The Province Of Somerset.

The Grand Lodge Calendar for 1903 mentions the names of eight Provincial Grand Masters for Somersetshire from 1770 to 18 99 , one of whom , however , was appointed twice , ¦ so that there were but seven actually , all being deceased but the present Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . Lord Dungarvan , who we hope has many years before him as the

beloved Ruler of the province . The first was the R . W . Bro . John Smith , followed by the R . W . Bro . Thomas Dunckerley in 178 4 , who was one of the most active and distinguished Craftsmen of the 18 th century , his name occurring as Provincial Grand Master of Bristol , DorsetEssexGloucester

, , , Hampshire , the Isle of Wight , Hereford , Somerset , and Wilts , besides being Superintendent of many Royal Arch Provinces , and Grand Master of the Knights Templars . Then , after his decease , Bro . J . Smith again served the province from 179 6 , the next to succeed being the R . W .

Bro . A . Chichester in 1 S 18 , followed by Colonel Charles K . Kemys Tynte in 1820 , and then the revered Bro . Colonel Alexander William Adair ruled the lodges from 1863 . On his regretted resignation , the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon was appointed , and was Provincial Grand Master from 1868 . The important services rendered to

the Fraternity by this esteemed nobleman are well known and much appreciated " throughout the length and breadth of the land . " As the M . W . Pro Grand Master of England from 1874 to 1890 , and previously as Deputy Grand Master , 1870 to 1874 , no words of mine are needed to emphasize

the indebtedness of the Craft to his lordship for the able , devoted , and most intelligent discharge of the duties incidental to such exalted official and most responsible positions . ( To be Continued ) .

Centenary Of Freemasonry In Australia.

Centenary of Freemasonry in Australia .

THE Centenary of Freemasonry in Australia was fitly commemorated at Sydney , New South Wales , on July 20 th , and the brethren of the Commonwealth may well look back with pride on the records of the last hundred years . The ceremony was really a Grand Lodge installation and investiturebut it fell so near the hundredth

, anniversary of the date which is generally referred to as the dawn of Freemasonry in Australia , that it was decided to make it a centenary celebration as well . Incidentally M . W . Bro . John Cochrane Remington was installed for tlie fifth ¦ consecutive year as Grand Master of the United Grand

Lodge , but that was only a small portion of the ceremony . His speech was more than a detail , but considering that it covered the whole of ( he ground from 1803 to the present date—omitting modestly his own association with the Craft during tlie last five years—it must be regarded as of great historic value .

In addressing the brethren , the Grand Master said that they claimed the year 1903 to be the centenary of the dawn ¦ of Freemasonry in Australia . He referred in detail to the efforts made in the early days to establish Freemasonry in New South Wales . The first such proved disastrous ; as , although it was alleged that " several of the officers of his

Majesty ' s ships , together with some respectable inhabitants of Sydney , wished to establish a Masonic lodge , " the Governor refused permission ; and , on the movement being , nevertheless , proceeded with , promptly deported the leading spirit to Tasmania on the 16 th May , 1803 . His Excellency next clay

repeated his prohibition of Masonic meetings , and , about a year and a half afterwards , explained that " every soldier and other person would have been made a Freemason had not the most decided means been taken to prevent it . " An -extract from the records which indicated the feeling of that

period read : — " 22 nd May , 1803 . A number of Masons , meeting at the house of Sergt . Whittell , in Sydney , New ¦ South Wales , were arrested , and , after serious report , were -discharged , as having no wilful intention to disturb the peace . " They had no history of the subsequent proceedings

• of these brethren ; but subsequent events seemed to show that it was at least probable they kept their zeal for the Craft -warm and thereby influenced others , as the lodges which Avere generally attached to the regiments of soldiers on duty in Sydney evidently found among its inhabitants a sympathetic interest .

The Grand Master followed with references to the workings of military lodges attached to his Majesty ' s forces -stationed at Sydney . The earliest record of duly recognised Masonic work was in the year 1816 , when the Lodge of Social and Military Virtues , No . 227 on the register of the ¦ Grand Lodge of Ireland , held regular meetings in Sydney .

Its subsequent history was traced , and mention next made of the formation of Lodge Leinster and Marine in 1824 . The

Lodge of Australia in 18 33 was the first English lodge to work , and the Australasian Kilwinning , established at Melbourne in 18 43 , the first lodge with a Scotch warrant , Sydney St . Andrew starting in 1851 . The lirst attempt to establish a Grand Lodge was made in 18 47 but no practical result followed . The initiation of the

, District Grand Lodges of England , Scotland , and Ireland was referred to , and , coming down to the year 1877 , the Grand Master said that at the installation banquet of R . W . Bro . John Williams as District Grand Master under the English constitution , on November 19 th of that year , R . W . Bro . Farnell ,

Provincial Grand Master under the Irish constitution , first publicly announced his desire to bring about a union of the Craft ; but it subsequently transpired that , on the 5 th o ( July in that year , a Masonic union , representing some of the lodges then working under the Irish and Scottish

constitutions , had met , and decided to form a Grand Lodge . The decision was carried into effect by the duly-appointed delegates from thirteen lodges on the 3 rd December following , but recognition was refused by the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland , although granted by many of

the other Grand Lodges of the world . Victoria followed the example of New South Wales in July , 188 3 , and formed a Grand Lodge in Melbourne , under the guidance of M . W . Bro . George Coppin , as Grand Master . The lodges in South Australia established a Grand Lodge on April 16 th , 188 4 , the Lieutenant-Governor , Sir Samuel Way , being the first Grand Master .

Coming down to 188 5 , the arrival in New South Wales of Lord Carrington , the Grand Master mentioned that a basis of union was prepared by R . W . Bro . William Hilson Pigott , who had been an earnest worker in the cause for at least two years already . It was submitted at a meeting on the 13 th February , 1888 , of the members of the District Grand Lodge

under the English constitution , to whom , on the 20 th of the same month , R . W . Bro . John Williams announced that he had resigned the chair of District Grand Master . Here followed a reference to the articles of union , which were finally adopted by Freemasons in New South Wales at a

meeting held in the Great Hall at the University , when Lord Carrington was unanimously elected lirst Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales . This was formed by the existing lodges , of which seventy-three had been working under the English constitution , fifty-three under

the Scottish , and fifty under warrants granted by the Grand Lodge of New South Wales . On the 18 th September following he was installed by the Grand Master of South Australia , M . W . Bro . Sir Samuel Way , at the Exhibition Building , Sydney , in tlie presence of nearly 4000 Masons .

Lord Jersey followed as Grand Master , he being installed to the office in June , 1891 , and by his conduct in the chair , to which he brought ripe experience of the Craft gained in