Masonic Notes And Queries.

are the Sun in full splendour , crossed quills , and setting maul . On the left side are the half Moon , plumb line , and scroll bearing the 47 th problem . On the other side of the medal the border has on it an allseeing eye , and date A . M . 5763 at the top , and at the bottom the Latin motto " Sit Lux et Lux Fuit . " The same emblems as on other side fill the r . entre of the

medal , with the difference that instead of the ladder there runs what appears to be the half of a 24 m . gauge . If Bro . Hughan would like to see the medal 1 should be very glad to send it on to him . F . W . E . LARTER .

1009 ] RARE SERMONS . May 1 add information of another rare Masonic Sermon , which may not be generally known . On 24 June , 1790 , the Festival of St . John the Baptist , a sermon was preached in the " Church of Congleton " to the brethren of the Independent Lodge , No . 550 ,

of Congleton , which became extinct in 1828 , and to the brethren of the Macclesfield Lodge by Bro . the Rev . Page Godfrey . The text was 2 Cor . v . i ., and the sermon was afterwards published , a copy of it being still among the archives of the Eaton Lodge ,

No . 533 , Congleton . The preacher , Bro . Page Godfrey , appears to have become " Provincial Grand Orator , " for in 1793 it is recorded that he preached a sermon at the Church of St . John , Chester , to the brethren of 12 lodges in the province . CAPEL J . HOGG .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Cvaft flDasonrv

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . United Pilgrims Lodge ( No . 507 ) . —The regular meeting of this nourishing lodge was held at the Bridge House Hotel on Thursday , the 22 nd ult . Present : Bros . Thomas , W . M . ; C . H . Stone , S . W . ; Gilson , J . W . J . Laing , S . D . ; Beste , J . D . ; Bowles , I . G . ; Terry , P . M ., Stwd .: Harrison , Tyler : Gelson , P . M .

Joyce , P . M . ; Low , Dixcee , Gold , Comfort , Terry , jun ., and Robing . The visitors were Bros . Duckett , P . M . 507 ; B . W . Caxton , P . M . 1853 ; T . Taylor , Sec . 1677 ; P . Sisterson , 119 G ; R . J . Hugh , J . D . 2147 ; A . Norris , P . M . 1097 ; J . Park , 2424 ; Dr . Warwick Jordan , Org . 2434 ; J . Harrison , S . D . 2424 ; and R . Martin , 3 , Australia . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Low was raised to the decree of M . M .

in a very perfect manner by the W . M , and Bro . J . Park of Lodge 2424 passed . A letter was read from Bro . C . W . Peters , P . M ., Sec , apologising for absence on account of being from London ; 10 guineas were voted from the Benevolent Fund to a distressed brother . A Past Master ' s collar and jewel was presented to Bro . Ellson to mark the brethren ' s appreciation of his services .

The business ended , the brethren adjourned to a capital supper , supervised by Bro . Pearce , to which ample justice was done . On the removal of the cloth the VV . M , gave the toasts of " Queen and Craft , " and that of " His Royal Highness , the M . W . Grand Master" in excellent style , which were as royally received ; also that of " The Pro G . M ., D . G . M ., and rest of Grand Oliiccrs . Present and

Past . " The toast of " The W . M . " was given in highly complimentary terms by Bro . Ellson , l . P . M ., who said it was the only toast he was privileged in presenting , but he was sure it would be well received . In reply , the W . M . thanked the l . P . M . for such touching remarks ; he felt very backward in accepting office ; he

knew his frailty , but he would do his very best to raise the lodge in the estimation of the Craft . The toast of ' The Visitors , " at the hands of the W . M ., received hearty acceptance , who remarked the lodge always welcomed its visitors with great cordiality . This was very abl y responded to by Bros . Duckett , P . M ., Norris , and Martin , the latter brother expressinir the

pleasure it gave him in attending the first lodge in England , and he highl y appreciated the honour done him in coupling his name with the toast . The toast of "The Past Masters" followed , in excellent terms , by the W . M ., who stated what a pleasing duty it was always in presenting it . Bros . Ellson , Terry , and Joyce were excellent Masons , and gave such valuable

assistance whenever it was required . He must speciall y thank the l . P . M . for his kindness outside the lodge , which had enabled him to take the chair and perform its duties so well . He wished them many years of such usefulness . Bros . Ellson , Terry , and Joyce each responded in terms of high appreciation for services rendered , and pledged themselves to continue the same , desiring the reputation

of the lodge would be maintained by the officers who were coming on in performing their duties as became the United Pilgrims Lodge . That of " The Oliiccrs" received of the W . M . its just measure of praise , who thanked all for the very able support already given him . _ This was most suitably replied to by Bros . C . H . Stone , S . W ., and Gilson , J . W ., remarking that it was their

intention and desire to emulate the Past Masters and carry out their respective duties to the very bast of their ability . The Tyler's toast closed a very happy and successful meeting . The evening was enlivened by some capital songs rendered by Bros . Joyce , Ellson , Stone , and IAJW , accompanied by Bro . Dr . Warwick Jordan , Org .

Anglo-American Lodge ( No . 2 iyij .--At every meeting of this distinguished lodge , the purpose for whicli it was established—that of entertaining and welcoming brethren from across the Atlantic—is kept well to the front , and its hospitality has become proverbial . The regular meeting held on Tuesday , the 20 th ult ., at the Criterion Restaurant , Piccadilly , was no exception to the rule , for

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

under the genial sway of Bro . Walter Hancock , W . M ., the members had the satisfaction of welcoming at their festive board , for the second time , M . W . Bro . Thomas J . Shryock , G . M . Maryland , U . S . A . The VV . M . was supported by the following officers : Bros . Jas . J . Woolley , l . P . M . ; G . H . Reynolds , S . W . ; J . Rowe , acting as J . W . ; George Reynolds , Sec . ; C . O . Burgess , acting as S . D . ; A . Harris , J . D . ; J . B . Grieve , I . G . ; H . W . Schartau , P . P . G . O .

Middx ., Org . ; G . A . Bergholz , Stwd . ; Potter , Tyler ; and others . The visitors were Bros . T . J . Shryock , G . M . Maryland , U . S . A . ; F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg . ; M . H . Busey , P . M . 15 S , U . S . A . ; C . Schmsett , S . W . 1227 ; W . Perrin , P . M . 1056 ; J . Wise , 1614 ; E . E . Austin , W . M . 749 ; O . Cooper , W . M . 211 ; T . B . Richards , P . M . S 13 ; C . P . Coles , 1744 ; F . Herold , P . M . 1056 , A . Hamilton , P . M . 017 ; I . Murphy , P . M . 214 ; W .

Bradford , 21 GS ; G . N . Cobbett , W . M . 2004 ; M . Carter , G 14 ; J . Kennett , 902 ; J . Bull , P . M . ; E . Dalzell , P . M . ; and VV . W . Lee , W . M . 23 S 1 , J . W . 1 S 97 . Lodge having been opened , and the minutes confirmed , letters of regret for non-attendance were read from several brethren , including Bros . E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; Brackstone Baker , P . G . D . ; General Laurie ; J . B . Cumming , Treas . ; and others . The W . M . then raised Bro .

Stanislaw Solcberg to the Degree of M . M ., and passed Bro . W . C . Thomson to the Second Degree , performing the ceremonies in a very able and impressive manner . Bro . L . J . Belloni , P . M . 24 b , New York , U . S . A ., was unanimously elected an honorary affiliated member . A vote of condolence and sympathy was passed to the widow and family of Bro . Mella . Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the

Prince ' s Room , where the banquet was served under the superintendence of Bro . G . P . Bertini , assisted by Bro . A . Aubenal . After banquet the customary toasts were honoured . Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg ., replied for ' * The Grand Officers . " Having expressed ms pleasure at being present amongst his bretnren and his friends , he said that although the VV . M . had kindly alluded to the fact that he

had been a frequent guest at this lodge , he had yet fain hope that the moment he ceased tj be a welcome guest a different reception might be accorded to him . To answer for this toast in any lodge must bi a proud thing for any Mason . The Pro G . M . was respected and loved not merely throughout the great province of which he was Provincial Grand Master , but throughout the whole of the realm . For years his sage counsel and unremitting

exertions had been at che disposal of the Craft , and otten times rendered at personal inconvenience to himself , and the present position of English Masonry was due , in no slight degree , to the exertions of Lord Lathom . The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , who had recently become Deputy G . M ., and whose services as the head of the Province of Cornwall has been appreciated for years past , brought to bear on the concerns of Masonry a cool judgment and an

unswerving determination to do what was lair and right in serving the great Institution in which he was so hignly and honourably placed . The kindness with which the rest ot the Grand Officers was received was an incentive at once for the future , and a reward for the past . It was not always given to discharge the full duties of a grand officer by being clothed in purple and fine linen , and attending the sumptuous hospitality of lodges so happily placed as the

Anglo-American Lodge . There were sometimes cares , as he had found ; sometimes papers to be read , duties to be performed , sometimes responsiole and often interesting , but which always demanded a fair and conscientious judgment to be brought to bt . ar , and which might otten in their discharge involve a particular officer in personal unpopularity . In such a case that otlicer must look , and the Crafcexpects he will look , to a clear conscience to enable him to hold his

head uprightly and look the brethren in the face . In thanking them on behalf of the Grand Officers , he would say how fortunate they were in that lodge . However much the ordinary dweller in London was called away by urgent private affairs during September , that lodge was tortunate in finding distinguished guests greeting their board . The VVorshiptul Master then proposed " The Sister Grand Lodges of the United States of America and

Dominion of Canada . " He said it was right and fitting that a lodge which was founded for the purpose of providing a bond of friendship between brethren of the two English-speaking races should propose such a toast . They knew and believed from what had been told them by distinguished American brethren that they considered they were a branch sprung from the root of the tree of English Freemasonry , and although they did not hail from the same

Grand Lodge , yet they had been engrafted on another soil , and had grown vigorously to be a vast and mighty Institution , far outnumbering the brethren in this country , their father and mother land . They had among them that evening , not for the first time , one of the most genial brethren hailing from the other side—the Grand Master of a Grand Lodge which had done honour to the Anglo-American Lodge , the members of which wore upon their breasts the centenary

medal of the Grand Lodge of Maryland . 1 hey had also a loving cup which the late Col . Clerke said was , as far as he knew , the only instance of such a memorial being presented from one lodge to another not under the same jurisdiction . Bro . T . J . Shryock , G . M . Maryland , | U . S . A ., in response , said they felt that the welcome given by this lodge to American Masons was because the blood above their hearts was not as dry as dust . When homage had to be paid to a

good Oueen , America did not stand in the background , and he thought he might assert that had that good ( jueen lived in the days of George III . they might now have all belonged to one empire . they boasted and were proud of their freedom , but they were not more free than Englishmen . When he was asked in a few after-dinner remarks to tain for 1 , 000 , 000 Masons , the Worshipful Master had not exactly gauged his capacity . There was no question

about it , that the Americans did " blow . " An American could " blow " for any ordinary quantity , but he thought their modesty stopped them when asked to do so for over one million men . The brethren of his State had the highest regard for the Anglo-American Lodge , and when the representatives of that lodge went over to Baltimore they had great pleasure in receiving them and doing what

little they could to make their stay pleasant . They were good representatives , and the American brethren tried to send Bro . George Keynolds back in as good condition as when he arrived , and trusted they succeeded . Next year they were going to have a little show in America . He was told there were any quantity of English men going over , and he sincerely trusted that some of them would be

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

members of the Anglo-American Lodge , and in that case they should not get out of his State until they had quite %$ good an opinion of the State as the American brethren had of them . He could testify to the honour and respect the Grand Lodge of Maryland had for the mother Grand Lodge of the world , England . They felt that whilst the Prince of Wales had been of great benefit to English

Freemasonry , he had also been a great benefit to ; he Masonic fraternity throughout the world . As a coming soverei gn he had put his foot on the anathemas of Rome and all other anti-Masons . Washington was a Freemason , those who signed the Declaration of Independence were Freemasons , with one exception , and a large percentage of the first Congress were Freemasons . Their Senate to-day was

largely composed of Freemasons , and their rulers generally were Freemasons , and therefore might they not attribute to Freemasonry a great portion ot the credit due to the erection of such a great nation as the American Republic . It was a living example of what Freemasonry would do for a country . Truly , they could not blot out Freemasonry from their civilisation without blotting out their

whole history . They claimed in America , and although they might have the name for claiming everything , they made no false claim when they said that the work of Freemasonry was practically the Republic of America . He thanked them most heartily for the attention paid to his remarks , and the honour paid him and his Grand Lod ge , and assured them that if any of the brethren went to

Maryland , they should not get out of the State again until they had said they were a right good lot of fellows , although they did " blow . " " The Health of the W . M . " was next proposed by Bro . Woolley , I . P . M ., who said it needed no words of recommendation from him to endear the VV . M . to the brethren . They had seen the very able way in which Bro . Hancock

could perform his duties , and his working was , without exception , perfection . In the whole course of his Masonic career he had not met with more perfect working , and in saying that he was saying a great deal . Bro . Walter Hancock , W . M ., in response , said that from the first he had felt the keenest and liveliest interest in the lodge , not only because it was a good strong London lodje ,

but because of the noble purposes for which it was established . He felt very highly the great honour bestowed upon him in selecting him as Master , and could only assure them that to the best of his skill and ability he would do all he could for the credit of Freemasonry in general , and their splendid lodge in particular . In conjunction with the l . P . M . and Bros . Brackstone Baker and Reynolds , he had

determined they should make this a shining light in Freemasonry . They had been , perhaps , one ot the most hospitable lodges , considering their short existence , having entertained over 1200 visitors . He again thanked them and assured them that to the utmost of his power he would uphold the honour ot their lodge . Bro . J . Woolley , P . M ., acknowledged "The l . P . M . and

Past Masters , and said he had done the best he could for the prosperity of the lodge , and as long as he was able to remain among Masons he should continue to do so . The Past Masters he believed were with him in this respect , especially Bro . Kedge , P . M ., who was absent through illhealth . "The Visitors" was next given , and responded toby Bros . M . H . Busey , P . M . 15 S , U . S . A . ; Austin , W . M . 749 HamiltonPM 917 ? BullPMand FHerold »/•«

; , .. : . , .. ; . , It'jt " «¦¦•¦¦ , » " »• y /» J- " "" , * . >¦» ., «»»« »• »» V . M .-, P . M . 1056 . " The Treasurer , Secretary , and Officers" was then given , and Bro . G . Reynolds , Secretary , in replying , said he felt sure the brethren of the lodge were all sorry to hear of the illness of their worthy Treasurer , Bro . J . B . Cumming , for he was beloved by all . He knew Bro . Cumming would

have liked to have been present to meet that worthy gu ; st from Baltimore , as Bro . Cumming was a Philadelutiian . As for himself , he thanked all lor the kind manner in which his health had been drank . He was delighted to see the Grand Master of Maryland again at their lodge , and if any ot the brethren present accepted his kind invitation to Baltimore they would never regret it . He could assure

them they would have a high time , having gone through the mill himself with Bro . J . Skinner . He was also delighted to see the Grand Registrar I Bro . F . A . Philbrick , CJ . O ) , with them ; it was a great compliment to the lodge . As far as his duties as Secretary were concerned he had been wel rewarded by the success of the lodge , and he would do all

in his power for the continuance of tnat success . Tnat mgnt had concluded another red letter day with them , and it was pleasant to feel and know that the G . Master of Mary land had been able to be amongst them again , and see how the lodge was progressing , especially for the purpose for which it was founded—to welcome American brethren .

1 he I ylers toast closed the proceedings . The musical arrangements were in the able hands of th "' H . W . Schartau , Org ., and the various items contributed by the Schartau Part Singers were well rendered , an " heartily appreciated .

Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge ( No . 24 ^) - - 1 The first regular meeting of this lodge was held on 1 burs * \ dav , the 22 nd ultimo , at the Inns of Court Hotel , Lincoln sinri-lield , W . C , when there present Bros . Bullock , \ V . M- > ; G . Hansford , S . W . ; G . Emblin , J . W . ; W . Khiigenstcin , j Treas . ; Scholding , Sec . ; ijelly Klingenstein , U . C-i « , S . D . ; Lightfoat , J . D . ; Bowden , I . G . ; A . Pringle , W . «¦ \

Stevens , Thos . Kayner , H . Anderson , H . Alavor , ^ KanJord , J . ri . Butt , 1 ' . M . Bell , H . cotton , G . Salisbury , F . Whicher , W . H . Oades , and C . H . Peddell . Visitors Bros . W . W . Astile , 101 ; W . E . Jones , 206 ; G . Wart , 230 S ; \ V . G . Spilling , 511 ; F . Cole , 177 ; J . Kift , and »• llvenden , lyler . . , The lodge was opened in due form , and the l ,, ;"" j of the consecration and emergency meetings were r and confirmed 1 he ceremonies of initiation

. ^ ^ passing were then regularly proceeded with , the ' ' j ' able and impressive ^ perlormance of the cercrn being highly appreciated . the initiates were Herbert Alavor and Mr . Walter Henry Oades , ? "" . candidates for passing , Bros . C . H . J . Kansloid , ; ' seJ bury , and Thomas Kayner . A draft of the [ "' '( hat bye-laws prepaicd by the committee appointed 10 ^ purpose were considered , and alter some discussi" ^ unanimously adopted , and ordered to be sent tor jjjj' uj | y to Grand Lodge , severalbrelhien having been una "' , 1 , 3 ! elected as joining nicmoers , the Scciciary announ o | I ] . the handsome bible , cushion , silver square , and t , the passes on the W . M . ' s pedestal had been present "'