Consecration Of The Snowdonia Mark Lodge, No. 259.

CONSECRATION OF THE SNOWDONIA MARK LODGE , No . 259 .

Under a dispensation from the R . W . Bro . the Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P ., P . G . M . M . M . Cheshire and North Wales , a new lodge of Mark Masons was on Saturday last opened at Portmadoc , the new lodge being known

as the Snowdonia , No . 259 . The consecration , which attracted a large attendance of the Craft , took place in the Freemasons' Hall . At the openincr of the lodge , Bro . George L . Woodley , P . P . G . D . Cheshire and North Wales , P . M . 755 , St . David's Mark , acted as W . M . ; Robert Owen , as S . VV .: and Bro . VV . L . Bankes , P . M . St . Tudno , 755 , P . P . G . S . W ., as

J . W . The newby-elected brethren in attendance having been advanced to the honourable Degree of M . M . M ., the ceremony of consecration was performed by W . Bro . Capt . Charles Hunter , P . G . S . B . of England , P . G . S . VV . Greece , P . P . G . M . East Aberdeenshire , representing the P . G . M . M ., assisted by the VV . Bro . VViiliam Bulkeley " Hushes , M . P .,

P . P . S . G . W . Cheshire and North Wales , D . P . G . M . North Wales and Shropshire , Prov ., representing the D . P . G . M ., and Bro . George L . Woodley , P . P . G . D . Cheshire and North Wales , who acted as the Installing Officer . Bro . Cornelius Davies was installed W . M ., Bro . Robert Roberts , S . VV ., and Bro . D . E . Kirkby , J . VV . Bro . the Rev . Benjamin Mayou , P . G . M ., Chap . Cheshire and North

Wales , delivered the oration , and Bro . G . F . Fclton , St . Tudno , acted as Organist . At the close of the installation , the brethren adjourned to luncheon at the Sportsman Hotel , Mrs . Francis providing a capita ! bill of fare . Bro . VV . Bulkeley Hughes presided ; the attendance including , in addition to those previously ,

named , Bros . A . A . MacMillan , P . M . St . Davids , 3 S 4 ; P . G . Supt . of Works North Wales and Shropshire , P . G . S . ; Robert Owen , P . M . St . David ' s , 3 S 4 , Treas ., S . VV . St . David ' s Mark , 38 , P . M . G . St . B . Cheshire and North Wales , Comp . 721 , Grosvenor Chap . ; T . Hathawayet , P . M . 3 S 4 , P . Z . GoG , P . P . G . S . B . North Wales and Shropshire ; E . Spooner , P . M . ; and others .

Consecration Of King Charles The Martyr Mark Lodge, No. 267.

CONSECRATION OF KING CHARLES THE MARTYR MARK LODGE , No . 267 .

The interesting ceremony of consecrating a new lodge of Mark Masters took place at the Pump-room , Tunbridge Wells , on Thursday evening , the 23 rd ult ., the occasion serving to draw together a large gathering of Mark Freemasons of the Province of Kent , as well as members of

the Craft from the metropolis and other parts of the country . The religious ceremonies connectetl with the consecration of the new lodge , which is named King Charles the Martyr Lodge . — Queen Henrietta , the wife of the unfortunate monarch , having taken up her abode for some time nt Tunbridge Wells—No . 2 G 7 , were conducted by the R . W . Bro . the Rev . T . Robinson , M . A ., the Provincial Grand

Master for Kent , assisted by Bro . the Rev . C Some , the Provincial Grand Chaplain ; Bro . !•' . G . Podevin , Deputy Provincial Grand Master ; Bro . F . Binckes , Grand Secretary ; Bro . D . M . Dewar , Assistant Grand Secretary ; anel the Provincial Grand Officers of the province . The preliminary proceedings having been gone : through , the petition to the Granel Lodge eif England for the formation of the

new lodge , together with the war-rant , were reatl by the Grand Secretary , after which the solemn and impressive consecration ceremony was procccek'd with , the musical arrangements being uneler the direction of Bro . A . Boorman , Bro . the Rev . C . Solhe- delivering at the close an impressive and eloquent oration on the principles of Mark . Masonry .

At the conclusion of the consecration ceremony Bro . VV . H . Hodgkin , P . G . S . VV . Kent , was installed the first Worshipful M . 'i . stcrof the now lodge , the ceremony eif installation being performed by Rro . Podevin , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . The following were appointed officers of the new lodge for the ensuing year , and each duly invested by the VVorshipful Master with the collar and jewel of his office : Bros . II . D . M . Williams , S . VV . ; E . O . Copland

J . W . ; 11 . Marsack , M . O . ; 11 . S . Wilmot , S . O . ; J . E . Ranking , J . O . ; J . K . Pain , Treas . and R . M . ; R . A . D . Becchiiig , " Sec . ; * F . Huth , S . I ) . ; G . Langridge , J . D . ; A . T . F . Simpson , l . G . ; A . Boorman , Org . ; and G . Strange , Tyler . No fewer than seven brethren were advanced to the Mark Master's Degree on this occasion . In the course of the proceedings it was announced that a

new lodge of Mark- Masters would be consecrated at Sandgate on the 7 th October , while the warrant had he-en granted for a new Mark Masons' lodge in the city of Canterbury , where the lodge , which will he named St . Martin's Lodge , will he shortly consecrated , with the Rev . J . Mangan , D . D ., as its first Master . The consecration of the new lodge at Tunbridge Wells was celebrated by a Masonic banquet , which took place in

the evening at the Kentish Hotel , under the presidency of Bro . W . H . Hodgkin , the newly-installed Master , who was supported on the occasion by a number of distinguished brethren and the members of the new lodge . The customary toasts were eluly proposed and honoured , and congratulatory remarks were made at the gratifying spread of Mark Masonry in Kent , that being the third lodge which had been consecrated within a very few months .

Royal Cumberland Lodge, No. 41, Bath.

ROYAL CUMBERLAND LODGE , No . 41 , BATH .

A meeting of a very interesting character will take place on Thurselay next , the 7 H 1 inst . The present W . M ., Bro . Dr . Hopkins , whose services to Freemasonry , and especially to the Charities , are so well known , not only to his fellow

townsmen but to the Craft throughout the country , is desirous of specially ^ commemorating an event in the history of the lodge of considerable interest and importance . The Royal Cumberland is one of the three provincial lodges entitled lo the Freemasons' Hall Silver Medal . This was

granted , according to "Hughan ' s Masonic Register , " under the following circumstances : "In order to liquidate the 'Mall Debt' it was resolved by the Grand Lodge on June 2 ist , 1779 , that brethren and loelgcs subscribing twenty-four pounds as a loan , without interest , should he ' presented with a medal to wear as an honourable testimony to their services , and to be members of Grand Lodge' " This year brings the centenary of the presentation of this medal to the

Royal Cumberland Lodge, No. 41, Bath.

odgc , and the worthy W . M . has issued the following characteristic circular , which we think so good , irrespective of its reference to the event to be celebrated , that we make no apology for its re-production in our columns . We may mention that , in addition to the two distinguished brethren "

mentioned , several well-known Masons from different part of the country have accepted invitations , and we anticipate a large and influential gathering : " 14 , Belvedere , Bath , " September , 25 th , iSSo' Dear Sir and Brother , —

" Herewith you receive the summons for the first meeting of the Royal Cumberland Lod ge , No . 41 , after the summer vacation , and you will observe that your attendance is required at an earlier hour than usual . I trust that under special circumstances you will pardon me for making the change , and endeavour to be present so early as to enable me to open the lodge punctually at five o ' clock p . m . " At the commencement of the first session this year

reinstallation was inaugurated by a banquet , when a variety of circumstances combined to prevent the pleasure of seeing many familiar faces . With other members 1 am quite unacquainted , never having met them in the lodge since I joined it six years ago . This to me , as an old P . M . of long standing , is very lamentable , and marks an amount of apathy for which I cannot account , but which I feel it a duty to endeavour to overcome . With this object I venture to invite you

, with all the other brethren under my rule , most earnestly and fraternally , to be my guests at a banquet at the Christopher Hotel , at eight o ' clock p . m . ( prompt ) , on Thursday , October 7 th , after the business of the first meeting in my second session . I trust that when the ice is thus broken by those who have not been in the habit of attending , I may hope to have the pleasure of their presence and support at each subsequent meeting during my term of office .

" Your attendance is more especially invited on this occasion , because it is intended to make it a celebration of an important event in the history of our lodge , being the centenary of the presentation to it in i 7 Soof the Freemasons' Hall Silver Medal , now attached to the W . M . 's official jewel , an honour in which only three other lodges out of London have the right and privilege to participate , showing that in former times the Royal Cumberland Lodge hael a

status anel character which it has eloubtless been the aim of successive Masters to sustain , not without success , to the present day . May this and future years prove no exception ! " I may add that Bro . R . C . Else , D . P . G . M ., Bro . VV . J . Hughan , P . G . D . of Englanc ' . and other distinguished brethren have promised to be present and take part in the proceedings . " Believe me , yours faithfully anil fraternally , " IIKXRV Heii'Kixs , W . M . No . -i . Ac . "

A Mason's Examination.

A MASON'S EXAMINATION .

Bv BRO . R . I . ' . Gon . i ) . The earliest of the " so-called" exposures of Freemasonry appeared in the Flying Post or Post Master , No . 4712 , from Thursday , April nth , to Saturday , April 13 th , 1723 . So far as lain aware it has never been reprinted . From 1723 to the present era , hundreds of these "

Examinations ' and "Catechisms" have seen the light , and it may be stated generally , that they hear a strong "family likeness " to the original " revelation , " which is subjoined . The ( so-called ) " exposure" of 1723 professes , of course , to have been compiled from the papers of . "deceased brother" —a "formula" with which readers of more recent " Catechisms" will be familiar , and which

implies that our Masonic ancestors of 150 years ago hael , even then , fore-stalled our German brethren of to-day in the use of printed or written rituals ; students will , however , find several points of interest presented in the " Examination " under notice . e . g . :

The allusions to the Second Degree ( though this was then only conferred in Grand Lodge ) , to the Murk of a Master Mason , and to the Palter :: of 1111 Areh—the first mention of the word "Arch" in connection with Freemasonry , it may be here observed— -occur in the Constitutions of 1723 , at the close of Dr . Anderson ' s exordium .

[ FROM THE l-l . VING POST , No . 4712 . —A . D . 1723 . j To the Author of tin- Flying p st . The Ancient Fraternity of Free ami Accepted Masons , has thro ' all Ages been justly esteemed the only One Society , which hath inviolably observed and kept " those two essential and fundamental Pillars of all good Fellowship , Taciturnity and Concord ; [ here being but one single

Instance since the Beginning of Time , that a Free Mason betray'd the Gram / A mi / mm of the Society ; namely Samson , who indeed proved a meer Jmtas , and was punished accordingly . * This lias been a Malter of much Speculation to the rest of _ Mankind , and hath occasioned various Reasonings anel Disputes .

It is indeed agreed on all hands , that Masonrv , the most Substtiiiial Part of Architecture , is of singular Use and Ornament : that Free Masons are no prying inquisitive Busie-bodies , but honest industrious Persons , who desire onl y to excel in theirown Profession ; that the Worshipful Society are no Innovators in Religious Affairs , no perjured Plotters eir Conspirators against ' the established

Government : that they in no way interfere or clash with any other Society or Corporation , however dignify'd or distinguish'd ; for all which excellent Qualifications , a reasonable Person would be willing to pay ~ thcir Persons , their Lodges , their Constitutions , all due ' Rcspcct and Honour . But so it is , there are Men of Shallow Capacities , Blabbers of Secrets , who , because they have lost or

misused their own retentive Faculties , envy and hate those who retain the Gift of Secrecy and Fidelity ; these mean Wretches have of late Studied a Thousand Practices to bring this Worshipful Society into Contempt and Obloquy , and are egg'd on by some silly Women , who ( because for good Reasons their Sex are b y the Constitutions judged

incapable of hellowship ) are , therefore , nettled and seek Revenge . These , are the Persons who trump up many foolish and idle Signs , Gestures , and Practices , and vouch them for the very Basis anel Ground-plot of Free-Masonry . The enclosed is a sample of their Malice , and which they pretend was left in Writing by a Fellow Mason lately deceased ; but , in very Truth , is a Senseless Pasquinade ,

A Mason's Examination.

highly derogatory to the Honour of the whole Body , and each Worshipful Fellow , many of whom daily stand in Presence of Kings , and are Cloathed with Titles , Dignities , and Honours . I shall not take upon me to vindicate the hi g h Reputatictt of the Fraternity , their numerous Lodges stand in no need of Props and Buttresses for their support ; neither will

their ^ Members , by any Arts or Contrivances , be induced like Fools and Children to divulge the Lessons and Instructions given by their Masters and Wardens ; but will have a constant Eye to that memorable Saying of Wise King Solomon in his Time Grand . Master of Masonry and Architecture , and which pointed to Samson ' s Fate aforementioned —A prating Fool shall fall .

I am , & c . When a Free-Mason is enter'd , after having- given to all present of the Fraternity a Pair of Men and Women's Gloves and Leathern Apron , he is to hear the ***** belonging to the Society read to him by the Master of the Lodge . Then a Warden leads him to the Master and Fellows ; to each of whom he is to say—I fain would a Fellow-Mason be .

As all your Worships may plainly see . After this , he Swears to reveal no Secrets of the VVorshipful Fraternity , on Pain of having his Throat cut , and having a double Porrion ( Portion ?) of Hell and Damnation hereafter . Then he is blind-folded , and the ceremony of ¦ —— is performed . After which he is to behold a Thousand different Postures anel Grimaces , all of which he must

exactly imitate , or undergo the Discipline till he does . After this the woril Maughbin is whispered by the youngest Mason to the next , and so on , till it comes to the Master , who whispers it to the entered Mason , who must have his Face in due order to receive it . Then the entered Mason says what follows : An cnter ' el Mason I have been ,

Boas and Jaehin 1 have seen ; A Fellow I was sworn most rare , Anel know the Astler , Diamond , and Square : I know the Master ' s Part full well , As honest Maughbin will you tell . Then the Master says : If a Master-Mason you would be ,

Observe you well the Rule of Three ; And what you want in Masonry , Thy Mark and Maughbin makes thee free . When you would enter a Lodge you must knock three times at the Door , and they'll challenge you . O . —Are you a Free-Mason : A . —Yes , indeed , that I am .

O . —How shall 1 kno . v it ? A . —By Signs anil Tokens —( Hebrew Characters )—from my Entrance into the Kitchen , and from thence to the Hall . O . —What is the first Point of your Entrance ? A . —Hear and conceal , on Pain of having my Throat cut or Tongue pull'd out . Then one of the Wardens will say —God ' s greeting be at

this Meeting ; and with the Right Worshipful the Master , and the Worshipful Fellows , who keep the Keys of the Loelge from whence you came ; and you are also welcome , VVorshipful Brother , into this VVorshipful Society . Then you salute as follows—The Ri g ht Worshipful the Master and the Worshipful Fellows of the Lodge from whence I came greet you

abundantly . O .- ^ -What Lodge are you of ? A . —1 am ofthe Lodge of St . Stephen's . O . —What makes a just and Perfect Lodge ? A . —A Master , two Wardens , four Fellows , five Apprentices , with Square , Compass , and Common Gudge . O , —Where was you made ?

A . —In the Valley of fehosophet , behind . 1 Rush-bush , where a Dog was never * heard to bark , or Cock crow , or elsewhere . O . —Where was the first Lodge Kept ? A . —In So / onion's Porch ; the two Pillars were called Jaehin anel Boaz . O . -How many Orders be there in Architecture ? A " . —Five ; Tuscan , Doric , Ionic , Corinthian , and

Composite , or Roman . O . -How many Points he there in Fellowship ? A . —Six : Foot to Font , Knee to Knee , Hand to Hand , Ear to Ear , Tongue to Tongue , Heart to Heart . O . —How elo Masons take Place in Work ? X—The Master S . E ., the Wardens , N . E ., and the

l-ellows Eastern Passage . O . —How many precious Jewels are there in Masonry ? A . —Four ; Square , Astler , Diamond , and Common Square . O . —I low many Lights be there in a Lodge ? A " . —Three : The Master , Warden , and Fellows . O . —Whence comes the Pattern of an Arch ?

A . —From the Rainbow . Q . —Is there a Key to your Lodge ? A . —Yes . O .-Whatis ' t ? A . —A well hung Tongue . O . —Where is it Kept ? X . —In an Ivory Box between my Teeth , or under the Lap of my Liver , where the Secrets of my Heart arc not . O . —Is there a Chain to it ?

A . —Yes . O . —How long is it ? A . —As long as from my Tongue to my Heart . O . —Where does the Key of the working Lodge lie ? X . —It lies on the Right 1 land from the Door two Foot and a-half under a Green Turf , and one Square . O . —Where does the Master place his Mark on the Work •'

A . —Ijpon the S . I ' .. Corner . To know an Entrcel Apprentice , you must ask him whether he has been in the Kitchen , and he'll answer , \ es . To know an Entred Fellow , you must ask whether he has been in the Hall , and he'll say , Yes . To l-now a Mason in the Dark , you must say , there is no Darkness without Absence of Light ; and he'll answer ,

There is no Light without Absence of Darkness . To compliment a Brother Mason , you put your Kigrrc Hand to the right side of your Hat , and bring your Hat under your Chin ; then the Brother will clap his Rig htTtano to the right side of his Hat , and bring . it to the Left biae . uneler his Heart . .. i , To meet a Brother , you must make the first Step witn your Right Foot , the Second with your Left ; and at trie third you must advance with your Rig ht Heel to you