Lodge Meetings Next Week.

LODGE MEETINGS NEXT WEEK .

Fuller particulars as to place of meeting of the undermentioned Lodges are given in the Freemasons' Calendar and Pocket Book ( published by Grand Lodge for the benefit of the Charity Fund ) .

Monday . 1632 Stuart , Camberwell 302 Hope , Bradford 307 Prince Frederick , HebdenBridge 388 Prudence , Halesworth 491 Royal Sussex , Jersey 699 Roscawea , Chacewater 827 St . John , Dewsbury

1168 Benevolence , Sherbourne 1271 F'dship & Unity , Bradf'd-on-A ' vn 1272 Tregenna , St . Ives 1325 Stanley , Liverpool 1486 Duncombe , Kingsbridge 1748 Castlemartin , Pembroke 1752 Ogmore , Bridgend

1977 Blackwater , Maldon 1991 Agricola , York 2068 Portsmouth Temperance , L'dp't . 2373 Hardwiok , Chesterfield 2547 Llangattock , Cardiff 2582 Lewisham , Smethwick

Tuesday . 253 Tyrian , Derby 378 Loyal Welsh , Pembroke Dock 386 Unity , Wareham 448 St . James , Halifax 788 Crescent , Hampton Court

964 St . Aubyn , Devonport 1007 Howe & Charnwood , Loughboro 1016 Elkington , Birmingham 1028 Royal Alfred , Alfreton 1052 Callander , Manchester 1266 Honour & Friendship , Blandford 1358 Torbay , Paignton 1390 Wbitwell , Millon

1536 United Military , Plumstead 1580 Cranbourne , Hatfield 1587 Sb . Giles , Cheadle 1650 Rose of Raby , Staindrop 1675 Ancient Briton , Liverpool 1779 Ivanboe , Sheffield 1834 Duke of Connaught , Landport 1942 Minerva , Fenton 2025 St . George , Plymouth

Wednesday . 753 Prince Fred . Will ' m ., Frascati 754 High Cross , Tottenham 1360 Royal Arthur , Wimbledon

220 Harmony , Garston 290 Huddersfleld , Huddersfleld 304 Philanthropic , Leeds 439 Scientific , Bingley 461 Fortitude , Newton

724 Derby , Liverpool 750 Friendship , Cleckheaton 778 Bard of Avon , Hampton Court 1119 St . Bede , Jarrow . 1283 Rybum , Sowerby Bridge 1296 Vale of Brislington , Brislington 1343 Saint John , Grays 1529 Duke of Cornwall , St . Columb 1733 Sunbury , Sunbury 1756 Kirkdale , Liverpool

Lodge Meetings Next Week.

1760 Leopold , Scarborough 1775 Leopold , Church 1989 Stirling , Cleator Moor 2019 Crook , Crook 2064 Smith Child , Tunstall

2149 Gordon , Hanley 2259 St . Nicholas , Thorne 2320 St . Martin , Castleton 2357 Barry , Cadoxton 2444 Noel , Kingston-on-Thames 2448 Bradstow , Broadstairs

Thursday . General Committee , Girls School , F . M . H ., 5 . 1421 Langthorne , Ilford 2319 Soots , Crane Court , Fleet Street

39 St . John . Baptist , JKxeter 202 Friendship , Devonport 214 Hope and "Unity , Brentwood 215 Commerce , Haslingden 324 Moira , Stalybridge 346 United Brethren , Blackburn 403 Hertford , Hertford

410 Grove , Ewell 475 Bed . St . John Bap ., Luton 590 La Cesaree , Jersey 594 Downshire , Liverpool fiflS Devonshire . Qlosson

o 36 De Ogle , Morpeth 772 Pilgrim , Glastonbury 787 Beaureper , Belper 807 ( Jabbell , Norwich 904 Phcenix , Rotherham 971 Trafalgar , Batley

1032 Townley Parker , Chorley 1151 St . Andrew , Tywardreath 1166 Clarendon , Hyde 1514 Thornhill , Huddersfleld 1578 Merlin , Pontypridd 1616 Fr ' ndship & Harmony , W ' yb ' ge 1817 St . Andrew , Shoeburyness "

1971 Ald ' suot . Army & JNavy , A snot . 2184 Royal Vict . Jubilee , Rainham 2214 Josiah Wedgewood . Etruria 2263 St . Leonards . Sheffield 2335 Cycling and Athletic , Liverpool 2375 Hilbre , Hoylake 2462 Clarence , West Hartlepool 2474 Hatherton , Walsall

Friday . Council Bovs School , Freemasons ' Hall , at ' 4 . 810 Craven , Skipton 1777 Royal Hanover , Twickenham 1822 St . Quintin . Oowbi ^ ee 1920 Eurydice , Surbiton 2415 Tristram , Shildon

Saturday . 631 Methuen , Taplow 1462 Wharncliffe , Penistone 1965 Eastes , Bromley

The Star And Garter, Kew Bridge.

THE STAR AND GARTER , KEW BRIDGE .

KEW Bridge is a curious old structure , picturesque enough when viewed from tbe water ; but the curve is too high , the side walks not wide enough , and the approaches are much too steep . It is doomed , for they , are progressing rapidly with a temporary wooden structure which is to span the

river and do duty whilst the present bridge is to be replaced . The original Kew Bridge was built about the year 1757 , at the corner being the famous Star and Garter Hotel , a house long associated with Masonic doings , and at present occupied by Bro . Capt . W . T . Purkiss , V . D ., who is thus spoken of by "Tourist , " iu the " Licensed Victuallers' Gazette and Hotel Courier : "

There is our host seated yonder in conversation with one of his customers . Yes , that jovial-looking , ruddy faced , stout gentleman , with white moustache and whiskers . Looks like a fino specimen of an old English squire , eh ? Yes , with a touch of the military about his appearance , not unlike the Duke of Cambridge . Well , you are not far out , tor my old friend has been a most

ardent supporter of the Volunteers , and served his full time ( twenty-one years ) in the City of London Artillery Volunteers , entering as a lieutenant and retiring as a captain . He has received the Victoria decoration presented by the Queen for his long and attentive service . He must show it to you before you leave , for he is justly proud of the medal , and I'll get him to tell you some o £ his experiences during the time that he was in the corps .

But the gallant captain is disengaged , so let me introduce you . With a hearty grip of the hand , our host ' s face beams with delight as we evidently recall many & jolty day that is past , and now , seated in the comfortable saloon , we chat over those old times . * * # * * * * But wo have come down to have a look at the Star and Garter , and not

The Star And Garter, Kew Bridge.

to dwell upon old times , although suoh is irresistible when my old friend and I meet . . . Captain Purkiss will be our guide then , so let us proceed . On the right from the saloon bar is a spacious and very comfortable coffee-room with bar attached , the latter opened only on Sundays and upon busy occasions ; through the coffee-room , there is a snug little dining-room , and at the far end , down a flight of stairs , we enter one o £ the best appointed club skittle saloons I have ever seenbuilt by our host since he has been here .

, Making our way back to the bar , we pass through the grotto and descend to the cellars . Finer cellars it would be difficult to find anywhere . To the left are the various departments in which the wines and spirits are kept , the first devoted to the sparkling champagne of every high-class brand and a very large stock , besides some exceedingly old and choice ports and sherries —for there is on occasions a great demand for these wines when the big

banquets are held in the halls attached to this popular hotel . In an inner cellar are the large vats for ttje various spirits . Returning , we survey tha bottle spirit bins and wines all systematically arranged and numbered , so that everything is to hand . The bottle beer cellar is also a great feature here , and the beer cellars are enormous , lofty , and splendidly cool , whioh , as already said , give Messrs . Fuller such fair play with their excellent beer .

Our guide takes us out into the grounds . There is a bowling green , beautifully turfed , 60 ft by 100 ft , surrounded by beds of flowers and fine old poplar trees—a very pleasant place to spend an evening . On the left is one of the entrances to the Princes Theatre , through -which we proceed . Attached , I must inform you , to the Star and Garter is a fully-licensed theatre , which

will seat seven or eight hundred , and with a fine stage 49 ft by 30 ft , built by Captain Purkiss , dressing-rooms , bars , and everything necessary for theatrical representations . In the winter months this is much patronised by amateur dramatic clubs and concerts , and the auditorium is frequently cleared for balls . At present it is used by a cycling school .

Captain Purkiss conducts us to the large banqueting hall above , and we take a peep into the Maaonic Lodge room on the first floor , at which four Lodges are regularly held , including the famous old Boyal Alfred , amongst whose members once were many leading lig hts of the theatrical profession . Here also are private sitting and dining-rooms , the billiard-room , mine host's sanctum and office , and his private drawing-room , commanding a splendid view of the river , Kew Gardens , and looking direct over the bridge .

Altogether the Star and Garter is one of those good , solid , old-fashioned hotels , at which , under the present proprietorship , nothing but the best is served , for Captain Purkiss has had much experience in catering and providing entertainment for the public , and under his _ personal superintendence , with the assistance of his manager and his bright little granddaughter , Rosie , visitors are sure to be more than pleased with their reception by the ever genial and amiable host , whose fine house commands one of the best sites upon the banks of the river Thames .

Catholics And Freemasonry.

CATHOLICS AND FREEMASONRY .

THE following additional letters on this subject are extracted from the " Catholic Times : " SIB , —In trespassing upon your kindness I do not wish to unduly prolong this subject , but desire to ask any of your correspondents if they can tell me if the various Bulls issued against this Order by his Holiness the Pope have been collected and published in book or pamphlet form . I wish to know first-hand the wording aud reason given for condemning Freemasonry .

I have invariably noticed that the truth is obtainable by three processes . First , what Protestants say about Catholics ; second , what Catholics say about Catholicism ; and , thirdly , what the Pope himself defines as the truth . The last I can accept as authoritative , but the first and second have so much prejudice and error mixed up with them that I am naturally cautious of accepting their dictum .

In fact , his Holiness Pope Leo XIII . s definition of Christianity , as given in his Encyclical Letter on the Consecration of Mankind to the Sacred Heart of Jesus , recently published throughout the world , is so transcendency beautiful in its Catholicity , so benevolently conceived in the Divine spirit of love and tolerance for all the human race , that it is impossible to believe

his Holiness the Pope can condemn the members oi the mystic tie ; rather does it seem probable that the system is condemned , but that the members of the system are exonerated and blameless whilst covertly or overtly they do nothing against their fellow-man freely exercising his individual religious worship .

I am glad to see that the " Rivista Autimassonica " has translated and published my first letter on the subject . No doubt good will result . I agree mainly with Mr . Clemen be , of Slough , that the six points he mentions are worth considering and acting upon . The more light and knowledge we can have ou theso mysterious bodies the better : " He that doeth good comcth to the light , for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed , and hid , that shall not be known . " ( Matt , x . ) We had this week a charming example of the Brotherly spirit animating

great minds in the Masonic and Catholic world , when the Prince o £ Wales , Grand Master of English Masons , and the Duke of Norfolk , the head of the social or civic part of Catholicism in England , officiated at the useful object of stone-laying o £ a new Post-office bank at Kensington , and this is not the only instance of fraternisation which Englishmen indulge in . Surely " a good and pleasant thing it is to see brethren dwelling together in unity . " ( Psalm ciii . )

And now to crown all we have that great and noblest and wisest soul of the human race—his Holiness Pope Leo XIII . —whom Heaven hath so bountifully blessed and preserved these ninety years , declaring in his fatherly and loving universal charity that the " Empire of Jesus Christ extends not only over those who profess themselves Catholics , and even over all the baptised who belong by right to the Church , though separated from her by erroneous doctrines and by breach of charity , but it likewise embraces all

non-Christians , so that the entire human race is really and truly under the dominion of Jesus Christ ( see also Heb . i . 2 , 5 , Matt , xxviii . 18 ) . " So , continues his Holiness , quoting St . Augustine : " Hence not only Catholics and all baptised Christians , but all and every one of mankind have become his purchased people , He purchased all nations , the whole world by His Blood , for as St . Thomas Aquinas says , all , even unbelievers , are subject to

tho power and dominion of Jesus Christ , for all things are subject to His power , though not yet subject to Him as regards the exercise of that power . " There is much more in this wonderful Encyclical letter to prove that were it possible for Protestants as well as many Catholics to read and realise the boundless charity and tolerance that emanates from the heart of Pope Leo XIII . the twentieth century would usher in the reign of the Millenium of peace , brotherly love , tolerance , and goodwill among men , and all these