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Masonic Notes And Queries.
not admit it . The whole mistake arises because Thory chose to confound the College de Valois with the Emperors , when in reality , as the above attestations show , Valois , and therefore his college , was a member of the Knights organisation . Masonic Student makes another assertion which he will have difficulty in proving : that the Sovereign Council Sublime Grand Lodge of the Grand French Globe existed or is mentioned before the Chapter of
Clermont . I am open to conviction , but I find no mention of it before the foundation of the Grand Orient in 1773 , say Ca . 17 S 0 . It is the last name of the Sovereign Council of the Emperors . I should much like a reference to it before 1754 . Clavel ' s contention with respect to Irish Chapters is founded on Thory , and although , as Bro . Woodford says , all French writers accord precedence to the Emperors over the
Knights , this merely signifies that they have one and all copied Thory . Now , I hardly know of a worse authority than Thory . Apart from mistakes , to which we are all liable , he is repeatedly guilty of premeditated perversion of facts to suit his own theory . Twice has he misquoted very gravely Anderson ' s Constitutions . I would not believe him on his oath . This is such a serious accusation that I must give my reason . In his history of the Gd . Orient of France ,
Appendix VII ., p . 1 S 3 , we read these words : "As regards the ceremonies used ( formules usitees ) in the Order of H . D . M . of Kilwinning [ Royal Order of Scotland ] we confess that we are absolutely ignorant of them . " This was written in 1812 . In 1 S 0 S he was the Tersata , i . e ., Gd . Master , of a Paris Chapter of this Order . If Bro . Gould
was to solemnly declare in his work that he was absolutely ignorant of the ceremonies of the Craft , what would be the value of his history ? Would his uncorroborated evidence on any single point be worth taking into account ? This is only one instance ; if any believer in Thory require further support of my accusation , I am ready to produce any amount . But some few French authors have not followed
Thory . . Take Rebold , p . 602 : " A certain Pirlet created . . . . le Chapitre des Chevaliers d'Orient ( 1757 ) . Afterwards they propagated the Conseil des Empereurs . " Jouast says very truly ( p . S 7 ) : " Since Thory wrote others have contented themselves with copying and quoting him without any effort de le contrdler . " I should much like to be confronted with any trace of either a Scotch or Irish Chapter in 172 S outside the covers of Thory's two works .
Can "Masonic Student" oblige me ? I trow not . Can he also quote any real authority for the assertion that previous to the Gde . Loge Anglaise there was a Prov . Gd . Lodge of France ? This would also be interesting , for at present I do not believe that such a title ever existed . Findel's Constitutions of 1744 are really of date 11 December , 1 743 . No original exists in France or elsewhere . No writer previous to Klosz had ever mentioned them . Klosz had before him
the original minute book of the Lodge "Chambredu R 01 , erected at Versailles ' , 26 October , 1745 . Preceding the minutes come the Statutes headed , "General regulations extracted from the minutes of the lodges [ which ?] for the use of the lodges in France , together with the alterations which were made at the Assembly of Gd . Lodge , held on the n December , 1743 , in order to serve as a guide to all the lodges of said Kingdom . " They were
reprinted in German in the Zeitschnft fur brcimaiircr , Altenburg , 1 S 36 , pp . 151-1 S 7 , with notes . There are 19 Articles , really taken from Anderson , 1723 and 173 S , and slightly modified to suit French circumstances and then follows an extra Article , No . 20 , which is quite new . It cites that Scots Freemasons having lately appeared in the lodges and claimed exceptional privileges , these are in no way to be conceded . This copy of the Statutes is vised ,
and declared correct by the Deputy Grand Master of the lodges in France . ( Signed ) LA COUR , D . G . M . Does Bro . Woodford now see why from this date the Gd . Lodge takes the title Anglaise ? Does not Article 20 account for it ? These Statutes are certainly not preserved in the minutes of G . Orient . The earliest minutes preserved in the Archives date from 1773 , which is the reason Thory was able to assert whatheliked . Again , "Masonic Student "
is in error when he thinks that the Grande Loge de France de Clermont is a Scots body . It is simply an alternative name for the Gd . Loge de France from 1755 or even 1 743 to 1773 , and again to the Gd . Lodge rival of the G . Orient rom 1773 to 1796 or 1797 . This body always called itself the Gde . Loge de France , and sometimes officially added to it " MM / el unique Gd . Orient . " But the Gd . Orient from 1773 claimed to be the Gd . Lodge , and styled its
rival "The Grande Lodge de Clermont ; " that is when it wished to be polite ; on other occasions it spoke of it as a "body claiming to be a Grand Lodge . " Very many documents can be adduced in support of this contention , but I need , perhaps , not now name them . I will do so on occasion if" Masonic Student" desire it . It will be observed that I am given to quoting Klosz copiously . Let me explain my reasons . Klosz was G . M . of the G . L . Unity , at
Frankfort , which had enjoyed an uninterrupted existence from 1741 , and had never been contaminated by High Degrees . From its very first installation ; its members were of a very superior class , men of learning and high attainments . Therefore its archives are a pattern to all lodges . Every letter or circular has been religiously docketted and preserved . Well , Klosz when writing his histories had of course the run of this library , as well as of his own and of
his friend Mossdorff ' s large collections . French writers have had no such collections to fall back upon . The Gd . Orient possesses no minute books prior to 1773 ; no lodge list earlier than 1 S 07 ; no collection of circulars or of party pamphlets . All such materials as came into the possession of the Unity Lodge , Frankfort , are still to the fore , and therefore where other authors have had to accept the partisan statements of De la Chaussee , 1773 , Thory ,
1 S 12 , or the traditional act and hearsay of De la Lande , 1773 , Klosz has often been able to refer to contemporary documents ; and moreover he always quotes his authority , referring in brackets to the numbers in his bibliography . Add to this his impartiality , not being a Frenchman or mixed up in the quarrels between rival High-grade systems , and a wonderful critical ability , and it is not surprising that no history of French Freemasonry can come any way
near his . In turf language , Klosz is hrst , Rebold and Jouast bad seconds , the rest nowhere . Unfortunately , the copy I am now using is lent to me by the lodge at Ulm ( it is annotated by Findel ) and must soon be returned . I hate the thought of returning it . Can any brother put me on the track of one ? I am open to purchase . I could fill this column for a year with little known facts extracted from this precious volume , and all properly vouched for . G . WM . SPETH .
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .
Craft iWasourg . CONSTITUTIONAL LODGE ( No . 55 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at Cannon-street Hotel , on Thursday , the 19 th inst . Present : Bros . Henry Potter , VV . M . ; Jubal Webb , W . M . elect , S . W . ; Edward Brown , S . D . ; George Laker , P . M ., J . D . ; Frank Unite , D . C ; R . P . Atkins , P . M ., Treas . ; George M . E . Snow , P . M ., Sec . Bros . Balfour , J . VV ., and Ernest Miroy , I . G ., were absent through illness , also Bros . Thomas Cathcrwood ,
P . M . ; Dwarber , P . M . ; W . Farthing , P . M . ; A . Melhuish , P . M . ; J . T . Robertson , P . M . ; J . H . Dodson , P . M . ; S . Pownceby , P . M . ; W . H . Marston , P . M . ; Jas . Cooper , P . M . ; Thomas B . Linscott , P . M . ; Jas . Johnston , P . M . ; also 40 members , some of whom are P . M . ' s of other lodges . The visitors included Bros . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Sec ; H . Buss , Asst . Grand Sec ; Frederick Binckes , P . G . Stwd . ; VV . Herbage , P . G . R . Essex ; G . F .
Rossinieu , P . P . G . R . Surrey ; j . C . Dehane , P . P . G . S . D . Essex ; J . P . Curtis , P . P . G . D . C . Gloucester ; George Harding , P . G . D . C . Aliddx . ; Thomas Grove , P . M . 1 769 ; George Leai P . M . 9 ; W . Ansell , P . M . 30 ; J . Shipley , P . M . 30 ; G . Watts , P . M . 194 ; J . S . Brown , P . M . S 62 ; Thomas Peacock , P . M . 21 ; James Unite , P . M . 144 ; Charles Hume , P . M . 209 ; A . Beasley , P . M . 7 S 0 ; George Elliot , W . M . 749 ; J . G . Rayner , W . M . 803 ; Charles
Beaumont , P . M . 903 ; Goodinge , P . M . 171 ; A . Dottndge , P . M . 172 ; Thomas Cross , P . M . 194 ; W . Laker , P . M . 1362 ; W . Church , P . M . 1347 ; J . W . Hay , P . M . 1627 ; W . Daniels , 1107 ; R . H . Pearson , P . M . 1196 ; J . H . Pearson , P . M . 1567 ; Geo . Croxton , W . M . 1769 ; J . Booth , W . M . 1642 ; D . Holmes , P . M . 147 1 ; G . Stephens , W . M . 1623 ; H . Higgins , P . M . 13 S 1 ; together with many more distinguished brethren , bringing up the list to S 3 visitors .
The lodge was duly opened , and ; the Auditor s report , together with the accounts which had been printed and a copy sent to every member with his summons were duly received , and a copy ordered to be entered upon the minutes . Bro . Jubal Webb , W . M . elect , was duly installed W . M . in the presence of over 50 P . M . ' s , after which he duly appointed his officers , investing those that were present , viz . : Bros . Henry Potter , l . P . M . ; James Balfour , S . W .
( absent ); H . Brown , J . VV . ; George Laker , P . M . 1599 , S . D . ; Ernest Miroy , P . M . 1599 , J . D . ( absent ); Frank Unite , l . G . ; and Herbert Roach , D . C . He also invested Bro . R . P . Atkins , W . M ., with the Treasurer's collar , and appointed and invested Bro . M . E . Snow , P . M ., as Secretary j the last two brethren were received and acknowledged with enthusiasm in the lodge . Bro . H . Thomas was invested as Tyler . Ten guineas were voted to each of the
Masonic Chanties . Bro . Jubal Webb having consented or volunteered to represent the lodge as Steward at the forthcoming Festivals for the Boys' and Girls' , two brethrens's names were added to the list of country members , one having subscribed to the lodge for nearly 30 years . The Secretary announced the death of a member , viz ., Bro . Henry Greenfield , who was well known amongst them for his kind and genial manner , which statement was evidently
received with sorrow and regret . That concluded the lodge business . At the banquet which followed , the menus , which were works of art , had been , like the words of the songs sung after the dinner , set up in antique type , with quotations from Shakespeare and others around them . "The Grand Officers " was responded to by the Grand Secretary ; "The Visitors " by Bro . Binckes and others :
and " The P . M . 's " by Bro . Cooper . The brethren all appeared thoroughly to enjoy themselves . The banquet gave credit to the hotel , more especially as a large dinner ( Chamber of Commerce ) was taking place at the same time in the large hall , where , " on dit , " over 300 were dining . Every member of the Constitutional Lodge was initiated therein and a thorough brotherly kind feeling exists
amongst them . No one has ever proposed a joining member , for it is an understanding amongst them not to have any . The two oldest members of the lodge , viz ., Bros . Nevill and Whalley , have never filled or held any office . The lodge has So members , 17 being P . M . 's . The W . M . invested after the banquet Bro . Henry Potter , I . P . M ., with a P . M . ' s jewel , which had been unanimously voted to him .
WESTBOURNE LODGE ( No . 733 ) . —The installation meeting of this very successful lodge was held at Lord ' s Hotel , St . John ' s Wood , on Thursday , the 19 th inst ., when Bro . Samuel Richard Walker , the W . M ., installed his successor , Bro . Matthew Charles J oy , the Senior Warden of the past year , who had been unanimously elected by the members of the lodge to preside over them for the next twelve months . There was a large
gathering of members and visitors to witness Bro . Walker's performance of the important ceremony he had undertaken , and it was manifest when the ivork was finished that their expectations had been well founded , and that all were highly gratified at the masterly manner in which Bro . Walker had performed the duties of Installing Master . It is a remark well within the truth that Bro . Walker did full justice to the beautiful ritual he was reciting . The
excellent arrangement of having all ordinary work cleared off at an emergency meeting ( which in this instance had been held the previous evening ) left nothing but the installation ceremony for the meeting to which this report applies ; and the consequence was that there was no hurry or inconvenience to any one . Among the Past Masters of the lodge present at the Board of Installed Masters were Bros . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; Kershaw , P . G . P . ; Hitchcock ,
Welford , Ascott , Goodwin , Hallett , Collins , and T . W . Allen . Among the visitors present at the meeting were Bros . Dr . J . H . Casson , P . M . 1706 , P . P . G . O . ; W . Side , W . M . 2045 ; H . J . Phillips , P . M . 205 ; R . H . Dillon , J . D . 1667 ; 1 . W . Harvey , W . M . 25 ; Saml . Studd , I 575 J M . Ansell , 1502 ; Wm . Bailey , 1425 ; J . J .
Thomas , 753 ; W . Heath , 1642 ; C . A . Ralph , 1 G 14 ; S . Hewitt , 1614 ; G . Dorsett , 172 ; J . Lichtenfeld , 205 ; A . W . Groves , 172 ; J . C . Conway , 1 S 91 ; C . W . Hunt , W . M . 1425 ; J . Stephens , J . W . 1425 ; C . Coleman 1425 ; W . Mills , D . C . 171 G ; J . Cuthbertson , 1507 ; Barradell , 1425 ; Alf . Stead , 1 G 22 ; W . A . Shaw , 140 G ; W . Blank ,
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
704 ; Taylor , 1642 ; J . Hoddinott , 901 ; H . Dobbin . 1732 ; H . M . Levy , P . M . 1 S 8 ; E . T . Parr , P . M . , ' Frank Leach , 25 ; James Flood , 1642 ; and E . C . Massey ' The officers of the lodge elected , appointed , and j n * vested for acting during the ensuing year were as follows - Bros . W . C . Wickens , S . W . ; S . J . Humfress , J . VV . j 1 ' Welford , P . M ., Treas . ; T . VV . Allen , P . M ., Sec . ; r Biorns , S . D . ; W . Drew , J . D . ; VV . Burton , l . G . ; C . A
Cottebrune , P . M ., D . C . ; Wm . Bell , Asst . D . C . ; Eaton Org . ; F . W . Curtis , W . S . ; Belsham , Asst . W . S . ; and Thomas , Tyler . At the conclusion of a very sumptuous banquet which followed the closing of the lodge , to which some ninet y brethren sat down , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed by the chairman , Bro . M . C . J oy , the new W . M ., and were all received in the heartiest manner by
the brethren present . After the toasts Ihe Queen and the Craft , " and "The Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Prince of Wales , " had been disposed of , the W . M . briefly proposed "The Pro . G . M ., the Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers Past and Present , " and Bro . Cottebrune responded saying that as it had been his duty in that lodge to respond to this particular toast for the last 27 years , he had nothing
new to add on the present occasion . The Grand Officers were extremely bashful , and had a delicacy about telling people that they were the best men in the world ; but they bashfully admitted that they desired to be at the very top of the tree , and that for his own part he was very proud of the fact that he was a Grand Officer , and also that he took his rank from the Westbourne Lodge , No . 733 , of which he had the happiness to be one of the founders .
Bro . Walker , I . P . M ., said that he had very great pleasure to propose the next toast , the subject of which was Bro . J oy , their W . M . It was some years since Bro . Joy was proposed for initiation in the lodge , and he ( Bro . Walker ) was quite sure that since Bro . Joy first saw the light in Freemasonry , that the Craft in general and that lodge in particular had gained by his membership . He had passed through most of the offices in the lodge , and
had filled them to the satisfaction of every one , and it was patent to everybody that a brother who could perform his duties as he had done , was quite competent to undertake the duties of the chair . He ( Bro . Walker ) could vouch for their Master's ability to perform any duties they might put upon him , but would remind them that a successful year did not depend entirely on the Master , but depended equally upon the members . He trusted therefore
that they would give Rro . Joy plenty of work to do , and he thought he should be enunciating the sentiments of the brethren of the Westbourne Lodge if he wished Bro . Joy a most succeseful and prosperous year of office . The Worshipful Master , in reply , said that he thanked Bro . Walker , the Past Masters , and brethren generally for the very cordial way in which they had drunk his health . He assured them that he was very pleased and very proud
at having been installed into the honourable position of Master of the Westbourne Lodge . He had done his utmost to fulfil the duties of every office which had been conferred upon him—and he had rilled nearly all the officesand to give pleasure and assistance to the brethren ; but lie felt that he had a very difficult task before him now , as he had to follow so efficient a Master as the brother who had just vacated the chair of the Westbourne Lodge , which was a
lodgethatwassecondtonone . Bro . Walker had broughtthat lodge to the splendid position it had now attained . ^ This made him feel very nervous at the work before him ; but he hoped , with their knowledge and forbearance , to be able to fulfil his duties to the satisfaction of the brethren . And he returned them his heartfelt thanks for the manner in which they had elected him , in his absence , and he thanked them also verv sincerelv for the manner thev had
welcomed the toast to his health . The W . M . went on to say that he had now a very pleasing duty to perform , which was to propose "The Health of the I . P . M ., Bro . Walker , the Installing Master . " They all knew Bro . Walker ' s work , and he need not dilate upon his excellences , and therefore whatever he might say would not add one bit of lustre to what Bro . Walker had attained in the lodge . He therefore left the toast with the brethren with confidence
that they would give it a hearty welcome . There was one thing more . He had another pleasing duty to perform in presenting their most esteemed l . P . M . with a jewel and collar ( from the atelier of Bro . George Kenning ) , which in their kindness they had voted to him . Bro . Walker , said the speaker , in conclusion , I have much pleasure in pinning this jewel upon your bashful breast ; a remark which was received with cries of "Walker" and much applause .
At the conclusion of this speech , Bro . J . Bell sang an impromptu song in honour of Bros . Walker and Joy , in which he did full justice to his opportunities . Bro . Walker , in reply , said that he scarcely knew what to say in his present position ; there had been so much said and sung . As l . P . M ., he should do all in his power for the Westbourne Lodge , and , as regarded the installation ceremony , he had done his verv best to rehearse and
perform that ceremony properly . It had been a very great task to prepare for that work . Most of them knew that during the past year he had had a great deal of work to do in the First , Second , and Third Degrees , and a Master who really desired to perform those duties with satisfaction to himself and the brethren had enough to do . On the previous evening he had had both passings and raisings to do , and the preparation lor the installation ceremony , he was conscious .
had interfered somewhat with the ceremonies he had the " performed . The installation ceremony had not been per ' formed without an effort ; but it had been a labour of love-When first he was put into office he formed a resolution that if he was spared to come to the chair he would do h | S utmost to perform the ceremony of installation . He v . ' 3 S pleased to feel that he had performed it to the satisfaction of the brethren . He now came to the verv handsome jewel
which they had so kindly and very generousl y given to hint ; He hoped he should look upon that jewel for many year , to come , and to wear it in the Westbourne Lodge . He ha * only had two loves in his life , as he had been told the other day , and the Westbourne Lodge was the second . When W looked upon that jewel it would remind him of that secpn *
love , and when his time came to go over to the gl ° ° majority he should be able to hand over that badge , a » W > and jewel to his sons . Bro . Walker concluded by returning his heartfelt thanks for the good wishes that had been c » pressed towards him . . , 1 The W . M . proposed "The Health of the Visitors , with which he coupled the names of Bros . Dr . Cass" *"' Ralph , Studd , Phillips , Ansdl , and Flood , who respond ^ '
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Masonic Notes And Queries.
not admit it . The whole mistake arises because Thory chose to confound the College de Valois with the Emperors , when in reality , as the above attestations show , Valois , and therefore his college , was a member of the Knights organisation . Masonic Student makes another assertion which he will have difficulty in proving : that the Sovereign Council Sublime Grand Lodge of the Grand French Globe existed or is mentioned before the Chapter of
Clermont . I am open to conviction , but I find no mention of it before the foundation of the Grand Orient in 1773 , say Ca . 17 S 0 . It is the last name of the Sovereign Council of the Emperors . I should much like a reference to it before 1754 . Clavel ' s contention with respect to Irish Chapters is founded on Thory , and although , as Bro . Woodford says , all French writers accord precedence to the Emperors over the
Knights , this merely signifies that they have one and all copied Thory . Now , I hardly know of a worse authority than Thory . Apart from mistakes , to which we are all liable , he is repeatedly guilty of premeditated perversion of facts to suit his own theory . Twice has he misquoted very gravely Anderson ' s Constitutions . I would not believe him on his oath . This is such a serious accusation that I must give my reason . In his history of the Gd . Orient of France ,
Appendix VII ., p . 1 S 3 , we read these words : "As regards the ceremonies used ( formules usitees ) in the Order of H . D . M . of Kilwinning [ Royal Order of Scotland ] we confess that we are absolutely ignorant of them . " This was written in 1812 . In 1 S 0 S he was the Tersata , i . e ., Gd . Master , of a Paris Chapter of this Order . If Bro . Gould
was to solemnly declare in his work that he was absolutely ignorant of the ceremonies of the Craft , what would be the value of his history ? Would his uncorroborated evidence on any single point be worth taking into account ? This is only one instance ; if any believer in Thory require further support of my accusation , I am ready to produce any amount . But some few French authors have not followed
Thory . . Take Rebold , p . 602 : " A certain Pirlet created . . . . le Chapitre des Chevaliers d'Orient ( 1757 ) . Afterwards they propagated the Conseil des Empereurs . " Jouast says very truly ( p . S 7 ) : " Since Thory wrote others have contented themselves with copying and quoting him without any effort de le contrdler . " I should much like to be confronted with any trace of either a Scotch or Irish Chapter in 172 S outside the covers of Thory's two works .
Can "Masonic Student" oblige me ? I trow not . Can he also quote any real authority for the assertion that previous to the Gde . Loge Anglaise there was a Prov . Gd . Lodge of France ? This would also be interesting , for at present I do not believe that such a title ever existed . Findel's Constitutions of 1744 are really of date 11 December , 1 743 . No original exists in France or elsewhere . No writer previous to Klosz had ever mentioned them . Klosz had before him
the original minute book of the Lodge "Chambredu R 01 , erected at Versailles ' , 26 October , 1745 . Preceding the minutes come the Statutes headed , "General regulations extracted from the minutes of the lodges [ which ?] for the use of the lodges in France , together with the alterations which were made at the Assembly of Gd . Lodge , held on the n December , 1743 , in order to serve as a guide to all the lodges of said Kingdom . " They were
reprinted in German in the Zeitschnft fur brcimaiircr , Altenburg , 1 S 36 , pp . 151-1 S 7 , with notes . There are 19 Articles , really taken from Anderson , 1723 and 173 S , and slightly modified to suit French circumstances and then follows an extra Article , No . 20 , which is quite new . It cites that Scots Freemasons having lately appeared in the lodges and claimed exceptional privileges , these are in no way to be conceded . This copy of the Statutes is vised ,
and declared correct by the Deputy Grand Master of the lodges in France . ( Signed ) LA COUR , D . G . M . Does Bro . Woodford now see why from this date the Gd . Lodge takes the title Anglaise ? Does not Article 20 account for it ? These Statutes are certainly not preserved in the minutes of G . Orient . The earliest minutes preserved in the Archives date from 1773 , which is the reason Thory was able to assert whatheliked . Again , "Masonic Student "
is in error when he thinks that the Grande Loge de France de Clermont is a Scots body . It is simply an alternative name for the Gd . Loge de France from 1755 or even 1 743 to 1773 , and again to the Gd . Lodge rival of the G . Orient rom 1773 to 1796 or 1797 . This body always called itself the Gde . Loge de France , and sometimes officially added to it " MM / el unique Gd . Orient . " But the Gd . Orient from 1773 claimed to be the Gd . Lodge , and styled its
rival "The Grande Lodge de Clermont ; " that is when it wished to be polite ; on other occasions it spoke of it as a "body claiming to be a Grand Lodge . " Very many documents can be adduced in support of this contention , but I need , perhaps , not now name them . I will do so on occasion if" Masonic Student" desire it . It will be observed that I am given to quoting Klosz copiously . Let me explain my reasons . Klosz was G . M . of the G . L . Unity , at
Frankfort , which had enjoyed an uninterrupted existence from 1741 , and had never been contaminated by High Degrees . From its very first installation ; its members were of a very superior class , men of learning and high attainments . Therefore its archives are a pattern to all lodges . Every letter or circular has been religiously docketted and preserved . Well , Klosz when writing his histories had of course the run of this library , as well as of his own and of
his friend Mossdorff ' s large collections . French writers have had no such collections to fall back upon . The Gd . Orient possesses no minute books prior to 1773 ; no lodge list earlier than 1 S 07 ; no collection of circulars or of party pamphlets . All such materials as came into the possession of the Unity Lodge , Frankfort , are still to the fore , and therefore where other authors have had to accept the partisan statements of De la Chaussee , 1773 , Thory ,
1 S 12 , or the traditional act and hearsay of De la Lande , 1773 , Klosz has often been able to refer to contemporary documents ; and moreover he always quotes his authority , referring in brackets to the numbers in his bibliography . Add to this his impartiality , not being a Frenchman or mixed up in the quarrels between rival High-grade systems , and a wonderful critical ability , and it is not surprising that no history of French Freemasonry can come any way
near his . In turf language , Klosz is hrst , Rebold and Jouast bad seconds , the rest nowhere . Unfortunately , the copy I am now using is lent to me by the lodge at Ulm ( it is annotated by Findel ) and must soon be returned . I hate the thought of returning it . Can any brother put me on the track of one ? I am open to purchase . I could fill this column for a year with little known facts extracted from this precious volume , and all properly vouched for . G . WM . SPETH .
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .
Craft iWasourg . CONSTITUTIONAL LODGE ( No . 55 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at Cannon-street Hotel , on Thursday , the 19 th inst . Present : Bros . Henry Potter , VV . M . ; Jubal Webb , W . M . elect , S . W . ; Edward Brown , S . D . ; George Laker , P . M ., J . D . ; Frank Unite , D . C ; R . P . Atkins , P . M ., Treas . ; George M . E . Snow , P . M ., Sec . Bros . Balfour , J . VV ., and Ernest Miroy , I . G ., were absent through illness , also Bros . Thomas Cathcrwood ,
P . M . ; Dwarber , P . M . ; W . Farthing , P . M . ; A . Melhuish , P . M . ; J . T . Robertson , P . M . ; J . H . Dodson , P . M . ; S . Pownceby , P . M . ; W . H . Marston , P . M . ; Jas . Cooper , P . M . ; Thomas B . Linscott , P . M . ; Jas . Johnston , P . M . ; also 40 members , some of whom are P . M . ' s of other lodges . The visitors included Bros . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Sec ; H . Buss , Asst . Grand Sec ; Frederick Binckes , P . G . Stwd . ; VV . Herbage , P . G . R . Essex ; G . F .
Rossinieu , P . P . G . R . Surrey ; j . C . Dehane , P . P . G . S . D . Essex ; J . P . Curtis , P . P . G . D . C . Gloucester ; George Harding , P . G . D . C . Aliddx . ; Thomas Grove , P . M . 1 769 ; George Leai P . M . 9 ; W . Ansell , P . M . 30 ; J . Shipley , P . M . 30 ; G . Watts , P . M . 194 ; J . S . Brown , P . M . S 62 ; Thomas Peacock , P . M . 21 ; James Unite , P . M . 144 ; Charles Hume , P . M . 209 ; A . Beasley , P . M . 7 S 0 ; George Elliot , W . M . 749 ; J . G . Rayner , W . M . 803 ; Charles
Beaumont , P . M . 903 ; Goodinge , P . M . 171 ; A . Dottndge , P . M . 172 ; Thomas Cross , P . M . 194 ; W . Laker , P . M . 1362 ; W . Church , P . M . 1347 ; J . W . Hay , P . M . 1627 ; W . Daniels , 1107 ; R . H . Pearson , P . M . 1196 ; J . H . Pearson , P . M . 1567 ; Geo . Croxton , W . M . 1769 ; J . Booth , W . M . 1642 ; D . Holmes , P . M . 147 1 ; G . Stephens , W . M . 1623 ; H . Higgins , P . M . 13 S 1 ; together with many more distinguished brethren , bringing up the list to S 3 visitors .
The lodge was duly opened , and ; the Auditor s report , together with the accounts which had been printed and a copy sent to every member with his summons were duly received , and a copy ordered to be entered upon the minutes . Bro . Jubal Webb , W . M . elect , was duly installed W . M . in the presence of over 50 P . M . ' s , after which he duly appointed his officers , investing those that were present , viz . : Bros . Henry Potter , l . P . M . ; James Balfour , S . W .
( absent ); H . Brown , J . VV . ; George Laker , P . M . 1599 , S . D . ; Ernest Miroy , P . M . 1599 , J . D . ( absent ); Frank Unite , l . G . ; and Herbert Roach , D . C . He also invested Bro . R . P . Atkins , W . M ., with the Treasurer's collar , and appointed and invested Bro . M . E . Snow , P . M ., as Secretary j the last two brethren were received and acknowledged with enthusiasm in the lodge . Bro . H . Thomas was invested as Tyler . Ten guineas were voted to each of the
Masonic Chanties . Bro . Jubal Webb having consented or volunteered to represent the lodge as Steward at the forthcoming Festivals for the Boys' and Girls' , two brethrens's names were added to the list of country members , one having subscribed to the lodge for nearly 30 years . The Secretary announced the death of a member , viz ., Bro . Henry Greenfield , who was well known amongst them for his kind and genial manner , which statement was evidently
received with sorrow and regret . That concluded the lodge business . At the banquet which followed , the menus , which were works of art , had been , like the words of the songs sung after the dinner , set up in antique type , with quotations from Shakespeare and others around them . "The Grand Officers " was responded to by the Grand Secretary ; "The Visitors " by Bro . Binckes and others :
and " The P . M . 's " by Bro . Cooper . The brethren all appeared thoroughly to enjoy themselves . The banquet gave credit to the hotel , more especially as a large dinner ( Chamber of Commerce ) was taking place at the same time in the large hall , where , " on dit , " over 300 were dining . Every member of the Constitutional Lodge was initiated therein and a thorough brotherly kind feeling exists
amongst them . No one has ever proposed a joining member , for it is an understanding amongst them not to have any . The two oldest members of the lodge , viz ., Bros . Nevill and Whalley , have never filled or held any office . The lodge has So members , 17 being P . M . 's . The W . M . invested after the banquet Bro . Henry Potter , I . P . M ., with a P . M . ' s jewel , which had been unanimously voted to him .
WESTBOURNE LODGE ( No . 733 ) . —The installation meeting of this very successful lodge was held at Lord ' s Hotel , St . John ' s Wood , on Thursday , the 19 th inst ., when Bro . Samuel Richard Walker , the W . M ., installed his successor , Bro . Matthew Charles J oy , the Senior Warden of the past year , who had been unanimously elected by the members of the lodge to preside over them for the next twelve months . There was a large
gathering of members and visitors to witness Bro . Walker's performance of the important ceremony he had undertaken , and it was manifest when the ivork was finished that their expectations had been well founded , and that all were highly gratified at the masterly manner in which Bro . Walker had performed the duties of Installing Master . It is a remark well within the truth that Bro . Walker did full justice to the beautiful ritual he was reciting . The
excellent arrangement of having all ordinary work cleared off at an emergency meeting ( which in this instance had been held the previous evening ) left nothing but the installation ceremony for the meeting to which this report applies ; and the consequence was that there was no hurry or inconvenience to any one . Among the Past Masters of the lodge present at the Board of Installed Masters were Bros . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; Kershaw , P . G . P . ; Hitchcock ,
Welford , Ascott , Goodwin , Hallett , Collins , and T . W . Allen . Among the visitors present at the meeting were Bros . Dr . J . H . Casson , P . M . 1706 , P . P . G . O . ; W . Side , W . M . 2045 ; H . J . Phillips , P . M . 205 ; R . H . Dillon , J . D . 1667 ; 1 . W . Harvey , W . M . 25 ; Saml . Studd , I 575 J M . Ansell , 1502 ; Wm . Bailey , 1425 ; J . J .
Thomas , 753 ; W . Heath , 1642 ; C . A . Ralph , 1 G 14 ; S . Hewitt , 1614 ; G . Dorsett , 172 ; J . Lichtenfeld , 205 ; A . W . Groves , 172 ; J . C . Conway , 1 S 91 ; C . W . Hunt , W . M . 1425 ; J . Stephens , J . W . 1425 ; C . Coleman 1425 ; W . Mills , D . C . 171 G ; J . Cuthbertson , 1507 ; Barradell , 1425 ; Alf . Stead , 1 G 22 ; W . A . Shaw , 140 G ; W . Blank ,
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
704 ; Taylor , 1642 ; J . Hoddinott , 901 ; H . Dobbin . 1732 ; H . M . Levy , P . M . 1 S 8 ; E . T . Parr , P . M . , ' Frank Leach , 25 ; James Flood , 1642 ; and E . C . Massey ' The officers of the lodge elected , appointed , and j n * vested for acting during the ensuing year were as follows - Bros . W . C . Wickens , S . W . ; S . J . Humfress , J . VV . j 1 ' Welford , P . M ., Treas . ; T . VV . Allen , P . M ., Sec . ; r Biorns , S . D . ; W . Drew , J . D . ; VV . Burton , l . G . ; C . A
Cottebrune , P . M ., D . C . ; Wm . Bell , Asst . D . C . ; Eaton Org . ; F . W . Curtis , W . S . ; Belsham , Asst . W . S . ; and Thomas , Tyler . At the conclusion of a very sumptuous banquet which followed the closing of the lodge , to which some ninet y brethren sat down , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed by the chairman , Bro . M . C . J oy , the new W . M ., and were all received in the heartiest manner by
the brethren present . After the toasts Ihe Queen and the Craft , " and "The Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Prince of Wales , " had been disposed of , the W . M . briefly proposed "The Pro . G . M ., the Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers Past and Present , " and Bro . Cottebrune responded saying that as it had been his duty in that lodge to respond to this particular toast for the last 27 years , he had nothing
new to add on the present occasion . The Grand Officers were extremely bashful , and had a delicacy about telling people that they were the best men in the world ; but they bashfully admitted that they desired to be at the very top of the tree , and that for his own part he was very proud of the fact that he was a Grand Officer , and also that he took his rank from the Westbourne Lodge , No . 733 , of which he had the happiness to be one of the founders .
Bro . Walker , I . P . M ., said that he had very great pleasure to propose the next toast , the subject of which was Bro . J oy , their W . M . It was some years since Bro . Joy was proposed for initiation in the lodge , and he ( Bro . Walker ) was quite sure that since Bro . Joy first saw the light in Freemasonry , that the Craft in general and that lodge in particular had gained by his membership . He had passed through most of the offices in the lodge , and
had filled them to the satisfaction of every one , and it was patent to everybody that a brother who could perform his duties as he had done , was quite competent to undertake the duties of the chair . He ( Bro . Walker ) could vouch for their Master's ability to perform any duties they might put upon him , but would remind them that a successful year did not depend entirely on the Master , but depended equally upon the members . He trusted therefore
that they would give Rro . Joy plenty of work to do , and he thought he should be enunciating the sentiments of the brethren of the Westbourne Lodge if he wished Bro . Joy a most succeseful and prosperous year of office . The Worshipful Master , in reply , said that he thanked Bro . Walker , the Past Masters , and brethren generally for the very cordial way in which they had drunk his health . He assured them that he was very pleased and very proud
at having been installed into the honourable position of Master of the Westbourne Lodge . He had done his utmost to fulfil the duties of every office which had been conferred upon him—and he had rilled nearly all the officesand to give pleasure and assistance to the brethren ; but lie felt that he had a very difficult task before him now , as he had to follow so efficient a Master as the brother who had just vacated the chair of the Westbourne Lodge , which was a
lodgethatwassecondtonone . Bro . Walker had broughtthat lodge to the splendid position it had now attained . ^ This made him feel very nervous at the work before him ; but he hoped , with their knowledge and forbearance , to be able to fulfil his duties to the satisfaction of the brethren . And he returned them his heartfelt thanks for the manner in which they had elected him , in his absence , and he thanked them also verv sincerelv for the manner thev had
welcomed the toast to his health . The W . M . went on to say that he had now a very pleasing duty to perform , which was to propose "The Health of the I . P . M ., Bro . Walker , the Installing Master . " They all knew Bro . Walker ' s work , and he need not dilate upon his excellences , and therefore whatever he might say would not add one bit of lustre to what Bro . Walker had attained in the lodge . He therefore left the toast with the brethren with confidence
that they would give it a hearty welcome . There was one thing more . He had another pleasing duty to perform in presenting their most esteemed l . P . M . with a jewel and collar ( from the atelier of Bro . George Kenning ) , which in their kindness they had voted to him . Bro . Walker , said the speaker , in conclusion , I have much pleasure in pinning this jewel upon your bashful breast ; a remark which was received with cries of "Walker" and much applause .
At the conclusion of this speech , Bro . J . Bell sang an impromptu song in honour of Bros . Walker and Joy , in which he did full justice to his opportunities . Bro . Walker , in reply , said that he scarcely knew what to say in his present position ; there had been so much said and sung . As l . P . M ., he should do all in his power for the Westbourne Lodge , and , as regarded the installation ceremony , he had done his verv best to rehearse and
perform that ceremony properly . It had been a very great task to prepare for that work . Most of them knew that during the past year he had had a great deal of work to do in the First , Second , and Third Degrees , and a Master who really desired to perform those duties with satisfaction to himself and the brethren had enough to do . On the previous evening he had had both passings and raisings to do , and the preparation lor the installation ceremony , he was conscious .
had interfered somewhat with the ceremonies he had the " performed . The installation ceremony had not been per ' formed without an effort ; but it had been a labour of love-When first he was put into office he formed a resolution that if he was spared to come to the chair he would do h | S utmost to perform the ceremony of installation . He v . ' 3 S pleased to feel that he had performed it to the satisfaction of the brethren . He now came to the verv handsome jewel
which they had so kindly and very generousl y given to hint ; He hoped he should look upon that jewel for many year , to come , and to wear it in the Westbourne Lodge . He ha * only had two loves in his life , as he had been told the other day , and the Westbourne Lodge was the second . When W looked upon that jewel it would remind him of that secpn *
love , and when his time came to go over to the gl ° ° majority he should be able to hand over that badge , a » W > and jewel to his sons . Bro . Walker concluded by returning his heartfelt thanks for the good wishes that had been c » pressed towards him . . , 1 The W . M . proposed "The Health of the Visitors , with which he coupled the names of Bros . Dr . Cass" *"' Ralph , Studd , Phillips , Ansdl , and Flood , who respond ^ '