Masonic History.

study of Freemasonry he can find rich reading in the researches of Bro . William'J . Hughan , of Torquay , England , the pioneer in furnishing the Masonic student with the ancient Constitutions or Charges of Freemasons , and the discoveries in the antiquities of Freemasonry . Bro . Hughan wrote for the live Freemason .

The editions of his works were limited and are now out of print , and most valuable . " Then the student can find a rich treasure in that Vade-mecum , ' Lane's List of Lodges , ' containing a list of all the English lodges , their places of meeting , together with their numbers and several changes of

numbers . Then he must read and study that grand monumental work , ' The History of Freemasonry , ' b y Bro . Robert Freke Gould , of England ( it is to Bro . Gould what St . Paul's is to Sir Christopher Wren ) . " Then the last and most valuable for its conciseness , completeness , compactness , and reasonableness

in price and cheapness , ' The History of Freemasonry and Concordant Orders , ' by the Fraternity Publishing Company , of Boston , Mass ., Bro . Henry L . Stillson , Editor-in-chief ; Bro . William J . Hughan , associate English Editor .

" It embraces every branch of Freemasonry , and the history of the several Jurisdictions ; reliable and condensed , yet full as a nut of meat . A very library in itself , and everywhere it has received the endorsement of the leading Masons of the world . We have not heard one word of adverse criticism of its Masonic

contents . " These works—Hughan ' s , Lane ' s , Gould ' s , and the Fraternity Publishing Company ' s Histories—do not rival or compete with each other , each forms a separate

study and make a complete whole . A Mason having these works in his library , with the Constitution and Ahiman Rezon of his own jurisdiction , the law that governs him directly , and the Keystone , has the Masonic world in his grasp . "

A Masonic Temple For Glasgow.

A MASONIC TEMPLE FOR GLASGOW .

[ COMMUNICATED . ] There is at present a scheme on foot to provide the wherewithal to erect a Masonic Temple in Glasgow , a building that shall not onl y be a credit to the Craft of the West of Scotland but also a credit to the " Second city of the Empire . " There is nothing particularly novel about the idea ,

as such a scheme was tried some 15 years ago , but it came to an ignominious end as the time was not ripe for the undertaking . At that time the brethren vvere struggling to place Grand Lodge on a surer basis b y sweeping away the many abuses that had crept into the management of its affairs and which threatened to drag it down much beneath the dignity that should belong to a Grand Lodge of such an ancient constitution .

All this is now rectified , and the brethren have now leisure to see what improvements they can make in their condition nearer home . The want of a Masonic Temple in Glasgow has been scornfully reflected upon by brethren visiting our city , so there is every probability of the present scheme coming to a successful

issue . The proprietor of the Glasgow Evening News has consented to allow " Mallet , " the writer of the " Mems for Freemasons " that appear in its columns every Tuesday , to notify the names of brethren in its columns who would be willing to subscribe for shares , and at the end of each month these names will be published in cumulo in the Scottish Masonic Record .

A few brethren have already sent in their names , and since the first short list vvas published it is understood that the Prov . G . M . of the province , Bro . John Graham , C . A ., has signified his intention to subscribe for 100 shares , and to immediately take steps to

place , the concern on a thoroughly legal basis as a Limited Liability Company . The Proprietor of the Freemason has also subscribed to 25 shares in the meantime , and promises to take up other 25 shares conditionally .

Bro. Henry Irving At Bristol.

BRO . HENRY IRVING AT BRISTOL .

Bro . Henry Irving vvas entertained on Saturday last at a public luncheon at the Bristol Liberal Club . Mr . E . G . Clarke presided over the gathering , which was of a non-political character . Replying to the toast of his health , Bro . IRVING said : I am deeply sensible of the kindness and goodwill which have made me your guest

to-day , and I appreciate it all the more because this seems like a gathering of old friends in a city which is associated with some of my earliest memories . My recollections of Bristol carry me back to the days—I will not say how long ago , for that is a point on which one grows a little sensitive as time slips on—but they

were the days when I used to make many journeys in disagreebly small boats between Bristol and Hayle , on my way to the little village of Halestown , in Cornwall , and when my father told me stirring tales of the great Bristol riots , which had brought him the honours of a special constable . I think I wanted to grow up to be a special constable too , and I had great hopes that Bristol

would kindly become sufficiently riotous to favour that ambition . But I also had a turn for natural history , and it is indelibly stamped upon my memory that on one occasion , when I was about four years old , I made a little excursion by myself from St . James ' s Barton to Redcliffe-street in order to study a stag ' s head which projected as a sign from a certain house , where I vvas found by my anxious mother peacefully contemplating

Bro. Henry Irving At Bristol.

the head of the antlered beast , and wondering why oil earth he smelt so strongly of tallow . It vvas soon after this incident that I witnessed a great event in the history of Bristol—the launching of the steamship Great Britain . There was a vast throng of people to see this mi ghty vessel , but the one thing which monopolised

my attention vvas the moustache of Prince Albert , who presided over the ceremony . I was fired by an unquenchable longing to possess a similar ornament , and I consulted a friend of mine , a chemist , who kept a particular brand of acid drops , which I patronised at that time , and who consented to make a moustache for

me . It was a long business , and when I impatiently inquired how it was getting on he used to explain that he was growing it somewhere at the back of his shop . Well , one day I demanded it with an imperious energy , which was not to be resisted , so he put me on a chair and adorned my upper lip with burnt cork , with

which I went home feeling much elated , though a little disturbed by the demonstrations of the juvenile public on the way . " What great events from trivial causes spring ! " And I have sometimes wondered whether it was that burnt cork—the earliest of the ri ghts in honour of Thespis—which gave my career the bent that has

brought me among you to-day . After this chapter of autobiography you will understand why I claim a special interest in the welfare of your city . If my distinguished colleague , Miss Ellen Terry , were here she could tell you many stories of the Bristol Theatre , in which I may almost say that she vvas cradled . During

our engagement we have been gratified to the full b y the unflagging interest of Bristol playgoers in our work . Your theatre has one of the oldest reputations in the country . You have the means of sustaining its credit , and of making it a powerful instrument for the educational recreation of the people . I have long ceased to think it necessary to offer any vindication of the stage

as a social institution . It plays too large a part in our national life to require any apology . But there is always a stimulus for well-directed zeal to make our theatres worthier homes of intelligent entertainment ; and I cannot show my sense of your sympathy more strongly than by claiming your hearty support for every well-organised effort to render the drama worthy of the best traditions of Bristol .

Inter-Masonic Rifle Match.

INTER-MASONIC RIFLE MATCH .

The annual competition for the handsome gavel , given by Bro . Major George Lambert , P . G . S . B . to be competed for by members of Lodges 858 , 1216 , 1962 , and 2021 , took place on Saturday last at Ilford , and after a close contest was won by the Queen ' s Westminster Lodge , who have now won it for the fourth

time . At the same time a second gavel , also presented by Bro . Lambert , vvas shot for by the lodges abovementioned , and was also open to teams from lodges attached to the Victoria Rifles ( No . S 22 ) , Honourable Artillery Company ( No . 569 ) , London Scottish ( No . 2310 ) , and the Bloomsbury Rifles ( No . 2362 ) . This

second trophy was also won by Lodge 2021 , Lodge 19 62 coming in a close second . Only five teams competed , the Victorias and South Middlesex not entering an appearance , and only two of the members of the Macdonald turning up . The afternoon was fine but

the wind very strong and variable , which accounts for the scores not being high . The conditions were teams of 10 , the best eight scores to count ; seven shots at 200 , 500 , and 600 yards ; targets and marking as at Bisley , 1891 .

Q UEEN ' S WESTMINSTER LODGE , NO . 2021 . 200 yds . 500 yds . 600 yds . Tl . * T . Sgt .-Maj . Mellings 30 ... 31 ... 24 ... 8 5 Sergt . Hollon 29 ... 22 ... 29 ... 80 Col .-Sergt . Vicars 27 ... 30 ... 21 ... 78

Sergt . Holhs 30 ... 27 ... 20 ... 77 Sergt .-Ins . Philip 28 ... 28 ... 19 ... 75 Sergt . Rowe 29 ... 23 ... 21 ... 73 Sergt . Treadwell 29 ... 22 ... 19 ... 70 Sergt . Coop 28 ... 19 ... 22 ... 6 a

Average 75-88 230 202 175 607 LONDON R IFLE BRIGADE LODGE , NO . 1962 . * Colour-Sergt . Tayton 32 ... 28 ... 19 ... 79 Staff-Sergt . Page 31 ... 27 ... 20 ... 78 Private Lock 26 ... 27 ... 24 ... 77

Sergt . Walker 2 S ... 22 ... 26 ... 7 6 Private Mardell 29 ... 23 ... 22 ... 74 Private Gregory 26 ... 21 ... 26 ... 73 Mr . N . Green 24 ... 21 ... 27 ... 72 Private Ward 30 ... 24 ... 15 ... 6 a

226 193 179 59 S Average 7475-HON . ARTILLERY COMPANY ( LODGE NO . 569 ) . * Lieutenant Carpenter 32 ... 31 ... 26 ... 8 g Private Macmunn 28 ... 30 ... 23 ... 81

Private Hawkins 27 ... 25 ... 27 ... 79 Staff-Sergt . Brooking 26 ... 26 ... 24 ... 76 Private Morford 26 ... 21 ... 26 ... 73 Captain Birkett 27 ... 22 ... 14 ... 6 3 Private Hodg kinson ... 28 ... 14 ... 20 ... 62 Captain Pash 19 ... 18 ... 24 ... 61

213 18 7 18 4 584 Average 73 . * Winners of Tankards . The score of the London Scottish was 471 , and of the Bloomsbury 457 . After the match the teams had tea together at the Red Lion .

Presentation To Bro. Harry S. Foster.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . HARRY S . FOSTER .

A meeting of the friends and supporters of Bro . Sheriff-elect Foster took place at the Guildhall on Friday last , for the purpose of presenting him with his chain and badge of office . Bro . Alderman Newton presided . Among those present were Bros . Sheriff Sir Augustus

Harris , G . Lindo , C . C . ; A . J . Altman , C . C . ; Mr . T . W . Woodrovv , C . C . ; Bro . J . Lobb , C . C . ; Bro . J . Salmon , C . C . ; Mr . C . S . Houlder , C . C . ; Mr . J . F . Hepburn , C . C . ; and many others . Bro . LINDO , who had undertaken the duties of Secretary in connection with the presentation , read the

following letter from Mr . Alderman Hart , who was unable to be present : " I regret exceedingly that in consequence of my absence in Scotland I am unable to comply with this request , but I cannot help expressing a hope that you will have health and strength to fulfil the high and important duties belonging to this office .

You have been for many years an inhabitant of Coleman-street Ward , with which as Common Councilman and Alderman I have been associated for 28 years , and for these reasons I presume I have been asked to present you , on behalf of the Ward and of your other friends , with the chain of office , which in a happy

moment and by a felicitous and spontaneous thought your many friends conceived a fit thing to do , as giving them an opportunity of practically expressing their personal esteem of yourself . You have fulfilled , and are fulfilling , many public and important positions . Elected twice a member of

the School Board for London you have shown your fitness for that public trust by being elected , from among many , as Chairman of one of the Finance Committees , and of the Educational Endowments Committee . Your administrative powers have been

recognised , and you have been placed upon the Joint Committees of the School Board and the City and Guilds Institute on Technical Education . When her Majesty ' s Government passed the Act which constituted the London County Council you were elected one of the

members . " When , at the request of many citizens , you permitted yourself to be put in nomination for the office of Sheriff of London , there was formed one of the largest and most important Committees that ever supported a candidate for this office . It comprised many members

of her Majesty ' s Government , several of the leading members of the Bar , gentlemen holding high legal and commercial positions , and no less than 38 Masters of the Livery Companies . This Committee was supported by about 3000 members of the Livery , or more than one-third of the total Livery of London . The result

vvas you were practically unopposed , and were unanimously elected Sheriff of London . In a few days you will take upon yourself the duties of one of the most ancient offices of the City of London , existing before the present constitution of our country . Many men of great fame have held it ; its occupants have many

times had to stand side by side with the Corporation of London , between the citizens of London and the Crown to preserve the charters and rights of the citizens , and to maintain the civil and religious liberties of the people . You now take this office with its duties and responsibilities ; may you hold it with honour and

integrity , and at the end of your year hand it to your successor with all duties fulfilled and all rights maintained . " A letter was also read by Bro . Lindo from Mr . Cohen of the L . C . C ., who had been asked as representing the City in the County Council to make the

presentation , but who was prevented by another engagement . The CHAIRMAN said they were assembled that day for the purpose of performing a very graceful act , and he could only regret that the Alderman of the Sheriffelect's Ward was not able to preside . Being , however , the Alderman of the adjacent Ward and a personal

friend and warm admirer of the Sheriff-elect , the honour had been conferred upon him , and a very agreeable duty he had to perform . The duties in connection with the office of Sheriff were onerous and heavy , and the occupant of the office required the warmest sympathy of the citizens , the Corporation , and the members of the Livery of the City of London , and he vvas certain that the manner in which the

Sheriffelect had stood for the office , . and the way in which he had devoted himself in the interests of the citizens would secure him their cordial sympathy and unanimous support . Mr . Alderman Hart ' s letter vvas expressive of the warmest sympathy and the best wishes of the Ward , and he had now only

to hand over to Mr . Sheriff-elect Foster the chain and badge of office . The list of subscribers included Members of Parliament , members of the Corporation , members of the London County Council , Aldermen , Justices of the Peace , members of the Ward of Colemanstreet , and many others . He thought that was a

truly cosmopolitan list , and he felt sure that during his year of office Mr . Foster would receive the continuous support of the citizens and the members of the Corporation . He vvas sure also that he would carry out the duties of the office with credit to himself , and would add additional lustre to the high position . He

regretted that he could not say the Sheriff-elect of London and Middlesex , but the alteration in the Act relating to Middlesex had been loyally recognised and accepted by the City of London . It afforded him , therefore , the greatest pleasure to hand over to Mr . Sheriff-elect Foster a really beautiful chain and _ badge of office , and he trusted he would thoroughly enjoy his