A Record Of Four Days Of Masonic Work At York.

C umbcrland , the Immediate Past Preceptor , who opened the preceptory . There were also present amongst the members and visitors Fratres G . Simpson , Const . ; W . Lawton , P . E . P . ; Sir James Meek , P . E . P . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . E . P ., P . G . Capt . of Guards ; J . W . Woodall , P . E . P ., G . St . B . ; G . Allthorp , P . E . P . ( Bradford ); T . Monckman , P . E . P . ( Bradford ); J . L . Atherton , E . P . ( Bradford ); S . iMiddleton , E . P . ( Scarbro' ); C . Rutter Fry ,

E . P . ( Darlington ); G . Roper , Rev . W . C . Lukis ( Fidelity ) , J . A . Bindley ( Melita ) , S . F . Bousfield ( Royal Kent ) , T . Ness ( Darlington ) , J . G . Wilson , T . W . Wilson , M . Millington , and A . T . B . Turner . Allusion was made to the decease of the Sub Prior of the province , Frater J . F . Holden , of Hull , and the acting E . P ., in the name of the preceptory , congratulated Frater J . W . Woodall upon his nomination by the Prov . Prior , Lord Londesborough ,

as Sub Prior . Fratre Woodall thanked the knights , and said that he fully intended to make an effort to revive the Order in the province if possible , and that he hoped to hold a Prov . Priory at Scarbro' in the autumn , when the Prov . Prior would be present . F rater J . S . Cumberland having'vacated the throne , Frater T . B . Whytehead , P . G . C . G ., assumed the baton , and proceeded to instal the E . P . elect , F ' rater George Simpson , who , having been

duly saluted , appointed and invested his officers as follows : Fratres J . E . M . Young , Constable ; M . Millington , Marsha !; T . B . Whytehead , Reg . and Treas . ; J . S . Cumberland , Sub Marshal ; A . T . B . Turner , Standard B . ; T . W . Wilson , Sword B . ; J . F . Taylor , C . G . ; and P . Pearson , Equerry . The alms were collected , amounting to £ i 13 s . 9 d ., and at the request of Frater Wln'tchead it was decided to forward the amcunt to a distressed

brother in Gateshead , whose case was stated to be very sad . The preceptory was then closed , and a Priory of Malta was opened in full aivd ample form . The five officers in the East were E . Fratres A . M . Broadley , E . P ., Prov . Grand Chancellor of the Mediterranean ; J . W . Woodall , C . G . ; J . S . Cumberland , L . G . ; George Simpson , 1 st L . ; S . Middleton , 2 nd L . ; the Rev . W . C . Lukis acting - as Prelate . The officers at the octao / on

table were Fratres T . B . Whytehead ( Marshal ) , J . A . Bindley ( Hospitaller ) , C . Rutter Fry ( Admiral ) , J . L . Atherton ( Conser ) , G . Althorp ( Baillie ) , A . T . B . Turner ( Turcop ) , M . Millington ( Chancellor ) , and T . Ness ( Treas . ) ; Fra . S . F . Bousfield acted as C . of O . Fratres Sir James Meek , Wm . Lawton , Col . J . G . Wilson , and G . Roper having been accepted as candidates , were conducted to the Guard Chamber , and received

the Mediterranean Pass , and thence passed the five banners , conducted by Fra . T . B . Whytehead , and , finally , were received and installed members of the Order by Fra . A . M . Broadley , who subsequently delivered a long , eloquent , and interesting oration , embracing not only the history of the Order , but other points of elucidation not usually touched upon . Many good wishes having been expressed by the visitors , the priory was closed , and the York

knights entertained their guests at supper . Many toasts were honoured , including' that of " The Prosperity of the Preceptory , " FYas . Broadley and Woodall both expressing their pleasure in seeing its vitality ; and the latter alluding to a scheme on foot , projected by Fra . Whytehead , for still further increasing its effectiveness and usefulness in Masonic good works . At a late hour the knights separated , amid mutual good wishes .

On Wednesday morning a party of the brethren were entertained at breakfast at the Queen ' s Head by Bros . Bindley and Broadiey , preparatory to a railway journey to Middlcsbro ' , a town on the river Tees , for the purpose of constituting and consecrating a Mark lodge . About noon the parly arrived at Middlesbro ' , and found their way to the Masonic Hall , where Bro . J . . Cumberland , acting D . C ., proceeded to make arrangements for the

ceremony . At two o clock the Middlesbro brethren assembled , as well as visitors from Newcastle , Darlington , and Stockton . The work began by the opening of a Mark lodge by Bro . A . M . Broadley , Provincial Grand Master of Tunis and Malta , by deputation from the G . M . M . M . of England . The S . W . ' s chair was occupied by Bro . T . B . Whytehead , P . M ., and the J . W . ' s chair by Bro . Rev . W . C . Lukis , W . M . York Lodge ( T . I . ); Bro . S . iMid

dleton , P . M . Star in the East Lodge ( Scarbro' ) , acted as M . O ., and Bro . J . S . Cumberland , S . W . York Lodge ( T . I . ) , as S . D . Bros . O . Marshall and J . E . Wilkinson , of York , carried out the musical arrangements most effectively . The first business was the advancement of a number of candidates , which was performed by Bro . J . M . Meek , P . M . of the Darlington Mark Lodge and W . M . designate of the Middlesbro' Lodge . The lt . W .

Bro . A . M . Broadley then proceeded with the consecration ceremony , Bro . J . W . Woodall , P . G . M . O ., acting as Chaplain . The oration , which was delivered by the Consecrating Officer , was a masterly piece of Masonic oratory , in which the history , teaching , associations , and influence of the Degree were all touched upon , and our only regret was that no shorthand writer was present in order to preserve a record of what would have been a

valuable and instructive paper , but which , being delivered extempore , we have no means of placing before our readers . At the conclusion of the consecration the chair was assumed by W . Bro . T . B . Whytehead , P . M . York Lodge ( T . I . ) , who proceeded to instal the W . M . designate , Bro . J . M . Meek , P . M ., and afterwards to proclaim him the first W . Master of the Middlesbro' Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 276 . The officers were then

appointed . The W . M . then closed his lodge , and most of the brethren and visitors adjourned to the Queen ' s Hotel , where they partook of a good dinner , at a moderate charge . The toast list was brief , the W . M . giving " The Queen ; " " The Grand M . M . M . and Grand Lodge , "responded to by Bros . A . M . Broadley , Provincial Grand Master of Malta and Tunis , and by Bro J . W . Woodall , P . G . M . O . ; " The Consecrating Officers , " responded toby

Bro . T . B . Whytehead , P . M . ; "The Visiting Brethren , " responded to by Bro . Strahan , Deputy Provincial Grand Master Northumberland and Durham . Bro . Woodall proposed "Success to the New Lodge , " and Bro . Broadley proposed " The Health of the W . M . " At 7 . 30 Bro ' . Broadley and his York Iriends took their departure for York . On Thursday morning , the 10 th inst ., there was another muster of Mark

Masons at York Station , and a pleasant departure was effected for Malton —a prosperous country town , about twenty miles distant—where a new Mark lodge , with the title of the Fitzwilliam Lodge , No . 277 , has just been warranted . A pleasant run of half-an-hour brought the party to Malton Station , where they were met , and cordially welcomed , by the W . M . designate of the new lodcre and several other Malton brethren , and escorted by them

to the Masonic Hall , where they found everything in excellent order , and the lodge set out for the ceremony , as well as light refreshments for those who had breakfasted early . After a short interval of arrangements , the visitors were conducted by their hosts through the quaint old town , and were shown the church and other objects of interest , and at twelve o'clock they

were entertained by the Malton brethren at lunch at the Talbot Hotel . At two o clock the ceremonies commenced by a Mark lodge being opened by Bro . T . B . Whytehead , after which the Consecrating Officer was received with Grand honours , and a goodly number of candidates were advanced by him . The following is a list of candidates : Bros . A . J . Taylor , J . W . Marshall ,

A Record Of Four Days Of Masonic Work At York.

A . W . Walker , J . D . Dodsworth , T . M . Goldie , W . Heckley , M . F . W Williamson , ij . B . Nicholls , K . Wandley , T . C . Walker , F . Walton , and W . Newby . Bros . T . B . Whytehead acted as S . W . ; W . C . Lukis . as J . W . ; S . Middleton , as M . O . ; J . S . Cumberland , as S . D . ; and the other chairs by brethren of York and Malton . The consecration ceremony was performed most ably and impressively , and the oration also given , by R . W .

Bro . A . M . Broadley , whose eloquence and elegance of diction was the theme of universal admiration . He congratulated the brethren on the circumstance of their all being members of the same Craft lodge ( Camalodunum , No . 660 ) , which he trusted would be a symbol of unitedness in working and aim . He trusted the Mark and Craft lodges would work in harmony , and alluded to the fact of the Earl of Lathom , Deputy Grand Master of the

Craft in England , occupying the office of Grand M . M . M ., and Col . Shadwell Clerkc , Grand Secretary , filling the chair of G . J . W . in the Mark this year , proving that a feeling of complete amity existed between the two Grand bodies . This ceremony having been concluded , the chair was taken by Bro , T . B . Whytehead , P . M ., of York , who proceeded to instal the W . M . designate , Bro . J . Marshall , in a very able manner . The W . M . havino- been and bthe brethren

saluted greeted y , appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . J . Staniland , P . M . 660 , S . W . ; S . Chadwick , T . W . ; A T Taylor , M . O . ; J . W . Marshall ( W . M . 660 ) , J . O . ; A . W . Walker " Treas . ; J . D . Dodsworth , S . D . ; S . M . Goldie , J . D . ; W . Heckley ' Org . ; M . F . W . Williamson , D . C . ; J . B . Nicholls , I . G . ; A . Russell , Reg . of Marks ; and K . Wandley , Tyler . Before closing the lodge the

W . M . proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers , who had taken so much pains on their account ; and moved "That Bros . A . M . Broadley , J . W . Woodall , TV B . Whytehead , and J . S . Cumberland be elected honorary members of the Fitzwilliam Lodge , " which was carried by acclamation . Those brethren returned thanks individuall y for the compliment , and said the labour had been one of love , and that the fraternal

courtesy , energy , and hospitality exhibited by the Malton brethren had far more than compensated them for any trouble they had been put to . After the close of the lodge the Malton brethren again entertained their visitors at a high tea at the Talbot Hotel , after which a number of toasts were proposed and honoured , and a most fraternal evening was passed , enlivened by soncs and glees excellently rendered . At an early hour the fraternal chain was

formed , and the brethren joined in singing " Auld Lang Syne , " the York visitors being accompanied to the station by a warm-hearted party of their entertainers . Amongst the visitors and brethren present we also noticed Bros . R . I-I . Peacock , P . M . ( Scarbro' ); R . V . Powlcv , P . M . ( Scarbro' ) ; A . T . B . Turner ( York ); M . Millington ( York ); W . B' Dyson ( York ); J . Verity ( Scarbro' ) ; T . Clough ( Malton ); J . T . Foster ( York ) , and others .

Thus ended lour days of real Masonic work , thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part in the labour . The arrangements were planned by Bro . T . B . Whytehead , of York , who received all possible aid from all concerned in successfully carrying out the programme . Both Mark consecrations were "really indebted for their success lo Bro . L S . Cumberland , S . W . York

Lodge ( T . L ) , who was deputed by the Consecrating Officer to act as Director of Ceremonies , and who performed the duties of his responsible office with that diligence and excellence for which he is deservedl y known . It would , however , be invidious to particularise where all worked so heartily in a good cause—that of the good of Masonry—which must certainly be advanced by such a series of meetings as those we have recorded .

A Curious Masonic Tract.

A CURIOUS MASONIC TRACT .

BY MASONIC STUDENT .

I have just come across a very curious little sixpenny tract , published in 1759 , cntilled "The Secrets of the Freemasons , revealed by a Digusted Brother . The Second Edition . London : Printed for the Author , and sold by J . Scott , at the Black Swan , in Pater Noster Row , and all the Booksellers in Town and Country . MDCCLIX . " Unlike all other so-called " revelations , " which , as we know , are never " revelations " at all , but only

" leather and prunella , or the impudent " advertisements " of charlatans , this tract contains no " catechism , " no " ceremonial . " In fact . it almost seems a " burlesque " and a " skit , " though it says a good deal about Freemasonry , and contains a " list of lodges " and four " Masonic songs . " This little tract puts , however , before us certain noteworthy assertions which I have seen nowhere else , and which I will now deal with very shortly here ,

as space only allows , premising that I hope to print the tract " verbatim et literatim " in the Masonic Magaa ' nic for May . To that serial I must refer my readers for fuller information if they care to have it . For the present it will suffice lo say that this queer , little , dirtv tract declares that in all the lodges then ( 2 ) members and initiates were habitually taught , first , about the " origin of Masonry , " secondly , " morality , " and , thirdly

, " moral theology and cases of conscience . " Such is the doctrine . As to the " making points , " the anonymous and " disgusted brother" assertsthough the reason of his disgust he docs not tell us—that there were " five Degrees , " corresponding with the "five noble Orders of Architecture , " and that the Masons of those five Degrees were known by the names respectivel y —1 , " a Mason ; " 2 , " a good Mason ; " 3 , " a very good Mason ; " 4 ,

" an excellent Mason ; " 5 , " acompleat Mason . " He . slateslhatallthe Masons were taught " geometry , " and all had to do a " piece of architecture . " He mentions specially the existence of fourteen " watchwords , " which he gives , for the seven days of the week- one for the day and one for the night ; and though there is much , very much , in the explanation of these extraordinary statements , and of the customary signs in use for every day and

different days of the week , which would make one believe the tract to be " chaff " altogether , yet I have thought it well to bring it before the notice of students , even in its utter absurdity . The list of lodges , 1759 , contains one or two " facts " " bene notanda " by Bro . Gould , if he does not know of the list .- There are then 237 lodges , the last being " Three Crowns , 2 nd Division of Marines , Plymouth . " 'This list

gives all the dates of foundation very clearly , only mentioning two before 1721 —No . 1 , the Queen's Arms , No . 2 , The Horn / Both without dale . No . 35 is said to have " constitution vacated . " No . 40 has no name in list . No . 74 has lost ils constitution .

No . 102 " gone . No . 135 is vacant . I note that Kloss does not mention this tract , through he alludes to a French and German tract at Cologne , 1759 , termed " Le Secret do la Societe des Francmacons devoile , " & c . Dr . Oliver in his "Revelations of a Square " mentions it at p . 118 , though it is quite clear that the good doctor had never seen it , or he would not have spoken of it as he does .