Lady Freemasons.

LADY FREEMASONS .

AN interesting gathering took place in the National Hotel , Regent Quay , Aberdeen , on Thursday , 30 th ult ., when about thirty members of the Aberdeen Chapter , No .

1 , of the Order of the Eastern Star , assembled to meet Bro . Alonzo J . Burton , New York , a prominent Mason , who is at present making a tour of Scotland . Bro . William Walker presided .

Bro . Burton , it was intimated , had been requested by the officials of the General Grand Chapter , representing over 200 , 000 members , in the United States , to ask the members in Scotland to recognise and identify themselves with that body , in order that the advantages and privileges

might be made world-wide instead of being restricted to Scotland as at present . The proceedings were most satisfactory , and a resolution was adopted that the identification be put on a permanent basis by taking a Charter from the

American General Chapter . The evening was spent in an exchange of opinions and sentiment . Songs and toasts were interspersed . Bro . Burton , who was pleased with the success of his visit , returned to Glasgow .

It may be mentioned in connection with the Order of the Eastern Star in Aberdeen , that at a recent meeting of the Chapter , Mrs . James Peddie was presented by the

members with a handsome gold star , in recognition of her services ; and Bro . Adam A . Smith was made the recipient of a gold mounted umbrella for his services as patron of the Chapter . — " Aberdeen Journal . "

****************** At a meeting of the Bon-Accord Lodge , No . 669 ( S . C . ) , held in the Masonic Hall , Aberdeen , on Wednesday , 29 th ult ., Bro . George Hardie was congratulated on his

return from South Africa , and was presented with a Masonic jewel as a tangible memento of his campaign in that colony , the W . M . remarking that the jewel would always bring to his remembrance that he was one of those who took an active

part in one of the greatest struggles the country had ever been engaged in , and expressing the hope that he would be long spared to wear it . The courage shown by Bro . Hardie in volunteering to fight for his country had endeared him

to the Lodge . He was glad to welcome him home again , sound in body and uninjured by the bullets of the Boers . Brother Hardie feelingly replied . A pleasant evening was afterwards spent in the Waverley Hotel .

********** A banquet was held at the Wellington Hotel , Brecon , on Wednesday evening , 29 th ult , when Bro . J . M . Broakes W . M , and the Brethren of the Brecknock Lodge were honoured by a visit from Bro . W . Vaughan Morgan P . G .

1 reasurer of England , and an alderman and one of the sheriffs of the City of London . Our Brother is a native of Breconshire , and began his professional career in the town of Brecon . He is a brother of the late Mr . Octavius Morgan , the first M . P . for Battersea , and also of the late Major Wm .

Vaughan Morgan , who contested the Borough of Brecon in the Liberal interest in the year 1874 . The Brethren of the Brecknock Lodge have recently secured Alderman Vaughan Morgan ' s portrait to hang in their Lodge room . There was a large attendance at the banquet , and the visitors included Brethren of Merthyr , Hay , and Builth Lodges .

********** Freemasonry once saved the life of Mr . Conger , the American Ambassador , who was with the besieged in the Legations at Pekin . At the age of nineteen he was fighting in the Union Army . In the forced marches across Tennessee

many men , overcome by the intense heat , fell out . Conger was among them . WeaK and delirious with fever , he was left by the wayside in the enemy ' s country , with only a comrade , who was to wait for the end and then rejoin the regiment . With scarcely anything to eat and no shelter

the situation was appalling . Finally a plan suggested itself to the watcher . He went as quickly as possible to the nearest village , and approaching the first group of men said : " I am a Mason ; is there a Mason among you or near at

hand ? " One of the most prominent citizens of the village stepped forward and warmly greeted him , and in a few minutes Conger was removed to the village and given the best of treatment . — " Sun "

Lady Freemasons.

Bro . Nathan Heywood P . M . Sec , a member of a wellknown firm of Manchester solicitors , has compiled " The Bye-laws and History of the Lodge of Friendship , No . 44 . " This Lodge was consecrated on 18 th June 1755 , as No . 39 on the roll of the '" Ancients " or " Athol " Masons , and was

cancelled in 1793 , but revived in 1795 . The Lodge afterwards joined the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813 , but it was not till the following year that it abandoned its old form of working . In 1835 a new Warrant was granted , the old one having become illegible , the Lodge number

being altered to 52 . At the re-numbering in 1863 it was again changed ito 44 . A few more efforts of a similar character on the part of our Secretaries ought to make the task of the future historian of the Lancashire Provinces a comparatively easy one , says the writer of " Masonic Notes , " in the " Manchester Courier . "

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GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY , During JULY , AUGUST , and SEPTEMBER , SPECIAL FAST EXCURSIONS for a week , a fortnight , & c , will leave PADDINGTON STATION as under : — EVERY MONDAY ( except 5 th August ) and FRIDAY . By the NEW ROUTE via Patney and Westbury . To Frome , Shepton Mallet , Wells , YEOVIL , Bridport , Dorchester , WEYMOUTH , Portland , & c . EVERY MONDAY and FRIDAY . To Swindon , BATH , BRISTOL , Cirencester , Stroud , GLOUCESTER , CHELTENHAM , Ross , HEREFORD , & c . EVERY WEDNESDAY . To Shrewsbury , Welshpool , Pwllheli , ABERYSTWYTH , Llangollen , Corwen , Bala , Festiniog , DOLGELLY , Barmouth , Rhyl , LLANDUDNO , Bettws-y-coed , Carnarvon , Llanberis ( for SNOWDON ) , & c . ; and to TAUNTON , Tiverton , & c . EVERY WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY . To MINEHEAD ( for LYNTON and LYNMOUTH ) . EVERY WEDNESDAY NOON and FRIDAY NIGHT . To WESTON-SUPER-MARE , Bridgwater , & c . EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT . To MONMOUTH , Newport , CARDIFF , SWANSEA , Llanelly , Liandovery , Carmarthen , Newcastle Emlyn , TENBY , Cardigan , Goodwick , MILFORD , & c . EVERY THURSDAY . To LYNTON , LYNMOUTH , & c . EVERY THURSDAY MORNING and FRIDAY NIGHT . To Barnstaple , ILFRACOMBE , EXETER , Dawlish , Teignmouth , TORQUAY , Dartmouth , Kingsbridge , Tavistock , Launceston , PLYMOUTH , Bodmin , Wadebridge , Newquay , Truro , FALMOUTH , St . Ives , PENZANCE , & c . EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT . To Barnstaple , ILFRACOMBE , EXETER , Dawlish , Teignmouth , TORQUAY , Dartmouth , Kingsbridge , Tavistock , Launceston , PLYMOUTH , & c . EVERY THURSDAY MIDNIGHT . To CHESTER , BIRKENHEAD , and LIVERPOOL . EVERY FRIDAY . To Newbury , Savcrnake , MARLBOROUGH , Patney and Chirton , DEVIZES , TROWBRIDGE , Warminster , & c . EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT . To the SOLLY ISLANDS . EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT and SATURDAY . To DOUGLAS ( ISLE OF MAN ) . EVERY TUESDAY ( during JULY and AUGUST ) . HALF DAY TRIP to Culham , Radley , ABINGDON , OXFORD , and BLENHEIM and WOODSTOCK . EVERY THURSDAY . HALF DAY TRIP to STRATFORDON-AVON , BANBURY , a , nd "LEAMINGTON . A FORTWJGHT g SMi 5 RELAND . THURSDAYS , 4 th , iSth JULY , 1 st , 15 th , 29 th AUGUST , 12 th and 26 th SEPTEMBER . For CORK , KILLARNEY , BELFAST , Armagh , GIANT'S CAUSEWAY , & c . FRIDAYS , 5 th , 19 th JULY , 2 nd , 16 th , 30 th AUGUST , 13 th , and 27 th SEPTEMBER . For WATERFORD , Dungarvan , Lismore , Clonmel , Tipperary , Kilkenny , KILLARNEY , & c . CHEAP DAY THIRD CLASS RETURN TICKETS are issued DAILY by certain trains to WINDSOR ( 2 s 6 d ) , BURNHAM BEECHES ( 3 s ) , MAIDENHEAD ( s ) , MARLOW ( 3 s 6 d ) , HENLEY ( 3 s 6 d ) , GORING ( 53 6 d ) , & c . Tickets , bills , pamphlets , and COUNTRY LODGING LISTS obtainable at the Company ' s Stations and Town Offices . J . L . WILKINSON , General Manager .

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"LITTLE GL 0 U 6 E 8 TERS . " ? fa ™ ENGMSH MADE CHEESE . Rich , choice , delicious and very digestible . Highly recommended . Supplied to Royalty . Connoisseurs should taste it . SAMPLE CI-IEESE ( 2 lbs ) 2 s Gd post free , 2 for is 6 d . MODEL DAIRY , GLOUCESTER , and of all First Class Grocers ,