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by the Executive Committee for securing the Union and published in the Australasian Keystone for December , it appears that notice had necessarily to be given to the lodges to appoint brethren to represent them at the formation of the Grand Lodge , and consequently the wish could not be fulfilled . However , there can be little , if any , doubt that the proposed

United Grand Lodge of Victoria will be a recognised Masonic power m the course of the present year . There is hardly any opposition to the proposal , the returns from 102 lodges showing 3353 brethren in favour of it , and only 79 against , the balance of the members offering no opinion one way or the other . The Basis and Articles of Union have been accepted

by the delegates of the four Constitutions , and in all probability Bro . Sir W . J . CLARKE ,. Bart ., head of the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions , will be the first Most Worshipful Grand Master . While on the subject , we take the opportunity of thanking the Australasian Keystone for its ready and unaualified endorsement of the provisoes

suggested by us in the recognition of this and other independent Colonial G . Lodges—namely , that lodges which elect to remain under the old order of things shall have full liberty to do so ; and that the jurisdiction of the newly-recognised G . Lodge shall not be considered as conferring on it the exercise of any authority beyond the territorial limits of the Colony . It

considers both these conditions " reasonable , * ' and that , as regards the second of the two conditions , " recent events" have shown " that it is far better lor the maintenance of that cordial relation which , we trust , will ever exist between the Grand Lodges of the Australian Colonies and of Great Britain

that there should be a definite understanding on this point at the outset . '' We also take this opportunity of congratulating our much esteemed contemporary on the completion of its first year of labour , and express the very sincere hope that it may continue to enjoy in the future an equal or even a greater degree of prosperity than has attended it thus far in its career .

Grand Lodge Calendar For 1889.*

GRAND LODGE CALENDAR FOR 1889 . *

The Calendar for 1889 , published by authority of the Grand Lodge of England , has no new features , owing , doubtless , to the fact that the arrangement is about as near perfection as possible , and the particulars afforded relate to all the points about which information mi ght reasonably be looked for and expected in such-an annual . It is well edited , and is a credit to all concerned .

The Calendar for 1 SS 8 ended with Lodge No . 2234 , the present issue having No . 2290 as the junior , so that 56 new warrants have been granted during the last 12 months . The net total in the former list was 2045 , and , as Nos . 151 S ( Victoria ) . 2040 ( Kent ) , and 2106 ( North Borneo ) , have been erased , the present roll contains the very large number of 2097 lodges actively at work under the rule of the Grand Lodge of England , which is by far the largest of its kind in the world .

these lodges are widely distributed , and may be classed under the four divisions , as follows : Metropolitan Lodges— 358 Provincial „ 1138 District or " 1 Colonial , & c . j » 595 Military „ 6

2097 The Metropolis includes the oldest lodges on the roll , such as Nos 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 14 , 16 , iS , & c , on all lists from the earliest published of 1723 +, a large number of them being held in the Freemasons' Hall , all

being distinguished with numbers , save the "Grand Stewards '" ( which is an imperio in imperium ) , constituted as a Masters'lodge ; and all have warrants , with the exception of Nos . 2 and 4 , in existence prior to the Grand Lodge of England . So also was No . 12 ; and , possibly , several others .

1 he Provincial Grand Lodges are much more numerous than either of the other groups , some being considerably larger than many Grand Lodges . East Lancashire leads off with 99 lodges , VVest Lancashire with 92 , VVest Yorkshire with 73 , Kent with 57 , and Devon with 52 , following according to size , as enumerated . Those with 30 or more lodges , besides the foregoing , are Hants and Isle of Wight 47 , Cheshire 40 , Middlesex 39 , Surrey 34 , Durham 32 , Warwick 31 , and Cornwall 30 . These exercise the privilege of having two extra Prov . G . Deacons and a Deputy Prov . G . D . C .

The provinces then gradually diminish in numbers—Stafford and Yorkshire ( N . and E . ) , 29 ; Essex , 28 ; Sussex , 27 ; Somerset , 25 ; Berks , & c , 24 ; Lincoln , 23 ; Cumberland , & c , Derby , Northumberland , 22 ; Suffolk , 21 ; North Wales , 18 ; Hertford , Norfolk , 17 ; South Wales ( E . D . ) , 16 ; Gloucester , Nottingham , 13 ; Leicester , & c , Worcester , 12 ; Northampton , & c , Shropshire , Wilts , 11 ; Monmouth , South Wales ( W . D . ) , Oxford , 10 ; Bristol , nine ; Isle of Man , seven ; Jersey , seven ; Cambridge , six ; Bedford , Hereford , five ; Guernsey , four ; and Alderney , one .

The District Grand Lodges are widely distributed , besides which , not a few of the lodges abroad are not under any District Grand Master , but are managed , as far as need be , at head quarters . The largest District Grand Lodge is Victoria , which has 103 lodges on its roll , being the most numerous subordinate body under the Grand Lodge of England , the next in extent being New South VVales , with 82 lodges . These , though enumerated in the Calendar are , it is presumed , all of the past , as the Grand Lotige for

that Colony was established a short time since , with most gratifying unanimity , so that in the publication for 18 90 there will be a very large number of erasures , especially if the suggested Grand Lodge for Victoria is formed adinterim . The Calendar for 1886 had 20 lodges omitted , because of the inauguration of the Grand Lodge of South Australia , which bids fair to be one ol the most united and prosperous Grand Lodges in existence . Queensland has 31 lodges , Western Australia , eight , Tasmania , eight , and there is one at Albany . ln the East Indies there are 10 S lodges , grouped in five' District Grand Lodges , viz ., Bengal . 36 ; Bombay , 22 ; Madras , 21 ; Punjab , 21 ; and

Grand Lodge Calendar For 1889.*

Burmah , eight . In Africa there are 26 lodges on the roll of the Eastern Division ( Graham's Town , Queenstown , & c ) , 13 . at Natal , nine for the Western Divison ( Cape Town , & c ) , and 14 lodges not under any District Grand Lodge , held at Kimberley , Saint Helena , & c New Zealand rejoices in 85 lodges under our jurisdiction , arid there is

also a strong Scottish Masonic element in lhat country . Canterbury ( South Island ) is the largest District Grand Lodge , with 20 , followed closely by Auckland ( North Island ) , 19 , and Wellington ( North Island ) with 18 . Westland ( South Island ) has seven lodges , and " South Island , " with six ,, is not a District Grand Lodge . Fiji is represented by two lodges , andl wtih a little more activity might soon be formed into a District .

The District Grand Lodge of Hong Kong and South China consists of eight lodges , and there are five in that of Northern China ( Shanghai , & c . ) In Japan there are four lodges , constituted into a District Grand Lodge in 1873 . Jamaica has been revived as a District Grand Lodge from 1886 ,

and has a roll of 10 lodges , seven being held at Kingston . There is also one at Montego Bay . The Bahamas is one of our smallest District Grand Lodges , having only two subordinates , and 17 lodges are distributed in Barbadoes , Trinidad , Bermuda , Antigua , Curaeoa , Grand Turk , and St . Thomas .

In military corps there are only six lodges , which is a vastly different experience to that of early this century . Th ^ difference does not occur through any lack of interest in the Fraternity by " our brave defenders , " but because lodges are now so widely distributed , that military brethren more generally belong to those of a civil or stationary character .

The military lodges of English origin are No . 316 , in 1 st Royal Regiment , 2 nd Battalion ; No . 352 , 6 th Regiment of Foot ; No . 824 , 12 th Regiment of Foot , 2 nd Battalion ; No . 528 , in 14 th Regiment ; No . 743 , in 31 st Regiment ; and No . 497 , in the 89 th Regiment . The last warrant of this kind dates from the year i 860 . The history of regimental lodges from the middle of the last century would be virtually a history of Freemasonry abroad , for to our own military brethren the introduction and prosperity of

the Craft in foreign parts is mainly due , especially during the period 1750—1813 . They were the chief representatives of the British and Irish Craft at a time when but little was known of the Fraternity , and were the means of starting lodges in out of the way parts , which otherwise would not have been reached by ordinary efforts . In America , particularly , the obligations to military lodges , hailing from one or more of the home Grand Lodges , have always been most cheerfully recognised , and will never be forgotten by a grateful Craft .

Royal Arch chapters are ever on the increase , and now that the minimum fee has been reduced to two guineas for exaltation , I anticipate a still larger return of members from the chapters year by year , as they lower their fees in like manner .

There are 7 2-1 chapters on the roll , or virtually one to each three lodges . Years ago , the proportion was nothing like so favourable . In London there are 139 chapters , 447 in the provinces , 132 in the Districts Abroad , & c ., and three in regiments , the weakest in proportion being the District Grand Lodges , and the strongest the plucky brethren belonging to the military chapters .

It is singular to note how the provinces vary in respect to their support of Royal Arch Masonry . The Provincial Grand Chapter of Devon seems to head the list with 28 chapters , with 52 lodges , followed closely by West Yorkshire , with 38 out of 73 lodges . Dorset has 7 . wilh 13 lodges , and Cheshire 20 chapters out of 40 lodges ; Yorkshire , North and East , has 29 lodges and 15 chapters ; Cornwall , 14 , with 30 lodges ; and Hants and Isle of Wight , 22 , with 47 lodges on its roll .

Each 01 the three lodges at ijibraltar has a Royal Arch chapter attached , Chief Justice the Hon . Sir Henry Burford-Hancock being at the head of both bodies . The Degree is but little patronised apparently in Victoria , where there are only 11 chapters , and yet 103 lodges , and in New South VVales the proportion is about the same , being as 9 to 82 . In all New

Zealand there are only 13 chapters , though the lodges are 85 in number . It is possible that the difficulties in working the Degree may partl y explain the disparity , as the cost of the furniture and the requirements respecting the number of Principals are not easily obtained and observed in some localities . No Master is complete without becoming a Royal Arch Mason . VV . J . HUGHAN .

An Early Warwickshire Charter.

AN EARLY WARWICKSHIRE CHARTER .

It may be of interest to Masonic students to know that a charter or warrant for holding a lodge of Freemasons in the little town of Kenilworth , famous alike for its castle and its sylvan scenery , was granted by John , Duke of Athol , Grand Master in 1778 , and that such charter exists , having lately come to light , especially as no account ol the existence of such a lodge is shown in the " List of Lodges , 1814 , " published by Bro . William James Hughan , P . S . G . D . England , whose diligent research into Masonic

arch-cology is so well known and appreciated , so it must have been extinct before that period . It was one of the "Ancient" or " Athol " lodges , so called to distinguish them from the " Moderns . " These seceders , about the year 1 753 . formed a Grand Lodge of their own in London , and some years after obtained the support of John , third Duke of Athol , whom in 1771 they elected as their Grand Master . The Duke held high position in the Craft , and was Grand Master of Freemasons in Scotland . In 1778 he constituted a lodge at Kenilworth under the following charter : —

ATHOLL GRAND MASTER R . Davy , S . G . W . —Wm . Dickey L . G . M—G . Steuart J . G . W . lo all whom it may concern WE the Grand Lodge of the most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , ( according to the old constitutions granted by His Royal Highness Piince Edwin at York , Anno Domini nine hundred and twenty six ,

and in the year of Masonry Four thousand nine hundred twenty and six ) m ample form assembled , viz . Ihe Right Worshipful and most noble Prince , John the third duke Marquis and Earl of Athole , Marquis and Earl of Tulhbardine , Earl of Strathsay , and Strathardle , Viscount of Balquider and Glenlyon . Lord Murray Belveny and Gask Heritable Captain and Constable of the Castle and Constabulary of Kincleaven , Hereditary Keeper of the Palace of Falkland

and rn that part of Great Britain colled England , and Masonic Jurisdiction thereto belonging Grand Master of Masons , the Right Worshipful William Dickey Hsbr ., Deputy Grand Master , The Right Worship f ul Robert Davy , Esqr ., Senior Grand Warden , and the Right Worship ful George Steuart Esqr ., Junior Grand Warden ( with the approbation and consent of West

the Warranted Lodges held within the Cities and Suburbs of London and - minster ) Do hereby authorise and empower our Trusty and Well beloved Brethren , viz ., The Worshipful Christopher Botterill—one of our Master Masons , the Worshipful Joseph Smith his Senior Warden , and Ihe Worshipful Samuel Stoddard his Junior Warden , to form and hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , aforesaid