History Of Freemasonry In Worcestershire.

occasion by the Rev . Brother T . Heynes , from the 10 th chapter of St . Paul ' s Epistle to the HebreAvs , and 24 th verse : And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good Avorks . ' They afterwards returned to the Rein

Deer Inn , Avhere they dined , and spent the evening with the utmost harmony and decorum , and many loyal and constitutional toasts were drunk . " Of the nine brethren mentioned in the warrant only three can be traced as residents in Worcester ,

Joseph Dillon , gentleman , the reprobate John Barneby , and John Whitaker , the latter the landlord of the Rein Deer Inn . The first W . Master , Bro . R . Hains , is believed to have been a solicitor of the place . The legal

element has ahvays largely prevailed in the Worcester Lodge . From 1792 to 1797 the lodge seems to have been dormant , Avhen the Rector of Worcester , the Rev . Bro . Thomas Heynes , M . A-, who had taken

part consecration , was elected . The roll of the W . Masters is complete , but some of the early records of the lodge meetings have been lost Avithin the last few years .

The following numbers have been successively borne by the Worcester Lodge : —574 , assigned in the charter ; in 1792 , it became 483 ; at the union in 1813 , it became 526 ; at the revision in 1832 , it stood at 349 , and in 1863 , it assumed the

number by Avhich it is noAV distinguished , 280 . First held at the Rein Deer in Mealche . apenstreet , it found a home . for a brief season at the Star qnd Garter Hotel , but soon returned to its original quarters . In 1842 , it removed to the

Bell Hotel , Broad-street , where it still remains . Some of its members seem to have distinguished themselves in the estimation of their brethren , or else there must have been a lack of duly qualified brethren to occupy the chair of W . M . We find

Bro . W . M . Thompson elected to fill the chair no less than 14 times ; a portrait of him painted by Bro . Thomas Buttery , in 1801 , adorns the walls of the lodge . Bro . S . Ballard Avas honoured by six elections , his portrait is also in the

possession of the lodge , and is said to have been painted by a deaf and dumb artist , others have also been re-elected for terms of three or four years ,

The lodge possess several portraits of its members , among them are one of the secretary during many years , Bro . Swan , who died in 1827 , Ave find it resolved , " That a marble tablet be erected n St . Martin ' s Church to the memory of the late

Bro . S . SAvan , Avho departed his life on the 5 th day of July , aged 42 . " The collection of portraits is honourable both to the brethren they represent , ancl to the lodge itself , for securing a lasting memorial of those they delight to honour .

Bro . Griffiths gives an account of many of the portraits , but it is necessary incomplete , as , we learn from the Worcester Jouma I , that since Avriting his book the " counterpart presentiment" of the author himself has been added .

In Feby . 1801 , we find the lodge numbered 19 members , while in April Ave are told that 29 brethren attended the funeral of a brother , in hatbands and scarfs provided by the lodge , and a headstone is placed to his memory , at a cost of £ 9 17 s . 6 d .

In May of the same year , a brother presents " a minature apparatus for raising stone . " At this time , the lodge appears to provide the brethren in attendance , Avith white aprons , and the officers with white collars . The lodge

prospers at this time , shoAving a considerable increase in 1802 , Avhile in 1 S 03 , a return of 46 brethren is made to Grand Lodge . In June 1808 , we find a contribution recorded to the " Cumberland Freemasons' School for

Girls . " In 1809 , a letter is received from the Secretary of Lodge Industry , Bridgnorth , intimating that all the members of the Worcester Lodge had been made honorary members of the former ' , ancl from the terms of the letter it is inferred that it Avas in

return for a similar compliment . In 1813 , the year of the union of the two Grand Lodges , 24 members and 8 visitors are present at a meeting of the lodge . ( To be continued . )

Freemasonry In France.

FREEMASONRY IN FRANCE .

The " Monde Magonnique" for June , gives particulars of the election of tho Grand Master of the Grand Orient of France . The first day ' s meeting of the General Assembly Avas opened on the 6 th June , at two o ' clock , by

Bro . St . Jean , President of the Council , and upwards of three hundred delegates Avere present . The lodo-e being opened , Bro . Alfred Blanche , " Grand Maitre Adjoint , " preceded by the members of the Council , Avas introduced , ancl took his place on the throne . He then read a letter from Bro . Mellinet , thank-