Masonic Notes.

. Many worthy brethren are presented vvith testimonials , but few there are who so fully merit them as Bro . Raymond . H , Thrupp , P . A . G . D . C . Bro . Thrupp has been D . P . G . M . of Middlesex for the last io years . He is an able intrepreter of our ritual , has shown great tact and judgment in the discharge of the duties of his

important office , and is personally one of the kindest and most genial of men . So fully , indeed , has he won the love and respect of his Middlesex brethren , that at the recent annual meeting at Teddington of their Provincial Grand Lodge—ot which vve published a report last week—they presented him with a multiform recognition of his services , one part of which vvas for

personal use , while another part , vvhich took the form of a Thrupp Prize Fund to the Boys' School , will serve to perpetuate his name and fame as an able Provincial Officer , an expert brother , and a genial man . We hardly know which is most to be congratulated , the brethren of Middlesex who presented this gift , or Bro . Thrupp vvho received it . May the relations personally existing between them be maintained for many years 1

His Excellency Sir Terence O'Brien , K . C . M . G ., the Governor of Newfoundland , at present in this country , appeals to the Masonic body for aid for the sufferers b y the recent terrible fire at St . John ' s . Sir Terence , who is a Past Grand Deacon of England and Deputy District Grand Master of Newfoundland , states that the

sufferers include a considerable number of Masons , many of whom must be homeless , and that among the buildings destroyed was the Masonic Temple , one of the finest erections in the city . Masons are earnestl y invited to forward their contributions to the care of the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House .

# * # With its issue for the month of June the Canadian Craftsman completed its 26 th volume , and the fourth of the series under its present management . It is an admirable Masonic journal , well edited , and well furnished with news of the Craft in the Dominion . There are occasions on which we have found it necessary to

differ from the opinions expressed by our worthy contemporary , but these differences have in no wise diminished the respect in which we hold it , and we gladly take this opportunity of congratulating it on the position it has attained in the ranks of Masonic journalism . May its future be as prosperous and' as worthy of respect as its past I

* * * Bro . J . Ross Robertson , M . W . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Canada ( Province ot Ontario ) lately visited King Solomon Lodge , in which he vvas initiated some 25 years ago . When the usual formal business had been dispatched , our respected brother gave a highly

interesting lecture on Craft Masonry , in the course of which he referred at some length to the mysteries of ancient Egypt , Greece , and Rome , and afterwards described the rise of the Masonic institution . He supplemented this sketch by tracing the rapid progress made by Freemasonry in England , the rivalry of opposing sections ,

and the Union of the rival bodies , and thence passed home to Masonry in Canada , of whose early lodges he gave some valuable particulars . Before concluding his lecture , which was listened to throughout with profound attention , Bro . Robertson presented his mother lod ge with a handsome gavel of the same pattern as that in use by our Quatuor Coronati Lodge .

* * From particulars cited in an article in the Canadian Craftsman for last month , we learn that the increase of membership under the Grand Lodge of Quebec between 1870 and 1892 has been comparatively small . In 18 70 there were 30 lodges , with a total of 1379

members ; in 18 92 , there are 56 lodges , with 3141 members . But during the 22 years between 1870 and ' 892 the surplus of initiations , joinings , and restoration over resignations , suspensions , and deaths is only 4 ° 4 , the remainder of the increase in membership between the two dates being accounted for by the accession of 20 lodges previously on the roll of Canada .

* * » At the annual meeting last month of the Grand Lod ge of New York , Bro . Sherer was unanimously re-elected M . W . Grand Master , but he declined the honour , and Bro . J . Ten Eyck vvas elected in his stead , the office ot Deputy Grand Master , after an exciting ballot , being conferred on Bro . F . A . Burnham . In his

ress Bro . Sherer referred in very complimentary er ms to the valuable assistance he had received in the P , » ° rmance of his duties from Bro . E . M . L . Ehlers , r and Secretary , and he expressed a hope , which will e . . lloed far and wide throughout the New York section , that for many , many years the Craft may an j ' £ ul 1 benefit of Bro . Ehler ' s " strength , wisdom , * nd fidelit y . "

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

f We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but vve wish in . a spirit of fair play lo xll to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN SHROPSHIRE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . ' ' Dear Sir and Brother , Will you kindly allow me to reply briefly to the letter of Bro . Lane , contained in your issue of June 25 th , and to thank him through your columns as

well for the information he has supplied to me , as for his kind expression of his appreciation of my "History of Freemasonry in Shropshire . " I must , of course , accept as a fact his statement that the Lodge of Friendship , Bridgnorth ( p . 11 ) vvas erased in 1783 , yet the curious fact remains that the Grand Secretary wrote to its W . M . in 17 86 . This it vvas

vvhich misled me . My book vvas written at a distance from Grand Lodge records , and with no opportunity of personally inspecting them , so that I , too hastily , concluded that the lodge vvas still in existence in 17 S 6 , and did not give sufficient weight to the clear statement of Bro . Lane , founded on his knowledge of official documents , that the lodge was really erased in the former

year . Bro . Lane asks me to note that Nos . 1 and 2 in my " List of Extinct Shropshire Lodges " ( p . 51 ) refer to the same lodge . I think he must , in so asking me , have overlooked my footnote upon that page in which I wrote " No . 2 vvas No . 1 reinstated . " I vvas quite aware ( candour compels me to admit that my

knowledge was derived from a perusal of Bro . Lane s own colossal work ) that these lodges vvere identical , and I imagined that I had made myself clear upon the point . With regard to the supposed irregularity ( p . 155 ) of raising a brother on December 3 rd , 1821 , who had been passed on November Sth , I can only plead ignorance of the decisions which established that the

vvords " one month " referred to in the Books of Con . stitutions from 1815 to 1841 meant a lunar month . I have always supposed them to mean a calendar month , and 1 imagine that many brethren are labouring under the same mistaken notion .

I can hardly hope that a second edition of my book will ever be required ; if it is , I can assure Bro . Lane that any criticisms that he or any other person may make will receive my most careful attention . —Yours fraternally , July ioth . ALEXANDER GRAHAM .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

at ^ a ^^ flSSw !

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Southern Star Lodge ( No . nsSJ . —The installation meeting of this successful and flourishing lodge took place at the Bridge House Hotel on Tuesday , the 28 th ult . Present : Bros . J . F . Tarrant , W . M . j C . T . Wright , S . W ., W . M . elect ; A . W . Wright , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Austin , P . M ., Sec ; W . Beecroft , S . D . ; A . Hands , D . C ; T . W . Downs , Steward ; A . Wells , P . M . ; Tom

Brady , P . M . ; J . Bunker , P . M . ; W . W . Block , P . M . ; C . Wise , P . M . ; J . Block , P . M . ; Ashdown , Green , Van Veer , Richards , T . Green , F . Austin , A . Scott , H . N . Morgan , W . C . Tanner , Kelham , Blum , Bellinger , G . J . Robinson , Benson , Hurt , C . Day , H . Robinson , D . E . Campbell , S . Foot , and R . Colston . The visitors were Bros . Bros . R . H . Harriss , P . M . 230 ; F . R . Rayner , S . D . 1790 ; E . A . Rice , 1320 ; J . W . Hartley , P . M . lySG ; Rev .

Vyvian Tyrrell , 2369 , Chap . 16 S 5 ; W . Williams , ujSo ; J . Lawrence , 1 S 53 ; A . Darch , P . M ., Sec . 72 ; C . H . Stone , S . W . 507 ; A . Knapp , 15 S 5 ; G . Etheridge , P . M . 554 ; and W . Menniger , 1559 . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . C . T . Wright , S . W ., W . M . elect , was presented to the VV . M . to receive at his hands the benefit of installation , vvhich was carried out in a large Board of

Installed Masters in a most exemplary manner . Bro . C . I . VVright , the new W . M ., invested most ably his officers as follows : Bros . Tarrant , I . P . M . ; Beecroft , S . W . ; Knibb , J . W . ; A . W . VVright , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Austin , P . M ., Sec ; Hands , S . D . ; Downs , J . D . ; Bellchamber , I . G . ; G . J . Robinson , D . C . ; Richardson and Scott , Stewards ; F . Austin , Asst . Sec ; and T . Green , Asst . D . C . The addresses vvere ably rendered by Bro . Tarrant , LP . M . A

ballot was taken for Messrs . Campbell and Foot , which proving unanimous , they were afterwards initiated in an able and impressive manner by the W . M . The Auditors ' report was received and adopted , which showed a goodly sum in the hands of the Treasurer and highly congratulatory . Bro . Bunker , P . M ., spoke in most feeling terms of the late Bro . Bertolle , P . M ., and the great loss the lodge had sustained , and moved that a letter of condolence be

sent to his widow in her sad bereavement , which was carried unanimously . He also could not refrain , he said , from referring to the melancholy event vvhich had taken their highly-esteemed Bro . Detective-Sergeant Joyce , I . G . S 71 , from the midst of a large circle of fiiends , who deeply mourned his loss ; he had attended his funeral . A

proposition vvas handed in for initiation at the next meeting , which augurs well for the coming year . Letters of absence through unavoidable circumstances vvere read from two brethren . The business of the lodge ended , the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , person . i'ly superintended by Bro . Pearce , vvhich was much appreciated . The Worshipful Master afterwards gave the toasts of " The Queen and the Craft" and " H . R . H . the Prince of

Craft Masonry.

Wales , M . W . G . M ., " in a highly appreciative manner , and which were as loyally received . That of " The M . W . Pro G . M ., the R . W . Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " the Worshipful Master remarked vvas one vvhich vvas always received most heartily , as they vvere most deserving of our greatest thanks for their able services rendered to the Craft .

uro . I arrant , [ . P . M ., next gave the toast of "The W . M ., " remarking that that vvas the one special duty vvhich devolved upon him . He was delighted to listen to the W . M . 's excellent working that evening , and was bound to say the lodge had a VV . M . second to none . The Worshipful Master , in reply , most cordially thanked the I . P . M . for his kind remarks , and the brethren for such

a reception . He vvas proud to be in the position of W . M ., especially as his father vvas initiated and had been entrusted as Treasurer for the past 17 years , and now he had the honour of investing him as the Treasurer for the ensuing year . He felt it an unique position . His brother had also been initiated in this lodge . All these circumstances greatly endeared the lodge to him , and he promised his very utmost

endeavours for its benefit . The Worshipful Master next gave the toast of "The Installing Master , " whom he said had discharged his duties during the past year as any W . M . had before him , and especially had rendered the installation ceremony exceedingl y well . He considered it a great honour and a duty in pinning to his breast the jewel so unanimously voted by the

lodge , trusting the G . A . O . T . U . would give him health to wear it in remembrance of his faithful duty to the lodge . In reply , Bro . Tarrant most suitably acknowledged thc kind sentiments expressed , and especially for the splendid jewel , vvhich he trusted he might long wear , and he should never forget his mother lodge . He had had a very successful year , and he heartily thanked the brethren for their

kind support . In giving the toast of "The Initiates , " the Worshipful Master stated he had known them for some years , and he was confident the lodge would never regret their admission into Freemasonry , but that they would prove themselves most worthy . The brethren of the Southern Star Lodge gave them a most cordial greeting .

In reply , the Initiates stated they vvere greatly impressed vvith the beautiful ceremony , and would endeavour to prove themselves worthy of the lodge . 1 The next toast vvas accorded "The Visitors , " who vvere given a most hearty reception , and ably responded to b y Bros . Hartley , Tyrrell , Stone , and Darch , vvho paid a high compliment on the working of W . M . and LP . M ., and also

to Bro . Wise , P . M ., who acted so ably as Preceptor of the lodge of instruction , and from whom so many brethren of the lodge had gained instruction . The toast of "The Past Masters" received its just reward , and vvas suitably replied to by the Treasurer , who remarked he had been connected vvith the lodge for 25 years , and would assure the brethren he had a great love

for Masonry . Hc had done his best , and would never forget the trust that they had reposed in him for so many years . Bro . Bunker also replied that he vvas proud to have invested the W . M . with his first collar during the jubilee year , and he vvas confident the lodge would never regret electing him to that high office , and that he would go through his year of office with credit to himself and

satisfaction to the brethren ; that he would pass that parchment on pure and unsullied as he had received it , and at the end of the year the brethren would say , well done ' . In giving the toast of "The Officers , " the Worshipful Master congratulated himself upon so good a body . This vvas most effectively responded to by the Senior and

Junior Wardens . The Tyler ' s toast closed a remarkable and happy meeting . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Mr . Ben Hogg , ably supported by Madame Amy Belmore , Madame Christine Steward , Messrs . Charles Hardy , Ben Hogg , and Parkinson . Mr . Geo . Hardy ably presided at the piano .

Hendon Lodge ( No . 2206 ) . —An emergency meeting of this popular lodge took place at the Welsh Harp , Hendon , on Saturday , the yth inst . Present : Bros . Nottingham , W . M . ; A . Scurrah , S . W . ; W . M . Stiles , P . M ., acting J . W . ; Lewis , LP . M . ; VV . A . Scurrah , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of W . Middx ., Sec . ; Stiles , P . M ., Treas .. ; VV . Powell , D . C ; Jabez Mason , S . D . ; Johnson , LG . ;

R . Whiting , Tyler ; Ling , Jos . Mason , Adam , H . C . Parsons , ll . Cronin , Stansall , King , and Gunn . The visitors were Bros . C . H . Stone , S . VV . 507 ; D . Ososki , J . W . 704 ; Garrard , J . W . Syo ; Dr . Goodchild , P . M . 704 ; Searl , 10 S ; and Crofts , 19 S 6 . The ballot vvas taken for Messrs . E . II . Jenkins , Jas . King , T . G . Pemberton , and H . H . Griffiths ( who had been

proposed and seconded at the last regular meeting ) , which proving unanimous in their favour , they vvere very impressivel y initiated by the W . M ., Bro . A . A . Nottingham , Bros . H . C . Parsons and T . Ling were raised to the Sublime Degree in a most perfect manner by Bro . Lewis , I . P . M . The lodge vvas closed , and the brethren . adjourned to a capital repast catered for by the proprietor , Mr . Warner ,

which was much enjoyed . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts vvere afterwards given in most befitting terms , and as equally well received . That of " The Pro G . M ., Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " vvas given in capital style by the Worshipful Master , and heartily received by the brethren . Bro . Lewis , LP . M ., next gave the toastof "The

Worshipful Master , " remarking that he had stated at the last regular meeting it was the last occasion he should have thc privilege of proposing that toast , but circumstances had so ordered it that once more it gave him the greatest possible pleasure in submitting it . That evening was the W . M . 's crowning success , for he had worked the ceremony of initiation in an admirable manner .

Ihe toast was received most enthusiastically , and In reply the VV . M . thanked the I . P . M . and brethren for receiving him vvith such enthusiasm . He was only too pleased to do vvhat he possibly could for the lodge . What he had done vvas only his duty , and he should always strive to his utmost to advance its interests . He was always

delighted to be amongst the brethren of the Hendon Lodge . 'Ihe W . M . next gave the toastof "The Initiates" in very becoming terms , remarking the previous knowledge he had of them all only convinced him they would be a credit , and prove themselves worthy of the lodge . He could not but