Qualification Of Candidates To The Masonic Schools.

QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES TO THE MASONIC SCHOOLS .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , As the proposer of the resolution " That fathers oE candidates should have made themselves Life-Governors of the Institutions into which their children are seeking admission , " within the seven years limit , and which , at

the suggestion of many brethren , I withdrew , not because I thought that I was wrong in my object , but that the brethren did not sufficiently understand my reasons for bringing it forward . However , I hope at some future day to see it carried . Bro . Gladwell opposed it , as being too cheap and easy a method of obtaining the right of qualifying as a candidate . Bro . Binckes , because it would turn

our Order into a Benefit Society . How , as to the first objection ? I think I shall be able to prove that the qualifying right is far too cheap and easy , as at present in use , even with " the seven years' subscribing membership , " which , I trust will not only be carried , but acted upon after the next Quarterly Courts . For my purpose 1 will take the fly sheets of the proxy

papers issued for the last election , and find that out of 24 boys who were elected , one was L . G . of all three Institutions , one L . G . of the Boys , one L . G . of the Benevolent , one had contributed to the Boys' and Benevolent , two had given something to the Benevolent , and three had occasionally given to the Boys ' , leaving 15 with no record to their names ; of the nine successful girls , one was L . G . of

all three , one L . S . to the Benevolent , one gave occasionally to the Benevolent , and to the remaining six there is no record . Nine boys were under the seven years' limit , and four girls , one of the latter only nine months ; of course there may be some whose names have been absorbed in the provincial lists , and therefore not recorded individually , yet I am of opinion that when out of a list of thirty-three , only

twelve are recorded as doing anything , and out of that twelve only three have made themselves Life-Governors of the Institutions to which their children have been received ; some means should be devised of stimulating them in future to further exertions , but , if in the opinion of the brethren , my scheme , which would have added 210 guineas to the Boys ' , and 60 to the Girls' Institution , is too easy ,

let the Standard be raised to Vice-Presidentship , within the seven years limit . Seven years subscription to a lodge does not necessarily constitute any benefit to the Institututions as there are several who never give anything . Now as to objection number two , viz : making a Benefit Society of our Order , I beg to differ from my good friend Bro . Binckes , the members of the Craft are admitted on

the solemn assurance that they do not seek to join for any mercenary or other unworthy motive , but that they should have Institutions wherewith to aid and assist those members who have had the misfortune to be reduced more or less severe , is merely the outcome of that grand principle of Freemasonry , " Charity . " In those other grand orders ,

viz .: Odd Fellows , Foresters , & c , & c , which are Benefit Societies , pure and simple , the members join that they shall receive aid and assistance in case of accident , sickness , or death , and that , I trow , is the great and essential difference ( in principle if not in practice ) between us and them . —Yours fraternally , CHARLES J . PERCEVAL . November 3 rd . ——

AN OLD MASONIC SONG . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Can any of your numerous readers inform me if they have seen the following Masonic song in print ? If so , where ? and who was the King alluded to as the Grand Master ? Also , who was the fortunate brother who so narrowly escaped being tucked up ?—Yours faithfully and fraternally , PAGS .

Tune—Entered Apprentice . " A Mason one time , Was cast for a crime , Which malice had put a bad face on , And then without thought , To a gibbet was brought , This Free and an Accepted Mason . " And when he got there , He put up a prayer ,

For Heaven to pity his case on ; His King he espied , Who in progress did ride , Was a Free and an Accepted Mason . " Then out a sign flew , Which the Grand Master knew ,

And rode up to know the occasion ; Asked who had condemned . So worthy a friend As a Free and an Accepted Mason ? " He retried the cause , And found out the flaws ,

According to Justice and Reason ; He tucked up the judge , And all who bore grudge To this Free and an Accepted Mason . "

Masonic Notes And Queries:

Masonic Notes and Queries :

S 06 ] ROYAL YORKSHIRE LODGE , No . 265 . Reverting to my former note—Notes and Queries , S 03—I would add that the information 1 supplied in reference to this lodge in "Masonic Records , 11717—1 SS 6 , " as "The Milnes Lodge , 17 S 8 , " I obtained from the original warrant book in Grand Lodge , and I now give a copy of the entry —" 530 . The Milnes ' s Lodge at the Devonshire Arms at

Keighley , Yorkshire , ist Monday . " This lodge , with No . 529 , " The Duke of York ' s Lodge at the Black Boy Inn , Doncaster , " is stated to have been " constituted by R . S . Milnes , Esq ., Provl . G . M . for Yorkshire , vide Mr . Christ-Wilson's letter of gth August , 17 SS . " Hence it appears that the lodge at Keighley was constituted without a

warrant , inasmuch as the date of the Provisional warrant , or dispensation , issued by the P . G . M . bears date the 23 rd of August , 178 S . In this Provisional warrant the lodge , on the 23 rd August , 17 SS , is styled "The Royal Yorkshire Lodge , " but it is clear , from the above extracts , that some time previous to that date the name " The Milnes ' s

Masonic Notes And Queries:

Lodge" had been transmitted to the Grand Secretary , and tinder that name alone the lodge was recorded in the Grand Lodge warrant book , remaining there unaltered to this day . From a personal examination , I can affirm that , with the exception of the lodge at Keighley , no other Yorkshire lodge constituted or warranted by the R . W . Bro . Rd .

Slater Milnes , P . G . M ., was ever registered in Grand Lodge as " The Milnes's Lodge . " I will not attempt to explain this , but simply record the facts . There can be no valid reason for ignoring things that actually exist , and if a mistake is made ( to which all are liable ) , the best way surely , when it is ascertained to be an error , is to frankly admit it . . JNO . LANE .

807 J SCOTCH MASONRY . Venerable "Canongate Kilwinning , " No . 2 , possesses the oldest Scotch Minute of the " raising" of M . M ., dated 31 st March , 1735 , though Bro . Mackenzie's History of this lodge shows that she had members of the Third Degree on her roll even earlier still , as they are mentioned in the transactions of the previous month , which is as far back

as the records carry us . Hitherto , " Mary Chapel , " No . 1 , has generally been considered second in this item of intelligence , but must now move a step downwards to give place to "Glasgow Kilwinning , " No . 4 , whose first minute , ist April , 1735 , appears to refer to the institution of the lodge . At this date "John Anderson , Right Worshipful Master of the Lodge of Kilwinning , held at

Edingburgh , accompanied by John Crawford , Esq ., of Milton , and John Clark , Merchant , in Glasgow , who were Master Masons [ the italics are mine ] proceeded to pass fivq Masons , and also raised them to the Sublime Degree . In appreciation of his services , Bro . Anderson was elected "R . W . M . " of tbis lodge , whereupon he nominated Bro . Clark for that office , showing that he took

it simply as a formal compliment . I presume Anderson's lodge was the " Canongate Kilwinning , " No . 2 , but his name does not appear on that list , although , in the foregoing entry , and again , on 24 th June and 5 th August , when visiting No . 4 , he is fully described as R . W . M . of the Edinburgh body . Perhaps Bro . Allan Mackenzie , P . M . of No . 2 , will throw some light on this

doubtful point . It it almost certain that Anderson was a prominent Mason , as he was hereto constitute a lodge , which then , and for long years afterwards , consisted entirely of speculative brethren , who were the leading notabilities of Glasgow—commercial , professional , military , & c , so much so that it has been said of these members , to write their lives is to record the rise and history of what

is now the " Second City . " The Minute Book is in perfect preservation and has been admirably kept by the various Secretaries—enterings , & c , are clearly recorded , and everything seems to have been done on business principles , as might be expected from the Sugar and Tobacco Lords of that period . In the second minute , 15 th April , 1735 , we find the phrase " Free and Accepted Masons . " On

2 nd November , 1736 , a letter was read from Henry Price , Prov . G . M ., James Gordon , D . Prov . G . M ., and other brothers of the Boston ( America ) Lodge , sending " Hearty good wishes" to No . 4 , who replied on the February following . In each case a visiting brother was the medium of communication . The entry of 5 th April , 1737 , is probably the earliest allusion to the proxy system , that still

obtains in Scotland , for on that evening they selected an Edinburgh brother , with power to nominate two proxy Wardens to represent their interests at the ensuing quarterly communication of Grand Lodge . The meetings of this lodge were often held two or three times in a month , and after June , 1737 , it is always minuted that the " Regulations " were duly read . At the first visitation , on

6 th March , 1739 , Alex . Drummond , the Prov . G . M ., inter alia , " interrogated the brethren on the proper questions of Masonry . " This course was , by no means , unusual in those days , but is no longer considered necessary . 1 am indebted to a very worthy Scotch brother , J . Gordon , the present respected R . W . M . of No . 4 , for the jottings given above . ED . MACBEAN , 2076 .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft Jlasonrg * LODGE OF ASAPH ( No . nig ) . —The instal

lation meeting of this lodge was held in the Zetland-rooms , Freemasons' Hall , on Monday afternoon . On account of the professional engagements of the members the hour for meeting was as usual fixed for half-past one , and even at that early hour there was a large attendance of brethren . The W . M ., Bro . L . B . Wooldridge ( W . Lestocq ) , lost no time in opening the lodge , when the reading and

confirming of the minutes of the previous meeting was at once proceeded with , after which the report of the Audit Committee on the lodge accounts and the Fund of Benevolence having been printed and circulated , was taken as read . By the time this formal business was disposed of , and the Secretary had read various communications he had received , the number of brethren present had very much increased ,

so that when the W . M . began to address the brethren as to the custom of the annual election of a Master he had a very large and attentive audience who , it was evident , were prepared to witness an unusually good specimen of Masonic working . Nor were their expectations disappointed ; the high repute which the Asaph Lodge enjoys in this respect was fully maintained . The

dignified ease of the W . M . in all his movements , coupled with his excellent elocution , combined to render Bro . Wooldridge ' s installation of his successor a veritable Masonic treat . From first to last the work was quiet , fluent , and impressive , so that the large and appreciative , though critical audience could not but be highly satisfied with the performance . Bro . George E . Fairchild , the new W . M ., was warmly congratulated upon his succession to the chair

of K . S . The manner in which he invested his officers and continued the business of the lodge , left no room to doubt that notwithstanding the ability displayed by the outgoing Master , the brother newly-entrusted with the government of the lodge was noless skilful in the work he had undertaken to perform . The officers appointed or elected for the ensuing year were Bros . J . D . Beveridge , S . W . ; T . de Brunnow Holmes , J . W . ; C . Wellard , Treas . ; J . M . Chamberlin . P . M ., Sec . ; Bro . A . Tinney , P . M ., D . C . ;

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

H . lM . Medsall , S . D . ; Alfred Bishop , J . D . ; \ y s Penley , l . G . ; Henry Tinney , P . M ., Org . ; J . E . Ham * bleton and H . E . Macklin , Stwds ; and Gilbert , Tyler . The lodge was closed , and the brethren of the ' lodge adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern ; where they dined together in the great hall , the bill of fare provided b y Messrs " Spiers and Pond being of the choicest description .

When the waiters had retired , Bro . Fairchild , W . M who , of course , presided , rose and said that from the time of his first entrance into the lodge he had resolved to follow in the footsteps of those who preceded him in the occupation of the chair ; he had found that long speeches were almost prohibited , that short speeches were a plaasure and long speeches were a bore . He did not intend to

transgress on the present occasion . They had a long , and he hoped a very enjoyable , programme before them , and unless the brethren willed it otherwise he should make the speeches as short as possible . The W . M . then briefly proposed the first toast , " The Queen and the Craft , " which was drunk with enthusiasm and was followed by the toast to " The Health of the M . W

the G . Master , " which was also enthusiastically received . This was followed by a delightful quartette "The Sailor ' s Song " ( Hatton ) , which was warmly applauded . The Worshipful Master then proposed "The Health of the Pro G . M ., the Dep . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " in doing which he remarked that it was a matter of regret that the Earl of Carnarvon

had been unable latterly , on account of the state of his health , to attend Grand Lodge so reguarly as he did formerly , but he reminded the brethren that the Pro G . M . had done a great deal of good when in Australia in regard " to the little differences which had occurred between the Grand Lodges here and there . The Deputy G . M . performed the duties of his high office on ali occasions with

credit to himself and satisfaction to the Craft . As regarded thcrest of the Grand Officers , the lodge was honoured by the presence of three on that occasion , one of whom , in particular , was the mainstay of the Order—Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , the Grand Secretary . They had also present Bro . Hogard , who was one of the recipients of Jubilee honours , and there ( was also their Bro . leykel , P . M ., who had

received Grand honours at the hands of the M . W . G . M . He gave them the toast of the Grand Officers , coupled with those threeriames . The toast having been drunk with Masonic honours , there followed a performance of Berghau ' s " Pezzicato-Serenade , " by Bros . E . Frewin , J . Weaver , H . Calcott , F . Hambleton , E . Hambleton , and C . Harper , which won very hearty applause . This was followed by Lovett King's

new song , " How dear art thou to me , " with which Bro . C . Chilley "brought down the house , " and was encored , a call which he answered by singing "The Bay of Biscay . " The Grand Secretary , followed by bros . Hogard and Jeykel , then returned thanks for the Grand Officers . Bro . Wooldridge , I . P . M ., then rose and said that he had the honour as v / ell as the ereat pleasure to oronose the

next toast— " The W . M . " To those of them Who knew Bro . Fairchild it was almost unnecessary for him to say one word in his praise as a man or as a Mason , but to those who might be visiting them for the first , time , who only knew Bro . Fairchild ' s work as a Mason , and had not the pleasure of knowing him as a man , he would say it was their misfortune ; but those who did know him must feel

that it was a good thing to have such a Mason at the head of the Asaph Lodge . As Master of the lodge and as Preceptor at the club , he said the ritual was safe in Bro . Fairchild's hands , as was the future of the Lodge of Asaph . The toast was received with great enthusiasm . Bro . Courtice Pounds , who was one of the visitors , was then requested to sing , and earned a storm of applause ;

and then in answer to an encore sang Handel ' s " Where ' re you walk , " with which he completely charmed his audience . Bro . P . H . Macklin followed with a recitation , " Paddy Dunbar , " which was well received , as was also Benedict ' s duet , "The moon has raised her lamp , " beautifully executed by Bros . Holmes and Temple . The W . M ., in reply to the toast , said he need hardly

assure the brethren that he thanked them from the bottom of his heart for the very generous—too generous response that had been made to the toast . In what he had done for the lodge he had only done what he thought every Mason should do , namely , act to the utmost of his ability , great or small . He should hesitate to say how long it was since he had had visions of occupying the chairand he had

perse-, vered . He had , as they knew , been promoted step by step through the various offices , until , at length , he found himself in that distinguished and honourable position . Thebrethren had entrusted him with duties to discharge during his year of office , and he asked them to believe that he should strive , in that honourable position , to carry out the duties

attaching to it , and when his term of office had expired , if he had failed in any way in working , or courtesy , or urbanity , he trusted that they would let him know of it as freely as they had praised him on the present occasion . The W . M . then proceeded to say that one of the most p leasant duties which the Master of a lodge could fulfil , was that of following out the unanimous instructions of the brethren

to present the I . P . M . with something in recognition of the abitity with which he had performed the duties of the preceding year . The brethren of the Asaph Lodge , had , in open lodge , unanimously resolved that a jewel of the highest value allowed by their By-laws should be presented to Bro . Wooldridge for valuable services he had rendered during his year of office . They had seen his admirable

working in a year in which they had been so fortunate as to have a great deal of work , and it had been done in a manner that had not been excelled by any brother who had preceded him in the chair . It gave him great p leasure , on behalf of the brethren , to invest Bro . Wooldridge with that token of their esteem , and he trusted that the G . A . O . T . U . would grant him health and strength , ana

many years of useful life in which to wear it . The presentation was followed by the performance of a Divertisement— " Reisbilder " ( Johann Resch ) , the performers being Bros . E . Frewin , E . Hambleton , C . Harper , W . L . Barrett , J . Cooper and Henry Tinney . Bro . Wooldridge having thanked the brethren for their gift and their good wishes , the W . M . proposed "The the

Health of the Visitors , " which was heartily drunk by brethren of the lodge , and was replied to by Bros . "j ;'" Gen . Randolph , Chapman , Thomas , and others , and " 1 j [ Health of the Past Masters , " and "TheOfficers of tne Lodge" were also duly proposed and honoured before the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings . 1-In the intervals Bro . Robert Grice sang the Yeoman a