The Nemesis : A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

" NOAV speakest thou wisely . TIU-OAV thought aside , and join our sports . " " Well , be it so , " and the tAvain disappeared among the trees . ( To be continued . )

History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN CORNWALL .

By * h Bro . WILLIAM JAMES HUG-HAIT , 18 ° , & c , ( Continued from paye 303 . ) December 13 th , 1753 . " Bro . Pitchford was chosen Master of the lodge for the folloAving six months by a majority of two members . " Bro . George Peard and

Bro . Bluett , senr ., were appointed the Senior and Junior Wardens respectively by the W . M ., and Bro . Allison was again desired to act as Secretary . The lodge elected Bro . Thomas Milles as Treasurer for the ensuing term . "Bro . Allison made a motion as there

is a company of comedians in toAvn . there might he a play for the entertainment of the lodge , and it was unanimously agreed to have the ' Miser , ' with usual prologue and epilogue , on Tuesday next , and the members are desired to meet at the lodge at four

o ' clock in the evening in order to proceed in due form . " How far such a procedure would be desirable in the present day is open to question , although we believe the practice is occasionally followed by lodges now . Masonic amateur theatricals Avas an institution

unknown to our ancient Falmouth brethren , but of late , especially in the north-east of England , large sums of money have been raised by such means for Masonic

charities , and a course of six plays have easily obtained numerous one-guinea subscribers . On the third meeting subsequently to the before-mentioned , the Master , Bro . Pitchford . occupied the chair ( Jan . 81 st , 1754 ) , two gentlemen Avere balloted for , accepted , initiated , and passed the same evening . Cause of the

emergency being their " going suddenly abroad , " and on the next day an extra lodge was called , when the P . G . M ., being in the chair , raised one of the newlymade Fellow Crafts to the degree of Master Mason . Thus , Bro . George Massam obtained in twenty-four

hours AA'hat we in England noiv have to patiently wait for three months before receiving , and in some lodges as long- as three years . On consideration , such rapid advancement , even on the plea of " suddenly goinoabroad , " seems to us to be most injudicious , and not

at all in accordance with the importance , as Masons , we attach to the meritorious examinations ancl gradual improvement of the candidates for obtaining a knoAVledge of our mysteries . That more than one-half of the ceremonies must have been unmeaning and misunderstood discourses to the brother in question is almost certain , and results must have followed then

as now , where such sudden promotions are permitted . The Grand Lodge of England ivisely adopted another system before long and on no consideration , even in the colonies , at this time allows of another degree being taken in a less time than two weeks from the last .

An extra lodge Avas held on the 16 th of the same month . " 11 aster in the chair . "Bro . Snoxell signified to the lodge that a gentleman of Dunkirk recommended to the Society desired to be admitted to the degree of an E . A . A ballot Avas demanded ,

and he was unanimously admitted . " The next lodge was held on the 28 th of February , 1754 , and affords us information which we have not been able to procure by reference to any of the minute books of the lodge referred to , as none of that date

unfortunately are knoAvn to exist . The minute is , "The following brethren as they are constituted into a lodge at Redruth , beg to decline being members of this , viz ., William Munday , Nicholas Trewena , William Michell , William

Trewena , Lewis Jones , and Josias Cock . " So that we suppose the date of the first warrant of the Druid ' s Lodge of Redruth must have been ' 1754 , and in all probability the names of its promoters just recorded would have remained unknown for some time longer had not this history of

Ereemasonry in . Cornwall been attempted . This lodge did not continue in existence very long , but , like all the other old lodges in Cornwall , excepting the Love and Honor , Ealmouth , gradually succumbed to adverse influences , and disappeared for a time from .

the roll of lodges . Eroin the fruits of a visit to the Druid ' s Lodge , and the general Masonic zeal and : kindness of its members , Ave anticipate having some valuable documents placed at our disposal for our history of its transactions in particular . We

understand that if its meetings were not held in the "loAvest vales , " one of its assemblies was held on the highest hill in the neighbourhood called " Cam Brea , " under perhaps imposing circumstances—but of this anon .

A lodge was called on March 9 th to consult about the funeral of Bro . John Williams , the Tyler , who had been compelled to obey the summons of the Great Leveller of Mankind . It was agreed that each Avould subscribe tAvo shillings toAvards the expenses attending his interment . " Brother Guenap

gave due attendance to Brother Williams during the time of his illness , for which he was returned thanks by the lodge . " " March 11 th , 1754 . Brother John Williams was this day interred . The brethren attended his funeral

in purple clothing , and the folloAving brethren contributed tAvo shillings each . ( Here follows a list of some thirty-two subscribers . ) The lodge paid for the