Notices Of Meetings.

was leld at tho Royal Victoria Hotel , at half-past six , whon about 45 brethren Fat down to a most excellent repast , which was thoroughly appreciated by all , and whioh reflected tho greatest credit on the hi tel management . A special late traiu at 930 conveyed most of tho brethren to their homes , after a most enjoyable evening spont in a truly Masonio manner .

LODGE PRUDENCE , No . 1550 .

AT a regular meeting at tbe Freemasons' Hall , Princes Square , Plymouth , on Saturday evoning , tho 7 th inst ., Bro . A . C . Titberly S . W . was elected as tho Worshipful Master for tho year ensuing , and Bro . C . Philp P . M . as Treasurer . Bros . J . G . Kevorn P . 51 . was appointed representative on the Committee of Petitions ; C . Mutton Charity Steward ; and W . H . Phillips Tyler .

ST . MAURICE LODGE , No . 1855 .

rilUE annual mooting was held at tho Masonio Hall , Plymouth , on J- tho 11 th inst ., to instil Bro . J . D . Folley S . W . as tho Worshipful Master for tho onsning year . The ceremony of installation was performed by Bro . R . Harably P . M ., assisted by Bros . J . R . Lord , C . H . Cooper , and W . K . Michell . Amongst the other Installed Masters present were : —Bros . T . J . R . Chalice , John Lavers ,

Itev . T . W . Lemon , D . D . Oxon , S . Jew , Richard Lavers , E . Aitken-Davies , James Gidley , John A . Lavors . The Board of Installed Masters having been olosed , tho W . M . invested bis Officers , as follow : —Bros . G . S . Strode Lowe I . P . M , F . Hunt S . W ., J . C . Revel I J . W ., T . J . R . Chalioe P . M . Treasnrer , R . Hambly P . M . Sec ,

Samuel Hicks S . D ., J . Hellings J . D ., S . G . Osmond I . G ., Joseph PearBe D . C , John Pearse A . D . C ., J . F . Harris Organist , W . T . Luke and J . N . Wills Stewards , W . J . Gidley P . M . Tyler , R . Hambly Representative of Committee of Petitions , T . J . R . Chalice Charity Steward . Previous to the installation oeremony , a oandidate was duly

initiated into the Order . The brethren adjourned for their annual banquet to the George Hotel , Ridgway , where an exoellent spread was prepared by the worthy host , Bro . Earle 1855 . The usual Loyal and Masonio toast 3 were duly honoured and responded to . Several songs were rendered , and a pleasant evening was spent .

HIGH PEAK LODGE , No . 1952 .

THE Annual Festival of St . John , in connection with this Lodge , was held at Chapel-en-le-Frith on Monday , the 9 th inst . For tbe first time the installation ceremony was performed in the National Schools , Cbapel-en-Ie-Fritb , when Bro . Joseph St . Leger was installed W . M . for the ensuing year , and he afterwards invested his Officers , as follow -. —Bros . John H & Uam I . P . M ., W . S . Anderson S . W .,

Broadhurst J . W ., R . H . Hyde Treasurer , Jas . Whitehead Secretary , Rev , W . P . Stamper S . D ., E . Walker J . D ., W . Lingard Organist , W . Ward I . G ., and R . Longden Tyler . Subsequently a banquet was served in the Town Hall , to about Go gaests , from Buxton , Bakewell , Chapelen-le-Fritb , and New Mills , Bro . J . St . Leger W . M . presiding .

STRIGUEL LODGE , No . 2186 .

ON Thursday , the 29 th ult ., the annual installation of a Worshipful Master took place at Chepstow . The now W . M . is Bro . W . Wballey , who was installed by Bro . S . G . Homfray D . P . G . M . After this the W . M . appointed the Officers of the Lodgo for tho eusuing year . In tho evening there was a grand banqnet at the Beaufort Hotel , Brr , Whalley presiding , supported by several distinguished Officers of the Order .

ASHBURTON LODGE , No . 2189 .

* PHE members of this Lodge held their annual meeting nt tho now J- Masonio Hall , Ashhurton , ou the 12 th inst ., when Bro . C . G . S , Adoick was installed W . M . for tho ensuing year . Tho Installing Misters were Bros . John Olver and the Hon . R . Dawson . Thc W . M . invested as his Officers Bros . S . Jervis I . P . M ., G . Tozer S . W ., F . J . N . Crowe J . W ., tho Rev . C . Forstor Chaplain , H . Stevens

Treasurer , R . E . Tucker Secretary , G . C . Foot S . D ., W . Ford J . D ., E . F . Tanner D . C , F . J . Crowe Organist , J . Bales | I . G ., E . J . Sawdye S . S ., and George Furneanx Tyler . " Bro . H . Steer P . M . was electod representative on the Committoe of Petitions . Owing to the lamented death of the late Secretary , Bro . Frazer , the annual banqnet was postponed .

BOROUGH OF GREENWICH LODGE , No . 2332 .

^ pHE second invitation concert given under the auspices this J . Lodgo—Bro . T . W . Boord , M . P ., P . G . D . W . M . —was held on Thursday , 12 th inst ., in the Lodge premises at Ea 3 t Greenwich , and was attended by a highly appreciative audience . In tho unavoidable absence of the W . M . the acting I . P . M . Bro . Bateman wolcomed tho guests and managed tho concert , which waa eminently successful .

Bro . Niohols M . E . Z . 1793 saug " I am waiting , " and "Beauty ' s Eyoa , " iu his well-known able way . Bro . S . J . Gore gave a recitation , with considerable deolamatory power ; and Mr . Cocktou delighted his audience with a humorous song , " Tho Lay of the very la ? t Minstrel ; " but still more so with a musical sketch of his own , " Tho rehearsal for our amateur concert . " A pleasant first appearance was

made by Miss Edith Thomas , daughter of tho respected S . D . of the Lodge , who sang " Kathleen Mavournecn" in a mannor betokening considerable promise . The chief successes of tho ovoning wore , hwever , achieved by the two ladies who have already been favourably noticed hero , on the occasion of the first concort given by this

enterprising young Lodge , —Miss Marie Hooton , who sang " The Better Land " and " Golden Harvest , " with great expression and in admirable style ; aud Miss Bertha Colnagbi , who gave " Love ' s old sweet Song , " and ( by special request ) "Dear Heart . " The latter beautiful song has seldom , if ever , beeu better given , the singer's clear aud ud . um-u . blo rendering of both words and music leaving

Notices Of Meetings.

absolutely nothing for the most exacting critic to desire . The two ladies also gave a delightful rendoring of Offenbach ' s well-known duet , "In tho dusk of the twilight . " At the close of the concert , Mr . Mitchell , a well-known resident , expressed tho thanks of the visitors , to the Lodgo for their invitation , and especially to the artistes for tho groat mnsical treat afforded .

Camden Lodge of Instruction , No . 704 . —The usual weekly meeting was held at the now Masonio Rooms , adjoining the White Hart Hotol , 116 nigh-street , Lewishara , at 8 p . m ., on Thursday , the 12 th inst . Bro . J . A . Sheldon presided as W . M ., and amongst thoso present were Bros . G . A . Pickering S . W .. H . R . Frank J . W ., James Stevons P . M . P . Z . Preceptor , R . W . Cartwrieht S . D ., W .

Fieldson J . D ., T . WhitoI . G ., C . Thomas , A . Weimbusb , S . Lanoaster , W . Robin Secretary , G . Bird , & c . The oeromonies of tbe first and second degrees were roboarsed , accompanied by explanations by the Preceptor of a most instructive character . Bro . Pickering was elected W . M . for the ensuing week . The fourth Thursday in this

month , the 26 th inst ., is Precoptor ' s night , and it is expected that Bro . Stovons will take tho opportunity to expound at some length the moat important points of ceremonial in the E . A . degree Visitors from London should leave tho train ( S . E . Railway ) , at LewiBham Junction Station .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

LOYALTY AND VIRTUE CHAPTER , No . 251 . A REGULAR mooting was held on Wednesday , the 11 th inst ., at the Masonio Hall , Barnstaple Tbo Officers electod for the year were Comps . J . H . Seldon D . of C , H . P . Tardrew lBfc ,

Principal , H . Ascott 2 nd Priuoipal , Captain Ivimy 3 rd Principal , R . P . Morrison Scribe E ., W . A . Roberts Scribe N ., T . Pearse P . Soj . J . H . H . Seldon D . of C , R . Harper 2 nd Asst . Soj .

DUNDAS CHAPTER , No . 1255 . THE annual meeting was held on . the 5 th inst ., at the Freemasons ' Hall , Plymouth , to instal the Principals of the year ensuing : — Comp . G . Damier as Z ., J . D . Daniels ns H ., and W . Lavers as J ,

The Installing Officers were Comps . J . R . Lord P . Z . 70 P . P . G . Treasnrer , W . Allsford P . Z . 202 P . G . P . Soj ., and James Gidley P . Z . 1205 , 2025 . The Officers were invested , as follows : —Comp . John Pearse I . P . Z ., S . Hearle P . Z . Treasurer , John Hammond P . Z . Scribe E ., A . B . Toms Scribe N .. W . Wallis P . Soi .. R . M . Parker 1 st A .

Soj ., G . W . Townsend 2 nd A . Soj ., W . H . Bottrell Organist , J . W . Warren D . C , and W . H . Phillips , Janitor . Tho Companions adjourned to the refreshment hall , whero a pleasant hour was passed . The usual Loyal and Masonio toasts were duly honoured and responded to .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

THE ANTIQUITY OF MASONIC DEGREES .

lo thc Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEMI SIR AND BHOTIIEH , —In your last issue , Bro . Jacob Norton maintains that three degrees , and not two only , woro recognised aa then existing , by the Constitntions of 1723 , In support of this contention , ho adduces tho following , extracted

from the Constitutions of 1738 , aud which is Dr . Anderson ' s own version , in Ihatyuir , of what actually occurred in 1725 : — NEW REGULATION XIII . ( 22 nd Nov . 1725 )— "Tbe Master of a Lodge wi : h his Wardens and a competent Number of tho Lodgo assembled iu due Form , can make Masters and Fellows ot Discretion . "

Brother Norton then godson to argno that , by virtue of the said Regulation , tho privilege of working the second and third degrees was restored to tho Lodges . But what really tcok place in Grand Lodgo on tho 27 th ( aud not tho 22 nd ) Nov . 1725 , U thus recorded iu tho Minutes of that body : —

27 th Nov . 1 / 25 . — "A motion being made that such part of tho 13 th Article of tho General Regulations relating to the making of Masters only at a Quarterly Court may be repealed , and that tho Mastor of Each Lodge , with the consent of bis Wardens and tho Majority of the Brethren , being Masters , may make Masters at their discretion . Agreed , Kern . Con .

Hero there is no reference whatever to " Follow Crafts , " or " Fellows , " uad tho wording of tho enactment altogether forbids the supposition that more than a singlo degrco was referred to . I may add that thc entry in tho Grand Lodge Miantcs cf 27 th Npvembsr 1725 , was given by mo iu the paper on Masonic Symbolism which has evoked the criticism of Bro . Norton . Yours fraternally , IGth June 1890 . E . F . Gouu > .

Ad00604

FUNERALS proporly carried out and personally attended * in London and Country , by J 3 ro . G . A . HUTTON , 17 Mewcastlo Street , Strand , W . C Monumonts erected . Valuations made .