Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

leading—would no doubt do much to remedy this , and , if introduced at suitable times , might make a bright change in the work of ihe Class . With the general knowledge shown , throughout these junior classes , I was , as I have already said , very well satisfied ; yet I should have liked in some classes to have seen a little more vivacity in answering .

" The third morning of my visit I devoted mainly to an inspection of certain technical work , which 1 found was being rather extensively carried on , under skilled supervision , out of regular school hours . I visited the printing and book-binding rooms and the carpenter ' s shop , while capital specimens were shown me of what the bo \ s had been doing in each department .

" I have visited many schools , but never belore saw printing and bookbinding so successfully undertaken by the boys ; and though , in the present buildings , this branch of education is conducted under some difficulties , while Chemistry has to be cntiiely omittfd for want of a laboratory , yet I see , in the development of this technical side of the school , exactly what seems to be wanted in order to give to a certain section of the boys , who have little spirit or aptitude for books , just the employment and training most useful to awaken their interest and to fit them for after life .

"My knowledge of the contemplated removal of the School to another site leads me to speak now with the more emphasis , beciuse of the opportunities that new buildings will naturally afford , not only for providing adequately for Science and Art ( which are at present scarcely recognised in the School ) , but also for developing these technical branches of instruction , which apparently have made such a good beginning .

" I have the honour to be , Sir , " Your obedient servant , ( Signed ) " T . J . SANDERSON , M . A ., " Late Fellow of Clare College , Cambridge " Brington Rectory , Huntingdon ,

" November 14 th , 18 9 6 . " Certified as correct , " J . H . FLATHER , M . A ., " Assistant Secretary to the Syndicate " 19 th November , 1896 . "

Sale Of Masonic Works.

SALE OF MASONIC WORKS .

The 40 th Semi-Annual Sale by the Masonic Publishing Company , of 63 , Bleecker-street , New York , took place on November 18 th last . Tne Catalogue consisted of 514 lots , many being exceedingly rare and valuable . Bros . Dr . W . J . Chetwode Crawley ( Dublin ) ; J . T . Thorp ( Leicester ); George W . Bain ( Sunderland ); William Watson , of Leeds ( the Hon .

Librarian of West Yorkshire ) , * as well as myself , were represented at the Sale , but , unfortunately , we were mostly unsuccessful . We were unable to examine the Books personally , and as we could not tell the style and c midition of the important volumes which were put up for competition , our bids were lower than those offered on the spot . .

The Catalogue is carefully compiled , but we would suggest to the Company the advisability of giving more particulars as to the Books , their special condition , pagination , binding , plates , Src , for any subsequent Sale . I have to acknowledge the kindness and attention of my courteous

Brother J . G . Barker , of New York , on this , as on all previous occasions , in replying to my queries ; but much of the information was too late to be utilised for the Sale ; though of a very interesting character . I consider the Catalogue is one of the most valuable ever published by this well-known and respected Company .

Lot 19 was Volume Ore of the Masonic Reprints of the " Quatuor Coronati , " No . 2076 , London , and fetched 12 dollars . No . 34 , " Constitutions ot the Freemasons , " 1723 , lacking the Frontispiece , was bought in at 20 dollars . This copy is bound in morocco , and is labelled "Constitutions [& c ] of the Swan Lodge in Chichester" ( formed in 1724 ) . Photograph ot Frontispiece supplied .

No . 36 was the attractive feature of the collection , being Benjamin Franklin ' s reprint of the premier Book of Constitutions , made in 1734 . This is very rare indeed , and of exceptional value and importance , being also in an excellent state of preservation , original binding , & c . It has no frontispiece , and possibly never had . Bro . Barker believes it never had on-, and my esteemed friend and brother , Enoch Terry Carson ( the learned

Masonic bibliographer , of Cincinnati ) tells me of those he knows—three or four—they all lack this particular plate . Now , had this fact been known in lime , none of us at this side of the " big pond " would have allowed it to go to the Grand Lodge of New York for the insignificant sum of 5 C dollars . One was sold in Philadelphia for 320 dollars , andj I understand that 300 was asked for this particular copy quite recently . / kno-. v 100 dollars -. mis

refused for it , so that it is a " come down to 56 dollars . I he fast , however , is that the Grand Librarian is a very popular and determined man , who is almost irresistible in his attractions and blandishments , when the prosperity of the Grand Lodge of New York is in question , so somehow he managed to get it knocked down to him . Two bids came by post the next day ( much in advance ) , but too late .

No . 37 , " The Free-Mason Accusation and Defense , " of 1726 , obtained 26 dollars . It is only a wee pamphlet , of no conrequence as respects the text , but very scarce . Two little gems came next , viz ., No . 3 S , Engraved List of Lodges , A B . 175 6 , and No . 39 , one of 17 61 ( quoted as 1764 ) . Dr . Crawley secured the first and more valuable of the two , for 35 dollars . It is a little beauty ,

handsomel y bound , though rather closely cut by the binder , and was once the property of the late Bro . W . H . White , long Grand Secretary of England , having his autograph and also the arms-plate of John Whitiinghain The plates number i to 19 , besides the dedication to the Marquis ol Carnarvon , Grand Master . The List is later than that of the " Book of Constitutions" . n . 1756 and so as respects a copy preserved in the Grand

, , Lodge Library of New York . There is only one other known ( according to the "Masonic Records , 1717—1894 , " by Bro . John Lane , F . C . A : ) , and that is in the Library of the Grand Lodge of England , this second one be ng now traced for the first time . I congratulate Bro . Crawley on his purchase , and hope he will have it reoroduced . 1 Ic has manv curios , and should publish a

list for the infoi mation < f students . The Engraved List of A . IJ 17 ( 11 was obtained for thc Library of the Grand Lodge of New York , and if complete , as it seems to be , consists of 22 pages of engraved plates , ending with Lodge No . 201 . The only edition known to me before this of 17 G 1 has 262 lodges , one copy being in our Grand Lodge , and the other in thc valuable private Masonic Library of

Sale Of Masonic Works.

General J . C . Lawrence ( P . G M . ) , of Boston , which has very many rare and invaluable treasures . It is dedicated to the then Grand Mister , Lord Aberdour . No . 43 , "Ahiman Rezon" of Philadelphia , A D . 1783 . was "knocked

down" for six dollars , and one of tha English issue , of iSoo , only mide 5 . 75 . On the other hand , several late works fetched more than they can be purchased for in the regular way at the present time . I lost all the c . ipies of my own works bid for , so some brethren must value them more hig hly than I did .

Bro . Whymper ' s " Religion of Freemasonry" obtained 2 . 75 { i . e ., lis . ) , and several Reproductions of the " Old Charges . " edited by Bro . William Watson ( which were presented by the late R . W . Bro . T . W . Tc < v ) , made good prices . " Freemasonry : a Word to the Wise , " went for 16 s . 6 d ., and Findel ' s History ( London , 1 S 69 ) changed ownershi p for 13 s . Bo . Gould ' s great History ( American edition ) was purchased for 10 dollars .

My "Masonic Register ( 1878 ) was secured for four dollars , and my " Constitutions of Freemasons " ( with Cole MS , reproduced ) only mide five dollars . ( It was published by subscription at half a guinea in 1869 . ) Miny of the early Proceedings of American Grand Lidges fetched fa r prices , but not their full value , and I am surprised to find that the " Treaty of Union " ( Paris , 1836 ) only went to 55 dollars . B o Birkar is the fortun ite owner at that low sum . Only three copies have been traced of late years .

I must forbear , as this tempting subject would lead me to write at great length . W . I . HUGHAN .

Centenary Celebration Of The Napthali Lodge, No. 266, At Heywood.

CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE NAPTHALI LODGE , No . 266 , AT HEYWOOD .

The 100 th anniversary of the above lodge was celebrated at the Freemasons ' Arms Hotel , Heywood , on the 3 rd ult ., and a few particulars here respecting the lodge will no doubt be interesting . The records show that it was consecrated in 1788 , the first meeting-place of the members being the Spread Eagle Inn , Chapelstreet , Salford . After being held at various places in Manchester , lodge business

was conducted at the Dog Inn , Deansgate , for 14 years ( 1816-30 ) . Next the lodge was held in Bury , its connection with that town dating from the last-named year , when the members met at the Volunteer Inn , Union-street , the jewels , furniture , Ac , of the lodge being in the custody of Bro . Isaac Jones , P . P . J . G . W . After remaining three years at the Volunteer Inn , fresh quarters were obtained , the removal this time being to the Hope and Anchor , Bolton-street . Three years

after this event , the members of the lodge attended , in procession , the laying of the foundation-stone of the bridge over the Irwell , at Hardy ' s Gate , by Bro . John Greenhow , who was at that time connected with the lodge . In the year 18 37 Bio . K . Openshaw filled the office of Worshipful Master , and he was succeeded by Bro . R . Whitehead , during whose term of office a procession of the membersprobably in conjunction with other local bodies—was held to celebrate the

coronation of Queen Victoria . The connection of the lodge with Bury was broken in 1839 , when a removal was made to the Freemasons' Arms , Whitefield . Two years afterwards Bro . Richard Pilkington was the W . M . Leaving Whitefield in 1842 , the lodge was next removed to the Bridge Inn , Heap Bridge . Here it was held for 16 years . ¦ In 1 S 5 8 the properties of the lodge were handed over to Bro . William Wescoe , of Heywood ( to whose memory the local Freemasons

subsequently erected a memorial in the Heywood Cemetery ) , the place of meeting then being the Brunswick Hotel , Heywood . Since that year the lodge has been held at various places in Heywood , and in 1891 it was taken to the present lodgeroom at the Freemasons' Arms Hotel . In 18 75 , it may be mentioned , a Provincial Grand Lodge meeting was held in St . Luke ' s School , William-street . In the course of its existence the lodge has been engaged in much philanthropic work , and during the past quarter of a century it is estimated that it has expended some

hundreds of pounds in this manner . In 1 S 61 the members decided to put a Masonic stained window in the north-east portion of St . Luke ' s Church , Heywood , and this idea was carried out by Bro . Shaw of Saddleworth . A . ' arge sum of money was also subscribed by the members of the lodge in aid of the funds for the East Lancashire Systematic Benevolent Institution in 18 76 , Bro . John Partington at the time occupying the position of W . M . The present W . M . of the the lodge is Bro . F . Ferrand .

The following were invested for the ensuing year : Bros . S . Smith , W . M . j F . Ferrand , LP . M . ; J . Clegg , jun ., S . W . j R . H . Smith , J . W . ; H . Emery , Chap . ; J . Partington , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., Charity Representative ; R . Bogle , P . M ., Treas . ; R . H . Preston , Sec ; J . H . Dawson , S . D . ; J . W . Heywood , J . D . ; W . II . Kershaw , P . M ., D . C ; W . Whatmough , Org . ; T . Chadwick , I . G . ; R . Howe , James Preston , F . Hizlitt . and W . Gleave , Stwds . ; and S . Barker , Tyler . The Installing Masters were Bros . Rev . J . O . Jelley , P . P . G . C . ; John Partington , P . P . S . G . D . ; and F . Ferrand , I . P . M .

The lodge was graced with the presence of Bro . C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . E . Lancashire ; and Bro . Richardson , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . During the evening the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given , the proposers being the W . M ., and Bros . John Partington , P . M ; John Kay , P . M . ; F . Ferrand , I . P . M . ; A . B . Pilling ; William Cockerill ; W . H . Kershaw , P . M . ; and Sam Barker . There was an admirable programme of music , and the arrangements generally gave every satisfaction .

Ladies' Night Of The Ranelagh Lodge, No. 834.

LADIES' NIGHT OF THE RANELAGH LODGE , No . 834 .

It was certainly a great success and the Worshipful Master , Bro . Hans Scharien , and his able Stewards , Bros . G . F . Butt , P . M . ; R . Phillips , S . W . ; H , Stokes , D . C ; G . E . White , W . J . Bennett , E . H . Grant , and F . Newman , Hon . Sec , are to be commended and congratulated upon the result of their efforts .

which gained the unanimous opinion of the members of this well-known lodge and of their ladies and friends , who had the good fortune to be present at the pleasant gathering at the Hotel Cecil on the 15 th ult ., that the aptly described Laities' night was perfection . Ladies , brethren , and their friends to the number in all of about 160 assembled on the occasion .

Among those present were Bro . Hans Scharien , W . M ., and Mrs . Woodhims ; Bro . li \ Newland , I . P . M . ; Bro . A . Williams , P . M ., and Mrs . Williams ; Bro . Hillier , P . M ., and Mrs . Hillier ; Bro . H . Purdue , P . M ., and Mrs . Purdue ; Bro , and Mrs . Green ; Bro . H . F . Williams and Mrs . Williams ; Bro . G . F . Butt , P . M . ; Bro . and Jlrs . Sam Segarj Bro . H , J . Inderwick and Miss Inderwick ]