Masonic Reprints And Historical Revelations.

it contains of the writer's discovery among thc archives of Trinity College , Dublin , of conclusive evidence that Freemasonry , as a Speculative organisation , was in existence in the Irish capital in the year 16 S 8 . The reprints include " Facsimile of ' A letter from thc Grand

Mistress of the Female Free-Masons ' ( original pagination );" and " Facsimile of A Defence of Free-Masonry' ( original pagination ) . ; " and we presume we must add , a considerable portion of the exceedingly interesting chapter entitled " A Defence of Laurence Dermott and the Antients , " which includes letters in

reply to the late Bro . J ACOB NORTON ' S strictures upon DERMOTT and other matter which had previously been published in one of our Masonic periodicals . Thc explanatory matter comprises the " Introductory Chapter " by Bro . Dr . CRAWLEY already referred to , and an " Explanatory Introduction to ' A Defence of

Free-Masonry , " together with three chapters in winch arc to bc found lists of ( i ) "English Lodges Founded by Irish Masons ;" ( 2 ) " Provincial Grand Masters appointed by , or emanating from , the Antient Grand Lodge ; " and ( 3 ) "Officers of the

Grand Lodge of the Antients . There is also a " General Index of Contents , " while the Volume is dedicated to our respected Bro . W . M . BYWATER , P . M . Royal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 , Past G . S . B . of England , " in appreciation of his many Masonic virtues and in acknowledgment of his literary efforts on

behalf of LAURENCE DERMOTT and other Brethren of Antient Origin . " As Bro . BYWATER has himself compiled a biography of LAURENCE DERMOTT , no more fitting selection could have been made , and we feel sure thai ; hc will appreciate the great

compliment paid him by one who has rendered such signal service to Masonic history by the light he has thrown upon thc orig in of the Society of Antient Masons according to thc Old Institutions .

We fully realise that this brief description of thc contents of Bro . SADLER'S new work will convey but a very inadequate idea of its exceeding merit . But we have said enough to show that in the opinion wc have formed , after a hurried perusal of

its pages , it is one of the most important Masonic publications which have seen the light of day during the last few years , nor will it be long ere wc place more fully before our readers the grounds on which we have arrived at this opinion .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . Master for Hants and the Isle of Wight , presiding . Bro . Dr . Balfour Cockburn , Prov . G . Master for Guernsey , occupied the position of Dep . G . Masler , and Bro . Dr . Charles James Egan , District G . Master of South Africa ( Eastern Division ) , acted as Past Grand Master ; Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . W ., occupied the chair of S . G . W ., and Bro . the Rev . W . K . R . Bedford , P . G . Chap ., lhat of J . G . W . Among other brethren present

were * Bros . A . C . Spaull , J . C . Malcolm ( Leeds ) , J . S . Cumberland , W . Russell , J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; George Read , D . D . Mercer , W . M . Bywater , J . G . Kentish , lohn Mason , H . Lovegrove , Dr . Mickley , E . M . Money , Henry Neville , Thos . Fenn , P . G . W . ; the Revs . R . J . Simpson , C J . Martyn , and J . S . Brownrigg ; Richard Eve , J . C . Dimsdale , and Samuel Cochrane , Past Grand Treasurers ; Peter de L . Long , J . H . Matthews , Dr . Ralph Gooding , Dr . Lawrence , John Strachan , Q . C , G . R ., Henry Garrod , George Graveley , Henry Smith ( Wakefield ) , P . G . D ., ' and Dr . Kiallmark .

Bro . Thos . Fenn , in the absence of Bro . Sir Albert Woods , acted as Grand Director of Ceremonies . The Grand Lodge was opened in form . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the ist of June were read and confirmed . The acting GRAND MASTER then said : Brethren , —I now rise to propose a resolution , which I feel quite confident will be adopted unanimously by

Grand Lodge , expressing the feelings of the whole of the Freemasons of England in a vote of sympathy with the Grand Master in the accident that he has sustained . Brethren , the human frame is susceptible of many accidents , as many of us may have had personal experience , but there is no accident so harassing and so irksome as one sustained by a joint . It takes a great deal of time to mend and is very painful . Such has been the accident

which our Grand Master has sustained and I feel sure that the whole of the Freemasons cf England are grieved at the sad accident which he met with . Brethren , we can do no more than express our sorrow under the circumstances . We can also express the fervent hope that it will please the G . A . O . T . U . by the aid of time to restore him to his wonted health . We have , I am happy to say , favourable accounts of him . No doubt the benefit

of fresh air in his yacht has done him a great deal of good , but it is manifest Io us all lhat nothing but time that can alleviate the suffering to the particular joint which is paining him and which we hope under the skill which is attending him will ultimately be restored to its wonted condition . Brethren , I beg to move that the sympathy of Grand Lodge be extended to our Grand Master and express the hope that he may speedily be restored to his wonted health .

United Grand Lodge.

Bro . Dr . BALFOUR COCKEURN , Prov . G . M . Guernsey , & c : I beg to second that resolution , and , in doing so , I think that we may confidently hope , considering the very favourable report which has so far been given to the world touching his Royal Higbness's condition , that although we may have to wait for some time , yet eventually we shall see him among us well and quite capable of performing the various important duties which devolve upon him in his exceedingly exalted position . Bro . J STRACHAN , Q . C , G . Reg ., said perhaps he had better read the words of the resolution . They

were—That this Grand Lodge respectfully offers to the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , its most fraternal and heartfelt sympathy , in the suffering occasioned by his late unfortunate and serious accident , and desires to express its earnest hope that it may please the Great Architect of the Universe speedily to restore his Royal Highness to the full enjoyment of perfect health .

The Acting GRAND MASTER put the motion , which was carried unanimously . Bro . J STRACHAN , Q . C , G . Reg .: Most Worshipful Grand Master in the Chair : Under the peculiar circumstances of our Most Worshipful Grand Master's enforced rest , it will be deemed advisable that he should not be troubled in proposing personally a message which we are asked to adopt in this Grand Lodge . But , trusting to your sympathetic overlooking of what

might be an irregularity , I now , as Grand Registrar , with your permission propose to report the steps taken by his Royal Highness with regard to the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and I feel that on such a night as this , the sooner we get out into the fresh air the better it will be . I shall not interpose any remarks of my own , but simply state the articles of recognition , and then Grand Lodge will be in possession of all the facts . I will now read to you the articles of recognition .

Proposed Terms of Recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , drafted by the Grand Registrar , and approved by his Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master . Grand Lodge at its meeting on July 29 th , 1 S 9 6 , having sanctioned the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand by the Most Worshipful Grand Master on ' such terms as his Royal Highness may consider to be consistent with the honour of the Grand Lodge of England , and with just consideration for those lodges which miy desire to retain their connection with it , the Most VVorshipful Grand Master , his Royal Highness

the Prince of Wales , has been pleased to authorise a communication being made to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand to the following effect : That he is prepared fully to recognise the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and to enter into full and fraternal relations with it as an independent Sovereign Masonic Body , on the following understanding : That the Grand Lodge of New Zealand shall in future be the recognised Grand Lodge for the Colony , including all the five Districts heretofore holding under the English Constitution , and all other parts of the Colony . The Most Worshipful Grand Master will in future grant no warrant for a new lodge

within any of such Districts or elsewhere within the Colony of New Zealand . The Grand Lodge of New Zealand will not , nor will its Grand Master , grant any new warrant for any lodge out of the five Districts referred to , or the Colony . The Most Worshipful Grand Master will give authority to all lodges at present holding under the Grand Lodge of England to meet and decide in open lodge whether or not they desire to tender their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand ; such meeting to be specially convened on not less than 21 days ' notice , for the of this and other business thatandif

purpose determining question ; no save , , requisite , of disposing of thc assests and property of the lodge shall be considered at the meeting . A majority of two-thirds in number of the brethren present shall be required to enable the lodge to tender its allegiance to the Grand Lodge ot New Zealand ; all other questions at the meeting shall be decided by a majority of the brjthren present in the usual way .

The result of the meeting , with copies of the resolutions passed thereat , shall be forthwith sent ( in duplicate } , verified by the signature of the Master in the chair , and countersigned by the Secretary , to the District Grand Secretary , and to the Grand Secretary at Freemasons' Hall , London . In case the lodge shall resolve to tender its adherence to the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , the Warrant of Constitution must be forthwith returned to the Grand

Secretary for cancellation . The lodge has full power to dispose of its property and records as the majority decides , but the Most Worshipful the Grand Master strongly recommends that the lodge minute books and ths Treasurer ' s books and accounts shall remain with the lodge under whichever Sovereign Body it elects to continue , in order that the continuity of the lodge and the rights of members dependent on their being subscribing members . should not be imperilled for want of these records on any future

. The Most Worshipful the Grand Master will be prepared to consider with favour any application for the return of a cancelled warrant that the lodge may wish to retain as a memorial ot its former connection with the Grand Lodge of England . No second meeting of a Lodge which has come to a resolution to continue under the Grand Lodge of Kngland can be held without the special leave of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master .

The Most Worshipful the Grand Master will consider any district in which fewer than three Lodges may continue under their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , to be ipso facto dissolved ; but , subject hereto , the Lodges under the English Constitution , both , private and the District Grand Lodges , will continue as at present , and remain unaffected by this recognition . All brethren who shall continue members of lodges under the English Constitution shall

be fully recognised by the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and no brother shall incur any Masonic censure by reason of his adhering to either allegiance , or of any part he may have taken on either side in the formation or establishment of the new Grand body . ( Signed ) FRED . A . PIIILHRICK , Grand Registrar . E . LEfciiwoRTH , Grand Secretary .

That is signed by the two Grand Masters and the Grand Registrars . Now , this having baen done by H . R . H . the Grand Master , in accordance with the request of this Grand Lodge , and having been reported , I beg l " move : " That the Grand Lodge expresses its gratification at the happy result which has attended the labours of the Grand Master in the settlement of the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and offers its dutiful and respectful thanks to the Most Worshipful Grand Master for the able and judicious manner in which his Royal Highness has brought this

important matter to a successful termination . " , Bro . LENNOX BROWNE , P . Dep . G . D . of C , said he should be p leased to second the motion . He had received from Bro . Seddon , the G . M . of t'J Grand Lodge of New Zealand , a letter saying that it had been working six months , and he expressed himself that not the least happy effect of his visit last year on the occasion of the Jubilee of her Majesty , was that lie had an interview with the authorities of Grand Lodge , and so had . been able

bring the matter to the present happy conclusion . , Bro . RICHARD EVE , Past G . Treas ., said , having previously e . P L n his views with reference to the matter , and particularly on the occasion wne the resolution was paased in 1896 , he should have hailed with a S L amount of delight than Bro . Lennox Browne was able to express w ^" . r said he had received a letter from Bro . Seddon , if he had received a ' £ from all the District Grand Masters of New Zealand under the Eng lish c *" '