Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

REPOIITS or M ASONIC MEETINGS : — Craft Masonry 331 Koyal Arch 33 < Scotland 33 " TlicFuturcot Freemasonry in Ireland 338 COHRESPONOENCE . * ThcOrderof thc Temple 339

The New Grand Officers , U ° Mew Zealand 34 ° Proceedings oE Grand Lothjc of Massachusetts 341 United Grand Lodge 34 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 343 Masonic Presentation at Liverpool ^ 344 Consecration of a Mark Ledge at Rock Ferry ' 345 Consecration of a Red Cross Conclave at Brooklyn ... 345

Red Cross of Constantine 345 Masonic Tidings 345 Masonic Notes and Queries 345 South London Masonic HaU 34 " Obituary 34 The Initiates Welcome 34 Lodge Meetings for next week 347 Advertisements 335 33 6 34 S 349 350

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

teift Utoiui * . BEDFORD LODGE ( NO . 157 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Friday , the

9 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , the lodge was openeel at one o ' clock p . m . by the . W . M ., Bro . James Brander . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and unanimously

confirmed , apologies were received from the candidates who were unavoidably absent . Some formal business having been disposed of , the lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to the Royal Hotel , North Woolwich Gardens , where it was arranged to have their Summer Banquet .

The proprietor , Bro . William Holland , tlie Immediate Past Master ofthe lodge , was present to receive his guests . After an agreeable turn round the gardens , which looked well and promising , the banquet was announced . The table wno splendidly laid out , ancl a princely repast

served , everything in ancl out of season being placed before the brethren . There were present during the evening Bros . James Brander , W . M . ; J . T . Briggs , S . W . ; L . J . Drew , J . W . ; J . Hills , P . M ., Sec . ; W . Folliott , S . D . ; R . A . Kelly , I . G . ; S . Millis , P . M . ; W . Holland ,

P . M . ; H . Treadwny , G . T . Silcock , W . R . Gill , and others . The visitors were Bros . W . H . Baylis , P . M . 9 ; E . Coste , P . M . 9 ; S . H . Barnett , W . M . 9 , 5 ; G . S . Ayres , P . M . 9 , 5 ; F . Walters , P . M . 73 ; T . Meekham , P . M . 619 ; ancl many others . Many ladies , wives and daughters of the

members , also graced the board with their presence . After dinner was over a magnificent dessert wns served , apricots , cherries , and other fruits were provided in profusion . The business of the evening was then proceeded with , and some toasts were given , but a wise discretion

was used in their selection . Thc great event of the evening was the presentation to Bro . Wm . Holland of a massive iS-carat gold Past Masters ' Jewel , which had been unanimously voted to him from the lodge funds at the previous meeting . On its back it has the following inscription ,

viz . : — " Presented by the brethren ofthe Bedford Lodge ( No . 157 ) to Bro . W . Holland , P . M ., as a testimony of their fraternal regard and for his zeal in the interest of the lodge during the year lie presided over it . —March , 1875 . " Thc W . M , in a neat speech , made the

presentation , and the recipient , Bro . W . Holland , P . M ., in a appropriate speech , expressed his gratitude for the handsome and costl y present . The toast of "The Visitors , " was responded to by Bros . Ayres and Walters , the latter brother praised the splendid reception given to them , the admirable

maimer in which every tiling was served , ami congratulated the lodge on having one of their Past Masters selected for oilice in Grand Lodge . He alluded to the appointment of Bro . Tliomas Cubitt , P . M ., as the A . G . Purst ., which he considered was a well deserved compliment to the

lodge , and a 111 st tribute of respect to a very worthy Mason . Bros . Coste and Baylis also made appropriate replies . Songs from brethren , all accompanied on the piano the piano by Miss Annie Mills , passed tin ; time in an agreeable manner , Airs . 1 lc-lhmd also presided at tlic * piano , and proved herself au accomplished performer .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Tea and coffee having been served , the ladies and brethren took their departure for town , all were well pleased , and expressed the gratification they felt in having spent such a happy reunion . We can with confidence recommend Bro . Holland ' s hotel and gardens to any lodge

seeking to have a Summer Festival . LANCASTER . —Lodge of Fortitude ( No . 2 S 1 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Rooms , Athenarum , on Wednesday , 14 th instant , on which occasion , on account of thc death of the M . W . Past Grand Master ,

the lodge was put into mourning . Ihe W . M ., Bro . W . Fleming , occupied the chair , and was supported by Past Alasters J . Daniel Aloore , P . G . S . B . England ; J . L . Whimpray ; Edmund Simpson , Secretary ; Edward Storey ; Bros . E . Airey , S . W . ; Robert Gregson , J . W . ; 11 . Jervis ,

S . D . ; R . Taylor , J . D . ; Duff , I . G . ; and a number of brethren . The W . AL moved that a resolution expressive ofthe regret of the brethren at the lamented death of the Rt . Hon . Earl of Zetland , M . W . P . G . M of England , be entered on the minutes of the lodge , together with a thankful

acknowledgement and recognition of the valuable services he had for upwards of a quarter of a century rendered to the Craft . This was seconded by Bro . Aloore , and seconded unanimously . Some other business was transacted , and two candidates proposed for initiation , after which the lodge was closed in clue form .

LEICESTER . —St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 279 ) . — The brethren assembled at the Freemason ' s Hall , on Wednesday evening , thc 7 th inst ., on which occasion there were present , —Bros . Clement Stretton , Prov . G . W ., W . M . ; A . Palmer S . W . j W . Weare , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Al . AIcAllister , Sec . ;

C . E . Stretton , J . D . ; S . Tebbut , Org . ; W . Kelly , P . Prov . G . M . ; Rev . W . Langley , P . Prov . G . S . W . ; S . S . Partridge , Prov . G . S . ; W . Sculthorpe , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . D . ; J . Halford , W . AI . 1391 , and others . The Lodge was opened in due form , and Bro . John Bramley

was passed to the second degree . An interesting feature in the business of the meeting was the initiation of Air . John Fowke Alontague Rolleston , a grandson ofthe late Sir F . G . Fowke Bart , whose distinguished Alasonic career , extending over a period of forty years , receives

prominent noticee in Bro . Kelly ' s History of this Province . The pure and unsophisticated principles of Freemasonry were inculcated bv Bro . Kelly , P . Prov . G . M . ; assisted by Bro . W . Sculthorpe , P . AI . During the period of refreshment the musical element was admirably

sustained by Bros . S . Tebbutt , Org . ; A . Palmer , S . W . ; T . A . Wykes , and R . Taylor . The toast of the W . M . was introduced with hi gh enconiumson his administration of lodge business , and was enthusiastically responded to by the brethren .

BANBURY . —Cher well . Lodge ( No . 599 ) . —This Lodge met at the Red Lion Hotel , on Alonday evening , the 12 th instant . There were present—Bros . Pemberton , P . AL , who , in the absence of the W . AL , occupied the chair ; Bro . R . Havers , P . AL , who filled the chair of the absent S . W . :

Bro . Gnilin , P . M ., who filled the chair of the J . W ., who was also absent ; Bro . Looker , P . M ., Secretary ; Bro . Humphrey , I . G . ; and Bro . Foster . Tlie Lodge was opened , and Bro . Pemberton proposed , and Bro . Havers seconded , its adjournment until the Alonday nearest the

full moon in January , 1874 . No opposition was shown to this , and it was carried . Thc lodge was then closed . This was the lirst lodge held since the installation of the present Master , in February last . At the next lodge , in January next , it will be its duty to elect a AIaster for the

then ensuing year . BRADFORD . —Ihtrmuni j Lodge CAA . 0 . rtoo ) . — Tlie usual monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the 1 *; th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , nnder the presidency of Bro . C . I ' . Uima , W . AL There was a large muster of the brethren . Bro . S . O . Bailey , P . M ., P . Prov . S . of W .,

owing to press of private business engagements , resigned the oilice of Secretary , which he had filled for eleven years , with the greatest satisfaction to the brethren , and advantage to the lodge . The ceremonies of one passing and two raisings were gone through by the W . AL in thai excellent and most ellicient style of working which has characterised him during his year of office ,

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

and which , coupled with his unrivalled courtesy and hospitality , has endeared him to all the bre thren of his lodge , as well as to those of the province who havebeen favoured by his acquaintance . Bros . Wright , P . AL , and Beanland , P . M ., assisted in the ceremonies . Bro . C . D . Unna ,

W . AL , alluding to the death of the Earl of Zetland , P . G . M ., said r * ' It would ill become us to meet this evening without giving expression to our feelings of extreme regret at the decease of our M . W . P . G . AI ., and thus evince the sentiments of esteem and regard in which he was

held by us . I feel convinced that the announcement of the death of our P . G . M ., must have struck a painful chord in the breast of every brother who has come in contact with him , and brought home to each the thought of the transitory nature of this worldly existence , and the

evanescence of all things lovely or noble . He was indeed a nobleman , noble not alone in name , but in nature , a worthy Alason , and a worthy man , one who in all thc relations of life carried out those purest of Alasonic principles which tend not alone to make a good Alason , but a good true

gentleman . The eclat which he imparted to the proceedings in connection with the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of our St . George ' s Hall will be in the memory of all of you , as well as the geniality by which he won the kindl y feeling of all present at the banquet on that occasion . Alasonically , and iu the outer world he

presented to us an example of what a Alason and a man ought to be , ancl when we shuffle off this mortal coil , may we leave behind us as many regretful hearts , as many admirers and friends as this our brother who has gone to join the Grand Lodge above . " The lodge was ordered to be put in mourning , and after the conclusion of other business adjourned . ' '

PONTEFRACT . —St . Oswald Lodge ( No . 910 ) . — At an emergency meeting of this lodge , a large gathering of the members assembled to meet Bro . Bentley Shaw , Deputy Provincial Grand Alaster of West Yorkshire , and to ascertain from him the views of Grand Lodge in respect to an

important application that had issued from the Castleford biethren . A memorial a short time since was forwarded to the Marquess of Ripon , AI . W , Grand Alaster , signed by all , or nearly all , ofthe brethren residing at Castleford , praying for the grant of a Warrant of Constitution for a new

lodge to be held at that place , and called the Prince of Wales Lodge . As the establishment of this lodge would withdraw a considerable number of members from the parent lodge , the change was not regarded with favour by the remaining members , as thc tendency of the

alteration would , it is presumed , create two comparatively weak lodges in place of one now enjoying a strong and vigorous existence . Tlie Castleford brethren were very careful in disclaiming any intention on their part that their application imputed any misunderstanding or complaint

as thc foundation of their wishes , but that it arose simply from motives of personal inconvenience , occasioned by the distance which they resided from the lodge . Bro . Bentley Shaw , after patiently listening to the representations of all parties pro and con , promised to communicate to

the Grand Alaster impartially what had been told him , but in the meantime it was not considered by the Grand Alaster expedient to grant an an additional lodge at Castleford , but the subject was one which might another time be further considered and discussed . At the conclusion

of lodge business , the brethren entertained Bro . Bentley Shaw D . P . G . AI . of W . Y ., and other friends , at dinner ; at thc Dragon Hotel , when between 40 and ' , (> ° f * -hc brethren sat down to excellent dinner , supplied by Airs . Saltmer in her best style . At the conclusion of dinner the various loval and Masonic toasts were given and

duly responded to , the musical part being under the supcrintendanee of Bro . Dr . Spark , who , as his wont , presided with great skill at the pianoforte , and introduced several appropriate pieces from the ' * Freemason ' s Liber Alusicus , " while several brethren favoured the company with their vocal efforts to the enjoyment and edification of all present .

Li ' . niii Loixii * : ( No . 957 ) . —The Installation meeting of this lodge was held on Alonday , 12 th inst ., nt ^ Freemasons' Hall , when the retiring