Laying Corner Stone Of New Masonic Hall At Mirfield.

LAYING CORNER STONE OF NEW MASONIC HALL AT MIRFIELD .

Tuesday , the 22 nd inst ., was a red letter day for the Freemasons of Mirfield , for on that date they attained their majority , as the warrant of the Mirfield Lodge No . 1102 , is dated 22 nd March , 1 S 66 . They celebrated this happy and important Anniversary

by laying the corner stone of a new Masonic Hall . ft certainly shows the enterprise and determination of the members of this Iodge , when they take upon themselves the responsibility of such an undertaking , and we hope prosperity will continue with them duting , and alter the completion of the building . The brethren of the lodge and their friends assembled in

their present rooms at 4 p . m ., when the Worshipful Master , Bro . John Henry Simpson , opened the lodge in the presence and with the assistance of Bros . W . Bailey , S . W . ; F . H . Hare , J . W . ; Thos . Lang , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Wilson , Sec . ; J . Womack , S . D . ; F . J . Crowther , J . D . ; T . W . Sproulle , I . G . ; W . Booth , W . Deadman , Org . ; A . A . Stott , P . M ., D . of C . ; J . Hilton , S . S . ; W . Beaumont , J . S . ; J . Ibberson , P . M ., P . P . G .

Reg . ; John Barker , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of W . ; T . B . Fairclough , P . M . ; James' Barker , P . M . ; J . K . Ibberson , P . M . ; John Walmsley , P . M . ; James Walmsley , P . M . ; John Crowther , P . M . ; W . Airton , T . Normington , Jas . F . Crowther , W . G . Lockwood , and T . Poriitt ; also visiting Bros . C . L . Mason , P . M . 304 , W . M . 2069 , P . P . G . Treas . ; John F . Stott , P . M . ; A . Macauley , W . M . 258 ; W . H .

Wilson , J . Rhodes , 1231 ; John Fearnley , 521 ; J . F . Simpson , P . M . 448 ; and G . P . Gent , 319 . The brethren then formed in procession and walked to the site of the new buildings in King-street , in the following order : Tyler with drawn sword , brethren two and two ( youngest leading ) , brethren of other lodges , cornucopia of corn , and tivo ewers with wine and oil , borne by three

breihren , banner of Mirfield Lodge , Inner Guard , Senior and Junior Deacons , Secretary with engraved plate for stone , Treasurer with phial containing coins , copies of plans of building , list of members and officers of lodge , list of Directors and shareholders of the Mirfield Masonic Hall Company ( Limited ) , also of contractors of various works , copy of lodge summons of the day ' s proceedings ,

and programme of ceremony , with copies of latest issue of Freemason , and four local newspapers ; Senior P . M . with Bible , square and compasses , Junior and Senior Wardens with columns , l . P . M with mallet , W . M . with trowel , Architects with plans , square , level , and plumb rule , carried by three Past Masters , Steward , Bro . J . Ibberson , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., Steward .

The procession having reached the site , the brethren opened out right and left , to enable Bro . Ibberson and the officers to pass to the platform , and after this had been done the brethren closed in and followed . The Secretary , Bro . W . WILSON , then addressed Bro Ibberson as follows—Dear Sir and Brother : To you who as one of the founders of the Iodge are so well and fully

acquainted with its history it is unnecessary for me to recapitulate the same . The various changes which have taken place are well known to you , also the attempts which have been made to raise a Masonic Hall of our own for holding our meetings in . To Bro . Fairclough ' s energy must be attributed the success which has at last crowned our efforts , and to-day , which is the 21 st anniversary of the

date of the warrant of the lodge , we are met to witness you ( one of its founders ) laying the north-east corner stone of the building . The brethren of the Mirfield Lodge are , I can assure you , proud that you are going to perform the ceremony , as it will ever keep green in their memories one who has been mainly instrumental in bringing the lodge to its present position . May the G . A . 0 . 1 . 1 ) . long spare

you to come amongst us and give to you and your family such health and strength as he may deem best . After Bro . IBBERSON had suitably replied , Bro . J . H . SlMPSON , W . M ., asked him to lay the stone , and presented him with trowel and mallet suitably engraved tor that purpose . Bro . IBBERSON then proceeded to lay the stone with

the usual Masonic ceremonies , at the completion of which the architects , Bros . John Barker , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of W ., and A . A . Stott , P . M ., then presented the plans of the intended building , which Bro . Ibberson examined and returned to them , requesting them to proceed with the work without loss of time . Memorial stones were then laid by Bros . J . H . Simpson ,

W . M . ; James Barker , P . M . ( chairman of the Mirfield Masonic Hall Company , Limited ); John Crowther , P . M . ; J . B . Fairclough , P . M . ; T . Lang , P . M ., Treas . ; and John Walmsley , P . M . ; after which the procession was reformed in reverse order and the brethren returned to their Iodge rooms , and the lodge was closed in due form . It is worthy of note that ten P . M . ' s of the lodge were

present at this meeting , only three of those who have passed the chair being absent , showing that the interest taken in the Iodge by those who have been in command does not cease with their passing the chair . Long may this happy state of things continue , as nothing tends more to make a lodge prosperous than for the younger brethren to see that those who have gone through the heat and

burden of the day still retain their interest in the lodge and are not content to rest on their laurels . After the conclusion of the business of the day the brethren adjourned to the Black Bull Hotel , and sat down to dinner , provided in first-class style as usual by Bro . W . Beaumont , under the presidency of Bro . John Henry Simpson , W . M ., when the usual Masonic toasts were duly honoured .

Banquet Of The Gold And Silver Wyre Drawers' Company.

BANQUET OF THE GOLD AND SILVER WYRE DRAWERS' COMPANY .

The master and court of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers' Company entertained a large and distinguished company , including several of her Majesty ' s judges , at a splendid banquet at the Albion , on Tuesday , 29 th ult ., Bro . J . Knapton Abel , the newly-installed Master , presided , and the list of guests included : Bros . Alderman Sir R . N .

Fowler , Bart ., M . P . ; Alderman Sir H . Knight ; Lieut .-Col . and Sheriff Kirby , J . P . ; F . Seager Hunt , A . M . Broadley , George Kenning ( Past Master ) , H . F . Stewart ( Warden ) , Ex-Sheriff Clarke , D . H . Jacobs ( Past Master ) , Under-Sheriff G . Rose-Innes , H . Squire , C . C , J . Bishop , Barrow Emanuel , W . A . Higgs , H . W . Johnson ( Past Master ) , F . Pendered . E . W . Streeter , H . W . H .

Banquet Of The Gold And Silver Wyre Drawers' Company.

Ranee , L . L . D ., E . F . B . Fuller , Capt . Fenner , M . R . Webb , Major Joseph ( Immediate Past Master ) , and Wynne E . Baxter , J . P ., D . L . ( Clerk ) , After dinner , which was served in elegant style , the loving cups were passed round . The MASTER submitted the usual loyal toasts with commendable brevity and point , and the company received

them with loyal enthusiasm . Bro . Warden STEWART proposed "The Navy , Army , and Reserved forces . " Bro . Alderman Sir R . N . FOWLER , Bart ., M . P ., replied for " The Houses of Parliament . " Bro . Major J OSEPH , I . P . M ., proposed the toast of "Her Majesty's Judges . "

Bco . ABEL , the Master , proposed " The Lord Mayor and Corporation . " The MASTER , in returning thanks for his health , said his sole wish was to do everything he possibly could for the honour and welfare of the company to which he belonged . He had seen great progress in the company since he first joined it , and they would be second to none in loyalty to the Crown and the powers that be . Unfortunately

they were not one of the rich companies , but , as in the past , they would do all they could with their small funds for the Charities associated with them and for the entertainment of their friends . ( Lheers . ) The toast of "The Sheriffs" was acknowledged by Bro . Lieut .-Col . and Sheriff KiRBY . The remainining toasts were " The Visitors , " proposed by Bro . WARDEN STEWART , and "The Health of the Clerk , Bro . VV . E . Baxter . "

Festival Meeting Of The Pilgrim Lodge, No. 238.

FESTIVAL MEETING OF THE PILGRIM LODGE , No . 238 .

CELEBRATION OF THE GERMAN EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY . It has now for several years been the custom of the Pilgrim Lodge to invite at least once during the season the "Sisters" to join their brethren at a social gathering devoted more particularly to their entertainment , an object which , if attained , necessarily provides gratification and

pleasure alike to those who receive the hospitality and to those who bestow it . This year the day was most auspiciously chosen , namely the 22 nd March , a day which was one of festivity and commemoration wherever the German tongue is spoken , and it will be granted by all who took part in that gathering at Freemasons' Tavern , that the meeting was in every way a success , leaving behind it none but pleasant

memories . The evening was to commence at 5 . 30 with a dinner , but strict punctuality is seldom observed on such occasions , and it was quite 6 o ' clock before the hosts and their guests , to the goodly number of 120 , were seated round the festive board . Bro . Robert Baelz , the W . M ., who now for the second year fills this post to the great advantage of the

Pilgrim Lodge , then welcomed the assembly in a short and dignified address , and the business of the evening , if so it may be called , commenced . The toasts were restricted to those of " The Queen , " "The Emperor of Germany , " "The Sisters , " "The Visitors , " and " The W . M ., " and it need hardly be said that , heartily as all these toasts were received , that of the

Emperor on his 90 th birthday was given and responded to with special fervour . After the dinner the company re-assembled in the Concert-room to hear short selections of music , choice not only in selection , but also in performance , and then the main feature of the evening , a ball , commenced . The dancing was general until about eleven , when the Concert-room was

once more resorted to . The first part of the programme was mainly sustained by our professional brethren and sisters , whilst the performers in this second part were amateur friends , whose talents proved to be of no mean order . Dancing was afterwards resumed , and at about one o ' clock the company began to disperse . The weather outside was boisterous ; the wind blew in

fitful gusts , and rain fell in torrents . But what of that ? It was the first appearance of spring , punctual to the day , and especially welcome after the long spell of keen and bitter east winds and winter weather which preceded it . Moreover , were not all well prepared by the recollection of the warm and glowing scenes they had left behind them to face without irritation the , after all , trifling inconvenience caused by the weather ?

" Glances At Our History."

" GLANCES AT OUR HISTORY . "

The above is the suggestive title of a history of the Union Lodge , No . 121 , Philadelphia , U . S . A ., written by Bro . T . C . Knauff , the VV . M ., who has done his part exceedingly well . The various headings to the paragraphs are most appropriate , and the book is published by the liberality of Bro . G . W . Hall , P . M ., the printing being

done at the press of the Royal Printing Company , Philadelphia . The history begins with the year iSio , when a number of Master Masons of Lodge No . 51 agreed to apply for a warrant to hold a new lodge ; the petition was duly granted , and the charter issued on November 19 th of that year . There were 19 founders and 10 joining members , each of whom contributed 10 dollars towards the

expenses , loaning a similar sum , so that the lodge started with over £ 100 . Bro . Knauff refers to the notion that this and other lodges " came from the Grand Lodge of York . " I am glad to find he disposes of that error most effectually , describing it as " utter nonsense , " and also says , " it was not until very modern times that the quite general use of A . Y . M . as a title was suspended in Pennsylvania , we

believe , by edict of Grand Master Clarke in 1876 or 1877 . " The error doubtless arose from the recital on the " Atholl , " or " Ancient , " warrants of the legend of Prince Edwin of York ; but , as a matter of fact , it is as well to assert >» and to keep on asserting , that the "Grand Lodge of all England , " held at York , never granted a warrant for a lodge to meet out of this country , all the lodges chartered

for America or elsewhere under English auspices being issued by the two rival Grand Lodges meeting in London , dating as respects their formation from 1717 and 1751 respectively . All of these lodges can now be easily traced , thanks to Bro . Lane ' s "Masonic Records , 1717-1886 . " The lodge in question was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , which was formed by the "Atholl Masons" of England .

" Glances At Our History."

The First Lodge Meeting . The first regular meeting was held December 8 th , 1 S 10 in the Masonic Hall , the members assembling twice a month . One of these nights clashed with the mother lodge ; but the latter immediately waived their claim . This was one of many acts of courtesy from No . 51 , which from the start had the most friendly feelings , notwithstanding that we were a split .

The Blazing Star of Masonry . In No . 121 , Charity was not neglected , for from the first a permanent fund for the relief ot the necessitous was pre . vided for , and the numerous petitioners were never sent empty away , even when the coffers were sadly diminished as the years rolled on . Of late , however , the two permanent funds of the lodge are in a most satisfactoiy condition , and excelled but by one lodge in the jurisdiction .

The first By-laws . The By-laws provided for each member paying nearl y a dollar dues monthly . Non-residents could visit free of expense , but resident brethren had to pay a similar sum to the members on the first visit , and increased on subsequent visits . " Suits at law , private jealousies , disagreements and differences between brethren of the lodge , and

immorality were to be discouraged , and the Master and Wardens were empowered to reprove delinquents . " The business generally was , in the early days transacted in the E . A . Lodge , the Master having been censured on two occasions for having permitted the elections to take place in a Master Masons Lodge . Now , the latter is the rule throughout the United States , and membership does not

begin until the Third Degree is attained . Varied Experiences . War times in 1 S 12 rather tried the members , the same year " Also saw the beginning of our possessions in China , that is to say , the breakable article , not the country on which no one can make an impression . " This was a handsome bowl presented by two of the members . The

lodge still possesses it , but it " bears the marKS of hard usage and repair . " It escaped the ravages of the disastrous fire in 1814 , as also did the records . A curious case is recorded in 1824 , of "A member who was not a member . " The brother in question , wished to resign , but no record could be found of his membership . It nas voted " that he be considered a member and as such entitled to

all privileges . " Thus including the right to resign , which was consummated accordingly . During the "» vlorgan excitement , " the lodge well nigh collapsed in consequence of the terrible opposition to the Fraternity . In 1834 only the Secretary attended , and recorded in the minutes that the Lodge was " adjourned to the next month . " This he did more than once , and stood to his

colours most manfully . In 1841 the lodge was closed to meet at the call of the W . M ., and soon alter it entered on a new lease , which hashappily continued to this day . The oldest three members at the present time are Bro . J . R . Flanagan , P . M . ; Bro . Richard Vaux , P . M . ( Past Grand Master ) , who joined February 23 rd , 1844 ; and Bro . John W . Dubree , initiated December 10 th , 1845 . In " The war

times of ' 61 , " by unanimous vote , all dues of members entering the Army or Navy were remitted . " Departing soldiers were hurried through the degrees in one evening , " business being sometimes begun at six , and continued to midnight . But 1 must not unduly prolong this sketch of the " Glances at our History , " and so conclude by expressing the indebtedness of lovers of Masonic Histories ,

to Bro . Knauff for his most readable volume which to members especially must prove very useful and interesting , containing as it does , the names and other particulars of all the brethren whs have been connected with the lodge from 1 S 10 , down to the end of 1 SS 6 . 1 only hope that many Masters will follow the excellent example thus set by the chief officer ot the Union Lodge , No . 121 , Philadelphia , on its 75 th Anniversary . W . J . HUGHAN .

Entertainment To The Poor At Margate.

ENTERTAINMENT TO THE POOR AT MARGATE .

On Tuesday , the 22 nd ult ., the brethren of the Union Lodge , No . 127 , entertained 220 of the aged and deserving poor of Margate in the Foresters' Hall . A similar entertainment was given last year with such success that the brethren were induced to repeat the experiment , and it is

needless to say that the second attempt gave fully as much satisfaction , both to guests and hosts , as the first . An excellent dinner , consisting of roast beef and mutton , veal , ham , and Christmas pudding and mince pies , was provided , and after dinner there was a plentiful supply of oranges and of pipes and tobacco for the men . Everything was done well , the tables being as handsomely decorated as

they were freely furnished with good viands , and dinner having been succeeded by tea , a varied entertainment followed , consisting of songs , both serious and humorous , and some good instrumental music , the National Anthem bringing this part to a close . Later on , Bro . SPETH moved a vote of thanks to the entertaining lodge for their kindness , and congratulated

them on the success of the meeting . 1 he compliment having been handsomely acknowledged byBro . W . J . LANE , W . M ., on behalf of himself , his officers , and the members of the lodge generally , a vote of thanks to the Stewards , which was also duly acknowledged , followed , and then , altera distribution of cakes and buns , and a few kindly words of sympathy from the Rev . G . BRUCE R HIND ,

who regretted he had not been able to be present during the whole of the meeting , the assembly sang the Doxology and dispersed . Bro , H . 13 . Marshall , P . G . Treas ,, was among the contributors to the entertainment . 1 he Committee of Management consisted of Bros . W . lones Lane , W . M . ( chairman ) : F . W . Willett , S . W . j

H . Wootton , I . P . M ., Secietary ; J , G . Henning , P- " Treasurer ; and all the Past Masters and Officers of the lodge-The Stewards were Bros . Jones Lane , Stanley , Brig hurst , Henning , and H . D . Reeves , while the following brethren acted as carvers : Bros . F . W . Willett , Akhurst , Good year , J . G . Chancellor , P . M . ; L . Jeffries , J . G . Chexheld ' P . M . ; A . Wootton , P . M . ; H . Wootton , l . P . M . j J ' f ,-i :- r i ) - f . \ t . . 1 T ^ r . ' 1-l ,.. rtton , ioi i lu

__ neaiing , j . origgs , _ . oamDer , u . ^ roscer , " j u / Tannenbaum , G . F . Brown , F . K . Perry , J . Fagg , and vv J . Clarke . ihose who attended to th-i wants of 1 " guests were : Mrs . and the Misses Willett , . "" ' and Miss Akhurst , Mr . and Mrs . Dix ° > Miss Goodyear , the Misses Chancellor ,