Primal Origin Of Freemasonry.

jurisdiction of the Grand Lodges of York , Scotland and Ireland , including the Saints John Masons . All these Grand Lodge' * , but notably in later years that of the Ancients * , tstnblished Lodges on the Continent of Europe and in America , and to these all can trace their

orig in . In America , nnd notably in South Carolina , Pennsylvania , Massachusetts and Virginia , the " Ancients " were prominent , and gnvo its elwracter to the Institution . In Louisiana , deriving \\\» i-. h nfors nf tho first Lodges from Pennsylvania ( Perfect Union No . 1 , from South Carolina ) ,

the " Ancient , " called "Ancient York , " ideas prevailed . We have not time nor space to trace out the origin of Freemasonry in other Grand Lodges of tbe American Union . In New York , there was a mingling of all four , while Massachusetts was about evenly divided between the two , the * ' Ancients " and " Moderns . " From these four sources

in this country , all the Freemasonry in the United States derives its origin . Each source had features essentially different , growing out , partly , by the innovation in the work by the " Moderns , " but especially by changes ' each made in the spirit of rivalry and opposition in esoteric

work , tbe Constitutions , Regulations and Rules . Mosfc of these changes , made . arbitrarily and by the unread , or the scheming of the well-read , charged as innovations by the one side , and claimed as of the ancient landmarks by the other . They were not landmarks . Among these we may

class the rights of Past Masters , the inherent powers of Grand Masters , and we might say the divine origin , and hence , unlimited powers of Grand Lodges , as the selfexisting creator , origin and source of all Masonic power

and law , and in the esoteric part the degree of Past Master . The power of Grand Masters to make Masons at sight is another , but in this without any authoritative grant or recognition whatever . —J . Q . A . Fellows , in the Liberal Freemason .

Our Duty To The Widows And Orphans.

OUR DUTY TO THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS .

WHILE a Brother Mason lives his Lodge keeps a kindly eye upon him . If in want his needs are supplied , and if sick , brethren smooth the pillow of his suffering . But when he has passed away we are too apt to consider our fraternal mission ended . The widow and the

orphaned are in many instances forgotten . This should not be . Even more than the brother himself while he lives , these may need and deserve our sympathy and substantial help when he is no more . Even if not in material want the wife thus bereft should have the help of our counsel

and the support of our sympathy , while a Mason ' s children should ever have first claim upon us . If we are in positions where we need and employ help , whether in home , the office , store or facfcorr , the deserving

sons and daughters of deceased brother Masons should be given the preference . Much genuine help mig ht ; thus be rendered and without loss to ourselves , while we should be honouring one of the most serious and sacred obligations which man has ever taken or can take in this world .

We had occasion not many months ago to recommend tho son of a worthy brother deceased , to a craftsman of this city , a man who needed additional help in his business and had advertised for the same . The boy we recommended is bri ght , capable , and trusty . He needed the

position , and gave every promise that he could fill it . Here was a noble opportunity for our brother to be loyal to his solemn vow and help both himself and a deserving boy . But , alas—when we urged the lad ' s case , he simply twirled the massive Masonic charm dangling from his vest and coolly said— " He didn ' t mix Masonry with business . "

If we had told bim what we really thought and do still , we should have replied , " We believe you . You do not mix Masonry with business , and for the very good reason that you have no Masonry to mix . " His stock in the Order , like that of too many others , is an expensive charm and a name

in the records of a Lodge . Simply this and nothing more . He will die as he lives , without the first intelligent conception of what true Masonry is . We have dipped our pen

m no gall . We bear this brother no malice . We pity him , that ' s all , ancl we pity the Order thafc it contains so many like him . On the other hand we are devoutly thankful that there are those who are not thus recreant to their

solemn vows . While penning this article a busy brother

Our Duty To The Widows And Orphans.

puts aside his business to come from the southern part of fche city to tell the Master of his Lodge of a Mason ' s widow whose family of sick children require a nurse . It is not a case of material want . The lady in question is fortunately able to provide for her own . She merely needs some one ' s

aid in securing help , and she finds a Mason who is both ready and willing to put aside his own affairs and go at once upon tho mission of assistance . And thus , unobtrusive and

silent as gracious dew from Heaven , these benefactions are distilling in all communities where Lodges exist and the widowed and orphaned are not forgotten in their need by faithful Masons . —The Master Mason .

At a meeting of those brethren interested in the formation of a new Lodge , membership of which is to be confined to thoso associated with the Medical profession , held at Graven House , on Thursday , 23 rd October , it was agreed to petition Grand Lodge for leave to form the said Lodge .

Other matters , re fees , days of meeting , & o ., were arranged and agreed to . Any registered practitioner attached to a regular Lodge can have full particulars by applying to Thos . Dutton P . M ., acting Secretary , Craven House , Northumberland Avenue , London , W . C .

The Rev . Dr . Lemon , Provincial Prior of Devon , purposes holding , at the Loyal Brunswick Priory , Sfc . George ' s Hall , East Stonehouse , on the 24 th inst ., a Prov . Priory of Knights Hospitaller of the Order of Sfc . John of

Jerusalem , Palestine , Rhodes , and Malta , for the inception of such Knights Templar of the Province as Knights of Malta who have not yet been received , and are desirous , upon ballot approval , of being admitted into the Order of Malta .

Masonic Lecture At Chatham.

MASONIC LECTURE AT CHATHAM .

THE Royal Kent Lodge of Antiquity , No . 20 , the first on the roi of all Provincial Craft Lodges , held an emergency meeting on tbe 5 th inst ., in the spaoioas and well appointed Lodge-room at the Sun Hotel , Chatham , for tho purpose of hearing Bro . James Stevens deliver a lecture on " The Ritual and Ceremonial of the Symbolic Degrees in Freemasonry . " Nearly 100 brethren were present , representing the immediately local Lodges , and others at Gravesend ,

Maidstone , Ramsgate , Deptford , and other towns in the Province of Kent . Amongst the large gathering were Bro . George R . Cobham W . M ., who presided , and the following Officers and brethren of Lodge No . 20 , viz . : —BTOB . Thomas Clibbon I . P . M ., T . S . Warne P . M . P . P . G . S . W ., J . T . Fnnnell P . M ., W . T . Wiggins S . W ., J . H . Collins J . W ., Rev . T . Arthur Chaplain , C . R . Cockburn P . M . Secretary ,

C . E . Skinner S . D ., George Church J . D ., E . Bacon I . G ., C . D . Levy Steward , T . Williams Organist , J . Orun Prov . G . T . Tyler , "W . Payne , A . Cooper , R . D . Batchelor , W . J . R . Robins , H . Tomlin , W . Hewit , J . M . Mathison , W . Burgess , G . A . Bond , J . Cabburn , and T . Stafford . Bro . Charles T . Smith , T . C . of Rochester , and W . M . 1426 , London , who had been mainly instrumental in making fche arrangements for

the meeting , was unfortunately prevented by temporary indisposition from attending , and his absence was greatly regretted by the members of his Lodge , and their visitors . The Lodges represented were the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , Gravesend , the United Chatham Lodge of Benevolence , No . 184 , New Brompton , the Adams Lodge , No . 158 , Sheemess , the Royal Navy Lodge , No . 429 , Ramsgate , tho

Belvidere Lodge , No . 503 , Maidstone , the Gundulph Lodge , No . 1050 , Rochester , the Mailing Abbey Lodge , No . 1063 , Malline , the Pentangle Lodge 1174 , Chatham , the Brownrigg Lodge of Unity 1424 , Brompton , the Beaconcourt Lodge , No . 1967 , New Brompton , & o . The Lodge having been duly opened , the Worshipful Master introduced the lecturer , who was very cordially received , and he at once

commenced his address . We have had to refer to Bro . Stevens ' lectures on former occasions , and to express our appreciation of his efforts to explain the allegories and symbols by means of whioh the art of Freemasonry is veiled from those who have nofc entered the Order . He minutely expounds their nature and the connection , through them , of the whole system , and contends that unless their

meaning is fully understood by practitioners in the art , they cannot fulfil the purposes for which the science was instituted . We are , as our readers will plainly understand , precluded from making generally public the matier of Bro . Stevens' lectures ; they must be heard in open Lodge only , and no opportunity of hearing them should be neglected . The manner of delivery is always satisfactory , and for two hours the

lecturer keeps his audience interested , and regardless of the lapse of time . At the termination of his address , many portions of whioh bad been received with applause , the W . M . Brother Cobham , in proposing , and Bro . T . 8 . Warne P . P . G . S . W ., in secondfng , that a vote of thanks to Bro . Stevens shonld be entered on the minutes of the Lodge , respectively gave expression to the pleasure whioh had been afforded them by the clearluoidand

compre-, , hensive instruction which , had been afforded to the Lodge and its visitors , and hoped that the lecturer might have still more to say to them on the same subject at no very distant date . Bro . Stevens having offered his acknowledgments , the Lodge was closed . A large nnmber of the brethren remained to partake of supper , and a brief hour or two of social enjoyment followed , before the inevitable parting .