A Year's Retrospect.

A YEAR'S RETROSPECT .

WITH the present number , which completes onr Twentieth Volume , we reach the close of the year 1884 , and a brief space may profitably bo devoted to a comparison of the position now occupied by the Craft with what it was at the corresponding period of 1883 . The events which have transpired in the interval are for

the most part of an ordinary character ; that is to say , nothing has happened that was calculated to unduly elate or depress the friends and supporters of the Royal Art , except perhaps in this one fact , that the number of distinguished brethren who havo passed away is exceptionally

large . There has been a steady , if not a remarkable , increase in the numerical strength of the various sections of Freemasonry , while already existing Lodges and Chapters appear to have confirmed their position , if indeed they have not succeeded in extending ifc . In fact , the

year which is now closing may be said to have been one of sound substantial progress , unredeemed , it may be , by any circumstances of an unusually brilliant character , but at the same time undisturbed by any internal discords or any attacks from without which would be likely to cause pain

or anxiety to the loyal Mason . Be it our present task to show that these statements are not exaggerated , and that so far as there is any difference perceptible in the fortunes of the Craft now as compared with the close of the year 1883 , that difference is clearly to our advantage .

If we carry back our recollection to last Christmas we may haply remember that prominent among the brighter anticipations we had formed for the then approaching new year was that of witnessing H . R . H . Prince Leopold , Duke of Albany , presiding as chairman at the Eighty-sixth

Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . His Royal Highness had previously rendered the same service for our two other Institutions , though , in the case of the Benevolent Fund , the unfavourable state of his health had compelled him at the very last moment to abandon his

promise . Had his life been spared , therefore , we should have heard him advocating the claims of our Boys' School , as erewhile he had advocated those of the Girls' School , and bnt for the untoward circumstances just alluded to , would have advocated the claims of the Institution for old

men and women . But death intervened , and the bright anticipation of last Christmas was never realised . Nor does the sorrow caused by the failure of this one expectation convey an adequate idea of the loss sustained through the sudden death of the Queen's youngest son . So far as

his heath and strength permitted , Prince Leopold had taken an active part in everything connected with Freemasonry . He was a kind and considerate ruler , a promising student of our abstruse mysteries , an ardent supporter of our Charities , and one to whom , in the efflux of time ,

we had for some time past been looking forward as the probable occupant of a still higher and more influential position in the Craft . But the kindl y ruler has left ns never to return , and what might have been is beyond the range of possibility . Nor is Prince Leopold ' s death

the only loss which Masonry has sustained during the past twelve months . Two other distinguishd brethren , who occupied similar positions to his late Royal Highness have died during the year—Col . Lloyd-Philipps Prov . G . M . of South Wales ( Western Division ) , and the Marquis of Londonderry Prov . G . M . of Durham . Both of these had

A Year's Retrospect.

done good suit and service to tho Craft , tho former having hold his office since 1873 , ancl the latter since 1880 . Both were Craftsmen of long standing and groat experience , and both had signalised their regard for our Institutions by presiding , the one at the Anniversary Festival of the

Benevolent Fund in 1882 , ancl the other at that of the Boys School in 1881 . Again , this timo last year wo had in our midst such bright particular stars as Bros . John Havers , P . G . J . W ., Lieut .-Col . John Creaton , P . G . Treasurer , and H . C . Levander , P . G . Deacon , all active participators

in our doings , and all in appearance likely to continue as such for some years longer . Bnt thoir accustomed places in Grand and private Lodges ancl Chapters are vacant , and wo havo entirely lost the services of John Havers , presumed to be the greatest authority of our time on

Constitutional Masonry , of John Creaton , the able and busy upholder of all our Charities , and of Henry Levander , the man of rare linguistic and scientific attainments , tho ripe scholar , but unostentatious withal , who never seemed so contented as when playing his part in one or other

branches of his beloved Masonry . Among the lesser lights who have gone mnst be mentioned Bro . Sir Michael Costa P . G . J . W . and P . G . O ., the Rev . A . R . Ward P . G . Chaplain , Captain Piatt P . G . J . W ., W . Hickman P . G . A . D . C . D . P . G . Master of Hants ancl the Isle of Wight , H . S . Alpass P . G .

Standard Bearer and Provincial Grand Secretary of West Lancashire , and D . M . Dewar Assistant Grand Secretary of Mark Grand Lodge , with John Sonthwood P . M . P . Z .,

Joseph Skeaf , James Milledge , E . B . Grabham , J . N . Goepel , George Buckland and others , all well known in the spheres in which they severally moved , and all respected members of good standing in the Craft .

Tho principal result thus far of the wholesale denunciations of Freemasonry contained in the Encyclical issued in April last by His Holiness Pope Leo XIII . has been the publication of numerous pamphlets ancl other ephemeral literature of a similar character . As regards Masons

themselves they have for the most part been contented with formulating protests more or less temperate and dignified against this unprovoked assault on their fair

fame . Thus , at the meeting of our Grand Lodge in June , the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , who occupied the throne , in a speech , which was as remarkable for the firmness of its tone as it was for the moderation of its

language , moved a resolution expressive of the regret felt by Grand Lodge at the wholesale attack made in the Encyclical on a body such as the Freemasons of this country , were known to be , ancl which exhibits so much respect for religion , so much loyalty for the established institutions of the country ,

and so sincere a love for the precepts and practices of morality . Ifc is needless to say the resolution was passed without a single dissenting voice . As for the feeling outside the Lodges , it is probable thafc brethren have been amused rather than annoyed by so violent an outburst of

Pontifical spleen . There was a time , perhaps , when a papal fulmination against Freemasonry might have been received with certain misgivings as to the effects it would produce on the Craft . But that clay has long since gone by , and Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry pursues the even tenonr

of its way under these most terrible assaults from the papacy without concerning itself for a single moment about the ridicule ancl occasionally even contempt which such attacks are sure to bring on the papacy itself . If the Pope of 1738 was unable to effect anything to our detriment , still less