United Orders Of The Temple And Malta.

UNITED ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND MALTA .

GREAT PRIORY . The half-yearly mf-etins : of the Nat ' onal Great Priory of England and Wales was held at Maik Masons' Hall , on Friday , the ioth inst .. the V . E . National Sub-Prior , the Karl of Euston , G . C . T ., on the throne . There were also present the V . E . Prov . Priors for Lancashire , Staffordshire , Leicestershire , and Warwickshire , and Somerset and Monnouth , the Great Officers and Officers of Great Priory , many Past Great Officers and Officers , and a numerous muster of Preceptors and other knights .

The National Great Prior )* having b ; en opened in ample form and the minutes of the last meeting read , the report of the Council was taken as read . The CHANCELLOR moved an address praying H . R . H . the M . E . and S . Grand Master to dissolve Convent General . The motion was s conded by the E . Knight FRANK RICHARDSON , and carried .

The CHANCELLOR moved that as the S ' . atutes are now out of print , the opportunity be taken for a thorough revision . The motion was seconded by the V . E . PROV . PRIOR for Lancashire , and carried . The V . E . GREAT SIB-PRIOR gave rxpre «* sion lo the s-incere regret with which the report of the deaths of the V . E . Knight Thomas William Tew ,

Prov . Prior for West Yoiks . and of the V . E . Knight Col . G . Noel Money , Prov . Prior for Kent and Surrey , bad been reteived . and moved that Grt-at Priory should manifest their feeling of sorrow fjr the loss of two such worthy and distinguished members of the Order , by passirg a vote of condolence with the relatives of the deceased knights . The motion was seconded by the V . E . PROV . PRIOR for Some set and Monmouth , and carried .

The Great Sub-Prior , in the name and on behalf of the Great Pnor , appointed and invested the Great Officers and Officers for the ensuing year , as follows :

Sir Knight li . Mitford Weigall ... ... G . Prelate „ R . Loveland Loveland , K . C . T . ... G . Chancellor ,, Sir Reginal Hanson , Bart ... ... G . Constable „ Major George Davie ... ... G . Marshal ,, R . Clutlon , K . C . T . ( elected ) ... G . Treasurer ,, R . H . Thrupp , K . C T . ... ... G . Registrar ,, Major . Gen . J . C Hay , C . B ., K . C . T .... G . Vice-Chancellor ,, Charles Belton ... ... ... G . Sub-Marshal „ Rev . P . R . Bent ... ... G . Almonerand Chap . ,, Lieut .-Col . Geo . Lambert , K . C . T . ... G . Warden of Regalia ,, Professor J , Reynolds Green ... G . Herald Dr . Hill Drury ... ... ... G . Std . Br . ( Beau . ) A . Green ... ... ... G . Std . Br . ( Vex . Belii ) „ B . H . Watts ... ... ... G . Priors Banner Br . ; : J . chS . . ::: ::: -JcAide-de-c ^ . ,, A . Woodiwiss ... ... ... G . Chamberlain ,, W . Stratford ... ... 7 r- r ^ it * 1 lir-ii i--. /¦! . _ i G . Capt . of i-ruards . „ Will Ii . Chapman ... ... ) y „ Major T . W . Richardson ... ... G . Swd . Br . ,, J . Paget Priestley ... ... G . Organist . On the G . Prelate designate being presented to the G . Sub-Prinr to be

invested , the E . Kn i ght the Rev . C . E . L . Wright offered for the acceptance of Great Priory a magnificent cope , which was accepted by the Earl of Euston on behalf of Great Priory . The following weie appointed and elected members of the Council for the ensuing year : —Appointed : M . E . Knights Col . H . S . Burney , Ralph Gooding , Frank Richardson , and Charles Belton . E ' e ted : M . E . Knights the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , Sir George Harris , T . VV . Coffin , James H . Keats , and Abraham Woodiwiss .

The Almoner collected the alms , and the Great Sub-Prior rlosed the Great Priory . A Priory of Malta , under the banner of the New Temple Precepiory , was afterwards opened , and nine knights of the Temple were admitted into the Order . The banquet was held at the Freemasons' Tavern , at which the Earl of Euston presided , supported by a large gathering of knights .

Order Of The Secret Monitor.

ORDER OF THE SECRET MONITOR .

THE ONLY CONCLAVE OF THIS IMPORTANT MASONIC BRANCH IN THE UNITED STATES . Frequent reference has been made in the columns of this paper to the Order of the Secret Monitor , and many have regarded it as something of recent origin . This is not the case . The Secret Monitor , as a Degree in Masonry , has undoubtedly been known and conferred for upwards of 100 years . It seems

altogether probable that it originated in this country prior to the Revolutionary War . About 1820 it was very popular , being then frequently mentioned as the Degree of David and Jonathan . During the anti-Masonic period , from 182610 1846 , very . little was done in this country in any of the orders of Masonry . When the various lodges which had survived the storm began to resume work , about the date last mentioned , they found much to do to again get in working order , to act

upon tbe many petitions which poured in upon them , and to confer the Degrees which followed the acceptance of those petitions . Under these circumstances , the David and Jonathan , or Secret Monitor Degree , was only occasionally conferred , and then in a gteatly abbreviated form . Some of its most interesting features had been in a measure forgotten by those who had not exemplified the work in 30 or 40 years .

Some years ago , however , the Degree was taken to England and at once became popular , organised conclaves and a Grand Conclave being soon established . About that time Dr . D . C . Perkins , now of this city , being then a student of medicine in Hanover , N . H ., obtained the Degree and soon after introduced it in Maine with nearly all it-. * original ceremonies . About one year ago Dr . Perkins ' attention was called by Judge C . E . Meservey to an aiticle in a Masonic journal ,

giving the particulars already mentioned of what had been done in Kngland . Correspondence with the Grand Secretary in that country was at once begun by Dr . Perkins , and it being learned that a charter could be obtained if sufficient interest was shown the malter was quietly urged by the two gentlemen named , with the result that some 50 or more entered the organisation as charter members . These include many of the leading Masons in this rity and neighbouring towns . The Grand Council granted the request and on receipt of the petition q

Order Of The Secret Monitor.

charter or warrant was made up and forwarded to the Earl of Warwick for his signature , but was lost in the mail . This caused considerable delay and not being able to trace the first , a new one was issued , which , receiving the necessary signatures , was forwarded to Dr . Perkins and was duly received by him . The charter or warrant provides that the stated meetings should be held on the fourth Thursday of each month so nothing could be done under it until Thursday

evening . This was the first meeting of the conclave and was the first and only meeting of its kind ever held in this country . The brethren , realising that this was the lirst conclave in America decided to name it t' . ie Pioneer Conclave . The number 24 is that given by the Grand Council , this being the 24 th conclave so far as known in the world .

Last Thursday evening the conclave was duly organised and the officers installed by Dr . Perkins , who had been duly commissioned Right Worthy Grand Councillor by the Grand Council of England . The charter members are : Bros . D . C . Perkins , C . E . Meservey , J . F . Gregory , H . M . Sanborn , D . G . Morey , F . T . Barker , J . B . Higgins , Henry Jenkins , W . L . Rhodes , Tobias Smalley , C . E . Marshall , F . A . Peterson , F . L Lampson , C . H . Pendleton , A . L . Richardson ,

John H . Brix , John Johnson , A . P . St . Clair , G . E . Clark , Joseph Ham , R . H . Carey , Elias Larrabee , W . H . Kittredge , C . E . Tuttle , D . A . Friend , J . F . Oilman , Lincoln Snow , H . B . Eaton , C . A . Sylvester , W . H . Meservey , L . M . Kenniston , Kennett Johnson , G . O . Andrews , J . H . Ham , Daniel McCloud , Thomas Hawken , J . A . Stover , F . C . Flint , O . E . Hahn , J . F . Hall , Nathaniel Ward , William Whitney , L . H . Snow , Benj . Williams , C . C . Cross , John Pettengill , George W . Story , G . S . Clark , J . B . Porter , I . T . Lothrop .

Officers were installed as follows : Bros . C . E . Meservey , Supreme Ruler ; F . A Peterson , Councillor ; A . P . St . Clair , Guide ; J . F . Gregory , Treas . ; L . S . Robinson , Sec . ; E . P . Rollins , J . B . Higgins , O . E . Hahn , and Lincoln Snow , Visiting Deacons ; G . O . Andrews , D . C . ; Joseph Ham , Guarder ; Rev . John Pettengill , Chap . ; Henry Jenkins , Stwd . ; and William Whitney , Sentinel .

These officers have had experience in the work of Masonic organisations , and in their hands Pioneer Conclave , No . 24 , will be able to perform the work acccording to the rituals furnished by the Grand Council in a creditable and impressive mannner , although they labour under the disadvantage of not having seen the Degrees actually conferred . —Rockland Express .

Reponement Of Lodge St. John, No. 162, At Newabbey.

REPONEMENT OF LODGE ST . JOHN , No . 162 , AT NEWABBEY .

The Lodge of St . John ' s , Newabbey , No . 162 , established in the year 1785 , had in the early part of this century a vt * ry solid footing in the neighbourhood of the Lady Devorgilla ' s classic pile , as is attested to this day by the substantial building , now converted to the purposes of . 1 parish hall , which bears on its front the

inscription : " Masons' Lodge , 180 ( 1 . " But its history was a long one of decadence , and for a period of some 20 years it has been altogether dormant . Saturday , the 27 th ult ., saw it started on a new career , with the aid of a number of brethren from Dumfries , who have associated themselves with the few surviving members of the old lodge and a number of new initiates in order to help with the work of reorganisation .

The ceremony of reponemenf was performed by Bro . Maj . the Hon . Hew Dalrymple ( third son of the Earl of Stair , K . T . ) , Prov . G . M . of Wigtown and Kirkcudbright ; snd some 60 members of the Craft attended to assist on the interesting occasion . Considerable contingents came from Dumfries ( al ! the four lodges being represented ) , Castle-Douglas and Stranraer ; and there were smaller delegations from Dalbeattie , Creetown , Glenluce . and Lockerbie .

The Provincial Grand Master was attended by the following office-bearers of the province : Bros . Maj . M'HaHie , P . G . M . depute ; James Lock , S . W . ; James Brand , J . W . ; IL H . Adair , Sec . ; Robert B . Dyer , Treas . ; J . W . M'Donald , S . D . ; Major W . Kerr , acting J . D . ; C . S . Robertson , Bible-Bearer ; John Cameron , I . G . ; and John M'Oriston , Tyler . Bro . W . A . Dinwiddle , Substitute Provincial Grand Master of Dumfriesshire , and the following other office-bearers of the sister

province supported the P . G . M ., vi / .: Bros . Bailie Glover , J . W . ; James Smith , Treas . ; L . M . Dinwiddie , Bard ; John Houlison , D . C ; James Geddes , and David A . Keppie , Stwds . ; and Joseph Black , Tyler . The ceremony , which began at three o ' clock , took place in the commodious and comfortable Oddfellows' Hall of the village . The requisite furniture for a Masonic lodge has been provided by the gifts of various friends , viz .: Bros . Sulley ,

Ireland , and Smith , Dumfries , and Bro . Adam Edgar , Newabbey ; and the different articles of carpentery have been made to their order in a thoroughly workmanlike manner by Mr . Alex . Fergusson , joiner , Maxwelltown . The original charter has fortunately been preserved , and also the jewels appropriate to the various offices , so that the lodge starts anew with a very satisfactory equipment .

The lodge having been opened in the Third Degree by the office-bearers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the P . G . Secretary presented to the P . G . M . the charter of Lodge St . John , Newabbey , and the Grand Lodge certificate for its reponement . It was then intimated that the following office-bearers had been chosen by the members , and their election was now formerly ratified , viz . : Bros .

Philip Sulley , R . W . M . ; James Smith , Depute Master ; Dean Currie , Substitute Master ; R . M'L . Ireland , Senior Warden ; Dr . Cameron , Junior Warden ; Adam Edgar , Secretary ; Thomas Thomson , Treasurer ; and William Irving , Senior Deacon . These brethren were installed in office , with the exception of Bro . Ireland , who was prevented by illness from attending , and the P . G . M . vacated the chair in favour of the new R . W . M .

Bro . SULLEY returned to the Provincial Grand Master the grateful thanks of the members for his presence and for the part he had taken in the re-opening of this ancient lodge . He also thanked the lodge for the honour they had conferred upon himself . When this was first talked about his wisn and the intention was that one of the old members should take the chair , and he should be his deputy and do the work ; but unfortunately none of them would face the ordeal . He

proceeded to give a brief sketch of the history of the lodge . St . John s Lodge , Newabbey , No . 162 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , he said , came into existence on the Sth August , 1785 , when a warrant was granted to a number of Masons resident in , and near , the village to assemble and act as a regular Iodge This warrant was followed by the charter , dated 7 th November , 1785 , under which the lodge celebrated its first St . John ' s Festival , and drew up a code of rules ot

by-laws . Someof these are peculiar . Anyone swearing at or striking another was fined 6 d . ; for laughing and unseemly behaviour , is . ; for interrupting , 2 d . To refuse office when nominated cost 2 s . 6 d . ; to absent oneself from the St . John's dinner , is . Thebrethren were in close connection with the P . G . Lodgeof Dumfries , attended meetings , charging 3 s . a head for expenses , and assisting at the laying of the foundation-stone of the new jail and court house . From 1809 to 1819 there was a wonderful boom in Masonry at Newabbey , no

fewer than 158 persons being admitted ; while the number from 1803 to 1822 was 182 , almost the whole male population of the country side . This is difficult to understand , but many seem to have been seafaring men and strangers . The fees then amounted only to 15 s ., and even this was not often paid , so much so that the lodge gradually dwindled and dried up , till the fine supper and ball on St . John ' s was followed by a supper at is . and drink at a moderate cost . Meetings are recorded only in 1839 , 18 43 , and 1848 , in which year Bro . Isaac Wood became Master for the first time , and matters improved . There were 15 initiates