Contents.

CONTENTS .

Supreme Grand Chapter 43 Consecration of thc St . Ambrose Lodge , No . 1891 43 Grand Concert in Liverpool in Aid of Masonic Charities 44 Bro . Manuel Prado y Sanchez and Freemasonry in Spain 45 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 45 The Masonic Swindler at Newport 45

RETORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 45 Instruction 49 Royal Arch 49 . Mark Masonry 49 Rosicrucian Society 49 LEADERS 5 °

Answers to Queries S CORRESPONDENCEThe D . G . M . on Pauperism 51 The Provincial Charities Association for N . and E . Yorks ... 5 ' Thc Hervey Memorial Fund Si Freemasonry in Tunis $ 1 Jews and thc Higher Degrees 5 * A Query 5 "

Reviews 5 Masonic Notes and Queries 51 Obituary , S Literary , Art , and Antiquarian Notes 53 Masonic and General Tidings 53 Amusements 54 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 54 Advertisements I .. II .. III .. IV .. V .. VI .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following is the agenda paper for Grand Chapter , on Wednesday , the 2 nd of February : The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL

PURPOSES . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 20 th of October ,

1 SS 0 , to the iSth of January , 1 SS 1 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows : To Balance , Grand Chapter £ 176 7 9 1 „ „ Unappropriated Account 1 S 1 7 7 „ Subsequent Receipts 3 G 2 13 8

£ 2311 10 4 By Disbursements during the Quarter ... £ 10 S 9 6 6 „ Balance 1041 7 9 „ „ in Unappropriated Account ... 1 S 0 16 1

£ 3 3 " 10 4 which Balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received thc following petitions : 1 st . From Comps . Charles Hey wood , as Z .: Charles

Fitzgerald Matier , as II . ; Carl Johann Wilhelm Gotz , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Humphrey Chetham Lodge , No . G 45 , iManchester , to be called the Humphrey Chetham Chapter , and to meet at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester . 2 nd . From Comps . John Segond , as Z . ; Hamilton

Stilon , as H . ; the Chevalier Edward Rosenbusch , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Zetland Lodge , No . 515 , Malta , to be called the Resurrection Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Valetta , Malta . 3 rd . From Comps . Joseph Loxdalc Warren , as Z . ; John

Bodenham , as H . ; Thomas Wood , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Staffordshire Knot Lodge , No . 726 , Stafford , to be called the Royal Chartley Chapter of Fortitude , and to meet at thc North-Western Hotel , Stafford . 4 th . From Comps . John Higsnn Johnston , as Z . ; Frederick King Stevenson , as II . ; Charles PhilipTitherley ,

as J . ; and ten ethers for a chapter to be attached to the Fermor Heskcth Lodge , No . 1350 , Liverpool , to be called the Fermor Hesketh Chapter , and to meet at thc Masonic Temple , Hope-street , Liverpool . The foregoing petitions being -n all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted .

( Signed ) JOHN CREATON , Crand Treasurer , President . Freemasons Hall , London , W . C . £ S * . _ 19 th January , 1 SS 1 . 1

Consecration Of The St. Ambrose Lodge, No. 1891.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . AMBROSE LODGE , No . 1891 .

The St . Ambrose Lodge , No . 1 S 91 , was consecrated on Friday , the 21 st inst ., at the Baron's Court Hotel , Earl ' s Court , by the R . W . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Secretary of England , who was assisted by the R . W . Bro . Robt . J . Simpson , M . A ., Past G . Chaplain ; R . W . Bro . Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D ., as S . W . ; R . W . Bro . S .

Rawson ( P . G . D . M . China ) , as J . W . ; and R . W . Bro . Frank Richardson , G . S . D ., as D . C . The following brethren were also present : Bros . R . F . Gould , G . D . ot Eng . ; Peter McLagan , M . P ., P . G . M . Linlithgowshire ; j . Winborne Laurie , P . G . M . Nova Scotia ; H . C . Close , M . P ., P . G . M . Armagh ; Sir Norman Pringle ; G . A . Berkeley , 10 S ; H . E . Francis , S 57 , P . G . S . D . ; C . Cordingley , S . W . 45 : A . E . Gladwell ,

W . M . 172 ; W . C . Glen , 197 ; W . Burch , 172 ; A . Abercrombie , 1769 ; F . E . Pocock , 1629 ; E . Letchworth , 2 ; R . Gilford ; W . D . Becket ; S . H . Parkhouse , P . M . 1642 ; ~ W . Temple , 92 ; A . B . Baker , W . M . 1 S 2 S ; R . Pierpoint , J . W . 1 S 2 S ; G . Edwards , 1507 ; W . F . Bates , 1507 ; G . T . Carter . P . M . 3 S 2 ; T . Baxter , 145 ; T . Hancock , W . M . 166 7 ; J . W . Barker , S . W . 1767 ; J . H . Taylor , l . W . 1767 ; Col . G . Haldane , P . M . 349 and 161 S

P . D . D . G . M . Malta ; E . E . Dawall ; G . White ; W . Harvey ; W . O . Beazley ; J . Horsman ; E . Ayling , l . W . 975 ; J . Cockburn , 13 S 1 ; Theo . Distin , Past G . Steward ; T . Lloyd , 10 S ; C . Greenwood , jun ., P . P . G . R . Surrey ; H . Lovegrove , P . G . S . D . Middx ., P . M . 1777 ; J . Clever ; C . Thompson , S . W . 1769 ; B . H . Paul ! , 197 ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; ] . Hill , M . D . ; C . H . Adams , W . M . 511 ; Major C . Harding , W . M . 77 S ; W . Lake ,

P . M ., P . G . Reg . Cornwall ( Freemason ); Sic . After the lodge had been opened in the Three Degrees , Bro . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , in announcing the granting of the warrant for the lodge by the Most Worshipful Grand Master , said that in the present day , when the lodges numbered nearly 1900 , it was felt that the limits of progress had been arrived at ; but an exception had been made in favour of this lodge , and , from his personal knowledge of

those connected with it , he felt sure the result would be all that could be desired . He would say a word of warning to them , and hoped they would not be led away by a desire for large numbers . It was very easy to accept candidates , but difficult to get rid of unworth y members . He was sure , however , they would always exercise caution in this respect . He was glad to welcome among them that day a P . G . M . from Nova Scotia and representatives from thc Grand

Lodges of Scotland and Ireland . They might also congratulate themselves on having such a distinguished and numerous company , notwithstanding the severity of the weather . Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON then ranged the petitioners in due order , and read the warrant granted by the Grand Lodge of England , whereupon the Consecrating Officer enquired whether the petitioners approved of thc officers nominated in the warrant , and having been answered in the

affirmative , called upon the Chaplain to deliver the oration . Bro . the Rev . J . R . SIMPSON , P . G . Chap ., then said : Worshipful Master , Wardens , and ( brethren , let me in the first place congratulate the brethren of the St . Ambrose Lodge on the auspicious occasion of our present assembly—especially when we have regard to our distinguished brother in the chair , and the eminent Masons who are appointed to the principal offices in the lodge—and in

the second place congratulate our Order in adding one more Tent to the thousands that now constitute the great Masonic encampment that extends over the four quarters of the world . It would be vain for mc to carry back your thoughts to that remote antiquity of which Freemasonry boasts , and to our worthies of former days , whose words and deeds shed glory on the Craft ; that antiquity has been illustrated , and those noble Masons have been

eulogised , by poets and by sages , and are doubtless familiar to you all . But I would for a moment point to the immediate Past and to the Present , and I would fearlessly ask what body of men on the face of earth is more universal in its extent , higher in its aims , purer in its principles , more united in its operations , or more bountiful in its charities than the ancient Institution to which we belong ; more zealous in providing " peace and goodwill" upon earth ,

and in pointing the road to heaven ? It would , indeed , be strange if in an imperfect world such as ours we claimed infallibility , either for our Order , or its individual members . The frailties of human nature are incident to all communities , and thc long and painful history of one great body of extravagantly spiritual pretentions , supplies us with as significant illustrations of this fact as any that the world's chronicles can furnish . But wc may safely assert

that Masonry , with its sublime principles , has from age to age , and in many a dark hour of that world ' s history , proved a mighty educator , m the hand of the Grand Master Most High , in elevating human nature from the dust in which it had sunk , placing it on the road to happiness , and bidding it with a potent voice echoed through centuries " Rise up and walk . " It has taken thc light from under the bushel of Ihe cloister , and put it not only " on a candlestick , " but " on a hill , " that all around may

benefit by its benign rays . It has broken down the self-constituted monopolies of human selfishness , and opened out to man the power , the wisdom , the glory , and , above all , the goodness of God . Can we wonder that a society of men bound together by such principles , and avowing such obligations , has weathered the storms of upwaids of 2000 years , and lives to ( his day , more vigorous , more numerous than ever ? What wonder that legislators , nobles , statesmen , princes , and kings crowd into our ranks , and that at this moment thc Emperor of Germany , the King of Swc-

Consecration Of The St. Ambrose Lodge, No. 1891.

den , the King of Denmark , the King of Italy , the President of the United States , the Heir Apparent to the Imperial Throne of Germany , and last , not least , the Heir Apparent to the throne of England , should form a galaxy of Masonic beauty , and a bond of Masonic strength unparalleled in the annals of the world . Never since the day that York gave a birthplace to the first Christian Emperor , Constantino thc Great , or the same ancient city was the

site of Alfred's Masonic throne , has Masonry made such strides in England as at this day , and never has it held a higher character . It is ready to be tried b y its own law— . and I hesitate not to assert that in proportion as it stands that test it will " hold its own " against principalities and powers , against malicious sneers and impotent anathemas . The fierce light of public opinion beats upon us , brethren ; let us ' come to that light , and it will be felt that Masonry

does not ignore—nay , it points to enduring mansions and a final rest . It teaches the progressive natuie of human knowledge , which we see evinced by the improvements taking place every day amongst us , and by a natural induction it leads us to conclude that what we see proceeding in such regular order towards perfection , will not suspend its operations even when the functions of the

perishable body cease . This scene of human life , though the theatre of improvement is far from being that of perfection , we must look through the cloud therefore , and welcome that " Bright and morning star" which li g hts up all our prospects and points the pathway to immortality— " For now we see through a glass darkly , but then face to face , now we know in part , but then shall we know even as we are known , " not in poetry but in fact ,

"There ' s naught but what ' s good To be understood By a Free and an Accepted Mason . " It is no secret that in years far back in our history Masonry was not unaffected by the customs of the times through which it was passing , and gave more attention to the social than to the intellectual , the moral , or the religious elements in its constitution , that its charity was

too contracted and self-contained , and that that most significant image which God has given to us to be an emblem of high truths was in danger of being reversed by " the members , " not the Head , taking the uppermost seat . I trust in God , that for God's sake , for our Order's sake , for our own sake , that now this view of Masonry is fading away , and that such a view is now publicly and rightl y branded as a " Masonic heresey . Let us not be supposed

for a moment to contend for a real or affected asceticism , nor to disparage or discourage the fair and reasonable social intercourse that is to be found in our assemblies at the festive board ; but I do say the lodge ought to stand clearly first , the banquet second , in our estimation j and , I make bold to say , that Masonry would flourish as well ( ourselves also ) if the ordinary banquets in London ( as in the provinces ) , were fewer in number , and not on so

expensive a scale as they are at present . When I speak of the lodge standing first in our estimation , 1 do not merel y allude to the principles there inculcated , nor even to our beautiful ritual . I would include also the mode in which they are conveyed and conducted , the attention to details , the order maintained , the bearing of the officers to the brethren and to each other , and , not least , the correct , reverent , and impressive manner in which our most

beautiful , solemn , and instructive ceremonies are rendered . It is impossible to calculate the momentous effect with which this must tell upon Masonry in general , or upon the lod ge or individual Mason in particular . Few scenes of my life are stamped upon my memory in deeper characters than my entrance into Masonry , and my being raised to what is called , in no exaggerated language , the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason . And why ? Not merely owing to the

matter , but even more to the manner in which the Degree was worked . There is another point , brethren , to which I would venture to direct your attention and my own—I mean to our noble Charities . Let them be a first charge on our Masonic affections , not merely in regard to raising princely sums to sustain them ( itself a glorious work ) , but in maintaining in them a high standard of efficiency and of moral and religious culture . Nor should we shrink from

calmly , and without prejudice , considering , whether some obvious improvements may not be effected by which admission to our Institutions may be made on a more reasonable , more discriminating , more economical , and more equitable basis . I should not regret to sec it made a qualification , for every London Mason at least , before he was raised to thc Degree of a Master Mason that he should have personally visited at least one of our Masonic

Charities . Let mc , brethren , in conclusion , say a few words on that sacred foundation on which our 1 'aith and Hope are built . The knowledge of God is the grand end and purpose of true religion , and the result to which this knowledge leads is the supreme happiness of man . It is clearly not proposed that wc should become acquainted with God merely by speculation and metaphysical research —but by the contemplation of His glorious perfections

and His noble and benevolent designs in thc kingdoms of nature and nf grace , as they stand in connection with that eternal life to which our highest hopes aspire . The infinity of God , the awful grandeur of Him who fills all space and governs all the works of Mis material and intellectual creation , must for ever transcend the limited capacities of

finite beings . An impenetrable veil is drawn before the throne of Him , Whom we are yet bound lo adore as the Great Author of our being , and the Father of our spirits . But sufficient information is afforded to guide us , as it has thousands before us , to such conclusions respecting Him as may b ? st promote our duty to Him , and bring down His blessing on us . And if He makes not all His