Royalty And Craft Loyalty.

ROYALTY AND CRAFT LOYALTY .

None who understand , and are able therefore to appreciate the leading principles of Freemasonry , will be surprised at ( he splendid manifestation of loyalty which characterised the proceedings of the special meeting" of United Grand Lodge on the 151 I 1 inst . It is more than probable ( hat , had time and space permitted , the brethren would have assembled in well nigh

as formidable numbers as they did in the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , on that ever memorable - \ S 1 I 1 April , 18 75 , when II . R . If . the Prince of Wales was installed M . W . Grand Master . Quite apart from the fact that F . ngiish Masons , being , like the rest of their fellow-countrymen , lawabiding people , must have rejoiced in the opportunity of expressing their

gratitude to the Groat Architect of the I ' nivcrsc at His preservation from danger of our Constitutional Sovereign ; apart from the love and respect which they in common with the rest of the British nation so devoutly feel for one who during a reign of almost unexampled length has administered the government of the country -= o successfully , and who in her own

person has offered < o brilliant .-111 example for all classes of her subjects . We s . iy , apart from those natural causes which must affect the Fnglish Cnft just as much as , yet no more than , the rest of the community ; and be it added likewise from that utter detestation in which all Britons hold the political assassin , it must be clear to every one that

the princip les of our Society had their share in producing that magnificent outburst 0 ! enthusiasm of Wednesday week . As our Grand Master pointed out on the day of his solemn installation , the watchwords of our Fnglish Craft are " Loyally and Charity . " The Freemasons of some foreign countries may fancy they are justified in conjoining political with their

Masonic functions . But in the case of Masonry , as exemplified in Fngland even the biiu rest opponents of our Society have been compelled to admit that wo are loyal to the government under which we live , and that our professions of faith are as free from any taint of ineligion as they are unbiased by any pretence for this or that particular form of polity .

In these cin . 'iini lances , and with this knowledge to guide them , people will recognise the sincerity as well as the value of la-1 Wednesday ' s dc-nionstr . ' . lion . But there are als o personal reasons which , no doubi , contributed to intensify the feeling displayed . The Oucen is the patron of the Craft , and a liberal supporter of our Institutions . Moreover , she is a member of

a family which during the last l-LS years has taken a more or less conspicuous part in upholding , and giving effect to , the principles of the great Masonic Brotherhood . In 17 ^ 7 Frederick Prince of Wales , son of George II .. and father of George III ., was initiated at an occasional lodge at Kew , and to him the second ediiioli of Anderson ' s Constitutions , published the

year following , was dedicated . He died , however , in 17 , ^ 1 , without taking any prominent part in the doings of the Fraternity . In 1766 two of his brothers , the Dukes of York and Gloucester , were initiated , and yet a third brother , namely , Henry Frederick , Dtikeof Cumberland , in 17 ( 17 . The lastmentioned was installed Grand Master in 1 / HJ , in succession to the Duke of

Manchester , and held office till his death , eight years later . I n 1700 George , Prin : e of W ' alcs , son of George III . --who with his brother , Duke of York , hid been initiated in i / SS — was elected Grand Master , and remained such till iSi . t , when feeling it necessary as Prince Regent to resign cilice , his place was taken by the Duke of Su-se . \ , who was annually re-elected till bin death

in 184 . 1 . Thus , for sixty-one years consecutively , the Craft had for its chief ruler a Prince of the Blood Royal , while it should be further mentioned that of the other sons of George III ., the Dukes of York . Clarence ( afterwards William 1 Y ., and Grand Patron in succession to George 1 Y . ) , Kent ffather of our beloved Oucen ) , and Cumberland ( afterwards King and

Grand Master of Hanover ) , were members of the Craft , the Duke of Kent , with his brother of Sussex , taking a leading part in re-uniting the two bodies of so-called " Ancients " and " Modern ;/ ' into which , during the latter half of last century , and the earlier years of this century , the Craft was divided . As three of the Oueen's sons are Craftsmen , and as we believe we are

correct in staling that the laic George \ . ot Hanover was also a Mason , it follows that the Royal Family of Great Britain has been activel y connected with our Society during its last live generations , or , as we have r . otcd already , for a period of i . | s years . Here , then , arc reasons enough -if none other existed , as we have shown they do exist—why Faiglish FYeeniason .

should take a direct and enduring interest in all that concerns the well-being of the gracious sovereign who guides the destinies of the British Fmpire . Masonic princip les bid us be loyal to her government , while the love and

respect we entertain for her and her family go a considerable way towards strengthening and confirming thoss principles . In short , our loyalty springs , in the first instance , from a strict sense of duty , and in the next , from our love and respect for I lie dynasty .

Many of our readers will doubtless feci inclined to say that , having already again and again demonstrated our proposition that Fnglish Freemasons are from necessity and inclination a loyal body of British subjects , it is unnecessary to prolong our remarks . Yet we think it will be considered at least excusable if we add a few words as 10 the magnilude of the debt

we owe to our Royal brethren 1 o go no further back than the year 1875 , when our present Grand Master was installed , how wonderful has been the progress and extension of the Craft since then . Prior to the 1 st of January of thai year there were J 5- > 7 lodges on the roll of our United Grand Lodge . On the 1 st of March of this year there were no less than 1901 . Consequently in the interval there have been constituted 434 lodges , all which ,

Royalty And Craft Loyalty.

with the exception of two , arc still in working order . It may , perhaps , be as well if we note this progress year by year . The number of lodges constituted in 1 S 75 . was sixty-six ; in 187 ( 1 , sixty-nine , one having since dropped from the roll ; in 18 77 , seventy-two ; m 187 . S " , sixty-five ; in 18 79 , fifty-three ; in 1 SS 0 , thirty-nine , one , however , being no longer on the roll ; and in 18 S 1 , up to the publication of the calendar , fifty-four , with an additional fifteen

warranted up to the 1 st of March . Of these new lodges , a considerable proportion have been established in our Colonics and India , Xcw Zealand and the great Australian Colonics having been especially favoured in this respect ; while our provinces and the metropolitan district have been almost as fortunate . During the same period over 160 Royal Arch Chapters have been warranted , so that if we make allowance for the

number of lodges which since 186 . ; —the last year the roll of Grand Lodge was renumbered—have disappeared , it wili be found that as against some 1800 lodges there are over < i in chapters , or on an average rather more than one of the latter to three of ths former—a very capital proportion , as our readers , doubtless , will not hesitate to admit . If we turn to the other Degrees , which are not included in pure and ancient Masonry , as defined

by our Constitutions , we shall find , on reference to the " Cosmo ., '' that whereas at the end of 1 S 74 there were , irrespective of time immemorial lodges , only 17 c ) on the roll of the Grand Mark Lodge , there were at the beginning of the present year J 91—an increase of 112 lodges . There were at ihc former date some 02 Rose Croix Chapters , there are now about 90—an increase of not much under 50 per cent ., and the Temnlar and Red Grots

Degrees fully maintain their ground . Considerable progress has also been made in Scottish Masonry , of which our Grand Master is Patron ; and in Ireland , where he holds a like position , the Craft , in spite of the difficulties by which it i ; surrounded , is in a very nourishing condition , Thus the influence of the Prince of Wales has produced most gratifying results in

Fngland , of which he is I he Masonic chief , and in Scotland and Ireland , with which he is coniiccied only as Grand Pal mi 1 . . Yeed we say more than thi ; in explanation o ; our settled and enthusiastic loyally-a loyally which is settled because it is based on the fundamental princi ples of the (' raft , and enthusiastic because our Roval Family have always taken si deep an interest iii il ; welfare ' . '

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the LoJge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Joshua . \ 1111 n . President , occupied th ; President ' s chair ; Bro . James Brelt , Junior Yioc-President , occupied the chair of Senior Vice-President ; and Bro . J . II . Matthews the chair of Junior Vice President . There were also present

Pros . Col . Shathvell II . Gierke , G . S . ; II . (' .. Hnss , Asst . G . Sec . ; W . Dodd , W . II , Lee , G . I' . Hritten , Charles Dairy , P . M . I . ( I ; W . Mann , 1 > . M . isr >; K . K . Storr , P . M . : . ' ; Constable , P . M . iSfij Charles Frederick Howard , P . M . " o ;; | . I ) . Collier , P . M . urW ; Thus . Cull , P . M . LLilj Th'H . |! i , ts , P . M . S 20 ; John Walker , P . M , 115 s ; K . Ziir ' mjrcr , W . M . 715 ; Hy . Shaw , W . M . l . -. i ; John Mills Seddon , P . M . 11 " ;

W . II . Perryman , W . M . I . ; J . Peacock , W . M . 3 ; K . West , P . M . 1327 ; \ V . Grove .-, W . M . 710 ; S . Kelly , P . M . (>| . i ; Frederick Hinckcs P . M . G . Stewards ' Lodco ; Alfred ff . Hickman , W . M . 22 S ; G . A . Cundy , W . M . (| i > i ; | . K . Pells , W . M . ioj ; II . Roberts , P . M . 7-j ; G . A . Taylor , P . M . 2 17 ; II . Massey , W . M . U 12 S ; George J . Dawson , W . M . 1 S 5 . 1 . ; Joseph Huston , P . M . 1 . ( 31 ; Kdjar Lewis ,

P . M . ,,- vS ; U . C . Ravve , W . M . 7 S 1 ; A . J . Mannine ; , P . M . 1 137 ; J . K . Glutnill , P . M . 134 ; K . I " . Harratt Kidder , W . M . 12 ; Hubert Cooper Sinclair , P . M . j ' , 2 ; Kdwatd Dijrnani , W . M . 1521 ; Lewis M . Myers , W . M . iSS ; II . J . I . ardner , W . M . i 7 j ^ Thomas Morrison , 1 . P . M . t . i ; W . 11 . Dean , W . M . npo ; | . Ma-rath , W . M . 130 :. ; C . Ptibnan , P . M . 720 ; Charles Russ , P . M . ;/ :. ; , P . G . S . ; II . Sadler , Grand Tyler ; and II . Massey ( t ' riviii . iaou ) .

The brethren first confirmed grants to the amount of / . 195 , recommended in sums between . { ' 20 and / 40 at last meeting . They then proceeded with the new list , which contained no les ; than thirty-nine cases . In the course of a sitting which lasted nearly four hours and a half ,

thirty two of these were relieve ! with a total sum ol . { , 90 : 1 . This was composed of one grant of £ 75 ( £ 75 ) . seven of £ 5 . 1 each ( £ 35 < ~ >) , four of £ ,. \" each ( £ i <»<) , three of £ 25 each ( £ 75 ) , seven of £ 10 each ( £ i . y >) , two of £ ] -, each ( £ ? , <>)> six of £ 10 each ( £ 00 ); and I wo of £ - ^ each ( £ n >) . One case was dismissed , and six cases were deferred . The lodujc was ( lion closed .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

A preliminary meeting for the Board of Stewards took p lace at Freemason ' Hall , on Friday , the 17 th inst ., present Bro ; . J . B . Munckton , President of the Hoard of General Purposes ; Joshua Nvtnn , P . G . S . I ! ., J . H ; James Lewis Thomas , P . A . G . D . C , I . | J ; T . Kinder , P . M . 103 R and ' 5 . 1 . 1 ; 1 '' . Richardson , P . G . D . ; II . A . Dubois , f louse Com . ; W . E . Dawes , Grand

Red Cross Conclave ; A . II . Tattcrshall , House Com . ; j . Tatlock , i . | 2 ; R . Hallowcs , 33 ; P . | . Stohwasser , 509 ; Major W . K . Williams , 162 ; Win . llamlyn , 1022 ; Georjre Venn , So ; Kdtfar Howyer , P . S . G . W . Herts ; C . Helton , P . M . 1757 , P . G . J . I ) . Herts ; RobertGrey , P . G . D . ; W . G . Kentish , W . M . 120 . 3 ; W . O . Heazley , W . M . 17 = i T . A . T . Howell , 21 ; 1 . 11 . Parkle Wilson , P . M . i-yis : and Win . Hope , P . M . 2 , P . G . S .

Bro . Lord Leigh , Prow Grand Master for Warwickshire , and Trustee of the Institution , wa . ; elected President ; Bro . Sir John Monckton , President Board General Purposes , Acting President : Bro . Joshua Nunn , Treas . ; Bro . Frank Richardson , Chairman of the Ladies' Stewards : and Bro . F ,

R . Hedges , Hon . Sec . The amount of the fee was fixed at £ 2 2 s . The Music and Dinner Committee was appointed , and other detail arrangements made . The Festival will be hold , as usual , at Freemasons' Hall