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^ pfepSaso ^ SATURDAY , DECEMBER 4 , 1897 . — ?

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The proceedings in Grand Lodge on Wednesday evening attracted a numerous gathering of thebrethren , but thc Paper of Agenda was not a heavy one , and the several items set down for consideration were disposed of without serious controversy . There was , however ,

one matter which had necessarily not- been provided for in the programme , and which elicited thc deepest feelings of sympathy with the distinguished brother it directly concerned . We allude , of course , to the recent sad death of the Countess of Lathom , who on several occasions had manifested the greatest interest in

Masonry . A vote of condolence with Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., M . W . Pro G . M . — than whom there is no more deservedly popular brother in the whole Craft of England—in his great allliction was moved by the Acting Grand Master , in behalf of his Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales , M . W . Grand

Master , and there is no need to tell our readers that the motion was carried amid every possible manifestation of sorrow on the part of the brethren present . We trust this vote may have the effect of alleviating , lo some extent , tho very great grief with which our distinguished brother has been prostrated since the occurrence of the fatal accident lo his wife .

* * * This , a _ , we have said , was oulside the programme ol Agenda , but thc business set down was disposed ol promptly . Bro . Lt .-Col . Clifford Probyn was thc only brother nominated to fill the ollice of Grand Treasurer

during lhc year iKy S . ij . He is therefore to all intents and purposes at this present time Grand Treasurer elect , and we offer him accordingly our felicitations on I he further progress he has made in thc Craft . Bro . W . F . Lamonby ' s motion for a new article to be inserted in the Book of Constitutions against canvassing for any

Masonic Notes.

elective oflice and imposing certain penalties on any who might be found guilty of that offence , was rejected , not because Grand Lodge does not desire that this offence should be put down , but because the scheme as proposed in Bro . Lamonby ' s motion did not appear

to be workable . We regret this because there is no doubt whatever that this practice of touting for support for these elective offices has been very largely adopted by some who would never have attained to their present prominent position in Masonry had it not been

for the very large number of votes which they wero successful in obtaining by their touting . Perhaps a more workable scheme may yet be discovered , which will allow of elective offices being , filled up without recourse being had to this objectionable practice .

# * * As for the proposal recommended by the Board of General purposes , namely , that the Grand Secretary ' s stipend , which now stands at ^ 1000 per annum , should be augmented forthwith to ^ 1250 and then by annual

increments of . £ 50 to . £ 1500 , Grand Lodge , as we anticipated it would do , has adopted the proposal . It recognises that during the six years that have elapsed since the Grand Secretary was appointed to office , the duties and responsibilities attaching to the post have

been materially increased , and it is desirous that the stipend should be commensurate with those duties and responsibilities , especially when they are so ably and conscientiously discharged as they have been by the present G . Secretary during his tenure of the position .

» * The Quarterly Communication of Mark Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday , the 30 th ult . Two or three incidents occurred which were not included in the Agenda , and hence the proceedings were of a less

formal character than we had reason to anticipate . The Report of the General Board was accepted , and Bro . W . M . Stiles , who is Past G . Treasurer in Craft and Royal Arch Masonry , was nominated as Grand Treasurer of the Mark during the ensuing year . As

Bro . Stiles was the only nominee for the office , he is virtually G . Treasurer elect , and we tender him our congratulations accordingly . We also note with pleasure that the gallery of portraits of Past Grand Masters received a valuable addition in the "

counterfeit presentment" of Bro . Earl Amherst , who , when Viscount Holmesdale , filled the office of Grand Master during the period from 1 S 63 . 1 S 66 . The portrait was presented by Bro . Hughes Hallett on behalf of the

Province of Kent , with which Lord Amherst has been so closely associated in Masonry for so many years , and to which the thanks of Grand Lodge were most cordially voted .

* » » As regards the foregoing matters , which are more fully described in our report of the proceedings , the business passed off most agreeably . But it was in the natural order of things that a vote of sympathy should

be proposed with Bro . the Earl of Lathom in the terrible bereavement he has recently experienced . His lordship , when Lord Skelmersdale , presided over the fortunes of the Maik Degree from 1 S 79—1 SS 2 , and , in addition , has been Prov . Grand Master of Lancashire

since March , 1876 , and in the loss he has sustained by the death of the Countess of Lathom , it is , as we hav e said , but natural that those should express their condolence with his lordship and his lordship ' s family to whom he has rendered such signal services , and by whom he is so sincerely beloved and respected .

We intend reserving for our Christmas number the full account of the grand Masonic githering at Divine Service in St . Paul ' s Cathedral , on the afternoon of the 2 nd instant , in commemoration of the 200 th anniversary of the Cathedral having been opened

for public worship , and out of respect for the tradition that the architect , Sir Christopher Wren , was a Mason and Master of the Lodge of Antiquity , and that most of the workmen under him were Masons , We may state , however , briefly that , in spite of the arrangements made

by the Committee in charge , everything within the Cathedral passed off admirably . H . R . H . the'Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., was represented in the absence of the Pro and Deputy G . Masters by Bro . VV . VV . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight .

* * * Wc publish readily the letter which appears in another column from Bro . Geo . Richards , Dist . Grand Master for the Transvaal , on our article of last week , entitled " A Fair Subject for Inquiry . " We take leave , however , to point out that the Dist . G . Officer , Central

Masonic Notes.

South Africa , to whom certain brethren applied for advice as to how Ihey should proceed in order to obtain a warrant for a Royal Arch chapter is not one and thc same with Bro . R . 31 . Roberts , Dist . Grand Master , to

whom the Principals and P . Zs . of the two English Royal Arch chapters at Kimberley addressed their letter of remonstrance against the conduct of the Dist Grand Officer in question . Thus the material part of Bro . Richards ' s criticism falls to thc ground .

* * Wc are pleased lo be in a position to supplement our " Note " of last week as to Bro . Alderman Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., Patron and Treasurer ,

having kindly consented to preside at the 1 ioth Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , with the further ar . nounccmcnl that the date fixed for its celebration is Wednesday , thc iSlh May next .

In our report last week of the installation meeting , on the ioth ultimo , of the Alliance Lodge , No . 1827 , we stated that Bro . Ernest Clarke was invested as S . W . j and Bro . Baron de Bush , as J . W . Thc latter was appointed S . W ., and Bro . Ernest Clarke , M . D ., the J . W . It was the S . W . ( Bro . Baron de

Bush ) who replied for " The Officers . " We also omitted to state that Bro . Maj . Henry VVright , P . M ., was re-appointed the D . C , Bro . Sir John Monckton , who nominated him in the lodge , and installed him as W . M . many years ago , complimenting Bro . Wright in lodge lor his manner of directing the ceremonies .

* * It is with very great pleasure wc announce that Bro . J . W . Woodall , Past G . Treasurer , has very kindly undertaken to deliver a lecture before the pupils of thc Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , at Wood Green ,

on Tuesday , thc 7 th instant , at 7 . 30 p . m . The proceedings will take place in the Assembly Hall , and the lecture , which will be illustrated by dissolving views , will be entitled " A Trip to Canada . " We have no doubt the boys will appreciate the kindness which has

prompted Bro . Woodall to describe to them one of the most important of our Colonial possessions , nor will the friends of the Institution be less ready than the boys themselves in their acknowledgments of thc service he is thus rendering . * * *

We learn with regret that in thc report of thc White Rose of York Lodge , No . 2491 , which appeared in our issue of the 13 th ult ., thc name of Bro . W . S , Hepper should have been associated , by mistake , in place of Bro . J . V . Thomas , P . M ., with the toast of "The Sister Lodges and Visiting Brethren . "

* * * A new Masonic HaU is now about to bc built at Williamsport , Pa ., and on 20 th October last Bro . Wm . J . Kelly , Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , with the assistance of his Grand Officers

laid the foundation-stone in the presence of a numerous gathering of spectators ; who watched with keen interest the unusual proceedings . An oration , suitable to the occasion , was delivered , and when the ceremony was over there was a banquet .

» * * The Grand Lodge of Missouri , which hell its animal communication in Si . Louis during the latter half of October , appears to be in very flourishing circumstances , notwithstanding that during thc year

then closed its membership was slightly reduced . The statistical returns then presented show that there were at that date 561 lodges on the roll of Grand Lodge with an aggregate membership of 30 , 61 ( 1 , or less by 173 than at the close of the preceding year . The

receipts during the year amounted to 30 , 616 dollars , the general fund to 6 9 472 dollars , and the disbursements to 28 , 623 . Of the several Boards of Relief thc Si . Louis heads the list with a fund of N 46 dollars , and disbursements amouting to 634 dollars , the St . Joseph ' s

Board having 671 dollars and disbursing 101 dollars , while the Kansas City Board had funds amounting to 3375 dollars and disbursed 796 dollars . The new Grand Mastcr for the present year is Bro . F . J . Tygard , while Bro , thc Rev . John D . Vincil retains the post of

G . Secretary , which for some time past he has held with honour to himself and to the great advantage of the Cralt in Missouri . One of his most arduous duties and at the same lime one which he discharges with conspicuous ability is lhat of compiling the Report on

Correspondence which is appended to thc published proceedings of the Grand Lodge at its annual communication and at any other meeting which may be held during the year , it being one of the many labours devolving upon Bro . Vincil which show him at his best .