Great Priory Statutes.

precep tory can assemble without its warrant being in evidence . The officers 0 f a Preceptory are , according to precedence , as follows , those with an asterisk being subject to appointment if desired : I , Preceptor ; 2 , Senior anr j Junior Constables ; 3 , Chaplain ; 4 , Treasurer ; 5 , Registrar ; 6 , Marshal ; 7 , * Almoner ; 8 , * Herald ; 9 , * Two Standard Bearers ; 10 , Cap tain of the Guards ; and 11 , the Guard . Knig hts are eligible to be elected as Preceptor , who have duly served

a 5 Constable in some registered Preceptory . In the Colonies , ike , service a 5 Chaplain in a Preceptory qualifies , and in either the dispensation of the Grand Master would also quel fy . If any Preceptory cannot assemble on the regular day , the requisite dispensation must be duly applied for so as to meet not more than seven c ' ays before or after the ordinary fixture . Knig hts cannot be preceptors of more than one preceptory at the same time , 0 r continue for more than two years in succession , unless by dispensation .

In the event of the death , removal , or other cause of incapacity of the Preceptor , the Rule 89 provides for the meetings being summoned as with Cralt lodges , and so also during the temporary absence of such officer , and jn reference to the place of meeting when impracticable . The Preceptor in ( he chair is empowered to refuse admission to any visitor whose presf nee he has reason to believe would disturb the harmony of the meeting .

Precep tories must have their by-laws printed after proper confirmation . Candidates for Knight Templary must be Mas ' er Maions of one year ' s standing ( unless by dispensation of the Grand Master ) and Royal Arch Masons , and there are stringent regulations as to residence and the declaration prior to the ballot being taken , which must be unanimous . The minimUm fee is three guineas , which may include the guinea payable to the

Great Priory for registration and certificate . The rules as to the fees , clothing , insignia , and jewels ( with numerous illustrations ) are ably defined , and the volume is from first to last full of interest and most efficiently edited . Copies may be had from the courteous Great Vice-Chancellor ( Bro . C . F . Matier , K . C . T . ) , Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street , London , W . C , for half-a-croivn each ( threepence extra for postage ) , and I shall be much surprised if there are not numerous applications as the result of this article . W . J . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of North Wales.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTH WALES .

At the above Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Wrexham , the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lord Harlech , appointed his officers for the ensuing year as follows : « Bro . Edward Roberts ... ... ... P . Prov . S . G . W . „ James G . Tuxford ... ... ... P . Prov . J . G . VV . „ R . L . Chamberlain ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W .

„ Howel Davies ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . E . O . Jones ( re-appointed ) ... rn r- r-u i-„ Rev . John Fairchild . „ ' f Prov . G . Chaplains . „ James G . Tuxford ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ S . Freme Clement ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Edward Roberts ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ R . Moreton Prichard ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D .

„ William Jones ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ James Grant ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ William Thornton Jones ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ A . Bromwich ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . Parramore Hall ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . Charles Whiskin ... ... ,.. )„ ~ c ., n „ John Jones j Prov . G . Std . Brs .

„ Frank Barlow ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Caradoc Rowland ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ D . D . Pierce ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Samuel Beresford Mold ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, R . A . Gregory ... ... ... " " ) 1 , John Darroch ... ... ... | 11 VV . Aneus Fraser ... ... ... t „ „ „ ¦

,, Dr . Thomas Jones ... ... j- f-rov . Lx . stewards . i ) R . Jones Griffith ... ... ... I ,, W . H . Lloyd ... ... ... J 11 William Williams ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Consecration Of A Masonic Hall At Consett.

CONSECRATION OF A MASONIC HALL AT CONSETT .

On the 2 nd instant , the new Masonic Hall at Consett was consecrated b y the D . P . G . M . Durham , Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., in the presence of a considerable number of the officers of the province and of the Constance Lodge , fto . 2135 . The officers who officiated on the occasion , representing the Provincial Grand Lodge , were , in addition to Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , actinr / P . G . M .

Bros . Robert Hudson , P . G . S . B . Eng ., acting D . P . G . M . ; George Renton , acting LS . G . W . ; John C Moor , P . J . G . W . : Rev . Hartley Jennings , P . P . G . C . ; G . J . Christopher , acting P . S . G . D . ; John Coulthard , acting P . J . G . D . ; Wm . Logan , PP . G . D . C ., as P . G . D . C ; W . J . Sanderson , P . A . G . D . C ; James Robinson , ' -Ub . of VV ., acting P . G . P . ; and T . Grieve , P . G . Tyler . The officers of the

instance Lodge present were Bros . T . D . Dryden , W . M . ; G . T . Hyden , P . M ., ^ ng S . W . ; J . Hardy , J . W . ; William Robinson , Chap . ; George Murray , l « n ., Sec . ; M . Hobday , S . D . ; W . Eltringham , J . D . ; W . D . Robson , I . G . ; W . J ""* , Stwd . ; 7 . R . Brodie , D . C ; W . Brotherhood . P . M .: G . Drvdnn

Br er L Uobert Jackson , T . L . Gledstone , and R . Murray . The visitors included os . Nicholas Lee , W . M . 2039 ; George Donkin , I . P . M . 16 7 6 ; John Hughes , P -M W I ? ' ' AnderS 0 " Bel 1 ' ' 2 S 20 ; J' C Doherty . 94 ! and T . Pickering , T h ' ' !« .:- , c ° nsecration certmonv was verv imnressiiielv rpniWpH th » AnA \ rur '< r , n

addre ss y Bro ' the Rev' Canon THISTKAM , D . D ., who also gave an eloquent The " Upon the symbols used in the ceremony and the principles of the Order . R enton T i W 6 re read by Bro - the Rev - Hartley Jennings , P . P . G . C , Bros . G . acting n p r F' M °° r assisting the act'ng P . G . M ., and Bros . R . Hudson , the Monies , tj- M-i and W . Logan very efficiently officiating as Directors of Cere-

Consecration Of A Masonic Hall At Consett.

The first part of the music used on the occasion was specially composed by Bro . C . Stephenson , S . W ., who was unavoidably unable Io attend . The musical service was excellently rendered by Bros . T . D . Dryden , W . M . ; G . Hyden , P . M . ; John Nutton , John Hughes , W . M . 2019 ; J . W . Daniels , St . war J ; M . Hobdiy , S . D . ; George Arkless , D . C . ; and George Dryden , Org . At the close , Bro . the Rev . Canon TKISTKAM thanked Hie brethren for their attendance , and congratulated the lod . ee upon possessing such a commodious and suitable meeting hall .

At the banquet in the evening the W . M ., Bro . T . D . Dryden , presided , and . 1 number of toasts we e duly honoured , Bro . the Rev . Canon TKISI ' IIAJI responding to the toast of the province .

Christianity And Freemasonry.

CHRISTIANITY AND FREEMA SONRY .

The following are the letters which were published in the Church Times of the 2 ist and 28 th ult ., and are referred to in our leading article : "Sir , —As it was my suggestion in your columns that a meeting of Mason * who are Churchmen ( as the great majority in England are ) , might profitably and pleauurably be held at the time of the Church Congress and in the town at which it met , I may perhaps answer the letter of your correspondent ' O IT / triad . ' That

gathering will not be held at Shrewsbury ( though the proposal attracted much attention , and 1 received letters from all parts approving the idea ) , because a high Masonic dignitary in those parts , who is also a well-known and resp ; cled Churchman , thought it might somewhat , though only for one evening , interefcro with the attraction of the Congress . 1 hope , however , this objection may not be raised , or prevail , in another place next or some other year .

" It is to be regretted that ' OfTeiriad , ' when attacking Freemasonry does not give his name . It is obvious from his letter that he is not a Mison , and thU h ; knows little of our principles and practices . This fairly detracts from the value of his assertions and arguments . The value of the opinion of a herrin % as to th ;

merits of mountain air is not great . It is further to be regretted that as he Ins obviously put his views before some one who is a Mason , and has had his cDnfusion of thought pointed out , that he still prefers his surmises to the statement of facts . His letter is really only an expansion of one sentence— ' Rome condemns Masonry ; therefore let us eschew it . '

" Popes , beginning with Clement XII . in 1737 , have condemned Freemasonry . Rightly , as regards the caricature of , and departure from , its essential principles as found in Italy , France , and perhaps Belgium . Utterly wrong as regards original and real Masonry . One might as well confuse and equally condemn the Church of England and the Plymouth brethren as assume , and even , as does 'OfTeiriad , ' assert in the teeth of facts and history that Masonry is responsible for the atheism

and political action of the Grand Orient of France and other bodies which English Masonry has solemnly and utterly condemned . ' OfTeiriad' has been told the truth as to our excommunication of those Continental bodies thit nov represent simply degenerate and spurious Masonry ; yet he says he may b ^ pardoned for asking whether the separation is more than merely nominal . 1 , for

one , fail to see why he should be pardoned . And J . e further betrays his ignorance when he asks whether ' the Welsh lodges have followed the example of the English . ' One might as well ask when England had declared war against Russia if LlanywrtslI had done the same ? In such matters the Grand Lodge acts for all , and not separate lodges , whether English or Welsh .

" But , he says , we have no certainty that even English Masonry is innocent , because it is a secret society . Any question that would prove or disprove its innucence can readily be put by ' OfTeiriad ' to any Mason , and would be freely answered . We have absolutely no secrets as to our principles . And whence comes his objection to a secret society ' r From the Jesuits of all people in the world ! The names of all our members are sent by law to the Home Secretary .

Will the Jesuits do the same ? Our principles , our creed ( which pledges us to a belief in God and immortality ) , our aims and purpose , are declared openly and with pride , and have been printed over and over again . True , we have certain secrets , useful to us , but useless to non-Masons , and harmlul to none . So have most families , and most tradesmen . No society is bad because secret , but only if its secrets are to veil bad aims or actions .

"Freemasonry is not a benefit society , not a political society , not a religion , not an infidelity , not a feasting club , not a secret society ; but it is a brotherhood of men of all classes , nations , races , colours , and creeds , who arc found , or believed to be , believers in one sole personal God , and in the immortality of in in ; of good repute , free , sound , charitable , and loyal . It does not profess to be Christian , yet it never can be anti-Christian . Further dogma we leave to the

priests and ministers of religion outside . We assert none , but neither do we controvert any . Were all the world Christian and did all Christians act up to their profession , then , from the moral point of view , Freemasonry would no doubt be needless , though still containing points of interest and advantage to men . But while the world and men are what they are , none but those who share the ignorance of the Pope and ' OfTeiriad ' will refuse its aid to morality and faith .

"J . W . HOKSLKY . " P . S . — ' Offeirad's ' ' pretty dilemma ' is too absurd to controvert . Not in his instance , or in any other , does the performance of any actual or conceivable Chiistian duty conflict with the observance of any Masonic obligation . '

" Sir , —Why does not ' Olfeiriad , ' as he signs himself , come out like a man over his own signature ? He has undertaken to write disparingly of that with which he is evidently imperfectly acquainted—to talk of the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons ' as a harmless , if somewhat ludicrous , society , patronised by Royalty , ' & c . Let me , who have been a Mason six-and-thirty

years , and have held various offices 111 the Craft , say that the society , as he calls it , often supplies acts of charity of which there is too evident a lack amongst Christian ? . 11 he had seen the Christian acts done by Freemasons , both in the U . S . A . and Canada during the war between North and South - -as I did—he would know that Masonry is not merely ' harmless r' Harmless , forsooth ! It is merely ' harmless ' to save the life of an enemv ' : It is merely ' harmless , ' or is it ' ludricous , ' to kno . k up a ' revolver' aimed at a man ' s head ?

" As to being 'patronised by Royalty , ' if the words are meant as a sneer , they fall flat , for though all Masons may not be Christians , they all ' Fiar God and honour the King , ' and that is more than can be said of all Chi Julians . And there may come a time ( which God forbid ) when Royalty will find that Masonry to them is not 'ludicrous , ' or a thing merely 'huimbss , ' but a strong bulwark of the throne . " "DAVID C . MOOUK , " Past Grand Master Mason ol Nova Scotia " Westhide , Hereford . " " and a Clergyman .