History Of Freemasonry In Leicestershire And Rutland.

was installed as W . M . of the Lodge . In 1859 the Ferrers and Ivanhoe Lodge , No . 1081—now No . 779—was constituted , Earl Ferrers being its first W . Master , who also was appointed Prov . G . Junior Warden , vico Bro . W . Beaumont Smith resigned . His Lordship , however , died

during his year , and was succeeded in both his offices by Bro . Edward Mammatt . In this year a third and successful attempt was made to raise funds for the erection of a Masonic Hall in Leicester , tho first stone being laid , by the P . G . M ., on tho 15 th February , and the building

consecrated and dedicated to Masonry on the 15 th September . On the 6 th October , tho Ferrers and Ivanhoe , which had been opened without consecration , and had continued to work under dispensation , was duly consecrated on the 6 th

October , and , by a strange coincidence , the death of Earl Ferrers , AVIIO had not lived to be installed its first W . M ., was followed by that of Bro . Edward Mammatt , when he had only completed six months of his term of office . In 1860 , in accordance with a unanimous resolution of Prov .

G . Lodge , the portrait of Earl Howe as Prov . (! . Master was painted , the artist being Bro . T . James Barker , and on 9 th October of that year it was formally presented , and hung in the Masonic Hall , an illuminated address being , at the same , handed to his Lordship . In 1864 , two Lodges

were added to the roll of the P . G . Lodge , namely : the Howe and Charnwood Lodge , No . 1007 , at Loughborough , aud tho Rutland Lodge , No . 1130 , at Melton Mowbray . The former was consecrated , and Lord Howe installed first W . M ., on 2 nd August ; the latter was consecrated by Bro .

Kelly , and Bro . George Bowman installed W . M ., on 19 th October . About this time the P . G . M . expressed a wish to resign his office , but at the unanimously expressed wish of the brethren , he consented to remain at his post , and on 30 th August 1867 he presided , though , unfortnnatelv for

the last tune , over tho P . G . Lodgo held at the Town Hall , Ashby de la Zouch . On the 30 th September 1869 , the Province was enlarged , a new Lodge , the " Vale of Catmos Lodge , " No . 1265 , being consecrated at Oakham , and tho County of Rutland was conjoined with that of

Leicester as a Masonic Province . At their meeting of P . G . Lodge , a letter from Earl Howe was read , again pressing the brethren to accept his resignation . This was done with great regret , and his lordship having sent in his resignation as Master on the 6 th December 1869 , Bro .

Kelly received his patent of appointment as his successor on the 3 rd January following . The installation of the new P . G . Master took place on the 18 th February , the event being celebrated by a banquet , followed by a Masonic ball . On the 12 th May Earl Howe died , and on the 18 th of the

month the foundation stones of two new churches were laid with Masonic ceremonies , that of St . Mark being laid by Sir F . G . Fowke , Bart ,, who officiated for Lord Curxon , absent by reason of his father ' s death . At this meeting of P . G . Lodge , an address of condolence with Lord Howe ' s

family was unanimousl y adopted , and it was resolved to wear Masonic mourning for six months , as a tribute of respect to his memory . On the 18 th July , a new Lodge , the St . Peter ' s , No . 133 , was consecrated at Market Harborough . In 1872 , a third Leicester Lodge , the

Commercial , No . 1391 , was consecrated . In 1873 , Bro . Kelly resigned the P . G . Mastership , and was succeeded by Earl Ferrers , who still holds the appointment , Bro . Sir Henry St . J . Halford , Bart ., being his Deputy . Since then , in 1875 , a fourth Leicester Lod ^ e , the Albert Edward , No .

Io 60 , has been added to the roll , so that tho Province now boasts ten Lodges , while before 1846 it had only three , of which two , the Knights of Malta and the Raucliffc ( since defunct ) were in a very unsatisfactory condition . If we add that a Prov . G . Chapter of Roval Arch Masonry was

constituted in 1858 , with Earl Howe as P . G . Superintendent , and that there are now four R . A . Chapters ; and that on the 23 rd June of the same year Bro . Kelly was appointed ,

by Lord Leigh , Prov . G . Master of Mark Masons , who are also in a flourishing state , we shall have said enough to show how well the Craft is prospering in the Province which has occupied our attention for some time past .

In our report of the Francis Bnrdett Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 181 , last week , we announced that "Bro . J . M . Steven" was unanimously elected an honorary member : this should have read "Bro . James Stevens . " We are pleased to make this correction , at " our worthy brother ( of Clapham ) well deserves such an honour as this the members of the Burdett Lodgo of M . M . M . have conferred npon him .

A New Lodge.

A NEW LODGE .

FROM TIIE "KEYSTONE . HOW full of meaning aro those three little words—a New Lodgo ! A volume might bo written upon them , without unnecessary multiplying words . The subject is again and again brought to our notice , by every constitution of a now body of tho Craft . In tho jurisdiction of tho Grand Lodge of Ponnslyvania wo havo

witnessed , during tho preseut week , the consecration and constitution of another momber of tho great Masonic family—Spring City Lodge , No . 553 , F . and A . M . We may , thoreforo , appropriately refer at this timo to some thoughts germane to the occasion . A New Lodge ! What a host of possibilities and probabilities it

suggests . "To us a child is born , to ns a son is given . " To-day it bo small and weak , but it possesses within itself , and through its mystic and magnetic force of attraction , a powor to double , triple and quad , rnplo its size aud strength . It is a giant in embryo . If founded in wisdom , it will surely develop in strength and beauty . It possesses

tho Solomonio virility , and will nnfailiugly reproduce its liko . Liko father , like son , is tho law of Masonry as it is of Immunity . A new Lodge ! Another beacon light of Faith , Hopo and Charity , of Brotherly Lovo , Relief and Truth . Thoro is the same Altar , tho samo Great Lights , the same symbolism , and the same impressivo

ceremonies , that havo always characterized the Craft . It is a now Lodge , and yet there is really nothing new about it , except its name . Its members aro old , its principles are old , and its ceremonials are old . It affords another demonstration of the truth that there is nothing now under tho sun .

A new Lodge ! Another quarry , whence shall bo taken , and where shall bo fashioned , rough stones into perfect ashlars . Masons are first to be " made , " and then continuously instructed . Tho work is a lifework . Living stones are to be built into a spiritual Temple . Tho cement of Brotherly Love is to bo spread , to units the building into a

common mass . Tho Ancient Abbeys and Cathedrals of Fiarons , tho work of our forefathers in tho Craft—that were so honestly built that they havo defied tho crumbling hands of time , are , in thoir way , no napt typos of tho Templo that is to be-- " not made with hands , eternal in tho heavens . "

A new Lodge ! Another fountain of Charity opened . Another bourne for the weary , unfortunato Brother . Another refuge for tho widow and the orphan . Can you estimate its value , mcasuro it 3 usefulness , or determino its expectation of lifo ? it might take au angel ' s eyo to see to the end of its oxistenco . Its life-principle is Freemasonrv , which is an elixir vitw .

A new Lodge ! Another almost magical power for developing men of every nation , tongue , kindred and religion , into Brethren—a power more valuable than that of tho long songht philosopher's stono for turning whatever it tonched into gold . A good man and trne is invaluable , Ho cannot bo bonght or fold .

A now Lodge ! Another champion of the Truth—the truth of God—His existence , unity and omnipotence ; the truth of man , his possession of an immortal soul . The representatives of theso two truths shall one day bo brought face to face , and both shall exist somewhere , for ever .

A new Lodge ! Another microcosm , a world in miniature , with the starry canopy overhead , and tho chequered floor nnder foot . Another oblong square—a figuro only known to Masonry . We still perpetuate , in figure , the world as it was . supposed to bo at tho Solomonic era . Then the inhabited portions of the globe were contained within

boundary lines that on a chart of Mercator ' s projection would havo como within an oblong square—that is a parallelogram . Tho Lodge to this day is a symbol of tho world as it was , or was generally supposed to be , in the days of King Solomon . A new Lodge ! but practically of what character ? Shall the

members be only represented at its meetings , say but one out of ten regularly present ? Shall it open and close in the same breath , with no woik , no interest , no funds ? Is it living or dead at tho outset ? Stillborn , or alive for evermore ? We should liko to know , for this is an all-important inquiry .

A new Lodge ! How many sides has it—individually we mean ? Is there unity or diversity among its members p Do they naturally " tako sides " as soon as any new measure- is proposed ? Do they love to debate , dispute , wrangle ? Aro they nothing unless they aro argumentative ? Another important inquiry .

A now Lodge ! Arc tho members sociable or distant m their intercourse with each other ? When they meet do they simply nod , or speak , or shake hands ? Arc they friends or strangers among themselves ? Do they know each othor outside of tho Lodgo ? Do thoy leave all of their Masonry in the Lodgo Room with thoir aprons , or

do they carry it home with thorn , and charm the domestic circlo and the world with its happy influenco ? A now Lodge ? Shall it go up or down ? Thnfc depends upon itself , ar . d itself is its members . The officers alone cannot make or mar it—there mnst be a following , that is , mutual aid and support .

Every Brother who has cast hislot within its mystic boundaries must identify himself with its life and prosperity if he would seo it reflect honor upon the Craft . There must bo identity of interest and unity of plan . Bear and forbear . Labour for it in and ont of season . Think of the welfare of your Lodge as you think of your own wolfare .

Introduco to it no improper or discordant elements . Recommend ignorantly or carelessly no applicant . Bo persuaded that a gravo responsibility ever rests upon yon . You aro your Brother ' s keeper . You are vonr Lodge's keeper . You are a scion of tho roval lineage

of Freemasons . You have learned a royal art , and right royally should yon think , speak and act whenever Masonic interests are at stake . Bo true to your Lodge and yourself , and then your Lodge , if new , will be destined to bo old , and if old , will be for ever renewing the vigour of its youth ,