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was replaced by one issued in 1765 , the " fine specimen of the art of penmanship" being the gift of Bro . Samuel Spencer , Grand Secretary , vvho vvas a native of Halifax . The second charter is substantially a reproduction of the first document of 173 S , and it is iust possible that the members , on finding their old warrant becoming much the worse for wear , vvere glad to have it renewed , especially under

such pleasant circumstances . Half-a-guinea vvas paid to Bro . Senior ( the first Master ) in June , 1763 , for the " old warrant , " for why does not appear , so it is not likely the origin il authority was missing in 1765 , the suggestion of Bro . Crossley that" it was probably relinquished on obtaining the nevv one" being a fair solution of the curious problem .

Notwithstanding the undoubted existence of the Iodge from 173 S , testified by Engraved and other Lists , there are no records preserved before 1762 , and then not until the waning of the year , the first minute beginning ioth November . This is '' a thousand pities , " for we all want to know a lot about the period 1738-60 , especially in

relation to the province in question . Facsimiles of the " signs at vvhich the " Probity " met , beginning with the Engraved List of 1739 , form an attractive plate , fourof vvhich entries are herewith reproduced by the kindness of the author , vvho also gives others for 1764 , 176 S , 1773 , 17 S 1 , and 1793 from lists or calendars , thc originals having been lent by the respective owners , or carefully facsimiled . 09 v 9 v 9 r—¦ ritL___ . 1 ... . I . j I 1 , IL . 1 "^ ¦ ""— - ¦ •»* * ,. m ;*»* - !* ' - *> , , i . i 11 1 I , 1 1 *""' ^( f . cvi TCl(T^1^A^£ "•0 K' VV * - M Si •N- " > -C IY%\a]ii

li41ii41 llW[liJlS v®IftrfjL*"**Sv JJESEbin&5_° Like so many other lodges , it was long known as " The Lodge of St . John the Baptist , " but in 1795 it was changed to the " Probity , " at vvhich it still remains . It is an honourable title to distinguish the members of any lodge whose conduct is in accordance vvith their Masonic vows , and evidently has been fairly earned by the brethren of old No . 61 . In consequence of there being no minute

books preserved prior to 1762 , and the first Treasurer ' s book extant beginning'at the same period , Bro . Crossley remarks , " Possibly the records had not been written before that time . " This view of the matter I do not take , and consider there is nothing to justify such an assumption . As the author says , " 1 his vve do know , however , that the lodge vvas formed ; that it preserved its

existence until the time vvhen the written records commence , and continued working as a lodge . " Precisely so , but vve may depend upon it , the transactions of the lodge from 1738 vvere duly committed to writing , and as duly confirmed from meeting to meeting , even , though now , they are "lost to sight . " Such an occurrence is too common in Freemasonry to cause any surprise to us " old stagers , "

there being few lodges of even moderate antiquity that can boast of a complete set of records like No . 41 , Bath , from 1733 to now ! All the English lodges , however , are in the shade , side by side , with such as No . 1 , Edinburgh , with its minute books from 1 599 to the present year of Grace 1 That vvas a good custom of the lodge to " read the

several charges contained in our Book of Constitutions " after an initiation , 16 th November , 1762 ; the meeting being " extraordinary , " because not on the regular night . Sometimes such assemblies were called " Particular Lodges , " corresponding , in fact , vvith our "Emergency Meetings , " or special lodges . 'Ihe by-laws , also , were frequently read , vvhich leads Bro . Crossley to wonder how

often such a course is pursued atthe present time . An entry of January 26 th , 17 6 3 , vvhen half-a-crown vvas paid " for inserting the lodge in the List , " evidently refers to the official Engraved List , by Cole , and vvas , in all probability , due to ' the alteration necessitated by the lodge meeting at ( he " Rose and Crown , " instead of the " Black Bull , " its habitation prior to 1762 . In 176 3 a "Masters '

Lodge" vvas held for the purpose of raising" brethren to the Third Degree , and "held by agreement at the White Swan , Skircoat Green , " which was not the usual place of rendezvous , singular to say . Bro . Crossley thinks this selection vvas made to suit the two candidates , vvho lived in that locality , no such place , however , being in existence now . This explains the occurrence , but is not offered as a justification .

On the Sth June , 1763 , the Annual Festival was held , and amongst other officers Bros . Norris and Woodhead were appointed Senior and Junior Deacons respectively . The claim is made by our brother that " This is the first record , so far as is known , of the appointment of Deacon in a lodge under the Grand Lodge of England " ( " Moderns " ) , and 1 am prepared to admit the claim . It is a remarkable entry , and , what is still more remarkable , it is

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proved not to have been a fancy of the then W . M ., for the by-laws of the lodge , of A . D . 17 C 7 , provide for the "Sen . and Jun . Deacons" as regular Officers , with the Wardens , Secretary , & c , the ioth Regulation reading as follows : — " The Senior Deacon is to carry Messages to and from the Master to the Senior Warden , or as he is

otherwise appointed , and so also the Junior Deacon to and from the Senior Warden to the Junior , or as otherwise required . " I consider this a very valuable indication of the usage in a "Modern" lodge , so early as 1767 , and especially , because it appears to be the first of its kind . Deacons were appointed in Ireland in 1727 * , and in Scotland , under the

mainly operative regime , they vvere well known for centuries before then . In lingland , however , the custom is first to be met vvith under the "Ancients , " and likely enough vvas introduced by Bro . Laurence Dermott , when became on the scene in 1752 . They vvere not officially adopted by the "Moderns , " but became the rule of the " United Grand Lodge of England " after December 27 th ,

1 S 13 . The W . M . of 1763 , Bro . Gream , delivered a speech at the Festival , which was printed by Bro . Darby ( also a member ) , but after a diligent search not a copy can be found anywhere , the British Museum and other great libraries having been examined in vain . Who has a copy ?

Bro . Crossley is in error , clearly , in stating that these Regulations of 1767 " are probably the oldest in existence of any lodge , " for they are the junior of very many sets of by-laws , several of which codes have been published of late years . In the History of No . 42 , Bury , will be found the by-laws of that lodge for 1734 , and for 1732 , the rules for the old Lodge of Salisbury arc given in Bro . F . H .

Goldney ' s "History of Freemasonry in Wilts , " 18 S 0 . Then again , the Regulations of No . 5 S , London , are published by Bro . VV . Smithett in his History of that lodge ( 18 S 7 ) for A . D . 1737 , and those of No . 41 , Bath , for 174 ( 3 , in 1 S 73 by Bro . T . P . Ashley , besides others that need not now be noted . Not but what the rules are well worth printing , and particularly because of their providing

for the two Deacons , only the date is comparatively late for a Code of Regulations as such , and cannot , therefore , be cited as remarkable for their antiquity . Why does Bro . Crossley frequently reter to the Constitutions of 1757 , vvhen they are ot the previous year ? An interesting souvenir of the antient time is reproduced at p . 50 , viz ., the " clearance certificate" of a bro .

Banbury , of 22 d May , 1765 , addressed "To the Right Worship ' ful Masters , Wardens , and Brethren of the Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , " and uncommonly well done , too . ln 1765- 'he lodge migrated to the " Old Cock , " where " mine Host" seems to have made the members very

comfortable for about a score of years . " This , the second (? third ) meeting place , " vvas a noted inn , and for a time vvas the residence of the celebrated Daniel Defoe . The lodge got back to these old quarters in 1 S 09 , and vvas kept there for sixty years , vvhen it was removed , and wisely so , to the Masonic Hall , St . john ' s-place , it present

habitation . In 1767 the members voted ten pounds "to the distress'd Peopleot Halifax , " but on thefolloivingyear they suspended their by-laws , as respects the finances , and literally lived on their principal - their principles , as the author facetiously observes , " being entirely obliterated . " Notwithstanding the lodge had fully £ 20 in hand , the members converted

that sum "into a balance of 13 s . Cd . on thc wrong side of the ledger . " Bro . Crossley naturally felt it vvas " not a pleasure to have to note this episode in the history of the lodge , " but as a faithful Histoiian be presents "the dark side of the picture " as well as the reverse . -Happily , the present name of the lodge vvas better respected as time rolled onwavd , and " the distinguishing characteristic of a

Freemason's heart was conspicuously manifested , to the satisfaction of all concerned . The lodge performed " penance , " however ( if I may so say ) in 1779 , vvhen it was proposed , and carried nem . con ., " That vve should contribute £ 1 is . to propagate the Gospel in Foreign parts , " and thus expunged the " bad mark . " As a rule , Bro . Crossley has been called upon , in the exercise of his duty , to sav but

few words to the discredit of the old members , and may well be proud of his Masonic forefathers . The Secretary about 1770 vvas a genius in his way , but not exactly suited for such a position , his descriptions of the members being more amusing than either Masonic or accurate . In one minute he styled the W . M . the General , the other members Subalterns , and "J . Hardcastle , Esq .,

Governor of all . " Another time still more extraordinary or absurd titles vvere appended , and later on , this practical joker noted in the records " Bro . Hardcastle has married a wife , and cannot come . The Honey-moon is not yet expired . " On June 28 th , 1775 , " Wilkinson Pool was made in due form , as also appointed Tyler without paying any fee for the same . " This worthy " Outer Guard " died some 27

years later on , and was buried by the lodge vvith all the honours , the brethren attending " in full and compleat Black , with VVhite Gloves , Black Stockings , Black Buckles or Shoe Strings , " and nevv aprons vvere provided , the jewels and ribbons being " cleaned for the occasion . " A reduced facsimile is given in the History , of the inscription on the tombstone , which vvas "found in the Halifax Parish

Church during the restoration , A . D . 1 S 7 S-9 . " There are several more interesting items noted by me for mention , chiefly as to the Modern portion , but 1 must pass them over now , and be contented vvith a notice of a very important chapter of the History of the lodge and of the Provincial Grand Lodge , viz ., that of the "Lodge of Promulgation , " the records of which were kept in a

separate book and are of great interest , beginning on April , 2 nd , 1 S 15 , the meeting being held " under the warrant of the Royal Yorkshire Lodge , No . 503 , Keighley . " The Lodge of Probity had been to considerable expense in " obtaining the necessary instructions under the Union in London , " even as much as £ 25 , so that fees vvere fixed for

the several lodges to pay as their quota , and thus reimburse No . 61 . A number of meetings vvere held by the mother lodge ( " Probity " ) , vvhen Degrees vvere worked according to the prescribed ritual , for the information of all concernedand likewise by other lodges , in order that all the members may be duly obligated and instructed .

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At a meeting held January 7 th , 1 S 15 , it was resolved to invite " Bro . Philip Broadfoot ( from the Lodge of Reconciliation ) , and that his expenses be paid out of the funds " ( of No . 61 ) , and so on the 19 th that brother attended , as well as on several days later , and worked very hard as the recognised instructor . Bro . Broadfoot returned 13 lodges to the Grand Lodge as those vvhich formed this " Lodge

of Promulgation , " and other lodges vvere likewise obligated in Lancashire , so that no pains vvere spared to make the meetings as representative , useful , and widespread as possible , much credit being due to "Probity" for its action in this matter . Surely the members of the lodges in Yorkshire and Lancashire will be glad to have such a readable account of these eventful proceedings , and will feel grateful

to Bro . Crossley accordingly . At all events , I am certain all of us Masonic students have already a warm place in our hearts for the historian of No . 61 , Halifax . Those who desire more information as to thc " Lodge of Promulgation " should consult Bro . Sadler ' s nevv vvork on the " Installation Ceremony , " as his sketches of the chief Masons who " worked " the " Union " ceremonies are both curious and

interesting . lhe History of No . 61 is of considerable importance , not only because of the early reference to the appointment of Deacons , and some other points of value , but in consequence of the minute book containing evidence of a chapter of Royal Arch Masons being at vvork in Halifax so far back as January 30 th , 1765 , being , as Bro . Crossley states , "the

first known R . A . Chapter in the North of England , vvith the exception " of the one at York , " but I cannot make out what has led him to add " vvhich was then in abeyance , " as the York companions were busy at vvork in that year . He might have gone still farther , and claimed that this record respecting the Royal Arch , excepting the one at York from 1762 , is the earliest minute known of any actual

chapter in England or elsewhere , and renders thc volume all the more noteworthy and entertaining . Another point made by Bro . Crossley is the proof hc offers of the formation of the Province of the West Riding of Yorkshire , in 173 S , vvith William Horton , J . P ., as the premier Prov . G . M . The Constitutions of 1 756 are explicit thereon . On his decease , in 1739 , Edward Rooke , Esq ., vvas appointed in like manner , so that these first two rulers

vvere for the West Riding only , whatever may be said to the contrary . Reproductions of the portraits of the premier Prov . G . Master and other Masonic celebrities add much to the permanent value of the vvork , as also the voluminous appendices , but I must now call "Halt ! " and bid adieu for a time to one of the most important lodge histories published , alike creditable to author and printer . W . I . HUGHAN .

PROVINCIAL CALENDARS . 15 . DERBYSHIRE . Bro . William Naylor , with the assistance of Bro . J . H . Clarke , Asst . Prov . G . Sec , has again edited the Freemasons' Calendar and Directory for the Province of Derbyshire , being tho 14 th year of issue . It is printed by Bros . H . H . and W . Bemrose , of Derby , and is a creditable

production , both editorially and typographically . A new feature in this annual is a statement of the Treasurer ' s account in connection vvith the Prov . G . Lodge , and doubtless will be gladly welcomed by the Derbyshire Fraternity . Else the arrangement is precisely similar to that of last year's publication . A capital list is printed of the votes for the Central Masonic Charities , based on the annual

reports of the Secretaries , supplemented by particulars from local subscribers . Owing to a considerable addition to the "Girls ' , " the total has been raised to 1853 votes . There are 22 lodges in the province , vvith 1022 members ; six R . A . chapters , with only 154 members , so that the concluding ceremony of Craft Masonry is not very popular in the province . We think Bro . Naylor vvould do well to add the years of service to the roll of P . M . ' s and P . Z . ' s , so as

to indicate the position of each P . M ., & c , vvith their Provincial Grand Honours , if any . Much interesting- and valuable information is appended relative to lodges of instruction , returns by lodges , and other matters of special consequence to those concerned ; and it is to be hoped that the circulation of the directory is in accordance vvith its importance . If so , the Prov . G . Sec . will have no cause to complain .

16 . NORFOLK . The Freemasons' Calendar for Norfolk , edited by the Prov . G . Sec . ( Bro . G . W . G . Barnard ) , is not one of the largest kind issued officially , but it is a most useful , handy , and well-arranged compilation , and only wants a few additions to render it all that is essentially needful to such a publication . There are ij lod ges in the province , the

number of subscribing members being exactly 731 ; six R . A . chapters and 172 members ; only one Mark lodge , with 57 members j also a Rose Croix chapter , and two K . I ' . preceptories . The officers of all these bodies are duly given , places and dates of meetings ( including installations ) , number of members , addresses of Secretaries , dates of warrants , being also detailedvvith other useful

, particulars . We should like , however , to see the size a little enlarged , so as to enable the editor to supply the names of the P . M . 's , P . Z . ' s , & c , with years of service , as vve are persuaded the practical value of the neat publication vvould be considerably increased , without adding much to the outlay . Copies are supplied at the expense of the Prov . G . Lodge , and , as the roll of Grand Officers of

Grand Lodge , & c , i-i also inserted , it will be readily understood that in the smallest sized directory issued by any province it has necessitated perfect arrangement and admirable compactness to compress all the particulars in some 34 pages . We like the plan of noting all the lodges with

Centenary warrants , and giving the dates vvhen granted . It is remarkable that the first five lodges have , established their continuity for over a century . The Jewels are all , however , of the ordinary pattern , though the lodges date 1736 to 175 S , so vve presume the petitions vvere delayed some years after the Centenaries were completed .

We are glad to hear that Bro . Lord Burton has recovered from his recent illness . His lordship and Lady Burton have returned to Chesterfield House for the season . Her Majesty , accompanied b y Princess Henry of Battenberg , returned from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle on Saturday last , but will return to London on a further brief visit on Monday next , preparatory to the Drawing-room of the day following- .