Union Between The Unrecognised Degrees.

UNION BETWEEN THE UNRECOGNISED DEGREES .

A meeting of the combined committees of the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , and the Masonic Red Cross Order , was held at 2 , Red Lion-square , on the 15 th inst .

Bro . W . W . Bramston Beach , M . P ., Past G . M . M ., was in the chair , supported by Bros . T . Meggy , F . Binckes , and H . C , Levander , M . A ., on the side of the Mark ,

ancl by Col . Burdett , J . Hervey , Lord Lindsay , W . H . Hubbard , R . W . Little , W . J . Hughan , J . G . Marsh , and R . W . Stuart , as representatives of the Red Cross Order .

The clauses of a mutual treaty of alliance and support Avere agreed to , and a second meeting for formally signing the deed was arranged . The committee then separated .

Fraters Rosicrucianae Socie Tatis In Anglia.

FRATERS ROSICRUCIANAE SOCIE TATIS IN ANGLIA .

Thequarterlymecting of the Rosicrucians Avas held at Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , on the 14 th inst ., under the presidency of the S . M ., Fra . R . Wentworth Little : W . J . Hughan , S . S . M . ; and

W . Hubbard . J . S . M . ; Col . Burdett , Hon

V . P . ; Angelo J . LeAvis , M . A ., G . Kenning , Dr . Woodman , S . G . ; W . B . Hambly , J . Weaver , M . Edwards , J . R . Foulger , G , Butler , and others Avere present . Bro . John

Hervey , G . Secretary , Avas formally received into the brotherhood , after which thc Right Hon . Edward Buhver Lord Lytton , was

unanimously elected Grand Patron , and the rank of Hon . Member was conferred upon Bro . Hargrave Jennings , author of " Thc Rosicrucians , their Rites and Mysteries . " Thc Praters then separated after the visual solemnities .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The usual monthly meeting of thc Lodge of Benevolence was held on AVednesday evening , Bro . John Savage , P . G . D ., as AV . M . ; Bro . Joseph Smith , S . W . and Bro . James Brett , J . AV . ; supported by Bros . Hemsworth ( P . M . 190 ) , Ileckell

( P . M . 831 ) , AA ' eaver ( P . M . 862 ) , Middlemist ( W . M . 5 ) , Fowler ( W . M " . 11 S 5 ) , Cook ( P . M . J 97 ) . J .-Numi ( G . S . B . ) , Cottebrune ( P . M . 733 ) , Sheen ( P . M . 201 ) , AV . Ouuh ( P . G . P . ) , | . K .

Saunders ( P . M . 1 ) , and several other brethren . There were eleven petitioners , being an unusually small number , nine of whom were relieved to the extent of . £ 180 .

THK Metropolitan Lodge ami Chapter of Instruction , held at Thc George in Aldermanbury since their commencement , arc to be removed to the Portugal Hotel , Fleet-street , next door to Anderton ' s , where so many London lodges now meet ; and wc augur increased prosperity to both these Masonic schools , as Comp . Brett will still be found

there , as he has been hitherto at Tlie * George . COI . I . KC . K oi * OKCIANIS'I ' S . —The following gentlemen have been admitted to fellowships : —AV . S . liambridge , of Marlborough College ; Edward Bunnell , of Norwich Cathedral , Mus . Doc . ; F . E . Gladstone , of Chichester Cathedral ; lohn Stabler , of Magdalen College , Oxford , Mus . Doc . ; and K . 11 . Turpin of London .

Stephen Blair.

STEPHEN BLAIR .

[ From the Manchester Free Lance . " ] Death has been unusually busy during thc portion of thc year 1870 which has already elapsed . Great men have been summoned from time into eternity ; good men have entered on their reward , and those who are left , while they try to imitate

their noble example , mourn thc loss of some of the best of England ' s sons . To the names that have recently been entered on the roll of Death must be added that of the kindly , genial , and good-hearted Englishman whose well-known designation stands at the head of this column . Somehow nobody ever

thought of speaking of Mr . Blair ; even that small amount of ceremonious commonplace was felt to be foreign to the simplicity of his character . His own aversion to anything like fuss probably led to the respectful familiarity with which his name was dissociated from all approach to formality , and the

genuine regard felt for him by all who had the happiness to know him was more than sufficient to prevent undue advances . Stephen Blair was a man of mark in the county A successful business man , he devoted his wealth very much to the improvement of the district in

which he gained it , and otherwise to the promotion of similar good objects in other parts of thc kingdom . He was the reverse of ambitious , ancl although selected to represent the borough of Bolton in Parliament , a very short experience of political life was sufficient to gratify his legislative

desires . AVhen about six-and-twenty years of age he associated himself with the Freemasons , being admitted into tbe Order at a lodge held in a town in Cumberland . The high regard paid by the statutes of Freemasonry to the exercise of that greatest of all moral virtues—charity , could not fail

to find a ready response 111 the naturally warm heart of Stephen Blair . He entered thoroughly into thc various Masonic degrees , and became ardently attached to thc order . It is in the character of a Freemason , indeed , that he has rendered himself so thoroughly well known and appreciated

throughout Lancashire , and it is in that character that he set an example of open-handed liberality which it is more easy to admire than to imitate . Joining a lodge in the Masonic Province of East Lancashire , thc natural urbanity of his manner , and his enthusiasm as a member of the Order , soon

found their reward in his appointment to certain high official positions . He was selected in 1 S 40 to ( ill a post of distinction in the Grand Lodge of thc Province of East Lancashire , and six years afterwards he was selected by the late Earl of EUesmere , then Grand Master of the Province , to be his

deputy . For ten years he fulfilled the duties of tins office in a manner that gained for him the respect and esteem of the members of the society , and in 1856 he reaped the reward of his devotion to Freemasonry by being appointed Provincial Grand Master in succession to the Earl of EUesmere , who

died in that year . From that period until the day of his own decease he continued to manifest even increased interest in thc welfare of the Order . Always of active habits , he never permitted considerations of personal inconvenience or fatigue to interfere with thc discharge of any of the

multifarious duties attached to his official position . Being under an engagement , a few years since , to assist in the " consecration " of a lodge at Levenshtilmc , he started from his shooting-box in the North of Scotland to fulfil his appointment . He arrived at the railway station too late for the train ,

and nothing remained but that he should forego his engagement altogether , or take advantage of a heavy , rumbling goods train , which was then due . Most men would have preferred their own ease to so uncomfortable a journey . Not so

Stephen Blair . He submitted to the jolting and discomfort of a goods wagon , and arrived at his destination grimy and fatigued , but otherwise fully prepared to exercise the functions devolving upon him .

Thc native liberality of Stephen Blair found full scope in his support of the various Masonic Charities . Now the School for Girls partook of his bounty , nnd now the Asylum for Aged Freemasons and their AA'idows . His support of thc Hoys ' School was even more warm , for he founded a

presentation by which one boy may be presented annually as of right by the Grand Master of the Province of Kast Lancashire , for ever . This he effected on payment of a thousand guineas . Nor was his generosity confined within the pale of Freemasonry . By bis will lie bus set apart thc munificent sum-of thirty thousand pounds to found and

endow an hospital for the poor ot Uollon , upon a site which will readily be supplied by tbe town , or by some good man anxious to imitate a noble example . It is not too much to say of Stephen Blair that the esteem in which he was held by tho Freemasons of his province amounted lo strong affection . His

Stephen Blair.

handsome and expressive countenance , beaming with good humour and kindly consideration , was familiar to thousands within this county , and will long be remembered as the incarnation of health and manly dignity . It was not until within a short period of his death that his usually clear complexion

assumed a darker hue , which told of his coming end ; but to thc last bis snow-white hair was a " crown of rejoicing " to all who could estimate the depth of his substantial , though unostentatious , goodness . Such unsophisticated natures are rare , and can ill be spared . Their influence on the hardness of thc world is palpable and yet inestimable ,

and when combined with those higher qualities that will render the name of Stephen Blair an object of affectionate respect in bosoms yet unborn , they can scarcely be replaced . In that quiet cemetery at Bolton rests as good a man as ever brought happiness into a household , or reflected honour on the land of his birth . His works do follow him . Requiescat in pace .

Masonic Picnic.

MASONIC PICNIC .

The Freemasons of Sunderland had their third annual pic-nic on AA ' ednesday , July 131 I 1 , when a party of from 260 to 270 persons proceeded by special train to Gilsland , the locality fixed . The gentlemen comprising the party were all brethren—one of the regulations being that no gentleman not a member of the Craft , or a stranger , at the time the guest of a Mason , should join the party .

The committee have , for the three years they have had these pleasant reunions , found this rule have a decided tendency in keeping up the character of the company . There wasa large muster of the fairer portion of humanity —this pleasant outing every year increasing in favour with the ladies , a sure sign of success . The special train was despatched punctually from Monkwearmouth station at

7 . 30 a . m ., and reached its destination altera pleasant run of two hours and a half , the greater portion of the journey being through the beautiful scenery of the Valley of the Tyne . Arrived at Gilsland , the party proceeded lo visit the Spa well ( noted in Sir AA'alter Scott ' s " Guy Mannering" as the place where Meg Merrilies had the interview with Lady Ucrlram ) , the Popping Stone ( on

which Sir AA'alier is said to have put the momentous question ) , and other interesting and romantic places in the neighbourhood . At twelve o ' clock luncheon was spread under an avenue of trees adjoining the bowling-green attached lo the Shaws' Hotel ( a large establishment capable of accommodaliong at one time over 250 visitors)—the principal table being over fifty yards in length , and

laid for over 220 people . 1 he remainder were seated at a second table placed parallel to the principal one . After luncheon an excellent photographic group was obtained by Uro . Paul Stabler , of Sunderland . A portion then proceeded to visit the remains of the Roman camp and wall at liirdoswald , and other more distant places of note . By far the largest section ,

however , remained on the bowling-green , where bowls and other games were indulged in , and dancing was kept up wilh great spirit to the strains of a quadrille band . Bros . E . II . " Crookes ( P . G . S . Durham , and P . M . 80 , St . John ' s , Sunderland ) , and John Tillman ( P . G . S . of AA ' . Durham , and P . M . 9 S 9 , ' AVilliamson , Sunderland ) , officiating as M . C . ' s , with their usual courtesy and .

affability . At five an adjournment was made for tea , after which dancing was resumed till seven o ' clock , when a move was made for the station , and the train started on its return journey at 7 . 45 p . m ., and making the mn home in less time than the outward , reached Sunderland at 10 . 5 p . m . In each carriage was heard the sound of merriment , thc song and the tale enlivened the way , and after evincing their loyalty by an almost instantaneous and

unpremeditated outburst of the national Anthem as they stepped upon the platform , each wended his or her way to their respective homes , many a one , more especially the fair ones , expressing a wish that the next Masonic pic-nic was a little nearer hand . The annual gatherings have became an institution in Sunderland , and decidedly popular among the ladies and the members of the Craft . More of them in this and other

parts of the country cannot but have thc effect of rendering life more pleasant . Each of these occasions stands but as an oasis in the desert , times when the ladies can join our gatherings , opportunities which they have hut loo seldom . "" Thc luncheon and tea which were both gootl , substantial , and satisfactory , were supplied by Mr . and Mrs . Oelderd , of the Shaws Hotel , Gilsland . Thc arrangements fin- the pic-nic were made , antl the

carrying out of ihem superintended by a committee , consisting " of the AA ' . M . ' s and AA'ardcns of Ihe four lodges in . Sunderland nnd the S . D . of 949 , of which Ilros . M . Allison ( AV . M . Palatine , No . 97 ) , was chairman , and R . Dixon ( AV . M . Si . John ' s , No . . So ) , vice-chairman , and llros . R . Hudson ( AV . M . AVilliamson , 949 ) , ami J . H . Coates ( S . D . AVilliamson , 949 ) , again filling thc rcspec live post of Treasurer out ! Honorary Secretary .

TIIKRK is something more than ordinarily pleasant in Ihe prospect of a Life of llarham , the author of " Ingoldsby , " by his son . THK sources ot thc old Saxon poem of thc " Heliand " ( the Saviour ) have been lately tracked by Mr . AVindisch , antl separately by Dr . Grein . lloth critics

agree that tbe chief source was the " Harmony of the Gospels , " attributed to 'Lilian ; while others were the Commentaries of Hole , and , according to Mr . AVindisch , thoso of Kabamis Mortis and Alctiin , or , according to Dr . Grein , those of Augustine and Jerome , and ihe Homilies of Gregory the Great . — Atlicihcum ,