Ad00403

"D OYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT ¦** - INSTITUTION . FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND WIDOWS OF FREEMASONS , CROYDON . Patron and President : HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., & c , M . W . G . M . THE ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL Of this Institution will take place On WEDNESDAY , -Sth FEBRUARY , 1 SS 3 , AT FREEMASONS' TAVERN , GREAT QUEEN-STREET , LONDON , Upon which occasion GEN . J . STUDHOLME BROWNRIGG , C . B ., P . G . W ., R . W . PROV . G . M . FOR SURREY , Has been pleased to signify his intention of Presiding . Brethren are earnestly invited to accept the Office of Stexvard upon this occasion , and they xvill greatly oblige by forxvarding their Names and Masonic Rank , as soon as convenient , to the Secretary , xvho xvill gladly give any information required . JAMES TERRY , P . Prov . G . S . W . Norths and Hunts , Secretary . # * At the Election in May next there will be 120 Candidates for Election , xvhilst at the present time there are only Twelve Vacancies .

Ad00404

TO THE GOVERNORS AND SUBSCRIBERS OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND WIDOWS OF FREEMASONS . MAY ELECTION , 1 SS 3 . The favour of your Votes and Interest is earnestly solicited on behalf of BRO . WILLIAM M . FORD , In his 66 th year , noxv ( through the kindness of Messrs . BARCLAY & Co ., ) residing at the " Blue Anchor , " 3 , Coleman Street , Bank , and previously at the * ' Barley Moxv , " Salisbury Court , Fleet Street ( The Cogers' Discussion Hall , ) who through misfortune in business is now entirely without means ; he xvas initiated in the " Domatic " Lodge , No . 177 , in February , 1857 , and the " Domatic Chapter , " in March , 1 S 77 . The case is strongly recomended by the under mentioned Brethren , and xvho have kindly consented to receive proxies : liro . fas . Brett , P . M . 177 , P . O . P . ; 14 , Sidnev Road , Homerton . „ Iidmd . Coste , P . M ., 9 , 1314 , P . P . G . D . C . Kent ; P . Z . 619 ; Distillerv , Bank Street , Gravesend . „ Thos . Cub ' itt , P . G . P ., P . S . G . D ., Middlesex , P . M . i . < 7 and P . Z . 1770 & c , Norfolk Houss , Mariott Uoad , Tolliiigton Park . „ Geo . Kxerctt , P . M . and P . Z . 177 , 1381 , and Treasurer 177 and 1608 ; 90 , Clapham Road . „ ( . R . Foulger , P . M . 177 , 1613 , 79 ; , P . Z . 177 ; 31 , I- ' ore Street , " Citv . „ T . C . Walls , P . P . G . S . I 1 . Middlesex ; P . M . 13 S 1 , 1 : 13 , 174 J , P . Z ., K . T ., & c , East Temple Chambers , Fleet Street , li . C . „ Jas . Willing , Jun ., P . M . 177 . P . M ., P . Z ., and Treas . 1507 , P . M . 1744 and 1000 ; 3 J 3 , Strand .

Ad00405

LONDON & NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY . SLEEPING ACCOMMODATION BY NIGHT TRAINS . Improved Sleeping Saloons , lighted xvith gas , comfortably warmed , and provided with pillows , rugs , and lavatory accommodation , are run on the Night Express Trains betxveen LONDON and MANCHESTER and LIVERPOOL , Leaving } Leaving ? Leaving at 12 . 0 Night , j at 10 . 55 p . m . 5 at 11 . 10 p . m . ( 10 . 45 P- - Sundays . ) Extra charge 5 s . for each berth , in addition to the ordinary first-class fare . Separate apartments are provided for ladies and family parties , and an attendant accompanies each saloon . On arrival at destination the saloons are placed in a convenient position , and passengers may leave them at any time during the morning . Berths can be secured in advance on application to the Station Masters at Euston , Liverpool , and Manchester . G . FINDLAY , General Manager . Euston Station , February , 1 S 03 .

Ad00406

AM . M ., aged 40 , desires a Position as CLERK or WAREHOUSEMAN , town or country . Has had nearly 20 years' experience in these and similar posts . Salary not so much considered as is permanent employment . —Address M . M ., care of Mr . Henderson , Sydenham House , Dulwich , London , S . E .

Ad00408

A Quarter-Master Serjeant retiring from thc Service xvith a pension desires EMPLOYMENT in any Position of Trust . Undeniable references and security if required . —Address , J . D . B ., 20 , Olinda-road , Stamford Hill , N .

Ad00407

CARE of Offices , Chambers , or any place of trust . A SITUATION xvanted by a brother age 43 , married , no family . —Address S . G . O . Ofiice of Freemason , iO , Great Queen-street , London , W . C . CRAFT . —Wanted by a small Country Lodge Second Hand set of TRACING BOARDS . State price and particulars to " M ., " care of Advertising Offices , 150 , Queen Victoria-street , London .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

The folloxving reports stand over till next xveek : — Correspondence—Deserving Charity . District Grand Lodge of Australia . St . Hilda Lodge , No . 240 . City of London Lodge , No . goi . Abbey Lodge , No . 11 S 4 . Perseverance Lodge , No . 1643 . Army and Navy Lodge , No . 1971 .

BOOKS , & c . RECEIVED . "Thc Broad Arroxv , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "El Taller , " "The Masonic Keviexv , " "The Court Circular , " "The Natal Mercury , " "Masonia , " "The United Service Gazette , " "Thc Jexvish Chronicle . " "TheKeystone , "

"The Freemason" ( Sydney ) , "Triunghiul , " "Phonetic Journal , " " The Pianoforte Dealer ' s Guide , " " Proceedings of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Pennsylvania , " Thirteenth Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Quebec , " " Magnetism , Nature ' s own Remedy , " " Le Monde Maconnique , " "Thc Hull Packet . "

Ar00409

SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 24 , 1 S 83 . JtW ^ jty- f ^ v ^ -y wwww ^ W ^ ' ¦ # ' ¥ & ¥ vm

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ Weilo not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by ourcorrespondents , but we wish in a spirit of { airplay to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ! ¦

THE GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — By some accidental error I see the 3 rd day of May , 173 6 , is given in mine of last xvcek ' s as being the

foundation day of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . The date should be " thirtieth , " not" third , " that being St . Andrew ' s Day , xvhich day has ever since been kept as our Grand Festival . —Yours fraternally , JAMES H . NEILSON . 32 , Leeson-street Loxver , Dublin , Feb . 19 th .

To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I entirely agree with my friend , R . W . Bro . J . H . Neilson , in his opinion as to the need there is for a change in the management of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . Life and efficiency are much required to reinvigorate the Grand

Officers generally , and I am persuaded that until brethren are promoted to Grand Office more frequently there xvill be little interest taken in the proceedings . It does seem to me absurd to be alxvays appointing the same brethren to office , especially when some of them are conspicuous by their absence . I quite think that Quarterly

Communications xx-ould be advantageous . I cannot , hoxvever , for one moment grant that Ireland is the premier Grand Lodge , though I cheerfully admit it is the second in antiquity of existing Grand Lodges . From 1717 to 1725 there was but the one Grand Lodge in the world , and that was the "Grand Lodge of England , " held at London . In

1725 the "Grand Lodge ot all England , held at York , xx-as formed , followed by Ireland in 172 S-9 ( if not 1726 circa ) . The " Ancients " did not appear on the scene until about 1750 , and certainly their advent in no way invalidates the claim of thc Grand Lodge of England to be considered the first of its kind . True , the United Grand Lodge of England dates from 1 S 13 , but it was but the

union of txvo bodies previously existing , the one from I 7 i 7 and thc other from 1750 ( circa ) . 1 should not thus have alluded to the subject at all had it not been for Bro . Neilson ' s kind reference to my " Masonic Register . " 1 am extremely glad to sec Bro . Neilson ' s letter , and hope others will folloxv on the same subject . —Yours fraternally , Truro , February , 19 th . W . J . HUGHAN .

To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am surprised that Bro . Neilson , of xvhom I have alxvays heard it said that he is one of the lights of Irish Freemasonry , should insist that the Grand Lodgeof Ireland is the "Senior Grand Lodge of thc world ; " while as

regards that of England he remarks that it " claims to be the premier Grand Lodge of thc xvorld , but to this title it is not entitled . " I have seldom heard a more groundless assertion . Bro . Neilson does not dispute " there xvas a Grand Lodge in England , founded in 1717 , " but he goes on to say , " this body xvas split into txvo Grand Lodges >

styled Ancients and Moderns , each granting xvarrants to hold lodges , " and that " these txvo Grand Lodges worked in opposition until thu happy union xvith the present Grand Lodge of England , on ist December , 1 S 13 , noxv going only 70 years ago . " As regards our 1717 Grand Lodge let me point out that it has an unbroken line of Grand Masters from the year of its

foundation till noxv , and though its records do not go back quite to that year they extend continuous several years beyond 1721 ) , the date of the foundation of the Grand Lodge of England . It cannot exactly be determined hoxv and xvhen the schism in English Masonry of last century began—it is usually assigned to about the year 173 S , but it is not denied that the schismatics xvere brethren xvho had

Original Correspondence.

seceded from the Grand Lodge of 1717 , and itwill puzzle very many people to make out how thc continuity of existence in this or any other body can be broken , merely because some of its earlier members broke off their connection xvith it and some years afterxvards set up an establishment of their own .

Nor does thc reunion of the schismatic brethren with the brethren of the 1717 Grand Lodge detract from thc claim of England to be the premier Grand Lodgeof the xvorld . A tree xvhich is lopped of some of its branches loses of its strength and symmetry ; when fresh branches take thc place of what it had lost it regains its former proportions ,

and is even improved , perhaps , in appearance as well as physically . But the original trunk remains all through the loss and recovery of its strength and beauty . In 1717 , Grand Lodge is the parent stem of English Masonry , and from then till noxv has stood all xveathers . The branches xvhich fell off in 173 S , or thereabouts , grew apace , and in

1013 were re-engrafted on it , and greatly added to the strength and appearance of the original . In short , the schismatics in 1 S 13 found the i 7 i 7 Grand , Lodge just xvhat it xvas—subject , of course , to the changes xvhich time brings xvith it—xvhen their predecessors left it some three-quarters of a century before , and our Grand Lodge of 1 SS 3 is the

same , but with the seceding lodges and brethren reincorporated . I am half inclined to think Bro . Neilson , in advancing this claim on behalf of Ireland , must have been joking . He assigns to thc Grand Lodge of Scotland , founded in 1736 , the second place "in point of antiquity , " and says

that it , like the Grand Lodge of Ireland , " can prove from their records continuous and united working " from the dates of their foundation . I have no objection to the word " continuous , " but I must decidedly object to the statement that the Grand Lodge of Scotland can prove from its

records united working . Bro . Neilson has evidently never heard of Mother Kilxvinning and her little vagaries , long since happily terminated . Let him look into the pages of Bro . Murray Lyon's well-knoxvn book , and then , if he can , let him justify the word " united . "—Fraternally yours , A . G . B .

THE ROYAL GLOUCESTER LODGE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As VV . M . of the Royal Gloucester Lodge at Southampton in 1 S 7 S-9 , and forxvarding to you in xveekly instalments a sketch-history of that lodge xvhich you were good

enough to publish at the time , I have read with more than ordinary interest the contribution of " Past Master " to the Gloucester Journal copied into the columns of the Freemason several weeks since . On referring back to this sketch and the minute books on which it was based , I find that the lodge xvas started here in 1772 as " No . 174 , " a

MS . book left by the late Bro . Slade , a xvell-known local Masonic student , in the possession of the present D . P . 'G . M . of the province , stating that it was called the Holy Trinity . It xvas formally constituted , according to the minute book of the Grand Lodge of "Ancient" Freemasons , on the 22 nd of April , 1772 , at the Vine Tavern in this toxvn "by an

authority ( for three hours only ) from the Rt . Wor . Laxv . ( Lawrence ) Dermott , D . G . Master . " The warrant—which is printed in blank , the necessary information being filled in in ink—agrees xvith this description , and directs the lodge to be held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every calendar month .

It xvas not till 1792 ( 20 years after its formation and presumed regular xvorking , though thc records are not perfect betxveen 1773 and 1 7 S 3 ) that on the 2 nd of August " a lodge of emergency met at eight o ' clock . " 1 quote noxv from a small quarto book , endorsed " Waste book , minutes entered " ( thc actual minute book with others

of this distant date being lost , though the " xvaste books " are intact : "To consider the impropriety of accepting an offer from Mr . { sic ) Dunckcrley , giving us a dispensation to hold a lodge under thc sanction of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . It xvas unanimously agreed to put the proposition to the ballot . Agreed to the alteration , 11 ;

against , 4 . " At a " stated lodge " on August Sth , " is the next entry in this book . " Assembled at the usual time . Received of Bro . Dunckcrley a dispensation to hold a lodge under the sanction of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , " and more xvith respect to the election of members . The number of the lodge under the nexv registration seems

to havc been 503 . This nexv xvarrant , xvhich , xvith the old xvarrant , hangs in our lodge room , is in MS . on parchment , and dated 5 th August , 1792 , recites that "We , Thos . Dunckcrley , Esq ., Provincial Grand Master of the counties of Dorset , Essex , Gloucester , Somerset , and Southampton , & c , & c , under the

authontyof His Royal Highness George Augustus Frederick Prince of Wales , Grand Master of the most ancient and honourable society of Free and Accepted Masons , " on the "humble petition of our right trusty and well-beloved William Graves , William Baker , William Clark , and several other brethren residing in or near Southampton , do hereby constitute the said brethren into a

regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , under the title of thc Royal Gloucester Lodge , to be opened at a convenient house in East-street in Southampton . " The said Graves xvas lo be Master ; Baker , S . W . ; and Clark , J . W ., " opening such lodge , and for such further time only as shall be thought proper by the brethren thereof . " On "Septembers , 1792 , it was further agreed