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England now take part . The names of any recruits may be forwarded to Bro . HUGHAN . Torquay , who is the correspondent for this Country in connection with Bro . STEPHEN BERRY , of Maine , U . S . A . We shall have plrasure in remembering the token , and desire , for the esteemed Grand Master of United States Templars , the best that this world can afford .

* * * WE should like to draw special attention to the series of old Warrants , warrants , of which transcripts have been given by Bro . HUGHAN in the Freemason . The earliest is for the year 1732 , four

in all being selected ; so far , including those for that year and for 1733 , viz ., lodges 37 , Bolton ; 39 . Exeter : 41 , Bath ; and 42 , Bury . A still older one is noted , however , as No . I of the series , dated February , 1731 , for Dublin . Strictly speaking , the Irish document is the only real warrant , as we now

understand the term , the English being more of the nature of Deputations for the Constitution of the lodges mentioned . Still they are warrants to constitute , and have been accepted from 1732-3 , as the only needed authority to render their proceedings regular . We shall be glad to hear of earlier charters , especially if any such exist for lodges in the Metropolis .

* * * OUR Metropolitan readers in particular , will , we are certain , be Frank pleased to join us in congratulating Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , Richardson . p QJQ ( 0 n his restoration to health , as well as on his debut in

the character of a scientific lecturer . During his voyage round the world Bro . RICHARDSON was fortunate enough to accumulate a good collection of minerals , which , with some curiosities , he has presented to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , of whose House Committee he is one of the most indefatigable members . To the great gratification , not only of the pupils ,

but also of the educational staff , our worthy brother has been prevailed upon by the Head Governess to give a short lecture every Tuesday evening after the science lecture , the subject matter of which is taken from a copious diary kept by him during his travels—a new departure alike

eniei taining and instructive to teachers and taught . When we find the Hous-e Committee of the Girls' School thus taking an active and personal interest in the children and their studies , we can scarcely wonder at the enormous success in their examination which has rewarded the labours of " our Girls . "

Consecration Of The Fairfield Lodge, No. 2224, Long Eaton.

CONSECRATION OF THE FAIRFIELD LODGE , No . 2224 , LONG EATON .

Another lodge was on Thursday , the 10 th inst ., enrolled on the everincreasing list of United Grand Lodge , in the Pavilion attached to the recreation grounds . Wc are accustomed to find lodges meeting in hotels and Masonic halls , but we fancy few people would imagine a lodge held in this isolated but picturesque building-. When on that day the fact was made apparent by seeing a number of brethren enter the building , that the

consecration was really going to take place in it , a dread of chill and general discomfort at once took possession of us , but these anticipations were fortunately unnecessary , as the various rooms had been heated and a great deal done by the Committee to promote comfort and ensure a success ! ul meeting . The prime mover in founding this lodge was Bro . J . P . Fearfield , who was

initiated in the Moira Lodge , No . 92 . He would have been installed first W . M . of the new lodge , but unfortunately had not served the office of Warden . He has from the commencement been untiring in his efforts to satisfactorily complete all the arrangements . The lodge is called after him , although there is a difference in the orthography of Fearfield and Fairfield unaccounted for .

Another zealous worker for Ihe success of the new lodge was Bro . Silver Hall ( first W . M . ) He formerly belonged to the Abbey Lodge , No . 432 , but subsequently joined the Tynan Lodge , No . 253 , of which he is a P . M . Bro . Hall is also P . Asst . G . Sec . and Scribe E . of the Province of Derbyshire , and a P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . ( Mark ) in the Provinces of Leicestershire , Derbyshire , Northamptonshire , and Rutland . It will thus be seen that he

has had a large experience in the various grades and Degrees of Freemasonry , and , being both easy of address and courteous in demeanour , is in every way qualified to govern and steer the new craft to the harbour of prosperity . The other founders were Bros . Charles Maltby , P . M . 1179 , P . P . J . G . W . Derbyshire ; W . H . Farmer , l . P . M . 1434 ; Edgar Home , I . P . M . 731 , P . P . G . Org . Derbyshire ; and Jas . O . Manton , P . M . 1085 ,

P . P . A . G . D . C . The following brethren also signed the petition : Bros , the Rev . J . VV . Tapper , P . P . G . Chap . ; J . W . Chambers , 1179 ; N . Ashurst , 104 ; Edward Smith , and H . N . Hallett . In the unavoidable absence of Bro . the Rt . Hon . the Marquis of Hartington , P . G . M ., Bro . H . C . Okeover , Dep . P . G . M ., presided , and was supported by the following brethren : Bros . Sir John Smith , P . S . G . W . ; E . N . Huggin , G . H . Ward , S . Taylor

C . Webster , A . Woodiwiss , VV . H . Fisher , J . Farnswortb , J . Clark , D . Upton , John G . Chandler , W . M . Lacy , E . J . Loverseed , C . Gowthorpe , A . P . Bates , J . Robottom , J . E . Wild , G . R . Turner , Percy Wallis . P . P . S . G . W . ; Rev . Herbert Price , Prov . G . Chap . ; W . B . Woodforde , T . Bennett , E . J . H . Hopkins , C . H . Benholm , A . G . Fletcher , N . W . Need , A . T . Mitchell , W . E . Wardeley , A . P . Wood , C . W . Trollope , D . Holwell , F . G . Robinson , J . Cholerton , J . D . Wragg , C . Bolton , W . E . Hartshorn . G . B . Allenson , H . W . Price , A . Lawson , G . Howard , R . Carlin ,

J . Whitehead , C . J . Jackson , S . Robinson , H . F . Daykin , W . Fletcher , J . Hancock , T . Salisbury , N . G . Hughes-Hallett , E . Simpkin , G . H . Home , J . H . Richardson , W . J . Dodd , P . Woodward , A . Field , A . Adlington , W . Robinson , S . J . Lee , S . G . Gilbert , S . Stephens , R . Reader , G . Claye , T . Roberts , H . George , H . B . Boag , J . Millall , W . S . Sugg , R . T . Ingram , G . H . Smedley , W . Vial , W . Prince , J . Howell , W . Davenport , J . T . Marple , S . Clever , A . H , Bonsor , R . R . Lisenden , P . M . 317 , Prov . G . Steward E . Lanes . ; and others .

Proceedings commenced at 2 . 45 , when the Dep . P . G . M ., Bro . H . C . Okeover , entered , attended by a numerous staff of Present and Past Prov . Grand Officers . Alter a lodge had been opened in the Three Degrees , the Dep . P . G . M . was saluted , and having announced the purpose ior which he was present , the P . G . Chaplain invoked a blessing on the proceedings .

The W . M . designate , Bro . Silver Hall , with his officers , were requested to stand in their relative positions , after which the acting P . G . Secretary , Bro . COULSON , P . P . J . G . W ., read the petition for the warrant , and afterwards the warrant itself . The petitioners having signified their approval of the arrangements and promised to conform to the Constitutions , the Dep . P . G . M . called upon Bro . the Rev . CHARLES GROVES , P . G . Chap ., to deliver an oration , which he did as follows ;

Consecration Of The Fairfield Lodge, No. 2224, Long Eaton.

Right Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Provincial Grand Officers and Brethren , —From the creation of the Universe up to the present time one fact stands prominently forward , and that fact is the dependence of mankind upon one another for mutual help , comfort , and sympathy . Man depends upon his fellow man for help mutually in his undertakings and in his necessities . A very casual glance at the state of human society in all ages is sufficient to see this . If man

were a solitary animal , where would be all the mighty enterprises , both in the social and political world , for the benefit of himself which exist now or have existed in all ages ? Man also depends upon his kind for comfort—for comfort in affliction—that is , when the wear and tear of adverse circumstances , which are the lot of all men , would prove too much for the unassisted strength both of body and mind of the single individual . And man depends for sympathy upon his brother , for sympath y

in his fortunes , be they either good or bad . Nothing enhances the pleasure of prosperity of the individual so much as the fact that the rays of his good fortune also shed their gleams of gladness upon his family or his neighbour , and that that famil y or neighbour shares in the exhiliration of spirit , which animates the individual ; at the same time , as is well known amongst us all , how much does sympathy alleviate grief or the weight of misfortune or calamity . Let a man's career be of the most

prosperous of earthly experience , yet grief , vexation , and black care will intrude their presence ; and were it not for sympathy of neighbour with neighbour , friend with friend , aye , even society with society , how sad would be the lot of mankind I This mutual dependence , then , upon one another is really the outcome , the result of that act of the G . A . O . T . U . when He formed man in His own image , and breathed unto him the breath of life , and man became a living soul . That part of the Divine

essence , which became our portion then prompts us now with unfailing energy to mutually help , comfort , and sympathise with our fellow mortals . 'Tis at least one chaplet of flowers gathered during the universal reign of harmony and love that existed in Paradise before the fall of Adam . If we examine , we shall find traces of a similar instinct of association even in the lower animal creation , and our thoughts at once turn to such examples as are supplied by the bees , with whom all

is regularity and method for self and mutual help—one common interest , one common end—and this common interest and end the good of their community . Then again our humble teachers , the ants , who appear even higher in intelligence than the bees , how eminently beautiful are all their arrangements for the control and benefit of their commonwealth ! In fact , the lesson which appears to be taught us by Nature is this—that the higher the intelligence with which a sensitive race of

beings is endowed , the greater becomes the instinct , or the wish , or the necessity for banding together for common and mutual support . But even in lower forms of life this instinct is not wanting . Many of the races of fishes flock together for common interest ; aye , even many plants seem to flourish better in communities . But it is in Man , the highest earthly being created by the G . A . O . T . U ., that there is found , developed in its highest degree , this faculty and necessity of agreeing and

combining together for mutual society , mutual support , and general interest . Tracing the history of mankind in that most reliable of all histories that treat of the Great Architect ' s dealings with His works , viz ., the Old Text Scriptures , we find that man was ever a social animal , that he clung to his neighbour in all his acts and deeds , whether they were for good or for evil , whether in obedience to his Maker ' s will or in opposition to His wishes . For , besides , as I hinted at before

this aspiration for sympathetic society being an outcome of the Divine Spirit of the Great Architect ; yet also this faculty of combining together is especially suited to the mere natural capabilities of mankind , from his capacity of speech or intercommunication of ideas by words , and also from his power of making himself understood by his neighbour by signs ; which words and signs or symbols have , of necessity , a meaning only known to the initiated . Be it simply the gift of

language , the various forms of which distinguish nation from nation , or be it those higher symbolisms of language and of signs combined , of which our Masonic art is an example , and I may say not the least or most imperfect of those systems that do exist . As man became by degrees developed from the untutored savage to a more civilised stage of existence , he gradually acquired the power to form and attach meanings to outward symbols . From the first rude attempts at making

himself understood by his neighbour , whether by . vocal sounds or by expressive actions , gradually were developed those beautiful languages of antiquity and of modern times , by which the most exquisite delicacy of thought or the most subtle distinction of idea can be imparted and be understood , and also we may infer with some degree of certainty , that very early in the world ' s history was perceived the advantage of using' both words and symbols to convey and illustrate ideas and also to conceal

them ; and from the earliest , the phenomena of the heavens , the truths of science , or the secrets of nature were made use of as allegories , both for imparting instruction and for preserving some mystical meaning known only to the favoured few . We may mention as instances , the lorms and ceremonies of worship both of the true God and likewise of false gods ; the extensive system of hieroglyphics of the Ancient Egyptians ; the intricate involved formulre and mysteries of the ancient

astrologers ; and in our times the symbolism and mystic meaning of our own and cognate societies . And truly , brethren , to one acquainted with the beauty and perfection of the sciences—and to select one from among them , that ancient science , the science of geometry , the elegance of its propositions , the exactness of its demonstrations—one would not be surprised that the simple , at the same time elegant , properties of circles , triangles , squares , and other geometrical figures

should soon have had attached to them symbolical meanings which are no less apt than forcible . Indeed , it would not be difficult to draw up a complete code of symbols of , say , the characteristics of an upright man , from these geometrical elements , as indeed has heen done in the mysteries of this our Craft , to which no further allusion need be made . This , however , I claim for Masonry , that as it is a system ot morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by signs , so the allecrories are

most beautiful and even sublime , the signs are pertinent , apt , and forcible . Now , of the objects that men rely upon one another mutually for help , some are good , that is , for the benefit of their kind generally ; others are undoubtedly bad , or tinged with selfishness , and seek the advancement of the few at the cost of the many . Let me here then , brethren , emphatically claim on behalf of this our Masonic Art and Body everything that is good , and as emphatically renounce everything that is bad ,

and to support this claim for our sublime science let us shortly examine into what are some of the characteristics of any society , whose common and direct object is universal good . The first characteristic , 1 contend , is that the object of that society should be wholly the welfare of that society , and through that society the welfare of the world at large . The second characteristic is , that this society must be capable of

expansion and be independent of local circumstances . The third characteristic is , that its objects do not clash with any other arrangement which is also for the universal good . Hence it must not be opposed to the laws of any place or country . Hence it must be universal in its acceptation of different phases of religious belief , which spring from the common knowledge of the Great Ruler of the Universe as revealed in His written word . How far these characteristics are fulfilled in

Masonry , a but slight consideration will show . We , as a society , wisely leave the difference of opinion with respect to the laws of the land to be discussed by those whose duty it is to see to such things , and as laws are necessary and generally for the good of all , our Masonic art and teaching run in parallel grooves With the law of the land , and teach us to aid and comfort one another in a law-abiding sp irit .

We claim , too , for Masonry that its object is the good , both temporal and moral , first ot all of the members of the society itself , and through them of the whole world . For by its precepts it inculcates Brotherly Love and Charity as the first of principles ; Mutual Assistance and Sympathy as the first of duties ; and by the bond of union among the various lodges these principles and these duties are spread over the whole civilised globe . Name any country where the energy of man has urged him to penetrate , there also exists his lodge ot Free and Accepted Masons ,