England's Cathedral Era.

England ' s Cathedral Era .

Ar the time the cathedrals of Europe were being erected England likewise aspired for similar religious edifices and during that century operative Masons increased in England . They had their guilds with varying rules . After the great plague in London many of the members of these guilds set such high prices upon their work that statutes

were passed by Parliament regulating the charges . At that time and later it was the desirable thing to have some member of royalty consent to honorary membership as the nominal head of a society . In this way several of the Kings of England of that time were Master Masons of these

early guilds of working Masons . But between the period of actual operative Masonry with its guilds or labour unions , and that of philosophical Fraternal Masonry as an Order , a long time elapsed . During the interim trades guilds or unions still existed in England , and particularly in Scotland , but were not part of a national or universal brotherhood . The earliest written

evidence of Masonry in England is contained in the " old charges , " rules for members , about the year 16 4 6 . In Scotland there is a record of a guild signed in 1601 . The oldest known Scottish minute book gives a partial record from 1642 to 173 8 , and there are some records indicating that the lodge at Edinburgh existed from 1599 up to 1736 ,

when the Grand Lodge of Scotland was established . But all that early Masonry in Scotland was purely a matter of trade unionism among the stone workers . With the advent of the Reformation and the lapse of fervour for the Latin church , guilds of Masons declined all

over Europe because the period of great building had ceased and the Masons' guilds almost disappeared , only here and there perpetuating a form of organization in the country . — Masonic Sun .

Freemasonry In Simla.

Freemasonry in Simla .

AN interesting spectacle was witnessed in Simla on Sunday , the nth September . As is well-known to all Freemasons throughout the Punjab , the " Simla Masonic Week " is an old established institution , and attracts to the summer capital brethren of the Craft from all parts of India . Lodge Himalayan Brotherhood is extremely fortunate

this year , in numbering among its members two of the provincial heads of the Order , in the persons of Bro . his Excellency Baron Ampfhill , Viceroy and Governor-General in India , and Bro . his Excellency Lord Kitchener , Commander-in-Chief in India , District Grand Masters in Masonry

of Madras and Punjab respectively , two enthusiastic and earnest Freemasons , who , amidst the multitudinous duties appertaining to their respective official positions , devote no little part of their leisure hours to business Masonic , and in furthering those two grand principles of the Order , " Benevolence and Charity . "

Bro . Lieutenant - Colonel Frank Leigh , V . D ., the Worshipful Master of Lodge Himalayan Brotherhood , inaugurated his " week " with Divine service , which was held in the Christ Church , Simla , on Sunday , which the brethren , numbering about one hundred , attended in regalia . After robing in the school-room adjoining the church the brethren

proceeded in procession . The scene was picturesque , but deeply impressive . To see this body of men , young and old , high and low , black and white , walking side by side , united in one common cause , was a sight not witnessed for many years and not easily to be forgotten . The vicinity of the

church was thronged with onlookers , the majority of whom followed the procession into the church , where an interesting and touching sermon was delivered by Bro . the Rev . C . F . Andrews , a member of Lodge Himalayan Brotherhood . Many liberal contributions were made to the offertory , the whole of which was Imnded over to the Simla Mayo Orphanage .

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