Contents.

CONTENTS .

Consecration of the Stranton Lodge , No . iS < 5 * 559 The Royal Cumberland Lodge , No . 41 : 559 Masonic Charities o £ West Lancashire 56 ° Annual Dinner of thc Faith Lodge of Instruction , No . 141 S <> ° Province of Warwickshire 5 " ° Thc Roman Catholic Church and the Secret Societies S » i Burglarv at the Masonic Hall , Newport S ° Consecration of the William of Wykeham Loelge . No . 1 S 83 ... 561 REPORTS OF MASOXIC

Mt-CTiXfis—Craft Masonry . J * ! Instruction 5 y 3 Royal Arch 5 *? 4 Knights Templar 5 6 4 Ancient anil Accepted Rite 5 '" 4 Obituary 5 < 4 Masonic Notes anil Queries - •5 " 4 Reviews 5 ^ 5 Literary , Art , and Antieiiiarian Notes S * t LEADERS 5 & G The New Cerneau Council in America 5 ^ 6

CO . 'tRESro . VDEN'CEProposed Enlargement of the Roys' School jOj Roys' Preparatory School 5 ^ 7 High Grade Masonrv S ? Th : Status of Grand Officers $ <> The Mark Degree—a Suggestion 5 ° 7 The Grand Lodges of Scotland and Quebec 5 6 7 How ' s " Freemasons' Manual" 567

Royal Arch Regulations S *> ° Provincial Grand Lodge of Derby 5 uS Thc Un-Masonic Trial S 6 S The District Grand Mastership of Jamaica 5 68 Ancient and Acceptcel Rite 56 S Masonic and General Tidings 5 ^ 8 Lodge Meetings for Next Week I . Advertisements IL , III ., IV ., V „ VI .

Consecration Of The Stranton Lodge, No. 1862.

CONSECRATION OF THE STRANTON LODGE , No . 1862 .

On Saturday afternoon , the nth inst ., the consecration of the above lodge took place in the Athenamm , West Hartlepool , in the presence of a large assemblage of provincial and other officers , and of brethren of the Craft , the ceremony being performed by the R . W . P . G . M ., the Most

Hon . the Marquess of Londonderry , k . P . Ihe brethren met at et . 15 , and the lodge was opened in due form by the R . W . D . P . G . M . Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart . Among the brethren in attendance were Bros , the Marquess of Londonderry , P . G . M . ; Sir H . Williamson , D . P . G . M . ; Rev . J . J . Brown , Silksvvorth , acting P . G . Chaplain , 1389 ; W . H . Crookes , P . G . S . ; Joseph Dodds , M . P ., P . G . S . W . ;

Rev . Geo . Bulman , P . G . J . W . ; Chas . S . Lane , P . G . J . D . ; Dr . Gourley , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; Robert Hudson , P . M ., P . G . D . of C . ; George Grcenwell , P . A . G . D . of C . j M . Corbett , P . G . S . D . ; J . M . Meik , P . G . Reg . ; John Tillman , P . M . 949 P . P . G . S . of W . ; John Hunter , jun ., P . P . J . G . W . ; F . Torry , P . P . G . D . ; James Groves , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . W . Cameron , P . M . 7 64 , F . H . Bennett

I . P . M . 531 ; R . G . Salmon , W . M . 4 S 6 , P . G . D . C . of C . Northumberland ; W . M . Bell , P . M . 1557 , P . P . G . A . D . of C . Northumberland ; J . Ouincey , W . M . 531 ; Alex . Hey , P . M . 500 ; W . H . Fisher , P . M . 7 C 4 ; W . D . Coxon , P . M . 7 G 4 ; B . R . Huntley , P . M . 531 ; W . Hodgson , P . M . 7 C 4 ; W . J . Sivcvvright , P . P . G . P . 531 ; John Horsley , P . M . 531 ; T . J . Johnston , P . M . 531 ; * M . Snolforth . P . M .. tr-i : I . Wood . W . M .. -iS : T . Cordon .

P . M ., 443 ; S . Armstrong , P . M ., 531 ; W . Brandt , W . M ., 13 S 9 ; G . Carter , W . M ., 7 C 4 ; A . Farmer , P . M ., 1 S 4 S ; W . H . Cowper , P . M ., C 02 ; B . Boulton , P . M ., in , P . P . G . D . ; D . W . Dixon , P . M ., ifiiS ; G . Taylor , W . M ., iCiS ; H . N . Ground , P . M ., 1 G 1 S ; G . T . Pearson , P . M ., 7 C 4 ; E . Hudson , P . M ., 7 C 4 ; W . J . . Jones , P . S . W ., 97 ; G . Porteous , S . W ., 949 ; T . II . Sisslinp ,

bee , 764 ; W . Roe , J . D ., 7 G 4 ; R . W . Mcrryvveather , P . G . G ., 7 C 4 ; E . J . Fullerton , S . D ., 509 ; J . C . Moor , S . D ., 97 ; J . G . Smith , S . W ., 48 ; W . Gill , J . W ., Gi 2 ; L . M Hill , P . J . W ., 531 ; T . P . Tillman , S . W ., 13 S 9 ; I . S . Cowper , P . S . W ., 7 C 4 ; J . Stonehouse , S . D ., 7 G 4 ; II . Baumann , S . W ., 7134 ; T . Bell , S . W ., 1 S 4 S ; T . Dtckinssn , S . W ., 161 S ; J . Thompson , P . G . T ., 94 ; B . S . Bcckwith

, I . G ., 1230 ; A . Broughton , So ; N . W . Apperley , Granby Lodge ; W . H . Craven , So ; J . H . Alley , P . M ., 521 , and others . The lodge having been opened , prayer was offered by the acting P . G . Chaplain , after which the anthem , " The Glorious Majesty , " vvas sung by Bros . Whitehead , tenor ; Walker , alto ; I . Nutton , first bass ; and Wilkinson , bass . Trnm rtiii . l . i » . tf ^ oeeU-J- « 1 . ri- ~ Cl ..-. ^\ I u » _« - •_ . ^ uiueuuuucmde

. , ueu . yuiiicey , vv . m ., unicianng as organist . The Prov . G . S ., Bro . Crookes , read the petition and warrant for the new lodge , and tbe lodge was subse-2 > u £ n !* V consecrated by the Marquess of Londonderry , {•"I ., Sir Hedworth Williamson , D . P . G . M ., and Bro . J- W . Cameron , P . M ., the W . M . designate , who was afterwares installed in the chair of KSbBroDrGourley

.. y . . , Installing Master . The W . M . having been properly saluted , under the able direction of Bro . Hudson , the P . G . D . of C , cro . Lameron proceeded to invest the oflicers of the Stranton ^ ouge , No . 1 S 62 , in the following order : —Bros . Charles -V Lane , I . P . M . and D . C . ; F . H . Bennett , S . W . ; J . Brown . I . W .: I . N . Tav nr . T ™ .. ™ . 13 wr ~ . Ar . eeH

, fjmpson , Secretary ; R . R . Ofilvic . S l ) ' ¦ Thomas Metcalfe ID . ; J . t Wilson O ^; J * k Davison LG ? AtL-in ^ n - ' ' - ? , !} H' Hobso' - ' Steward . *; William WW ' 1 % ' / hereafter upon the proposal ofthe derrvV 1 c- ' ? r ftl "T ° ' ' , ? , ; thc M * " -qu « sof Londonoerry and Sir Hedworth Williamson acceded to the unanimous requests made , and became honorary members r osen In . ? " * * V ° P' / ter other busines ^ the lodge was nosed in due and solemn form .

Consecration Of The Stranton Lodge, No. 1862.

The consecration festival took place in the evening at the Royal Hotel , where a very sumptuous banquet vvas provided . The chair was taken by the W . M ., Bro . Cameron , and the vice-chairs by Bro . Bennett , S . W ., and Bro . J . Brown , J . W . The Chairman vvas supported on the richt by Bros , the R . W . P . G . M ., the Marquess of Londonderry , the R . W . D . P . G . M , Sir Hedworth Williamson , Dr . Gourley , Captain Youncr ; and on the left by Bros . C . S .

Lane , I . P . M . and D . of C . ; W . H . Crooks , P . G . S . ; J . Dodds , M . P ., P . P . G . S . W . ; W . M . Bell , P . M ., S * c ; Rev . G . Bulman ; and Rev . J . J . Brown . There wcrcalsa present Bros . N . W . Apperley , W . Atkinson , J . II . Baird , II . Baumann , T . II . Barraclough , John Belk , Thomas Blake , B . Boulton , W . Brands , G . Carter , W . II . Carter , W . D . Coxon , Dr . Crowe , Jos . Davison , R . Davison , Ilenay Dew , E . J . B . Ebdy , II . Erickscn , A . Farmer , W .

Fleetham , J . Garry , W . Gregory , H . N . Ground , James Groves , II . | . Hagan , John Hardy , Captain Gordon , R . B . Harpley , M . Harrison , L . M . Hill , J . Y . Hill , W . J . Hodgson , G . Horsley , J . Holland , J . Hood , T . S . Hudson , J . Hunter , R . Hutchinson , R . H . Lyon , W . Mayson , G . " Mitchell , J . C . Moor , Thomas Metcalfe , Edward Nixey , R . R . Ogilvie , G . T . Parson , H . Peele , T . Philips , Jos . Ouincey , W . Roe , George Scott , T . H . Sissling , R . W .

Simpson , Jos . Stobart , W . T . Tate , H . H . Taylor , J . N . Taylor , J . Tillman , T . Tillman , J . Tweddell , G . Walker , Jos . Wilson , and W . W . Brunton . Grace having been said , the CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of "The Queen and thc Craft . " ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN , in proposing "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and the Right Hon . Earl of Carnarvon . Pro G . M . of England , " said he hoped His Royal Highness

would long live to occupy the post of G . M . of England , and that they might continue to prosper as much in future years as they had done in the past . ( Loud applause . ) The CHAIRMAN next proposed "The Right Hon . Earl of Lathom , D . G . M ., and the other Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and Past . " ( Applause . ) The CHAIRMAN said he had particular pleasure in proposing the next toast , that of " The Health of the Marquess of

Londonderr }' , P . G . M . of Durham . " ( Loud applause . ) His lordship held the highest position in the county , and had recently been installed as the G . M . of the province , and while the responsibility and the honour were great , he was sure they were in very satisfactory hands . ( Applause . ) They had had a proof that his lordship vvas not desirous of shirking his responsibilities by the fact that he had agreed to take the chair at the Boys' Masonic Charity Festival next

June , when he hoped the province would give him such assistance and support as would be honourable to the province and creditable to themselves . ( Hear , hear . ) He vvas sure they all must feel _ exceedingly gratified that the P . G . M . had come and consecrated the Stranton Lodge that day . ( Applause . ) He had great pleasure in proposing the toast . ( Cheers . ) The Marquess of LONDONDERRY , P . G . M ., in respondinn-. thanked them most sincerelv for havinrr drunk his

health with the enthusiasm they had done , and he could only say it gave him great pleasure to visit Hartlepool as the P . G . M . of Durham . It had been a source of very great satisfaction and pleasure to him to come down to the consecration of the first lodr / c that had been formed since the time when H . R . H . the G . M . appointed him to the responsible position he had the honour to fill . As he said at his installation , he might say with regard to this ceremony

that he was still * . novice in the art ; but if he could express the feelings he had towards the Craft and the anxiety he had to make himself acquainted with the duties , he was certain it was " - " * endeavour to do the best he could to qualify himself foi the position he occupied , and do what he could for the welfare and prosperity of the Craft —( loud applause)—and to emulate the knowledge and science of his predecessor . ( Loud cheers . ) He expressed his

indebtedness to the kindness of the D . P . G . M . for his assistance . He also returned his thanks to the P . G . S ., the P . G . D . of C , vyhose absence he regretted , owing to a domestic affliction in his family . Other toasts were given with much cordiality . At intervals a very excellent selection of music was rendered bv

Bros . Whitehead , Walker , Nutton , and Wilkinson , to the great enjoyment of thc company . The arrangements of the whole of the proceedings , made by Bros . C . S . Lane and F . H . Bennett , were most complete and satisfactory , and the consecration and festival must tend to thc furtherance of the influence and prosperity of the Craft in the locality .

The Royal Cumberland Lodge, No. 41.

THE ROYAL CUMBERLAND LODGE , No . 41 .

Continued from page 54 S . Bro . W . J . Hughan has presented to us a valuable and rare old book entitled " Pocket Companion for Freemasons , " with the name of W . Smith attached to the preface . It was published in 1735 , and contains a list of all the lodges existing up to 1734 , in number 126 . On lookintr

over the regulations therein given , as they were approved by the Grand Lodge at a meeting held at Stationers' Hall , on June 24 th , 1 7 , it appears that in clause four it is enacted that " no man shall be made a Mason under the age of twenty-five , and that he must also be his own Master , unless by dispensation from the Grand Master

or his Deputy . " In thc list of lodges in this book is found " No . 2 S , Queen's Head , in the city of Bath , last Thursday 1724 . " lt may be here observed , that at that period the lodges had no distinctive titles other than those of thc inn at which the meetings were held . All the lodges enumerated before No . 28 belonged to London , so that without doubt Bath had the honour of receiving the first warrant from the

The Royal Cumberland Lodge, No. 41.

Grand Lodge of England for a country lodge , which fact was quite new to us . Observe that this is quite irrespective of the question as toourdirectdescentfrom thc lodge of 1724 . The present Royal Cumberland Lodge stands on the list in this book , as it also does in the list of 1736 at page 52 in Bro . Gould's history , thus : — " 113 , Bear , in the city of Bath , first and third Friday , March iSth , 1733 ; " the latter being intended as the date ofthe warrant , though , on

reference to the document itself , it is found that the real date is April 26 th , and this agrees with the Grand Lodge records , there being a discrepancy to the extent of nearl y six weeks . This possibly is explained by the one date referring to the granting of the warrant , and the other to its issue , or to thc constitution of the lodge . In Pine's Engraved List ot Lodges in 1740 there is still another difference , the date given being May iSth , which , as stated in Bro . Ashley ' s

history hy quotation from the minutes , is thc day when the lodge first met under the new warrant . Thus there appears to be confusion between thc granting of the warrant , its reception by the lodge , and its first meeting under it . To resume , after this digression on dates . As no other lodge existed at or near Bath in 1733 , the brethren who met under the warrant granted in that year must have hailed from the No . 2 S of the year 1724 , for on careful

examination of the records of Grand Lodge , the names of members of the 1724 Lodge are found up to 1729 , and then suddenly terminate , though the lodge appears to have been kept on the roll till 1736 . This seems tolerably conclusive evidence that the No . 2 S of the year 1724 ceased to have active existence , and that its members were absorbed in the new lodge , the No . 113 of 1733 , the 41 of the present date . Moreover , one name of a member of the No . 2 S of 1724 ,

St . John Smyth , is also recorded in our earliest minutes as a member of the Royal Cumberland in 1733 , and present both at the preliminary meeting in 1732 , and at its first meeting under the new warrant in May , 1733 . Assuming that our inference is correct—namely , that the Royal Cumberland may be traced directly as the continuation of the No . 2 S of 1724—another most interesting fact may be deduced from thc list in this old book—namely , that

our lodge vvas the first , and for a brief period the only one out of London , warranted by Lord Montague as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England . It is worthy o £ remark that two of the Fellow Crafts mentioned as present at the first meeting on "Friday , the iSthof May , " afterwards filled the Master ' s chair of the lodge—John Wiltshire in 1741 ; Thomas Bragg in 1737 and 174 6 , as recorded by Bro . Ashley . It is singular lhat though we do not find the

name of the other Fellow Craft , John West , on the register of Masters , that of Thomas West occurs as having ruled the lodge from 1793 to 1 S 03 . This may possibly have been his son . On examination of the list'of of 1736 , as given at page 51 of Bro . Gould ' s book , it is found that there were thirty lodges out of London whose warrants from the Grand Lodge were of anterior date to the Royal Cumberland of 1733 , nearly all of them only by one or two years ; but of

these , according to the calendar in the annual Masonic Pocket book , only four now exist—namely , those at Exeter , Chichester . Canterbury , and Boston . jThe number of such country lodges given in the book of 1835 presented by Bro . Hughan is 32 , of which four were abroad , at Gibraltar , Madrid , Paris , and India , [ and these are ' mentioned under the same numbers in both lists . On comparing these two registers , it is seen that while the ' numbers correspond , there

are discrepancies in the places of meeting of some of the lodges . As a specimen of difference while in two lists No . 8 is mentioned as meeting at " Daniel's Coffee House , Temple Bar , " in another it is described as held at "The Devil within Temple Bar , " the latter possibly being a mistake in copying , no doubt a fertile source of error . There are one or two circumstances connected with our lodge which will illustrate the facility with which important

local facts fall out of mind in a comparatively short period , and these should impress upon those in authority the duty of making our historical records as complete as possible , without infringing on what may not be revealed . At the recent commemoration meeting , Bro . Hughan stated that he had discovered the existence now , in a collection in America , of a medal , of which he produced a rubbing received from across the Atlantic only ' . that morning .

This proved to have been struck in celebration of the dedication of a Masonic Hall in Bath in 1 S 19 , at which the Duke of Sussex , as Grand Master , officiated in the presence of the Duke of Leinster , Grand Master of Ireland , six Prov . Grand Masters , thc chief of my first province , Warwickshire , being one , and eight hundred brethren . As the word Bath was not inscribed thereon , it was _ supposed that it referred to a Hall in London . On one side is a

representation of a building which still exists in Bath , though unfortunatel y it is no longer a Masonic Hall . The origin was discovered by Bro . Hughan only by the date on the medal , September 23 rd , 1819 , when the erection at Bath was completed and dedicated , and the error was corrected by reference to the records , of the Grand Lodge of England , of which he possesses a full and complete file from 1813 , the date of the Union , to 18 S 0 . Though the building of this

Hall vvas well known and mentioned by Bro , Ashley in his history of the lodge , not one brother present at our meeting vvas aware of the medal . I must , however , add that I have since met with one old and distinguished Mason who was conversant with the fact , and also that within the last few days one of these medals in silver has come to light in the possession of Bro . E . L . Hill , P . M . 006 , who was not

present at the meeting on October 7 th . In my copy of the 1829 edition of Preston ' s " Illustrations of Masonry " thiere is an account of this Masonic Festival at Bath occupy 3 g eight pages , but singularly there is no mention of the medal . Again , the three lodges at Wakefield , Falmouth , and Swansea did not know that their Worshipful Masters , as well as those of the Royal Cumberland Lodge , were