Masonic Notes.

Comp . Horatio Ward , has done much for Masonry , not only in Kent , but in Dorset , Wilts , and other fields of Masonic labour , and the presentation to him of a Past Principal ' s jewel on the termination of his year of office as first M . E . Z . of the St . George ' s

Chapter , No . 2099 , was not by any means a mere formal compliment , but a genuine acknowledgment of the exceptional services rendered to the chapter in its formation and during the first year of its existence . Comp .

Ward has laboured in many ways to diffiuse Royal Arch Masonry in the Province of Kent , where he has been the founder of several chapters , and now fills the position of Third Grand Principal .

"V ? P ? p Further satisfactory progress in strengthening the Board of Stewards for the approaching Festival of the Girls' School has been made since our last report , the

number of brethren who have given their services m aid of the Chairman being now 217 . This is most encouraging , and we have every reason to believe that we shall not be far out in our reckoning in fixing the ultimate strength of the Board at about 250 members .

* * * In the "Notes and Queries" department will be found a series of curious and valuable extracts from Cheshire newspapers , extending from 1761 to 1785 , fraternally sent by Bro . C . W . Robinson , who , when resident in

England , was frequently a contributor to the Freemason , and did much to unravel the past history of his province . We hope that Bro . Hughan will kindly supply a few particulars of the lodges enumerated , so that our numerous readers may be enabled to identify them in due course .

Sir Archibald and Lady Campbell have , during the last fortnight , had meetings in Edinburgh with ladies and gentlemen interested in the grand bazaar to be held in the Waverly Market during the

first week in December with the object of raising ^ 10 , 000 in aid of the Annuity Branch of the Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence . A plan was submitted showing the disposition of the stalls in the Waverly Market , and matters of detail as to costume , & c , were

discussed . Sir Archibald Campbell presided at a meeting of the Executive Committee in the afternoon . Matters of finance were disposed of , and considerable progress was made as to the organisation of other Sub-Committees . Contributions in kind are being

daily received from the colonial and foreign lodges , and from reports which have reached the Secretary , there is every prospect that the bazaar will be a success . The Grand Master , who has taken a deep interest in

the movement , is about to make a special appeal to the Craft in its favour . Arrangements have been made with all the shipping companies , who have generously agreed to carry packages for the bazaar free of freight .

# # # The Queen ' s Rooms , Glasgow , was the scene of an nteresting ceremony on Thursday , when the Earl of Haddington , assisted by several of the Grand Office bearers , installed Bro . Dalrymple Duncan as Provincial

Grand Master of the Royal Order of Scotland for Lanarkshire and the adjacent counties . The Royal Order is not ( as the name would seem to imply ) specially confined to Scotland . Lodges of the Order exist in London , Manchester and York , and it has also

branches in America , India , the Colonies , and several Continental countries . The legend of the Order ascribes its foundation to Robert the Bruce after his victory at Bannockburn , and at all banquets of the brethren the first toast is dedicated to the memory of the great Scottish king .

* * * According to some statistics furnished by the Brisbane News , of the 5 th Dec , 1 S 8 9 , the movement to establish a Grand Lodge composed of the lodges of the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions has not

been attended with success . Meetings have been held , and speakers have been eloquent in setting forth the advantages of independence , but as regards the English section of the Masonic community , which is about equal to the Irish and Scotch sections taken

together , they are by no means favourable to the proposed change . Circulars were addressed to the 33 lodges , and , out of the 28 that sent replies , 24 have determined to remain in their present allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , and only four have

announced their readiness to cast in their lot with the promoters of the Queensland Grand Lodge . If it be true that the five lodges which had not at the time sent answers are likely to remain faithful to the existing

Constitution , the disparity is still more marked between those which desire a change and those which do not , the proportion of the former to the latter being as four to 33 .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS , To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Referring to the controversy that has arisen upon the accounts in the pages of a contemporary of yours , I am requested to ask you to be good enough to

notify that directions have been given that all the books and documents relating to the accounts of the half-year ending 31 st December last will be laid upon the table at the Quarterly General Court on Friday next . This will enable any one to prove or disprove the accuracy of your contemporary ' s assertions . No

one is more fully aware than I am of the misleading effects of discussing figures and accounts apart from the books and accounts themselves . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , EDWD . HOBBS , F . C . A . April 22 nd .

LIFE SAVED THROUGH FREEMASONRY . ' To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , My attention has been called to an article in your valuable Journal of March 1 st , page 133 . The article purports to have been written by one William Wilson , who gives a thrilling account of his adventures

in the West India Islands , and how his life was saved through the ^ interposition of one Dolores Torros , a female Mason , & c . But what I wish to call your attention to especially is the further statement of Wilson , that his guide had told him " he had ascertained that Dolores Torros had been made a Mason in Texas , in the United States , where

it is possible for a lady to enter the Craft . " Allow me to inform the readers of the Freemason , and William Wilson in particular , that there are no female Masons in Texas , nor is it possible for a lad y to enter the Craft in Texas , or in any of the United States . —Yours fraternally , WM . F . SWAIN , Grand Secretary Grand Lodge of Texas .

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I received the other day a most valuable portfolioof Masonic historic documents relatingto the laying

of the foundation stone of the new building for the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle-on-Tyne by the Duke of Sussex , M . W . G . M ., 2 nd Sept ., 1822 . Among the varied contents are two fine P . G . L . summonses , printed on R . A . certificates , that appear to have been struck for the use of the P . G . Chapter of Northumberland by the eminent firm of T . Bewick and

Son , and adapted for the occasion . Bro . J . Ramsden Riley , the great authority on such documents , considers them close copies of the "Ancients '" Arch certificates ( very slightly smaller ) , and points out a peculiarity in them b y having E and and N engraved on them , these letters being absent on the " Ancients '" certificate .

Bro . Riley conjectures that the Bewick ' s engraved from a certificate in use b y a private chapter at that time . It is a matter of very great regret that the fine old copper plates of private lodges and chapters of last century are nearly all missing in this north country . — Yours fraternally , G . W . BAIN . Sunderland , April 22 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

S 85 ] FREEMASONRY LAST CENTURY . Bro . J . C . Robinson , formerly of Chester ( England ) , but now of U . S . A ., has kindly sent me a number of extracts relating chiefly to Freemasonry in the Province of Cheshire , and , by his consent , they are appended .

I number them consecutivel y for subsequent reference and explanation , and I hope their publication will lead to more of the kind being traced . Bro . Robinson is a diligent and accurate Masonic student , and has set an excellent example to be followed . W . J . HUGHAN .

I . —Chronicle , 6 ' August , 1777 . They write from Holywell , in the County of Flint , that on Tuesday last the Provincial Grand Master of Masons for the County Palatine of Lancaster , Representative for that purpose of the Provincial Grand

Master of North Wales , constituted a new Lodge of Free-masons in that Town ; on which occasion there was a very handsome Procession of the members in their proper Clothing , and being a Sight entirely new there , afforded great Pleasure to a Number of Spectators .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

2 . —Courant , 2 June , 1761 . On Tuesday last the Provincial Grand Master , his Deputy and Wardens of the most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons assembled at the Star Inn in Watergate-street in this City , where they constituted a Lodge ( under his Grace the Duke of

Beaufort , Grand Master ) , to be held at the Swan in Great Neston , near Parkgate ; and which ' tis hoped'b y that Ancient and Honourable Fraternity will be a means of reforming many abuses lately practised on the aforesaid Society for want of a regular constituted and well-governed Lodge .

3 . —Courant , 24 January , I 76 g . Yesterday being St . John ' s Day the four respective Lodges in this City of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons assembled at the Exchange , pursuant to proper Summonses from the Provincial Grand Master , all in their proper

Cloathing and Ensigns of their Order , and then walked in Procession to St . John ' s Church , where they heard a most excellent Sermon preached by the Revd . Theophilus Meredith ( Brother to the patriotic Sir William Meredith , Member of Parliament for Liverpool ) , from the 28 th Chapter of the Apostles and the

latter end of Ver . 22 . For as concerning this Sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against ; which Discourse being delivered in a very pathetic manner , and sufficiently explaining what Man ought to be , gave entire Satisfaction to a numerous Congregation who

attended on the Occasion . After which they proceeded with the same regularity to the place where they assembled and then adjourned to their respective Lodges , where elegant Entertainments were provided , and the whole was conducted with the greatest regularity .

4 . —Courant , 21 January , 1772 : At the Grand Feast of the Ancient and Hon . Society of Free and Accepted Masons , at Merchant Taylors ' Hall , on Monday se ' nni ght , the Duke of Beaufort , Lord Petre , Lord Dudley Ward , the Hon . Charles Howard ( Heir to the Duke of Norfolk ) , and many

other persons of Distinction were present , besides near 700 of the Brotherhood , when the Duke of Beaufort invested Lord Petre with the Ensigns of the Office of Grand Master , who appointed Mr . Dillon his Deputy . It is remarkable that a great Number of Ladies were in the Gallery on the above Occasion .

5 . —Courant , ig May , 1772 . A few Nights ago a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was held at the Star , in Watergatestreet , in this City , when a woman who was a Lodger in the House , concealed herself in a Press in the Lodge-Room , in order to satisfy a painful Curiosity she had a

long time imbibed of discovering the Reason of their secret Meetings ; but the ever wary and careful Fraternity making a timely and secret Discovery of the Place of her Concealment , assembled themselves within her Hearing , and after repeating . the Punishment which they always inflict on every Person whom they detect

prying into their Secrets , opened the Press , and took her out almost dead with the apprehensions of what she was to suffer , which had such an Effect on the Flumanity of the Brethren then present , that they unanimously agreed to dismiss her , without doing her any further Injury than that of a severe Reprimand for her Folly .

6 . —Courant , 17 November , 1772 . Friday last being the Anniversary Festival of St . John Baptist , the ancient and honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , consisting of four different lodges , by Order of their Provincial Grand Master ( the Hon . John Smith Barry , Esq . ) , assembled at the

Exchange Hall in this City , and proceeded in solemn Form to the Parish Church of St . John to hear Divine Service where a most excellent Sermon was preached by a Reverend Brother suitabl y adapted to the Occasion . After Service they returned in like Order to the

Exchange , and thence the Brethren retired to their respective Lodges , where elegant entertainments were provided , and the evening concluded with loyal toasts , innocent mirth , and social harmony . It would be injustice not to observe that they made a most brilliant and graceful Appearance .

7 . —Courant , 2 June , 1780 . Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Hol yhead to the Printer of this paper . " On Saturday last , being St . John ' s Day , the free and accepted Masons of Hol yhead ( as is usual in all

places where societies of that kind are held ) proposed walking to Church in procession in order to attend prayers , which the curate had previously promised he would read ; but on a sudden , through whim , prejudice , or ill-nature , he changed his mind , and absolutely re ^ fused to read prayers . Another clergyman might have

been had , but our curate refused , and would neither officiate himself or suffer anyone else ( indeed , the fable of the dog in the manger is very applicable on this occasion ) . The denial was received by many with indignation ; by all with surprise . NowMr . PrinterI should

, , be glad to know from some of your worthy correspondents whether a clergyman can or cannot , with propriety , refuse reading prayers on a Saint ' s day when those prayers are desired b y the whole or some part of his parishioners ?"

8 . —Courant , 30 June , 17 H 0 . (?) Tuesday last Pattison Ellames , Esq ., Mayor of this City , attended by the Corporation and by the ancient and honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons , went in Procession to the late Gate near the Bridge , where he laid the first Stone of an intended Arch , in