Freemasonry In 1897.

Freemasonry in 1897 .

BY G . BLIZARD ABBOTT . P . P . G . D . Herts .

l | pp 3 |^| rNCE the memorable day in April , 1875 , when thc § PplM | I r <» ce of . Wales was installed as M . W . G . Master , il % 5 ^** vS $ t ' * English Craft has known a succession of prosl )/*^^^^ l perous years which is quite unprecedented in its S ^ a = n ^ m own history , and which we venture to think is equally unprecedented in that of Masonry under the

jurisdiction of any other Grand Lodge . Not only have our lodges increased and multiplied amazingly and many new centres of the Craft been established in previously unoccupied districts in the British Empire , but the Order itself has grown in popular estimation , and though there are still people who smile at our secrecy

and alleged fondnesss for display , there are few who do not respect us , more especially for the splendid charitable work we are perpetually engaged upon . But of all thc prosperous years we have known since the Prince of Wales became ihe head of our Society , there is , in our opinion , none that will be considered

more memorable in our annals than the year which a short time hence will have run its course . It may not be in a position to point to an exceptionally long roll of newly-warranted lodges and few , if any , new Provincial District organisations may have been established , while the aggregate of the sums contributed by

voluntary subscriptions by thc lodges and brethren and their friends in behalf of our Institutions has been again and again exceeded . But for all this thc year which has witnessed the celebration of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee also stands out preeminent for the importance and variety , if not for the number , of

its Masonic functions . The meeting in the Royal Albert Hall , if not the only one of ils kind , is the most important , having regard to thc event which it was held to commemorate , while the gathering in St . Paul ' s Cathedral on the 2 nd instant in commemoration ofthe 200 th Anniversary of thc opening of thc sacred

edifice for divine service is also both unique of its kind and vastl y more imposing than any of which we read in Masonic history . In short , 18 97 may justly claim lo be annus mimbilissiinns among the years that have elapsed since our Grand Lodge was founded , and our pleasure is proportionately greater in recording the principal events that have occurred during its progress .

CRAFT MASONRY .

Ry itself—thc creation of new lodges is not necessarily a criterion of progress , but it has become so of late years to a greater extent than previousl y owing to the greater stringency which is observed by the authorities in recommending the issue of warrants . Moreover , as new homes for Masonry have been

established , the space Masonicall y unoccupied has become gradually more and more restricted . Judged by this standard , thc present year will be found lo compare favourably with its more immediate predecessors , there having been granted 37 newwarrants in 1 S 93 ; 4 6 in 181 * 4 ; 52 in 1805 ; 44 > I 8 C >; and 51 in

18 97 , the latest number in the Grand Lodge Agenda paper for llie December communication of last year being 2034 , and in that for the current month 2685 . Of these 51 lodges 10 have been added to thc London district , 22 to sundry Provinces and 19 in foreign parts as compared with 14 London , 14 Provincial , and 16

Colonial in 18 9 6 ; 13 London , 24 Provincial , and 15 Colonial in 18 95 ; eight London , 21 Provincial , and 17 Colonial in 18 94 ; and nine London , 17 Provincial , and ti Colonial in 18 93 . Thc following in the ten new London Lodges , the majority of them having as usual , been consecrated by the Grand Secretary .

Firstly , wc have the Alleyn Lodge , No . 26 47 , so named after the beneficent founder of Dulwich College , in the vicinity of which it holds its meetings . The St . Marcians Lodge , No . 2648 , started under the auspices of Bro . J . R . Cleave as its lirst \ V . Master and is intended for past pupils and those otherwise associated

wilh St . Mark's College , while the Christ ' s Hospital Lodge , No . 2650 , came into existence towards the close of February and is intended as the Masonic home for " Old Blues , " thc distinguished brother who took the lead in founding , and was installed in the chair as its first W .

Master , being none other than Bro . Alderman W . Vaughan Morgan , the present Grand Treasurer , who is the Treasurer of the Institution , and half a century ago was one of its Deputy Grecians . The next in order of priority on the register are thc Mendelssohn Lodge , No . 2 C 6 J ; the Ealing Lodge , No . 2662 ; and Commernoration Lodge , No . 2663 ; while immediately

following the last named is the Hygeia , No . 2664 ; the membership of which is intended to be connected with officers of health , and experts in the science of sanitation , the first W . Master being Bro . C . W . Raymond . The remaining Lodges are the Past and Present , No . 2665 , which was started on its career early in

October , with Bro . C . W . Hudson , a highly esteemed and popular brother who is well known both in the metropolis and in the Province of Sussex . This , too , though its name does not afford any clue to the brethren for whose benefit it has been founded , is one of what are known as " Class " lodges , its membership being

restricted to those who have been educated in and connected with Brighton College . The "Victoria Diamond Jubilee , "which is numbered 26 75 , and meets at Woodford , Essex , but just within the limits of the Metropolitan district , was consecrated by the G . Secretary on the ioth November , in the presence of the

exceptionally large number of 225 brethren , the first W . M . being Bro . C . J . Smith , and the number of founders about 60 . Last , but by no means least in importance , we have the Sancta Maria Lodge , No . 26 S- ' , which had the honour of being consecrated by thc Pro G . Master , Bro . the Right Honourable

thc Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., and has the still greater honour of being presided over by his Royal Highness the M . W . G . Master as its first Master , the Deputy Master being Bro . Edmund Owen , who was installed in office by Bro . the Earl of Euston , Prov . G . Master of Northants and Hunts . The founders numbered

about 50 , and those only will be accepted as members who are in any way connected with St . Mary ' s Hospital . The consecration ceremony was performed in the great Hall at Freemasons ' Hall on Monday , the 15 th November , and maybe said to have becnthemostbrilliantamongtheceremonies of this kind during the

present year . As regards the 22 Provincial Lodges , one located in the Royal borough of Windsor—numbered 26 71 , and from the circumstance of its meetings being held under the shadow of Windsor Castle , appropriately named "Victoria "—has been added to the roll of Berkshire . It was consecrated by the

Acting Prov . Grand Master , who has been in charge of the Province since thc lamented death of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , Bro . J . T . Morland , P . G . D ., Deputy P . G . M . It is an offshoot of the Etonian Lodge , No . 209 , whicli meets in Windsor , and started on its career under Bro . Prince as first W . M .

Thc Addington Lodge , No 2683 , named after the Prov . G . M ., Lord Addington , has been placed on the roll of Buckinghamshire . Cheshire can boast of two additional lodges , the Liscard , No . 26 57 , meeting in the town of the same name , and the Buckingham and Chandos Lodge , No . 266 7 , at Rockferry , both of which were

consecrated by Ilro . Earl Egerton of Tatton , Prov . G . Master . Devonshire has been still more fortunate , the number of lodges on its roll having been augmented Irom 53 lo 57 , the four thus added being the Dart , No . 2641 , located in Dartmouth ; ihe Sir Francis Drake , No . 26 49 , so named after one of the greatest and

worthiest of Devonians , and meeting at Plymouth ; the Queen Victoria Lodge , No . 2655 , meeting in Stonehouse ; and the Northcote , No . 26 59 , worthily named after Bro . the Hon . Sir Stafford Northcote , Hart ., M . P ., Prov . G . Master , and meeiing at Exeter . All these lodges were consecrated bv Sir Stafford ,

and bid fair lo become prosperous centres of Masonic light . Durham has a new lodge in the Ravensworth , No . 2074 , Gateshead , which was consecrated on the 30 th October , and Kent one in the Crane Lodge , No . 2660 , Cranbrook , while as many a : * three new lodges have been warranted for West Lancashire ,

namely , the Lodge of Charity , No . 2657 , Warrington ; the Lo : | ; e of Hope , No . 26 79 , Palmcroft ; and thc Queen ' s Lodge , N > 268 r , Liverpool ; thus raising thc total number of lodges on llie register of this large and influential Province to 118 . The St . Ivo Lodge , No . 2684 , St . Ives , has been added to the roll of Norlhanls

and Hunts . Northumberland can boast of two additions I oils roll i : \ the Victoria Commemoration Lodge , No . 2666 , and the Swinbur . ie No . 2680 , both of which arc located in Newcastle-oa-Tyn j , while the former was consecrated by the Prov . G . Master ia person , Bro . the Right Hon . Sir M . White-Ridley , Bart ., M . P .

Surrey and Sussex have each ol them become during tho present year the stronger by a single lodge , the Albany , N ) . 26 52 , having been consecrated by Bro . the Earl of Oaslo . v , Prov . G . Master of the former , at Kingston-on-Thames , and the Royal Connaught , No . 26 7 6 , Eastbourne , which is named , by

permission , afler the Duke ol Connaught , and was consecrated , in his Roval Highness ' s unavoidable absence , by his respected Deputy ] liro . the Right Hon . Sir \ V . T . Marriott , Q . C , P . G . D . The Chaloner Lodge , No . 26 44 , Melksham , was consecrated b y Bro . theEarlof Radnor , Prov . G . M . of Wiltshire , and has for its lirst

W . M . Bro . Capt . Chaloner , after whom it is named , while Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., Prov . G . Master of Worcestershire , consecrated the Arter Lodge , No . 2654 , meeting at Moseley and bearing the honoured name of the worthy and much lamented Bro . T . R . Arter , who was present at the ceremony and personall y installed the first W , Master , but died a , few days later , to the grief of his