Contents.

CONTENTS .

Thc Masonic Ceremony at Truro 239 United Grand Lodge 241 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ' . 241 Grand Lodge Balance-Sheet , 1879 243 Metropolitan Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees -43 Roval Masonic Institution for Girls -43

London Masonic Charity Association -43 Notes on the Ritual 243 Fifty-Six Years a Mason 243 Operative Masons * Marks 244 Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees 244 British Equitable Insurance Company '¦•244 Supreme Council , Thirtv-Third Degree 245

Masonic Notes and Queries 245 Royal Arch 245 Cryptic Masonry 245 LEADERS 246 CORRESPONDENCEThe Royal Visit to Truro 247 Unity of Ritual 24 8 Admission into English Lodges 248

Bro . S . Barton Wilson's Complaint 24 S Lodge at Grantham 248 Visiting English Lodges 248 New Cathedral at Truro 248 The Late Bro . Dr . George Harris 248 Craft Masonry 248 Masonic and General Tidings 250 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 250 Advertisements I . to VIII .

The Masonic Ceremony At Truro.

THE MASONIC CEREMONY AT TRURO .

The foundation stones of the Truro Cathedral were laid on Thursday , thc 20 th May , 1 SS 0 , by tlie Most Worshipful Grand Master , His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , with all the pageantry , pomp , and magnificence befitting a Royal and Masonic ceremonial .

The building of a Protestant Cathedral is a novelty among all the works of the age , and will represent the work of many generations , and the rejoicings were on a scale commensurate with the magnitude of the work . The inhabitants of Truro , and the Masonic and clerical bodies realised that the occasion was historic , and all classes cooperated to make the festival one which would cause the day to be enshrined in the memory of all who were privileged to participate in thc event .

Truro wore a gay air , with thc handsome triumphal arches and profusion of decorations which ensmothercd every street and made pleasant the most unpretentious alley . The weather was truly Royal , the sun shining brightly upon a scene of kaleidoscopic grandeur . The streets of the city were crowded with visitors from early morn , and the proceedings , which were viewed by a vast and brilliant gathering , were barren of any one feature that could detract from a success triumphant in its completeness .

Grand Lodge was opened at the Town Hall at eleven o ' clock , and there were present : — Bro . the Earl of Lathom , D . G . M ., acting as Grand Master in thc absence of thc M . W . G . M ., the Prince of Wales . „ W . W . Beach , M . P ., acting D . G . M . „ Francis B . Austen , acting S . G . W . „ Sir F . Wyatt Truscott , W . M . No . 1 ( Lord Mayor ) ,

J . G . W . „ Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope , G . Chap . „ Rev . Arthur P . Purey-Cust ( Dean of York ) , G . Chap . „ Lieut .-Col . J . Creaton , G . Treas . „ W . J . Hughan , P . G . D ., acting G . Reg . „ Capt . Nath . Geo . Philips , P . G . D ., acting Pres . I 3 . G . P . ,, Lieut .-Col . Shadwell H . Gierke . G . Sec .

„ R . F . Gould , S . G . D . „ Frank Richardson , S . G . D . „ Lieut .-Col . H . S . Somervillc Burney , J . G . D . „ John H . Scott . J . G . D . „ " lohn Gibson , G . S . of Wks . „ Thomas Fenn , P . G . I ) ., acting G . D . C . „ Charles Greenwood , G . S . B .

„ C . S . Jekyll , G . Org . „ W . Clarke , Asst . G . P . „ H . Sadler , G . Tyler . The following brethren acted as Grand Stewards : — Bro . Josiah Houle , P . M . 92 . „ Harold Carter , P . M . 02 . „ Wm . Lake , P . M . 131 .

„ G . Drysdale , J . W . 222 . „ J . H . Sampson , I . P . M . 131 . j , J . H . Matthews , P . M . 143 . The following brethren were deputed to assist in the ceremony : — Bro . W . I . Murlis , P . M . ( Banner of Crand Lod . .-1 .

„ T . W . Willcocks , W . M . 131 ( S . Warden ' s Col . ) „ J . J . Hawken , W . M . 331 ( J . Warden ' s Col . ) „ Joseph Wallace , W . M . 7- . ( Cornucopia ) . „ A . O . Mitchell , W . M . 121 ( Wine ) . » W . Weaver , W . M . 31 S ( Oil ) . „ E . D . Anderton , P . M . 131 ( Mallet ) .

The Masonic Ceremony At Truro.

Bro . T . Farren Penrose , P . M . 101 ( Trowel ) . „ 1 . G . Vincent , W . M . 330 ( Cor . Light ) . „ George Kennedy , 330 ( Doric Light ) . „ John ' O . Job , W . M . 49- ( Ionic tight ) . „ \ V . B . Cory , 131 ( G . M . Banner ) . „ F . H . Shaw , W . M . 330 .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at the Public ! Rooms by the R . W . Lord Mount Edgcumbe , Provincia Grand Master , at 10 . 30 a . m . R . W . the Earl of Lathom , D . G . M ., and the R . W . Bro . Viscount Ebrington , P . G . M . of Devon , were present , and were received with the usual honours . At the close of the salutations the P . G . M . said

that during the last few days he had been very hard at work , and had almost lost his voice . He would , therefore , ask the brethren to keep silent while he laid before them some matter on which , he considered , depended , in a great measure , the success of the present gathering . They would all know that a large number of the brethren present were entitled to admission into Grand Lodge—all Masters and Wardens , present and past . But ,

unfortunately , there arose a difficulty in the admission on this occasion . The room in which the Grand Lodge would be opened was too small to accommodate them . It would not contain over 150 persons . He would , therefore , ask them to permit him to decide who should be admitted . He thought that the Provincial Grand Officers and the present members of each lodge in the province might be accommodated , and the other brethren , he hoped , would kindlv

forego their privilege on this occasion . He would suggest that when the procession returned the Provincial Grand Officers and the Masters of the lodges should part off from it and proceed to the Town Hall , the rest of the brethren following him back to thc Public Rooms . He had also to observe that as a large number of ladies would attend the luncheon all the passages of the Town Hall should be kept as clear as possible , and if any of the brethren of the class

as specified found that there was not room for their admission to Grand Lodge , he would suggest that they would follow him to the Public Rooms . He would ask the brethren if those arrangements met with their approbation . —Bro . Carlyon proposed that the arrangements should be carried out , and by a vote of the lodge it was seconded and carrried unanimously , and warmly approved . —The P . G . M . said he had another matter to bring before the lodge . He

thought on the Duke of Cornwall , their Most Worshipful Grand Master , visiting Cornwall on a Masonic occasion , they would be somewhat neglectful if they did not present him with an address . The idea had occurred to him too late - i be brought before thc Masonic Committee , and , of course , there had not been any opportunity to consult Provincial Grand Lodge . 1 le had , therefore , caused what he considered a suitable address to his Most Worshi pful Grand Master to

be drawn out for presentation . By their leave he would read it for their approval . " To His Royal Highness Albert Edward , Prince of Wales , K . G ., CvC , Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons of England . " May it please your Royal Highness , Most Worshipful Grand Master—We , the Provincial Grand Master , officers , and brethren of the Province of Cornwall , desire to be

allowed to welcome your Royal Highness on this memorable occasion , with our respectful expression of loyalty and fraternal devotion as heir to the throne of England , Lord of the Ancient Duchy , and head of our honourable Craft . We rejoice in the occasion which has brought your Royal Highness amongst us to perform our ancient rites at the foundation of a building which , we believe , will be worthy of the high and holy purpose for which it is reared . It is

an additional source of gratification to us that Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall has been graciously pleased to brighten the scene of our labours with her presence , and we earnestly pray that the Great Architect of thc Universe may pour His blessing upon your Royal Highnesses and all those that are near and dear to you , and grant to you long life , health , and happiness . ( Signed ) "MOUNT KDGCUMBB . P . G . M .

h . CARLYON , G . Secretary . ' The brethren expressed their warm approval of its sentiments , and on its being proposed and seconded that it should be adopted by the P . G . Lodge , it was put and carried unanimously with applause . The presentation was entrusted to the P . G . M . The procession was then formed in the following order : —

Band of Music . Two Tylers , with drawn swords . Visiting brethren . Lodges according to their numbers , juniors walking first . Provincial Grand Officers of other provinces . Provincial Grand Officers of Cornwall . Architect with the nlans .

f A Cornucopia , with corn borne by " ) Grand \ Master of a Lodge , two ewers , L Grand Steward "j with wine and oil borne by Mas- \ Steward . . ters of Lodges . ^ Assistant Grand Pursuivant . Grand Organist . Trowel , borne by a Past Master . Mallet , borne by a Past Master . Past Grand Sword Bearers . Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies . Grand Director of Ceremonies . Grand Superintendent of Works bearing a plate with

the inscription for the Foundation Stone . Past Grand Deacons . Grand Secretary , with the Book of Constitutions . President of the Board of General Purposes . Past Grand Registrars . Grand Registrar bearing the Great Seal .

The Masonic Ceremony At Truro.

Grand Treasurer bearing a phial containing the coins to be deposited in the stone . Past Grand Chaplains . Past Provincial Grand Masters . Provincial Grand Masters . The Corinthian Light borne by the Master of a lodge . The Column of the Junior Grand Warden borne by a

Master of a lodge . The Junior Grand Warden with the plumb rule . G . Steward . Bannerofthe Grand Lodge . G . Steward . The Doric Light borne by the Master of a lodge . The Column of the Senior Grand Warden borne by a Master of a lodge .

The Senior Grand Warden with the level . Junior Grand Deacons . r The Grand Chaplain ¦) Grand Stcward-j bearing the Sacred Law j-Grand Steward » - on a cushion . J

The Deputy Grand Master with the square . The Ionic Light borne by the Master of a lodge . The Grand Sword Bearer . THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER . Senior Grand Deacons . Two Grand Stewards . Grand Tyler . The procession started from the Public Rooms at 11 . 30 , and marched , via Boscawen-strcet and Lemon-street , to Southleigh , in reversed order , followed by the whole of the Masons . Upon the head of the procession reaching Southleigh the brethren opened out , lining the whole of Lemonstreet on both sides , to permit the carriage of H . R . H . the Princess to drive through . They then re-closed and faced thc city . His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand

Master having assumed his place in the procession , it moved off in the above detailed order , and arrived at the western entrance of the Cathedral about noon , the brethren passing through to the north-eastern enclosure and taking their seats , with thc exception of the Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers , who formed in ranks standing on each side of the area of the western enclosure .

Thc preliminary prayers having been offered up by the BishoD of Truro , the Prince passed through the church into the north-east enclosure , in the centre of which a canopy had been erected for his accommodation . One of the windows of the old church overlooking this space had been removed , and around it was erected a carpeted platform for the Princess of Wales , and the occupants of the Royal

Dais . I he Prince was accompanied to the canopy by the Bishop of Truro , who was preceded by the Rev . Canon Mason , bearing the Bishop ' s crazier , and two acolytes . The Canons of the diocese were also assembled under the canopy , the Provincial Grand Officers were drawn up near it , and opposite them were the Clergy , the whole being backed by the assembled brethren . Ihe Bishop of

'I ruro opened the service , the whole of the Clergy joining in the lesponses . His ROYAL HIGHNESS addressed the assembly , saying : Be it known unto you that we , being lawful Masons , true and faithful to the laws of our country , although not ourselves Operative Masons , have from time immemorial been associated with the erection of buildings raised for

the benefit of mankind and the glory of the Great Architect of the Universe . We have among us secrets concealed from those who arc not Masons , but they are lawful and honourable , and are not opposed to the laws either of God or of man . They were entrusted to Masons , in ancient times , and have been faithfully transmitted to us , and it is

our duty to convey them down to our posterity . We are assembled here in thc presence of you all to erect a House for the worship and praise of thc Most High , which I pray that God may prosper as it seem good to Him . And as the first duty of Masons in every undertaking is to enyoke His blessing , I call upon you to join our Grand Chaplain in an address to the Throne of Grace .

The CHAPLAIN having offered up prayer , His ROYAL HIGHNESS said : I now declare it to be my will and pleasure that the corner stone of this Cathedral be laid . The Grand Secretary will read the inscription on the plate . COL . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , Grand Secretary , read the inscription as follows : — " This corner stone of the

Cathedral Church of St . Mary's , Truro , is placed by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall , K . G ., Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England , this 20 th day of May , 1 S 80 . " Cot .. CREATON , Grand Treasurer , was next called upon to deposit a phial containing the coins of the realm in a cavity in the foundation stone , and the Grand Secretary

placed the plate with the inscription on the lower stone . Bro . John Gibson , Grand Supt . of Works , afterwards adjusted the stone , a plain block of granite , and it was then lowered upon a basement of granite . HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS , having laid the stone , and proved its just form and position by the plumb-rule , said : I find this stone to be plumb , and that the Craftsmen have prepared it true and trusty .

Upon thc level being handed to him , HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS , after testing the stone with it , said : 1 find the stone to be level , and that the Craftsmen have laboured skilfully . The square was next handed His ROYAL HIGHNESS , who having used it , said : I find this stone to be plumb , level , and square , and I declare it to be dul y prepared and truly laid , and that the Craftsmen have worked well . 'I he gold vases belonging to the Grand Lodge used ir » the ceremonial were next handed the Grand Master .

His ROYAL HIGHNESS , taking thecornucopiacontaining the corn , said : I scatter corn upon this stone as an emblem of abundance and plenty . May the good seed of