Masonic Notes.

brethren on the prosperous condition of the Craft in the jurisdiction . Comp . John A . McKinnon , G . H . P ., presided at the latter . Comp . Pittans , who has been chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence for the last 28 years , suggested that it was time a younger man was appointed in his stead , but the

Grand Chapter considered that as long as he was capable of fulfilling the duties of that important office , his services should be retained , and they were retained accordingly . The new chiefs of the two bodies are Bro . George P . Harrison , M . W . G . M . of the Grand Lodge , and Comp . John G . Smith , G . H . P . of the Grand Chapter .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

RESIGNATIONS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have just read the report of the proceedings of the recent meeting of Grand Lodge , more particularly relating to the appeal of the W . M . of Lodge

Zetland in the East , which has again brought the question of "Resignations" before Grand Lodge for decision . From the discussion which took place it is clear that the opinions of the highest officials of the Craft upon the matter differed . The recent ruling of Grand Lodge appears to have settled the point

thusthat the written resignation of a member of a lodge sent to the Secretary or other official of the lodge , can be withdrawn by a notice from the brother if such notice is received before the letter of resignation has been read at the next meeting of the lodge . It would also appear , that in such a case the resignation having

been withdrawn , ought not to be read to the lodge . Experience teaches that resignations frequently result from temporary annoyance or disappointment , and it seems not unreasonable that a brother should have a locus pcenitentiiB allowed him . It is to be hoped the matter has now been satisfactorily settled . A few

weeks since I called attention in your columns to two resignations in different lodges , both accepted and duly recorded in the minutes . In the one case the member was restored to membership in accordance with the Book of Constitutions ; in the other case , some months

after the brother wishing to resume his membership , it was done , after consultation by the Past Masters , by a resolution rescinding the previous resolution accepting the resignation . This could scarcely have the desired effect . Is he , or is he not , still a member of the lodge , and liable for subscriptions . —Yours fraternally ,

EX-SECRETARY . PAST MASTER'S COLLARS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In a recent number of the Freemason Bro . Greenwood , P . M . 430 , although well acquainted

with the Book ot Constitutions , was , nevertheless , not well informed regarding the regulation of Grand Lodge relating to the wearing of Past Master ' s collars , Bro . Wilkinson cannot be a very extensive visitor amongst the lodges in West . Yorkshire , or he would have met with many instances of the regulation Past

Master ' s collar being worn . I find , however , there are other lodges besides No . 439 in the Province of West Yorkshire , where the regulation referred to is unknown , as only this week 1 was informed by a P . M . who recently attended the installation meeting of a lodge in a large manufacturing town in Yorkshire , and who was requested to remove his Past Master ' s collar before

he was admitted to the lodge , and his contention that he was entitled to wear the collar was disregarded . The same brother informed me that he met with a similar experience at a lodge in ' a neighbouring town which he was visiting during last year . Doubtless the point will , be made clear in the next edition of the Book of Constitutions . —Yours fraternally , EX-SECRETARY .

Reviews.

Reviews .

' * HISTORY OF THE TASMANIAN UNION LODGE " —now No . 3 on the register of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania — from 1 S 44 to 1894 . Compiled for the jubilee meeting on 30 th June , 1894 , by Bro . W . Or ' msby Wise , W . M . elect , Tasmania : The Mercury

Office , Hcbart , 1894 . —We doubt if there are many lodges which can boast of an existence of 50 years that have seen so many vicissitudes as the Tasmanian Union , formerly No . 536 on the register oi United Grand Lodge and now No . 3 under the Tasmanian Constitution . It commenced its labours under a warrant of dispensation granted by Bro . George Robert Nichols , Dep . Prov . G . M . of

Australia , and dated Sydney , 29 th June , 1894 . This warrant was to remain in force "for two years or until another warrant shall be made out . " Bro . Charles Toby was the first W . M . and was re-elected in 1845 , but when his second term of office was on the eve of expiring , he

called a special meeting of the members for the purpose of considering the position , and declared that he would not remain in office a moment after the dispensation had expired . A second dispensation for a further period of two years from the 14 th July , 1840 , was obtained from the same Deputy Prov . G . M . In the meantime , however , as

Reviews.

the authorities in Sydney had neglected to apply to England for a warrant , the Worshipful Master wrote directly , on the 9 th Jan ., 1 S 46 , to the Grand Secretary , and ultimately , on the ioth February , 184 S , Bro . J . G . Winter , who was at the time W . M ., was in a position to announce that the Grand Lodge warrant had arrived from England . Thus the Tasmanian Union Lodge worked under successive dispensations for nearly four years—a

period very considerably in excess of the time for which , within our experience , even dispensations for colonial lodges have been ordinarily granted . During the earlier years of its existence the lodge experienced the usual ups and downs of a Masonic existence . During one year many initiates were received into the lodge , during another there were few or none . At one time its funds were in a prosperous state , at another they were at a very , low ebb .

However , we may fairly assume that on the whole the " ups" had the . better of the "downs , " seeing that in 1853 it had a muster-roll of 61 members , and received from England a warrant for a Royal Arch Chapter , for which application had been made . In 1855 , the Treasurer was able to report a balance to the credit of the lodge amounting to £ 216 , and the Chapter having been fairly started , a loan of £ 100 was granted to the latter out of the lodge

funds towards the preliminary expenses . The year following the lodge spent £ 160 in altering and embellishing its room , but in 1857 , it contrived to get into hot water with the newly-appointed Provincial Grand Master of Tasmania , Bro . R . K . Ewing , who , as it failed to send any representatives to attend his installation at Launceston on the 15 th April of that year , and as it had not forwarded certain returns asked for by the Prov . Grand

Secretary , suspended it from its Masonic functions for "Contumacy . " An appeal against the suspension was addressed to the Grand Lodge of England , but the Colonial Board recommended the confirmation of the suspension , and it was confirmed . Subsequently , a memorial , signed by 113 brethren , was addressed to the Grand Lodge of England and on the gth November , 1 S 5 S , the lodge was restored . Nine days later , however , a meeting was held , and a resolution

was passed to dissolve the lodge and return the warrant . On the 27 th December , 1859 , the brethren again met , and Bro . Toby announcd that a warrant of dispensation had been received from England permitting the Iodge , which , by the way , was then numbered 781 , 10 continue its labours until a warrant of confirmation—which was promised—could be forwarded , this being deemed a preferable course to re-issuing the original warrant . In 1861 the Iodge was reduced

to 53 members , but the Royal Arch Chapter had been re-opened , the lodge of instruction re-established , the Tasmanian Masonic Benevolent Fund resuscitated , and a Masonic library started . In 1861 the membership increased to 82 , and in 1863 the number of the lodge was altered from 7 S 1 to 536 . In 1875 , the lodge bylaws were carefully revised , and a standing dispensation was granted to the W . M . to confer the Second and Third

Degrees , in cases of emergency , after a seven days' interval in each case instead of the usual interval ( 28 days ) . In 18 S 6 the lodge was visited by Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., to whom a cordial welcome was extended , and who expressed his gratification at seeing the lodge work carried out in ' suchja perfect manner . In 18 SS , Bro . Sir W . J . Clarke , M . W . G . M . of _ Victoria , visited the lodge—in which he had been' initiated in 1 S 55—and was presented with his Grand

Lodge certificate , which he said he had never been able to find among his papers , and in recognition of the kindness he received , presented the lodge with a cheque for £ 50 , to be devoted to Masonic Charities . In 1890 , when the question of foundinga Grand Lodge of Tasmania was being considered , Tasmanian Union alone held aloof from the scheme , and when the question was balloted for by the members , there appeared to be 33 in favour of doing so , and 47 against it , there being

13 others who did not vote . Subsequently , however , better counsels prevailed . The lodge entered the Union and took partin the establishmehtof the local Grand Lodge , on the roll of which it ranks as No . 3 . In 1894 the lodge celebrated its jubilee , and , from the list of its members , we should say there is every prospect of its maintaining the prosperity it has enjoyed during the later years of its existence . So far we have noted the leading events , or the majority of

them , which have occurred . But we must not lay down the book without congratulating Bro . W . Ormsby Wise on the manner in which he has done his work of compilation . His narrative is broken up into a number of short chapters , so that the history is by no means wearisome to read . He seems , also , to have carefully selected whatever was of importance , either as regards the progress of the lodge or in illusl ration of its work , while such comments as he has

permitted himself to offer from time to time are couched in the most temperate and respectful language . In short , he has fulfilled the task he was called upon to perform in a most creditable manner , and we thank him all the more cordially for this addition to our lodge histories , because Tasmanian Union Lodge has passed from under the banner of the Grand Lodge ot England to that of the local Grand Lodge , which now guides the destinies of the Craft in this distant colony .

"THE KEYSTONE , " —Masonic Publishing Company , Philadelphia—for the week ending the 9 th inst . has an article oh "Recollections" and full reports of Masonic doings in Pennsylvania , including one of the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge on the 6 th inst .

"THE TENNESSEE MASON "—Nashville , Tennessee , for March—contains reports of the annual meetings of the Grand Lodge , Grand Chapter , and Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of the State , with many interesting items of news relating to the Masonic Home , & c , & c .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS . ALFORD . Hamilton Lodge ( No . 1600 ) . —The monthly meeting of this lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , on Monday , the nth inst ., when there were present : Bros . W . II . Kell , W . M . ; F . Riggall , I . P . M . ; H . B . Farnsworth , S . W . , * II . Walker , J . W . ; Rev . G . W . Borham , Chap . ; W . All ' s , Treas . ; G . Green , Sec . ; Rev . W . Horn ,

S . D . ; Rev . W . Blin Stoyle , J . D . ; E . A . Young , P . M ., D . C ; F . Higgins , P . P . S . G . W ., Org . ; R . Gailitt , G . Bosson , H . Christian , B . Hibbitt , and IS . Burridge , Tyler .

Craft Masonry.

Visitors : Bros . Rev . J . W . Collin , 9 6 ; and J . Constable , 142 S , P . P . G . O . The election of W . M ., Treasurer , and Tyler for the ensuing year resulted in a unanimous ballot for Bros . H . B . Farnsworth , S . W ., All ' s , and D . Burridge . Auditors were appointed to present their report at the

installation meeting . Bro . Constable delivered a lecture on "Landmarks of Freemasonry , " which was highl y appreciated , and a vote of thanks was duly recorded to him . After lodge was closed the brethren adjourned to the ante-room , where a light repast was partaken of , followed by a very pleasant hour in Masonic toasts and songs .

BANGOR . Royal Leek Lodge ( No . 1849 ) . —The annual installation meeting took place on Friday , the Sth inst ., and brought together an unusually large gathering : of visiting brethren , and was , in every way , a significant token of the regard in which Bro . W . A . Dew , the W . M . elect , is held . The Installing Officers were Bros . Col . H . Piatt , D . P . G . M .

North Wales , and J . Lloyd Griffith , P . P . S . G . W ., and , at the conclusion of the ceremony , the W . M . appointed the following as his oflicers : Bros . Rev . T . Lloyd Kyffin , M . A ., I . P . M . ; Hugh Vincent , S . W . ; Erin Piatt , J . W . ; -D . Williams , S . D . ; G . Pritchard-Kayner , J . D . ; W . Douglas Jones , I . G . ; Rev . D . Morgan , M . A ., Chap . ; Dr . E . J . Lloyd , Sec . ; Rev . Lloyd Kiffin , Treas . ; E . W . Thomas ,

Org . ; and H . B . Stubbington , Tyler . The members of the lodge present included Bros . Col . the Hon . W . E . Sackville West , P . G . W . Eng . ; S . Taylor Chadwick , High Sheriff of Anglesey ; and H . Kneeshaw . The visiting brethren included Bros . Dr . Langford Jones , P . M . 18 4 , P . P . G . D . ; H . Grey Edwards , P . M . 3 S 4 , P . J . G . D . , * R . J . Davies , P . M . 606 , P . P . J . G . W . ; R . G .

Thomas , P . M . n 13 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Cornelius Davies , P . M . 606 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Major C . H . Rees , P . M . 606 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . Fairchild , M . A ., W . M . 606 ; E . Roberts , P . M ., P . G . Sec . North Wales ; J . H . Caviley , 113 . 3 S 4 J W . Price Smith , J . W . St . David ' s ; W . P . Matthews , S . W . 3 S 4 ; W . A . Foster , W . M . 1113 ; E . Wood , P . M . 1124 , P . P . S . G . W . North Wales and

Shropshire ; W . Gueet , W . M . 597 ; F . Barlow , S . W . 1113 ; J . A . Redway , 3 S 4 ; W . G . Owen , S . W . 606 ; R . A . Gregory , W . M . 384 ; W . Thornton Jones , I . P . M . 384 ; J . Hughes , J . W . 1488 ; T . E . Jones , W . M . 1488 ; T . Mills , P . M . 384 , P . P . G . S . B . ; T ., Westlake-Morgan ; and others . The banquet was served at the Castle Hotel , covers being laid for 60 .

KELVEDON . Easterford Lodge ( No . 2342 ) . —The in . stallation meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the 14 th instant , when Bro . Sir Wm . Neville Abdy , Bart ., Prov . S . G . W ., was for the second year installed as Worshipful Master . The officers for the year were invested as follows * . Bros . R . Galpin , S . W . ; J . W . Moss , I . W .:

J . H . Salter . P . M ., P . P . J . G . W ., Treas . ; M . W . Meade , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., Sec . ; W . Siggers . S . D . ; Stanley J . King , J . D . ; A . Livermore and H . T . King , D . Cs . ; N . L . Howlett , A . R . C . O ., and L . T . King , Organists j H . Ledger , I . G . ; J . Wakelin , R . C . Alexander , Hon . C . H . Strutt , and A . Money Wigram , Stwds . ; and James Inifer , Tyler . The W . M . was unanimously elected to represent the lodge at the Essex Provincial Charity

Committee . During the evening Bro . Thomas Humphreys , P . M . 1437 , P . P . S . G . W ., by permission of the W . M ., initiated his own brother , the manner in which the ceremony was performed eliciting the highest encomiums of the brethren present . Bro . Humphreys heartily thanked the W . M . for the privilege that had been accorded to him ,

and paid a well deserved tribute to the officers of the lodge for the manner in which they had assisted him in the ceremony . Bro . T . J . Ralling , P . A . G . D . C , Prov . G . Sec , was amongst the visitors present . The brethren afterwards dined together at the Angel Hotel .

LIVERPOOL . Wavertree Lodge ( No . 2294 ) . —The annual gathering of this comparatively young lodge took place at the Coffee House Hotel , Wavertree , on Wednesday , the 13 th instant , when Bro . Thomas Gauton Parkes was installed W . M . in the presence of a goodly number of brethren and visitors . The duties of Installing Master

were performed by Bro . Robert Foote , the first Master of the lodge . Among other members present were Bros . G . Holme , P . M . ; EH Brooks , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . ; and G . R . Jones , W . M . 1299 . The visitors included the following : Bros . T . R . Bottomley , P . P . G . D . C . ; Robt . Owen , W . M . 2114 ; G . S . Willings , P . M . 602 , P . P . G . D . ; J . C Robinson , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; J . D . Crawford , P . M . D . C .

9 S 0 , P . G . T . ; J . Lane , W . M . 2042 ; and J . Clayton , W . M . elect 1570 . The following officers were invested by Bro . Parkes : Bros . C F . W . Connor , S . W . ; Dr . Murdoch , J . W . ; G . Holme , jun ., P . M ., Treas . ; R . L . Burns , Sec ; G . W . Turner , S . D . ; T . Taylor , J . D . ; R . Foote , P . M ., P . P . G . Treas ., D . C ; T . N . Godden , I . G . ; W . J . Doran , Org . ; and W . Ashbury , W . Rudd , J . Rigby ,

and J . C Robinson , Stewards . The I . P . M ., Bro . WT H . Bicknell , was prevented from being present through an attack of influenza , and the presentation to him of a Past Master ' s jewel , supplemented by a handsome silver five o ' clock tea-service , had to be deferred . At the banquet which followed the usual Masonic toasts were honoured . The proceedings were enlivened with musical selections .

MANCHESTER . Duke of York Lodge ( No . 2449 ) . — The annual installation meeting of this lodge was held on the 14 th inst ., at the Palatine Hotel , the chair was occupied by Bro , Boden , P . M ., W . M . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Prior to the installation two brethren were balloted for and accepted as joining

members . Bro . Fred . Warburton , S . W ., W . M . elect , was presented to Bro . Boden , Installing Master , and the ceremony was performed in an interesting manner . Bros . W . T . Schofield , P . M ., P . P . S . GD ., and B .. Hopkinson , P . M 1 assisted .

There was a large assembly of brethren present , who , after the business terminated , celebrated the Festival of Stjohn . The usual loyal and other toasts were given and responded to . Bro . Boden , the retiring Master , was presented with a very handsome Past Master's jewel .