The Secrets Of Freemasonry.

Freemasons take a place far in advance of the civilised world in general , if we only practised our professions . No one can deny that the professions oi a Freemason are not sufficiently high , nor can the Freemason himself deny that the actual aim of our Society is estimable . The object , and how it is

to be attained , is to be found in the ritual . Are you taught , or are you guided by Freemasonry ? Have you made any change in your life since you were initiated ? These are the secret questions . What are the secret answers 1 There is only one person who can give the answer . Each brother must himself give it to his own heart . —Indian Freemason .

Biographical Sketch.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .

BRO . W . J . HUGHAN , P . G . D . Hitherto the Portraits and accompanying Biographical Sketches which we have presented to the readers of the S . F . have been those of brethren initiated in Scottish lodges , and , though the subject of our Sketch , Bro . W . J . Hughan , first saw the light on the other side of the border , his reputation is so cosmopolitan , and his lodge membership so varied , that he can hardly

be said to belong to any one Masonic jurisdiction , and , as he has always had a warm side to Scottish Masonry , and has written so frequently on the subject , we may well be excused for bracketing him with prominent Scottish Masons , and giving him rank as such second only to Bro . D . M . Lyon , Grand Secretary of Scotland , who has long been a co-labourer with him in the field of Masonic research .

From the very outset almost of his Masonic career in 1863 , Bro . Hughan has taken a place in the foremost ranks of Masonic writers , and with Findel , of Germany , and our own Lyon , may be said to have founded the modern school of Masonic Historians , who , discarding the vague and chaotic mass of indefinable legends which had so long passed current for history ,

courageously declared that they would only accept , as historical , that which could be demonstrated by such evidence as lodge minutes , charters , or contemporaneous writings , and , thanks to their labours , we now look upon those brethren as harmless cranks , who persist in retailing the old and exploded

fables about Enoch , Noah , and Solomon being Masons in the modern sense , of Bruce lestablishing the Royal Order on the field of Bannockburn , or Frederick the Great of Prussia manufacturing degrees with high sounding titles at a time when he was practically on his death-bed .

Bro . Hughan was initiated into Masonry in St . Aubyn Lodge ( No . 954 E . G ., Devonport ) , on the 14 th of July , 1863 . On leaving Devonport for Truro , he served some time as Secretary of No . ' 331 , and subsequently joined Lodge Fortitude ( No . 131 , also of Truro ) , of which he was W . M . in 1868 , and again , in 1878 ; he was P . G . Secretary of Cornwall in 1869-70 ,

and is now a Past P . G . Senior Warden of the same province , and in 1874 was the recipient of an honour but rarely conferred , being granted the distinction of past rank'in the Grand Lodge of England , as P . S . G . D ., the appointment being made by the Earl de Grey and Ripon as M . W . G . M .

and ratified by Grand Lodge . Brother Hughan was , in conjunction with other prominent literary brethren , one of the founders of the now famous Ouatuor Coronati Lodge—the Literary Lodge of England—and is a member besides of so many lodges that it would take a page of the S . F . to enumerate their titles alone .

In many foreign jurisdictions Bro . Hughan holds high rank . In Egypt and Iowa he is P . S . G . W ., while he was granted lodge membership in Ohio on the 14 th September , 18 74 ; Pennsylvania , 30 th November , 1877 ; Kentucky , 19 th June , 1882 , and numerous others . In Ireland he is a member of No . 350 ( Omagh ) , and No . 47 ( Dundalk ) . As a Scottish

Mason Bro . Hughan is a member of Lodge Athol , Glasgow , from 18 th March , 1865 ; Mother Kilwinning from 31 st July , 1868 ; and is also an honorary member of the Lodge of Edinburgh , No . 1 , from , Sth October , 1 S 72 , and of Ancient Stirling , No . 30 , 5 th September , 1 S 93 , and of several others .

There have been but few Masonic works published for a quarter of a century to which Bro . Hughan has not contributed something in the shape of introduction or notes , while the works which have been dedicated

to him are numberless . As an author the English Craft are deep in Bro . Hughan ' s debt , while for his " Maso : iic Sketches and Reprints , " " Old Charges of the British Freemasons , " and " Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry , " the Craft at large is greatly indebted to him .

Most of Bro . Hughan ' s works are now rare ; such as been the avidit y with which they have been secured by his admirers , that copies can only be obtained at fancy prices , so that it is principally through his contributions to the world ' s Masonic Press that he is known to the thousands of brethren who have not been fortunate enough to secure copies of his chief books , and

most of the principal Masonic magazines of the world have at some time or other been favoured with articles from Bro . Hughan ' s pen . Our big brother and namesake—the English Freemason—forthe first number of which he contributed an article—has been the one principally favoured , and well do we remember in our younger days—a good score years ago—how anxiously we waited on each number to read the letters of Hughan , Lyon , Buchan .

In what is termed High Grade Masonry Bro . Hughan has as many honours as in the Craft Degrees , being a Past Assistant Grand Sojourner of 'he Grand Royal Arch Chapter of England , a Past Grand Warden of the Maik Grand Lodge , Honorary Provincial Prior , Knights Templar of Canada , while he had the 30 , 31 , and 32 " of the A . and A . Rite conferred

" onoris Causa , " because of his literary services to the Craft , " and in Scotland he is an Honorary Member of the Grand Encampment of the Temple and Malta , with the rank of P . G . M . and Knight Grand Cross , which , though he declined , the members fraternally hope he will yet accept . Quoting from the Biographical Sketch of Bro . Hughan in Lyon ' s His-

Biographical Sketch.

tory of the Lodge of Edinburgh : " Ever since 1 S 03 , the year of his initiation in the St . Aubyn Lodge , Devonport , he has prosecuted his studies in connection with the literature of the Order with conscientiousness , and with an energy rarely evinced . " " In his writings he has been careful to mark the distinction between

matters that are purely historical and those that are merely legendary , and in this respect has done much to dissipate the superstition which has so long enveloped Masonic History . Free from all jealousies of rivalry , he accords the fullest credit to the researches of other brethren . ... In short , his fame as a Masonic Author extends to every place in which Freemasonry has a footing , and is practised by an intelligent Brotherhood . "

No one who has had the honour of Bro . Hughan ' s acquaintance could fail to appreciate his sympathy and kindness , and the ready help he is always willing to extend to an enquiring brother . This we have ourselves often experienced , and acknowledge our indebtedness for many favours and much information received from Bro . Hughan , of "bonnie" Torquay . — Scottish Freemason .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

The following address by the Prov . Grand Master , the Rt . Hon . William Lawies Jackson , M . P ., was delivered at the annual meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire , a report of which appeared in our last issue : — Brethren , —I desire , in the first place , gratefully to acknowledge your hearty salutations . It is , indeed , a satisfaction to a Provincial Grand Master on an occasion like this to be supported by so large and representative a gathering . De

Warren Lodge , too , under whose banner we meet , must be proud to receive and entertain this Provincial Grand Lodge ; and at this point let me say to the brethren of the De Warren Lodge , and to the W . Ms , and brethren of the other lodges in Halifax , that it'is a matter of great regret to me that I cannot stay very long with you to-day . It is , I suppose , the penalty I pay for undertaking too much work , but you were good enough to accept me as your Provincial Grand Master under these conditions , and for my part , notwithstanding difficulties which seem to accumulate , I shall be with you as frequently and as lone as I am able .

De Warren Lodge to-day celebrates what I may call its silver wedding , as it was consecrated in 18 70 , just 25 years ago , by Bro . Bentley Shaw , then Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Of the 12 founders of the lodge , four , I am informed , still survive ; they are Bros . John Seed , P . M . j W . H . D . Horsfall , P . M . ; Wm . Asquith , P . M . ; and William Cooke , P . M . Bro . Cooke has , I believe , filled the office of Secretary to his lodge from its formation , and this must be regarded as a testimonial of the great respect in which he is held by his brethren , and of their

satisfaction at the efficient manner in which he has discharged his duties . De Warren Lodge , I may say , brethren , has not fallen short in its Masonic duty to our Charities . Last year it contributed handsomely to the Boys' School , and it is now within a short distance of being a Patron of that Institution , having put nearly £ 500 upon the W . M . ' s chair for that purpose . This shows conclusively that the brethren of De Warren recognise what we all profess , and I hope do thoroughly recognise , that the wants of others claim our attention and our sympathy .

I have but little to say , brethren , about the province . There is one thing , however , which I hear from my Deputy , that is a source of great satisfaction to me , and that is the marked improvement which has taken place in the rendering of the ritual of Freemasonry during the past few years . Those who take a real interest in the Craft must see how important it is that our ceremonies should be reverently and conscientiously worked , and that , not on account of their own beauty only , but in order that those whom we introduce into our society may be impressed with the solemnity of the responsibility which they are assuming .

At our last meeting I referred to the difficulty in which I am placed in regard to visiting the lodges in the province , and I impressed upon the Prov . Grand Officers the duty of assisting me in this way . I am convinced that great good will result if this is persistently done ; and I am pleased to hear from those who have acted upon my suggestion that the experiment has been in every way satisfactory . I must say a word upon what is always a most delicate matter-- ! mean the

appointment of the Prov . Grand Ofiicers for the year . I need not do more than remind you that there are now 1152 Past Masters on our roll , and that that number is being increased at the rate of 76 per annum , and you will perceive at once how enormous are the difficulties with which we ara beset . In distributing the collars , we endeavour to recognise Masonic worth individually , as well as Masonic work in

the lodges ; and our efforts , 1 may explain , have been somewhat interfered with recently by the occurrence of what we must all consider as most important events . I refer to the centenary celebrations . Other things being equal , it does seem reasonable that when a lodge has completed its century of existence , some special mark of distinction should be bestowed upon it , and that we have endeavoured to do .

During the past seven years , seven lodges have reached their 100 th year . I need not go through them , you know them as well as I do . Next month the Alfred Lodge , No 306 , Leeds , will be entitled to its centenary warrant . Now , brethren , I consider the celebration of an event so interesting is only right and proper , and I don ' t want to check enthusiasm or to stint any tendency to

hospitality . In the case of the Alfred Lodge , all who knew its W . M ., Bro . William Blackburn , will recognise tbat he will hardly care to be behind others in making that celebration worthy of the lodge over which he so ably presides . I hope to be present on that occasion , and I would only suggest that we should not travel too far in the direction of expense in keeping these festivities .

Let me impress , too , upon W . Ms , at this point the importance of the preservation of the books , furniture , and regalia of their lodges . Let them see that an inventory is yearly prepared , and that the minutes are not only properly kept , but also easily accessible in case of need . With respect to the annual returns , I shall not go into detail ; I will merely urge that as your Prov . Grand Secretary does all he can to make the work of the Secretaries as light as possible , so it is only fair that they on their part should render his duties as little irksome as may be , by promptly complying with the