The Masonic Year 1877.

THE MASONIC YEAR 1877 .

YET a few moro days and the year 1877 will be numbered with the past ; and as with the present issue we close a farther volume of the FEEEMASON ' CHRONICLE , and as in this country at all events the history of our Society is virtually , if not actually , complete for the

current month , we prefer , in accordance with the plan adopted last year , giving our readers the usual sketch of Freemasonry for tho last twelve months with the last number of our sixth volume rather than with the first of a

new volume , which , with the exception of a few Lodge meetings , will belong to the year 1878 . In presenting this sketch we have every reason to congratulate our readers on the position of the Fraternity . It is commonly said of men and things in this mundane sphere of ours , that there

is no such thing as standing still . We must either move forward in order to keep pace with the times , or we must fall more and more hopelessly in the rear . As a rule , we accept this statement implicitly . This is not only an age of progress , but of rapid progress . Almost daily -we note

that some thing has been realised which was considered either an impossibility , or a very remote contingency , and the only means by which we keep abreast of others is to secure at all hazards our share of the general improvement . But admitting , as we do , that this holds good in ordinary

societies , it does not apply with equal force to Freemasonry , •whose condition is rarely , if ever , affected by external events . In saying this , we do not for one moment mean to affirm that the Craft is not more or less prosperous , according as the community of -which it is part and parcel , is

flourishing or otherwise . We mean simply this , that Freemasonry is a body whose teachings have endured and will continue to endure through all ages . Wars and civil commotion may break out from time to time , and though they necessarily interfere with the duties to which we are

devoted , when once they are ended , we are in exactly the same position as at the commencement of this outbreak . Our organisation is the same , our ability to continue the good work we have voluntarily undertaken , remains intact . We may not perhaps be in a position to extend the same

degree of assistance towards those who need it . It is very possible the thousands and tens of thousands would not flow so readily or with the same degree of regularity into the offers of our Charitable Institutions , for there might nut be to the same extent the wherewith to relieve

distress . But though we should certainly have our share of the general adversity , Freemasonry as a school of science and morality , with its ramifications extending everywhere throughout the civilised world , must always remain the same . It is in this sense we mean that our Fraternity may

stand still and look on , interestedly of course , yet seltreliantly , while the nations are struggling one with the other which shall grasp the largest share of gain ; and it is in this sense we may add that during the past year the work in which we have been engaged has been that of

consolidating our strength rather than increasing it . As we advance in our summary of the year ' s history we shall be able to show that the number of our Lodges has appreciably increased , that fresh measures are constantly being taken for the better governance of the Fraternity , and that ,

¦ with one or two exceptions , the bonds which unite its various sections , scattered as they are throughout almost every land , have been drawn closer and closer together ; but had there been no increase in numbers , it would have been still possible for us to congratulate our readers both at

home and abroad on the continued prosperity of our beloved Craft . Able and experienced brethren in all countries have laboured unremittingly in order to strengthen and confirm what we have . It is no part of our system to seek additions to our strength . All who are found worthy receive a hearty

welcome into our ranks , but it is they who come to us , not we who go to them . We are , we repeat , in the sense in which we have spoken , entirely independent of the external world , which may admire , or abuse aud persecute us ; which may encourage or forbid our gatherings , but which will find it impossible to eradicate the principles we have

The Masonic Year 1877.

laid down for our guidance , and prevent us acting on these principles . Semper eadem is our motto , and a proud one it is too . As long as brethren observe , oven it may be perfunctorily , the grand principles by which Freemasonry is animated , the Society must retain its ancient strength and

beauty . But all this is so well known to our readers , that we shall not dwell farther on this portion of our subject . Our present purpose is to lay before them a summary of the events which have happened during the past twelve months , and to this duty we now betake ourselves .

The latest returns that have been issued show that in the period now under consideration , as regards Craft Masonry , no less than ei ghty-one warrants for new Lodges have been granted . Last year the number was seventytwo , so that as far as mere numerical increase—on which , however , we are not inclined to lay particular stress—our

progress in excess of last year has been at tho rate of exactly twelve-and-a-half per cent . The last number on the roll of Grand Lodge at the end of 1876 was No . 1651 . We have now reached No . 1732 , and the eighty-one new Lodges thus added to our roll will be found distributed as

follows . Sixteen new warrants were granted in the first quarter of the year ; twenty-five in the second quarter ; twenty-nine in the third quarter ; and eleven in the last quarter . Of these , twenty-nine are in the Metropolitan District , twenty-four in the Provinces—namely : six in the

two divisions of Lancashire , three in Northumberland , three in Middlesex , and three in Kent ; and one each ia Cumberland , Notts , Suffolk , North Wales ( Flintshire ) , Derbyshire , Oxfordshire , Hants , Surrey , and Sussex ; and twenty-eight in Districts abroad , namely—four in New

South Wales , ten in New Zealand , three in Victoria , three in Natal , and one each in Newfoundland , Queensland , Mauritius , Tunis , ancl Bombay , Bengal , ancl the Punjaub . As regards these additions , we cannot say that any of them call for special remark , save perhaps , that the Orpheus ,

No . 1706 , is composed principally of members of the musical profession , and the Evening Star , No . 1719 , of civil engineers ancl others officially connected with gas companies , while the Kaiser-i-Hind , No . 1724 , is intended for Anglo-Indians returned home from the scene of their

labours in our Indian Empire . Thus , if we take the three last years , during the greater part of which the Craft in England has been governed by H . R . H . •the Prince of Wales as Grand Master , we note that there have been in all 205 new warrants granted , namely fifty-two in 1875 ,

seventy-two in 1876 , and eighty-one in 1877 . That this is satisfactory evidence of an increasing popularity is undeniable , but whether this satisfaction must be considered as without alloy is a question which our readers must form their opinion upon . Thus , if we eliminate from the account

the 110 or 120 Lodges which have dropped from the roll since the last revision of numbers in 1863 , or are in abeyance , there will still remain in vigorously-active work quite 1620 Lodges under the banner of the United Grand Lodge of England , and these are to be found established

in our North American possessions , our Australasian and African colonies and possessions , and in the several presidencies of our Indian Empire . This marvellous distribution of English Freemasonry is certainly subject-matter for the heartiest congratulation . No matter how distant

the region to which Englishenergyand enterprise penetrate , there we find the banner of our beloved Craft is most cordially received and most deeply respected ; and the value of our Masonic system , as bringing men of different races and

creeds together in one common family , will be more appreciated , if we remember that there are enrolled in our Lodges Christians , Jews , Pavsecs , Mahommedans , and members of every known religious faith .

Turning next to the principal changes which have taken place in the government of our Society , we note with tho greatest satisfaction that in Grand Lodge itself the Senior and Junior Grand Wardenships are held , the former by H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and the latter by H . R . H , Prince Leopold . Illness ia the one case , and the claims of