Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAGE MASONIC NOTESNO . I—Stability Lodge of Instruction ... 19 FREEMASONRY IN THE CANARY ISLANDS .. 20

THE FREEMASONS IN LIMERICK 20 & 21 THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY 21 MASONIC BALL AT WARRINGTON ... 21 & 22 MASONIC CEREMONIAL AT LIVERPOOL 22 CONSECRATION OF THE LION AND LAMB C HAPTER

NO . 192 22 & 23 BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS 24 WHAT IS FREEMASONRY ? 24 MULTUM IN TARVO 25

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE" A Body without a Head ? " 25 & 26 BURNS AND FREEMASONRY 26 POETRY

Over and Over Again ... ... ... ... 26 THE PRINCE OF WALES 27 ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS ... 27 ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS 27 MARK

MASONRYThe Grand Mark Master Mason on the position of the Mark Degree 27 BANQUET OF THE SINCERITY LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , NO . 194 27

THE CRAFTMetropolitan 27 Provincial 27 , 2 S , & 29 ORDERS OF C HIVALRYRed Cross of Constantino ... ... ... 29

SCOTLANDStornoiray 29 GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND 30 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK 30 ADVERTISEMENTS 17 , 18 , 31 , & 32

Masonic Notes.

MASONIC NOTES .

BY A COUNTRY P . M . No . 1 . STABILITY LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . Having an evening to spare , when in London the other day , we took a walk to

the " Guildhall Tavern , where the celebrated Stability Lodge of Instruction meets . It was on a Friday , at 6 . 30 pm ., and was raining fast at the time . We arrived early ,

and had to make several inquiries before we found out in which room the lodge met . We asked several waiters and servants we saw in the lobby , and inquired at the bar .

None could tell even if the lodge met in the Tavern , and , hence , as we wanted to know in what room the brethren were to assemble , no information could be afforded us .

At last wc were directed to some one who knew , and arrived on the landing , where we saw the Tyler , and then all was well . It strikes us , Bro . Editor , that a notice of

meetings held each evening should be placed conspicuously somewhere inside the principal entrance , and the number of the room stated , so as to guide strangers . We

object altogether to lodges meeting in public-houses or taverns , and so do many who are not , like ourselves , " total abstain-. .

11 1 , ers ; and our objections are certainly increased when , in order to attend a Masonic meeting , we have to make inquiries at the

" bar , " where Bacchus reigns triumphant . However , wc will return to the lodgeroom , which was certainly spacious , wellh ' ghted , and most suitable for Masonic

Masonic Notes.

purposes . We received a warm greeting from the Masonic veteran Bro . Henry Muggeridgc , and almost to the minute of the time stated , the lodge was duly opened ,

the officers being as follows : Bros . Eames , W . M . ; Noyes , S . W . ; Venn , J . W . ; Muggeridgc , Preceptor ; Muggcridge , jun ., Sec . ; Birdscve , S . D . ; Jenkins , J . D . ; and Wagner ,

l . G . There were also a few brethren present , but the assemblage was small , owing to its being the last Friday in the " old year . " Indeed , we scarcely expected

that a perfect number would be in attendance , owing to the allurements of the festive season . The brother in the chair , we were told , was S . W . of a London lodge , and we

were , therefore , agreeably surprised to find that his part was executed in a most finished manner . The " three degrees " were worked , so that the office of W . M .

on such an occasion was no sinecure , and it is but justice to say that we could not expect the ceremonies to be much more perfectly rendered by the Preceptor

himself . The W . M . delivered the " charges " as if they were really charges , and with a full realisation of their solemn and important character . Indeed , had the candidates

been actual ones , we feel sure that thenintroduction into Freemasonry would have been to them one of the most impressive scenes in their personal histories . The

Wardens were , on the whole , better versed in their duties than the assistant officers , excepting one of the Deacons , who evidently was an " old hand . " We were

amused at noticing the Preceptor correct the latter brother , who thereupon questioned for a moment the dictum of that worthy Craftsman , and then fraternally acted as

desired . Wc were much pleased to observe the respect and esteem invariably paid to Bro . Muggcridge , and how good humouredly all his strictness and correctness in

" working " were taken by the members . Whenever anything goes wrong , one may always depend upon hearing Bro . Muggeridge ' s call , " Commence again , Bro . , "

and then the reward , " Quite right , Bro . . " Sometimes ( as in the case of one of the officers this eve ) the brother is almost wholly in ignorance of his official duties ;

then the Preceptor clearly informs him of his " part" in the ceremony , and has the sentences repeated until perfection is attained . Having had a taste for merriment

m our younger days , we found scope for a little quiet fun in seeing how quick Bro . Muggcridge was to mark any deviation from the established landmarks and

customs . I \ o matter who was talking to him at the time ( and considerable latitude is allowed to the brethren ' s conversational abilities , even during the ceremonies—too

much to please us ) , and however interesting the discussion might be , at the slightest inaccuracy , the Preceptor checked the work , and only allowed it to pass muster on a due

accordance with the recognised oral ritual . Wc remember or . ee the same extraordinary watchfulness on the part of the lamented Bro . S . B . Wilson . We were attendiw / the

Masonic Notes.

" Emulation " ( of which we have long been proud to be a member ) , and during a part of the " sections" being worked , wc thought the Prince of Preceptors had fallen asleep ,

but , on a trivial alteration in one of the answers , we were soon assured otherwise by the respected brother opening his eyes , shrugging his shoulders , and having the

answer properly worded . He then relapsed into his apparent indifferent attitude , to be again revived on an error being perpetrated of any kind whatever , even a difference of emphasis would make his body quiver .

We are aware some object to this exactness ; but we believe thoroughly in it ourselves , as once a deviation is permitted , no one knows where the evil may end . In

fact , wc arc in a position to state that there arc many read }' , on the first opportunity , to improve (?) on our ritual , and , without doubt , when innovations arc permitted , we

shall have a grand " hash" served to an inapprcciative audience . We ardently wish our co-country brethren would attend this Lodge of Instruction , and the "

Emulation , " and other Lodges of Improvement , when in London , as the little time thus devoted to instruction would amply repay them , and the unfortunate differences in

working " , so unhappily prevalent in the country , would soon fade away . Wc are told ,, however , that " they differ in London " ! That is true , but all the variations

are non-essential and of little importance . Bro . Muggcridge assured me that if the life of Bro . Wilson had been prolonged , a uniform system would have been agreed on

between these two Masonic Preceptors . The decease of the one , however , should not prevent the carrying out of a scheme for

reconciliation between the " two systems , ' as , owing to the few differences , uniformity might easily be attained .

Wc were much pleased to notice engravings and paintings , on the walls of the lodge-room , of old Masonic worthies , now " of the past . " We also observed two

portraits of Bro . Muggeridgc , and other wellknown Masons of the present day . The obliging Secretary ( the son of the Preceptor , and whose grandfather was a member of

the same Lodge of Instruction ) furnished us with a list of several of the distinguished brethren who had been members of this famous lodge . It seems this school for

instruction was formed A . D . 1 S 17 , and was evidently an offshoot of the " Lodge of Reconciliation , " formed to promote and secure the union of the two rival Grand

Lodges , and to maintain a uniform system of work . Bros . Philip Broadfoot , James Black , Peter Thomson , Hearder , and J . Moloney were all members during A . D . 1817 ,

and for several years most energetically worked to establish the lodge on a broad and secure basis . Bro . E . II . Patten , the esteemed Secretary of the Girls' School ,

joined A . D . 1825 , the present Preceptor A . D . 1839 , and Bro . William Henry White , Grand Secretary , A . D . I 840 . We believe there never was a Preceptor

more beloved by the members than Bro . Henry Muggeridgc , and we hope his life will long be spared to continue his labours for the benefit of his lodge , and the welfare of the Craft in this countrv . H .