Lodge Histories.

years standing , instead of as before leaving the amount to be fixed by the majoriey of the brethren . "In the event of death , a Shroud and Sheet were to bo provided in addition to an Oak Coffin . " On the same date " an Inventory of the Lodgo Property was taken , the following being a copy :

£ a . d . Two large Books of Architecture ... ... ... 5 5 0 R . W . M . ' s Chair , £ 3 3 s . ; 6 Officers' Ditto , £ 7 4 s ... 10 7 0 7 Jewels , viz .: R . W . M ., P . M ., S . W ., J . W ., Treasurer , and Secretary ... ... ... 6 7 0 A Velvet Cushion , £ 1 Is ., Book of Constitutions , 10 s . 6 d . 1 11 6 A Chest , £ 3 6 s . 6 d . ; 3 Candlesticks , viz .: W . S . B .,

£ 3 3 s . ... ... 6 9 6 2 Sconces , 5 s . ; 2 Steps for Wardens'Chairs , 6 s . ... Oil 0 A Carpet . 4 Brass letters , E . W . S . N . A Brass Sun , Moon , a letter G , & c . Pair of Compasses , Wood Square , Brass Ditto .

5 Blinds , a Bible , a Maul , Is . Glasses , a Sword , Two painted Pillara . Aprons , Gloves , a Ruler , 3 Wands . A painted Square Pavement , a inde ' > d Tassel . Two large mahogany Pillars with Ba . ls . "

Chapter III . opens with a record that the Bye Laws were again revised between January aud June 1781 , and then follows a copy of the same as adopted by the brethren . The books preserved contain " the whole of the minutes of the Lodge of Temperance , No . 403 , which was constituted on the 23 rd October , 1770 , at the Red Lion , in Bury , by the R . W . Bro . John Allen , P . G . M . for

Lancashire . Sometime between the 24 th June , 1779 , and the 24 th June , 1780 , this Lodge was removed from the ' Red Lion ' to the ' Boars Head , ' Bury , and the No . altered from 443 , to 312 , it afterwards amalgamated with No . 42 , then No . 40 , as appears from the last entry in the minntes , which is as follows : — " At an emergency held on Sunday , the 22 nd of January , 1786 ,

it was unanimously agreed by the Master and brethren present to unite with the members of the Lodge No . 40 , on the Conditions which were propos'd by the Right Worshipful Master of No , 40 , on St . John's Day last . At the same time it was unanimonsly agreed by the Master and Brethren of No . 312 , then present that the expense of registering all the Members of the Lodge , No . 312 , under the

Warrant No . 40 ( who have been already registered under No . 312 ) shall be paid out of the Fund and Arrears mentioned above , and if the said Fund aud arrears are not sufficient , the sum to be mado up in equal Shares by the Members who have already recistered . "

The following interesting item we must not fail to quote : — " The Worshipful Masters of the Lodge of Temperance were : From the Constitution to 24 June 1771 , Ralph Holt . 1771 to 1778 , No information .

24 June 1778 to 24 June 1779 , John Wood . 24 June 1779 to 24 June 1780 , J . Schofield . 24 June 1780 to 24 June 1781 , Charles Hartley . 24 June 1781 to 24 June 1783 , J . Schofield . 24 June 1783 to 24 June 1784 , John Wood . 24- June 1784 to 24 June 1785 , J . Schofield . 24 June 1785 to 22 Jany . 1786 , George Lomax . . The 16 th Feby ., 1786 , was the first meeting of No . 42 after the

amalgamation . Our author then notes some further changes iu the Bye Laws , tho consideration of whioh seems to have been a fruitful source for discussion , and then quotes the following entry , which we consider an interesting feature : — " Bro . John Barns ; Philip Jobson and Edward Henry Bonville

admitted to the 5 th degree of Masonry . " With respect to this " 5 th degree , " Bro . Hnghan supposes ifc to mean " Super Excellent Master . " Abont this time it is clear the Lodge had amongst its members one brother who desired to " rule tho roost , " for we find an entry to the effect that , " In consequence of Bro . Schofield [ at the timo S . W . ] having not only desired bun

even insisted on having a Supper given to the Members as at annual custom of Beans and Bacon which no other Brother desired , and whereas tho said Brother has nofc honoured the meeting with his company , ifc is looked upon as an affront to the Lodge and an injury to the House , he is therefore by the unanimous consent of the meeting fined One Shilling for the offence . "

On 4 th March 1790 some brethren were " entered , passed and raised " tbo same evening , but up fco this date the business in this respect appears lo have been worked with due regard to the custom now prevalent . " On the 24 June , 1790 . The Members of the Lodge walked in procession from the Lodge room to tho Parish Church , where the

Revd . Mr . Unsworth preached a Sermon from fcho 4 Chap . 1 st Epistle of St . John and the 7 th verse , they then returned to the Lodge room in the same order . After dinner Mr . Unsworth waited upon the Brethren and said that so long as they wonld continue the annual subscription of 10 / 6 to the Charity School he would give his Sermon gratis . The bells of tho Parish Church rang out a

merry peal 5 / - being paid for the same and 5 / - for tho Organist , Clerk , & e . This custom was continued annually up to and including 25 June , 1792 . " On the 11 th August 1721 it was agreed the snm of 10 s 6 d should be sent to " Bro . John Harriott at Bochford in Essex for the losses

h = > had received by Warter , " aud this transaction is entered in the C ish Accounts as towards tho said brother ' s loss " from an inundation of tho sea . " About this time it is evident that steps were being taken with a view to establishing a new Lodge , as tho following reason for not signing a petition presented from Rochdale for one to be called Perseverance " are recorded ou the minutes : —

Lodge Histories.

" With respect to Mr . Saul wo do not know him to be a Masou . Brother Kershaw we have so lately recommended as a proper person for an officer in a petition for a new warrant which was granted that we cann-jt think to recommend him again . Mr . John Lyou Taylor is not a regular Mason not being of ago when admitted aud is from deserving our recommendation . "

Tho spirit of good fellowship and devotion to each other ' s interests is evidenced by the closing extracts of this interesting chapter ; we quote the following : — "On the 17 th July 1796 , Nine of the Members of this Lodge attended the Funeral of a deceased Brother at Oldham , where there was about 87 of the Brotherhood present . A sermon was preached

on the occasion by Bro . Miles Wrigley . " Oa the 18 th August , 1796 , By the Unanimous Consent of this Lodge . The Lodge of Amity , No . 488 , Rochdale , and the Lodgo oi Harmony , 511 , Newchurch , a grand Festival was held here in Honour of Masonry and for the Propagation of Brotherly Love amongst us , which was conducted with the greatest Harmony aud order—7

members from Rochdale aud 11 from Newchurch . " On the 27 th Deer ., 1790 , it was agreed to subscribe annually 21 / - to tbe Manchester Infirmary so long as the Funds of the Lodge exceeded £ 20 ; on the 1 February , 1798 , the subscription was increased to £ 2 2 s . Od . On the 27 th Deer ., 1797 , Bro . George Lomax waa this day

apointed Lectnre Master aud it was unanimously resolv'd thafc he upon that account should be set free from the expenses of the night . Bro . George Lomax appears to have fulfilled the duties of this impor . tant position until the end of the year 1806 ; he was relieved with 2 Guineas on fche 2 April , 1801 , In consideration of his great services

to tho Lodge , and likewise in consideration of loss sustained by him . On the 17 th January , 1807 , he joined fche Grand Lodge above , and as tbe minutes say , this Lodge sustained an irreparable Loss in his death . He was W . M . in 1786 and 1794 , and for a number of years was the Secretary . "

We have almost exceeded the limits prescribed for ourselves i this week's notice , but we must not overlook the annexed iuteresting item , which evidently refers to the anticipation of a French Invasion : — " On the 1 March 1798 It was unanimously agreed to Contribute to Government towards the exigencies of the State the sum of Five

Guineas , and on tbe 12 th March an Emergency meeting was held for the purpose of taking into consideration what every individual member wished to contribute towards the exigencies of the State , in order that the whole might be done in the name of the Lodge ; the sum of £ 12 Is was subscribed by the members present exclusive of the Five guineas afore mentioned . " ( To be continued . )

This afternoon the M . W . Grand Master , His Roya * Highness the Prince of Wales , will perform the ceremony of " inaugurating " the New City of London College , Little Moorfields , when it is expected that Her Royal Highness the Princess and other members of the Royal Famil y will

be present . The handsome pile of buildings was opened some time ago by Bro . the Lord Mayor ( Alderman Knight ) , and the students have been some weeks in possession , but the formal opening was merely for the convenience of those engaged in the educational studies , and the inauguration

to-day has been looked forward to with a vast amount of interest in the City . The new College ia close by the Moorgate-street Station of the Metropolitan Railway , and the

Finsbury Terminus of the North London tramways , whilst a few minutes walk only divides it from London-bridge , Cannon-street , and the Liverpool-street Stations . A very large and distinguished company is expected .

The annual summer banquet of the Lodge of Prosperity , No . 65 , will be held on the 10 th instant , at Oatlands Park Hotel , Walton-on-Thaines . The brethren will assemble at two o ' clock , under the presidency of the W . M . Brother G . Schadler . Tickets for lady visitors 10 s 6 d each .

Gentlemen ' s ditto 21 s . Trains leave Waterloo 10 . 15 , 11 . 45 , and 12 . 15 . Wo congratulate tlie brethren of Prosperity on the happy selection—as regards locality—they have made for this year ' s outing , and express a fervent hope that they and their friends may have an agreeable and pleasant meeting .

The meetings of fche Burdett Coutts Lodge of Instruction , No . 1278 , held afc tlie Duke ' s Head , Whitecbapel-road , have been adjourned till the 26 th of September next .

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FUNERALS . Bros . W . K , L . & G . A . BUTTON , COFFIN MAKERS AND UNDERTAKERS , 17 NEWCASTLE STREET , STRAND , W . C . And 30 FOREST HILL ROAD , PECKHAM RYE , S . E