Lodges And Chapters Of Instruction.

Fred . Taylor , S . D . ; W . W . Cook , J . D . ; Wm . P . Allen , I . G . ; John Ives , P . M . ; N . Fortescue , P . D . Parsons , T . E . Horley , Geo . Long , E . Gray , jun ., J . Speller , J . Wilson , J . J . Briginshaw , and others . The lodge was opened in due form , and after the usual

preliminaries , the ceremonies of initiation , passing , and installation were rehearsed in a satisfactory manner . Bro . C . H . Bestow was elected W . M . for the ensuing meeting , and appointed his officers in rotation . There being no further Masonic business , the lodge was closed .

HORNSEY CHAPTER ( No . 890 ) . —A convocation was held on the 22 nd inst ., at the Porchester Hotel , Leinsterplace , Cleveland-square , Paddington , W ., when there were present Comps . W . C . Williams , Z . 733 , M . E . Z . ; J . Cruttenden , 779 , H . ; W . H . Chalfont , J . 975 , J-J H . Dehane , P . Z . S 90 , S . E . j W . Hillier , S 34 . S . N . j G . Swann , P . S . 733 , P . S . ; G . March , H . 733 , ist Asst . Soj . ; J . C . Tilt , S 62 ; J . R . Allman , Treas . S 90 ; J . Smith , Sgo ;

and O . W . Battley , 2246 . Visitor : Comp . Joseph Cox , 733 . The chapter opened , and the minutes of thelast convocation were read and confirmed . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Cox being candidate . Comp . Cox was elected a member . Comp . Cruttenden was electedM . E . Z . for the ensuing two weeks . After the M . E . Z . had risen the usual number of times , "Hearty good wishes" were accorded , and the chapter was closed .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

TORQUAY . Royal Sussex Preceptory ( No . 25 ) . —A meeting of this preceptory was held at the Masonic Hall , on Thursday , the 21 st instant , when there were present , amongst others , Sir Knights John Chapman , iS ° , P . P . G . Reg ., Preceptor ; lohn Lane . iS , P . P . G . Reg ., I . P . E . P . ; W . Bennett-Maye , iS ° , P . P . G . M ., Registrar ; lohn Taylor ,

18 ° , P . P . B . B ., Constable ; F . Cornish Frost , P . E . P ., as Marshal ; P . B . Clemens , P . E . P ., P . P . C , as Sub-Marshal ; W . Taylor , 1 S , P . E . P ., P . P . G . T ., as CG . ; and John Heywood , Guard . The preceptory being formed , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed , Comp . T . H . Wills , elected at the last meeting , was regularly

installed as a Knights Templar by Sir Knight W , Bennet-Maye , who performed the ceremony with eloquence and ability . Sir . Knight Dr . F . Adams Davson , J . P ., was then unanimously elected as a joining frater . The E . P . then moved a vote of condolence on the sudden and melancholy death of Sir Knight Thomas Prust , Sub-Marshal , and that a letter of sympathy be sent to the

widow of the deceased sir knight .. The E . P . then addressed the preceptory at considerable length upon some of the recent alterations which had taken place in the regulations of the Order , upon the restoration of the rule as to past rank , and strongly advocated the desirability of further legislation , in order that provincial fratres might have the opportunity to attend the meetings of Great Priory and

Convent General . The E . P . moved , and Sir Knight F . Cornish Frost , in a vigorous speech , seconded , the following resolution , which was also supported by Sir Knights Jno . Lane and VV . Taylor , and unanimously carried— " That this preceptory views with regret the decision of the Council and the Great Priory , with regard to the place of future meetings of Great Priory and Convent General , having

regard to the overwhelming influence of the London fratres , as incorporated by the alteration of the powers granted to actual Constables and Marshals , it is hereby resolved that for the convenience of provincial fratres attending Great Priory and Convent General , and for a more equitable legislative power between the provinces and London , it is recommended that the future meetings of Great Priory and

Convent General be held alternately in York , Manchester , Bristol , and London . " A copy of the resolution to be forwarded to the Provincial Priory and the National Great Priory . A Priory of Malta was then held , and Sir Knight T . H . Wills , was ably installed by Sir Knight P . B . Clemens , after which the priory closed .

Victoria.

Victoria .

MELBOURNE . Combermere Lodge ( No . 752 , E . C . ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the 17 th ult ., in the Freemasons' Hall , Collins-street . Bro . R . B . A . Virgoe , I . P . M ., presided , in the absence from the colony of the VV . M ., Bro . W . R . Virgoe . The lodge was draped in mourning out of respect for the

memory of the late Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master of England , this being the first regular meeting of the lodge since the cable news recording the death of his lordship was received . There was no business , except the confirmation of the minutes of the last regular meeting , and the election of Bro . Max Klein , St . Asaph Lodge , No . 2 , London , as a joining member . Before the lodge was closed

the choir sang Dr . Calcott s anthem , " Forgive , blest shade , " with Bro . Ernest Wood , Organist of St . Paul ' s Cathedral , presiding at the organ . The lodge having been closed , the brethren assembled at the supper table , and after the toasts of " The Oueen and the Craft" and "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . Grand Master of England , " from the chair , Bro . W . F . Lamonby , P . M ., gave " The Memory of the Earl of

Carnarvon , " in the course of which he observed that he had the privilege of being present at the Royal Albert Hall , in London , in 1875 , as W . M . of his mother lodge , when the late Lord Carnarvon installed the Prince of Wales as Grand Master of England , in the presence of an assemblage of some 10 , 000 Masons . The toast was drunk in solemn silence , shortly after which the proceedings terminated .

Bro . Lieut .-General the Hon . Somerset Calthorpe , Chairman of the County Council of the Isle of Wi ght , and the Hon . Mrs . Somerset Calthorpe gave a garden party at their residence , Woodland ' s Vale , near Ryde , to the membeis of the County Council and the ladies of their families , together with many other guests . The band of the 5 th battalion of the Hampshire Regiment was in attendance .

Kilwinning.

KILWINNING .

Kilwinning will always be a place of interest to Freemasons , by reason of its early connection with the Craft . A correspondent of the North British Mail thus describes the town : " Kilwinning is a place of great antiquity , its history being traced back to the founding of a church in 715

by an Irish evangelist named St . Winnin . Out of this church grew an abbey founded in the 12 th century , the buildings of which at one time covered some acres of ground , and which drew the tithes of 20 churches . There are still standing some interesting portions of this ancient structure , including a fine window . At

Kilwinning Freemasonry is said to have been first established i nScotland . The practice of having a yearly shooting by archers at the papingo existed here as far back as 1488 , and , it is believed , at even an earlier date , and it is onl y quite recently that the custom has fallen into desuetude . The appearance of the town bears

some indication of its ancient date in its winding and irregular main street , and the occurrence here and there of thatched houses of antique appearance . There are , however , in contrast to these many modern buildings of handsome appearance . It shared in the prosperity of the cotton weaving in the early part of the

century , having at one time between five and six hundred looms at work . There are now not more than half-a-dozen hand-loom weavers in the town . Another lost industry is the sewed muslin work , at which many females were employed previous to the failure of the Western Bank . This is now to some extent represented by embroidery work in white and colours . The

sewed muslin work which at one time employed many thousands of women in the North of Ireland was introduced there by workers from Kilwinning , who were sent over to Dona ' ghadee by Glasgow and Paisley firms to teach it . In the employment of the population of between three and four thousand the Eglinton Iron Works take the principal share ; but there are besides these several works of importance . "

Belfast Masonic Charities.

BELFAST MASONIC CHARITIES .

The Rev . J . E . Kelly , P . P . G . C . Portrush , in the course of a sermon on behalf of the above object , under the auspices of Lambeg Lodge , No . 565 , at the Lambeg parish church , on the 10 th inst ., said : " Charity , my friends , is greatest , because , as said , it stimulates ,

and gives tone , vigour , and beauty to the other graces ; is greatest , because it benefits others as well as those who exercise it ; Charity is greatest , because it partakes of the nature of God . God is love ; and Charity is greatest , because it is immortal , it is imperishable . Faith and hope shall cease , but Charity never faiieth .

Charity is one of the bri ghtest jewels in our ancient and honourable Masonic Order—an Order that is intended to present itself to the world as a Charitable Society ; a Society whose great aim is to urge upon its members to bear one another ' s burdens , to relieve one another in

distress , to comfort the sorrowing , and love one another in adversity and in prosperity ; to visit the fatherless children and hel pless widows ; to keep themselves unspotted from the world . We may , I think , gather something of the spirit and principle of Masonry from one of its

poems—Genius of Masonry , descend , And with thee bring thy spotless train ; Bring with thee virtue ; brightest maid , Bring love , bring truth , bring friendship ; Bring Charity , with goodness crowned , Encircled in thy heavenly robe ; Diffuse thy blessings all around , To every corner of the globe .

Masonry does not onl y feel , but aids ; it not merely pities , but endeavours to relieve sorrowing , suffering humanity . Its aim , as already said , is to comfort the sorrowing , to console the dying , to relieve the destitute , to shelter fatherless children , and extends to the weeping widow the consolation

of fraternal sympathy and support . It is for such a Society as this that I appeal to you this morning , and yet it is not for any society that I appeal to you ; but on behalf of suffering , sorrowing brethren , on behalf of suffering , sorrowing widows , on behalf of helpless children and orphans . The Belfast Masonic

Charities consist of two funds , which were instituted , the first in the year 1862 , and the second in the year 18 73 . I cannot possibl y in the time given to me tell you fully the work or even the objects of these two Charities , though I may mention one or two of each . One of the great objects of the first is to help and assist

aged and deserving Masons , who , through growing infirmities , are unable to help themselves , however willing they may be . Many such we know are in our own province , depending solely upon the help of sons or daughters—absent sons or daughters . When the aid of these sons and daughters is removed by accident ,

by disease , by death , or by any other cause , they are left helpless , and would be hopeless only that one Masonic Society comes as a good Samaritan to their aid . The demands then upon this Society are pressing , and I sincerely trust that I shall not appeal to you this morning in vain . The other is the Widows' Fund , and I think its objects may best be stated in the words of a

recent report , which says : — 'In the ceaseless and startling changes which are incidental to life it often happens that those who were once enjoying ease and abundance are reduced to severe straits of unaccustomed poverty , and when this sad trial is accompanied by one sadder still , in the death of the head of the family—its main support and centre of its joy—

Belfast Masonic Charities.

how deeply painful is the consequent distress . It is to bring comfort and help to such mourners , the widows and children of those whose hands we once grasped as brethren , that this fund was established ; and the accomplishment of this purpose the Committee believe to be an object in every way worthy of that spirit of

Charity which so brightly adorns our Order . ' Do you ask ' What is being done ? ' I may tell you that at the present moment there are in connection with this Society 60 widows and their families ( numbering about 250 ) , and almost ^ 500 given in yearly grants . Nor do our Charities end here . It may well , I think , be said

of them , as of loving ones of old , ' In death they are not divided . ' A portion of ground has been taken in the Borough Cemetery for the burial of our poor brethren who may be strangers in a strange land , or who through poverty are unable to purchase ground themselves , so that they may not slumber in paupers '

graves . We ask you , then , this morning to aid us to perform this purpose , to aid us in this benevolent work , in this charitable work . Not only do we ask you to enable us by your money , but we ask your prayersyour constant , fervent prayers — for this grace of Christian Charity . ' Pour into our hearts the most

excellent gift of Charity ; pour into our hearts this Charity , because it surpasses all others , because it outshines all others , because it outlives all others . Pour into our hearts this most excellent gift , because Charity is the consummation of all others . Faith and hope shall cease , they shall one day fail , but throughout the

endless ages ot eternity love shall shine more and more in all its glory , in all its splendour , in all its beauty , and ever as it shines it shall ' reflect upon the Divine Giver the odour of its heavenly sanctity . ' ' And now abideth Faith , Hope , and Charity , these three ; but the greatest of these is Charity . ' " The following were the collectors : Bros . Robert

Macartney , P . P . J . G . W . ; David Hannay , P . P . S . G . W . ; Hugh Smyth , P . P . J . G . D . ; W . J . Stokes , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . D . Barbour , J . Arnot Taylor , R . Niven , G . B . Wilkins , A . Mussen , R . Knox , P . J . G . W . ; and E . J . Charley . The complete renovation of the church , it may be stated , was executed by Mr . Joseph Scott , Bridge-street , Lisburn . At the close of the service a handsome sum was subscribed .

A Medical Masonic Lodge.

A MEDICAL MASONIC LODGE .

The following letter has been addressed to our contemporary the British Medical Journal : — SIR , —At the recent annual meeting at Birmingham of the British Medical Association I found , in conversation with many professional brethren , a widespread concurrence with my opinion that , taking into

consideration the vast number of medical men who are Masons , the formation of a medical Masonic lodge would meet with unanimous professional support . In the interests alike of the profession and of the Craft , to both of which I have the honour to belong , I therefore should feel deeply gratified if you would

kindly afford this scheme the powerful circulating medium of your valuable columns , with a view to ascertaining the sentiments of the profession at large upon the subject . Might I venture to supplement the same with the further suggestion that the ^ sculapian

Lodge would be a highly appropriate designation ? I shall be most happy to receive the names of any professional brethren willing to join such a lodge , with a view to concerting active measures for its formation . —I am , & c , J . BRINDLEY J AMES , I . P . M . Jamaica-road , S . E . . __ ^ .

Marriage.

Marriage .

WEBB—WHYMPER , 24 th July , 18 90 , at the Church of the Holy Trinity , Murree , Punjab , India , Algernon Edward Webb , Lieutenant Bengal Staff Corps , son of Colonel R . F . Webb , to Annette , daughter of Bro . H . Whymper , CLE .

- * Bro . the Earl and the Countess of Whamcliffe will entertain a large house party at Wortley Hall , Sheffield , during Doncaster race week , and in all probability the Dukes of Clarence and Cambridge will be included among the guests .

The Duke and Duchess of Fife ' s party at Mar Lodge Braemar , has this week included the Princess of Wales , the Princesses Victoria and Maud of Wales , the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , the Count and Countess of Paris , Prince Waldemar of Denmark , the Russian Ambassador , and others .

The annual fete of the Order of Foresters , in aid of their Distress , Gift , and Asylum Funds , was held at the Crystal Palace on Monday , when there was a very large attendance and a full programme of entertainments was carried out satisfactorily . The Mining Exhibition proved a great attraction .

The Queen has given orders for the following appointments to the Most Honourable Order of the Bath : —To be an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Second Class or Knights Commanders of the Order—Sir Henry Percy Anderson , K . C . M . G ., of the Foreign Office . To be an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the Third

Class , or Companions of the Order—Major and Lieut .-Col . and Col . Ivor John Caradoc Herbert , Grenadier Guards , Military Attache at St . Petersburg . To be an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Third Class , or Companions of the Order—Mr , Henry Hamilton Johnston , Her Majesty ' s Consul for the Portuguese Possessions on the East Coast of Africa ,