Ad00505

GILLIAM ( Successors to Makepeace and Walford ) , SILVERSMITHS , JEWELLERS , AND DIAMOND MOUNTERS , DEALERS IN ANTIQUE PLATE & JEWELLERY . 6 , S ERLE S TREET , L INCOLN ' I NN , 446 , O XFORD S TREET , NEAR O RCHARD S TREET . Tho Freemason of Mivy lGtlv , 1801 , says—" Messrs . GiUmm Bros ., Gold and Silversmiths , of 0 , Serle Street , Lincoln ' s Inn , have been very fortunate in securing so lino a site for thoir now establishment as -MB , Oxford Street ( near Orchard Street ) , and wo congratulate them on tho beauty and artistic design displayed in their now premises ; tho stock is of the most'rare and choice kind , and our brethren , who aro fond of old and Rood things in precious metals , would do well to pay them a visit . "

Ad00506

PARTRIDGE & COOPER , " THE '' STA TION ERS , 192 & 191 , FLEET STREET , LONDON . THE ROYAL COURTS NOTE PAPER . This is the cheapest paper ever introduced to the public , it being slightly tinted , thick , and pleasant to write upon . Price 4 s . per ream . Illustrated Catalogue of every requisite for Office or Library forwarded post free .

Ar00507

SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 26 , 1891 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire , which vvas held at Tenbury , on the 16 th inst , under the banner of the St . Michael ' s Lodge , No . 1097 , was in all respects most satisfactory . The Province is not a large one , there being only 13 lodges

on its roll and less than 500 subscribing members , but the muster was a considerable one , while the various reports , which were presented , and it is almost needless

to say adopted , were of a most gratifying character and must have delighted the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , Bart ., M . P ., who was present and presided in person .

# * # The statements made by the Masters of the several lodges showed they were all in good working order , while the Prov . Grand Secretary , in his report of them taken collectively , fully corroborated the statements of

the Masters . From the report of the Charities Committee , which was presented b y Bro . E . J . Chambers , we gather that the province contributed upwards of , £ 400 to the Masonic Charities , a sum which , considering the smallness of the Province already mentioned ,

is most creditable to our Worcestershire brethren . The Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . George Taylor , was also in a position to announce that the library and museum ,

which he had been so largel y instrumental in forming , was well-arranged and in good order , and that the descriptive catalogue , edited by himself , had been published .

* * * In the course of the proceedings the sum of So guineas vvas voted to form the nucleus of a fund to be raised in memory of the late Bro . W . Masefield , P . G . Std . Br . England , and P . D . P . G . M ., with the twofold

object of erecting a tablet commemorative of his virtues in St . John ' s Church , Dudley , and founding prizes to be presented annually to the Girls' and Boys' Schools . Bro . Masefield rendered great services to the Province of Worcestershire , and it is fitting that such a tribute of respect should be paid to his memory .

* * * Among the candidates for election to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls we observe the name of Violet Rosa Smith , a daughter of our late Bro . Griffith Smith , Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies .

Our late brother , who for many years filled the office of Vice-President of the Colonial Board , was one of the most munificent supporters of the Institution , both he and his widow having qualified as Vice-Patrons , while the candidate for election and her sister are both Life

Governors . Bro . Griffith Smith served no less than 10 times the office of Steward at the Festivals of the Institution , and was for many years a member of the House Committee . We do not remember there ever having been a candidate for admission to the School

with stronger claims to support of the Governors than this child of one of the best friends the Institution ever had . Any of the members of the House Committee of the Institution will gladly receive proxies for the child of their late colleague .

Masonic Notes.

Bro . the Hon . Chief Justice Way , Pro Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of South Australia , ancl Lieut .-Governor of the Colony , was perfected Rose Croix 18 ° , in the Ancient and Accepted Rite , in the Adoniram Chapter , No . 101 , at an emergency meeting , held at Mark Master Masons' Hall on Wednesday evening .

The Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for June ioth , 1891 , is now duly reported in the official Transactions . The Recording Grand Secretary , Bro . S . D . Nickerson , gave notice on behalf of the W . M . of one of the Boston lodges to

fix the minimum fee for initiation , including the two higher Degrees , at $ 50 ( £ 10 ) within the city of Boston , and $ 40 ( . 68 ) for other lodges in the State , such sums to be paid promptly at the time . Only 29 out of 231 lodges at present charge so low as $ 30 ( £ 6 ) , 78 being

in favour by actual by-laws for . ** -4 o or more . It is to be hoped that the new by-law will be carried , and lead to other Grand Lodges raising the minimum in like manner . That for England might well be fixed at seven guineas , or even more for this country , if not for the lodges abroad .

-Jp -JF * JP The "Madras Masonic Review" for August , 1891 ( an excellent number ) , has an article on the West Yorkshire Masonic Library report , and remarks " It is almost unnecessary to say that most indefatigable

brother , W . Watson , is the Honorary Librarian . He has a most satisfactory report to make , having acquired during the year another of the rare old MS . Charges . " The writer pays a graceful compliment to the R . W . Bro . T . W . Tew , Prov . G . M ., the donor of the MS .,

and so to its editor , Bro . Hughan , of Torquay , and warmly approves of its title , the " William Watson MS ., " concluding with the following amusing and

characteristic observation : Bro . Watson dashed on to this MS . like a hawk on its prey before it could be secured for India . " It may be added , for several other countries also , for India is not alone in that respect .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

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

LODGE LA C ^ SAREE , No . 590 . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Having read the letters which appeared in the Freemason of the 12 th and 19 th inst , the former from the pen of Bro . J . Stevens , and the latter from " Lex Scripta , " I trust you will kindly allow me the privilege of stating the following facts in your valuable paper .

In November last I received a letter from my son Walter , one of the Pioneers of the British South Africa Company—the letter vvas written from Fort Salisbury in Mashonaland requesting—me to get his clearance certificate from his mother lodge , La C ; esaree , No . 590 .

The postscript runs thus : — " Corps disbanded yesterday ; parties of prospectors and diggers going out digging . We start for Hartley Hills and Mazoe River in about an hour , it is about 30 miles from here . Address my letters to Fort Salisbury . We have a waggon and 14 oxen and three months' provisions .

Meeting of Freemasons last night have sent down to Cape Town and England for charter . Kindly procure for me my clearance certificate and quittance from Ciesaree , 590 , and Royal Alfred . I had to sign myself as C ; esaree , 590 , as I could not remember the number of Royal Alfred Lodge . Kindly send it in next as a

voucher . I vvill send all particulars shortly . Will write shortly . " WAL . " On receipt of this I immediately wrote to the W . M . of Caisaree Lodge , informing him of the fact that I had received a letter from my son requesting me to procure for him his clearance certificate .

In reply to my request he informed me that the lodge had decided not to give it unless my son himself applied direct to the lodge . Alter such a decision , which I considered contrary to the true meaning and spirit of Art . 213 , Book of Constitutions , I immediately resolved to write to the

Grand Secretary for his advice , when I met the Prov . Grand Secretary and laid all the facts of the case before him . He at once volunteered to try and arrange matters peaceably , and asked me if I would allow him to lay the letter before some of the Past Masters of the lodge so as to show that I vvas

duly authorised by my son to procure his clearance certificate ; to this request I immediately gave my consent . He showed the letter to the I . P . M . of the lodge , but it vvas of no avail , and therefore I laid my complaint before Col . E . C . Malet de Carteret , Prov . Grand Master . The Prov . Grand Master having informed the W . M . of Lodge La Caisaree that I had made a complaint

Correspondence.

against the lodge for refusing my son s clearance certificate , the VV . M . called a special lodge of emergency on the Sth January last to consider the complaint . As soon as I heard of this I requested one ofthe members of the lodge to kindl y take the letter which I had received from my son for the members to read ,

but when he rose to inform the lodge that he had the letter , if they wished to see it , he was told by some of the P . M . ' s that the lodge had met for other business , and the lodge positively refused to entertain the letter in question . On Friday , February 6 th , 1891 , when the Prov .

Grand Master summoned the W . M . and other brethren of La C *** esaree Lodge to appear before him respecting the complaint I had made against the lodge , I placed on the table before the Prov . Grand Master the last two letters which I had received from my son from

Mashonaland , when the Prov . Grand Master read to the representatives of the lodge—composed of the W . M .. several Past Masters , and the Secretary—the letter which authorised me to ask for my son's clearance certificate . After much discussion the Prov . Grand Master asked

me if I would oblige him by taking the letter with me to the next meetingof Cajsaree Lodge so that the members of the lodge mig ht see it . To this I agreed on the understanding that I should be invited to attend at their next meeting , which promise vvas repeated to me by the Secretary of the lodge a few days afterwards . But

to my astonishment I received no invitation . Having failed to keep their promise , and as mine depended on theirs being carried out , I did not present myself for admission . Having been refused once , I am certain , Sir and Brother , you vvill sympathise with me

when I tell you that I did not feel inclined to risk a second humiliation from a lodge to which I had devoted much of my time for its prosperity , having served the chair three times , and having also been its Treasurer for many years . —Yours respectfully and fraternally ,

JOHN DURELL , P . M . 590 , P . Z . 590 , P . P . G . Treas ., and P . P . S . G . W . Jersey , September 21 .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft riDasonrp . METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

Anglo -American Lodge ( No . 2191 ) . —The regular meeting ot this lodge was held at the Criterion , Piccadilly-circus , on the 15 th inst ., when there were present Bros . James J . Woolley , VV . M . ; F . Kedge , P . M ., acting as I . P . M . ¦ VV . Hancock , S . VV . •G . H . Reynolds , J . VV . * J . B . Cumming , Treas . ; G . Reynolds , Sec . ; j . Skinner , S . D . ; G . A . Bergholz , acting as J . D . ; H . C . Sanders ,

acting as I . G . ; VV . J . Thrussell , acting as Organist ; R . F . Potter , Tyler ; J . B . Grieve , A . H . P . Snow , C . J . Rotter , C . G . Sherwood , and others . Visitor : Bro . Ladislas de Malczovich , * St . Stephen Lodge , Buda Pesth , Hungary . The lodge vvas opened , and the minutes of the meeting held in July last read and confirmed . Bro . C . G . Sherwood was passed to the Degree of F . C . I he Treasurer reported

the state of his account . Bro . A . C . Brookfield vvas proposed as a joining member . Letters were read from Bros . Brackstone Baker , P . M ., P . G . L ) . ; Sir Polydore De Keyser , P . G . D . ; B . S . Paul , and many others , regretting theirabience . Many brethren had taken advantage of the

fine weather for visiting the country . The distinguished Hungarian brother expressed himself much delighted with his welcome to the lodge , and admired the working , the W . M . extending the hand of good fellowship by asking him to attend their next meeting in October , when no doubt there would be many more brethren present .

Viator Lodge ( No . 2308 ) . —The regular meeting of this highly successful louge vvas held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on Saturday , the 19 th inst ., under the presidency of its popular VV . M .., Bro . W . T . Buxton , assisted by Bros . 1 * . Hobbs , S . VV . ; R . Manley , acting J . W . ; VV . Ferguson , Treas . ; VV . Saunders , acting S . D . ; A . Chapelle , acting J . D . ; A . Banks , I . G . ; b .

Smith , Stwd . ; Harry Price , P . m .. ; and about 30 brethren . Visitors : Bros . W . Andrews , 177 ; Hopkins , 13 S 1 ; and Stienberg , King Solomon ' s Lodge , Canada . The lodge vvas opened , and the minutes read and confirmed . A ballot vvas taken for Bro . E . Hawkins , 311 , as a joining member , which vvas unanimous in his favour . Bro . Fenn vvas raised to the Degree of M . M ., and Bros . L . H .

Stevens , F . Ede , and F . W . Robinson were passed to the Degree of F . C . The W . M . having received the " Hearty good wishes" of the visitors , Bro . Harry Price , P . M ., rose and said that one of the most pleasing duties that could be discharged by any man , had , by permission of the W . M ., lallen to his lot that evening * , and he assured the brethren

he felt it a great pleasure to be the means through them to do honour to so worthy a brother as Bro . R . Beer , and to convey to him their congratulations on the interesting event he was about to celebrate . For , as they knew , Bro . Beer vvas about to resign his title of a batchelor by taking to himself for a wife

" One of those dear creatures without whose Sweet presence life would be a blank . " Bro . Beer being one of the first initiates of the Viator Lodge , and the first of its members to enter the bonds of matrimony , some of the brethren considered it a fitting opportunity to express to him their regard by asking his

acceptance of a small token as a memento of the event he had just mentioned , and which he vvas sure would be received vvith the same kindly spirit it was offered . He felt sure that Bro . Beer would aLvays cherish a warm affection lor the lodge in which he received his Masonic birth . He also hoped that the time would soon arrive when they might see