Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAGE FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND 67 RELATION OF ST . J OHN THE EVANGELIST TO FREEMASONRY . ... 68 ENCYCLOPEDIA METROPOLITANA 68 & 69 THE CRAFTMetropolitan 69 & 70

Middlesex 70 Provincial 70 & 71 BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS 72 ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 72 KNIGHTS ERRANT 72 & 73 MULTUM IN PARVO ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE— 73

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ... 74 Qualifications of Visitors to Lodges ... ... 74 Lodge La Tolerance , No 538 ... ... 74 Lodge St . John ( 1137 ) , New Zealand ... 74 The Robert Wentworth Little Testimonial ... 74 SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND ... 75 MASONIC CONCERT AND BALL AT BOSTON , LINCOLNSHIRE 75

THE CRAFT ( continued from page 71)—Jersey 7 G Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 76 New Zealand 76 ROYAL ARCHMetropolitan 76 Provincial ... - ... ... ... ... 76 MARK MASONRY 76

ORDERS OF CHIVALRYRed Cross of Rome and Constantine ... ... 76 INSTRUCTION 76 & 77 SCOTLANDThe Craft 77 Royal Arch 77 MASONIC MISCELLANEA 77

THEATRICAL 77 INDIA 77 LEEDS MASONIC RELIEF COMMITTEE 78 DEDICATION OF A MASONIC TEMPLE AT NEW HAMPSHIRE 78 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK ... 78 & 79 ADVERTISEMENTS 65 , 65 , 79 , & 80

Freemasonry In Ireland.

FREEMASONRY in IRELAND .

BY BRO . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . It is most unfortunate that so little is known of the history of Freemasonry in Ireland . Even its progress within thc last

few years in unchromcled , and the pages of Masonic magazines rarely contain anything relating to the Craft in the " Emerald Isle . " Now this cannot be because THE

FREEMASON and Freemasons' Magazine object to insert intelligence respecting the history of the Order in Ireland , hut simply because no such information is afforded

thcni . We presume this lamentable state of affairs is mainly due to thc objection the revered and respected Grand Master , the Duke of Lcinster . has to Masonic literature ,

and partly also from the fact that the chief Masons in Ireland appear little interested in the Fraternity as respects its universal ancl cosmopolitan character ; and therefore

it is not to be wondered at that few out of that country really know how the Order flourishes in Ireland , and few in the Isle are aware of the state of the Order

elsewhere . We suppose it would be for the members in Grand Lodge assembled to say whether they desire this inactive state to continue ;

and we consider thc members should bestir themselves , and accept Tin-: FREEMASON as their organ , as the Grand Masters of England ancl Scotland have already done .

We say this much , not in a fault-finding spirit , but solely because of our interest in Freemasonry in Ireland , especially as we

know there arc many there who arc "bright" Masons , and whose assistance and counsel would be invaluable to tlie Fraternity generally .

Freemasonry In Ireland.

Bro . Findell remarks in his history ( Asher and Co ., London ) : "Before the year 1730 the history of Freemasonry in Ireland is enveloped in complete darkness ; but from accounts handed down to us we

are led to conclude that in that year it began to struggle into existence" ( page 188 ) . In another part this learned author remarks : " The information relating to the history of Irish Freemasonry is so scanty that a few remarks are all we have to offer "

( page 409 ) . These statements are endorsed by many who are familiar with Masonic history , and to such , asalso ' to all Masonic students , we feel sure that any additional intelligence respecting the Order in that

country will be gratefully received . We have just had forwarded to us a quantity of quarterly reports of the Grand Lodge of

Ireland extending over a series of years , and many contain much that is of interest and value to those searching for light where there is so much darkness . We

intend scanning them , and affording the readers of THE FREEMASON the benefit of our examination . We must premise , however , that though we lament the present state of the Order in Ireland so far as its

being a part of the Craft universal is concerned , no Grand Lodge possesses abetter " Council of Rites , " or works more harmoniously with all the separate degrees and

rites ; and its laws are well framed , and only require obedience in the spirit , as well as the letter , to render it one of the bestmanaged and most flourishing Grand Lodges in the world .

By resolutions of the Grand Lodge Oct , 4 , 1836 , and on the 1 st Feb ., 1844 , respectively , the following became law : — 1 . "That the Grand Lodge recognise the Constitution ofthe Grand Council of Rites

for Ireland , and act in unison with it , as with the Grand Royal Arch Chapter and Grand Conclave of High Knights Templars . " 2 . "That this Grand Lodge strictly prohibits as unlawful all

assemblies of J-reemasons in Ireland , under any title whatsoever , purporting to he Masonic , not . held by virtue of a warrant or constitution from this Grand Lodge , or from the other Masonic bodies

recognised by , and acting in unison with , the Grand Lodge of Ireland . " We do not ourselves believe in any such agreement being made by the G .-and Lodge with what are known as thc " higher

degrees . " The Craft is concerned only with Craft Masonry , and should never recognise or have anything to do with aught else . What may be done without its sanction or independent of it is another

question , but we submit a Craft Grand Lodge has no business to concern itself with the " higher degrees , " as in reality it knows no superior , is complete in every sense , and requires neither additions nor alterations to

render it the chief Masonic Body and the highest tribunal for Freemasons in the land . However , the recognition of these degrees is but nominal in Ireland , as it . is provided that " no member of the Grand Lodge , or

visitor thereto , shall lie permitted to wear any jewel , medal , or device belonging to any order or degree beyond that of Master Mason , in which , however , thc jewel of a P . M . is considered to be included . "

Freemasonry In Ireland.

The ea ** ly history of the Craft in Ireland is involved in almost an impenetrable cloud . Whether there was ever a Prov . Grand Lodge at Minister A . D . 1726 we know not . At any rate , it is so stated , and in the absence of evidence we cannot do more

than admit its probability , as there is every likelihood such was the case . There are documents held by some brother or brethren in Ireland that would throw light on this subject . They were once in the

possession of the well-known Masonic publisher Bro . Spencer , and were inserted in a catalogue of his containing many valuable works . In the later editions , however , these have been omitted , and we

understand they were published by an Irish Mason . We believe they were mostly the records of the Craft before removal from Cork to Dublin , and therefore before A . D . 1730 . Bro . Findel is unable to give

anvinformation on the subject , and if these remarks are the means of drawing attention to them , and obtaining their publication for the assistance of Masonic students , we shall be amply repaid for the time we have devoted to the matter .

The Constitutions of A . D . 1730 , published by J . Watts , Dublin , and edited by J . Pennell , are about to be reprinted by Bro . Spencer , with those of A . D . 1726 ( MS . ) , 1723 ( England ) , and 1722 ( Operative ) .

1 lie edition of A . D . 1730 is mainly , however , as those published by the Grand Lodge of England A . D . 1723 , and Bro . Findel informs us that the " old charges

are the same as in the English edition , with the exception of charge vi ., 2 , where the passage unpalatable to Roman Catholic prejudices has been omitted . "

The first Grand Master mentioned by * Bro . Findel is Lord Kingston , A . D . 1730 ; thc following , however , were the Grand Masters according to the official record . A . D . 1728 , Hon . Colonel James O'BiLn

Grand Master , and Robert Longfield Deputy Grand Master ; A . D . 1729 , Right Hon . James King Lord Kingston , Grand Master . Lord Kingston was elected and

installed Grand Master of England A . D . 1728 , to whom the edition of Cole ' s Constitutions was dedicated ( of which we issued a fac-simile lithograph in 1869 ) .

Bro . John Pennell was the Grand Secretary A . D . 1730 . By the same source we are informed that the Committee of Charity

was established by the Grand Lodge A . D . 1738 , being thc same yearinwhichFrederick thc Great is declared to have been initiated .

We now come to thc next edition of the Constitutions , of which we have an imperfect copy , and which is unnoticed , and apparently unknown to Irish Masons , and to Bro . Findel and others . ( To be continued . )

THK PRINCE OF WALES ' INTEREST IN DOMES - TIC MATTERS . —During the Fine Arts Exhibition ; it York , the Prince attentively watched a blind girl working a sewing machine with thc utmost care and dexterity . So greatly was His Royal Highness interested that he repeatedly called thc attention of

the Princess to the operator , and her clever performance . Alter making several gracious inquiries respecting thc blind girl , and ascertaining that the machine was one of the Wanzcr manufacture , the Prince subsequently commanded that two of their celebrated family sewing machines should be sent

to Marlborough House , and one to Sandringham Hall , in Norfolk . This pleasing incident , while it speaks loudly of the Prince ' s benevolent disposition , is no less emphatic of his reputed discernment and practical good sense in discovering and approving

a machine which has justly obtained general preference over every other similar invention . We lately read in the Engineer a very clenr description of this favourite household servant , which combines simplicity with perfection . — Yorkllcnild .