Interesting Masonic Documents.

INTERESTING MASONIC DOCUMENTS .

AT the last meeting of Lodge Scoon and Perth two documents were read that are of considerable Masonic historical interest . It has hitherto been a matter of doubt ns to whioh Lodge introduced tbe bibber degrees of Masonry into Edinburgh , hut the excerpts from the minutes of the Edinburgh Eoyal Arob Chapter , No . 1 , published below settles the matter once and for all , and proves that Lodge

Sooon and Perth is entitled to tbe distinguished honour of introducing the higher degrees into the capital of Scotland , as it has also , so far as history can show , the honour of being the first Lodge established in Scotland . We may add that the documents were procured by Bro . A . J . Step henson a Past Master of Lodge Scoon and Perth , and

of several other Lodges , aud who holds advanced degrees in the brotherhood . The Lodge received the documents with mnoh satisfaction , and it was agreed that thoy be recorded in the minntes of tbe period , and tbe minutes of the present day , and that Brother Stephenson be cordially thanked for the success of hia exertions . The following are cop ies of the documents : —

Copy of first Minute . Edinburgh Boyal Arch Ohapter ( No . 1 ) , 1778 . EDINBURGH , 2 nd December 1778 . This day the compliment of six sundry steps in Masonry was offered to the Office Bearers of St . Stephen ' s Lodge by sundry of the

Brethren from the anoient Lodge of Perth and Scoon , particularly Bro . Andrew Gloag , Bro . Bryson , Bro . David Gray , and Bro . John Scobie . Accordingly , there was a Committae called , so there was then present the Eight Worshipful Master Bro . David M'Laren , Bro . Wm . Lyon Junior Warden , Bro . John Dick Secretary , Brother

George Miller sen . House Steward , Bro . Eobert Stewart grocer , Bro . William Mackenzie , Bro . John Moodie , and Bro . John Eeid Tyler , who all of one voice accepted of the compliment of that degree

of Masonry , being called past the chair , after which the Master , Warden , Secretary , and Brethren then present gave honorary initiation to the above-named Brethren , who gave un the compliment . ,

ICopy . ' } 4 th December 1778 . This night being set apart by the Brethren of Perth and Scoon Lodge , in order to confer upon tbe Office Bearers of St . Stephen ' s Lodge the following degrees of Masonry , viz .: —Excellent unci Siip-r Excellent MasonArch aud Eoyal Arch Masons , and lastly , Kui-rhta

, of Malta , there was then at that time admitted into that Order Bro . David M'Laren Master , Bro . William Lyon Junior Warden , Bro . John Dick Secretary , Bro . James Shaw Measurer , Bro . John Eobman Grand Steward , Bro . William Gin watchm » ker , Bro . John Moodie ClerkBro . George Miller sen . Lodge Steward , and Bro . John Eeid

, Tyler . After whioh the Eight Worshipful Master , Worshipful Junior Warden , and Office Bearers then present ordered the same to be minuted , in order to show to the worthy Brethren of St . Stephen ' s Lodge what honour the Brethren of Perth and Scoon Lodge conferred on ns . —Crieff Journal .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 81.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 81 .

BT BRO CHAS . F . FOKSHAW , LL . D .

CHRISTMAS .

Brethren , tbe Star shone brightly in the East , One happy nig ht long centuries ago ; Dispersing darkness till the Light increased To shed on all its guiding , gladsome glow . No wonder hearts were gay that Christmas mom , That first blest Christmas now so long since fled , * Por unto us the Prince of Peace was born ,

Eternal shame ! A manger for his bed , * Ob , let us always perfect trust repose , Although God ' s ways are oft beyond our ken , With simple faith that doubting never knows , Clasp band in band and say " Good will to men . " Let " Peace on earth " our Yuletide message be , And Love and Hope and blessed Charity . Winder House , Bradford , 22 nd December 1893 .

London Freemasons were very mucb m evidence in the neighbourhood of Fleet Street , on the 18 th instant , when nearly 300 assembled to take part in a meeting convened at Anderton ' s Hotel , to support tho candidature of Brother Wm . Mason Stiles for the Grand Treasurersbip of 1894

In the unavoidable absence of Lord George Hamilton , the Chairman of Bro . Stiles ' s Committee , who had intended fco preside , fche chair was taken by Bro . Walter Martin , who referred in eloquent terms to Lord Georgo Hamilton ' s

nomination of Bro . Stiles as Grand Treasur- ;/ ' at fche recent meeting of Grand Lodge . He stated that Bro . Stiles was Vice-Patron of tbe three Masonic Institutions , had served 14 Stewardships , and that be was fitted in every way for high Masonic honours , —Evening -News and Post .

Prominent Masons Of The Day.

PROMINENT MASONS OF THE DAY .

BBO . FORTESCUE FLANNERY .

rpilE meeting of tbe General Council of the Shipley Division -1- Unionist Electoral Association , whioh was held in the County Conservative Club , Bradford , ou Monday , the 11 th inst ., was of great importance to voters and publio generally of the district surrounding Bradford , inasmuch aa thia was the occasion of the debut of Bro . Fortescue Plannery , consulting engineer , of London , in his position as candidate for Parliamentary honours in the Shipley Division .

Bro . Flannery , it may be remarked , is the son of the late Captain John Plannery , of Seacombe , near Birkenhead . He was born in 1851 , and began life as an engineer ' s apprentice at the Britannia Works , Birkenhead . He studied at the Liverpool School of Scienro with so mucb success as to obtain the Derby Prize , the highest award at that time in tho gift of the school to the science students

for all Liverpool . Subsequently he entered tho service as inspecting engineer of Sir Edward J . Eeed , K . C . B ., F . R . S ., late chief con . structor of the Navy , and after a prolonged aud successful period in discharge of those important duties , established himself as a consulting engineer . His firm , Messrs . Plannery , Baggally , and Johnson , now practices iu both London and Liverpool , aud it is said

to be the largest firm of marine consulting engineers in existence . Bro . Plannery of this notice is examiner in engineering at the City of London College , Vice-president of the Institution of Marine Engineers , a member of Lloyd ' s , tbe Institution of Civil Engineers , Mechanical Engineers , and Naval Architects , and a frequent contributor to the proceedings of all thoso societies . Since the

introduction of carrying pretroleum in bulk , Bro . Plannery has made the subject a special study , and baa produced many detailed improve . ments in tank steamers , most of which vessels are now built nnder his superintendence , if nofc from hia designs . Iu 1882 he mirried Edith , youngest daughter of Osborn Jenkyn , Esq ., solicitor , and grand-daughter of the Eev . James Jenkyn , late rector

of Cawood , near Selby , Yorkshire . Whilst taking a keen interest in pnblio affairs , it is bnt recently that Bro . Plannery has entered publio life outside of his profession . His first effort was as candidate for the Croydon Board of Guardians , and he was returned bv n lnrge majority over two opponents for the district of Upper Norwood , where he resides . As a Poor Law Guardian he has

regnlnrly advocated reforms for the better relief of the poor , including the living together of aged married couples , the use of ont . relief in genuine cases , and the wider distribntion of medical aid to the sick poor . He has also succeeded in getting the Croydon Corporation to cease sending infectious patients to tbe workhouse , and to provide a separate isolation hospital outside the town . The adoption

at Croydon of the Meatb scheme for the useful employment of aged workhouse inmates , who are beyond hard work , was initiated by him . He is a member of the Eeform Club , and a member of tbe Engineering Conncil of the London Chamber of Commerce , and as a Freemason is enrolled in the Globe Lodge , No . 23 , one of the eighteen " Bed Apron" Lodges throughout the Craft . In the City

of London Bro . Plannery ha * publicly advocated the formation of ssparate municipalities to surround the central muncipality of the Corporation of London , and so provide for the proper local selfgovernment of the large population of tbe metropolis . He is a Justice of the Peace for the County of London , where his business is situated , and for the County of Surrey , where bis house is .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Comedy . —The number of fche performances of Mr . Sydney Grund y ' s excellent play " Sowing the Wind " is steadily mounting to the centiime , andeach evening still finds the theatre filled with an appreciative audience , many of whom repeat a former visit , for it is indeed a piece to see more than once . It ia a lone time since we

witnessed so interesting and powerful a play , and its selection reflects credit on the dramatic instinct of Mr . Comyns Carr . The characters of tbe old cronies , Tom and Bob , the loyal hearted Ned , and the innocent Eosamund are admirably drawn and as admirably rendered by Messrs . Brandon Thomas , Cyril MaudeSidney Brough

, , and Miss Winifred Emery ; while the flavour of London society of sixty years ago is capitally presented by the sporting baronet of Mr . E . Maurice , tbe cynical society lady of Miss Leclercq , and the simpering hoyden o * . Miss Annio Hughes . Last Wednesday Mr . Carr commenced a series of matinees for children , both of tho smaller and

the larger growth , a very desirable institation , and produced a new fantastic opera , entitled " The Piper of Hamelin , " the libretto by Mr . Eobert Buchanan and the musio by Mr . P . W . Allwood , together with a laughable musical sketch on the appropriate subject of " Sandford and Morton , " by Messrs . P . C . Burnand and Edward Solomon .

Among the many points of attraction at the Aquarium during the Christmas , we may mention the following : —The French Fair ; Adelinu Antonio ' s mid-iir fonts ; the boxm" bear and tho boxingkms-aroo ; Floreoz troupe of Italian acrobats ; Prince Kivallis wonderful

firo feats ; the great dive throngh the roof ; wonderful high wire Tea ' s by the Delevanti- * , Lovenus , and others ; the Japanese Chyokishis and Wife , walking on drawn swords ; Sullivan lifting a horse , carriage aud -1 people . Altogether a must attractive programme bus been provided .