Samuel D'Assigny, The Couple-Beggar.

SAMUEL D'ASSIGNY , THE COUPLE-BEGGAR .

In 1609 , Samuel D'Assigny , of Dublin , father of our Fifield D'Assigny , M . D ., published a pamphlet with the following title : A short I Relation | of the | Brave Exploits | of the | Vaudois | and of God ' s Miraculous Providence in their | Preservation in the late War against the [ French in Piedmont . | Taken from , and attested by some of their chief Com- | manders in those Kingdoms . Unto which is | Added some few Cautions to the Protestants of I Ireland . |

Written forour Encouragement against Popery . | By SAMUEL D'ASSIGNY , a Lover of his King and Country . | Dublin : | Printed by John Brent , at the Back of the Duke's Coffee- I house , in Skinner Row , near the Tholsell .

1699 . I The pamphlet consists of 24 pp ., small 4 to . The title and its blank reverse , with two pages of Preface , are followed on p . 5 by the text , which concludes on p . 23 . D'Assigny begins with a brief historical and

geograp hical description of the Vaudois and their valleys , mentioning the persecution of 1654 , and thus leading up to an account of the cruel doings of 16 S 6 . He then gives some particulars of the stubborn defence made by the Vaudois against Marshal Catinat , and draws the moral that we ought to be very thankful to King William for his timely arrival in this country .

The performance is without literary merit , and is only worth notice because it fits in with and corroborates the sketch of the D'Assigny family g iven in Civinciitaria Hibernica . The pamphlet is in the Thorp collection in the National Library of Ireland , and has been hitherto unknown and uncatalogued . W . J . CHETWODE CRAWLEY . ist October .

Knight Templary In The United States Of America.

KNIGHT TEMPLARY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .

The increase of Knight Templary in the United States of America is greater than ever , there being 115 , 770 subscribing members returned for the official year 1897-8 . For Canada , the figures to June are 1764 , but at the present time , in consequence of a " blessed union " of Scottish fratres with the Great Priory , the numbers are still more favourable . For England and

Wales the total membership is reported at 2529 , and for Ireland , Scotland , Victoria , and Australia the total stands at 1569 . There are 1238 subordinate preceptories in these Countries and about 50 Governing Grand Commanderies or Great Piiories , those for the United States being under the Grand Encampment .

These remarkable figures testify most unmistakably to the popularity of Knight Templary in North America . They are copied from the interesting volume of Proceedings of Maine , edited by my esteemed friend Bro . Stephen Berry , of Portland , who says the increase in the United States of America

of Knight Templary is now 2 . V per cent , as compared with 2 per cent , in the previous year . The percentage of Knights to Master Masons is over 14 $ , there being over 817 , 000 of the latter . Massachusetts and R . I . is the largest Great Priory in the world , having 12 , 313 on its roll ; Pennsylvania and New York have considerably over 11 , 000 each . W . 1 . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

The annual meeting of Ihe above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on the 28 th ult ., at the Literary Institute , Altrincham . Bro . Earl Egerton of Tatton , Prov . G . M ., presided , and amongst a large number ol Present and Past Prov . G . Officers on the dais were Bros , his Honour Sir H . Lloyd , D . P . G . M . ; the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., P . G . W . Eng ., P . P . G . W . ; F . Broadsmith , P . S . G . W . ; J . Clayton , P . P . G . W . ; C . E . Jackson , P . P . G . W . ; F . R . B . Lindsell , P . P . G . W . ; Rev . C . R . Nunn , P . G . C ; W .

Holloway , P . G . Treas . ; T . W . Markland , P . G . Reg . ; Colonel Dean , P . P . G . W . ; H . Jackson , P . P . G . W .,- J . F . May , P . P . G . Reg . ; G . Ibeson , P . P . G . Reg . ; E . G . Simpson , P . P . G . D . ; H . Gordon Small , P . G . D . C ; J . Cookson , P . P . G . W . ; and R . Newhouse , P . G . Sec . There were upwards of 500 members of the Order present . The roll of lodges was called , and it appeared lhat all were represented . The minutes of the last annual meeting and of special meetings held within the year were confirmed .

On the motion of Bro . Col . DEAN , seconded by Bro . II . J ACKSON , the annual reports of thc Committee of Benevolence in relation to the Provincial Fund of Benevolence , the Cheshire Masonic Benevolent Institution , and the Cheshire Educational Masonic Institution were approved and adopted as part of the proceedings of Provincial Grand Lodge .

The accounts of the Prov . G . Treas ., Bro . H . Holloway were agreed to on the motion of Bro . Col . DEAN , seconded by Bro . F . BROADSMITH , and the thanks of the province were tendered to Bro . Holloway and the Auditor , on the motion of Bro . Sir HORATIO LLOYD , seconded by Bro . thc Hon . ALAS EUEKTON , M . P . Bro . HOLLOWAY having briefly replied ,

Bro . G . IIIESON , one of the Auditors , reported lhat the accounts of lhe province were accurately kept , and that everything was found in perfect order .

The PROV . G . M ., in his address , said the large attendance was not to be wondered at , seeing that Masonry was flourishing in Cheshire and that their numbers were increasing year by year . During the past 12 months three new lod ges had been consecrated . Cheshire now possessed 52 lodges , with MdG subsciibing members , an increase of 9 C on the pieceding year . They had not only reason to be satisfied with the wotk of their own Committee of Benevolence , but they could also look back with great satisfaction upon the splendid contribution which that province had made to the fund initiated by

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

I their Grand Master , the Prince of Wales , in connection with the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . He ( Earl Egerton ) had the pleasure of supporting his Royal Highness at the Annual Festival of that Institution , and he thought that those who were not Freemasons must have been struck on that occasion with the extraordinary power of combination exhibited by their Body in furtherance of a Charitable object , seeing that they raised at

that festival the largesum of £ 134 , 000 . ( Hear , hear ) . Of that amountCheshire contributed £ 3000 . ( Hear , hear ) . The province had also done a great deal in educational work . It might be said that as education was now so largely taken up by the State , that support would not be so much required in the future as it had been in the past , and that therefore it might be necessary for them to look out for some new channel into which Masonic

benevolence might be directed . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was deeply interested in the support of the hospitals—the hospitals of London in particular—and there was no doubt that that was a work of Charity ana benevolence which might filly be associated with Freemasonry . They had done so much for Charity during the past year that he did not think the

present a suitable time for launching a scheme or suggesting a subscription , but it was a matter worthy the consideration of members of the Masonic body as to whether they could not also show their sympathy with suffering and with those who were in distress by extending aid to the hospitals . ( Hear , hear ) .

The meeting then proceeded to the election of a Provincial Grand Treasurer , and on the motion of Bro . F . R . B . LINDSELL , seconded by Bro . F . BROADSMITH , and supported by Bro . J . T . Goulding , Bro . J . W . Byrom , 1045 , was unanimously elected to that office . The following brethren were appointed Auditors , viz .: Bros . G . Ibeson , J . H . Bellyse , J . Armstrong , J . Cookson , and T . W . Markland . The Provincial Grand Marter invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . J . E . Perrin , 2375 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Ernest Brassey , 425 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . C . Hylton Stewart , 2610 ... ... " In / -. ^ , „ Rev . C R . Nunn , 42 S ... ... ... j Prov - G - Cha P ' 1 J * W . Byrom , 1045 ... ... ... p . G . Treas . „ F . Bettley Cooke , 23 S 9 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ R . Newhouse , 1045 ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ E . G . Parker , 156 *; ... ... .,. *) _ „ „ , _ ^ W . Walmslw . ™ Prov . S . G . Ds .

„ Joseph Roby , 2619 ... ... ... * *> „ J . B . Harrison , 104 ... ... J Prov . J . G . Ds . „ W . Whyte M'Leod , 1166 ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks . „ H . Gordon Small , 2386 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . White , 89 ... ... ... ... Dep . Prov . G . D . C . „ E . B . Gadden , 21 32 ... ... .., ") „ J . Davenport , 10 45 ... ... ... C p . A . G . D . Cs . „ J . Nicholson , 322 ... ... ,,, J „ William Dale , 941 ... ... ... p v . G . S . B . „ W . Hampshire , 320 ... ... ... **• „ G . Proudman , 2496 ... ... j Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ T . Brown , 721 ... ... ... p , Asst . G . Sec .

„ James Parker , 1 045 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ John Taylor , 1126 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Stanley Robinson , 324 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ J . M'Ewen , 336 11 J * Ferguson , 1045 „ W . S . Coppock , 1 357 ... ... ... i „ Alderman H . H . Mainwaring , 10 45 ... f Prov « G- Stwds-„ William Slack , 323 „ M . H . Wells , 2144

„ Alfred Huxley ... ... ... p . G . Tyler . A number of brethren having been invested with Charity jewels and bars , a vote of thanks was passed to the Rev . W . M . B . Lutener , vicar of St . George ' s , Altrincham , for the use of his church , and a collection was made in aid of the Masonic Charities .

After the transaction of business in Provincial Grand Lodge a large number of the brethren fell into processional order , and , headed by the band of the 3 rd V . B . C . R ., marched to St . George ' s Church , where a service was held . The brethren walked in regalia , and emblems of the Craft were included in the spectacular display that the procession afforded . The route to the

church was by way of lower George-street , Station-road , Stamford Newroad , George-street , Station-road , the Old Market Place , and Churchstreet , and the brethren had full opportunity of viewing the decorations introduced for the occasion . Bunting was very liberally displayed in the form of lines of parti-coloured streamers spanning the streets at regular intervals and large banners and flags . Flags were raised on all the public

buildings , and in places along thc route there was literally a blaze of colour . The street decorations were undertaken by the Novelty Art Company , of Altrincham—a firm with a wide-spread fame for work of this descriptionunder contract with the local brethren . Private enterprise enabled them to be extended as far as the Downs , the idea being to allow the decorations to remain over the next day , and thus have the orinc ' ioal thoroughfares brieht

with colour on the occasion of Altrincham ' s Agricultural Show . Introduced freely along the line of route were arrangements of Hags and streamers that included mottoes expressive of welcome to the Craft , displayed in many instances through the medium of white letters on a red ground . " Prosper the Art , " * ' Welcome the Craft , " " Faith , Hope , and Charity , " "Welcome Masons All , " and "Welcome

the Craft to Altrincham , " were mottoes and expressions of welcome greeting the eje at every turn . In a number of instances the work of exterior adornment in connection with private premises was distinctly commendable . The windows of the Axe and Cleaver Hotel were valanced with coloured cloth , and those on the ground floor were gaily ornamented with baskets of hanging

flowers . The large window of the shop of Mr . E . G . Parker , in Stamford New-road , was artistically dressed with Hags , and there was a notable exhibition at the establishment of Mr . VV . H . Pugh , showing the device of a horse-shoe and the words "Good-luck . " At the foot of the approach to St . George ^ s Churc h the Masons passed beneath a sort of triumphal arch , which was in itself a wonderful example of decorative ingenuity .

The service at St . George ' s was taken by the Revs . W . M . B . Lutener ( vicar ) , C . R . Nunn , of Norley ( who preached ) , and J . G . Bird , of Christ Chuich , Stalybridge . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . James Parker , Prov . Grand Organist , assisted by Bro . John