Progress.

Bro . CARVER ' letter last week testifies to the opinion of " many members of the Craft" with whom he is associated , as to what kind of advance Masonry has to make before it can claim that its members walk consistently with their Masonic professions . This is quite a different matter . While admiring the spirit of that letter ,

and possibly , if we knew all the particulars , while in actual accord with objects such as he would attain , we cannot endorse Bro . CARVER ' idea for bringing about that advancement . It is , in fact , a clearly well-meant , but

crude , conception , as even Bro . CARVER will admit , if he asks himself the simple question— " Are my objects impossible of attainment ( that is , in a reasonable degree ) in all lodges , and , if so , what influence will the reputation alone of my proposed lodge have on the rest ? "

Bro . CARVER ' theory is , we presume , that he could form a lodge which on his lines ( not stated yet , but immaterial ) would be perfect . Our idea is that it is impossible ! However much we , along with Bro . CARVER , may desire that all Masons should act up to their professions , we must say , inasmuch as it rests more with the man than the Mason to do this , such a hope

would be foolish and vain . Further , there never was a time in the history of the Craft when good men and true were more needed than now . To withdraw 20 such men from , say , 10 lodges in which their influence is lost , and hide those 20 lights under the bushel of one lodge , however near perfection it might attain , does not commend itself to our judgment as likely to advance

the best interests of " Freemasonry in general . Bro . CARVER has our sympathy , and will receive the moral support of thousands of right-minded brethren , so far as his expressed objects are concerned ; but the impracticability of his scheme to attain those objects will be almost generally recognised amongst those who have had much experience of our lodge life .

Records Of The "Howard Lodge Of Brotherly Love," 1777-1821.

RECORDS OF THE "HOWARD LODGE OF BROTHERLY LOVE , " 1777-1821 .

A very interesting ceremony took place on June 28 th , 1 S 93 , at Brighton , which is duly described in the Freemason for July 8 th . A number of documents belonging to the " Howard Lodge of Brotherly Love , " No . 56 , Littlehampton ( formerly of Arundei , and before then , of London ) , had come into the possession of Bro . Salter , through his grandfather , and these were

presented to the W . M . ( Bro . Walter Goss ) on behalf of the lodge by the R . W . Bro . Earl of Warwick ( then Lord BrooUe ) , Prov . G . M . of Essex . Bro . Salter spoke at length on the character of the volumes thus returned to their rightful owner , and the W . M . expressed his thanks for these most valuable gifts .

Most of these books have been sent to me for examination by Bro . Walter Pcwel ) , P . M . 142 , & c . They date from 1777 to 1821 , and consist of several folio and quarto volumes , in excellent condition , and of special interest and value to No . 56 , being continuous records from the year 1777 onwards .

According to Bro . John Lanes "Masonic Records , 1717-1880 , " the lodge was formed at the " Black Dog , " Castle-street , Seven Dials , London , 21 st December , 173 6 , as No . ijr , becoming 136 in 1740 , 85 in 1755 , and 71

in 1770 , meeting in several places in the interim , but alas , was erased in 1775 . The lodge was reinstated 5 th February , 1777 , and the sum of two guineas is credited on that date from " 71 , Star , Coleman Street , " in the Transactions of the Grand Lodge .

The oldest minute book presented—one of those returned as notedbegins Feb . 17 th , 1777 , and is headed " Blue Boar , in Great Russell-street , Bloomsbury " . so that the members must have changed their place of meeting between February 5 th and 17 th of that year , though the record reads as if the lodge had assembled at the " Blue Boar " before the 17 th . Apparently

only three members were present , viz .: Bros . Browning , R . W . M . ; W . Whitehead , as S . W . ; and Butter , J . W . Seven joining members—who were present—were proposed and elected there and then , one being elected the R . W . M . on the resignation of the chair by Bro . Browning . A candidate was elected and " passed the 2 first degrees of Masonry and paid £ 1 16 s . fid . "

The lodge is called " Brotherly Love " on June 6 th , 1777 . At least it is then first noted . A removal to the Bedford Arms , Charlotte-street , Bedfordsquare , took place on April 15 th , 1782 . The R . W . M . informed the members Jan . 20 th , 1783 , that "the registering Fees had not been paid to the Grand

Lodge since Nov ., 1778 . " Twenty initiations had taken place and 15 joining members elected during the previous four years , and the brethren were solicited to help in meeting the financial obligation , which they did at once by subscribing some four pounds .

A meeting was he'd by convention at the sign of the Two Blue Posts , Tottenham Court-road , 5 th March , 1789 , when it was agreed to remove the lodge to the Bedford-square Coffee House , Great Russell-street . The next meeting was held there , but the Secretary forgot to date the minutes , but the following lodge was on 19 th April , 1784 .

On 21 st February , 17 S 5 , " It was agreed that there should be a Masonic Lodge conven'd at the 3 Kings , Orange-street , Bloomsbury , for raising the following Brothers into the third Degree of Masonry , " but there is no record

of the fact , though probably it took place . " According to the ancient custom , " it is stated , was the reason for the R . W . M . being voted a t'eket for the " Grand Feast , " which seems to have been an annual gift .

The lodge removed to the " Buffalo ' s Head , " corner of Newman-street , Oxford-street , on 20 th June , 1 7 S . S , as per vote at the previous meeting . The last minute recorded in this volume is dated October 17 th , 178 . S , the number of the lodge from 17 80 being 55 . The next volume begins 21 st November , 1785 , and ends on 21 st June , 1790 , a gocdly number of rages being kit unused in the book . Tr . e

Records Of The "Howard Lodge Of Brotherly Love," 1777-1821.

meetings were held at the King ' s Head Tavern , Holborn , from igth December , 1785 , and on 19 th March , 1787 , it is stated that" All Bus « being over the lodge was closed Af a Great

Harangue ab , iBr . Preston by Br . Js . Smith . " A visitor , in same minutes is noted as " Smith , R . W . M ., T . L . " Doubt less the " harangue " was about the William Preston incident , the difficultie being happily adjusted , 1 little later .

The lodge was one of the earliest to support the " Cumberland ffree Mason School , " as the sum of one guinea was annually voted to that excellent Institution ( now the R . M . I , for Girls ) on 21 st April , 1788 . Mr . John Bradley Merton , of Petworth , and Mr . William Keene , of Arundel ( both in Sussex ) had the three Degrees conferred on them , icth

December , 1788 , " on account of residence being in the Country ; " and on the 22 nd of the same month . " Bro ? - Terry moved that the lodge be remov'd to Arundel in Sussex , and the time of removing it oe left to the R . W . M ., Henley , so that the same be remov'd within six months from this time , which was unanimously carried . "

Nine brethren were present on the occasion , but neither of the two Sussex residents admitted seven days before . The balance in the Jhand of the Treasurer amounted to £ 2 4 10 , which ( with any sums to be subsequently received ) , was to be at the disposal of the majority of the members , should " they remain in Town . "

Two meetings of Emergency were held at the " R . W . M . ' s Chambers in Clifford ' s Inn , " on January the 16 th and 19 th , 1789 , the final assembl y in London being on February 9 th , 1789 , at the usual place of meeting (" King ' s Head Tavern" ) , when the minutes were confirmed of one regular and two emergent meetings : after other business

being transacted , the lodge was " closed in due form and the meeting adjourned till further notice to be given by the R . W . M . " The lodge assembled at the "Crown Inn , " Arundel , 6 th May , 1789 , with Bro . Henley still as the R . W . M . ; Bro . Pecknell , S . W . pro Urn . ; Bro . Bradley , J . W . ; Bro . Keen being also present , and three other brothers .

The point to be settled is , was this a meeting of the old lodge , or the inauguration of a new one ? My belief is , that it was a continuation of the old lodge of " Brotherly Love , " London , for the minutes run on in the same

book ; the Quarterage Book is also continuous , and the removal , so far as evidence is afforded , was in accordance with the laws then in force , Book of Constitutions , 1784 . Hitherto the evidence in existence tended in the other direction .

The R . W . M . paid 14 s . Xmas ., 1788 , and 63 . at Mich , 1789 ; William Keen was initiated 15 th December , 1788 , and paid his quarterage later on ; Bro . London , who was present , was one of the old members , and a Bro . Becknell , who was S . W . pro tern ., who poses as a member , apparently joined in the interim . Bro . William Henley joined from the Lodge of

Happiness , No . 215 , on iSth December , 1786 , became the Secretary later on , and was the Master from June 16 th , 178 S . For certain there were two members present at this meeting , and possibly three or four , Bro . Bradley being also in attendance , who was admitted when Bro . Keen was . The others seem to have simply stayed away , and so were not continued on subsequent lists , but quietly dropped .

The Master was an Attorney in practice in London originally , and then removed to Arundel , hence possibly the explanation of the lodge following him ! No purchase of the warrant is noted , even had such been intended , of which there is no evidence , for so far as I can judge , the removal was legitimately carried out from first to last .

The lodge was visited by Bro . James Galloway , P . G . W . of England , and D . Prov . G . M . of Sussex , on September 7 th , 17 S 9 , and as all went on thereafter as vigorous as ever , the presence of that zealous Craftsman may be accepted as favourable to the removal and transactions of the members

early in that year . Four meetings were held in September and activity prevailed . On November 2 nd , 1789 , it was resolved" That this Lodge in future be called the Howard Lodge of Brotherly Love , and that notice be sent to >>• G . S . that it may be entered in the new Calendar . "

"At the particular request of Sir Geo . Thomas [ Bart . ] this lodge do meet at Bro . Tappers at the Dolphin [ Hotel ] , Chichester , to-morrow evening for the Purpose of Initiating the above Gentleman . " The meeting was

so held , and Sir Geo . Thomas and four others were " initiated into the mysteries of Masonry in due form . " How far such was regular it is not for me to say at this time ; besides which permission may have been obtained for the purpose .

The minutes end on 21 st June , 1790 , though a third of the book is left unused , the members apparently preferring a new volume for the Records . The third book begins on 6 th May , 1789 , 311 the minutes being written in bv the same hand from the old book to June , 1890 ; possibly by Bro .

Holmes , the Secretary , so that there is a continuous record of the lodge doings at Arundel from the beginning in that town , in one and the saire volume , to October 19 th , 1 S 04 , when again a great number of leaves are left blank , and a new volume is opened .

The Annual Feast , 24 th June , 1790 , was celebrated by a Procession to Church , a Sermon by the Rev . Mr . Mossop , Chaplain to the Royal Clarence Lodge , Brighton , and then the usual dinner . Similar Celebrations are

also noted in subsequent years . Two guineas voted October 6 , 179 ^ for " the Relief of the widows and orphans of the Bave men who fell i « the service of the King and Country , kc . " The lodge removed to the Norfolk Arms , from October 17 th , 1800 , by vote of the members .

A curious minute occurs on July 6 th , 1799 . Two brethren hailing from No . 121 , Scotland , the " Union " wished to join the lodge , and were duly elect < d accoidingly , but it was thought necessary , " after the death of their