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ships for our Charities which is recent in practice , and excessively trying to the Secretaries , to which we think well to draw special attention . A brother sends in his name to the Secretary ; weeks pass on , he receives an application , perhaps a reminder for the Stewards' fee , and then , without " rhyme or reason , " he writes to request the Secretary to withdraw his name . This

is a somewhat inconsiderate act on the part of our good brother , and we feel sure that on a little consideration he will feci it to be so himself . We understand that this " modem instance " frequently happens now , that the Girls' School is suffering from this very fact markedly , and we therefore

beg to raise our respectful protest against , as it seems to us , an indefensible innovation , with the hope that to make up this somewhat serious "backing out of others , " some worth } ' readers of ours may send in their names to Bro . HEDGES at once . We repeat such erratic proceedings arc very hard on our Secretaries and the Charities .

* * WE regret extremely that the imperative claims on our space this week are such that wc have been compelled to hold over much valuable matter , and especially that our readers who will have been anticipating the pleasure of studying the P OPE ' S' Bull against Freemasonry translated into the

vulgar tongue , must put off its realization for a little longer . Our regret in this particular instance is enhanced by the fact of the translation being the work of our good Bro . HAWKINS , of the Province of Oxfordshire . But no doubt he and others will give us credit for possessing the will , if not the power , to please them all .

* * # Wr . think it well to call attention to the discussion going on as regards the Guild Legends elsewhere in our pages , inasmuch as there can be little

doubt other forms still are extant amid our lodge "properties , " forgotten and stowed away , and also because the very controversy , friendl y as it is , serves as a striking commentary on the reality and importance of Masonic Archxology too long unscientifically and apathetically treated by us all .

* * WE are much struck and touched by a little item in the West Yorkshire list of subscriptions for the Charities . Years ago it was our happiness and privilege lo take part in the consecration of the Pentalpha Lodge , Bradford . To Bro . W . F OSTER , founder and first W . M ., the lodge owed a very great

deal , while his personal kindness and genial nature made him many friends . We note appreciatively that his son , Bro . HERIIERT ANDERSON FOSTER , hasendowed the chair of the Pentalpha Lodge with £ 105 , in memory of his worthy and lamented father , for the Girls' and Boys' Schools . Others may well go and do likewise .

Special Grand Lodge At Peterborough.

SPECIAL GRAND LODGE AT PETERBOROUGH .

LAYING THE CHIEF CORNER STONE OF THE CATHEDRAL TOWER . The foundation stone of the central tower of Peterborough Cathedral was laid on Wednesday last with full Masonic ceremony . In response to the

invitation of the Dean and Chapter , it was announced in March of this year that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales had expressed his willingncs ? , as Grand Master of the English Freemasons , to take the chief part in laying the stone . The death of the Duke of Albany , however , compelled the Grand

Master to give up the engagement for tho date originally chosen , and as the Dean and Chapter and the Restoration Committee for various cogent reasons could not suffer any delay , the Prince himself appointed the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , to attend on his behalf and lay the stone with full Masonic ritual . Preparations were made accordingly , and the ceremony , which has been long anticipated , took place on Wednesday .

The weather was most favourable , and the ample display of bunting , which has been associated with religious feelings in modem times only , looked very pretty in the bright sunshine . From an early hour the streets were thronged , and train after train brought its contingent of Freemasons and spectators . A special Grand Lodge was held by the M . W . the Pro Grand Master , the Ear ! of Carnarvon , in the Filzrviiliam Hall , and there were

present the following Grand Officers : — Bros . Earl of Carnarvon , ProG . M ., as G . M . ; Viscount Holmesdale , as D . G . M . ; Lord Cremornc , G . SAV . ; the Lord Mayor of London , G . J . VV . j Rev . Canon Tristram , G . Chap . ; Rev . Dr . Robbins , G . Chap . ; II . 13 . Marshall , G . Treas . ; F . A . Philbrick , G . Reg . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D ., as Prcs . lid . Gen . Purps . j Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . j Baron de l'crrieres , G . S . D . ; F . Davison , G . S . D . j Jas . S . Eastes ,

G . J . D . j Ii . Letchworth , G . [ . () . ; Horace Jones , G . Supt . of VVks . ; Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) G . D . C ; Gri ' lliths Smith , Asst . G . D . C ; Major Locock , G . Swd . Br . ; 1 . Matthews , G . Std . Ur . ; Henry Garrod , Asst . G . Purst . ; VV . Kelly , P . P . G . M . Leicester and Rutland ; J . A . Uucker , P . G . D . ; G . Toller , P . G . S . B . ; G . Plucknett , P . G . D . ; T . Fenn , P . G . D . ; R . Turtle Pigott , P . A . G . D . C . j Rev . Dr . Cox , P . G . Chan .: Rev . C . VV . Arnold , P . G . C ; Geonre Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; H . C . Rise .

P . G . D . ; Edgar Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . Chap . ; J . VV . Messent , P . G . S . B . ; and C . VV . Spencer Stanhope , P . G . Chap . The brethren assembled in the same building , and a Provincial Grand Lodge was opened . Ultimately a magnificent Masonic procession , including about Soo Craft Masons , was formed and left the hall in the following order : —

Band of the Coldstream Guards . Two Tylers with drawn swords . Visiting Brethren . Members of lodges belonging to other provinces . Representatives of lodges of the Province of Northants and Hunts , viz ., De La Pr < -

Lodge , Northampton ; F . leanor Cross Lodge , Northampton ; Wentworth Lodge , Wellingborough ; Chicheley Lodge , Thrapston ; Lodge of Merit , Stamford ; Perseverance Ledire , Kettering ; Lodge of Fidelity , Towcester ; St . Peter ' s Lodge , Peterborough ; Socrates l-odge , Huntingdon ; Pomfret Lodge ( preceded by its banner ) , Northampton . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Northants and Hunts , with the Standard of the

Provincial Grand Master ( His Grace the Duke of Manchester , K . G ., & c ) . The Architect with plans . A cornucopia with corn borne by the Master of a Lodge . Two ewers with wine and oil borne by Masters of Lodges . Assistant Grand Pursuivant ( Bro . Henry Garrod ) . Past Grand Pursuivants . The Grand Pursuivant ( Bro . W . Stephens ) ,

Special Grand Lodge At Peterborough.

The Assistant Grand Secretary ( Bro . H . G . Buss ) . Past Grand Organists . The Grand Organist ( Bro . Professor E . M . Lott ) . Trowel , borne by a Past Master . Mallet , borne by a Past Master . Past Grand Std . Bearers , Past Grand Swd . Bearers . Past Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies . Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies ( Bro . A . Richards ) . Past Deputy Grand Directors of Ceremonies .

Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies . Grand Director of Ceremonies , Bro . Sir Albert VV . Woods ( Garter fCing-at-Arms ) . Grand Superintendent of Works ( Bro . Horace Jones ) bearing a plate with the inscription

for the chief corner stone . Past Grand Deacons . Grand Secretary for German Correspondence ( Bro . E . E . Wendt , D . C . L . ) Grand Secretary ( Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke ) , with the Book of Constitutions . President of the Board of General Purposes . Past Grand Registrars . Grand Registrar ( Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C . ) , bearing the Great Seal .

Past Grand Treasurers . Grand Treasurer ( Bro . H . Brooks Marshall ) bearing a Phial containing the coins to be deposited in the Stone . Past Grand Chaplains . Past Grand Wardens .

Past Provincial and District Grand Masters . Provincial and District Grand Masters . Visitors of distinction . The Corinthian Light borne by the Master of a Lodge . The Column of the Junior Grand Warden borne by the Master of a Lodge . The Junior Grand Warden ( the Lord Mayor of London ) with the Plumb Rule .

Grand 5 Banner of Grand Lodge \ Grand Steward \ borne by the Master of a Lodge . J Steward The Doric Light , borne by the Master of a Lodge . The Column of the Senior Grand Warden , borne by the Master of a Lodge . The Senior Grand Warden ( Bro . Lord Cremorne ) , with the Level . Junior Grand Deacons ( Bros . James Smith Eastes and Edward Letchworth ) . The Grand Chaplains ( The Rev . Canon Tristam and the Rev . Dr . Robbins ) , bearing the

Sacred Law on a Cushion . The Deputy Grand Master ( The Rt . Hon . the Earl of Lathom ) , with the Square . The Ionic Light , borne by the Master of a Lodge . Grand Standard Bearers ( Lieut .-Colonel Taylor and Bro . J . A . Matthews ) . The Grand Sword Bearer ( Bro . Major E . Locock ) . THE MOST WORSHIPFUL PRO GRAND MASTER , . THE EARL OF CARNARVON ( acting for the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ) .

Senior Grand Deacons . ( Bro . Baron de Ferrieres , M . P ., and Bro . F . Davison ) . Two Grand Stewards . Grand Tyler ( Bro . Henry Sadler ) . In the Market-place the Masonic procession was headed by the Mayor of Peterborough ( Alderman Barford ) and the members of the Corporation . All then slowly marched to the cathedral . The 1 st Northamptonshire Rifle

Volunteers kept the road clear up to the central door of the western front of the sacred edifice . The Very Rev . the Dean of Peterborough , with the Canons and members of the Restoration Committee , there received the Earl of Carnarvon , the Pro Grand Master , and his lordshi p , preceded by the Corporation , was conducted to the dais reserved for him and members of the Grand Lodge . As the brilliant procession passed along the spacious nave between the red-coated ranks of the Northamptonshire Engineers , who

formed the guard ol honour , the scene was very impressive . Still , the spectacle was not nearly so gorgeous and beautiful as when all the allotted positions had been taken up and the ceremony began . Wherever one turned , there was a richness of colour , a strength of contrast , and an arrangement of groups that most forcibly appealed to one ' s sense of the p icturesque . The best possible arrangements had been made to accommodate the vast gathering , among which were the Marquis and Marchioness

of lixetcr , the Dowager Marchioness of Huntly , Earl and Countess I'itzwilliam , Earl and Countess Carysfoot , Lady Dccies , Lady Villicrs , Lord Burghley , M . P ., Viscount Holmesdale , M . P ., Lord Cremorne , Lord John Manners , M . P ., Lord and Lady Alwyn Compton , the Deans of Chichester and Ely , the Lord Mayor of London and the Lad y Mayoress , Lord Folkestone , Sir A . Woods , Sir R . Knightley , M . P ., the Hon . J . W . Fitzwilliam , M . P ., the Hon . C . W . Fitzwilliam , M . P ., the Hon . C . ft . Spencer ,

M . P ., Mr . S . G . S . Sackville , and Mr . G . L . Watson ( Pocklingham Castle ) . The service was commenced with the choir chanting Psalms exxii . and exxxii ., after which the Dean read the prayers , at the conclusion of which the Dean requested the Earl of Carnarvon to lay the stone . Lord Carnarvon said that in the absence of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales he would proceed to that duty . Having taken up his position , the vessels of corn , wine , and oil were deposited on a pedestal , and

the stone was then raised , when the Earl of Carnarvon gave the usual address . The Grand Chaplain , Canon Tristram , offered up a special prayer . The Earl of Carnarvon declared it is his will and p leasure that the corner-stone of that building should be laid . The Grand Secretary read the inscription on the p late . It was— " The chief corner-stone of the northcast pier of the central tower was laid by the Right Hon . the Ea ' rl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , on behalf of his Royal Highness Albert Edward ,

Prince of Wales , Most Worship ful Grand Master , in full Masonic form , on Wednesday , the 7 th of May , 1884 . J . J . S . Perowne , D . D ., Dean . " The Grand Treasurer deposited the phial containing the coins in the cavity prepared for it , and the plate was placed on the lower stone by the Grand Secretary . The stone was then laid , being lowered into position after three distinct stops . Having tested the work by the implements of the Craft , the Provincial Grand Master found the stone to be well laid , and the corn , wine ,

and oil were then scattered and poured on the stone with the usual ceremonies and remarks explaining the emblematical significance of those acts . The architect was presented to the Pro Grand Master , and the latter having inspected the plans and delivered them to him , desired him to proceed without loss of time to the completion of the work . The Bishop offered up prayer , and a collection was made while the band of the Coldstream

Guards played the march from " Athalie . The Bishop of Peterborough pronounced the Benediction , and the singing of the National Anthem , with the band accompanying , brought the ceremonies to a close , and the brethren returned to the Fitzwilliam Hall , where the Grand Lodge was closed . In the afternoon a luncheon was served under the presidency of Deane Perowne . After the loyal toasts The Marquis of EXETER proposed " The Bishop and Clergy . "

The Bishop of PETERBOROUGH , who was received with loud and continued cheering , replied in an eloquent speech and then proceeded to propose the toast of "The Earl of Carnarvon , " who , he said , was present that day on an occasion the cause of which they greatly regretted , and yet they felt that every possible reparation had been made to them by his Royal Highness , who , in consequence of that family and national affliction which they all deplored , was unable to be present with them . His Royal Highness had deputed a most noble , most fitting , and most welcome representative—