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than three standard works of pure history and established fact . These are the Four Old Lodges , the Atholl Lodges , and the History of Freemasonry . The first was published with the idea of benefiting the Masonic Charities —a hope , alas , not destined to be fulfilled . The second appealed to a still smaller circle of interested readers . But the third and last has attained

the distinction of a vast circulation , though , unfortunately , in the country where it continues to be most widely read the work has been ruthlessly pirated without the slig htest compensation having been offered to the writer . In this , of course , he has but suffered the usual fate of all British authors of reputation . Whether these circumstances have influenced the eminent

Masons who , with the PRO GRAND MASTER of ENGLAND at their head , form the " Gould Testimonial Committee , " or whether they have been solely moved by admiration of his literary and other services to the Craft , we are unable to say ; but for us and our fellow editors it should prove a very potent factor in awakening our sympathies .

Thirty years of literary work ungrudgingly given to Masonry appeals to our feelings most acutely , and we do not entertain a doubt that every Masonic periodical in the English tongue will , at least , devote one article to urging Bro . GOULD ' S claims on the Craft universal . His services have been to the Craft at large , not to England alone . Let , therefore , the Craft ,

wherever dispersed , combine to present him with such a testimonial as will place its appreciation beyond doubt . We trust that not a single Englishspeaking jurisdiction or lodge will remain unrepresented , and we fraternally call upon our colleagues of the Masonic Press to take that leading part in the movement which the world in general would naturally assign to them .

History Of No. 246, Cheltenham.

HISTORY OF No . 246 , CHELTENHAM .

The "Royal Union Lodge , " No . 246 , Cheltenham , has had its history written by one of its respected Past Masters , Bro . Geo . Norman , P . Prov . G . Reg . Gloucestershire , and not only written , but printed under the same auspices , in a most artistic manner . It will take its rank as one of the handsomest volumes and also one of

the most complete of Lodge Histories extant , as soon as its merits become known and appreciated , as they are sure to be , by the ever increasing circle of critical Masonic students . Not that there is aught of great and absorbing interest to narrate , or any records of much antiquity to publish

respecting the lodge , but what is obtainable has been judiciousl y used and most pleasantly woven into a very readable book—so much so , that it is , without doubt , a model of its kind , and should incite other brethren who have similar opportunities ( and certainly many with much more leisure ) to " go and do likewise , " on behalf of their lodges .

lime after time has Bro . Hughan kept drumming it into our ears that , until the records of our old lodges have been carefully studied and made known , it is impossible to write an exhaustive History of Freemasonry in this Country , and we are glad to find that his persistent efforts in this direction , either by himself or his numerous confreres , have of late years been

so fruitful in the publication of volumes upon volumes regarding the eventful past of many of our oldest and most distinguished lodges . Much still remains to be done , but we feel especially thankful for the numerous lodge histoiies which have appeared , particularly during the present decade ;

and we are daily in expectation of the advent of others ; so that with so many excellent examples set by town and country Craftsmen , the preparation of that of the venerable " Antiquity " and other histories of old lodges ought not to be much longer delayed .

Any way , here is another volume to adorn our Masonic library , thanks to the commendable spirit and enterprise of Bro . Geo . Norman , and , as unfortunately it is not printed for sale—a mistake , we venture to think—we cannot do belter than write off its main features for the in ormation of the many who take a keen interest in all that concerns such histories .

The work is in quarto : > ize , and mns to over one hundred pages . " To Bro . Richard Vassar Vassar-Smith , P . M . 8 39 , D . Prov . G . M . Gloucester , & c , & c , W ' o ; b ! iij ) fuI Master of the Royal Union Lodge , No . 246 , this sketch of the lodge ' s history is fraternally inscribed by the compiler . " The honour is fully incited by the present W . M . of 246 , but we feel assured that both that brolhcr and the historian would much have liked that another

cc . uk ! have shared the compliment , now , alas , impossible . We refer to the distinguished Cralisman , LJro . J . Brook-Smith ( the lamented predecessor of the W . M . as the D . Prov . G . M . ) , at whose request Bro . Norman had written the history , and whose sudden death occurred within a few days of its completion . 1 his sad event cast a gloom over the province .

We are pleased to note that , in addition to the many references to that most g nial and z-alous Freemason to be found in the body of the work , Bro . Norman has devoted a couple of pages to a brief memoir of Bro . Brock-Smith , M . A ., who was the oldest P . M . of No . 246 , and who joined so far back as 1 S 52 from No . 82 , in which he was initiated Sept . 4 th , 1850 .

His long and honourable connection with Cheltenham College , which continued to his decease , had secured him a host of friends amongst the " rising generation , " and even of not a few of those who have passed that happy stat- ' . "Among the mmy distinguished men who passed through

his classes I may mention Broj . Sir Charles Warren , Sir Charles Wilson , and the late Col . Barrow , the Soadan hero ; while the sons of the Grand Secretary , Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , had also been entrusted 10 his training . "

Bro . Hughan s lengthy introduction is a capital addiinn to the volume , as it deals with the Province of Gloucestershire , as well as furnishing a sketch of il e several Grand Lodges of England . From it we learn that seven lodges were warranted in that province , from 1738 to 1789 , by the

History Of No. 246, Cheltenham.

" Moderns , " two of which survive in Nos . 82 , Cheltenham , and 270 , Berkeley . Only two were chartered by the " Ancients , " the senior , No . 316 [ 278 ] , having been erased in 18 38 , and the existing No . 246 , the subject of the present sketch , which dates from the year 1813 . Its original number was 357 , only two junior numbers being subsequently issued

by that Grand Lodge , viz ., 358 , now 247 , Demerara , and 359 , Martinique ( the warrant of which , so Bro . Lane states in his "Masonic Records , 1717-1886 , " was returned in 1824 ) , so that "this rival organisation was not at all popular in the province . " Neither do the members appear to have taken to the Royal Arch during

the last century , for , according to Bro . Hughan , only one chapter was on the roll of the" Moderns , " and that was constituted so late as 1807 , though Bro . Thomas Dunckerley was Grand Superintendent for some years . Into the chronological list of Provincial Grand Lodges from 1725 , however interesting the theme , we must not enter . Suffice it to say that the Introduction ,

so warmly appreciated by Bro , Norman , is written by a Craftsman who has made the subject of lodge histories and Masonic history generally his special study for a quarter of a century , so is " quite at home " when his varied stores of information are called into requisition , and always ready to place them at the service of all who have need thereof .

The " Royal Union is the oldest lodge now existing , having its origin in the province , and was first of all located at Cirencester , removing to Cheltenham in the year 1822 . " In the earlier years of its life at Cheltenham the lodge met at various hotels in the town , but for 30 years past it has

assembled uninterruptedly at the Masonic Hall , in fraternal fellowship with the Foundation Lodge . The history of the lodge thus epitomised presents in its details points of interest , not only to those who acknowledge it as their mother lodge , but to the wider circle interested in the history of Freemasonry in Gloucestershire . " .

This is neatly put and true to the letter . Bro . Norman goes on to state " In the course of my enquiries , in which I have been aided by reference to Bro . Lane ' s ' Masonic Records , ' and even more by the kindly assistance of our chief authority in such matters , Bro . VV . J . Hughan , I have come upon a fact which seems to have hitherto been overlooked in the lodge ; it is , that for some years after the constitution of the Royal Union a second warrant was in force at the King ' s Head , Cirencester . "

This was the " Royal York , " which got to the town in 1813 , and was held at the same inn as the other Iodge ; No . 24 6 still using some of its jewels . It is doubtful , however , as the author observes , if ever this lodge of the "Moderns" was properly established , as there are no payments credited on its behalf in Grand Lodge down to 1820 , when it was erased , and possibly at the " Union " the higher number of its rivai led to the collapse of the one and the continuation of the other .

The by-laws of the lodge ( now 246 ) of 1815 , were presented to the author by the late D . Prov . G . M ., the pamphlet being , as he says , " a most interesting contribution . " It is believed to be the only copy extant , and is reproduced , verbatim et literatim , by Bro . Norman . These " Rules , Orders , and Bye-Laws" extend to xxvii in number , and the

register of members which follows is both curious and valuable . There were twenty-three brethren and two T ylers then belonging to the lodge , twelve of whom have stars to their names , denoting they had " passed the chair " ( doubtless for the R . A ., as Bro . Hughan explained to the author ) , the column " R . A . " having the I . P . M . as a member , and the J . W . is noted

under the space devoted to "K . A . D . H . " This is an extraordinary item in a Craft Register , and likely enough means that the brother was a K . T ., including the Rose Croix and Kadosh , as was so often the case then , and evendown to our time . If so , that brother must also have been a R . A . companion , though not so described .

A copy of the original warrant is nicely printed across two pages , and will prove an excellent souvenir in connection with the re-production of the by-laws . One of the regulations , quoted by Bro . Norman in the History , is a reminder of what mi ght be our duty now under like circumstances , when friendly with collectors ol curious M 3 S ., & c . It provides for the VV . M . deputing " one of the Brothers , the most acquainted with that

SICK member , to wait upon him , and , with all delicacy in such a circumstance , request him to entrust him with all the writings , books , & c , relating to Masonry which he may have in his possession ; the said writings , & c , shall then be sealed and deposited in the Lodge , & c . " These were then subsequently dealt with and carefull y provided for , according to the wishes of the owner .

Ihe proceedings for the transfer of the lodge to Cheltenham are amusingly narrated in the records , especially the naive remark that the petitioners did not care to accept the suggestion of the G . Sec . to have a new warrant , as they did not fancy " being last on the list of lodges ! " They were also independent , and did not care for the reminder that they could " borrow a

copy of the Constitutions from the " Foundation" Lodge , held in the same town , but sent a "twenty-shilling note" for one of their own . The expenses of the warrant , furniture , and jewels ( £ 35 ) , were met by a subscription from the petitioners of five guineas each , " 10 bt credited to them" as their dues in advance . Better lar if many lodges , of late years , had had

the initial cost tnus provided , instead of being a burden for a long time on the funds . The-sister lodge heartily supported the transfer , but wisely added the fraternal advice " that the other lodge , when formed , to be very circumspect in the admission of members , so as to keep the lodge as respectable as possible . " The "changed condition of Masonic life now , as

compared with that sixty years ago is aptly illustrated by the arrangements for the Festival of St . John . " Tne meeting began at 11 a . m . with an initiation and a raising , and then the installation ceremony , with an interval for refreshment , which completed the labours , when adjournment was agreed to until 5 p . m ., at which time the members partook of an " elegant dinner . "

A little difficulty occurred in 1823 respecting two letters " from a Brother of the name of Claret , " which the W . M . refused to read , and on an appeal to the D . Prov . G . M . his decision was upheld , which led to a small secession , but the address ( still preserved in MS . ) of the W . M . when his term of office had expired , proves he was of the right stamp . On August 19 th ,

1823 , the members voted £ 10 " towards the collection to ba made for erecting a monument to the memory of Bro . Dr . Edward Jenner , " the discoverer ol the efficacy of vaccination . He was a Gloucestershire man and " was a son of Dr . Henry Jenner , F . L . S ., who was Prov . G . Master of Bristol towards the close of last century . " ( He was appointed in 1799 . ) The statue