An Oration.

are most suited for the Master ' s service in that glorious buildingwhich He is now rearing , a Hol y Temple meet for His habitation . Brethren , I trust that in this lods-e . as often as ve enter it . ve

will ever find true happiness , that which ever springs where brotherl y love prevails , a happiness which will grow as the years s eed on , and find its completion and full realisation in that life eternal where Love for ever rules , for " God is Love . "

A Handsome Medal.

A HANDSOME MEDAL .

The Grand Secretary of New York ( the V . VV . Bro . E . M . L . Ehlers ) , has written me respecting a medal , which was presented to a Bro . James Bankes in 1790 . It is a magnificent decoration , of gold , and possibly struck from a die ( if not a mould ) , the maker ' s initials being I . H ., or T . H „ or

J . H . The design is effective , and represents Solomon on his throne , with , probably , the King of Tyre at his right , and Hiram Abiff in front ; the latter exhibiting plans to the monarch . There are several oi this design in museums and libraries in this country , but , as a rule , not so large as this grand oval badge .

It was " Presented to Bro . James Bankes for his steady and upright conduct in the oflice of R . W . Master , A . D . 1790 , A . L . 5790 "; this inscription being engraved on the reverse , having the arms of the brother artistically engraved . A similar medal was presented by the Patriotic Lodge to Robert Kidder in 1785 ( J . Breasly , Fecit ) , and donated by Judge Philbrick ,

P . G . R ., P . G . W ., & c , to the Grand Lodge quite recently . The one owned by Bro . M . C . Peck , Prov . G . Sec . N . and E . Yorkshire , & c , has the centre protected by a convex glass . , _ The misfortune is that no lodge is mentioned on Bro . Bankes' decoration , and hence my application through the Freemason to fellow students to assist me in identifying the lodge .

Some have suggested the medal was one of the set worn by the " Nine Excellent Masters , " or " Worthies , " under the " Ancients " ; but that cannot be , as these jewels were of silver , of a different design , and not made until 1792 . I hope the lodge may be traced . W . J . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Mare Lodge Of North Wales.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARE LODGE OF NORTH WALES .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , Llandudno , on the 21 st instant . Bro . Col . Hunter , Prov . Grand Master , presided , and there was a good attendance , all the lodges in the province being represented .

In addressing trie brethren , Bro . Col . HUNTER alluded in most feeling terms to the great loss the Order and Masonry generally had sustained b y the death of tne Earl of Lathom , Pro G . M . It was agreed that the Provincial Grand Lodge should express its deep sympathy with the late Earl's family . The following Provincial Grand Officers were appointed for the ensuing

year : Bro . Lieut .-Col . Gordon-Warren ... ... D . Prov . G . M . „ J . Lloyd Griffith , M . A .... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ John Williams ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . T . Edwards , P . G . C . Eng . ... ... } ,, -. .

„ Kev . Pugh bvans ... ... ... ) ~ .. ~ r- » „ Westlake Morgan , B . A ., Mus . Bac . ... Prov . G . M . O . „ J . Rodwav ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ W . A . Fo ' ster ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . ,, R . Bellis ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ Dr . Kendrick Davies , M . B . ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . ,, W . D . Henderson ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ E . Elbrell ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ J . W . Fentick ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ W . Walton ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W .

„ J . Porler ... ... ... ,.. Prov . G . D . C . „ Ellis Jones ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ J . G . Hall ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ R . E . Pritchard ... ... , „ 1 D . r . ,, „ " J . Armstrong j Prov . G . Std . Brs .

„ E . L . Pugh ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . Lloyd Griffith ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ A . Garrison ... ... ... Prov . G . Steward . „ J . Vincent ... ... .... ... Prov . G . Tyler . Alter the conclusion of the business , the Provincial Grand Lodge dined at the Imperial Hotel .

Israel Lodge Of Instruction, No. 205.

ISRAEL LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 205 .

AN ADDRESS BY THE GRAND TYLER .

A numerously attended meeting of this celebrated East-end lodge of instruction was held on the nth inst . at the hostelry of the veteran Bro . William Yetlon , the Rising Sun , Globe-road , where for many years past the lodge has found a comfortable home . The chair of the W . M . was ably filled by Bro . J . Bedford , that of S . W . by Bro . S . Emden , and that of J . VV . by Bro . S . B . Lotheim . There were also present Bros . George Graveley ,

G . Purst . ; H . J . Lardner , P . G . S . ; B . Da Costa , P . M ., Preceptor of the lodge ; Hy . Harris , P . M ., Sec ; J . Oxley , P . M . ; S . Fennell , P . M . ; L . A . Da Costa , P . M ., Preceptor of 1349 ; T . Cowell , P . M ., Preceptor of 2615 ; M . Da Costa , VV . M . 1349 ; Basil Stewart , P . M ., Preceptor of 2411 ; J . Hall , P . M . ; G . T . Kmniple , P . M . ; H . Thomson Lyon , P . M . 2563 ; D . Moss , P . M . ; and about 70 other brethren . The occasion of this large and representative gathering was a second visit of Bro . Henry Sadler , Grand

Israel Lodge Of Instruction, No. 205.

Tyler and Sub-Librarian of the Grand Lodge , for the purpose of delivering an historical address on " Tylers and Tyling . " The lodge having been opened , the W . M . said that Bro . Sadler was too well-known to most of those present to require any introduction from him , he would therefore only ask them for their kind attention to the lecturer .

Bro . SADLER , who , on rising , received a most cordial welcome , said he had a lively and pleasant recollection of his former visit to the Israel Lodge of Instruction , and so gratified was he at the reception given to him and the marked attention of the brethren to the address he then delivered that

he willingly and spontaneously promised to come again should they require his services , and at the invitation of their energetic Secretary he was pressnt to-night in fulfilment of that promise . So much had already been written and said about Freemasonry , and nearly all that appertained to the Craft , that it was now no easy task to find anything really fresh to say on the subject . There was , however , one topic which appeared

to have been either " severely left alone , " or but lightly touched upon , by Masonic writers generally , and for that reason he had selected it as the text of his discourse . He proposed to talk to the brethren chiefly about Tylers and Tyling—that being a subject on which he was popularly supposed to be quite at home , they would have an opportunity of judging for themselves whether that was so or not . A greater portion of

the address he was about to deliver was printed in the Christmas number of the Freemason last year , with illustrations ; but , as it was probable that many of the brethren were not aware of that fact , and as it was really originally prepared for delivery at the Israel Lodge of Instruction , bethought he could not do better than " trot it out , " rather than attempt to get up a fresh subject on a short notice .

Bro . Sadler ' s address occupied nearly two hours , with a short interval , and was listened to with the closest attention , the only interruptions being the applause of the brethren and their hearty bursts of laughter at the quaint remarks and curiously-amusing old-time sketches with which if was interspersed . Bro . Sadler had brought with him for the inspection of the brethren a fine engraved portrait of Andrew Montgomerie , who was

described as " Garder of ye Grand Lodge in 1738 , also a portrait of Anthony Sayer , Grand Master in 1717 . In directing attention to the portrait last named , he said : " Before proceedingifurther I have a statement to make with reference to the distinguished old brother just mentioned , which , I venture to think , will be somewhat in the nature of a revelation to you all , for it has not to my knowledge ever appeared in print . I need not remind

you that Anthony Sayer , having been the first real head and ruler of the Speculative Freemasons , is an important factor in the history of that body . It is but natural , therefore , that Masonic historians and writers of all nations should have interested themselves , more or less , in his antecedents and career ; but , beyond the bare statement made by the Masonic historian , Dr . Anderson , that he was elected and installed Grand Master in

1717 , nothing is really known about him prior to the year 1723 , when the first registration of members was made in the Grand Lodge book , and his name was returned as a member of one of the old lodges that assisted in forming the Grand Lodge , now the Fortitude and Old Cumberland Lodge , No . 12 . He is also returned as a member of the same lodge in 1725 and 1730 . He appears

to have subsequently fallen into adversity , for he was one of the first recipients of relief from the newly-formed Charity Fund early in the year 1730 , when , in consideration of his having been Grand Master , he was granted the then comparatively large sum of ^ , 15 . We know , also , that later in the same year a complaint was laid against him in Grand Lodge for irregular behaviour , the nature of which is not clearly defined .

However , he was found not guilty of the charge , but was cautioned not to do anything so irregular in future . In April , 1741 , he was again relieved with two guineas ; and , after this , he practically disappears from the Masonic stage , so far as the Grand Lodge records are concerned . Even the place and time of his death were hitherto unknown to the Masons of the present generation . It will , no doubt , surprise you to learn that some few months

ago I quite accidentally made the discovery—that the first Grand Master of the mother Grand Lodge of the world ended his Masonic career and his life as an ordinary Tyler ; for , when he died , either late in 1741 or very early in 1742 , he . was Tyler of what is now theOld King ' s Arms Lodge , No . 2 S . " At a later stage of the proceedings Bro . SADLER said : " In a previous portion of my address I directed your attention to the remarkable and

unparalleled incident of our first Grand Master ' s descent from the exalted position of head of the Craft to the humble office of Tyler . I will now relate a case of quite a different kind , which , I venture to think , is equally unique in the annals of Masonry . The W . Bro . Thomas Jones , Past G . Deacon of England , and Past Dep . Dist . G . Master of Bengal , is my authority for the story , which , I may mention , is fully confirmed by the

records of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal . It is the case of Bro . John Blessington Roberts , who commenced his Masonic career as Dist . Grand Tyler , and ended it as Dist . Grand Master . I will not , at this late hour , take up your time by giving the details of his eventful life and remarkable elevation socially . To use the words of Bro . Jones , ' he was a man of extraordinary force of character , of a bright and amiable disposition , and thoroughly devoted to every good work , both in and out of Masonry . ' It

appears that he went to India in the early forties with a Sapper Corps . Alter serving a few years , he left the army and joined the Calcutta police , in which service he ultimately became Deputy Commissioner and a magistrate . He was initiated in Lodge Courage with Humanity , No . 551 , in 1 S 46 ; was successively appointed Dist , Grand Tyler , Director ot Ceremonies , Junior Grand Deacon , Superintendent of Works , Junior Grand Warden , Senior Grand Warden , Deputy Grand Master ; and in 18 75 he succeeded to the office of Dist . Grand Master of Bengal . "

On resuming his seat the lecturer was most heartily applauded , and , on the motion of Bro . GEORGE GRAVELEY , Grand Purst ., seconded by Bro . D . Moss , a cordial vote of thanks was tendered to him for his instructive and amusing address . This was supported by Bros . OXLEY , THOMSON LYON , the Secretary , and other brethren , who desired personally to express their approval of the address . It need hardly be said the vote was carried by acclamation .

Bro . SADLER briefly responded , and , in the course of his remarks , reminded the brethren that elf iris were being made by the executive officers at headquarters to provide a library and museum worthy of the first and oldest Grand Lodge in the world , and he hoped that the English Craft generally would mark their appreciation of this most praiseworthy undertaking by attending the next Quarterly Communication and giving it their hearty support .