A Masonic Laureate.

asylum , and printed at the time of tho full moon . And lastly , I do not believe you will decline to publish my letter , because it is from " LUMBER PLACED ON THE SHELF . " London , 24 th May 1875 .

"A Large Circulation In All Parts Of The Globe."

"A LARGE CIRCULATION IN ALL PARTS OF THE GLOBE . "

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —It will doubtless be a source of intense satisfaction to tho officers and men composing the Arctic expedition—especially if any among them aro Masons—to learn that , should they succeed in

reaching the North Pole , though they may see or grasp no material polo , they will find your contemporary the Freemason in active circulation there , as "in all parts of the globe , "—see weekly announcement in that journal . There generally is a wag on board ship , and there is sure to be ono on board two . This is a quaiut way

of putting it , I know ; but I claim to be a little bit of a wag myself . Perhaps tho dagger scene in Macbeth may suggest to his affrighted old poll to exclaim—Is this a Brother , whom I see bofore me , Freemason in his hand ? Come , let me clntch thoe :

I have thee not ; and yet I see thee still . Art thou not , Brother Mason , sensible To feeling , as to sight F or art thou but A Mason of the mind—a false creation , Proceeding from my cold-oppressed brain ? Yours fraternally , T .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

THE Right Honourable Lord Sherborne , E . W . P . G . M ., held tho annual Grand Lodge of the province on Tuesday 18 th inst . jn the Town Hall , Ncwnham , that town having been selected at the invitation of the Boya ! Forest of Dean Lodge , which had previously held an

ordinary meeting , at which a Past Master ' s jewel was voted to Brother Edwin Cravvshay , who has worthily filled the office of Master during the past year . There was a goodly attendance at Grand Lodge of brethren from all parts of tho province , a portion of tho Gloucester contingent doing the journey with a coach and four horses . Tho Masters of both the Lebanon and Royal Gloucestershire Lodges were

present , each being well supported by his officers aud brethren . Among those present were Lord Sherborne , Provincial Grand Master , and his deputy , G . F . Ncwmarch ; Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P , Past Senior Warden of Grand Lodge , aud Rev . C . J . Martyn , Past Grand Chaplin ; Sir Brook Kay , Bart ; E . Crawshay , James A . Goold , Rev . W . E . Iladow , Rev . H . G . Layton , E . Trinder , Gwinnett

Winterbotham , J . Brook Smith , Holman , Williams , Howard , W . Maiei Martin , Bain , Tayntou , Wheeler , Thomas , Fisher , Stocker , Gee , Tomes , Stephens , Roberts , Prowso , Trevor , Powell , Chance , Jell ' s , Niblott , Telling , Aid . Murrcll , W . C . Davis , R . W . White , N . Foster Worsloy , Woodward , James Bruton , Weston , Matthews , Hastie , Josephs , Buchanan , Watts , E . Tcw-Smith , E . Trimmor , Ricketts ,

Russell , J . Kerr , Cranstonn Kerr , T . Cadle , Dr . Partridge , W . H . C . Fisher , 'J ' . Moore Berry , Mnllins , Darby , Sullivan , Sumsiou , Llewellyn , White , Gamble , Fairley , Morse , Trcufiold , & c . The Lodge having been opened with the accustomed rites , and prayer having been offered by Brother the Rev . W . E . Iladow , the minutes of tho last Lodge were confirmed , and the usual statement

of accounts was read and adopted . jRegrefc was expressed for the severe illness which caused the absence of Bro . T . G . Palmer , the treasurer , but much gratification was evoked by tho intimation that lie is recovering , and willing to retain office . The special business before Grand Lodge was to consider a plan for giving more practical effect to the influence of subscribers to the chief Masouic Charities ,

which aro Boys' and Girls' Institution , aud the Benevolent Fund . It was considered necessary to increase the support now given by Gloucestershire to these institutions , tho prespnt subscriptions from all sources only furnishing 181 votes for the Boys' Institution , 87 to the Girls' Institution , lOfi to the male department of the Benevolent Fund , and ( 13 votes-, to tho female department . Several successive

applications from l :: o province have failed , owing fo the comparatively tuiall voting power .- and this was explained by the fv . ct that whereas 700 votes formerly snlhVcd io scenic a boy ' s election , more than twice that number of * votes are now required , in consequence of the large increase which has taken place in the aggregate subscriptions . On this subject tho following resolution was unanimously adopted ,

tho motion being carefully framed to reserve individual rights : — "That a standing committee , to be called 'The Masonic Charity Committee for Gloucestshire , ' be formed , to consist of tho P Gil ! the D . I ' . G . M ., and P . G . Officers-of the year , the W . M . of each Lod ge aud the first Principal of the I ? . A . Chapter ( or other Brother deputed by each Lodge and the Chapter ) for the timo being , with full power

to frame any rules they may think fit for the condnct of the business and effecting the objects of the committee ; and that the Lodges and individual subscribers to the charities be invited to cut-ust then ' votes to such committee , to bo given in favour of such candidates , from timo to time , as tho committee may select , but with this express understanding that individual brethren who may suscribe to the

chanties , or any of them , shall be entirely at liberty to give their votes in favour of any candidates , and whether selected by the committee or not , in whom thoy may feel an especial interest . " Tin next subject was the proposal to present a testimonial to Bro , G . F . Newmarch , who has for many years filled the important office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master , to the admiration of all members of

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

the Craft . Lord Sherborne proposed tho testimonial , in order to show the general approval and grateful recollection of B > other Newmarch ' s invaluable services over since tho Grand Lodge was instituted . It was suggested , in order to make the presentation a fitting and appropriate one , that it should comprise a fraternal address and a substantial recognition ; also that the recipient should

be qualified as a permanent vice-president of one of the great chanties , This was seconded by The Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C ., who himself received a testimonial on leaving the province somo years ago . The proposition was supported by Brother Henry Jeffs , and adopted with cordial unanimity . Brother Newmarch , in acknowledging the hearty good feeling manifested towards him , urged that tho

proposed testimonial should take the form of enduring aid to the charities rather than any gift to himself personally ; in that way the brethren would evince their kind feeling in the way most acceptable to himself . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , in an eloquent and sympathetic address , spoke of Brother Newmarch as one who , above all others , deserved a signal recognition of services , and praised the

modesty , kindness , and geniality which had endeared the Brother in question to everybody who know him . Assuming that the general idea of Brother Newmarch would be carried out , Sir Michael suggested that a handsome personal tostiomonial should also be given to him , and proposed the formation of a committee to prepare the address , and take all necessary steps in regard to the presentation ,

which will probably take place at the next annual meeting of Grand Lodge . This was seconded by P . M . Brother T . N . Foster , and carried . A further resolution , proposed by Brother Gwinnett and seconded by Brother Alfred Goold , granted a sum of 100 guineas from the funds of Grand Lodge towards the objects in view . The routine business was then proceeded with . Tho P . G-M . called

the roll of Lodges in tho following order , each one , with scarcely an exception , being reported as in a flourishing and satisfactory condition : —Royal Union Lodge , Cheltenham ; Foundation Lodge , Cheltenham ; Faith and Friendship Lodge , Berkeley ; Koyal Lebanon Lodge , Gloucester ; Cotteswold Lodge , Cirencester ; Sherborne Lodge , Stroud ; St . John ' s Lodge , Dursley ; Lodge of Sympathy ,

Wooten-under-Edge ; Royal Gloucestershire Lodge , Gloucester } St . George ' s Lodge , Tewkesbury ; Prince of Wales Lodge , Stow-onthe-Wold ; Zetland Lodge , Radford ; Royal Forest of Dean Lodge , Ncwnham ; Tyudall Lodge , Chipping Sodbury . The followiug officers were theu appointed for the ensuing year : — Senior Warden , Bro . E . Crawshay ; Junior Warden , Bro . T . T . Vizard j

Chaplain , Bro . W . E . Hadow ; Registrar , Bro . Nash ; Senior Deacon , Bro . Darby ; Junior Deacon , Bro . Joseph ; Superintendent of Works , Bro . It . W . White ; Directors of Ceremonies , Bro 3 . Holman and Stephens ; Pursuivant , Bro . Llewellyn Milman ; Sword Bearer , Bro . Trnufield ; Organist , Bro . Woodward ; Secretary , Bro . Trinder ; Tyler Bro . Wiggins .

The brethren of the Lodge afterwards dined together in a marquee at the back of the Victoria Hotel . Lord Sherborne presided , supported by the chief officers . Tho usual Masonic toasts were proposed from the chair , including one of thanks to the local stewards of the day , Brothers A . Goold , M . F . Carter , and S . M . Woods , who exerted themselves indefatigably for the comfort aud ontertainment of all . —Gloucester Journal , 22 ud May 1875 .

The Pope's Denunciation Of Freemasonry.

THE POPE'S DENUNCIATION OF FREEMASONRY .

( From tho Liverpool Daily Post , 18 th May . ) HMHERE is a story told of a Freemason who , wearied by his wife ' s -L importunity , informed her that the secret which is popularly associated with the Craft was nothing more nor less than a password consisting of the by no means classical or cabalistic words , " Cabbage and bacon . " This she held like the sword of Damocles over his head , till at last ono night , when her patience was exhausted

at the prolonged absence of her lord , at the monthly meetiug of his Lodge , she resolved to be revenged , and , repairing to the place where the brethren sat in solemn conclave , repeated , to the astonishment and perplexity of tho Tyler , " Cabbage and bacon , cabbage and bacon . " The poor woman , like many people at the present time , thought the Freemasons wero no better than thoy should be , aud

that she was doing a public service , a 3 well as revenging herself upon her husband by " physically aud morally denouncing them . " In spite , however , of its many enemies , Freemasonry flourishes , and tho ban of the Pope appears to be utterly futile in staying its progress . Since tho Prince of Wales accepted theGrai . d Mastership of the Order in England , the Catholic newspapers have been severely lectmingHis

Royal Highness for assuming the position which it was his pleasure to fnlil : and tho other day one of them , in doing so , went so far as to ascribe the downfall of Charles X ., Louis Philippe , and Napoleon III . to their connection with the Craft , and implored the Prince to take warning before it is too late . Before he has had time , however , to profit by this well-meant advice , the Pope again comes to the front to

denounce Freemasonry , which he does in no mo isur « d terms . He declares that it , is a nefarious sect , doing guilty battle against the Church , and saj's that were tho true character of tho body exposed , all honest men wou d turn from it with horror . The tendency of Freemasonry , tho Pope holds , is to overturn civil and religious order , aud consequently it has wisely been condemned by the Church . These arc strong words to nse towards a large body of persons who ,

to all outward appearance , conduct themselves as loyal and respectable citizens , and whose moral behaviour bears favourab ' e comparison with that of any other society of their fellow subjects . It is possible the Pope may have been misinformed by those about him , whoso duty it is to advise him on such matters , but bo this as it may , it will suggest itself to most people in this country that tho recent utterances of his Holiness amount to much the same thing as the wrathful woman ' s reiteration of" Cabbage and bacon . "