Contents.

CONTENTS .

R EPORTS or MASONIC M EKTINCS : — ( raftMasonry 499 Koval Arch 502 Ancient and Accepted Rite Jos Mark Masonry J 02 The Grand Orient of France 502 Uro . the Kcv . H . A . Pickard , Grand Chaplain S 04 Koval Masonic Boys' School S 04

Masonic and General ! ldings 5 ° 4 Lodge of Benevolence JOJ Public Amnsements £° 5 Notes on An ) 505 The York Lodge Centenary 500 Forewarned is Forearmed 506 What is Platonic Friendship ? 5 ° 7 Amende Honorable 507 The New Grand Chaplain 507 CU --RES ! ' 0 . \ DE . VCE *—Uniformity in Ritual JoJ

Operative Masons 507 A Query 5 ° 7 Lodges at Taverns 507 Loose Admission of Candidates 507 Consecration ot the St . George ' s Lodge , No . 1723 508 Consecration of a Masonic Hall at Galashiels 508 The Irish Grand Lodge 50 S Reminiscence of St . John ' s Lodge , Kelso s Jo 8 Masonic Sermon £ og Grand Orient of France gio Lodge Meetings for Next Week 510 Advertisements Jri , £ 12 , i . ii . Hi . > v . v . vi .

Reports Of Masonic Meeting S.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETING S .

€ x \\ lt igtaffs .

LODGE OF UNITED STRENGTH ( No 228 ) . —The regular meeting of this old lodge was held on the i . -jth inst ., at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street . The W . M ., Bro . James Hill , presided , supported by Bros . R . Griggs , I . P . M . ; P . M . Davies , acting Secretary ; P . M . Hillhouse , and P . M . John While { Freemason ) . The S . W ., Bro . Snare , was , unfortunately , by a domestic affliction ,

prevented from attending , but the efficiency of his brother officers saved the lodgi from inconvenience , Bro . Halford occupying the S . W . chair ; Bro . Pearcy the J . W . ; Bro . Hickman ( ancther very good officer ) , acting as S . D . ; Bro . Flaws , occupying his own post of J . D . ; and Bro . Patmore being I . G ., a post to which he has been advanced through the retirement fro . n office of Bro . Todd , who had

the moral courage to resign a position which the calls upon his lime rendered i ( not possible for him to discharge to his own satisfaction . Bro . Harty , W . M . of the Eclectic , the Organist of the lodge , made the old instrument do excellent service , but it must have been hard work , and required the exercise of more than ordinary skill to discharge Ihe duty of this office on an instrument which has a broken

Inllows and several whetzy slops . Ihe Masonic duties of the lodge included the passing of two brethren , Bros . Henrich and Swain , and then Bro . I'carcey worked the lectures of the degree . The lodge closed , the brethren adjourned to the banquet , the visitors being Bros . Crew and Randall , of the Chilkrn Lodge , Nn . 1470 ; Bros . Rawson and M'Niven , of The Great City Lodge ; Bro . Truth , of

the Metropolitan Lodge ; and Bro . W . Cook , of the Domatic Lo'ige . In the course of the evening "The Visitors " were cordially toasted , and they , in reply , acknowledged that the fame of the old lodge for hospitality was fully earned . The W . M ., in acknowledging the toast of his health , seemed to express the regret that he had not had overmuch work in the course of the year now passing

away , but Bro . Griggs , in reply to the toast of " The Past Masters , " taking occasion to advert to this expressed regret , said that the lodge could affc . nl to rest , for its numbers had been increasing by very great strides , and the Past Masters did not feel any regret , for the lodge preferred quality to quantity . P . M . While , who was also called upun to speak , said he should not illustrate the position

ot the operative Masons on strike by refusing to respond to the toast . After speaking of the pride with which tbe Past Masters watched the excellent working of the officers in lwU-e woik , for the encouragement of the younger men > l > .-rs he pointed to the fact that two young members held that night the two highest positions after the W . M ., as a proof that the Cons itulions of tbe Craft always held a

foremi si place in the governing of this lodge . He trusted that the lodge would always maintain the principle laid down in the Book of Constitutions , " merit , and not seniority , shall be the ground upon which all preferment shall be based . " bpiakingof the presence of country members in the lodge , tl : cre being what is termed a " Bedfordshire contingent , " in members from the bank of the Ouze , he said that the

remarks made against country members joining London lodges did not apply to the active country members of the United Strength . These country members had all been well and worthily recommended , and most of the proposals were well-known to many brtthren in the lodge . The country members had town business , and they combined pleasure with business by transacting their civil duties on

the days when the lodge met , when they could meet in friendship with those with whom they were not daily associated . There was a pleasant change in this , and it had its advantage in that the brethren in their London lodge were untrammelled by local circumstances . The officers were then toasted and replied in their turn , and Bro . Patmore , referring to the remarks of Bro . While , said that the Bedfordshire brethren had made the name of the United

Strength so popular in that county that another Order had adopted the name for a I roiincial ijiand todge , and "United Strength " kindliness and bn tberly regaru had been spread far beyond Masonry , through the example set in this old lodge , whose unity was more than a name , and the Craft itself onl y one of the bonds which bound its members together . PANMTJRE LODGE ( No . 720 . )—This lodge held its regular meeting on Monday , the 19 th inst ., at the

Reports Of Masonic Meeting S.

Balham Hotel , Balham . It was well attended both by members and " visitors . Amongst those present were Bros . Thomas Poore , P . M . ( who , in the absence of the W . M ., opened the lodge ); C . P . McKay , S . W . ; R . W . Sheadd , J . W . ; James Stevens , P . M . ; C . Pulman , P . M . ; H . Payne , P . M . ; W . Smith , S . D . j W . McMurray , J . D . ; W . Mitchell , I . G . ; M . Spiegel , D . C ; G . Lambert , W . S . ;

W . Steedman , P . M ., Tyler ; also Bros . Lilley , Richardson , Ash , Saunders , Pascall , Whittakcr , Mulley , Huntley , Anthony , Gunner , Green , Burton , Kerr , Treves , & c , and visitors Bros . John Sycr , 1017 ; S . Clarke , 1386 ; E . Bye and H . Stokes , 141 . The lodge having been duly opened by Bro . Poore , as W . M ., and minutes confirmed , Bro . Anthony was proved and subsequently passed to the

degree of F . C . Mr . Adolphe Van de Water , and Mr . Chas . Glesister were ballotted for , approved , and duly initiated into the Order . A notice of motion having reference to the queston of " refreshment after labour" was discussed , and it having been represented by the Treasurer that the lodge was in a more flourishing condition than at any time since its establishment , it was decided to continue the

practice of entertaining members and visitors in the usual manner after each meeting . The sum of ten guineas was voted to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and placed on the list of names , Bro . C . Pulman , PM ., as Steward , representing the lodge , and we were glad to observe that later on his list was liberally increased by the lodge members individually . The lodge

having been closed the brethren adjourned to banquet , Bro . James Stevens , P . M ., presiding as W . M . The usual toasts were honoured , and in giving that of the " Grand Lodge , "" the acting W . M . called the attention of the brethren to the late action of the Grand Orient of France , deprecating the course which had been adopted , and hoping that the Grand Lodge of England would express its

opinion thereon in the most forcible manner possible . His remarks were listened to with great attention and were cordially endorsed by all present . The W . M . ' s health was drank in his absence , a circumstance which was much regretted , every officer of the lodge being in his appointed place . The toast of the P . M ' s . was enthusiastically received , and hearty acknowledgements were rendered by

Bros . Poore and Stevens , for their readiness to discharge the all-important duties of the chair , as well as for other assistance in the working of the lodge . The Initiates made very able responses to the toast given in their honour , and the visitors expressed much gratification with the working and subsequent hospitality . A most enjoyable evening terminated at eleven o ' clock , and the brethren separated .

WHITTINGTON LODGE ( No . 862 ) . —On Monday evening the Whittington Lodge held its installation meeting at Fret masons'Hall , under the presidency of the Worshipful Master , Bro . Charles Walker . The brethren present were Bros , [ ones , P . M . ; Weaver , P . M ., 862 and 1319 , P . Z . 862 , M . E . Z . i . -jin , H . 177 , P . Prov . G . Org . Middlesex , Treasurer Benevolent Fund , Secretary ;

Kingston , I . P . M ., 'Treasurer of Lodge Fund ; Walker , W . M ., Trustee Benevolent Fund ; Moore , S . W ., and W . M . elect , Trustee Benevolent Fund ; Blakemore , S . D . ; Farebrother , W . S . ; Hobden , Godden . I . G . ; Bolton , D . C . ; Knell , Tate , Sedgwick , Brothers , Ward , Brown , Richardson , Devine , Collinson , Ross , Boxer , Cox , Lee , Maxwell , Evans , Coates , Thompson , Bradford , Hill , Bowden , Jones , and Hurlstone ,

P . M . The visitors were Bros . W . A . Tinney , P . M . 13 IQJ ' . H . Y . Whalley , 1670 ; John Canham , P . M . 199 ; George Anderson , J . W . do ; John Bingemann , P . M . 55 , 1599 ; J . F . West , P . M . 753 ; C . E . Tinney , 1319 ; Wm . F . Marston , W . M . 1599 . S . D . 53 ; Thomas H . Briggs , 150- ;; Howard W . F . Vaughan , 1503 ; Wm . Tilley , 891 ; W . B . Benson ; H . Massey , P . M . 619 , ( Freemason ) ; Samuel T . Kingston ,

126 9 ; Arthur C . Moore , P . M . 216 ; James Alfred Rigby ; W . Cane , 201 ; W . Ansell , United Mariners ; J . Lyndon Hodges , Orpheus ; James Turle , Sec . 766 ; and John Stedman , 172 . Bro . C . H . Pike was raised to the Third Degree , and the W . M . afterwards installed Bro . Alfred Moore , S . W ., and W . M . elect , as Master of the lodge . The brethren appointed to office were Bros .

Blakemore , S . W . ; Packer , J . W . ; Thos . Kingston , P . M ., Treasurer ; James Weaver , P . M ., Secretary ; James Weaver , P . M ., Treasurer of the Benevolent Fund of the Lodge ; Godden , S . D . ; Tate , J . D . ; Bolton , I . G . ; Knell , D . C ; Charles Walker , P . M ., W . S . ; and J . Gilbert , Tyler . The sum of £ 10 was voted from the Benevolent Fund to the list of Bro . Sedgwick , who will represent the lodge at

the forthcoming festival of the Benevolent Institution . Through the excellent administration of the affairs of the lo'ige an admirable balance sheet was exhibited , a balance of over twenty guineas remaining in the hands of the Treasurer , Bro . Thos . Kingston . The Benevolent Fund of the lodge showed a balance of , £ i £ 2 18 s . Cd . in the hands of the Treasurer of the fund , Bro . James Weaver ,

P . M . After the names of joining members and initiates had been g iven , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern , where a choice and elegant banquet was provided by the proprietor , Bro . Alfred Best . After banquet grace was sung , and the toasts were proposed . In giving the toast of "The Queen and the Craft , " the W . M . said : Among the

thousands who live in this dear old England of ours I think there are very few , if any , who can claim greater love for their Queen than the Freemasons . We love her , not simply because she is a queen—that , perhaps , is an attribute of birth—but we love her because slv : is a good , true , and noble woman , in the highest sense of those words . It is usual to couple the name of the Queen with the Craft ,

and I have not inlrequently heard it said that this is done to make this toast Masonic ; but it seems to me , although I do not mean to break through the good old rule , that it is not altogether necessary to add the Craft to make it Masonic , because I can conceive of no more Masonic toast than that of the Queen , as all Masons are thoroughly loyal men . The toast having been honoured , the W . M . gave

Reports Of Masonic Meeting S.

" The Health of the M . W . G . M ., " and said that when wc remembered " the fierce light which beats upon a throne , " and all adjacent to it . Masons would be thankful and gratified that they had for a Grand Master one who bv such square conduct , level steps , antl upright intentions commended himself to the Craft generally . After the toast of "The Pro G . M ., the Dep . G . M ., etc ., " had been drunk ,

Bro . Charles Watkins , I . P . M ., proposed "The W . M ., " antl said that for the ensuing twelve months it would be his especial privilege to propose this toast . He was sure he had only to mention this toast to ensure for it the greatest applause . He could not say anything in respect of the W . M . more than the brethren already knew . They all had been witnesses for some years past of the manner in

which he had performed the duties appertaining to the various offices he had filled . The brethren had all marked his intelligence , and they fully believed that he was a brother who was true and trusty , and would be fully equal to the duties which were cast upon him . He did not know that he could pass on the W . M . a higher encomium than to sav this of him . The brethren all

appreciated the W . M . 's talents , for it had been an acknowledged fact in the lodge for some time past that when Bro . Moore came to the chair the lodge would have a good Master . The consummation of his ambition had been that night achieved . Bro . Moore was in the chair , and he had shown the brethren that evening that he was fully

competent to fulfil his duties . The performance of them was no sinecure , but whatever they were Bro . Moore would discharge them properly . The W . M . in reply observed he need hardly say that he was peculiarly gratified with the reception of the toast . Bro . Walker had been good enough to refer to him in language which he should hardly like to admit that he deserved , but the brethren

might rest assured that if he did not deserve it now he should endeavour to deserve it during his year of office . He had no doubt that during that year there might be some occasional slips , a word or two here and there misplaced ; but he would ask the brethren in such cases to exercise that which was the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason's heart , and grant him charity . He hoped that

during his year of office the lodge would have some additions to their numbers , and he was glad to see that some had been proposed that evening . He need hardly point out to the brethren how desirable it was that they should keep the lodge in a happy condition in every sense of the word . It had long appeared to him , although he was comparatively a young Mason , that there was in

some lodges , though not in this lodge , a tendency to obtain large numbers rather than men who were at heart Masons . The Craft was alread y rich in numbers , and unless men only were introduced who would be a credit to the Craft generally , he held that it would be much better that the numbers were somewhat reduced . Freemasonry to his mind had appeared somewhat like a ship ; in fact

Freemasonry was a grand old Craft with a splendid constitution . She had an At captain in H . R . H . the Grand Master , who had about him excellent Grand and petty officers ; they had on board two most experienced pilots in the Grand Secretary and Assistant Grand Secretary ; " she was burdened with capital freight , three of the noblest charities in London , the Boys' and Girls' Schools and the

Benevolent Institution . She was well found in every respect , and had a very large crew . The Craft was worthy of the crew who served in her ; and therefore it behoved them never to ship any hands without perfect confidence that they would be a credit to her and to the rest of the hands . He again thanked the brethren for drinking his health , and he trusted that at the end of his year of office

the brethren would be as gratified to see him a P . M . as they were to see Bro . Walker in that position . He ( the W . M . ) passed now from the difficult task of speaking about himself to the more easy task of talking about some other fellow , and in proposing " The Health of the I . P . M . " he should refer to him retrospectively . The brethren had to take a W . M . to some extent for granted ,

but a P . M . by what he had done , and there could be no doubt that Bro . Walker had recommended himself to the brethren generally . He had performed the duties of W . M . most creditably , and while he had never forgotten the "suaviter in modo" he had always observed the "fortiter in re . " He had been amiable in disposition , although firm in conduct , and the brethren in asking him to accept a

P . M . ' s jewel as a record of his past services were only doing him bare justice . Bro . Walker in reply , after thanking the brethren , said he stood in a very proud position that evening . Although this lodge was not his mother lodge he was a very junior Mason ( quite an infant ) , when , by the persuasion of Bro . Little , he joined it . He had been a member of the lodge 11 or 12 years , and he took

the position of D . C . in the lodge the same as Bro . Knell had to day . By degrees he rose to the chair , and he was now very proud that he had joined the Whittington Lodge . Again he was proud that he became an officer . Still more was he proud that he was elected W . M ., and none the less proud was he that he was now a P . M ., and had received the honour of a jewel at the hands of the brethren , which

he should highly value , not so much for its intrinsic value but for the kind expressions which had fallen from the W . M . 's lips , and for the brethren's cordial reception of them . Again he was proud that on leaving the chair he had installed in his place so highly respected and so well qualified a brother . The W . M . had spoken in nautical language of the good ship the Craft . He could say that

the Whittington Lodge never stood higher in the opinion of true Masons than at present , and it never had among its members so many of true Masonic stamp . Never was a W . M . betttr served b y officers than he had been , not one of whom was called upon to perform his duty and found wanting when so called upon . For these considerations he was very proud of being a P . M . of this lodge . " The