Consecration Of The Royal Somerset House And Inverness Chapter, No. 4.

and would never be effaced from their memory . It had never before been his good fortune to hear Comp . Letchworth perform any ceremoiiyi but never in the course of his Masonic experience had he ever heard the ceremony rendered with greater impressiveness and ability . Personally he thanked the Grand Scribe E . for the kind terms used of himself . Those who knew the work of Col . Money in Surrey would also know thai

he excelled himself that evening in the calm , quiet , and deliberate manner in which he performed the installation ceremony . He did not know what to compare Comp . Fenn to , for whatever ceremony he undertook was done well and letter perfect , and , whether in English or French , always impressed and pleased a lodgeor chapter . Comp . Richardson , who was the D . C . that evening , had proved himself , as he always did ,

equal to any Masonic ceremony , and , given but a few hours' notice when in Indue , chapter , or Supreme Council , he was always to the fore . Sir John Monckton had given them great aid , and impressed them with the manner in which he read the passages assigned to him . In proposing the toast he would only say that they , as companions of the new chapter , hoped to be able to rear a superstructure , perfect in its parts , and honourable to those who had consecrated it .

Comp . E . LETCHWORTH , G . S . E ., returned thanks for himself and colleagues , and assured the companions that it had afforded them one and all the greatest pleasure to attend and assist in the consecration of the chapter attached to a lodge so distinguished as the Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge . In the presence of the members of the lodge , of whom many were present , it was needless for him to refer to its hospitality ,

but if there were any companions present who were not members of that lodge he would refer them to a most interesting account of this lodge , to be found in tbe " Life of Dunckerley , " written by a very distinguished companion whom he was glad to see present . This lodge appeared to have had its rise in a time immemorial lodge known as the Old Horn . That lodge some years after amalgamated with a lodge founded by Dunckerley , which had its home afloat on board various vessels , and again , in 1813 ,

amalgamated with the Inverness Lodge , which he believed was the first lodge warranted after the Union in that year . He could assure them , on behalf of his colleagues , that they very highly appreciated the honour done them in electing them honorary members of the chapter , and all trusted on some future occasion to have the pleasure of witnessing the manner in which this chapter had progressed under the able guidance of the Three Principals , and the fostering care of Comp . West , who would bring that ability which he brought to bear on any work he undertook .

" The Three Principals " was then given by the GRAND SCRIBE E . He considered this chapter most fortunate in being presided over at its outset by three companions so well able to rule over it as Comps . Macintosh , Oxford , and Hoyte . The M . E . Z . had had considerable experience in Masonry , and was a very old Mason who had devoted a large portion of

his time to the interests of Masonry . It was his privilege to be associated with Comps . Oxford and Hoyte in other branches of Masonry , and knew the zeal they would exhibit in thc performance of their duty . He asked the companions to drink the health of the Three Principals , wishing them a year of great prosperity and happiness .

Comp . HUGH MACINTOSH , M . E . Z ., in response , said the founders had been good enough to elect him as First Principal , and he felt thc great responsibility of that post . It was a responsible thing for one to be elected First Principal of an old chapter , but the First Principal of a new chapter brought with it duties and responsioilities of no light order . If health was given him he would do his utmost to perform his duties , and he hoped and

believed he should not only reign over them as their First Principal so far as the Masonic duties were concerned , but reign in their hearts as of yore . Comp . Rev . A . W . OXFORD , H ., gave "The Visitors , " to which Comp . ALFRED COOPER responded . " The Officers" was replied to by Comp . A . ADAMS , S . E ., and F . M . HARTUNG , P . S . The Janitor ' s toast then terminated the proceedings . An excellent programme of music was given b y the Celia Quartette , which afforded considerable enjoyment to the companions present .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Warwickshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WARWICKSHIRE .

A convocation of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , Birmingham , on Friday , the nth inst ., under the banner of the Elkington Chapter , No . 1016 , when there were present—Comps . J . T . Collins , P . G . H .. acting G . Superintendent ; Loxdale Warren , as P . G . H ; E . Worrall , P . G . J . ; F . G . Swinden . P . G . S E . ; Rev . T . Parkins , P . G . S . N . ;

J . H . Hawkes , P . G . P . S . ; W . G . Hills , P . A . G . S . ; W . M . Boddington , P . G . Reg . ; VV . H . Wood . P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Cooper , P . G . D . C . ; E . Mallard , P . G . Org . ; A . Dailey , P . G . Janitor ; A . E . Fridlander , T . N . Bladon , F . J . Turley , H . Denne , W . Hillman , Tolladay , Morgan , Bayley , Marshall , Cole , Boston , Acheson , Wright , Wilson , Fayerman , Bell , Fenn , Skinner , Barton , Pearsall , Goate , Shread , Archer , Matthews . Rooker , Price , Jones , Harcourt , Henn , Ryland , and others .

The Provincial Grand Chapter having been opened , the P . G . S . E . read apologies for non-attendance from Comps . the Right Hon . Lord Leigh , Grand Superintendent ; C F . Rowe , P . G . Treas . ; A . G . Chamberlain , J . Haswell , T . R . Arter , G . Beech , C Pcmbrook , Whitehouse , F . Payton , and J . Jacobs .

The P . G . S . E . read the minutes of the convocation , held at Rectitude Chapter , Rugby , and also of the especial convocation held in April , which were duly conlirmed . The roll of Provincial Grand Chapter ofiicers was called . The roll of chapters were called and all were represented . The P . G . S . E . read his report of the state of thc chapters of the province . The TREASURER ' report was read , approved , and adopted .

Comp . Rev . Trevor Parkins , 43 ... ... Prov . G . J . „ F . G . Swinden , 587 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . S . E . „ J . II . Hawkes , 1016 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . ,, C . I '" . Rowe , 5 S 7 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . G . Hills , 93 8 ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . ,, W . M . Boddington , 1031 ... ... Prov . ist A . G . S . „ W . H . Wood , 587 ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . ,, W . I- ' . Tolladay , 1016 ... ... Prov . G . I . eg . „ J . W . Martin . 587 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

Comp . WORRALL , P . G . J ., then proposed , Comp . FRIDLANDER , P . P . G . J ., seconded , and it was carried unanimously , that Comp . C , F . Rowe be reelected Treasurer for the ensuing year . Thc Janitor , Comp . A . Dailey , was re-elected . The ACTING SITEKINTENDENT then addressed the companions , and afterwards appointed and invested tbe officers as follows :

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Warwickshire.

Comp . E . Mallard , 1031 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . Cooper , 587 ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . D . of C „ J . W . Matthews , 587 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C „ W . Bayley Marshall , 93 S ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ G . M . Fayerman , 395 ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . ,, A . Dailey ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . After other formal business the Prov . Grand Chapter was closed , and the companions partook of a banquet .

On the removal of the cloth , the usual loyal and Royal Arch toasts were proposed and heartily received , after which Comp . TOLLADAY , M . E . Z . 1016 , proposed "The Rt . Hon . Lord Lei gh and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and stated that it gave him great pleasure to submit that toast . In the Grand Superintendent

they had a nobleman who was loved and respected by them all . Comp , Collins was one whom they were all proud to know , his labours in thc province were much appreciated ; Comp . Rev . Parkins had obtained hi gh honours in other degrees ; and Comp . F . G . Swinden was the most active Prov . G . Scribe E . that he had met ; the other officers were all deserving of the honours they had that day received .

A selection of songs and recitations brought to a close a most enjoyable evening .

History Of The Old Dumfries Lodge.

HISTORY OF THE OLD DUMFRIES LODGE .

Bro . James Smith , the zealous Master of St . " Michael ' s Kilwinning Lodge , " No . 63 , has fairly earned the title of Historian of Freemasonry in Dumfries , for he has already written and published historical sketches of his lodge , and also of No . 140 , & c , and now he has favoured the Craft with a " History of the Old Lodge of Dumfries , now demoninated Dumfries Kilwinning , No . ¦?? . "

This work makes a much larger book than any of his preceding volumes , and has been very creditably printed by Messrs . J . Maxwell and Son , Publishers , & c , Dumfries . There is nothing better issued , in a handy size , relative to Freemasonry in the early days , and the author has succeeded in putting together a most interesting and readable account of the ancient Craft in Dumfries , from late in the ; i 7 th century down to the present year of Grace .

Exactly where and how the lodge began is not known , but in 1815 the Third Centenary Celebration was held . As Bro . Smith points out , this takes us back to 1515 , though there " is no record corroborating the circumstance . " The charter which was granted in 1750 ( for in that year the brethren joined the Grand Lodge of Scotland ) , speaks of the lodge " as a pendicle of the Ancient Mother Lodge of Kilwinning , " but there is no

authority for the statement . That , however , is not of much consequence , for there must have been many subordinates of that venerable "Mother " which have failed to preserve any evidence of their origin . The petitioners of 1749 clearly accepted a later date for the commencement of the lodge , as the warrant of 1750 acknowledges its precedence as from the year 1575 circa . Anyway , the oldest minute book runs from 1687

to 1788 . The earliest record notes the appointment of a Master , Warden , " and fellowes of ye sd Lodge , " and is dead against any members inclined to swear , " eightshillings Scots money" being the fine for the first offence , and double for " every Fault therafter . " A Clerk also was elected . Thc Master turned out a most unsatisfactory brother , and so he was superseded in June .

During the same year ( 1687 ) regulations were made , some of which arc suggestive of the operative character of the lodge . Apprentices were not to be entered until each had paid" a merk Scots money " for his " assign ! uteris , " and half that sum to the Clerk "for his booking . " Those who were mechanics and apprentices had to " pay ten lib Scots wt gloves and entertainment to the brethern . " The speculative basis , in part , is also exhibited by the clause which provided for those who were not mechanics paying a different fee .

An excellent facsimile has been utilised for the frontispiece of a minute dated 28 th December , 1691 , which contains 12 signatures , quite artistically arranged . On 27 th December , 1705 , the lodge met at St . Christopher ' s Chapel , near Dumfries ( endowed by charter from Bruce in 1323 ) , in order to elect a Clerk .

Four candidates were accepted on 27 th December , 1713 , their app lication being " thought reasonable considering their good qualifications to Christianity . " The next minute states this quartette were made " free Fellows . " Bro . Smith remarks as to this : " A certain examination was required before brethren were passed to the higher Degree . " That is to

say position , Degrees then being unknown . The Bible presented in 1720 is still preserved , and was printed two years earlier . In 1724 there was a Grand Master , as well as Master and Warden , and so later on . This is several years before such a title is used by No . i > Edinburgh , as it was not until 1731 such an official was elected in the Scottish Metropolis . A " Grand Warden " was also appointed .

In 1742 the Duke of CJueensberry was elected Master . Thc first allusion to the Degree of MasterIvlason is on 23 rd January , 1 749 , when a brother was " found qualified and advanced to the above station , " i . e ., Master . Ihe first Prov . G . M . was appointed or elected for Dumfrieshire , & c , by patent dated 28 th September , 1756 . _ . .

There is much of general interest in other records quoted by Bro . Snn }' ' and especially so to members of No . 53 and brethren resident in Dumfrie s and neighbourhood ; but I must not stay to note them , besides which copies may be had from the publishers for the small outlay of 3 s . 6 d ., and there is therefore no need to anything like exhaust the main [ contents of this ably compiled and most readable history . .

To students who warmly sympathise with my predilection for the coiia" " of copies of the " Old Charges , " the two versions printed as an append' * will be most welcome , particularly as one ( No . 3 ) is evidently the prototyp of the two " Harris MSS ., " and the other ( No . 1 ) , described as " Anent ' »<' Affirs of Masonrie , " is a Roll referred to in the Records of 1696 and

since-My friend Bro . Smith furnishes a brief account of thc live copn- *" " Old Charges" preserved in Dumfries , and quite unknown until rece 1 * *^ I have also written rather a long Introduction for his work on the subject these " Old Charges of British Freemasons , " with especial reference to t Scottish MSS ., so that there is no lack of material forthe study of thoug 11

Freemasons , u t the I hope the handsome volume will rapidly be subscribed for , and that j ^ zealous and painstaking author will soon write another history of a " lodge in his district . \ V . J . HUGHA *