Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY .

The annual meeting of the Prov . Grand Mark Lodge of Middlesex and Surrey was held at the Star and Garter , Hotel , Richmond , on Saturday , the 2 nd inst . The D . G . M . M . presided , in thc unavoidable absence of the R . W . P . G . M . M ., Sir F . Burdett , Bart ., and there were present Bros . Dr . F . W . Ramsay , P . G . D ., Prov . S . G . W . ; D . M . Dewar , P . G . M . O ., G . Asst . Sec ; Jno . Stevens , P . G . O ., * W . G . Brighten , P . G . L of W ., Prov . G . Sec . ; H . Lovegrove , G . Supt . of Works ; C . Pulman , G . Steward ; T .

W . Adams , P . G . Steward ; H . J . Lardner , P . G . Steward ; Chas . Hammerton , Prov . G . Treas . ; Sir Charles Palmer , Prov G . M . O . ; j ' . Rhodes , Piov . G . Org . ; W . Ackland , Prov . G . Steward ; G . Lilley , P . M . ; J . Curtis , E . B . Florence , and many others , including Bros . J . Gilbert , Grand Tyler , and Harrison , Asst . Tyler . Sixteen of thc twenty-one lodges in the province were represented . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed .

The Treasurer ' s accounts were presented , and , on a motion made by Bro . J STEVENS , seconded by Bro . 1-1 . LOVEGROVE , were received and accepted . Bro . Davison , Dep . P . G . M . M ., then proceeded lo invest thc Prov . Grand Officers for thc year as follows : —

Bro . W . G . Brighten ----- Prov , G . S . W . „ J . B . Batten Prov . G . J . W . ,, Rev . F . de Crespigny ; Bro . Rev . C . Weldon - Prov . G . Chaps . .. H . H . Birch * - - - - - Prov . G . M . O .

„ H . C . Jopps Prov . G . S . O . „ Lawrence ... - - Prov . G . J . O . ,, C . Hammerton . . . - - - Prov . G . Treas . „ W . Basnetl --- -- Prov . G . R . of M . ., ] . M . Klenck --- -- Prov . G . Sec . ' .. T . W . Adams - Prov . G . S . D .

„ W . J . Nicolls Prov . G . J . D . „ I . C . Cox - - - - - Prov . G . D . C" . „ G . Lilley Prov . G . A . D . C . „ Hopwood -- - - - Prov . G . S . ot W . .. 'J " . Richnell Prov . G . Swd . B .

„ W . Ackland Prov . G . Std . B . „ J . S . Gabriel Prov . G . Org . „ II . J . Lardner ---- - Prov . G . I . G . Bros . R . Lewis , ] . Mills , Jas . Curtis , E . B . Florence , J . Willis And W . G . T . Kipling - - - Prov . G . . Tlwds . ,, John Gilbert ---- - Prov . G . Tyler .

After thc Prov . Grand Officers had been saluted by the brethren , under thc directions of Bro . J . Stevens , the Prov . Grand Lodge was closed , and about twenty of the brethren sat down to an elegant banquet , after which the usual toasts were duly honoured . The enthusiasm with which the toast of " Thc Prov . G . M . M . " was received showed lhat though unavoidably absent

he was not forgotten . In Middlesex and Surrey , as elsewhere , the Mark Degree is making rapid progress .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF KENT .

The annual gathering of thc Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent look place at Rochester on Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., and was attended by several hundreds of the brethren . Unusual interest was this year imparted to ihe meeting , the occasion serving to present Bro . Lord Holmesdale with a testimonial of the value of five hundred guineas by thc Freemasons of Kent , in consideration of his lordship having presided over the province for a period

of twenty-one years , duiing which Freemasonry has flourished in an unprecedented manner throughout the province . A valuable gold bracelet was at ihe same time presented by the Freemasons to Lady Holmesdale . It had been intended that the Provincial Grand Lodge should attend Divine Service in Rochester Cathedral , but the cathedral officials insisted on certain conditions as

to clergymen who are Freemasons not taking pari in the service as made it impossible for the Provincial Lodge to hold a service in the cathedral , and the service took p lace in St . Margaret ' s Church instead . The brethren had intended presenting a stained glass window to the cathedral in commemoration of the event , but they have , in consequence of the action of the Dean and Chapter , abandoned the intention . The Provincial Grand Lodge voted a sum of seveial hundred pounds to the Charities .

In the evening thc brethren assembled at a banquet , when a testimonial , consisting of a piece of plate emblematical of the Craft , and of the value of 500 guineas , was presented to thc noble Viscount to celebrate his having rilled thc chair twenty-one years , there being onl y one other instance of the Provincial Grand Master having filled the office lor so long a time . We hope to give a full report in our next .

Aldersgate Lodge, No. 1657.

ALDERSGATE LODGE , No . 1657 .

Mr . and Mrs . George Kenning entertained the members of the above lodge , wilh their ladies and other friends , at dinner at the Royal Crown

Hotel , Sevenoaks , ou Wednesday last . The afternoon being very line , much pleasure was experienced by the party in strolling over the beautiful grounds of the hotel and Knowle Park , from which some charming views of the surrounding scenery are obtained .

A good selection ol music was performed , under the able conduclorshi p of Iiro . J . -iiiic :, Weaver . An ample number of saloon carriages had been provided by Bio . George Abbott , ol the Cannon-siteea Station , wliieh rendered the journey lo and

from very pleasant—the weather being hot . About liftv ladies and gentlemen -, nt flown to dinner , including f ol Shadwell H . Clerke and Mis . Gierke , Hon . K . W . 11 . C . kldv and Mv Giddy , II . C . Levander , ancl Miss Biookman .

Masonic History And Historians.

MASONIC HISTORY AND HISTORIANS .

BY MASONIC STUDENT . s I think lhat our esteemed Bro . Jacob Norton in * his Impeachment o Bro . Dr . Anderson has found what is commonly called a " tnare's nest , ' in all deference lo his critical acumen , be it said . At least I do not interpret Anderson ' s words as he apparently does . If Anderson has altered or garbled thc " old Regulations " of 1721 , published in 1733 , " proprio molu , " and for some mysterious reason of his own , he deserves all that Bro . Jacob

Norton says of him , and not only this , but P . G . M . Payne must come in for the same censure , inasmuch as he was alive and active in Masonry in 1738 , and , therefore , must have seen thc " New Regulations " as well as the "Old Regulations , " as represented in 1738 , in which he took an active part of arrangement . But the truth is , lhat Bro . Jacob Norton in his great zeal has " gone beyond his brief , " always , depend upon il , a great mistake , alike in matters legal as in essays Masonic .

Anderson guards himself carefully against this charge of unau thorized alterations and interpolations , by these words , which convey a great deal , and cover a considerable amount of ground , by terming the fresh edition " Thc New Regulations , or Rc-AItcrations , Improvement , and Explications of the Old , made by several Grand Lodges since the Firft Edition . " I admit lhat at first sight these words would seem to apply only to the New Regulations , but a little reflection shows that they apply equal ly to "New "and "Old . "

It may be remembered here , lo illustrate this portion of our Masonic history , thai so far back as June 24 th , 1718 , a movement under Payne began , lo collect thc Regulations , & c , of Masonry , tn 1720 , June 24 th , two years later , G . Payne slill G . M ., the question was again mooted ? nd attended to ( " for they had nothing yet in print , " il is specially observed ) , and no doubt then the first issue was made . Again on ' . it . John the Baptist's Day , June

241 I 1 , 1 7 , the rules of 1720 were re-i * -sucd , and on September 2 (* th , 1721 , on thc motion of the Duke of Montague , G . M ., Bro . John Anderson was directed lo digest the "Old" Gothic Constitutions on a " new and belief method . " On December 17 th , 1 7 21 , Bro . Anderson's MS . was submitted to a committee , of fourteen , and this " communication , " we are told , " was

made very interesting by the lectures of some old Masons . " On March , 25 th , 1 7 22 , the Committee of fourteen reported in favour of Bro . Anderson ' s MS ., and on the mil January , 1723 , thc Book of Constitutions was submitted lo thc Grand Lodge in print by " G . W arden Anderson , " nnd "again approved . "

On February , 24 th , 1 735 , Bro . Anderson s " new materials" for a " new edition" of the "Book of Constitutions" th . cn become necessary , were ordered lo be submitted lo the " Picsenl and Past Grand Officers , " and , on "the 25 th of January , 1738 , the Grand Lodge approved of the " new Book of Constitutions , " ( Darnley . Grand Master , ) and ordered the " same lo bc printed ; " and the approbation of thc Grand Master and the Wardens is

given in 1738 . The preface is dated November 4 th that year . Now , it may be observed that , since November 251 I 1 , 1723 , until January 251 I 1 , 1738 , there had been no less than fifty-six or lilly-scvei- Grand Lodges , so that Anderson ' s sta lenient is evident ! } ' correct when he alludes to successive " alterations , improvements , and explications made by several Grand Lodges since the first edition . " There is , therefore , no justice in thc charge that Anderson

garbled them or altered theni lo suit his own or any one else ' s purpose , and there is no likelihood , inasmuch as assuming that Anderson was not present in 1720 or 171 * 1 , Payne undoubtedly was , and Payne as D . G . M . was clearly responsible before the English Craft for Anderson's explicit assertions in tlid edition of 1 738 . Hacl they not been true Payne must have protested against them .

1 hus thc revised copy of the Old Regulations represent the Old Rcgulalations of 1720 , 1 7 , 1723 , wilh llic alterations and explanations and additions , or subtractions , made in them in thc intervening Grand Lodges , and incorporated wilh them , and the New Regulations represent those passed by Grand Lodge since 1723 , which explain ihe alterations of the Old . I admit

Anderson s " selling out " is not quite clear , but he clearly guards himself al p . 176—173 S against any alteration without the " consent of all the brethren , " ancl , therefore , he only , perhaps not in the most skilful way , sets out the general character of the Old Regulations , with subsequent expansion or addition , as made by proper authority .

Of course , Bro . Jacob Norton may fairly ask , How is it that we have these variations between the Regulations ot 1723 and the Regulations announced to be the same , and termed the Old , in 1738 , and why not keep tlie Old exactly as they were issued by Payne ? I answer , remembering that Anderson had the arrangement of both—that in 1723 and 1738 it is quite clear that Anderson acted fairly and deliberately " coram" the Grand

Lodge ; indeed , he could nol act otherwise , and as Payne must have approved of these changes , it is impossible that there can be any unauthorized change . It is also as clear lo me lhat we have in the Old Regulations as published in 1723 the actual representation of the original Regulation of 1 7 and 1721 . The Okl Regulations as published in 1738 are these , plus certain additions and subtractions made by authority .

I hope in ) - readers have followed me . The Regulations of 1723 are the Regulations of 1720 , 1 7 21 , and 1722 ; tin : " Old Regulations" of 1 738 are these " plus" successive modifications by Grand Lodge . The New Regulations of 1 73 S arc " explanations " of what the changes have been . I never could undei > tand why Anderson is to be attacked . He did what Grand Lotlge ordered him to do ; he digested the " Gothic Constitutions , "

or "Guild Legends , " into readable form and modernized verbiage ; and his history of Freemasonry is merely an amplification , flowing as it is , of the old " Guild History" and the " Masonic Legends" of Freemasonry . I could say a good deal more on the Regulations selected for illustration , because il i : > entile , clear to uie llial my esteemed Bro . Jacob Norton has not

quite mastered their ( rue bearing ; but I cannot hope to be permitted to-day to lie :. pas :, longer in these pages . All I can concede to Bro . Norton is that , perhaps , il would bc better to reprint NOIIIC day if neccssar } the alteration-, ; the Regulations of 1720 and 1721 , as publi-hed in 172 . *;; thc revi . eel ropy oi tbem , published in 173 ^ , wilh die New Regulations , or e \ planations of them , in lh . it year .