Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

REPORTS OF M ASONIC MEETINGS : — Craft Masonry 103 Instruction * ° * > RoyalArch . ••¦• " ° 5 Mark Masonry 1 ° * Scotland 106 Masonic Notes and Queries 107

Masonic Balls in West Lancashire 107 Thc present position of our Masonic Charities ......... 108 The Rightsof Visiting- Brethren , 109 Weekly Summary of News 109 CORRESPONDENCE : — Masonic Relics no Freemasonry and the Roman Church no

Qualification of Candidates for Freemasonry no Refusal to Bury a Roman Catholic Freemason no Reviews no On the duty of considering the Wants and Disasters of the Poor , no Lodge Meetings for next week 112 Advertisements 101 102 108 ii"t 114 . 11 . *; 116

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

toft Itaui .

ST . J AMES UNION LODGE ( NO . 180 ) . —This lodge held their usual meeting at the Freemasons , HaU on Tuesday , loth February , being the first meeting after the installation of the new W . M ., Bro . Gallico . The ceremonies of passing and raising were very ably performed by him ,

and it is much to be regretted that so few brethren were present , including as few visitors , to witness his excellent working in fact many Englishmen might learn a good lesson from what has been accomplished by a foreigner . We are happy to learn that the W . M . is going as

Steward to the Boys' festival in March , and the I odge voted 10 guineas for his list . LODGE OF TRANGUILITY ( NO . 185 ) . —The hig h esteem in which this lodge is held was exemplified by the strong muster of members and the number of visitors who assembled on

Monday , the 16 th inst , at the Cannon-street Hotel , E . C . The prodig ious amount of work to be accomplished necessitated the meeting to be called as early as a p . m . With his accustomed punctuality , Bro . Nathan Moss , the W . M ., opened the proceedings , in which he was

efficiently (" assisted by Bro . J ohn . . Constable , S . W . ; John Ross , J . W . ; J . D . Burnett . S , D . ; F . Cocker , I . G . John Peartree , Hon . Treas . ; Phil Levy , Hon . Sec . After the confirmation of the minutes , the W . M . conferred the third degree upon Bro . T . W . Humphreys , passed to the

position of Fellow Craft , Bros . Pare , Anthony , and Judge , and initiated into the mysteries of the : Order , Messrs . W . D . Bayley , and T . S . Smith . This being the appointed time for the installation of the W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . John Constable , the S . W ., who had been unanimously elected to that important post at a

previous meeting , was presented in regular form and duly installed with the usual ceremonies observed on such occasions . The new Master ' s first duty was to invest his officers , and the various brethren selected seemed to afford the greatest satisfaction , judging from the approbation manifested as each name was called . The

appointments were as follows : —Bros . John Ross S . W . ; J . D . Barnett , J . W . John Peartree , Hon . Treas . ; Phil Levy , Hon . Sec . ; David Posener ( unavoidably absent ) , S . D . ; Child , J . D . Brown , I . G . ; Spence , D . C . ; Reece , W . S . ; "Vesper , Tyler . The installation ceremony was

very ably performed by the retiring W . M ., who , although suffering from a severe cold , secured undivided attention , and at tlie finish of the addresses to the officer and brethren , well merited applause . The auditor ' s report v . as then read , from which it appeared that besides enjoying the

usual banquets , the lodge was able to spend ^ . 3 8 in charity , without encroaching upon their private benevolent fund , and yet leave a balance of . £ 144 in favour of the lodge , thus proving that " charity which thinketh no evil " was " kind " in this instance and permitted benevolence and conviviality

to go hand in hand . The benevolent fund in connection with this lodge consists at the present time of upwards of £ 600 , invested in consols . During the past year the relief from this fund to indigent brethren amounted to ^' i , 36 . The adoption of the report ended the business of the evening .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

The proceedings in the lodge were most decorous , The solemnity of the ceremonies being greatly enhanced by the addition , of musical and vocal accompaniments , under the able conduct of Bro . G . Bilby . The lodge was then called from

labour to refreshment . . After so many hours of incessant work in the lodge the brethren most gladly availed themselves of the opportunity of raising their flagging energies . Ample justice was done to the many excellent things provided ,

all faces brig htened under the genial influence . Hearts expanded and purse strings loosened , so that when during the toasts an appeal was made by Bro . Saul Solomon , P . M ., to still further enlarge the private benevolent fund , £ 26 5 s .

were at once subscribed visitors were not permitted to add their mite . The various other toasts were given and responded to in the usual manner , the most noteworthy of which were the one to the general Masonic Charities

responded toby Bro . F . Binckes in hisaccustomed hearty manner . His energy is so contagious as to make one feel ashamed of oneself for not being at least Vice-President of all the institutions . In the course of his observations he

comp limented the W . M . upon his efforts in collecting an amount of nearly ^" 400 towards the funds of tho Benevolent Institution , and referred to a discussion lately carried on in the pages of the Freemason in which one of the correspondents

thought proper to sneer at what is technically known as " Constable ' s Draw . " Bro . Binckes agrees with this correspondent in this— " That if' every lodge did its duty , we should not need such extraneous , and if you will , questionable

help , " but while such is not the case—while out of 1500 lodges under English jurisdiction only about 150 sent Stewards to the last festival , then , although not holding the opinion that in every case the " end justifies the means , " in this matter

the course pursued was highly commendable , and all honour is due to Bro . Constable for his very successful efforts in that direction . Bro . Terry followed suit in the same strain with an energy and earnestness scarcely inferior to the

preceding speaker . Both Initiates replied briefly , as . 'became novitiates , b"t showed signs of very intelligent appreciation of all they had seen and heard at their entrance into what they termed a novel view of life . The I . PM .

proposed the health of the W . M ,, who was exceedingly modest in his response , promisjjrfg to use his best efforls to promote the welfiaj-e ^ of the lodge . Bro . Maurice Hart rcspondedj ^^ He P . M . ' s . He alluded to the conditiohj |^ the lodge some years ago , when it appeared onjfhe lowest " round of fortune ' s wheel , " but its resuscitation may be dated from the time of the

W . Master ' s introduction . Besides other services , he has introduced some twenty-five of his personal friends , all good men and true , a credit to the lodge and an acquisition to the Craft . For the visitors Bro . Lazarus , P . M ., P . G . S . W .

Wilts , replied in few but appropriate words . This brother is nearly eighty years of age . It was therefore , pleasing to observe tlie almost youthful energy he possesses , imagination still vivid and intellect clear . A very handsome gold

jewel was presented to Bro . Nathan Moss , I . P . M ., a testimonial of esteem and affection seldom better deserved . The following notices of motion are worthy of record , by Bro . Saul Solomon , P . M ., " That this lodge contribute

annually £ 5 5 s . to each the Boy s and Girl s School , ancl , £ 10 to the Benevolent fund" b y Bro . Constable , P . M ., "That the sum of ^ 10 ios . from the fund of this lodge be placed on the list of Bro . John Ross , S . W ., who has

consented to represent the lodge at the coming festival fcr the Boy ' s School . The P . M . ' s present were—Holbrook Hatfield , S . V ,. Moss , Saul Solomon , Maurice Hart , N . Harris . Th ? visitors were— -Bros . F . Binckes , P . M . Grand Stewards ' :

lerry , P . M . United Strength ; Lazarus , P . M ., P . G . ' S . W . Wilts ; Roberts , W . M . Joppa ; Dr . Solla , P . M . and W . M . Montefiore ; Hogard , P . M ., Israel ; Gottheil , P . M . 141 ; Parker , P . M . Beadon ; Adreed , P . M . J 8 I ; H . M . Levi , P . M .

181 ; Wood , 438 ; Henson , 180 ; Page , J . W . 902 ; Cummings , 5 , 34 ; Braomilla , . 392 ; G . Hart , late 185 ; A . Gluckstein , 141 ; L . Abrahams , i . j-ijBroo . , 385 ; Thomas , 28 ; Myer , 6 3 ; Distin , 175 ; Webb , Lodge of Truth , Staffordshire * and Read . The vocalists were Bro . Parker , P . M ,.

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Child , J . D . ; Miss Dones and Miss Leo . Bro . Distin presided at the piano with his usual efficiency . The pleasant meeting will long be remembered by all who had the good fortune to be present . The prevailing harmony and go . od

fellowship were truly Masonic . In the midst of thorough enjoyment , suffering humanity was not forgotten . Tn fact , the whole proceedings were conducted in the spirit of the grand principles upon which the Order is founded , " Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth . "

WINDSOR . —Etonian Lodge ( No . 209 . )—> The usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held on ' the 3 rd inst ., at the Royal Adelaide Hotel , Windsor . Bro . Dixon , the W . M ., was supported by Bros . Bladon , S . W . ; Carter , J . W . ; Strange , P . M . See ; Bryett , P . M . ( acting ) S . D . ;

Crowhurst , J . D . ; Canvin , I . G . ; Hume , D . C ; Roberts , S . ; Stacey , P . M ., Org . ; Bro . Wilson , P . M ., and several other brethren . The W . M . having opened the lodge in the first degree , the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot was then taken for Mr .

T . Hawker , for initiation , and for Bro . Hiscock of 865 lodge , as a joining member , both of whom were elected . The lodge was then opened in the second degree , Bro . Pears , after the usual interrogation , was entrusted with the pass grip and word leading from second to third degree by

the W . M ., who then transferred his collar to Bro . Wilson , P . M ., who raised Bro . Pears to the sublime degree in his well-known style . The resignation of Bro . Binnie , P . M ., was read and received with universal regret , he having by his exertions contributed materially towards the

present satisfactory condition of the lodge . After discussion on various matters the lodge was closed and adjourned until the next monthly night . LODGE OF UNITED STRENGTH ( NO . 228 ) . — The brethren of this ancient lodge held their

installation meeting at St . John ' s Gate , Clerkenwell , on the 10 th inst . Present Bros . Crump , Winsland , Botterill , Terry , Davies , Colston , Carter , Robards , Hillhouse , White , Smith , Snare , Hill , Snell , Wickens , Skeate , Duckett , Tallerman , Halford , Hickman , Pearcy , Vine ,

Killick , Patmore , Jones , Ingall , Burkett , nnd numerous other brethren and visitors . The business of the evening consisted of the usual ceremonies by the outgoing W . M ., Bro . Terry , whose able working is universally known , and the installation by him of the W . M . for the

ensuing year , Bro . James Hillhouse . The occasion was rendered doubly interesting by the presentation to Bro . Terry of a valuable diamond ring by the brethren of tho lodge , in token of the high esteem and regard entertained for him by the whole of the members . The W . M ., after the

banquet , in presenting the testimonial , alluded in appropriate words to the many excellent qualifications possessed by Bro . Terry , and paid a just tribute , not only to the able manner in which he had presided during his Mastership , and the satisfactory position of the . finances of the lodge ,

mainly due to his exertions , but to the great regard personally entertained for him by every member , and referring to the inscription on the ring " Presented to Bro . James Terry , P . M . by the brethren of 228 , 10 th February , 1874 . Probo et Fideli et Fido , remarked that those words

represented truly the able , faithful , and trusty qualities so eminently possessed by him . In responding Bro . Terry heartily acknowledged the surprise and pleasure he felt at receiving the testimonial from the brethren , unexpected as it had been to him , and expressed the great pleasure it afforded him at all times to further the interest

of the lodge by every means in his power , and that he felt deeply the kind expressions which at all times , and especially on that occasion , had emanated from the W . M . and all the brethren reciprocating their regard during the 14 th year he had been connected with the lodge . The

banquet was served by Bro . Gay , in his usual excellent style , and the brethren enjoyed a most agreeable evening . BEUKH AM''STEAD . —Berhham jistcad . Lodge ( No . 0-4 ) . —The meeting for the installation of the

W . M . ofthe Berkliampstead Lodge was held at the King ' s Arms on Wednesday , 21 st ult ., ancl was attended by a larger number of brethren , the meetings of the P . G . L . Herts excepted , than has ever assembled in Berkhampstead . This