"The Old Masonians."

He said that the boys—whether son of peer or peasant—were now all treated a became sons of gentlemen , the result being a higher tone amongst the boys , and the successful passing of examinations that years ago would have been considered impossible . He had just come away from the first meeting of the Board of Stewards for the forthcoming Festival , and he was glad to tell them that it already numbered 400 . Before concluding , he referred to the S-hoIarship Fund , which , he said , had now reached £ 1400 , which included , he was pleased to say , a sum amounting to about 20 guineas subscribed by old boys of the School .

Bro . R . E . BARNES gave the toist of "The Officers of the Association , " which was humorously responded to by Mr . F . SCURR . Bro . C . PATRICK O'DOHERTY , in well-chosen words , proposed the toast of " The President , " who briefly replied . The last toast was that of " The Visitors , " by Mr . E . A . GOUGH , and which was replied to by Bro . A . M . BARNES .

At the close of the evening , the TREASURER announced that their past President—Bro . J . Terry—had sent them three guineas on behalf of the vice-presid > ncy of Mrs . Dobby ; also that Bro . ] . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B ., had given them one guinea on behalf of his son , Mr . Robert McLeod , the latter , Mr . Chandler added , had become a member of their cricket club , and was looked upon as one of themselves . The evening was brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem . We might add that Bro . Sir Augustus Harris has consented to become the President of the Association for the ensuing year .

Masonic Lecture At Gateshead.

MASONIC LECTURE AT GATESHEAD .

On the ist instant , Bro . W . J . Hughan , of Torquay , P . G . D . of England , the well-known Masonic historian , gave a special lecture in the Industry Masonic Hall , Gateshead , on " The Old Lodges of Great Britain and Ireland . " There was a large attendance , and upon the platform were : Bros . R . B . Reed ( in the chair ) , Hugh Jackson , R . Hudson , W . J . Heppell , G . W . Bain , W . Logan , M .

Corbitt , R . Whitfield , W . M . Pybus , W . M . Lyon , E . Shewbrooks , J . C . Moor , A . Dodds , T . R . Jobson , W . Stafford , R . Stewart , J . Stokoe , Thos . Coulson , Richard Harris , F . T . Schnitger , J . E . Noel , J . Munro , ] . S . Wilson , Seymour Bell , G . Harland , W . Barlow , John Robinson , T . R . Short , W . G . Woolley , R . Lee , Wm . Eckford , W . C . Forster , John Usher , J . M . Bruce , and others .

Bro . W . J . HUGHAN , in the course of his lecture , maintained that lodges had existed in Great Britain from the 14 th century . There was abundant evidence of the antiquity of the Order , and that it was not a modern institution , with its origin in last century , as some had contended . He referred to the actual records that were in existence of there being Operative Masons meeting in connection with the building of some of their grand and ancient cathedrals ; and there was no doubt they met and carried on their trade in private to preserve the mystery

of their Craft as Masons . Then they admitted for certain purposes a number of gentlemen , many in high positions , and in time there became societies which were composed of those who were not Operative , and were called " Speculative Masons . " There were also lodges with both Operative and Speculative members . He was glad that the lecture was held in that old Industry Lodge at Gateshead , which had its records for nearly two centuries past , into the time when they were an Operative lodge , and met at Swalwell . The old minute book

of that Industry Lodge was really invaluable , and ought to be reproduced in print for the benefit of Masonic students throughout the world . ( Applause . ) The lecturer referred to the assembly of the Craft in the city of York and the lodge at the Minster . He next spoke upon Operative and Speculative lodges in Scotland in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries , and afterwards of the rise and ascendancy of Speculative lodges in South Britain . Having spoken upon the relationship of the Three Degrees , and the fact that the " Mason ' s word " was

a term met with in the ancient records , he quoted a number of most interesting minutes of the Mason's Company in London , the initiation in Newcastle , in 1641 , during the time the Scottish army were in Newcistle , and had some time on their hands , when they initiated General Moray as a Speculative MASOU . The date of their oldest document was of the fourteenth century , which was a manuscript in the British Museum . There were several lodges in Scotland and elsewhere which were not c nnected with any Grand Lodge . This was the case with the ancient lodge at Alnwick . In time these lodges joined Grand Lodges in Scotland and in

London , and there were fraternal visits between those of the lodges who had joined the Grand Lodges , and they were received just as those who bad been in the lodges which were previously connected with the Grand Lodge . Bro . Hughan also referred to the initiation of Mrs . Aldworth , the lady Freeimson , in the eighteenth century , of which they had authoritative records . The lodges at York , Scarborough , and Bradford were mentioned , and equally interesting references were made to the Irish lodges of last century , and to the noble and beneficent purposes of Freemasonry .

Bro . W . LOGAN moved , and Bro . R . HUDSON seconded , a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer , which was passed with hearty acclamation . Bro . HUGH J ACKSON proposed , and Bro . W . J . HUGHAN seconded , a vote of thanks to lhe Chairman , which was given with enthusiasm .

Lodges And Chapter Of Instruction.

Lodges and Chapter of Instruction .

CITY OF WESTMINSTER LODGE , No . 15 C 3 . A meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., at the Cafe Royal , Regent-street , VV ., when there were present : Bros . Marks , W . M . ; Fonseca , I . P . M ., Taylor , S . W . ; Gulliford , J . W . ; Beach , Sec ; Brander , Treas . ; Swift , P . M ., As-st . Secj Ashplant , S . D . ; Dixon , J . D . ; Flood , I . G . ; Long , Tyler ; and several other brethren .

The lodge was opened in due form , and the 1 st Section of the Lecture worked by the W . M ., assisted by the biethren ; afterwards the ceremonies of initiation and passing were rehearsed . The lodge was subsequently duty closed .

KENSINGTON LODGE , No . 1767 . A meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , the 19 th inst ., at the Town Hall Tavern , High-street , Kensington , when there were present Bros . Maurice Moss , W . M . ; H . S . Seal , S . W . ; H . G . Danby , P . M ., J . W . ; R . H . Williams , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . Middx ., Dtp . Preceptorj F . Craggs , P . M ., Sec . ; R . Liddiard , S . D . ; J . J . Rumbal , J . D . ; E . H . Tomp ** ett , I . G . s L . J , Powell , Stwd . ; E . Warden Dennis , P . M . ; W . Hillier , P . M . ; A . Williams , P . M . ; Barton Jones , P . M ., W . M . 452 ; J . H . Neville , P . M ., W . M . J 7 O 7 j H . R . Elkin , T . E . Bell , H . Robinson , A . J . Clayton , E . J . Green , and A . Powell .

The lodge was opened in the usual form , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . lhe ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Clayton acting as candidate . Bio . Mo * s vacated ihe chair of W . M . in favour of Bro . Danby ar , d lhe lodge was opened in the Second Degree . Bro . Barton Jones offered himself as a car didate for rais ' np , and having been duly examined was entrusted . The Iodge was cpn . e-d in the Thiid Degree , and the ceremony of raising rehearsed as far as the entiustirg . Bro . Mos-s re'ouk the chair of W . M ., and the lodge was resumed in the First D-gree . Bro . Seal was circled W . M . lor the next meeting . Bros . G . H , Poulton ui . il j . VV . Ha * ' s wire elected juining members . The lodge was then closed .

Lodges And Chapter Of Instruction.

CITADEL LODGE , No . 1 S 97 . The usual meeting was held on Friday , the 15 th inst ., at the Farleigh Hotel Amhurst-road , N . I odge was opened , and Bro . T . Feistel , as W . M ., who , after rehears ing the rerfmrnv nf initiation , vacated the chair in favour of Bro . 1 . P . Cohen , P . M Preceptnr of the Percy Lodge of Instruction , who , on behalf of a few friends , member ? of the Citadel Lodge , presented Bro . Fred Dunstan , P . M ., the _ Precentor , P . A . G . D . C Miridxwith Miit of undress in of his rank

.. a clothing , case , provincial , together with a framed testimonial , and photo of the officers of the lodge . Bro . I . P . Cohen alluded in complimentary terms to the services rendered by Bro . Dunstan , as Preceptor , since the format !™ of the lodge in November , 1094 , he having attended 58 meetings out of tt , » 60 that * -.- ¦¦• h » en held . Bros . S . Crane , P . M . ; T . I . Bird , P . M . and Treas . Gen Clark , P . M . ( V . P . M . C . Assn . ) , and W . E . Jeanes also testified to the good qualities and merits of Bro . Dunstan .

STAR CHAPTER , No . 1275 . The weekly convocation was held at the Stirling Castle Hotel , Church-street , Cam b = * rwell , on Friday , the 15 th inst . Present : Comps . Benedetti , M . E . Z . ; Dunn " H . j Phillips , I .,- Thos . Grummant , P . Z ., Preceptorj Lewis , S . N . ; Bonner ' P . S .: West , HewittCass , and Addington . '

, The chapter was declared open , and the minutes of the last convocation were read and confirmed . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Hewitt personatin ? the candidate . Comp . Dunn , H . 1622 , was elected M . E . Z . for the next meeting , and the chapter placed at the disposal of the M . E . Z . 1622 . The M . E . Z . rose the usual number of tim-s , and the chapter was closed .

THE OLD TROCADERO went the way of all things but in its stead there has been raised a Trocadero which bids fair to altogether eclipse the memories of the old favourite place of amusement . A magnificent restaurant has been raised upon its site , and Messrs . J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , have succeeded beyond their anticipations in making this the most attractive and comfortable resort of the kind in Europe . A Masonic Temple is included in its many attractions and exceptionally good arrangements are being made for the convenience of lodges . Application for particulars should be made to the proprietors , J . Lyons and Co . Limited , Cadby Ha . II , Kensington . —[ ADVT . ]

Our Portrait Gallery.

Our portrait Gallery .

Worshipful Master of the Egyptian . Lodge , No . 27 , was initiated in the Egyptian Lodge six years ago , in which he filled all the principal offices and was installed Worshipful Master on the 7 th inst . Our brother first saw the light of day at Galloway in 1852 , and at the age of 27 he came to London and was occupied as a merchant for 14 years , when finding that his health required a change , he

BRO . DAVID NIVEN ,

returned to Scotland and started farming . He resides at Killymingan , Kirkgun * zeon , Dumfries , and for tire last two years he has travelled from there to attend the lodge meetings . He has the highest interests of Freemasonry at heart , and under his vigorous rule the prosperity of the Egyptian Lodge cannot but continue . A full report of the proceedings of Bro . Niven ' s installation appears in anodic ** column .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

RESUSCITATION OF THE DE TABLEY PRECEPTORY . ... .. ... _ . . ...... . lUp

A most interesting ceremony took place on Saturday , the 16 th inst ., <« * •" Town Hall , Altrincham , it being the resuscitation of the De Tabley Precep tor ** ' which has not met for , we believe , some dozen years . The matter was orig in 1111 taken up by Sir Knight Richard Newhouse , P . E . P ., Prov . G . Reg ., along « wyj Sir Knights the Re \( . C . Chetwynd Atkinson , P . G . Prelate ; E . G . Parker , P . E . C ; Dr . W . A . Renshaw , P . E . P . Harry Gordon Small , P . G . Marshal ; and others-Invitations were generously extended to well-known workers in the Order toassi

in the ceremonies . r The sir knights assembled at 5 . 30 p . m ., and Sir Knight F . K . Stevenson , PChancellor , occupied the position of E . P ., and installed four candidates , and co ducted the inauguration of Sir Knight the Rev . C . Chetwynd Atkinson , M « . i E . P ., assisted by Sir Knig ht-, F . W . Lean , P . P . G . Vice-Chancellor ; G . S . Sm '' '