Contents.

CONTENTS .

REPORTS OF MASONIC M EETINGS : — Craft Masonry ; 9 ? R , oval Arch 59 *> Scotland = 599 Freemasonry in Jersey £ 99 Presentation at Newton £ 99 C ORRESPONDENCE : — Masonic Decorations » 00 Irish U . K . Templary Goo Masonic Queries « 00

Carthage ooi Freemasonry in America "or Freemasonry in South Africa 6 ° i Special Grand Lodge <> or Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ° Review <> Orders of the Temple and Malta ooi Masomc and General Tidings 6 oi , 876 6 o 2 I odgc Meetings for Ncxt Week 603 Advertisements 606 , ¦• " . Hi . iv . v . vi .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft Ufasattrs . VITRUVIAN LODGE ( No . 8 j ) . —A regular monthly meeting of this old-established lodge was held at the White Hart , College-street , Lambeth , on the 13 th inst ., P . M . C . S . Jolly officiating for the W . M . ( who was unavoidably absent ) , and was "well supported by the whole of thc oflicers . The minutes of thc previous meeting having been read and duly confirmed , the lodge

was opened up to the Third Degree , and Bros . Huntly , Terry , and Isaac were raised to the Sublime Degree of M . M ., after which Bros . Conford and Baker were passed to the degree of F . C . On the lodge being resumed to thc First Degree , Messrs . Shotton , Bragg , Harris , and Watercr having been proposed in open lodge at a former meeting , were ballotted for , the election in each case being

unanimous , and were then initiated into the mysteries of our ancient Craft . The working of Bro . Jolly was excellently done , and although ( as will be seen ) there were three raisings , three passings , and four initiations , the whole of the ceremonies were gone through without a hitch . After some minor business , the lodge was closed in due form . No banquet followed on this occasion .

YORK . —York Lodge ( No . 23 6 ) . —The annual meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Duncombe Place , York , on Monday evening , the 18 th inst ., the principal business before it being the installation of Bro . William Cowling , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., the Worshipful Mas ' ..: -Vet for the ensuing year , which will be the most important o ,, ' ,. ii t he history of the lodge since its

formation . Within the next few months the lodge will complete the iooth year of its existence , the same having been constituted by the Grand Lodge of England in June , 1777 , and as it is contemplated shortly to celebrate the centenary of the lodge in a manner commensurate with its high reputation and worthy of the ancient city with which it is associated , a special interest was attached

to the installation of thc W . M . elect on this occasion , as was evidenced by the large number of biethren and visitors from other lodges who were in attendance . The ceremony of installation was performed with much ability by Bro . Ralph Davison , P . M ., after which the W „ M . ( with thc view of the proceedings attendant upon the proposed celebration being most effectively carried out )

appointed and invested thc following distinguished members of the lodge as his oflicers for the year , viz . Bro . Sir James Meek , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., Senior Warden ; Bro . Wm . Benson Richardson , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., Junior Warden ; Bro . the Rev . II . V . Palmer , P . M ., P . P . G . C , Chaplain ; Bro . Wm . Lawton , P . M ., P . P . G . R ,, Treasurer ; Bro . Joseph Todd , P . M ., P . P . G . O ., Secretary

Bro . John March , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., Senior Deacon ; Bro . Chas . Smith , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Junior Deacon ; Bro . Ralph Davison , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Director of Ceremonies ; and Bro . Thomas Smurthwaitc , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., Inner Guard . Bro . George Kirby was also appointed Assistant Secretary ; Bro . Camidge , P . P . G . O ., Organist j Bros . Tissiman and Garbrett , Stewards , and Bro . Rcdfare , Tyler .

HEYWOOD .-Napthali Lodge ( No . 260 ) . — This lodge held its annual installation meeting at the Masoni ; Hall , Hey wood , on Thursday , December 7 th . The lodge was opined in due form at 2 . 30 p . m ., by Bro . John Partington , W . M . The minutes cf thc previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the auditors ' report and balance sheet for thc past 12 months was

submitted and accepted , showing the lodge to bc in a healthy and prosperous condition . The lodge was then opened in thc Second and Third Degrees , and the W . M . raised Bro . Abraham Eastwood to the sublime degree of a M . M . A Board of Installed Mastcis having been formed , Bro . Joseph Ilardman , S . W . and W . M . elect , was presented by

Bro . Partington , W . M ., and was inducted into the chair of K . S . by thc Installing Master , Bro . Albert Wolstenhulme , P . M ., P . J . G . D . The very satisfactory manner in which thc Installing Master performed his duties is deserving of thc highest praise . The working tools in the several degrees were presented to the newly installed W . M ., and the brethren saluted him in ancient form . The W . M .

appointed thc following brethren as officers for Ihe ensuing year ; and they were duly invested by thc Installing Master , Bro . Wolstcnholme , P . M ., P . J . G . D ., viz : —Bros . Jno . Partington , I . P . M . ; John Thomas Dawson , S . W . ; Sam . Clegg , J . W . ; James Mills , P . M ., P . G . S . B ., Treas . ; Richard Gorton , P . M ., Chap . ; James Fenton , Sec . ; Richard Rigby , S . D . ; John Kay , J . D . ; Edmund Manock , I . G . ;

B . C . Crossley , Org . ; Wm . Henry Kershaw , D . C ; Oswin Brown , Tyler ; Jamis Collinge , S . S . jand Robt . A . Bridge , J . S . The addresses to the W . M . and his officers were given with a very impressive effect by Bro . Jno . Cass , P . M . Hearty good wishes were accorded from the P . G . Lodge of Kast Lancashire , Harmony 288 , Relief , 42 , Harmony , ^ 98- The lodge was closed in due form at 6 p . m ., and

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

the brethren adjourned to a splendid banquet , most ably served by Bro . Griffiths , of the Queen Anne Hotel . The customary toasts followed , in all fifteen in number , and were most ably proposed and responded to . A splendid musical entertainment was given in the course of the evening , songs , glees , recitations , and pianoforte solos being interspersed throughout , and a most pleasant and

enjoyable St . John ' s was successfully brought to a close . BIRKENHEAD . —Mersey Lodge ( No . 477 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Rooms , Argyle-street , on Thursday evening , the 14 th inst . Bro . Adams , the W . M ., presided , and there was a very large attendance of brethren . Three candidates having been initiated , the lodge proceeded to the election of

Master for the ensuing year , when the suffrages of the brethren were given in favour of Bro . J . Pulford , the Senior Warden . Bro . Donald Fraser , the I . P . M ., was unanimously elected Treasurer . A Past Master ' s jewel was voted to Bro . Adams , the retiring Master . The installation will take place in January . BRECON . —Brecknock Lodge ( No . 651 ) . —The

regular meeting of this lodge was held on the nth inst . at 6 . 30 , at the Masonic Hall , Brecon , Bro . T . D . Roberts , W . M ., presiding . The first business was the election of officers for the ensuing year , and the choice of the brethren unanimously fell on the following : —W . M . Bro . Richard Webb , Treas ., P . Prov . G . P , ; Treasurer , Bro . D . W . Jones Thomas ; Tyler , Bro . Serjt . Major Orlopp .

Ballot was then taken for Mr . William Games , who , having been approved , was duly initiated in an impressire manner by the W . M . The W . M . brought under the notice of the lodge thc case of an old and respected member and Past Master of thc lodge and Past Provincial Grand Officer , who , from circumstances of unforseen misfortune , was now reduced to poverty and distress , and on

the propositiou of Bro . Herbert Chas . Rich , P . M ., seconded by Bro . Richard Webb , W . M . elect , the sum of ten guineas was unanimously voted for his relief with a warm expression of sympathy with him in his . distress . It was announced that the installation of the W . M . elect would take place on the 8 th January . The lodge was then closed in ancient form .

WOOLWICH . —Nelson Lodge ( No . 700 ) . — The regular meeting of the above lodge took place on Wednesday , the 20 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Williamstreet , when , notwithstanding a steady downpour of the " bothering rain , " a goodly assembly of the brethren gathered together to assist and enjoy the working for which the lodge is so justly celebrated . The W . M ., Bro . T . Butt ,

took the chair at 7 p . m . precisely , the following officers being present : —Past Masters , T . Ward , I . P . M . ; J . Rowland , G . Crawford , and C . Hobson ; Bros . Waters , S . W . ; A . Woodley , J . W . ; F . J . Dawson , P . M ., and Treas . ; J . Henderson , P . M . and Sec ; C Cooke , Org . ; J . Warren , S . D . ; J . Wilkins , J . D . ; E . B . Hobson , I . G . ; W . McCoy , D . C . ; and B . Norman , Tyler . Among the

visitors were Bros . W . Weston , W . M . 1536 ; Capt . C . Phillips , P . M . 1 ? and 15- ^ 6 ; G . Spinks , S . W . 1536 ; H , G . Pickcn , J . W . 153 G ; T . D . Hayes , J . D . 913 ; W . B , Lloyd , S . D . 913 ; S . Long , 913 ; W . E . Douglas , 552 and 146 3 ; Donolly , 153 6 and 706 ; T . Hooper , 15361 and C . Jolly , 913 . The lodge having been duly opened , a ballot was taken for Mr . G . II . Hill , and after

approval that gentleman was most impressively initiated into Masonry . Bro . Andrew was then passed to the Second Degree , and Bro . Wilson received the benefit of the Third . Nothing could be more effective than thc solemnity and precision with which the whole of thc work was carried out , Bro . Cooke ' s ability as an organist conspicuously aiding in the ceremonial . The lodge was

then resumed , the report of the committee appointed to revise the bye-laws of the lodge received , and after a short discussion , passed , with but few alterations , the most important being the alteration of thc payments of lodge dues , making them quarterly instead of monthly , as formerly , and a slight rise in their value , the lowering of the fee for joining members from £ 3 ios . to £ 3 3 s ., and the

alteration of the installation from June to July . A vote of thanks having been passed to Bro . McCoy for his services as Sec . to the Committee , a reply from that brother concluded thc busin-ss , and the lodge having been closed in due form , most of the brethren adjourned to Bro . Francis ' s hostelry opposite , where a cold collation awaited them . The brethren then reassembled in the

Hall , where refreshments were served , and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and honoured . In proposing "The Health of thc W . M ., " Bro . Ward briefly drew attention to the able manner in which he carried out his duties in the chair , and in reply the W . M . said he once again , and for thc last time this year , thanked them for thc great c . - . rdiality they had shown him in his position as head of

the lodge ; he had tried to carry out its duties to their satisfaction , and trusted in thc forthcoming year they might all be as united and pass as comfortable a one as the last ( Cheers ) . " The Health of the Initiate " was then proposed and responded to . Bro . Weston , W . M . 1536 , replied for the Visitors , and in so doing spoke of the close relationship and good feeling that existed between thc

" Nelson , " and the " United Military , " which made it a pleasure to receive a brother of the " Nelson , " or to visit the lodge ; indeed , thc general good feeling among all the lodges of the district showed that Masonry with them was something more than a name . ( Cheers . ) In the name of thc visitors he thanked them for their toast ( Cheers . ) The toast of the Past Masters followed ,

and in the course of ^ his remarks the W . M . evidenced the unwearied exertion made by them for the prosperity of the lodge , by drawing attention to their efforts to frame a code of laws suitable to their circumstances , and of thc happy issue of those efforts that night . They were always ready to render assistance and advice to any one of the brethren ; more particularly were their services eminent in assisting to carry out properly the duties of thc chair .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

( Applause . ) P . M . Rowland , the Senior P . M . of the lodge in reply , said it seldom fell to the lot of the Senior Past Master to respond to that toast in the presence of the I . P . M ., but Bro . Ward had upon this occasion placed it in his hands , and he thanked him for it . He must congratulate the W . M . upon the manner in which he filled the honourable position to which he had been elected

( Cheers . ) The officers were a credit to his judgment and to the lodge . The Past Masters felt proud of being as it were of the father of such a lodge , and he felt sure none of their children would ever want for either advice or assistance . He thanked the W . M ., and after wishing him and all the brethren a merry Christmas and happy new year , trusted that the same love and harmony which

now existed would ever continue in the lodge . Bro . C . Hobson rose and regretted the absence of Bro . C . Norman , P . M ., which was attributable to domestic affliction , and he conveyed to them Bro . Norman ' s apologies and best wishes . The toast of "The Officers" followed , and Bro . Woodly responded , and then the Tyler ' s toast concluded a memorable and happy old year to the Nelson

Lodge . CHESTER . — Lodge of Independence ( No 721 ) . —At the meeting of this popular lodge on Monday evening , the nth inst ., under the presidency of Bro . J . J Tunnah , the W . M ., the Senior Warden , Bro . W . Mathews , was elected Master for the ensuing year . The installation will take place in January . The brethren

voted a Past Master ' s jewel to Bro . J . J . Tunnah , the retiring W . M . TWICKENHAM . —Francis Burdett Lodge ( No . 1503 ) . —An excellent gathering of this prosperous lodge was held at the Albany Hotel , on Wednesday , the 13 th inst . Amongst the principal officers present were : — Bros . W . H . Saunders , P . G . S . of Surrey ; W . M . Knaggs

S . W . ; Court , sen ., J . W . ; Taylor , S . D . ; Vaughan , J . D . ; W . Wigginton , P . G . Supt . of Wks . Middlesex , & c ., I . P . M ., Sec . ; Tomlinson , P . M ., P . P . G . S . D . of Norfolk , Treas . ; C . Horsley , P . P . G . R . of Middlesex , D . C ; Birchell , P . M . The minutes of the installation meeting in November last having been read and confirmed , the ballot ¦ was taken upon behalf of a gentleman for initiation at

the next meeting , and the report of the committee appointed to consider the advisability of altering thc month of meeting was read and unanimously adopted . The meeting in future will be held on the second Wednesday in the months of February , April , July , October , November , and December . The lodge was shortly afterwards closed , and the brethren adjourned to a collation . The

visitors were Bros . Corbon , P . M ., and Elliott . Upon the removal of the cloth the toasts of the " Queen and Craft , " " H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . ' The Past and Dep . Grand Masters and the rest of the Grand Officers , Past and Present , " were given by thc W . M ., prefaced by a few pertinent remarks . In proposing " The Health of . the R . W . P . G . M . of Middlesex , " the W . M . made an excellent

speech m honour of Bro . Colonel Burdett . The toast of " The D . G . M . and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Past and Present , " followed . Bros . Wigginton ' and Horsley replied by thanking the W . M . for the complimentary manner in which he had mentioned their names in connection with the last toast . They said that they were proud at holding grand rank in so important a Masonic

province as Middlesex and under so distinguished and popular a chief as Bro . Colonel Burdett . ' The Health of thc W . M . " was proposed by the I . P . M . in most felicitious terms . The W . M ., in very feeling language , having briefly acknowledged the compliment paid him by the LP M ., then proposed " The Health of the Visitors , " in which he expressed the pleasure he felt , and should always

feel at being in a position to dispense the hospitality of the " Francis Burdett" to their visiting brethren . This toast having been duly honoured was acknowledged by Bro . Corben . The remaining toasts "The Past Masters , " "The Treasurer and Sec , and the Officers " followed in quick succession and were severally acknowledged . Thc Tyler ' s toast , at ten o ' clock , terminated the proceedings

which were throughout eminently successful . LIVERPOOL . —Prince Arthur Lodge ( No . 1570 ) . —The first annual installation meeting of this lodge was held at the lodge-room , North Hill-street . Toxteth Park , Liverpool , on Tuesday afternoon , the 19 th inst . Bro . H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec , thc W . M ., presided at thu opening of the lodge , supported by Bros . T . Eians , P . M .

1356 , S . W . ; A . Morrison , J . W . ; S . Hikins , Sec . ; R . Roberts , S . D . ; H . Worthington , I . G . ; W . W . Tbcmas , S . ; P . Larsen , Tyler ; J . Lawson , J . [ ones , f . Corkhill , J . Webster , J . Sclbey , S . E . Ibbs , P . P . G . S . B . ; A . R . Webster , J . H . Davies , J . Kenwright , and others . The visitors included Bros . B . B . Marson , P . G . S . ; J . Skeaf , P . G . O . ; J . Bell , W . M . 1609 ; T . Boswell , Sec * 594 ; H .

Marshall , 673 ; E . Johnston , P . M . 203 ; R . Brown , P . M . 241 ; A . Woolrich , Treas . 1609 ; R . Wilson , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . W . Turley , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . R . Bottomley , 135 6 ; J . Holder , 1182 ; T . Nickson , S . W . 1356 ; T . Marwood , P . J . G . W . ; and Major Horner , P . G . S . W . After the minutes had been confirmed , the W . M . proceeded to pass a brother to the Second Degree , and then concluded his

year of office by installing Bro . T . Evans , S . W ., as thc W . M . for the ensuing year . The following officers were then invested : —Bros . H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec , I . P . M . ; S . E . Ibbs , P . P . G . S . B ., D . C . ; A . Morrison , S . W . ; Saml . Hikins , J . W . ; Robert Roberts , Sec ; H . Worthington , S . D . ; G . H . Thomas , J . D . ; Thomas Mair , Treas . ; W . W . Thomas , I . G . ; and P . Larsen , Tyler . A recherche '

banquet was subsequently served by Bro . W . Vines , P . M . 220 , of the Canton Hotel , which gave universal satisfaction . The W . M . gave the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , and in submitting " The Prince of Wales , " he said it must be a great satisfaction to the brethren of the Craft to find His Royal Highness devoting so much of his valuable time to the interests of Freemasonry . Bro . Major Horner , P . G . S . W . West Lancashire , responded to the toast of "Bro ,