Provincial Grand Chapter Of Oxfordshire.

Viscount Valentia , Second Principal , and Lord Jersey , and on his left by the Third Principal , Comp . Thos . Eley . A very enjoyable evening was spent .

On Tuesday next , the 20 th instant , the annual festival meeting of the Alfred Royal Arch Chapter will be held in the Alfred Masonic Hall . The ceremony of exaltation of two candidates will precede the installation of the Three Principals elected for the ensuing year , viz ., Comps . VV . R . Bowden , as M . E . Z . ; F . Bacon , as H . ; and A . J . Hill , as J .

Presentation To Bro. G. W. Speth, P.M., Sec., Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No. 2076 .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . G . W . SPETH , P . M ., SEC ., QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE , No . 2076 .

About 11 years ago , the feasibility of establishing a " Students' Lodge , " was seriously discussed by Bros . Hughan , Gould , Speth , VV . H . Rylands , and the then Editor of the Freemason , the late Rev . A . F . A . Woodford . A short time afterwards , the same idea occurred to Bros . Sir Charles Warren , G . C . M . G ., and Walter Besant , and in the result the seven brethren above named , with the further reinforcement of Lieut .-Col . S . C . Pratt , R . A .,

and Bro . Paul Rylands , applied for a Warrant of Constitution , which was granted by the M . W . G . M ., on November 28 th , 18 S 4 . The departure , however , of Major-General Sir Charles Warren , the first Worshipful Master , for South Africa , in command of a military expedition , delayed the ceremony of consecration , which was thereby unavoidably postponed until his return from that country , and did not take place until the 12 th of January , 1 SS 6 .

The first Master of ttie Quatuor Coronati Lodge , as already indicated , was Sir Charles Warren , the first Treasurer was Walter Besant , and the first Secretary , George William Speth . Sir Charles Warren was elected for a second term , after which , as the laws of Masonry in this country do not allow the chair of a lodge to be held for more than two years in succession by the same brother , the office of Master passed to another membar . But

with regard to the Treasurer and Secretary , the duties they happily undertook in 1 S 86 have been performed by them without intermission from that year until the present one , and on the Sth instant , which is at once the Festival of the " Quatuor Coronati " Lodge and of the legendary patrons of the Building Trades , from whom that name is derived , Bros . Besant and Speth ( holding their old posts ) were again included among the officers for the

year . The Constitutions impose no time limit with respect to the tenure of these last two appointments , and it may be safely asserted that about the last thought that could occur to the mind of any member of the lodge , would be the expediency or even the bare possibility of creating one . On the 28 th inst ., the warrant of the lodge will be io years old , and the event is to be celebrated by a conversazione , of which particulars have fully appeared .

A little , a very little later , namely , on January 12 th next ensuing , a still more important anniversary will occur , and the briefest summary of what has been achieved by the Masonic organisation that was ushered into actual existence on the 12 th of January , 18 S 6 , may , we trust , tend towards a due appreciation by the Craft at large , of the very arduous labours devolving upon the first and only Secretary of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , as well of as the tact , skill , and patient industry , which he has exhibited as editor of its Transactions .

In January , 1886 , as previously narrated , the lodge started on its mission —the association in Masonic fellowship of Craft students , and the promotion of Masonic research . About a year afterwards , it occurred to Bro . Speth that the Transactions of the lodge would be comparatively useless unless they were printed and more widely read . This idea culminated in the formation of a Correspondence Circle , consisting of lodges or brethren who

might care to each pay half-a-guinea yearly for the privilege of receiving the Proceedings of No . 2076 in pr . nted form . The experiment was a bold one , but it has been crowned with the most signal success . The project was launched in February , 1 S 87 , and , at the present time of writing , upwards of KJOO paying members are actually enrolled in the Correspondence Circle . Nor does the number of new subscribers show any sign of

diminution . The cry still is , " They come , " and after making due allowance for withdrawals , the net increase of members per annum may be estimated roundly as amounting to at least 250 . Six volumes in all have been printed of the Proceedings or Transactions , and a seventh is progressing which will be published at the close of the year . There are also six volumes of Arclucologia , consisting either of rare manuscripts printed fur the first time , or of reprints of previously published books and pamphlets , of

which few or any copies , besides those used ( in each case ) by the lodge , are known to be in existence . The work , therefore , performed so ably and well by Bro . Speth , as Secretary of the lodge and editor of its Transactions , has been of a very onerous nature . Nineteen hundred correspondents in the Correspondence Circle alone , not to speak of the extensive " book keeping " involved by the applications for the various commodities of the lodge , nor of his multifarious duties in other directions , must have left our worthy Bro . Speth with very little spare time on his hands .

At the last Annual Excursion of No . 2076 , the brethren who took part in it , discussed both at Salisbury and Stonehenge , the propriety of commemorating in some slight way the untiring exertions of the Secretary . On the Sth inst ., at the Installation Meeting of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , the idea was translated into action by the presentation of a magnificent English chronometer with chain and jewel to Bro . Speth , and with the speeches of Major-Gen . Sir Charles Warren , G . CM . G ., in making the presentation , and of the recipient of the testimonial in reply , we shall now conclude .

Sir CHARLES WARREN said : Worshipful Master and Brethren , —I am much gratified at having the privilege of performing the duty you have called upon me to carry out , as I have so profound an admiration for the work during many years past of our Secretary , Bro . G . Speth . ¦ The days of small things with our lodge have now passed by , and we have entered on a career of greater magnitude than any of us could have anticipated when we

inaugurated this lodge for the purposes of unique and special duties . During the eight years it has been in existence , the Correspondence Circle has risen to 1900 members , hailing from all parts of the world , and the work carried on by the lodge is known far and wide , and , I am sure , I am only echoing the sentiments of its members , when I say that this remarkable structure has

been in a great measure built up by the admirable administrative skill and ability of our Secretary . I have not had much opportunity of observing the details of the work in the mother country , but I can say that in our colonies and in America , the fame of our lodge is spread throughout the Masonic odges , and its work is held in the highest esteem . The duty I have to per-

Presentation To Bro. G. W. Speth, P.M., Sec., Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No. 2076 .

form this evening , as the first Master of the lodge , refers to a matter in which the lodge is not itself concerned , but rather a few of those members of bath Circles and personal friends of the . Secretary , who have watched his labours with great interest , and who desire to offer to Bro . Speth a small token symbolical of their esteem and regard . I have , therefore , been requested , in the name of the Committee who ori ginated the

movement , by liro . R . Gowan , who has been most active and energetic as Secretary to the Committee , to present this gold watch and chain to Bro . Speth , and 1 do so with the permission and good wishes of the Worshi pful Master , in the name of the friends and well-wishers of Bro . Speth amongst the lodge members and those of the Correspondence Circle , and I offer him our best wishes for the future .

Bro . SPETH said : Worshipful Master , Worshipful Past Master , Sir C . Warren , and Brethren , —What shall I , what can I say , how shall 1 find words to thank you all for this magnificent token of your regard and goodwill ? Nor a good speaker at the best , my feelings on this occasion quite overpower any little eloquence I may at limes command . As you know , I have since the first , devoted myself heart and soul ,

body and mind lo the welfare of our lodge ; it has become the labour of my prime , the love of my manhood , and I trust , will prove my joy in old age . My gratification at our success is hei ghtened by the consciousness that my brethren and co-workers appreciate my efforts , as evinced by the very substantial and costl y gift I hold in my hand . But , believe me , its intrinsic value is far

outweighed in my mind by the spirit which prompted it and the kind words which have accompanied it . There is a trite symbolism attached to a watch . I feel I ought to say as others have said before me , that it shall constantly impress upon me to devote every minute of my time to your service . But I need no such reminder . I prefer to say that every time I look at its face it will recall to me the kind faces and warm hearts of the donors ; and for

such a purpose nothing can be more suited than a watch , it being usually the only object which , waking or sleeping , accompanies a man through life , and only leaves the pocket over his heart to repose under the pillow beneath his head . And if anything could increase its value , you have taken care to provide it , by causing me to receive your gift at tbe hands , as your spokesman , of the brother who must ever stand foremost among us ,

being that one who was thought worthy to guide our infant steps as our first Master , and who , returning to us after a long spell of foreign service , find us in the full swing of good work and prosperity . No other hand could have more gracefully tendered me your gift , and to you and to him I trust to prove myself , now and ever , a worth y recipient and holder of it . Brethern , from the bottom of my heart 1 thank you .

Another Old Warrant—Athol, No. 150.

ANOTHER OLD WARRANT—ATHOL , No . 150 .

No . 150 . Thomas Malhcw Grand Master . Wm . Clarke S . G . W . / . an . Dermott for the J . G . VV . Wm . Dickey D . G . M . To all whom it may concern , WK the grand Lodge of the most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , ( according to the old Constitutions , granted by his Royal Highness Prince Edwin , at York , Anno Domini Nine Hundred twenty and six , and in the Year of Masonry , Four Thousand Nine Hundred twenty and six ) in ample Form assembled , viz .

The Right Worshipful and Honourable Thomas Ma / liew of Thomaston in t e Kingdom of Ireland Esi / r . Grand Master of Masons . The Worshipful Mr . Win . Dickey Deputy Grand Master , The Worshipful Mr . William Clarke Senior Grand Warden , and the Worshiptul Mr . Peter Duffv Junior Grand Warden , ( with the Approbation and Consent of the Warranted Lodges ! held within the Cities and Suburbs of London and Westminster ) Do hereby authorise and impower our Trusty , and Well-beloved Brethren , viz ., Mr . ' John Wallace One of Our

Master Masons , Mr . William Wood his Senior Warden , and Mr . James McKenzie his Junior Warden , to Form and Hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons aforesaid , at the House of our well beloved and trusty Brother John Wallace { or elsewhere } in the Town of Dover and County of Kent nhon the on all seasonable Times and lawful Occasions : And in the said Lodge ( when duly congregated ) to admit and make Free Masons , according to the most A . icient and Honourable

Custom of the Royal Craft in all Ages and Nations throughout the known World . And we do hereby farther authorise and impower Our said Trusty and Well-beloved Brethren , Messrs . John Wallace , William Wood , and fames Mch ' ensie ( with the Consent of the Members of their Lodge ) to nominate , chusc , and install their Successors , to whom they shall deliver this Warrant , and invest them with their Powers and Dignities as Free Masons , & c .

And such Successors shall in like Manner nominate , chuse , and install their Successors , & c , lie , & c . Such installations to be upon ( or near ) every St . John's-Day during the Continuance of this Lodge for ever . Providing the above-named Brethren and all their Successors always pay due Respect to this Right Worshipful Grand Lodge , otherwise this Warrant to be of no Force nor Virtue . Given under our Hands and the Seal of our Grand Lodge in London , this third Day

of October in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred Sixty and seven and in the Year of Masonry Five thousand Seven hundred Sixty and Seven . Note This Warrant is registered in the Grand Lodge , Vol . 5 th Letter E . Lau . Dermott Grand Secretary .

I . KNUORSIiU l 5 S 02 . Transferred and to bj held at the Marquis of Granby ( or elsewhere ) in Folkestone , in the County of Kent upon the first and fourth Monday in every month and all other lawful occasions . Subject nevertheless to the within Proviso and to all and every of the Laws and Regulations of the _ Right Worshipful Grand Lodge .

Uy order of His Grace John Duke of Athole , & c , & c , & c , Right Worshipful Grand Master . Robt . Leslie G . S . Thos . Harper D . G . M . Edwd . Harper D . G . S .

The foregoing is a transcript of the original warrant kindly made for me by Bro . Dr . Beaumont , of Folkestone ( P . P . G . Reg . Hants ) . Its special value to Masonic students consists in the fact that we have nowhere had any previous mention of its existence . Although it purports to be dul y registered in the Grand Lodge books it is not recorded there , nor can any trace of its issue be established .

The first No . 150 of the " Ancients " appears by the register to be dated ylh September , 17117 , and to have been issued for Bridgwater , and the official lists of 1795 and 1 H 00 include it as still in existence in that town during those years . Ttie present warrant is dated 3 rd October , 1767 , which is less than a month after the issue of the first ot that number , and was granted to a lod ge to be held at Dover . This will doubtless prove specially interesting to tne brethren of the Province of Kent . If they can throw any further light on this old warrant it will be most acceptable . JNO . LANE . Torquay , November Olh .