Freemasonry In 1887.

had held with such conspicuous ability for upwards of 20 years ; Bro . J . Randle Buck , P . Prov . S . G . W . Worcestershire ; Bro . Lieut-Col . Machen , P . D . P . G . M . Warwickshire , who only a short time previous to his death had had conferred upon him the brevet rank of P . G . D . of England , and who later still had laid down his office of Lord Leigh ' s Deputy ; and , greatest of all our losses this year , Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . VVoodford , a Past G .

Chaplain of England , who had been a member of our Society upwards of 40 years , and during a great part of that time had laboured incessantly in promoting the cause of Masonic literature ; who was himself a writer and compiler of Masonic works of the first importance ; and who for many years was the responsible Editor of this journal . This great catastrophe—for taking into account the paucity of literary Masons and the great learning

and immense experience which Bro . VVoodford had acquired , his death merits this description—which happened so recently as the morning of the 22 nd instant , has come upon us all so suddenly that it seems hardly possible to realize he is no longer in our midst , nor until we have been able to reconcile ourselves to his departure , shall we be in a position to realize fully how difficult it will be to replace him worthily . Among the lesser lights who

have passed away are Bro . Sir Francis Bolton , Bro . the Duke of Leinster , Bros . Carleton J . Lewis , Walter Thompson , 'P . Prov . J . G . W . Oxfordshire ; W . Rees , P . M ., P . Z . ; Briscoe Masefield , the representative of our United G . Lodge at the G . O . of the Argentine Republic ; J . Walker , P . M . No . 387 ; J . G . Chancellor . P . M ., P . Z . ; R . Whitley , P . M . ; Lords Wolverton , Northwich . and Lifford , all initiates of the Apollo University Lodge . No .

357 5 W . O . Goldsmith , who at the time of his death was W . M . of the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 ; W . Honeyball , P . M . ; and H . J . Amphlett , an able journalist and frequent contributor to our columns . Of the foregoing many were known everywhere throughout the Craft , while the fame of the others was confined within narrower limits ; but they were good men all of them , and the services they rendered will not be readily or hastily forgotten .

SCOTLAND . The description given by Bro . Sir M . R . Shaw-Stewart , Bart ,, Past G . Master Mason of Scotland , at the annual Festival of its G . Lodge on last St . Andrew ' s Day , of the amazing progress made by Scottish Freemasonry , both at home and in the colonies , during the last ten years , must have been intensely gratifying to his audience . But the year now coming to its close

has not been distinguished by any events of special importance , so much as by the even tenour of its prosperity . Its roll of lodges have been increased by the addition of 14 , from No . 737 to 751 , and there have been upwards of 4400 candidates received into its lodges . Its meetings have been well attended , and there have been sundry occasions on which the Craft has made its appearance known among the general public , as , for

instance , when the foundation-stone of the Post Office at Dumfries was laid with Masonic ceremonial by Bro . F . E . Villiers , of Closeburn , Prov . G Master of Dumfriesshire , and other similar gatherings . The financia position of Grand Lodge , both for general purposes and benevolence , has also been greatly strengthened , but it is in the colonies , and especially in Victoria , New South Wales , and India , that we find Scottish brethren

exerting their powers most successfully . In India the destinies of the Craft are presided over by Bro . Sir Henry Morland , who is G . Masser of all Scottish Freemasonry in that country , and who , in combination with the English Craft , works incessantly to promote the wellbeingof our Society . In Victoria , Bro . Sir W . J . Clarke , Bart ., is the chief of Scottish as well as of English and Irish Masonry , and the members of the three Constitutions work together most harmoniously ; while in New South Wales Bro . Dr . W .

J . Sedgwick is Dist . G . M . In all these countries the Scottish Craftsmen muster numerously , and their zeal for its welfare is most gratifying . We must not omit to mention that in Scotland , as in England , due honour was paid to the Queen on the occasion of her Jubilee , and that the G . Lodge of Scotland , like that South of the Tweed , voted an address of congratulation to her Majesty , who graciously acknowledged the loyal and kindly wishes it contained in her behalf .

IRELAND . Even if the space at our disposal were less circumscribed , it would be difficult for us to speak at any length about what has passed in Masonry among our Irish brother Craftsmen . Plenty of Masonic news finds its way into the local Irish press , but the press of Masonry is not so hi ghly favoured , and the glimpses we obtain of what is passing in Ireland are only very

occasional . However , what reaches is satisfactory . We know that good work is done in aid of the Masonic Orphan Schools in Dublin , and ot the local Masonic Charities , and that , in particular , balls , or concerts , or conversaziones have been held in Antrim , Belfast , Dublin , and other cities and towns , in order to promote these Institutions . There was also a grand muster at Newry of the brethren in the Province of Downon the Sth

, November , when a new Hall was consecrated to the purposes of Masonry by Bro . Major Leslie J . Thompson , Dep . P . G . M ., acting as Prov . G . Master , in the unavoidable absence , owing to the illness of his mother , of Bro . Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., P . G . M . The meeting was a great success , the ceremony being very ably conducted by Bro . Thompson and the P . G . Officers who

assisted him , and we trust the lodges and brethren in the town of Newry will find their proceedings more conveniently transacted in the future now that they have quarters of their own in which to perform their Masonic duties . We regret that our account of Masonic doings in Ireland is so meagre , but if our Irish friends will be less reticent , the absence of news as to their meetings will soon cease to be conspicuous .

THE COLONIES AND ABROAD . The good fortune which has attended our Society in the Old Country has been shared by the brethren in our Colonies , whether they belong to independent jurisdictions , as . in Canada , Manitoba , South Australia , & c , or are members of lodges under the English , Irish , or Scotch Constitutions . With the exception of Quebec and Illinois , the same friendly relations have

prevailed during the present as in past years between the Grand Lodges of the old Country and those of other jurisdictions . The principal event in India has been tbe installation as Dist . G . M . of Bombay of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , while in New South Wales and other Australian Colonies the reception accorded to Bro . Lord Carrington , P . S . G . W . England , who is Governor-General of New South Wales , is enough to show the strength of the ties which unite the Craft in those parts with the Mother Grand Lodges

from which they spring . In Melbourne , which is the capital of Victoria , there have been several brilliant Masonic meetings , as when the brethren entertained their chief , Bro . Sir W . J . Clarke , Bart ., at a banquet on his return from England , and also when he consecrated the new Masonic Hall in Melbourne . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon , too , who is oh his travels for the benefit of his health , has also experienced a hearty welcome on more than one occasion from the brethren in South Africa , and the same kind of

Freemasonry In 1887.

reception was extended towards Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., who has also been visiting the Antipodes . In the United States of North America Freemasonry has not greatly enlarged its borders , but it has done better still —it has consolidated ils strength , and there is hardly a jurisdiction under the Stars and Stripes in which the position of the Grand and subordinate lodges has not been changed for the better—that is to say , where any change

for the better was either possible or desirable . The Grand Lodge of Maryland celebrated the centenary of its constitution in the course of the summer , and we in this country are only too pleased at the opportunity which a chance visit placed in our way of making the acquaintance of its distinguished G . Master , Bro . Shryock ; In New York the brethren , under the auspices of Bro . Frank R . Lawrence , elected for the third time Grand Master in June last , have been doing a great work well , and have at length succeeded in

freeing their Hall and Asylum Fund from debt . In Pennsylvania the brethren have had the happiness of seeing the Home they have recently established in Philadelphia for old Masons and Masons' widows thoroughly well and firmly established ; while in the other important American jurisdictions there is nearly everywhere the same condition of prosperity noticeable , and not in one branch of Masonry only , but in all . May it be our happy lot to be able to place before our readers a similar description of the Craft in our Colonies and in foreign parts when another 12 months have elapsed !

The Rev. A. F. A. Woodford, M.A., P.G.C. In Memoriam.

THE REV . A . F . A . WOODFORD , M . A ., P . G . C . IN MEMORIAM .

BY BRO . W . ] . HUGHAN . At the fraternal request of the Proprietor of the Freemason , and by desire of Bro . R . F . Gould , W . M . 2076 , it is my melancholy privilege and duty to write a few personal reminiscences of my friend and brother , the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , who " entered into rest" on Thursday morning , the 22 nd instant .

Bros . Woodford , Gould , and I , for many years have been closely connected in Masonic studies , forming an independent , yet united trio of students of rather an unusual character . First ' of all , the union consisted of Woodford and myself , which began so far back as 1867 , and arose out of a friendly discussion on the Origin of the Royal Arch Degree in the old

" Freemason ' s Magazine and Masonic Mirror . " He concluded the discussion on his part by saying " Both Bro . Hughan and I have only one end in view —Truth . " The recognition of this fact by both parties to a friendly debate is the only correct basis for Masonic and general discussions . He wrole

under his favourite nom de plume of " a Masonic student , " and as I was anxious to know more of the brother who could thus discuss the subject so ably , the editor of that paper gave me an introduction to him ; the friendship then begun continued down to the present time .

From 1867 to 1887 , a period 01 twenty years , we have worked together with a right goodwill , and though at times we have had our " skirmishes , " and even misunderstandings—for we both held tenaciously to our opinions when we had occasion to differ—yet , whatever difficulties arose , partook of the character of " Family Jars , " and could not in any way weaken the

affection which was cherished the one for the other . When Gould joined later on and made the trio , it was precisely the same as before . Each united as a friend and as a student with the others , but preserved his own independence , so that when occasions arose for objections to be started to any particular view held by either , the remainder spoke out plainly and

resolutely , either publicly or privately accordingly . To the outside world it almost appeared at times as if our friendship had suffered from the strain of criticism , but it was not so ; after a season of discussion , we unavoidably found the tie was as strong as ever , and that nothing could separate us The "threefold cord" has only been snapt by death .

No one enjoyed a real hard intellectual tussle more than our lamented friend , and as he , beyond question , has for long been the chief exponent of the legendary and traditionary History of the Craft , Gould and I , as representing the realistic School , had many a hard struggle to hold our own . Bro . Woodford was well read , a scholar in fact , and having a thorough

command of language , would almost overwhelm us sometimes in his flow of words and enthusiastic and persistent defence of his cherished views . Unless one had had the pleasure of his personal friendship and shared the hospitalities of his home and Library , it would be quite impossible to realise the extent of his researcnes , the zeal that he manifested , and the

unselfishness of his heart . All he had was at the service of his friends . His books he lent by the score , and his varied and extensive information respecting the literature of the Craft , and its cognate studies , was always most readily placed at the disposal of his fellow students . As Editor of

the Freemason and Masonic Magazine , he necessarily wrote a great deal anonymously , but even that mass of composition did not represent anything like the aggregate of his literary labours on behalf of our beloved Society , for he simply revelled in the use of noms de plume , and was inexhaustible as a correspondent to the " Notes and Queries " department .

The first assistance he kindly rendered me was to write for my " Masonic Sketches and Reprints" ( 1871 ) , an article on "The Connection of York with the History of Freemasonry in England , " in which he emphatically declared that "of what is called the 'Antient York Rite , ' 'The York System , ' & c , there is not the slightest historical or even Masonic evidence . "

In the following year Bro . Woodford wrote the Preface to my " Old Charges of British Freemasons , " and therein expressed his belief in the value of these old witnesses of " the change from an actual operative and mechanical Association , to a speculative and accepted Brotherhood . " He

also , in the most generous manner , gave me copies of several MSS . he had by him , in order that they might be printed with the series . It is Gould's opinion , and also mine , that Woodford never wrote better in his life than in those two works of 1871-2 . Since then he has been constant in his interest in this particular branch of Masonic study , and has been the means of