Masonic Notes.

Thomas R . Porlton , G . Treas ., and Michael Nisbet , P . G . M ., G . Sec , to the father of the latter of whom the lodge owes it that in 1831 , when the anti-Masonic crusade vvas in full swing , and the year following when the cholera was raging , the warrant was not

surrendered . The review of the history of the lodge , which was read by the Secretary , and the enu meration of the services of former members , appear to have been much appreciated by the large muster of members a-id visitors which hal been brought together in honour of the event .

» » * The 64 th annual convocation of the Grand Chapter of Tennessee was held at Narbutte on the 23 rd January last . The M . E . Comp . John B . Garrett , G . H . P ., presided , and 52 out of the 59 chapters on the roll vvere represented . The G . H . P . in his address expressed regret that his efforts to revive sundry dormant chapters

had not proved successful , but one new chapter had been added to the roll , and Royal Arch Masonry was generally prosperous throughout the jurisdiction . The aggregate membership of the 59 chapters was returned at 2472 , while the financial position appears to be sound . The new G . H . P . is Comp John T . Williamson , while Comp . W . A . Clendining retains the post of Grand Secretary .

# # # The 105 th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut was held in Newhaven on the 18 th and 19 th January , under the presidency of Bro . Hugh Sterling , M . W . Grand Master . There was a large attendance of Grand Officers , Present and Past ,

and all the lodges on the roll but one vvere represented . The past year appears to have been disturbed by the attempt on the part of one of the lodges to withdraw its allegiance to Grand Lodge , because the Grand Master ' s acts were not in accordance vvith its wishes .

but in the end the lodge had to yield and acknowledge the error of its ways , and harmony again prevails throughout the jurisdiction . Bro . Sam Barrett is now Grand Master , and Bro . Jos . Wheeler still Grand Secretary .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

f We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

SWALLOWING THE CAMEL ! To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am sorry to observe that at least in one province a desire exists to make a visitor feel other than at home , and this is , I think , to be regretted . I was recently invited loan installation in the Province

of Blankshire , and the brother who kindly and with the best of intentions sought my presence on that occasion was too much occupied vvith ceremonial and other work to devote much attention to me . His situation , too , by virtue of his Masonic rank was in the East . At the banquet I was for some time pleasantly supported by a " vacant chair " on either side , that

vvere not even of the favourite Charles Dickens shape , that seems to rest one so nicely all over . Unfortunately for me , the time arrived when a speaker made a remark with which I agreed , and more unfortunately still , I resorted to the old-fashioned and time-honoured custom of clapping my hands in token of approval . Across the banquet board this brought the censure of

a very severe looking Past Provincial Officer , vvho sternly reminded me that the clapping of hands was not Masonic applause in thc Province of Blankshire . In looks , " I very humbly apologised to mine informant for my lamentable ignorance , " and wished myself comfortably home in my cosy hotel . Just this word of warning may prevent someone of

your readers falling into a like error should they visit Blankshire ; but ns wellasbeingprepared forgnat-straining , it will at once be wise for them to be prepared for a camel-swallowing . During the installation just prior to the above occasion alluded to , I heard a buzzing sound coming from various points of the lodge room . I looked round and saw five little groups of twos and

threes in conversation . 1 he Installing Master reproved the brethren later in the evening , and said : " You don ' t know how hard it is to be trying to do your best vvith several brethren talking . " There is no doubt much of the ceremony was lost in the West through these impromptu conversations . Now let the provincial brother who reproves for clapping hands nt the banquet

table , if hc wants to mend his lodge , begin in the right p lace , let him put his foot down on conversation in the open lodge whilst solemn ceremonies are proceeding , rather than reprehend a visiting brother from appreciating a speaker in the manner that is customary in

his country . When correction is requisite there is , too , a kind and gentle way so peculiar to many of our gifted brothers , vvhich is preferable to the loud and blustering . It may be remembered , too , that the Constitutions insist on attentive behaviour in lodge , and allows a certain freedom at the lestive board . —Yours fraternally , CONSISTENT .

Correspondence.

•NON-CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES . To the Editor of the "Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , In your last publication "An Old Subscriber " inquires if the minutes of the previous meeting can be upset . On the highest authority , and without fear of

contradiction , I beg to say minutes must be confirmed , if correctly recorded , with three exceptions , viz . : ist . The election of W . M . and . Spending money out of the lodge funds , vvhich are not the regular and necessary expenses ; and 3 rd . Alteration of by-laws . In a case in Grand Lodge this was so decided . — Yours fraternally , M . SPIEGEL , P . M ., P . Z . March 28 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY I'OR THE PROVINCE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND , 1 S 93 . This perfectly-printed and ably-edited annual has attained its majority this year , and is a great credit to its painstaking editor , Bro . B . A . Smith , M . A ., L . L . M ., as well as to the printers and publishers . The particulars afforded are so numerous as to leave little room for regret

that more have not been inserted , for even the names of all the members of the 14 lodges are given , amounting to 709 , and full list-, of officers , & c . 1 he fivi Royal Arch chapters return rather over 200 companions , and the four Mark lodges have 15 O members . The voting power for vSi ) 3 is in advance of all previous Years , and is now practically 2000 for the three Institutions . The management is excellent as respects these Charities in relation to local effort , and indeed the same thing may be said of all

the various bodies concerned , in any way Masonically interesting to the Leicester Craft . The " Masonic Notes " are most helpful for Masters and Secretaries of lodges , and , excepting a stastistical account of the province in a table showing the condition of the lodges for a few years back , vve fail to find even a single lack of anything , as compared with the best of the local directories issued in England . A striking portrait of the late Bro . Samuel Cleaver and an appreciative memoir adds to the interest of this welcome annual .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Peace and Harmony Lodge ( No . 60 ) . — This lodge held a meeting on Friday , the 24 th ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street . Among the numerous brethren present vve noticed Bros . W . II . Kempster , M . D ., P . M . Soo , P . G . Stwd ., & c , W . M . j Capt . T . C . Craft flDascmrp .

Walls , P . M . 141 , P . P . G . W ., & c , S . W . ; R . Masters , G . Stwd ., J . W . ; H . Young , P . M ., P . G . Stwd ., Treas . ; F . Binckes , P . G . S . B ., P . G . Stwd ., Sec ; W . H . Kempster , jun ., F . R . C . S ., S . D . ; H . J . Lardner , P . M . 1745 , P . P . G . D . C , J . D . ; T . Cotton , I . G . j Horace Slade , P . G . Stwd ., I . P . M . _ Chancellor , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . ; Barton , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . ; Josling , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . ; E . Rogers ,

P . M ., P . P . G . D ., P . G . Stwd . ; Debenham , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; and others . Amongst the visitors vvere Bros . Candelier , W . M . S 90 ; Henry Higgins , P . AI . 13 S 1 ; Kingston , 1420 ; Glaeser , 1627 ; and Godwin , 1 G 73 . The minutes of the previous meeting vvere read and confirmed . Bro . George Higgins vvas passed to the Second Degree . Bro . Capt . T . C . Walls , S . W ., vvas unanimously

nominated to the Most Worshipful Grand Master as Grand Steward for the present year . Bro . Masters having been appointed as Steward to the R . M . I , for Boys , a notice of motion was given to vote him £ 5 5 s . from the lodge funds . A sum of money vvas voted from the Alms Fund to the widow of the recently deceased Tyler of the lodge . A vote of thanks vvas passed to Bro . E . Rogers

for his kind and generous gift to the lodge of an old and interesting presentation jewel , given many years ago to a P . M . of No . Go . The lodge agreed that the jewel should be held for the year of ollice , and worn by successive Immediate Past Masters . The arrangements for carrying out the details of the summer outing—to be held on the 23 rd June next—were left in the hands of the Permanent Commiitee .

I he lodge vvas then closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , served under the genial supervision of Bro . Mantel . The usual toasts followed . Brp . Masters , G . Stwd ., responded on behalf of " The Grand Ofiicers . "

Bro . H . Higgins and others acknowledged the toast of "The Vi iters ; " Bra . H . Slade "The Past Masters ; " Bros . H . Young and F . Binckes " Ths Treasurer and Secretary ; " and Bro . H . J . Lardner replied to the pledge of " The Ofiicers . " The pro : eedings terminated at an early hour .

United Pilgrims Lodge ( No . 507 ) . —The installatiun meeting of this popular and very flourishing lodge vvas held at thc Bridge House Hotel , on Thursday , the 23 rd ult . Pies . nt : Bros . C . Thomas , W . M . ; C . H . Stone , S . VV ., W . M . elect ; K . li . Gilson , j . W . ; J . A . Laing , S . D . ; C . W . Peters , P . M ., Sec ; G . W . Beste ,

J . D . ; \ .. Lipscomb , acting I . G . j J . S . Teiry , P . M ., Stwd . ; F . C . Atkinson , Org . ; G . Harrison , lyler ; S . Ellson , P . M . ; P . Michaelis , P . M . ; H . E . Joyce , P . M . ; Chaney , Knowles , G . VV . Terry , Casson , Comfort , Robin , Noehmer , P . M . ; and C . W . Stone . The visitors were Bros . Rev . O . Brien , 1297 ; W . Eckersall , P .. VI . 217 ; Harrison , Sio ; Westley , P . M . iSGj T . R . Cass , S . D .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

1320 ; ' Ashley , 220 G ; Brewer , 1 S 53 ; Cockle , 334 ( Cape of Good Hope ); Laing , I . G . 231 ; Day , 1 S 53 ; E . Gauntlett , P . M . 1901 ; Pridmore , Treas . 214 S ; Bing-, P . M . 19 G 2 ; W . Davies , P . M . igoi ; H . Wood , S . VV . 101 ; V . T . Murche , P . M . 1963 ; W . Towers , P . M . 15 . J . Lightfoot , W . M . 1901 ; G . Hamilton , P . M . 1446 ; Stonham , 2646 ; Lambert , P . M . 1356 , P . P . G . D . ; D . D . MercerP . M . 1329 P . G . P . ; Burloot , S . W . 1223 ; R . j

, , Pugh , S . D . 2147 * ; Armstrong Pynegar , I . G . Sgo ; Lane , 1009 ; T . Grummant , P . M ., Sec . 1559 ; Spencer , l . G . 461 ; T . H . Salmon , J . D . 1475 j Watson , S . D . 1734 ; G . F . Hipkins , Stwd . 159 S ; B . Morgan , W . M . elect 1901 ; Dickinson , 913 ; Bunn , S . W . S 22 ; Smith , 1 So ; Sanders , 1 S 53 ; E . A . Rice , 1320 ; Seex , P . M . 1429 ; Morris , P . M . 1997 ; Robinson , 27 ; Rushton Odell , 2077 ; Baron , S 90 ; Perceval Nairne , 176 , G . D . ; Skelton , I . G . 1 G 91 :

Evans , 1421 ; and Isaac Dunn , P . M . 1622 . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . C . Thomas , W . M ., vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Joyce , P . M ., in order to raise Bro . Chaney , vvhich vvas performed most impressively , especially the traditional history . Bro . Thomas resumed the chair , and Bro . C . H . Stone , W . M . elect , vvas presented by Bro . Ellson , P . M ., to receive at the hands of the W . M . the

benefit of installation , vvhich ceremony was commendabl y carried out in a Board of 25 Installed Masters . The addresses were ably rendered . The W . M ., Bro . C . H . Stone , invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . C . Thomas , I . P . M . j R . B . Gilson , S . W . ; J . A . Laing , J . W . ; C . W . Peters , P . M ., Sec ; J . S . Terry , P . M ., Treas . ; G . Beste , S . D . ; C . C . Knowles , J . D . ; S . Ellson , P . M ., D . C ; H . E . Joyce , P . M ., and W .

Lipscomb , Stewards ; F . C . Atkinson , Org . ; and G . Harrison , Tyler . The investing of Bro . Dixcee , I . G ., vvas deferred till next meeting . A ballot vvas taken for Mr . C . W . Stone , son of the W . M ., vvhich proving unanimous , he vvas initiated in a most exemplary manner . A vote of £ 5 Wis granted from the Benevolent Fund to a distressed brother , formerly of the lodge . A matter of alteration of a by-law vvas also deferred . The W . M ., Bio . C . H . Stone ,

announced that he hoped to represent the lodge at the coming Festival of the Girls' Institution . Letters of apology for non-attendance vvere read from Bro . Cockell , P . M ., through illness , vvith whom sympathy was shown , and also from Bro . Dixcee , through being detained on important business . The business of the lodge ended , the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , provided in Bro . Pearce ' s recherche

style , and personally superintended by him . On the cloth being removed , the loyal and Masonic toasts were most ably given , and right royally received . The Worshiptul Master , in presenting the toast of " The M . W . Pro G . M ., Earl Lathom ; the R . W . Deputy G . M ., the Harl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the vest ot the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " remarked that ever since the lodge , through its Master , had presented him with the

J . W . ' s collar , and had received the injunction to properly represent the lodge at Grand Lodge , he had done so on every occasion . Therefore he was somewhat an authority , and could testify to the excellent manner the Grand Officers always performed their duties for the benefit of the Craft . They vvere greatly honoured by thc presence of two Grand Ofiicers , Bro . Nairne , G . D ., and Bro . D . D . Mercer , P . G . P ., both of whom vvere members of his mother lodge ,

the Crichton , No . 1 G 41 , of vvhich he vvas exceedingly proud . A most cordial greeting vvas given to the toast . In reply , Bro . Nairne said lie rose at the earliest possible moment to express his thanks at the cordial manner in vvhich the toast had been given and received . In fact , the way in which it was presented and the reception it had always proved the confidence of the brethren for the ruling oilicers of Grand Lodge , lt vvas a matter of peculiar interest to

him and Bro . Mercer also to be there on that occasion to witness the W . M ., Bro . Stone , installed , as they were present at his installation 12 years ago , in the Crichton Lodge , andvtsvasavv additional gratification to have been able to have seen him initiate his own son that night , thus starting another generation on the high road ot Freemasonry . Bro . Mercer also expressed the extreme pleasure it gave him to be present at the installation of the W . M ., and

hoped the brethren would ably assist him , and he vvas confident they would have every reason to be proud of the work which would be performed during his year of office . The I . P . M ., Bro . Thomas , in some very appropriate terms , next gave the toast of " The Worshipful Alaster , ' ' vvhich vvas received vvith acclamation . The Worshipful Master , in respan . e , said he was deep !) sensible of the manner and kind terms spoken by Bro .

Thomas , I . P . M , and the cordial greeting it received . He had then arrived at that honourable position which he had steadily aimed at for the last 12 years , and he would promise the brethren he would do all in his power to maintain the prestige of the lodge , and carry out its duties _ the best of his skill and ability . The toast of " Ihe Installing Mister" next followed . the W . M . remarking he had carried out his duties for tin :

past year in a faithful and assiduous manner , and he ( tha W . M . ) thanked him for the manner he had been inducttinto the chair . The I . P . M . had had a very pleasant ye ; a of ollice , and for his sjrvices rendered to the lodge tl . _ - brethren had unanimously voted the handsome jewel whieri he then pinned upon his ureast , hoping he would long be spared to wear it , and witness many years' working in the lodge . The W . M . stated he had yet another pleasing duty

to perform , vvhich was presented by a few brethren of H . e lodge , viz ., a Past Master's collar and jewel to mark their appreciation . in reply , Bro . Thomas thanked a 1 most heartily for their market appreciation , and especially the officers , who I 12 J served so iaithlully lor the past year . _ „ In proposing the toast ot the evening— "The Initiate —the W . M . remarked that that occasion was one of

exceptional notoriety , as the candidate vvas his only son , and th . " year was . the jubilee ol the lodge . What he had seen vxA Heard that evening was only the beginning of his Masonic career , and he strongly urged him never to deviate from tli <* strict path of duty , and prove himself worthy of the ho . iourable Order , and siiecidlly the United Pilgrims

Lodge-The Initiate , in reply , remarked that it was the prouu ^ day in his lite , and he tully appreciated the honour they nail done him in enrolling him a member of the ancient _» mystic ait . He was deeply struck vvith the beautiful anu impressive ceremony through which he had passed , an Hoped to fulfil everything tnat vvas asked of him 111 y lodge , so tnat he nugtit be no disgrace to the United >' grims Lodge in particular , and Freemasonry in general .