Consecration Of The Invicta Mark Lodge, No. 378.

also of the history of the Order , and to read the works of Hughan , Gould , Findel , Mackey , and the records of Grand Lodge in 1856 , it would amply repay them . They would find things to astonish them ; they would learn how in many instances the . Mark had been handed down from father to son , to his son again . How it had been a moot point whether it was an adjunct to the F . C , or whether it might be coeval with the E . A * . Certainly more ancient than the R . A . as now practised .

Where did it come from ? Its beginning was lost in the mi < ts of the past ages . They could not do better than follow the line indicated by the Grand Chaplain in the eloquent oration he had that day pronounced . He ( Bro . Robinson ) had heard a great many , and had delivered many himself , but he was fain to yield the palm to his worthy Deputy , who had , in very terse , but clear and beautiful , language given them one of the noblest orations possible to imagine . He concluded by thanking the

brethren for the kindness with which they invariably received him . It had been a . very pleasant day for him , and he had hoped to have found a happy coincidence in the presence of M . W . Bro . Earl Amherst , who installed him in the throne of the province , and of Bro . Canon Portal , who years before had inaugurated the Province of Kent ; that brother , however , had been unable to be present . He begged the brethren to accept his heartiest thanks .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER then proposed the toast of " The Deputy Prov . G . Master , V . W . Bro . the Rev . H . Cummings , P . G . Chap ., and the rest of the P . G . Officers , Present and Past . " He was sure the brethren could not fail to have been struck by the masterly way in which the Deputy Prov . G . Master had performed the ceremony of advancement , but that was not all , in his dual capacity , and acting for the Prov . G . Chap ., he had given them an oration , which , for the sake of the Order , and of those who listened to it , he should desire to see printed and

circulated far and wide ; for it was the most eloquent and brilliant addresses in Masonry that he had ever heard . They all would know , as he himself did , that the work of a Deputy P . G . M . was not light , but in Bro . the Rev . Hayman Cummings , they had one who was always ready when and wherever there was Masonic work to do , and he ventured , even in his presence , to say that the P . G . M . would never have a better or more worthy Dep . Prov . G . M . than the distinguished Mason who now occupied that position . The Prov . Grand Officers had been most kind in their assistance , and he hoped the brethren would drink the toast with heartiness and cordiality .

Bro . the Rev . H AYMAN CUMMINGS said heshould have difficulty in responding were it not for the fact that he might speak for the other Prov . G . Officers as well as for himself . He felt that the W . M . had spoken out of the feelings of friendship which actuated him , and he was glad to think what he had said in the lodge in the course ofthe oration had made an impression upon those who listened , probably it was so , because the words came from the heart , and from the full conviction of

their truth . He rejoiced to serve under so distinguished a P . G . M . He looked on it as one of those happy circumstances that come so seldom in a life , that years ago he had come to reside in Kent , and once within the limits of the province had come to know the W . M . of the Invicta , the P . G . M ., and men like them , with whom he trusted his friendship would end only with life . He could not help feeling very jealous for the honour of the province of Kent , and his great desire , and pride ,

was to maintain its honestly acquired reputation for everything that was good in Masonry , and he felt that the P . G . M . must be extremely gratified that , out of the whole number of Prov . Grand Officers of the year , summoned to attend in their places that day , only one was absent , and that from unavoidable duty . The Prov . Grand Officers were ever proud and happy in performing their duty under such a P . G . M . in a manner which would maintain his honour and that of the province .

"TheW . M . of the Invicta Lodge" was proposed by the P . G . MASTER , who reminded the brethren of the necessity of themselves emulating each other in the endeavour to support the V . W . Bro . J . S . Eastes , who had that day been entrusted with the government of the lodge . He was well known to them all , deeply respected for his Masonic work , and greatly beloved for the very great kindliness of heart which distinguished his life . The fortunes of the Invicta Lodge were brightstarted with every prospect of success , and the future would be to them what they chose to make it for themselves .

Bro . EASTUS briefly replied , thanking the P . G . M . for his kindly words , and assuring the brethren that he felt he should have their continued support . Before sitting down he would like to propose the next toast . Starting as they were under the happiest auspices , with a brilliant gathering of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , with most perfectly rendered ceremonies , he felt they were under a very great debt of gratitude to those who were the Consecrating Officers , more especially to the P . G . M . and to the D . P . G . M ., whose perfection of work was in everyone ' s mind .

The toast of " The Consecrating Officers" having been honoured , and the P . G . MASTER , for himself and the others , having briefly responded , Bro . B . SNELL proposed , in a few appropriate words , "The Health of the Vis ' tors . " Bro . R . H . PLATTIN , P . G . Std . Br ., 6 , replied in a few cordial words of thanks .

The important toast of " The Mark Benerolent Fund was proposed by Bro . J . J . PATTISSON , M . O . 37 8 , and he named the V . W . P . G . Chaplain and D . P . G . M . to reply . Bro . Rev . H . CUMMINGS said he regretted very much that the London train had taken so many brethren away before this toast , and especially Bro . Matier , the genial and indefatigable Secretary of the Fund , who was never so happy as when

promoting the great cause to which he was devoted . Had Bro . Matier been speaking they would have been able to hear how much , and in what way , good was the outcome of this special Charity of the Order , but he would do his best to supply the information desirable . After making clear the objects and present position of the Fund , the D . P . G . M . remarked that they would be as glad to hear , as he was to announce , that at the forthcoming Festival in July every Mark Lodge in the

Province of Kent would be represented by one or more Stewards , and that their W . M ., Bro . J . S . Eastes , had consented to represent the Invicta Lodge on the occasion . This was matter for congratulation , because the Chairman of the Festival would be the Right Hon . the Earl Amherst , P . M . W . G . M ., the highly respected and loved P . G . M . in the Craft in Kent , and for tho honour of the province

it was trusted the men of Kent would work shoulder to shoulder to make the Festival a greater success than has ever been attained before . In a few well chosen words of advice to the younger brethren the Deputy Grand Master proposed the toast of " The Newly-Advanced Brethren , " reminding them that in . the-learning and exposition of their Masonic work they must be as their motto " Invicta . " ¦ '¦ ¦

Bros . J . BROTHERS , Sec . and Reg ., . responded to this toast , as did the S . W ., Bro . F . HUGHES HALLETT , P . P . G . W . Kent , to that of "The Officers of the Lodge . " The Tyler ' s toast brought a most enjoyable red letter day in the history of Kentish Masonry to a close . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Catalogue Of Masonic Books And Mss. (I.)

CATALOGUE OF MASONIC BOOKS AND MSS . ( I . )

As there will be published weekly in the Freemason , lists of Masonic works for sale , until the lot is exhausted , it has been considered desirable for a few words to be said respecting each list as it appears from time to time , beginning with the first of the 23 rd April , 1887 . Many of the volumes are not only of great rarity , but are of special interest and value to the student of Masonic History , No brother ' s library , for instance , would be considered

Catalogue Of Masonic Books And Mss. (I.)

complete without a complete set of the Books of Constitutions from 1723 to 188 4 . The Catalogue in question does not contain such a set , neither are we aware where such can be obtained , for there are not more than two or three complete sets in England , to obtain which almost a fabulous sum would have to be paid . To begin with , however , there is the first edition of the Constitutions of the year 1723 , of great rarity and value . The copy has the

Frontispiece , and is in an excellent state . As stated in the note appended such a work must always be " The gem in all Masonic Libraries ; " especially when we remember how limited was the num ber issued , and how seldom a copy occurs for sale . All subsequent issues have taken this precious volume as the basis for the regulations of the Craft , and even now , the version of the " Old Charges , " in the last edition of 1884 , is substantiall y the same as published in 1723 . It has been termed " Dr . Desagulier ' s

Constitutions in error , the Rev . James Anderson being really the Author of the historical portion , and apparently , the Laws were compiled by Grand Master Payne . Several reprints have been circulated , so few brethren being able to secure copies of the originals , some of which are represented in the List , e . g . Cox's of 18 71 , also an American , and best of all , the one of Kenning ' s Archaeological Library , which has a reproduction of the noted "Wilson M . S . " of the 17 th century .

The fourth edition is likewise catalogued of 1767 , which is really the 2 nd edition of the Rev . John Entick ' s of 1756 , and having the Frontispiece , is a special attraction . The fifth complete edition will also be found in the list of the year 1784 , having the Bartolozzi Frontispiece . These two volumes , and especially the junior , are most useful for historical purposes , as they contain most interesting abstracts of the minutes of the Grand Lod ge from 1723 to the years of issue , not to be had else , and that of 1784 , was the last

which contained that important information . Curious to say , as Bro . Hughan has already explained in his series of the Constitutions , 1723-1784 ( to which we direct our readers ) , the subsequent editions of 1815-9 , and 1827 , were circulated as part two in each case , but part one , with the History was never published , though promised by Bro . VV . VVilliams , Prov . G . M . Dorset , who was the Editor of the first copy after the "Union" of December , 1813 . 1827 ' represented in the catalogue ( part two , as noted ) , and later editions of 1841 and 1847 .

Other works of last century contained reproductions of the "Constitutions , " such as " Pocket Companions , " of which one ol 1764 by Scott , is for sale , with a valuable list of lodges and frontispiece intact . Another of these Pocket Companions is also inserted of the year 1831 , by Bro . Archdeacon Mant , the value of which is enhanced , because it has a roll of lodges

made up within a short period of the alteration in the numbers , 1832 . Neither must we omit to notice Calcott ' s "Candid Disquisitions" of 1769 , whilst on this subject , if only to refer to the extraordinary list of subscribers , with the names of many lodges , about which , until Bro . Lane ' s " Masonic Records" was issued , little was known .

Of foreign " Books of Constitutions'' there is the scarce copy of 1798 , by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , the value of which has surely been overlooked by American collectors . Ireland , New Hampshire and other Bodies are duly catalogued as respects early or late issues of their regulations , and also several of the additional " or "Higher" Degrees for this country and abroad .

Of the "Atholl Masons , " only one for the year 1807 is to be found . The fact is there are not many of these to be met with , especially the earlier editions , beginning with 1756 . Of the revered Dr . Oliver ' s works there is quite a little library to be examined . In " Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia , " Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford well observes " There is hardly one subject of Masonic interest which Dr .

Oliver has not opened out , debated upon , and illustrated , with a wonderful amount of scholarly learning and plodding research . " It is well for us to remember he wrote at a time when Masonic literature was discouraged , and therefore all the more credit is due to him for his labours . We believe his first work was printed in 1820 , viz ., the " Antiquities , " soon followed by the

"Star in the East , " " Signs and Symbols , " & c . There are nine different works—some having more than one edition—printed in the catalogue , one being of excessive rarity , on the Royal Arch Degree of 1847 . His " Revelations of a Square" ( 1855 ) is a most pleasant gossipy book , and cannot fail to attract our younger brethren , if they consult its pages .

Then again , Preston is not unrepresented , his noted " Illustrations of Masonry , " which came out first in 1772 , but was not reall y historically treated then , being on the list with editions for 1801 and 1821 . Dr . Morris ' works , of which so few have been circulated in this country , are also on offer as respects his Dictionary of 1876 , "Lights and Shadows" ( two editions )

and "Holy Land" ( 1873 ) , any of which are worth a stud y by brethren who seek for Masonic light . There are also five volumes by theesteemed and lamented Dr . Mackey , who was the great "Masonic Lawyer" of the United States , his " Masonic Parliamentary Law" being a standard work on the subject , now , as it has long been .

One of the scarcest of modern works is Bro . A . O . Haye ' s " Persecutions of the Knights Templars" ( 186 5 ) , which , with Addison ' s " Temp le Church" and "Kni ghts Templars" form a most desirable trio for any Knight Templar ' s library . The illustrations of Addison ' s volumes are of special interest .

Passing over other books , we come to the Freemasons' Magazines , of which there are several kinds from 1834 . In the catalogue for October , 1885 , the last century " mags" were represented , re Dublin 1793-5 , but these are " sold . For this century , however , the list begins with the first published , in 1834 , down to 1859—twenty-seven volumes—being all issued of the octavo size . Another set comprises all that publication whilst issued quarterly , extending from 1834 to 1854 , twenty-one volumes in all . The " first series '

ran from 1834 to 1842 , and known as the " Freemasons' Quarterly Review ' ( nine volumes ) , which was followed by the " necond series " '' of 12 volumes—1843 to 1853 . The third issue began in 1855 , and was called the " Freemasons' Monthly Magazine , " and was continued to June , 1859 . The whole of these sets are to be found in the catalogue ( in half calf ) , and at less than a pound per volume . The quarto " Freemasons' Magazine " was begun in July , 1859 , and ended on November 4 th , 1871 , being , however , practically superseded by the Freemason from the year i 860 .

Unfortunately , there is but one volume in the catalogue of the valuable " National Freemason , " edited by Dr . Mackey , being Volume 3 , for i 873 * The note states but the simple truth that it was " one of the ablest edited Masonic magazines ever published . Each volume is complete in itself . " _ In our second article vve hope to conclude our notice of the Eng lish Masonic works .