Lodge Meetings.

sonry , there we took office , there we sat in the Royal Chair . There , as careful Past Masters , we closed our mystic ceremonies ; there , for many a long year , we met , as month followed month , that muster roll of good fellows and true , who enhanced the charms of Masonry by their social

worth , and who upheld the prestige of our lodge by their high characters . And yet how few of that goodly array of Master Masons , and Past Masters and officers , and brethren , are still to the fore . Bro . Stiggins has the gout badly ; Bro . Thompson has retired into the far west on a fortune and

a family connection : Bro . Philpotts has married a second time , and Mrs . Philpotts , No . 2 , objects to the lodge ; Bro . Chandler has daughters to takeout 5 Bro . Willis is a disappointed old bachelor , who has never recovered his refusal by a certain young lady we wot of ; and Bro . Shakerley has

become pompous and learned , and a swell . Few of the " old school , " now assemble in that famous lodge , or around that festive board . A new generation has taken their place , but still the old familiar work is done , and still the links of brotherhood are kept up . So it has always been ,

and so it will ever be . Such is the fate of most earthly things—they are and they are not ; they flourish and decay . Still let us cherish the memories of those lodge meetings of ours , which seem always to tell us a tale of more youthful , perhaps more joyous days . They were

to us " albas dies . " When we greeted them week by week , or month by month , they were symbols of all that is true , and pleasant , and faithful , and gracious , in the friendship and in the brotherhood of man , and their strains still

linger in our ears , and their warm sympathies still vibrate in our hearts . Such were to us many of the lodge meetings of the past . What the present should be to our " nova progenies " we will try and point out in our next impression .

A New Masonic Literary Work.

A NEW MASONIC LITERARY WORK .

We have been favoured , by the courtesy of Bro . W . J . Hughan , with a portion of the proof sheets of the memorial volume in connection with the completion and consecration of the Masonic Hall at Philadelphia . It promises to be a most interesting resume , when we have

it in its entire state , alike of the history of American and Pennsylvanian Freemasonry . This work has been got together , we believe , b y a syndicate of some of the most distinguished of the Philadelp hia Freemasons , but on this point Bro . W . J . Hughan can give further details .

Though we are unable , owing to the press upon our pages to give a more detailed account of it in the Freemason , we have made arrangements by which much of the history will appear in the May number of the Masonic Magazine , and to

which useful periodical we beg to refer our many readers . We in England feel the greatest interest in all that appertains to American literary efforts , and we welcome the memorial volume as conducive to the best interests of Masonic history and Masonic literature .

The Arrangements For The Installation Of His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales.

THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES .

We are informed , on good authority , that the arrangements for the ceremony at the Royal Albert Mall are under the sole control of the Grand Director of Ceremonies , Sir Albert W . Woods , Garter . Subject to his direction , the

superintendence of the carrying out of the arrangements for the admission and seating of the brethren , is , by special appointment of His Royal Highness , the Most Worshipful Grand Master , entrusted to Bro . Thomas Fenn , P . A . G . D . C . Bro . Sir Albert Woods has held the office of Grand Director of Ceremonies for fifteen years ; besides this long personal experience , he has had the benefit of the experience

of his father , Sir William Woods , who formerly held the same office in Grand Lodge . Bro . Fenn held the office of Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies for five years ; namely , from the year of laying the foundation stone to the Inauguration of Freemasons ' Hall . in 1869 , on which latter occasion he discharged a duty similai lu that with which he is now entrusted . His

services received the personal recognition of the Earl of Zetland , and at the quarterly communication in June , i ' Kfni , the thanks of Grand Lodge , inscribed on vellum , were presented to Sir Albert Woods and Bro . Fenn , for the admirable manner in which they organized the " preparations and arrangements for . and ^ codnucted , and carried out the ceremony of the Inauguration Festival . " He is Secretary

The Arrangements For The Installation Of His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales.

and Past Master of the Prince of Wales ' s Lodge , a member of the Board of General Purposes , and is well known to the Craft from the leading part that he takes in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , of which eminent lodge he has been an active member for nearly twenty years .

INSTALLATION OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES . The following circulars have been issued from the Grand Secretary ' s office . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C ., March 10 , 1875 . Sir and Brother ,

By book post I forward a packet of circulars , which I shall feci obliged by your distributing to the W . M . of each lodge in your province . In order to facilitate the arrangements therein referred to , and prevent confusion and delay at the entrances of the Hall , it is desirable that two brethren of your province , to

whom the members or some of the members of each lodge are known , should act as Stewards , and undertake to be present before tile doors arc opened , for the purpose of identifying , so far as practicable , the brethren as they enter . I shall therefore feel obliged if you will , after consultation with the Provincial Grand Master of the Province , return the names and addresses of two brethren

who may be willing to undertake this duty-His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has been pleased to sanction the striking of a special Jewel to be worn by the Stewards who personally assist in carrying out these arrangements . The cost of the jewel is not to exceed five pounds . By command of the M . W . Grand Master , J IIERVF . Y , G . S . To Bro . Provincial Grand Secretary ,

N . B . —All communications on this subject are to be addressed to the Grand Secretary , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C ., and marked on the outside , or on the envelope , " Installation . " Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C ., March 10 th , 1 S 75 . W . Master ,

A limited number of brethren being required to assist the Executive in carrying ou : the arrangements for the admission and seating of the brethren at the Royal Albert Hall , the Most Worshipful Grand Master has been pleased to order , that each of the London lodges shall have the privilege of nominating a Steward for that purpose . If , therefore , it is the desire of your lodge to name a Steward

to serve on the occasion , you will have the goodness to forward the name and address of such brother on or before the 31 st instant . Should those returned exceed the number required for this service , the selection will be determined by ballot . It must however be distinctly understood that every brother whose name is so returned must undertake to attend the

meetings when summoned , to be present at the hall at twelve o ' clock oil the day appointed , and to undertake the duty that may be assigned to him . The Stewards personally discharging these duties will have the privilege of wearing a special jewel which His Royal Highness has been pleased to sanction . The cost of this jewel is not to exceed five pounds . By command of the M . W . G . M ., J HEIIVEY , G . S . To the W . Master , Lodge No . —

T he following is the form of letter suggested to be adopted by the Masters or Secretaries of lodges in communicating with the members individually . March — , 1875 . Sir and Brother , The installation of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , as M . W . Grand Master , is appointed to take

place at the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , on Wednesday , the 28 th of April next , at three o ' clock in the afternoon , being the day fixed by the Constitutions . In order that proper arrangements may be made , I am requested to make a return of all qualified members of Grand Lodge , and of all Master Masons , who may desire to be present on the occasion . Should there not be

accommodation 111 the hall for all the brethren , whose names are returned , an equitable distribution of tickets for the admission of Master Masons who are not members of Grand Lodge will be made to each lodge . As no brother will be admitted whose name is not returned to the Grand Secretary on or before the 31 st of this month , your answer must reach , me to the above address

on or before the 24 th instant . Brethren who are subscribing members of more than one lodge must return their names 011 one list only , and it is particularly requested that no brother will return his name unless he is prepared to attend . Tickets will not be transferable . Yours fraternally , To Bro . ¦ , Lodge No . —

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We < lo not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . — Iin . ]

MASONIC FAIR PLAY . To the Editor of the Fieemason . IXar Sir and Brother , — 1 read an extract , professedly from the "Pomcroy ' s Democrat , " a 11 American paper , in a contemporary of yours , with great " gusto , " as like Samuel Weller , I could say , " them's my sentiments . " Then I remembered all of a sudden that I had seen those " wcrry identical words »

Original Correspondence.

afore , and that they once formed part of a leading article of yours in the Freemason , which has been extensively reprinted in Masonic papers and serials of the United States . So I said to myself , says I , " here ' s a go . " A bit of the Freemason copied into the " Pomeroy ' s Democrat , " and then republished in a contemporary Masonic paper in London as American . Is there such a thing as Masonic fair play ? I pause for reply ! MAHK TAPI . EY .

INSTALLATION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES AS M . W . GRAND MASTER . To the Editor ( if the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Will you permit me to offer one or two suggestions as to the forthcoming event for the benefit of those whom it may concern . I believe we may thank the Freemason

for the decision to hold the meeting at the Albert Hall , a suggestion first made and urged in your columns . As there will be a very large influx of country Past Masters present , and as it is very desirable that the occasion should be made the most of for the Masonic charities , I venture to suggest that all W . and Past Masters , & c , desiring to attend , should acquaint the Secretary of their

respective lodges , and that through that channel only , tickets , say at 10 s . fid . each , should be issued from the Grand Secretary ' s office , say up to the ; th or 14 th April . After that date the tickets should be double the amount I mention , in order to induce brethren to apply early , and to enable Sir Albert Woods and his staff to make the necessary arrangements . Of course I lake it that the numbers of lodges

will be strictly arranged according to precedence , the oldest , according to their number , in the lower boxes , and the new ones at the top and in the gallery . I suppose the actual members of Grand Lodge will be upon the stage with His Royal Highness . I think the entrance of His Royal Highness should be the signal for the whole of the brethren to rise and sing the National

Anthem ; the effect would be magnificent with four or five thousand voices , and as we are thoroughly loyal , I fancy it would not be considered unmasonic or out of place if the proceedings were preluded in this way . A very considerable sum might be raised by the issue of tickets , as I suggest , which might be equally distributed , afterpayment of expenses , between the three great Masonic

chanties . There are very few of the 10 , 000 Past Masters entitled to attend who would grudge the 10 s . 6 tl . for the ticket . The jewel commemorative of the event , suggested by a correspondent , should , in my opinion , be restricted to those who were actually present . Medals are not given in war to those who only wished to be at such and such a battle ,

and it would be ridiculous to allow those who could not trouble themselves to go up to town the same privilege which the participators in the greatest Masonic gathering of this century , will be enabled years hence to talk of with pride and satisfaction . Of course it will be out of the question for the multitude who flock to town to dine together , I presume , however , that the Prince and the Grand Officers

will probably have a banquet , and I venture to suggest that here also a goodly sum might be made for the charities , by charging say £ 2 2 s . for the dinner ticket , allowing all Past Masters , bona fide members of Grand Lodge , to go who liked , and giving a moiety of the dinner fee to the charities . Of course , under ordinary circumstances people will not pay £ 2 2 s . even to dine with I lis

Royal Highness , but on such an occasion , of the thousands who will come up for the installation , I should be very much surprised if 500 at least cannot be found who will gladly pay £ 2 2 s . to sit down to the banquet . And for the rest I have a cool proposal to make , which is this , that the London lodges should entertain the country lodges . The Masons of London should hold

high festival , and each lodge might easily banquet a few Past Masters who have come up to town from long distances , and who very likely have no personal friends to entertain them elsewhere . I merely throw this out as a suggestion for the consideration of the metropolitan brethren . It would be very easy for all the lodges intending to banquet to intimate to the Grand Secretary that

lodge so and so would have a banquet at such a place and hour . The Grand Secretary might then allot in rotation the Past Masters , & c ., of such a country lodge to them for hospitality , when the Secretary of the lodge would communicate with the Secretary of the country lodge , as to the number , rank , & c , of the members who propose to

accept the invitation . Speaking for myself , as a country Mason , pretty well known in the Craft , I may state that I have never been privileged to partake of the hospitality of any London lodge , and I for one am open to any invitation , however humble , to any metropolitan lodge , however remote . Your obedient servant , M .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — " E . J . W . " has let his hobby-horse—opposition to court , < Src , uniforms—run away with him . I never dreamed that it should be worn in our lodges , or that " small coteries " would be formed , at the same time I am aware of the fact that volunteers do attend lodges in

uniform , and that no jealousies are fostered thereby . The 28 th of April will be of so exceptional a character that it behoves us to seize every means possible to mark it as a red letter day in our Masonic calendar . Perhaps " E . J . W . " will give me credit for having travelled largeiy aiso , and that J have a considerable knowledge of

the " high , noble , and generous character of His Royal Highness , " and that it is this very knowledge which has , to some extent , prompted the suggestion , the more especially as military brethren cannot always afford , even if permitted to wear , mufti . I speak now of that large and worthysec on of non-commissioned officers , and wish to steer clear of such a fiasco as that at Plymouth .