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attend Grand Lodge at their own expenses meanwhile , and surely out of such a Masonic body , and under such an able Grand Master , there should be found many brethren who would lend sums of 100 dollars , or more , without interest , the principal being returned by annual instalments . * . * AN excellent Iodge of instruction has been established in Baltimore , under the same auspices * , which is numerously attended , and proving of good help to the brethren who desire an official "working" and authoritative

information . The Grand Master has a just cause of complaint in the number of decisions he has had to give , because , at least , 90 per cent , could have been answered by a study of the laws and edicts of the Grand Lodge . The Masonic library has also been galvanised into life again , and bids fair in time to be worthy of Maryland . The Grand Master concludes his address by expressing his indebtedness to Grand Secretary MEDAIRY for his readiness at all times and seasons to support his efforts for the advancement of the Craft in Maryland . * # *

WE hasten to assure the editor of our worthy Masonic contemporary , the Freemasons' Repository , of Rhode Island , U . S . A ., that we had no other object in view in drawing attention 10 the error made in the columns of its May number re the celebration of the Centenary Festival of our Tyrian

Lodge than to correct what was obviously a slip of the pen on the part of the writer . Our contemporary is always well informed , and ,, as a rule , very carefully edited , and it not unfrequemly happens , as in the case cited by its editor in his personal communication to us , that we are able to derive from its columns something useful and instructive in the way of news .

*«* WE are pleased to note that the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland has authorised the publication of a new and revised edition of its Regulations , now ready for issue . Our readers will be glad to read an article on the

subject by Bro . HUGHAN , especially as it treats upon the origin of the Grand Chapter , of which so little is known ; andwehopethat his thoughtful contribution will lead to the discovery and publication of the Old Records of 1743 , at Stirling ; especially , as by some brethren it is looked upon as another of the Apocryphal MSS . ##

# THE Grand Lodge of Scotland is also having a new edition of its Regulations prepared , which will be ready for sale in the following month . Students of the Craft will be glad to hear that the Grand Secretary , Bro . D . MURRAY LYON , is engaged in writing the History of the Scottish Grand Lodge . The work is in excellent hands , and will , we hope , lead to the publication of a similar work for England .

Consecration Of The Makerfield Lodge, No. 2155, Newton-Le-Willows.

CONSECRATION OF THE MAKERFIELD LODGE , No . 2155 , NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS .

On Saturday , the 17 th inst ., one of these comparatively rare but interesting ceremonies in connection with the Craft took place at the Town Hall , Newton , when a numerous and highly representative gathering of brethren assembled to inaugurate the Makerfield Lodge , No . 2155 . The silent but persistent growth of Masonry under the constitutions of England can be appreciated in some measure when it is considered that nine years

ago the hig hest numberof lodges was 1620 . Some six years since the members of the Order in Newton finding themselves in a very isolated position , having to go to Ashton , tried to form a local habitation , but were unsuccessful . Lately , however , with the sanction of the Prov . G . Authorities , they have obtained a warrant for a new lodge , as an offshoot of the Faith , No . 484 , and with the cordial co-operation of the Lodge of Lights , No . 148 , Warrington .

On this occasion representatives were present from Wigan , Manchester , and St . Helens , and a strong local contingent of the brethren . At 2 p . m . a procession of the Provincial Grand Lodge Officers , Present and Past , with the members of the new lodge , was formed , and Bro . R . Wylie , P . G . S . W ., took charge of the proceedings , in the unavoidable absence of the R . W . P . G . M ., the Earl of Lathom . There were

present—Bros . J . H . Barrow , P . G . S . D . ; R . Foote , P . G . T . ; J . T . Callow , P . P . G . T . ; Hugh Williams , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; Ed . Pierpoint , P . G J . W . ; W . Goodacre , P . P . G . R ., P . G . Sec ; John Cobham , P . G . S . D . ; W . Franks , G . A . Sec . ( Bengal ); J . D . Murray , P . G . D . C ., * J . Beesley , P . G . J . D . ; Spencer Wallhead , P . G . S . ; H . H . Smith , P . G . A . D . C . ; D . W . Finney , P . P . G . D . C . ; Rev . W . H . Marsden , P . M . 1070 ( acting P . G . C ); George Morgan , P . G . J . D . ; J . P . Bryan , P . P . G . O . ; James Jackson , P P . G . A . D . C ; and others . Among the W . M . ' s and P . M . ' s and brethren generally were Bros . E . Greenall , W . M . 14 8 ; S . Parkes , W . M . 4 * 9 ; T . E . Rigby , W . M . 2 S 7 ;

Thomas Grime , P . M . 14 S ; H . Archer , W . M . 1502 ; W . S . Hawkims , P . M . 1250 ; W . Hall , W . M . 13 S 7 ; Wm . Amery , W . M . 15 SS ; John Tunstali , I . P . M . 1035 ; J . 1 . Savage , P . M . 10 S 6 ; G . N . Mort , W . M . 1354 ; R- Brierley , P . M . 148 ; W . Daniel , P . M . 484 ; John J . Tickle , W . M . S 97 ; W . Dean , I . P . M . 17 S ; J . E . Purdey , P . M . 6 S 0 ; John Hesketh , J . W . 148 ; Walter Biggs , J . W . 1 496 ; John Leatherbarrow , S . W . 86 ; C . Burchal ' , J . W . 1035 ; Isaac Evans , J . W . 10 S 6 ; R . Rankin , 6 C 7 ; J . C . Robinson , P . M . 249 ; and others . The lodge was opened as follows : Bros . R . Wylie , P . G . S . W ., W . M . ; E . Pierpoint , P . G . J . W ., S . W . ; R . Foote , P . G . T , J . W . ; H . Williams , P . P . G . A . D . CI . P . M . ; W . Goodacre , P . G . Sec , Sec ; J . Cobham ,

, P . G . S . D , S . D . ; J . Beesley , P . G . J . D , J . D . ; G . Morgan , P . G . J . D ., I . G . ; and others . After the usual preliminaries , the acting R . W . P . G . M ., Bro . WYLIE , gave a short address to those present , expressing the pleasure he felt in being able to participate in the opening of a new lodge in the Province of West Lancashire .

The petition and warrant having been read by the P . G . SEC , the acting P . G . Chap , Bro . the Rev . W . H . MARSDEN , M . A , St . Luke ' s , Southport , P . M , addressed the brethren . He said * . When the history of this age comes to be written , it will undoubtedly be described as the age of " Progress " and ' * Activity . " There is no such word in our vocabulary at the present time as " standing still . " Whether the work in which a man is engaged is for the benefit of himself or his fellow-creatures , you will find , as a rule , that his

utmost energies are exerted , and his most earnest zeal is displayed in bringing his labours to a successful issue , and not only so , but in trying to extend his influence for good tothe utmost goal of his ambition . Masonry is no exception to the rule ; nay , it may be questioned whether there be any institution where at the present time more zeal is displayed by its members , or more success has attended its efforts , than in the case of our grand and glorious Order . An outcome of lhat zeal and a proof of lhat success is the consecration of another lodge in this Province of West Lancashire to-day . Highly gratifying

Consecration Of The Makerfield Lodge, No. 2155, Newton-Le-Willows.

must it be to those brethren who have been instrumental in the foundation of this lodge to take part in to-day's festival , and to feel that they have added another link in that Masonic chain which binds the nations of the world together ; equally gratifying must it be to the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge to come over and perform ( what we must all acknowledge to be ) one of the most sublime and highest acts of our Masonic ritual ; while none the less pleasing will it be to all of us to call to mind ( amongst Masonic reminiscences ) the ceremony of to-day when we implore the presence of the Great Architect of the Universe on our undertaking and breathe the prayer—To this Temple , where we call Thee ,

Come , O Architect Divine , to-day , With Thy wonted loving kindness , Hear Thy servants as they pray ; And Thy fullest benediction Shed within its walls alvvay . But this present agebesidesbeingoneof progress and activity , is characterised by " strong opinions "—opinions , which , unless held in the spirit of forbearance and Charity , often

tend to those feelings of bitterness and intolerance which we see pervading almost all classes of society . We find theological dogmas , political creeds severing the closest friendships , and keeping apart those whose truest interest it would be to walk the path of life hand in hand together . No place , no pursuit seems to be wholly free from the clamour of religious discord and the bitterness of political strife . But stay ! I know of one " oasis" in the desert—the sanctum ofa Masonic lodge . Here I can come and clasp the hand of a brother and feel that here , at anv rate .

the world ' s differences are forgotten , and that Charity reigns supreme . Here I can come and clasp the hand of a brother , and feel that I have found a friend , one who will guard my honour as he would his own , one who will give me his sympathy , his council , and his help . Surely then amongst the sweeping wind * and the blinding storms of the busy world around us , it is a good thing for me to have this harbour of refuge to flee to , where no storm can enter ; where all is stillness and peace ; and where brotherly love , relief , and truth cheer the passing traveller on his way . Again , not only are we living

in an age characterised in many cases by bitterness and a want of tolerance between man and man , but it is an age when class is pitted against class and social distinction ii carried to the verge of absurdity . When our status in Society is measured by the length of the purse , when recognition depends sometimes upon the cut of a man's coat and the style of his dress , it is refreshing to turn into a Masonic lodge and learn a useful lesson . Here man gives his brother man the hand of welcome . Here king and peasant , peer and workman ,

acknowledge themselves to be " brothers , " equal in the sight of the Great Architect and Creator of the Universe ; and though distinctions there are " even here , " yet they are not such as described as existing in the world outside , but are the direct result of work , and merit , and excellence in the Craft . One thought more and I have done ; it is this—the " bond of union" that exists between members of the Craft throughout the world . A most beautiful thought it is . Wherever I go over the habitable globe , from the rising to the setting sun , I have the feeling within me that I am not a " stranger , " that though I cannot understand the speech

of those with whom I sojourn yet I understand that universal language which is known only to our Order , and which will last as long as the earth endures , that language which has given and which will continue to give " true nobility of soul" lo everyone who has mastered it . Vou and I will ere long have passed away to render to the Great Architect of the Universe an account of the structure that we have helped to raise to His honour here below , and if we have done our best to impart and to hand on to others a knowledge of that glorious language which we have learnt ourselves , we shall have the satisfaction of knowing that we have done something to strengthen that structure { or generations to come .

The service was full ( Skeaf in C ) , with anthem " Behold how good " ( Bryan ) , and was effectively rendered by Bros . J . Busfield , 2042 ; D . Williams , 2042 ; T . C . Farther , 2042 ; and J . P . Bryan , P . P . G . O . At the conclusion of the ceremony a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Bro . R . Wylie for the admirable manner in which he had performed the ceremony , and to the Rev . W . H . Marsden for his oration .

The following were instilled and invested officers of the new lodge : Bros . Richard Brierley , P . M . 148 , W . M . ; W . Daniel , I . P . M . ; Henry Stones , S . W . ; James lilundel , J . VV . ; S . Hewitt , Treas . ; James Adams , Sec ; F . Harwood , S . D . ; H . Houghton , J . D . ; James Lambert , I . G . j E . L . Bent , Stwd . ; and John Devereux , Tyler . The brethren afterwards adjourned to the Pied Bull , where dinner was served and a pleasant evening spent . The lodge is furnished throughout b y Bro , George Kenning , of 2 , Monument-place , Liverpool .

The First Grand Stewards And Their Lodges.

THE FIRST GRAND STEWARDS AND THEIR LODGES .

BY BRO . H . SADLER . I . Although the names of the Grand Stewards are printed in the " Freemasons' Calendar " from its . first appearance in 1774 down to the Union in 1813 , we have no conclusive evidence as to the lodges they represented until 1816 , when , in the printed Report of the Grand Festival , the numbers of the various lodges are given , with names of the Grand Stewards for the

year , and as these lodges , with two exceptions , still enjoy the distinctive and highly-valued honour then conferred , it is not my intention in this paper to make further reference to them , but merely to endeavour to throw some light on the Grand Stewards and their different lodges at a period when Masonic affairs generally were in a very different condition to what they are in the present day . In so doing I shall avoid wherever I can repeating

anything on this subject which I know has already appeared in print , and here I may direct attention to a very able article by Bro . E . L . Hawkins , under the title of "The Red Apron Lodges , " which appeared in the Freemason for 1884 , page 605 , in which Ihe writer gives some interesting extracts from the Old Constitutions and other sources , bearing on the origin and privileges of the Grand Stewards , and the formation of the Grand

Stewards Lodge , but does not enlighten us as to what lodges were entitled to the distinction of the Red Apron previous to 1816 . _ have no doubt he will readily permit me , as far as possible , to supplement his paper with the information required . I presume the onl y reason this has not hitherto been attempted is on account of the considerable amount of time and patience required in searching the early registers of

Grand Lodge , and identif ying the names in the printed Lists of Stewards , a task of no little difficulty , considering the frequent changes made by many of the lodges , both in the character ol their members and in the places of meeting , rendered more so by the fact of the lodges in the early days having neither names nor numbers , being merely designated by the

names of the taverns at which they were held . As an example I may mention one lodge , now defunct , which was regularly held at fourteen different taverns in London and various parts of the country within a period of fifty years . Moreover , registration of members in the Grand Lodge books was not made compulsory before the year 1768 , and many of the lodges omitted to register until several years after that .

The first Lists of Members in the books of the Grand Lodge appear under date 25 th November , 1723 . The register is thus headed : "A List of the Regular Constituted Lodges , together with the names of the Masters , Wardens , and Members of each Lodge , " and was doubtless the result of