The Chairman Of The Coming Girls' School Festival And His Province.

. been long in doing their part . As we announced a short time since , they Mve already compiled avery substantial total of donations and subscriptions mounting in the aggregate to £ 500 , and there is reason to hope that , otisiderable as this figure is for so limited a province , it will be made slill more considerable before the day fixed for the celebration arrives . reference to Sir Wakeman mentioned in account of

VVith Bro . O . , we our i , j s installation that he vvas initiated in the Churchill Lodge , No . 478 , Oxford , in 1871 , that he is a P . M . of that lodge , and a P . Prov . G . Reg . and P . Prov . S . G . W . of Oxfordshire , and that in 1882 he vvas appointed Deputy to the late Bro . Sir W . W . Wynn , and so continued to act till the latter ' s death in 1885 . During his tenure of this last-named office , Bro . Sir Offley

succeeded in winning the respect and esteem of the brethren throughout the large Province of North Wales and Salop , and one of the most gratifying episodes of his career happened towards the close of it , on the 23 rd of January , 1885 , when the late Bro . Sir W . W . \ Vynn held an especial Prov . Grand Lodge in order to present him with a handsome clock , subscribed for by the brethren as a token of their esteem , on the occasion of his then approaching marriage . At the bottom of this

clock was a gold plate bearing the inscription : —" Presented to Sir Offley Wakeman , Bart ., Worshipful Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of North Wales and Shropshire , by the brethren of the lodges in the province , as . 1 mark of their esteem , on the occasion of his marriage with Miss Rose Boughton , January , 1885 . " The esteem thus won under the old regime has been continued to Sir Offley under the new , and we have no doubt will remain with him so long as he is able to continue in his position as Prov . Grand Master of Shropshire .

We will add that though he has served four Stewardships , and is a Vice-President of all our Institutions , this is the first opportunity our distinguished brother has had of appearing as a Chairman at one of our Charitable Anniversaries , and we dare say , if his duties permit , he will not be slow in tendering his services in the same capacity at future gatherings .

Masonic Collectors.

MASONIC COLLECTORS .

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts appointed a Committee , who reported tothe " Communication , " held on March 9 th , as to the expediency of the adoption by that Grand Lodge , " of some plan or system forthe collection , preservation , and exhibition of Masonic antiquities , relics , curiosities , and other objects of interest to the Craft . " They speak of the greatly increased study of the history and archaeology of our Fraternity , which has developed within the last twenty years , "Large Libraries , composed exclusively of

Masonic publications , have been gathered , and the ' Masonic Collector has become a terror , and almost a nuisance , to Masoni ; Orators and Grand Secretaries . He is well nigh omnipresent , and like the daughters of the horse-leech , incessantly cries ' Give ! Give . ' His industry and persistency bave , however , brought to light many valuable contributions to our knowledge of Masonic History , which otherwise might have remained hoplessly buried in oblivion . " This is rather like " knocking down with hand , and building up with the other , " but after all there is a deal of truth in both sides of the

question . Of course , reference is made to the large collections of the lamented Bro . Bower ( acquired by the Grand Lodge of Iowa for 4000 dollars ) , the ever active Bro . E . T . Carson , and the indefatigable Bro . T . S . Parvin . The action of the Grand Lodge of New York in promoting a Masonic

Museum , which has become a feature of great interest to visitors and the Fraternity , is also alluded to , as also the " four Exhibitions of Masonic documents and relics , " held by " our English Brethren . " Of these the Committee declare that " to the thoughtful student of Masonic history they are deeply interesting for the light they often cast upon paths which he has trod with doubt and uncertainty . "

The report is a good one , and taking as it does such a broad and sensible view of the subject , we are not surprised to find that the Grand Lodge agreed to the recommendation of the Committee , and named three brethren to act as the "Committee for the collection of Curiosities of the Craft , " which are to be preserved and displayed in the Masonic Temple , in the city of Boston .

The "Pythagoras" Lodge Library.

THE " PYTHAGORAS" LODGE LIBRARY .

. The Masonic Library of the "Pythagoras Lodge , No . 1 , New York , " ! s to be scattered by the Auctioneer , at the Sale Rooms of the " Masonic Publishing Company , " 6 3 , Bleecker-street , New York , on May i 8 th , andon other days yet to be fixed . The first portion to be offered to the highest waders embraces about one third of the collection , so far as I can judge

"y tne calalogue of the year 186 9 , which is the only one ever published , this catalogue , as also the one novv issued for the sale , embraces Class I . to Class IV , according to Dr . Kioss' Bibliographic of 1844 , vvith additions uown to later years . In Class I . will be found Dr . Kioss' noted work , the P ythagoras Lodge Catalogue ( 18 ^ 0 ) Govvans' of 1858 , ( not much value )

an d various other Bibliographical works and pamphlets relating to the Craft . none of which are now easy to be procured . Th SS ¦ * ' * ' include "Magazines , Periodicals , Registers , & c . " nese mainl y refer to American and German Masonic Magazines , of which ere are an extraordinary number in value and variety . As respects this

. un try , however , Bro . George Kennings' Cataloge of Works , contains a Ic ner collection . In Almanacks there is not one for England , but there is copy f an engravec j List 0 f I'jQ / i , by Benjamin Cole , vvhich is rare , and ° ut which I gave particulars in Bro . Lanes' invaluable " Masonic Records J 7-i 886 . '' There is also a fac-similie of this wee gem , made for me ,

^ •" - Kinaiy by Bro . C . backreuter , ot New York . there are Bode s nianacks , complete , 17769 ; and other German Calendars , Dutch , ' pi S p , and French , some being extremely scarce and of great interest . r e ei 8 * nt vols , of Caillofs " Annales Maconiques , " 1807-10 . are duly presented . But the Magazines published in America during the last fifty ord * ' ' ^ eature ° f tiie Class IL , many of which cannot be had in the AiJ . nary wa y "for love or money , " and the same may be said of the

. •"lacks and Registers during the same period , for the United States , thou t d ' PP ° i nted t 0 see so few ° f our ° 'd Constitutions in Class IV ., i-an 1 t' 16 ^? rencl 1 - German , and of course , the American run on to very l $ . J } * For England there are 1738 , 1756 , and 1 853 . For Scotland , Vol , ' v * ^ 52 as stated in catalogue ) , and for Ireland , the rare ( Lond I 73 ° ' ° ' l 8 s ° - The " Ahiman Rezon " oi the " Ancients " eVe on ) have but one representative , and that is for 1801 . There is , how-* a copy of "Multa Paucis" of 1763 , and some copies of the "Pocket

The "Pythagoras" Lodge Library.

Companion , " but on the whole , the Class is a disappointment from our standpoint , though abundantly rich in uniques as respects American and German publications ; these being so numerous , I must refrain irom particularising any of the chief attractions , For anti-Masons there is a real feast , the number of pamphlets and even big volumes on the supposed evil tendencies being quite bewildering . There is one thing , the bane and the antidote are side by side , the nettle and the dock leaf being thus in close company .

One moment we are terrified to read that "Freemasonry is the way to Hell , " at least some one said and wrote so in 17 6 S ; but the author vvas soon followed by another , who testified that the Craft was the " Turnpike Road to Happiness ! " The "Morgan excitement" period , about which so little is known in this country , must have been a time of " fiery ordeal" for our American brethren , and the literature on both sides of the contest would

make quite a library , many of the principal works being in the present portion of the collection offered for sale . The literature of the " Ancient and Accepted Rite " in America is also well illustrated by reference to the catalogue , some of which possibly are additions , and not of the original library , though none the worse , if none the better , on that account . The " Proceedings " are noted in several of the lots , several of which are valuable for completing sets , being now out of

print . The medals are not mentioned this time , but whenever they occur for sale I shall be pleased to report their character in the pages of the Freemason , as the cabinet contains about 150 pieces . Bro . Gould , in the last volume of his great History , states that the two lodges warranted by the Grand Lodge of Hamburg , in New York ( of which Pythagoras Lodge , No . 1 , was the senior ) , " have died out or joined

the Grand Lodge of New York , which has novv on its roll 28 lodges working in the German language , with a membership of 3288 . " We have a lodge in this country working in the German language , which has existed for over a century on our roll , and has had a most beneficent and honourable career , and , like those in America , is distinguished for the attention paid to the literature of the Craft .

I have sent a copy of the catalogue to the Editor of the Freemason , so that it may be seen at the office of that paper by any brethren who desire to consult its pages . W . J . HUGHAN .

The Masonic Celebration Of The Queen's Jubilee.

THE MASONIC CELEBRATION OF THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE .

Ihe following circular has been issued by the Pro Grand Master , ths Earl of Carnarvon ;—" Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , " London , W . C , 15 th April , 1887 . " Worshipful Master , —

" On the 8 ih of January last , I addressed a circular letter to the Masters of all English lodges , relative to the approaching Jubilee of her Majesty the Queen , in which I announced that a great meeting of English Freemasons would be held in London this summer , under the presidency of

his Royal Highness the M . W . Grand Master , when an address of congratul ation to her Majesty would be duly proposed , and , further , that a commemorative jewel would be instituted , which all Masons vvho were subscribing members of some English lodge on the 20 th June , 1887 , would be entitled to

wear . " I suggested at the same time that in order to specially show their personal affection and respect for their Grand Master , all English Masons should have the opportunity of ioining in a small subscription in aid of the

Fund now being collected for the erection of the " Imperial Institute of the United Kingdom , the Colonies , and India , " the national memorial of the Queen ' s Jubilee , which has originated with our Grand Master , and has been approved of by Her Majesty .

" On this point I requested the opinion of the various lodges , and I find that of the answers as yet received , numbering nearly a thousand , a large majority are in favour of the suggestion . I may add that it has since been arranged with the authorities of the Institute , that the amount so collected shall be allotted to some particular portion of the building which shall be permanently identified by some designation , marking it as the gift of the Freemasons of England .

" It will be optional for lodges either to report the names of their subscribers to this fund , or to include the amounts contributed in one sum , " In my circular I explained that the arrangements for the meeiing in London could not then be made , but that it appeared appropriate and

desirable that a considerable fund should be raised on the occasion in support of our three Masonic Charities , and that an admission fee should be charged for this object , by means of tickets obtained beforehand through the Masters of the various lodges .

" I have now to inform the brethren that it has since been decided by his Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master , that the meeting in question should be held in the Albert Hall , London , during the week commencing on the 13 th of June next , and that the fee for the ticket of admission thereto shall be one guinea , the proceeds going to the three Masonic Charities as proposed .

" It is , unfortunately as yet impracticable to name the exact day , which will , however , be notified as soon as it is possible to do so . " As the accommodation , which necessarily varies in the different parts of the hah , will not permit of more than five brethren being present Irom each lodge , it is requested that you will transmit to the Grand Secretary belore the ioth May the actual number of tickets , not . exceeding that

number , you will require for your members , accompanied by a remittance of one guinea for each ticket . " In conclusion , I have to report that the Most Worshipful Grand Master is of opinion that the resolution of congratulation to be voted to her Majesty

at this meeting in London should be considered as emanating trom tne entire English Craft and that local addresses will therefore be unnecessary . " I remain , Worshipful Master , yours fraternally , " CARNARVON , " Pro Grand Master . "