The Mother-City Of American Freemasonry.

that early day , as a matter of fact , the Lodges of both Massachusetts and Carolina were subordinates to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . " As to whence this important evidence has been obtained , Bro . SACHSEannounced that it was found in " FRANKLIN ' daily commercial account book and first ledger , " on the fly leaf of

which is written " BEXJN . FRANKLIN Journal , began ( sic ) July 4 , 1 730 . " This book was found " among a lot of FRANKLIN ' papers and material , " where it had reposed " for over a century in thc archives of the American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia , of which FRANKLIN was the first President . " On coming across

this old account , Bro . SACHSE at once recognised its importance and value , and the results of his examination were communicated to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in December last , and will be found in the minutes of its Proceedings for

189 8 , many of the entries in the account book being reproduced in facsimile in the Report . As to the entries themselves , however , which Bro . SACHSE declared to be so strongly confirmatory of the position taken up b y the late Bro . MACCALLA , we must reserve a description of them for a second article .

Instruction.

Instruction .

ROYAL ALFRED LODGE , No . 7 3 o . Thc usual weekly meeting of this lodge was held at the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge , on Thursday , the iSth instant , when there were present Bros . Lsngdon , W . M . ; Stewart , S . W . ; Wilcox , j . W . ; W . B . Larkman , Treas . ; Johnson , Asst . Sec . ; Ridley , S . D . ; Dowling , J . D . j Hall , I . G . ; R . H . Williams , P . M ., Preceptor ; D . Heath and H . R . Worth . The ledge was opened in due form , ard the minutes of the last meeting read and

conhimed . Lodge orened in Second and Third Degree ? , and resumed to First Degree . The reiemcny of initiation was then rehearsed , Bro . Heath acting as candidate . The W . M . then vacated thc chair in favour of Bro . R . H . Williams , P . M . Lodge resumed in Second and Third Degrees . The ceremony of raising , was rehearsed , Bro . Worth actirg as candidate . The lodge resumed to First Degree . The W . M . rose for the first time , when the dues were collected . The W . M . rose for the second time , and Bro . Stewait was elected W . M . for the next meeting . The W . M . rose for the third tine . After " Hearty good wishes " had been given and received , the lodge was closed .

WHITTINGTON LODGE , No . S 62 . The usual weekly meeting of this lodge was held at the Red Lion , Poppins-court , Fleet-street , on the 17 th instant , when there were present Bros . F . Hewson , W . M . ; Alfred Claikson , S . W .: H . E . Francis , P . M ., J . W . ; A . V . H . Pauncefort , P . M ., Preceptor and Treas . ; Henry Thos . Kobelt , Sec . ; F . H . Pate , P . M ., S . D . ; W . Annis , J . D . ; and F . VV . Berry . I . G .

The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The ceremony of raising was rehearsed , after which the loJge was closed .

HUGH OWEN LODGE , No . 2593 . A meeting was held on Friday , the 10 th inst ., at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxfordstreet , when there were present Bros . J . B . Schrader , W . M . ; jas . Harnett , S . W . ; H . Ramsbottam , J . W . ; H . G . Holland , P . M ., P . G . S . B . Herts , Preceptor ; R . H , Nicholls , P . M ., Treas . ; Henry Thos . Kobelt . Sec . ; Fred . T . Thomas , S . D . ; . H . C . Wootton . J . D . ; R . P . Webster , I . G . ; J . Mayhew , J . VV . Whipps , Albert Taylor , C . T . VV . DrakeJ . VV . HuntC . G . Ridgwayand VV . H . Brook .

, , , The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Ridgway acting as the candidate . The ceremony of consecration will be rehearsed to-day ( Friday ) . The music was rehearsed , and the lodge was closed .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Queen-street Schools , Oldham , on the 17 th inst . There was a fairly large galheiing of Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , and of brethren from all but three of the 113 ledges wh'ch are now embraced by the province . One of the last offic al acts of the late Prov . G . Master , Bro . Col . Staikie , was to issue his mandate for the meeting , and afler his death it was decided not to inteifere with the date of the fixture . Bro . C

R . N . Beswicke-Rojds , Dep . P . G . M ., presided . Bro . Abraham Clegg , P . P . G . W „ acted as D . P . G . M ., and Bros . C . D . Cheetham , P . P . G . W ., and E . G . Horwood , P . P . G . W ., were in the Wardens ' ch . ihs . Bro . J . Kenyon , M . P ., Prov . G . W ., wrote apologising for his absence on the ground of pressure of his Parliamentary duties . Among members of the Grand

Lodge of England present were Bros . J . Kenyon ( Bollon ) , G . Sld . Br . ; John Chadwick , P . G . S . B . ; and Jas . Newton , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Sec . Ihe lodge was in mourning for the hte Pro Grand Master , the Marl of Lathom , Prov . G . Master of West Lancashire , as well as for its own deceased head .

Before the roll cf the lodges was called , ihe DEI-. PROV . G . MASTER said he thought they ought to give expression to ttuir sense of the loss which the ptovince had lately sustained by the death of their late Prov . G . Master . Their late chief loved Masonry , not only on account of its mystic rites and its points , but he loved it principally because of its Charity . ( Hear , hear . ) They need not look far from Oldham to see where his pet institution commenced

, namely , Ihe K st Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational ar . d Benevolent Institution . Colonel Starkie was the starter and founder cf that Charily , and he supported it to the very best of his ability , not c ly with his Masonic -kill , but also with his purse . Their late Master was installed as head cf the province in 1870 , when the province numbered 77 lodges . He had left it with 113 lodges , and somewhere close 5000

upon members . That showed that he was " the right man in the right place . " Whatever duty he undertook as a Mason or as a mm he did his best to fulfil it thoroughly . At their meeting in HulmeTown Hall , in November last , Colonel Starkie moved a vote of condolence with the family ol the late Eat 1 of Lathom , and little did they then think that so melancholy a lask would have row to be pei formed in his own casr . ( Hear lc < r ) He moved that a vote of condolence be forwarded lo Mrs . Stark e , and also entered on the minutss .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

Bro . VV . GOLDTHORI ' , P . P . G . R ., said he very heartily seconded t ^ e vote that had been so feelingly proposed from the chair . He had been asked to do so , perhaps , because of the somewhat peculiar position which he held towards Bro . Starkie . He had the good fortune to be Prov . G . 0 ; ganist when Bro . Starkie was installed Prov . G . M . in 18 70 , and since then they had always been on friendly and intimate terms , and many were the acts of

kindness he had received from their late chief in that period . He ( Bro . Goldthorpe ) was possibly one of the oldest of the Prov . G . Officers present , and he could say with certainty that the province had sustained one of the heaviest losses that could have befallen it . He did not know who could fill the vacant position with the same good effect as Col . Starkie . Not only

was re a good figure head , belonging to a very good old family , but he had identifi d himself with all the Masonic interests in the province from the time when he came into it . Owing to his great energy in Masonic matters , the provii ce had reached its present high position among the provinces . In season and out of season he never ceased to look after its interest . ( Hear , hear . )

The resolution was passed unanimously , the brethren signifying assent by standing a few moments in silence . Bro . Yv . ALCOCK presented his report as P . G . Treas . He said the balance in the bank was not so large as last year , but this was readily accounted for by the special donation of 200 guineas last year to the Bays ' School . The amount in hand was £ 236 , and it was a pleasing fact that not a single lodge in the province was behind in its payments . ( Applause . ) The Auditors , Bros . R . H . Beswick and VV . A . Bover , presented their

report , and those of the Charity Committee and of the Election Committee were read by the Prov . G . Secretary . There had been no candidates from the province in the recent election to the Boys' and the Girls' Schools in London , but the Election Committee had disposed of all the available votes at those elections in a way which would ultimately benefit the province . They regretted that no fewer than 25 lodges had neglected to send their papers , and that 56 votes for girls and 100 for boys had thereby been lost .

The ACTING P . S . G . W ., in moving the confirmation of the two reports last mentioned , urged on the Charity Representatives the importance of their duty in seeing to the collection of election papers and their despatch to the Provincial Grand Secretary . The Election Committee would endeavour this week to elect an old brother to the Benevolent Institution in London , although in that case six lodges had so far negiected to send in papers representing nearly 120 votes . Bro . HOOPER seconded the motion , and it was agreed to .

Five brethren were re-elected on the General Committee of the Systematic Institution , after which , on the motion of Bro . HOLLINGWORTH , seconded by Bro . F . W . LEAN , Bro . John Chadwick , P . M . 467 , was unanimously elected Prov . G . Treasurer . He was subsequently invested by the Prov . G . Master in the chair , along with the following , who had been appointed as Prov . G . Officers for the ensuing year :

. Bro . J . E . Piatt , 1 S 6 S ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . ,, S . F . Simons , 1534 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . W . H . Healey , 344 ... ... > p r r , „ Rev . J . Alker , 2702 ... ... j Prov . G . Chaps . „ VV . P . Farrington , 1633 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ W . H . Boyer , 2554 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . Reg . „ lames Newton , 37 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ J . Braddock , 2 77 ... ... ... " ) „ A . H . Smith , 2322 ... ... ... [ Prov . S . G . Ds . „ F . R . Coopsr , 10 55 ... ... ... J ,, Jeremiah Green , 467 ... ... ... " ) „ J . M . H . Blarney , 163 ... ... . ... [ Prov . J . G . Ds . ¦ ,, B . Derham , 1723 ... ... ,., ) „ Robert Peacock , 2341 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks . „ A . C . Wilson , 623 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ R . Halstead , 1 S 6 S ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . ,, Edwyn A . Smith , 2 363 ... ... ,., •) ,, J . H . Isherwood , 367 ... ... ... [ Prov . A . G . D . Cs . „ Henry Hindle , 345 •••... ... ) „ John Hulley , 26 S ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, I . M . Moss 1161 ... ... ... Prov . DeD . G . S . B .

„ N . Dumville , 2156 ... ... ,,, - \ „ Arthur Sullivan , 2387 ... ... ... [•Prov . G . Std . Brs . 1 , James Shuttleworth , 2 S 6 ... ,.. _) „ John H . Greenwood , 2387 ... ,,. Prov . G . Org . ,, Ii . H . Flower , 999 ... ... ,., Prov . A . G . Sec . ,, Thomas Threlfall , 1773 ... ... Prov . G . Purst . ,, George W . Davies , 1459 ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst .

„ A . Collinge , 4 ^ 7 ... ,,, ,,,-. „ S . Davies , 46 7 ... ,,, ... ,. ,, J . K . Buckley , 277 ... ... .,. „ „ ,, j . Broadbent , . SOS | -Prov . G . Stwds „ J . Hilton , 1 S 68 ... ... ... „ J . Grime , 2341 ... . .. ... ' ,, K . Roberts , 1450 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler ,

On the motion of Bro . CHEETHAM , seconded by Bro . PACKMAN , supported by Bro . J . W . KENYON , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks ., a vote of condolence was passed with the family of the late Bro . J . T . Newbold , P . P . G . W . A collection was taken , realising £ \ S 9 s ., to be devoted to a Cnaritable object , and before Piovinuial Grand Lodge was closed the brethren stood whilst the Dead March in " Saul" was played in memory of Colonel Starkie by Bro . J . H . Greenwood , Prov . G . O .

Consecration Of The Haywra (Mark) Lodge, No. 525.

CONSECRATION OF THE HAYWRA ( MARK ) LODGE , No . 525 .

It is our pleasant duty to chronicle the formation of a new Mark lodge in the West Riding of Yorkshire . Masonic activity may be said to characterise this busy province , and seldom does a year pass without some

addition to its roll of I ' reemasons lodges . Last year it was the Craft that was increasing its numbers ; this time it is in the Mark Degree that advance is made . Harrogate is a thriving and rapidly increasing town , and it is not surprising to find that as it grows , its Masonic enterprise also extends . We published in our columns some 12 months ago particulars