Northumbrian Masonry*.

have some general knowledge of the important events that occurred during this period , it is only from the local Masonic histories that have been published of late

: years that we are able to obtain any idea of the attitude which the'lodges of the rival Societies observed towards each other . Doubtless the remoteness of Northumberland from London , the

great centre of Masonic activity , will in some measure account for the fact , but whatever the cause , it would appear from the particulars which Bro . STRACHAN has gathered from various sources that the relations of the members of the rival bodies

towards each other were less strained than might have been im ' agined , having regard to the very pronounced hostility of which we read as existing in London and elsewhere . True , a case is mentioned of certain members of the Atholl Lodge , No .

131 , "Ancients" being remade as " Moderns " in the Marquis of Granby Lodge , Durham , but at the same time avowing their de sire to retain their " Ancient" status , who were refused admission to the Modern St . Nicholas Lodge unless they agreed

to renou nee the Atholl Lodge altogether , while the " Modern " authorities in London favoured their recognition ; but this happened in 1810 , when , as we have said , the negotiations for a ' were Union of the two Grand Lodges had been opened or

on the eve of being opened . Moreover , this is the only instance of its kind which the author mentions , and the bearing of the rival bodies would seem to have been , if not friendly , at least not unfriendly . There is this also to be remembe red , that

it was by no means an uncommon thing for the leading English brethren of the closing years of the 18 th and the early years of the 19 th century to be members of both societies , the most noteworthy case being that of H . R . H . the Duke of KENT , who was

for many years Prov . G . Master of Lower Canada under the "Ancients , " and concurrently Prov . G . M . of Gibraltar under the " Modern " G . Lodge . Other leading cases are those of Bro , THOMAS HARPER—to which Bro . STRACHAN refers—who served

the office of G . Steward under the " Moderns " at , or about , the time when he was Deputy G . Secretary "Ancients" ; Bro . W . C . CLARKSON , "Ancient" G . Treasurer and " Modern" G Steward ; Bro . F . C . DANIEL , who was a member of the " Ancient "

Lodge of United Mariners , and also of the Royal Naval Lodge of Independence on the " Modern" side ; Bro . ROBERT LESLIE , the " Ancient" G . Secretary ; and many others of equal or

lesser prominence 111 the two fraternities . As for the Atholl Lodge , No . 131 , which fills so large a space in the proceedings described in Chapters VII . and MIL of this history , we are unable to sav if the circumstance is recorded in the

minutesassuming them to have been preserved till now—of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge , how No . 24 , which was formed by the Union in 1814 of the Atholl and St . Nicholas Lodges ; but it may be , perhaps , interesting to Bro . STRACHAN and thc

brethren of No . 24 to know that it was this lodge which , towards the close of 1812 , or the beginning of 1 S 13 , petitioned the " Ancient" Grand Lodge to be exempted from paying the fee of half-a-crown upon the registry of every new-made Mason

towards the support of the Boys' School , in accordance with the resolution passed on the 4 th March , 1812 , and confirmed on the 3 rd June following , on the ground that it had it in contemplation "to establish a school in Newcastle upon a similar plan

with that in London , to clothe and educate the sons of tlieir deceased and indigent brethren . " The prayer ofthe petitioners , however , was not acceded to , though the Grand Lodge promised that , in the event of such an Institution being established , it

would be " happy to promote the objects now in view b y pecuniary assistance . " The incident will be found recorded at p . 31 of Bro . G . BLIZARD ABBOTT ' " History of the Royal

Masonic Institution for Boys , " whicii was published in book form in 1885 , after it had appeared in the columns of the Freemason .

The most important event recorded in Chapter VIII ., which treats of the Union of the Grand Lodges in 1813-14 , is the union of the Atholl Lodge , No . 131—which , in recognition of its services to the " Ancient" Craft , had , in the interim , had

bestowed upon it the vacant warrant , No . 15 , and so became No . 26 on the roll of the United Grand Lodge—and the " Modern " St . Nicholas Lodge , No . 208 , which had become No . 261 on the register , the name assumed by the United Lodges , and approved

Northumbrian Masonry*.

by his Royal Highness the Grand Master , being the Newcastleupon-Tyne Lodge , and thc number No . 26—now No . 24 , Chapter IX . deals with the period following the Union—from 1815 to 1837—and contains a record of all the important events

tbat occurred between those two years , while the Chapter that follows is entitled " The Victorian Era , " and succinctly describes what has happened in the Province during thc 60 years of her Majesty ' s reign . It is not necessary , however , that wc should

do more than express an opinion that , though Bro . STRACHAN has compressed his account of Northumbrian Masonry during these 82 years into two Chapters of comparatively moderate length , he has recorded all such matters as are worth recording

in sufficient detail , and , at the same time , in a manner which , as regards clearness and accuracy , leaves nothing to be desired . What else of interest , both locally and generally , he has deemed

worthy of being included in his volume , will be found in the Appendix . And with these remarks we bring to a conclusion our short series of articles on a work from whicii we have derived both pleasure and instruction .

Grand Lodge Calendar.

GRAND LODGE CALENDAR .

The Grand Lodgeof England is still adding to its Lodges and members , notwithstanding the losses occasioned every now and then by the formation of new Grand Lodges in the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown . Each year , of late , has witnessed a substantial increase in the number of lodges , 1 S 9 S closing with a total of 2290 , being an advance of

49 , as compared with 1897 , which was 51 ahead of the previous year , so that in two years the Roll has had added to it exactly . 100 Lodges net . In December , 18 9 8 , they were thus distributed—London Lodges ... ... ... 468 Country „ ... ... ... 1336 Colonial , & c , Lodges ... .,. ... 486

2290 The enumeration has been unchanged since 1863 , the latest Lodge constituted or warranted being No . 2735 , so that would show the large number of 445 removed from the Register , for various causes , during the last 35 years . On the other hand , the newest Lodge on completion of the enumeration of 1832 and * the beginning of that of 186 3 was numbered 975 , making the enormous addition of 1763 during that period ( 1863—98 ) , which means much more work for the Grand Secretary and staff .

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was elected Grand Master of England — or rather accepted that responsible and dignified , as well as honourable , office—on September 25 th , 1874 . Since then 1220 Lodges have been warranted , so great has been the increase of the Fraternity , as well as ils prosperity generally . These figures are very remarkable , and almost

solemnly suggesth e , for they not only prove the immense popularity of the Brotherhood , but such facts call for additional attention being paid to our safeguards , and a still more rigid and constant scrutiny being made as to the character and circumstances of candidates , so that nothiug but the most suitable material be chosen for the Masonic edifice .

It says much for the general conduct of the Lodges that not one has been erased during the past year for serious disobedience of the Laws ; the only removal from the Roll being the return ol No . 2004 Warrant , South Africa . Those interested in such points should procure copies of the Calendar for themselves ( London , Bro . Geo . Kenning ) and study it , side by side , with Bro . John Lane ' s invaluable " Masonic Records , 1717-1 S 94 , " a work that has no equal of its kind anywhere .

A few of our Provinces have increased : Cambridge , Devon , Dorset , , ' Gloucester , Hertford , South Wales ( E . D . ) , Stafford , Warwick , Worcester , j York ( W . D . ) , and the Channel Isles , one each ; Cheshire , Lancashire I ( E . D . ) , and Northumberland , two each ; and Essex ,-as well as Lancashire 'i ( W . D . ) , three each ; the latter now having 121 on its Roll , so that in all ( L Lancashire there are 234 Lodges ! k

In the Colonies the Lodges of English Constitution are holding their own well , or are on the increase , generally , and I believe many of the peculiar : advantages of Freemasonry in a Country like India are practically illustrating the beneficent character of the Fraternity . Besides which , from a ; Cosmopolitan standpoint , the traditions and customs of our Society have a ,-most healthy influence , and add to the good feeling and Brotherly interest { subsisting between Great Britain and the United States , so happily one and united in so many respects . I

The Calendar contains a mass of most valuable and ably arranged information concerning the Grand Lodge from its origin ( as also the Grand Chapter ) , and , indeed , is so handy , useful and accurate , that no zealous r member of the Society can afford to dispense with its aid , and all who con- suit its pages should gratefully remember the Compilers . 1 W . J . HUGHAN .

Fourth Annual Ball Of The Fellowship Lodge, No. 2535.

FOURTH ANNUAL BALL OF THE FELLOWSHIP LODGE , No . 2535 .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . JAS . STEPHENS , P . D . G . D . C . Among the festivities of the winter season it is safe to say there is no | - ' more successful gathering than the ball of the Fellowship Lodge , and the | i

fourth annual ball , held at the Hotel Cecil , Strand , on the 23 rd instant , u fully maintained its reputation . There are several items contributing to this unique success . In the first place , there is the geniality and popularity of the President , Bro . W . H . Bailey , P . G . Treas ., whoon this occasion came