Masonic Antiquity.

finally , in th * century folio whig , ifc became purely s peculative , and men from every walk of life , including persons of rank , began to seek admission . During this period was engrafted upon it the system of mystical which has since formed of its

philosophy ever one distinguishing characteristics , and about this time may properly be fixed tho birth of modern Freemasonry as a system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols .

MASONRY IN TUE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY . The latter half of the seventeenth century was a period of turmoil and civil dissensions , and these , together with other causes , led to a partial disruption of fche society , so thafc for several years ifc remained in a rather dormant

condition . Many of tho Lodges practically disbanded , and but little activity seems to have been manifested until what is known as the Revival of 1716 and the subsequent assembly of 1717 , out of which sprang the Grand Lodge of England—the mother of all Grand Lodges . "

As the enactment of the statute of labourers marked an epoch in the life of Masonry , so the revival of 1716 marked another , and no event in the history of the Craft is more replete with stirring interest . It would seem , however ,

that no minutes were kept of these early meetings , or at least none have yet been found for six years after this assembly , and the only information we possess of the transactions is contained in the edition of " Anderson ' s

Constitution , published soon after , by authority of the Grand Lodge . From these we learn that King George I . entered London most magnificently , 20 fch September 1717 , andjthat after the rebellion was over , in 1716 , the few London Lodges thought fit to cement nnder a Grand

Master as the centre of union and harmony . Therefore , they and some of the old brethren met afc the Apple Tree tavern , and having put into the chair the oldest Master Mason present ( being the Master of a Lodge ) , they constituted themselves into a Grand Lodge , and resolved

to hold the annual feast and assembly , and chose a Grand Master from among themselves until they should have the honour of a noble brother at their head . Accordingly , St . John ' s day , 1717 , the annual assembly and feast was held at the Goose and Gridiron alehouse ; a lisfc of candidates

was proposed , and the brethren by a majority of hands elected Anthony Sayer , gentleman , Grand Master . Aud so ab fche assembly of 24 th June 1718 , it is related that after dinner Brother Sayer gathered the voters and proclaimed George Payne , Esq ., Grand Master .

Thus matters progressed until 1720 , wheu a noble seems to have been received , for afc the assembly held on Lodge Day , 1721 , John , * Duke of Montague , was named as Grand Master , and then , as the old records say , ' * They all expressed- great joy afc the happy prospect of being again

patronized by noble Grand Masters , as in the prosperous times of Freemasonry . " From that time till the year 1738 every thing passed smoothly ; tho Craft prospered and all went well ; but in this latter year occurred au event which may well be said to mark the third epoch in Masonry , being

nothing more nor less than a schism . Now , if fchero'is anything thafc we Americans firmly believe ifc is the doctrine of political unity . " United we stand , divided we fall , " has long been a watchword , while " In union there is strength " is a princible instilled into us almost with the

very elements of our being , and yet , paradoxical as ifc may seem , no small degree of the popularity and success which has attended this Fraternity , as well as its wide diffusion

in all lands , is due to the fact that English Masonry was a divided house for seventy-five years , for it was nofc until tho year 1813 thafc the rival factions came together and formed the present United Grand Lodge of England .

I have thus , brethren , in a very brief , desultory and fragmentary manner endeavoured to sketch the origin , progress , and development of Masonry , as revealed to us by the authentic data now in our possession . It' it lacks the romantic glamour with which it was clothed on its

first presentation to you attribute ifc nofc to the unsympathetic nature of the speaker , bufc to the cold , hard facts of history . No royal mandate or princely fiat gave it birth , nor did ifc spring into a vigorous life with one grand impulse ; on the contraryits beginnings were of

, the most humble kind , ancl its evolution from the primitive association of timid workmen , labouring under the shadow of the church , to the magnificent philosophical brotherhood that constitutes its organization in the nineteenth century has been the slow and constant work

Masonic Antiquity.

of nearly a thousand years . And let ifc be a matter of congratulation for us that wo aro unable to connect ourselves with the learned and mystical societies of the ancient

world , for , by the light of authentic history , our path has over been onward and upward , with no diminishing glories , lost arts , or forgotten knowledge . —Voice of Masonry .

The Need For Masonic Halls.

THE NEED FOR MASONIC HALLS .

BRO . GEORGE 1 BESON , chartered accountant , -was , on the 13 th instant , installed W . M . of the Combermere Lodge of

Union , No . 295 . For the first time in the recollection of the oldest Macclesfield Mason tho Lodge was held in the Town HaU , the banquet taking place as usual at the Macclesfield Arras Hotel . The newly-elected W . M . was congratulated by the brethren , of whom there was a good muster , on the success of the " innovation "whioh avoids the delay that has hitherto taken place between the

closing of the Lodge and the banqnet—and there is every likelihood that the example set will be followed in future , or rather , until the Macclesfield Lodges place themselves in the enviable position of their Congleton brethren , and possess a Masonio Hall , with ample accommodation for both " ceremonies . " Usually also the Festival

takes place on the first Thursday ia January , bat this year it had to be postponed owing to the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge ta Knutsford . The Combermere will next year celebrate its Centenary . Snch an occasion is a fitting one for the erection of the longtalked of Masonio Hall . —Macclesfield Courier .

Old Warrants.

Old Warrants .

Warrants of " Afcholl" or " Ancient ° Lodges-No . 196 .

BRIDGE TOWN , BABBADOES . Warrant of Confirmation . ZETLAND , G . M . So nil anb tfecrn our $ ig bt Morslji p ful aittr Robing ^ rctljwtt , m— .. "WE , Thomas Dundas ( Earl of Zetland ) , Barou / > . Dnndas of Aske , in the county of York , Lord

Lieute-/ < j , \ nant and Gustos Rotnlorum of the North Riding of I " " J Yorkshire , Knight of the most Ancient and Most Noble V J Orderof the Thistle , & c , & c , & c , Grand Master of ^ ^— S the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of England . Send Greeting . Whereas it appears by the records of the Grand

Lodge that a Warrant bearing date 6 th of December 1790 was issued under the seal of Masonry , authorising certain Brethren therein named to open and hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at Bridgetown , Barbadoes , West Indies , was then numbered 2 G 3 , and in consequence of the Union of tho two Fraternities of Freo and AccF'ptc'l Masons on the 27 th December 1813 the said Lodgo

became No . 333 , aud at tbo alteration of numbers iu 1863 it became , and is now registered in tho Books of tho United Grand Lodge as No . 196 and held at Bridgetown , Barbados aforesaid , under tbe title or denomination of the "Albion Lodgo " No . 196 , and Whereas the brethren no . v c jmpo .-in ' " ** tlio said Lodgo havo by their Memorial represented to u . s that tho said Warrant is much defaced , and havo

prayed us to grant them a Warrant of Confirmation . ~ & ow Know Yo That we being satisfied of the reasonableness of the said request , Do hereby grant this our Warrant of Confirmation unto our Right Trusty and Well beloved Brethren , Thomas Clarke Marshall , Henry Lawrence Gill , John Wattle worth MacCaakey , George Walrond Hutchinson , Frederick Augustus Ince , William

Parker Lsacock , John Goldsworthy Shorter Hoad , and the other brethren composing the said Lodge , authorizing and empowering them , and their successors to continue to assemble and hold a Lodge of Frie and Accepted Masons at Barbados aforesaid , on the third Thursday in every month , or at such time as to tha Brethren thereof may appear necessary , and be regulated by the Bye-Laws in

conferinity with the general laws of tho Craft , and then and there when duly congregated to make , pass , and raise Free Masons according to tho ancient custom of the Craft in all ages and nations throughout tho known world , and further , at the petition of the said Brethren We do Appoint the said Uenry Lawrance Gill to be the Mnster , Goorgo Walroud Hutchinson to bo the Senior Warden , and Frederick

Augustus Iuco to be the Junior Warden for continuing to hold tbe said Lodge aud this Warrant of Confirmation and until snch time as another Master shall be regularly elected and installed , strictly charging that every member who shall be elected to preside over tlie aaid Lodge and who must previously havo duly served as Warden in a Warranted Lodge , shall be installed in Ancient form and

according to the laws of tho Grand Lodge , that he mny thereby be fully invested with the dignities of bis office . And We do require yon tho said lieury Lawrance Gill to take special care that all aud every tho said Brethren are , or havo been , regularly made Masons , and that you and they aud all other the members of the said Lodge do observe , perform , and keep tho Laws , Rules and Orders contained in the Book of Constitutions and all others whioh

may from time to time be made by our Grand Lodge or transmitted by na or our Successors Grand Masters or by our Deputy Grand Master for the timo being . And we do require ycu to make snch