Mithraic Worship.

time of the Roman domination ; for inscriptions , " Deo Invicto Mithra * have been found in the Gallo-Roman cemetery at Justenville near Pepinster . It would seem evident , from a piece of sculpture found in the Mickl ? gate at York ( the ancient Eboracum ) about 150 years ago that the Renins introduced Mithraic worship and its mysteries into Britain .

In 1 S 21 , a Mithraic cave , containing interesting remains pertaining to those rites was found on the site of the ancient Borgovieus ( House-steads ) in Northumberland . Mithraic antiquities have alsD been discovered at Cambechfort in Cumberland . S'ukeley mentions having seen an image of Mithras at Chester . Several altars have also been found , which were

consecrated to Mithraic worship and inscribed DEO SOLI ( To god the Sun ) DEO SOLI INVICTO ( To god the Sun unconquerable ) SOLI DEO MITHRCE ( To god Mithras the Sun ) , Three such altars were found in the cave abofce mentioned ; these are now , we believe , in the possession of the Dean and Chapter of York Cathedral . H . M . A . ( To be continued . )

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Saturday , the 25 th ult ., at the Public Hall , Harrow-on-the-Hill , and was well attended . Bro . Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., P . G . W ., Prov . Grand Mas'ir , presided , and was supported by Bros . Raymond H . Thrupp , P . A . G . D . C , Dep . Prov . G . M . ; E . B . Denniss , P . P . G . W . ; H . Hooper , Prov . G . Treas . j J . M . Small , Prov . G . Sec . ; G . Lake , Dep . Prov . G . M . Herts ; J . Mason , P . G . S . B . ; W . A . Scurrah , P . G . S . B . ; W . Martin , P . G . P . ;

A . Blenkarn , P . P . G . Treas . ; G . Harper , Prov . G . D . C ; T . I . Bird , P . P . G . S . B . ; for . Beresford Ryley , P . P . G . D . ; T . Biddulph Martin , M . P ., Douglas Hamilton Gordon , J . P ., Prov . G . Stwd . ; J . H . Gaskin , P . P . D . G . D . C . ; Rev . J . E . C . Welldon , M . A ., G . Salusbury Williams , Prov . G . Stwd . ; A . H . Scurrah , P . P . G . S . of Works ; G . J . Thomas , P . P . G . S . cf Works ; and a large number of other Prov . Grand Officers , Masters , Wardens , and brethren .

Provincial Grand Lodge was formally opened and the Prov . G . Master was saluted . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge meeting were confirmed .

The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY read a summary of the Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s account , and the reports of the Audit and Charity Committees , which were accepted . On the proposition of the DEP . PROV . G . MASTER a vote of thanks was accorded the retiring Prov . Grand Treasurer , and a further sum of £ loo was ordered to be invested in Great Eastern Railway Preference Stock .

Bros . Col . Thornton , R . Littler , Q . C , C . B ., and H . Hooper were elected membersof the Audit Committee for 1899 , and on the nomination of Bro . G . J . THOMAS , P . P . G . S . of Works , Bro . T . L . Green , P . M . 1194 , was unanimously elected Prov . Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . The PROV . G . SECRETARY announced that the Prov . Grand Master had

conferred Past Provincial Grand Rank on the following brethren in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of her Majesty—Bros . Major H . F . Bowles , M . P ., P . P . G . W . ; H . B . Marshall , M . A ., P . P . G . W . ; Guilford E . Lewis , P . P . G . Reg . ; Dr . Campbell Gowan , P . P . G . D . ; and Paul Estler , P . P . G . D . The Prov . Grand Master appointed and invested the following Prov . G . Officers :

Bro . Douglas G . H . Gordon , J . P . ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ G . Salusbury Williams ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . J . K . C . Welldon , M . A . ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ T . L . Green ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ H . P . Hay ... ... ... ,,. Prov . G . Reg . ,, James M . Small ( re-appointcd ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

,, Vivian Orchard ... ... •¦ . in c r- i- > . I C . Venning Burgess | Prov . S . G . Ds . ,, Charles Murray ... ... ... ") n 1 / - i- » ;; F . R . G . H . Robinson j Prov - J- * ' „ John F . Collinson ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . ,, Horace G . Banks ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ W . H . Cate .. ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C .

„ F . W . Tallack ... ... ... * ) „ Walter Sykes ... ... ... \ Prov . A . G . D . Cs . „ Bertholdt Miiller ... ... ... J „ John A . Carter ... ,., ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, Henry W . Parker ... ... „ . ) u n c .. „ S . Sidders Prov . G . Std . Brs .

„ H . Wharton Wells ... - ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . W . Lee , P . P . G . D .... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ E . H . Trolter ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ G . J . Tagg ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ R . Biddulph Martin , M . P . ... ... "** .. C . E . Levden

,, R . box Warner ... ,., ... D r ~ c . J ri ,,. iM i 7 n . . n f Prov . G . Stewards . ,, Charles fruen ... ... ... j „ Joseph Cox ... ... ... ... I ,, R . C . Leversedge ... ... ... J ,, John Gilbert ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . A sum of 15 guineas was voted to each of the three Masonic Charitable

Institutions , on the proposition of the P . G . M . The roll of lodges in the province was called—four lodges being unrepresented . The PROV . GRAND MASTKR said he thought there should be as full an attendance as possible at these meetings , and gave notice that at the next meeting he would propose that all lodges not represented should be fined ios ., and that that rule should be a by-law of the province .

A cordial vote of thanks was accorded the Herga Lodge , No . 254 S , for use of furniture , and especially to Bro . Fisher , the Sec , for his valuable assistance in the arrangements for the meeting . Letters of regret for non-attendance were announced from several distinguished brethren . Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

A banquet was afterwards held at the King ' s Head Hotel , which was provided by Mr . G . Brown , the host , and at which the Prov . Grand Master presided . ' The customary toasts followed , and an excellent musical programme was admirably rendered under the direction of Bro . E . E . Vinen , P . P . G .

Org ., assisted bv the Troubadour Quartette . In giving " The Queen and the ~ Craft , " the PROV . G . M . said that if her Majesty was prevented from being a member of the Craft , there was no one who had done more to give effect to the most prominent virtues of the Order—philanthropy and goodwill towards others—than our beloved Sovereign .

The PROV . G . M . then submitted "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and remarked that all present were agreed that the prosperous condition the Craft had attained was largely due to the fact that they had as Grand Master the first subject in the country , and that from the date of his installation , his Royal Highness had taken the greatest interest and exerted his utmost for the promotion of the Order . If her Majesty exempli tied in

her own person the best qualities and virtues of Freemasonry , a more courteous gentleman , or one who took a deeper sympathy in the well-being of the people , or one more ready to express his condolence with others in misfortune than their M . W . G . M . did not exist within her Majesty ' s realms . What his Royal Highness has done for Freemasonry it would be difficult to estimate . They were proud of him and would drink the toast with all honour .

" The Grand Officers" was next proposed by the PROV . G . M ., who said that all who took an interest in the affairs of every day life were aware that no great organisation could thrive unless those at the head took a close interest in their business and gave personal attention to the various matters which from time to time were brought before them . All must admit that

there was no body better organised than the Craft , and that this happy position had been arrived at was largely due to the attention of those distinguished gentlemen who undertook important duties in connection with it . They were not fortunate that night in the presence of many members of Grand Lodge , which was entirely due to the fact he had already mentioned , that a great Masonic festival was taking place at Rochester .

Bro . J MASON , P . G . S . B ., briefly replied , expressing the high honour he felt at having his name associated with the toast in the Province of Middlesex , the Prov . Grand Master having submitted his name for that

purpose . Bro . RAYMOND H . THRUPP , P . A . G . D . C , Deputy Prov . G . M ., then gave " The R . W . the Provincial Grand Master , " describing it as the toast of the evening . Lord Geo . Hamilton , M . P ., was so well known , not only as a Mason , but also as a citizen of the world , and as one serving her Majesty as Secretary of State for India , that he need not take up their time with

his excellence . Middlesex was very proud to have such a distinguished Statesman , and such a good Mason as its Provincial Grand Master , and the members desired , and it was their duty , to do all they could to assist him in making the province a great success in Masonry . There was nothing which pleased the Provincial Grand Master better than to know that all the lodges

were prospering , and that the work , in all its branches , was being carried out to perfection , and although the Provincial Grand Master was prevented from coming amongst them as they would like , still , they would be sorry to see him have more leisure from his official position in the State . He asked them to drink sincerely the health of the Prov . Grand Master , wishing him health and properity , and long might he reign over them .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER said he had to thank them most heartily for the kindly reception given the toast , because he could not help feeling that with the exception of the annual function , he had , during the past year , been unable to discharge those kindly visitations to different lodges in the Province which were usually associated with the duty of Provincial Grand Master . He was , therefore , much indebted to Bro . Small , who had

arranged all the details of this meeting with such perfection as to associate with this toast so appropriate a song as " Absent , but present . " When he was offered the honour of becoming Provincial Grand Master he was in a position in which he thought he should be able to devote sufficient time and attention to the duties , but almost from his acceptance of the office he had been engaged in other work which had given him little time for any duties

outside his office . He was glad to say , however , that the exceptional pressure of his duties in connection with that part of her Majesty ' s dominions which had been afflicted b _ y famine and pestilence , was passing away , and , therefore , he was confident that unless something unforeseen occurred during the ensuing autumn , he should be able to partake in a larger measure of those offers of hospitality he received from the lodges in the province . They

had had a very successful meeting and perhaps they would allow him to talk to them in connection with the business of the province . He proposed strictly to adhere to the policy of his predecessor . The population was increasing in Middlesex and new centres were springing up , but he held strongly to the view that they should sanction no new lodges unless they were local in

their origin and promotion . He was confident that if Freemasonry in this province was to be maintained in its present healthy position they should not allow any lodge under any pretext to be consecrated if it was to be dependent upon extraneous brethren from outside the province . Middlesex was a very difficult province to connect and it was difficult to find some common centre for brethren in the North to meet the brethren from the South . For three

years Provincial Grand Lodge had met at Harrow which pleased the brethren from the North , but the brethren in the South said it was not a convenient locality to visit and they had noticed that one or two lodges were absent . He hoped at the next meeting to propose a by-law to fine any lodge not represented , and that meeting would be held at some part of the province more acceptable to the Souihern lodges . During the past year many changes

had taken place in the personnel of the various officials connected with the province . In the first place , their old friend Bro . Room had retired after admirably discharging the duties of Prov . Grand Secretary for nine years . He confessed that when he received Bro . Room ' s letter of resignation , supported by reasons which he could not traverse , he felt it would be almost impossible to supply his place . He was glad to say they had been fortunate enough to secure the services of another well known brother—Bro .

Smallwhose bonhomie and whose energy gave them every reasonable prospect that the office Bro . Room held would be adequately filled . Then they had lost by death the services of another brother—Bro . W . H . Lee—whose name for many years had been a household word amongst Middlesex Masons as Assistant Grand Secretary . He thought it was very satisfactory , and he felt it one of the most pleasant of his official duties to be able to associate the continuance of that duty wilh Bro . Lee ' s son . He was sorry to say there were other gaps caused by death . One of the oldest members