The Ancient & Accepted Rite.

THE ANCIENT & ACCEPTED RITE .

The ever welcome " Red Book" of the " Ancient and Accepted Rite for England , Wales , and the Dependencies of the British Crown , " has just been published for thc financial year 1901-2 , and corrected to 30 th June , 1901 , and , as usual , may be had from the courteous Secretary to thc Supreme

Council 33 ° ( Captain W . Portlock-Dadson ) , 33 , Golden-square , London , > W ., at one shilling each ( postage , 2 W . extra ) . Every member of this most flourishing Rite should obtain one of these most useful , instructive , and abl y edited annuals , and especiall y all who are officers of subordinate Bodies at Home or Abroad .

The Rite began m this country , b y warrant of 26 th October , 18 45 , but several of thc Degrees had been worked long before then , in England , under the wing of the K . T . and otherwise ,

from the later part of the iSth century , and as an Organisation of Thirty-three Degrees will this year celebrate its centenary at Washington ; the Mother Supreme Council having been formed in thc year 1801 .

The orig inal Founders for this country were Dr . Thomas Crucelix , the Rev . George Oliver , D . D ., and Henry Udall . All the S . G . Commanders since the first two , have held that distinguished position in my time , viz ., Dr . Henry Beaumont Leeson , Charles John Vigne , Lieut .-Col . Henry Atkins Bowyer , the

Ri g ht Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , thc Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., and Captain Nathaniel George Philips , thc present esteemed Head of thc Rite in England . On starting the " St . Aubyn , " Devonport , in 1865 , we had the honour of receiving the Degrees from Dr . II . B . Leeson ,

who constituted us into a chapter . The only member of the present Supreme Council , who was then one of the nine , is Captain Philips . Some idea of the extraordinary growth of the Rite since then may be obtained from thc facts that 126 warrants have been granted from that year ( 186 . 5 ) > ' there has

been a considerable accession of Craftsmen , of distinguished positions Masonically and generally ; the Supreme Council have a fine Hall and offices of their own at Golden-square , a very valuable Library and Museum of Curiosities , and other properties and investments , the whole amounting to some ^ 25 , 000 ( of

which there was p racticall y nothing when I was " perfected " in 1665 ); and never was this Organisation more , or so prosperous , respected , and vigorous as at the present time , the Charitable donations alone during the last 35 years exceeding £ 6000 , and everything concerning its condition , financiall y and otherwise , is on the firmest and most solid foundation .

The Supreme Council for 1901-2 consists of Bros . Captain N . G . Philips , the Right lion , the Earl of Euston , Frank Richardson , the Rev . Canon J . S . Brownrigg , M . A ., James Henry Matthews , Richard Loveland-Love . land , K . C ., Lt .-Col . thc Ri g ht Hon . the Earl of Dartrey , Col . the Ri ght Hon .

Viscount'Dungarvan , antl Major the Right Hon . thc Earl of Lathom , all ol whom hold high rank in the Grand Lodge of Ensrland and other Masonic Governing Bodies . The same also

may be said of nearly all the Grand Inspectors General of Districts and those who are Unattached , from Bro . James Percy Leith , who obtained the 23 ° i" 1 S 70 , to Bro . Ral p h Clutlon , the last so honoured .

The " Red Book " furnishes every detail , as previously , as to the members of all the Degrees , particulars as to the chapters , the Rules and Regulations , £ tc ., unci is indispensable as an unerring guide to the Rite . W . J . HUGHAN .

Sonnet For The Month Of October.

SONNET FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER .

Kow grey October his dull garment weaves , lly stripping all the monarchs of the wood ; His gaib is sombre , for ' tis made of leaves , Abject , forlorn , bereft of motherhood . See yon baie branches , listless , gaunt , and grim , Their Springtime splendour has no glory now ; 1 ug < ed and eerie seems each lonely limb ,

Spectral , dejected , each deserted bough I ^ ark how the tempest—pitiless and

wild-Scatters the once gay offspring of the trees ; L ' st ( heir low wail . ' Spurned , tossed , and still reviled , Wafted at will by every passing breeze . No car . opy of grandeur now we form , F ( r heme we seek the flood , for shelter find the storm . Bradford . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of South Wales.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SOUTH WALES .

The above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at the Park Hotel , Cardiff on the 25 h ult . Hro . Col . Sir Edward S . Hill , K . C . B ., P . G . M ., prpsidrcl supported by Bros . Robert Lock , D . P . G . M . ; the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Dep . G . M . Eng . ; the Rev .. ] . D . Marsh , P . C 7 . M .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of South Wales.

Monmouthshire ; N . D . Marks , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br ., Prov . G . Sec ; W . H . Williams , P . M . 2 S , P . P . S . G . W . ; S . O . Williams , P . M . 28 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Henry Fra « r , jun ., P . M . 28 , P . P . J . G . W ., P . G . Stwd . ; T . P . Kerman , P . M . 28 , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . R . Ingram , P . M . 28 ; B . D . Jenkins , W . M . 28 ; Isidore Leon , l . P . M . 28 , P . J . G . W . ; and others . The business transacted included the following appointments :

Bro . Lionel Richard Wood , W . M . 256 .,. ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Ben . D . Jenkins , W . M . 28 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ F . H . Simpson , J . W . 2 S ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ W . T . Holt , J . W . 256 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . O . „ Arthur Llewellyn Lewis , P . M . 116 ... ... Prov . G . I . O .

„ A . G . P . Lewis , 2 S and 256 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Dr . De Vere Hunt , 28 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ N . D . Marks , P . M . 28 , P . G . Std . Br . Eng . ... Prov . G . Sec . „ J . R . Ingram , P . M . 28 , P . P . G . M . O . ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ James John , 116 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ H . J . E . Price , 297 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ W . T . Hall , 28 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ T . P . Kerman , P . M . 28 , P . P . S . G . W . ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Thomas J . Comley , 28 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C .

„ W . Thomas , 297 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Robert Walter Ward , 11 G ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . T . Jones , 28 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ John Rees , 28 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ George D . Thomas , 28 ... ... " ) D „ r o .. J " J . T . Whitter . 256 j Prov . G . Stwds . ,, Amos Jenkins , 28 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The annual festival was afterwards held , Bro . E . T . Roberts presiding efficiently over the musical arrangements .

Consecration Of The Polytechnic Lodge,

CONSECRATION OF THE POLYTECHNIC LODGE

No . 2847 . The consecration of the above lodge , which , as the name implies , is in connection with the well-known technical and general educational establishments , took place at the Polytechnic headquaters at Regent-street , on Saturday last , when a large number of brethren assembled to witness the ceremony , which was performed by Bro . E . Letchworth , Grand Secretary ,

with all his usual impressiveness , ably assisted by Bros . Clement Godson , M . D ., P . G . D ., as S . W . ; J . W . Dawson , A . G . D . C , as J . W . ; Rev . Canon Brownrigg , P . G . Chap ., as Chaplain ; F . Richardson , P . Dep . G . Reg ., as D . C ; and J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B ., as I . G . The following founders were present :

Bros . E . A . Beckett , W . A . Daniel , A . J . Stait , F . J . Hubbard , P . P . G . T . Bucks ; W . A . Evans , R . M . Beachcroft , P . M . ; J . Fettes , W . Brown , E . J . C . Etheridge , R . Whitworth-Mitton , T . Gardiner , S . Coke , T . Pescod , P . M . ; A . C . Cross , F . W . Heale , F . W . Barton , H . W . Payne , W . J . Cattle , F . Short , J . H . Finch , and F . B . Smith , P . M .

Among the many visitors were—Bros . J . Stephens , P . D . G . D . C ; T . W . Burgess , P . G . S . B . ; S . M . Austin , P . M . ; W . J . Carroll , P . M . ; S . Tonkin , H . R . Capes , E . O . Bake , F . Harold Hankins , Cqulthard , W . Waring , and G . E . Harris . W . Bro . A . G . Lee was subsequently installed as first Master , and

appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . J . Stait , P . P . G . S . B . Bucks , l . P . M . ; L . H . Harris , S . W . ; the Rev . C . E . Roberts , M . A ., P . G . C . Bucks , J . W . ; E . R . Alexander , Treas . ; C . Cronin , Sec . ; R . G . Margetson , S . D . ; H . Elliott , J . D . ; R . F . Pearce , I . G . ; G . R . Egerton , Org . ; and R . E . Wrenn and G . F . Payne , Stwds . A Committee was elected to frame the bye-laws .

Several propositions were received for initiation and joining members , after which the lodge was closed . Bro . Lee , in conducting the business of the evening , gave all present every reason to place trust in his skill and ability to conduct affairs during his year so as to ensure a successful beginning for the new lodge .

The banquet was held at the Frascati Restaurant , during which the I Zingari Orchestra played some well-chosen selections . Following the usual hyal toasts of "The King and the Craft " and " The M . W . Grand Master , " Bro . his Honour Judge PHILBRICK responded to the toast of "The Grand Officers . "

The toast of "The Consecrating Officers " was responded to by Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec . Bro . J . STAIT , acting I . P . M ., then said he had the greatest pleasure in proposing the toast of " The Polytechnic Lodge , " coupled with the name of the W . M . He was afraid his words would be inadequate to the importance of his task . He was particularly pleased to think that he ( Bro . Stait ) had

had the pleasure to introduce the W . M . into Freemasonry , and all those present who had noted the favourable auspices under which the lodge had started , and seen the W . M . ' swoikingin the lodge , would rely on the certainty that the warrant would be handed to his successor unsullied , and he felt no hesitation in saying that the Polytechnic Lodge would be ranked as one of the first in London .

Bro . LEE , who on rising to reply met with most flattering app lause , said he thanked the brethren most heartily for the manner in which they had received the toast . He was assured that the Polytechnic Lodge would make itself felt ; it was , as they knew , connected with the largest technical college in the world , extending almost as universally as Freemasonry itself . As there would

were 15 , 001 members and students of mental and physical abilities , it be seen readily the large field they had to work on . Great care would be exercised in whom they admitted , and good solid work insisted on . He felt after the gratifying start , and considering there were some 40 initiates anxious to join , he might safely share the anticipation of continued

success . The other toasts were " The Visitors " ( for whom Bros . H ARRY M ARTIN , P . P . G . W . Bucks , and BEKESTORD RYI . EV responded ) , " The Acting I . P . M ., " "Treasurer and Secretary , " and "The Officers , " the Ty lers toast concluding a most happy meeting .

The musical arrangements were in the hands of Bro . Schartau , assiste by Misses Gertrude Macaulay and P . Allen , Messrs . Archdeacon , Ballarai and Bro . Whitworth-Mitton .