Grand Festival Of The Order Of The Secret Monitor.

pressed his intention of being present if the business of the House of Lords permitted it . He referred in the kindliest terms to the great assistance given by the Past Grand Treasurer , Bro . W . G . Lemon , in the formation of the Order , and requested him to allow himself from that day forward to be numbered among the Past Grand Supreme Rulers of the Order . He referred in complimentary terms to the benefit conferred upon the Order by

the adherence of Bros . E . Letchworth and C . F . Matier—household names wherever the tenets of Masonry were observed—and asked the brethren to receive their linked names as an earnest that Craft Masonry and Mark Masonry both gave the right hand of fellowship to their younger , but equally energetic , sister—the Secret Monitor . He expressed his regret that

Bro . Carmichael , the Supreme Ruler of the Order in America , had been detained in Ireland , and was thus unable to be present on that festive occasion . He referred to the kind and energetic services the Earl of Euston , Grand Chamberlain , had ever rendered , and coupled with the toast the names of Bros . Lemon and Baron de Ferrieres , who had that day been elected Grand Treasurer .

Bro . LEMON replied in his usual happy vein , and was followed by the G . TREASURER and also by Bros . LETCHWORTH and MATIER , each of whom expressed his pleasure at being present , and'his desire to forward in every wav the interests of the Order .

The next toast was that of " The Grand Stewards of the Year —a toast well received and well deserved . Bro . STIVKN , of Madras , responded . Bro . Tipper's hand-bell ringing and his excellent glee party added much to the enjoyment of the evening .

An Important Work.

AN IMPORTANT WORK .

Although Bro . R . F . Gould has made known some facts concerning the Masons' Company , which are most welcome additions to our information on the subject , the records of that body are practically terra incognita , and their careful perusal , and publication so far as necessary by an expert , would indeed be a boon for Masonic students , arch .-cologists and architects .

That work has been most thoroughly done by Bro . Edward Conder , jun ., who has had every advantage possible in his researches , and his History is now in the press , to be abundantly illustrated , the great volume being due early in October . The whole edition is limited to 500 copies , and already nearly half cf the number has been subscribed for . Members of the Craft ( we believe ) will be accepted as subscribers at 15 s . fid ., but otherwise the volume will be one guinea . This arrangement only refers to the period before publication .

Such a work , based on the " Records of the Hole Crafte and Felowship of Masons , " with a complete " History of the Worshipful Company of Masons of the City of London , " written by the Master of the Company and published under its auspices , will be quite an event , Masonically speaking , and many of the extracts from the minutes will be quite a revelation , the records proving

the existence of a speculative lodge working under the wing of the Company prior to 1631 . To Antiquarians , therefore , and especially to Craftsmen , the volume will be of absorbing interest and of great importance , particularly as the evidence will throw light on ihe terms " Free " and "Accepted , " and other deeply interesting points .

The York Mss. Of Lodge No. 236.

THE YORK MSS . OF LODGE No . 236 .

As my " Old Charges of British Freemasons " ( 1 S 72 ) has so long been out of print ( as also my work of the previous year ) , a reproduction of the MSS ., so carefully and so proudly preserved by the York Lodge , No . 236 , has been needed for some time , and for years Masonic students have wanted

reliable transcripts of these valuable rolls , once owned by the extinct "Grand Lodge of all England . " It almost looked as if the custodians did not appreciate their possessions sufficiently , but those who have been familiar with the late and present Treasurers of that ancient and honoured Atelier would never hold that opinion .

The fact is , that to do the thing properly involved considerable labour and expense , but , by resolution of the Provincial Grand Lodge of North and East Yorkshire , 5 th July , 1893 , the responsibility of the finances was accepted by that body , and the lodge itself was invited to place the precious documents

in the hands of a Committee , consisting of the VV . M . ( Bro . J . B . Sampson ) Bro . Joseph Todd , P . M . ( Treasurer and Custodian of the Records ) , Bro M . C . Peck , P . M . ( the esteemed Prov . Grand Secretary ) , and the mover of the resolution , Bro . T . B . Whytehead , P . M . ( one of the Historians of York Masonry ) , for transcription and publication .

A stronger or better Comm ttee for the purpose could not well be , and the members soon set to work with right good . yill and a determination to make the volume worthy of the lodge and its unique possessions . I was asked to write an Introduciioi , and , of course , consented , deeming it a special compliment to be thus connected with one of the most successful and important publications ever issued respecting the eventful past of the British Craft , and particularly in relation to the legends , traditions , and regulations of the Fraternity for centuries .

I venture to express the opinion that my dear friends , Todd and Whytehead , found the transcribing and comparison of these MSS . a labour of considerable time and difficulty , and that it was only their love for such a study and to do justice to these ancient documents that they undertook a duty of such magnitude , involving as it must have months of spare time and constant devotion to the work so as to ensure absolute accuracy .

The result is a teal triumph , both for them and my respected Bro . M . C . Peck , the printer and publisher , for the " Ancient Masonic Rolls of Constitutions , copied exactly from the original MSS . in the possession of the YORK LODGE , NO . 236 , " is all that I anticipated , and me re , and I feel assured that the subscril ers generally will be . is delighted as myself to be the owners of such an artistic and truly Masonic work .

The five rolls of York , dating from about the year ifioo to 1704 havjbeen most faithfully reproduced , each one having one or more portions in facsimile :, and the celebrated "Scarborough M . S . " of 1705 or eailier , which strayed from that town to Canada , has also been transcribed and published , the fac-simile of the Coat-of-Arms and the Invocation being exceptionally good .

The York Mss. Of Lodge No. 236.

The interesting preface by the able editors , Bros . Todd and Whytehead , leave nothing to be desired , and as my Introduction deals in part with the subject of the "Old Charges" generally , the Book is really an excellent guide to the study of the ancient Constitutions of the Fraternity , and sufficient , to enable any brother , anxious to know about the old regulations , to form a correct opinion as to their value and importance .

The interior of the Masonic Hall of No . 236 , York , from a photograph by E . Debenham and Son , will be a welcome addition to the attractions of this most artistic production , and no doubt when the Provincial Grand Lodge meets the editors and publisher will be warmly thanked for their efficient services . There is no work of the kind in my library I value more , and I am glad to say that there are about 100 copies for sale at five shillings each , which small number will assuredly be soon snapped up by orders being sent to Bro . M . C . Peck , Publisher , Market Place , Hull . W . J . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

B 3 ' command of the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Hon . Alan de latton Egerton , M . P ., P . G . W . England , the annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Town Hall , Altrincham , on Saturday afternoon last .

Ihe proceedings commenced with the opening of a Mark Mason s lodge by the W . M ., Bro . the Rev . C . Chetwynd-Atkinson , M . A ., and the officers of the Stamford Lodge , No . 148 , after which the Prov . Grand Master and the Prov . Grand Officers entered , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened .

The Prov . Gran d Master and the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . J . Salmon , J . P ., P . G . D . England , were saluted by the brethren . The roll of the lodges in the province and of the Prov . Grand Officers having been called over and answered to , the minutes of the last Provincial

Grand Lodge , held at Chester on June 24 th , 1893 , being the occasion of the installation of Bro . the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton as Prov . Grand Master by the Pro Grand Master of England , Bro . the Right Hon . the Ear l of Euston , were read by Bro . Run ARD NEWHOUSE , P . G . Sec , and they were subsequently confirmed .

The accounts of the Prov . Grand Lodge , which showed a balance in hand of ^ 26 14 s . lod . having been reported upon by the auditors , were adopted , and Bro . F . K . Stevenson , of Birkenhead was unanimously

reelected Prov . G . Treas ., this being the 16 th year of his appointment to the office . Some further routine business was disposed of , and the Prov . G . Master proceeded to appoint and invest his officers for the ensuing year as follows .-

Bro . James Salmon ( re-appointed ) ... ... D . Prov . G . M . ,, John Clayton ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . ,, Rev . C . Chetwynd Atkinson ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Capt . Cooper ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . ,, James Warren ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ ' J . O . White ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O .

,, Rev . J . W . N . Tanner ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Chap . „ J . R . Johnson ... ... -... Prov . A . G . Chap . ,, Herbert Finch ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . of M . ,, F . K . Stevenson ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, Richard Newhouse ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Sec . „ C . G . Parker ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D .

„ G . P . Poole ... ... ... ... Prov . f . G . D . „ J . Parker ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of Wks . ,, Harry Gordon Small ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Tom Wood ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ H . Murphey ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . R . R . leifery ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br .

,, G . S . Smith ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Org . ,, R . Carriss ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ ] . Wagslaff ... ... ... ... ) ,, J . S . Darbyshire ... ... ... > Prov . G . Stwds . ,, T . Nicholson ... ... ... ) „ Stephen Smith ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Hon . ALAN DE TATTON ECIERTON

then addressed the Prov . Grand Lodge , and expressed his gratification at meeting so many brethren of the Mark Degree on that first anniversary of his installation at Chester 12 months ago . He thought the results of the past year were satisfactory on the whole , for although one or two of the lodges were comparatively quiet , there were evident signs of life amongst the others . The total membership of the lodges throughout the province had

increased by 34 Mark Masons . After referring to one or two points of order and discipline , which his examination of the minute book suggested , he expressed his regret that he had not been able to visit the lodge- ; since his installation as often as he could have wished ; but the arduous duties in connection with Parliament during the past 3 ear had prevented him from coming amongst them , and he was sure they would grant him their indulgence . They , had not , as they knew , a large income at their command in

connection wilh the Mark Degree , but what surplus they had they applied in the exercise of that great virtue of the Order , viz ., Charity , and he had therefore much pleasure in moving , first , a vote from the Prov . Grand Lodge funds of £ \ o ios . to the Cheshire Masonic Benevolent Institution ; secondl y , £ 10 ios . ( or the Festival of 1 895 for Ihe Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , at which , as they were aware , his Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton had consented to preside ; and thirdly , a sum not exceeding £ 5 5 s . to the Stamford Mark Lodge , Altrincham , towards the expenses of that meeting .

This was seconded by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . SALMON , and carried unanimously . Bros . J AMES COOKSON , W . M . 67 , P . P . J . G . O ., and HERBERT FINCH , P . M . 67 , Prov . G . Reg ., gave the Provincial Grand Lodge a cordial invitation to hold the next annual meeting at Stockport .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER thanked these brethren , and said that after conferring with his Deputy Piov . Grand Master he would intimate his decision . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren afterwards dined together at the Unicom Hotel .