Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

R EPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS : — Craft Masonry 799 Instruction , 800 Scotland 801 Royal Arch 802 Red Cross of Constantine 802

Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 803 Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicester and Rutland ... 803 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 803 Obituary 803 Thc Abuse of the Masonic Press 804 Is the Pope a Freemason ? 804 Grand Lodjre 804

C ORRESPONDENCE : — The Order of the Temple 805 Masonic Jurisprudence 805 The Breeches Bible Soj Masonic Bibliography 806 Science Gossip Conversazione at Ipswich 800

Masonic Hall at Derby 807 Masonic Tidings 807 Preston Masonic Hall 807 Masonic Concert in Liverpool °° 7 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys °°° Advertisements 191 79 8 804 808 809 810 811 812

Reports Of Masonic Meetings

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS

-o- feft HfaMTOtB . EGYPTIAN LODGE ( NO . 27 ) . —The election meeting of this old lodge was held on the 3 rd inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel . Bro . Charles Atkins , W . M ., presided , and besides having a full lodge of lay members , was supported by most of his officersand Past Masters Poole , Harrison , Buss ,

, D . Jacobs , C . B . Payne , Hoare , Libbis and Shepherd . Bros . Mountstephen , Grammer and Murch , were passed to the second degree , and Messrs . Topp and Walbrook , were initiated . On the time arriving for the election of the W . M . for the ensuing year , Bro . Lamble , S . W .,

was chosen for that office . Bro . H . G . Buss , P . M ., was unanimously elected Treasurer , amidst great cheering , and Bro . Potter was elected T . Bro . Buss was presented with a massive gold P . M . jewel , with which he was decorated by the W . M ., for his great services to

the lodge as its Master in 1850 , and for twentythree years as its Secretary . Bro . Buss having acknowledged the gift with great heartiness , the W . M . announced that he was going to stand as Steward for the Egyptian Lodge at the next

festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and the lodge voted the sum of £ zo to be put on his list . Several members of the lodge had already placed their names on it . The auditors were then elected , and a Past Master ' s

jewel was voted to Bro . C . Atkins , to be presented him on his leaving the chair of the lodge . The brethren afterwards partcok of one of Bro . Clemow ' s capital banquets , which was superintended by Bro . George Smith , and on the removal ofthe cloth , honoured the customary

toasts . Bro . Buss s name was coupled with the toast of" The Masonic Charities , " and in replying he gave an admirably designed brief sketch of the history of each of the Institutions from the time they were founded , of what their work had been , and showed from figures how large a return they furnished for thc support which

the lodges extended to them . Bro . Lamble responded for " The W . M . elect , " and promised his best endeavours to maintain the efficiency of the lodge , both by his own working and his selection of his assistant officers . The evening was enlivened by some excellent singing , in which Bro . David Jacobs bore a conspicuous part .

BATH . —Royal Cumlirland Lodge ( No . 41 ) . — The monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Bath , on Thursday , December 3 rd , at 7 . 30 p . m . The chair of W . M . was occupied by Bro . Major J . W . Preston , and that of I . P . M . by Bro . R . Carey . There were also present Bros . J . Clark , S . W . ; W . H .

Brown , J . W . ; T . Wilton , D . C . Ashley , Treasurer ; Denham ( acting as Secretary ) ; Falkner , S . D . F . Wilkinson ( acting as J . D . ) ; Gunnier ( acting as I . G . ); Broome , Tyler ; about 20 members of the lodge , and Bro . Dr . Hopkins , P . P . G . S . W . for Warwickshire , P . M ., P . Z ., & c , as a visitor . The lodge having been opened , the

Reports Of Masonic Meetings

circular convening the meeting was read , and also the minutes of the previous meeting , which were confirmed . Bros . Hunt and Merlis were examined as to their proficiency , and then desired to retire for preparation . In their absence , the lodge was opened in the Second

Degree . On their admission they were passed to the rank of F . C . by the W . M ., at whose request the charge was given by Bro . Dr . Hopkins . The lodge was then closed in the second degree . As the candidates who had been just passed , had not , on their initiation , heard the

Lecture on the Tracing Board of the First Degree , the visiting brother was requested to give it , with which he of course complied . On inquiry being made by the W . M . as to any other business to be brought before the lodge , by permission , the visiting brother referred to the last important publication of his friend , Bro . Hughan ,

entitled , " Memorials of the Masonic Union of A . D . 1813 , & c , " the result of which was a resolution that a copy should be purchased for the lodge . Bro . Carey , I . P . M ., proposed a gentleman for initiation , and Bro . Dr . Hopkins as a joining member , both to be ballottcd for at the next meeting . The lodge was closed , in perfect harmony , at 9 . 30 .

LODGE OF J OPPA ( No . 188 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge for the election of W . M . was held on Monday evening at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , Bro . Obed Roberts , W . M ., presiding . The lodge was well attended , and Bros . Hickman , S . W . ; A . Dodson , J . W .

L . Anerham , Treasurer ; E . P . Albert , P . M ., Secretary ; L . Lazarus , S . D . ; Miller , J . D . ; E . P . Van Noorden , Organist ; and Bros . Berkowitz , L . Alexander ; I . Abrahams , M . Alexander , and H . M . Levy , P . M . ' s , were in their places . After the formal business of opening the lodge and

reading and confirming the minutes had been performed , Bro . Isaac was passed to the Second Degree . Bros . J . Levi , Botibol , and A . Moore , were raised to the Third Degree . One brother , a member of the Grand Orient , Bro . Hcnnington , was elected a joining member . There were three

candidates for initiation , and two of these , Messrs . E . I . Samuels , and G . Botibol were initiated into the Order by Bro . H . M . Levy , P . M . ; by the kind permission of the W . M . ; and one , Mr . I . Botibol , by the W . M . himself . When the brethren had elected a W . M . for the ensuing year ,

their choice was found to have fallen on Bro . Hickman , S . W ., who was unanimously elected to fill the chair . Bro . L . Anerham , was reelected Treasurer of the lodge , and Bro . Woodstock , T . Trustees were afterwards elected for the Benevolent Fund of the Joppa Lodge , and

after the names of three candidates for initiation had been given in , the sum of Five Guineas from the lodge funds was voted towards a testimonial to Bro . Roberts , in acknowledgment of his services to the lodge during his year cf office , the individual brethren at the same time liberally

contributing to the object . A Committee was appointed for the purpose of carrying it out , after which the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment . Although this was not a banquet , the customary Masonic toasts followed the partaking of it , and in responding

for that of the " Benevolent Fund , " Bro . L . Alexander , P . M ., informed the brethren that Bro . T . Abrahams , P . M ., had qualified himself as a V . P ., and the newly-initiated had severally contributed to it . After the initiates had responded to the toast proposed in their honour ,

Bro . L . Alexander gave the toast of " The W . M ., " which was received with great enthusiasm . Bro . Roberts acknowledged the compliment , and proposed " The W . M . Elect , " who , he informed the brethren , was in every way qualified to perform the duties of the chair . Bro .

Hickman replied , in a style which fully confirmed the wisdom of the brethren ' s choice . Bros . Swallow , W . M . 382 , and Scott , responded for the visitors , and Bro . I . Abrahams for the P . M . ' s . The Wardens , Treasurer , and Secretary were also remembered , and the W . M . then

said he had a toast perhaps a little out of the ordinary routine to give , but he should nevertheless give it . That toast was " The Health of Bro . Jennings , " who , as manager of the Albion , had always ably and kindly attended to the creature comforts of the brethren , assisted

Reports Of Masonic Meetings

by Bro . Keeping . Bro . Jennings thanked the W . M . and brethren for their consideration , and the brethren soon after separated . OXFORD . — Apollo University Lodge ( No . 357 ) . —At the regular monthly meeting of this

lodge , held on Nov . 24 th , the following brethren were present : —Bros . F . P . Morrel , W . M . ; Col . the Hon . W . E . Sackville West , S . W . ; R . I . Williamson , J . W . ; Bird , P . M ., Treas . ; Pickard , P . M . ; Frankland Hood , S . D . ; C . J . S .

Spedding , J . D . ; Leadham , Hunter Blair , Stewards ; Butler , I . G . Bros . Eversley , Berrington , Hill , G . Campbell , Bodley , Macnamara , R . H . Collins and others . Bros . Hill , Harter , and Macnamara were passed to the second degree .

The following gentlemen were balloted for successfully , and were subsequently . dul y initiated in Freemasonry by the W . M .: —Messrs . Dunston , Sandeman , Bingley , Harding , G . Harterly , Weatherly and Broadbent . The next business was the election of the W . M . for the ensuing

year . The choice of the brethren fell on the Rev . H . Adair Pickard , P . Prov . S . G . W ., who has twice before filled the chair of the Apollo Lodge . Bro . Bird , P . M ., was re-elected to the office of Treasurer . After a vote of £ 10 each to the Benevolent Institution and the Girls '

School had been passed , on the motion of the Treasurer , the lodge was closed in ancient form . A meeting of this lodge was held for the purpose of instruction on Friday , Nov . 27 th . The following brethren filled the various offices : — Bros . H . S . Butler , W . M .: H . Adair PickarJ .

I . P . M . ; Gordon Campbell , S . vV . ; J . E . C . Bodley , J . W . ; Paget , Sec . ; R . C . E . Cust , S . D . ; W . P . Eversley , J . D . ; Glencross , I . G .

The ceremony of imatition was ably worked by the W . M .. and at its conclusion the . lodge was opened and closed in the higher degrees . Bro . G . Campbell was appointed W . M . for the next meeting and chose as his officers : Bros . Bodley , S . W . ; Paget , J . W . ; Eversley , S . D . ; Glencross ,

J . D . ; Cust , I . G . The lodge was then closed in due form . An emergency meeting ofthe lodgewas held on Dec . 1 st . for raisings only . The following officers were present : —Bros . F . Parker Morrell , W . M- ; R . I . Williamson , S . W . ; W . P . Eversley , J . W . ; H . G . Barron , S . D . 5 I . S . Leadham ,

S . D . ; H . S . Butler , I . G- Eleven brethren having duly answered the questions in the second degree were raised to the sublime degree of a M . M . The ceremony was a most impressive oue , and a sight was afforded to the brethren which is rarely seen in any lodge , of eleven

candidates being raised on the same evening . The names of the candidates were Bros . Allenby , Berrington , Barker , Combe , Elcum , Hedges , Knollys , Meredith , Rust , TreiVry , and Vane . After two gentlemen had been proposed for initiation , the lodge was closed in due form .

SPHINX LODGE ( NO . 1329 ) . —On Saturday , November 21 st , the usual anniversary and installation meeting of the Sphinx Lodge was held at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge , when Bro . J . H . Vockins , one of the founders , was installed as Master . These anniversary

meetings have always been highly prized by the brethren , and on this occasion nearly forty , exclusive of visitors , sat down to the banquet . This satisfaction , indeed , seems sometimes to have been too highly prized , for during the past incumbency curious discussions arose whether ,

according to a debated bye-law , they were not compelled to hold two anniversary meetings in the course of a year . Now some time since the Sphinx having migrated from her old castle haunts at Camberwell , has been so well groomed and cared for in her new quarters , that , growing

fat and sleek like a civilized animal , was thought to be quite reclaimed . Still , as is maintained by philosophers , old habits stick fast , and what is bred in the bone there remains , so in consequence of this old sybylline ( bye ) -law , she fell back to ancient habit and propounded a new riddle .

" How shall I twice a day on earth Have a festal day of mirth ?" Far and wide did the poor animal roam , posing the passers-by with her conundrum , a greater part of whom wisely declined the dilemma . At last she met her pre-destined Iacosta , who replied" When twice a year comes April day , Without doubt thou'lt have thy way ! "