Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

REPORTS or MASONIC MEETINGS : — Craft Masonry 119 Royal Arch 12 ° Scotland 120 Freemasonry in West Lancashire 120 Grand Masonic Ball at Greenock 122 Laying a Foundation Stone in Renfrewshire East 123

Masonic Literature and Newspapers ' 124 Our Masonic Charities 124 Weekly Summary of News 125 United Grand Lodge 126 C OHUESPONDENCE : — The Present position of our Masonic Charities ... 126 Roman Catholics and Freemasons 127

Our Masonic Charities - 128 Oliver ' s Masonic Jurisprudence 128 Thc new work styled "Veritas" 12 S The Great Masonic Mystery 129 What is Freemasonry 130 Masonic Notes and Queries 130 Lodge Meetings for next week 1 . 30 Advertisements 117 118 124 131 132

Reports Of Masonic Meetings .

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Ccnft Utasmuin

ST . J AMES ' UNION LODGE ( NO . 180 ) . —The above lodge held its annual ball at the Freemasons' Tavern on Thursday week , when a brilliant assembly of between 200 and 300 ladies and gentlemen were present under the presidency of Bro . Gallico , W . M . Dancing

commenced shortly after 9 o ' clock , and was persevered in with great spirit till about midnight , when the company adjourned to an excellent supper , which gave great satisfaction . Bro . Gallico , W . M ., occupied the chair ; Bro . Bubb , P . M ., the vice-chair . After supper the chairman

rose and proposed in truly loyal and eloquent terms "The Health ofthe Queen , " which was received , as it always is in Masonry and elsewhere , with unqualified approval . The Chairman then rose and proposed " The Health of The Ladies , " who by their charming presence

that evening had made the St . James s Union ball such a grand success , that the gentlemen who were present could not fail to look back on that evening as one of the brightest pages of their existence . The Chairman concluded a very eloquent and genial speech by calling on

Bro . Parsons , S . W ., to return thanks , who m a few well-turned sentences , succeeded in raising the risible * muscles of his audience to such a degree that he was enabled to resume his seat in a perfect storm of laughter . Bro . Bubb , P . M ., then rose , and said it gave him mingled feelings

of pain and pleasure in having been elected Vice-President ofthe Ball ; pain , because he felt that he had occupied that position so often before that he thought it was time that some one else should have been elected , and pleasure , in that he should now have the right of proposing a toast

that would , he felt sure , be as acceptable to them as it was pleasurable to him . The toast he had to bring to their notice was that of " The President , Bro . Gallico , ' who by his efforts had made the ball such a success , as indeed he did everything he undertook . He could tell them that he

luid so persevered in Masonry that , although an Italian , he was able to fulfil the duties of W . M . with the greatest possible eiliciency . After a few more remarks , Bro . Bubb concluded by wishing him ( in Italian ) long life , health , and happiness . The toast having been received with

great applause , Bro . Gallico returned thanks in an able manner , and proposed " The Health of thc Stewards , coupled with the names of Bro . Stacey , P . M ., and Bro . Bubb , P . M ., who both responded . Dancing was then resumed , and

continued with unflagging spirit till an early hour , when one of the most enjoyable parties of the season came to an end . Great praise is due to Bro . Pannel , Honorary Secretary , and the rest of the Stewards , for thc successful arrangements made for the comfort of the visitors .

Ii'swicii . —Perfect Frieuds''i <> Lodge ( No . 376 ) . —At the request of the \ V \ M ., Bro . Arthur Gamman , P . G . P ., the brethren of the lodge , and one or two other Masonic friends , met at the house of Bro . Mills , M . D ., on Saturday last , as

a mark of respect to the memory of Bio . Franks , P . M ., P . P . G . Registrar , to attend his funeral which took p lace at the Cemetery on that day . Amongst others we noticed Bros . A . Gamman , W . M ., Dr . Mills , Dr . Elliston . Emra Holmes ,

Reports Of Masonic Meetings .

W . Spalding , S . B . King , J . A . Pettit , R . Taylor , J . Pitcher . The brethren , who , of course , all appeared in black , and wearing hat-bands and white gloves , wore no Masonic insignia . The pall-bearers , six old Past Masters , wearing scarves , then proceeded in procession to the

residence of the deceased , which is just opposite the quaint little church of St . Mary-at-Elms . Opening out right and left to allow the relations and other mourners to pass between their ranks , the Masons followed them into the church , where the first part of the simple but solemn and touching service for the burial of the dead was

read by the vicar , thc Rev . Godrich Langley , assisted by Bro . the Rev . R . N . Sanderson , P . P . G . C . Before leaving the church the brethren formed in procession , and preceding the hearse and mourning carriages , marched to the pretty Cemetery just outside the town , where the remainder of the funeral service was read with

singular impressiveness by Bro . Sanderson , and the body of our greatly esteemed brother consigned to the tomb . Each Mason , as he gave a last look at the grave , dropped a sprig of acacia upon the coffin , and passing by , gave the sign of sympathy . The sad procession then reformed ,

and wended its way homewards . A contemporary , The Suffolk Mercury , speaking of our late brother , who was Master of the Blue School ( two of the directors of which joined the procession as a mark of respect to the deceased ) , thus alludes to him . —

" He was the perfect type of the true old English gentleman , and his benevolence will make him very much missed by the poor of St . Mary Elms . His purse was always ready to relieve distress , and no man carried out the duties of life better , his high moral character being enriched by the lenient construction he was ever anxious

to put upon the mistakes of others . In politics he was a staunch old Conservative , and the recent borough election was the first he had ni'ssed taking an active part in . As a Freemason he will be greatly missed , having been one of the best examples of a true Mason , both by his outward conduct and the deep research he had made into the details of the Craft itself . So

great was his knowledge and acquaintance with all the details of the Order , that his presence and advice were frequently sought by many lodges in the neighbourhood . He was a member of the ' Perfect Friendship ' Lodge , No . 376 , of which he had been twice W . M . He was also

a member of the Royal Sussex Chapter . " We have often in these columns borne our testimony to Bro . Frank ' s extensive erudition in all matters pertaining to the Crait , and particularly to his admirable working in the Iloyal Arch degree , and which we have never seen surpassed . Bro .

Franks was also a Knight Templar , Knight of Malta , and was a member of the Prudence Preceptory , in which he had held hi gh office . It was only a few weeks since that he was presented with a handsome silver goblet by the members of the Royal Sussex Chapter of Perfect

Friendship , on his retiring from that chapter in consequence of increasing age and infirmity . The cup , whieh no doubt will be cherished as an heirloom in the family , bears the following inscription on one side : — " Presented to James Franks P . Z ., by the companions of the Royal Essex

Chapter , as a slight tribute of respect for his highly valued services during the period of twenty years . " Upon the other was a brief record of his Masonic career : "Bro . James Franks , initiated March 20 th , 1844 , ' passed J / th April , 1844 , raised 15 th May , 18 44 , elected W . M 19 Dec ,

1849 , installed 28 , Dec , 1849 , re-elected - ° l ^ - 186 ' ; , exalted 29 , Dec , 18 49 , installed M . E . Z April , 1856 . Tlie following letter , whieh reflects credit to the head and heart of the noble writer , was read at the meeting at the house nf Dr .

Mills , prior to the funeral , and the kindly sympathy expressed therein ° was much appreciated b y the brethren present : — "Elision Hall , Bungay , Feb . 20 , 1874 . " Worshipful Sir and Brother ,

" J beg to express my sincere regret with whieh I have learned the decease of our respected brother , Past-Master Franks , to whose memory I should have been most prompt to pay my tri bute of respect had it been in my power . Within a short time the craft have had to regret the loss of truly valuable members , whose services have

Reports Of Masonic Meetings .

been eminent , and will not fail to be held in due honour . " I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , faithfully and fraternally yours , " WAVENEY , " Prov . G . M . Suffolk . " W . Bro . Gamman , W . M ., -576 . "

Lord Waveney alluded to the recent death of Bros . Tracy P . Z ., J . Townsend , and H . Richmond , but there are few will be so missed as Bro . Franks . WAVERTREE . —Duke of Edinburgh Lodge ( No . 1182 ) . —The usual monthly meetin < r of

this popular suburban lodge was held on Wednesday , the rSth inst ., at the Coffee-house , Wavertree , where two candidates were initiated into thc mysteries of the Order b y Bro . J . Watkin Williams , W . M ., in a most effective manner . In accordance with ancient custom ,

the bye-laws of the lodge were duly read , and after several propositions of candidates for Masonry had been made , the lodge was closed in solemn form , and the assembled brethren subsequently partook of an excellent supper , provided by Mrs . Wright , the hostess , at which the

greatest harmony prevailed . Amongst those present at the lodge were , Bro . J . W . Williams , W . M . j P . M . ' s Thornton , Pughe , Woods , Cookson , ; Bros . Edginton , S . W . ; T . B . Myers , J . W . ; Bro . Brown , Treas . ; Bro . Bales , Sec . ; Bro . R . Martin , S . D . ; T . Davies , I . G . ; Mucker ,

S . ; W . Crawford , Tyler ; H . J . Hughes , J . Haslam , N . Walker , J . Tacobs , A . D . Hesketh , J . E . Ellison , Newbold / H . Sawyer , J . Whitfield , 11 . Penuock , W . Thomason , G . Byford , Snelson , and others , with Bro . J . Bush , J . D . 220 , and G . Farmer , 823 , as visitors .

STOCKWELL LODGE ( NO . 1339 . )—The installation meeting of this young but prosperous lodge took place on Thursday , the 19 th inst ., at the Half Moon at Dulwich . At the opening of the lodge , the W . M ' s chair was occupied by Bro . P . M . Morrell . The W . M . himself , who is an officer

in a volunteer regiment , being under the necessity of attending a prize meeting of his corps to receive his reward as a rifleman , was unable to be present at the working of his lodge . However a very efficient substitute was found in Bio . Worrell , who performed the ceremony of

initiating Mr . H . Hart into the Order , and did the work like a good mason . At the conclusion of the ordinary business , the chair was assumed b y Bro . Francis , P . M . and Secretary of the lodge , to whom Bro . Klenck , the W . M . elect , was presented by Bro . Worrell , and having taken thc

usual obligation , and given his assent to the principles laid down in the Book of Constitutions , a Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . Klenck was duly installed into the chair of K . S . He was then formally proclaimed by Bro ] Worrell , who delivered the usual addresses to

the brethren in a very impressive and able manner . Bro . Klenck then proceeded to appoint and invest his officers . Bro . Klenck , it may be remarked , has passed from the J . W . chair into that of the W . M ., in consequence of the ( no doubt unavoidable ) frequent absence of the S . W . at the

meetings of the lodge ; and 111 again appointing him to tlie S . W . chair , the W . M . expressed his regret that Bro . Payne did not on this occasion occupy the distinguished position to which lie ( Bro . Klenck ) had just been elevated , but expressed a hope that the time would yet come when

Bro . Payne would have that honour equally with the other founders of the lodge . The other oilicers were Bros . Benham , J . W . ; Hammerton , P . M . Treasurer ; Francis , Secretary ; Basnett , S . D . ; Bowyer , J . D , ; Coe , I . G . ; Pillinger , D . C . ; and Bro . Harris , Wine Steward . To each the W . M .

gave a few pleasant words of encouragement to work diligently , or commendation for what they had done in the past , and when the business ofthe evening had thus been brought to a satisfactory conclusion , the lodge was closed in due form , ancl the members of the lodsre and their guests sat down to a well spread board , and did ample

justice to tlie excellent viands provided by mine host of the Half Moon . < in the cloth being removed , the customary loyal and Masonic toasts were given , aud responded to with true Masonic cordiality . Jn proposing "The Health of the Initiates , " the W . M . remarked , for the information of Bros . Rogerson , Faith , Hazard , and H ,