Instruction.

be raised , he was dulv questioned , entrusted and retired Lodge opened in the Third Degree , and the VV . M . rehearsed the Sublime Degree of M . M . Bro . VV . C . Smith worked the Second Section oi this Lecture . Lodge resumed to the First Decree . Bro . G . H . Reynolds , S . VV ., was unanimously efected VVorship ful Master for the ensuing week , -and was leased to appoint his officers in rotation .

p At the third time of rising , Bro . G . Reynolds , Sec , gave the brethren the sad intelligence of the death of their most able Preceptor , Bro . VV . H . Richardson , who had devoted himself for five years to the establishing of this lodge of instruction . Upon receipt of the melancholy news he consulted with Bros . VV . H . Gulliford , I . P . M ., and VV . C . Smith as to the sendinir of a wreath from the brethren of this

lodge of instruction as a mark of their sincere regard . This was done , and a letter from the family stating " that the beautiful tribute of affection '' had been received and appreciated . The Secretary then proposed that a vote of heartfelt regret for the loss of their late brother be recorded on the minutes of this lodge of instruction , and that a letter of condolence be addressed to the late Bro . VV . H . Richardson ' s

family , and also that the expense of the wreath be defrayed out of the funds of the lodge of instruction . This was seconded by Bro . VV . C . Smith , who said that the brethren had lost a good , earnest , and zealous worker , for whom he had a deep regard . The motion was carried unanimously . Nothing further offering for the good of Freemasonry , the lodge was closed in ancient form , with peace and harmony . The lodge was in mourning for their late Preceptor .

WANDERERS LODGE ( No . 1604 ) . —A meeting was held on Wednesday , the 10 th inst ., at the Adam and Eve Tavern , Palmer-street , Westminster . Present : Bros . Bowen , VV . M . ; Gibson , S . VV ' . and Treas . ; White , J . W . ; Coleman , S . D . ; Mumms . J . D . ; Purnell , I . G . ; Wray , P . M ., Preceptor ; Brindley , P . M . 1604 ; Taylor , Balchin , Vincent , Grist , Smith , Coughlan , C . VVhite , and Fraser .

The lodge was opened in due form and the minutes of last meeting read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Coleman being the candidate . Bro . Taylor answered the usual questions leading to the Second Degree , and was entrusted . The lodge was opened in the Second Degree and the ceremony of passing rehearsed , Bro . Taylor candidate . The lodge was opened in the Third Degree and closed down to the First Degree .

Lodge resumed in the Second Degree . Bro . I ' raser answered the questions leading to the Third Degree . Lodge was resumed in the First Degree . Bro . Gibson was duly elected VV . M . for the ensuing week . A brother of Lodge 316 was pecuniarily relieved . There being no further business the lodge was closed in perfect harmony . The ceremony of initiation will be worked in this lodge on the last VVednesday this month by Bro . Cox , VV . M . St . Luke's Lodge , No . 144 .

EARL OF LATHOM LODGE ( No . 1922 ) . — The weekly meeting was held on VVednesday , the 3 rd inst ., at the Station Hotel , Camberwell New-road , when there were present Bros . Sherring , VV . M . ; Johnson , Preceptor ; Norden , S . VV . ; Jacobs , j . W . ; Paton , Sec ; Mackie , Sutton , Baker , Stafford , Youens , Mattock , La Feuillade , Eidmans , and Hook .

The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of previous lodge were read and confirmed . The VV . M . worked the Second Section of the Lecture , assisted by the brethren . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . La Feuillade acting as candidate . Bro . Hook , S . VV . iSG , was elected a member of the lodge . Bro . Norden was elected VV . M . for the ensuing meeting , and was pleased to

appoint his officers in rotation . A cordial vote of thanks was accorded the VV . M . for his able working , the same to be entered on the minutes . Bro . Sherring thanked the brethren for the vote and kind attention . Nothing further offering for the good of Masonry , the lodge was closed ,

according to ancient custom , in peace and harmony . A meeting of the Charitable Association in connection with this lodge was then held , under the presidency of Bro . Johnson . The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed , after which two ballots were taken , the draws being in favour of Bros . Johnson and A . J . Clarke .

CHISWICK LODGE ( No . 2012 ) . —A meeting was held on Saturday , the Gth inst ., at the Hampshire Hog , King-street , Hammersmith . Present : Bros . K . Ayling , VV . M . ; G . Gardner , S . W . ; Purdue , J . W . ; G . Gardner , Treas . ; A . Strong , Sec . ; J . Brown , S . D . -, Wing , J . D . ; VV . Wilson , I . G . ; H . Furze , Stwd . ; VV . Johnson , P . M . ; A . Williams . VV . VV . Williams , Simms , and B .

Wimpey . Visitors : Bros . A . Bishop , Hayes , and J . Davis . The re-opening meeting of this lodge took place as above , VV . Preceptor being in the chair of King Solomon . Several sections of the First and Second Lectures were worked by the brethren , Bro . Purdue asking the questions of the Second Sections of the First Lecture . The lodge was opened in the Three Degrees and resumed to the I'irst Degree . Bro . Hayes and Davis were elected members of

the lodge . A vote of thanks was recorded on the minutes to Bro . Ayling for his able conduct in the chair of VV . M . and Preceptor . Bro . Gardner was then elected VV . M . for the ensuing week . TheSecretary asked thebrethren to mark the occasion of the re-opening by making a subscription to the Hospital Fund , which on lodge being closed in ancient form was done , and so ended a very enjoyable and instructive evening .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

LIVERPOOL . —Hamer Chapter ( No . 1393 ) . — On Thursday evening , the 4 th inst ., the annual installation of Principals took p lace at the above chapter , in the Alasonic Hall , Hope-street , where there was an unusuall y strong muster , a fitting close to a very _ prosperous year . There were present : Comps . W . C . Erwin , M . E . Z . ; John Houlding , P . Z . ; J . McCarthy , P . Z . ; F . J . Pentin , P . Z . ;

Dr . Henry Pitts , H . ; Rev . R . J . Leslie , J . ; J . Pilling , P . S . ; and others . Comp . Thomas Sammons very effectivel y installed the following as the new officers : Comps . Dr . Hy . Pitts , M . E . Z . ; Rev . R . T . Leslie , H . ; J . Pilling , J . ; R . L . Stockton , S . E . ; Dr . VV . A . Soldat , S . N . ( by proxy ); W . H . Bucknell , P . S . ; and Walter Burnet , Org . Comp . M . Williamson was re-elected T y ler . The companions afterwards dined together , when a very pleasant evening was spent .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

YORK . —Ancient Ebor Preceptory ( No . 101 " ) . — A meeting of this body was held on Tuesday last . Fra . J . S . Cumberland , P ., presided , in the absence of Fra . Marshall , the E . P ., and there were also present Fratres A . T . B . Turner , Const . ; G . Simpson , P ., as Marshal ; T . B . Whytehead , P ., Reg . ; VV . Brown , Capt . of Guards ; and others . The minutes having been read , and a ballot taken

for Major A . H . H . McGachen as a joining member , the Registrar read several letters of apology for absence , and also letters of thanks from brethren in America acknowledging receipt of honorary certificates . Fra . VVhytehead gave notice at the next meeting to propose , and Fra . Cumberland to second , the election as an honorary member of Dr . Rob . Morris , the American poet Mason . The preceptory was shortly thereafter closed .

Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.

GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS .

BY BRO . E . L . HAWKINS . It apnears to be a matter in dispute among Masonic historians whether Boston or Philadelphia was the first home of Freemasonry in America ; but , without attempting to settle that point , it may be safely asserted that the examination of the Constitutions of either State should be of interest to us in England , as showing some of the points

of difference between American and English Freemasonry . Having recently , through the kindness of Bro . Sereno D . Nickerson , P . G . M ., and now Recording Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , become possessed of the Constitutions now in force in that State , and also of some recent reports of the meetings of its Grand Lodge , I have noted the following points in them which 1 trust may not prove wholly without interest to Masons in this country .

On opening the Book of Constitutions of the Ufand Lodge of Massachusetts one is at once confronted by a copy of the Act of Incorporation which passed the Senate and House of Representatives of Massachusetts on March ist , 1 S 59 , and by which the Master , Wardens , and members of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts are formed into a corporate body , with power to sue and be suedto make By-laws , & c , and to hold real estate up to

, 200 , 000 dollars , ( since increased to 500 , 000 , ) and personal estate up to 50 , 000 . Consequently all financial matters of the Grand Lodge are managed by a Board of Directors , consisting of the Grand Master and eight other members , of whom four are to be chosen annually for two years ; but this Board must report at each December meeting of Grand Lodge , and can exercise no powers not expressly given to it .

The Constitution of the Grand Lodge differs somewhat from that of the English Grand Lodge ; its members fall into three classes—1 st , the Grand Officers for the year ; 2 nd , the permanent or life members ; 3 rd , the representatives of lodges . The Grand Oflicers are : —M . W . Grand Master ; R . VV Deputy Grand Master ; R . VV . Senior Grand Warden ; R . VV . Junior Grand Warden ; R . VV . Grand Treasurer ;

R . VV . Recording Grand Secretary ; R . W . Corresponding Grand Secretary ; R . VV . District Deputy Grand Masters ; two VV . and Rev . Grand Chaplains ; VV . Grand Marshal ; three W . Grand Lecturers ; VV . Senior Grand Deacon ; VV . Junior Grand Deacon ; four W . Grand Stewards ; VV . Grand Sword Bearer ; VV . Grand Standard Bearer ; two VV . Grand Pursuivants ; Bro . Grand Organist , who has no vote ; and Bro . Grand lyler , who also has no vote .

The second class , the permanent or life members , consists of Past Grand Masters , Past Deputy Grand Masters , and Past Grand Wardens , who rank between the actual Wardens and the Treasurer , and who are the only Grand Officers who enjoy past rank . It may here be noticed that a Past Grand Master ceases to be " M . W ., " and becomes "R . W . " Would a Past Grand Master of England become "M . W . " ? Our Constitutions are silent on the point .

The third class—the representatives of lodges—consists of the Masters , Wardens , and proxies of lodges ; thus Past Masters as such [ have no seats in Grand Lodge . Each lodge has three votes , and is represented by its Master and Wardens , or by a proxy duly appointed for a year by the lodge , such proxy having no vote when the Master and

Wardens are present , and each lodge may cast its three votes whether one or more of its representatives be present . Of the Grand Officers , the Grand Master , the Grand Wardens , the Grand Treasurer , and the Recording Grand Secretary arc elected annually by ballot ; the rest are appointed by the Grand Master . The Grand Master and the Grand Wardens are not allowed to hold office for more

than three successive years , unless Grand Lodge is unanimously in favour of their re-nomination ; and the practice appears to be to change the Grand Master every three years , but the Wardens annually . The Grand Treasurer receives instructions from the Board of Directors as to the investment of unappropriated funds , and has to render an account to them of his receipts and disbursements .

The lodges subordinate to the Grand Lodge are grouped by the Grand Master into districts , of which there are now 28 in Massachusetts , each containing about eight lodges ; there is also a Chili District with three lodges , and a China District with one lodge . For each district , except that of China , a District Deputy Grand Master ( who must be a Past Master ) is appointed annually by the Grand Master , so that there are now 29 District Deputy Grand Masters

among the members ot Grand Lodge . Their powers are very similar to those of Provincial Grand Masters with us , except that ; they apparently appoint no District Officers ; through them all returns and dues from subordinate lodges are presented to Grand Lodge , and they report annually to the Grand Master on the state of the lodges in their districts . They are repaid their expenses for visiting the lodges in their districts , subject to the approval of the Board of Directors ; and the expenses of their meetings

before each Communication of Grand Lodge are borne by the Grand Lodge . ( For 1 SS 3 their visiting expenses amounted to S 60 dollars—about £ iSo—and the expenses of their quarterly meetings were 183 dollars . ) The duties of the Grand Marshal are to proclaim all Grand Officers on their installation , to direct the organization of the Grand Lodge before it is opened , to collect communications , introduce visitors , & c . The Grand Lecturers must be Past Masters , and are to " exemplify the work and lectures of the several degrees , at

Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.

such times and in such places as the Grand Master shall direct . They shall also impart instruction to any lodge requiring their services—the lodge paying them a reasonable compensation therefor . " They are also to visit lodges and report any deviations in the working from the system adopted by the Grand Lodge ; for the Grand Lodge takes to itself , among other powers , that " of establishing and preserving a uniform system of Work and Lectures . "

Each member of Grand Lodge has one vote only , unless he is' an officer or permanent member and also Master , Warden , or proxy of a lodge ; each member must vote on all questions , unless personall y interested or specially excused ; and no member can leave Grand Lodge during the session without the permission of the Grand "Waster .

As with us , there are four regular Quarterly Communications of the Grand Lodge , held aT two o'clock p . m . in Boston on the second VVednesday of December , March , June , and September ; there is also a Grand Festival for the installation of oflicers on December 27 th ; and it is provided that all meetings of Grand Lodge shall be advertised in one or more Boston newspapers , at least a week in advanre .

The Constitutions provide for a Charity Fund of 50 , 000 dols ., to be in the hands of a Board of Trustees , of which the interest is to be employed for the relief of poor and distressed brethren , their widows and orphans ; but this fund is now non-existent , having been swallowed up by the expenses incurred in building the present Masonic temple , and no trustees have been appointed since 1 S 6 4 . However , the debt then incurred has now been wiped outand

, no doubt this Charity Fund will soon be re-established . The present Masonic temple is a very imposing granite building , seven stories high , with three large halls for meetings ; and , with the exception of the street and basement floors , it is entirely devoted to Masonic purposes . Its corner-stone was laid in 1864 , and it was dedicated in 1 S 6 7 . It appears from the accounts for 1 SS 3 that in spite of the

non-existence of this Charity Fund 1200 dols . were disbursed in charity during that year . The Constitutions contain very elaborate regulations for the trial of Masonic offenders ; there are five "Commissioners of Trials " annually appointed by the Grand Master , and before them all charges against brethren are to be brought , according to certain specified regulations , unless a lodge decide by a vote of the majority to try an

offender itself ; but a lodge has no cower to suspend or expel , and the sentence of the Commissioners must be reported to Grand Lodge for approval . It is provided that due notice of his trial must be given to a delinquent , unless his residence is out of the jurisdiction of thc Grand Lodge or is unknown , when no notice is required . These Commissioners are to receive compensation for their services and expenses , and it is provided that the expenses of all

committees are to be paid by the Grand Lodge , but no such payments are to be found in the accounts for 1 SS 3 . In constituting a new lodge the practice is to first issue a dispensation after petition by seven Master Masons ; this dispensation empowers them to work for a year ; they then return the dispensation with an account of their proceedings , and if these are satisfactory they receive a Charter of Constitution . Apparently a lodge under

dispensation has the same powers as a warranted lodge , except that its officers cannot sit in Grand Lodge . Each lodge pays annually to Grand Lodge ten dollars , and five dollars for every candidate initiated ; and a subordinate lodge is required to pay the expenses of Grand Ofiicers , when specially invited to visit it ; but at the constitution of a new lodge the Grand Lodge bears the travelling expenses . It is ordered that each lodge shall meet once a month , except during June , July , and August .

Any vute passed in Grand Lodge , or in a subordinate lotlge , can be reconsidered , but only on the motion of one of the majority which decided the question ; an amendment to the Constitutions can only be carried by a twothirds majority . In a subordinate lodge , as in Grand Lodge , the Master , Wardens , Treasurer , and Secretary must be chosen by ballot ; the others may be chosen by ballot if the lodge so provides in its bye-laws , if not they are appointed by the Master .

Past Masters receive diplomas from the District Deputy Grand Master ; their jewel is the blazing sun , within the compasses , extended on a quadrant . The regulations dealing with the admission of members seem stringent but salutary , if really enforced ; their main points are the following—an applicant for initiation has to sign a form stating his name , & c , and whether he has ever applied for initiation before ; his application is backed by a

recommendation trom some member of thelodge ; if he is rejected on the ballot hecannot be proposed in any other lodge till after six months , and then only on the written recommendation of six members of the lodge which has rejected him ; and if without this recommendation he be made a Mason under some other Grand Lodge he cannot be admitted as a visitor to any Massachusetts lodge until he has been formally "healed" by the Grand Lodge , or under

some circumstances by the Grand Master . ( The fees for " healing " during 1 SS 3 amounted to 55 dollars , but what the fee in each case is does not appear ) . A candidate must apply to the lodge in thc town where he lives , or to that nearest his residence ; and in the fatter case the lodge must inquire about him of respectable persons living in the place of his residence . Where there are more lodges than one in a town each has a certain district which is said

to be under its jurisdiction ; so that no one can be in doubt which lodge has the prior claim to him . No person living in a town where there is a lodge can be initiated elsewhere without the written consent of the Master , one Warden , and two members at least of each lodge in the town where he resides , unless there are more than two lodges in the town , in which case the consent of two is sufficient . No resident in another State can be received without the

written permission of the Grand Master of such State , A member of one lodge cannot receive degrees in any other without the consent of the Master and Wardens of his own lodge , or dispensation from the Grand Master . All elections of members must be unanimous , and every member present must vote . Physical deformity is no bar

to admission , unless it amounts to an inability to meet the requirements of the ritual , or to honestly acquire the means of subsistence . Onl y Master Masons can be admitted as members of a lodge , and no brother discharged from a lodge for non-payment of dues can join any other till his dues are paid or remitted . The W . M . may at his discretion allow three ballotings for a candidate , provided