Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS «) 3 , Lodgeof Ilenevolence < H Roval Masonic Itenevolent Institution i .. Coniecration of West Kent Chapter , No . U'J 7 'J * Time linmeinorial Lodges . —II 05

Worshipful Masters—III go ( i . 'illaul Conduct of Uro . Lieut . A . \ . Lindsay " ¦ > Consecration of a Royal Ark Mariners ' Lodge at Leicester .. ' . 97 Presentation to Bro . Charles llntciur 1 . 7

i ' resentation to Uro . Framiiton of Sunderlaml 17 ! Roval Arch " 7 ; Mark Masonry 117 Koyal Ark Marines 07 1 Ancient ami Accepted Rite 17 District ( Jrand I . oilj'c of New Zealand . 7 '

C llU ! iES | . ( lXnENTEl ' roviue al Returns to Ihe Charities c | S Apollo University l . udj . c IJS ' 1 be Forthcoming licncvolcnt li'stitutioll l- ' oliial uS Rolnst .-itenient of Members i ) S liro . Nine ' s Appeal uS

llei ; e ; iii _ . Masons .. IJS The Laic President ( larlield and the Grand Mark l . odi . e 01 ) Provincial ( hand Standard llcar-.-r oi ) Reviews II <> Masonic Notes and Ihierics 100 RKI ' . UIS or MASONU : MEEIIM . S—

Craft Masonry l . a Instruction 105 Tlie Theatres icii Music 1011 Science and An 100 Masonic aud ( leneral Tidings 107 l . nd .. c Mectim . s for Next Week IcS

Ar00101

H KVORK WC again greet onr readers the Festival of tli 2 U 0 y . 1 l Masonic Benevolent Institution will have taken place . Wc nce : l hardly say that wc wish it all success , and trust lhat tlic returns will gratify all the friends of this excellent , needed , and beneficial institution . Uro . T ERRY ' labours

for the charity he serves so well are too well known in lhc Craft to require eulogy from us , but wo feel we are not saying too much when wc express the heartfelt wish , that such efforts may be cheered with the reward , ( the best reward in his opinion wc know ) he so well merits , —a crowning festival . So mote it be .

IT will be seen by thc oflieial report of lhc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution lhat al the election in May there will be forty-seven male candidates and sixteen vacancies , and sixty-three female candidates and nine vacancies . Nineteen men and twelve widows will be elected , but of these

only sixteen men and nine widows will be absolutely elected ; llirec of each will be deferred elections , only to lake p lace as death vacancies in cither list occur . Owing to the state of ihe funds it is clearly impossible and unsafe to elect more , unless indeed the returns nf the festival are so good as to justify an inci-citsed number of elected candidates of both sexes . Let our readers ami brethien look to this—it is in their hands .

THK sad case alluded to so ably by our well-known and esteemed Hro . J . L . HIXK in last week ' s Freemason deserves the attention and sympathy of , our readers . Thc laws of our Order anil our Hoard of Benevolence only recognize the actual widows of l- ' iccmasons , and do not take cognizance of thc

case of those who cannot produce satisfactory proof of their husband s death , whose Masonic position entitles their widows to aid from Masonic funds . This is clearly a special and most abnormal case , and therefore vve think may fairly appeal to that Masonic sympathy and liberality which never are invoked in vain .

Our French brethren , always on the look out for an excitement , are now it seems raising the question of admitting ladies to the Order . We should have thought that the unfortunate experience , ' and the evil results of Androgyne Masonry , the Maconnerie d'Adoption of the

lastcentury , would liava convinced French Freemasons of thc folly and inexpediency of such proceedings . We can hardly believe that the story is true , and look upon it as a facetious canard . If it be really founded on fact ? , we trust that the ruling Masonic authorities in France , if any authority

exists in French Masonry , will put a summary slop to snch nonsense . If it reall y be the case , as appeared in our columns last week , it will only be another downward step in thc absolute degradation of French Freemasonry . We hope for a denial of t ! ic statement .

Buo . GOULD ' able paper on Time Immemorial lodges raises questions which are equally valuable and interesting for thc Masonic studrrnts . It is remarkable to realize how little we yet know of early eighteenth century , and much less of seventeenth century Masonry . There arc no minutes so far existing ,

or at any rate available , as far as we are aware , in the Grand Lodge archives before 1723 , though it is just possible that the old lodges Anti quity , Somerset House , Fortitude and Cumberland , may possess earl )' documents . We bave also heard that the St . Alban ' s Lodge has some

very old documents . There is , as far as wc can see , nothing for thc Masonic student but to plod on in patience and hope , trusting- that lime and circumstances may give him that information and those facts he now seeks for so earnestl y , but seeks amid every difficulty and drawback , and seeks so far , —in vain .

Ar00102

WE would impress upon all our readers , as wc have again touched upon the subject , that if they know of old papers or old books bearing on Masonry , ¦ ihey should not keep them lo themselves , bill should at once place themselves in communication with a Masonic expert . Among them maybe mentioned

liro . IIL ' . W , Truro ; Bro . GOULD , London ; Bro . WIIYTKIIEAD , York ; "MASONIC STUDENT , " London ; Bro . W . 11 . RYLWDS , London ; and then the true value of such finds will soon be ascertained , their importance attested , and their reality made known .

* * THE meeting of the Savage Club on Saturday last was very interesting for various reasons . The hearty reception of our Royal GRVND MASTER was a very striking feature in the evening ' s proceedings , and we can quite understand how those who were gathered together under that genial and .-esthetic

banner welcomed their new honorary member with loyal enthusiasm . We note man ) ' names of brethren of our Order among those who were present , and we , who warmly appreciate the thorough and dominant character of the Savage Club , venture to offer to it our sympathetic admiration , and our " I learty good wishes . "

* * Tuir Pennsylvania Freemasons are about lo celebrate their Grand Lodge l . V'th anniversary , at which natural fact some writers iu America affect doubts r'nd astonishment . The truth is , tha' . ignorance of Masonic history

prevails ; as in Knglnnd so in America . There is no Grand Lodge wilh an older lineage or safer title dectls than thc Gr . - . nd Lodge ol Pennsylvania , and it may fitly celebrate June - ' . | th , iSS . * ( D . Y . ) , its 15111 I 1 anniversary of actual Grand Lodge formation and work . All honour and prosperity to it

* * A ijREvr proof of the universality of Freemasonry was afforded us by the morning ' s post which greeted us al ihe oilice on February 1 . 1 th . There were letters and papers from India , New Zealand , Athens , Matlrid , America , Canada , I'Vance , Germany , and all parts of Fngland , Scotland , and Ireland . I'bique is , indeed , the great motto of Freemasonrv .

* * Wi : rejoice to note that our esteemed correspondent and able contributor , Bro . the Rev . W . Tr . r . iis , formerly Prov . Grand Chaplain for . Somersetshire , is working for Masonry in New Zealand , despite the many claims of his

very large parish—Si . Matthews , Auckland . He is now Prov . Grand Registrar of the District Grand Lodge , and writes to us cheerful accounts of his family and himself ( who are also improved in health ) , and of his ministerial and Masonic labours . Sonic kind contributions of his are on their way to us from New Zealand .

* * A NEW chapter was consecrated by M . l '' . Comp . Col . SHADWELL IL CLKRKE , G . S . K ., assisted by M . H . Comps . PHILIPS and A . MIIROSE W . IIU . L , on Saturday last . We call attention lo a special report of the interesting proceedings and speeches elsewhere .

* * Tin : installation meeting of the Aldersgate Lodge was a very successful one , an actual Lord Mayor and an ex Lord Mayor are somewhat of abnormal appearance at a Masonic meeting . The success of this excellent lodge is all that can be desired , and its good woik for the charities is truly commendable .

* * * OUR esteemed and worthy confrere of the Philadel phia Keystone is much exercized over what he terms the " rcsthctic insanity" of Mr . OSCAR WILDE , and that he is listened to , followed , cheered , and applauded . Believing that intemperance of thought and lasle is rampant just now , our brother editor

rejoices in the fact that this professor of august rcstheticism is not a Freemason , and he accordingly invokes the moderating teaching of Freemasonry , to restrain his morbid rusthctics and lo meet his intemperate conceits and his idosyncrasies . He then says : " He is a distorted extremist . The onl y middle course he ever steers is in parting his hair . His teachings make

feminine men and masculine women . We are the disciples of true beauty , but not of mock beauty on stilts . Grace in man and woman , and picturesqueness everywhere , are always to be upheld , but not their nambypamby burlesques . Give us the exemplification of the good old Masonic

foundation doctrines of truth and temperance , in speech and behaviour , in building and ornamentation , in dress and deportment , in business and in society , and banished over the sea be all those who teach or practice the false lessons of morbid art . " We will only add for the comfort and consolation of our friend and brother , whom we so much respect and admire , that we