Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

917 ] PICART'S CEREMONIES . I am always on the "look out" for editions of Picart ' s " Ceremonies and Religious Customs of the various Nations of the World , " & c , especially the English editions , several of which I have already noted in these columns . Messrs . Butt and Auvache , 35 , Hart-street , Bloomsbury , have a " fine" set of the years

1 733-7 ( translated into English ) , seven volumes in six , calf neat , folio , for six guineas . In anssver to my enquiry they courteously wrote me that the celebrated plate of the signs of the lodges , numbers , & c , made up from an engraved list of 1735 , runs from right

toleH , "J . F ., Sculpt ., L . F . D . B . " The original reads as usual , from left to right , a set of which is in Bro . John Lane ' s possession , and there is also another of equally fine proportions in the library of the Grand Lodge of England . W . T . HUGHAN .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft flDasonrp .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

Lodge of Temperance ( No . 169)—A meet . ing svas held on the iCth ult ., at the White Ssvan Hotel , High-street , Deptford , svhen there svere present Bros . John Davies , W M . ; G . L . Moore , S . W . ; VV . Sanderson , J . W . ; G . Bolton , P . M ., Treas . ; J . G . Neeld , P . M ., Sec ; D . H . Johnson , S . D . ; F . Wallis , P . M ., J . D . ; F . Ladd , I . G . ; E . Chatterton , Org . ; J . G . Dale

Stsvd . ; R . VV . Goddend , P . M . 65 , Tyler ; Julien Rosenstock , P . M . ; Robert Jackson , P . M . ; S . J . Gore , P . M ., P . A . G . P . Kent ; G . Scudder , P . M . ; VV . H . ' Wilton , P . M . ; J . E . Holmes , W . Walker , A . L . Oliver , W . Roberson , S . Halst , J . Moth , D . S . Bear , VV . Harold Vint , George Lasvrence , and J . R . Wellington . Visitors : Bros . G . G . Higgfnson , J . D . 1791 ; Leonard Cox , D . C . 1791 ; W . C .

Williams , P . M . S 65 , P . P . G . Std . Br . Middx . ; H . Dehane , P . M . 1543 , P . P . S . G . D . Essex ; R . Josey , P . M . 1 S 2 S ; H . P . Gilbert , W . M . 1 S 2 S ; J . Cruttenden , 1425 ; and VV . W . Williams , _ J . D . S 34 . The Iodge having been opened , the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed , and also several Charitable bequests . During the evening Mr . James Ralph

Wellington was initiated , and Bro . George Lasvrence vvas raised . A cordial vote of thanks , to be entered on the minutes , vvas unanimously passed to Bro . Martin for his services at the election of the candidates put forward by the lodge . Bro , Bolton , to svhose indefatigable exertions the success of the candidates svas assured , also received thanks , and then asked the brethren to send him their votes , that he

might _ be able to clear off his liability to those svho had kindly lent him their proxies . Several candidates were proposed for the next meeting , and after " Hearty good wishes " the lodge svas closed , the brethren expressing their gratification at the svay the musical part of the ceremony had been conducted . After the banquet the W . M . gave the usual loyal and

Masonic toasts , paying a marked tribute of respect to the late Earl of Carnarvon , after svhich followed "The Visitors , " svho , the W . M . said , svere alsvays svelcome , and as there vvas to be a musical evening he should make all his speeches short . Bro . VV . C . Williams said he vvas gratified at the reception the visitors had received . The WlM . vvas an old and dear

friend of his of many years standing , and had progressed step by step in Freemasonry , both learning and svorking together , but he must give the credit to Bro . Davies as a hardsvorking , painstaking , and one of the truest Masons any one could meet in a day ' s march . His hand svas always held out in earnest . He knesv from experience hosv hard it svas for a VV . M . to please all , and hoped the brethren

would not trifle svith their present W . M ., as he was sure to do his best for the lodge , svhich he highly honoured by his excellent work during the early part of that evening . Bro . Williams concluded by expressing his wish that he should at no distant date have the pleasure of sitting near Bro . Davies left in another lodge , assisted by such a body of Past Masters as were nosv in the Temperance

Lodge . Bro . Dehane also briefly responded . In responding to the toast ot" The Initiate , " Bro . Wellington expressed his thanks to Bros . Bear and Gore for having introduced him to the royal Craft , and as far as lay in his posver he svould endeavour to carry out such duties as he might be called upon to do . He was more especially delig-hted

to join them as all his relatives were connected svith the Craft , some having held Grand Office , and a promise made to his father was now fulfilled . He hoped to emulate him as far as he could . The Immediate Past Master then gave "The W . M ., " and in the course of his remarks said they had never during his time had so good a Master as that evening ; he had

simply been perfect , in fact , surpassing his former svorking . He could say a great deal , but svould only be repeating the encomiums passed by Bros . Dehane and Williams . The toast svas received svith considerable applause . The VV . Master thanked the brethren sincerely , and said he had done his best even from " the door " upsvards to his present proud position , and svould not nosv do othersvise .

A VV . M . was olaced in a peculiar position , and that was although they believed he could do pretty much as he svilled , the key svas held by one svho caused him to say he svas not the custodian of their funds , and considering * that svas proverbially a Charitable lodge he svas glad it svas not so , or

he might have been inclined to launch out . But such as there svas they svere svelcome to , and from the manner his toast had been received he felt convinced in his osvn mind all svere satisfied . He then called upon them to honour "The Past Masters , " svithout svhom svhere svould they be , and such a good array as were then present ( some of more

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

than 20 years' standing ) vvas evidence of the interest they continued to take in the well-being of the lodge . Bro . Jackson , I . P . M ., in replying , said the Past Masters , one and all , would alsvays in the future , as in the past , do all they could to further the interests of the lodge , and assist the VV . M . should he require it .

" The Officers " svas greeted svith a good hre . The Tyler's toast concluded the proceedings . This being a musical evening , the follosving brethren tool < part in the glees , songs , recitals , & c , under the conductorship of Bro . Chatterton : Bros . Cruttenden , Vint , Wilton . Wallis , Gore , and Dale .

Israel Lodge ( No . 205 ) . —The meeting of this lodge svas held at the Cannon-street Hotel on the 2 Sth ult ., and vvas honoured by the presence of Bro . the Right Hon . Sir Henry A . Isaacs , Lord Mayor of London , and Past Grand Warden of England , who was initiated in the lodge , and svas W . M . in 1 S 5 6 . Bro . Sir H . A . Isaacs , in replyingfor "The Grand Officers , " said that he should have been very disappointed if , during the term of his Mayoralty , he had not

been able to visit this , his mother lodge . He commended the Benevolent Fund , and said he thought every lodge should follosv their example in founding such a fund , as £ 25 given svith the secrecy svith svhich that lodge made its grants svas better than £ 1000 given svith a flourish of trumpets . The Lord Mayor svas much pleased svith the musical entertainment , especially a song by Bro . Fred . Cozens , entitled "The Bicycle and the Baby . "

United Pilgrims Lodge ( No . s ° 7 ) — A regular meeting of this Iodge was held at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge , on Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., svhen there svere present Bros . H . E . Cockell , VV . M . ; S . Ellson , J . W . ; C . W . Peters , P . M ., Sec ; C . Thomas , S . D . ; C . H . Stone , J . D . ; J . G . Cooper , P . M . ; H . E . Joyce , P . M . ; T . Michailes , P . M . ; C . H . Sharman ,

P . M . ; J . S . Terry , P . M . ; Beste , Laing , Gilson , Bowles , and others . Visitors : Bros . VV . Robinson , 434 ; D . VV . Pearce , 1293 ; J . D . E . Tarr , 1293 ; Hugh Wilson , I . P . M . 1293 ; James Stevens , P . M . 720 , 1216 , and 1426 ; and S . Lancaster , P . M . i ( 5 ( 5 S . _ The business comprised the passing of Bros . J . D . Laing and G . W . Beste , and the raising of Bro . H . G . Bosvles , the

former ceremony being ably performed by the VV . M ., and the latter by Bro . Joyce , P . M . After the' lodge had been closed , the brethren adjourned to dinner , and the remainder of a very pleasant evening svas passed in perfect harmony , the customary toasts being duly honoured , and receiving brief , but effective , responses . The W . M ., svho is a vocalist of considerable merit , and much

sought after in the locality of his residence , sang tsvo or three of his most approved songs , accompanied by one of his sons , vvho gives promise of great ability in future years . Bros . Joyce and Beste also contributed to the general enjoyment by their excellent singing , and Bro . Stevens recited

one of the beautiful Masonic poems he has , as it were , made his osvn , and which at all similar meetings are highly appreciated . Altogether the proceedings of the evening , both in regard to svork and refreshment , gave satisfaction to all vvho had the privilege of sharing in them .

Chaucer Lodge ( No . 1540 ) . —Ihe installation of this lodge svas held on VVednesday , the 22 nd ult ., at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge . There were present Bros . A . H . Luckett , W . M . ; S . Scherer , S . W . ; T . H . Brooke-Hitching , J . W . ; H . Faija , P . M ., Treas . ; A . J . Bailey , P . M ., Sec . ; Leopold Weil , S . D . ; V . Bauman , I . D . ; E . G . Cormack , I . G . 5 E . F . Pass , P . M ., D . C . ;

V . Cahn , Stesvard ; F . E . Lehmeyer , Org . ; A . Young , Tyler ; and many other brethren . The lodge vvas opened , and the minutes of the last meeting ss * ere read and confirmed . The Audit Committee ' s report svas brought up and confirmed .. Bro . S . Scherer moved , in accordance svith his notice , "That the sum of £$ 5 s . be voted from the lodge funds for a jesvel to be

presented to Bro . Faija for his services as Treasurer , " svhich svas carried unanimously . Bro . Luckett then vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Faija , svho installed Bro . Scherer , the W . M . elect , in a perfect and most impressive manner , Bro . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., actingas D . C . Bro . Scherer then appointed the follosving brethren as officers for the year : — Bros . T . H . Brooke-Hitching , S . W . ; Leopold Weil ,

J . W . ; Arthur John Bailey , Treas . ; Edsvin F . Pass , Sec ; Victor Bauman , S . D . ; Victor Calm , J . D . ; Walter W . Hesvitt , I . G . ; Hugo Weinberger , D . C . ; Henry Richard Hughes , Stwd . ; and A . G . Young , Tyler . After having received the congratulations of the visiting brethren , the lodge svas closed . The following were among the visitors : Bros . C . F .

Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; H . Jenkins ; C . Curtis , 2206 ; H . Elliott , P . M . 1003 ; Oldridge , W . M . 1003 ; J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; R . H . Roberts , P . M . 2003 ; and VV . Elliott , 1003 . The brethren aftersvards adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , at the conclusion of which The Worshipful Master rose and proposed " The Oueen

and the Craft . " He said it needed no words of his to recommend the toast to them . When a foreigner of his humble position of life could attain to the high position he nosv occupied in an assembly of Englishmen and brethren , it svanted a fesv svords to express his gratitude to that country svhere they enjoyed such liberties . Freemasonry had never flourished more than under the reign of her Majesty the

Queen Victoria , vvho , they all hoped , would live long , and Freemasonry prosper as in the past . The toast was duly honoured , as svas the toast of "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . " The toast of " The D . G . M ., the Earl ot Lathom , and the rest of the Grand Ofiicers , Present and Past , " svas proposed by the W . M ., who coupled vvith it the names of Bros . C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br ., and James Terry ,

P . G . S . B . Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br ., in responding , thanked the VV . M . and beethren on behalf of the Grand Officers , and complimented the VV . M . on his attaining the high position he occupied in the comparatively short time of five years .

Bro . 1 'aija , the Installing Master , then proposed "The Health of Bro . Siegfried Scherer , thc VV . M . " He said it gave him the greatest pleasure to propose the toast . He had knosvn the VV . M . for many years , not only inside but outside the lodge , and he must confess that he had alsvays been proud of his friendship . The W . M , had alsvays been a hard svorking Mason , and svhat struck him more than

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

anything was the manner in svhich he appointed his officers , a ceremony he had never seen before . In conclusion , he wished him a most successful year of office . The toast having been enthusiastically drunk , the W . M . thanked Bro . Faija for the most impressive manner in which he had performed the ceremony of installation , and for the kind svay in svhich that brother had proposed the

toast of his ( the W . M . 's ) health . He would do his utmost during : his year of office to prevent the reputation of the lodge losing any of its former splendour , and he assured the brethren that he svould alsvays have the svelfare of the Chaucer Lodge well at heart . The toast of the I . P . M ., Bro . Luckett , was next proposed by the W . M . He said the Chaucer Lodge had

alsvays knosvn hosv to appreciate the services of a brother vvho had discharged well the duties of the chair . The brother vvho had that night vacated the chair had discharged those duties well , and to the best of his abilities . It had alsvays been a pleasing duty connected svith the toast to present the I . P . M . with a jesvel in recognition of his services . He ( the W . M . ) had therefore much pleasure in

pinning on the I . P . M . s breast the jesvel which the brethren had unanimously voted him . He hoped Bro . Luckett might wear it for many years to come as a pleasant recollection of his year of office . After the toast had been duly honoured , Bro . Luckett briefly returned thanks . "The Health ofthe Visitors" vvas proposed by the

W . M ., vvho coupled with the toast the names of Bro . Oldridge , of Jersey Lodge , and Bros . Jenkins and Charles Mussared , S . VV . of Chough Lodge , No . 2264 . Bro . Oldridge , in response , said he had not visited a lodge outside Jersey for 15 years . It svas quite an unexpected pleasure for him to come there that night . He had been to see Bro . Terry on business , and he and his friends asked

Bro . Terry where they could see some good working that evening . Bro . Terry thereupon invited them to come to the Chaucer meeting , and they had been greatly pleased svith the svorking they had seen , svhich vvas simply perfect . After having entered into details upon the principles of Freemasonry , Bro . Oldridge informed the brethren that although they came from only a little island they could

boast of being the biggest lodge under the denomination of Grand Lodge . They only started the lodge tsvo years ago , and under their first Master they had 30 initiates in one year . During his year of office , which svas not yet expired , he had made just half that number . In conclusion , Bro . Oldridge invited the brethren to visit the Jersey Lodge , should they be in the Channel Islands . The Iodge meet all

the year round , and they svould try to make them as svelcome as they had been made that evening . Bro . Jenkins , P . M ., also returned thanks . He said he had knosvn the W . M . for many years , and he congratulated him on his able working . Such results could only be attained by making up one ' s mind to do things properly and attending lodges of instruction regularly ,

svhich the W . M . had done , and he hoped all the younger officers svould follosv his example . Bro . Mussared also responded . In proposing the toast of "The Past Masters , " the W . M . said that was a most difficult toast , inasmuch as it vvas impossible to choose which name to mention first , as they svere all equally able Past Masters . But the first name

he would mention svas Bro . Klingenstein , P . M ., who initiated him five years ago , and to svho he owed the position he occupied that night . There had never been , and never would be , a brother vvho had always had the svelfare of the Chaucer Lodge more at heart than Bro . Klingenstein . The same applied also to Bros . Faija , Harrison , Stidolph , Paas , Bailey , and Luckett .

All the Past Masters responded . Ths next toast on the list vvas that of " The Masonic Charities , " which the W . M . feelingly proposed . He said it vvas the most important toast of the evening . Every nesvly-made Mason svas taught on the night of his initiation that Charity ought to be the distinguishing characteristic of . a Freemason ' s heart . Until last year he unfortunately had

made himself very little acquainted vvith the Masonic Charities , and knesv very little svhat a lot of good could be done for so comparatively little money . Hosvever , during his Senior Wardenship he had tsvice an opportunity of visiting the R . M . B . I , at Croydon , over svhich a most esteemed brother presided . He visited the Institution once in connection vvith a musical entertainment given to the old people

by the Dukeof Cornsvall Lodge of Instruction , and once as Stesvard of the Festival . Each time he had been struck svith the immense amount of good that vvas being done there . But one thing which struck everybody who visited the Institution svas hosv svell the people are cared for , and svith svhat love they cling to their Secretary . They do not

look to him as the Secretary of the Institution , but as their father ; they all speak in the hi g hest terms of praise of him . The W . M . concluded by coupling the names of Bro . Jas . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Secretary of the Benevolent Institution , and Bro . J . M . McLeod , Secretary of the Boys' School , with the toast .

Bro . James Terry , in reply , said he hoped during thc present W . M . ' s year of ofiice all the brethren svould divest themselves of their moneys and metallic substances so that the lodge should again contribute largely to the Masonic Charities . The W . M . had mentioned the good svhich svas done _ at thc Institution at Croydon , but there svas one especial great advantage of that Institutionas within a

, fortnight of the old people being elected , they received their instalment , and have not to wait longer than a fortnight after having been elected . Further , it svas the rule if the candidate reached the age of So , he must be elected at the next election svithout ballot . One brother svas elected some years ago shortly before reaching his Soth year ,

and recognised their kindness by spinning out his life in the Institution another 16 years , svhich he svould not have done but for the advantages he derived from the Institution . In conclusion , Bro . Terry requested the brethren to support their Master in being svell represented at the annual Festival , to which Bro . Scherer had again given his consent to act as Stesvard .

Bro . J . M . McLeod also responded , and hoped the biethren of the Chaucer Lodge svould have some money over for the Boys' School . Since last year great reforms had taken place , and he svished that every brother would really convince himself of the grand improvements that had been made vvith very little money . The former chapter of extravagance must be considered as a chapter closed , and therefore the brethren should forget the past , so that at the next election boys should not have to be turned away owing