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district or court of the United States ? We fancy some denizens in that o-reat new country will often envy the dignity and calm " outcome " of wellordered law as administered in a great " old country , " of which they have sometimes heard . under that " unsullied sanctity of the Ermine , " which constitutes the best assurance of national safety , and the truest " jegis" of national liberty .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Joshua Nunn , President of the Lodge , occupied the President's chair ; Bro , James Brett , Junior Vice-President , took the chair of Senior Vice-President - and Bro . the Rev , A . F . A . Woodford , Past Grand Chaplain , acted as Junior Vice-President .

There were also present : Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary : H . G . Buss , Assistant Grand Secretary ; A . A . Pendlebury , VV . Dodd , Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; Brackstone Baker , P . G . D . ; \ V . Mann , P . M 1 S 6 ; Rev . Ch rles J . Martyn , P . G . C ; Thomas Cull , P . M . 1446 ; Charles Dairy , P . M . 141 ; J . H . Matthews , P . M . 143 ; Charles Atkins , P . M . 27 ; J . D . Collier , P . M . 1366 ; A . J . Duff-Filer , P . G . S . B . ; E . F . Storr , P . M . 22 ; Henry Garrod , P . M . 749 ; John Constable , P . M . 1 S 5 ; H . P . SpeedvW . M . 1181 ; Arthur E . GladwellW . M . 172 ; Frederic Davison . W . M . 10 ;

, , Geo . H . Haydon , P . M . 46 ; G Adamson , P . M . 172 S ; W . Russell , P . M . 1464 ; M . S . Ayling , P . M . 1096 ; William Cox , P . M . SS 7 ; William Cook , I . P . M . 1815 ; Alex . Malord , W . M . 12 SS ; Samuel George . Myers , P . M . 715 ,- William Drake , W . M . 15 S 6 ; * olin J . Kern , VV . M . 113 a ; W . Pierpoint , W . M . S 13 ; F . A . Manning , W . M . 452 ; W . Grov . s , W . M . 749 ; ' ] . Mason , P . M . 1928 ; VV . F . Smart- W . M . * 7 G 6 ; George NewmanP . M . 192 ; S . " P . CattersonW . M 548 ; W . H . Boswell , VV . M .

, , 16 S 6 ; Wm . Topp , W . M . 879 ; John Skirving , VV . M . S 7 ; L . F . Littell , P . M . S 60 ; Joseph Tanner , P . M . 1457 ; H . Turner , P M . 15 S 9 ; Adolphus Clarke , W . M . 1227 ; G . Michu , I . P . M . ioSg ; D . Trinsler , P . M . 720 ; W . H . Perryman , VV . M . 1351 ; D . H . Harrison , VV . M . 16 S 1 ; Fredk . Binckes , P . M . G . S . L . ; Chas . Russ , W . M . 382 ; G . R . SherviU , P . M . 25 ; Edw . F . Home , P . M . 227 ; John Docker , P . M . 1687 : H . Sadler , G . T . ; and H . Massey , W . M . 192 S ( Freemason ) .

The brethren first confirmed recommendations made at last meeting to the amount of £ 775 , and then proceeded with the new list . After long and carefull y considering the case sent back to them by Grand Lodge of the previous Wednesday , and examining witnesses , the brethren rescinded £ 14 ° of the . £ 150 recommended . There were twenty-nine other cases on the

paper . Two of them were deferred , being incomplete . The remainder were relieved with a total sum of / , ' Soo , which was composed as follows : one of •£ 100 ( £ 100 ); three " . £ 75 ( £ 225 ) ; one £ 60 ( £ 60 ); one £ 50 ( £ 50 ); two £ 40 ( £ 80 ) j three £ 30 ( 290 ); five £ 25 ( £ 125 ); five £ 20 ( . £ 100 ); three £ 15 ( £ 45 ) 5 and three £ 5 ( £ 15 ) . The lodge was then closed .

Installation Of The Duke Of Albany As M.E.Z. Of The Apollo Chapter, Oxford.

INSTALLATION OF THE DUKE OF ALBANY AS M . E . Z . OF THE APOLLO CHAPTER , OXFORD .

On Saturday evening , the 17 th inst ., a special meeting of the Friends in Council Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , No . 13 S 3 , was held at the Hall of the Supreme Council , 33 , Golden-square * , for the purpose of installing His Royal Highness the Duke of Albany , K G ., as First Principal of the Apollo ( University ) Chapter of Oxford , to which office he had been unanimously elected by the members of that chapter . His Royal Hi ^ nness , who is Provincial Grand Master of Oxford in the Craft Degree , has lately been

appointed by the Prince of Wales as Superintendent of that province in the Royal Arch Degree , and his installation in that important office will shortly be held , though the day is not yet fixed . The ceremony of Saturday may be considered as prtliminaiy to that event , and the companions of the Order mustered in goodly rmrr bers to witness it . The assemblage was , as might have been ixpe ; ted , a di . tingi ished one , and as all those present had attained to very elevated p > silions in Freemasonry , the spectaefs was mest

imposing , the ranks of . the different conpanu . ns entiling -hem to wear an abundance of eligant jewels . Am * ing the Royil Ar : h Maso is prese it , none of whom wire below . he rank of an Installed Third Principal , as Ihe meeting was called only fo . * In . tailed Principals , -were * . Comps . Loid Tenterdea , Pre f . C . Supt . Essex ; Sir Francii Bt rdett . Bait ., Pi ov . G . Supt . Middx . ; Sir John B . Monc-ton , Past G . P . Soj ; Sir M . chatI Costa , P . C . l . W .. Sir F . iasnu . s VVih . on , P . N . ; Gen . J . !> . B : ownn rg , C . B ., I ' rov , G . Supt .

Surrey ; Major-Gen . Henry Clerk , Lie-t .-Gt-n . C . W . RanlolpV , Col . bh-. dwell HClerke , G . S . I-. ; Col . H . S . Somtrville Burney , P . G . S . ; Capt . W . G . Philips , P . Z ., P . G . S . N . ; John Mead , Ort-. ; Hugh D . Sandeuan , P . Z ., P . G . S . Bengal j R . VV . Hoskins Giddy , P . Z . ; Rap ! ii . e ! Costa , G . D . C . ; J . M . P . Mjotagu , G . Sup :. DoisetJ Rev . R . P . Bent , 771 , P . G . P . Soj . ; E . J . Karron , 214 , P . G . S . B . ; H . C . Levander , P . Z . 142 , G . S . B . ; Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , Asst . G . Soj . ; A . B . Cool :, G . Std . Br . J Wilhelm Ganz , C . Onr . ; Frank Richi . rdson , P . Y .. 8 , P . A . G . S , ; Jam ; s L . Thomas ,

P . Z . 13 , P . G . Swd . Br . ; Robert Grey , P . A . G . S . ; Thamas I enn , P . G . Ii . t ) . . ; Kev . K . 1 . Simpion , P . G . I' . S . ; John H . S ; ott , 2 / 1 , P . G . D . of C . ; MagnusOhreii , 33 , P . G . S . B . ; Ernest E . Wendt , 63 , P . G . S N „ G . Set . for Gerrran Correspondence ; Joshua Nunn , P . G . D . C . ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . A . S ., G . H . Suruy ; ^ Sneas J . Mcfn : yre , Q . C G . Reg . j F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , P . A . G . S . ; Clarlt * -, A . Murton , P . G . A . S . ; - U . C Buss , P . G . Std . Br ., Asst . G S . F . ; Hugh II . Ria : h , P . Z . 1118 ; H . R . Cooper-Smith ,

P . Z . 357 and 1118 ; Georgf La nbert , P . Z . 1 . 7 . and 21 ; John A . Rucker , P . G . P . S . ; Rev . li . Adair Pickard , P . Z . 34 c and 357 ; Peter de Land : Leng , P . G . P . S . ; R . F . Gould , P . G . Asst . Soj . ; Rgimld Biid , P . Z . 357 ; iV . C . Beaumont , Z . 26 j J . M , Cas ; , P . G . D . C . ; Montagi e G . iest , M . P ., G . N . j A . J . Diff I'iler , P . G . 5 .. B ., L 2 S ; Rev . T . F . Kavenshaw , P . G . A . S . ; H . Sailer , G . J . ; Geo . Austin , Janitor ; and H . Massey , P . Z . 619 ( Freemason ) .,

The Friends in Council Chaoter was irst opened : Comps . Lieut .-Gei . Randolp h , as Z . ; J . W . Waldion , as H . j Majo . - -G : n . H . Clerk , as J . ; Hugh D . Sandeman , : is S ,. E . ; Ccl . Burney , as . S . N ; Giddy , as P . S . j Ralp h Costa , as ist Asst . ; W , C . Beaumort , as iind Asst , ; and Frank Richardson , as D . of C Gen . RANDOLPH informed the companions that the Duke of Albany had been elected as First Principal cf the Apcllo Chapter at Oxford , but that as

it would be inconvenient for him to attend at Oxford for installation , he had selected , as he was privileged to do by paragraph 59 of the Royal Arch Regulations , another chapter in which to take the Degree . Hehad therefore honoured the : Friends in Council Chapter for the purpose , and had requested Col . Shadwell H . Clerke to perform the ceremonies . Shortly after then the Duke of Albany arrivrd , and Col . Shadwell H . Clerke took the First Principal ' s chair , Lieut .-Gen . Randolph taking the Second chair , and Comp . John Re . id presiding at the organ .

When His Royal Highness entered the chapter , he was presented for installation by Capt . N . G . Philips . As he had not previously been installed in either of the Three Principals' chairs it was necessary that he should pass through the whole of the three ceremonies . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke therefore installed him first in the lowest of the three chairs , next -in the Second chair , and lastly in the chair of the Most Excellent Z . of the chapter , the Rev .

Installation Of The Duke Of Albany As M.E.Z. Of The Apollo Chapter, Oxford.

C . W . Arnold acting as Chaplain . All the ceremonies were faultlessly . performed , and appeared to make a profound impression on the Duke of Albany . At the conclusion of the ceremony he announced that he appointed Comp . H . A . Wakeman to act for him as Pro M . E . Z . in the Apollo Chapter , and directed the Rev . H . A . Pickard , a Past M . E . Z . of the chapter , to notify the fact to the members .

General RANDOLPH , M . E . Z ., then said : I have the privilege of saying a few words to the companions of this Friends in Council Chapter , of which I am the First Principal , and in the name of the chapter I beg to thank His Royal Highness the Duke of Albany for honouring us by selecting this chapter as the chapter in which to be installed in the Three Principals ' chairs of the Apoilo Chapter .

1 he Duke of ALBANY : Companions , before leaving this room I beg to thank the companions ot the Friends in Council Chapter for their courtesy in allowing me to be installed in their chapter . Capt . N . G . PHILIPS * . Companions , I beg on behalf of the Friends in Council Chapter to propose that His Royal Highness become an honorary member of the Friends in Council Chanter .

Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE : Ibeg to second it . The motion was put to the companions and carried unanimously . The Duke of ALBANY : Companions , I thank you very much for the distinction .

The Duke of Albany then left . H . D . SAN ' DE . MA . VN , S . E ., said the Prince of Wales had expressed his regret at not being able to attend the convocation , and that lelters ' also expressing such regret had been received from Comp- * . the Ea- 1 of Carnarvon , ihe Earl of Lathom , John Havers , John M . Clabon , C . VV . C . Hutton

C Hutton Gregory ; Col . Creaton , Grand Treasurer ; J . Bevan , District Superintendent Westland , New Zealand ; W . VV . B . Beach , M . P ., Supt . Hants and the Isle of Wight ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , _ . Ebcnezer Saunders , and Rev . C . J . Martyn , Dep . Supt . Suffolk . The chapter was then closed in due form .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Northumberland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF NORTHUMBERLAND .

A special meeting of this Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , Maple-street , Newcastle-on Tyne ,, on Friday , the 161 I 1 inst ., for the purpose of installing Comp . Col . Addison Potter , C . B ., as Grand Superintendent of that province , in the place of the lamented Comp . Lonsdale M . Cockcroft , lately deceased .

M . E . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , the Grand Scribe E ., having opened the Provincial Grand Chapter , and addressed the companions on ihe subject ol the meeting , proceeded to instal the Grand Superintendent . The Provincial Grand Officers were then appointed and invested , and alter ihe usual rouline business ihe Provincial Grand Chapter was closed .

The companions mustered in large numbers on the occasion , there being nearly 100 present , among whom was the Rt . Hon . Earl Percy , the Prov . Grand Master of the province , and several distinguished visitors .

Masonic History And Historians.

MASONIC HISTORY AND HISTORIANS .

BY MASONIC STUDENT . A CURIOUS POINT .

It has often struck me , though I do not know if it has equally struck others , what a "Crux " i : involved in th . intense divergence between Anderson find the u iknown author of " Multa Paucis , " as regards the statement of the F . evi' -al b y lour lodg-jsof the form .-r and six lodges b y the latt ; r . It has ilwajs sicmed to me inexplicable why the ; anonymous compiler of 1764 , wah th i Constitu ions of 1723 , 1738 , 1756 before him should have so

del : jeratcl y 1 onfadicted Andeison , who a priori wa = mosi iikuly to kn w the fact , -71 ( 0 a fj . ct , in 1723 , than a writei in 1763 , over a gjneralion late :, ¦ -, . l . _ Can any une thioiv any light upon Uie probable au ; hor of " Multa Paucis ? " If we knew who hi ; really wis we cculd then test better than at 1 resent we are able the valuo of his Witness and estimate his claim to

accuracy , or vice versa . It must , I think , be clear to every nader of his work thr . t he transcribed ce -tain doci . mentS . What werj th « : y V Where were thoy ? Hi : could not have simply invented what he slates so categorically and coherently ; neither coi . ld he have drawn upon his memory . As we lead his statements , and note can fully whe .-e hediverges lrom Anderson , we feel , —at least I did , I remember , when I first studied his little workand colla ' ed it , —

with Andeison , that : ie must have , as we say , both " chapter and verse " fo . * much hi so clearly puts forwaris . H ; evidently either copied the " Grand Lodge Record i , " or a Replica " of th * :: sain ; , or had some independent authority to go to . No doubt he cannot lie entirel y depended upon . Far from it . lie is loo

credulous in some things , to much given to " sheepwalking" in others j and his allusioi s to the ' * G . Assembly " are both un-historical and unwarranted , and yet ore fe ; ls th * . t he may have sorre authority 11 e know not of fora . ; sertingEshe doe * , that six lodges met in 1710 , and nt t onlj four . For when le v . rote his voik le had the Constitution of 1723 , 1733 , 17 = 6 lelore

l . im , so that he deliberately asserted tl at no lodges were pre-:, ent in ct ntrr . distii ctio . i to Anderson . , Anderson ' s account being approved b y Grand Locge . Why then was this divergence?—this marked difference ot statement ? It was , inevitable but that Masoni : historians should prefer Anderror . ' s aithor ty cf 1723 , so near the time of action , and with ths concurrent canfirmaticn of Grand Lodge , to an unknown writer in ii ' 63 .

And yet h seems t ) me that there is an c-xplmatic n which may make both statsme its in one sense correct . We find constant reference , as Bro Speth shows , to St . John Masons , members as thu Great Mysteiy has it , of the " Hely Lodge of St . J ohn of Jerusalem . " Bro . Got Id holds , and I hold with hira , that such express-ions refer to the Masons belonging to ; no chartered ledge . But yet , taking certain Grand Lodge resoh . tions into consideration , and the meeting in London in 1682 , it seem : * to ire that it is

just potsibla that six lodges met in 1716 , but t ' lat only four adhured to the Grand Lodge * , and that three v ere certain unchs . rter * : d lodge * . ; which called themselves "Lodges of * St , John , " to which Anderson would net allude as irregular and unlicensed , but which , nevei thelsss , existed , and late into the eighteenth century . It is also just possible that , the antient Masons were grafted upon the stock of some such old lodges of . St . jO"n # The " Crux" is , however , both patent and interesting for Masonic students .