The Humorous Side Of Freemasonry.

THE HUMOROUS SIDE OF FREEMASONRY .

BY STREBO . ( Continued from page 1 S 3 . ) THE following extracts are from Minute Book number 3 , embracing a period of about seven years : — 1802 . April 27 . —Recorded That Br . McQuigan late one hour , and Br . Birtles the whole night . It was Agreed a Brother be allowed £ 1 ls Od for his Troble at the time of the Prossion .

Question from the Chair— " What was the reason our Lodge was remd . from the sign of tho Lord Nelson ? " Answer— " The House going under a bad report . " In contempt of this Lodge Richd . Clarkson said that he was glad he was cleared of the Lodge , and should mend his old Breeches with his Apron to-morrow .

This a third time that Bro . Morris has called a Meeting without the leave of the Master or officers therefore he is silenced for four Months , and to have no Masonick Communications with this Lodge or any other for that space of time . July 8 . —Saml . Morris is to have his Setivicate on the end of the 4 months he was suspeld , for this is done by the Majority of the Lodge , and not join this Lodg any more . In addn . to the above were invested Thos . Hall Seer ., Joseph Wood Trear . Bro . McLeard fined 2 d for swearing .

1803 . Jan . 5—Longworth , Dawson , Bradley , and Griffiths passed the Chair .

Feb . 3 . —Danl . Cane * withdrew from the Lodgo . Mar . 3 . —John O'Niel-f withdrew from the Lodge . April 5 . —Summoned to take into our consideration the misconduct of our Worshipful Master Thos . Stead , and think it proper to postpone it till a future period as he is not present , June 30 . —Opened on the four degrees 4-50 : Closed on the 4 th degree 6 p . m ., On the 3 rd J before 7 , on first 20 past 10 .

1804 . Feb . 3 . —A Grievance between Josh . Wood and Thos . Longworth , of Lodge 303 , whereof the following Committee Sat , viz .:

—President , Bro . Yates . 1 . Bro . Whiteside . 2 . Bro . Hamer . 3 . Bro . Skellhorn . 4 . Bro . Crossland . 5 . Bro . Bradley . 6 . Bro . Fletcher . Proceedings of the Committee .

Bro . Wood Deposs'd upon his O . B . that he whent to John Bradshaws , Innkeepers , Spring Gardens , the Sixth of Feb . where he he met with Thos . Longworth who accused him of Bringing this Lodge to Poverty , and further said he had no God but his Lad , and that every Man ' s Soul was is God .

Thos . Longworth was call'd forth in answer to the charge Laid against him but with out Effect ; has Denay'd every thing that was Deposed by Bro . Jas . Wood . The Committee is of opinion that Bro . Thos . Longworth is Guilty of the Charge . Bro . G . Crossland was Balloted in for J . W . up till next St . John's . 18 Oct . —Valentine Quint Lodged his Certificate .

13 Dec . —Agreed that Bro . Longworth received his Certificate when he Settles his Books and pays his dues .

1805 . July 4 . —Lodge to remove to the house known as the Elephant arid Castle . 1806 . July 24 . —When after the several applications on acct . of distress were settled , called to R . at J to 9 . Visited by Br . Jas . Wood , John Bradshaw , and James Lomax , of No . 171 , Bury ; their health were drank with Success

to their Lodge , and Every Worthy Brother Toasted the health of Br . Jno . Curran of Lodge 618 , a Visitor from Ireland , with suitable honours to each , which were both answered . Several Masonic Songs were sung and applauded , the Grand Officers and the Craft in General Toasted when the Worshipful called from Refreshments to Labour , and Closed in Good Harmony about Ten o'clock .

28 Aug . —Report Thos . Wilkinson , a Spinner at Mr . Ormrod ' s , and Lodging with Bro . Wood , a Native of Warrington , Visited by Bros . Joseph Wood and William Skelhorn , Brother of St . John whose healths were drank , also Worthy Brother Throughout the Terraquous Globe ( omitted Br . James Conelly , also of Sfc . John , who was toasted and the same re'ld .

18 Dec—Hart S . W ., and Longworth J . W ., nominated for the Chair on Ballot ; Longworth was Elected . Hart and Whalley nominated as S . W ., and Br . Whaley was fairly chosen . Bro . Bell and Quin put up for J . W ., the former was Chosen , and the latter unanly . chosen Treasurer , called to R . for a short time at _ past 8 , at 9 called to Labour , close at 10 . Visited by Br . Banks 235 , Wigan .

27 Dec . —Opened , when it was thought proper to make some Alterations from , last nights plans . Votes being again taken , Thomas Longworth was placed in the Chair for the ensuing 6 Months , Wm . Hart again placed as S . W ., and Robert Bell is to fill the Office of J . W . Call'd to R . at 4 o'clock when the Brethren Partook of a Good and Wholesome Dinner .

Closed at £ past 10 o ' clock , Visitors—Leather 301 , 5 Members from 196 . 1807 . 16 Feb . —Christ . Gifford Initiated ree'd suitable instructions .

10 Sept . —Barnabas Kitchen reported . 15 Oct . —Lent apiman Rezan § to Dr . McNaughton . 1808 . Barnabas Kitchen passed the chair . Proposal by Bro . Longworth from Christopher Tooley , being a Modern Mason , to enter payment of £ 1 ls Od , he being of good character .

11 STeby . —Christopher Tooley proposed Last Lodge Night , being a , Modern Mason , was duly prepared and Initiated an Entered apprentice in the Ancient Craft , and thereafter was entered as a fellow Craft . Call'd to R . for a short space , at Nine called to Labour , and closed at 10 . 10 March . —Christ . Tooley made Master Mason . 19 April . —When the W . M . opened the cause of dispute between him and H . Whalley , formerly of this Lodge , that Bro . Whalley is after the fairest

The Humorous Side Of Freemasonry.

Tryal of the Books and Investigation of evidence Indebted to this Lodge , No . 303 , in the Legal sum oi three shillings and sixpence , which he is to pay . 1809 . 26 Jany . —After a strict examination of old papers that incumbered the chest , all that was unnecessary was consumed according to the unan . wish of the Body .

June 6 . —After Belreshment , bronght to labour , ifc was proposed by the Master if Thos . Longworth should walk at the Funeral of Bro . John Bolton ; it was opposed , and agreed that Bro . Longworth should not walk . Called to Refreshment at J past nine , to labour at 10 , and Closed the Lodge . Visitors , Br . D . Cain and John O'Neill , formerly Members of this Lodge . 20 July . —Ref . at 8 . 30 when his Majesty and the British Army wero

given from the chair with the highest honours . To labour at 9 , when it was proposed by the Master if Bro . Ivers should not get any allowance for being sick , he going by a Majority of the Members . Closed at 10 . 1809 . 30 June . —Robt . Bell Installed 2 d time and rest of Officers ; also , after dinner , the following Toasts were given from the chair : His Majesty and the British Navey ; our Grand Master the Duke of Atholl ; All Antient Masons Round the Globe . 10 O'clock Closed . ( To be continued ) .

Cynics And Croakers Abound.

CYNICS AND CROAKERS ABOUND .

O CCASIONALLY a man of this class may be found in a Masonic Lodge . He makes things very disagreeable by reason of his proneness to contrast the present unfavourably wifch the past , and to predict disaster and ruin . " Trust no man , " seems to be his motto ; " the world is false and everything is going wrong , " he says as he makes expression of his pessimistic views much to the discomfort of those with whom he is associated . Let

notsuch an one be believed . The experience of each one of us will probably show the croaker at fault . All of us have found many persons who could not be trusted—false in word and false in heart ; hut we have also found those who were faithful and true , whom we have learned both to respect and to love . Let us think chiefly of the last named class . — " Freemasons Repository . "

The Woodgrange Lodge of Instruction , held at the Princess Alice , Forest Gate , is unable to resume its meetings at the usual time , as the hotel is in the hands of the builders , and cannot yet accommodate Masons of the " speculative" class .

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