Celebration Of Centenary Festival Of The Harmonic Lodge, No. 252, Dudley.

CELEBRATION OF CENTENARY FESTIVAL OF THE HARMONIC LODGE , No . 252 , DUDLEY .

The members of this lodge , the mother lodge of the province of Worcestershire , met at the Freemasons ' Tavern , Stone-street , Dudley , on Wednesday , 23 rd ult ., to hold a lodge of emergency to celebrate the hundredth

anniversary of the constitution of the lodge , whose warrant bears date " 23 rd July , 1754 , " and was signed by " Thos . Howard , Earl of Effingham , acting Grand Master under the authority of H . R . H . Henry Frederick , Duke of Cumberland , Grand Master . " The application of the members of the lodge for permission to wear the centenary jewel had proved unsuccessful , owing to an unfortunate break in the

continuity of its records , and of the communications to Grand Lodge , which prevented their giving the necessary proof that the lodge had had an uninterrupted existence for Joo years ; but it was felt by all the brethren that , notwithstanding the consequent feeling of disappointment and regret at their having to forego * the coveted distinction and privilege they had sought to obtain , they might still meet

and celebrate the hundredth recurrence of the day on which their much loved lodge was constituted , and their " ancient brethren " obtained the warrant and assembled to consecrate the new shrine to be dedicated to the service of the Craft , and to foster and send forthsons and brothers to teach its lessons and practice its grand principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth . Thus impressed , the

brethren were met for that purpose , with evident heartiness . and unanimity of good feeling to do honour to the occasion . The W . M ., Bro . R . G . Walker , took the chair , and was supported by Bros . Geo . Bagott , I . P . M . ; G . T . Owen , S . W .,- James Turner , J . W . ; W . E . Walker , P . M ., P . P . G . A . D . C , Treas . ; S . Smith , P . M ., P . P . G . S . W ., Sec . ; R . Stevenson , S . D . ; S . Bagott , J . D . ; M . Smith ,

Stwd . ; C . F . G . Clark , P . M ., P . P . G . S . D . ; E . Turner , P . M ., Prov . G . Reg . ; F . Holcroft , P . M ., P . P . G . S . D . ; T . F . Higgs , P . M ., P . P . G . A . D . C ; W . Bagott , Henry Bagott , T . Chambers , E . ] . Chambers , and James Jones . The visiting brethren present were Bros . A .-F . Godson , Dep . Prov . G . M . ; Geo . Taylor , P . M ., P . P . G . S . W ., Prov . G . Sec ; Rev . S . T . Tozer , P . P . G . C . Staffordshire ; C E .

Bloomer , P . P . G . R . ; G . J . Westbury , P . P . G . S . D . ; C Round , P . P . G . S . of W . Staffordshire ; A . Comber , P . P . G . D . C ; T . Foley , P . P . G . S . B . ; John Jordan , W . M . 49 S : H . Hughes , 49 S ; S . Waring , 49 S ; Joseph Belling-. ham , 498 ; W . M . Roden , W . M . 1874 ; W . J . Threlfall , . 1874 ; G . R . Green , 1 S 74 ; T . Taylor , 573 ; J . Finney , 573 ; Alfred Marsh , 573 ; F . M . Jackson , and E . W .

Smith , 347 . The lodge having been opened in due form , W . Bro . A . F . Godson , Deputy Prov . Grand Master was announced , and the Prov . Grand Officers present retired to receive him . He afterwards entered the lodge , preceded by his officers in procession , and on taking the chair , which the W . M . resigned to him , was saluted with the customary

honours . Having acknowledged the compliment in appropriate terms , he expressed the pleasure he felt at being able to be with them on such an interesting occasion . It was true that pressing engagements would not admit of his taking part in the whole of the proceedings ; but he was glad that by making extra efforts he was in their midst for awhile to unite with them in manifesting the pride and

affection that led them there on such a memorable occasion to honour the mother lodge of his province . After reading the circular convening the meeting , Bro . S . SMITH , P . M . and Sec , by request , read an address on the work of the lodge during the ioo . yearsof its existence , and on the strong claims it had to their regard , as having been a home and shrine of the Brotherhood for the nurture ,

training , and guidance of true sons of their beloved Craft , who had been faithful and zealous in teaching the golden lessons which they had themselves been taught , and doing also the like good to others that had been faithfully and lovingly done to them . On the motion of W . Bro . GODSON , Deputy . Prov . G . M ., seconded by W . Bro . Geo . TAYLOR , P . P . G . S . W ., " Prov . G . Secretarya hearty vote of thanks was given to

, Bro . Samuel Smith , for his interesting address . It was further resolved that the address should be entered on the minutes , and also that it should be printed in pamphlet form , in conjunction with some lectures recently given by Bro . C . F . G . Clark , P . M . W . Bro . GODSON , whilst speaking in reference to the above motion , expressed his regret that the brethren were

unfortunately precluded from obtaining the centenary ¦ jewel ; but he hoped that by the further efforts and research of Bros . Smith and Clark , they might even yet discover some evidence now missing that might enable them to preer another claim in the future that might prove to be successful . W . Bro . Geo . Taylor , while supporting him , snoke of the feelintrs of regret and disappointment that

he had experienced at the result of an appeal made b y him to Bro . Hughan for assistance in this matter ; he had felt persuaded that if the " missing link , " or any shred of evidence to help themcould be recovered , he , Bro . Hughan , would be the one to discover and take it up ; but he could only report that the result of his careful and attentive research into copies of all returns made by lodges from went to confirm

1 S 00 to 1 S 13 , to Grand Lodge of England , the decision of the Grand Secretary , and to bar the claim •of the Harmonic Lodge . As Bro . Hughan bad given him a statement of payments made to Grand Lodge , he quoted them , shewing that none were made between 1 S 03 and 1 S 1 C . After alluding to a copy of a sermon that he had seen , which was preached at the consecration of the Harhis

monic Lodge , he concluded by expressing gratification at being privileged to be present with that evening , and adding his quota of " Hearty good wishes " that the lodge might have an uninterrupted career in the future , and be favoured with good fortune , and full measure of success . W . Bro . CLARK , P . M ., after stating the great pleasure it gave him to take part in the proceedings of the day , alluded at some length to the break in the records of the

lodge , and to efforts made to discover the cause , and to rectify the omissions ; dwelling more particularly upon the diligent search made by their late lamented Bro . Bristow , and the lengthy memoranda that was drawn up by him to be submitted to the Grand Secretary to support the claim of the lodge to have permission to wear the centenary jewel , It was a source of regret to all that their claim had not been successful ; but , though the lodge records were complete up to a certain date , and down from a date later on , there

Celebration Of Centenary Festival Of The Harmonic Lodge, No. 252, Dudley.

was a blank of about 13 years which could not be filled up He ( Bro . Clark ) had lived in Dudley 40 years , and had used all diligence , but could not trace the books or papers they were so anxious to obtain ; still , his 40 years' residence there enabled him to bear strong testimony to much good work done by the lodge and to the kindly feeling that had been fostered and exercised by its members to their own benefit and also to the general welfare of others around

them ; and he was pleased indeed that the brethren had assembled that day to do honour to the good and worthy Masons who had founded the lodge , worked for it , extricated it from difficulty , and raised it to the position it has long held as the true mother lodge to which other lodges in the province were accustomed to look for Masonic light , instruction , and guidance . Many other brethren expressed goodwill and best wishes

for the future success an . d welfare of the lodge ; after which the lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet under the presidency of the W . M . In proposing "The Health of the Queen and the Craft , " the WORSHIPFUL MASTER said he was sure it always afforded Freemasons the greatest of pleasure to render

homage to the first lady in the land . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER afterwords gave "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . of England , " and in doing so said that amidst all his duties there were none in which his Royal Highness took a deeper interest than those of the Craft .

Thetoast of "The Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro G . M . of England ; Earl Lathom , R . W . Dep . Grand Master of England ; and the Officers of the Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " was submitted by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , and received in the usual way amongst Masons . Bro . G . TAYLOR said he was pleased that he had the permission of the Worshipful Master to propose " The Health of Sir Edmund Lechmere , Bart ., M . P ., R . W . Prov . Grand

Master of Worcestershire , " as he was in a position to speak of the pleasing manner in which Sir Edmund performed the-important duties of his ofiice . He was sure . the mode of transacting the business in Worcestershire would compare favourably with any other county in England , and was certain the whole of . the brethren present would drink to Sir Edmund ' s good health in the heartiest manner possible . Several applications for Masonic balls during the winter

had been under consideration , but the Provincial Grand Master was not inclined to countenance balls being held under the auspices of Masons . As a . semi-public gathering much more in the true interests of the Craft it had , however , been decided to hold a Masonic soiree at Worcester on August 27 th , and he had reason to believe that it would be- largely attended . Another matter which had been under the consideration of the Provincial Grand Lodge

was the proposal to hold a Masonic Exhibition in Worcestershire . In the past Masonic exhibitions had been very rare in England , in fact , he only remembered two being held at York ; but it had been decided to hold one at Worcester , which , he felt sure , the brethren would not be ashamed of , but , on the other hand , would be highly pleased with . A catalogue would be printed of all particulars relating to these Masonic relics , which , as a standard

reference , would not fail to be of importance and interest to the Craft . The exhibition would be open for one week , and he trusted that every Mason in the province would make an effort to attend on one of the days , or it could not be said to compensate for the amount of labour it had necessitated . At Kidderminster there was a Masonic Hall , and he , Bro . Taylor , hoped to see a Masonic museum and library established in the course of a short time , which , he

felt sure , would be much appreciated , not only in Kidderminster , but by the whole province . Bro . EDWIN TURNER said it afforded him great pleasure to propose " The health of the Wor . Bro . A . F . Godson , Deputy Pro . Grand Master of Worcestershire , and other officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge Past and Present . " He very much regretted that Bro . Godson was compelled to leave previous to the banquet taking place , but he knew he

was compelled to leave in consequence of several pressing engagements . He thought they had reason to be proud that they had such a brother to take the place of Wor . Bro . William Masefield , who had for nearly half a century done such noble work in the cause they had at heart . Bro . FOLEY suitably responded . Bro . C . F . G . CLARKE said he had the permission of the Worshipful Master to propose what he might term the

toast of the evening , viz ., " The Harmonic Lodge , No . 252 , constituted July 23 rd , 17 S 4 . " They had that day met to celebrate the centenary of the opening of their Lodge , and he was personall y very pleased that the Worshipful Master had given him permission to propose the toast . One hundred years ago Dudley was a village , and now it was a commercial town of considerable importance , its staple trade being coal and iron , Many great changes have taken place in the good old town since the opening of

their lodge ; and its history was well worthy of perusal . The history of their lodge was also of a very interesting character , and he would take the opportunity of giving the particulars which he had been able to obtain . The lodge was consecrated on July 23 rd , 17 S 4 , and its number was 246 . it was afterwards altered to 367 and 313 , and subsequently to 252 , its present number . ' He need hardly say that it was the oldest lodge in the province of Worcestershire . From

1 S 03 to 1 S 16 , it for some reason ceased to be in union with the Grand Lodge of England . How this was brought about he could not tell , but there was evidence to show that the lodge was in existence in 1 S 11 , as books belonging to the lodge were made in that year . It was , however , decided at the time he had referred to for Freemasons to make returns to the Registrar General , and he believed rather than do this they destroyed their books and other

documents belonging to the lodge . For a considerable period the jewels belonging to the lodge were missing , and in 1 S 27 they were found to be in possession of a Madame Lloyd . In rSi 6 the lodge was restored , and from that time until the present it has been in union with the Grand Lodge . In 1 S 27 it was reinstated , with great vigour , under the efforts of Joseph Homer , B . B . Penn , Robert and John Shedden , Bunn , and Douglas , of Dudley . He

was glad to say its prosperity and success had continued down from that time , and many eminent men had constituted its membership . In 1843 another supreme effort was made to increase its prosperity and welfare , when their now venerable Bro . Wm . Maselield , became a member , and from that long period to the present day he had exhibited such an amount of zeal and energy in the cause of Freemasonry that has not been equalled by any living man .

Celebration Of Centenary Festival Of The Harmonic Lodge, No. 252, Dudley.

In 1 S 51 and 1 S 47 there was added to the lodge those two distinguished Bros . Wm . Bristow and Matthew Dennison ( now dead ) , both of whom assisted very much in promoting the progress of the Craft in the county of Worcester . The lodge was now , he rejoiced to say , in a high degree of Masonic efficiency , and numbered 49 members . It was exercising a large amount of usefulness , charity , and benevolence , which be might say was little seen by the

outer world . The question was frequently asked—and he would say properly—what became of the fees paid by Freemasons , and he thought it only right that he should publicly state what was being done with the money subscribed . He had ascertained from Masonic books that the Freemasons of the county of Worcester had given £ 449 Ss . 3 d . to National schools and building funds , and in 1 S 73 the Masonic window

erected in the north transept of VVorcester Cathedral cost the Masons £ 57 ° -. The funds collected from the Freemasons in Worcestershire by Bros . Bristow and Taylor in 1 S 79 and 1 SS 0 alone , for the charitable object of aiding the Masonic Charities for boys and girls in London , and granting annuities to distressed and decayed Masons and widows amounted to £ 1150 iGs . The figures he had given showed that Freemasonry was . ' quietly and unostentatiously doing

a large amount of work in assisting deserving charities . The charities distributed by the Grand Lodge of England in 1 SS 3 , amounted to the noble sum of £ 55 , 994 14 s . 3 d . £ 24 , 8 95 7 s . id . being given to the Boys' School ; £ 12 , 650 is . 2 d . to the Girls' School ; and £ 18 , 449 Os . to the Benevolent Fund . 221 boys and 239 girls were annually housed , clothed , and educated . The Benevolent Institution was now granting an annuitv of £ 40 a year to

171 decayed Masons , and £ 32 a year to 167 widows of Freemasons . He thought the figures he had quoted showed that the Freemasons were engaged in a good and glorious work . In conclusion ' Bro . Clark referred to the establishment of a chapter in the year 1 S 44 , and remarked that it now consisted of 38 members , and ' was one of the best in Worcestershire . The lodge had pros- . pered in the past , and he felt sure it would in the future .

Bro . G . BAGOTT said it was with the greatest possible pleasure that he proposed " . Jhe Health of W . Bro . W . Masefield , P . Deputy Prov . G . M ., Past Grand Standard Bearer—the oldest member , and the oldest Past Master of the Harmonic Lodge . " The name of Masefield was a household word in the town of Dudley , and if there was one man respected more than another in the old town it was Wm . Masefield , for he had a word and a smile for the high

and the low , and the rich and the poor .- The speaker referred in feeling terms to the late Bros . Dennison , Bristow , and Stokes , who had been Past Masters of the lodge , and said the noble work done by them would be appreciated for many years to come . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next proposed "The Visitors , " and Bros . COMBER , ROUND , J ORDAN , and RODEN

responded . Bro . the Rev . S . T . TOZER , in eulogistic terms , proposed "The Worshipful Master , " and Bro . R . G . WALKER responded . The remaining toasts were " The Past Masters of the Lodge , " "The Officers of the Lodge , " and the Tyler ' s toast .

The Great Priory Of Canada.

THE GREAT PRIORY OF CANADA .

1 he meeting of the great Priory of Canada opened on Tuesday , July Sth . There was a large gathering of the knights from all parts of the Dominion present . Col . McLeod Moore , the Great Prior , in his allocution referred to the fact that the complete independence of the National Great Priory had been fully realised . He deeply regretted

that most unfair and false motives had been ascribed to the Great Priory's action , and that it was extremely ungenerous to suppose that such a step was taken with even the most distant idea of disrespect to the Prince of Wales . The kindly spirit displayed towards the Great Priory by the fraters of the order in the United States was feelingly acknowledged . After commenting on the various phases

of the Order's development , the Great Prior referred to the distinguished fraters , who , since the last assembly , had passed to the ' rr eternal rest , and concluded by touching upon tKe encyclical letter as follows : — " No comments of mine are necessary to point out the animus and ignorance displayed as regards the aims and objects of Freemasonry , but which can have no reference to our English-speaking

system . Of this be assured , as long as we confine ourselves to the pure and simple degrees of the English rite all the thunders of the Vactican or opposition of fanatical Protestants , cannot avail . " The following officers were reelected : —Col . McLeod Moore , S . G . M . ; Jas . A . Henderson , Kingston , D . G . M . ; Daniel Spry , Barrie , G . C ; Rev . V . Clement ! , Peterboro , G . P . ; A . N . PetittSt . Thomas

, , G . C . ; S . Lebourveau , Stanstead , G . M . ; David McLellan , Hamilton , G . T . ; J . McL . Stevenson , Barrie , G . R . The . Provincial Priors arc ; London , Jas . Sutton , Clandeboy ; Hamilton , E . A . Dalley , Hamilton ; Toronto , P . J . Slatter , ; Toronto ; Kingston , S . S . Lazier , Bellevillo ' Quebec , I . H . Stearns , Montreal ; New Brunswick , D . R .

Munro , St . John ; Manitoba , C . F . Forrest , Winnipeg The Grand Council is : Donald Ross , Picton ; H . A " . Mackay , Hamilton ; Ross Robertson , Toronto 3 A . G , Adams , Montreal ; Win . Gibson , Beamsville ; H . D . Hall , Peterboro ; W . H .. Ponton , Belleville ; J . B . Nixon , Toronto ; Geo . Longlee , Maitland .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

m ^^^^ A meeting of the General Committee of this Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , on the 2 nd inst ., Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , Past Grand Deacon , in the chair . There were also present Bros . Chas . F . Hogard , Arthur

E . Gladwell , the Rev , Richard Morns , D . D ., Head Master of the School , A . VV . Williams , F . Adlard , G . P . Gillard , Charles Belter ., C . F . Matier , E . Baxter , and F . Binckes , Secretary of the Institution . Two grants of £ 5 each , one grant of £ 10 , and one of

£ 15 were made to former pupils of the Institution . There were no petitions for p lacing boys on the list of candidates for election into the School . The Secretary reported that a legacy of £ 50 , less legacy duty £ 5 , had been left to the Institution by the will of the late Bro . A . W . Hardcastle .