Original Correspondence.

I have seen some expressive ones published by the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and 1 remember having seen some in an old book on Masonry years ago . Moreover , I have an impression that at a lodge I attended during one of my clerical holiday rambles a definite prayer was used , similar to what

I allude to . I shall bc much obliged if brethren will write to me on the subject . I wish a collect could be added , as I think the ritual plainly and piously suggests , and the archives of Masonry must surely supply such . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , E . S . TOWNSHEND DAUNT , P . P . G . C . Cornwall . St . Stephen ' s , Launceston , 22 nd March .

MASONIC WEEK AT KIDDERMINSTER . To thc Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to Bro . Le Feuvre ' s letter in your impression of the 20 th inst ., the " Dublin Pocket Companion " in his possession is no doubt identical with my own . The list of lodges therein , commences with a . list of Irish lodges

numbering 37 , the first of the English lodges being called " , S . " By this mode what should have been No . 79 becomes No . 116 , "The Hoop , in Water-street , in Philadelphia , " and ) hence the complication of numbers . — Yours fraternally , GEORGE TAYLOR . Kidderminster , March , 22 .

Reviews

REVIEWS

DEBRETT'S PEERAGE , BARONETAGE , AND COMPANIONAGE , 1 SS 6 . Edited by ROBERT H . MAIR , LL . D . ; 173 rd Year of Publication . London : Dean and Son , 1 O 0 A , Fleet-street , E . C . The brief delay in the issue of this welcome annual is fully accounted for by the occurrence of the General Election towards the close of last year , and the Ministerial

ciisis that occurred last month , there having been in connection with these events an unusual number of honours conferred by the late and present Ministers . However , the delay is more than atoned for by thc fact that the bulk of the new information resulting from the changes in and additions to our peerage , baronetage , & c , is included in this volume , only a small proportion of it appearing among "Occurthe feature

rences during Printing . " But this is not only of the new edition , which , marvellous to relate , has been enlarged and made move accurate than before , though , from the known merits of former " Debrctt ' s , " enlargement and greater accuracy would seem to have been out of the question . This additional information will bc found chiefly in connection with dormant and extinct peerages , as well as with collateral branches that have settled abroad .

The volume has this further recommendation that it has been " personally revised" by those whose families are contained in it . This enhances the trustworthiness of the work as regards our titled families . So much for the contents , as regards general appearance , type , illustrations , & c , & c , we cannot discover where there is any room for improvement . It is as handsome , from a typographical point of view , as it is valuable as a book of reference .

DEBRETT'S HOUSE OF COMMONS AND THE JUDICIAL BENCH , 1 SS 6 . Compiled and Edited by ROBERT HENRY MAIR , LL . D . Twentieth Annual Edition . London : Dean and Son . 160 A , Fleet-street ,

E . C . This , like its companion guide to the Peerage , is more complete through the delay in publishing it , and the Editor would no doubt have succeeded as well in his task of giving lull and accurate particulars about thc Members of the House of Commons , as he has done in the case of the peers , baronets , & c , only there appears to have been a

considerable amount of shyness on thepartof many of the new Members in communicating to him the necessary information . It will be seen also that Dr . Mair offers certain explanations as to thc heraldic embellishments being fewer than usual , and states further that many members , who seem to have not borne arms at the time of their election , discovered and forwarded to him , but in many instances

too late for insertion , what he suggests may possibly be " arms of assumption . " However , these are matters for which the Editor is not responsible . What hc has done or supervised has been done admirably , and constitutes the work a quite as valuable a book of reference as the Peerage .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

CORRECTION . 45 th line of Review of "Solomon ' s Temple " should read " what is not stated in one Book , being found in another . "

054 j PREMIER PAYMENT FOR WARRANT . 1 have been much interested in reading Bro . Sadler's communication respectintr the first payment for a warrant , viz ., April 2 ist , 1730 . Surely the Editor will gladly find room for the list ot the early members so kindly promised bv Bro . Sadler , for many of us would like to see it

published , as also other lists prior to 1730 . I wonder which lodcc Bro . Coxe belonged to in London ( if any ) , who was appointed the first Prov . G . M . for any part of America ? Other names also occur to me as possibly in one of such registers , notably Bro . Henry Price , of Huston , U . S . A . Does Bro . Sadler know of any original warrants dated before 1731 ' ' ¦ It would be curious and instructive if

we could have the text of any such documents granted between 1720 and 1710 ; but , so far , I have failed to trace any prior to 1731 , many of the old lodges having much later warrants ' of confirmation . An actual charter of , 720-5 would be a real "find . " w , HUCHAN #

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

( Craft jtlasonrvj . ROYAL SOMERSET HOUSE AND INVERNESS LODGE ( No . 4 ) . —A meeting was held on the 22 nd inst . at Freemasons' Hall , when there were present Bros . C . B . Cousens , G . S ., W . M . ; H . P . Hughes , S . W . ; Dr . G . Weldon , J . W . ; Rev . H . Lansde ! f , P . M ., P . G . S ., ' D . D ., Chap . ; F . West , P . M ., P . G . S ., Sec ; II . E . Pollard , S . D . ; J . A . Hughes , J . D . ; R ,

G . Hall , P . M ., P . G . S ., D . C . ; H . de Stern , I . G . ; J . F . Laver , btwd . ; W . Stevenson Hoyte , Org . ; G . W . Freeman , Tyler ; Dr . A . Meadows , P . M ., P . G . D . ; Rev . G . W . Weldon , P . M ., P . G . S . ; W . T . Whitmore , P . M ., P . G . S . ; Dr . Greenhalgh , P . M ., P . C . S . ; H . J . Gardiner , P . M ., P . G . S . ; and G . Sturt . Visitors -. Bros . F . Richardson , P . G . D . ; S . Hill , P . G . S . ; Lister , P . P . G . S . of W . ; H . Sutton , and J . S . Cousens , P . M .

The lodge having been opened and the minutes confirmed , Bro . G . Sturt was passed to the F . C . Degree by Bro . F . West , P . G . S ., Sec . Bro . H . de Stern undertook to represent the lodge at the Festival of the Boys' School . After some private business the lodge adjourned to banquet at Freemasons' Tavern , ami subsequently enjoyed some excellent music supplied by Bro . J . Stedman . Bro . W . Stevenson Hoyte also contributed a pianoforte solo in his usual masterly style .

NEW CONCORD LODGE ( No . 813 ) . —Thc installation meeting was held at Guildhall Tavern on the evening of the iSth inst ., Bro . A . J . Potter , W . M ., presided . Bros . Barnes , Naylor , and Arnold were raised to the Sublime Degree of M . M ., Bros . A . and E . Lenesque were passed , and Mr . R . Gosheron , on being unanimously elected , was initiated . Bro . C . Weeden was then regularly

installed as W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony being performed by Bro . J . T . Cusworth , P . M ., in his most finished manner . The W . M . appointed his oflicers as follows : Bros . A . Perl , S . W . ; F . Perl , J . W . ; J . Stilwell , P . M ., Treas . ; R . R . Harper , P . M ., Sec . ; Chubb , S . D . ; Piller , J . D . ; Conrad , D . C ; Ockleford , I . G . j and Boulton and Cordell , Stwds .

The lodge was then closed , and thebrethren adjourned to the banquet , after which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and received , Bro . A . J . Potter being presented with a handsome P . M . ' s jewel , voted to him by the brethren . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . J . A . Coliings , Org . 16 93 . The visitors were Bros . Christian , W . M . S 60 ; D . H . Jacobs , P . M . 27 ; G . Payne , P . M . 033 ; W . Manger ,

P . M . 1314 ; W . Hirst , P . M . 15 ; J . Driscoll , P . M . 1519 ; N . L . Western , I . P . M . 1 C 93 ; E . Woodman , P . M . 1950 ; R . P . Forge , S . W , 16 93 ; Greenhill , 19 ; Miirrel ! , 30 ; Weston , 177 ; Grace , 177 ; Dixie , 453 ; Kerr , 241 ; Clark , 754 ; A . Bliss , 1572 ; Row , 1607 ; and Raymond , 1716 . The W . M . is to be congratulated on the position of the Iodge , both Masonically and financially , and we look forward to a prosperous year .

EMBLEMATIC LODGE ( No . I 32 i ) .-The second regular meeting of this lodge for the present session was held at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge , on Thursday , the iSth inst ., Bro . R . A . Kirkaldy , in the chair , supported by Bros . Englefield , S . W . ; and Boyell , J . W . Bro . Eyre was examined , entrusted , and afterwards

raised by the W . M . The ballot was taken for . Messrs . Harry Matthews , Walter Mulford , and Henry Charles Theise , and proving successful , they were initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry . All other business being completed , tbe lodge was closed , and the brethren assembled at the banquet table to enjoy a repast which the able manager of thc hotel had provided

for them . After thc usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been drunk , Bro . H . S . Hunter , LP . M ., proposed "The Health of the W . M . " in fitting terms . The Worshipful Master suitably replied , and proposed " The Health of the Initiates . " The Initiates , in reply , thanked the brethren for having accepted them into their society .

"The Health of the Visiters" was proposed and responded to , and the brethren soon afterwards separated , having spent a very enjoyable evening . The following vvere the visitors who attended : Bros . W . Hamlyn , P . M . 1622 ; W . H . Lester , P . M . 540 ; R . | . Robins , P . M . 25 ; W . W . Westley , J . W . iSG ; W . G , Axfield , 250 ; John Potter , 1 O 14 ; W . A . Vofeskin , 1297 ; T . II . Roberts , 153 S ; E . W . Woods , 272 ; H . Wolfckey . 1 C 73 ; R . Potter , 1 G 14 ; J . Kay , 742 ; and Alf . Wyld , 72 .

CORINTHIAN LODGE ( No . 1382 ) . —The installation meeting of the above lodge took place on Wednesday , the 17 th inst ., at Bro . Clark ' s hostelry , thc George Hotel , when Bro . J . Morrison , S . W ., the W . M . elect , was , with the usual ceremonies , placed in the chair of K . S ., as W . M . for thc ensuing twelve months . The lodge was opened by thc W . M ., Bro . II . Doring , and the minutes of

the previous meeting were read and conlirmed . Bro . Delves , P . M ., then raised his son , Bro . A . Delves . Bro . Millington , P . M ., passed Bros . Hicks and W . Alarsh , and Bro . Simn , P . M ., initiated Messrs . Williams , Philp , Bennet , and Ingram . Bro . Morrison was then presented , and duly installed by a Board of 17 Installed Masters , and saluted in due form . He invested his oliicers as follows

Bros . Raiker , S . W . ; Hill . J . W . ; Carnaby , P . M ., Treas . ; C . W . Smith , P . M ., Sec . ; C . McLeod , S . D . ; R . Perry , J . D . ; E . Pcnniston , l . G . ; R . Pitt and G . Saunders , as Stewards ; J . Millington , P . M ., as D . C . ; J . Simn , Org . ; and J . Stewart , P . M ., Tyler . The Installing Officer , Bro . I . Delves , P . M ., then gave the addresses

most eloquently , and concluded a ceremony at once impressively and beautifully rendered , for which he was warmly and deservedly congratulated . A hearty vote of thanks was then unanimously given to Bro .. J . Delves , P . M ., for the faultless manner he had worked the ceremony of installation ; a record to be entered on the minutes .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

The W . M . then presented a handsome Past Master's jewel to Bro . H . Doring , I . P . M ., and , in doing so , said it was his pleasant duty to present him with the jewel unanimously voted to him at the previous meeting . The inscription on it bore testimony to the respect and esteem in which Bro . Doring was held by the brethren , and also to the masterly manner in which he had carried out the duties of Worshipful Master during his year of office . Bro .

Doring feelingly responded , and after " Hearty good wishes " had been tendered , the lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to banquet . Among the 106 present , and not named above , were Bros . C . Searell , P . M . ; G . Smith , P . M . ; S . G . Bonner , W . Clark , T . Tildesley , A . Delves , E . Deacon , H . Howell , T . Hurdle , S . Marsh , T . Klein , C . Smith , F . Bassett , W . Hancock , E . Smith , J . Nelson , F . Manning-, H . Gallowav .

A . Gibb , A . Oakley , W . Clague , D . Russell , J . Smith , H . Rogers , G . Parrett , D . Midgley , W . Drew , E . Browne , D . Williamson , G . Saunders , G . Turton , C . Maddox , W . Parsons , W . Blois , R . Allen , J . Hicks , W . Marsh , W . Martin , R . Doust , W . Leslie , W . Drapper , W , Esmond , W . McGuire , and R . Neall . Visitors : Bros . J . Hammond , S 98 ; G . Hughes , 898 ; H . W . Moore , P . P . G . D ., 20 ; C . Wood , I . G . 1472 ; G . W . Ford , 000

f . P . U . W . ; J . Richardson , SgS ; R . Schofield , P . M . 511 ; M . Finch , P . M . S 61 ; H . Holloway , P . M . 1076 ; T . Gaisford , S . W . 7 S 1 ; T . ' Hallett , 1816 ; Bradshaw Brown , P . G . S . ; W . Norris , P . M . 1 S 1 ; J . Tongue , J . W . 534 ; P . Harrower , J . W . 181 ; H . Alford , P . M . 22 S ; F . Burgess , S 71 ; T . Gillaw , P . M . 1632 ; E . Williams , J . W . 1539 ; W . Hancock , 1126 ; W . jeves , S 9 S ; G . McGeorge , 499 ; T . Hudson , 7 S 1 ; and a great

many others . The banquet having been discussed , The Worshipful Master gave the toast of " The Queen and the Craft , " and dwelt at length on the sterling qualities of her Majesty . The Worshipful Master , on proposing " The Health of the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " said that his Royal Highness endeavoured to further the welfare of

Freemasonry at large , and had the Charities at heart , and that he had always striven and thrown all the interest hc possibly could to the good of Freemasonry . This toast was drunk in bumpers . The Worshipful Master then proposed " The Past and Present Grand Officers . " Bro . Bradshaw Brown , the Grand Steward , in replying , said hc was delighted with the regular work of the

Corinthian Lodge , and very glad to hear that the brethren were pleased with the work of Grand Lodge , where any brother could state his grievance and get his remedy . The spirit of loyalty was somewhat difficult to find in many at the present time , but Freemasons will always be able to point to one another and say " he is a loyal man . " There is no man worthy of the name who has not a high sense of morality or manners , and who always endeavours to elevate

thc temperament of all men . The Corinthian brethren should be very proud of the high position their lodge holds in the eyes of Grand Lodge , as there are very few lodges in the West-End who can show such a roll on the Charities . May they go on in this prosperous and good career to the good of mankind . Bro . J . Delves , P . M ., then proposed "The Health of the Worshipful Master , " and said , it is very pleasing to see him arrive , he has always been energetic in the matterhe

, is very slow but sure , he is very sure because he has gained the position in which you sec him , and there is no possibility of his falling through now , as there are so many Past Masters to watch and support him , so that his duties will be carried through . Bro . Morrison , who , on rising to respond , was met with a very tempest of applause , thanked the brethren very much for their kindness in placing him in that proud

position , following those who had made the Corinthian Lodge hold such high distinction in the Charities . He said that he would do everything on his part to watch over the welfare and wantsof the brethren , which he hoped would merit him their esteem and appreciation . The Worshipful Master , in proposing " The Health of the Installing Master , " said that Bro . Delves' working must have been highly invigorating and pleasurable to them all

, and that no words of his could convey the high appreciation in which he was held by the brethren . Bro . Delvcs's rising was a signal for great cheering . He said the working of the Iodge now was almost child ' s play to him , and he was so interested in all connected with the lodge that he felt he could not stop away from any of their meetings . He was glad that he had added to the pleasure of the brethren . This was the seventh Master he

had installed , and he had spent one of the most pleasant evenings . He was glad that the lodge worked harmoniously , and with goodfellowship—not going over each other ' s faults —but what occurs one night was nicely cleared off on the next occasion . He was delighted to find the visitors so greatly pleased , and he hoped they would help thc Corinthian Lodge in their charitable work . The Worshipful Master then proposed " The Health o £

Bro . H . Doring , the I . P . M ., " and said that he knew he had endeavoured to carry out his duties to every brother's satisfaction . Bro . Doring , in responding , said he thanked the brethien very much , and he felt very proud in wearing the jewel they had so kindly given him . He knew they would forgive any shortcomings ( as he was not an Englishman ) but he had always done and would do his best for the

Corinthian Lodge . The Worshipful Master then proposed "The Initiates , " and said the Iodge would not be buried in oblivion , for it was getting great with regard to numbers . Bro . Philp replied for "The Initiates , " and said the song , " Give me a grip of your hand , " reminded him of the solemn and impressive ceremony they had passed throueh .

and they hoped to be good and honourable brethren . I'he Worshipful Mastcr then proposed "The Health of the Visitors , " stating that he hoped they had spent a very enjoyable evening , and that they would have no regret for their visiting the lodge . Bro . BradsTiaw Brown , responding on behalf of "The Visitors , "

said" Breathes there a man with soul so dead Who never to himself hath said This is my own , my native hie . " He was a native of " the island , " and was very proud of the Corinthian Lodge , and he would allow no man to destroy either one or the other . He had been absent from the lodge for six years , but he and the other visitors were