Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , 23 rd inst . Bro . J . Udall , P . G . D ., presided , supported by Bros . J . Smith , P . G . P ., as S . W . ; J . Brett , A . G . P ., as J . W . ; the Earl Percy ,

S . G . W . ; Dr . J . Hogg , P . G . D ; J . Savage , P . G . D ., J . Nunn , G . S . B . ; C . C . Dumas , Asst . •G . D . C . ; and a large number of W . M . ' s of London lodges . Thirty petitions were received , of which three

were deferred to the next meeting , and the remaining tweny-seven petitioners were voted sums amounting in the aggregate to no less than . £ 420 . The wisdom of reserving the Fund of Benevolence for tbe relief of our poor brethren and the

widows of poor brethren was never more forcibly demonstrated than upon this occasion . Every case was most carefully considered , and the relative claims of the petitioners were thoroughly sifted . We are glad to see that so large an •attendance of brethren willing to assist in the

work can be secured at the Lodge of Benevolence . It is a healthful sign , and an evidence of the reality of their Masonic professions .

Obituary.

Obituary .

—?—THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL BRO . RICHARD WILLIAM JENNINGS , PAST GRAND AVARDEN OF ENGLAND .

A prince in Israel has fallen , a true-hearted , honourable , aud most estimable chief of our ancient Order has passed away from the sphere of Masonic labour . In our review of the season in TUB FREEMASON last week , we alluded with gratification to the fact that death had spared our prominent

members during the period under notice , but , to our great regret , we have now to chronicle the decease , by a deplorable accident , of Bro . R . AV . Jennings , who has been for so many years identified with the proceedings of the Craft . The subjoined account gives in detail the particulars of the

catastrophe by which Bro . Jenning ' s valuable life was sacrificed , and it adds another to the many recent melancholy instances of the extreme peril attending a too hasty exit from a railway carriage : — " Last evening , a gentleman named Jennings , residing at Bickley , a season-ticket holder on the

London , Chatham , and Dover Railway , left Ludgatehill Station by the 7 . 8 train . AVhen the train reached Bickley he did not alight , aud is supposed to have been asleep . At auy rate just after it had began to leave the station he opened the carriage door and jumped out , missing lm footing he fell

between the step and the platform aud was fearfully crushed . Tho station-master , and a gentleman who was standing on the platform at the time raised the unfortunate man , but he expired almost immediately . Mr . Jennings , who was at the head of an old established firm of proctors at Bennot ' s-hill , Doctors ' -

commons , was somewhat advanced in years , and well known on the line by his snow-white hair and great regularity . The name of the station was vociferated as usual by the porters , aud no blame appears to attach to any one but the deceased . "Standard , 24 th June .

Bro . Jennings was initiated in the Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 , on the 2 Cth June , 1833 , and in due time served the office of Master of that time-immemorial lodge whose records connect our present Speculative Freemasonry with the operative Masonic bodies of the remote past .

Bro . Jennings also joined the Old Union Lodgo , No . 40 , on the llth November 1835 , and the Royal Alpha Lodge ( into which Grand Ofiicers only are admitted ) , on 22 nd May 1841 , and as an evidence of his undiminishul interest in the Craft , it may be mentioned that iu 18 GG" he was one of the founders

of University Lodge , 1118 , which is composed of members or ex-members of the . Universities , aud numbers upon its roll some of the most distinguished names in Freemasonry . Thc thorough business habits [ of Bro . Jennings soon commended him to the notice of His Royal

Obituary.

Highness the late Duke of Sussex , who appointed him Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies as early as the 27 th April 1836 , when he was not quite three years a Mason , and moreover , he was the first who held the appointment of Assistant . On the 28 th of April 1841 , Bro . Jennings was promoted to the office of Grand Director of Ceremonies , iu

succession to Bro . Sir William Woods , Clarenceux King of Anns , and he retained this important post for nineteen years , up to the 25 th April 1860 , when Bro . Albert W . Woods , Lancaster Herald' ( son of Sir AVilliam Woods , the former incumbent ) , was promoted to the position , which he still holds most

worthily and with entire satisfaction to Grand Lodge . The office of G . D . C . is one which requires the exercise of much tact , and a happy admixture of the suaviter in niodo with the fortiter in re , together with other specialities which are rarely combined in the same individual . Our deceased brother enjoyed

the confidence both of the late and the present Grand Master , aud materially assisted his royal and noble chiefs in the work of all the great ceremonials , such as laying foundation stones , & c , in which they took part for the five and twenty years ending in 1860 .

When the foundations of the new buildings at Freemasons' Hall were laid on the 27 th April , 1864 , Bro . Jennings was also present , and on that occasion the Earl of Zetland in graceful recognition of our lamented brother's services , conferred upon him the rank of a P . G . Warden of England . As a matter of

course G . Chapter honors followed those obtained by Bro . Jennings in the Craft . Having been exalted in the St . James' Chapter , No . 2 , on the 7 th May , 1835 , we find that Comp . Jennings was appointed Director of Ceremonies on the 2 nd May , 1838 , Second Assist . Soj . 1 st May , 1839 , and , finally ,

Scribe N . on the 7 th May , 1862 . He also officiated for some years as President of the Grand Chapter Committee . Having thus imperfectly traced the Masonic career of the deceased , it only remains to say that in his professional aud civic capacities Bro . Jennings was equally respected and equally useful . His sad and untimely end naturally

increases the regret with which we pen these lines , nevertheless he goes down to the grave full of honors , and upon his memory rests not a stain . With Bro . Jennings another link that bound the present generation of Masons to a period which is now historic has passed away , and may all like him when the dread summons comes leave behind them the imperishable memorial of a well-spsnt life .

The Temple.

THE TEMPLE .

All Had to the Building to Glory advancing ! The building that thousands are hel ping to rear ; Though years , too , in thousands have o ' er it been glancing , Yet still does the structure unfinished appear . Our Fathers before us have at it been toiling , And each his own stone for the edifice square'd ;

Our children will , after us , also bo helping , And stones yet in numbers by them be prepar'd . All Hail to the Building the Master is rearing ! AVherc th' stones are all Brethren , true-hearted and free ; AVhere Faith , the foundation , on God surely restiii'r .

And Hope helps the work on through ev'ry degree . Its walls , up , in beauty are steadily growing , ^ And so will continue until they ' re all raised ; The stones are all numbered , and God in his planning Has mark'd out the setting where each will be placed .

Still Had to the Building to glory advancing ! Though earth shall ne ' er see it " completed appear ; The Temple of love which the Lord is constructing , And Heaven will see Him in triumph appear . Yea , Hail to that building Jehovah will finish ! And join in the anthem , ye angols of light ; A song , all triumphant , to Him we must furnish AVho'Il raise such as wc to yon glorious light . ' W . P . B .

PROGRESS SLOW , HUT SURE . —AVhen I sit upon some lofty mountain brow and see the mighty train winding , like a huge fiery serpent , through the valley below , I love to look back in a reverie on the various modes of travelling that from time to time have prevailed in the land of my fathers . " In my mind's eye , Horatio , " I can see the ancient

Brigantcs ( many of whose grave-hills I have assisted toopen for antiquarian researches ) not wholly without some rude roads , but learning much from their indomitable conquerors , the Romans . Between the making of the Roman roads in Britain and the laydown of the first

ing passenger railway , how tardy was the progress of tie means of transit I AVhen I think on it , I take fresh hopes for the cause of progress , and feel certain that the amelioration ol human suffering will gradually eome . —Bro . J . S . TweddcU .

The Editor's Portfolio.

The Editor's Portfolio .

We commend the following verses to the attention of our materialistic foreign brethren : — THE HOPE OF HEAVEN .

Oh ! if the Atheist s words were true ; If those we seek to save Sink—and , in sinking from our view , Are lost beyond the grave I If life thus closed , how dark and drear Would this bewildered earth appear—Scarce worth the dust it gave :

A tract of black sepulchral gloom , One yawning , ever-opening tomb ! Blest be that strain of high belief—More heaven-like , more sublime—Which says that souls who part in grief Part only for a time !

That far beyond this speck of pain , Far o ' er the gloomy grave ' s domain , There spreads a bi'ighter clime , Where—care , aud toil , and trouble o'er—Friends meef ^ and meeting weep no more ! FURLONG .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

—?—Rro . Jacob Norton and tlie " Masonic Monthly . " —The editor of THE FREEMASON has done a service to the Craft in England , by inserting Bro . Norton ' s letter to the Masonic Monthly . ThatdistinguishedMasonwent the right way to discover the truth , viz ., " To the

fountain-head . " There was a doubt relative to the name of one of our Grand Masters , and also some question as to a warrant having been granted to the " African Lodge . " Bro . Norton , who is a most distinguished Mason in the United States , wisely consulted the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of England

relative to the subject , and the records have abundantly confirmed the truth of the views advocated by him previously in the "American Freemason , " edited by an able Bro ., J . F . Brennan . It is thus proven that the African Lodge and its members are as legally entitled to be received as visitors in our lodges , as any

¦ white members of other lodges . It seems extraordinary that Masons should be found belonging to the modern society who can uphold the practices of those who seek to exclude intelligent negroes from our assemblies , yet so it is . A \ e heartily wish Bros . Norton , Brennan , Evans , and other Masonic worthies , the success they

deserve , for thus endeavouring to secure equal rights for the Negro Brother with the more favoured white members of our Fraternity . Relative to the name Montacute , or Montagu , I find by the Constitution of A . D . 1738 , that Lord Montagu ( son of the Duke of Montagu , G . M ., 1721 , ) was installed Grand

Mastor , 19 th April , A . D . 1732 , ( page 130 . ) Strange to say , however , that in Intick's Constitutions , A . D . 1756 , ( page 211 ) , it is stated that " Deputy Grand Master Batson , proclaimed aloud our noble Brother " XI . Anthony Brown , Lord Viscount MoMacute . Grand Master of Masons . " The same designation

occurs in the Constitutions for A . D . 1767 , ( page 214 ) . I quite agree with Bro . Norton , that another time when Bro . C . AV . Moore quotes letters from distinguished Brethren , it would bo better for him to insert them verbatim et literatim . AVe look forward with interest to the next notice of the " Monthly " in THE FREEMASON . —AV . J . HUGHAK .

The Chevalier Jtamsay and the Cluipter of Arras . —Our excellent Bro . John Yarker speaks of the three degrees invented by Chevalier Bamsay in 1728-9 , being " an innovation upon the Rite of the Chapter of Arras . " ( Vide FREEMASON * , June 19 , 1869 , page 6 . ) "Will Brother Yarker inform me of any

French authority on Masonry that mentions the Chapter of Arras having been instituted before 1747 V According to the " General History of Freemasonry , " by Dr . E . Rebold ( translation by Bro . J . F . Brennan A . D . 1869 , page 81 ) , the " Chapter at Arras was constituted on the loth April , 1747 , by the Prince Pretender , Charles Edward Stuart . " Surely , then , all

innovations upon the Bite of such Chapter must bo subsequent to its institution , and not some twenty years preceding its formation ! I know the history of the " Ifautes Grades" is involved in much obscurity , but relative to the Arras Chapter there does not seem to be any doubt as to the period of its institution , and ! .. nn . ... ! . ! . ~ . t T ....... _ .. !! .. !—I _ c iii uuiiiuiuii witii outers uiii imiiii ui

x . uiy jeuious any attempts being made to prove these degrees to be of greater antiquity than they really are . Bro . Yarker also says the degrees by Bamsay of 1728-9 , seem to follow the traditions of the " Koyal Arch-Templar Rite of York . " No such Rite as the R . A . Templar of York can he proved to have had existence by

documentary evidence , before the institution of the Chapter of Arras , and hence 1 cannot sec how its traditions , can be said to precede the Bamsay degrees of 1728-9 . I thank 15 ro . Yarker for so kindly acknowledging my acciimev respecting the Constitutions of 1722 —W . J . HUOHAIL