Jubilee: Wakefield Lodge, No. 495.

Brethren met in regular Lodge for the last time in the Rectory House , and the day following the work of demolition began . On removing the ceiling of one of the rooms the date 1348 was discovered . It was not without many regrets that the old building passed away ,

and the happy hours spent within its time-honoured walls will not be soon forgotten . Great preparations were made for the ceremony of laying the foundation stone , which took place on the 26 th of May I 860 . Provincial Grand Lod ^ e was opened in the Music Saloon ,

at which , in addition to the Wakefield Brethren , no less than 150 visitors attended from various parts of the Province . Having formed in procession , the Brethren proceeded to the site of the intended building , where the foundation stone was laid wifch full Masonic honours by

the W . D . P . G . Master Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P . At the conclusion of the ceremony a banquet took place at the Bull Hotel , which was very largely attended and most enthusiastic in its character . During the period jif rebuilding the regular meetings of the Lodge were held afc

the Bull Hotel . The work was rapidly proceeded with , and ifc had so far reached completion that on Tuesday , the 9 th of November , the Brethren were enabled to assemble in the new Lodge . The oak staircase , which had formed a prominent feature in the Rectory House ,

was transferred to the new building . In December 1882 , the Brethren of Lodge Unanimity presented a handsome set of curtains , and Lodge Sincerity a valuable carpet of special design for the Lodge Room . In the following month a committee was appointed to

undertake the decorating and furnishing of the Hall , which , with additions and alterations to the building , were carried out at a cost of £ 320 , towards which the Brethren again liberally subscribed , and Lodges Unanimity and Sincerity each generously contributed £ 100 on condition

thafc the leases dated the 1 st of January 1881 , should be extended to twenty-one years from thafc date . This sketch would not be complete without special reference

being made to the great liberality and valuable assistance of Bro . Wm . Pickard P . M . 1019 , in beautifying and furnishing the Lodge . On the 5 th of April 1883 , the Hall was solemnly dedicated for all time to Freemasonry

by W . Bro . T . W . Tew D . Prov . G , Master , assisted by the Officers of the Prov . G . Lodge ; and on the 11 th of the same month the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Town HaU , under the

banners of the three Wakefield Lodges . To do honour to Bro . W . Statter , the esteemed Father and founder of the Lodge , the Brethren assembled in large numbers on the 10 th of April 1884 , being the 40 th anniversary of his installation—to associate his name in

perpetuity with the Lodge . The " Founder ' s Chair " was endowed with the sum of fifty guineas for the benefit of aged Freeemasons . In the trust deed it is provided that whenever' and so often as the number of trustees shall be reduced to three , the survivors shall appoint

new trustees to make up the original number of ten . Until 1887 it had not been necessary to appoint new trustees under this proviso , but becoming so in that year the surviving trustees , Bro . W . Statter P . Prov . S . W ., Bro . the Rev . J . Senior , LL . D ., P . G . C . of England , and

Bro . John Gill P . Prov . D . of C . relegated the choice of new Trustees to the Lodge ; and on fche 29 th day of November 1887 the following brethren were selected by the Lodge , aud afterwards by a deed dated the 20 th of March 1888 , were duly appointed , viz ., Henry Oxley ,

Joseph Hartley , Benjamin Craven , Benjamin F . Glover , Thomas Hargreaves , G . F . Wild , and G . H . Roberts . Through many vicissitudes and trials the Lodge has honourably existed for half-a-century , and when it attains its jubilee its financial position is sound , and its

roll of members satisfactory . For years past it has been characterised by zeal and energy , and its future is full of promise and hope . Its relationship with the other Lodges of the city is marked with unanimity , goodwill and concord . Its founders are remembered with gratitude , and its work is recorded with pride .

Bro . Dr . Statter acknowledged the compliment paid him in the presentation of the illuminated address , after which Bro . H . Oxley presented to Bro . W . Pickard a

well-executed portrait of himself ( in consideration of his great service to the Lodge in years gone by ) , which , having been received by the subject , was in turn handed over to the Lodge by the recipient .

Jubilee: Wakefield Lodge, No. 495.

A banquet was afterwards held , the chief guest being Bro . Dr . Statter , and the usual toast list being honoured , under the presidency of the W . M .

Book Canvassers And Their Bargains.

BOOK CANVASSERS AND THEIR BARGAINS .

A CASE affecting a largo number of Freemasons through the [\_ country came before Judge French at Bow County Court ,

on the 23 rd , when Erskine and Co ., publishers , of Birmingham , sued John V . Rockley , music publisher , Stratford , for £ 5 5 s ., for a " History of Freemasonry . "—Mr . Tumour appeared for the plaintiffs , and Mr . Abinger for tho defendant . —Mr . Abingor said that this case affected several thousand others through the country ,

and had already beon before the Court in March last , when it was adjourned till that day for tho plaintiffs to produce thoir contract note . He was prepared to argue that on the terms of the contract the " History of Freemasonry " was to bo a new book . As a matter of fact , it was nothing but a " rechauffe" of an old book issued

in 1886 . —H . Christopher Poole , plaintiffs' traveller , was then called and gave evidence as to the signing of the agreement . -Crossexamined : He did not tell Mr . Rockley that he had been sent by Mr . Fenn , tho secretary of the West Ham Abbey Lodge . He did not assure defendant that the book was a new ono , and the proceeds

of the sale were to go to Masonic Charities . —Mr . Erskine , the publisher , was called , and gave evidence that the book was not completed at the time tho orders were signed . There wero many new plates in this edition . — Judge French : That disposes of tho

argument that the book is not a new one . —Mr . Abinger : Our strong point is that fraudulent misrepresentations had been made by this traveller to induce Masons all over tho country to buy this useless work .

After hearing the evidence of defendant , Judge French said ifc was clear plaintiffs were entitled to recover tho amount of their claims . A charge of fraud was attempted to be set up , but one made on more flimsy and frivolous grounds he had never heard .

People were not children , and signed these orders with their eyes open , and could not repudiate their bargains on such grounds . He would give the plaintiffs costs on the highest County Court scale . — Morning . Advertiser .

It is announced from Coburg that the Prince of Wales has become an honorary member of the St . John ' s Lodge of Freemasons of Gofcha , and in accepting the membership , he expressed the hope thafc there would be close personal relations between German and English Freemasons .

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