Our First Noble Grand Master.

our readers some of thc leading features in his graces ' areer . And , first , as to his Masonic achievements , the materials fir forming a just conception of which arc somewhat scanty , though enough is known to show that he was in every way worthy of the honour bestowed upon him when he was nominated and unanimously elected " our first

noble Grand Master . " It was at his request , that , on 24 th June , 1721 , and just previous to his installation at Stationers' Hall as Grand Master , several gentlemen , among whom figured Philip , Lord Stanhope , afterwards Earl of Chesterfield , were initiated into Freemasonry , the ceremony taking place at the Queen's Arms , St . Paul's Churchyard , where Grand Master Payne and his Wardens , accompanied

by the Masters and Wardens of twelve lodges , had assembled for the purpose of meeting their noble Grand Master elect , and where , when Grand Lodge had been opened , thc minutes recording his election were confirmed . Thence Grand Lodge marched in procession to Stationers' Hall , where they were received by 150 brethren properly clothed . His grace was then installed , and having

received thc salutations of all present , at once appointed Bro . John Beal , M . D ., F . R . S ., to the ofii-e of Deputy Grand Master . This is the first brother appointed to that exalted oflice , and is the same with the Bro . John Beal , M . D ., F . R . S ., who as W . M . of Lodge No . 12 signed the " approbation" tothe first edition of the Comtitutinn 1- published in 1723 . On this occasion also what are known as thc Old

Regulations , which had been compiled by Granel Master Payne with so much care and abilitv , were reatl and generally approved , so that on the very opening day of thc new Grand Master ' s icign Freemasonry received a fresh impetus in the direction of a clearer and better defined disciplinary code . We may not unreasonably attribute to this the later energy he displayediin the sime direction . At all

events , very soon after his election hc charged Anderson , who was assisted in his task by Past Grand Masters Dr . Desaguliers and Payne , with the revision , arrangement , and digest of ihe Gothic Constitutions , old charges , and general regulations So expeditiously iiid they work , that at the next meeting of Grand Lodge , held at thc Queen ' s Arms , St . Paul ' s Churchyard , on thc 251 I 1 December in

the same year , the manuscript was submitted , and a Committee of- "fourteen brethren was appointed to consider and report upon the same . At tlie Grand Lodge held at the Fountain , in the Stiand , on thc 25 th March , 1722 , the Committee reported their approval , subject to certain amendments they had thought proper to introduce , and Grand Lodge gave orders for the whole to be prepared for thc

press and punted with all possible expedition . However , the publication and formal approbation of the Book of Conslitutions belong to thc Grand Mastership of the Duke of Wharton . Suffice it , therefore , to say , that while the signatures of his Grace of Wharton , of his Deputy and Wardens , and the Masters and Wardens of twenty lodges are appended to the first , or 1721 , edition of the

Constitutions , to John , Duke nf Montagu , belongs the honour of having taken the initiative in directing their preparation . Thus , so long as Masonry , anti especial !} - English Freemasonry , continues to flourish , it will , we feel assured , most readily acknowledge its indebtedness to the zeal and attention , as exhibited in this matter , by onr first noble Grand Ma'ter .

But in one respect we ar * , if possible , still more deeply indebted to his Grace of Montagu . Had , as at one time seemed not unlikely , a schism then broken out in the newlyconstituted fraternity it might have proved iatal to its exislence , or , at all events , most seriously retarded its progress . However , such a catastrophe , though , as our readeis are aware , it occurred several years later , was happily averted

at thc time , thanks to the kind and conciliatory spirit shown by the duke . Such was his grace ' s popularity that , in 1722 , he was nominated a second time to fill the office of Grand Master , but his re-nomination gave umbrage to the young , ambitious , and eccentric Duke of Wharton , who , though he had not then filled the office of Master of a lodge , convened a meeting of brethren at Stationers '

Hall on 24 th June , 1722—according to Preston on 25 th March of that year—hail himself proclaimed Grand Master of Masons and appointed his officers . These irregular proceedings might have induced the most serious consequences had it not becn that Montagu , as it is excellently well put in Bro . Kenning's Cyclupa-dia , " was not only less ambitious , but also much more Masonic , " while even thc

Duke of Wharton—according to Preston—saw immediately the error of his ways , and publicly acknowledged the wrong of which he had been guilty . Be this as it may , the Duke of Montagu summoned a meeting of Grand Lodge on 17 th January , 1723 , and waiving his own undoubted claims 10 the office , himself installed his brother duke as Grand Master of England . Such a noble instance

ut forbearance , securing , as 11 did , the Ce . mplete restoration of harmony in our newly-foimed Grand Lodge , deserves all the honour which publicity , again and again renewed , must bring with it . The cases in which it can be paralleled are , even in Masonry , few and far between . We have but li'tle to add to this portion of our sketch . The Duke occupied thc Masonic throne for over a

yearand-a-half , namely , from the 241 I 1 June , 1 7 , to the day his successor was installed , ihat is to 17 th January , 1723 , or , as it was then customary to reckon it , 1722 or 1722-3 . We read of him as having t-een present at the installation at Merchant Taylors' Hall , on 19 th April , 1732 , of Viscount Montagu , to whom , however , he was not related , and doublless , in the quarter of a century and upwards

which elapsed between the events we have been recording and his death in 1 749 , there were many other occasions on which he showed his interest in Freemasonry . Lastly , it is worth while mentioning that there are still in existence four lodges whose warrants of constitution were granted during the period of his Grand Mastership , namely , British , No . 8 , warranted 19 th January , 1722 ; Westminster and Keystone , No . 10 , warranted 28 th Jan-

Our First Noble Grand Master.

uary , 1722 ; Royal Alpha , No . 16 , warranted May , 1722 ; and Tuscan , No . 14 , warranted 25 th November , 1722 . ( To le continued . J

Grand Masonic Fair.

GRAND MASONIC FAIR .

In our issue of the 19 th ult ., wc directed thc attention of our readers to the proposed Masonic Fair to be held at St . John , N . B ., Canada . We have now to state that contributions of articles or money can be sent to the brethren named up to and including August 23 rd .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF HAMT - sninn AND -run ISLE or WIGHT . —In our report ofthe above the appointment of Bro . G . C . Adames , of the Phcenix Mark Lodge , as P . G . M . St . I-., was omitted . EXF . TF . R . —A grand Mnsonic Bazanr and garden

party , under distinguished patronage , will lie held at Exeter on thc 27 th inst ., in aid ot the orphans of the soldiers who fell at Isandula , the scheme for the e . lucalion of children of eleceased Freemasons in D ; v : in , and of the Freemasons' H _ 1 Building Fund , lixeter .

Bro . Alderman Brigden met with an au-k-. vn . il accitlent in London a few eUys since , an I , in d eed , hatl a very narrow escape . Hc was alighting from au omnibus in ihe Strand , when the wheel of a pas-ing cab struck him in the back anti knocked him down . Tne wheel then

passed over his font , and he wis severely bruised . Fnitunately , however , the worthy alderman was not seriously hurt ; and we arc pleased to join his numerous friends in congratulating him on the fact that the accident was attended with no graver results . —Brighton Examiner , July 29 th .

THE NEW TOWS HALL , FR __ LIBRARY , Sec , AT READING . —The foundation stone of thc new public buildings to be erected at Reading , at an estimated cost of £ 44 , , is to be laid with Masn . iic honours , and the Right Hon . the Ear ! of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master ot the

English Freemasons , has consented to p-rform the cere , mony on Tuesday , the 14 th o ( October next , when his lordship will be accompanied by the Countess . It is anticipated that there will be a numerous attendance of Freemasons on the occasion .

ANONYMOUS MUNIFICBNCB . —At the recent meeting of thc Governors of the Chelsea Hospital for Women the Earl of St . Germans ( the President ) received at the hands of the Rev . Canon Fleming ( one of the Board of Management ) an anonymous donation of £ 1000 , towards providing furniture for the new hospital . In the spirit of true charity it is given on thc express condition

" that no name is mentioned , " it being simply acknowledged as ¦ ' From a Friend , per Canon Fleming . " We know not which to admire the more , thc munificence of the gift or the manner of bestowment . On Saturday , the 26 th ult ., the members of the St . Paul's Ecclesiological Society made an antiquarian visit—the last expediti' . n of the present season—to the

Abbey Church of Waltham Holy Cross , under the conduct of Mr . G . F . Birch . The vicar , the Rev . J . Francis , who is a member of the Society , offeied every facility to those who wished to make a pilgrimage to Harold's tomb . On reaching the church , Mr . Birch read a paper , mainly from his own notes and those of Mr . William Surges , Fellow of the Royal Institute eif British Architects , describing in

detail the existing fabric , which lie showed to be only the nave of the ancient structure , the chancel and transepts , with the central tower , having been thrown down at the Reformation , while the nave , like Ihe Abbev of St . Albans , was utilised as the parish church . He showed that antiquaries were not agreed as to whether the Norman arches which divide the nave from the side aisles , and the

clerestory and triforium above , were or were not actually the work of Tosti and Harold , the latter of whom is said to hive formerly lain in thc old and long demolished chancel . He also commented at considerable length upon the Lady Chapel on the south side , the flat roof , the windows , and tthcr features of the church , which has lately undergone a very extensive and careful restoration on the old lines .

Mr . De Grey Birch , of the British Museum , exhibited some fuc-simile casts ot thc old monastic seals of Waltham Abbey in the days of its splendour , and also read a most interesting account of the legend of the first foundation of the Abbey and of the later life of Harold , who—if the story be true—was rot slain at Hastings , though severely wounded , but lived to put on the cowl of a monk at or

n-: ar Chester , on the banks of the Dee . Constitutions ofthe Ancient Fraternity of Frea and Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regulations , E . A , Song , & c . A copy should be in the possession of every brother . It may be obtained for 2 s . at the office of the Freemason , or will be sent post frie to any pait of the United Kingdom on receipt of twenty-five penny stamps . Address , Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , London . —[ ADVT . ]

Hoiiomid OINTMENT AND I ' IUS . —Kheumatism and Gout . — These purifying and soothing remedies tlemuid ttie earnest attentieeii of all persuns liable tei gout , sciatica , or other painful affections of ihe muscle * , nerves , or joints . The Ointment should be applied afier ihe artectctl parts have been patiently fomented wilh w _ r , _ water , when the unuucnl should be diligently rubied upon

the aelj icent skin , unless the friction should cause pain . Holloway ' s fills fli - iil- be simultaneously taken to reduce inflammation anil to purify the blond . This treatment abates the violence , and les ens tltc freeiueiicj- of goei ' a rheumatism , and all spasmodic diseases , wliich spring from tereditary predisposition , or from nny ae . cielertal weakness of ceinstitutiun . The Ointment checks the local remedy . Tlie Fills relore ttie vital powers . —[ A UVT . 1 WonnswoR-in ' s "COCA PILLS" the successful remedy for skepie _ ness , neuralgia , and Hay fever , is . per box . Hom _> patuic Chemist , 6 , Sloanc-street , London .

Metropolitan Masonic Meeting

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETING

For the Week ending Friday , August 8 , 1879 . The Editor will be glad to receive notice from Secretaries of Craft Lodges , Royal Arch Chapters Mark Lodges , Encampments , Conclaves , & c , 0 f any change in plac _ , day , or month of meeting .

SATURDAY , AUGUST 2 . Gen . Com . Boys' School , at 4 . Lodge 15 , 1-9 . New Cross , New Cross Hall , Lewisham-rd . LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Lily , Greyhound , Richmond . Manchester , 77 , London-st ., Fitzroy-sq . Star , Marquis of Granby , New Cross-rd . Eccleston , King's Head , Ebury Bridge , Pimlico .

MONDAY , AUGUST 4 . Bank Holiday . LODGES or INSTRUCTION . WcVington , White Swan Hot ., High-st ., Deptford . Si . John , Gun Hot ., Wapping , 8 till 10 . I ' rinee Leopold , Lord Stanley Tav ., Kingsland .

Strong Man , Old Rodney ' s Head , Old-st ., E . Sincciity , Railway Tav ., Fenchurch-st . Station . Camelen , 174 , High-st ., Camden Town , at 8 . Tiedegar , Koyal Hot ., Mile-cnd-rd . St . James ' s Union , Union Tav ., Air-st . Perfect Ashlar , Victoria Tav ., Lnwer-rd ., Rotherhithe . Upper Norwood , White Hart Hot ., Church-rd .

Marquis of Itipiin , Pembury Tav ., Amherst-rd ., Hackney . I . oughhorougn , Warrior Hot ., Brixton . West Smithfield , New Market Hot ., ' Wcst Smithfield . S ' t . George ' s , Globe Tav ., Greenwich . Doric Chapter , 148 , Globe-rd ., Mile F , nd-rd ., at S . TUESDAY , AUGUST 5 . Colonial Board , at 4 . Lodge 171 , Amity , Ship Hot ., Greenwich .

LODGES 0 ? INSTRUCTION . ' Metropolitan , - 69 , Pentonvillc-rd . Yarborough , Green Dragon , Stepney . Domatir , Surrey M . H ., Camberwell New-road . Faith , 2 , Westminster Chambers , Victoria-st . Prince Fredk . Wm ., Lord's Hot ., St . John ' s Wood .

Prosperity , Hercules Tav ., Leadenhall-st . Dalhousie , The Sisters' Tav ., Pownall-rd ., Dalston , E . Florence Nightingale , F . M . H ., William-st ., Woolwich . Constitutional , Bedford Hot ., Southampton Bdgs ., at 7 . Israel , Rising Sun Tav ., Globe Road . Wandsworth , Spread Eagle Hot ., Wandsworth .

Royal Arthur , Prince ' s Head , York-road , Battersea . Beacontree , Red Lion , Leytonstone . Excelsior , Commercial Dock Tav ., Rotherhithe . St . John of Wapping , Gun Hot ., High-st ., Wapping . Islington , Three Bucks , 23 , Gresham-st ., at 7 p . m .

Leopold , Gregorian Arms , Jamaica-rd ., Bermondsey . Mount Edgcumbe , 19 , Jermyn-st ., St . James ' s . Sir Hugh Myddelton , 162 , St . John ' s-st .-rd . Metropolitan Chapter , Jamaica Coffee Ho ., Cornhill . Clapton Chapter , White Hart Tav ., Upper Clapton .

WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 6 . Grand Chapter , F . M . H ., at 6 for 7 . LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Confidence , Railway Tavern , Fenchurch-st ., at 7 till 9 . Urban , 23 , Gresham-street , City , E . G ., at 6 . 30 . New Concord , Jolly Farmers , Southgate-rd ., N .

Mt . Lebanon , Horse Shoe Tav ., Stones-End , E . Pythagorean , Portland Hot ,, London-st ., Greenwich . La Toleiance , 2 , Maddox-st ., W ., at 7 . 45 . Peckham , Maismore Arms , Park-rd ,, Peckham . Stanhope , Thicket Hot ., Anerley . Finsbury Park , Karl Russell , Isledon-td , Holloway , at 8 . Southwark , Southwark Park Tav ., Southwark Park .

Duke of Connaught , Sutherland Chapel , Walworth Road-Duke nf Connaught , Havelock Tav ., Albion-rd ., N . United Strength , Hope and Anchor , Crowndale-rd ., N . W . Whittington , Red Lion , Poppin ' s-court , Fleet-st ., at 8 . Koyal Jubilee , 81 , Long Acre . Langthornc , Swan Hot ., Stratford . Temperance in theEast . George the 4 th , Ida-sL , Poplar , 7 . 30 , Thistle , M . M . M ., Thc Harp Tav ., at 8 .

THURSDAY , AUGUST 7 . LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Union Waterloo , Chatham Arms , Thomas-st ., Woolwich-Egyptian , Hercules Tav ., Leadenhall-st . Fidelity , Yorkshire Grey , London-st ., W . Fii . sbury , Jolly Anglers' Tav ., Bath-st ., City-td .

Bbury , 12 , Ponsonhy-st ., Millbank . Highgate , Bull and Gate , Kentish-town . The Great City , M . H ., Masons' Avenue . High Cross , Coach & Horses , High-rd ., Tottenham . Salisbury , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st .

Southern Star , Crown Hot ., Blackfriars-rd . Great Northern , Berwick Arms , Berners-st ., Oxford-st . Rose , Walmer Castle Hot ., Peckham-rd ., at 8 . Covent Garden , Ashley ' s Hot ., Covent Garden , at 8 . Crusaelers , St . John ' s Gate , Clei ken well , at g . Prince Frederick William Chapter , St . John ' s Wood .

FRIDAY , AUGUST 8 . LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . London Masonic Club , 101 , Queen Victoria-st ., E . C Robert Burns , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st .

Belgrave , Harp Tav ., Jermyn-st ., W . t Unions Emulation ( for 'M . M . ' s ) , F . M . H . Temperance , Victoria Tav ., Victoria-rd ., Deptford . Metropolitan , Portugal Hot ., Fleet-st ., at 7 . . St . Marylcbone , British Stores Tav ., St . John ' s Wood . I