"Ars Quatuor Coronatorum."—Part Iv.

the transactions of the lodge , Bro . Hughan will do so , and possibly Bro . Gould will also refer to the paper , as both these brethren are virtually challenged to sustain their views wherein they differ from the Doctor . Of one thing we may be assured , that whenever that notable trio unite in agreeing as to any particular point , it would be in vain for any others to c «> k to upset their decision , as the study of the " Old Charges " has been ,

and is , a specialty of each of those Masonic experts . It is pleasant to find that whilst they differ on minor points , they are each so ready to aid the others , the Doctor concluding his contribution by thanking Bro . Hughan for his loan of several MSS ., as without his help he would " not have been able to accomplish his laborious researches . " We congratulate the lodge on having so able and distinguished a contributor as Dr . Begemann , of Rostock .

Bro . Speth is again to the front with a deeply interesting article on << Kaiser Wilhelm as a Mason , " which will be read and re-read by many who , like ourselves , appreciate that Royal veteran as a brother , a patriot , and a ruler . The author of " Royal Freemasons " is at home on such a subject , and has written by far the best account we have yet seen of the Masonic career of that great and noble monarch .

The visit of Bros . Gould and Speth to the Hague and Brussels has already been duly described in our columns , but we have again perused the report with renewed pleasure and profit . The literary notes which follow are of the usual excellence , and make capital reading for the " outer circle , " especially as they extend over a very wide area . The " obituary " contains brief notices of the late Emperor Frederick III ., Bro . G . Parker Brockbank , of Bolton , and Bro . S . B . Oldham , D . G . Sec . of Ireland . The

" Extracts from Correspondence , Notes , " & c , cannot fail to be attractive , and proves how varied are the studies of the indefatigable Secretary . We have reserved for our concluding observations the paper which was read by Bro . John Lane , of Torquay , on " Masters' Lodges , " which very few , if any one else , could have written so exhaustively and conclusively ,

and which may be accepted , beyond question , as the standard contribution on that important subject . Indeed , as a matter of fact , there is nothing like it to be had or met with elsewhere , and could only have been prepared by one familiar with the history and character of last century lodges , like the author of the colossal work " Masonic Records , 1717—1886 . "

As it was the Festival of St . John in summer there was a fair attendance of members and brethren of the Correspondence Circle and visitors , the resu't being that the discussion was of a most instructive character , Bro . Hughan and other members taking part , the W . M . not only entering into the discussion most warmly , but also contributing a very suggestive " supplementary note , " which has considerably increased the value and i

nportance of the friendly debate . All the Masters' lodges from 1733 to 1792 are carefully described by Bro . Lane ( 36 in number ) , these being noted in Engraved or Printed Lists , and then others are described which do not occur in those books . Bro . Lane has discovered that the first four , viz ., 115 , 116 , 117 , and 120 , of 1733 , never paid for any warrants or authorities

to constitute , and mentioned many curious particulars and original views as to these and other lodges . We hope to refer to this paper at more length erelong , unless Bro . Hughan favours us with an article on the subject , as its importance demands more consideration than we can now bestow on it . It must be read and re-read to be fully appreciated .

We have said enough to indicate the great value of Part IV . of the transactions of this—the literary—lodge of the Society , so we conclude with expressing the hope , shared by the members of No . 2076 , that their W . M . will be selected by the Grand Orient of Belgium for the special prize to be adjudged to the author of the most meritorious Masonic work from 1879 to the present time , as he richly deserves the compliment .

"The Society Called Freemasons."

"THE SOCIETY CALLED FREEMASONS . "

A correspondent has sent us further extracts from the " Gentleman ' s Magazine " of 1737 , which will interest and amuse our readers . Foreign Affairs in March , 1737 . From Paris—The sudden increase of ye Society of Free-Masons in France , had given such offence , that the King forbid their meeting at any of their lodges , nor would ye States of Holland suffer them . Foreign Affairs , April , 1737 .

From Paris—That Copies of an apologizing Letter wrote by a Free-Mason , were made public , alledging " That the Views the Free-Masons propose to themselves are the most pure and inoffensive , and tend only to promote such Qualities in them as may form good Citizens , and zealous Subjects , faithful to their Prince , to their Country , and to their Friends . That the Name of Free-Mason is far from being an insignificant Title ;

That the Duty it prescribes to those that bear it , is to endeavour to erect Temples for Virtue , and Dungeons for Vice . —That he is by no means afraid ofviolating the Secret imposed upon them in publishing ; That their princi pal Design is to restore to the Earth the Reign of Astrea , and revive the Time of Rhea . He assures the Fair , that the whole Brotherhood is full of Respect and Veneration for them ; but that these Sentiments are

"ot exempt from Fear ; and that this Fear obliges the Free-Masons to exclude the Sex from their Assemblies , which , he concludes , ought not to provoke the Indignation of those who are the Objects of it ; To prevent such an Effect , they need only recollect from whom Adam received the A pple ; Sad Present ! Since had it not been for that fatal Apple , Adam would have remained the first Free-Mason .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Warwickshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WARWICKSHIRE .

, On Monday afternoon , the 1 st inst ., the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire was held at Coventrv . The St . Michael ' s Lodge , No . 1630 , Bro . Dr . Chas . Davidson , W . M ., ' was opened < V-S > t . Mary ' s Hall , in the Three Degrees , and the Prov . Grand Master , "e Right Hon . Bro . Lord Leieh . the Deputy Provincial Grand

, ^ , ' ' Bro . James T . Collins , and the officers of the Provincial Grand ° ge were then received . The Prov . Grand Master having taken his seat inl . 1 ^ nrone > Provincial Grand Lodge was opened . The business Lorf t ' rea ( ling and confirmation of minutes of the Provincial Grand ] ^ p > . holden at the Faithful Lodge , No . 473 , Birmingham , 17 th April bal ' re P of the Audit Committee ; the voting the transfer of the Mat" *^ ° * benevolent F on tne 3 J last > to tne Warwickshire mitf r > evolent and Pupil ' s Aid Fund , and the reports from the Committe e of that Fund . *

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Warwickshire.

The Worshipful Masters then presented the reports on the state of their respective lodges ; a Sub-Committee was appointed to revise the by-laws of this Provincial Grand Lodge , so as to bring them into harmony with the

Revised Book of Constitutions , and the Treasurer and Tylers were elected . The Prov . Grand Master appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bro . S . E . Howell , 5 S 7 ... ... ... Prov . ? . G . W . ,, A . S . Tomson , 1630 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W .

„ Rev . I . Rivington ... ... •••) D r ru „ Rev . T . C . H . Boughton-Leigh ... j Prov . G . Chaps . ,. Cox ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Coleman ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ G . Beech ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Matthews ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ Nettleport ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . ,, Pritchett ... ... ... ... Prov . T . G . D .

„ Davis ... ... ... ... Prov . j . G . D . „ Dr . Davidson ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of VV . „ Ashe ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Jackson ... ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ Pattison ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,. •Bell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Ore .

The lodge was then adjourned for Divine Service at Holy Trinity Church , the brethren walking in procession in order , clad in full Masonic Craft clothing . The brethren were met at the west door of the church b y the surpliced choir and clergy , Bro . the Rev . F . M . Beaumont , P . M .,

P . P . G . Chap . ; Bro . the Rev . Thurston Rivington , P . P . G . Chap . ; and the Revds . T . VV . Downing and Llewellyn Wood ; the Organist , Mr . A , Hanson , meanwhile playing a voluntary . Prayers were intoned by the Rev . T . W . Downing , and the lesson was read b y Bro . the Rev . Thurston Rivington

tull choral service was sustained by the choir , who sung Dr . Boyce's grand anthem , " O where shall wisdom be found ? " The sermon was preached by the Rev . BRIDGMAN BOUGHTON-LEIGH , P . P . G . Chap ., in the absence , through illness , of the Rev . T . C . H . Boughton-Leigh , P . G . Chap . The preacher took for his text I . Kings , xix ., 13 .,

" And behold there came a voice unto him and said , What doest thou here , Elijah ? " Remarking that the sacred historian set before them in this chapter one of •the most beautiful pictures of a prophet of the great God , he described the personality of the prophet , and alluded to his characteristics -and work . He then referred to the

changed times in which we live , and tne necessity for still living an upright , honest , and Godly life , and for still boldly bearing witness to the truth . Asking if God was thus dwelling in the hearts of his congregation as it was in Elijah , he partially replied to the question by saying there were many amongst them who knew this spirit of God had been everything to them in

the past , and he added , " May it be our great wish that the spirit may still remain with us to guide us through the life which we have to lead in this world . " Beseeching them to walk worthy of the vocation to which they were called , he reminded them of the blessedness of Charity , and then appealed on behalf of the Charities founded and maintained b y Masonic benevolence .

During the singing of hymn 274 ( Ancient and Madern ) , "Through the night of doubt and sorrow , " a collection was taken in aid of the Warwickshire Masonic Benevolent and Pupils' Aid Fund , ^ 12 17 s . 6 d . being realised . Bro . Rev . F . M . Beaumont pronounced the Benediction , and the brethren returned to St . Mary ' s Hall in the same order as before .

Amongst those present were Bros , the Right Hon . Lord Leigh , Prov . G . M . ; J . T . Collins , Deputy Prov . G . M . ; G . Beech , Prov . G . Sec . ; F . Jones , E . Warrell , T . S . Harvey , W . M . 254 ; Dr . Davidson , W . M . 1630 ; A . S . Tomson , Dr . Lynes , G . H . Hayward , J . Moffatt , C . Rowe , J .

Bodenham , W . M . Boddington , F . Binckes , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; R . Crovdon , A . E . Fridlander , F . Wyley , C . H . Slingsby , W . W . Curtis , C . J . Hill . R . Hill , W . R . Goate , D . Cole , T . Rickard , M . J . Davies , W . D . Claridge , Dr . Fenton , O . Minster , H . Heginbottom , A . E . Willdigg , J . T . West , and others .

Provincial Grand Lodge being closed , the Provincial Grand Master and his officers retired in procession , and the St . Michael ' s Lodge was then closed in due form . A banquet was afterwards held at the Queen ' s Hotel , covers being laid for upwards of 50 , the Prov . Grand Master presiding . The banqueting hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion , and the whole of the arrangements were creditable to the local Stewards and the host , Bro . J . Thomson .

Centenary Celebration Of The Vigilance Chapter, No. Iii.

CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE VIGILANCE CHAPTER , No . III .

On the 28 th ult ., the companions of the Chapter of Vigilance , No . ill , of the Durham Province , celebrated their Centenary in a manner befitting the occasion , the Grand Superintendent of the Provincial Grand

Chapter , Sir Hedworth Williamson , attending the Centenary meeting in the chapter-room of the Freemasons' Hall , Darlington , and presented the Centenary Charter to the Most Eminent Z ., Comp . S . F . Bousfield , and after the ceremonial the companions dined together in the banquetinghall .

Royal Arch Masons held meetings in Darlington before there were chapters in any other part of Durham , but owing to certain circumstances which were referred to in the paper read on the occasion by Comp . C . D . Hill-Drury , Chapter Vigilance was not warranted by charter until 17 S 8 .

The following list of officers may prove interesting to our readers : — Grand Superintendents of the Province of Durham—Thomas Dunckerley , 1788 ; Sir Ralph Milbanke , Bart ., 1801 ; Earl of Durham , 1834 ; John Fawcett , 1850 ; Marquess of Londonderry , 1880 ; and Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., 1886 . Officers of the Hierarchical Lodge , 1769 —] ohn

Pratt , Principal or Grand Master ; James Knox , Banker ; James McCoul , Recorder ; and William Fowler , Assistant . Officers of the Vigilance Chapter , 1788—Timothy Cloudsley , M . E . Z . ; John Mowbray , H . ; James Wilson , J . ; John Pratt and Michael Carr , Sojourners ; John

Arman , Scribe ; and Robert Atkinson , Janitor . Officers of the Vigilance Chapter , No . in , 1888—S . F . Bousfield , M . E . Z . ; S . Wilson , H . ; T . M . Barron , J . ; F . Tovey , I . P . Z . ; C . D . Hill-Drury , M . D ., S . E . ; T . Watson , S . N . ; H . A . Massingberd , Treas ., Jand Principal Soj . ; J . Graham , Asst . Soj . ; R . Luck , M . A ., P . Z ., D . C . ; W . C . Barron , Stwd . ; and T . Prince , Janitor .