"That Mysterious Society Called Freemasons."

mv Superiorsto judge whether it may not be made Use of by our Free-Masons to tipify something like it . ' It farther deserves Notice how artfully they have dispersed themselves , in different Lodges thro' all Parts of the Kingdom , and particularly in This areat Metropolis ; as if it were on Purpose to beat up for Volunteers , in which . L „„ not onlv admit Turks , Tews , Infidels , but even Jacobites . Nonjurors in &

jf — s - ~ - - , ~ -, and Papists themselves . They keep their proceedings so very private , that it is impossible to guess what Seal of Secrecy they have invented , which is able to tie up the jylouths of such Multitudes , whom the most solemn Oaths could not bind , upon any other occasions . I wish it may not be somewhat like that horrid Obligation which Catiline administer'd to his Fellow-Conspirators .

Upon the whole this mysterious Society hath too much the Air of an Inquisition where everything is transacted in the Dark . It may be said that a learned and worthy Divine of the Church of England hath long ago published the Institution of Free-Masons , which contains

nothing but what is perfectly innocent , and prove them to be rather a •whimsical than a dangerous and formidable Sect . But I must observe that this Book seems design'd rather to amuse than inform the World ; for it is not to be supposed that he would reveal these boasted Mysteries , in which the very essence of their Society consists .

But the most material Argument is that there are so many of the Nobility , Gentry and even the Clergy , of the most undoubted Affection to his Majesty ' s Person , Family , and Government , in this Society ; that as it will be impossible to carry on any wicked Designs against him without their Knowledge , so it cannot be supposed that they will concur in them , or conceal them . But with all due Deference to these Hon . and Rev . Persons , I beg Leave to give my Opinion that this Argument is very fallacious , and

upon which we can have no sure Dependance , for I apprehend the obligation which the Free-Masons take , to be of such a Nature , that the blackest Conspiracies or Machinations , will not allow them to break through it , Besides how can we be sure that those Persons who are known to be -well affected are let into all their Mysteries 1 They make no Scruple to acknowledge that there is a Distinction between Prentices and Master Masons j and who knows whether they may not have an higher Order of Cabalists , who keep the grand Secret of all intirely to themselves ?

It may be ask d , perhaps , in what Plots , or ill Designs of any Sort , they have been engaged since the first Foundation of their Societ y ? This Question is not easily answered ; for their Principles and Actions are so uniathomable , that nobody can say with Certainty , in what they are concern'd , or not concern'd ; but I cannot help thinking them at the Bottom

of one Affair , I mean the late Tumult at Edinburgh , and the Murder of Capt .. Porteous ; which was concerted and executed with so much Unanimity and Secresy that none but a Mob of Free-Masons could be guilty of it , without the Discovery of one Person in so numerous a multitude as were concern'd in the Perpetration of that atrocious Fact .

I am glad to hear that a Law is likely to pass in the Nature of the Black Act for preventing such Riots , for the future , by trying the Authors of them in England , for if the Scots will not find one another guilty , there is all the Reason in the World they should be try'd by an impartial jury , who know nothing of Them , or their Characters , and I hope to see the Free-Masons included in the same Bill , for they may be properly said to go in Disguise .

I know these Men are generally look'd upon in England , as a Parcel of idle People , who meet together only to make merry , and play some ridiculous Pranks ; but it is very plain that the wise Governments of France and Holland look upon them in a very different Light , and I humbly hope to see my own Country follow the Example of the latter , at least by suppresing such dangerous Assembles ,

But if a total suppression should be thought inconsistant with our free Constitution and most incomparable Government I have an Alternative to offer ; which is to lay a double Tax upon all Free-Masons ; as there hath been so many years upon the Papists . I flatter myself this Scheme will not prove disagreeable at present , when

great Sums of Money are wanted , and Ways and Means are so very hard to be found . I am sure , it will be more acceptable to the Generality of Mankind , or at least to Womankind , than the Reduction of Interest to j per Cent ., without any Redemption of Taxes ; for as the Ladies have a very bad Opinion of the Free-Masons and are incapable of being admitted into that Order , they will never complain of any Tax being laid upon Keeping a Secret , which they are not let into themselves . I am , SIR , & c , JACHIN .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire was held on the 19 th inst . at the Town Hall , Knutsford . There was a very ' ^ S gathering of the members of the Order , and in honour of the occasion the principal thoroughfares were decorated with flags and banners . At twelve o ' clock a lodge was opened by the Master ( Bro . T . Burgess ) and

the officers of the De Tabley Lodge , Knutsford , after which the Provincial Grand Master ( Lord Egerton of Tatton ) and the members of the Prov . Grand Lodge entered , and were received with the customary salutations , fn the absence of his Honour fudge Lloyd ( Deputy Provincial Grand

faster ) , Lord Egerton was supported by Bros . C . W . Dutton , P . P . G . W ., acting Prov . G . Master ; Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope , P . G . Chap . Engird ; T , Forrester , P . G . Std . Br . England ; E . Woodhead , P . P . J . G . W . ; *•E . Gibson , P . G . Treas . ; T . Marwood , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . H . Bellyse ,

tvf-J . G . W . ; Rev . E . Bigoe Bagot , P . P . G . Chap . ; J . P . Piatt , P . J . ^•W . ; . G . A . Femlev , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . A . Birch , P . P . S . G . D . East Lanes . ; J . M . Staples , " P . P . J . G . W . ; Herbert Finch , P . P . G . D . C ; Lance "entley , P . G . Reg . ; R . Newhouse , P . G . Sec . ; P . Wadsworth , P . P . G . A reas . ; J . Lewis , P . P . S . G . D . ; T . Wainwright , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . Beresv £ \ P -P-S-G . D . ; J . Clayton , P . P . S . G . D . ; R . Hunter , P . P . S . G . D . ;

'v . . Lightfoot , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . Salmon , P . P . S . G . D . ; T . Lockitt , £ . -P-S . G . D . ; G . H . Danby , P . S . G . D . ; C . Tatton , P . P . J . G . W . ; E . G . ¦ rnpson , P . S . G . D . ; and a large number of other provincial Officers " number of brethren present was about 500 . •T ,, -Ihe roll of lodges was calledand all were found to he renresentprl .

, se re , S ° * tne rou 0 I Provincial Grand Officers disclosed the fact that rer - were unavoidably absent . Apologies for non-attendance were ceived fr ( Jm his Honour Judge Lloyd , Deputy Prov . G . M ., and the Hon . * atton E gerton , M . P ., Prov . S . G . W . * he Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . T . E . GIBSON , presented a financial

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

statement , which showed that the balance in favour of the province was £ 241 . The Fund of Benevolence amounted to £ 1026 , and there was a balance in connection with the Cheshire Masonic Educational Institution of £ 2 14 s . 6 d ., making a total of £ 1270 . Upon the motion of Bro . SALMON , P . P . S . G . D ., the accounts were passed .

The next business was the election of Prov . G . Treasurer , and Bro . W . Wildgoose was unanimously appointed . The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in the course of an address , said that beyond the limits of the province the past year had been an eventful one in the annals of Freemasonry for various reasons . They had all to lament the death of the protector of Masons in Germany , the late Emperor

Frederick , who was connected with our Royal Family , and was brother-inlaw to the Grand Master of England , the Prince of Wales . He was one of those whose career was eminently Masonic , for he always endeavoured to do his duty in the very high position in which he was placed , and was always found acting with the greatest sympathy towards all classes , endeavouring to promote their welfare in a thoroughly charitable and

Masonic spirit . He ( Lord Egerton ) was glad the Grand Lodge had , through his Royal Highness the Grand Master , condoled with the Empress Victoria , his widow , on the loss of so excellent a Mason to Germany . They had also had that year a most remarkable meeting in aid of the Charity for the daughters of Masons . It was a sight which those who saw it would never forget . The Prince of Wales presided , and they had amongst the brethren

the King of a friendly country—the King of Sweden—with several thousands of Freemasons who were collected together to carry on the good work of Charity . Certainly on that occasion the power of Freemasonry was well exhibited . He believed at no other banquet had such a sum been announced as being received in the interest of a Charity—namely , £ 50 , 600 . That showed what Masons could do in furtherance of the principles with

which their Order was indissolubly connected . With regard to the Province of Cheshire , he was glad to find that , though there was no substantial increase , the number of subscribing members was maintained , there being 1562 , as against 1480 last year . That was satisfactory , because it showed that Masonry was growing , and that its principles were extending in the province . The work of the various lodges had during that year been good Their funds remained in the same state as before , but they had a sum of

£ 1200 invested . Cheshire Freemasonry received from the London Masonic Charities about ^ , 1000 a year . They had , in connection with these Charities , 40 boys at £ 45 a year each '; 40 girls at £ 40 a year each ; eight aged Masons who received annuities of ^ 40 each , and six widows who received ^ 32 a year each . He thought in that condition of things he might fairly ask that Provincial Grand Lodge to vote to the Masonic Charities the sum of 100 guineas , and he moved a resolution to that effect . Bro . C . W . DUTTON seconded the resolution , which was passed . The Prov . G . Master appointed and invested the Prov . G . Officers for the ensuing year , as follows : —

Bro . Judge Lloyd ... ... ... ... D . P . G . M . „ T . G . Sheldon , 533 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ F . Preston , 104 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . R . Hodgson , 10 45 ... ... •••\\3 n ru „ Rev . W . C . Martin , 941 ... ... ... j Prov - G - Cha P - „ W . Wildgoose , 941 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ T . Pattinson , 295 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ R . Newhouse 1 045 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ C . Booth , 287 ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . Needham , 295 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ H . B . Brown , 21 3 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ W . Ramsden , 1166 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ T . Maples , 537 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ G . H . Brown , 537 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ W . Kenworthy , 89 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C .

„ J . Coxill , 758 ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ R . G . Walker , 1126 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ T . C . Fleming , 322 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ W . H . Maxfield , 1957 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ S . Booth , 830 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ W . Barker , 461 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ W . Piers , 425 ... ... ... - j „ A . Ingham , 21 44 ... ... ... j „ J . Burgess , 941 ... ... ... J- Prov . G . Stwds . „ W . Hough , 941

„ A . Orrett , 941 ... ... ... J „ S . Smith , 721 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . Bro . J . P . Piatt was , upon the motion of Bro ! the Rev . C . W . S . STAN - HOPE , seconded by Bro . C W . DUTTON , re-appointed Chairman of the Board of Benevolence .

An invitation to hold the next meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge at Hyde was accepted , and the meeting was then closed . Subsequently the brethren attended service in the parish church , walking thither in procession , headed by the band of the 3 rd Battalion Cheshire Volunteers , and in the afternoon went to Tatton Park , where they were entertained to tea by Lord Egerton .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons , was held in the Town Hall , Gateshead , on Tuesday afternoon , under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master , R . W . Bro . Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., of Whitburn Hail , who was ably supported by W . Bro . Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D . Deputy

, Prov . Grand Master , and the Present and Past Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge . The arrangements made by the Gateshead brethren at the Town Hall were most satisfactory , and the meeting , under the banners of the old Industry Lodge , No . 48 , and the Borough Lodge , No . 424 , passed off very satisfactorily .

The Charities Committee met at 12 . 45 , under the chairmanship of Bro . C . S . Lane , P . P . J . G . D ., and at 1 . 30 the Fund Committee of the Province met under the presidency of V . W . Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., when several applications for relief were presented by the Provincial Gra nd

Secretary , Bro . R . HUDSON , P . G . S . B . Eng ., and considered , and recommendations made to Provincial Grand Lodge . The attendance at Provincial Grand Lodge was very satisfactory . Among those present , in addition to the P . G . M . and D . G . vl ., were the following :