The Masonic Mirror

THE MASONIC MIRROR

MASONIC MEMS . The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a now Masonic Hall , at Manchester , will be performed ( in the unavoidable absence of the Earl of Zetland ) , by the R . W . Stephen Blair , Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire . A large number of distinguished noble ancl gentlemen , connected with the Craft , are expected to be present . The arrangements include

the opening of the Provincial Grand Lodge at 1 o ' clock , p . m ., at the Town Hall ( which has been kindly offered by the Mayor of the city ); a procession to the site ; the full Masonic ceremony ; and a grand banquet at the Corn Exchange . The Consecration of the Adair Lodge ( No . 1238 ) . Aldeburgb , Suffolk , will take place on Monday next , the 13 th of July . The

It . W . Colonel Robert Alexander Shafto Adair , Prov . G . M ., and the Provincial Grand Officers will be present . The fifteen sections will be worked at the Confidence Lodge of Instruction , held at Bro . Swainston ' s , the " Three Bucks , " Greshaiii-streefc , on Tuesday , 14 th inst ., Bro . J " . Thomas in tho chair .

The fifteen sections will he worked at the Whittington Lodge of Instruction , held at the Old Kent Tavern , Brownlow street , Holborn , on Thursday next , 16 th inst ., Bro . Brett in tho chair . The prospectus has been issued of the Masonic Union Company ( limited ) , with a capital of £ 5000 , in shares of £ 5 each , the object being to find a home for those degrees

which are not acknowledged by Grand Lodge , and in whose way obstacles are thrown by Grand Lodge officials , so that they cannot be properly accommodated at Freemasons Tavern . Premises have been secured at No . 14 , Bedford Row , where it is intended to erect a hall ( 50 feet long , 34 feet wide , and 25 feet high ) , with Ante-Rooms , the whole appropriately fitted

np for the purpose of the proper performance of the ceremonies of the Mark Degree , Rose Croix , and various High Grades of Masonry , and the Royal Religious ancl Military Order of of Knights Templar . It is proposed also to erect a banqueting room , thirty feet by twenty , and other conveniences ; which , with the existing rooms , will give the requisite accommodation for Masonic banquets . It is also contemplated forming a Masonic club , upon a comfortable , but at first a . limited scale , ancl not of necessity confined to Shareholders in the Company .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CHANNEL ISLES . JERSEY . —St . Aubin's Lodge ( No . 1270 ) . — The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic rooms , St . Aubin ' s , on Thursday , July the 2 nd . At half-past six the lodge was opened in the first degree by Bro . Dr . Hopkins , W . M ., assisted by his Wardens , Bros . De Carteret and Orange . A letter was received explaining the absence of the Chaplain from indisposition . The reading of the minutes of the previous

meeting was deferred , owing to the unforeseen and unavoidable absence of the Secretary . Bros . Stevens , Watson , and Surguy , were then passed by the W . M . to the degree of Fellow Craft . The lodge was resumed in the first degree . Mr . William Holt was presented , and received the benefit of initiation into the Order , followed by the customary charge to an Entered Apprentice . He then retired , and on his return was placed before the pedestaltogether with the three Fellow Craftsto

, , all of whom the W . M . gave the explanation of the first Tracing Board , and presented to Bro . Holt a copy of his "Lectures on IVeemasonry . " The ballot was taken tor Bro . Horman as a joining member , which was unanimous in his favour . The W . M . delivered tho following , being in part a-report of thc Committee

appointed to fit up the new rooms , and the remainder an address from himself to the members of the lodge : — " Brethren , —In accordance with the resolution passed at our last meeting , the Committee appointed for the purpose has lost no time in entering upon and completing the proposed arrangements for obtaining a permanent local habitation , as well as a name . These having been effected , we have further taken the requisite steps , under the authority then placed in our hands ,

for making such alterations and fittings as the circumstances required , always , however , liaving regard to simplicity and strict economy ; for though it is desirable that all the appointments of a lodge should not only be in conformity with usage , custom , and Masonic law , but such as to impress ourselves and those who are to be initiated into tbe Craft with its dignity and importance , as well as to invest our ceremonials with due solemnity , we have felt that a duty devolved upon ns also to

act in accordance with the Masonic principles of prudence and of honour , by not encroaching too much on the kindness of the Brethren in putting them to unnecessary expense , particularly as most of us are also attached to other lodges , whose interests are dear to us , as being those in which we first saw the light on receiving the benefit of initiation therein ; likewise by keeping our expenditure within such limits as to run no risk of incurring pecuniary obligations which might

endanger our character and credit by delay in meeting them . Our agreement with the landlord is to have these rooms probably for four-and-a-half years , not necessarily to terminate at that time , but to provide for the possibility of their being sold . . . . . . We must not conceal from you that we have necessarily incurred somes debts , for the liquidation of which it behoves us at once this evening to make provision . Two means have been suggested to this end—either by a limited contribution

from each of us for the purpose , or by borrowing a sum of money , which we believe one or more of our members aro willing to lend , paying them interest thereon , and refunding the principal so soon as our pecuniary circumstances will admit of such a course . Without venturing an opinion as to which of the two is the more expedient , we leave the matter for your consideration , with , however , an earnest hope that , under such , an accession to our numbers as may fairly be calculated upon ,

the close of our first year of existence as a lodge will find us clear from all liabilities , and in possession of a fair stock of furniture Having thus laid before you the operations of the Committee , allow me now , in the position I hold , to congratulate you on being free from a charge but too commonly made against the Craft , that it is connected with houses of public entertainment , to which there are several serious objections ; first , that the requisite privacy is endangered ;

secondly , that the associations are not such as to maintain the character of the Order ; ancl thirdly , that there are certain temptations incident to such places of meeting , and that , whether wo yield to them or not , the external world does not give us credit lor perfect consistency on this point , ancl will not believe our real objects to be such as we represent , so long as wo are subject to what are deemed questionable influences . We cannot hope in this locality to rival our brethren of St . Helier

by the erection of a temple worthy of the Craft , but we can and do show that we appreciate their exertions , by following their example at a very humble distance , and obtaining a building solely devoted to our purposes . I ask you , for our satisfaction , as well as for other reasons , to pass a declaratory resolution in approbation of the proceedings of your committee , ancl as a sanction to me in having convened you for the first time in your own rooms , as well as for doing so in future . Brethren , I have

one or two announcements to make . At our last meeting you heard from the lips of the Prov . G . M . the intention of his daughter , Miss Hammond , to add to our obligation previously incurred , by the presentation of a cushion , on which to place her gilt of the volume of the Sacred Law . This promise has been kept . I trust that she had not felt that we had treated her with disrespect in omitting to make such a provision , for we had not forgotten , but only delayed it till our finances should

admit of that as well as other purchases . As it is , we cannot but express our gratitude , not merely for the present itself , but for the kind and thoughtful consideration which has dictated it . Rarely does it occur that ladies take an interest in Masonic proceedings , beyond witnessing public processions , and sometimes joining in a ball or a concert given by the members . I could wish that opportunities of creating in their minds a sympathy and interest in oar work were more frequent , not only because Freemasons profess to " the ladies adore , " but