An Important Find!

The lecture took an hour in delivery , and was frequently interrupted by manifestations of the delight with which the various points were received . At its termination many questions were

put , and answered by Bro . Gould in an instructive manner . The unique method of treatment of the architectural side of the subject led to some diversity of opinion , as was only to be expected from the novel arguments adduced .

The customary vote of thanks was proposed from the chair , passed with acclamation , and eloquently acknowledged by Bro . Gould , who took occasion to make graceful allusion to the fact that Bro . Macbean , who was , like himself , an officer of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , London , appeared ( in the

spirit of this lodge ) to be carrying on a systematic course of instruction and lectures in No . 50 Chapter , from which he augured the happiest results . After motion made , Bro . T W . Brownlie conferred " Honorary Affiliation " on Bro . Gould . At the close of the evening a collection was taken in aid of the Benevolent o Fund of the Supreme Chapter .

The entire proceedings occupied three hours . Banquets , it may be observed , are not usual in the . North , as in England . The Chairman ' s remarks were greeted with loud and continued applause , and served to give a cheerful tone to the meeting , as well as to create that useful bond of sympathy which should always exist between a speaker and his audience .

The Religion Of Freemasonry.

THE RELIGION OF FREEMASONRY .

In these days of compromise and backboneless surrender of principles , it is refreshing to read such a book as Bro . H . J . Whymper ' s " Religion of Freemasonry . " Although the views expressed in his book may be unpalatable to some , and wholly

unintellig ible to those who have not studied the history and development of Freemasonry ; yet there can be no doubt that his views will be endorsed by a large majority of the thinking members of the Craft . We would advise all those who assert

that Freemasonry is not a religious body , or who would exclude every reference to Christianity from the ritual and lectures of the Fraternity , to get Bro . Whymper ' s book , and read , mark , learn , and inwardly digest it . The book has made its appearance not a day too soon , as the tendency in India , at all events , has been

for some time to divest the Order of much of its distinctl y religious character . The action of the Scotch Grand Lodge in Bombay , in appointing such officials as the Grand Koran Bearer , and Grand Zendavesta Bearer , is the straw

which shows which way the wind is blowing . As Bro . Whymper so ably points out , we are in danger of neglecting the great Light of Freemasonry , and of giving too prominent a place in our lodges to other books , unrecognised by the Christian as revelations from God to man . We intend in a

future number to review Bro . Whymper s book , and so bring its teaching home to many who perhaps may never read it for themselves .... We will content ourselves now with giving a few thoughts for Worshipful Masters of lodges with regard to non-Christian initiates . Thoughts suggested by a perusal of Bro .

Whymper ' s book . A Hindu , Parsee , or Mahomedan candidate is presented to you for initiation . His qualification is that he is a believer in God and in a future state , and that he is of gfood moral character . So far , good . He is obligated upon the volume which he considers sacred . But what follows ? In the

charge after initiation he is solemnly recommended to study the Volume of the Sacred Law , and charged to regard it as the unerring standard of truth and justice , regulating his actions by the divine precepts it contains . In the lecture on the tracing board the same book is pointed out as the foundation of the ladder which leads to Heaven . To what book is the Christian

W . M . alluding , if not to the Bible ? In the Second Degree , the Hindu or other non-Christian brother solemnly promises to maintain the principles inculcated in the First Degree . What are these principles ? Is not one of the greatest the acceptance of the Bible as the revealed word of God ? The Third Degree

reveals the main doctrine of Christianity in the plainest possible terms , while the Royal Arch Degree , if it does not teach the doctrine of the Holy Trinity , teaches nothing . Let Christian Masters of lodges be honest , and lay these facts before their

non-Christian initiates . Let them be plainly told that the First Degree is open to all . The higher Degrees imply a belief in God's plan of salvation for a guilty world , as revealed in the Old and New Testaments . —Madras Masonic Review .

On Saturday afternoon last , Bro . Sir Archibald Campbell Bart ., M . P ., M . W . G . Master of Scotland , and Lady Campbell were presented by the tenantry on the Blythes-WJOJ estate with an illumina'ed address in commemoration of the celebration of their silver Wedding in July last . Subsequently , the donors , who were about 60 in number , were entertained at dinner at Blytheswood House , after which they inspected the n . imeroiis presents received by Lady Campbell on the occasion mentioned .

BERKELEY HOTEL ( late St . James ' s ) , 1 , Berkeley-street , and 77 , Piccadilly , London , W . First-class accommodation for residents , with a restaurant newl yattached for high class luncheons and dinners , at fixed prices and a la carte . — C . UIETTE , Manager . —[ A DVT . ]

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Dorsetshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DORSETSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Thursday , the 26 th ult ., at the National Schoolrooms , Wareham , uuder the banner of the Lodge of Unity , No . 3 S 6 , Wareham . Bro . Montague J . Guest , P . G . M ., presided , and was supported by Bros . W . E . Brymer , D P . G . M . ; W . J . Fletcher P . S . G . W . ; W . H . Bond , P . P . S . G . W ., acting as P . J . G . W . ; Rev . W . C . Brown ' P . G . Chap . ; S . R . Baskett , P . P . G . Reg ., acting as P . G . Reg . ; R . Case , P . G . ' Sec ; F . Budden , P . P . G . D . C . acting as P . G . D . C ; E . Tinsley , P . G . Std . Br . ; R . Toleman , P . G . Purst . ; and F . Long , P . G . Tyler . Among other Past Provincial Grand Officers present were Bros . L . H . Ruegg P . P . S . G . W . ; G . J . G . Gregory , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . W . Luff , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . S . Webb ! P . P . J . G . W . ; C . W . Parkinson , P . P . J . G . W . ; G . J . T . Brady , P . P . J . G . W . ; J Whitehead Smith , P . P . J . G . W . ; Rev . T . Russell Wri ght , P . P . G . Chap . ; Pell y Hooper , P . P . G . Reg . ; H . A . Lawton , P . P . S . G . D . ; C . Yearsley , P . P . J . G . D . ; J Lowe , P . P . J . G . D . ; T . Giles , P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . H . Kirbey , P . P . G . S . of W . ¦ Zilhvood Milledge , P . P . G . D . of C ; J . E . Stroud , P . P . G . D . of C ; R . Cox ' P . P . A . G . D . of C ; T . S . Furnell , P . P . A . G . D . of C ; and J . W . Tribbett , P . P . A . G . D . of C . ; with a large assemblage of brethren , all the lodges in the province being represented .

After the roll of the lodges had been called , and the minutes of the last meeting duly confirmed , Bro . W . C . BROWNE , W . M . 386 , P . G . Chap ., delivered a short , but very impressive oration , which was listened to with great attention , and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to him . The PKOV . GRAND MASTER , according to his usual custom , then addressed the brethren on the state and progress of the Craft , and the general business of the province . He commenced by alluding to the annual returns furnished by each

lodge of the work done , and was gratified to find how much had been done by the W . M . ' s themselves . He had recently obtained a picture of Bro . H . R . Willett , formerl y P . G . M ., and had had a number of copies prepared and framed , and hoped each lodge would accept a copy from him . Alluding to the general state of the Craft , he commented at some length upon the inquiry into the state of the Boys ' School , and gave a resume of the report of the Committee of Investigation , reading extracts from the report and expressed his opinion that the Provincial Grand Lodge should pass some resolution showing their feelings on the subject .

After a discussion , it was unanimously resolved— " That this Provincial Grand Lodge desires to express its complete confidence in the ability and absolute impartiality of the members of the Committee of Investigation , appointed to inquire into management , & c , of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and is strongly of opinion that the recommendations made by that Committee should be carried out . " The PROV . GRAND MASTER then moved— "That the hearty thanks of this Provincial Grand Lodge be given to Bro . Zilhvood Milledge , P . P . G . D . C , and Bro . Sidney Spark Milledge for their generous gift of a fire proof safe for the use of the Provincial Grand Lodge , " which was carried unanimously .

A vote of thanks to the Provincial Grand Master for his address and for his generous gift of the copies of Bro . Willett ' s portrait was also carried unanimously . The accounts of the Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . R . D . Thornton , who was unavoidably absent , were then passed , showing a balance of £ 134 is . 6 d . in hand .

On the motion of Bro . W . G . BRYMER , D . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . Rev . T . RUSSELL WRIGHT , Bro . R . D . Thornton was unanimousl y re-elected Prov . Grand Treasurer .

The report of the Provincial Charity Organisation Committee was then received , and adopted . Bro . S . R . BASKETT , P . P . G . Reg ., announced that in addition to his list as Steward for the province at the last Festival of the R . M . B . I ., Bro . R . N . Howard had gone up as Steward for the Portland Lodge , and Bro . C . J . Freeman had also been collecting for the same Institution , with a total result that some ^ 240 had been collected , and he asked to be appointed as Steward to represent the province at the next Festival of the Boys' School , which , on the proposition of the P . G . M ., was unanimously done .

The report of the General Committee of the Dorset Masonic Charity was then presented by the Hon . Sec , Bro . S . R . BASKETT , and showed that the Charity was still gaining ground , the number of subscribers in 18 SS having increased to 251 from 16 7 in 18 S 7 . He also announced the amounts received from each lodge to date for the current year . The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . Pelly Hooper , P . M . 170 , P . P . G . R . ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ C Yearsley , P . M . 3 86 , P . P . J . G . D . ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Edward G . Austen , Chap . 136 7 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ R . D . Thornton ( re-elected ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Freeland Filliter , 3 86 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ R . Case ( re-appointed ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ J . G . C . Best , P . M . 386 , P . P . G . S . B . ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ F . A . Sharp , P . M . 137 .... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ J . S . Stroud , P . M . 417 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ W . J . Ingram , P . M . 1168 .. ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Jas . Pope , P . M . 1146 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ B . A . Hogg , P . M . 417 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ A . Reynolds , P . M . 170 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ A . Wilkins , W . M . 1266 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ R . Smith , S . W . 137 ... ... ... ... " J „ G . C Filliter , J . W . 3 86 „ G . A . Samson , S . W . 707 ... ... ... „ „ , . „ W . Smith , S . W . 170 \ Prov - G " Stwds-„ H . C . B . Frampton , S . W . 622 ... „ C . J . Freeman , S . W . 1037

„ F . Long , 707 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Ty ler . Votes of thanks having been accorded to the brethren of No . 3 S 6 for their labours in arranging for the reception uf Provincial Grand Lodge , to Mrs . Rodgett and the managers of the Wareham National Schools for their kindness in giving the use of the School Buildings , and to the visitors , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to a capital banquet at the Town Hall , under the presidency of the P . G . M .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of South Wales (Western Division).

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH WALES ( WESTERN DIVISION ) .

For the second time since its foundation , in 186 7 , the Tenb y Lodge had the honour on Wednesday , the 25 th ult ., of welcoming the Provincial Grand Loug ^ of the Western Division of South Wales under its banner . In consequence 0 the large number of brethren that assemble on such occasions the Masonic Ro ° bus

in South-parade , Cardiff , was deemed too small for the carrying out of the - ness , and consequently the Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Asseni y Rooms of the Royal Gate House , which were properl y fitted up for the occasw The members of the Tenby Lodge assembled at 11 o ' clock , and the lodge w soon afterwards opened b y Bro . A . H . Brookman , W . M ., and his officers . Prepa <