Masonic Notes.

We have already stated all the necessary particulars vith reference to the election and the candidates . We need not , therefore , do more than repeat that the vacancies declared on the Male Fund at the Committee 0 f Management in February were 14 in number ,

namely , u immediate and three deferred , and the number of candidates was announced as 66 . We believe , however , that four annuitants have since died , so that the number to be elected , including the deferred , will be 18 . On the Widows' Fund the

vacancies declared in February were 12 , namely , nine immediate and three deferred , and the number of candidates as 81 , but in this case also sundry annuitants have since died , so that the number to be elected today will be 15 .

" ff " ft * -It * The Empire Lodge is continuing to work actively on the lines for which it was founded , namely , to afford a Masonic home for colonial brethren generally , and for doing honour to Masons of distinction when visiting the Old Country .

At their next meeting on May 26 th the lodge purposes to entertain his Honour Chief Justice Way , Past Grand Master of South Australia ; Bro . Sir William Whiteway , Premier of Newfoundland , and District Grand Master of that Colony , with two other of his co-delegates—Bro . the Hon . Moses Munroe , who holds

the position in Newfoundland of G . H . P . of the Grand Chap ter of Royal Arch Masons of Nova Scotia , and Bro . the Rev . William Pilot . Last , but by no means least Bro . Dr . Egan , the District Grand Master of the Eastern Division of Cape Colony , who has postponed his return purposely to be present on this interesting

occasion . # # # Invitations bave been accepted by Bro . Admiral Sir Edward Inglefield , J . G . W ., Bro . Major-General Laurie , P . G . M . of Nova Scotia , and by many Prov . Grand Masters , the Grand Registrar , the Grand Secretary , and other Grand Officers , Present and Past .

# # # The Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire was held at Stafford on Tuesday last under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Col . Foster Gough , LL . D . The attendance was larger than at any

previous meeting , notwithstanding the absence of several brethren who were suffering from the prevailing epidemic of influenza , including the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lieut .-Coi . J . A . Bindley . The proceedings were of an eminently satisfactory character , and testified to the ability and thoroughness with which

the rule of the present Prov . Grand Master is characterised , and to the loyal support vvhich has been tendered to him by every lodge in the province . A full report of the proceedings will be found in another column .

We understand that Bro . the Earl of Hardwicke has resigned the office of Provincial Grand Master of Cambridgeshire , to which he was appointed in 1872 , and vvhich he has thus held for 19 years , and that the Prince of Wales has " appointed Bro . Lieut .-Col . R . Townley

Caldwell , who has been Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons for the province since 1886 , to be his lordshi p ' s successor . We feel sure that Lord Hardwicke will carry with him into his retirement the respect and regard of the Craft generally , but more particularly of our Cambridge brethren , over whom he has presided sc

geniall y for close on 20 years . The province is stronger b y two lodges now than when his lordship received his appointment , while for the last seven or eight years , or even longer , it has done a considerable amount ol thoroughly good work in behalf of our Masonic Institutions .

* * * Bro . Lord Carrington will be formally installed ir office as Provincial Grand Master of the newly-constituted Province of Buckinghamshire on Tuesday next the 1 9 th instant . The ceremony has been appointed to take place at Aylesbury , and will be performed b \

'" s Royal Highness the Duke of Clarance and Avondale , Prov . Grand Master of Berkshire . As Berks ano Bucks were lately one province , the arrangement we nave mentioned will be in all respects most gratifying , an u we have no doubt the proceedings will pass ofl successfull y .

tjrand _ Master Vrooman has fixed upon Thursday , tt | u ' lnst- > as the time for placing the corner-stone ol wh' u antl Asylum at Utica , N . Y ., the erection ol tin alread y been entered upon . Extensive preparat ;„ ^ ma k'ne . for the event , and a large and representativ - \/ T •" s Ior tne even * , anu a . idige emu _

cpi-aemcL-COr e Masonic gathering is anticipated at the laying of the im ne j " t ° , vvhich , as has well been said , will mark ar Stat ° T epoch in the histor - o £ the Craft in the Em P „ : The exercises will include addresses by prominenl _ av u ° the Fraternity . Grand Master Vrooman wil ancf 1 S °£ the ceremonies , and in accordance vvith j ient custom will place the foundation-stone of the asomc Home and Asylum .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ W e do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] MASONIC CLUB .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I often have occasion , frequently on purely Masonic business , to journey up to London , a distance of nearly 200 miles , and to remain there for at least two or three nights , and find that the hotel bills for

bed , breakfast , and attendance are generally about 8 / - or 9 / - per day , although I endeavour to be as economical as I can . This , to a business and family man with a limited income , is a serious item , and I often think must be the means of deterring many country brethren from serving as Stewards to our great

Charities , and attending Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , as they otherwise might be induced to do . Although I therefore do not agree with them on the point , I am aware that a goodly number of our country brethren are advocates for holding our great Festivals in two distinct localities in London and a northern

provincial town , and thus accommodate both classes of Stewards . I , however , am not altogether in favour of that idea , provided some scheme can be formulated whereby Stewards from the provinces can be conveyed by the railway companies at cheap rates—single fare for double journey on production of their Steward ' s ticket ; but above all for the formation in London of

a Masonic club with good sleeping accommodation , dining room , & c . I venture to say it would be well patronised if opened in a central locality , and be the means of spreading Masonic knowledge . May I ask you to advocate the opening of such an institution , and also suggest to Bro . Speth , the Secretary of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , its usefulness . —Yours fraternally , PROVINCIAL .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

941 ] THOMAS DUNCKERLEY . I am greatly obliged to Bro . John Lane for his instructive article in the Freemason of the 25 th ult . The explanation therein given for the erasure of Dunckerley ' s "mother lodge" in 1773 is no doubt correct ; at all events it solves what has been to me a Masonic puzzle . Unfortunately at the time I was

engaged on this portion of Dunckerley's career Lane s valuable " Handy Book" had not made its appearance , or I should doubtless have availed myself of it as freel y as I have of his other grand work , " Masonic Records . " Bro . W . J . Hughan , in "Masonic Notes and Queries" of the 2 nd inst ., conclusively proves

what I had hitherto strongly suspected , viz ., Dunckerley ' s membership of the old Prince George Lodge in 1757 . I certainly vvas not aware that the Worcestershire Masonic Library vvas the fortunate possessor of one of the original pamphlets containing Dunckerley ' s Charges at Plymouth . Having

searched for this pamphlet in the British Museum and made enquiries in other directions without success , I somewhat hastily , it seems , concluded that there was not one in existence , and therefore reprinted the revised version in the " Freemasons' Magazine" for 1793 , although I should have much preferred the original

publication . The first list of members of this once celebrated lodge was returned to Grand Lodge about the year 1775 . It includes the names of several naval officers , but that of Dunckerley is not among them , he having probably resigned his membership when in financial difficulties . Although I

felt morally certain that Dunckerley vvas in some way connected vvith the lodge for whose use the new room was built , at the opening of which he delivered his celebrated address , it certainly did not occur to me that he was then the Master of it . In the absence , therefore , of direct evidence , I did not feel justified in

referring further to the subject . I am , however , very glad that Bro . Hughan has made the discovery , as it not only adds one more laurel to the Dunckerley wreath , but furnishes a distinct reason for his having been selected to deliver the oration in question . Rep lying to Bro . Richard Pearce Couch ' s interesting

letter , No . 940 , in the same column as the one from Bro . Hughan , I beg to state that the approximate period of Dunckerley's services as Superintendent of the several counties namedj on page 259 was mainly gathered from " Hughan ' s Origin of the English Rite , " wherein the author notes that in

many counties ( including Cornwall ) the appointment may have been made at an earlier period than the date g iven . That is why I used the word "approximate , " and as no mention of Dunckerley's appointment for Cornwall is to be found in the records of the Grand Chapter I did not deem it advisable to depart from the date given by Bro . Hughan , knowing how reliable

he invariably is in these matters . I must , however , admit that Dunckerley ' s letter , dated the 26 th of November , 1791 , favours the view that he vvas appointed either later in that year or early in 1792 , although the Grand Chapter minutes of the 29 th of December , 179 1 , and subsequently , contain no record of such appointment . The mere

Masonic Notes And Queries.

fact of Dunckerley having signified his intention of taking the county under his " superintendence " is , in my opinion , strong presumptive evidence that he did so , as he was not the man to stop half way in anything .

Whatever the actual date of the said appointment may have been , it is perfectly clear that Royal Arch Masonry in Cornwall vvas officially recognised in the year 1791 , and that from this period the Order has had an unbroken existence down to the present day . HENRY SADLER .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

CraftflDasonrp. METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

Old King's Arms Lodge ( No . 28 ) . —The installation meeting of this old lodge took place on Monday , the 27 th ult ., at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . W . Biles occupied the chair , and there vvere present as visitors : Bros . Col . Noel Money , P . G . M . Surrey ; C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; T . G . Bullen , P . G . Std . Br . ; T . G . Nicholson , G . Stwd . ; Bovvers , W . M . 15 ; L . V . Walker , P . M . 22 ; C . E . Collins ,

W . M . 23 ; Hunter , P . M . 23 ; and a large number of distinguished brethren . The lodge having been opened , and the minutes read and confirmed , a ballot vvas taken for the admission of Mr . Arthur Woods Daniell as a candidate for initiation , the result being unanimously in his favour . Bros . Chitty and Cockell vvere raised to the Sublime Degree of M . M . Bro .

Money then presented Bro . Ernest Frederic Debenham , W . M . elect ( he having been unanimously elected at the last lodge meeting ) for the benefit of installation , which ceremony Bro . Biles performed with great success . The W . M ., Bro . Debenham , having been installed , and after investing Bro . Biles as his I . P . M ., proceeded to appoint and invest his remaining officers as follows : Bros . W . I .

Barrat , S . W . ; Wm . Price , J . W . ; Wm . Paas , P . M ., Treas . ( an office he has filled for 31 years ) ; D . Crombie , P . M ., Sec ; F . Clark , S . D . ; C . W . Carrell , J . D . ; T . Rose , I . G . ; H . Newland , P . M ., D . C . ; F . W . Methven and K . C . Lester , Stewards ; and A . C . Tattersall , Org . Bro . Biles vvas then invested by the W . M . vvith a Past Masters' jewel , which had been voted to the former at the

last lodge meeting in recognition of his services as W . M . during his past year of office , and he thanked the lodge in a short speech . The candidates for initiation vvere then initiated , the ceremony being performed in a highly satisfactory manner by the newly-installed W . M . All business being ended , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

A large number of over 60 friends of the W . M . and members of the lodge vvere assembled to wish , him Godspeed in his year of office , and a very enjoyable evening was spent , interspersed vvith some excellent music , under the able direction of Bro . Wm . Price , J . W ., and with the assistance of Bro . Tattersall , Organist . After the usual loyal toasts had been given , Bro . Biles

proposed , in well-chosen terms , the toast of *' " The W . M ., " and congratulated the lodge on its selection of Bro . Debenham , as from the work that he had that night gone through they would have seen that he vvas well fitted to perform his important duties vvith great credit to himself and satisfaction to the lodge . The Worshipful Master , in reply , after thanking the brethren for the manner in which the toast had been

received , said that with the assistance of his officers and all members of the lodge , he would endeavour to discharge his duties to their fullest satisfaction . The toasts of "The I . P . M ., " "The Initiate , " "The Visitors , " " The Past Masters , " " The Officers , " and the Tyler's toast followed , and the meeting broke up at a late hour , everyone declaring it to be one of the most pleasant they had spent .

Temperance in the East Lodge ( N 0 . 898 ) . —A regular meeting of this lodge vvas held on Wednesday , the 29 th ult ., at the Assembly Rooms , Poplar , under the presidency of Bro . G . Sharman , W . M ., supported by the following Past Masters , Bros . H . Rogers , J . Gordon , J . J . Carter , J . Byford , jun ., G . Graveleyj T . W . Pulsford , VV . J . Butcher , and J . Siddars . The following officers assisted .

Bros . T . Armstrong , S . W . j Byford , jun ., J . W . ( pro tem . ) ; J . R . Waller , Treas . ; C . G . Wyatt Smith , Sec ; E . F . Williams , J . D . ; Sherwin , Org . ; T . S . Craig , I . G . ; and T . Ringrose , Stwd . Among the brethren present were Bros . H . Coward , J . Barkery , F . H . Rumsey , F . H . Burdett , H . Carter , H . T . Woods , J . T . Grearson , A . Aves , F . Wallace , W . 1 . Towell , I . Richardson , C . Johnson , J . Lewington ,

H . B . Burton , and others . Among the visitors were the following : Bros . A . J . Taylor , 1656 ; Wm . Pile , 1342 ; W . Wasle , 1273 ; J . Holbrook , 1345 ; F . J . Webster , 1 S 04 ; Bonner , 13 S 2 ; J . Mills , 1765 ; and others . Lodge being opened , the minutes of the last meeting vvere read and confirmed . Out of the long list of candidates on the agenda Messrs . Brocklebank and Wm . Harris were

submitted to the ballot , and , being unanimously elected , vvere duly initiated . Bros . Kiddie , Carter , and Grearson were then passed to the Degree of F . C , and Bros . Miller and Levington vvere raised to the Degree of M . M . The brethren then proceeded to the election of W . M . for the ensuing year , and the choice fell unanimously on Bro .

Armstrong , the worthy S . W . The Treasurer , Bro . Waller , vvas then re-elected , and Bros . Holley , Kingrose , and Bussey vvere appointed Auditors . Various propositions on behalf of indigent brethren vvere made , and generously responded to . The installation meeting is fixed for the last Wednesday in May .

Macdonald Lodge ( No . 1216 ) . —The 24 th installation meeting of this lodge , established in 1 S 6 S in connection vvith the ist Surrey Rifle Volunteer Corps , vvas held at the Surrey Masonic HaU , Camberwell , S . E ., on Thursday , the 7 th inst ., and vvas well attended . The lodge vvas opened by the W . M ., Bro . W . S . Harvey , and the minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed , Bro . Ernest Villiers , No . 20 , Colonel of the First Surrey Rifles ,