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Article THE MASONIC YEAR 1877. ← Page 6 of 13 Article THE MASONIC YEAR 1877. Page 6 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Year 1877.
and four in Ceylon . There are two in Peru , and ono each in Canada , Turkey , Islo of Man , Bermuda , Jamaica , Trinidad , Gibraltar , ancl Malta . Of those at home , Co . Antrim has seventy-two , Co . Down forty-two , Co . Dublin thirtyfive , Co . Cork twelve , Co . Tyrone eleven , Co . Armagh ten , Co .
Derry eighteen ; and there are six military , the remainder being distributed among the other counties . So much for tho number and distribution of the Lodges . The principal events are few in number , but they are , taken together , of a highly satisfactory character . The most recent are
among tho most important . On tho 1 st of November Grand Lodgo passed a resolution forbidding all intercourse on the part of Irish Masons with the Grand Orient and . its subordinate Lodges . This step has been taken because , at its last General Assembly , tho Grand Orient accepted a
resolution materially altering the Constitutions of Freemasonry in that country by striking out that part of the First Article which declares it essential that all applicants for initiation into Freemasonry must declare their belief in the existence of God and tho immortality of the soul . There was , in
the case of Grand Lodge , Ireland , an immediate necessity for some kind of action , seeing that it exchanged representatives with the Grand Orient , whereas there is no such interchange between our Grand Lodge and the Grand Orient . Nor do we see any reason for regarding the course
adopted as a mistaken one . We here can afford to move more slowly , but we see clearly that something must be done in order to signify our entire disagreement with the grave change which has been sanctioned in the Constitutions of the Grand Orient , and to vindicate the purity
of Masonic principles ; and we trust that some way may yet be discovered by which , both in Ireland and here , it will be found possible to receive , as heretofore , those
French brethren who still stand by the old landmarks of the Order in their integrity . It may be , as too often happens , that the innocent will be made to suffer equally with the guilty ; but we hope it will not be so . One other event must be noticed in which the Grand
Lodge has taken the principal part , and that was the dedication and re-opening , on the 5 th of this month , of the Masonic HaU , Dublin . The ceremony was carried out under the immediate guidance of his Grace the Duke of Abereorn , the Grand Master , in person . There was a
large gathering of present ancl past Grand Officers , of Provincial Grand Officers , aud of the Masters , Past Masters , Officers , ancl brethren of the Dublin Lodges . Everything was done impressively , ancl the Dep . G . Master
thanked his Grace in a short but appropriate speech , taking at the same time the opportunity of congratulating Grand Lodge on the day ' s proceedings , ancl especially on the fact that the paintings and decorations of tho Hall were the work of Irish artists .
Two other events of importance now claim our attention . The first was the annual meeting , in March , of tho Belfast Masonic Charity Fund . The accounts , though dealing with small amounts only , were eminently satisfactory , and show that our Belfast brethren , with that generous
warmth which is instinct in the Irish character , are not unmindful of that attribute of Masonry on which we pride ourselves , namely , Charity . The Reports in both cases were adopted unanimously ; at the same time an earnest appeal was made to the members of the Lodges in the town
to continue , and if possible , increase their support towards these Charities . The other gathering is also of annual occurrence , ancl was on a far grander scale . This was the Festival of the Dublin Female Orphan Asylum and Boys ' School , and was held in the Exhibition Palace on the 18 th
May , His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught G . S . W . of England presiding on the occasion , supported by Bro . Rob . W . Shekleton Dep . G . M ., Judge Townsend , Gen . Griffith , and a large concourse of brethren and ladies . The Female Orphan Asylum numbers forty-five pupils , while in
the Boys' School there are twenty-one . The accounts of the former , show a balance on the right side of the account , amounting to £ 1 , 569 2 s , of which , speaking roundly , twothirds have been invested inlndia four percent , stock , while the receipts of the latter exceed those for the year 1876 , by
close upon £ 500 . After the customary speeches , of which those made by tho Duke of Connaught , Judge Townsend , and the Solicitor-General , were welcomed with frequent and hearty applause , ancl when several of the pupils had
shown their proficiency in music , His Royal Highness distributed the prizes ; the following being the most important , namely : —the Ffennell prize—that for 1876 , which had not beeu awarded when the distribution took place , being
The Masonic Year 1877.
received by Grace Harte , and for 1877 , by Gcrfrudo Gill . Tho Astley prizes—thofirst division , English , were adjudged to Frances Smith and Grace Harte , and in tho second division , French , to Gertrude Gill and Frances Smith . Bro . Oldham ' s good conduct medals , which are adjudged by the
pupils themselves , were bestowed on Elizabeth E . Christian ( silver ) , and Florence Hendly ( bronze ) . The bands of tho 3 rd Dragoon Guards and the 6 'th InniskiJIings were present , ancl added greatly to the pleasure of the gathering ; and when the business of the meeting was over , the brethren
and ladies promenaded tho building , and enjoyed themselves most thoroughly . This may be set down as the great event of the Masonic year in Dublin , and every care is taken to
secure its success . Both last year and this , their efforts were attended with brilliant success , the presence of His Royal Highness on this o « casion giving additional eclat to the brilliant assemblage .
The highest number on the roll of Grand Lodge , Scotland , is , according to our Grand Lodge Calendar , No . 609 ; but there are onl y 482 Lodges in fnll working order . Last year the highest number was No . 581 , and there were 454 Lodges in a state of active work , so that Scotland
can boast of an addition to its strength of twenty-eight Lodges during the year . We cannot speak with certainty , but as far as it is possible to judge from the places at which they have been established , thirteen of these are located in Scotland , and fifteen in our colonies and
possessions abroad . It is worthy of mention , at all events , that of the home Lodges , two are at Glasgow , " The Prince ' s , " No . 607 , and the "Gaul , " No . 609 ; one at Harthill , in Lanarkshire , the " St . James ' s , " No 590 ; the "North British Railway Lodge , " No . 597 ; the " Callander , "
No . 588 , Falkirk , ancl one at Rosslyn , rejoicing in the singularly-appropriate and prettily-sounding title of "Rosslyn St . Clair , " No . 606 . Of those abroad , there is one at Surat , and one at Bombay—styled the " Islam , " No . 587—two at the Cape of Good Hope , two in the
Province of New Zealand , and one at Auckland , and two in New ; South Wales ; one in Victoria , one at Trinidad , one in the island ( we presume ) of Grenada , and one styled the "Eureka , " No . 605 , at Christiansted , West Indies . Having now dealt with the mere numerical changes which
have occurred , let us note the events by which the year now closing has been distinguished . Perhaps the most memorable is the appointment of Bro . D . Murray Lyon , the Scottish Masonic historian , to be Grand Secretary of tho Grand Lodge . Early in the year Bro . John Laurie ,
who had ably discharged tho duties of that important office for some time , announced his intention of resigning , and the vacancy having been declared , several brethren offered themselves as candidates , the three whose claims to support were most favourably regarded being Bros . Lyon ,
Wylie , and Heath , the last-mentioned hailing from London . When the clay of election came , Bro . Heath had only a small number of votes cast in his favour , albeit his testimonials were of a very high character , and the contest , which reall y lay between Bros . Lyon and Wylie , resulted
m the victory of the former by 210 votes to 128 for Bro . Wylie . In making this selection , our Scottish brethren have done honour to the Craft , by showing that they are _ able to appreciate fully the eminent services which this most distinguished brother has rendered , in
the first instance to Scottish Masonry , by his very elaborate historical works on Mother Kilwinning and St . Mary ' s vhapel , and in the next to Freemasonry in general , by his careful editing of Bro . Findel ' s history . We have no desire whatever to detract from the merits of Bro . W ylie ,
which are unquestionably high , but we confess that we should have regretted the issue had it been determined in his favour . The change has operated most beneficially . Bro . Lyon since his advent to office has laboured most strenuously for his Grand Lodge , ancl he has already
succeeded in proving that his brethren by electing him have —to use a familiar phrase—put the right man in the right place . As regards the retirement of Captain Henry Moreland from the Grand Mastership of all Freemasonry in
India , it is a circumstance which none of us can contemplate without a strong sense of regret that one who has worked so long and so successfully should find himself under the necessity of yielding up his position ; but if there is one thing which can possibly reconcile us to his retirement it is that so able a successor has been found as Bro . Balfour , In July , Lord Inverurie was installed Prov . G . Master of Kincardineshire , which is now separated from
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Year 1877.
and four in Ceylon . There are two in Peru , and ono each in Canada , Turkey , Islo of Man , Bermuda , Jamaica , Trinidad , Gibraltar , ancl Malta . Of those at home , Co . Antrim has seventy-two , Co . Down forty-two , Co . Dublin thirtyfive , Co . Cork twelve , Co . Tyrone eleven , Co . Armagh ten , Co .
Derry eighteen ; and there are six military , the remainder being distributed among the other counties . So much for tho number and distribution of the Lodges . The principal events are few in number , but they are , taken together , of a highly satisfactory character . The most recent are
among tho most important . On tho 1 st of November Grand Lodgo passed a resolution forbidding all intercourse on the part of Irish Masons with the Grand Orient and . its subordinate Lodges . This step has been taken because , at its last General Assembly , tho Grand Orient accepted a
resolution materially altering the Constitutions of Freemasonry in that country by striking out that part of the First Article which declares it essential that all applicants for initiation into Freemasonry must declare their belief in the existence of God and tho immortality of the soul . There was , in
the case of Grand Lodge , Ireland , an immediate necessity for some kind of action , seeing that it exchanged representatives with the Grand Orient , whereas there is no such interchange between our Grand Lodge and the Grand Orient . Nor do we see any reason for regarding the course
adopted as a mistaken one . We here can afford to move more slowly , but we see clearly that something must be done in order to signify our entire disagreement with the grave change which has been sanctioned in the Constitutions of the Grand Orient , and to vindicate the purity
of Masonic principles ; and we trust that some way may yet be discovered by which , both in Ireland and here , it will be found possible to receive , as heretofore , those
French brethren who still stand by the old landmarks of the Order in their integrity . It may be , as too often happens , that the innocent will be made to suffer equally with the guilty ; but we hope it will not be so . One other event must be noticed in which the Grand
Lodge has taken the principal part , and that was the dedication and re-opening , on the 5 th of this month , of the Masonic HaU , Dublin . The ceremony was carried out under the immediate guidance of his Grace the Duke of Abereorn , the Grand Master , in person . There was a
large gathering of present ancl past Grand Officers , of Provincial Grand Officers , aud of the Masters , Past Masters , Officers , ancl brethren of the Dublin Lodges . Everything was done impressively , ancl the Dep . G . Master
thanked his Grace in a short but appropriate speech , taking at the same time the opportunity of congratulating Grand Lodge on the day ' s proceedings , ancl especially on the fact that the paintings and decorations of tho Hall were the work of Irish artists .
Two other events of importance now claim our attention . The first was the annual meeting , in March , of tho Belfast Masonic Charity Fund . The accounts , though dealing with small amounts only , were eminently satisfactory , and show that our Belfast brethren , with that generous
warmth which is instinct in the Irish character , are not unmindful of that attribute of Masonry on which we pride ourselves , namely , Charity . The Reports in both cases were adopted unanimously ; at the same time an earnest appeal was made to the members of the Lodges in the town
to continue , and if possible , increase their support towards these Charities . The other gathering is also of annual occurrence , ancl was on a far grander scale . This was the Festival of the Dublin Female Orphan Asylum and Boys ' School , and was held in the Exhibition Palace on the 18 th
May , His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught G . S . W . of England presiding on the occasion , supported by Bro . Rob . W . Shekleton Dep . G . M ., Judge Townsend , Gen . Griffith , and a large concourse of brethren and ladies . The Female Orphan Asylum numbers forty-five pupils , while in
the Boys' School there are twenty-one . The accounts of the former , show a balance on the right side of the account , amounting to £ 1 , 569 2 s , of which , speaking roundly , twothirds have been invested inlndia four percent , stock , while the receipts of the latter exceed those for the year 1876 , by
close upon £ 500 . After the customary speeches , of which those made by tho Duke of Connaught , Judge Townsend , and the Solicitor-General , were welcomed with frequent and hearty applause , ancl when several of the pupils had
shown their proficiency in music , His Royal Highness distributed the prizes ; the following being the most important , namely : —the Ffennell prize—that for 1876 , which had not beeu awarded when the distribution took place , being
The Masonic Year 1877.
received by Grace Harte , and for 1877 , by Gcrfrudo Gill . Tho Astley prizes—thofirst division , English , were adjudged to Frances Smith and Grace Harte , and in tho second division , French , to Gertrude Gill and Frances Smith . Bro . Oldham ' s good conduct medals , which are adjudged by the
pupils themselves , were bestowed on Elizabeth E . Christian ( silver ) , and Florence Hendly ( bronze ) . The bands of tho 3 rd Dragoon Guards and the 6 'th InniskiJIings were present , ancl added greatly to the pleasure of the gathering ; and when the business of the meeting was over , the brethren
and ladies promenaded tho building , and enjoyed themselves most thoroughly . This may be set down as the great event of the Masonic year in Dublin , and every care is taken to
secure its success . Both last year and this , their efforts were attended with brilliant success , the presence of His Royal Highness on this o « casion giving additional eclat to the brilliant assemblage .
The highest number on the roll of Grand Lodge , Scotland , is , according to our Grand Lodge Calendar , No . 609 ; but there are onl y 482 Lodges in fnll working order . Last year the highest number was No . 581 , and there were 454 Lodges in a state of active work , so that Scotland
can boast of an addition to its strength of twenty-eight Lodges during the year . We cannot speak with certainty , but as far as it is possible to judge from the places at which they have been established , thirteen of these are located in Scotland , and fifteen in our colonies and
possessions abroad . It is worthy of mention , at all events , that of the home Lodges , two are at Glasgow , " The Prince ' s , " No . 607 , and the "Gaul , " No . 609 ; one at Harthill , in Lanarkshire , the " St . James ' s , " No 590 ; the "North British Railway Lodge , " No . 597 ; the " Callander , "
No . 588 , Falkirk , ancl one at Rosslyn , rejoicing in the singularly-appropriate and prettily-sounding title of "Rosslyn St . Clair , " No . 606 . Of those abroad , there is one at Surat , and one at Bombay—styled the " Islam , " No . 587—two at the Cape of Good Hope , two in the
Province of New Zealand , and one at Auckland , and two in New ; South Wales ; one in Victoria , one at Trinidad , one in the island ( we presume ) of Grenada , and one styled the "Eureka , " No . 605 , at Christiansted , West Indies . Having now dealt with the mere numerical changes which
have occurred , let us note the events by which the year now closing has been distinguished . Perhaps the most memorable is the appointment of Bro . D . Murray Lyon , the Scottish Masonic historian , to be Grand Secretary of tho Grand Lodge . Early in the year Bro . John Laurie ,
who had ably discharged tho duties of that important office for some time , announced his intention of resigning , and the vacancy having been declared , several brethren offered themselves as candidates , the three whose claims to support were most favourably regarded being Bros . Lyon ,
Wylie , and Heath , the last-mentioned hailing from London . When the clay of election came , Bro . Heath had only a small number of votes cast in his favour , albeit his testimonials were of a very high character , and the contest , which reall y lay between Bros . Lyon and Wylie , resulted
m the victory of the former by 210 votes to 128 for Bro . Wylie . In making this selection , our Scottish brethren have done honour to the Craft , by showing that they are _ able to appreciate fully the eminent services which this most distinguished brother has rendered , in
the first instance to Scottish Masonry , by his very elaborate historical works on Mother Kilwinning and St . Mary ' s vhapel , and in the next to Freemasonry in general , by his careful editing of Bro . Findel ' s history . We have no desire whatever to detract from the merits of Bro . W ylie ,
which are unquestionably high , but we confess that we should have regretted the issue had it been determined in his favour . The change has operated most beneficially . Bro . Lyon since his advent to office has laboured most strenuously for his Grand Lodge , ancl he has already
succeeded in proving that his brethren by electing him have —to use a familiar phrase—put the right man in the right place . As regards the retirement of Captain Henry Moreland from the Grand Mastership of all Freemasonry in
India , it is a circumstance which none of us can contemplate without a strong sense of regret that one who has worked so long and so successfully should find himself under the necessity of yielding up his position ; but if there is one thing which can possibly reconcile us to his retirement it is that so able a successor has been found as Bro . Balfour , In July , Lord Inverurie was installed Prov . G . Master of Kincardineshire , which is now separated from