Masonic Notes And Queries.

An animated oration was delivered by AVilliam Hutchinson , Esq ., author of a History of the- County of Durham , § rc . A hundred and forty-Masons dined together , and the whole was concluded AA'ith festivity tempered with moderation . "At the close of the year 17 S 1 , Capt . Thompson resigned the chair , and received a unanimous vote of thanks for the important services he had rendered the Lodge , and Tipping Brown , M . S ., was chosen Master iu his stead . Dr . Brown held tho chair three years , and under his

direction tbe Lodge flourished with increasing splendour and advantage . On the 19 th of November , 1783 , however , after having held a Master ' s Lodge , the hall by some accident took fire , some of the furniture , papers , & c , were saved , but much was lost and injured , particularly some valuable paintings , and the hall was entirely destroyed . " The meetings were then held at one of the principal inns , where a subscription AA- ; IS entered into , ground purchased , and on the Sth of August 1784 Dr . Brown laid the first stone of the Phoenix Lod

, , ge , attended by a numerous and splendid assemblage of Freemason ? , who , clothed in the different jewels of their offices and orders , hacl accompanied him for that purpose . The architect was the late Mr . John Bonner , who , in the apace of tiA'elve months , completed one of the most beautiful edifices in England for Masonic purposes . On Tuesday , April yfch , 1785 , the ceremony ofthe dedication took place , and was one ofthe most brilliant meetings Freemasonry bad ever witnessed in this part of the kingdom . The folloiving odewritten for the occasion bDr . Brown

, y , and set to music by Wm . Shield , Esq ., AA-as performed with the ivhole musical strength of Durham Cathedral and the surrounding neighbourhood . [ Then follows the ode our correspondent inquires about , printed at full length ] . On this occasion au oratorio was gii-en in the church , ancl a masterly and suitable oration was delivered by the Rev . Thomas Hall , Chaplain to the Lodge ; after which a sumptuous dinner was provided for one hundred and sevent-six of the brethren who attendedand the

y , day was finished with conviviality and temperance . " From that time down to the present day this Lodge has continued to meet in this elegant hall , the interior of ivhich has lately been decorated and embellished in a tasteful and scientific style . The business of the Craft , carried on under the superintendence of several respectable gentlemen as Masters , * has been conducted ivith attention aud diligence . Phoenix Lodge , So 146 , meets every first and third Weduesdav : present

officers—Thomas Wilson , AV . M . ; AVilliam Nicholson , S . W . ; John Lindsay , J . AV . ; David Hopper , P . M . ; Thomas Thompson . Tyler ; AA'illiam Stephenson , See . ; James Turiibull . S . D .: Thomas Kotou , J . D . ; Peter Augustus Galot , Org . "

THE SEA CAl'TAINS LODGE . "Soon after the formation of the first Lodge , in the year 1755 , the number of brethren having rapidly increased , several gentlemen agreed to establish themselves under a separate constitution , and this , on their petition , was granted by the Marquis of Carnarvon , his warrant bearing date January 14 th , 1757 . They were established by the style and title of the ' Sea Captains' Lodge , ' by John Thornhill . Master of the old Lodge , and his assistant officers . Their first Master ' was AA'illiam Scolly , and the AYardens ivere h Greeiuvell and Micah

Josep AVardell . "From its commencement this Lodge has held an even course of industry aud reputation—not much disturbed by accident nor made prominent by external variety . The early meetings seem to have been well attended , numbers were initiated , and the Mawmic business ( chiefly conducted by Mr . AA'illiam Allison ) appears to have been carried on with dignity and intelligence . " In the contemplation of all institutions ivhich to be carried into

are effect by the energy of human poivers , ive . in general , find the establishment owing much of its success to the influence ' of circumstances whicli have arisen Avithout preparation , or to tho efforts of individuals , who have—perhaps b y accident—taken a lend in the direction of the society . To tho exertions of one who held the chair for many years is the Sea Captains' . Lodge beholden for a long series of prosperity and good government . The per .-on alluded to is the late John Biss '

. Esq ., who fortunately was chosen Master in the vear 1705 , and continued in that office until the year 178-1 . During hi . administration Masonry ivas cultivated Avith ardour and diligence . , order was enforced , conviviality AA'as enjoyed , and the finances of the Lodge advanced to such a pitch of affluence as to supply , iu the most ample maimer , tho conveniences or decorations of the institution , or bo ready to answer the more interesting calls of general charity . the of

" Prom period his resignation the Lodges were not so well attended ; and although a few faithful brethren preserved ' the sacred fire , yet it must be acknowledged that Masonry , for a time , felt a verv sensible depression , it ivas , how-evcr , destined that , as tiie energy of one man had brought the society into a state of reputation and prosperity , and as his loss had occasioned languor , and almost dissolution , so the exertions of another valuable individual should raise the drooping spiritsrestore the accustomed vi

, gour , and infuse . life and spirit into all future proceedings . " In the year 1701 the late Michael Scartli . Esq ., became a member of tho Lodge . P .. a mind well informed and a . sound judgment he joined

* Pipping Brown , M . I ) ., 17 SS-S 11 ; Air . William Fergusson , 1787-89 1 'ppmg Brown , M . S ., 1790-96 ; Mr . Thomas AVilson , 1 / 07- 1802 : Mr . AVilliam Eden , 1803-9 : Mr . Thomas Wilson . 1810-13 ; Mr . Thomas foV £ T < 5 1814 ; Mr - Thomas Bonner , 1315-10 ; Mr . Thomas Wilson , 181 ; -18 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

a facility of application and steady perseverance that would not easily abandon a design while any advantage could be procured to it , or , indeed , Avhilst the minutest part of it appeared unaccomplished . As soon as he was elected to an office , he resolved to use bis influence and exertions to raise the Lodge to its former level . He commenced by improving the rules and by-laws of the society ; for ivhich purpose he visited the different Lodges in the neighbourhood , consulted their various regulationsancl from them iled and composed a code

, comp adapted to secure every fraternal and scientific purpose of the institution . His other exertions ivere equally judicious and beneficial ; the Lodge flourished , and Masonrv was promoted and respected . ' ¦ ' On the 27 th of December , 1701 , Rowland Burden , Esq ., at that period member of parliament for the County of Durham , ivas elected Master ; the respectability of his name , and above all , the virtuous lustre of his character , gave neiv vigour and dignitv to his proceedings .

" In 1702 the brethren showed ii souse of the benefit they had received by appointing Mr . Search to be their Master . During his government Mr . Burclon laid the first stone of AYearmouth bridge . Mr . Scarth was honoured by tbe Provincial Grand Master with a blue apron ; ancl in course of that year , he planned and brought into execution a charitable scheme of giving education to twelve poor children . The Lodge formed , and set apart , a bind for the purpose of supporting this institution which is at present under the superintendence of Mr . William

Eobinson , who has a very numerous and respectable school , and ivho was himself one of the first boys educated out of their fuud ; a striking proof of the utility of such establishments . " The scientific and occult'operations of the Craft are applied with skill , diligence , and respectful decorum , in this Lodge ; in . strict conformity to the mode promulgated by the United Grand Lodge in London . There is likewise a Eoyal Arch Chapter attached to it , the business of which is conducted with the utmost propriet The Sea

y . Captains' Lodge , No . 183 , now known as the Palatine Lodge , _ so . 11-1 , meeting at the Bridge Inn , Bishopwearmouth , meets every second and fourth Thursday in each month , at Mr . Forrest's , Queen ' s Head , Queen Street , in a very neat and compact room , built on purpose ; except three months in the summer , when the members only meet once in each month . Present officers : —Thomas Hardy , AA' . M . ; Pattinson Dixon , S . AA \; Alexander Milne , J . W . ; Christopher Hutchinson , Treas . ; Rev .

Birket Dawson , Chap . ; Richard Wright , P . M . ; John Lipton Hutton , Sec : John Gibson , S . D .: John Armstrong , J . D . ; Gowlaud Summers , I . G . ; Addison , Tyler . " In addition to the Phccnix and Sea Captains' Lodges , tivo other ., have subsequently been established , viz .: —the St . John ' s Lodge , -S o . 118 , IIOAV No . 01 , which meets at the Lord VYelliiigton , in the Low Street ; present Master , Thomas Hobkirk , and the St . Paul ' s Lodge , JKo . 197 , * which meets at the Fighting Cock Inn , Monkwearmouth . Present Master , AA ' illiam Tyzack . " ]

Correspondece.

CORRESPONDECE .

^ . [ TUB EDITOR does vol hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ' } THE MASONIC CHARITIES . TO THE EDlTOtt OU THE PREEMASOSs' MACAZINE AXD MASOXIC MIT-BOP .. DEAK SIR AKD BICOTHEI ; —Frequent absences and pressure of

, business have prevented my replying at an earlier date to the letter of Bro . Thorne of Margate , which appeared in your number of 16 th Jul y last . The Avorth y brother complains that the " appeal , " as he terms it , of the l . ev . Bro . Lyall and myself in reference to the Masonic schools , was " too indiscriminately made , " and lie intimates that it ought not to have included the province of Kent . Bro . Thome

could hardl y have had before him our first communication and subsequent report when he wrote his letter . What was the nature of the letter we addressed in the first instance to the provincial brethren' ? It was simply an inquiry to this effect—What , in your opinion , is the best machinery that could lie adopted in the provinces , with a view- to make the Masonic schools better known , and probably result in increasing their funds' ?

It seems to me that had Bro . Lyall and myself transmitted this letter of inquiry to the provinces generally , omitting the province of Kent , ive should have acted towards this province with a discourtesy of whicli wc trust we are incapable . After carefull y collating the replies that ivere received , Ave CII ' CAV up and presented our report . That report was taken into consideration at a court of each school , specially summoned for the

purpose , and at each court the following resolution was unanimously passed : — "That tho report be approved ; and this court , being much impressed ivith the importance of uniform action on the part of the supporters of the institution throughout the country , * This Lodge we believe to be extinct ; it is not to be found in our present Calendar .