The New History Of Freemasonry.

volume , extending as it does to some 900 pages , to do more than acknowledge the great merit of the volume generally , the lateness of the details , the fair and comprehensive treatment of the

several subjects , and the extraordinary fulness of information respecting the origin , progress , and character of the Craft throughout the great continent of America , particularly in the United States and Canada .

The history of the Knights Templars especially may be cited as an example of thoroughness . The original Order , the Masonic creation of last century , and the American offspring are each separately attended to by noted authorities , the result being a series of chapters on Chivalric Degrees never hitherto

obtainable or even attempted in either the Old or the New World . The Hautes Grades are also duly represented in this grand and composite work , and the several divisions relating to these ceremonies will be eagerly perused by the many thousands of its members who desire the latest and most reliable information

respecting these important rites . If called upon to mention the most noteworthy of the chapters we should be inclined to single out the Templars by Colonel Moore and Bishop Perry ; the "Old Charges , " by Bro . Stillson , - brought down to the latest MS . discovered and made known ;

the Early Orig in of Freemasonry in America , by Bros . Meyer and Nickerson ; the Royal Order of Scotland , by Bro . Hughan , the first of its kind ; the Lodges in America under the English Constitution , by Bro . John Lane , which is a most valuable feature of the work ; and the Ancient and Accepted Rite , by Judge Drummond .

These in truth , and so also the other important divisions , would be best dealt with as distinct works , for practically the treatise is a series of books in one volume , thus forming a condensed Masonic library of itself . With this fact before us we

hope ere long to obtain the fraternal services of brethren ( having made certain portions of the work their especial study ) who will present to the readers of the Freemason their own individual estimates of the merits of the several divisions .

The editor and his confreres have made no attempt to rival Bro . Gould ' s great History . Instead of seeking the impossible , they have faithfully done their part according to the lines laid down , to elucidate the portions entrusted to them , and have thus

achieved the success and distinction they have so richly deserved . The volume is in many respects supplemental and additional to Bro . Gould ' s noble work , for which reason , assuredly , no student will rest content without having both .

Naturally the new history will appeal more directly to the brethren in the Western , than in the Eastern Hemispheres , and to them particularly it surpasses all other volumes of the kind

ever published . Of this there can be no manner of doubt , for by its side there is not a history of Freemasonry generally ( including the numerous rites and orders ) worthy to be placed , of all those issued in America .

We shall , however , be much disappointed if it does not sell by hundreds in Great Britain , as it is already circulating by thousands in America , for even in this country there is no work that can take its place relative to the Degrees additional to the Craft , such as the Cryptic , Templar , Ancient and Accepted Rite , and Royal Order Degrees .

It is pleasant to note how ready the various authors in this new volume have been to give acknowledgment unstintedly to Bros . Gould , Hughan , Lane , Speth , and other British writers whose works and labours have necessarily been utilised by them . This is as it should be .

Many of the illustrations are exceedingly fine and appropriate , and the get up of the great volume reflects the greatest credit upon all concerned . We tender to Bros . Stillson and Hughan ( the editors ) and to Bro . L . C . Hascall , the President of " The Fraternity Publishing

Co ., " of Boston and New York , and to all concerned , our warm admiration of the handsome volume produced under their auspices , and trust that its reception by the Fraternity throughout the " wide , wide world" will be such as to abundantly justify their prodigious labours .

- ? LONDON . —The history of Masonry in London commences historically with 1717 . Previous to that , so far as present evidence helps us , we must consider we had prehistoric times . That lodges of Freemasons existed from which in 1717 the revival sprang is , we apprehend , an incontestable fact ; but of their condition

nothing is known ; of their history , so far , nothing positively has turned up . Ashmole ' s evidence and Plot ' s statement point distinctly to the existence of a fraternity analogous to our own , but so far no positive evidence is known to be extant—of their work or their ways . No minute books ( unlike Scotland ) exist , so far as is at present ascertained , after much anxious research , previous to

1700 ( e . g ., the " Alnwick Lodge" ) though we do not mean to contend that none exist , or may not yet turn up . As our Masonic history may be greatl y affected by the production of earlier documents , we say nothing more to-day than that if

they are found we feel sure they will disclose the existence of a bod y very similar to our own . The revival of Masonry in London by the four old lodges , in 1717 , is the source of all true Cosmopolitan Masonry at the present time . —Kenning ' s Cyclopedia of Freemasonry .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , D . G . M ., presided - Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . of Hants and the Isle of Wight , acted as D . G . M . ; and Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., P . G . M . of Middlesex , as P . G . M . There was a large attendance of brethren .

The Temple was inconveniently full , and the large number of brethren who attended were attracted to the place by the canvassing that had previousl y been carried on for the purpose of securing votes for membership of the Board of General Purposes , the election of which is held at this particular Quarterl y Com . munication . The heat of the chamber was almost insufferable .

After Grand Lodge had been formally opened , the minutes of the March communication and of the Grand Festival were read by the GRAND SECRETARY and confirmed . The Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMIIE then said his Royal Highness the Grand Master having appointed Bro . Thomas Fenn as President of the Board of General Purposes , he would ask Bro . Fenn to let him have the pleasure of investing him with the collar .

Bro . Thomas Fenn thereupon advanced to the throne , and was invested by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe with the collar of President of the Board of Genera l Purposes amidst general applause . Scrutineers of votes for the election of Board of General Purposes were then appointed and obligated , the balloting cards were collected , and the Scrutineers left the hall .

The Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE stated that as only the requisite number of members of the Colonial Board had been . nominated no election for that Board would take place , and he declared the following candidates duly elected .-Bros . Major-Gen . Fredk . Gadsden , P . M . 434 , James Brett , P . M . 177 , Reginald St . A . Roumieu , P . M . 1537 , Albert Escott , P . M . 1539 , Capt . Thomas Charles Walls , P . M . 141 , John Speight Cumberland , P . M . 2128 , and Lennox Browne P . M . 2108 .

Bro . Colonel SHADWELL H . CLERKE said that the M . W . Grand Master had appointed on that Board Colonel Haldane , P . G . S . B ., H . D . Sandeman , and Francis Bennoch ; Major-General Gadsden to be Vice-President . On the motion of Bro . Richard Eve , P . G . T ., Bro . John Smith was elected Grand Lodge Auditor .

The Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE said that only the required number of members of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution had been nominated , and he therefore declared those brethren duly elected . Bro . Col . SHADWELL CLERKE said the M . W . G . M . had appointed Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Jabez Hogg , R . Turtle Pigott , J . B . Purchas , R . C . Sudlow , Tames Brett , and Samuel Valentine , as members of the Committee . The elertprl

brethren were Bros . Stanley J . Attenborough , W . M . 2348 , Charles Alex . Cottebrune , P . M . 733 , Hugh Cotter , P . M . 554 , Charles George Dilley , P . M . 1155 , Lieut .-Colonel Alfred Durrant , P . M . 569 , Charles Kempton , P . M . 128 7 , Alfred H . Tattershall , P . M . 140 , Isaac Dixon , P . M . 1567 , Robert Griggs , P . M . 228 , and William Henry Hubbert , P . M . 1625 . The following report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter was laid before the brethren , and taken as read : —

A brother of the Lodge of Justice , No . 147 , Deptford ... £ 75 o 0 A brother of the Peckham Lodge , No . 1475 , London ... _ o o o The widow of a brother of the Angel Lodge , No . 51 , Colchester ... ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a Past District Grand Master ... ... 100 o o A brother of the Victoria Lodge , No . 1056 , London ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Hi ghbury Lodge , No . 2192 ,

London ... ... ... ... 50 o o A Past Grand Deacon ... ... ... ... 200 0 0 The widow of a brother of the Faithful Lodge , No . 473 , Birmingham ... ... ... ... 50 o 0 A brother of the Arnold Lodge , No . 1 799 ,

Walton-onthe-Naze ... ... ... ... 50 o 0 The widow of a brother of the Lodge of Unions , No . 256 , London .... ... ... ... 50 o o All these recommendations were confirmed , except the last but one , and this was remitted to the Board of Benevolence , on the motion of a Suffolk BROTHER , who stated that he did not consider ^ 50 sufficient . The brother was a most deserving brother , and ^ 50 was not a worth y return for what he had done . There were some very large grants on the list , one as much as ^ 200 . The motion was seconded by Bro . the Rev . C . J . MARTYN , P . G . C , D . P . G . M .

Suffolk . Bro . ROBERT GREY , President of the Board of Benevolence , said all the cases were most thoroughly considered by the Board . The Board only relieved a brother once in 12 months , and the petitioner in question could come again in that time . This case had due consideration in the usual way ; it was supported in the usual way before the Board ; and this was the first intimation he as President of the Board had had that there was any objection to or dissatisfaction with the amount recommended .

The report of the Board of General Purposes was taken as read , received , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . The Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE read to Grand Lodge the last part of the report referring to Bro . Thomas Fenn : —

"That the cordial thanks of the members of the Board of General Purposes be tendered to the President , V . W . Brother Thomas Fenn , for the very able and courteous manner in which he has presided over the meetings of the Board during the past year . " ( Signed ) THOMAS HASTINGS MILLER , Vice-President .

Bro . J ALBERT FARNFIELD moved , and Bro . J AMES BRETT seconded , the following resolution : "That the sum of ^ 70 be given from the Fund of Genera Purposes ; that the money be placed in the hands of the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , to supply the inmates of the Institution at Croydon with coals during the winter season . *'

Bro . PHILBRICK brought up the following appeal : — By a brother against a sentence of suspension , with a fine , passed on him by the District Grand Lodge of the Punjab for un-Masonic conduct . iro

Bro . Philbrick explained the case , and said the brother was suspended m all his Masonic privileges for one year , and further suspended until n had made an unconditional apology for the conduct of which he ha been guilty to the District Grand Lodge , and to the lodge oi which he was a member ; and , further , that the sentence of suspension be continued until he had paid a fine of 200 rupees , equivalent to ; 6 1 S-1

£ 10 , or £ 17 , as it mi ght be , according to the rate of exchange , tie po " out that this sentence went too far according to the Book of Constitutions , La 208 , and he advised Grand Lodge to pass the following r * * * * 0 '"""^' " That the appeal from the decision of the District Grand Lodge of-Punjab be allowed . andthe decision of the District Grand Lodge further be . * ?* so far as the infliction of the fine on the appellant , and withholding him tr Masonic privileges until the same is paid in consequence , on the ground