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dfltttetitSJ . —— PAGE . FBEEMASOMS' MAG-AZIHE : — History of Freemasonry in AYorcestershire 501 The Haugkfoot lodge and Speculative Masonry—By R . S .... 502 Masonic Jottings—No . 25 604 Masonic Notes and Queries 501 Correspondence 505

Masonic Sayings and Doings Abroad 507 MASONIC MIKROE : — Masonic Merns 508 The Roj-al Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and AA idows of Freemasons 508 CRAPT LOD & E MEETINGS ' : — Metropolitan „ 509 Provincial 509 510

Australia Royal Arch 510 Mark Masonry 511 Knights Templar 511 Reviews 512 Scientific Meetings 512 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 512 To Correspondents 512

History Of Freemasonry In Worcestershire.

HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN WORCESTERSHIRE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JTCVE 25 , 1870 .

( Continued from page 485 ) At a regular -meeting of the lodge on 4 th Deo 1822 , it was proposed that the lodge agree to the establishment of a Provincial Grand Fund , and that £ 16 be taken from the funds of the lodge for

the purchase of jewels , & c , for the Prov . G . Lodge , at the next meeting on the 29 fch Dec . ; the proposition was not confirmed . In 1823 j the meeting of the lodge was postponed on account of the meeting of Prov . G .

Lodge , but we find no record of this Prov . G . Lodge . In 1824 , the proposition to devote £ 16 for Prov G-.. clothing is again brought forward and unanimously negatived . In 1827 , the following letter is addressed to the

G . Sec . : — ' 'Worcester , January 1 , 1827 . "Dear Sir , " Having observed by the public papers that our much respected Provincial Grand Master , John Dent , Esq ., has departed this life , I beg

leave to solicit the favour of your advice respecting the mode which should be pursued by the lodges in the province to be allowed the favour of recommending for appointment a gentleman capable of acting as Deputy Provincial Grand

Master , and whether or not it would be assuming too much in wishing to recommend a Provincial Grand Master . The favour of your advice respecting these important matters to Masonry in this province would much oblige ,

" Dear Sir , your most obedient servant , " SAJITJEL MAINLY , " Secretary to Worcester Lodge , "

To which the following reply was sent : — " Dear Sir and Brother , " In reference to your letter enquiring the mode to be pursued by the lodges in your province in recommending for appointment a gentleman to

succeed the late Bro . John Dent , Esq ., in the office of Provincial Grand Master , I beg to state that by the Constitutions of the fraternity , the appointment of this officer is a prerogative solely vested in the Worshipful Grand Master ; of

consequence , were anyone to be recommended who ia not personally known to his Royal Highness , it Avould p lace the Grand Master in an awkward position to appoint such , without being first informed of the fitness and due qualification of the

party , which could not well be done were an entire stranger to be named , Upon these grounds the Grand Master lias formed a general rule to

decline receiving the recommendation of a province in favour of any one individual , in order to exert his own free will in the choice . Yet , should there be a nobleman or other distinguished brother qualified and willing to accept the appointment ,

upon the name being communicated to us , it might be privately made known to his Royal Highness , probably with the desired success . This you will not consider an official communication , but grounded upon past experience , and a knowledge of what is the constant usage with our Royal Grand Master .

" I am , Sir , " Your very obedient and faithful Servant , (( EDAYATID HAEPES . " No reference is made to the Prov . Q-. Lodge till 5 th . Nov . 1835 , when a committee were

appointed " to draw up a statement of facts to bo presented to the Duke of Sussex as Grand Master on the subject , " Three years later Bro . Bedford , W . M ., informs the brethren that lie had seen Dr . Crucefix , an officer of the Grand Lodge ,

respecting the appointment of a Provincial Grand Master , and a Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and that Dr . Crucefix offered his best services , '' " when tiio lodge resolved ff to entrust tho W . AI . with full powers to settle this matter with ilie Grand .. Lodge . "

No useful result seems to have occurred from , the promised intervention . The subject is then taken up by the Dudley Lodge . In April , 181-5 , the W . M ., S . W ., and a P . M . of that lodge attended the Worcester Lodge to ascertain their views with respect to the Prov . G-. Lodge . At the meeting of 20 th April , " the Secretary reported that he