Lodge Histories.

Smith J . D . Peace and Harmony 72 , John Walker S . W . Regularity 108 , H . Phillips P . M . Moira 109 , J . Mather W . M . Caledonian 15 G , Fred . Salmon P . M . Honour and Generosity 194 , R , Crosse P . M . Union 195 , L . Chandler P . M . St . Paul ' s 229 , Lewis Crombio D . Prov . G . M . Aberdeenshire Jerusalem 233 , and Charles Schotell St . Andrew ' s L . East 269 . A third , announcing Boys' School Festival for Sth

March 1837 , has also a list of Stewards , including Bros . W . Siaveley G . Master ' s Lodge 1 President , Stephen Prico P . M . St . Albans 32 Vice President , G . Braithwaite No . 4 Treasurer , James Walton Hon . Secretary , J . G . Children 2 , J . Mitchell 6 , D . Robinson Watts P . M . 11 , S . W . Darke P . M . Tuscan 14 , Thomas Barker 14 , Owen Richards Unity 82 , R . Hollond W . M . St . John ' s 107 , J . Dubonrg Regularity

108 , J . Mason Burlington 113 , Geo . Mallalne Lion and Lamb 227 , T . G . Sambrooke Jerusalem 323 , J . Mortimer Princo of Wales 324 , and W . R- Kemp Priuce of Wales Chapter 324 . The prico of the tickets is given as fifteen shillings . A fourth circular appeals for support in behalf of " The Asylum for the Aged and Decayed Freemason , " ancl is signed Robert Field Secretary . It quotes the testimony of

Grand Lodge of 6 th December 1837 , to the effect " That this Grand Lodge recommend the contemplated Asylum for the Aged and Decayed Freemason to the favourable consideration of the Craft . " Ifc fixes tbe date of the Festival for the 15 th June 1842 , and adds , « For your information I beg to state that the Festivals of this Charity have been always conducted upon such well-considered principles as

to tax tho purse of thoso who kindly undertake the office of Stewards as lightly aa possible . The Steward ' s expenses , including his own and two ladies' tickets , have never exceeded Four Guineas . " Opinions ma y and probably will differ as to the alleged lightness of those expensea ; afc all events , it is double tho cost incurred b y a Steward now- 'i-days , who is not called npon to pay for two ladies' tickets as well

as his own . Bnt this in passing merely . It is well , however , to note thafc this Asylum , though it was subsequently amalgamated with the Benevolent Institution , was separate from the latter , which was only established by Grand Lodge in the year 1842 . One other circular —on behalf of the Girls' School—remains , dated 15 th May 1835 , acid has been reserved to the last , as it deserves to be reproduced in full .

Ifc bears at top the signature " Augustus F ., G . M . " and was sent to the W . Masters of Lodges by the then joint G . Secretaries—Bros . W . H . White and Edward Harper—under , as will be seen , very special circumstances . It reads as follows * . — " The Quarterly General Court of the Royal Freemasons Female School bavin" reported to me , as Grand Master and President of the

Institution , the unfortunate and insecure state of the Schoolhouse , occasioned by the decay of the fonndation , and the necessity which was thereby created for an immediate general repair of the structure , and formation of new foundation , I felt it proper to bring the subject before the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , the former of which bodies was pleased to grant a sum of £ 100 , and the latter a sum of

£ 52 10 s towards defraying the expenses . " The works are now nearly completed , and alfcho' every attention has been paid to a strict economy which conld subsist with a due regard to stability , the outlay has been much greater than was antici . pated , and may " now be set down at £ 2000 . " To meet this unexpected and heavy charge the Funds of the In .

Btitution are inadequate without reducing the number of children npon the establishment—a measure which ifc must be the anxious wish of every Brother to avert ; under these circumstances , I am induced to call the attention of tbe various Chapters and Lodges , and also of the individual members , to the subject , relying with conn , dence that they will not suffer their excellent Charity to decline from

tbe effects of a misfortune and serious outlay , which was as nnavoid . able as it was urexpected .. " A most admirable procedure on the part of His Royal H ghness the Grand Master and President , and one which must commend itself to the regard of brethren of the present day ! It should be added that the Annual Festival was held two days after the above appeal ,

namely , the 17 th May . Among odds aud ends is a circular from the lessees , proprietors , or managers of the Star and Garter , Richmond , soliciting the patronage of the Lodge , aud announcing in a postscript— " We con . tinne to supply our superior Omnibuses for the return of Parties to Town at night . " This is dated May 1841 , when a visit to Richmond

was a more serious undertaking than ifc is m these days of railways . We may mention also a printed notice to the effect that the foundationstone of the Episcopal Chapel of the Reading Cemetery Company was to be laid , with Masonic ceremony , by permission of the R . W . Prov . Grand Master for Berks , on Wednesday , the 26 th October 1842 , Further particulars to be had of the Wor . Master of the Union Lodge ,

Reading . This pretty well exhausts the list of documents . The other remains include Books of Laws , & c , & c . One of these is a copy of the Bye-laws of the Lodge , and is signed by Robert Leslie G . S . The first leaf , with Law I ., is missing unfortunately . From these we learn that a candidate was " to be initiated for a sum ( not less than Three Guineas ) " —the word "Three" is in writing ,

and in substitution of "Two , " struck out—" and 5 shillings" ( in writing ) , " and cloath the Lodge , " if required—which means , in brief , gloves all round to the members . This copy is undated . There is also a Copy of tbe Rules , Orders , and Bye-laws of the Fraternity , accord - ing to the old Constitutions , on the Title-page of which occurs the following : — " To which are added the Laws and Regulations of the

Holy Royal Arch , Published by Order of the Grand Lodge , London : Printed by Brother Thomas Harper jun ., Great New-street , Gough Square . 1813 . " One rule , as touching on a point which is often the ¦ nbject of inquiry in our columns , is worth referring to—namely , Rule XIV ., which lays it down that " in tbe Master's absence , a Past Master may take the chair , although it is by right the duty of the

Senior Warden , and in his absence , the Junior Warden . " The follow , ing footnote is added : "It is the right of the Wardens to fill the chair , even though a Past Master bo present ; but the Wardens generally waive this privilege , presuming that the Past Masters are better skilled in the business of the Lodge . " From an Appendix we learn that , on registry of a new made Mason , London Lodges were

Lodge Histories.

called npon to pay the sum of sixteen shillings and sixpence eachto Grand Lodge Fund half a guinea , to Masonic School 5 s , and to Grand Secretary Is , and " one shilling a quarter for each contributing member of the Lodge . " In the case of Country , Foreign , and Military Lodges the payment was only eight shillings and sixpencenamely , Grand Lodgo Fund 5 s , Masonio School 2 s 6 d , and Grand

Secretary ls , and " one guinea annually to the G . Lodgo Fund of Charity . " A Grand Lodge certificate cost threo shillings ; the transfer of a brother ' s name from one Lodge to another half . a-crown , including Grand Secretary's fee of one shilling ; and for registering a brother from any other Grand Lodge , in connection with the Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons , three shillings and sixpence , the Grand

Secretary s fee of one shilling being included . It is also laid down that only Grand Officers might wear gold lace , gold fringe , gold embroidery , or anything resembling gold , on their Masonio clothing or ornaments , the dress of Ancient Craft Master Masons being a plain leather apron , trimmed with pale " blue silk or ribbon . It is curious to noto that a resolution of Grand Lodge of 6 th December 1809 , cautioning brethren against various publications lately circulated ,

and attempted to be imposed on the Fraternity , is included . There is also a list of members as follows , the last entry bearing date 23 rd May 1814 : — "A . Withers , R . Saunders , J . Warner , R . Bold , G . Saunders , M . Bevan , J . Roberts , John Hughes , S . Dart , G . Bagshaw , J . Berry , D . Simmons , 0 . Kidd , T . Richards , S . Thergood , G . Macallar , J . Charles , J . Vaughau , T . Brookes , D . Tombs ; Deo . 13 th , John Allen ( name in pencil ) , Thomas Hytch ( do ) rejoin'd , and Peach ( do ) , Grand and Private Lodge dues paid to December 13 th ; February 14 th 1814 , William Smith and James Bowling ( in pencil ); and

May 23 rd , William Hopper . " The Laws and Regulations for the Instruction and Government of the Holy Royal Arch Chapters , as " Revised , Amended , and Approved in General Grand Chapter afc the Crown nnd Anchor Tavern , Strand , London , April 1 , 1807 , " are , as we have said , appended . In these Royal Arch ia described as tho fourth Degree in Freemasonry ; and for tho benefit of admirers ol uniformity we extract the following Rule XIII .: — " That a general uniformity of the practice and

ceremonies of ancient Freemasonry may be preserved and handed down , unchanged to posterity . The Grand Chapter shall elect annually in October , nine skilled Royal Arch Masons , who must be Past Masters , and approved by the Grand Lodge . They shall assist the Grand Officers in visiting the Lodges . " But they were not to be considered as members , or as having a voice in the internal affairs of the Lodge ,

except for reference on any point of the general laws of the Order , in which the members might not be able to determine , and , if necessary , to report to Grand Chapter or the R . W . Dep . G . Master . One other little book remains to be noticed , namely , an "Abstract of Laws and Regulations for the Order of Royal Arch Masons , Lon . don : Printed for the United Grand Chapter , by W . P . Norris , Little

Moorgate , A . L . — IOQDCCCXVII . " The heading is as follows : — " The Supreme Grand and Royal Chapter . To all the Companions of that exalted and Supreme Degree of Masonry , stiled the Royal Arch , Health , Peace and Goodwill . " The Preamble begins , "Whereas our Grand and Royal Chapter , being the Grand Lodge of this Supreme

Degree , and having full powers , " & c . Unfortunately pages 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 are partly burned , so thafc the laws cannot be followed throughout . This completes our task , and our only regret is , thafc we have not had before us materials that would have enabled ns to furnish a complete history of the Lodge .

Faith Lodge Of Instruction, No. 141.

FAITH LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 141 .

THE annual dinner of Faith Lodge of Instruction was held on l _ th insfc ., at the Restaurant , 2 Victoria Chambers . There was a large attendance of members and visitors . After an excellent dinner Bro . Cottebrune , who presided as Worshipful Master , gavo the usual Masonic toasts , the Queen and the Craft , the Prince of Wales Most Worshipfnl Grand Master , the Pro Grand Master , and other Officers of Grand Lodge . Bro . Percival P . M . then proposed the toast of the

evening , the Faith Lodge of Instruction , coupling with it the name of their most respected and worthy Preceptor , Bro . Cottebrune . He did not know any Lodge of Instruction which turned out better Officers , more qualified to fill high positions in the various Lodges than the Faith . Their success was entirely due to the energy and kind feeling of Bro . Cottebrune , who was a most able Preceptor and

accomplished Mason . Bro . Cottebrune P . M . P . G . P . in response said , it was close now upon twenty-three years sinco he joined this Lodge of Instruction , and soon afterwards ho was asked fco become Preceptor . He had worked to the best of his ability , and he must say that be had always received the greatest kindness and attention from the mem . bers of the Lodge . Bro . Percival had been kind enough to say thafc

many distinguished Masons had left the Lodge of Instruction qualified to fill the chair in the regnlar Lodges , but this was as much or more due to their own perseverance as to the efforts of those who were the tutors . The Faith Lodge of Instruction had for some years been very well attended . They had voted thirty guineas to the Charities in three years . He was very pleased to know thafc they were well sup .

ported by members of the mother Lodges , and he hoped that for many years to come his name wonld be associated with the Lodge of Instruction . The Worshipful Master then proposed the health of Bro . W . Carter , who had for twenty-two years been the Treasurer of his Lodge ; he was a genial and good-hearted man , and was an ornament to Masonry . Bro . W . Carter , in responding , referred to the

fact that he had been a member of the Faith Lodge for twenty-nine years , and that he had known tho Worshipfnl Master , Bro . Cotter bvnne , upwards of twenty years . The Worshipful Master then proposed the health of the Visitors , which was responded to by Bros . Mallett P . M . and George E . Saunders . Bros . Taylor W . M . St . Luke ' s ,

and Holt W . M . Granite , responded to the toast of Craft Lodges , and after other toasts and some excellent songs , a very pleasant reunion was brought to a successful termination . Tho Faith Lodge of Instruction meets every Tuesday evening , afc the Restaurant , Westminster Chambers , afc eight o'clock .