The Duke Of Atholl, K.T.

of tlie Fraternity , is probably unique in the annals of Freemasonry , but it was , we think , a case in which the end justified the unusual haste , while undoubtedly the event , was attended with consequences the most beneficial to the " Ancient " Society . During the first year of the Duke ' s Grand Mastership an attempt was made by Bro . William Preston , " a lecturer ou Masonry in

London , ' and subsequentl y author of "Illustrations of Masonry , " to cause a rupture of the friendly relations at the time existing between the " Ancient" G . Lodge of Fngland and the Grand Lodge of Scotland , but tlie attempt failed most signally , and deserved to fail , though it is possible the circumstance may have had the effect of momentarilv disturbing the equanimity of His Grace , who , after

a six months' experience , could have acquired but little knowledge of . the different Masonic systems that were practised b y different G . Lodges . Doubtless Preston had flattered himself that his account of Masonry in England would be accepted unhesitatingly by the G . Lodge of Scotland , and , as a consequence , that the Duke would in all probability resign the position in which he had been so

recently installed , but he reckoned without his host . Dermott carried too many and too heavy guns for the conceited " lecturer on Masonry in London . " The papers were submitted by Dermott to the Duke , " who after perusing them very attentively , was pleased to order them to be laid before the Grand Lodge without loss of time for the purpose of their forming a proper answer to be transmitted

to the R . W . G . L . of Scotland , and when done to be presented to his Grace for his approbation . " These directions were obeyed , a proper answer was framed , and having secured his Grace ' s approbation , was transmitted to the G . Lodge of Scotland , which , while it wisely refrained from offering any opinion upon the differences existing between the two English G . Lodges , still more wisely resolved on continuing its friendly relations with the " Ancient " Fraternity .

At the usual period in 177 G his Grace was re-elected to oflice , and a letter will be found in the minutes of 0 . Lodge in which he expresses his thanks for the honour thereby conferred . A little later we find two other' letters from which it is evident that he took

more than a mere passing interest in the Graft over which he presided . In the first of these he writes Uro . Dickey— " I have reo ' - your letter with the Minutes of the Grand Lodge on the 1 th ' ( December ) ' and return you enclosed the paper you desire : the Ancient Craft suffers a loss on your resigning your Ollice of Grand Secretary , but I am very glad to hear that your business has

increased so much as to hinder your retaining that oflice any longer . Whenever it is in my power I wish to be of service to you . " In the other , which is addressed to the Grand Lodge , his Grace writes thus : "Our Secretary Brother W" 1- Dickey having transmitted us an Abstract of your Proceedings upon the 4 th of this month , we do hereby approve and confirm the same , and appoint our Ri ght Trust y

and well-beloved Brother Laurence Dermott to be our Deputy . As the office of Secretary becomes vacant upon the first Wednesday in March next by the Resignation of Brother W '"' Dickey , it is our express Orders that the Fraternity do Elect a proper Person to succeed him in that Oflice , as we conceive it of the utmost consequence to the Interests of thc Ancient Craft . "

Jn the year 1777 the Duke was invited to become G . Master Mason of Scotland , and in a letter dated "Dunkeld , l . 'Jth December , " announced the fact to Bro . Dermott in reply to one in which that brother expressed a wish to resign his ollice of Deputy , and recommended Bro . Dickey as his successor . Having acquiesced in Bro . Dermott ' s desire and accepted his recommendation of Bro . Dickey , the Duke proceeds "Having received an Invitation from the

Ancient Craft of Scotland to accept the ollice of Grand Master next St . Andrew ' s Day ( as I imagined it might accrue to the advantage of Ancient Masonry in England b y indisputably shewing the Tenets to be the same ) I accepted the proposal and was chose Grand Master Elect some days ago : It will give me pleasure to * hear that this step is approved of by the Ancient Craft , and wou'd for that . reason wish you to lay this letter before the Grand Lodge on St . John ' s Day . " In the minutes of the 27 th of the same month ,

The Duke Of Atholl, K.T.

after Hro . Dickey had been regularl y installed in ollice as Deput y G . Master in succession to liro . Dei-molt , the minutes record as follows : '' The Ri ght Worshi pfull Deputy Grand . Master Dickey reports that accompanied bv the Grand . Secretary he had waited oil the Duke of Atholl ( yesterday ) , with some Warrants to bo signed ; that he the

Deputy Grand Masler was honoured with a private audience , and was informed by His Grace that Mr . Dunkerlcy had wrote hirn another letter relative lo the affair at Salisbury , which ho was determined to treat with the contempt it merited , and upon the Deputy representing to tin flight Worshi pful Grand Master that by noticing

such letters , applications , itc ., it was giving a trouble to His Grace , that gave the Fraternit y in general much uneasiness , therefore , humbly requesting in their names for his Lordshi p to pay no attention to such applications in future , to which his Worship was

pleased to signify his u 5 S 3 iit , and further gave it him , the Deput y Grand . Master , in charge , to inform the Grand Lodge that so long as they pursued the universal practice of the Craft , he would continue to patronise and protect them .

In his letter of the 19 th December , 1779 , accepting re-election as Grand Master for the ensuing year , his Grace is pleased to add " It gives mo singular pleasure being at this time again called on as having been elected Grand Master of the Lodges in Scotland , I shall have an opportunity of cementing the Ancient Masons of England

and Scotland more closely to the advantage of the Craft . " The Duke was re-elected for 1781 and also for 1782 , but on receiving the announcement of tho latter re-election , his Grace expressed himself as desirous , for the reason specified , of vacating the oflice , the following being the letter in which he made known this desire :

" Dunkeld , Nov . 29 th , 1781 . "Right Worshi pful Grand Secretary , " 1 had f he honour of receiving a copy of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodg ' e on the ofh of Sop ' - , and your Letter yesterday . " 1 should accept with the greatest pleasure of the honor

the Grand Lodge have done me by re-electing mc their Grand Master , but as my Residence is chiefl y in the country it has not been ( nor will it I fear be ) in my power to give that attendance which is the due of the Ancient Fraternity . I trust that during the time I have had the honor of being Grand . Master , the Honor and Interest

of the Craft have no way diminished , but for the reason above mentioned with many thanks to the Grand Lodge , I must beg leave to resign the high ollice of Grand Master ; at the same time the Fraternit y may rest assured of my best wishes for their Welfare , aud the Prosperity of the Ancient Craft .

1 remain , Ri ght Worshi pful Grand Secetary , Your faithful li ' - in Masonry , ( Signed ) Atholl Grand Master . "

When the letter had been read , a resolution was passed to thc effect "that the Thanks of this Grand Lodge be returned to the Rig ht Worshipful Grand Master , the Duke of Atholl , accompanied with a Gold Medal . "

Thus terminated—it may be somewhat abruptly or at least unexpectedly—the first Grand Mastership of his Grace , John , fourth Duke of Atholl . It had extended to close upon seven years , and during its continuance as many as 27 Warrants for the Constitution of new Lodges including three for the Provincial G . Lodges of

( 1 ) York , Chester and Lancashire ; ( 2 ) Fort St . George in Asia ; and ( : i ) New York , all three bearing date the 5 th Sept % 1781 . Of these there are 11- still on the roll of United Grand Lod ge , and doubtless others are still in existence , but under the jurisdiction of

other Grand Lodges . That his Grace had uniforml y exhibited a deep interest in Ancient Masonry , both in England and Scotland , is full y established by the letters which we have quoted in this memoir . His presidency and that of his father before him had greatly strengthened the position of the " Ancients , " nor had the efforts ,

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NORTHLONDONORUNIVERSITYCOLLEGEHOSPITAL, FOLDED ] GOWER STREET , W . C . [ A . D . ISM . PATROM THE QUEEN . AR . iMuox H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G . A UKNERAL HOSl'ITAL , CONTAININCI SEPARATE D E !• AR T M E N TS 1- ' () R Midwifery Cases : Diseases of Children : Diseases of tin Skin : Diseisis of the Eye and Ear : Diseases of the Teeth . Tlie Hospital ( tains 1 S 5 herls , 8 ol' which , in n separate ward , are devoted exclusively lo Children under VI years . Tin- ANNUAL COST of mainlninin-f llie Hospital in its pro : ciii slate is over i'lll , JU 0 . The ccrlain 1 NCO . ME aiiu-iints to nearly . tf ' , OU 0 . A yearly DEFICIT of upwards of . til , 00 J lias to he pioviderl I ' or . Diiriii |_ " tlie year ( ISII 7 ) relief was afforded lo 2 , S 7 . "> In-palients ; i ' ,: ) 7 ! l Oul palie ils : : t , ") , M !) Casualties , 1 , IS (> Up ' . ilmlinic eases ; SSI case * of Diseases of llie Skin ; * > K 2 eases of Diseases of Women ; 217 cases of Tlii'out Disease ; "illS cases of Ear Disease ; l (> : l Denial rises ; anil I' Xti women in Cln'ldhirtli were allended in their own homes . Tolal , ~ > 2 , < . \ ii 2 . It is KiijttrcKti'il that nn excellent niellinil of perpetual in ;; - llie niiiinory of deceit-red lvla'ives or friends is hy lhe Endowment of u Rod or Cot , which can lie iimiiij . 'cd hy a Donation of t ' MOO for investment in one sum , or hy instalments . ALL AVAILABLE ASSETS SOLD . DONATIONS mid SL'ISSCRI I'TIONS will he received hy the Rankers , . Messrs . ' Conns and Co ., oil . Sti-apd ; . Messrs . Sioiili . Payne , anil Co ., 1 , Lomhard Btreet ; hy lhe Treasurer , Lord Monkswell ; hy the Chairman ' of Hospital Committee , Henry Lucas . Es | . ; ami liy the Sr .-retary , . Mr . NciWTON H . NINON , at the Hospital .