The Craft In Pennsylvania.

Committee of Management , the friends and supporters of the Charity , and a very numerous mus ' er of the fair sex . What is of still more material consequence , the donations amounted to the exceptionally large sum of nearly 27 , 000 dollars ( £ 5 406 ) , in which was included a gift of 12 , 000 dollars ( £ 2400 ) by Mrs . J AMES W . QUEEN , sister of the late Bro . S . J . DICKEY ,

D . D ., who was one of the truest friends of the Home , and died during . the past year . Mrs . QUEEN ' generous contribution was presented tor the purpose of supplying funds with which to defray the cost of erecting an additional wing to the Charity , and on condition that the said wing should be known as " The SAMUEL J . DICKEY Extension , "

that a suitable tablet to the memory of her late brother should be placed on the wall of the new building , and that whether the Home remains in its present quarters or is removed elsewhere , her contribution of this amount shall secure the perpetua'ion of her brother ' s memory and his exceeding love for

Masonry and the Masonic Home of Pennsylvania . We heartily congratulate our Pennsylvanian brethren on the unprecedented success of their annual " Donation Day , " and we sincerely trust that their Home , which has been established only a very few years , may remain for generations a monument of their tender solicitude for the indigent members of their Order and their widows .

St. Thomas' Lodge, London.

ST . THOMAS' LODGE , LONDON .

Thanks to Bro . George Powell , the zealous P . M . and Secretary of No . 142 , I am in 1 ossession of a copy of the By-Laws of that lodge , which contain an interesting " Historical Notice , " as an introduction to the Regulations . I have also had the loan , for perusal , of some old records , the property of St . Thomas' Lodge , which are both curious and vain ible . The historical notice is by the late Bro . H . C . Levander , P . M . and Sec .

142 , and is dated December , 1 S 77 . In 1 S 65 , at the instance of Bro . Powell , then W . M ., a Committee was appointed to investigate the claim of the lodge to the privilege of wearing a Centenary Jewel , and 10 years later , the favour was obtained . In response to an inquiry made of the Grand Secretary , an extract was forwarded , giving particulars of its constitution

by the S . G . W . of the " Ancients " ( Bro . Wm . Tindall ) , on May 1 ith , 1775 , at the " Angel and Crown , " in Maiden-lane , Wood-street , London . A copy of this is given by Bro . Levander , and also of the original warrant of the same date , then numbered 193 . The sum paid to the Grand Secretary ( Bro . W . Dickey ) , for charter , & c , is stated to be £ 6 17 s . 6 d .

Bro . J ohn Lane , in his invaluable " Masonic Records , 1717—1 SS 6 , " gives several places of meeting from 1775 for one hundred years ( over 30 in number ) , but did not then know of any place of meeting between 1775 and 17 S 6 . He does now , however , for the second edition , being prepared , viz ., Northumberland Arms . Great Russell-street , December 11 , 1775 , and Mr , John Robinson ' s Bell Public House , Cecil Court , St . Martin ' s Lane , from

4 April , 177 6 , & c . Though the Grand Secretary's statement in 1865 was emphatic as to the lodge having begun its eventful career in 1775 . Bro . Levander did not feel convinced however , but states "it is supposed that the lodge -. vas in existence at least as early as 1756 . " This is a pure fancy , but is because of an old minute book , owned by the lodge , with records from 1756 , which formerly belonged to "Ancient "

Lodge , No . 54 , assembling at the " Bear ' s Paw , " and warranted 14 th June , 1756 . The members soon afterwards purchased the vacant No . 12 for a guinea , 16 of the brethren contributing is . each towards the cost , and the valuable old book begins with a receipt from Richd . Musehel (?) , dated December 28 th , 1756 , for £ 3 ios . from Lodge No . 12 , the receiver , apparently being the Landlord . It was agreed to remove from his House , 4 th lanuary 1757 , and Bro . Rankin ' s " Cross Keys" in Bear-street , was

selected for subsequent meetings . An earlier regular minute is dated 2 nd November , 175 6 , and refers to a non -constituted lodge "held at ye Signe of ye White Horse , Piccadilly , " whose members were desiriousof joining No . 12 , but a decision was deferred . According to Bro . Lane , this was thc third and last time this number was utilised . No . 54 was also used three times . First as noted ; then for Brecon , in 1764 , and finally for Wigan in 1805 , and erased in 1823 .

Many of the minutes of No . 12 , from 175 6 , are of a most interesting character , and all the more so , because there are so few existing of that kind and period . There were frequent visits from brethren not subscribing to any lodge , described as " of St . John , " or "St . John , a Sojourner , " kc , in 1758 and later . On 4 th December , 1758 , is noted the sum of " Eight shillings and sixpence from the lodge towards the Grand ,

witch the Master paid to the Grand . " On December 18 th , 1761 , it is stated that the officers were " instald . " and on 2 nd Marchj 1763 , " Tow shillings" were paid as "for / its to the Stewards' Lodge . " The visitors generally paid sixpence each , doubtless for their refreshment ; " fines" probably being for swearing or other infractions of the rules . An early instance occurs of the following practice , which prevailed , in

reversed order , withthe " Moderns" or regular Masons : " Sth Feb ., 1764 . Proposed by the Worshipful Master . Br . Wm . Cubbige , of Cranbourne Alley , a Modern Mason , to be made Antient , next lodge night . " There were also two others to be so remade , and another is recorded on nth April , 1764 .

A valuable entry occurs on 12 th June , 1765 , which I believe has bcen quite overlooked , so far as its publicity is concerned : " Reported Br . Mercir tobemead / Jm ^ VHi Mason and Royal Arch . " The Records of the Royal Arch of the " Modems " do not begin at London until this same year , but those of the lodge at York , which worked the Degree , commence in 1762 . I refer to those which are preserved , as the Ceremony was worked by the regular brethren before the " Ancients " had in The

formed their Grand Lod ^ e 1751 . term " Raised " is applied to the wirking of the Thi . d Degree 10 June , 1769 ; and in the same year the Master is described as " R . W . M . " On the 27 th Dec , 1770 , is noted " Present of a painting representing St . Davids , " and on the 21 st Feb ., 1771 "The Lodge was honoured with a Constitution from the Supreme Grand Lodge under the name of Si . David's Londjn . " I am not quite clear as to what was intended by this entry , but am inclined to think it concerned the permission to call the lodge " St . David ' s , " as it is the firs : reference to that title found in the Records . No . 59 , on

St. Thomas' Lodge, London.

the 20 Feb ., 1771 , is called "St . Andrew ' s Lodge , " and on 17 July , 1771 , No . 12 removed to the " Ship " in the Strand . The last entry is dated May ioth , 1772 , when 12 were present . The volume was used as a memo of the fact thit " Br . Tharbot owes the Lodg-e of 193 . o 14 4 , " which refers to the number then held by St . Thomas ' s Lodge , now 142 .

The Records of 193 "Ancient , " now 142 , begin with an account of its constitution on May nth , 1775 , and the volume is remarkable for the third oldest entry respecting the Afark Degree known , " August 9 th , 1777 . The Worshipful Master with the following Brotaers of this Lodge were made Murk Masons and Mark Masters . "

Fanciful Marks are duly entered . There were 10 members thus distinguished , and on August 14 th , 1777 , " Regular Lodge night , " 15 more were made " Mark Masons and also Mark Master M i-son . " Several marks were chjsen , and there and than registered , after which it is stated that " since last regular night the following Brothers have been exalted to the degrees of Royal Arch . [ Five in number , one

being the W . M . ] On September 1 ith , 1777 , it was agreed that the " Rules and Bye-Laws respecting t ' ae Royal Arch observed by the Grand Lodge be duly observed . " Eleven Master Masons wore made Mark Master Masons on 17 th November , 1777 . The work preceding the conferring of the Mark and Koyal Arch affords no indication as to the pre-requisites , because sometimes it was only the 1 ° , and 2 ° , and at other times the 3 . According to other

Records , such as at Portsmouth , 1769 , Durham , 1773 , & c , the Mark Mason or " Man " was for Fellow Crafts , and the Mark Master for Master Masons , thus giving rise to the belief that the Mark was for the 2 nd Degree only . On 9 th July , 1778 , six brothers " Passed the chair agreeable to permission granted from R . W . Grand Lodge , " and under date 28 th December , 1778 , we read of brethren being ¦ ' passed the chair in order to become Royal Arch Masons , being apprehensive that they should be called abroad . "

There are several more entries of the Mark down to 13 th August , 1787 , when 12 received the Degree , and there are also notices of brethren being certified as Past Masters of the lodge , and recommended forthe Royal Arch , from 1789 . Bro . Gould was the first to refer in print to some of these Mark entries , but they exceed in number and value all that he then made public . I found no relerence to the name of the " Lodge St . Thomas " until 7 th January , 1 S 25 . W . J . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Northumberland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF NORTHUMBERLAND .

INSTALLATION OF SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY AS GRAND SUPERINTENDENT . On Thjrsday , the ioth , inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Maple-street , Newcastle , Sir Matthew White Ridley , Bart ., M . P ., Grand Superintendent-Designate of the Royal Arch Chapter of the Province of Northumberland , was duly installed in that oflice , the ceremony being performed by Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., the Third Grand Principal of the Grand Chapter of England , who was accompanied by Comp . E . Letchworth , Grand Scribe

E . Eng . Among the ofiicers and others present were : Comps . J . Straker Wilson , John Spearman , J . Cartmel Ridley , F . H . Corder , C . E . Macarthy , T . Purvis , G . Spain , J . G . Youll , T . Blenkinsop , S . M . Harris , Faraday Spence , G . C . Coates , J . W . Gibson , T . J . Armstrong , John Page , H . S . Bird , John Nesbitt , and Jacob Barker . The Province of Durham being represented by Comps . F . H . Bennett , P . G . H . ; Dr . C . D . Hill-Drury ,

P . P . G . H . ; R . B . Reed , P . Z . ; M . Corbitt , P . P . G . H . ; J . C . Moor , P . P . G . R-jg . There were also present : Comps . Adam Winlaw , Captain Forbes , R . N ., W . Green , F . Sehnitgcr , W . Davidson , Dr . Skrimshire , T . Dick , J . Walt , J . R . 1 unmr , W . C , Bell , R . G . Salmon . J . Cummings , W . M . Lyun , J . J . Furstur , George Blair , Hill Motum , Richard Harris , H . Gibson , VV . LoviUond , M . Lotinga , G . Parker , T . R . Short , VV . C . Wilkinson , M . Cohen , J . Peliie , J . Tweedy and others .

A feeling reference was made by the pnsding officer to the loss sustained by the Grand Chapter in the death of Colonel Addison Potter , C . B ., the late Grand Superintendent of the Chapter . He then referred to the excellent choice of the M . E . G . Z . of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , in appointing Comp . Sir M . W . Ridley to the high office of M . E . Z . of the

Provincial Grand Chapter of Northumberland , l'he Grand Superintendent designate , Comp . Sir Matthew While Ridley , was afterwards installed to the chief oflice of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Northumberland , by Comp . W . W . B . Beach , P . G . J , who said he had the greatest pleasure in installing Comp . Sir Matthew white Ridley . The patent of appointment was read by Comp . T . Purvis , P . A . G . S . E .

After the installation , Comp . J . G . Youll was appointed by the Grand Superintendent as Prov . G . H ,, and Comp . A . Winlaw , was appointed as Piov . G . J . ; Comp . G . E . Macaithy was elected Prov . G . Treas . ; and the Grand Superintendent appointed the folio . ving officers : Comp . Thomas Purvis ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ VV . M . L \ on ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N .

„ T . J . Armstrong ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, VV . F . Carmon ... ... ... Piov . G . S . „ J . J . Forster ... ... ... Prov . 1 st A . G . S . „ A . f . Aitchison ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . 11 R . G . Salmon ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ I . Tweedy ... ... ... Prov . G . Stwd .

„ George Spain ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, William Green ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Roger Brand ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Win . Davidson ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ Joshua Curry ... ... .... Prov . G . Janitor . Comp . J . G . Youll was appointed a Trustee in the place of the late Comp . J . H . Bentham , P . G . S . li .

The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT thanked Comps . VV . VV . B . Beach and E . Lu ; chworth , for their presence at the ccieniony in which lhey had taken the chief part that day . He expressed his thanks for his appointment to that high ollice , which should have his best efforts according to his time , and he was sure he would have the help of many able and willing oilicers . He

ref « . n > d with re-giut to the bss Masonry had sustained by the deaths of Coini . s . Col . Addison Potter , C . B ., J . H . Bentham , Adam Robeitson , and Thos . Diii . aiig , and made suitable ailujion to the excellent work they had done in the Fietmaionry of the province . Provincial Grand Chap : er was afterwards closed .