Ar00704

SATURDAY , DECEMBER 6 , 1890 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The proceedings in Grand Lodge on Wednesday passed off , as we anticipated they would , quietly , though they excited a considerable amount of interest . The recommendations of H . R . H . the Grand Master ( i ) that the rank of Past Grand Master should be conferred

on the Duke of Connaught , and ( 2 ) that ^ 105 voted to the Serpent Fund , were agreed to unanimously amid general applause . His Royal Highness was then nominated Grand Master for the ensuing year , while Bro . George Everett was the sole candidate nominated

for the Grand Treasurership . The gift of Bro . Fenn's portrait , to be hung in the Board Room as a companion picture to that of Bro . Sir J . B . Monckton , was very cordially accepted , while the rest of the business , being mostly formal , was despatched without comment .

# # # It is excellent news we are in a position to announce to-day that his Royal Highness the M . W . Grand Master has graciously signified his intention of inaugurating the Centenary Hall of the Royal Masonic Institution

for Girls at Battersea-rise . The precise date when the ceremony will take place is not known as yet , though rumour assigns it to a day during the latter half of February next . But whenever it does take place this act of his Royal Highness in undertaking to preside

on so eventful an occasion is most appropriate , as well as most kind . Not only is he Grand Patron and President of the Institution , but he presided at the Centenary Festival in 1888 , when the funds , with which the Hall has been erected , were raised .

This much having been arranged , the question which will exercise the minds of our readers during the next few weeks is the delicate and somewhat difficult one to settle—To whom shall be accorded the privilege of being present at the inaugural ceremony ? We

understand that it is the Prince ' s wish—and a very natural wish it is—that whatever form the arrangements may take , they should be as private and void of pomp and circumstance as possible . His Royal Hi gbness ' s wish

will assuredly be respected , but we see no just cause or impediment why some plan of arrangement may not be formulated , which , while it will completely satisfy the Prince's desire for privacy , may , at the same time , be a benefit to the School itself .

* * * We believe that the idea which has thus far found the most favour is that the Centenary Festival Stewards should be invited , and as it was by their efforts that the

Festival proved so marvellous a success , they certainly have a prior claim on the authorities . But is the Hall large enough to accommodate so large a body or even the half of it ?

* * * We have very great pleasure incongratulatingBro . G . Everett on his position as Grand Treasurer nominatewhich is virtually the same thing as Grand Treasurer elect—for the ensuing year . Bro . Everett is a Mason

of good standing . In the course of a long and active career he has done plenty of genuine Masonic work He is genial and kind in his bearing , and always read y to do any brother a service . Moreover , he has shown

great pluck by offering himself , for the second time , as a candidate for this honourable office , so that he well deserves the success which , in three short months he will have achieved . We feel sure he will discharge his duties in his new position admirably .

* * * As intimated in our columns some months ago , it was the intention of Bro . Cumberland ' s friends to propose him for the office of Grand Treasurer , but we have authority for stating that his candidature was

withdrawn in order to avoid a contest , and out of respect for the services rendered during so many years by Bro . George Everett . We are assured , however , that it is their intention to nominate him for that honour on the next occasion .

* * * On Monday last the Grand Lodge of Scotland celebrated the Festival of St . Andrew in the Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh . Bro . Sir Archibald C . Campbell , Grand Master Mason of Scotland , presided

Masonic Notes.

and among others present were Bros . Lord Saltoun , Sir Charles Dalrymple , M . P ., Sir Chas . Buchanan , Bart ., Colonel Lumsden , and Colonel Campbell , Elliott of Wolfelee , J . Dalrymple Duncan , Graham , Major Allan , and a large number of foreign brethren . We are compelled to reserve our report for next week ' s issue .

* * * The grand Masonic bazaar , which our brethren across the Tweed have been preparing for during the past few months , was opened in the Waverley Market , Edinburgh , on Tuesday . As our readers are aware , the

object is to raise a fund to be applied in relief of necessitous brethren , and the widows and orphans of Freemasons . Since 1888 an Annuity Fund has been in existence , but only on a small and restricted

scale-The present effort , it is hoped , will result inthe formation of a fund which will be worthy of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . We regret our space this week will not admit of our giving a full report , but will appear in our next issue .

* * * According to an old song , " The Pope , he leads a happy life , " but either his Holiness Pope Leo XIII . must be an exception to this rule , or else he has a curious method of illustrating his happiness . For

ourselves we do not see how any one can be described as happy who is continually anathematising others . Leo XIII ., though he has not occupied the Papal throne for many years , has emptied many vials of wrath on the devoted heads of us Freemasons . True ,

what he condemns in us in his latest Encyclical is merely the repetition of a previous condemnation , and equally true is it that * his present attack is directed against the Order in otie of the Continental States .

But even if we assume that his present attack is justified , there is no reason why he should condemn a whole society for the presumedshortcomings of a section or branch of it .

We have again and again said that it may be—that it probably is—true that Freemasonry on the Continent is not quite of the same complexion as in the United Kingdom . We know that in one jurisdiction it has ignored religion altogether , and that in several

jurisdictions it does not as scrupulously abstain from mixing itself up with politics , as by one of the fundamental principles of our Order it is bound to do . But why must we Masons of the United Kingdom , who respect all religions equally , and scrupulously avoid taking

part , as Masons , in the political controversies of the day—why , we ask , must we be publicly anathematised , because others fail in their Masonic duty ? The Masons resident in the Romish diocese of Hexham and Newcastle have never intrigued against the Papacy or

the present occupant of the Papal throne , nor would they ever countenance such intrigue . Why should they be denounced as being in league with Satan ? What

need is there for this Encyclical being read in the Roman Catholic churches in a country in which the Masons are universally recognised as innocent of all intention of doing harm to any person or body of persons ?

* * * We do not concern ourselves seriousl y about the contents of this Encyclical—they merely repeat the same old story which has again and again been proved to be groundless . But cannot the Papal advisers

realise that it would enhance the dignity of the Pope if these Encyclicals of his breathed a little less denunciation—just a little more of the spirit of charity ? This is our opinion , and we think it might be acted upon .

One of the last acts of Bro . Lord Carrington , M . W . Grand Master of New South Wales , previous to setting out on his return to England , was to lay the foundation-stone of a Hall about to be erected by the Lodge of Harmony , No . 147 ( N . S . W . Constitution ) , at Moss

Vale . This lodge was constituted about four years since , and that it must be in a prosperous condition may be judged from the fact that its members propose to expend about ^ 700 over the erection of their new quarters . * * *

The ceremony took place on the 4 th October last , Bro . Lord Carrington and his Grand Officers , a large number of the members of the Harmony Lodge , together with Lady Carrington , and a throng of spectators , being present . The stone was la . id by the Grand

Master , who was presented with a silver trowel and mallet for the purpose , amid hearty cheers from those present , and when the meeting was at an end his Excellency and Lady Carrington were entertained at an afternoon tea , and were cheered most heartily on their departure .

Masonic Notes.

In the course of the address which his lordship delivered before leaving the site of the new building , he referred with satisfaction to the progress which had been made since the establishment of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales ; laid particular stress on

the services rendered to Freemasonry in New South Wales by our late Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master of England ; and expressed the hope that the future of the New Grand Lodge might be in all respects brig ht and prosperous . We most cordially echo his lordship ' s wish .

* * * Bro . Hill Drury , W . M . No . 1379 , did well to call the attention of the Prov . Grand Master and Prov . Grand Lodge of Durham , at the annual meeting at Stockton on the 30 th September last , to a grave breach

of Masonic privilege . Bro . Drury stated that in accordance with a request of the Prov . Grand Secretary and Prov . G . D . C . he had had printed for the convenience of the Prov . Grand Officers and visiting brethren an Order of Ceremonial to be observed at the

consecration of the Universities Lodge , Durham , in February , and that those orders when issued had endorsed on them in clear type " Private , " yet the very morning after they had been sent out the said order appeared in full , with comments thereon

in the local papers . Moreover , these comments or remarks made explicit what would otherwise have been inexplicit . We consider Bro . Drury was fully justified

in condemning this conduct in open Provincial Grand Lodge . The Mason who cannot respect the privacy of a communication marked " private" is not a gentleman .

* * * The address of Bro . J . L . Miller , District Grand Master of Northern China , at the regular communication of his District Grand Lodge at the Masonic Hall , Shanghai , on the 22 nd September

last , is full of congratulations as to the progress made in the district during the immediate past , and of hope for a long continuance of the same measure of prosperity in the future . There has been an increase in the number of subscribing members , the

funds of District Grand Lodge are in a flourishing condition , and there is a large Charity Fund , which is generously supported by the English , Scottish , and American Craftsmen . Moreover , the children of Masons , who are being educated by the Craft at the

Public School , Shanghai , are declared to have been benefitting greatly by the instruction they are receiving . In short , the Masonic District of Northern China is progressing admirably , and we tender it our heartiest good wishes . * * *

A correspondent informs us that there were no less than 365 brethren at the consecration of the East Lancashire Centurion Lodge , No . 2322 , Manchester , on the 15 th November , 1889 . This does not affect our qualified statement that the number present at that of

the William Shurmur Lodge , No . 2374 , Chingford , a few days ago , was the largest , as far as our experience goes . But it shows that the brethren present at a private lodge consecration beyond the limits of our experience was in this case greater than that of William Shurmur .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] THE BOYS' SCHOOL ELECTION .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Referring to the article which appeared in your issue of November Sth last , the remarks made about the boy Brown are certainly misleading . You speak of " the Lincolnshire lad who stood second , thanks to

the support vouchsafed by the Hertfordshire brethren . " Your readers will naturally suppose that this was a Lincolnshire case carried by another province , but this is not so , the boy ' s parents may have lived in Lincolnshire at some time , but certainly the case was not a Lincolnshire one , and no application for assistance has

been received from the mother of the boy . The Masonic Notes of November 15 th also exhibit a want of knowledge of the facts of the case . Had the case come officially before the Committee and been found a suitable one and deserving support , Lincolnshire was well able to make proper provision for it , and would have done so , but I learn from inquiries I have

been making that it is 30 years since the father was initiated in Lincolnshire , and for 10 years he paid half the usual subscription , being a non-resident , and 20 years since he ceased to subscribe inthe province , although able to do so . Under these circumstances I think it is hardly fair for the case to be considered a Lincolnshire one . —Yours , fraternally , B . VICKERS , P . G . Sec .