Negro Masonry In The United States.

taken in setting itself in direct antagonism to the doctrine of Grand Lodge sovereignty as understood by our American brethren . Moreover it seems from what we have read that the resolutions favouring the recognition of Negro Masonry were

passed hastily by the Grand Lodge of Washington , and without full consideration . At all events , when the time came round for the next annual communication to be held in June , those in

favour of the legitimacy of the Coloured Lodges appear to have made a strategic movement to the rear , and the obnoxious resolutions were as good as rescinded . One

brotherthe W . M . of the Arcana Lodge , No . 8 7 , Seattle , Wash ., appears to have taken the matter up very warml y , and to have p laced himself in telegraphic communication with the Grand

Masters of 30 American Grand Lodges , requesting them , as time was pressing , to wire their views to him b y return at his expense . The replies are g iven in Bro . CUNNINGHAM ' review , and are unanimous in condcmnin < rthc action of Washington at its annual

meeting in 18 9 8 . In the result the Grand Lodge of that State at its annual communication in June , 18 99 , rescinded , as wc have said , its obnoxious resolutions , and in time no doubt peace and harmony will again prevail among all the Grand Lodges in the United States .

As regards this country , the question is one that affects English Masons , either very sli g htl y or not at all . It is quite true that in 17 S 4 , H . R . H . the Duke of CUMBERLAND , Grand Master of the " Modern " Grand Lodge of England , granted a

warrant for the constitution of the African Lodge , at Boston , Mass ., as No . 459 , which , at the closing up of numbers in 1792 , became No . 370 , and was erased in 1813 ; and the consideration of the point whether the Negro Masonry in the United States

is descended from this lodge is not unlikel y to prove an interesting theme for discussion from a purely academic standpoint . But many changes have taken place in Masonry since the warrant for constituting African Lodge , was

granted in 17 8 4 , and the question that directl y concerns us is whether , as we are on terms of friendship with most of the United States Grand Lodges , and so far as we know accept them all as supreme in their several jurisdictions we

could consistentl y recognise as regular lodges which are not borne on their registers . Not so very long ago it was suggested that the Coloured American Grand Lodges should approach the United Grand Lodge of England with a view to obtaining

from it some declaration of their legitimacy , in which case it was argued , the White American Grand Lodges would follow in the footsteps of our Grand Lodge . We said at the time that , in our opinion , the first thing to be done was that the White and

Coloured should settle between themselves the relations in which they stand to each other , and then it would lie possible for our Grand Lodge to adopt the course that mi ght seem to if the most desirable . We are still of this opinion .

Consecration Of The Scarsdale Lodge, No. 529, Of M.M.M.

CONSECRATION OF THE SCARSDALE LODGE , No . 529 , OF M . M . M .

Tuesday , the < jth inst ., was doubly a red-letter day in Chesterfield , inasmuch as it saw the consecration of a new lodge of Mark Master Masons , the first lodge of the Province of Derbyshire , as now constituted , consecrated by the first Prov . Grand Master of Derbyshire in the Mark Degree , Bro . Abraham Woodiwiss . Mark Masonry is no new thing in

Chesterfield . The mother lodge of Derbyshire , the Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . : » 4 ( i , used to meet alternately at Buxton , Chesterfield , and Derby , and the first Master of the Duke of Connaught Lodge was Bro , W . W . Jeudwine , J . P ., of Chesterfield , who on Tuesday was installed first W . M . of the Scarsdale Lodge , No . 529 , of Mark Master Masons .

There would have been no need for a new lodge 111 the old borough had not the Mark Master Masons of Chesterfield and district become a small minority in their mother lodge . So it came to pass that the oldest lodge in the district gradually came to look upon Buxton as its permanent home . It became appropriated by the Buxton brethren , and in the process of time

Derby , and now Chesterfield have had to apply for [ permission to found other lodges of their own . Masonry is strong and flourishing in Chesterfield—the Craft and the Royal Arch are liberally supported and exert a potent influence for good . When the Mark Masons , who have previously

had to journey to Alfrelon or Derby to fulfil their Mark obligations , decided upon the formation of a local lodge , it was very fitting , from the circumstances above mentioned , to say nothing of his other inestimable services to Masonry , and his varied and many qualifications for the office , that Bro . W . W . leudwine should be asked to ( ill the chair for the first

Consecration Of The Scarsdale Lodge, No. 529, Of M.M.M.

year . His installing officer on Tuesday was Bro . Percy Wallis , P . G . Treas . Eng ., P . P . S . G . W ., Prov . G . Sec , and it is worthy of passing mention that 21 years ago Bro . Jeudwine , as W . M . of the Duke of Connaught Lodge , advanced Bro . Wallis—now such an ornament to the Degree—into Mark Masonry ,

The founders of the new lodge , which is numbered 529 on the roll of the Grand Lodge , and is called after the Scarsdale Lodge , are as follows Bros . Wm . Wynne Jeudwine , P . M . ; W . Holland Rowbottom , P . M . ; J , Diamond , P . M . ; Thos . Shipton , W . O . Plowright , Rev . Le Gassick , VV Hawksley Edmunds , G . E . Carline , S . E . Short , H . R . Proctor , W . H Eyre , and F . L . Somerset .

The impressive ceremony of consecration commenced in the Masonic Hall , Chesterfield , at 2 . 30 on Tuesday , the 9 th inst ., when the Mark Master Masons present were :

Bros . Abraham Woodiwiss , Prov . G . Master ; C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., Grand Sec . of England ; J . H . Lawson , Prov . D . G . M . ; Percy Wallis , P . G . Treas ., P . P . S . G . W ., Prov . G . Sec . ; Wm . Cooper , P . M ., Prov . S . G . W . ; G . A . Capes , P . M ., Prov . J . G . W . ; C . W . Groves , P . G . Chap . ; John Walker , P . M . 302 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Edgar Home , Wm . Kelly , P . M . 339 , S . G . D . England ; W . J . Piper , Woodiwiss , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . W . Jeudwine , 302 , P . P . J . G . W . ; T . Oldham , 302

P . S . G . W . ; S . Robinson , 373 , P . P . G . M . O . ; Wm . C . Riley , 339 , P . G . Org . ; C . F . Wardley , P . M ., P . G . M . O . ; J . Woodiwiss , P . G . Stwd . Eng . ; W . Nunn , 373 , P . P . G . Stwd . ; T . Rowbotham , 53 , P . P . G . M . O . ; A . J . Forsdike , 53 , P . G . Reg . ; F . Iliffe , 503 , P . G . D . C . ; Thos . Hearn , Wm . Kelly , P . P . G . I . G . ; Sir Thos . Roe , P . M . 246 , P . P . G . Treas . ; Abel Oram , 246 ; Edward Stockton , 339

P . P . G . D . ; Sidney Woodiwiss , 302 ; H . A . Brnadbery ; Wm . Kelly , 339 ; A . C . Beckton , 514 ; W . Mortimer Wilson , 414 ; G . Allcock , 302 ; F . Rowland , 246 ; Rev . J . Thwaites Mumford , 246 ; W . Nunn , 373 , P . P . G . Stwd . ; Holland Rowbottom , P . M . 414 , P . P . G . C ; Rev . J . B . Le Gassick , 3 S 7 , P . P . G . C . ( Line . ); Thos . Shipton , W . O . Plowright , W . Hawsley Edmunds , G . E . Carline , S . E . Short , H . R . Procter , W . H . ' Eyre , F . L . Somerset , and A . Slinn , P . G . Tyler .

Letters of apology were received for non-attendance , chiefly owing to being incapacitated from influenza or other illness , from Bros . W . H . Bass , P . M . 373 , P . G . Std . Br . ; Morten , P . M ., P . P . G . W . Lincolnshire ; J . O . Manton , P . M . 246 , P . P . S . G . O . ; W . B . Woodforde , P . M . 302 , P . P . J . G . W . ; E . C . B . Saxby , 246 ; J . C . Webb , P . M . 339 , P . P . G . M . O ., G . Tarver , P . M . 339 , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . Cooke , P . M . 353 ; G . Wilkinson , P . M . 37 } ; and W . Fletcher , 373 , P . P . S . G . O .

The brethren below Provincial rank having taken their places in the lodge room , a procession was formed , and headed by the banner of the Prov . G . Lodge and the sword of office , the Consecrating Officer , the Prov . G . Master , Bro . A . Woodiwiss , attended by Bro . C . F . Matier , G . Sec , and attended by the Prov . G . Officers , entered the lodge room , and a lodge was opened , the various offices being filled by the Grand Officers present .

The consecration proceedings were commenced with prayer and a Masonic hymn , after which the warrant of the M . W . G . Master , under his personal signature , and countersigned by the G . Secretary and G . Registrar , was read . The approval of the brethren having been signified , a most interesting oration was delivered by the Prov . G . Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . C . W . GROVES .

After a Masonic anthem and dedication prayer , the Consecrating Officer gave the invocation , and the more immediate and solemn functions of consecration were proceeded with , the musical responses being accompanied upon the organ by Bro . Riley , Prov . G . Org . The elements entering into the consecration ceremony with their emblematical

significations were corn , oil , wine , salt , and incense . Upon the dedication of the lodge , the anthem , " Now to the Westward move , " was sung , and after the constitution the anthem , " Now the evening shadows closing . " After the benediction , which closed a beautiful and impressive ceremony , performed most impressively and with the greatest solemnity and leeiing , Bro . Jeudwine , as first VV . M ., was installed by Bro . Percy Wallis .

The ollicers of the new lodge were appointed and invested as follows : Bros . Holland Rowbottom , P . M ., P . P . G . O ., I . P . M . ; T . Shipton , S . W . ; W . O . Plowright , J . W . ; W . Hawksley Edmunds , Sec and Treas . ; the Rev . J . B . Le Gasick , M . O . ; G . E . Carline , S . O . ; S . E . Short , J . O . ; H . R . Procter , S . D . ; VV . II . Eyre , J . D . ; and F . L . Somerset , I . G . The brethren subsequently dined together in the Museum , Stephenson Memorial Hall , Mrs . Everest catering in a highly satisfactory manner .

The toasts included " The Oueen and Mark Masonry , " " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . T R . W . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , Pro G . M . ; Viscount Dungarvan , Dep . G . M . ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " To the latter toast Bro . MATIER replied , and referred in most interesting terms to the fact that 21 years ago he installed Bro . Jeudwine into the chair

of the Duke of Connaught Lodge . Reply ing to the toast of "The R . W . Bro . Abraham Woodiwiss , Prov . G . M . ; Bro . E . C . Milligan , P . G . I . G . England , D . P . G . M . ; and the rest of the Prov . Grand Ollicers , Present and Past , " Bro . VV . WOODIWISS alluded to the great pleasure it had given him to consecrate that , the first

lodge of the new province of Derbyshire , and the first lodge under his G . Mastership . He announced , on behalf of Lord Euston , his regret at not being able to be present that day to consecrate the Scarsdale Lodge , but gave the pleasing intelligence that the noble earl had undertaken to be present at Prov . G . Lodge on February 2 nd at Derby .

The other toasts were "The W . M . and the Scarsdale Lodge of M . M . M ., " " The Installing Master , " "The Visitors , " "The Officers of the new Lodge , " and the Tyler's toast . The brethren of Chesterfield subsequently held a Masonic ball in the Stephenson Memorial Hall , the proceeds of which , it was announced , would be given to the Chesterfield War Fund . Other functions at Alfreton ,

Derby , and Chesterfield militated against the attendance , but notwithstanding there was . 1 good company present , and on all hands the ball was admitted to be most enjoyable and successful . Supper was partaken of in the Lecture Hall and Museum , the Mayor of Chesterfield , Councillor Spooner , presiding . The lodge was furnished by Bros . George Kenning and Son , London .

Iiuo . Tin ; EARL OF MOUNT EDGCUMIII : has received official sanction to raise a company for service in South Africa from two infantry Volunteer battalions in Cornwall . ' 1 he officers commanding those battalions have received offers from a larger number of ollicers and men than is necessary to make up their proportion . But it remains to be seen whether the full proportion will be available after tests of age , health , & c , have been applied ..