Royal Arch Masonry In Sheffield.

far back as 188 7 the two chapters in Sheffield , Paradise and Loyalty , combined with five others in neighbouring towns , and testified their appreciation of Comp . ENSOR DRURY ' S labours in the cause of Royal Arch Masonry by presenting him with the oil portrait of himself which now hangs on the walls of the

Sheffield Masonic Hall ; but great as his past efforts have been , we are assured by those who were present , that at no time has Comp . ENSOR D RI . 'RY more reverently done credit to himsell and justice to the ceremony than on the occasion referred to . Commenced with enthusiasm , inaugurated wilh devotion ,

sustained and supported by energy and ability , there is every reason to believe that thc new chapter , under the same guidance as the lodge to which it is attached , will steadfastly inculcate the errand and noble principles of the Order , will exercise discretion

in the admission of members , and will maintain to the full the well-deserved reputation which Freemasonry in Sheffield has undoubtedly acquired . We need scarcely add that our " Hearty crood wishes" go with Comp . JOHN HUNT and his associates , and that we shall follow with interest the career of the chapter which has commenced with auspices so favourable and promising .

Lane's "Masonic Records, 1717-1894."*

LANE'S "MASONIC RECORDS , 1717-1894 . " *

As this remarkable volume may now bc obtained from Bro . George Kenning , Great Queen-street , London , as well as from the Grand Lodge , it has occurred to me that a few particulars as to its special character and distinctive features would bc acceptable to main' of the subscribers to the Freemason ( in which the

work is advertised ) , who are at present hesitating as to purchasing copies . First of all , let me say that this is the second edition , and

much more complete and valuable than the first issue , though the original publication of 188 7 ( ijtj-i 8 S 6 ) was an extraordinary hook , and was thus aptly described b y Bro . R . F . Gould , tlie . Masonic

historian" It may , I think , be safely affirmed that those who may have the good fortune to possess Bro . Lane ' s work will be better posted up in all relating to our English lodges than ever the

ollicials of the Grand Lodge would bc without it . In my opinion , it is about the most useful Masonic publication lhat has appeared in our times , and to Secretaries of lodges it will be simply invaluable . "

My esteemed friend , Bro . John Lane , F . C . A ., has ransacked every possible source of information that might or could in any way throw any light on this particular subject , which he has made so thoroughly his own ; the result being a mass of facts never hitherto known or even suspected , and a great proportion

of which is not to be found in the archives of Grand Lodge . During thc last century especially , the lodges communicated hut little with head-quarters , and the ordinary " Returns " were not made until late in the century , as well as irregularly and far from completely as to changes in places of meeting and other details .

In the preparation of the 2 nd edition , particulars were solicited from all quarters . of the world , and every available "leans used in order that the needed facts might , wherever practicable , be obtained from the original sources . The labour

lor the first issue was very great , but that devoted to the compi' •ilioii of the 2 nd edition was still greater , the result being a massive volume , large ouarto size , of over < uo nacres of

closelvpnnted matter , the printing having been most admirably done " } ' Bros . M . C . Peck and Son , of Hull , who , likewise , had charge ° f the previous issue of 18 S 7 . I was in almost daily communicahon with Bro . Lane from the printing of the first sheet to the

LU'iipiction ot this truly wonderiul volume , as . well as noted its Progress whilst in MS ., so am familiar with the numerous difficulties involved in its preparation , the enormous correspondence 11 ontailed , and thc constant patience , careful supervision , and iJCciai

- discretion required in the examination of the thousands ° . ' acts , the deciding as to conflicting statements , the tantalizing ^ "oiicc of official records , and the embarrassing influx of details j the work progressed , requiring more than ordinary ability to acklc , arrange , and tabulate , as well as form into one compact Whole .

Lane's "Masonic Records, 1717-1894."*

To describe even the chief features of this colossal volume is far from easy , for it would require a small work really to do justice to this great book . I am not likely , though such a warm admirer of my friend ' s magnum , opus , to over-estimate or exaggerate thc extent of his labours , though some brethren may think

my descriptive account of the "Masonic Records , " or "Gazcteer of the Lodges , " rather lending in that direction . Only those , however , are at all likely so to think who know not the work * for the heartiest to praise are the students who know it best , and have , in some measure , travelled over the same ground , as Bro . Gould and myself .

Let it be remembered that this great volume gives all that has been traced , from all possible sources ( o date , of the whole of the 4095 lodges on the various English Grand Lodge registers from 1723 to 18 94 , including , therefore , all those of the four Grand Lodges and the United Grand Lodge of England , in regard to

thc dates of their constitution , dispensations and warrants ( original or confirmation ) , names and places of meetings , numbers held through the enumerations from 1729 , dates of centenary warrants , and other distinctive privileges , such as

special jewels , Freemasons' Hall medal , & c . The dates of erasures , with the causes thereof , are also noted , where possible , and when removed from our register lo join other Grand Lodges , their new numbers are indicated , and other particulars afforded to date of publication .

The general arrangement , or plan , of the work is as follows I , portrait of the author , as frontispiece ; 2 , title-page of 1895 ; 3 , imprint of M . C . Peck and Son , Hull ; 4 , dedication , by permission , to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , as Grand Master ; 5 , preface to thc second edition ( four pages ) , of a most valuable

character , and so ( 6 ) , the preface to the first edition ( 10 pages ) , the remarks as to the Act of 39 George III . being both interesting and instructive . Much of both is necessarily devoted to an account of the peculiarities involved in the study of many complicated and difficult questions affecting the origin , continuity

nomenclature , numeration , and localities of the lodges , especially early ' ast century , and immediately prior to the Union of December , 1813 . 7 , introduction by myself ( six pages ) , including a table of the Engraved Lists of Lodges , 1723-4 lo 177 8 ; 8 , Part I ., the Grand ' Lodge of All England , held at York ; Part II .,

the Grand Lodge of England , South of the River Trent ; Part III . ( a ) the Grand Lodge of England ( 1 $ ) , thc Grand Lodge of England , according to the old institutions ( c ) , the United

Grand Lodge of England ; Part IV ., lodges constituted or warranted abroad , but never registered iu the Books of either Grand Lodge . ( Not in the first edition . ) Part V ., index ( 56 pages ; and , g , list of subscribers ( four pages ) .

'The word " Index " takes up little space , but it means a great deal in this case , and to compile was quite beyond any ordinary mind . Had not Bro . Lane been naturally and professionally fond of figures , he could never have done this portion of the

work . // occupies j 6 pages , and includes , this time , an alphabetical list of names of lodges , in addition to the classified particulars , under Metropolitan , Country , or Provincial , Naval and Military , European , Asiatic , African , American , and Australasian lodges ( of English origin ) .

I need say no more to indicate the scope , exhaustive character , and importance of this monument of fidelity and research . A copy should be in every English lodge . W . J . HUGHAN .

The National Masonic Veterans' Association.

THE NATIONAL MASONIC VETERANS ' ASSOCIATION .

Reference having been made in your pages to the formation of the above Association , it is only natural that the facts of the matter should bc plainly put before your readers . For some time , members ol various kindred Associations in

America have met together at convenient limes and places , and exchanged ideas and reminiscences . These meeting's have always been looked forward to with interest , and they are remembered as pleasant re-unions .

Under the circumstances , it was natural that the desire to form a Socieiy , independent of any foreign Association , should be expressed , and the result of this desire is the existing organisation .

Its scope , from the beginning , was a national one , allowing however , for development or affiliation of similar organisations within the separate parts , which go to form the British Empire

and the Masonic world enclosed within that definition . No hard and fast rules have yet been formulated , neither is it the intention of the founders to attempt any such feat ; on the