Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somersetshire.

what the cause of this disappointment was . He knew that the kindliness and sympathy of his Somersetshire brethren , to which he had never appealed in vain , would find a better excuse for him than any words he could use . He was not surprised at the reception of the resolution , because there was nothing since he had been connected with Somersetshire which had ever occurred to him which

had not their kindly feeling of sympathy . He felt comp letely identified with Somersetshire Masons , and appreciated most deeply this fresh evidence of their friendship and regard . When they were good enough to congratulate him , he should say he had very good cause to be congratulated . He knew that ladies could not be admitted to any participation in Masonic proceedings ; still ,

as a humble outsider , there was no one who sympathised more with the objects of the Craft , respected the work they had set before them , and , above all , gave more hearty good wishes to the Masons of Somersetshire than did Lady Carnarvon , and he hoped he should not be committing any breach of the secrecy to which he was sworn so many years ago as a Mason , when , with every

injunction for the most solemn secrecy , he informed her on his return that amongst the objects in which they were engaged that day there was one iii which her happiness and welfare were bound up . ( Hear , Hear ) . The banquet was held in the Victoria Rooms in the evening , the Earl of Carnarvon presiding . In responding to the toasts of his health , as Provincial

Grand Master of Somerset , the noble Earl said he lived in a very peculiar stage of Masonry . Within the last few years Masonry had been passing through a period such as their Masonic forefathers knew nothing of , and such as might issue in very great good , but which had also its difficulties and its dangers . When he was initiated , Masonry was apparertly very prosperous in England ; but he was

struck wilh the enormous increase of prosperity during the last ten or fifteen years . Masonry had become much larger in point of numbers , much more important in respect to the wealth which had flowed in from all sides , and it stood in a position perhaps of greater dignity and external ceremonial than it formerly did , but on the other hand there was a reverse side to the picture . All this material

wellbeing had a tendency sometimes to lead Masonry out of the straig ht road ami to set up idols , so to speak , uf false gods unless it were very carefully watched . They must not fall into the grave ciror of supposing that ease and luxury and mere material welfare was all tiiaf Masonry hael to look to . They were not to suppose that loelges were to become mere convivial clubs ( applause ) . They must keep

before the mind the fact that Masoniy had great practical duties , and the code that Masonry laid down was one of very high anel great morality . There was another temptation to guard against , viz ., the danger of allowing politics to have anything to do with the craft . A departure from the rule respecting this point , in which all Masons had been educated would be one of the most fatal blows which

ceuld be struck at English Freemasonry . Lastly he referred to the exclusion of the name of the Deity by the Grand Orient cf France , and said that foreign Freemasonry was distinctly contraslcel with Masonry in England , inasmuch as here it was a loyal supporter of the Constitution , while on the Continent it was to be found plotting and planning against existing order . Several other toasts followed .

The Princess Alice And The Irish Freemasons.

THE PRINCESS ALICE AND THE IRISH FREEMASONS .

" The Grand Lodge of Ireland at its last meeting adopted the following address of sympathy to Her Most Gracious Majesty on the death of . H . R . H . the Princess Alice , Grand Duchess of Hesse .

" To the Queen ' s Mcst Excellent Majesty . " May it please your Majesty , " We , the Freemasons of Ireland , in Grand Lodge assembled , respectfully approach your Most Gracious Majesty , in this your hour of sore trial , to tender our loyal and heartfelt sympathy for the irreparable loss you have sustained .

" The universal sorrow that prevades all classes of your subjects is participated in by none more deeply than bj the Masonic body . Recognising Ihe great and noble qualities of our late Royal Princess ( brought up to womanhood under the influence of your precepts and the example of your virtues ) which adelcd lustre to her high station ,

and endeared her alike to the countries of her biith anel of her adoption . Wc know that these very qualities make your loss the heavier , and your grief the more poignant , Wc would , however , venture most respectfully to suggest to you the consolation that she was all the meetcr for a better world ; and that few mothers , who have been blessed

with so numerous an offspring as your Majesty , have , like you , been for a period of near forty years exempt from a calamity such as that which has now fallen upon you . " We earnestly pray that God may sanctify this triaLto you , and give you strength to bear it .

" Signed on behalfgof Ihe Grand Lodge oE Ireland , "ABERCORN , " Granel Master . " " St . John ' s Day , " 271 I 1 December , i 8 ' / 8 . "

To which address the following reply has been received : " Osborne , "January 8 th , 18 79 . " My elear Duke , —

" 1 have laid before the Queen the address of condolence transmitted by you . 1 am commanded by Her Majesty to request that you will assure the Freemasons of Ireland that the Queen heartily appreciates the kind and loyal sentiments contained in their address , and

The Princess Alice And The Irish Freemasons.

I am to ask you to convey Her Majesty ' s sincere thanks to those gentlemen for their feeling expressions of sympathy . " Yours very truly , HENRY F . PONSONBY . " His Grace the Duke of Abercorn , K . G .

Wentworth Little Memorial.

WENTWORTH LITTLE MEMORIAL .

The following is the copy of a letter which is being sent to the lodges in the province of Middlesex . We are li 3 ppy to give it space in our columns , and trust il will meet wilh a rcaely response : — " Ancaster House , " Richmond Hill , "December 26 th , 1878 . " Dear W . M . and Brethren , —

" Knowing how fully our late Bro . Wentworth Little was esteemed and appreciated by every member of the Order , in the Province of Middlesex , anil that you and almost every member of your loelgc have seen and known the many and special benefits lhat the lodges in the province , and the province itself , have derived from his exertions , I feel that I am not asking too much from you , and

the brethren of your loelge , if I ask you anel them to make a special and handsome grant in support of the memorial now suggested by a committee , consisting of very influential nwmibcrs of the Order , towards his memory , and to be of some assistance to his widow eluring her life , and eventually to be invested for the benefit of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

It was mainly through his instrumentality and with the assistance of a few others that the province was formed and a Provincial Grand Master apppointcd in 1869 , at that time , consisting of a few loelges , but now a considerable number . For several years Bro . Little performed the duties of Prov . Grand Secretary with great advantage lo the province anel satisfaction to all around him , since which

he has served the office of Prov . S . G . Warden , and when he died he held the office of Deputy Grand Master of Middlesex . " Having frequently visited the different lodges in the province , and heard the opinion of the brethren as to Bro . Wentworth Little ' s services , I liust I am not asking too much of the brethren of the province , if thev will assist

the Committee with a eoiitiibuliun liom the leulge funds , and , of course , il would be a greater lonipliiiienl lo his memory should private contribution : ) from the members themselves be maele-. " Believe me , W . M . ami brethren , yours sincerely -itul fraternally , "FRAS . BUHDETT , P . G . M . Middx ., P . S . G . W . " and P . O . Sup ., and Representative from

"the Grand Lodge uf Scotland . " To the W . M . and brethren of lodges in the province of Middlesex . "

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

On Sunday evening last Canon Miller was appointed to preach in the Chapel Royal Savoy . At the hour of service a message was received , and read to the congregation , by the chaplain , announcing the sudden illness of the preacher . His place was filled l-y Bro . the Rev . II . J . Simpson , Past Grand Chaplain of England , the vector of St . Clement Danes . The Queen has been pleased to confer the

dignity of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath ( Civil Division ) upon the Marquis of 1 Icrtford . The directors of the Bank of England met on Thursday , and reduced the rale of discount from 5 to 4 per cent . THE DUULIN HOSI ' ITAL FUND . —Ihe total sum received in Dublin for the I lospilal Fund at the late collection was £ 1 . 232 , an improvement on the previous year . The Fifteen Sections will be worked in the

Covent Garden Lodge of Instruetiou , N . > . 1614 , meeting at Ashley ' s Hotel , Covent Garden , on Thursday nexl , the 23 rd inst ., by the members of the La Tolerance Lodge , No . 538 . Bro . E . Farwig , S . W . 180 , will preside . The New Concord Ball will take place at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , on Wednesday , February jth . Tickets and general information may be

obtained of Bro . W . H . Main , 171 , Kingsland-road . Bro . Lewis Alexander , P . M . 188 , has been unanimously re-elected President of the Benevolent Fund of the Joppa Lodge , No . ' 188 . TUB MAYOR OF LEICESTER . — For the second time Bre . Aid . Stretton , P . M ., P . G . S . W . Leicestershire anel Rutlandshire , is again occupying the civic chair at

Leicester , having been unanimously re-electcel in the place of the late Alderman Grimsley , who was elected to succeed Bro . Stretton on the 9 th of November last , but died suddenly , having only been in the office abnut a fortnight . The annual meeting of th * Prov . Grand Lodge of West Yorkshiic was held at Barnslcy on Wcdneselay last .

BID . R . W . Sir Henry Edwards presided . A . full repott will appear in our next . We regret having to record the death of Bro . Commander Charles Scott , R . N . The tail event took place suddenly on Thursday week , January 9 U 1 , at Strathroy , Omagh , Co-Tyrone . Bro . Scott was in his 48 th year .

MASONIC SONGS . — A selection of Masonic Songs , set to popular airs , written by Bro . E . P . Philpots M . D ., F . R . G . S ., is now ready , forming a handsome volume , bound in cloth , with gilt edges , 3 s . Sent post free from the office of this paper on receipt of stamps or post-office order value 3 s . 21 I . —ADVT .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Brethren desirous of possessing a copy of the Freemason Card Almanack for 1879 , with portraits of the Grand Masters of England , Ireland , and Scotland , should make an early application at the Office , 198 , Fleet-street , London . The publisher will be pleased to send a copy to any part of the United Kindom on receipt of 2 penny stamps .

The Echo , of Thursday week , announced that a sum of £ 400 or £ 500 is likely to come into the possession of a Greencck Lodge of Freemasons , under singular circumstances . More than a hundred years ago the lodge contributed £ 40 towards the cost of erecting a new Town House ; and in return a clause was inserted in the feu charter giving to the lodge a perpetual right to hold

meetings in the house for the transaction of their ordinary business . The Town House having been recently converted into the Town Clerk's office , it is no longer practicable to use it for Masonic purposes , and the lodge has asked £ 500 for the renunciation of its rights . The Greenock Town Council has offered £ 400 , which will probably be ' accepted by the lucky Masons .

DUKE OF LANCASTER LODCE ( 1353 ) . —We announced a fortnight ago that this lodge at their last monthly meeting passed a vote of condolence to her Majesty on the death of the Princess Alice . The vote of condolence was duly forwarded , and the W . M . of the Lodge , Bro . R . Wolfcneien , has since received the following reply : — Osborne , December 24 th , 1878 .

Sir , —I am commanded by the Queen to assure you that her Majesty feels very grateful for the loyal and touching expressions of conelolencc offered to her by the Worshipful Master , Wardens , and members of the Duke of Lancaster Loelge of Ancient , Free and Accepted Masons . I have the honour to be , Sir , your obedient servant , HENRY F . PONSONBY . R . Wolfenden , Esq .

tuii LIVERPOOL MASONIC BALL . —The 30 th annual grand Masonic ball in aid of the funds of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , under distinguished patronage , took place last Tuesday evening , the 14 th inst ., at the Town Hall , Liverpool—a building which , through the retrograde action of the enlightened corporation , will in future be closed to the public for similar purposes , and reserved only for Ihe special purpose of

entcitaining the " currant jelly " clement or polite society in Liverpool . Whether the public will tamely submit to such a deprivation of legitimate privileges yet remains to be seen . Meanwhile , our report of the ball is left over , but will probably appear next week , should space permit . The meetings of the Victoria Lodge , No . 1056 , arc now held at the Guildhall Tavern , Greshamslreet , City .

The Earl of Carnarvon , as Provincial Grand Master of Somerset , presided on Monday at the dedication of a Masonic Hall at Taunton , and about 200 brethren from all parts of the country were present . Lord Carnarvon spoke of the new hal' as an additional centre of masonic life in the province . At the banquet his lordship contrasted theloyality of English Freemasons with the planning and

plotting against existing order which characterised some organizations abroad . He urged on all fidelity to the principles of the craft . We learn from the City Press that Bro . George Burt having a short time since spent three months in making for the sake of his health , a very pleasant trip to Egypt , Greece , and Constantinople , has written an account

ot the journey , which has been printed for private circulation . The incidents narrated are of an interesting character , and the attention of the reader is by no means lessened by the genial and unassuming manner in which the story is told by the author . The Standard , which has outstripped its contemporaries in the length and excellence of its telegrams

from Afghanistan , has accomplished this creditable feat at an outlay almost unprecedented in the annals of English journalism . A single telegram cost upwards of £ 600 . The proprietors of the Standard are understood to have arranged for the use of a special wire to Paris , for which

£ 2000 a-ycar is to be paid to the Post Office authorities , and the service is to extend over three hours daily . An amateur evening concert in aid of the orphan child of Bro , G . Dawson , late of the Londesborough Lodge , No . 1681 , will be given at the Langham Hall , Great Portland-street , W ., on Monday week , the 27 th inst .

A grand Masonic gathering took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Globe ( No . 200 ) , to give due importance and eclat to the ceremony of the installation of the Worshipful Master , Brother Charles Emmerson , who was duly installed with all Masonic honours by Brother W . H . Smyth , R . W . P . G . M . ( Lincolnshire ) , assisted by Brother J . W . Woodall , P . M ., P . P . S ., G . W ., and Brother G . H . Walshaw , P . M ., P . P ., G . D . C . After the above

ceremony had been duly performed in the presenee of a large gathering of the craft , the Worshipful Master nominated and invested his several officers for the ensuing year , Subsequently the whole of the brethren present , and others not able to attend the above ceremonial , elined together in fhe Masonic Hall of the olel Globe Hotel . Amongst the numerous guests on Ihc occasion " was Sir Harcourt Johnstone , Bart ., M . P ., R . W . J . G . W . oE the Grand Lodge of England . —The Daily Chronicle .

Constitutions of the Ancient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regulations , E . A . Song , etc . A copy should be in the possession of every brother . It may be obtained for 2 s . at the office of the Freemason , or will be sent post free to any part of the Uniteil Kingdom on receipt of twenty-five penny stamps . Address , Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , London . — ADVT ,