Order Of The Secret Monitor.

Order of the Secret Monitor .

CONSECRATION OF THE DAMON AND PYTHIAS CONCLAVE , No . 14 , AT MADRAS .

The brethren having petitioned the G . S . R . of the Order fa warrant athorising them to hold a conclave of the Order in Madras , and having pointed out that Bros . Maiden , Gray , and Barton , of that city , had already rereived the first Degree' in the American manner , the G . S . R . constituted them the principal officers of a conclave , and authorised them to receive and act upon the warrant . According ly , on Friday , the 3 rd ult ., the brethren , to whom the warrant vvas granted—Bros . Rev . C H . Maiden , 1 S S . R . designate ; J . Gray , C . designate ; and J . B . Barton , G . designate , summoned a meeting of the founders of the conclave , and having entered the lodge room , these . i , on knelt around the E . and recited the oblieation .

Bro . Gabriel vvas then admitted and obligated as Sentinel . The three Rulers designate then opened the conclave in reffular form , and proceeded to admit into the Order -Bros . W . T . Hewitt , iS ° , Past D . G . Pres . B . G . P . ; C Campbell , D . Calder , D . G . A . D . C ; H . Love , Sec . 1198 ; C . Bonell , and B . C . Dumphy . After the induction of the candidates , Bro . MALDEN

informed the brethren that having been appointed to the rank of Past Grand Councillor , he vvas empowered to consecrate the conclave and take his seat as 1 st Supreme Ruler . Bro . M ALDKN then called upon the acting Sec , Bro . C . Campbell , to read the petition and warrant , and asked the brethren if they approved of the officers named in the

warrant . He then , assisted by Bros . Gray and Barton , consecrated , dedicated , and constituted the conclave , Bro . Barton delivering the oration . Bro . Maiden then installed himself as S . R ., Bro . J . Gray as Councillor , and Bro . J . B . Barton as Guide . Bro . W . f . Hewitt vvas elected Treasurer . The remaining

officers were then appointed and invested : Bros . Colin Campbell , Sec . ; ] . H . Love , V . D . ; D . Calder , V . D . ; and C . Bonell , Gdr . A Committee , consisting of the S . R ., Sec , and Treas ., was then appointed to frame by-laws to be submitted to the next meeting . The conclave was then closed .

Scotland.

Scotland .

SPECIAL COMMUNICATION OF PROV GRAND LODGE OF GLASGOW . This special communication was called for the 29 th ult ., and the business on the circular was installation of Provincial Grand Lodge Commissioned Office Bearers , presentation to Bro . Thomas Halket , & c . The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . John Graham , occupied the throne , and the Wardens' chairs were filled by Bros . Andrew McNair , R . W . M . 4 , acting P . S . G . W ., and B . M .

Gunn , R . W . M . 73 , acting P . J . G . W . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened , when the PROV . GRAND MASTER said he was glad to say the list of Prov . Grand Office Bearers vvas now complete . He had great pleasure in asking Bro . Thomas Halket to administer the usual ceremony to the office bearers elect then present , these being

Bro . Richard Barnwell ... Prov . Grand Depute Master „ James Boyd ... Prov . Grand Sub . Master . „ J . M . Oliver ... Prov . Grand S . W . „ David Reid Prov . Grand Sec . ,, Rev . W . W . Tulloch , B . D . Prov . Grand Joint Chaplain Letters of apology were read from Bros . G . C . H McNaught P . J . G . W . and RevJohn WattBDPG

, , . , .., . Joint Chap ., who were unavoidably absent . After the installation ceremony , the PROV . GRAND MASTER , in the name of Prov . Grand Lodge and daughter lodges , presented a very handsome timepiece and ornaments to Bro . Thomas Halket , Prov . Grand Treasurer of Benevolent Fund , as a mark of the esteem in which he is 1 , " - - « v * «* u , main i / i nn , i , ai . cc ( ll ill WUl ^ ll ne lb

I , neirj oy ti _ brethren in the province , and to commemorate his golden wedding . ! i k ' _ . H 0 MAS HALKET thanked the Prov . Grand Master Th 1 I en for their highly valued token of appreciation . Km ge tnen went int 0 harmony , and after a short closd Pent '" ° ng and sentiment > Prov - Grand Lodge vvas

The Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.

THE WAKEFIELD MASONIC LITERARY SOCIETY .

thi ??; Wednes < Jay evening , the 29 th ult ., the members of 7 iir-j : y assernb > ed in strong force at the Masonic Hall , recent et i Wakefi < = ld . T » e Society , which is quite u : nt y founded , was originated by Bro . J . Matthewman , nurnbP ° 9 ' Prov ; - Sec - for West Yorkshire , and now the tW . ^ , 2 3 of 6 o subscribers . All the brethren of shin £ * ? field lod ges have the privilege of memberselies h ! , f - }*> but they do not confine >* to themhoorl £ ' nvi , -e the brethren of the immediate neighbour-YorLnt ° "S pera i e with them - The Prov . G . M . of West Soclet v"A W Tew > J- P - the President of the working r . are four Vice-Presidents and a strong man P M ° mmittee - The Secretaries are Bro . Matthewobjects of Vh 3 ' and Br 0 - H - S - Childe , Sec . 154 . The Masn „ : " _ r society are declared to be the diffusion of

solution of M ¦ ' ' storical or archajological , and the out the fiW ° dlfficulties . It is proposed to carry by the bestV ^ l °¥ means oE P P > addresses , & c , Masonic re « = u ''' «» conveying the latest results of the ln' and to art .: W " . ' ' S nov bsing so actively engaged a Judicious Hie . e second > so far as it is practicable by o £ theCommiu •' P ° hibitory or otherwise , on the part submitted f „ . T ' F e'ation to the questions or difficulties In theVi ? dlscussion . £ P- Prov ( J M 8 n the . President on the Continent , the we chair . ' ' ' - Smith , kindly consented to take B t a teman F 0 e x & ru - preSent Bros - - F - Smithson and T . ?» , the WestVn 1 - ™ and Vice-Chairman respectively W , ll « mso P ° M M ^ Committee ; Bros . Major ''''•M . j Major G . Bolton , W . M . 154 ; T .

The Wakefield Masonic Literary Society.

Hargreaves , W . M . 495 ; W . Ash , W . M . 1019 ; H . France , P . M . ; J . A . Thornton , P . M . ; J . Gerrard , P . M . ; W . A . Statten , P . M . ; H . Oxley , P . M . ; B . F . Glover , P . M . ; W . Garforth , P . M . ; W . Glover , P . M . ; F . Simpson , P . M . ; Geo . Newton , P . M . ; H . G . E . Green , P . M . ; W . Sanderson , P . M . ; H . Smith , P . M . ; H . S . Goodyear , P . M . ; and numerous other brethren ,

including visitors from Leeds , Pontefract , Dewsbury , & c . The Secretary , Bro . MATIHEWMAN , P . M ., having obtained the confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting of the Society , announced letters of apology for nonattendance from Bros . Rev . J . Senior , LL . D . ; Rev . Cartwright Smythe , LL . D ., P . G . C . ; Watson , W . M . 2069 ; Atherton , P . M . 430 ; and Monckman , P . M . 600 .

The Chairman , Bro . H . SMITH , then rose and announced to the brethren that , in accordance with the notice they had all received , they were come together to hear a paper read by Bro . T . B . Whytehead , P . M . 1611 , and P . P . G . W . North and East Yorks . The subject selected by the lecturer vvas one in which they could not fail to be interested , and he had the greatest pleasure in introducing Bro .

Whytehead , to whose zeal in Freemasonry , both as a student and an exponent , he offered his hearty tribute . Bro . Whytehead , he continued , has filled very high offices in the Craft as well as in the other Orders of Masonry , is a writer of considerable and vveil-known eminence , and what is , perhaps , better , is not only able , but willing , to give us , in a pleasant and interesting form , valuable

information , which is the result , no doubt , of long and considerable research . The chairman also explained that it had been the intention of the Executive of the Society that the President should give the first address , but finding that impracticable , Bro . Whytehead had consented to come , and he now called upon the lecturer to read his paper . It vvas entitled , " The Origin and Objects of Speculative

Freemasonry . " Bro . WHYTEHEAD , who on rising was greeted with hearty applause , congratulated the Masons of Wakefield upon the step which , at the suggestion of Bro . Matthewman , they had taken in the formation of a Literary Society , and felt flattered by their invitation to himself to read them a paper . The spirit of inquiry , he said , vvas abroad , and

Freemasonry must submit , like everything else , to minute research into its history and purpose . Unfortunately , so far as documentary evidence vvas concerned , that history did not go very far back , and whilst he would not say that the traditions of the Craft were mythical , yet he vvas bound to admit that the foundations upon which they were based were somewhat unsubstantial . Bro . Whytehead

then traced , so far as it is at present practicable , the history of Speculative Masonry , showing that to what , he maintained , were originally societies of Operative Masons , there were added from time to time members of other trades and professions , who were probably the first Speculative Masons , instancing the case of Elias Ashmole and others as examples . He pointed out how there were no

¦ minutes of English lodges earlier than the beginning of the 18 th century , and none of Scotch Masons before the last few years of the 16 th . Like Bro . Gould and many other writers on Masonic subjects , Bro . Whytehead appears to accept nothing for which he is unable to obtain some documentary proof , and argued that the story of Sir Robert Sackville's visit to York by command of Queen

Elizabeth for the purpose of suppressing the Masons in that ancient city must necessarily be a myth , as there is no record , Masonic , municipal , or ecclesiastical , in support of it . Bro . Whytehead , moreover , gave the Quietus to the so-called " Old York Working , " showing that if anyone was entitled to know anything about it , surely it must be the Masons of York , and that there

vvas , not a vestige of it amongst them ! The lecturer next gave particulars about the "Ancients " and the " Moderns , " and described the history of the present Grand Lodge of England and the decadence ol the Grand Lodge of York , lamenting par parenthesis the dispersion of the furniture and appointments of that august body , which , he explained , were scattered throughout the

land , incidentally reminding his audience that the loving cup which once belonged to them is at the present moment in the possession of the Prov . G . Master of W . Yorkshire , Bro . T . W . Tew . Bro . Whytehead then took up what he deemed were the objects of Speculative Freemasonry , enlarging upon its duties and its obligations , eloquently expatiating upon its noble principles , and showing how

the genuine practice of Masonic virtues brightens the life of man , and lessens the aggregate of human misery . In conclusion , he impressed upon the brethren the duty of making a " daily advancement in Masonic knowledge , " pointed out how frequently these words of the ancient charge were forgotten or disregarded , and ended a very excellent address by judicious and well-considered counsel

and advice . A cordial and enthusiastic vote of thanks was given to Bro . Whytehead , on the motion of Bro . G . BOLTON , W . M . 154 , seconded by Bro . W . ASH , W . M . 1019 , and supported by other influential brethren . Bro . WHYTEHEAD , in reply , acknowledged the hearty appreciation evinced by the Masons of Wakefield , and was flattered by the close and careful attention with which

they had followed him . He also expressed the very great sympathy he felt with them in their new venture , and hoped their Secretary would not hesitate to make use of him , if necessary , as he would be delighted to render them any assistance in his power . The rules of the society were then read by the SECRETARY , and sanctioned by the members , and the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman ended a very interesting and successful evesiing .

Laying The Foundation-Stone Of A New Masonic Hall At West Bromwich.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF A NEW MASONIC HALL AT WEST BROMWICH .

The foundation-stone of the new Masonic Hall , which is being erected in Edward-street , West Bromwich , by the brethren of the Dartmouth Lodge , was laid on Tuesday afternoon , the 28 th ult ., by the Mayor , Bro . E . Heelis , W . M . of the Dartmouth Lodge , assisted by the P . G . M ., Col . Foster Gough , LL . D ., and a large number of brethren from the Province of Staffordshire .

Prior to the ceremony a Prov . G . Lodge meeting was held in the Town Hall . Among the brethren present were Bros . Col . Gough , P . G . M . ; E . Heelis , W . M . ; J . A . Bindley , D . P . G . M . j Rev . W , Randall , D . D ., P . G . W ,:

Laying The Foundation-Stone Of A New Masonic Hall At West Bromwich.

Rev . H . Abud , P . G . C . ; Rev . J . Bodenham , P . G . Treas . ; E . H . Thorne , P . G . S . ; W . Copeland , P . G . R . ; H . J . Classon , P . J . G . D . ; J . Portit , P . G . S . of W . ; E . Hurst Stanger , P . G . D . C ; J . Eayrs , P . A . G . D . C ; J . Stevenson , P . G . S . B . ; Charles Gee , P . G . Std . Br . ; E . W . Taylor , Mus . Doc , P . G . Org . ; and others . After the lodge meeting the brethren assembled in the

vestibule of the Town Hall , and formed into procession . Thence they proceeded , headed by the Provincial Officers , the Gold ' s Hill Band , and a number of boys in surplices , bearing a bible on a cushion . The P . G . M . and the brethren having taken their places , the hymn , " All people that on earth do dwell , " vvas sung , after which an address vvas delivered by the Mayor , Bro . E . HEELIS . He said

it was with extreme pleasure that , as Mayor of the borough and W . M . of the Dartmouth Lodge , he welcomed the P . G . M . and brethren of the province to assist at that imposing and important ceremony , pleasure which was enhanced by the fact that that was one of the first public duties in connection with the Order which the P . G . M . had been called upon to perform , since his Royal Highness , the

Prince of Wales , did him the honour of appointing him over the _ Province of Staffordshire , an honour which had been ratified by the brethren of the province in a most enthusiastic and unanimous manner a few weeks ago . It was not for him ( the Mayor ) to state publicly the reasons which induced the brethren of West Bromwich to provide a hall for their lodge . The brethren of the Dartmouth Lodge

had responded right royally to the appeal made to them to provide the necessary funds , and all the money required to complete the hall had been subscribed . The vessel containing the coins , and that containing the documents to be placed in the stone , were then handed to Bro . Heelis by the Provincial Grand Treasurer and the Provincial Grand Registrar , and the engraved copper plate

vvas also handed to him by the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . E . H . Thorne , after he had read the inscription . The several records were then placed in the receptacle by Bro . Heelis and covered with the plate , after which the stone was placed in position b y him , he using for that purpose a silver trowel with Masonic engravings , presented to him by the architects , Messrs . Wood and Kendrick .

The MAYOR then requested the Provincial Grand Master to prove the stone in accordance with Masonic formalities and customs . In responding to the request of Bro . Heelis , Bro . Col . GOUGH said : Men and brethren , here assembled to behold this ceremony , know ye that we be the rightful Masons , ever true and faithful to the laws of our country , and

engaged by solemn obligations to work and assist in the erection of handsome buildings , to be serviceable to the brethren and to mankind , and to serve God , the Great Architect of the Universe . We have among us , concealed from the eyes of all men , secrets which may not be revealed , and which no man hath discovered , but these secrets are lawful and honourable , and are not

repugnant to the laws of God or of man . They were entrusted in peace and in honour to the Masons of ancient times , and having been faithfully transmitted to us it is our duty to convey them unimpaired even to the latest posterity . Unless our Craft were good and our calling honourable , we should not have had amongst us so many illustrious brothers ever ready to obey

our laws and to promote our interests . We are assembled here to-day in the presence of you all to try and to prove this foundation stone , and as the first duty of Freemasons in every undertaking is to invoke the assistance of the Great Architect of the Universe upon their work , I will now ask you to unite with our Senior Provincial Grand Chaplain in addressing the Throne of Grace .

The PROV . G . CHAPLAIN then offered prayer , after which The PROV . G . M . proceeded to prove the stone in the accustomed manner , and having received the mallet , he said : " In the name , and by the authority of , the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of England , his Royal Highness the Piince of Wales , I declare this foundation

stone of the Masonic building of West Bromwich , having been first tried and proved according to the ancient Freemasons' Craft , by the square , level , and plumb rule , & c , to be well and truly laid in every particular . " The P . G . M . then proceeded to sprinkle corn , wine , and oil on the stone , using at the same time the several prescribed declarations as to the meaning of those emblems . This

part of the ceremony having been concluded , he handed to the architect a sum of money in new coins to procure refreshments for the workmen who had assisted at the laying of the stone , and afterwards addressed the brethren in these terms : I cannot finally close this Masonic ceremonial without , on behalf of myself and the Masons of Staffordshire , tendering our hearty congratulations to

yourself , Worshipful Master , and to your colleagues in this work , upon the auspicious commencement which has been made to-day . And as loyalty and obedience to constituted authority are amongst the primary characteristics of our Order , so we thank you for the opportunity which has been afforded us to take our part in this work . I therefore offer to you our services on all proper occasions for the aiding

and assisting of our fellow citizens in the performance of all good work of dignity and public importance , and also for the support of that authority with which the law has invested its executive ministers . It only remains for me , Mr . Mayor , to wish to yourself and your colleagues in the municipal government and rule of this town health , strength , and happiness , and to the members of this

assembly a safe and peaceful return to their respective homes . The ode , " Great Architect of Earth and Heaven , " vvas then sung , and the proceedings concluded with the National Anthem . A large number of ladies witnessed the ceremony , and at the close the brethren were photographed in two groups ,

and in the insignia of the Order . They afterwards took luncheon together at the Town Hall . The new buildings are in the renaissance style of architecture , and will be faced with pressed bricks and stone dressings . The interior contains a large assembly room , banqueting rooms , caretaker's residence , store rooms ,

lavatories , and cooking kitchens . All the apartments are lofty and well lighted , and supply every requisite for Masonic purposes and public assemblies . The foundation stone bears the following inscription : — "This stone vvas laid by his Worship the Mayor of West Bromwich , E . W . W . Heelis , Esq ., J . P ., and by the Right Worshipful the P . G . M ., Col . Foster Gough , LL . D ., and the Masons of Staffordshire . May 29 th , 18 S 9 . "