The Romance Of Masonry.

Tho trunk carrying the regalia and Lodtro books accompanied the regiment when practicable , but in some cases ' , for waut of transport , it uud the other regimental transport had to follow some daysbehind . On one of theao occasions the cheat fell into the hands of the Americans , but was returned by Washington to tho Regiment , under » flag of truce , and escorted by a guard of honour . This incident is

considered by some authorities as of great importance in view of the controversy whioh took place many years ago as to George Washington having been made a Mason , or having taken some degree in the Lodge of the 46 th Regiment , or the " Lodge of Social and Military Virtues , " as it is officially known . In 1831 Lieut .-Col . Lacey , of tbo 46 th , discovered an old Bible whioh had been used in

the Lodge , and on the fly leaf was a memorandum stating that it was the Bible on which George Washington had received a degree in Masonry . There had always been a tradition to that effect , and it was considered very likely to be true , as before the revolution Washington had been on Service with the 46 th . Some American Masons , however , claim that there are records showing that Washington

took his Masonio degrees in a Pennsylvania or Virginia Lodge . The frienda of Antiquity , on the other hand , olaim that the honours paid to tho regalia and jewels of this Lodge by Washington after they were captured show that he had some special affeotion for them . The American War over , the 46 th proceeded to the West Indies , in November 1778 , and returned to England in 1782 . On the

declaration of War with France in 1803 , the regiment was despatched to Dominica , and it was while the regiment was , owing to tho exigencies of service , once more separated from its Lodge property that it again fell into the hands of the enemy , with the mess plate and other regimental property . After considerable correspondence , extending over a period of two years , the chest waa returned to the 46 th by

Napoleon . Since the Frenoh War the regiment haB been stationed in India , New South Wales , Gibraltar , Canada , Corfu and the Crimea , and while in Australia the Lodge regalia and Bible were used in instituting the first Masonio Lodge in that Colony . It is worthy of remark that Masonry owed its establishment in the United States largely to the Masonio Lodges

attaohed to the British regiments which formed the garrisons of the old colonial settlements . In 1846 , the 46 th being then stationed at Kingston , Ont ., the Lodge , owing to changos in the regiment , appeared destined to collapse , and Capt . Childs , of the 46 th , readily handed over tbe property to Brother \ V . Sheppard , a sergeant major of the Royal Artillery , who was anxious to start a permanent Military Lodge

in Montreal . The Grand Lodge of Ireland willingly granted a renewal of the warrant , and the " Lodge of Social and Military Virtues , No . 227 I . C ., " was permanently established iu Montreal . It appears from the by-laws , dated 1818 , that the Lodge had been oreoted in order to enable naval and military brethren temporarily stationed at Montreal to enjoy the rights and privileges of Freemasonry without being subjected to tbe feo usually required from

permanent residents . On tho formation of the Grand Lodge of Canada the Lodge threw in her lot with the nowly formed Grand Lodge , and at the second Anuual Communication of this Grand Lodge , held in Montreal in 1857 , a resolution was passed permitting the Lodge to change its name to " Antiquity , " wear gold instead of silver jewels , and to tnke precedence over all numbered Lodges . On the formation , of the Grand Lodge of Qaebec , " Antiquity , " recognising a principle threw in her lot with the new graud body . With these details we close our present remarks on Eomantic Masonry , but as there are so many more

instances of romance associated with the Craft it will not be difficult to resume the subject at no very distant date . Indeed we may now add a paragraph which appeared during the present week in a contemporary , and which may fairly be classed under the heading we have chosen for our present remarks .

The influential Masonio body in Bath are now able to boast of baviDg a Lodge - room secood to none in Somerset . Many residents in Bath have no idea of the noble room which forms part of the Freemasons' headquarters in Orchard Street . Originally built as a theatre , it was subsequently converted into a Roman Catholic place of worship , and a number of » bodies were interred in the vaults , whilst

monumental brasses were placed on the walls ; indeed some surprise has of late been expressed that more care has not been taken of these memorials to the dead . At the upper end of the Lodge-room are two short flights of steps upon which stand classic pillars reaching to the ceiling , giving an air of dignity to the apartment whioh renders tbe

solemnities of the Craft additionally solemn . Bat all the functions that take place within its walls are not of this type . For instance , recently , a jolly little snpper , to whioh about fifty brethren sat down , was h ^ ld , to celebrate the completion of the alterations . Bro . W . W , F . Gould W . M . Royal Sussex Lodge presiding .

We cordially endorse the closing remarks of our contemporary , but it seems somewhat strange that a Eoman Catholic place of worship and burial place Bhould be turned into a Masonic Hall , in view of the marked animosity of the rulers of that religion to the principles and Tenets of Freemasonry .

HOLIOWAX ' PUIS—Prevision . —AS autumn treads on winter , slender , delicate and pale-faced youths become listless , languid , and debilitated , unless an alterative , combined with some tonic , bo artmmisitered to quicken their enfeebled organs . This precise requirement is supplied in those noted Pills , Which can and will accomplish all that is wanted , provided the printed

instructions surrounding them meet with scrupulous attention . Holloway ' s Pills aro especially adapted to supply the medical wants of youth , because his medicine acts gently , though surely , as a purifier , regulator , alterative , tonic , and mild aperient . A very few doses of theso Pills will convince any discouraged invalid that his euro lies in his own hands , and a little perseverance only is demanded for its completion .

Where Shall The Line Be Drawn ?

WHERE SHALL THE LINE BE DRAWN ?

IT requires good powers of discrimination to rnn out a lino between bodies calling themselves by the Masonic name , or claiming to hold a close alliance with Freemasonry , and equitably determine what organisations shall bo classed as Masonic and what shall be ranked as

non-Masonic . Primarily and essentially the organic life of Freemasonry belongs to the Blue Lodge . The first threo degrees make up the sum and substance of the Craft institution as originally established . Draw the line thus narrowly and a good defence can be made for the

restrictions imposed . But is not the Royal Arch degree necessary to the fulness of knowledge oven as respects Symbolic Masonry ? Are there not a good number of degrees and Orders which may properly be recognised as supplementary to the Craft system as expressed in the

Blue Lodge ? Is there not a kinship between these " higher " degrees and the lessons and ceremonies whioh constitute the foundation ? And practically , as we are told , there are those other societies , such as the Christian

Order of Knights Templars , in which are included the best material of Masonic Lodges , that may well be desi gnated as Masonic . Having admitted these bodies to the Masonic name and fellowship , where shall we stop . Wh y not recognise other organisations ?

Our friend and former associate , Bro . Plummer , editor of the Trestle Board , believes we should draw the line less exclusively than now . He says : " We predict , in the near future , that the ' Mystic Shrine , ' the 'International Owls ' the ' Eastern Star , ' and ' Good Samaritans , ' will be

eenerally recognized in the legislation of tbe Symbolic Body , and they should be , for their purposes and object are charitable and Masonic . " If tbe judgment is to be madethe line drawn—according to the tests named by oar brother , of course the societies named , with others , must

be regarded as Masonic and included among the legitimate bodies of the groat Craft institution . Our thought is that other tests may be used , —that something more is to be asked of societies , which claim to express Freemasonry and desire to be recognized on this ground , than merely the

affirmation oc some charitable and social purposes , together with the avowal that their membership is taken from the Masonic Fraternity . Before any new organization can lay just claim to Masonic recognition and be properly ranked among Masonic bodies , it should be able to show

that it has come into being because it was needed to fill a place in the Craft system aud can render a servic : of good . Therj must be an agreement between its forms and ceremonies , its symbols and general order of procedure , aud those that distinguish the ancient Craft . The

Freemasonry represented by the Blue Lodge will not bo strengthened by entangling alliances with systems and organisations that have only a few elements in common with itself . It may be something exclusive iu its

determinations of what is distinctly Masonic and yet run no danger of injury to itself . For our own part we could wish that there were fewer rather than more systems and bodies included in tbe generally accepted Masonic classification . —Freemasons' Bepository .

The installation meeting of the Borough of Greenwich Lodge , No . 2332 , will take place on Wednesday next , the 26 th inst ., at the Masonic Rooms , the William the Fourth , East Greenwich . Bro . Henry Roberta P . M . is the W . M . elect . There is a very full agenda , and tbe brethren are summoned for 3 p . m .

Bromley St. Leonard Instruction Lodge.

BROMLEY ST . LEONARD INSTRUCTION LODGE .

AT a meeting of this Lodge , held on Wednesday , the 12 th inst ., at tbe Bromley Vestry Hall , there were present : —Bros . J . W . Gibbs W . M ., Ben Johnson S . W ., E . Toole J . W ., W . M . Mead ( Hon . Secretary ) , G . B . Warne S . D ., E . A . Gibbs J . D ., W . Home I . G ., A . Peterken P . M . Preceptor ; also Bros . W . Davis , A . S . Bird , 0 . Lewsey , W . F . Keddell , W . Green , T . Green , H . Skinner , G . W .

Holmes , and Scott . The ceremony of initiation was admiraDly rehearsed by the W . M ., Bro . J . Liell being the candidate . The comfortable arrangements of the new place of meeting gave general

satisfaction , and it was resolved that the Secretary , Bro . Mead , send an application to the Vestry for permission to use the Committeeroom for the purpose of meeting every Wednesday evening . Some half-dozen members wero elected , and other minor business transacted , the Lodge formally closed .

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TMPOKTANT NOTICE . —Confidential Advice free per post to all JL ia weak and failing health , with loss of strength and vitality . Fitty years experience in Nervous Ailments . Address , The Secretary , 3 Fitzallan square , Sheffield . Form of Cerrespondence Free . Write to-day .