New Hall At Abergavenny.

NEW HALL AT ABERGAVENNY .

THERE was a large gathering of Monmouthshire Brethren at Abergavenny on Wednesday evening , 22 nd ult ., on the occasion of the opening of a new Masonic Hall by the Philanthropic Lodge , No . 818 . The occasion was marked by the holding of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge , under Bro . J . O . Marsh Prov . G . Master .

The hall forms portion of the ancient Church of St . John , which dates from the fourteenth century , and it is said to have been at one period the parish church of Abergavenny . The property held by the Craft includes an ancient embattled

tower , and this fact Bro . I . T . Williams W . M ., in an address , said was unique in the history of Masonic Temples . Freemasonry , he added , was introduced at Abergavenny by French officers brought there as prisoners during the Peninsular War and released on parole within the town boundary .

Bro . J . H . Taylor P . M . S . G . W . of the Eastern Division of South Wales said that several years ago a friend who was travelling in France by accident made the . acquaintance of the descendants of those French Officers who were captives at Abergavenny , and was given a snuff-box adorned with

Masonic emblems , ' which one of them had carved during his captivity from a marrow-bone . This was afterwards presented to the speaker ( Bro . Taylor ) , and he , in turn , enclosed it in a suitable case and gave it to the museum of relics connected with the Philanthropic Lodge .

After the business the Brethren dined together at the Angel Hotel , the W . M . being supported by the Deputy Prov . G . M . Bro . C . R . Lyne , and the Mayor of Abergavenny Bro . J . Bishop .

Leeds Masonic Hall.

LEEDS MASONIC HALL .

A DIFFICULTY has arisen in connection with the scheme for building a new Masonic Hall on the south side of Great George Street , Leeds . Plans for the structure , upon which ( apart from the land ) it is intended to spend about £ 6 , 000 , were recently adopted , and everything is ready for commencing building operations . Before a spadeful

of soil has been turned , however , an unforeseen obstacle has presented itself . The Leeds City Council at their last meeting sanctioned an important project for widening and straightening Cookridge Street , the carrying out of that plan involving the purchase and demolition of the Roman Catholic cathedral ,

schools , and presbytery . It is proposed by the Corporation to schedule land eighty-four yards back from Cookridge Street , the area thus affected comprising 14 , 625 yards between Great George Street and Guildford Street . The ear marked land includes the new Masonic Hall site ,

containing about 650 square yards , which , it is understood , the Improvements Committee intend to offer to the Roman Catholic authorities in substitution for the site now occupied by St . Ann's Cathedral and adjoining buildings . The Masonic

Fraternity are taking vigorous steps to prevent the acquision of their site by the Roman Catholics , and a resolution on the subject will be moved at the next meeting of the City Council . —" Building News . "

By the kindness of the Lord Mayor of Manchester and of the Town Hall Committee , the use of the large room in the Manchester Town Hall has been granted to the

Minnehaha Minstrels for the purpose of giving two entertainments in aid of the local War Fund , one being billed for last evening ( Friday , Sth Dec . ) and the other for Monday next , nth instant .

Mr . Justice Bucknill , who was recently engaged at the Glamorgan Assizes , is one of the most distinguished Freemasons in the country , as was his father before him . He is a Past Grand Warden of England , and has held very high

Provincial honours . On Wednesday , 22 nd ult ., he attended the Prince Llewellyn Lodge , at Cardiff , and was supported by the leading members of the South Wales Bar . At the

banquet which followed he proved himself a genial and clever after-dinner speaker , and the gathering was one which local Masons will not soon forget . — " Western Mail . "

At a recent meeting of the Clyde Lodge the Provincial Grand Treasurer of the Benevolent Fund unfolded a scheme which , it is proposed , should be adopted in the distribution of grants from the Fund . The question of how a case for

Leeds Masonic Hall.

assistance should be dealt with , where the applicant has not been connected with any Lodge for years , has long been a vexed question to the Committee . Some years ago it was proposed that a Brother three years in arrears in the Lodge through which the application came , should be regarded as

outside the pale of the P . G . L . B . F . That never became a law , but now the Committee seem to think that some rule in this direction should be established . They favour the suggestion that any application founded on a member who has ceased to be faithful to his Masonic duties for the period

of five years , should not be entertained . Such distinction could not be accepted as a hard and fast rule , however , as there are cases in which it would be manifestly unjust to

apply such a rule , but given as a general instruction to the Committee it would greatly strengthen their powers , and enable them to afford help in larger amounts in relieving deserving cases .

Cheshire Freemasonry continues to nourish , and the progress made both in numbers and influence must be especially gratifying to the Provincial Grand Master Earl Egerton of Tatton . Saturday afternoon ( 25 th ult . ) witnessed the consecration of the Asheton-Egerton Lodge , No . 2793 ,

and the Lodges in the Province now number fifty-three . Incidentally , the choice of the name is a compliment to his lordship ' s family , as it includes the territorial names of the owners of Hale and Ashley for centuries back , but the main reason for the foundation of the Lodge is to be found in the

fact that within the last few years green fields and country hedgerows have given place to numerous beautiful residences which are occupied mostly by the representatives of Great Britain's growing commerce . The hotel , too , in which the Lodge will find its headquarters , has shown evidence of the

growth of the district . Many remember the "Old Bleeding Wolf , " with its farm-like surroundings , and had a liking for the quaint structure ; but , phcenix-like , it has risen from its

own ashes , so to speak , and we have now a palatial edifice with gables and markings peculiar to the old Cheshire style of architecture , which will serve for many . generations to come . — " Stockport Advertiser . "

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