Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS C 6 j Farl of Mornington Lodge , No . 2 oco OGu The Koyal Masonic Benevolent Institution ( Ctnithnit ' il ) 6 G 7 CoRRESI'o . vllEXI . 'EThe Great Hall Olio Province of West Lancashire .,,.- 6 G 9 An ijnpostor 66 9 Reviews 6 f > o Notes and Oueries 66 9 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 66 9
[ [ REPORTS OF MASO . VIO MEETINGSCraft Masonry 070 lnslruction 671 Koyal Arch 071 Mark Masonry I > 72 Knights Templar 072 Red Cross of Constantino 072 The Theatres 072 Masonic and General Tidings 673 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 674
Ar00100
ANOTHER year is passing away from underneath our feet , and the Freemason brings to a close another completed volume of its yearly issues . At such a time a few words seem called for , perforce , whether with respect to a departing old friend or an approaching new acquaintance . Thc year 1 SS 3 has witnessed many strange scenes 011 this earth of ours , and beheld some curious
episodes in Freemasonry , which deserve noting . Therefore , with the last number of the 16 th volume of the Freemason , Publisher and Editor greettheir man ) ' kindfriends and patrons with sympathetic words of grateful acknowledgment for much kindly support , and for many continued good oflices . If the review of all past time be somewhat melancholy in itself , tiie conclusion of
another year of Masonic work must call up some memories , must suggest some reflections . The friends we have laboured with and lost , the Masonic efforts of ritual or of charity we have shared in , all tend to give rise to sundry wistful looks behind us , not a lew beats of the heart , as well as many pleasant reminiscences , many grateful experiences . We have still been
spared to witness another closing twelvemonth of Masonic life and sociality , charity and friendliness ; but just as this December we miss in our lodges some ancient mates , some long standing companions , so in the year before us we must humanly if reverently expect that others ( 00 will be wanting when our roll-call is read out twelve months hence . Still let us bear a true
heart and a cheerful one , amid the inevitable cares and changes and shif tings of life , whether ir . the lodge or in the world ; and let us hope , at any rate , when 1884 is also in turn drawing to an end , that the Freemason may still witness
of much faithful work achieved , much living charity accomplished , under the benign auspices of the good Genius of Freemasonry , not only in our own " quiet lands " at home , but in foreign jurisdictions , in distant hemispheres , —in fact , " all the world over . "
# * # THE work and duty of charity have been truly carried out alike by the Grand Lodge of England , and the English fraternity generally in 1 SS 3 . Indeed in this respect our English brotherhood may fairly say to-all who doubt its value or utility , " si qiueris circumspice . " It is this wondrous outcome of
charitable energy and effect which so strikes the world at large , too ready to scoff at the claims and work of Freemasons , which constitute alike one of its best " raisons d'etre , " and duly measures its real importance to members . The Board of Benevolence voted in January , £ 685 ; February , £ 750 ; March , £ 580 ; April , £ 645 ; May , £ SSo ; June , £ SS 5 ; July , - £ 570 ; August ,
£ 650 ; September , £ 370 ; October , £ S 25 ; November , £ 1060 ; December , . £ 775 . Thus we see that in 1 SS 3 the Board of Benevolence has given to distressed applicants the sum of £ 9175 , as its monthly totals show , the highest monthly amount being £ 1060 , and its lowest . £ 370 . Our great charitable festivals have produced the startling amount of £ 45 , 000 .
This large amount will no doubt be increased by the end of the year , and which grand total we cannot give our readers until next week . Thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , under the Presidency of General BROWNRIGG , Prov . G . M . for Surrey , with 272 Stewards , produced considerably over £ 13 , 000 ; the festival of the Girls' School in May , under the
Presidency of W . \ V . B . BEACH , M . P ., Prov . G . M . for Hampshire , with 240 Stewards , brought in nearly £ 11 , 000 ; while the festival of the Boys ' School , under the Presidency of the Marquis of LONDONDERRY , Prov . G . M . for Durham , with 400 Stewards , realized the unprecedented amount of £ 22 , 500 in round figures . But as we before remarked the vitality of our
charitable elTorts on behalf of our Great Metropolitan Institutions is hardly ascertained even by these figures . It is impossible , moreover , to know the amount expended in provincial and private lodges for charity or charitable organizations . The sum is very large indeed , and reflects the greatest credit on our warm-hearted fraternit }' .
# * # AMONG the notable Masonic events of 18 S 3 the visit of H . R . H thc Duke of ALBANY to Huddersfield and his very warm reception by the West Yorkshire Freemasons under Sir H . EDWARDS , Bart ., Prov . G . M ., ought not to
be forgotten . The gathering was as impressive as the address was sincere , and the arrangements for a very successful welcome , characteristic of thc heartiness of Yorkshire , demanded the praise they universally received . During the last year the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England have been carefully revised after two special Grand Lodges to consider them .
Ar00101
They were confirmed in December , and are now the Law of the English Craft for some time to come . They will undoubtedly constitute a great improvement on the older form , inasmuch as by a more complete grouping of subjects , and a better collocation of enactments , the interpretation is rendered more plain , more immediate , and more full ; these are desiderate
in a code of Masonic law often appealed to , and yet about which strange ignorance often occurs amongst our worthy Worshipful Masters and Past Masters . Some one has humourously suggested that all candidates for the Worshipful Master ' s chair should pass a qualifying examination before the
Board of Installed Masters on the Book of Constitutions . Without going quite so far , we commend the study of the Book of Conslitutions to ail our rulers and all our brethren . Wc cannot know if too well . It is an admirable code of Masonic law , and deserves to be marked and appreciated by all members of our English Craft .
* DURING the year 34 new Craft Lodges and 17 Royal Arch Chapters have been warranted , a large number , all things considered ; but as in most cases an account of the customary consecration and effective orations have duly appeared in the Freemason , we refer our readers to the new
volume now making up . Buildings erected for the purposes of Masonry have been dedicated at Wilmington , Kent , for the I . ullingstone Lodge ; Richmond , Natal ; Warkworth , New Zealand , for the Rodney Lodge ; Milford Haven , for the St . David's Lodge ; at Guernsey , for the lodges on the island ; Marlborough , Wilts , for the Lodge of Loyalty ; the Clausentum
Hall at Woolston ; Goole , for the Aire and Calder Lodge , & c . Masonic ceremonies have been held in connection with laying the foundation-stones of buildings other than those devoted to the uses of our Order as follow : St . Anne ' s Church , Bagshot , by H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught ; the Indian Institute in the University of Oxford , by H . R . H . the Grand
Master ; St . Augustine ' s Church , Tong , by Col . I . e Gendre N . Slarkie , Prov . G . M . East Lancashire ; the York Institute , by H . R . H . the Grand Master ; St . John ' s Church , Spittlegate , by W . H . Smythe , J . P ., D . L ., Prov . G . M . Lincolnshire ; St . John ' s Church , Bury St . Edmunds , by Lord
Waveney , Prov . G . M . Suffolk ; New Sailors' Home at Leith , by the Earl of Mar and Kellie , Grand Master Mason Scotland ; St . Agnes' Church , Moseley , by Sir F . dmund A . H . I . echmcre , Bart ., Prov . G . M . Worcestershire ; Glasgow Municipal Buildings , by Bro . Lord Provost Ure , Sec .
* * AMONG the Masonic presentations for the year we note thc following , many of which reflect equal credit on the donors and the recipients . Wc are inclined to think the general idea of a presentation may be overdone , and that a presentation , to be of real value , must be a true expression of
fraternal sympathy and acknowledgment for good work done for the old Craft . Among those many we record , striking in themselves , we feel we should not be doing right if we did not advert to the Cornwall Presentation to Bro . W . J . Hughan . No one presentation of the year , to our minds , was more admirably conceived and completed , or for good work more truly
merited . A sheriff ' s gold chain was presented to Bro . H . Jeffs , P . Prov . G . W . Gloucester ; silver mounted baton to Bro . Ganz , G . Org . ; silver tea-tray , kettle-stand and sundry other articles to Wm . Kingston , Dist . G . M . Malta ; a purse of 700 guineas , a silver goblet , and an illuminated record to John H . Scott , Dep . P . G . M . Sussex ; his own portrait to Bro .
M . A . Boeme , P . P . G . D . C . and P . P . G . Treas . Norths and Hunts ; purse , 30 guineas , and illuminated address to Bro . Hargreaves Gill , of Liverpool ; purse and 275 sovereigns to Bro . W . J . Hughan by the Prov . G . L . of
Cornwall ; an address and a valuable and unique clock to Patrick Small Kier of Kindrogan ; Lord Carnarvon received an address from the Masons of Canada ; and Lord Mayor Fowler was the recipient of a like compliment from the Lansdowne Lodge of Unity .
WE are not aware that much at home has tended to ruffle the smooth surface of thc last 12 months ' progress for our English Craft , loyal , contended , prosperous , and confiding . Certain proceedings however , last December , serve to shew that the members of Grand Lodge can be roused
to take a very decided part in the transaction of its business , and we do express the fervent hope that what then occurred will prove a lasting lesson and warning to all concerned . It is not a dignified position for our executive to be left in a glorious minority of 4 or 5 against 600 or 700 members , nearly all thc Grand Officers included , and we cannot sufficiently regret
that calmer counsels and wiser resolves did not prevail . It was impossible to support the proposal to spend £ 40 , 000 of the money of the Craft , mainly for purposes which would not in remotest measures benefit the brotherhood We trust that the then respectful yet determined attitude of Grand Lodge will prevent any similar hasty propositions or extravagant administration of the important and valuable funds of thc Craft , The position
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS C 6 j Farl of Mornington Lodge , No . 2 oco OGu The Koyal Masonic Benevolent Institution ( Ctnithnit ' il ) 6 G 7 CoRRESI'o . vllEXI . 'EThe Great Hall Olio Province of West Lancashire .,,.- 6 G 9 An ijnpostor 66 9 Reviews 6 f > o Notes and Oueries 66 9 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 66 9
[ [ REPORTS OF MASO . VIO MEETINGSCraft Masonry 070 lnslruction 671 Koyal Arch 071 Mark Masonry I > 72 Knights Templar 072 Red Cross of Constantino 072 The Theatres 072 Masonic and General Tidings 673 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 674
Ar00100
ANOTHER year is passing away from underneath our feet , and the Freemason brings to a close another completed volume of its yearly issues . At such a time a few words seem called for , perforce , whether with respect to a departing old friend or an approaching new acquaintance . Thc year 1 SS 3 has witnessed many strange scenes 011 this earth of ours , and beheld some curious
episodes in Freemasonry , which deserve noting . Therefore , with the last number of the 16 th volume of the Freemason , Publisher and Editor greettheir man ) ' kindfriends and patrons with sympathetic words of grateful acknowledgment for much kindly support , and for many continued good oflices . If the review of all past time be somewhat melancholy in itself , tiie conclusion of
another year of Masonic work must call up some memories , must suggest some reflections . The friends we have laboured with and lost , the Masonic efforts of ritual or of charity we have shared in , all tend to give rise to sundry wistful looks behind us , not a lew beats of the heart , as well as many pleasant reminiscences , many grateful experiences . We have still been
spared to witness another closing twelvemonth of Masonic life and sociality , charity and friendliness ; but just as this December we miss in our lodges some ancient mates , some long standing companions , so in the year before us we must humanly if reverently expect that others ( 00 will be wanting when our roll-call is read out twelve months hence . Still let us bear a true
heart and a cheerful one , amid the inevitable cares and changes and shif tings of life , whether ir . the lodge or in the world ; and let us hope , at any rate , when 1884 is also in turn drawing to an end , that the Freemason may still witness
of much faithful work achieved , much living charity accomplished , under the benign auspices of the good Genius of Freemasonry , not only in our own " quiet lands " at home , but in foreign jurisdictions , in distant hemispheres , —in fact , " all the world over . "
# * # THE work and duty of charity have been truly carried out alike by the Grand Lodge of England , and the English fraternity generally in 1 SS 3 . Indeed in this respect our English brotherhood may fairly say to-all who doubt its value or utility , " si qiueris circumspice . " It is this wondrous outcome of
charitable energy and effect which so strikes the world at large , too ready to scoff at the claims and work of Freemasons , which constitute alike one of its best " raisons d'etre , " and duly measures its real importance to members . The Board of Benevolence voted in January , £ 685 ; February , £ 750 ; March , £ 580 ; April , £ 645 ; May , £ SSo ; June , £ SS 5 ; July , - £ 570 ; August ,
£ 650 ; September , £ 370 ; October , £ S 25 ; November , £ 1060 ; December , . £ 775 . Thus we see that in 1 SS 3 the Board of Benevolence has given to distressed applicants the sum of £ 9175 , as its monthly totals show , the highest monthly amount being £ 1060 , and its lowest . £ 370 . Our great charitable festivals have produced the startling amount of £ 45 , 000 .
This large amount will no doubt be increased by the end of the year , and which grand total we cannot give our readers until next week . Thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , under the Presidency of General BROWNRIGG , Prov . G . M . for Surrey , with 272 Stewards , produced considerably over £ 13 , 000 ; the festival of the Girls' School in May , under the
Presidency of W . \ V . B . BEACH , M . P ., Prov . G . M . for Hampshire , with 240 Stewards , brought in nearly £ 11 , 000 ; while the festival of the Boys ' School , under the Presidency of the Marquis of LONDONDERRY , Prov . G . M . for Durham , with 400 Stewards , realized the unprecedented amount of £ 22 , 500 in round figures . But as we before remarked the vitality of our
charitable elTorts on behalf of our Great Metropolitan Institutions is hardly ascertained even by these figures . It is impossible , moreover , to know the amount expended in provincial and private lodges for charity or charitable organizations . The sum is very large indeed , and reflects the greatest credit on our warm-hearted fraternit }' .
# * # AMONG the notable Masonic events of 18 S 3 the visit of H . R . H thc Duke of ALBANY to Huddersfield and his very warm reception by the West Yorkshire Freemasons under Sir H . EDWARDS , Bart ., Prov . G . M ., ought not to
be forgotten . The gathering was as impressive as the address was sincere , and the arrangements for a very successful welcome , characteristic of thc heartiness of Yorkshire , demanded the praise they universally received . During the last year the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England have been carefully revised after two special Grand Lodges to consider them .
Ar00101
They were confirmed in December , and are now the Law of the English Craft for some time to come . They will undoubtedly constitute a great improvement on the older form , inasmuch as by a more complete grouping of subjects , and a better collocation of enactments , the interpretation is rendered more plain , more immediate , and more full ; these are desiderate
in a code of Masonic law often appealed to , and yet about which strange ignorance often occurs amongst our worthy Worshipful Masters and Past Masters . Some one has humourously suggested that all candidates for the Worshipful Master ' s chair should pass a qualifying examination before the
Board of Installed Masters on the Book of Constitutions . Without going quite so far , we commend the study of the Book of Conslitutions to ail our rulers and all our brethren . Wc cannot know if too well . It is an admirable code of Masonic law , and deserves to be marked and appreciated by all members of our English Craft .
* DURING the year 34 new Craft Lodges and 17 Royal Arch Chapters have been warranted , a large number , all things considered ; but as in most cases an account of the customary consecration and effective orations have duly appeared in the Freemason , we refer our readers to the new
volume now making up . Buildings erected for the purposes of Masonry have been dedicated at Wilmington , Kent , for the I . ullingstone Lodge ; Richmond , Natal ; Warkworth , New Zealand , for the Rodney Lodge ; Milford Haven , for the St . David's Lodge ; at Guernsey , for the lodges on the island ; Marlborough , Wilts , for the Lodge of Loyalty ; the Clausentum
Hall at Woolston ; Goole , for the Aire and Calder Lodge , & c . Masonic ceremonies have been held in connection with laying the foundation-stones of buildings other than those devoted to the uses of our Order as follow : St . Anne ' s Church , Bagshot , by H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught ; the Indian Institute in the University of Oxford , by H . R . H . the Grand
Master ; St . Augustine ' s Church , Tong , by Col . I . e Gendre N . Slarkie , Prov . G . M . East Lancashire ; the York Institute , by H . R . H . the Grand Master ; St . John ' s Church , Spittlegate , by W . H . Smythe , J . P ., D . L ., Prov . G . M . Lincolnshire ; St . John ' s Church , Bury St . Edmunds , by Lord
Waveney , Prov . G . M . Suffolk ; New Sailors' Home at Leith , by the Earl of Mar and Kellie , Grand Master Mason Scotland ; St . Agnes' Church , Moseley , by Sir F . dmund A . H . I . echmcre , Bart ., Prov . G . M . Worcestershire ; Glasgow Municipal Buildings , by Bro . Lord Provost Ure , Sec .
* * AMONG the Masonic presentations for the year we note thc following , many of which reflect equal credit on the donors and the recipients . Wc are inclined to think the general idea of a presentation may be overdone , and that a presentation , to be of real value , must be a true expression of
fraternal sympathy and acknowledgment for good work done for the old Craft . Among those many we record , striking in themselves , we feel we should not be doing right if we did not advert to the Cornwall Presentation to Bro . W . J . Hughan . No one presentation of the year , to our minds , was more admirably conceived and completed , or for good work more truly
merited . A sheriff ' s gold chain was presented to Bro . H . Jeffs , P . Prov . G . W . Gloucester ; silver mounted baton to Bro . Ganz , G . Org . ; silver tea-tray , kettle-stand and sundry other articles to Wm . Kingston , Dist . G . M . Malta ; a purse of 700 guineas , a silver goblet , and an illuminated record to John H . Scott , Dep . P . G . M . Sussex ; his own portrait to Bro .
M . A . Boeme , P . P . G . D . C . and P . P . G . Treas . Norths and Hunts ; purse , 30 guineas , and illuminated address to Bro . Hargreaves Gill , of Liverpool ; purse and 275 sovereigns to Bro . W . J . Hughan by the Prov . G . L . of
Cornwall ; an address and a valuable and unique clock to Patrick Small Kier of Kindrogan ; Lord Carnarvon received an address from the Masons of Canada ; and Lord Mayor Fowler was the recipient of a like compliment from the Lansdowne Lodge of Unity .
WE are not aware that much at home has tended to ruffle the smooth surface of thc last 12 months ' progress for our English Craft , loyal , contended , prosperous , and confiding . Certain proceedings however , last December , serve to shew that the members of Grand Lodge can be roused
to take a very decided part in the transaction of its business , and we do express the fervent hope that what then occurred will prove a lasting lesson and warning to all concerned . It is not a dignified position for our executive to be left in a glorious minority of 4 or 5 against 600 or 700 members , nearly all thc Grand Officers included , and we cannot sufficiently regret
that calmer counsels and wiser resolves did not prevail . It was impossible to support the proposal to spend £ 40 , 000 of the money of the Craft , mainly for purposes which would not in remotest measures benefit the brotherhood We trust that the then respectful yet determined attitude of Grand Lodge will prevent any similar hasty propositions or extravagant administration of the important and valuable funds of thc Craft , The position