Home is open to inspection daily ( Sundays excepted ) , between 2 p . m . and 4 p . m .

The Home is entirelv dependent on charity , and although managed with the strictest economy , is in urgent need of help to carry on and extend its good work . Approved cases are admitted at once if beds are vacant ; there is no canvassing for votes , neither letters nor payment being required . The chief object is to provide comfort for tho dying , and as all the workers

arc unpaid ( St . James ' s Servants of tho Poor of the Church of England ) , contributions are available for the patients in a larger degree than usual . If everyone receiving this appeal would spare a Postal Order for Five Shillings , there would bo no necessity for refusing admission to a dying person for the hardest of all reasons , tho want of funds .

Donations may be sent to the Hon . Treasurer , William Hoare , Esq ., Tho Brewery , Lower East Smithfield , E . ; to Clara Maria Hole , of whom forms of admission , & c , can be obtained , at the Home ; or to > the Hon . Secretary , W . Portlock Dadson , at the Office , 281 Strand , W . C The Annual Report is sent to all subscribers , whose addresses aro not published . It is requested that all Cheques and Postal Orders may bo crossed to the Bankers , Messrs . C . Hoare & Co ., 37 Fleet Street , E . C .

Universality.

UNIVERSALITY .

BRO . HERCULES ELLIS , when proposing the health of Brother the Duke of Sussex at that splendid Masonic fete which was given at the Rotunda in Dublin by the Brethren of Lodge Fifty to the Lord Lieutenant , the Countess of Nulgrave , and a numerous assembly of the nobility and gentry of the sexes

in 1838 , thus beautifully illustrated a grand principle : — " If there be one here , " he said , " who doubts the usefulness of our Order , my answer to that sceptic is—Look around and behold this vast assembly of men of every sect and party , from the deepest orange to the brightest green , united , for this night at

least , through the influence of our Order , and forming one great arch of peace , more beautiful , like the rainbow , from the variety of its tints . From the illustrious Duke , the highest subject in this realm , Masonry descends with its peaceful influences to the

humblest , who is unstained with dishonour , improving all which it touches , and consecrating its professors to purposes of peace and mercy , like the precious ointment poured upon the head of Aaron , which flowed down even to the skirts of his garment . "Exchange .

Scraps For Spare Moments

SCRAPS FOR SPARE MOMENTS

ri HJENTI ' JY and sympathetically au elderly lady wont up to the blind O soldier sitting in tho sun on the steps of St . Gudulc at Brussels . " Poor fellow , " she said aloud , " I can't make him understand , but I should like to know for what engagement ho got his medal . "

" Quat re-Bras , " said the man promptly . " Poor old man , " she murmured ] putting a franc into his extended palm , " but he doesn't look over fifty , " she soliloquised . '' My father , who was at Waterloo , died an octogenarian 20 years ago . How very wonderful ! his eyes seem fixed on my satchel , and yet he can't see . I'd gladly give him the drop of whisky in the flask ( which had

protruded whilst the old lady bent down to examine the medal ) , but these Belgians don't care for it . " " Sure it's thrue , ma ' am , and wonderful ! . the whisky's restored my sight , and I can't keep my eyes off the craythuv 1 " almost screamed the man , while the lady , exclaiming " Good gracious ! " hurried off as fast as she could , to poor Pat's dismay carrying off the whisky too .

Not long since a Frenchman , who had been eight years m'England , was boasting to his sister in Paris of his thorough mastery of the English language . It happened that a young Englishman , a visitor , entered while he was explaining different colloquialisms . The young lady , who spoke indifferent English , thereupon said archly to the newcomer , " Now Zhack , can you my brother speak to him that ho says not ? "

" I think so , " replied Jack . " Say this , and afterwards repeat it in French . You will know that the yew is most useful . It has many useSi If you ask me , Jack Hughes , why my brother Hugh ' s ewes liked the yew he hewed down last summer , I should say the shade usually suited them . But Hugh had some use for it , his stock being used up . "

After a hearty laugh , in which all three joined , the Frenchman admitted with a mischievous smile , " I have never been used to such English . What is the use of it ? " GENIAL JAMIE .

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