National Union Of Teachers And Freemasonry.

Mascnic government in England in later times . The documents and relics , which were displayed upon a table in the lodge room , are of the most valuable descrip tion , and were described by Bros . Potter Kirby , P . P . G . D . C ., Treas . ; T . B , Why tehead , W . M . Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , P . G . S . B . Eng . ; and A . Procter , 'P . M . They were inspected with great interest by the visiting brethren ,

Amongst the members of the lodge present were Bros . J . A . Askew , W . M .: ! auehton , I . P . M . ; Robinson , S . W . ; Taylor , J . W . ; Larg , acting S . D . j Rayner , J . D . ; J . H . Wray , D . of C . ; Hirst , Org . ; T . C . Thompson , Sec . ; Rvmer , P . P . G . R . ( Lord Mayor of York ); Councillor A . Jones , P . P . G . Treas , ( Sheriff of Vork ) ; Alderman Border , P . P . G . D . ; Alderman Purnell , P . P . G . S . D . H . Foster , P . P . G . D . C , and others .

The W . M . said that when he became aware that the brethren attending the conference in the city would appreciate an opportunity of visiting that iodge , he elt how appropriate it would be for the members of the Craft to recognise the orrsence of their brother Masons , who wield the speculative chisel , and he gladly arranged that special meeting , to which he offered them a hearty Masonic welcome . ( Applause . ) In holding their annual conference at York the National Union of Teachers had come to one of the most ancient seats of learning in the

country , for the records of the Royal School of Saint Peter had been traced back to the days of Alcuin by the late distinguished antiquary the Rev . Chancellor Raine . ( Applause . ) So , as Freemasons , they stood in that old city on classic ground , where the legend and tradition ot the Craft carried them back to the seventh century , when it was said that Edwin , the first Christian King of Northumbria , who resided at Aldby , about six miles away from the city , laid the foundation of a stone church , and sat as its Grand Master . Then the ancient

cop ies of the old constitutions , which were doubtless themselves copies of still older documents , all referred to the general assembly of Masons convened in York by King Athelstan in 926 , who was undoubtedly a patron , of the Craft Those were incidents which cannot be said to be more than legends , though doubtless they have some substratum of fact and so i \ e modicum of truth . They came , however , in the fourteenth century to credible history , as recorded in the fabric rolls of York Minster , from which they found that a society of Freemisons t

was working on that building under the Chaper in 1370 , and that one of the bells was called " the mason ' s bell . " It was also a tradition that their meetings were held in the ancient crypt , an engraving of which they pUced at the held of all their lodge summonses , and it was recorded in one of the old minute books that a Royal Arch Chapter was held thereon Sunday , the 27 th May , 177 8 , which would doubtless be held with a view of sustaining the ancient tradition . ( Applause . ) The annual assembly of the fraternity continued to be held exclusively in York

until the reign of Queen Elizabeth . The title equivalent to that of Grand Master was universally accorded to the body of Masons in that city , and the na n 2 of an ancient York Mason was considered highly honourable , and precedence was conceded to it by both the Sister Countries as being of greater antiquity than the Kilwinning Masons of Scotland , and the Carrickfergus lodges of Ireland . It was then that the transition from Operative Masonry to Speculative Masonry began by the enrolment and initiation

of noblemen and gentlemen as speculative participators in the moral and benevolent usages of the Order . Their first knOwn record was a minute book commencing in 1705 , when the members included many of the letding genth . nen of the county , pointing to the speculitive character of the Craft for sons time previously . In 1717 , the four old London lodges formed themselves intjaGrand Lodge , and thus stimulated , the old lodge at York , in 1725 , assumel the title and functions of Grand Lodge of All England , and continued as such till 1792 , when

it ceased to exist . Two lodges were warranted by the Lou Ion Grand Lodge in York prior to that one , namely , the lodge at the Punch Bowl , in 1761 , which worked for three years only , and the Apollo Lod ^ e in 1773 which ceised to exst in 1813 . In 1777 that lodge was warranted by the London Grand Loige as the Union No . 504 , and it had had a continuous and prosperous career to the present day , being now the York Lodge , No . 236 . ( Applause . ) It had generally be = n considered the lineal representative of the Grand Loiije of All England and of the ancient York Masonry , and as such it succeeded to the possession of the

valuable documents and relics of the old Grand Lodge , which were there for their inspection that evening . Amongst the most interesting were the old bmner which stood on his right , the obligation pedestal , and the columns carrying thc three lesser lights , which all formed part of the furniture of the old Grand Lodge . Such in the brief outline was a sketch of the connection between the Craft and that ancient city , and those who may have felt interested would find the subject fully treated in the works of Gould and Hughan . In conc' . us ' o 1 , he would only express the hope that their visit that evening would not be the least interesting of the events of their sojourn in that city .

Bro . HAMILTON , P , M . 1446 , thanked the W . M . and the brethren of the lodge for giving them the opportunity of meeting together and showing the fraternal feeling existing among brethren wherever they went . He said that wherever the Conference had been held those Masonic meetings had taken place , and he was very anxious that it should not drop through this year , especially in the venerable city of York , and tbey were deeply indebted to the W . M . of that lodge and the

officers for the invitation they had extended to them . It was one of the pleasures of the week and one that they had looked forward to and one that they would bear in mind when they returned to their partxular banners . He explained that there were brethren present from Devonshire to Northumberland , from Yarmouth to Bangor , and many of the places between . Bro . THOMPSON read a letter from the Dean of York , P . G . Chap . Eng . regretting his inability to be present .

After the lodge had been cloted the brethren adjourned to the banqueting room where light refreshments were served , under the presidency of the W . M . The toast of " The Queen and the Craft , " was right loyally honoured . Bro . POTTER-KIRHV proposed " The Most Worshipful the Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and Officers Present and Past of the Grand Lodge . "

It was resolved to send a letter to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales congratulating him on his escape from assassination . Bro . T . B . WHYTUHEAD replied to the toast , and gave an intesely interesting sketch of the history of Freemasonry in York . He said that they stood on classic ground , for York was regarded by many as the Mecca of Freemasonry .

National Union Of Teachers And Freemasonry.

Bro . A . PROCTKR proposed " The Health of the P . G . M ., the Marquis of Zetland ; D . P . G . M ., Lord Bolton ; and Officers Present and Past of Provincial Grand Lodge , North and East Ridings , Yorkshire . " The Sheriff of YORK replied , and alluded to the collection that had been made that day in the cause of Charity by the N . U . T ., and said that what they were doing was also being done by that Province . ( Applause . ) lie claimed that

Freemasanry had a share in fostering the patriotic feeling of the countrv , for Masonry upheld the true spirit of national sentiment which had made England what it had been in the past and which was now instrumental in maintaining the bond of union between England and her Colonies . Bro . PRFSTON COBB , P . G . S ., also replied . Bro . LAUGIITON gave "The Health of the W . M ., " who briefly replied .

Bro . the LORD MAYOR proposed the toast of " The Visitors . " He said that he was not aware that so many of the N . U . T . belonged to the Craft , but he congratulated them on becoming Freemasons . Whatever they hid seen , hear ^ , or done in York he d'd not think that they would regret from a M tsonic point of view that they had visited the city . They in York were proud of their various antiquities , and when they came there he did not for a moment hesitate to say that from a Masonic point of view , they stood as it were on holy ground . He

regretted that at the time during which Grand Lodge was held in the city , there seemed to have been no spirit of veneration for ancient documents and Iandmirks and but little regard , so far as can be judged , for the stricter tenets of the Craft , as now practised . He spoke of the fact that some years ago there was a resolution moved in the York Council Chamber to pull down the city wills , and it was only lost by a small majority . The argument used by those who wanted to pull down the walls was that they interfered with the circulation of fresh air ( Laughter . ) They were hard up for a reason . He mentioned thit to show the

want of care and respect that then existed for the things which they now prizsd most highly . There was not a man to-day who would dare stand up in the Council Chamber and propose to do away with the antiquities of the city . He would be scouted from the city if he did . He wished those sentiments prevailed when Grand Lodge existed in the city . He spoke uf the respect and veneration with which York Masons were held in America , and in conclusion give ths visitors a most hearty welcome to the city . Bros . HAMILTON , A . GARDNER , and j . W . HIGHCLIFI ; responded . Several excellent songs were sung between the speeches .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Peace and Harmony Lodge , No . 60 . A meeting of this lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on the 30 th ult . Among those present were Bros . C . Robinson , P . G . S ., P . P . G . R . Surrey , P . M . 780 , & c , W . M . ; Slade , G . S ., S . W . ; W . Ford , G . S . nominate , J . W . ; J . T . Chancellor , P . M ., P . G . S ., Treas . ; E . Rogers , P . M ., P . G . S ., P . P . G . D ., Sec ; Dr , Jackman , S . D . ; J acques , I . G . ; Major T . C . Walls , P . M ., P . G . S ., P . G . Std . Br ., D . of C . ; Barrett , Stwd . ; H . Debenham , P . G . S ., I . P . M . ; H . Slade , P . M . ; and H . J . Lardner , P . M ., P . G . S .

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and onfirmed . Bro . Rodger was raised to the Third Degree , and Bro . Gordon passed to the Second D ; gree . The ball it was taken on behalf of Mr . Nathaniel Gould , and it being unanimous , he was duly initiated by the W . M . It was unanimously resolved that the annual summer dinner should be held at the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court . A notice of motion was given to vote a sum of money to the South African Masonic Relief Fund . The lodge w £ S then closed .

A banquet followed . Upon the removal of the cloth the customary toasts received full justice , bro . Slade , G . S ., responded on behalf of " The Grand Officers . " " The Health of the W . M . " was submitted by the I . P . M ., who sooke indessrvelly high terms of the W . M . ' s working that evening . He said that the W . M . had had the

three ceremonies to perform , and had discharged the duties exceedingly well . The W . M . having briefl y replied , gave " I'he Initiate . " In giving this toast the W . M . slid that he was gratified that evening in bein * able to introduce to the ranks ot the Peace and Harmony Lodge a distinguished man of letters . He felt confident thit Bro . Nathaniel Gould would in due time become a valuable working member of tie lodge .

The initiate having briefly acknowledged the compliment , the toast of " The Past Masters " followed . In submitting this important pledge , the W . M . specially alludei to the prosperous two years tenure of oflice of Bro . Debenham , I . P . M . lie had ml only done well in the lodge , but his geniality and liberality at the social amenities hid not been surpassed by any of his distinguished predecessors . Bro . Debsnham having responded , the toast of " The Treasurer , Secretary , an ! Officers , " coupled with the names of Bros . Chancellor , P . M . ; Rogers , P . M . ; and Ford , J . W . ; terminated the proceedings , which were throughout of a mjst pleasant and enjoyable nature .

John Hervey Lodge , No , 1260 . PRESENTATIONS TO BRO . CAPT . JOHN BARLOW , J . P ., LP . M . The installation festival and 31 st anniversary of this well-known and distinguish : I lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Great Quen-strest , on the inn inst ., wh : u there were present Bros . Captain John Birlow , J . P ., W . M . j E . V . Pearce , S . W , W . M . elect ; J . J . Cornell , J . W . ; J . B . Sjrrell , P . M ., Treasurer ; J . R . Rs : p , P . M ., Secretary ; 1 . H . Maine , S . D . ; Charles Varley , J . D . ; Walter Eira . i-,,

I . G . ; E . G . Pjckman , P . M ., D . C ; F . Dangerfidd , P . M . ; G . 1 . Salmon , P . M . ; H . Evans , P . M . ; F . Varley , P . M . ; B . Hooker . I . P . M . ; W . A . May , L . B . bomm : r . field , J . M . McLarty , Arthur Hatch , Evan Lloyd , E . A . K . Adams , G . Coliings , H . K . Blackburn , J . Lethbridge , H . A . Cunnis , F . French , G . S . Evans , N . F . Merrntiin , G . Gaily , J . H . Rowse , C . Hefford , W . Clement , J . R . Smythe , G , P , tt S . nith , J . R . CM , and A . R . Harrison . Visitors : Bros . Percy Hall , P . M . 2095 , P . P . G . R . Surrey ; I ' m ...

Johnson , 171 G ; J . Alford Clarke , T . D . C . L ? veri : t , 1139 ; George Nightingale , P . M . 193 ; Alfred Bennett , 44 . P . P . S . G . D . East Lanes . ; J . W . Burgess , 1325 , P . P . G . D . West Lanes . ; George Pearce , 7 66 ; Arthur Willis , 15 ; J . W . Moornun , P . P . \ . G . D . Surrey ; Alfred Jones , P . M . 1949 ; H . Johnson , 129 S ; Lewes Fergus ™ , P . M . 1937 ; D . Bidmead , 1566 ; Richard Poore , P . M . 1949 ; G ; o . Dean , 1559 ; E . G . Cormick , P . M . 1540 ; Harry Perry , P . P . G . D . Lanes . ; H . V . Stow , P . M ., Ireas . 257 S ; A . B . Hickisson , 2552 ; J . G . W . James , P . M . 2578 , P . P . G . S . B . Berks ; L . A . Newton , ni ; &

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