Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

R EPORTS OP MASONIC MEETINGS : — Craft Masonry 759 Koyal Arch 760 Mark Masonry 760 Scotland 761

Prov . Grand Chapter of Middlesex 762 Masonic Bibliography 762 Masonic Tidings , 762 M asonic Notes and Queries 762 Our Fund of Benevolence 764 . The Use of the Masonic Press 764

CORRESPONDENCE : — Is the Pope a Freemason ? , 765 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 765 Bro . Constable ' s Drawing 765 Freemasonry in the United States 766 Reopening of Swanscombe Church 7 66

New Masonic Hall at Prescot 766 Consecration of a Chapter at Eccles 7 ^ 7 United Grand Lodge 7 ^ 7 Noble Expression of Masonic Sympathy 7 ^ 7 Obituary 76 3 Advertisements 757 758 764 76 8 769 770 771 772

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

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Irswrcn . —British Union Lodge ( No ; 114 ) . — The usual monthly meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Ipswich , on Thursday , 19 th inst ., present , Bros . Peter de Lande Long , W . M .

Rey . I . E . Lockwood , D . P . G . M . •Rev . R . N . Sanderson , P . G . C ; Body , P . G . S . W . ; C . Long , P . G . D . C ; Emra Holmes , P . P . G ., Reg . ; W . Spalding , Sec . ; A . J . Barber , P . G . O . ; P . Cornwall , P . P . G . S . D . ; A . D . George , S . W . ; J . J . Burton , J . D . ; Rev . J . B . Tweed , I . G . ; & c . Visiting brethren , N . Tracy , P . P . G . S . W . ; S . B .

King , P . P . G . S . D ., & c . The lodge having been opened ia due form and the minutes of last lodge confirmed , the ballot was taken for W . M . and Treasurer for the ensuing year , when Bro . George was almost unanimously elected to fill the chair of K . S ., Bro . Schulen being re-elected

Treasurer , and Bro . G . Spalding , Tyler . Bro . Emra Holmes , pursuant to notice , moved that the initiation fee be raised from four guineas to five . He remarked ihtt the financial state of the lodge , the frequent calls on its hospitality , its position in the province , and the fact that

within the last 30 or 40 years the fee had been five guineas—all necessitated the return to the original sum charged for initiation . Many lodges charged far higher , notably the Erasmus Wilson , which had fixed the fee at 25 guinea * -, and he felt sure that no candidate , such as they

would wish to see amongst them , would scruple to do so for the sake of the additional guinea . Bro . Schulen seconded the motion , which was warmlyjsupported by Bro . Body , who remarked that another lodge in the province charged six guineas . The W . M . said he could not express

an opinion on the subject as he did not know sufficiently the circumstances of the case , he might remark , however , that he thought perhaps Bro . Holmes was wrong in the name of the lodge he cited . He understood that a lodge at the Stock Exchange charged sixty guineas for

initiation , Bro . Holmes remarked that he was informed by a member of the Erasmus Wilson Lodge that the fee was what he stated . The AV . M . then put the motion , which was carried unanimously . Bro . Holmes then moved that a salaried Organist should be appointed , and dilated

on the great impressiveness of the ceremonies when assisted by music , and the admirable Masonic Musical Services which were published for use in lodges . Bro . George seconded the motion , which was opposed by Bro . Barber , P . G . O ., on the ground that it was useless

appointing an Organist until the organ was put in better repair . A general discussion ensued , in which Bros . Long , Sanderson and Clark took part , and thc motion was ultimately lost . No other business being before the meeting the

lodge was closed and the brethren retired-for refreshment . WAVERTREE . —Dnke nf Edinburgh Lodge ( No . 1182 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of this hi ghly prosperous suburban lodge was held

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

at the Coffee House , Wavertree , near Liverpool , on Wednesday evening , the 18 th inst ., when there were about seventy brethren present—the largest gathering which has been seen for a long time . Bro . J . W . Edginton , W . M ., presided , and amongst the others present were

Bros . Pugh , P . M . ; Williams , I . P . M . ; Thornton , P . M . ; Cookson , P . M . ; T . B . Myers , S . W . ; R . Martin , jun , ; Brown , Treas . ; Williams , Sec , & c . The gathering included the extraordinary number of 17 P . M . ' s and W . M . ' s , an attendance which has not been equalled for some

time . No fewer than eight candidates were initiated , which shows that the lodge continues to increase greatlv in numbers as well as in the excellent quality of its members . During the evening a very handsome watch , massive gold charm and albert , and an illuminated address

were presented to Bro . J . G . Bales , the Secretary of the lodge since its beginning , and this formed the most important feature ofthe evening ' s programme . The address was to the effect that the brethren could not permit Bro . Bales to retire from the Secretaryship of the lodge—an

office which he had filled from its consecration —without testifying in some measure to the faithful manner in which he had fulfilled the onerous duties of that position . They ( the brethren ) asked him to accept that address as a testimony of their appreciation of his services ;

and they also desired to give the watch , chain , and charm , as a further proof of the manner in which they valued his long services as Secretary The watch bore an inscription to the effect that the whole was presented as a mark of esteem by the brethren to Bro . Bales . The W . M . ( Bro .

Edginton ) , in making the presentation , spoke of the progress which the lodge had made since its consecration , and referred in the highest terms to the valuable services rendered by Bro . Bales while acting as the Secretary . Bro . Bales , in acknowledg ing the handsome testimonial , said he had done what he could for the lodge , and

he felt more than repaid by the tokens of brotherly fellowship and kindness which he had received that night . During the proceedings a committee was appointed for the purpose of taking the preliminary steps , with the view to the formation of a Royal Arch * Chapter in connection with the lodge .

MILLOM . —U-kUicell Lodge ( No . 1390 ) . — The regular communication of this lodge was held in the Masonic Hall on Tuesday , the 17 th inst- The lodge was opened at 6 o ' clock p . m ., by the W . M ., Bro . Mills , P . P . G . S . B-, who was supported by Bros . Thomas Dodgson , I . P . M .,

P . M . 995 ; Roger Dodgson , P . M ., W . M . 995 , P . P . G . S ^ B . ; Meredith , S . W . ; Postlethwaite , J . W ., W . M ., 139 8 , P . G . S . ; Crooke . Sec ; Wailing , S-D . ; Bell , J . D . •Blakeney , I . G . ; and a large number of brethren . The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . \

candidate for initiation was balloted for and accepted . The W . M . afterwards entrusted a candidate for the second degree , who then retired . The W . M . ' s chair was then taken by Bro . Thomas Dodgson , who opened the lodge in the Fellow Craft ' s degree , and on the candidate being

readmitted he was dul ) passed ; the working tools being presented by Bro . Roger Dodgson- The candidate again retired and five Fellow Crafts were examined as to thair proficiency and entrusted for the third degree . They wore afterwards severally raised to the sublime degree of

M . M ., Bro . Roger Dodgson giving two of the degrees and Bro . Thomas Dodgson the remaining three and also the Historic Lecture and a lectureon the third degree tracing board . The lodge was then closed in form to the first degree , when

the Secretary read a letter from Bro . Lord Muncaster , P . P . G . S . W ' , regretting his inability to be present at the lodge on that evening . A candidate for admission into Masonrj was proposed and other general business disposed of , when the lodge was closed about 11 o ' clock

p . m . MANCHESTER . —The Lmlin : ' */ ' Truth , ( No . 14 , 5 8 ) , Bro . W . Turner , VV . M ., held its 12 th regular meeting on Saturday , Nov . 7 th , at the Royal Archer Hotel , Dale-street , Manchester , for the election of officers and the transaction of other important business . Bro . Smith ,

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

J . W . was unanimously elected W . M ., and Bro . Tyers , P . M ., was unanimously re-elected Treasurer . The lodge was honoured with the presence of Bro . Romaine Callender , R-W-D P . G-M . of East Lancashire . After business a sumptuous banquet was served by the host , Bro- Pots

LIVERPOOL . —Lodge of Israel ( No : 1502 . ) — The ordinary monthly meeting of this young lodge was held on Monday evening , the 16 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Liverpool ; and from the thorough efficiency displayed by the W . M ., the esprit of the officers , and the devotion to duty

shown by the brethren our prediction that the lodge would soon be "at the top of the ( Masonic ) tree " in West Lancashire seems likely to be realised , and that quickly . As an evidence of the admirable spirit of liberality which has quickly developed itself in the lodge , which is

not yet two months old , it ought to be stated that nearly £ 15 have already been subscribed for the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , the W . M . heading the list with a very handsome donation- The example is a noble one , and therefore all honour to the

members of the Lodge of Israel ! The lodge was opened punctually at six o ' clock by Bro . Ralph . Robinson , the W . M ., supported by the following officers : —Bros . Maurice de Frece , S . W . ; A . J . Henochsberg , J . W . ; Isaac de Frece , Treas , ; M . Hart , Sec ; A . Jones , S . D . ; S . Schonstadt ,

J . D . ; B . Woolf , I . G . ; P . A . Crozier , S . S . ; A . Hart , J . S . ; W . G . Veale , Org . ; and W . H . Ball , Tyler . The members of the lodge present were Bros . J . Moss , J . Frank , D . L . Marcus , S . Hart , A . Liebusch ' utz , A . Prenclan , J . S . McCable , J . M . Foote , G . J . Somers , F .

Barnett , Frank Moss , and M . Parkes . The visitors were Bros . R . S . Godsol , 594 ; J . Brown , 241 * , F . Siemmes , 241 ; J . Clarke , 753 •J . Ferguson , 753 ; and E . J . Callow , 104 , Messrs . Hermann and Rabow were balloted for , duly elected , and afterwards initiated in a

remarkably impressive and admirable manner by the W . M ., Bros . \ Somers , S- Hart , McCabe , and Liebuschutz , being found proficient , were subsequently passed to the degree of F . C , the work being again capitally done by the W . M .

The working tools in this degree were given by Bro . A . J . Henochsberg , j . W ., and no more complete and effective delivery of this portion of the ritual has rarely been heard . After the transaction of some formal business , the lodge was closed in peace and concord .

METROPOLITAN LODGE ( No . 1507 ) . —This new lodge held its second regular meeting on Thursday , Hhe 19 th ins * ., at the rooms of the Metropolitan Club , 269 , Pentonville-road . Bro . James Willing , jun ., W . M ., presided , and was supported by Bros . J . Michael , S . VV . ; Thomas

Williams , J . W . ; R . Rose , Treasurer ; George Tims , Secretary ; H . Shield , S . D . ; R . T . Kingham , J . D . ; W . M . Stiles , G . Colls , A . Rapkin , C . Scales , W . R . Clarke , T . R . Maples , G . Cheek , W . Side , W . Hopton , G . Potter , Gordon Adams , 76 ; A . H . Longhurst , P . M .

1425 ; W . Ryan , J . D . 1260 ; W . Lows , J . W . 1260 ; and H . Massey ( Freemason ) , P . M . 619 . The W . M . initiated Messrs . H . G . Rapkin , C . Carter , Thomas Jones , Thomas Jackson , and George Cook , and passed Bros . Rapkin , Scales , Culls arid Stiles . The brethren elected as a

joining member Bro . Geo . Potter , 261 , and then considered and passed the bye-laws of the lodge . An announcement of the position of the lodge was made , and it showed that every liability being discharged there was a balance of nearly L-1 to the credit . This was considered to be

very gratifying , tlie lodge being less than three months ol < l . The lodge was then closed , and an enii-rgeney meeting appointed for six o ' clock , on the 1 st Deee-nber . A capital banquet with excellent wines was afterwards provided by Mr . C . Cox , the manager ofthe Metropolitan Club , which was heartily partaken of , and the brethren

in clue course honoured the customary toasts . The initiates replied separately to the toast of their health , and promised to follow up the good work that evening begun with energy and assiduity . Bro . George Tims proposed the health of the W . M ., and expressed the opinion of the brethren by praising his fluent working , and his efforts in promoting the welfare of the