Catalogue Of The Masonic Soiree And Exhibition, Worcester, August, 1884.

Warrant A . D . 1733 , " the original being carefully preserved and adorning the Masonio Hall , Bath . No . 782 is a " Pictnre of the Procession of the Girls' Sohool , two of the orphans being led by Chevalier Ruspini as the Founder of that excellent Institution , now know as the R . M . I , for Girls . " Bro . James H . Neilson , whose exhibits occupy the next place in

the Catalogue , is among the moat liberal contributors , there being several rarities in his collection , ( Nos . 789-833 ) . Thus No . 792 is a " Large Silver Medal of the Supreme Connoil of Peru , struok to commemorate meetings of Supreme Councils on 6 th September 1875 , Lausanne . " Bro . Hughan remarks that "few of these are in circulation , especially those of silver . " No . 799 is a " Photo of an old

Seal , Irish Lodge 620 , presented to Lodge on 15 th June 1786 , in consideration of which the brother presenting it was forgiven his arrears of dues . " In nearly every case the exhibits numbered 803 to 813 are marked either as " only copy" or " only copy known . " Thus No . 803— ' * List of the Grand Lodge Officers and also of Wardens of all Lodges held under the Constitution of the Grand

Lodge of England , together with their places of meeting for the year 1813 . " —is marked " tho only copy known . " So is No . 804 a " Bimilar list for 1 st October 1822 . " —No . 806 , "Printed Circular calling a meeting for a Grand Lodge at Omagh , " is said to be an " only copy , " so are No . 80-7 , No . 808— " Print of Resolutions passed at meeting of 6 th Jnne , 1808 , to found a Grand Lodge

at Dungannon ; No . 809— " Print of Resolutions passed on 6 th June 1810 , at ( so-called ) Grand Lodge of Ulster ; " No . 810 , list of Grand Officers of the so-called Grand Lodge , elected 3 rd June 1812 ; No . 811 ; No . 812 , " Printed Cironlur issued pursuant to a resolution of Grand Lodge Chapter of H . K . Templars of Ireland , convened at Dublin , the 30 th January 1809 , stating their body were the original

founders of Templary in Ireland , and held their encampment under Charter from Royal Mother Lodge of Kilwinning of 1799 . " Bro . George Kenning , exhibits ( Nos . 834-884 ) consist principally of jewels , & c , manufactured by him , and in all respects most creditable to the artists and workpeople employed by him . This group makes quite a brave show . Here and there among them are a few

relics , such as No . 852 , " ancient M . M . Jewel ; No . 857 , " Anoient K . T . Star ; " No . 861 , " Ancient Masonio Coin ; " No . 870 , "Old Painted Apron . " Bro . Binckes contribntes four Photographs , two of them relating to the Boys' Sohool Festival at Brighton , and an Allegorical Picture— " Freemasonry and Civilization . " Bro . T . J . Railing P . G . Secretary Essex is very worthily represented by group

Nos . 901-910 , among them being 903—a "Plumb Bob , found embedded in the wall of Mark ' s Tey Church , near Colchester ; " No . 904 , ' * Old Royal Arch Collar Jewel ; " No . 905 , an " Old Royal Arch Jewel , pierced , similar to others exhibited ; " and No . 806 , "' Tenpointed Royal Arch Star Jewel . Dated A . L . 5805 A . D . 1801 . " The three exhibits , Nos . 911-912 , are sent by Bro . J . B . Herbert , of

Birmingham , No . 915 being described as a " Metal Maltese Cross ; the centre being enamelled . " Of this Bro . Hughan writes : — " This is a Jewel of the 'Constanoy and Harmony' Lodge , Aachen . It is Marvin ' s No . 350 , and is noted by Merzdorf . " No . 913— " Copper Heptagonal Medal" —wo learn from the same authority , was " struok for the' Scottish Lodge of the Scotch Olive , ' Havre , " and is " Marvin ' s No . 124 . " Nos . 914 and 915 , sent by Bro . W . H . Sproston P . M .

St . Paul ' s Lodge , No . 43 , may be ranked among the rarities—the former being " Old Seal of the Lodge , dating from 1764 " —and the latter " Old Banner of the Lodge , about the same date , " with " arms of the regular Grand Lodge of England depicted " on it . The value of 919 , " Wooden Gavel , " lies in the fact of its being made from a portion of the timbers of H . M . S . Resolute , sent out in search of Sir John Franklin , but abandoned in 1854 , and extricated from the ice and brought home in 1855 .

* For further remarks on this Exhibit , see Bro . Gould's letter else where . —[ ED . F . C ] ( To be continued . )

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

THE WORCESTER EXHIBITION . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As your reviewer of the " Worcester Catalogue" has not yet extended beyond the No . 706 , 1 invite . your attention to a remarkable exhibit—No . 776—the earliest list of the Atholl Lodges of which any mention has come down to us . It is advertised in the printed "Proceedings of the Grand Lodge ( Ancients ) ,

7 th March 1804 , as follows : " A correct List of the Lodges of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , " & c . "Printed by T . Burton for R . Leslie , Grand Secretary , and sold by Richard Barry , No . 106 Minories , price Is 6 d . " Although it may be imagined that a large number of copies were printed off , the one in the possession of the Royal Cumberland

Lodge , Bath—exhibit No . 776—is the first that I have been able to trace , and it comes , strangely enough , from the archives of a Modern Lodge . This list , in my opinion , is the " gem " of the Worcester Collection , though exhibit No . 803 , which gives the roll of Irish Lodges for 1813 is almost of equal value . The portraits of eminent Freemasons form an interesting feature

Correspondence.

of the Exhibition , and if those of all the worthies who lived in timet now remote from onr own were placed at the disposal of some enterprising photographer the Craft at large would have reason to rejoioe . The result of the Masonio Exhibitions at York and Worcester musk

even so far have exceeded the most sanguine anticipations of their promoters , but may we not hope for still more light , and indulge in the expectation that Grand Lodge in its wiadom will enact a permissive ordinance , inviting inventories of their effects from all the Lodges under its obedience P Yours fraternally ,

R . F . GOULD . [ As Brother Gould will see , our Reviewer has drawn attention to this Exhibit . —ED . F . C ]

THE APPROACHING ELECTIONS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —1 have made an approximate analysis of tbe voting papers just issued , and added a few remarks whioh may perhaps be worth consideration . To me they appear relevant , ana wonld prevent the recurrence of what some designate as a stigma on the Order , when so many last applications are being constantly

sent away . Either suoh candidates ought not to have been brought forward , or those who bring them forward neglect their duty of sup . porting those they have presented . Now , in the Boys' list we have six last chances . No . 1 , a London case , 418 votes to his oredit ; this candidate I recommend to the attention of the " District Grand Master" of the East End , Bro . J . G . Stevens , whose name is a tower

of strength to any case he takes in hand . No . 10 , a Devonshire lad , -with only 3 votes to his oredit . I do not know how many applica . tions have been made on his behalf , but unless his supporters mean to carry bim through , whioh is easily within their strength , —although they have three other cases on the list , —I think it would be muoh better to withdraw his name than to go through the farce of

continuing his candidature . No . 14 hails from Norfolk ( a Province whioh has two other oases on the list ) , with 696 votes to his oredit ; a very good number towards attaining that success which the previous support of this applicant indioates . The three remaining are first and last applications . No . 46 , 10 years 11 months . Nos . 48 and 55 , 10 years 8 months eaoh . N « . 46 is a Middlesex case , and ,

judging from what his father has done for the Institutions , ought to receive sufficient assistance to secure his election . No . 48 comes from East Lancashire , and although this Province has three other candidates , there should be no doubt about this lad ' s success . No . 55 is the only Cheshire case , and with a little aid from the amalgamated Provinoea would be equally safe . How pleasant it would be to feel

that none had gone away from the Election Room hopeless and in despair . I now come to my analysis ; first , the ages of the 57 boys aggregate nearly 529 years 4 months , or an average of 9 ' 3 and a fraction ; fifty-five of their fathers have subsribed 516 years 3 months , or an average of 9 years 5 months nearly ; of the other two , No . 17 , the date of initiation is left out , and the other , No . 24 ,

has a blank in that column , though the dates of his initiation and death are given . Of the fifty-seven , nine only are recorded as assisting the Institutions , while two figure as helping to found new Lodges ; but this test cannot be relied on as definite , because , from the manner in which the lists for the Festivals are made np , partly of small amounts ( which do not entitle to a vote ) , the donor ' s names would not

appear . Of the 57 children 4 have both parents living , but in one case the father is incapacitated , and in another insane . 4 have neither parents living , and the remainder the mother only . The respective families range from 1—11 , or an average of a fraotion over 4 % in each , or 256 in all , with the exception of 2 that are dependent on their mother . It 13 rather singular that in both the Boys' and

Girls' lists the number in family , 1—11 , 1—10 , respectively , consists of all numbers except 9 . Now let me turn my attention to what ought to have been my first duty—our Girls . In this list of 30 , the collective ages , which range from 7 years 7 months to 11 years on the day of election , are nearly 376 years 7 months , or nearly 9 years 3 months ; of the 30 , 4 are last chances . No . 2 ,

from Norfolk , with only 137 votes in her favour—this Province will have a hard , but I hope a successful task , to secure this , as well as the Boys' case , bnt with the aid of the Province ' s Association it can be managed , as I see there are several Provinces without a candidate this time . Then No . 14 , 10 years 7 months ; No . 23 , 10 years 11 months , and No . 27 , 10 years 7 months ,

are first and last applications . No . 14 , a Colonial case from British Burmah , has indeed but little , beyond dire necessity—which is common to all the cases—to recommend it , but at the same time I wish her every success . No . 23 , is from Northumberland , which Province must concentrate all its strength on this , and leave the other two cases , who have farther chances , for the next occasion . No . 27 , from

Yorkshire ( West Division ) is one of the certain cases , provided the Province takes it up in earnest . So , as in the Boys ( with the exception of the Coloiiial case ) , I seo no reasonable cause why any of these last applications shonld be fruitless . Of the 30 fathers , I can only give the collective and average of their years of subscrip tion , because the worthy Secretary has put the vague term " until incapacitated " opposite five names , which " incapacitates " me from

giving a true return , but the 25 have aggregated 225 , or exactly an average of 9 years , ranging from 6 months to 15 $ years . Of the 30 fathers 8 only are recorded as having aided the Institutions for which their children aro candidates , but the remarks I have made in the Boys' case is equally applicable here—some may have hidden their light under a bushel . Of the 30 children , 2 have both parents living—one father incapacitated and one insane ; 2 have neither , while the remainder the mother only ; these united families nuffl «