Forged Affiliation Next

in an enlightened land of forfeitures and punishments bein ^ inflicted in the absence of positive law , except it was nmlei a law which had been enforced so long that its origin wa .

lost to memory ; and it was thereby presumed to have b . en originally enacted , and tho enactment lost through lapse of time ? Every attempt to work forfeitures and confiscations on mere pretence of law , is itself an offence .

Since the above was written word comes that the Grand Master of Quebec has declared non-intercourse with the Grand Lodge of England . Thus this useless and reckless raid on the pence aud dignity of the Craft goes on . It

remains to be seen if the Grand Lodges of the United States will represent the latter or further follow tho unfortunate counsels which havo brought so near to actual consummation the disgrace aud disaster which all can see are impending . — Voice of Masonry .

Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

— : o : — LODGE OP FIDELITY , No . 663 .

THE monthly meeting was hold at the Masonic Hall , Devizes , on Friday , the 15 th instant , when the WM . Bro . F . S . Hancock was supported by a large gathering of P . M . 's , Officers and members . Several visitors from the Lodge of Concord , 632 , Trowbridge , were also present , viz .: —J . H . Foley W . M ., VV . J . Mann P . M . P . P . G . Sunt .

Works Wilts , T . S . Hill P . M . P . G . S . B . Wilts , G . L . Palmer J . W ., H . Applegate S . D ., and F . W . Selfe J . D . Two candidates for initiation were balloted for and accepted , and one of them being present wis ably initiated by tho W . M . Tho W . M . then said that after Bro . William Nott P . M . had last year been elected to tho ofFice of Treasurer ,

instead of Secretary , on Ins expressing a wish to be relieved of tho duties of the latter , as he found them too ranch for him , tho members of tho Lodge met and resolved to show their esteem and their recognition of his services , for 17 years as Secretary , by subscribing , for a Past Secretary's jewel . This , with an illuminated address , had now

been completed , and the W . M . on behalf of the brethren of 663 asked Bro . Nott ' s acceptance of them . The W . M . remarked that Bro . Nott had at all times most willingly given his time and lent his abilities for tho good of the Lodge ; he had held high office in tho Craft , Royal Arch and Mark Masonry , and in many other degrees which the W . M . did

not understand , aud he hoped that Bro . Nott would be spared many years to wear the jewel , and to give the Lodge the benefit of his Masonic knowledge . Bro . W . H . Bush I . P . M . 663 , who had carried ont the arrangements , spoke of the great pleasure it had given him to do so , and of many warm and kind expressions towards their late

Secretary , and of regret at not being able to be present that evening , which had been sent him by members of the Lodge and others . Bro . Mann P . M . 632 expressed the great pleasure it had given him to be present to bear testimony to the high estimation in which Bro . Nott ' s services to Freemasonry were held outside his own Lodge , and

said that had not the subscription been confined to the Devizes Lod ^ e many others would have joined in it . Bro . William Nott , in thanking the brethren , said that until the W . M . had that evening risen and addressed him , he had nob the slightest idea that anything of tho kind was contemplated ; he could only say , taken entirely by

surprise as he was , that this expression of tho feeling of tho brethren would mark one of the brightest spots in his Masonic career . Ho heartily thanked the brethren for their beautiful jewel , which he should treasure during the remainder of his life , not for its intrinsic value ( great though that was ) , but as a reminder of the affectionate

regard and kindly good feeling of the subscribers , as so warmly expressed in the words of the address then before him . The jewel , a valuable one in gold and enamel , was supplied by Bro . G . Kenning and bore the following inscription : — " Presented to Bro . W . Nott

, P . M . 663 , P . S . G . W . Wilts , by the brethren of the Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , 663 , in recognition of his services as Secretary of the above Lodge for 17 years . " The business being concluded , the Lodge was then closed .

St. John's Lodge, No. 795.

ST . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 795 .

THE last meeting of tho session of this favourite summer Lodge was held at Bro . Deacon ' s , Eaymead Hotel , Maidenhead , on Wednesday , the 20 th instant . Brothers John Greenfield P . M . 1602 W . M ., E . W . Allen ( W . M . elect , P . M . 173 )

S . W ., F . Foxley P . M . 173 J . W ., W . Holcombe S . D ., J . Cutbill I . G ., W . Fenton D . C , Captain John Finch P . M . 795 Treasurer , Charles Dearing S . D . 1602 Secretary ; Bros . J . Innes I . P . M ., Linscott P . M ., Harling , Waterhouao , and others . Visitors—Bros . W . Morris P . M . 156 G P . P . G . J . W . Berks and Bucks , J . Rutland P . P . G . O . Berks and Bucks , J . Osborn P . M . 1602 P . P . G . S . B .

Middlesex , H . H . Mason S . W . 1501 , J . G . Tongue S . W . 581 , T . 0 . Thain P . M . 17 G 9 , J . Cross J . W . 902 , W . R . Williams P . M . 975 , J . BIyth P . M . 173 , C . Ayling P . M . 795 , W . Crano 1425 , J . Woodman 813 , C . T . Curtis 1950 , J . VV . Routledge 1609 , W . Holland P . M . 180 , C . Weeden W . M . 813 , A . Eopkins W . M . 173 , P . Block 55 , T ' « tr «_ i ££ n Ar ^_ ...:. _ .,. » - ^__ i c ^ a UT n „„___ _ oir > __ . _ i _ ^ . » . _

_ « -- •iB *•-- — - - ____ . ^ - . _ . v _ ,, „* JJLXIJ KJJ . J » UU . A . JJ ~ J . R . Puttick S . D . 1501 , J Cooper P . M . 1769 , J . Tolworthy 1769 , A . Henson 1706 , T . Langford 1366 , J . Stephens 1125 , J . Botting 1501 , Lodge having been opened in due form , with solemn prayor , and the minutes of the last meeting ( July ) read and confirmed . The audit for the last two years was duly proceeded with , and the report of

St. John's Lodge, No. 795.

the auditors affirmed . The W . ' AT . then announced to tho brethren that for special reasons it had been arranged that Bio . P . M . Linscott who had so admirably installed other W . M . ' s , should instal his successor , aud at the same time ho congratulated tho brethren upon having selected such an able successor as Bro . E . W . Allen , to wit .

ness whose installation so many eminent Freemasons had come , in some cases long distances ; this testified to his popularity . The chair was then taken by the installing Master , who most ably discharged his duties . Tho board of installed Masters having been closed , tho W . M . elect invested his Officers , as follow : —John Greenfield P . M .

1602 I . P . M ., F . Foxley P . M . 173 S . W ., W . Holcombo J . W ., John Finch Treasurer , C . Dearing Secretary , J . Cutbill S . D ., W . Fontuu J . D ., W . F . Hurling Steward , R . Garner A . S ., —and named C . S . B . iiley , who was absent , as I . G . —Sheppard Tyler . A joining member having been proposed , and notice of motion given

by P . M . Finch to increase tho annual subscription , Lodgo was closed in duo form , and the brethren adjourned to banquet . The toast of tho Queen and the Craft having been givon by the Worshipful Master , Bro . John Greenfield I . P . M . rose and proposed tho health of tho Worshipful Master , expressing tho great pleasure he felt in finding

such an able successor filling his post , one competent and willing to dis * charge the very onerous duties . Bro . E . W . Allen then responded in suitable terms , and afterwards proposed the health of Bro . Greenfield I . P . M ., in one of the most eloquent speeches we have ever listened to . In the course of his observations he said that the brethren well

knew that tho brother most to be depended upon was not tho gushing , boisterous man , but the quiet unpretending Mason , who went strictly and conscientiously about his work and fearlessly discharged the duties of his office . Such a man was the Immediate Past Master , who was held in high esteem by the whole

Lodge , and towards whom he felt the warmest attachment from the first time he met him amongst them . He then , in the name of the Lodge , presented the Immediate Past Master with a valuable jewel , having the figure of Sb . John the Evangelist upon it—the excel , lent workmanship of Bro . Weeden W . M . 813 ; he trusted that the

Immediate Past Master would be spared to wear it for many years , and hand it down to his family as a token of the affection and esteem of the brethren . The Immediate Past Master , Bro . J . Greenfield , in responding , said that the very eloquent manner in which the Worshipful Master had spoken of him almost deprived him of tho power

of speech , and yet he rejoiced that it was not so , as in that case he could not have sufficiently thanked the brethren for their great kind , ness towards him at all times . Ho reminded the brethren that several excellent members had recently joined the Lodge , that tho Charities had not been neglected , and that the bye laws had been

carefully revised aud approved , with the view of reducing the expenses . He pointed out that difficulties sometimes arose in Freemasonry as in everything else , bnt that these could be overcome by the brethren from time to time simply recollecting and practising their obligations one towards another . Ho assured the brethren

that he should wear tho jewel with pride , and endeavour to hand it down to his family as pure as ho had received it . The other toasts were then given and responded to ; and the brethren returned to town , having spent a day that will long be remembered by those present .

New Cross Lodge, No. 1559.

NEW CROSS LODGE , No . 1559 .

THE first meeting of this Lodge for the session was held on the 8 th instant , at the Ship Hotel , Greenwich , and there were present Bros . H . P . B . rtini W . M ., Rev . James W . A . Stnrdie I . P . M ., 0 . Grass ! S . W ., F . W . Cash J . W ., Ernest E . Smith Secretary , J . D . Graham S . D ., H . Wild J . D ., W . EI . Meyor I . G ., VV . Curley P . M . St ., T . Grnmmant Dir . of Cers ., G . W . Rowe Tyler ; Bros . Ardwiug , G .

Maund , James Rowe , H . W . Markham , W . J . Pegram , C . N . N . North , W . Avernell , C . Guffanti , R . Pratti , C . Howard , J . Neville , H . Walker , E . Fry , G . F . Mounter , John Faulkner , Henry Wood ham , E . Rouard , and others . Visitors—Bros . VV . Brindley P . M . 1604 and n n i , T - ci T \ i (! u T _; i l : l _ a . 1 11— . ' ..-. i- - ^ 1614 Lod b opened and the minutes

G . Reynolds S . D . , ge having _ en of last meeting road and confirmed , Bros . G . Maund , Walter Avernell and W . J . Redfern , aftar answering the usual questions , were raised to the sublime degree of M . M . Afterwards Bros . E . Howard , R . Pratti and C . Guffanti were passed . Before the business was

concluded tho Worshipful Master was compelled , through press of business , to retire , and his duties were undertaken by Bros , the Rev . J . W . A . Sturdie and T . Grummaut . Lodge was then closed and tho brethren adjourned for refreshment , the chair being taken by Bro . Rev . J . Sturdie . After the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts had been

given and honoured , Bro . VV . Curley P . M . proposed the health of the Worshipful Master , regretting his absence from tho banquet tablo , at the same time expressing his great regret that he was compelled

to leave them . The earnest way in which Bro . Bertini had carried out his duties had been fully shown by the style in which he had raised brethren to the third degree . However , the Immediate Past Master Rev . J . VV . A . Sturdie and Bro . T . Grammant P . M . had finished the

work connected with the Lodge in a satisfactory manner . It was a long time since he ( Bro . Curly ) had had the gavel in his hand ; he now had the pleasure of proposing the health of the Worshipful Master , and hoped the brethren would drink it with bumpers . Bro . Sturdie thanked the brethren for the kind manner in which tho

W . M . ' s health had been proposed and responded to ; he expressed his sorrow that the Worshipful Master had to leave them throngh pressure of business ; they all know the great interest he took in tho affairs of the Lodge , and they appreciated the way in which he had done his work . It bad been a long time since they had met , but he ful

was pleased to see their faces again ; he trusted that the Worship Master woald havo a successful year of office . The Rev . J . W . A , Stnrdie then gave the health of the Visitors . The New Cross Lodge was always pleased to see a goodly array at their festive board . Although this waa an off-night he trusted the Visitors had enjoyed themselves ; it was very kind of them to travel down from town to