A Search For Light.

though its scope is certainly more limited than Bro . Findel s . These and such as these will bo interested in the progress of this work , and will assuredly benefit by the knowledge it may evoke . To show , indeed , how desirable it is our request should find favour with the Masonic public , we need only

draw attention to the marvellous discovery made some short time since by a Masonic Journal in the United States , to wit , the Square of New York , if onr memory serves us aright . That estimable journal appears to have found out that Albion Lodge of Quebec was the first Lodge

constituted in America , having been chartered in 1721 . Bro . Jacob Norton , however , in the Keystone for the 20 th ultimo , points out that the earliest Quebec Lodge on the roll of Grand Lodge England in 1814 , just after the Union had taken place , was Lodge 17 , "Royal Artillery , " formerly Lodge

No . 9 " Ancients , " that no ancient Lodge could have been chartered before 1752 or 1753 , that this Lodge appears between two Lodges warranted in 1722 , and he makes , what appears to us a very feasible suggestion , namely , that the compiler of the London Calendar concluded that Lodge 17

was also warranted the same year , which , if reckoned according to the old style , might be 1721 . It is difficult to understand how the Square could have committed itself to such a statement , unless it is prepared to prove that a Lodge , whose existence no single Masonic writer of any

standing makes mention of , was chartered in 1721 , in a French Colony , and before ever there was a Grand Lodge in Paris , and that this Lodge and the present Lodge Albion of Quebec are one and the same . In either case a copy of the charter would be invaluable . It is not a little singular

that Lodge No . 19 , " R . Athclstan , " formerly No . 10 , of the " Ancients , " is set down in Grand Lodge Calendar for this year as having been constituted in " 17 G 9 , " between "Old Dundee , " dated 1722 , and "R . Kent Lodge of Antiquity , " Chatham , dated 1723 . Thus , if Albion Lodge

Quebec , "formerly No . 17 , E . R . " were constituted in 1721 , it cannot have been an Ancient Lodge , and Bro . Hughan ' s Roll of Lodges is incorrect . On tho other hand , if Bro . Hughan is right , and the Lodge "formerly No . 17 E . R . "

were No . 9 of the Ancients , then it cannot have been chartered in 1721 by a Grand Lodge which did not come into being till some thirty years later . The production of the Charter would at once set this difficultv at r-est .

Having published copies of all the Ancient Lodge Warrants , Ave shall pursue the Avork still further , ancl to that end crave the assistance of other Lodges Avho hold under Grand Lodcc "Moderns . " How far Ave shall be

able to pursue this matter , clearly rests , not Avith us , bnt ' with Masters of Lodges , on Avhose kind co-operation Ave must rely for any good service AVC may be able to render to the cause of historical research . But IIOAV little soever Ave

may be able to achieve , Ave shall at least have the satisfaction of knowing that it will supply an omission in Bro . Hughan ' s Roll , and be of eminent use in the compilation of the History of our English Lodges which Bro . Spencer has it in contemplation to publish .

Masonic Portraits (No. 29.) A Shining Light.

MASONIC PORTRAITS ( No . 29 . ) A SHINING LIGHT .

" From the arched roof , Pendant by subtle magic , many a row Of starry lamps and blazing cressets Yielded light as from a sky . " THE cry of tho wise and thoughtful has ever been for more light ; for light to lighten our mental darkness ,

for a Avider diffusion of the rays of the lamp of truth . It AATIS the cry oi Socrates , Avho sought to illumine some portion of that dark and dreary road Avhich leads from this world to the unknowable regions beyond the grave . HOAV little nearer Ave are to a complete solution of the problems

which he propounded the present condition of the Avorld of thought amply testifies . "Infinite Providence , " exclaims Jean Paul Richter , " Thou wilt cause the clay to cfawn , but as yet struggles the twelfth hour of the night ; the nocturnal birds of prey are on the Aving , spectres appear ,

the dead Avalk , the living dream . " We are but little nearer to a complete solution of the problems of existence and of evil , than were the Greeks Avho discussed them Avith the great sage under the porticoes of Athens . ... The realm of positive science has been

Masonic Portraits (No. 29.) A Shining Light.

widened , but the domain of metaphysics remains as narrow as ever . We have conquered Nature , and the great Avorks of man aro altering the physical features of the globe . Railways , steam navigation , gas-lighting , ancl the telooraph

aro rapidly changing the very aspect of civilisation , and the engineer is in these clays the mighty magician Avhose fiat moves or levels the hills , and provides us Avith safe and swift vehicles of communication over the stormy ocean . His level and his measuring chain are mightier far in their

influence than the Avand of the greatest of tho enchanters of Arabian story . He knoAvs no difficulty which may not bo conquered hy Money , that omnipotent deity before whose throne the proudest bend and Avorship . Accustomed to deal Avith the rude forces of nature , ancl Avith such tools

as algebra affords him , it would not bo at all Avonderful if the engineers of modern times should possess little of the imaginative faculty . Yet it does not always follow that tho mental giants who score so deep a mark in the Avorld are deficient in tho higher poAvers of the intellect ; one of tho

greatest ship builders modern society has ever seen Avrote , some years since , a volume of poems , Avhich contains somo really charming lines . Each of us in his OAVII sphere has met with men of science Avho Avere not merely conversant superficially Avith elegant literature , but deeply versed in

all that appertains to the great domain of letters . A man of great poAvers of mind can rarely permit his faculties to run in one groove . The man of genius has many sides to his mental nature , and is equally at home in his OAvn special domain , or in those Avhere pedants might regard him as an interloper . We have before our mental vision the face ancl form of

a brother AVIIO has made some mark in the Avorld of engineering . Tho features are characteristic of the calling of their owner . The perceptive faculties are very largely developed , determination is prominent about the month and chin , in spite of the disguise of a beard and moustache ,

and tho eye , A \ hich is clear ancl full , denotes a mind that readily dives to the pith ancl marrow of any question within his province which may bo submitted to his judgment . He comes of an old SAvedish family , but his great grandfather settled long since in this country , ancl our

brother is an Englishman by birth , sentiment ancl disposition . He Avas born in the county of Surrey , in the year 1820 or 21 , and at the age of eighteen was articled to Geddie Pearse , Esq ., Engineer in Chief to the British Gas Light Company , Avhich , at that time , had gas works in

London as AVOII as in tho provinces . Under the able tuition of his distinguished teacher , our brother mastered the difficulties of his arduous calling , and in clue time Avas admitted to the ranks of the profession . Since the termination of the period of his noviciate he has been closely ancl

continuously connected with gas lighting enterprise . From the year 1846 to 1850 he Avas engaged in the task of lighting the city of Hamburgh ; in 1855 he Avas appointed secretary and manager of the Crystal Palace District Gas

Company , ancl now holds the former office alone . In the year 1856 he Avas admitted an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers , he is Past President of the British Association of Gas Managers , and is . like many of the members of his profession , connected with several learned societies .

His Masonic career commenced in 1861 , when he was initiated in the Britannic Lodge , No . 33 , most of the present members of Avhich have been introduced to the Order through his instrumentality . He resuscitated the Frederick Lodge of Unity , No . 452 , in the Province of Surrey ,

and restored the Chapter to its proper functions . He is a P . M . and P . Z ., ancl UOAV holds office as Secretary to the former , and Scribe E . to the latter . He is a P . P . G . J . W . of Surrey , a P . M . M . ancl Treasurer of the Bon Accord Lodge of M . M . M . and P . G . M . Overseer of the Grand Lodgo

of M . M . M ., a member of the Permanent Council of Grand Mark Lodge , a K . T ., and member of the 31 ° . The Frederick Lodge of Unity , noAV numbering forty-six subscribinomembers , Avhich has for some years sent a Steward to all the Festivals of onr Charities , presented him some years

since with a P . M . jewel , as a slight token of the high esteem of his brethren . It Avas the first jewel ever given by the Lodge , and it noAV shines on his breast amid many brilliant decorations Avhich he has Avon by steady

application to Masonic duties . He has recently identified himself , as Founder , Avith the Ravensbourne Lodge , No . 1 G 01 , held at Catford . The Lodge Avas consecrated in April last , and with his aid and guidance it promises to be as flourishing as any of those upon which he has expended his energies .