Ancient Landmark Sticklers.

Christian Masons had been truthful and sincere , if they had been imbued with ideas taught in the " Golden Rule , " neither Christianity , Judaism , nor any peculiar ism , would have remained in the Masonic ritual .

The rituals of 1723 and 1724 refer in plain language to Christ and tho Trinity , but after Jews began to be initiated these phrases were stricken out , bnt pious ritualmongers

soon after supplied disguised phrases , and new symbols , which in the Lodge were explained to mean one thing , but in their writings they luminously demonstrated that thev referred to Christianity . These new symbols were in

a few years after supposed to be very ancient , and of course they could not thereafter be removed . Now , according to my way of thinking , the whole scheme was a fraud ,

and nothing else ; and if Protestants had beon tricked in the same way by pious Catholics , it would have been stigmatised as Jesuitism . ( To be continued . )

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Derbyshire.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF DERBYSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Derbyshire was held on Tuesday , the 11 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Gower-street , Derby . There was an exceedingly large attendance of brethren , every Lodge in in tne tne

the Jfrovince being represented , aosence or P . G . M ., the Marquis of Hartington , the universallyesteemed D . P . G . Master , Bro . H . C . Okeover , presid . d

over the gathering , and was supported by several rrovinctal Grand Officers , Present aud Past . The reports read by the Worshipful Masters of the various'Lodges were , on the whole , mosfc satisfactory , indicating steady numerical growth , and much material prosperity . It was a peculiar source of gratification to note that the brethren in every part of the Province have * been active in promoting the

cause of charity , it being demonstated by the various returns thafc , apart' altogether from local and private benefactions , a sum approaching £ 1000 has been contributed

during the past year by the Derbyshire Freemasons in support of the three great Charitable Institutions of the Order . The . evidence of harmonious working which the reports afforded was also an exceedingly pleasant feature of

the proceedings . The statements presented by the Charity Committee , by the Masonic Hall Trustees , and the Audit Committee were uniformly satisfactory . References to the removal of brethren by the hand of death were rather more

numerous than usual . Cordial tributes of respect were paid to the memory of the late Bro . H . Hilliam P . P . S . G . W ., who for many years was Secretary to the Hall Trustees ,

and to that of the late Bro . George Johnson , W . M . of the Hartington Lodge . The D . P . G . Master appointed the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year , in the following order : —

Bro . Abraham Woodi wiss - - Senior Warden J . H . Orme . .. . Junior Warden ? ____ *•.: : :, ° bap ' .,..

Thomas Cox - Treasnrer W . Silver Hall - - Eegistrar William Naylor - . . Secretary J . D . Wragg - - Senior Deacon R . Knowlea - ¦ Junior- Deacon

Baymond Slater - - - Superintendent of Works W . J . Piper - - - Director of Ceremonies Elphinstone ... Assistant D . C .

J .. C . Webb - - - Sword Bearer H . A . Boag _ - - " ] Standard Bearers J . F . Donegam - - - j H . N . Bierein - - - Organist

S . Warhursb - - - Pnrsnivant J . D . Simpson - - - Assistant Pursuivaib H . V . Edwards - - - ^ E . Mclnnes - . - | A . Brown - - - - U . _ , »«)« E . G . Hoggins - .. Stewards

Gray - - - - | Hardstadt - - -J T ' ^ ' ¦ " "iTvlors W . Stouo - - - Myiors

A large number of the brethren subsequently dined together , their comforts being exceedingly well looked after by Bro . Day . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were

given and heartily received . The toasfc of the Visitors was acknowledged by Bro . Binckes , the Secretary of the Boys ' School , who eloquently pleaded the cause of the Masonic Charities , and who gratefully acknowledged the liberal

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Derbyshire.

support which he had always received from the Derbyshire brethren on behalf of the Institution with which he was more particularly associated . It is highly probable that in view of the special effort made last summer on behalf of fche Girls' Institution , the Boys' School will next year receive a goodly measure of local assistance . Afc all events , we hope so .

Gloucester Cathedral Reredos.

GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL REREDOS .

A SPECIAL meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire and the annual Chapter or Convocation of the Royal Arch Masons of the Province were hold on Tuesday afternoon , afc the Masonic Hall , Cheltenham : when the Richt Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach .

Bart ., M . P ., Provincial Grand Master and the Grand Superintendent of Arch Masons , presided . There were also present the Very Rev . the Dean of Gloucester , R . V . Vassar-Smith Deputy Provincial Grand Masterj

Baron De Ferrieres P . G . D . of England , J . R . Winterbotham Provincial Grand Secretary , T . Albin Roberts P . G . R ., E . Dening P . G . S . D ., General Vizard D . C , W . H . Gwinnett P . P . G . S . W ., and a large number of P . M . ' s and

other Officers and members . The special meeting was held to consider the subject of the decoration of the reredos in Gloucester Cathedral , which was erected fifteen years ago by the Freemasons , at a cost of £ 1300 , the work

haying been executed by Redfern , from designs by the late Sir . Gilbert Scott , in white stone , in which are groups * representing the Nativity , Entombment , and Ascension . Some time since the Cathedral authorities were advis ^ d

that a certain treatment of the reredos with colour was desirable , and after careful consideration Messrs . Claytom and Bell were authorised to experiment ; in * a tentative way

by a subdued treatment of a section of the interior of tho niches and gilding-of the tabernacle work ; On the resolution of Bro . Nelson . Foster ifc was now sought to com ** plete thedecorat . Qi _ v at a cost not exceedinsr £ 300 .., iro .

Walker seconded the resolution , to which an amendment was moved by Bro . Gwinnett . On being pufc to tho vote , the amendment was lost by abconsideraible majority ; and the original resolution carried ,. The Companions afterwards dined together .

The usual New Year ' s entertainment to the Old Folks will take place on Wednesday , the 2 nd January . Arrangements have been made for a special 2 nd class saloon carriage to be reserved by the 12 * 57 train from

Charing Cross , or 1-9 p . m . from Cannon Street , for East Croydon , at a reduced fare . In consequence of the holidays , the Metropolitan Chapter of Improvement will not meet until the Sth January 1889 . On Tuesday , 15 th January , Companion Brown will

deliver a lecture on the Royal Arch jewel . Tbe Chapter will be opened , on this occasion , at half past six o ' clock ; no other business will be done on that cvetting .

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