Masonic Ball At Brighton.

MASONIC BALL AT BRIGHTON .

Owing to the thorough success of the late Masonic Ball a few weeks ago , by which twenty guineas were cleared and equally divided between the Boys' and Girls' Schools maintained by the Craft , and likewise , and in no small measure , in consequence of the thorough enjoyment which

was obtained on that occasion , it was resolved to repeat it , at an early date , in aid of the Brighton and Hove Dispensary , and it took place at the Royal Pavilion on the 10 th tilt . Perhnps we are not strictly correct in calling it a " Masonic Ball , " when the circulars describe it as a " Private

Invitation Ball , " but the Masonic element was so far paramount last evening , that we feel bound to give honour where honour is due . All the Stewards were Masons , theM . C ' s were Masons , the Committee were Masons , the Hon . Sec . a Mason , the caterer of the creature comforts and

the necessary florist were Masons , and the band was led hy a Mason . How then could we shut our Masonic eyes to the fact , especially after the gratuitous inuendo made not long since at a public meeting with reference to the Craft and local charities . It is not our desire to rake up

this old grievance , but we merely throw aside the cloak on this occasion to show that beyond maintaining their own charities , the Freemasons seme time do good by stealth , and thus hide their blushes . However , the ball last night was " awfully jolly , " and the enjoyment was

participated in by about 160 guests . Between the first and second part there was an interval of forty-five minutes , and the guests improved each shining quarter-hour by the making of tissue and sustaining of stamina by the agreeable process of sitting down to supper in the drawing room—the repast being served by

Mr . Albert Cowley , of the West Pier restaurant in his usual admirable style . The following gentlemen acted as M . C ' s ., Mr . J . Robinson , Mr . J . W . Staples , Mr . C . W . Hudson , and Mr . G . Emery , and Mr . A . J . Hawkes was the indefatigable Secretary of the indefatigable Committee , who carried out all the arrangements in the most perfect manner .

Grand Masonic Ball At Barrow In-Furness.

GRAND MASONIC BALL AT BARROW IN-FURNESS .

The most brilliant affair in the matter of balls which has ever been held in this town took place on the 25 th ult ., under the auspices of the " brethren of the Mystic Tie " of Barrow . The ball was got up for the benefit of the Masonic Charities . A dispensation was granted by the

Provincial Grand Master , Lord Skelmersdale , for the purpose , to the Hindpool Lodge , No . 1225 , and it was carried out under the auspices of the brethren of that lodge and the brethren of the Hartington Lodge , No . 1021 , and by their united efforts was one [ of unequalled success . The ball

was under the patronage of Bro . Sir James Ramsden , W . M . ; Bro . H . W . Schneider , P . M ., P . P . G . J . W . ; Bro . J . T . Smith , Esq . ( Mayor of Barrow ) , P . M . ; Bro H . Cook , Esq ., P . M ., P . P . G . R . for Cumberland and Westmoreland ; Bro . Robt . W . Graham , W . M ., and the officers and

brethren of the neighbouring lodges . The arrangements were entrusted to the hands of an active committee , whose exertions deserve great commendation . The decorations were conducted by a sub-committee , consisting of Bros . J . Lewis , B . Townson , and W . Gradwell , junr .

The doors of the hall were thrown open at halfpast eight o ' clock , and shortly after that time carriages rolled . up and deposited their beautifullydecked occupants at the entrance , which was laid with richly-coloured carpets , as were also the stairs , at the sides of which and on the landing

were placed beautiful plants and flowers in pots , kindly lent for the occasion by Sir James Ramsden , His Worship the Mayor ( J . T . Smith , Esq . ) , Joseph Fisher , Esq ., Fairfield , and othergentlemen . The ante-room on the ground floor was set apart for the gentlemens' dressing room , and was attended to by Bro . Gabbat . The corresponding

room "upstairs was most tastefully fitted up as the ladies' dressing room , and was attended to by Mrs . Gabbat . The ball room itself was a most magnificent- display of taste , and the greatest credit is due to Mr . J . Lewis , under whose personil supervision and direction the whole was MrrM tut , ftr th « , grft & 4 effect prodttMd .

Grand Masonic Ball At Barrow In-Furness.

The refreshments were provided by Bro . R . T . Taylor , and were set out on the platform . The table was most beautifully laid with all that the heart could desire , and in a style which could not but please the most fastidious eye , and with a taste which did great credit to the purveyor . This

department was brilliantly lighted by a massive gasalier with six branches , each branch having seven jets , and in front of the tables were placed settees for the accommodation of the company . There were in all about 90 couples present .

Dancing commenced at nine o ' clock to the excellent music of Mr . Kearsley ' s band . Mr . M . Haslam and Mr . W . Gradwell , junr ., acted most ably as Masters of Ceremonies , and the Stewards were most assiduous in their attention to the

comforts and convenience of the large company . We must especially thank the Committee and the two Secretaries , Bros . Kershaw and Milner , for the attention they paid to the representatives of the Press .

Dancing was kept up with great spirit until half-past four o ' clock on Wednesday morning , when the party broke up highly delighted with the ball , which in every respect was one of the greatest successes .

An excellent photograph of the ball room has been taken by Messrs . Richards and Ludlam , which they have printed , and copies are now on sale . — Barrow Pilot .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

On Thursday , the 27 th . ult ., the half-yearly communication of this Provincial Grand Lodge was holden at the Alfred Lodge Rooms , Leeds , at the invitation of the Copley Lodge of Mark Masters , No . in . A Mark Masters Lodge was opened at 12 , and at 12 . 30 the P . G . M . M .,

accompanied by his officers ( there ' being only two absentees ) , entered the room , the P . G . L ., was opened , and the . P G . M . M ., formally saluted . On the roll of lodges being called over , every lodge in the province was found to have representatives present . The minutes of the previous meeting having

been confirmed , and the usual routine business transacted , the P . G . M . M ., proceeded to invest the officers for the ensuing 18 months , as follows : —Bros . Thomas Burgess , 14 , P . S . G . W . ; Thomas Schofield , \ m , P . J . G . W . ; | Thos . S . Higgins , 137 , P . G . M . O . ; Wm . F . Wilkinson ;

58 , P . G . S . O . ; Allen Jackson , 137 , P . G . J . O . ; Rev . Thos . C . Smyth , D . D . 111 , P . G . Chap . ; Geo . Normanton , Past P . G . J , of W . 58 , P . G , Treas . ; W . H . D . Horsfall , 58 , P . G . Reg . ; W . Cooke , Past G . S . O . 58 , P . G . Sec ; J . Holroyd , 14 , P . G . S . D . ; Thos . Oakden , 14 , P . G . J . D . ;

John Sykes , 110 , P . G . J , of W . ; John Armitage , 127 , P . G . D . of C ; John Sobley , 127 , P . G . A . D . of C . j J . P . Crossley , M . D ., in , P . G . Sw . B . ; R . Williamson , 137 , P . G . S . B . ; Thos . Whitaker , 58 , P . G . Org . ; Henry Haigh , in , P . G . J . G . ; Wm , Tasker , 5 S , Mark Newsome , 127 , John

Stones , no , H . W . Wrigley , 14 , P . G . Stewards ; The P . G . Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Griffin Hotel , where a banquet had been provided . The P . G . M . M . presided , and after the withdrawal of the cloth ,

the usual loyal , patriotic , and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , and a very pleasant time was spent , everything tending to show that the establishment of a P . G . L ., in West Yorkshire was giving an impetus to the Mark Masters' degree .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

At the first meeting of the Board of Stewards for the Festival , held on the 18 th ult ., Col . Burdett , Prov . Grand Master for Middlesex , was elected President ; Bro . J . B . Monckton , S . G . D . Treasurer , and Bro . Wentworth Little , Secretary . Bros . Monckton , Baldwin , Bullen , Cubitt , Morton , Moss , and Roberts were elected members of

the Musical Committee , and Bros . Monckton , Cubitt , Hopwood , Kenning , and Levander , as a committee to superintend the arrangements for the Festival . The Stewards' fee was fixed at three guineas , and the Secretary intimated that he should be glad to receive the names of additional brethren willing to serve as Stewards .

Masonic Tidings.

Masonic Tidings .

A Provincial "Grand Chapter of the Western Division of the County of Lancaster , will be held at the Guildhall , Preston , on Wednesday , the 16 th April , at 3 o ' clock , for the purpose of installing the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale as M . E : Provincial Grand Superintendent , and for the transaction of other business :

Ihe M . W . G . M . has been pleased to grant a warrant for the constitution of a new lodge to be called "The Great City , " No . 1426 , to be held at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , E . C . Bro .

James Stevens , P . M . 720 , 1216 , 70 , 105 , 441 ; Bro . Nathan B . Headon , 771 , and Bro . Jas . H . Townend , P . M . 715 , are the principal officers designate .

STRONG MAN LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . — On Monday evening , March 24 th , Bro . Beckett , Preceptor , worked the first ceremony , and gave the lecture on the tracing board , supported by

Bros . Rutter , S . W . ; Sickle , J-W . j and some 20 other brethren . A vote of thanks was ordered to be recorded for the manner in which the W . M . gave the ceremony .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

THE " SECRET HISTORY" MASOXIt : CONSTITUTIONS .

Since my last communication in The Freemason ( of March 15 th ) and Bro . Norton ' s article on Briscoes' work , Bro . Charles Molly , P . M . ( -i ? Manchester ) has kindly directed my attention t > i page 125 of Dr . Kloss ' s " Bibliographie der

Freimaurei ( No . 1832 , ) where I find that the ' ¦ Secret History" is mentioned of date 1725 . It did not appear to me to be so old , so it will probably turn out that Bro . Norton was ri ght , and myself wrong , as to the year in which the pamphlet first appeared . Dr . Kloss states that

the " Secret History" gives a copy of Coles ' Constitutions . This is not correct , for I have compared the two carefully . Another Masonic Student has written me to the effect that Briscoes' work of 1725 contains a transcript of Roberts' MS ., published in 1722 , lately reprinted

by Bro . R . Spencer ( of London ) . This also is incorrect , as the two have been carefully collated by me , and also at the same time , word for word with the " Harleian MS . 1942 , " but it is quite evident to me that the author ( or compiler ) of the "Secret History" of 1725 never copied in

any way from either the printed pamphlet of 1 7 , or the MS . of about A . D . 1670 . ( No . 1942 ) . On the whole I am inclined to believe that the Harleian MS ., No . 20 ^ 4 , was the text for Briscoes' pamphlet , for with one or two trivial exceptions they read as one document . "Roberts ' MS , " and " Harleian MS . 1942 " are so peculiar ,

they differ so radically from all other MSS ., in having the " New Articles , " and agree only with two or three others in containing the " Apprentice Charge" ( which peculiarities are not to be found in " Briscoes ' MS . " ) , that it is quite easy to decide when they are used by any one as the text for a "Masonic Constitution . "—W . J . HUGHAN .

QUERY FOR BRO . J . 1 'INDEL . Do you know anything of two Manuscripts said to be in the library of "' Donau Eschingen , " mentioned by a person of the name of " Barack " in a catalogue of the manuscripts there .

One purports to be a " Geschicte der Fraumaurerie , " and the other to be a list of Masonic books . Donau Eschingen is the seat of Prince Fiirstenberg apparently in the Grand Ducny of Baden . —A . F . A . WOODFORD , P . G . C .

A BOON TO EVERY fjousEiioLD . —Boots , with the celebrated wire-quilted soles , wearing twice as long as ordinary leather , for all ages ; and children ' s boots with metallic tips , which never wear out at the toes , may be had at most shoe dealers . Insist on giving these atrial , and judge on their merits .