Freemasonry In Northamptonshire And Hunts.

three years , the number of lodges had been exactly tripled , must be regarded as justifiable . However , in 1 S 52 , was established , ' in Thrapstone , the Chichester , No . 607 . The year 1 S 58 witnessed the birth of the Wentworth Lodge , No . 737 , Wellingborough , and then again there would appear to have becn a further period of contentment . At all events , an interval of twenty years passed without the addit ion of any new lodges to the roll , nor was it till the year 1 S 7 S that the

brethren in Northampton , being well assured of the security of their position , obtained a warrant of constitution for a new lodge , bearing the style and title of the Eleanor Cross Lodge , No . 1764 , of Northampton . Thus there are in all nine lodges in the province , three of which , namely , No . 360 , of Northampton , No . 442 , of Peterborough , and No . 466 , of Stamford , have Royal Arch Chapters attached to them . Royal Arch Masonry , however , has not

apparently developed itself in sufficient strength to be thought worthy of having assigned to it a provincial organisation . There is a P . G . Loilgc , but not a P . G . Chapter . The present Grand Master , or rather , as we believe we shall be most correct in describing him , the recentlyresigned P . G . Master , the Duke of Manchester , has , during a presidency of some seventeen years , carefully watched over the interests of the Craft in the province committed to his care . He has , too , on occasions , taken the leading part

at our Charitable festivals , and the province has liberally supported him in his efforts to promote the welfare of our Institutions . As regards his grace , this is not very surprising , for one of his ancestors who flourished during last century for some time guided the destinies of the whole Craft , nor will the knowledge that his grace ' s deputy is Bro . Butler Wilkins . Can it be matter for wonder that the brethren of Northamptonshire and Hunts should have exhibited a zeal and activity which is to be highly commended ? We trust this fortunate state of things will continue .

The Allied Degrees Of England And Wales.

THE ALLIED DEGREES OF ENGLAND AND WALES .

At a meeting of the Great Orme Council , No . 5 , held at the Freemasons' Hall , Llandudno , North Wales , on the 9 th inst ., Bro . Capt . Hunter , P . P . G . M . of Aberdeenshire East , and Grand Representative of Greece , Secretary 32 ° , & c ., & c , in the chair of W . M .

The council being opened he admitted the following brethren into the Degrees of St . Laurence the Martyr , and afterwards to Knights of Constantinople : W . Bros . Geo . L . Woodley , P . M . 755 , P . P . G . D . North Wales and Salop ; R . S . Chamberlain , P . M . 755 ; Thos . Davies , I . P . M . 755 ; Thos . Pike , P . M . 755 ; Bros . J . T . Purvis , S . W . 755 ; G . F . Felton , Onranist 7 . **** ; P . M . Evans , Jun . Steward

755 . Through the absence of the V . W . Bro . Major Tudor , P . G . M . elect for Staffordshire , and V . W . Bro . Wm Bulkeley Hughes , M . P ., Deputy P . G . M . of North Wales and Salop , Bro . Major Gordon Warren , P . M . 1575 , and others who were to have taken the Degrees , the VV . M . did not confer ashe had intended on the Royal Arch companions the Orders of High Priest and the Red Cross of Babylon ,

as he desired that all the companions should take all the Degrees if possible together . - A hearty vote of thanks was proposed by VV . Bro . CHAMBERLAIN , and seconded by W . Bro . T . DAVIES , I . P . M . 755 , to XV . Bro . Captain Hunter for having obtained a warrant from England to work the Degrees , and the pleasure it gave the brethren in participating in the many Masonic Orders , namely , the Mark Degree , the Allied

Degrees , and Royal Ark Mariner , which were not known in Wales until Captain Hunter introduced them , and took an active interest in their workings . There being no further business the council was closed , after which the brethren dined together at the Imperial Hotel , where the usual Royal and Masonic toasts were honoured . The brethren afterwards separated before the departure of the last train from Llandudno , well pleased with the evening which had been spent .

Grand Lodge Of New Jersey.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW JERSEY .

The ninety-fourth Annual Communication of the M . W . Grand Lodge of New Jersey was held at Trenton recently . It was a very harmonious session , and very largely attended . The address of M . W . Bro . Hamilton Wallis , Grand

Master , was an able and interesting production , worthy of its scholarly author . One new lodge—Mariners , No . 150 , ' at Barnegat—was warranted . The bye laws were amended so as to constitute three new districts , for which districts Deputy Grand Masters will be appointed . The following are the Grand Officers for the ensuing

year : Bro . Joseph Martin , 27 M . W . G . M . „ William Hardacre , 15 R . W . D . G . M .

„ Rev . Henry Vehslage , 10 R . W . S . G . W . „ Joseph VV . Congdon , SS R . VV . ] . G . W . „ Charles Bcchtel , 5 . . * . R . VV . G . Treas . „ loseph II . Hough , 7 G R . VV . G . Sec . ,, T . H . R . Redw _ y , 19 R . W . D . G . Sec .

,, Rev . Gustavus M . Murray , ... R . VV . G . Chap . „ John Whittaker , 12 G W . G . S . D . „ Thomas E . Cooper , 87 W . G . J . D . „ Charles Russ , 33 W . G . Marsh . „ Charles H . Brinkcrhoff , 39 ... W . S . G . Stwd . „ Albert F . Randolph , 2 VV . J . G . Stwd . „ Thomas Cook , 9 W . G . Swd . Br .

„ George W . Fortmeycr , 124 ... W . G . Purs . „ Heber Wells , 80 R . VV . G . Instr . „ Amos Howell , 5 G . Tyler . Of these ofiicers , VV . Bro . John Whittaker , Senior Grand Deacon , will be recognised by some of our Philadelphia brethren as a former member of the Franklin Lodge , No . 134 , Philadelphia ; and Bro . Murray , the Grand Chaplain , was also formerly a Philadelphian . The thanks of the Grand Lodge were voted to the retiring

Grand Master , who declined a re-election , and a committee , consisting of Past Grand Master Bros . Marshall B . Smith , William A . Pcmbrook , and William E . Pine , was appointed to prepare and present to him a Past Grand Master's jewel , in the name of the Grand Lodge . Our old Grand Lodge is approaching hcr hundredth year , and when that time comes our brethren of the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania will , no doubt , be fraternally remembered . —Keystone , Philadelphia .

Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE .

We have received the following from America : Many inquiries reaching us as to the so called " Cerneau Council" now pretending to confer the Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in this city ancl elsewhere , we deem it a duty to give briefly the actual facts in

the case , so that if henceforward any of our brethren arc led astray by the officers and members of this clandestine organisation , it will be due to perversity and not ignorance , and by preserving this letter you will , as occasion requires , be able to refresh your memories . The earliest Supreme Council Thirty-Third _ Degree is that now governing the Rite in the Southern Jurisdiction of

the United States , with its See at Charleston , S . C , organised in 1 S 01 . The next in order of date was thc Cerneau Council , organised by Joseph Cerneau in 1 S 07 , and third the De La Motta Council , organised in 1 S 13 . These organisations existed with varying fortunes until the event of the anti-Masonic excitement in 1 S 26 , when

they all became dormant . The first to revive was the Cerneau Council , in 1 S 43 , then followed the Gourgas Council , in 1 S 4 S , having its See in New York City , but removing to Boston in 1 S 51 or 1 S 52 , then known as the Gourgas Council there . In 1 S 60 the Gourgas Council became divided . It was then called the Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction .

Tlie division created two Supreme Councils , viz .: one known as the Raymond , the other as the Gourgas , making four Supreme Councils in the United States , three of which were in the Northern Jurisdiction . III . Albert Pike commanded the Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction . 111 . Kitlian H . Van Rensselaer commanded one of the

Supreme Councils of the Northern Jurisdiction ; III . E . A . Raymond commanded the other ; while the Cerneau Council was commanded by 111 . Edmund B . Hays , and of which , on the 18 th of September , 18 G 1 , Bro . Harry J . Seymour became Grand Master of Ceremonies . Amid the contentions for supremacy in the Northern Jurisdiction , on the 7 th February , 1 SG 3 , a solemn treaty of union was entered

into between the Supreme Councils commanded by E . A . Raymond and Edmund B . Hays—the body taking the name of the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Rite for the United States of America , its Territories and Dependencies , with HI . E . B . Hays as Grand Commander , E . A . Raymond as Deputy Grand Commander , Bro . Harry J . Seymour being the Grand Master of Ceremonies .

Thus , all there ever was of the Cerneau Supreme Council was then merged beyond the power of any combination of Inspectors-General to revive it . There still remained three Supreme Councils in the United States . The newly united ( Ccrneau-Raymond ) Council progressed successfully and actively , having its Grand East at New

York City . At all its sessions , Bro . Seymour was in attendance , discharging his duties as Grand Master of Ceremonies , up to and including the session of October 19 th , 20 th , and 21 st , of 1864 . On the last day of this session , to wit , October 21 , a regular election of officers took place . Edmund B . Hays was re-elected Grand Commander , but Harrv I . Seymour was superseded by Charles T .

McClenachan as Grand Master of Ceremonies ; from this time forward Bro . Seymour remained away from the Supreme Council . At a session of the council , held September nth , 1 S 65 , Bro . Hays presiding—of which council Bro . Seymour was an active member—charges of unmasonic conduct were preferred against the said H . J . Seymour , referred to a

commission for trial , which commission was composed wholly of those who were originally members of the late Cerneau Council . The charges being fully sustained , on the 14 th December , ' following , his membership in the Rite terminated from that date . In the meantime ( October 22 , 1 SG 5 ) , the Cerneau-Raymond Council had changed its title from " Supreme Council

for the United States of America , its Territories and Dependencies , " to " Supreme Council for the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States , " thus , leaving two Bodies with the same title , one having its Sec at New York , and the other at Boston . On the 17 th of May , 1 SG 7 , these two councils settled upon terms of consolidation , each unanimously agreeing to give

up its separate existence , and to become constituent parts of the body now known as the Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States , of which Hon . Josiah H . Drummond was then elected Grand Commander , and re-elected , until September , 1 S 79 , when the Hon . Henry L . Palmer was elected , and still is Sov . Grand Commander . It will thus be seen that the Cerneau Council , by its own

voluntary and unanimous act , dissolved its organisations , and that there exists no power to revive it , and it necessarily follows that the membership of Mr . Seymour having been lawfully terminated two years previous to thc final union of the Cerneau , Raymond , and Van Rensselaer Councils could neither take part in the dissolution of thc one or in the formation of the united body .

The names of prominent members of the Supreme Council for thc Northern Jurisdiction are mentioned as having formerly belonged to the Cerneau Council , lt is quite true that they did , but when , by the union in 1 SG 3 , and the final union in JSG 7 , the Cerneau organisation was merged , its members then , as men of , honour , transferred their allegiance to the present Supreme Council for thc Northern

Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States , and , with one accord , they deny the right of any man , or body of men , to revive either of the Councils which , as active members , they united with its other members in finally dissolving . It is asserted that Seymour and his adherents claim to have thc original charter of the Cerneau Council . A Grand Body has no charter , no Supreme Council has , nor does it require , a charter . From whom could it come ?

it being Supreme ! Has any Grand Lodge a charter ? It follows therefore , that no such document now exists ; the parchment claimed to be the original charter is simply an old warrant of a subordinate body of another Rite , as any one who reads French will discover , on examination of the Relic ! This clandestine Cerneau Bod y has not becn recognised by any lawful Supreme Council in the world , nor can it or any of its members ever be , in these days of enli g htenment —so , brethren wishing to unite in the fortunes of a clan-

Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite.

destine organisation will have only themselves to thank for thc disappointment they arc preparing for the future . — John W . Simons , 33 ; R . B . Folger , 33 ° ; Daniel Sickels , 33 ° ; John L . Lewis , 33 ; Clinton F . Paige , 33 ; C . T . McClenachan , 33 ° ; Joseph D . Evans . 33 ° ; Henry C . Banks , 33 ° ; Albert G . Goodall , 33 ° ; Hopkins Thompson , 33 ; Charles Roome , 33 ; Jesse B . Anthonj-, 33 ; and Horace S . Taylor , 33 .

The above named illustrious brethren were formcly members of the various councils enumerated , but since 1 SG 7 have been active and emeritus members of the Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States . R . M . C . GRAHAM , 33 , Deputy of the Supreme Council for ths State of New York . New York , Jan . 28 th , 1 SS 1 .

Women And Masonry.

WOMEN AND MASONRY .

At a late Masonic banquet E . P . Brown , a Cincinnati humorist , thus delivered himself in response to "The Ladies : " It may be a light matter for you , brethren , to ' conscript me in this way , but it is far from being such to me . Do you realise what you have called upon me to do ? Have you for one single instant considered the magnitude of the task

you have thrust upon me ? You have not , or that farreaching Charity which makes its headquarters in this lodge-room would have spared me . You impose upon me a task that would have made Hercules turn pale and feel like a small boy with a boil on his elbow . You ask me to enlighten you upon a subject that has always been incomprehensible to the minds of men , from the beginning of humanity down to the last new bonnet—in fact , ever since

the morning when the first woman filled her pretty eyes with tears , put on her water-proof , and went home to her mother in high dudgeon , with what she conceived to be a broken heart , and a deep seated impression that her hubby was a beast , because he persisted in going to the lodge every other night . From that unfortunate moment , I say , up to the present time , woman has been a riddle that no man could guess , and yet not one of them would give her

up . The little boy wasn t far out of the way when he said , " Man is a mister , and woman is a mystery . " But a mystery , you know , is always attractive until it is solved and understood , and as the ladies never have been , and never will be fully understood , it is safe to say the time will never come when they will cease to be attractive . My subject is an old one , or at least of uncertain age , but a most interesting one , especially in the

morning of youth ; in the days of the first budding moustache , when John Henry looks into the lovelit eyes of Mary Eile e n , and sees in their limpid depths everything in this world worth looking for and a large slice of heaven besides . For him the magic pencil of inspiration itself can produce nothing brighter than the sweet look of affectionate confidence that beams upon him at the moment of betrothal , and fills his heart with noble aspirations and a new born interest in the

market value of household and kitchen furniture . In tl ni priceless gems of coronets can be found no jewel th ] , at shines with brighter and purer light than the eyes of lov e . Brawny smith and relentless anvil have never forged a more binding fetter than has been found in one little tin , y golden curl ; and , in all the marvels of mechanism , where , 1 * ask , can you find anything in machinery [ that can keep up with a woman ' s tongue , without a break oc a smash up ?

In many respects women and Masonry strongly resemble each other . Both are celebrated foe their good works , v Masonry is the handmaid of religion ; so , also , is woman . The mission of Masonry is to relieve the suffering , minister to the distressed , comfort the afflicted , and watch by the bedside of disease and death , and in all these good offices the soft hand of woman is never missing . Masonry has

signs and symbols to remind its members of the cardinal virtues , but in women they are all manifest , even to a nearsighted man like myself , and require no gilt or tinseled emblems to advertise their presence . Masonry has its altar , upon which arc pledged vows ot fraternity and virtue , but not more sacred is it than the altar of woman ' s heart , which never shrinks from sacrifice in behalf of those she loves .

Masonry raises man to sublime degrees of beauty , prunes his heart of vice , and implants in their stead vines of virtue and flowers of fragrant goodness . Woman"" raises " him also—if he happens to stay late at the lodge , to sublime degrees of consternation and infinite amazement at the high-pressure endurance of her vocal machinery , while she plants on his alabaster brow a hand that means business and destruction to hair , as she twines her taper fingers in

his ringlets , and enquires , with an inflection that pries up the shingles , if this thing is to go on for ever ! Masonry has its jewels , but none to compare with women—at least many of the brethren think so . In the hands of the Master the gavel is one of the most impressive instruments , asd never fails to enforce silence , but , in a match for asilver cup , brethren , don't you think it would come out about a neck behind the rolling-pin in some Iodn . es you could name ?

How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in peace and unity ! The wise man didn't say anything about thc sisters getting along together in that same way , because in his wisdom he could sec that it was one of the things that "couldn't be did . " But talk about the compasses binding the brethren together in fraternal love ! Where , may I ask , can be found a greater love , without the walls of Heaven , than that encircled by a mother ' s

arms when they enfold their lirst-born babe ? To Masonic cars the square speaks volumes , enjoiningcorrcct principles and upright conduct toward all mankind ; but which , think you , has done most to make men honest , good , and honourable in all the relations of life—the square , which we revere so highly , or that formed by the bended limbs of childhood at the mother ' s knee , lisping forth the first prayer ? The "lights " of Masonry have thrown their pure and life rays into all the dark cornersof the earth , and have

done much to make the world brighter and better ; but , though the beneficent influence of our beloved Fraternity stands as high with me as with thc next brother , I am ready to concede that the bright lights typified in female eyes have penetrated farther , and have done much , aye , much more—and 1 say it with no irreverence—to make life sweet , and beautiful , and grand , than all thc lights of Afasonry put together . And yet , though our good sisters so strongly resemble Masonry , they have always been more or less antagonistic