Histories Of Our Lodges.

Bideration of the great good that that Lodge had effected over a period of a hundred years . Ifc had begun in amity and friendship , and had promoted in Southampton the formation of many friendships , and brought together men of various opinions , creeds and politics , that would otherwise havo been kept afc an immeasurable distance . No unhappy differences had marred its progress , and it reached the centenary

in peace and tranquillity , and with hearts dedicated to brotherly love . Over that hundred years it had taught loyalty to the Crown and a love for the peace and good order of society . Charity of thought and charity of deed had been a solemn inculcation ; they educated the children of their decayed brethren , and found a home and an income for the old Mason and his widow ; but whilst regarding the household

of faith , their hands had been extended to the outer world . They well knew of frequent donations of ten guineas to tho poor of the town , to the distress of Chicago , sometimes to Ireland , to India , or at home , always unsolicited , and with a free and open hand . He would not boast of private charity , but if many of the silent aids in cases of distress could be but known , tho outer world would think more kindly of

Freemasonry than sometimes they were inclined to do . It could , therefore , havo been no small advantage to the town of Southampton that over one hundred years of time a body of men loyal to the throne , faithful to good order , devoted to charity , cultivating brotherly love , had lived and thrived in Southampton , and had now thought it right to hold a public rejoicing , and loudly celebrate the event ; thoy had

humbly offered their thanksgiving to the Giver of all good that day , and gratefully acknowledged the blessings that surrounded them . These high and lofty purposes far outstripped all the vast attractions of that day , and justified him in saying that the principles of Masonry would yet flourish in tho freshness of immortal youth , survive the wreck of mighty empires , and resist the destroying hand of time . Mercifully spared as that Lodge had been for a period of one hundred

years , and entering that day on the commencement of a second cen . tenary , may the great Architect of tho universe bless it in the future , prosper its career , extend its usefulness , put it in the hearts of the brethren to be kindly affectioned ono towards another , to practice charity , to love mercy , aud to be in all things an honour to their profession , and a credit and blessing to tho town of Southampton in which they had the happiness to live .

Antient And Primitive Masonry. Sovereign Sanctuary.

ANTIENT AND PRIMITIVE MASONRY . SOVEREIGN SANCTUARY .

A MEETING of the Sovereign Sanctuary of the Antient and Primitive Rite of Masonry , 33 rd and last degree , in and for Great Britain and Ireland , was duly held , at Manchester , on the 1 st inst . The places of the three Principal Officers were filled by Illustrious Brothers John Yarker G . M . G ., Charles Scott J . P ., G . A . G ., Beeby Bowman Labroy G . K . G . of G . B . Apologies were announced from three brethren who were absent , and unable to attend , either

from the great distance or prior engagements . The minutes of the last Convocation were read and confirmed , as well as tho proceedings since ; firstly , as to tho Order of Mizraim , that a fee of 10 s should be charged to cover cost of certificate and manual , and a joining fee of 31 s 6 d to members of foreign jurisdictions for the same ; secondly , as to tho publication of the Statutes , Constitution and History .

Satisfactory evidence of the progress of the Rite was adduced under Illustrious Bros . Alexr . B . Mott , M . D ., of New York , and George Canning Longley , of Maitland , Canada ; as also in this country . The decoration of the Grand Star of Sirius ( conferred every five years ) was awarded to the Right Illustrious Bro . S . P . Leather , of Burnley , Treasurer General , for the zeal and ability he had shown in

the propagation of the Rito : the next year ' s award of the Ahdeo to bo made by the Grand Chancery , as also to any deserving cases for the Bronze Order of Merit . The past dignitary officers were confirmed in tho rank thoy now hold , but Illustrious Bro . B . B . Labrey was appointed Deputy to the Grand Chancellor General .

It was directed that two parts—Section V . ( Areopagus ) , and Section VII . ( Council )—of the Ritual should bo placed in the printers hands as tho funds of the Sovereign Sanctuary would allow . A revisal of the 30 ° was submitted , and highly eulogised as the most beautiful ceremony in any known system of Masonry . The proceedings were closed with enthusiastic wishes for tho progress of tho Rite .

Canongate Kilwinning Lodge, No. 2, Scotland.

CANONGATE KILWINNING LODGE , No . 2 , SCOTLAND .

LlSI 0 ? OmCE . BEAREKS NOMINATED TOR ELECTION . R . W . M . Bro . Johan Schopp . Depute Master „ Ebsworth . Substitute M „ R . Anderson . S . W „ E . Chantrelle . J W R . Mill lor . It

"'"••••••••••' •*— ~ - Treasurer „ T . Drybrough . Secretary „ H . Dreschell . S . D „ B . Pettileau . J . D Poet Laureate „ Captain L . Archer .

MEMBERS or COMMITTEE . W . N . Fraser , Chairman . Otto Leyde . D . Crawford , S . S . C . E . Finlay , S . S . C ; Dr . Carmichael J . Laurie , G . S . Tod Lee , S . S . C .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor * respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer ^ not necessarily for publication , but as a , guarantee of good faith .

LORD LEIGH AND THE " FREEMASON'S CHRONICLE . "

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have not the honour of knowing either the R . W . Bro . Lord Leigh , Prov . Grand Master of Warwickshire , or the editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , SO I may bo fairly termed a disinterested party in the present question as to tho criticism of the editor , and Lord Leigh of the article , which appeared in the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE ,

I have carefully read the analysis of the Stewards' lists at tho Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , 9 th February 1876 ( FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE of 26 fch February ) , and can see no ground of complaint by the Province of Warwickshire , or indeed by any other Province alluded to as defaulters at that Festival , Indeed , I think that if the deservedly esteemed Lord Leigh will again peruse

the " Leader" that his Lordship will agree with me in the opinion that the editor dealt with facts alone , and in no case did ho cast any unfair or nn-Masonic reflections on any Province whatever . It is a difficult task to analyse the lists and contributions at ; our Masonic Festivals , and considering all the drawbacks , I think the editor did his self-imposed labours squarely and good nafcuredly . His

aim , according to his statement , was to show his readers , not only what was done on that occasion , but also where brethren of energy 9 / ifti / find fields open to them in their zealous promotion of the cause of charity * * * * the support accorded to our Institutions must be , not sectional , but general . Our Brother says he was at consider , able pains in analysing the subscription list , and I believe him .

In my opinion , however , no pains would prevent errors creeping in in such a work , as there is always the unhwwn in the way of making a complete review of the contributions of the whole of the Lodges . Many Lodges contribute from year to year without subscribing through the medium of Stewards , and ib would be absurd to put down a Lodge or a Province as not contributing to our Institutions because

their names were absent from tho Stewards' lists . If , however , their names wore absent from the Stewards' listsas the Provinces of Bedfordshire , Berks and Bucks , Cambridge , shire , Cornwall , Cumberland , Staffordshire , Warwickshire , & o ., in reality wero afc the Festival in question—ifc would be but the simple truth to say as much , and also to note the fact that bettor

they had been represented on such an occasion . Now this is all the editor has said , and yet , for saying so , Lord Leigh has thought it well to state that he considered ( the article ) somewhat personal to himself and his Province ! How can a remark bo fairly considered personal when so many provinces aro mentioned , and why should his Lordship consider that

personal which in reality—if I know aught of tho English language —is of a general character ? I grant that the article in question leaves oafc of the analysis any account of contributions of tho Lodges and provinces not represented at the Festival under consideration , but as the remarks of the Editor refer only to tho Festival , why should they be strained to appear as if they had also to do with tho

side subscriptions , so to speak , of tho brethren and Lodges in question ? I must say that I felt a little aggrieved myself afc first to see my Province ( Bristol ) mentioned as a defaulter , for its contributions are not confined to tho Festivals , as I well know , but on a closer inspection of the article , I plainly see that the Editor refers to the Festival alone , and so by such ho must bo judged , for Bristol was certainly unrepresented on that occasion , added to which , ifc is most

desn-able tho contributions of each province should be massed at such times . Fraternally asking each and all of the brethren of the province of Warwickshire—the province this year for tho " Boys "—to read the article carefully and impartially again , I conclude this " rough note " by expressing my admiration of tho right ; noble support given by that province to their Provincial Grand Master as President of tho Festival for 1876 of tho Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , I have tho honour to remain , Yours fraternally , P . M .

Masonic Jurisprudence.—The Mark Degree.

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . —THE MARK DEGREE .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONIC \ DEAR SIR AND BROTHEI :, —Perhaps the following , wL n I havo -athered from various sources , may help to elucidate the question raised by your correspondent , who signs himself " W . G . Releehw , " respecting the status of Mark Master Masons . First as to their status iu England . As your correspondent appears to understand their position here , my remarks will bo very brief .

It will suffice if I state that in tho brief historical sketch of Tho " Origin of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , & c , as set forth by order of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , " which precedes the authorised version of the Constitutions of the Mark Grand Lodge , all the information that can—as far as my poor judgment goes—bo needed will bo found . In Oliver's rJ- 'sonic Jurisprudence , the fourth Section of Chapter V . — « the Status of a Master Mason" —ia devoted