The Craft In Essex.

THE CRAFT IN ESSEX .

It is difficult to imagine how thc annual meeting of our Essex brethren could be otherwise than a success . Indeed , under such a chief as the Earl of WARWICK has proved himself

to be , supported as he is by so distinguished a Deputy as Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C , G . Reg ., and with such capable and experienced officers ns Rro . T . J . RALLING , P . A . G . D . C , and Bro . G . LUCKING , P . G . P ., there is no limit to the prosperity which so

enthusiastic a Province is capable of achieving . The lodges are numerous , and the brethren , both officers and members , are careful to perform their appointed duties efficiently and in the

manner prescribed by ancient usage . The monetary affairs of the Province are carefully tended , with the result that it is invariably found possible to vote a substantial donation to each of the Masonic Institutions and still retain a fair balance in

hand for any emergencies that may arise . In short , whether we have regard to the lodges taken separately , and the manner in which they fulfil their duties , or to the Province as a whole ; whether we look at the distinguished brethren , who have been

successively entrusted with the government of the Province , to their foremost officers , or to the rank and iile , we find reasons enough and to spare to justify the statement that the present position of Freemasonry in Essex is flourishing , and that its

future prospects are as encouraging as its past career has been satisfactory . It is close on 120 years since it was constituted a Province and placed in charge of Bro . THOMAS DUNCKERLEY , and under that able Mason and his successors it has gone on

slowly but surely acquiring fresh strength and importance . This gradual development , however , is chiefly noticeable during the last 40 years . When the late Bro . ROBERT J . BAGSHAWE was appointed Prov . Grand Master in 18 54 , there were only some

half-dozen of the existing lodges on the roll of the Province , but between that year and 18 79 a full dozen were constituted . During the brief period that the late Lord TENTERDEN presided over the Province , the additions were of necessity few , but since

1882 , when the present Prov . G . Master , then Lord BROOKE , vvas installed in office , the number of lodges in Essex has been augmented by some 17 , the number on the roll at the present tune being 37 , with an aggregate membership of 18 77

as compared with 1862 last year . But this mere numerical increase is far from being the only evidence we have ° f the sound and healthy condition of the Craft in this

county . We have only to look back through the Reports which have appeared in the columns of this journal of the Festivals which have been held in behalf of our Masonic

Institutions during the last 12 or 15 years , and we shall sec that kssex is both a regular and a generous supporter of them all ; u'hile on particular occasions , as when the present Prov . Grand Master has presided as Festival Chairman , or when the Girls '

School celebrated its Centenary and the Benevolent Institution lts Jubilee , it has taken a leading place among the contributing * fovinces , and in its enthusiasm has subscribed even more than m ' t , ht have been reasonably expected . All this , however , and

mU ( - 'h else that redounds to the credit of our Essex brethren has b ( - ' 'ii chronicled from time lo time in the Freemason , and we onl y •"tier to it now , not with the idea of repeating an oft-told tale with ull | eh pretty nearly every one must be familiar , but because it

f'fords ample ground for the remarks of the Earl of WARWICK n Prov . Grand Lodge at Grays a fortnight since , that " each •eclr he felt , if possible , more thankful for the cordial and kind u Pport they ( the Essex brethren ) always gave him , and more

The Craft In Essex.

proud of thc position of the Order in tlie Province . Knowing what we do of Essex Masonry , we arc not , as we suggested at the commencement of this article , surprised at thc success which attends its meetings , but none the less is it our dutv to

congratulate both the Prov * . Grand Alaster on having under his charge a Province which supports him so loyally , as well as the Province on its good fortune in being presided over by one who has attached to himself so large a measure of esteem and respect from his brethren .

Music In The Lodge.

MUSIC IN THE LODGE .

From the earliest days of Speculative Masonry music has played a prominent part in our lodge procedure . It is on record that Bro . MATTHEW BlRKHEAD , author of the Entered Apprentice song , was the Master of one of the 20 " particular lodges , "

which signified their approval of the first " Book of Constitutions , " compiled by the Rev . JAMES ANDERSON , A . M ., in 1 723 ; and so highly does his composition appear to have been appreciated by the brethren of those days that the words , according to

Bro . R . F . GOULD in his " Four Old Lodges , " are bound up with the edition . It is also on record that Bro . LAURENCE DERMOTT , who , if he was not the founder of the "Ancient" Society of English Freemasons , was unquestionably its chief organiser and

brightest luminary , was himself one of the most zealous contributors to the harmony of lodge meetings . Indeed , on one memorable occasion he was openly charged in Grand Committee with having '' actually sung and lectured the Brethren out of their

senses . At another meeting of the Grand Committee , held on the 13 th July , 1 753 , the minutes tell us that "the Worshi pful Master in the chair thank'd the G . S . for the last new song which he composed and hoped that the Applause of his Brethren wou'd

induce Bro Dermott G . S . to compose another gainst the next St John ' s day , which the G . S . promised to attempt . " On yet a third occasion—at an emergent communication of Grand Lodge on the 2 ( ith September , 1761—after a letter of apology from the

Earl of KELLY , G . M ., for his inability to fulfil his promise to attend thc meeting had been read , thtr minutes go on to state that "The G . Master ' s Health was ( again ) drunk in form and the G . S . sang the Grand Master ' s Song . " We are unable at this

distance of time , indeed it does not come within our province , to determine whether these exhibitions of vocal ability on the part of Grand Secretary DERMOTT are to be ascribed to any special musical talent he possessed , to the more convivial habits of the

time , or to the respect in which , as a conscientious brother , he held the liberal arts and sciences geneialiy . It is enough for our purpose tbat from the days of BlRKilKAD onward to those of DERMOTT , and from those of DERMOTT till this present year of

Grace , music has always , and very justly , been regarded as one of the chief attractions at our lodge gatherings . But the desire to associate music with our proceedings , both in lodge and at the banquet-table afterwards , has been verry greatly developed during

these latter years . Nearly all our lodges now look to the charm inspired by music , be it vocal or instrumental , in order lo ensure the success of their principal gatherings during the year , while not a few of them have gone so far as lo introduce what may almost

be described as a service of sacred song into our lodge work , the sacred song being always mostcarefully selected , and as it generall y appears , most appropriate to lhc parlicularceremony orceremonies which are going to be worked . This may or may not be in accordance with the Book of Constitutions , which , so far as we