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Article Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Page 1 of 3 Article REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
934 ] THE "WILLIAM WATSON MS . " OF THE OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS .
A capital discovery is this new manuscript , no doubt one of the most valuable documents that have come down to us from our operative ancestors . I quite agree with Bro . Hughan that it is the most important that has been traced for many years . I consider it to be a kind of joining link between the Cooke MS . and
the ordinary version of the 16 th and 17 th centuries , as it agrees , on one side , with nearly two thirds of the Cooke MS ., and partakes , on the other , in several peculia ities o ihe younger form , namely , particulars about St . Albans as well as about Edwin . The name of the latter is not yet mentioned in the Cooke MS .,
but he is only described there as the " youngest son " of King Athelstan . Only the last section of the history has not been taken from the Cooke version , the last section of the latter being replaced by a more detailed description of the introduction of Masonry nto England by St . Albans , as well as of the
restoration and encouragement of the craft b y King Athelstan and his son Edwin . The remaining part of the Cooke MS . being originally , as Bro . Speth so ably points out in his excellent commentary , a copy of the very "book of charges , " the later compiler omitted this part then obsolete , and supplied the new charges " seen and
perused" by King Henry VI . This king was killed in 1471 , therefore the new compilation must have taken place after this year , as the king is called " our late Soveraigne Lord ; " Edward IV . died in 1483 , then came Richard III ., and Henry VII . succeeded in 1485 . The time from 1471 to 1485 does not seem to have
been very favourable for compiling a new constitution of Masons , though it would be the proper period of call' rg King Henry VI . " our late Soveraigne Lord ;" but I do not think it probable that people would have used this manner of styling long after 1485 , when Henry VII . had brought the land to rest and peace .
This induces me to believe that the new version came to light soon after 1485 , certainly before 1490 , if not , in spite of the perpetual wars and troubles , it was already made up between 1471 and 1483 , during the reign of Henry ' s immediate successor . The new charges probably had been " seen and perused" by
Henry before 1455 , for then he was deprived of his kingly prerogatives , and did not enjoy them again until his death . Therefore the old " book of charges , " forming part of the Cooke MS ., must be of a much earlier date , and the very ori ginal of the Cooke MS . is to be ascribed to the beginning of the 15 th century
perhaps the "book of charges" was compiled alread y towards the end of the 14 th century . Because of some conformities in the charges Bro . Hughan feels inclined to connect the new manuscript with the Dauntesy MS ., but as there are still greater agreements with the Thomas W . Tew MS ., I cannot join in thatconmction .
I am of opinion that the William Watson MS . is to be ranged as a version for itself , a separate sundry form , like the Regius and the Cooke MSS . It is a form of transition between the Cooke version and the ordinary version , and should be added to the first group of these ancient Masonic documents—1 , RegiusMS .
2 , Cooke MS . ; 3 , William Watson MS . Bro . Hughan is quite right in stating that Dr . Plot must have had a copy like the new manuscript , and as the latter bears the date of 16 S 7 , whilst Plot ' s book appeared alread y in j 686 he cannot possibl y have used this copy . It may be that he had the ori ginal , but there are some
slight differences between Plot and the William Watson MS . that make me believe Plot had not the very original of our manuscript , but another old copy of the same version . Now , as the Cooke MS . proves to be a transcript ot an older original—perhaps already a transcript of a transcript—as the William Watson MS .
is no doubt a transcript of an older copy , and as Dr . Plot , in my opinion , is likely not to have had this one , but another older copy , we are at once enabled to trace five or six manuscripts giving the history of Masonry in the form of the Cooke MS ., I feel inclined to think that the Cooke version of the " history " was a common form
of the fifteenth century , somewhat altered already as to England towards the end of this century . The charges as settled by Henry VI ., say about 1440 to 1450 , remained unchanged on the whole , but the historical part of the Constitutions underwent several omissions as well as additions during the first half of the sixteenth
century , for the lost 1581 original of the Melrose MS . and the Grand Lodge MS . of 158 3 offer the ordinary version settled in all points . The Grand Lodge MS ., being no doubt a transcript , not an ori ginal , most probably the ordinary version may have been complete about 1550 . Bro . Speth , in his able commentary on
the Cooke MS ., undertakes to show that the author " has not served as a model to subsequent writers ¦ " certainly he will now feel induced to alter this opinion . The particulars that are omitted in the ordinary version , in my opinion , are of such a nature that we can very well imagine their being voluntaril y omitted or
altered in the manner of the younger version . The beginning of this alteration is illustrated b y the last section of the history in the William Watson MS ., which , especially by this difference from the Cooke MS ! and the reference to Henry VI ., must be acknowled ged to be one of the most valuable old documents of Masonry ,
Masonic Notes And Queries.
more valuable even , I think , than the Regius MS . as to the settlement of various historical questions . I beg therefore to congratulate the deserving discoverer of the manuscript , as well as our most able Bro . Hughan , who first pointed out the extreme value of the document and offered it to the Craft . DR . W . BEGEMANN , P . G . M . Mecklenburg .
935 ] THE WILLIAM WATSON MS . Though I have never doubted that Plot before 1686 , and Anderson before 1723 , had examined a document of this character , yet many Masons have been misled by ultra-criticism . With all respect to Bro . Speth's opinion , I do not think that the orig inal of the William Watson MS . can be considered a copy of the Cooke MS . To Bro . Speth belongs the credit of having
amply proved in his commentary to the Cooke facsimile that it is not itself anything more than a copy of an original , to which had been bodily added an older copy of the Athelstan charges . I think an equally careful examination of the William Watson MS . will show that it is not a copy of Cooke , but rather of its orig inal . Thus : —
ORIGINAL ( 2 PARTS ) . Cook MS ., say 1450 . MS . from which the William Watson is copied . The cause of the compilation of the Original might be sought for in two occurrences , the first soon after 1356 , and the second and more probable about 1445 , in
the surmise that the compilation was made to submit to the Council of Hen . 6 . The older date is that in which ( vide Gould ) the Mayor and Sheriff of London were called upon to adjudicate the differences of two rival classes of Masons . The one was the Mason-Hewers of which 6 ( with Henry Yevelee " the Kings
Freemason" ) were a deputation , and the other six a deputation from the Light Masons and Setters . The Mayor arranged their difficulties in a code of 10 laws , one of which , in accord with the older Athelstan law , was that a Master taking work in gross should bring ahout four of the ancients of his trade to vouch for
his competency . That this united the two bodies of Masons is proved in the fact that lists are extant which show that prior to an uncertain date the Masons and Freemasons had been separate , but between 1377-1411 were then united as one London Company . The idea forces itself upon us a certainty that the Masons were
the old Masons of the Athelstan Charges , and the Freemasons those of the Norman Charge , which explains the admission of Charles Martel into the preface . I myself think that all the more recent charges are an abbreviation of the Original Cooke , suited to a new state of things , the result of penal laws against large
assemblies , but Bro . Speth differs from this , and he may be rig ht . It has been considered ( on no sufficient data ) that the original of the W . W . MS . formed a part of the Ashmole collection , but the W . W . MS . has too many inaccuracies to render it probable that the version is written by either Ashmole or any of his staff . We see . however , how carefullv the Revivalists of
1717 considered all the old evidence , and possibly an original of this important document may yet lie in the archives of one of the early Grand Masters . JOHN YARKER .
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .
Craft nrmsonrp
METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Strong Man Lodge ( No . 45 ) . —An innovation in the usual course of proceeding's of this old lodge , whose age dates back as far as the year 1733 , was introduced for the first time on Thursday , the jth inst ., by the present energetic W . M ., Bro . E . II . Dove . The lodge had never before moved out of the old Masonic course , except ,
perhaps , at its very inception 15 S years ago , when , according to an historian , it was originated for the purpose of bringing business to an house of refreshment , a principle which is about as un-Masonic as could well be conceived . However , Bro . Dove ' s new line for the lodge to follow annually was one which is likely to bring- the Society of Freemasonry into better repute with the female members
of brethren's families than it held down to 20 years ago . Bro . Dove inaugurated a ladies' night , and he will now stand in an historical position with regard to the Strong Man Lodge . Historical , perhaps , in more than one point , for in addition to being the originator of the scheme , he was the hero of a great success . No entertainment could have been better , and none more amply provided , unless ,
indeed , dancing had been added , as was the case two nights after at the Gallery Lodge . Bro . Dove ' s programme was , first , a regular meeting of the lodge ( at the Guildhall Tavern ) , second , a delightful banquet , and third , a charming concert , divided into two parts , full to overflowing with lovely music and singing performed by artistes of celebrity . He gathered together a party of some 100 ladies and
brethren , taking the head of the table himself , of course , with Mrs . Dove on his right hand . Among the brethren who supported him were Bros . Wm . H . Liddall , S . W . ; Chas . H . Dowsett , J . W . ; Bateman S . Liddall , P . M ., Treas . ; H . T . Nell , Sec : W . F . Bruty , S . D . ; A . M . Whitby , J . D . ; J . G .
Cobb , I . G . ; 'I hos . E . Iaylor , Clement Spurgeon , T . Ockelford , H . R . Medcalf , Edward J . Stafford , D . A . Langton , Wm . G . Mills , B . Rutter , J . Cuer , J . H . Smethurst , H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; Arthur Whitby , A . H . Finch , VV . VV . Soar , Mark Ashford , Hallet , P . M . ; Wm . Ball , P . M . ; F . Driver , P . M . ; and R . E . Hunt P . M .
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
Visitors : Bros . D . W . Wilson , P . M . 274 ; H . Massey P . M . 619 andii ) 2 S ; J . K . George , J . D . 1426 ; W . [ Thorn , 1 S 30 , ; R . Pringle , 1275 ; N . Taplay , P . M . 1076 ' ¦ F . A . Eastwood ; W . R . G . Emerson ; H . J . Layton , 1571 . J . Heath , 1000 ; J . Badkin , P . M . 1365 ; E . C . Ashtorq ^ 360 ; and VV . C . Vigo , 1445 ; Bro . Mallett being Tyler . The dinner was served under the personal superintendence
of Bro . Marcham , of the Guildhall Tavern , appointed so to do by Messrs . F . W . Smith and Co ., proprietors . It left nothing , to be desired , and when it was concluded a selection of music was performed , under the direction of Bro . Tom Taylor , assisted by Miss Maud Chichester , Madame Adeline Vaudrey , Madame Annie Witt , and Miss Patti Whitby , Bros . Henry Thorn , W . H . Webb , W . Finch , H .
T . Nell , A . Whitby , and Mr . Eustace Jay , Mr . W . Emerson being accompanist . Bro . Ball , P . M ., proposed "The Health of the W . M ., ' and said that an honour had fallen to him which he had not anticipated , and which he felt he was not competent to do justice to . He should have despaired of putting the toast favourably before the ladies and brethren but for one
fact , that it needed no words of his to commend it to the company . But one thing he would like to mention , that Bro . Dove had many claims to their admiration , and one of them was that during his Mastership the lodge had passed through a crisis , and he had been in a great measure the producer of that large amount of harmony and goodwill which existed that evening . If Bro . Dove had any doubt
in his own mind of his success as VV . M . he had only to look around him and see the good feeling , the good looks , and the good wishes which prevailed . Bro . Dove had done something else . That night saw the inaugural meeting of a new departure , which he ( Bro . Ball ) trusted would be followed up , that of asking ladies to share with the brethren the pleasures of the hospitable board . It was generally
believed outside Masonic circles that Freemasons were not friends of the ladies , but they had a song ( he was not going to sing it , as it might betray some Masonic secrets ) which mentioned that there was no one to whom a Mason was so true or for whom he had so great a respect as the ladies . The song was quite right , and the VV . M . that night had endeavoured to show that the brethren did honour and
respect the ladies very highly indeed . He trusted the presence of the ladies that evening would mitigate some of those discords which had arisen when Masons sometimes had stopped out a little late , and their only excuse was that they had been to lodge . After what the ladies had seen that night they would not have a bad feeling towards Masons , but they would respect them more in the
future than they had in the past . He could not propose that toast without a reference to that lady who sat upon the Worshipful Master ' s right . He could inform that lady that some day it would be the duty of the brethren of the lodge to place upon her husband ' s breast a jewel which would commemorate the respect and esteem of all the brethren . They would place it there with the greatest pleasure and
pride , and he did not think he was asking her when her husband came home with it to look upon it as a memento of the love , respect , and esteem of all the brethren gained by his amiable manners , and by the admirable way in which he had presided over the lodge . He was sure all the brethren would agree that no Master of the Strong Man Lodge had won . it more justly , or would wear it more worthily .
Bro . Dove , in reply , while thanking Bro . Ball very heartily for proposing his health in such out-of-the-way flattering terms as he had used , said it had been his wish , as many knew , since he had been a member in and an officer of the Strong Man Lodge , that the brethren should try to set apart one evening in the year for entertaining the ladies . He , with the same feeling as Bro . Ball , quite believed that
in many ways they did not look after the ladies enough . For many years past he had made it a rule on various occasions , whenever he had an opportunity , to take his wife to Masonic balls and outings , and that was the reason she was as good a Mason at heart as he was himself . Through the kindness of Bro . Sadler she had seen G . Lodge set out on great days , and from having seen that she had said she
was not surprised he ( Bro . Dove ) was led away by Freemasonry . He was also pleased that during his year they had removed the lodge , although it had entailed a great deal of work and trouble . As several new members were proposed , he saw a bright future for the lodge . At the last meetingheinitiated three gentlemen , and on the nextoccasion there would be four or five more , and that showed the lodge
would be a strong one . As regarded the Masonic Charities , this year they had a Steward for the Old People . Two members were members of the Licensed Victuallers ' Asylum , and a widow had lately died who was an inmate ol the Asylum 38 years . Two members were drawing £ 41 ) a year each . That showed that in Masonry , although the
ladies did not think Masons did more than eat and drink , there was much else done . Bro . Cobb was going up to represent the Asylum , and he asked all brethren and ladies to give as many guineas and half-guineas as they could to constitute themselves Governors and Life-Governors . He trusted it might be many years before he ceased to meet the brethren .
The toast of "I he Ladies" was the only other toast , which was given in very happy terms before the meeting closed . Temple Lodge ( No . 101 ) . —The installation meeting of this highly successful and flourishing lodge tool ;
place at the Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-street , on Tuesday , the 3 rd inst ., Bro . Jas . Minter Flegg presiding . There were also present Bros . F . Williams , S . W . ; S . Smith , J . W . ; J . Sparks , S . D . ; Harry Wood , J . D . ; Frank Wint , I . G . ; C . Plant , Stwd . ; Lardner , P . M . ; H . B . White , P . M . ; G . Taylor , P . M . ; Walter George , P . M . ;
J . H . Wynne , P . M . ; T . H . Bullock , P . M . ; Ruff , H . C Green , J . Budd , A . Payten , H . Eyre , R . P . Wilson , Horace Petley , T . Mansell , G . Bridge , J . Shelvey , T . Squire , B . Dowsett , W . Wright , J . Wint , W . G . Groom , G . RPeerless , G . II . Holland , Wm . Briant , and G . Harrison , The visitors were : Bros . Simpson , P . G . Chap . ; D . Mercer , G . Purst . ; E . C . Davis , 1320 ; Robert Manuel , W . M . 1196 ; W . Davis , W . M . 1901 ; C . H . Stone , l . D . WJ
J . Evans , 1965 ; R . Jennings , P . M . 907 ; A . Durrant , P . M . 5 6 9 ; E . J . Edwards , P . M . 22 C 4 ; E . Piggott , J . W . 2264 ; H . Adams , 1706 ; J . Pash , P . M . 5 6 g ; W . T . Warner , S . D . 1297 ; J . Partridge , 201 ; Rose , P . M . 73 J F . Hilton , P . M . 1475 ; F . Oldfield , P . M . 134 ; F . Dunn , P . M . 72 ; T . C . Shipton , W . M . 1922 ; R . Davis , VV . M-2266 ; G . J . Judge , W . M . 226 4 ; J . McDowell , 52 ; A . Weston , 1929 ; Jas . Gawthrop , 1706 ; E . J . Jones , P . M-7 65 ; W . Jeffery , W . M . 1 G 22 ; H . Martin , S . W . 1622 ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
934 ] THE "WILLIAM WATSON MS . " OF THE OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS .
A capital discovery is this new manuscript , no doubt one of the most valuable documents that have come down to us from our operative ancestors . I quite agree with Bro . Hughan that it is the most important that has been traced for many years . I consider it to be a kind of joining link between the Cooke MS . and
the ordinary version of the 16 th and 17 th centuries , as it agrees , on one side , with nearly two thirds of the Cooke MS ., and partakes , on the other , in several peculia ities o ihe younger form , namely , particulars about St . Albans as well as about Edwin . The name of the latter is not yet mentioned in the Cooke MS .,
but he is only described there as the " youngest son " of King Athelstan . Only the last section of the history has not been taken from the Cooke version , the last section of the latter being replaced by a more detailed description of the introduction of Masonry nto England by St . Albans , as well as of the
restoration and encouragement of the craft b y King Athelstan and his son Edwin . The remaining part of the Cooke MS . being originally , as Bro . Speth so ably points out in his excellent commentary , a copy of the very "book of charges , " the later compiler omitted this part then obsolete , and supplied the new charges " seen and
perused" by King Henry VI . This king was killed in 1471 , therefore the new compilation must have taken place after this year , as the king is called " our late Soveraigne Lord ; " Edward IV . died in 1483 , then came Richard III ., and Henry VII . succeeded in 1485 . The time from 1471 to 1485 does not seem to have
been very favourable for compiling a new constitution of Masons , though it would be the proper period of call' rg King Henry VI . " our late Soveraigne Lord ;" but I do not think it probable that people would have used this manner of styling long after 1485 , when Henry VII . had brought the land to rest and peace .
This induces me to believe that the new version came to light soon after 1485 , certainly before 1490 , if not , in spite of the perpetual wars and troubles , it was already made up between 1471 and 1483 , during the reign of Henry ' s immediate successor . The new charges probably had been " seen and perused" by
Henry before 1455 , for then he was deprived of his kingly prerogatives , and did not enjoy them again until his death . Therefore the old " book of charges , " forming part of the Cooke MS ., must be of a much earlier date , and the very ori ginal of the Cooke MS . is to be ascribed to the beginning of the 15 th century
perhaps the "book of charges" was compiled alread y towards the end of the 14 th century . Because of some conformities in the charges Bro . Hughan feels inclined to connect the new manuscript with the Dauntesy MS ., but as there are still greater agreements with the Thomas W . Tew MS ., I cannot join in thatconmction .
I am of opinion that the William Watson MS . is to be ranged as a version for itself , a separate sundry form , like the Regius and the Cooke MSS . It is a form of transition between the Cooke version and the ordinary version , and should be added to the first group of these ancient Masonic documents—1 , RegiusMS .
2 , Cooke MS . ; 3 , William Watson MS . Bro . Hughan is quite right in stating that Dr . Plot must have had a copy like the new manuscript , and as the latter bears the date of 16 S 7 , whilst Plot ' s book appeared alread y in j 686 he cannot possibl y have used this copy . It may be that he had the ori ginal , but there are some
slight differences between Plot and the William Watson MS . that make me believe Plot had not the very original of our manuscript , but another old copy of the same version . Now , as the Cooke MS . proves to be a transcript ot an older original—perhaps already a transcript of a transcript—as the William Watson MS .
is no doubt a transcript of an older copy , and as Dr . Plot , in my opinion , is likely not to have had this one , but another older copy , we are at once enabled to trace five or six manuscripts giving the history of Masonry in the form of the Cooke MS ., I feel inclined to think that the Cooke version of the " history " was a common form
of the fifteenth century , somewhat altered already as to England towards the end of this century . The charges as settled by Henry VI ., say about 1440 to 1450 , remained unchanged on the whole , but the historical part of the Constitutions underwent several omissions as well as additions during the first half of the sixteenth
century , for the lost 1581 original of the Melrose MS . and the Grand Lodge MS . of 158 3 offer the ordinary version settled in all points . The Grand Lodge MS ., being no doubt a transcript , not an ori ginal , most probably the ordinary version may have been complete about 1550 . Bro . Speth , in his able commentary on
the Cooke MS ., undertakes to show that the author " has not served as a model to subsequent writers ¦ " certainly he will now feel induced to alter this opinion . The particulars that are omitted in the ordinary version , in my opinion , are of such a nature that we can very well imagine their being voluntaril y omitted or
altered in the manner of the younger version . The beginning of this alteration is illustrated b y the last section of the history in the William Watson MS ., which , especially by this difference from the Cooke MS ! and the reference to Henry VI ., must be acknowled ged to be one of the most valuable old documents of Masonry ,
Masonic Notes And Queries.
more valuable even , I think , than the Regius MS . as to the settlement of various historical questions . I beg therefore to congratulate the deserving discoverer of the manuscript , as well as our most able Bro . Hughan , who first pointed out the extreme value of the document and offered it to the Craft . DR . W . BEGEMANN , P . G . M . Mecklenburg .
935 ] THE WILLIAM WATSON MS . Though I have never doubted that Plot before 1686 , and Anderson before 1723 , had examined a document of this character , yet many Masons have been misled by ultra-criticism . With all respect to Bro . Speth's opinion , I do not think that the orig inal of the William Watson MS . can be considered a copy of the Cooke MS . To Bro . Speth belongs the credit of having
amply proved in his commentary to the Cooke facsimile that it is not itself anything more than a copy of an original , to which had been bodily added an older copy of the Athelstan charges . I think an equally careful examination of the William Watson MS . will show that it is not a copy of Cooke , but rather of its orig inal . Thus : —
ORIGINAL ( 2 PARTS ) . Cook MS ., say 1450 . MS . from which the William Watson is copied . The cause of the compilation of the Original might be sought for in two occurrences , the first soon after 1356 , and the second and more probable about 1445 , in
the surmise that the compilation was made to submit to the Council of Hen . 6 . The older date is that in which ( vide Gould ) the Mayor and Sheriff of London were called upon to adjudicate the differences of two rival classes of Masons . The one was the Mason-Hewers of which 6 ( with Henry Yevelee " the Kings
Freemason" ) were a deputation , and the other six a deputation from the Light Masons and Setters . The Mayor arranged their difficulties in a code of 10 laws , one of which , in accord with the older Athelstan law , was that a Master taking work in gross should bring ahout four of the ancients of his trade to vouch for
his competency . That this united the two bodies of Masons is proved in the fact that lists are extant which show that prior to an uncertain date the Masons and Freemasons had been separate , but between 1377-1411 were then united as one London Company . The idea forces itself upon us a certainty that the Masons were
the old Masons of the Athelstan Charges , and the Freemasons those of the Norman Charge , which explains the admission of Charles Martel into the preface . I myself think that all the more recent charges are an abbreviation of the Original Cooke , suited to a new state of things , the result of penal laws against large
assemblies , but Bro . Speth differs from this , and he may be rig ht . It has been considered ( on no sufficient data ) that the original of the W . W . MS . formed a part of the Ashmole collection , but the W . W . MS . has too many inaccuracies to render it probable that the version is written by either Ashmole or any of his staff . We see . however , how carefullv the Revivalists of
1717 considered all the old evidence , and possibly an original of this important document may yet lie in the archives of one of the early Grand Masters . JOHN YARKER .
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .
Craft nrmsonrp
METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Strong Man Lodge ( No . 45 ) . —An innovation in the usual course of proceeding's of this old lodge , whose age dates back as far as the year 1733 , was introduced for the first time on Thursday , the jth inst ., by the present energetic W . M ., Bro . E . II . Dove . The lodge had never before moved out of the old Masonic course , except ,
perhaps , at its very inception 15 S years ago , when , according to an historian , it was originated for the purpose of bringing business to an house of refreshment , a principle which is about as un-Masonic as could well be conceived . However , Bro . Dove ' s new line for the lodge to follow annually was one which is likely to bring- the Society of Freemasonry into better repute with the female members
of brethren's families than it held down to 20 years ago . Bro . Dove inaugurated a ladies' night , and he will now stand in an historical position with regard to the Strong Man Lodge . Historical , perhaps , in more than one point , for in addition to being the originator of the scheme , he was the hero of a great success . No entertainment could have been better , and none more amply provided , unless ,
indeed , dancing had been added , as was the case two nights after at the Gallery Lodge . Bro . Dove ' s programme was , first , a regular meeting of the lodge ( at the Guildhall Tavern ) , second , a delightful banquet , and third , a charming concert , divided into two parts , full to overflowing with lovely music and singing performed by artistes of celebrity . He gathered together a party of some 100 ladies and
brethren , taking the head of the table himself , of course , with Mrs . Dove on his right hand . Among the brethren who supported him were Bros . Wm . H . Liddall , S . W . ; Chas . H . Dowsett , J . W . ; Bateman S . Liddall , P . M ., Treas . ; H . T . Nell , Sec : W . F . Bruty , S . D . ; A . M . Whitby , J . D . ; J . G .
Cobb , I . G . ; 'I hos . E . Iaylor , Clement Spurgeon , T . Ockelford , H . R . Medcalf , Edward J . Stafford , D . A . Langton , Wm . G . Mills , B . Rutter , J . Cuer , J . H . Smethurst , H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; Arthur Whitby , A . H . Finch , VV . VV . Soar , Mark Ashford , Hallet , P . M . ; Wm . Ball , P . M . ; F . Driver , P . M . ; and R . E . Hunt P . M .
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
Visitors : Bros . D . W . Wilson , P . M . 274 ; H . Massey P . M . 619 andii ) 2 S ; J . K . George , J . D . 1426 ; W . [ Thorn , 1 S 30 , ; R . Pringle , 1275 ; N . Taplay , P . M . 1076 ' ¦ F . A . Eastwood ; W . R . G . Emerson ; H . J . Layton , 1571 . J . Heath , 1000 ; J . Badkin , P . M . 1365 ; E . C . Ashtorq ^ 360 ; and VV . C . Vigo , 1445 ; Bro . Mallett being Tyler . The dinner was served under the personal superintendence
of Bro . Marcham , of the Guildhall Tavern , appointed so to do by Messrs . F . W . Smith and Co ., proprietors . It left nothing , to be desired , and when it was concluded a selection of music was performed , under the direction of Bro . Tom Taylor , assisted by Miss Maud Chichester , Madame Adeline Vaudrey , Madame Annie Witt , and Miss Patti Whitby , Bros . Henry Thorn , W . H . Webb , W . Finch , H .
T . Nell , A . Whitby , and Mr . Eustace Jay , Mr . W . Emerson being accompanist . Bro . Ball , P . M ., proposed "The Health of the W . M ., ' and said that an honour had fallen to him which he had not anticipated , and which he felt he was not competent to do justice to . He should have despaired of putting the toast favourably before the ladies and brethren but for one
fact , that it needed no words of his to commend it to the company . But one thing he would like to mention , that Bro . Dove had many claims to their admiration , and one of them was that during his Mastership the lodge had passed through a crisis , and he had been in a great measure the producer of that large amount of harmony and goodwill which existed that evening . If Bro . Dove had any doubt
in his own mind of his success as VV . M . he had only to look around him and see the good feeling , the good looks , and the good wishes which prevailed . Bro . Dove had done something else . That night saw the inaugural meeting of a new departure , which he ( Bro . Ball ) trusted would be followed up , that of asking ladies to share with the brethren the pleasures of the hospitable board . It was generally
believed outside Masonic circles that Freemasons were not friends of the ladies , but they had a song ( he was not going to sing it , as it might betray some Masonic secrets ) which mentioned that there was no one to whom a Mason was so true or for whom he had so great a respect as the ladies . The song was quite right , and the VV . M . that night had endeavoured to show that the brethren did honour and
respect the ladies very highly indeed . He trusted the presence of the ladies that evening would mitigate some of those discords which had arisen when Masons sometimes had stopped out a little late , and their only excuse was that they had been to lodge . After what the ladies had seen that night they would not have a bad feeling towards Masons , but they would respect them more in the
future than they had in the past . He could not propose that toast without a reference to that lady who sat upon the Worshipful Master ' s right . He could inform that lady that some day it would be the duty of the brethren of the lodge to place upon her husband ' s breast a jewel which would commemorate the respect and esteem of all the brethren . They would place it there with the greatest pleasure and
pride , and he did not think he was asking her when her husband came home with it to look upon it as a memento of the love , respect , and esteem of all the brethren gained by his amiable manners , and by the admirable way in which he had presided over the lodge . He was sure all the brethren would agree that no Master of the Strong Man Lodge had won . it more justly , or would wear it more worthily .
Bro . Dove , in reply , while thanking Bro . Ball very heartily for proposing his health in such out-of-the-way flattering terms as he had used , said it had been his wish , as many knew , since he had been a member in and an officer of the Strong Man Lodge , that the brethren should try to set apart one evening in the year for entertaining the ladies . He , with the same feeling as Bro . Ball , quite believed that
in many ways they did not look after the ladies enough . For many years past he had made it a rule on various occasions , whenever he had an opportunity , to take his wife to Masonic balls and outings , and that was the reason she was as good a Mason at heart as he was himself . Through the kindness of Bro . Sadler she had seen G . Lodge set out on great days , and from having seen that she had said she
was not surprised he ( Bro . Dove ) was led away by Freemasonry . He was also pleased that during his year they had removed the lodge , although it had entailed a great deal of work and trouble . As several new members were proposed , he saw a bright future for the lodge . At the last meetingheinitiated three gentlemen , and on the nextoccasion there would be four or five more , and that showed the lodge
would be a strong one . As regarded the Masonic Charities , this year they had a Steward for the Old People . Two members were members of the Licensed Victuallers ' Asylum , and a widow had lately died who was an inmate ol the Asylum 38 years . Two members were drawing £ 41 ) a year each . That showed that in Masonry , although the
ladies did not think Masons did more than eat and drink , there was much else done . Bro . Cobb was going up to represent the Asylum , and he asked all brethren and ladies to give as many guineas and half-guineas as they could to constitute themselves Governors and Life-Governors . He trusted it might be many years before he ceased to meet the brethren .
The toast of "I he Ladies" was the only other toast , which was given in very happy terms before the meeting closed . Temple Lodge ( No . 101 ) . —The installation meeting of this highly successful and flourishing lodge tool ;
place at the Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-street , on Tuesday , the 3 rd inst ., Bro . Jas . Minter Flegg presiding . There were also present Bros . F . Williams , S . W . ; S . Smith , J . W . ; J . Sparks , S . D . ; Harry Wood , J . D . ; Frank Wint , I . G . ; C . Plant , Stwd . ; Lardner , P . M . ; H . B . White , P . M . ; G . Taylor , P . M . ; Walter George , P . M . ;
J . H . Wynne , P . M . ; T . H . Bullock , P . M . ; Ruff , H . C Green , J . Budd , A . Payten , H . Eyre , R . P . Wilson , Horace Petley , T . Mansell , G . Bridge , J . Shelvey , T . Squire , B . Dowsett , W . Wright , J . Wint , W . G . Groom , G . RPeerless , G . II . Holland , Wm . Briant , and G . Harrison , The visitors were : Bros . Simpson , P . G . Chap . ; D . Mercer , G . Purst . ; E . C . Davis , 1320 ; Robert Manuel , W . M . 1196 ; W . Davis , W . M . 1901 ; C . H . Stone , l . D . WJ
J . Evans , 1965 ; R . Jennings , P . M . 907 ; A . Durrant , P . M . 5 6 9 ; E . J . Edwards , P . M . 22 C 4 ; E . Piggott , J . W . 2264 ; H . Adams , 1706 ; J . Pash , P . M . 5 6 g ; W . T . Warner , S . D . 1297 ; J . Partridge , 201 ; Rose , P . M . 73 J F . Hilton , P . M . 1475 ; F . Oldfield , P . M . 134 ; F . Dunn , P . M . 72 ; T . C . Shipton , W . M . 1922 ; R . Davis , VV . M-2266 ; G . J . Judge , W . M . 226 4 ; J . McDowell , 52 ; A . Weston , 1929 ; Jas . Gawthrop , 1706 ; E . J . Jones , P . M-7 65 ; W . Jeffery , W . M . 1 G 22 ; H . Martin , S . W . 1622 ,