Presentation To Bro. William. Andrews, W.M. 1933.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . WILLIAM . ANDREWS , W . M . 1933 .

The brethren of the Kingston Lodge , No . 1933 , Jamaica , have sympathised very sincerely with their Worshipful Master , Bro . VVm . Andrews , in his illness , and on the occasion of his proposed departure in search of health and strength they determined fo evidence Iheir appreciation of his services in a very tangible and whole-hearted fashion . With that view , they discussed the best methods of

showing their appreciation , and decided that they would present their Worshipful Master with a silver bowl . Accordingly , on Wednesday , the ist December last , an emergency meeting was held under the presidency of Bro . C . C . Campbell , when it was stated that owing to his illness the W . M . was unable to attend . It was agreed , however , that the address should be read .

Amongst those present were Bros . Dr . Robinson , C . T . Burton , O . Plummer , J . Lockwood Wingate , R . A . Walcott , E . X . Leon , C . H . B . Armstrong , H . R . C . Garcia , C . O . Palmer , and others . When the lodge was formed , Bro . CAMPBELL called upon the Senior Warden , Bro . A . ROBINSON , to read the address , which had been prepared and

was to the following effect : " Kingston , Jamaica , November , 1897 . " To the Wor . Bro . Wm . Andrews , Worshipful Master , Founder , and Senior Past Master of the Kingston Lodge , No . 1933 , District No . 11 , of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in Jamaici .

" Worshipful Bro . —We , the members of the Kingston Lodge , have the very pleasurable task of presenting the piece of plate we now hand you in recognition of the valuable service you have rendered to the Craft in general ^ and this lodge in particular , and also to commemorate this tho 25 th year since you were admitted into the Craft .

' It is not necessary for us ( o go into details that areknow . i and appreciated by all , and are largely written upon the pages of the history of the Craft in this Island for the past quarter ' of a century . We , however , in an especial manner desire to express our high appreciation of the prompt and ungrudging spirit in which during this year you have placed your services at our disposal as Master , and the skill and success of vour administration .

" Although the gift which we present is beautiful , and we are proud to convey it to you , yet let us assure you that in our opinion it is but a small and inadequate recognition of the able and perfect work you have done for the Brotherhood . We are , however , to present this bowl to you not empty and alone but filled to overflowing with the good wishes , brotherly esteem and regard of all the members of this lodge and of the crowds of worthy brethren both here and in the Mother Country where you arc also well-known , and we are sure that to a good man and true like yourself these extrinsic considerations will render it in your eyes priceless .

" We feel proud to know that a brother who is so perfect and experienced a Master as yourself , who already wears so many Masonic honours , takes the interest that you have always expressed and evinced by word and action in this our Kingston Lodge . " We congratulate you upon the still further honour that the Most Worshipful

Grand Master has recently conferred upon you , a distinction second to none anywhere except in England—that of R . W . D . G . M . of Mark Masonry in Jamaicaand to express the hope that in due course you may receive other high honours of the Craft , which we know that you are eminently fitted for and really deserve .

"The beautiful banner that adorns this lodge reminds us that it would be an unpardonable omission il we did not conclude this address by coupling the name of Mrs . Andrews and your children in the wish of long life , happiness , and prosperity . ( Signed ) " ADRIAN A . ROBINSON , R . A . WALCOTT , H . R . C . GARCIA , J . LOCKWOOD WING ATE , H . C . ROBINSON , C . H . B . ARMSTRONG . "

The silver bowl which accompanied the address was of massive proportions , standing high upon a carved ebony pedestal , and stretching fully 12 inches across . On the outside it was beautifully carved in solid silver , and inside a golden layer glittered and scintillated in the light . The bowl was an excellent representation of the silversmith ' s art , and in every way worthy of Kingston Lodge . Two handles of carved silver relieved the appearance of the bowl , and on each side , within an ornamental design , there were inscriptions . On one side the inscription ran as follows -.

" Presented to the Worshipful Brother William Andrews , 32 nd degree , Worshipful Master , Founder , and Senior Past Master of the Kingston Lodge , No . 1 973 , District No . u , of ancient free and accepted masons , by the Lodge , on the 25 th anniversary of his admission into the craft , Anno Domini , 1897 ; A . L . 5897 . " And on the reverse side of the bowl the following appeared .-"In recognition of the valuable services rendered to the craft in general and to the Kingston Lodge in particular . "

When Bro . Robinson had read the address , it was proposed that in order that the ceremony might be completed , a deputation should be appointed to wait upon Bro . Andrews at his residence and present thn address with the silver bowl . It was agreed that Bros . Campbell , A . Robinson , U . A . Walcott , J . L . Wingate , and J . Cargill should form the deputation , which proceeded accordingly to the Marine Gardens , where Bro . Andrews was then residing , and made the presentation . Bro . ANDREWS thanked the deputation , and in reply , said :

" Marine Gardens , " Kingston , Jamaica , " ist December , 1 S 97 . " To the Worshipful Past Masters , Officers , and Members of the Kingston Lodge " My dear and worthy Brethren , —The assurances of appreciation and good

will from those we esteem are at all times acceptable ; but at a moment when prostrate under enfeebled health , every word of comfort from kind and sympathetic friends seems to catch up and renew the threads of life , your brotherly ¦ iddress is of priceless worth in sustaining ine in the hour of trial , and bearing testimony that in those things dearest to my heart—the love of all good men among whom I have moved—my labours have not been in vain .

" You remind me of my 25 years' connection with the Craft . It lias been , Masonically , a golden year in the bonds of fellowship , throughout which I have always striven to do my duty faithfully and well , and your words of approval are to me as grains of gold , to be laid away in the treasury of my mind in which my dearest recollections are stored .

' 1 our thoughtful reference to my wile and children , let ma assure you , has touched the tenderest chords of my heart . It is of them I thin ' .: when 1 receive ¦ it your hands the elegant , as well as substantial and coitly present with which )' our brotherly and affectionate address is uccumpiuiud . To then , the children , 't will be a witness for their father that he slrjve to do thit which is right ulw lys , * nd was accepted among the worthy men of his lime .

The bowl you present me , ' overflowing with the good wishes , brotherly ' - •steem and regard' of the members of my lodge and other loving brethren , can never be empty , lor it will ever be replenished with the gratitude which I can

Presentation To Bro. William. Andrews, W.M. 1933.

but inadequately express , but which will ever be outpoured from the hearts of those to whom , as a happpy memento , it will be handed over in trust . " The high honour conferred upon me by the Most Worshipful the Grand Master brings fresh obligations , which I trust , by the will of Divine Providence , I may be spared to fulfil , and that you will all be spared to share in the honour which it should be to our lodge , for whatever eminence to which a brother may attain , the glory should not be his alone , but should serve to shed lustre up an his brethren , particularly the brethren of his lodge .

•' I heartily thank the bearers of the address and accompanying testimonial , and ask them to convey to the other brethren my hearty expressions of gratitude and of good will and esteem , with the hope that with restored health , we shall all be reunited to renew and strengthen these bonds of fellowship and good will . —I remain , yours faithfully and fraternally ,

" Wai . ANDREWS , 32 ° , " P . M . Kingston Lodge . " The deputation returned to Sussex Hall , where the ordinary business of the lodge was proceeding , and submitted the reply of the W . M ., which was read and applauded . The proceedings then terminated .

Father Wyndham And The "Freemason."

FATHER WYNDHAM AND THE " FREEMASON . "

( From the Tablet of the 1 st inst . ) . Sir , —The Freemason ( Saturday , December 18 ) , commenting upon my letter of November 20 th , observes that no arguments their writers might employ would influence my position towards the Masonic Craft . This is quite true , if future arguments should have no more cogency than those already adduced . When I was an undergraduate at Oxford it was sometimes said to me :

"Why do you not become a Mason ? " Knowing nothing about Masonry , I used to reply : "Tell me what I have to do if I become a Mason . " " Oh ! no , " was the invariable rejoinder ; "become a Mason , and then yon will be told what to do . " If I did not put my neck into the noose when I was young and inexperienced , is not when I have learned something of Masonry that I am going to change an attitude founded on reason and evidence . The Freemason is disolfiased herausp . f hnM fhnf " KnoIUh Mncnnrv it

responsible for the violations of Masonic principles which have been sanctioned and approved by ' other sections of the Craft—in France and elsewhere . '" This is not precisely what I said ; but let it pass . The Freemason replies —( 1 ) That the Grand Lodge of England does not

recognise those sections of the Craft which have set at defiance " the fundamental principles of Freemasonry , " and that it does " not accept them as Masons ; " ( 2 ) that the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite is itself outside the pale nf " pure antient Masonry ; " and it adds : " But even were it otherwise , as none but Master Masons can become members of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , it follows that the fundamental principles must be the same . "

The Grand Lodge of England accredits Representatives to the Grand Lodges of Scotland , Ireland , Berlin , Hamburg , the Netherlands , Switzerland , Denmark , Norway , Sweden , Portugal , Hungary , and Greece , besides others out of Europe . It accredits no Representatives to Belgium , France , Italy , or Spain . The Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland have also ceased to recognise the Grand Orient

of trance . But the Grand Lodge of Ireland recognises the Grand Orient of Italy . And the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite for Scotland , receiving a Representative from the Supreme Council for England , accredits Representatives to Belgium , France , Italy , and Spain . ( The Supreme Council for England has not published the list of its Representatives . )

Now , the Grand Orient of France has ( since 18 77 ) eliminated from its Constitutions and rituals all allusions to the Great Architect of the Universe , and in so doing has violated a fundamental princi ple of Masonry . The Representative of Italy , at the Supreme Council of Scotland , is Grand Master Adriano Lemmi , 33 ° who , on December 18 , 1892 , at a Masonic banquet at Niples , ended his speech with a toast to Satan . Yet , if this be an expression of " belief in the Diety , " there is , perhaps , no violation of a principle .

Be it as it may , the Supreme Council for Scotland recognises both Franca and Italy , and the Supreme Council for England recognises the Supreme Council for Scotland . And the Supreme Council for England , and , indeed , the whole of the Ancient and Accepted Rite for England , is composed—as The Freeman tells us—of Master Masons ( from the English lodges , I presume ); while many of the officers of the Grand Lodge of England are of high Degree ( 30 , 31 , and 33 ° ) of the said Ancient and Accepted Rite .

Is it then a fact that what is Masonicall y unlawful for a Master Mason under the Grand Lodge of England or of Scotland is lawful for him as a brother of the Ancient and Accepted Rite ? Does he , in his garb of Master Mison , reject the French Mason for denying "belief in the Deity , " and in that of a brother of the Ancient and Accepted Rite admit him to fraternal confidence ? And yet , as the Freeman tells us , the . fundamental principles of the Grand

Lodge of England and of the Ancient and Accepted Rite are the same . This must be one of the " mysterious secrets " into which simple uninitiated persons cannot penetrate . For myself I am not competent to explain how English and Scotch Masons can be free from some responsibility for " the violations of Masonic principles " by other sections of the Craft , since these , though condemned by the Grand Lodges , are recognised by the Supreme Councils of the Thirty-third Degree .

V et I was not primarily concerned with the violations ot the ' ' fundamental principles of Masonry . I am quite as much interested in the normal fruits pro « duced by the Masonic Tree . But enough for the present . FRANCIS M . WYNDHAM . St . Mary of the Angels , Bayswater , London , W ., December 21 , 1897 .

Masonic Treat To Old Folk At Westonsuper-Mare.

MASONIC TREAT TO OLD FOLK AT WESTONSUPER-MARE .

In accordance with their annual custom , the members of St . Kew Lodge , No , 1222 , entertained 350 old people of Weston-super-Mare to a substantial meat tea at the Victoria Hall on New Year ' s Eve . The wants of the guests were attended to by the following ladies ; Miss Dart , Mesdames Cooper , Capell , Hyndman , G . H . Perrett , W . C . Thomas , S . J , Wilde , G . Glossop , Musgrave , Gardiner , Foley , H . F . Frampton , Melsome , Bere , C . E . Barry , G . W . II . Pearsc ,

Ackland , E . G . Huntley , A . W . Franklin , W . H . Wooler , W . B . Lillington , W . E . Perrett , sen ., Glover , T . Cox . II . Butt , J . II . Gray , G . F . Forster , F . E . Day , R . E . M . Lawrence , W . Clothier , E . Baker , S . L . Wansbrough , E . E . B . iker , E . j . Morris , W . E . Perrett , jun ., W . A . Lyddon , F . Blackmore , J . J . Lovell , F . Barnard Ballance , J . P . Curtis , A . J . Cary , Parsons , A . E . Jefferies , Glass , H . F . Taylor , W . C . King , C . Cornelius , T . Cogle , Miss Harvey , Miss Frampton , and Miss Bryan .

Subsequently the old folk were entertained by a musical programme , and during the interval tobicco , ale , and teetotal drinks were provided . At the close , hot punch was distributed , and the gathering proved one of the happiest yet held under similar auspices .