Bro. Hughan's "Old Charges Of British Freemasons. ''

besides their dyet and horsemeat . At one of these feasts , 23 rd of Henry 3 rd , a piece of 80 geese , 2 d . ob a piece , 800 eggs , which cost 5 c ! . the hundred , and many marrow-bones , creame

and floure , besides whattheyre servantsand others brought in ; and pageants , plays , and May trames , to captivate the senses of the zealous beholders , and to allure the people to the greatest

liberality ( for they did not make , their feasts without profit , for those that sat at dyner pay'd one rate , and those that stood pay'd another ) These plays were histories of the Old and New

Testament , the persons therein mentioned being brought sport the stage , whom the poet , according to his fancy , brings in talking to one another . A specimen of one of these plays called Corpus

Christi may be seen in Stephen ' s edition ofthe Monasticon . These gilds also gave annual charity stipends to poor persons ; found beds

and entertainment for poor people that were strangers , and had people to keep and tend to the said beds , and did other works of charity . The houses where these entertainments were

held , were generally near the church ; and the house on the south side of the Church of Oxburgh belonged to one of the gilds there , and is called in the old writings "Gild Hall "; and the house on the east side of the said church was

another Guild Hall , and belonged to that of Corpus Christi , the ceilings being painted and beautified with the portraiture of our Saviour , the five

wounds , Ike , as may be observed at this day . — ( Bloomlield ' s History of Norfolk , vol . 3 , page 494 r Lynn , 1769 . )

Grand Lodge Of Quebec.

GRAND LODGE OF QUEBEC .

Ihe following is the annual address of the Grand Master . ' " - Officers and Brethren of the M . W . the Grand Lodge of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons of Quebec .

Our annual Convocation occurring so near the autumnal equinox , and almost in conjunction with the great annual gathering of our brethren from whose ancient , sacred records are derived so many of our principles and traditions , —are

considerations well calculated to remind us of the increasing march of time , and of our bounden duty to be mindful of past mercies , and present favours , and to lead us to seek the blessing of T . G . A . O . T . U . in all our future undertakings . The Grand Lodge of Quebec has been signally

favoured by the Most Hi gh during-the year that is just gone , and it behoves us all ferventl y to pray for his Divine direction in the days to come . Let us now gratefully review the past , and with the guidance of the Grand Geometrician , carefully draught our plans on the trestle-board of the future .

Fraternal correspondence has been established with the nine following Grand Lodges during the eventful year just closed , namely : —West Virginia , Belgium , Alabama , Brazil , Idaho , Louisiana , Montana , the Argentine Republic , and South Carolina . Thirty-one Grand Lodges have

now recognised this Grand Bod y as the only sovereign Masonic authority in and for the Province of Quebec . Important communications are now being had with other Grand Lodges , both in the old world ancl the new , —reports ol which will be made to Grand Lodge at an early day .

The following eminent brethren have been appointed , or named , as Grand Reprcsentathes of their respective Grand Bodies near this Grand Lodge , namely : —R . W . Bro . Dr . H . W . Wood Knowlton , from West Virginia ; R . W . Bro , D . Thomas , of Sherbrooke , from Alabama ; R . W . George Thompson , of Quebec , from Brazil

Grand Lodge Of Quebec.

V . W . Bro . J . Alexander , of Quebec , from Idaho ; R . W . Bro . Hon . Thomas Wood , of Durham , from Louisisana ; R . W . Bro . MM . Tait , of Montreal , from Montana ; V . W . Bro . Dr . A . W . Hamilton , of Melbourne , from South Cru-olina ; R . W . Bro . Geo . O . Tyler , of Three

Rivers , from Georgia ; R . W . Bro . H . M . Alexander , of Montreal , from the Argentine Republic V . W . Bro . C . A . Rice , of Bedford , from Arkansas ; R . W . Bro . H . J . Pratten , of Quebec , from North Carolina , andM . W . the G . M . of Richmond , from Iowa . It is anticipated that Grand

Representatives will be appointed near most of those aird other Grand Bodies at an early day . During the year I have granted dispensations for the formation of Mount Oxford Lodge , Georgeville , in the St . Francis District ; Burland

Lodge , at St . Johns , in the Bedford District , and the Prince Consort , in the Montreal District . I trust that these may be found v orthy of receiving warrants during the present Annual Communication of Grand Lodge .

In accordance with the terms of the resolutions passed by Grand Lodge , at its last annual communication , Garrison Lodge , in Quebec , No . 160 , R . C , have declared their allegiance to this Grand Lodge . Their action was constitutional and praiseworthy , and I have no doubt will receive

the sanction and approval of Grand Lodge . Grand Lodges have been recently formed in the Province of British Columbia , and in the Territory of Utah . The documents pertaining thereto will be submitted for your consideration . I am of the opinion that they have been regularly

constituted , aud that , in accordance with their request , they are entitled to fraternal recognition . The Ancient Charges and Book of Constitutions having been carefully translated into the French language by an excellent officer of La Loire des Cieiirs Unis , I beg to submit to the Grand Lodge

whether some assistance might not be extended towards aiding in its publication . Very much good would probably result therefrom , especially when we remember how much misapprehension exists among our French speaking fellow citizens concerning our ancient and honorable fraternity .

I desire most kindly , but most urgently to enforce upon the lodges and brethren generally the necessity of exercising the greatest care in the selection of materials for the erection of our moral edifice . I beseech you , brethren , by every consideration to truard well the outer door .

Next to carelessness in the admission of candidates , stands the error , of insufficient instruction . On no account should the lectures be omitted , and if from necessity they are temporarily deferred , they should always be delivered at the first subsequent meeting . Thorough and

extensive examinations should also be rigorously maintained . There should be no ill-informed and badly instructed Freemasons . Both observation and experience have led me to the conclusion that very many disadvantages result from holding lodge meetings until too late an hour . This important matter is urgently

submitted for the consideration and action of the various lodges . Would it not be far better that meetings should be held semi-monthly when necessity arises , than that they should be monthly and be too prolonged ? Officers and brethren , close your lodges , as a rule , at an early hour .

It seems to be very desirable that as soon as is practicable thc Grand Lodge should cause to be prepared for the use of brethren ancl lodges under our jurisdiction , either as a separate manual oras an appendix to the Constitution , all convenient ancl necessary forms and instructions for

conducting the installation of officers , consecration and dedication of lodges and Masonic halls , forms of charges , appeals , proxy , directions for conducting trials in a Masonic and constitutional manner , and much other such like necessary information , not now easily accessible to many

officers and brethren . I cannot too strongly urge upon all the lodges the adoption of the goodly custom of having a fund of benevolence , kept separate from the ordinary funds of the lodge . The setting apart

of a percentage of fees , and of annual or other contributions for this noble object , which is one of the chief characteristics of our fraternity , is better than to depend wholly upon ordinary funds , or the special contributions . _ for the relief

Grand Lodge Of Quebec.

of urgent , or even prolonged cases of need . Brethren , consider well the advisability of having a large Benevolent Fund . The poor and suffering are always with you . The two hundred pounds raised by you for the relief of our Chicago brethren were duly forwarded for distribution to the

Grand Master of Illinois , who is also Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , rear that Grand Body . Our worthy Grand Chaplain , the Chairman of the Committee , will lay before you the first report of Foreign Correspondence , submitted to

this Grand Lodge . You will , no doubt , anticipate its perusal with great interest , and I am sure that you will find it worthy of his well-known ability , and full of information anent the general affairs of the Craft throughout the world . The reports of the foreign correspondence , received

from many Grand Lodges , are exceedingly valuable documents . They are often prepared by the ablest men in the fraternity , and are freig hted with rich ancl varied learning , and laborious research . The Grand Lodge of Quebec is deeply indebted to many of these learned

brethren , who have made known and defended its claims as a reguhuly constituted Grand Body . While heartily thanking all thc executive officers of Grand Lodge for their courtesy and faithful co-operation , I cannot do otherwise than make especial mention of our Grand Secretary . His urbanity , efficiency , and fidelity , are well known

to you all , and he may rest assured that his valuable services are highly appreciated by every member of this Granel Lodge . Fortunate , indeed , is this Grand Lodge with such a Grand Secretary . Nor should we bc unmindful of the very arduous labours of our first Grand Secretary , during his brief but important term of office . The office of Grand Treasurer is also one of the

greatest importance , ancl I need not assure you that it could not be more worthily filled , or its duties more carefully and faithfully performed , than b y the excellent bi other who now occupies that responsible position . It will , I am sure , be a source of profound satis .

faction that I am enabled to inform you that negociations are now in progress which promise the speedy settlement of all existing difficulties with the Grand Lodge of Canada . A happy combination of circumstances has arisen , and all the great constitutional questions involved having

been substantially settled , everything seems to indicate that peace and harmony will soon reign supreme in all our temples . To this every true Masonic heart will fervently respond—So mote it be . In the month of June last , I directed thc

Grand Secretary to forward to M . W . the Grand Master of England , a copy of the resolutions passed by the Grand Lodge at its last annual communication , relating , among other things , to the existence within our jurisdiction of private lodges holding allegiance to that Grand Body .

On the 29 th of August , a communication in rep ! y thereto was received from R . W . the Hon . Bro . Badgely , of Montreal containing a lengthy extract from a letter received by him from His Lordship the Marquisof Ripon , the M . W . G . M . of England . These documents are herewith

submitted for consideration . You will observe that the Grand Lodge is therein reminded by the Grand Master of England , " that when the Grand Lodge of Canada was formally recognised by this Grand Lodge ( England ) , it was agreed

that all such lodges as desired to remain under the English constitution , were to be at liberty to do so , and that all their rights and privileges were to be retained , but no other warrants would be issued by the Grand Lodge of England to lodges in Canada , " Sec .

The R . W ., thc acting D . G . M . of England for Montreal , in the same communication , inter alia , says : — " Believing that the agreement referred to escaped the attention ancl consideration of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , and was not present to the mind of the Grand Master of Quebec , when he directed your letter with its enclosures

to be forwarded to His Lordship , I take the liberty of recalling it to the notice of the Grand Master and Grand Lodge of Quebec , " & c . In reply thereto , the following extract will show that this important subject " has not escaped the consideration of the Grand Lodge or its Grand Master . ' In our address , in the yeai