A Day With Westmoreland Masons.

A DAY WITH WESTMORELAND MASONS .

[ COMMUNICATED . ] HAVING received an invitation to attend ' the Annual Meeting of the Eden Valley Lodge , No . 812 , at Appleby , aud knowiug the pictnresqne character of the sceuery , we purposely arrived at the ancient borough on the eve of the local St . John ' s . We sojourned for the night at that famous hostel " The King's Head , " where we had bed , board , and attendance—all that could be desired . We shall not

, soon forget the longest day , 1877 . After breakfast , one of tho Senior Past Masters , Bro . Whitehead , called aud offered to show aa the "lions . " The town is beautifully situated on both sides of tho Eden , the English Rhine , and dates back to the time of tho Romans , ami was for very many years a place of similar importance to York . Its ancient glory ia represented by antiquities and historical associations ,

at whioh , of course , we could only faintly glauco . Appleby was made a borough by the first Plantageuet Sovereign , and is still governed by a Mayor , twelve aldermen , and sisteeu burgers , according to ancient custom . It returned two members to Parliament from the time of Edward I . till the passing of the Reform Bill . It has been the scene of many a sanguinary conflict—the last being a heroic

resistance , under the direction of Anne , Countess of Pembroke , to the Parliamentary Army in 1648 . Appleby proper stands ou a hid-slope , with the Castle at its head , and the Church of St . Lawrence at its foot . The Castle occupies the site of the Roman Station , Galicum ; was built by the Saxons , and rebuilt in the time of Henry VI . ; aud is surrounded by a double moat . From the top of the Tower we

obtained a view of surpassing beauty . Tho whole scene is wooded , every slope and every ridge is dark with trees , or verdure . Here the eye wearies not of seeing , nor the miud of the refreshing thought inspired by so rich a scene , nor the heart of the emotion uwakeued by so vast a horizon . On the way from the Castle to the Church , wo visited Countess Anne ' s Hospital , a quadrangular building , occupied

by a " Mother" and twelve " Sisters . " In one angle of the quad , rangle is a quaint little chapel , in which early matins is said daily throughout the year by the Chaplain . The Church of St . Lawrence is an edifice in late English , chiefly rebuilt by the Countess Aune of Pembroke ; and contains tombs of that lady , of her mother the Countess of Cumberland , and of other Cliffords . Queen Elizabeth ' s

Grammar School is a notable seat of learning , with five Exhibitions to Queen ' s College , Oxford . We crossed the river by the " Stepping Stones , " and returned by Old Appleby , with its pretty little church . Small as is this ancient borough , yet it has sent forth , from time to time , men who have left their mark behind them . Thoma 3 de Viteri . pont , of the 13 th century , Thomas de Appleby Bishop of Ossory , Dr .

Bambridge Archbishop of York , and Dr . Christopher Potter Dean of Durham , were natives ; and Bedell Bishop of Kilmore , Barlow Bishop of Lincoln , Addison Dean of Lichfield , and Dr . Laughorne , the translator of Plutarch , were educated at tho Grammar School . A rest and some light refreshment brought us to Lodge time . Tho Lodge was held in a very comfortable room , which was soon filled by

the Members and Visitors . In tho absence of the W . M ., Bro . Rev . Canon Simpson LL . D ., Past Grand Chaplaiu of England , the brethren invited Bro . John Bowes P . M . P . Z ., Prov . Junior Grand Warden , to take the chair , and conduct the ceremony of the day . In this ho was assisted by Bros . Kirkbride P . M . P . Z ., Prov . Senior Grand Warden , John "Whitehead P . M . Prov . G . Reg ., W . S . Foalton P . M ., Nelson

W . M . 129 , R . Godfrey W . M . 1074 , R . Warton S . W . W . M . elect , Cockfield J . W ., Barron J . W . 129 , G . R . Thompson , Rev . K . Chapel-Bow Chaplain , Popple , Pearson , W . Coussens Hon . Sec ., Cupins Tyler , & o ., & c . The Lodge was opened in solemn form , with prayer , when the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The Lodge being opened in the 2 nd degree , Bros . Kirkbride and Whitehead

presented the W . M . olect , Bro . Warton , for the benefit of Installation . The first part of the ceremony being completed , the following Past Masters took up the positions iudicated : Bro . Nelson S . W ., Bro . Godfrey J . W ., and Bro . Whitehead I . G . The Lodge was opened in the 3 rd degree , after which all below the degree of Installed Master , with the exception of the W . M . elect , were requested to retire . Bro .

Warton was then " entrusted" and retired . A Board of Installed Masters was opened in ^ atnple form—the W . M . elect re-admitted and installed in the Chair of K . S ., greeted in due form , and proclaimed from the centre . The W . brethren were then called off , when cement proper to the occasion was applied , according to ancient custom . Labour resumed , the Board of Installed Masters was closed , aud the

brethren re-admitted . The WM . was then greeted and proclaimed in the several degrees . The officers for the ensuing year having been appointed and invested , Bro . Kirkbride delivered the charges to the ¦ W . M . and brethren . Bro . Bowes the address to the Wardens . After some routine business tho Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the baDqueting-room , where everything in season was bountifully supplied , and tastefully presented by the excellent hostess ,

Mrs . Rigg , and under tho presidency of the newly installed W . M . nothing was wanted to render the occasion one of real enjoyment , Grace before and after meat was said by the Rev . R . Chapelhow . On the cloth being withdiawn , a toast list of a unique character was placed in our hands , for which the Appleby brethren wero indebted to Bro . Kirkbride . The list is of an unusual and appropriate character , and we hare pleasure in reproducing it .

IUE QVEES . — "Many years of happy days befall our Gracious Sovereign , our most loving liege . Until the heavens , envying earth ' s good hap , add an immortal title to a crown . "—Richard ILL The M . W . G . M . — " The Immortal Heir of England . " " The hope aud expectation of the time . " "It is the Prince of Wales . " —

Henry IV . THE R . W . P . G . M . — " A braver place in our heart ' s love hath no man . "—Henry IV . THE R . W . P . G . M . — " What is the news from this Good Deputy P For you must know we have , with SPECIAL soul , elected him , our absence to supply j lent him onr terror , dressed him with onr love ,

A Day With Westmoreland Masons.

and given his deputation all the organs of our power . " —Measure for Measure . TnE P . G . OFFICERS . — " Degrees and Office purchased by the merit of the bearer . " THE W . M . — " The Master ! He is a good one , and his worthiness does chnllenye much re pect . "—Othello . THE VISITORS . — " Our hearts of Brothers' temper do receive you in ,

with all kind love , good thoughts , and reverence . " —Julius Cwsar . THE P . M ' s . — " Elder Masters of known houour , such men might be a copy to these younger times . " —All ' s Well . TUK LODGES OF THE PROVINCE . — "Pray you , bid these friends wolcomo , for it is a way to tnako us better friends . "— Winter ' s Tale . THE CHARITIES . — " The charitable duty of our order . " — Comedy of Errors .

THE OFFICERS . — "Bear their blushing honours thick upon them . " —Henry VIII . The following appropriate quotations were found in tho Border of the Toast List : — " You know your degrees , sit down :

At first and last , the hearty welcome —Macbeth . "A stonp of wine . " —Twelfth Night . "Beseech you , sirs , be merry . "—Tempest . " Love and health to all . " —Macbeth . "There is full liberty of feasting from the present hour till tho Bell have tolled ELEVEN . "— Othello .

Post prandial speeches are much of the same character , wherever mado ; but we wore much pleased ou this occasion by their heartiness and the true Masonio feeling manifested in the remarks of the various speakers . The W . M . is evidently held in the highest estimation , and we entertain no doubt from what we saw and heard that he will make a thoroughly efficient Master . The Past Masters were hiyhly spoken of , for their long-continued interest in the Craft , while

the officers generally appear to have been selected with much judgment . The Installing Masters are well known and appreciated , as " working" Masons , and their rank in the Province shows that their worth is recognised by the Prov . Grand Master . The Visitors , one and all , gave free expression to their obligations to tho Appleby brethren for tbe very enjoyable day they had had in every degree . " The Bell having tolled Eleven , " the Tyler ' s Toast bronght tho proceedings to a close , and the brethren separated .

' Happy to meet , Sorry to part , Happy to meet again . "

Lodge Of Peace, No. 149, Meltham.

LODGE OF PEACE , No . 149 , MELTHAM .

CENTENARY FESTIVAL . rPHE Centenary ^ Festival took place on Friday , tho 15 th inst ., at -L Meltham . The Lod ^ e was opened at twelve o ' clock in the Infant Schoolroom by the officers of the Lodge . Bros . Charles Ray . ner I . P . M . acting as W . M .. D . Cairns S . W ., Samuel Sugden J . W ., George Hej wood P . M . as I . P . M ., John Ellis S . D ., William Sugg J . D ., Joseph W . Sykcs I . G ., aud Buckley Tyler . There were brethren present from twenty different Lodges in different parts of England and

Scotland , viz . . —Probity No . 61 , Royal Yorkshiro 265 , Harmony 275 , Fidelity 289 , Huddersfield 290 , Prince Frederick 307 , Moira 324 , St . George ' s 333 , Candour 337 , Scientific 439 , St . James 448 , Wakefield 495 , Truth 521 , St . Oswald 910 , Trafalgar 971 , Mirfield 1102 , St . David ' s 1147 , Thornhill 1514 , Wellington 1521 , Legiolium 1542 , and Colne Valley 1645 .

After the Lodge had been opened to tho third degree , the Wor . shipfnl Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . T . W . Tew J . P ., Bro . Bentley Shaw W . P . D . P . G . M . of West Yorkshire , P . G . D . of England , D . L ., and other Provincial Grand Officers were announced , and con . ducted to their places in the Lodge , Bro . George Milnes presiding at the harmonium , when Bros . Tew and Bentley Shaw were saluted with

honours in tho usual manner . Bro . Rayner , as W . M ., then rose and said : —Brethren , wo are assembled here to-day for the purpose of celebrating tho ono hundredth birthday of this our good old Lod <* of Peace . It is an event such as rarely occurs in any Province ; an event which will no doubt be long looked back upon as a red le ' tter day in the annals of the old Lodge , not only by its present members , but also b

y their successors in time to come . I feel sure you will excuse me for seizing upon this the earliest opportunity of expressing the pleasure and the gratification it gives me to see yon all here to join with ns in our rejoicing on this auspicious day . I sincerely hope that we shall nil enjoy ourselves , that wo shall all make ourselves happy and comfortable , and that when the day ' s proceedings are over wo may be all able to part with a fnll consciousness of havinc

assisted in earring out those proceedings in a manner both creditable to ourselves and honourable to the Craft . I will not farther take up your valuable time with any remarks of my own , bat will at once ask the W . D . P . Grand Master to take tbe chair , and favour us with tho address ho has so kindly promised to give . Bro . Rayner then left the chair , which was occupied by the W . D . P . G . M ., Bro . Tew , who then read a must interesting address on Freemasonry , preparer for the occasion .

I he W . I . D . P . G . M ., Bro . Bentley Shaw , next addressed the brethren , and read a communication he had received from a friend in London , giving a short account of the earliest history of tho Lod ge . That it was first opened at the Cock Inn , Barnsley , on tho 1 st of April 1777 , aud that after having been existence onl

m y one year , it ceased working nntil the . year 1801 . He also alluded to the laying of the foundation stone of the Meltham Church Tower by the Freemasons , in the year 1835 , and of the laying of the foundation stone of the Convalescent Home , by ihe Marquis of Ripon aud Provincial Grand Lodge , iu the year 1868 . Tho banquet was prepared , in the National fjohoohooxn for trfq