Contents.

CONTENTS .

TRADERS I Masonic Benevolence in 18 S 3 3 Freemasonry in Ireland , 1750-50 3 Thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ( Continued ) 3 CoKRESI-ONOEXCE—. A Great Mistake $ Thc Hughan Testimonial , 5 Province of West I ^ -incashire , 5 Our Summary for 18 S 3 5 llaverstock Working Orphan School 5 Reviews 0

Notes and Queries 6 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Festival 6 Obituary 6 Masonic Bazaar at Salford 6 Presentation to Bro . and Mrs . E . Dawkins 1 Craft Masonry 7 Ireland 8 The Theatres 8 Masonic and General Tidings .. 0 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 10

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A NEW and untried year is again before us . What will it bring- us al ' Masonically or otherwise ? With respect to international questions or polical complications , the Freemason has nothing whatever to do . Such things are utterly alien from the scope , the design , thc mission of Freemasonry , and whenever and whereever this most important truth is forgotten or set on one side , there Freemasonry is in great danger . It may flourish for a few years amid the

glare of fireworks , thc flourish of trumpets , or thc ephemeral applause of apparent success ; but as assuredly a NEMESIS is at hand , and losing its vantage ground and foregoing its great prestige , that body or jurisdiction , so reckless of the fundamental principles of true . Cosmopolitan Freemasonry , sinks into weakness , decadence , and oblivion . A new year , therefore , has an interest for all faithful members of our Order , in that it seems to point to and augur

under favouring auspices , of much good work for Masonic fraternity and Masonic charity , of a faithful carrying out , as before thc world and men , of thc principles wc profess , of thc active results we seek to devclope . Freemasonry , —English Freemasonry especially , commences a new year with everything in its favour , with all that can tend to inspire hope , or gratify anticipation . United and peaceful , prosperous and

progressive , 10 y . 11 , ana yet independent , in naciity to us neau ana faithful to its own principles , it marches on in serried ranks , and in goodly outcome . Never at any time were its rightful characteristics belter manifested , or more soundly upheld . Those of us who have grown old in its service , those of us who are Neophytes in its arena , may equally feel proud of our " Alma Mater , " as it stands out , as far as we can sec or say , without self glorification or self conceit , in many marked respects from other jurisdictions ,

certainly " second to none , if not " primus cntrc pares . , I he friendships wc have formed , and the companionships we have created , in cheerful confidence and heartiest sociality , are still very precious to us all , and as year follows year , and wc ourselves grow older with each expiring 12 months , we can rejoice more and more to remember that our willing feet once

led us to the friendly portals of a Freemasons lodge , that sympathetic hands were held out to us , that warm hearts were expanded for us , and that wc have never regretted the happy and peaceful moment when wc were admitted to share in Masonic trust and comradeship , goodwill , benevolence , and light .

»* # THE passage of time has often been a favourite topic for the philosopher and poet , preacher and sage . It is a fact wc cannot doubt or dispute , explain or hinder . It is alike beyond thc power or control of man . Affecting in its issue or reality , it almost passes out of that range of personal knowledge , which constitutes one of the greatest elements of human power and human

happiness . " Time is , lime was , time will be , " is still the utterance of that Mystic Oracle , which startled thc worshippers in Egyptian Arcana , just as it is proclaimed by modern Hicrophants to-day , as the great mystery of life passes on before our eyes , speeds in its haste , or draws to its close . If twelve months constitute , as they do , a considerable portion of thc actual life of any of us , how soon arc they gone , how rapidly they have passed

away . It seems but yesterday wc were talking of and planning for 1 SS 3 , and here we are in 1884 . Let us repeat thc operation from the reverse , and how true is the same realization of 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 years which have run away with some of us . The Freemason ha-j yearly a tale to tell of parted hours and vanished friends . The brethren , the companions , the comrades with whom

wc commence a new year do not always sec its close . I hey leave us , or we leave them . What 1 S 84 will witness for us and for our lodges who of us can venture to say or even venture to seek to predicate ? Over the future that mysterious veil is hung which serves alike for the incentive of hope and trust , faith and work . Such is our appointed lot . With this wc must be content .

* * # THE results of our charitable efforts in behalf our great Metropolitan Institutions arc now before us . Thc whole amount to the close of 18 S 3 is £ 56 , 110 4 s . 3 d ., and which is divided as follows : thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution has received £ 18 , 440 6 S . the Royal Masonic

Institution for Girls has raised £ 12 , 650 is . 2 d . ; and thc Royal Masonic Institution for Boys has got together the very abnormal amount of £ 25 , 010 17 s . id . ; in all , as we said before , of £ 56 , 110 4 s . 3 d . By this it will be seen that thc Royal Masonic Institution for Boys is a long way ahead of the other Institutions . ' Let us mark and inwardly digest these speaking figures , better than many speeches , truer than

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countless orations . There is often a wide difference between words and deeds , profession and practice , figures and facts , but English Freemasonry can claim this peculiar merit , that while its figures arc real its professions are true , and its practice is in concurrence with its teaching . We often feel inclined to say , ' * Oh happy and wonderful Freemasons , " but not believing in " gush , " and having little confidence in " sentiment" we confine ourselves to expressing the hope that in 1 S 84 , as in

1 SS 3 , English Freemasonry will continueto set an example to other jurisdictions , and to Cosmopolitan Freemasonry , demonstrating to the Brotherhood and mankind that it is endeavouring to act up to its great teaching and that the principles it avows , the message it proclaims arc not nicrc-ly thc outcome of impulse or excitement , but that crown of Masonic reality , fidelity , and benevolence which so distinguishes , ( no doubt amid many shortcomings ) , the contemporary exhibition and yearly existence of Anglican Freemasonry .

* * * BY one of those unaccountable and regrettable mistakes which will somehow occur , the name of the Marquis of LONDONDERRY is substituted for that of Viscount HOLMESDALE as presiding over thc very successful festival of the Boys' School in June last . Wc are sincerely sorry for tlie mistake . »*»

WE have been favoured with the following explanation in respect of a complaint about accommodation for Past Grand Stewards at the last meeting of Grand Lodge . The room set apart for Grand Stewards is only designed for thc Grand Stewards for the year , and Past Grand Stewards could not be accommodated there on account of their numbers . Past Grand

Stewards can clothe and leave their " belongings " in the general room , but it is impossible to give ihem access to the Grand Stewards' room . Besides which , it may be remarked that Past Grand Stewards only attend Grand Lodge in virtue of their status as Masters , Past Masters , or Wardens of lodges , and therefore do not sign thc Grand Stewards' attendance book , but that placed in thc room where thc London brethren sign and clothe .

• • • As IN a recent issue wc were complaining of the paucity of Irish Masonic news , thanks lo thc courtesy of a well-known brother , we are pleased to be enabled to call attention to a Masonic gathering in Cork Cathedral . Wc agree with our confrere thc editor of the Cork Constitution that such an event

constitutes a red-letter day for the Freemasons of Munstcr . To use his words , " Through thc ready courtesy of thc Dean and the generous compliance of the Bishop , thc spacious Cathedral was placed at the service of ' the Craft , ' and a magnificent demonstration was made , without any failure or drawback . The organ , the choir , thc procession of the brethren in their striking and symbolic attire , the overflowing congregation , filling the sacred

edifice in all parts , and leaving outside almost as many as obtained admission , were all that could be desired . Appropriate lessons were read by the Rev . W . DAUNT , of Queenstown , and thc Rev . J STOKOE ( both members of thc Masonic Order ); while thc sermon , at once able and eloquent , was dolivered by the Rev . ROBERT WILLUM DELACOUR , also a Freemason . Altogether thc service , from beginning to end , when thc LORIJ BISHOP

pronounced the Benediction , was a splendid success . The sermon was for the most part a defence of Masonry , and effectually freed it from the foul and flippant charges which have been hurled against it . " We understand that the Irish Freemasons are very anxious to raise thc sum of . £ 10 , 000 ' , to give to their Boys' School a "local habitation " fitted for a school , and we trust such a praiseworthy endeavour may be ere long successful .

# * # WE hasten to announce a fact which will give satisfaction to all our readers , and will ensure , we think , a very successful gathering for thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Festival . It is this—that the GRAND TREASURER has kindly consented to preside on that occasicn , and wc feel sure that in his hands thc interests of that most valuable Institution arc certain to be both cordially upheld and materially benefitted .

• # WE understand that Bro . J AMES TERRY up to date is 35 under the usual number of Stewards for thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Festival . Wc beg respectfully to urge upon many friends of this admirable Institution , none more needed or valuable lo relieve the most trying and touching cases of simple penury , to strengthen the hands of Bro . TERRY , by joining thc Board of Stewards at once .

# * # BRO . J AMES TERRY has had very hard work in finding a Chairman , owing to various conflicting causes , and deserves great credit for the zeal and perseverance with which he has overcome all difficulties . A very distinguished nobleman was unable for several weeks to give a decided

answer , which has delayed matters considerably , but Bro . TERRY has reason to hope that , as Bro . J . D . ALLCROIT has kindl y consented to preside in February next , he shall be favoured once again with the hearty and effective support not only of a numerous and energetic body ol Stewards , but the still more effective encouragement of a goodly gathering , and of full returns .