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main worked satisfactorily , and that a complete harmony of feeling has existed , and exists , among the lodges and brethren of the three jurisdictions . But a successful example is sure to be contagious , and we hear that at the installation meeting of the Waikouaiti Lodge , No . 2115 , Otago , Bro . F . A . GREEN , the retiring W . Master , boldly uttered the hope that

" the time was not far distant when there would be only one Constitution in New Zealand , and expressed his willingness to work for that object . " There can be no doubt there is ample material in the colony for the successful establishment of an independent Grand Lodge , the English lodges alone , not to mention those under the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland , being

upwards of 100 in number . VVe offer no opinion as to whether the movement , in the event of its being seriously undertaken , will proceed with the same facility as in South Australia . In the latter case there were only the lodges in one district to consult , but in New Zealand there are several

district organisations , and it may not prove quite so easy to secure unanimity among these , even though the most friendly feelings may prevail amongst them . However , if the New Zealand brethren are actuated by the same spirit as those of South Australia , and proceed in the same loyal and constitutional manner as did the latter in their endeavours to establish a

separate Grand Lodge , we venture to say the Grand Lodges of the Old Country will treat the project as generously and with the same anxiety to do what is best for the general good of Freemasonry .

The "Humber" Lodge, No. 57, Hull.

THE " HUMBER" LODGE , No . 57 , HULL .

Bro . J . Coltman Smith wrote a " History of the Warrant of the Humber Lodge , No . 65 , " and had it published in 1855 . He compiled it " with the intention , rather of beguiling certain intervals of leisure in the business of the lodge , at the time he had the honor of being Master , than for circulation amongst the brethren . " The oamphlet makes no pretension

to doing more than " affording amusement , not perhaps altogether unmingled with instruction , " but as it has of late years been referred to at times as somewhat of an authority , I have decided to allude to a few interesting points , as also to some of the errors that the author fell into , so as to exhibit the main facts af the history of the lodge , free from the unfortunate inaccuracies of Bro . Smith's compilation .

A copy of the present warrant begins the History proper , and recites that the Charter was granted by authority of the Duke of Atholl , as G . M . of the " Ancients , " to certain brethren to meet at the Buck and Dog , Strand , in the Town of Liverpool , the date being 17 th April , 1775 , and the number 53 . What work was done under the original Warrant of 19 May , 1756 , cannot now be traced ( apparently ) , but possibly the lodge was never constituted . At all events , neither the place of meeting ( beyond the fact

of its being issued for Liverpool ) , nor its name are known to Bro . John Lane ( " Masonic Records , 1717-1886 , " p . 42 . ) The note in the S . W , corner of the existing charter of 1775 , states "This Warrant is Registered in the Grand Lodge , vol . 2 , letter B ., and bears date May 19 , 1756-5756 . " On the second start , the " Buck and Dog " was the chosen home , until the " Cheshire Coffee House " became the favoured place of meeting a few years later on .

Bro . Smith evidently considers the lodge was named the " Ancient Knight Templars , " from its origin , but I am not aware of any evidence of that name being used prior to 1786 . Possibly the " Ancients" affected the Masonic Knight Templar ceremony , but no authority was ever given by that Grand Lodge for the working of any Degree beyond or additional to the " Third , " save the Royal Arch . Even so late as May 4 th , 1808 , it is noted in the official Records that no emblem of Kni ghts Templars or other order of knighthood was permitted to be worn at the Festival .

The lodge was under a cloud early in 1805 , but in 1809 it " and the Warrant No . 53 , " was transferred to and " held at a house known by the sign of the Fleece Inn , Market-place , Hull , " by authority of the D . G . M . of England ( Bro . Thomas Harper ) , as per indorsement on the Charter , the first meeting being held on the 17 th March , 1809 , under its old name , but that not being liked by the members , it was changed for the more appropriate one of the "Humber , " on 2 nd July , 1810 .

Bro . Smith gets into a " fog " respecting the origin of the Warrant of this Lodge in 1775 , as he declares it was " Granted by the Duke of Athol , who at the time , and for many years afterwards , was the Grand Master of the Ancient Grand Lodge of York , or as it was then , and for many years afterwards contended , the only lodge that had power to grant Warrants in England . " The " Ancients" at one time , and that earl y in their career ,

did certainly claim a direct York origin , but that was not a true statement , and was dropped as the facts of the case became known . This Body was never connected in any way with the old Lodge , and then Grand Lodge at York , but had its seat from the first , and throughout , at London ; neither did any organisation ever claim the exclusive ri ght of warranting Lodges

in England when the York G . L . was formed . Bro . Smith tells us that the old records of the Lodge prove , as do many others , that visitors , termed "Moderns , " had to be made " Ancient" before they could participate in the meetings . The number of the Lodge at the " Union " was lowered to 73 , the change not being recognised by the Secretary apparently until August , 1814 .

We are also told that the brethren at Liverpool joined another Lodge , hence the transfer , which was brought about , in part , through the good offices of the members of two Military Lodges then assembling in Hull , Nos . 120 and 215 . On 7 th Nov ,, 1810 , it was unanimously resolved that the G . Sec . should be written to relative to a R . A . Chapter being held , and doubtless full information was given , as on 26 th May , 1811 , it was " Resolved , that a

meet-- ing be held every Sunday night , to open a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , " and there is a record that the Chapter so met on the 4 th of the following month . Unfortunatel y , the brethren do not seem to have been alive to their privileges in 1817 , when the " United Grand Chapter" was formed , for had they applied in due time for the requisite authority , they might have had a Warrant without any charge , whereas it was not until 1826 the Charter was applied for , the payment of 5 guineas on August 23 rd , 1827 , being acknowledged in the Grand Chapter Report .

I pass over a lot of matter respecting internal troubles , of which the members had more than their full share , from 1819 to 1823 . About 1817 , some discontented brethren of the "Minerva" Lodge ( so Bro . Smith narrates ) , having resigned , got hold of the Warrant of the " Rodney "

The "Humber" Lodge, No. 57, Hull.

Lodge ( No . 451 ) , and " worked" together for some two years , when on making " Returns " to Grand Lodge , the payments so made were kept and credited to the old account , and they were refused recognition until the whole was paid ! On this demand , they succumbed , but in time joined the old "Humber" Lodge , thus explaining the possession by the Lod ge of many of the " Rodney " Lodge Jewels , and thus considerably extending its ranks . The frequent payments to Grand Lodge after this accession are quite a noticeable feature .

I cannot spare the time to give the interesting sketch of Bro . Smith ' s relative to the difficulty experienced by the members in carrying out their laudable desire to assemble in their own Masonic Hall . The landlord of the Turk ' s Head objected to such a proceeding , and took very extreme measures to prevent the removal of the lodge . However , as he is "dead and gone " ( I mean the landlord , not the "Turk's Head , " ) and before

that event occurred , duly acknowledged his error , I propose to pass him by so as to refer to the determined courage of the Master , who , fearing that harm might betal the warrant had it strengthened " by having canvas sewn on the back , and when the lodge was opened , instead of it appearing at its usual place the Master wore it round his body instead of an apron . " The Landlord called in the local Constables , who declined to interfere , when the former , in an angry mood told the brethren " to take all that belonged to

them , " which they proceeded to do there and then . The newly admitted apprentice , with commendable zeal , determined to bear his part most manfully , and " amongst other things he took one of the Warden ' s candlesticks in which the pound candle was yet burning , and carried it alight through the street on his back . The current of air to which the lighted candle was exposed caused the grease to melt , which flowed in a copious stream down his coat 1 "

Notwithstanding all the many obstacles the members succeeded , for on the 7 th May , 1827 , the foundation of the well known and commodious Masonic Hall was laid by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , which ceremony was duly described in the Masonic works of the period . In the interim the brethren assembled at the Humber Tavern , in Humber-street , and then at the Neptune Inn , in Chapel-lane , where , I presume they met

until 19 th September of the same year ( 1827 ) when the first meeting was held in the new hall , the commemorative assembly taking place on the 3 rd October . Bro . Smith well expresses the feelings that actuated the members when he says they established a lodge that would prove their zeal for the service of Freemasonry , and that " their desire was for the welfare of the Craft in general , and for the Masons of the Town of Hull in particular . "

In 1830 the Benevolent Fund was formed , which is now one of the largest in England , and since that year the progress of the lodge has been most marked and satisfactory , the present condition being such as to be the just pride of its members and an honour to the Province of North and East Yorkshire , of which it forms an important part . It has a centenary jewel warrant , the lodge dating from 1775 . w . HUGHAN .

"That Mysterious Society Called Freemasons."

" THAT MYSTERIOUS SOCIETY CALLED FREEMASONS . "

Copy of letter published in the " Gentleman ' s Magazine " April , 1737 . FREE-MASONS A DANGEROUS SOCIETY . Mr . D'Anvers , AMONGST all the various Instances of our Advantages over other Nations in point of Liberty , there is one so very remarkable that it deserves your most serious Consideration ; I mean the Toleration of that mysterious Society call'd FREE-MASONS , who have been lately suppress'd not only in France , but in Holland , as a dangerous Race of Men ; whereas here they are permitted to hold their private Meetings in every Part of the Town , and even to appear in publick Procession with the ensigns of their Order .

Indeed , I have often wondered that they have not been laid under some Restraints even in England j for tho' our present most excellent Ministers have always preserved a sacred Regard to Liberty , I think no Government ought to suffer such clandestine Assembles , where Plots against the State may be carried on , under the Pretence of Brotherly Love and good Fellowship .

Ihe Act of Toleration does not allow of private Conventicles , even in Cases of Conscience , but injoins that all Places of divine Worship , shall be not only licensed but publick . Shall more Indulgence be granted to this incomprehensible Fraternity , who do not pretend , as far as I ever heard , to plead Conscience , or any publick Emolument in their Behalf ?

They derive their Original , as I am inform'd , from the Building of Babel , which every Body knows was an audacious Attempt against Heaven ; insomuch that God himself thought fit to defeat their Design by Confusion of Tongues , that such impious Offenders might not understand one another , But on the contrary , our modern Masons pretend to an universal , dumb Language , by which People of all Nations upon the Face of the Earth , who are initiated into their Mysteries , can easily converse together , by the Help of certain Signs , Known only to themselves .

It is likewise said that by the same signs they can oblige any of their Brethren to leave off their work , and follow them wherever they p lease ; a Power which may be some time or other turned to very ill Use . The Concord and Unanimity , which reigns so remarkably amongst them , is very

surprising ; for though they are composed of all Nations , Parties , am Religions , We are told that there hath not happened the least Quarrel or Disturbance in any of their Assemblies . That impenetrable Secrecy , for which they are so famous , is likewise Matter of just Suspicion , and seems to indicate that there is something : in their nocturnal Rites and Ceremonies ,

which they are afraid of having discovered . For this reason , they not only lock themselves into the Room , where they meet , and suffer none to waite upon them , except Brethren ; but upon all extraordinary Occations , a Centinel is placed at the Outside of the Door , with a drawn Sword in his Hand , to prevent all Discoveries . . . This is not the only Mark of their being a military Order ; for it ' very observable that they give their chief Officer the Title of GR ^ - hath

MASTER ; in Imitation , I presume , of the Knights of Malta ; nay , he a Sword of State carried before him , almost as large , and richly ornamente ^ as That of his Majesty . This Sword was presented to them , as I am in ' form'd , by a great Roman-Catholick Peei—With what View 1 shall no take upon me positively to determine . J There seems likewise to be something emblematical in the Gloves a Aprons a Glove is only another Word for a Gauntlet which is a Ptece J Armour for the Hands , An Apron , indeed is a proper Badge of Ma sonV > in the literal Sense ; but it is likewise a Term in Gunnery for a flat Pi ^ Lead to cover the touch-hole of a Cannon , when it is loaded j and I