Royal Arch.

signed by the M . E . Z . Among those present were Comps . B . S . Willmott , M . E . Z ., W . Delves , H . ; W . Stevens , P . Z . 862 , J . ; R . W . Delves , S . E . ; W . B . Bacon . S . N . ; H . D . Williams , P . S . ; Jas . Bass , ist A . S . ; C . Graham , 2 nd A . S . The visitors were Comps . S . Smout Grist , G . Penn , and J . High all of No . 862 . Comp . Willmot having vacated the chair in favour of Comp . Rev . 1 . Robinson ,

P . Z ., I ' . G . J . Kent , the ballot was taken for Bros . G . Langriilge , P . M . S 74 , P . P . G . R . Kent ; J . F . Bates , and C . W . Holt , which proving unanimous in their favour they were dul y exalted , the ceremony being performed by Comp . Robinson in such a manner as to draw forth the special approbation of those present , aud a vole of thinks was recorded to him . On Comp . Willmott takirg ihe

chair , a vote of thanks was also recorded to Comp . Stevens for his kind present of a Bible , and a fervent hope that he might long be spared to the companions of I ' unbridge Wells . ' The bye-laws having been read and some propositions given in for candidates , the chapter was closed and the companions adjourned to an excellent repast . The usual loyal toasts were given and responded to , and the companions separated in peace and good fellowship .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

NEWPORT . —Keystone Lodge ( No . 109 ) . •—The usual annual meeting of this lodge , for the purpose of installing the W . M . for the ensuing year , was held at the Masonic Hall , Dock-street , Newport , on Monday , 26 th November . The following brethren were present : Bros . Wm . Watkins , W . M . ; Captain S . G . Homfray , I . P . M . ; Captain Alfred Tliralc Perkins , S . W . ; R . J .

Chambers , J . W . ; Walter West , M . O . ; J . Homer , S . O . ; W . Pickford , Treasurer ; R . B . Evans , A . Taylor , S . Davies , G . Tweedy , A . McMahon , Wheeler , Gage , W . Williams , P . M ., and several others . The lodge having been duly opened , an announcement was made that R . W . Bro . L . Augustus Homfray , P . G . M . M . M . of Monmouthshire , together with his Deputy , Col . Lyne , was at

the door waiting admittance , and they were received indue form . The chair was then taken by Bro . Captain S . G . Homfray , P . G . S . W ., who performed the ceremony of installing Bro . Captain Alfred Thrale Perkins , P . G . D . CM . M . M ., as W . M . for the next twelve months , in the same efficient manner as he performs all ceremonies in Masonry . The VV . M . then appointed Bro . R . I .

Chambers as S . W ., and Bro . Walter West as J . W ., as also his other officers . A cordial vote of thanks was then unanimously passed to R . W . Bro . Augustus Homfray , P . G . M . M . M ., for his kindness in attending the lodge , together with his Deputy , Bro . Col . Lyne . Bio . L . A . Homfray acknowledged the compliment , and expressed his extreme gratification at the progress Mark Masonry was

making in his province , he having leceived the warrant for a third Mark Lodge , to be formed at Abirgavenny , under the title of St . John ' s Lodge , wilh Bro . Lillie , of Llanvair , as its first W . M ., the descendant of a family highly esteemed in the province . The consecration would take place early in January , when hehnpidlo be well supported by his provincial officers . lie also wished to add

lhat the formation of the new lodge was due to the exertions of Hro . W . Williams , P . M ., if the Ashlar Lodge at Tredegar , of which he was also the founder . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to a banquet at the King's Head , presided over by W . Bin . Captain Alfred Thrale Perkins , supported h y R . W . Bro . L . A . Homfray , P . G . M . M . M . ; W . Bro . Col . Lyne , D . P . G . M . M . M . j

W . Bro . Captain S . Geo . Homfray , P . G . S . W ., and other distinguished brethren , when a most enjoyable evening was spent . We may add that thc selection of Captain A . Thrale Perkins as W . M . is a most popular one in the province , he being a zealous worker in every degree in Masonry , and much beloved by the brethren of the province of Monmouthshire , and under his auspices Mark Masonry cannot fail to ilouris . h

Red Cross Of Constantine.

Red Cross of Constantine .

COCKERMOUTH .- Dykes Conclave ( No . 36 ) . — An adjourned assembly of this conclave was lu-lsl on Tuesday last , the 1 ith inst ., in the new rooms of Skiddaw Lodge , No . 1002 . 'Ihe Sir Knights mustered at halfpast twelve , when there were present : —Em . Sir Knight Edward Tyson , M . P . S ., on the throne of C . ; Em . Sir Knight T . Mardle , V . E . ; Sir Knight R . Bailey , S . G . ;

Sir Knight I . Bird , J . G . ; Em . Sir Knight W . I-. Lamonby . P . S ., High Prelate , as Recorder and Prefect ( Freemason ); Sir Knight W . H . Lewthwaite , Treasurer anil Organist ; Em . Sir Knight R . Robinson , P . S ., Orator ; Sir Knight James Quay , Herald ; Sir Kuight Stephen Thwaite , Al moner ; Sir Knight W . Potts , iciitinel ; Sir Knights J . R . Banks , Jos . Abbott , and 1 Ihers . The conclave having

been opened , the minutes of the previous assembly in August last were read and confirmed . The following five were then duly installed and dubbed Knights of the Order-. —Bros . Jas . Black , W . M . elect Skiudaw Lodge , No . 1002 ; George Brash , J . D . Skiddaw Lodge , No . 1002 ; George Fitzgerald , Sun , Square , anil Compasses Lodge , 119 ; H . Peacock ,

Skiddaw Lodge , 1002 ; and John J . Robinson , P . M . Lewis Lodge , 872 . Thc ceremony was performed by the M . P . S . in the most perfect manner , this being his first appearance since enthronement in August last , and we must here take thc opportunity to record thai Km . Sir Knight E . Tys-m is the first Sovereign in the history of Dykes Conclave who

has gone through the installation ceremony without assistance from other Past Sovereigns , with the exception of Em . Sir Knight U . Robinson , who was the first Sovereign of tl' . c conclave . After the High Prelate hail delivered the historical oration , three notices of motion were brought forward , ihe first of which was a proposition to alter the end of the financial year from January to July ,

Red Cross Of Constantine.

when the anniversary is held . Thc alteration of the conclave bye-law in connection therewith ( IX . ) was thereupon moved by Em . Sir Knight W . F . Lamonby , seconded by Sir Knight R . Bailey , and unanimously carried . Em . Sir . Knight W . F . Lamonby next proposed that the place of meeting of the conclave be removed to the new rooms of Skiddaw Lodge , in Station-street , and that

the conclave pay a rent of three guineas per annum for usc of said rooms . The motion was siconded by Em . Sir Knight E . Tyson , and unanimously agreed to . Tlie third notice of motion , standing against the name of the M . P . S ., was moved by him , seconded by the Hig h Prelate , and agreed to , ncm . dis ., viz ., "That the installation fee

be one guinea , instead of two guineas , as stated in Byelaw VII ., and that such bye-law be altered in accordance therewith . " The conclave was then closed . Subsequently the Sir Knig hts passed away an hour or so in toast , sentiment , and song , and some useful hints were thrown out relative to thc fulure well-being and prosperity of Dykes

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The following are the addresses of Bro . Lord Tenterden and thc Grand Registrar , on the German question , omitted from cur report last week -. — Lord Tenterden wished to lav- before the brethren a few remarks on this subject . Although he was representative in Grand Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Germany he diil

not speak now in that character . He would not attempt to follow Bro . Simpson or Bro . Hutton , but would endeavour if he could to place before the brethren wry shortly the facts of the case . It was not correct to call this a German question . Thc lo . lge called the Three Globes at Berlin was not the Grand Lodge of Berlin—very far from it . It was one of a very large congeries of loilge . ,

each o' which had other lodges under it . He had a long list in his hand , and without giving all he would say that among them were—the Grand National , Mother Lodge of the Three Globes , thc Grand Countries Lodge of Germany , the Grand Lodge Royal York of Friendship , besides lodges at Hamburg , Frankfort , Brcslan , Dantzic , Dresden , Beyrouth , and man ) ' other places . He would not

say whether the German Masons were right or wrong m what they did in this matter , but it so happened that when Freemasonry was introduced in'o Germany last century it was constituted on a Christian system of St . John . The Three Globes Lodge was constituted in ¦ 740 as a Christian lodge . He would offer no opinion on this particular matter whether Masonry should be Christian or universal ; hut

he might say that he himself had initiated ! urks , Jews , and persons of all creeds and nations , a-ul was now only stating the simple facts of Ihe case . Brethren must understand that the lodge of the Three Globes has always been a Christian Graiui Lodge , and it had certain other lodges affilliatcd to it . It was not a lodge for the whole of Germany ; it was a particular system of Freemasonry based upon Christianity , and requiring in its members

the st-riing of God and the knowledge of the Evangelists . He would 1101 trouble the brethren by asking them to consider whether this was a form of Freemasonry , which Grand Loilge of Engl-mil would be inclined to favour ; he thought they were all of one mind on that point ; but thc Lodge of the Three Globes had had these principles from 1740 to the present time . It is well knnvvn thai it had been consideriel whether it

was possible lo alter it . 1 he question wns mooted in 17 66 , 1783 , 1808 , 1844 , and again brought forward in 1849 . There did not appear to have been any illiberal feeling in the matter , but rather the opinion that having been a Christian Grand Lodge , it should be maintained and adhered to on lhat principle . In 1 S 68 , the question was again considered , and as far as he could ascertain , at

the last revision of the constitution this very point was brought forward again , and the old constitution maintained . They held that being founded as a Christian Grand Lodge , and having existed as such , and been acknowledged as such , there were bound to remain 50 . There were other lodges which a person who was not a Christian coulil go to in Germany , and be received in .

It was onl y in this particular lodge and those lodges affiliated to it that he could rail be received . Consequently , when he went to a Christian lodge in Germany , he knocked at the wrong door . He made a mistake in doing so . That being the state of the case , Grand Lodge of England must look the matter in the face . Grand L-ulge of England had acknowledged this German Grand Lodge

as a Christian Lodge for 137 years , and was it quite reasonable that we should now go to them and ask them lo alter the system on which they were founded . Whether it was reasonable nr not he felt confident they would say and think that this was more than a friendly suggestion—that it was a deliberate interference . The case was not at all analogous to that of the Grand

Orient of France . The Grand Orient had made a very recent innovation , and Grand Lodge of England bad taken action in thc matter . But in the case of Germany , they had proceeded for 137 years under the old constitutions on which they were founded , A brother who was not r Christian going to a Christian lodge , would find that he had knocked at the wrong door ; to use a nautical

expression , which he had learned from an old friend of his , an admiral , he would be endeavouring to put in his oar where there was no rowlock . Me was not speaking as the representative of Germany , hut only on the general question , and he asked the brethren not 10 support the proposition . He could not bul think that whatever influence Bro .

Simpson might wisn to exercise by bringing forward this resolution had been already been exercised , anil he would theref , re ask the brethren onl y to support the first part of the resolution , declaring as received the 300 petitions which had been presented on this subject . For the remainder of the motion , he thought it an interference with the

United Grand Lodge.

system of Freemasonry adopted by thc Three Globes Lodge for 137 years . Grand Registrar ( Bro . JE . J . Mclntyre , Q . C . ) : —Before the debate closed rose and said : At this late hour of inc evening I should not have obtruded myself on Grand Lodge , for I feel that my voice is too often heard ; but I rise for the purpose of asserting a principle that I think

ought to govern the decision of Grand Lodge . We are here , thc Grand Lodge of England , an independent bod y , framing our own laws , constructing our own constitution , and I think we should consider it thc height of impertinence if any other Grand l odge should approach us and tell us what our law should be . We have to consider the laws necessary for F ' reeinasons of this country . U p tn

1813 the two Grand Lodges of England were Christian Giand Lodges . In 1813 , at the time of the Union , we became a universal Grand Lodge , and Jews were admitted amongst us . The Grand Lodge of the Three Globes is as perfectly a sovereign authority as we are . They framed their constitutions more than 100 years ago ; they have adhered to those constitutions ; and the matter is entirely

different from the position wc stands in as regards the Grand Orient of France . There they make an innovation ; they change their laws ; but the Lodge of Ihe Three Globes take their old constitutions , and we have taken 140 yejrsto lir . d oui lhat they are wrong . If we are powerless to get them to recede to our request let us be wise enough not to make it . There is a great difference , and I

hope Giand Lodge will not be misled by thinking the action of Lord Zetland is at all a matter to guide us in this question . Lord Zetland says the certificate of the Grand Lodge of England shall admit English Freemasons 10 German Lodges . ft does so now in Germany ; they receive our certificates , and admit our members . What did Lord Zetland do ? He says " If you

wid not receive my Masonic subjects 1 cease lo have Masonic intercourse with you . " But they do receive our members , ford Zetland never went as far as this , to say— " 11 you blackball one of our members who tries to be a joining member "—because it comes to this—the Masonic lodges in Germany say a man must be a Christian before we admit him to the ballot of our lodges ; he shall be in

them the same as one of ourselves , but we will not have him as a ' joining member . " When I say " as one of ourselves , " I say it in this sense ; with them as with us , a Mason's lodge is a Masjn ' s Church ; he may join and remain there during the ceremonies which he may properly see ; it is the simc as the way we admit a visiting brother . On the other hand , Bro . Simpson says we

ought to make this representation , and he represents to you that the lodge of the Three Globes should admit . But it would lead lo this difficulty—if they do not listen to our representation , what are we to do ? Ave we to send their rerires-. iiUtive home ? or are we to say this— " Weexcluile every G rman Freemason that comes to our lodges ; you admit all our members as your visitors ; we will not admit

jours . " ls that what Bro . Simpson wants us to do ? 1 say it would be a most impertinent interference . The Empeior of Germany mig ht just as well come and say to the Queen of England , " Why is it that according to your laws a Jew cannot bc Lord Chancellor ? you repeal thai law , or else "—what : —" or else "—what ? "lean do nothing . " Anil so in

this case , we ask you to depart from your present laws , am ! if you do not , we will hold our tongues and say nothing . M . W . G . M ., it does seem to me that it is the worst precedent in the world to set , to interfere with the laws that ate deliberately arrived at by a sovereign authority ; and in answer to the brother who spoke in the body of the hall , ( Bin . Isiael Abrahams ') , who complains that they will not

admit to , and that Jews are excluded from Lodges in Germany , 1 would remind him that there are certain lodges here who only receive particular classes . Thc Apollo University Lodge of Oxford only receives members of the University , anil it is a condition precedent to a man being put for ballot in that lodge that he should he a member of the University . In the same way we have

other class lodges . Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson expressed dissent . Bro . Mclntyre : My Bro . Simpson seems to dissent from what I said about the Apollo Loilge , but f know it of my own knowledge . 1 happen to be an honorary member myself of that lodge , and 1 had the honour of havingthe province of Oxford in my charge for five years ; and 1 say ills a

condition precedent to a man being put up for the ballot 111 that lodge that he should be a member of the University . No » , are we , when we find these things exist in our own lodges , that we complain of in the lodges of the Three Globes , to ask them to alter Iheir constitutions . True , we say we do not seek to dislodge a single landmark of Fieemasonry ; but they say—as

members of our lodges we limit the reception of brethren to the Christian brethren ; and we do it because our lodges are St . John ' s Lodges . Here numbers of oui * lodges , although not nominally Christian Lodges , keep St . John's Day , knowing that in the old time we were St . John's Lodges till 1813 . We are now , lam gla * to say , on a much broader basis ; and if at a future time

the Grand Loilge of the Three Globes should see fit of its own accord to admit the members of the Jewish community into their lodges , let them do it . I am sure that Grand Lodge of England would hail that as a step in advance taken by them . But while ihty stand on their ancient laws and constitutions it docs seem to me an extraordinary step to take , to single out this Grand Lodge at

the present time for this revolution . If I had not known the contrary , 1 should have thought that Ihe Grand Lodg '*' nf the 'three Globes had made some innovation , and this resolution was intended to remit it . But while they are standing on their ancient rights , do not let us , fur our own credit , honour , and satisfaction , make a representation to them which one sovereign state has no rig ht to make tn another , and which they may recoil from in anger .