Masonry In The Tropics.

W . M . ; P . R . Escudero , A . Bonelli , Sec . ; R . Stephenson , D- Lightburn , A . Skinner , A . Vance , P . S . W . ; M . S . Sasso , j . D . ; Carl Berg , S . D . ; j . W . Boschulte , I . G .: R . Senior , P . M . ; A . R . Liggett ; Abm . Sasso , P . M . ; John A . I . igtbourn . P . M . ; and S . W . Ha'chet , Ty ler . Visitors : F . M . Corniero , 33 " , P . M . No . 141 , S . R . ; Carl Smidt and Wilh . Jenser , of No . 141 ; Theo . EstorncI , and P . Aubeck . Bro . Robertson repea'ed his lecture and spent a very enjoyable day and evening with the brethren .

At Antigua , on the 26 th February , the visit was one of few hours , but Bro . Robertson had a pleasant time with Bro ? . Leonard Read , W . Warneford , A . H . Court , and J . T . Thibon . While at Antigua , Bro . Robertson was interested in an old Masonic record of 156 years ago . At the mouth of the harbour of Antigua are two forts , erected by the British in 1739 . the corner-stone of each fort being laid with Masonic honours by the P . G . M . of the island . Bro . Holmes A Court

kindly accompanied Bro . Robertson to the fort , and Bro . Robertson photographed the _ inscription upon the corner-stone . The stone has been cracked , owning to the fact that many years ago some miscreants thought that valuable coins were in the usual cavity , and that it would be a rich find , and in their unsuccessful efforts to find the treasure caused this damage . The following is the inscription on the stone at Fort St . James , which is about two miles from St . John ' s , the capital of the island :

THIS FIRST STONE WAS LAID BY MATHEW , THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , WITH HIS GRAND OFFICERS . AND THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE MASTER .

AND THE WARDENS AND BROTHERS OF THE THREE LODGES OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ANTIGUA . NOVEMBER , 1739 .

That is perhaps the earliest foundation stone laid by the Craft in the western world and the only occasion on which a British fort was laid with Craft honours . At Barbadoes , Bro . Robertson met Bros . F . N . A . Clairmante , W . J . Clarke and others . Owing to his short stay , extending from Sunday until Monday afternoon , there was no opportunity of assembling any of the lodges .

At Port of Spain , Trinidad , the tourists arrived on the morning after the great fire , but notwithstanding the excitement , Bro . Carl Bock cilled a meetingof the Royal Prince of Wales Lodge No . 867 , and a large audience of the Craft was entertained with a lecture upon Craft history and first glimpses of Masonry in America . Bro . Robertson dwelt particularly on the formation of the Grand Lodges , which afterwards merged into the

"United Grand Lodge of England , " and continued showing the foundation of the Grand Lodges of Canada and the I " nited States of America . He then spoke of the time when operative Masonry began to merge into speculative , and explained the relative connection between the two systems , giving the dates as near as possible when the Second and Third Degrees were added to the Ritual , and also of the Royal Arch Degree , which he said

was the culminating point in Masonry . He alluded to the need lodges in the Colonies had for brethren from the mother country to visit them , and of the good that would be derived from such visits . He recommended the careful study of the Masonic Jurisprudence , and advised the use of Chace ' s or Mackey ' s . He next spoke of the privileges of Freemasonry , and of those enjoyed by visiting brethren , and strongly condemned the oractice of

brethren who subscribed to no lodge continually attending meetings and partaking of all those privileges , a right they no longer enjoyed from the moment their contribution to some lodge ceased . A vote of thanks was heartil y accorded to Bro . Robertson , and the Worshipful Master on behalf of the Royal Prince of Wales Lodge , No . 86 7 , wished him a pleasant voyage home , and expressed the hope that he would again return to Trinidad , and be present at another meeting of the lodge . Among

the brethren present at the lecture were Bros . Carl O . Bock , W . M . ; Samuel Wood , S . W . ; Hamilton Wainwrith , P . M . ; J . Hinchley Hart , J . W . ; Theodore Tanner , Treas . ; C . F . Huggins , Sec ; Harry Healey , acting S . D . ; Wilhelm Schoener , E . C , acting I . G . ; J . Barclay , of Royal Philanthropic Lodge , No . | o . s , acting Tyler ; Arthur H . Wright ; William Lunt ; Capt . R . B . Todd , of Scotia Lodge , Barbadoes ;

Wm . Warren of United Brothers' Lodge , No . . ' 51 and W . S . Doorley , Chaplain of Royal Philanthropic Lodge , No . . | o . v At Kingstown , Jamaica , Bro . Robertson visited the Susse . % and Collegium Fabrorum Lodges on the English Register under the District Grand Master , Bro . John C . Macglashan and Bro . R . S . Haughton , D . G . M ., and also the Glenlyon and St . John ' s Lodges of the Scotch Register , under Bro . Hon . S . C . Burke , the Prov . G . Master .

Bro . Robertson gave addresses at the Sussex , Glenlyon , and St . John ' s Lodges , and delivered two lectures . That at Sussex Lodge , on Wednesday evening , was on " The History of Masonry , " and that delivered on Monday evening , the 20 th Feb ., at St . John ' s Lodge , on " The History of the Three Degrees . " At the former meeting Bro . Macglashan presided , and at the latter , Bro . Hon . S . C . Burke . Amongst those present at both meetings

were Bros . Macglashan and Burke , E . S . Haughton , Wm . Duff , Dist . Sec . for England ; J . M . Gibb , W . M . No . 354 ; M . H . Lawrence , W . M . No . 623 ; J . Kennedy , W . M . No . 326 ; and Alexander , W . M . No . 1836 ; W . A . Paine , F . G . Sale , C . T . Burton , T . Briscoe , Jonas Pollock , J . ' L . Wingate , Ii . X . Leon , Rev . J . O . Miller , Dr . Ogilvie and many others . Bros . Macglashan and Burke and the W . Ms , of the lodges visited

expressed their high appreciation of the lectures given , and after each a resolution of thanks was tendered to the visitor . The success of the gathering was largely owing , not only to the energy of the District and Provincial Masters , but also to the attention given to the meetings b y Bros . Haughton and Wm . Duff . Bro . Robertson had true British hospitality

tendered him by Bros . Macglashan and Haughton , and the Hon . Mr . Burke . Bro . Macglashan , the District Grand Master under England , is the Auditor-General of Jamaica , and Bro . William Dud is one of his chief officers . Bro . Haughton is the Commissioner in charge of water and gas on "le island , and is one of the best known and most energetic of men , not only

Masonry In The Tropics.

in the duties of his civil office , but also in Masonic circles . Bro . the Hjn . S . C . Burke is a member of the Legislative Council , and a gentleman of large experience in public life , and a prominent figure in every event of importance , civil and official , in the island . He is the Provincial Grand Master for Scotland , and Bro . Macglashan for Enq-Und so that both jurisdictions were ablv represented . Bro . Robertsonexp'e-sedbi < pleasure at

the large interest tak » n in Craft work in all the islands visited , and at the deep attention paid to what he offered the brethren in the history of the Craft and of the Degrees . Bro . Robertson has secured photograp hs of all the tropical lodge rooms which he visited . His visit gave a great amount of pleasure to the brethren , and his eloquent addresses , abounding in historical research , will stimulate the work of Masonry , not only here , but in the other islands of this group .

Song—Our Boys' School.

SONG—OUR BOYS' SCHOOL .

In what a little world we live Which , yet , to us appears A never-ceasing battle ground Of varied hones and fears ;

Ouick is the pulse of fervent youth , Matured in Manhood ' s prime , And each will strive to gain the top Of Fortune ' s hill they climb . SOLO AND CHORUS :

To train " Our Boys " let us engage Our bounty to bestow , May they , from youth to ripening age , In honoured Manhood grow ! By training , only , can we hope Our purpose to attain ,

By knowledge quicken the good seed , And future fruit obtain ; And those " Our Boys , " hereafter men , Orphaned by cruel fate , As legacy to us are left And kindly aid await .

Sol . o AND CHORUS : To train ' * Our Boys , " & c . As citizens of country dear , | Our hopes , our future pride , Let us the youthful stems engage In rectitude to guide ;

Our brothers who have gone before To the Grand Lodge Above , In cheerful trust their boys have left Unto our pitying love . S 01 . 0 AND CHORUS : To train " Our Boys , " & c .

So we the tenets of the Craft For ever will uphold , Fraternal love shall brightly shine Alike on young and old ;

Duty fulfilled will cheer the path Of Brother and of friend , Shed sunshine o'er ' our daily lives . And guide us to the end . S 01 . 0 AND CHORUS : To train " Our Boys , " & e . F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., P . M .

Presentation To Bro. Thomas Jones.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . THOMAS JONES .

On Tuesday evening , the 7 th ult ., the Duke of Clarence Lodge , No . 171 , at their usual May supper , presented their Treasurer , Bro . Thomas Jones , Representative Grand Lodge of Tasmania , with an illuminated address and Treasurer ' s jewel . Bro . J SIBERRY , W . M ., presided , and in his remarks alluded to the fact that Bro . Jones had been connected with their lodge for over 25 years , during

which time he rarely missed a meeting . His uniform bearing and genial manner to all the members prompted this small acknowledgment of his valued services . The W . M . then called upon the Secretary , Bro . Humphreys , P . M ., to read the address , which was couched in the most fraternal terms , and expressed the hope that Bro . Jones might be long spared to attend his mother lodge . Bro . J ONES , in feeling terms , suitably replied .

The address was a splendid work of art . The presentation jewel was of solid 18 carat gold , and took the form of cross keys , with scroll and centre piece , on which was a Past Master ' s jewel . On the scroll was " Duke of Clarence Lodge , No . 171 , and on the reverse , " Presented to R . W . Brother Thomas Jones by the Master , Wardens , and Brethren of the Duke of Clarence Lodge , ; th May , 18 95 . "

During the evening Bros . Earls , Browne , Butler , and Cowle contributed much to the enjoyment by rendering , in an excellent manner , several songs , duets , & c .

Presentation To Bro. Sir Charles Harrington, Bart.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . SIR CHARLES HARRINGTON , BART .

On Saturday evening , the nth ult ., a very interesting ceremonial , in which the brethren most cordially participated , took place in the Masonic Hall , The Crescent , Limerick . It was the presentation of a magnificent silver cup from the Freemasons of the Province of North Munster to Bro . Sir Charles Barrington , Bait ., Provincial Grand Master , on the occasion of his marriage . The pleasing duty of conveying the beautiful souvenir to the popular baronet devolved on Bro . F . G . M . Kennedy , Dep . Provincial Grand Master , and there was a large and

representative attendance on the occasion . Accompanying the cup was an album containing a list of the subscribers . Bro . Sir Charles Barrington delivered an appropriate address in returning thanks . The cup , a massive one , being a reproduction of the Georgian peiiod , is festooned with scarves on the main body , and displays very ornate workmanship . The beading at the foot is very artistic , and the handles , so graceful in outline , cannot fail to be admired . One is at once impressed by its

size , for it is no less than 2 . J feet hi gh , with a base square underneath , which is a solid ebony plinth . The inscription , on either side of which are antique knots and festoons , reads as follows : " Presented by the Freemasons of the Province of North Munster to the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , Brother Sir Charles Barrington , Bart ., on the occasion of his marriage , February 14 th , ' 95 , " The cup , which is richly gilt , weighs close on 300 ounces .