Correspondence.

Correspondence .

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE LODGE , NO . 24 . To the Editor of the "Freemason . '' Dear Sirjand Brother , Replying to the enquiry of " P . G . R . " in the Freemason of 28 th September , the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge , No . 24 , formerly No . 15 , of the " Ancients , "

dates from 24 th September , 1805 , only , and not from the year 1753 , which was the date of the original No . 15 , a London lodge that lapsed about 1766 . By uniting , however , in the year 1814 , with an older lodge , "St . Nicholas Lodge , " warranted by the "Moderns" on 29 th November , 1766 ( not 2 nd April , 1 S 13 , as stated

by " P . G . R . " ) I assume the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge claimed to be entitled to a centenary warrant in 1866 . It is , of course , incorrect to claim for any lodge an existence prior to its constitution , simply because it was fortunate enough to obtain , by purchase or otherwise , a warrant of some old and defunct lodge . It has ,

however , been attempted , but on this subject your readers are referred to my new work ( " A Handy Book to the Study of the Lists of Lodges" ) * for many curious examples of lodges obtainingpriority of position on the roll , and also , in not a few cases , centenary warrants to which they were never entitled .

Clearly in the present instance the "Athol Lodge " of 1805 could not be entitled to a centenary warrant until 1905 , but having , somehow , secured a very high place on the register , it was evidently not desirous of relinquishing its precedence , and consequently the older lodge ( of 1766 ) , being much lower on the list , had to undergo erasure from the register altogether .

Whether by its absorption in 1814 of the members of an older lodge , the lodge of 1805 was entitled to claim tbe privileges of the senior , is a point on which perhaps opinions may differ . But it is evident that onl y by such a method could the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge both retain its own numerical precedence , and obtain a centenary warrant , by thus linking on the antiquity of a lodge which had ceased to exist . The date , 1752-3 , in the Official Calendar is altogether incorrect . —Yours fraternally , JNO . LANE . [ The point raised b y " P . G . R ., " and in part answered by Bro . Lane , is a curious one . If the members of an older lodge joined a junior body for the sake of precedence , and thus sacrificed their warrant , we fail to see how its continuity could possibly be preserved . Clearly ,

in such a case , the junior lodge with the senior number became the continuing organisation , and thus the members had precedency without proportionate chronological seniority . At least , this is a reasonable view of the matter , whatever may have been permitted . — ED . F . M . J

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

857 ] AFRICAN LODGE , WARRANTED FOR BOSTON , U . S . A ., 17 S 4 . Effing bam , Ho all ani > even ? our Right Wor-ZtlS . / llb . shipful and loving JBretbrCIl , we Thomas Howard , Earl of Effingham , © Lord Howard , & c , & c , & c , Acting Grand Master under the authority of His Royal Highness , Henry Frederick , Duke of Cumberland , & c , & c , & c , Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , sends greeting : IRltOW ]!> e , tbat We , at the humble petition of our rig ht trusty and well-beloved JBl'Ctbl'eil , Prince Hall , Boston Smith , Thomas Sanderson , and several other JGrCtbl'CIl residing in Boston , New England , in North America , do herebv constitute the said Jl 3 l' £ - tbrdl into a regular % 0 t ) QC Of SfKC H \\ b 2 lCCeptC &

ilftJlSOllS , under the title or denomination of the Z'lfl'iCan XoDCie , to Le opened in Boston aforesaid , and do further at their said petition , hereby appoint the said Prince Hall to be Master , Boston Smith , Senior Warden , and Thomas Sanderson , Junior Warden , for opening the said XO & QC . and for such further time only

as shall be thought proper by the Brethren thereof , it being our will that this our appointment of the above officers shall in no wise affect any future election of officers of the XO & CJC , but that such election shall be regulated agreeable to such by-laws of said XO & Cje as shall be consistent with the general laws of the society ,

contained in the Book of Constitutions : and we hereb y will and require you , the said Prince Hall , to take especial care that all and every the said Brethren are , or have been , regularly made Masons , and that they do observe , perform , and keep all the rules and orders contained in the Book of Constitutions ; and , further , that you do , from time to time , cause to be entered in a book kept

for that purpose , an account of your proceedings in the XO & fle , together with all such rules , orders , and regulations , as shall be made for the good government of the same , that in no wise you omit once in every year to send to us , or our successors , Grand Masters , or to Rowland Holt , Esq ., our Deputy Grand Master , for the time being , an account in writing of your said proceed-

Masonic Notes And Queries.

ings , and copies of all such rules , orders , and regulations as shall be made as aforesaid , together with a list of the members of the X 0 t > l ) e , and such a sum of money as may suit the circumstances of the XO & Qe and reasonably be expected towards the Grand Charity . Moreover , we hereby will and require you , the said Prince Hall , as soon as conveniently may be , to send

an account in writing of what may be clone by virtue of these presents . ( BiVCII at London , under our hand and seal of Masonry , this 29 th day of September , A . L . 8 4 , A . D . 1784 . By the Grand Master ' s Command , R . HOLT , D . G . M . Witness , Wm . White , G . S .

[ Reproduction of A . D . 1884 . —Per W . J . H . J A CURIOUS WORK OF 1723 . "An ODE to the Grand Khaibar . . . London , Printed and Sold by J . Roberts in the Ox f ord Arms Passage near Warwick Lane . MDCCXXVI . Price

Six-Pence . " So runs the title-page of this curious Svo pamphlet of 12 pages . It is amusing , Masonically , as the author takes every opportunity in the poem ( of three parts ) to prove that this wonderful Society of the Khaibar is much more worthy and ancient than that of the Freemasons .

" Wherever Buildings MASONS found , To praise their art they pick'd occasion ; Hence CAIN was for the CRAIH" renown'd , And mighty NIMROD was a MASON . But Noah made an Ark , 'tis true , Whose ship a mighty stress they play on , As if they no Distinction knew

Between a shipwrig ht and a MASON . " After a sketch of the claims brought forward doubtless by the Rev . James Anderson in the "Book of Constitutions , " 1723 , which certainly did not fail in pretension whatever they lacked in proof , we are assured as follows :

" But the Grand Khaibar wise disdains To idle Dreams or Shifts to flee , Unmov'd , immortal it remains Firm founded on SOCIETY . " It is useful now to know what was accepted as tradition in Masonry early last century , and so poems of the character of the one noted supply all needful information .

^^m " The Saxo / is , Normans , Danes are nam'd , And Athelstan ' s and Edwin ' s charter ; And Jamy for his KING CRAFT fam'd , And Charles the Mason , and the Martyr . " The conclusion , while it is supposed to immortalise the Khaibar , will at least serve to keep it in our memories , even if it does not convince us of its claim to such a distinction .

" The Craftsmen ' s Honours Treasures are Of Fairies , lost as soon as shown , Let the Grand Khaibar happier far Improve and shine by being known . Y ' ou who in Friendship dear delight ,

1 uneful in chorus all unite Immortalize the Khaibarite . Finis ! I have lately come across the foregoing extracts from this singular book of 1726 , made by me many years ago . The whole of its contents will be found transferred to the pages of Vol . I . of the "Masonic

Reprints " of our students' lodge ( No . 2076 ) , and thus will be made known to a wide circle of readers throughout the Masonic world . Another peculiar and suggestive work is "The Freemasons ; an Hudibrastic Poem , " noted by me at p . 15 of my " Ori gin of the English Rite of Freemasonry , " 1884 . It was published in 1723 , and is rarely met with . W . J . HUGHAN .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

Ihe motion for an injunction in the action of Lord Lei gh and others v . the Vestry of St . Mary , Battersea , to restrain the defendants from erecting the bridge over the railway at St . John ' s Hill in such a way as to interfere with the access of the plaintiffs to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , came on again before

Mr . Justice Denman , in the Vacation Court , on Wednesday , but as the parties had not come to terms , as it . had been suggested on the former Wednesday they probably would , Mr . justice Denman refused to fully hear the case , as it would interfere with the other business before the Court , and he , therefore , adjourned the arguments of counsel till to-day ( Friday ) .

* A formal invitation has been addressed to the Prince of Wales to visit Dublin next spring to open the new buildings in which the collections of the National Museum of Science and Art and the National Library of Ireland are to be

lodged . Hopes had been at one time entertained that her Majesty might be able to attend the ceremony , but an intimation has already been forwarded to the proper quarter to theeffect that such a visit would be out of the question . The answer of his Royal Highness is therefore awaited with the utmost anxiety .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft finmsonrp , Metropolitan Meetings . Faith Lodge ( No . 141 ) . —This very old lod ge resumed its meetings on the 24 th ult ., at Anderton ' s Hotel Fleet-street . Among those present were Bros . Hakim ' W . M . ; C . Dairy , P . M ., acting S . W . ; Wetzlar , J . W .-Carter , P . M ., Treas . ; Stuart , P . M ., Sec ; Langdal !/ S . D . ; Bye , J . D . ; Sheppard , I . G . ; Longstaffe , Tyler-E . Hopwood , ' P . M „ P . P . G . S . B . Middx . ; Rumball , P . M ' .

Heaplcy , P . M . ; T . C . Walls , P . M ., P . P . G . W . Middx .-Jordan , P . M . ; Fromholtz , P . M . ; Coop , P . M . ; and others ' . The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed Bro . Wetzlar , J . W ., was elected W . M . ; Bro . Carter , ' P . M ., Treas . ( 31 st time ); Bro . Longstaffe , Tyler ; and Bros . Holland , Godfrey , Charnley , Taylor , and R yan Auditors . Bro . Sheppard was elected on the Benevolent

Fund Committee . I he report of the death of Brc . Fenn an old member of the lodge , was received with regret , and a letter of condolence was ordered to be sent by the Secretary to the family of the deceased . Upon the suggestion of Bro . Hopwood , P . M ., the members subscribed a sum of money sufficient to defray the cost of a handsome funeral wreath as a token of respect to the memory of Bro . Fenn . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment . After the usual preliminary toasts had been duly honoured , Bro . Hopwood gave " The Health of the W . M . " Bro . Hakim , in reply , expressed his gratitude to the brethren for the support that they had given him durino- a most trying year of office . He had the satisfaction of knowing that he had gained their respect and confidence ,

which was fully evinced by their unanimously voting him a jewel that evening . Before sitting down , he said he wished to propose "The Health of the W . M . elect . " Bro . Wetzlar was an initiate of the lodge , and had discharged the duties of the minor offices well . He was a personal friend of his , and he believed that in every way the W . M . elect would be found worthy of the confidence reposed in him .

I he toast having been warmly received , Bro . Wetzlar replied in a neat speech . Bros . Ramsey and Smith responded on behalf of " The Visitors ; " Bro . Walls for "The Past Masters ; " Bros . Carter and Stuart for " The Treasurer and Secretary ;" and Bros . Langdale , Bye , and Sheppard for "The Officers . "

1 he proceeding's then terminated . Grosvenor Lodge ( No . 1257 ) . —This 'odge held its first meeting after the recess on Tuesday last , at Freemasons' Hall , under the Mastership of Bro . G . Edwin Saunders , who was installed on the 7 th of May . The W . M . was supported by Bros . John Chapman , S . W . ; E . J . Morse , J . W . ; J . F . Pilditch , Treas . ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . M .,

Sec ; E . Cole , J . D . ; E . G . Younger , Steward ; John Smith , P . M . ; H . White , P . M . ; Wm . H . Wyon , P . M . ; R . Baker , P . M . ; besides several lay members ; and the following visitors : Bros . W . Brindley , P . M . 1604 ; Walter S . Andrews , 177 ; Y . T . N . Fannan , 177 ; H . Massey , P . M . 619 and 1928 ; and J . F . Morgan , W . M . 2070 . The business done at the meeting was the raising of Bro . Hawkins and the passing of Bro . Tilden Russell , both of

which ceremonies were performed by the W . M . in as excellent style as that in which he initiated Bro . Russell on the installation day . _ His officers also showed themselves proficient in their duties , and the ceremonies were conducted in every way that could reflect credit on the lodge . The brethren afterwards partook of a very nice banquet at Freemasons' Tavern , and subsequently honoured the usual toasts .

In replying to the toast of " The W . M . " Bro . Saunders said he telt anxious at the earliest po sible moment to get rid of the weight of responsibility of replying to tbe toast which had been so kindly honoured . It was very kind of Bro . Cottebrune to refer to him in the flatterinsr manner

that he did , but he ( the W . M . ) was conscious of his defects —some defects he thought in the performance of the ceremonies-but then it was the first time he worked the ceremonies in open lodge , and it was to be expected he would show some diffidence . He hoped , however , on a future occasion that he would be perfect . Having been an initiate in this lodge , and now getting into the chair , he felt a

peculiar pleasure , as well as pride , in having had conferred upon him so high a distinction . He assured the brethren that nothing- would be wanting on his part to do what he could for the lodge . Bros . Brindley , Massey , Andrews , Fannan , and Frank Morgan replied to the toast of " The Visitors . " . The W . M . in proposing "The P . M . 's , " said he " hal

experienced the kindness of the P . M . ' s since he J occupied the chair , and he was sure he should be well and ably supported by them during his year of office . ' »«'' Cottebrune was the oldest P . M . of the lodge , and that brother had informed him that the next installation wouM celebrate the coming of age of the lodge , that day being the 21 st anniversary of the consecration of the lodge .

Bro . Baker said , although not a founder of the lodge , " ^ had served an apprenticeship of iS years . He was sorO ' the lodge had lost the membership of Bro . Alexander , P- '" ' one of the most genial of Past Masters , and one who couK sing a good song . They had lost in him a good P . M ;> ' li

he hoped that as time went on they would be able to I "V the ranks . It was always a pleasure to know the ljret "' ' r ' had enjo ) ed themselves , and he hoped that would he case that night . . . Bro . J . Smith said he was always ready to assist ! W . M ., " but the W . M . 's were so efficient that there was lit "

for the P . M . ' s to do . . ,. Bro . Horace Smith reiterated Bro . Smith ' s sentiiw " * and anything he could do to assist the W . M . in " ° ' ' D the lodge he should do so most willingly . . | , Bro . Wyon could only add that he was haPPy . y ji , amongst the brethren—with his predecessors . 'I " did not want any education from the P . M . ' s .