Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1133 ] — Bro . Geo . R . T . Wilson , Secretary , has written a wee History of the " St . Andrew Lodge , " No . 25 , St . Andrews , Scotland . Unfortunately nearly all ' the old documents belonging or referring to the lodge are missing , so that the Historian has mainly to confine himself to modern records . Brother Wilson , however , is able to note one important fact , viz ., that of the five lodges that subscribed to the " St . Clair Charter " of 1602 ( circa ) , St . Andrew was one , and

so also as respects the second Charter of 1628 ( circa ) , when the Master and Wardens of the " sed Ludg of Saint Androis " subscribed to the . document . In 173 6 , on the inauguration of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , St . Andrew was a participant , and was subsequently placed as 27 on the roll , but altered to 25 further on at which it still remains . Its date , however , in the latest Book of Constitutions is stated to be 1736 , which assuredly is not correct , as there are earlier indications of its activity , such as a list of members from 1720 , which is

continued for about 100 years , and numbers over 700 names . Many distinguished Masons have seen the light under its banner . The Marquis of Breadalbane was initiated therein , 20 th April , 1 S 69 ; Sir Hugh Lyon Playfair was its R . W . M . in 1818 ; and the late M . W . Bro . John Whyte-Melville , P . G . M . of Scotland , was for many years its Proxy Master . Bro . Wilson gives many particulars about the members and their meetings during the last hundred years and more , and has oompiled a register of the officers from 1790 to 1 S 93 . W . J . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Gloucestershire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

The annual convocation of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held on the 21 st ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Cheltenham . The meeting was originally appointed for the 6 th ult ., but it was postponed until the later date in consequence of the summoning of Parliament and the consequent inability of the Grand Superintendent , the Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks

Beach , to attend . During the 13 years since Provincial Grand Chapter was founded the Chancellor of the Exchequer has not missed one of its annual meetings , and it was an evidence of his continued attachment to the Order that at his request arrangements for the postponement were made to enable him to preside over the Provincial Grand Chapter .

There was a large attendance of companions . The Grand Superintendent , as already intimated , presided , and amongst the Provincial Grand Officers suDporting him were—Comps . R . V . Vassar-Smith , P . A . G . Soj ., Prov . G . H * . j E . Lea , P . Z . 493 , Prov . G . J . ; J . 13 . Winterbotham , P . A . G . Soj ., Prov G . S . E . ; E . Witchell , P . Z . 839 and 702 , Prov . G . S . N . ; Jas .

Bruton , P . Z . S 39 ( High Sheriff of Gloucester ) , Prov . G . Treas . ; E . W Henley , P . Z . S 39 , Prov . G . P . S . ; S . Millard , P . Z . 493 , Prov . A . G . S . ; A F . Turner , 82 , Prov . G . S . B . ; H . A . Armitage , 839 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; W Hobbs , 702 , Prov . G . D . C ; M . LI . Evans , Prov . A . G . S . E . ; and J . A Matthews , 82 , Prov . G . Org . The other companions present were

Comps . Bevir , Prov . Asst . G . Soj . Wilts ; W . R . Porcher , P . Z . S 2 , P . P . G . J . ; A . V . Hatton , P . Z . 493 , P . P . G . J . ; G . Norman ( Mayor of Cheltenham ) , P . Z . S 2 , P . P . G . J . ; R . P . Sumner , P . Z . 8 39 , P . P . G . J . ; Rev . P . llattersley-Smith , P . Z . 82 , P . P . G . J . ; H . S . Crump , P . Z . 943 , P . P . G . S . N . ; G . C . Clark , Z . 493 , P . P . G . S . N . ; G . Pike , P . Z . 839 , P . P . G . S . N . ; J . L . Butler , P . Z . 82 , P . P . G . R . ; W . Warman ,

P . Z . 702 , P . P . G . R . ; E . L . Baylis , P . Z . S 2 , P . P . G . R . ; R . W . Northcott , P . Z . 702 , P . P . G . Soj . ; J . C . Hill , P . Z . 8 39 , P . P . Asst . G . Soj . ; J . L . Tickell , P . Z . 82 , P . P . Asst . G . Soj . ; J . Waghorne , H . 82 , P . P . G . D . C ; Conway Jones , 439 , P . P . G . D . C ; C . Williams , S . E . 82 ; N . Philpott , 493 ; Canon M . W . F . St . John ; W . Sparks , G . Embrey , F . J . Palmer , J . McFee , J . F . Bushnell , J . Bubb , J . Crofts , C . S . Atkins , and many others .

Prov . Grand Chapter having been opened in due form routine matters were disposed of . The report of the Prov . G . Treasurer was of a most satisfactory character , a substantial balance standing to the credit of the Prov . Grand Chapter . This report having been adopted , Comp . Jas . Bruton was again reelected Prov . G . Treasurer , and thanked for his services . The roll of the chapters was then called , and the proceedings closed with the appointment and investiture of the following as the Prov . Grand O fiicers

for the year ensuing , viz : Comp . R . V . Vassar-Smith , P . Z . 82 and S 39 ,.. Prov . G . H . „ R . W . Northcott , P . Z . 702 ... ... Prov . G . J . „ James B . Winterbotham , P . Z . S 2 ... Prov . G . S . E . „ Col . Richard Rogers , P . Z . S 2 ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ las . Bruton , P . Z . S 39 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ S . Millard , P . Z . 493 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ J . C . Hill , P . Z . 839 ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ J . L . Tickell , P . Z . S 2 ... ... Prov . ist A . G . S . „ J . Waghorne , H . S 2 ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ Conway Jones , H . 493 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . Edwards , J . 493 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ S . B . Darke , J . 702 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ J . A . Matthews , S 2 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Llewellyn Evans , J . 82 ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ M . Carroll ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor .

The companions afterwards dined together , dinner being served in the banqueting room of the hall , the Grand Superintendent presiding . The after-dinner speaking was brief , as is of necessity the case when trains have to be caught and guests have to leave early . The toast of " The Grand Superintendent , " proposed by Comp , NOK . MAK , was enthusiastically honoured .

Comp . SirMiciiAEi . HK'Ks-BEACii acknowledged the toast in genial terms , and took occasion to thank the companions for so readily accepting the postponement of the chapter which had enabled him to be present . It was always a pleasure and the most grateful form of relaxation to come amongst

his Gloucestershire brethren and exchange fraternal greetings with them . Referring to an allusion made to the report of his approaching retirement from office , he said he need hardly say there was no truth in it . He hoped he was not the man to run away from a position because it was an anxious or difficult one .

New Year's Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

NEW YEAR'S ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

PRESENTATION TO MISS NORRIS . According to annual custom , a New Year ' s Entertainment was given to the annuitants in residence at the buildings of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution at Croydon , and it was of the same liberal character as on former occasions , thanks to the contributions of the brethren and Masonic bodies that provide the funds which supply it . It must be remembered that the expense is not borne by the Institution , and that the subscriptions which

are contributed towards its support are not trespassed upon either for the New Year ' s or the Summer entertainment of the annuitants . Private individuals and lodges voluntarily bear the cost of both , and , as will be seen from the following report , a balance remains in hand . The annuitants , in addition to the entertainment , have also presents of tea and tobacco presented to them , and this custom was again followed on Wednesday .

The company arrived on the premises shortly before two o ' clock in the afternoon . It consisted of

Bro . Dr . H . J . Strong , Bro . G . A . W . Griffiths , I . P . M . 174 , and Mrs . Griffiths ; Bro . T . Hastings Miller , C . C . ; Bro . Thomas Hewson , P . P . S . G . D . Surrey ; Mrs . R . Atkinson , Miss Mary E . Raicker , Mrs . Lilian Skinner , Bro . J . A . Farnfield , Treas . ; Bro . J . H . Whadcoat , Miss Olive Whadcoat , and Miss Jessie Whadcoat ; Bro . Charles J . Macintosh , Bro . George F . Cook and Mrs . Cook ; Bro . Walter Gladding and Mrs . Gladding ; Bro . C . Kempton , P . M ., Mrs . Kempton , and Mrs .

A . Kempton ; Bro . David Hills , Mrs . D . Hills , and Miss Elsie Hills ; Bro . E . W . Nightingale , P . M . and Sec . S 7 ; Mrs . Hills , Bro . C . H . Webb , P . M . and Sec . 174 ; Mrs . E . A . Savage , Bro . W . A . Sterling , Mrs . W . A . Sterling , Bro . E . J . Anning , C . C , Mrs . Anning , and Miss Anning ; Bro . H . J . Phillips , P . M . and Sec . 205 , and Mrs . Phillips ; Bro . H . Massey , P . M ., and P . Z . 617 and 1928 ,

Miss Massey , and Miss Eliza Massey ; Bro . John Oldis , P . M . 1288 ; Bro . Charles Henry Stone , P . M . 507 and 1641 , and Mrs . Stone ; Bro . T . E . Ford , 128 S ; Bro . W . J . Crutch , Bro . S . H . Hickman , Bro . John Wayte , M . B . ( Hon . Surgeon to the Institution ; Mrs . Terry , Bro . John Mason , Bro . J . G . Stevens , Bro . Orton and Mrs . Orton , and others .

The company were received most cordially by Bro . Terry ( Secretary to i . he Institution ) , and shortly afterwards sat down to a sumptuous repast , consisting of good old-fashioned Christmas fare . Dr . Strong presided , and Bros . Terry , Whadcoat , J . A . Farnfield , Kempton , and Anning presided at the sub-tables . At the conclusion of the repast , the usual few toasts , including the toast of " The Oueen , " were honoured .

" The Founders of the Feast" was proposed by Dr . STRONG , who said that those visitors who were present for the first time might not know that no portion of the funds of the Institution were given for this dinner , but that the cost of it was provided by kind friends of the Institution voluntarily . It was , therefore , the more pleasant . Bros . Hastings Miller , G . F . Cook , and D . Hills were among the brethren who got the money together , and Bro . Hills ' s collection came to , £ 22 10 s . It was these brethren he called upon to respond .

Bros . T . HASTINGS MILLER and G . F . COOK having expressed the pleasure it always gave them to contribute to these entertainments , Bro . D . HILLS said the thanks were not due so much to himself as to the kind friends who supported him . As ladies were present it mi ght be as well to say that what the founders of the feast had done was a striking evidence of the good that Masonry could do , and they might , therefore ,

assume that there was some good in Masonry after all . The Christmas festival was a religious festival celebrated almost solely by the Christian Church , but the money he brought year by year to this entertainment was almost entirely contributed by Jewish brethren—brethren who did not take an interest in the Christian festival in a religious point of view . Still they put their hands in their pockets and helped to keep up this festival in the way that the supporters of the Benovolent Institution wished it to be kept

up , Dr . STRONG , in proposing the toast , " Prosperity to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , " said he was very much pleased to see in the papers that morning that the Institution was again at the top of the list of the sub - scriptions to the three Masonic Institutions . His wife said to him " We are at the top of the list again . " He said to her , " I like the word ' we , ' " but she said " I think I am entitled to say ' we' from the connection I have had

with the Institution so long . " He agreed with her , and said he was glad to see that " we are again at the top of the list . " Now , £ 29 , 587 was a very large sum , but it was not more than their needs required , because there were still many candidates waiting to be elected . Those who were receiving the benefits of the Institution were exceedingly grateful ; he hoped that

shortly there would be others in the same position . There was a lady associated with the Institution ( Miss Norris ) for whose unabated interest in it the brethren ought to be thankful ; and a gentleman ( Bro . Terry ) , whose deeds were well known ; and the £ 29 , 587 would not have been got together but for his earnest and active work . The toast must be a hearty one , more especially at the beginning of a new century .

Bro . J . A . FARNFIELD here stepped forward , and said the House Committee felt that they were much indebted to Miss Norris , who had foregone her annual holiday in order that she might look after the builders ' workmen , who had been engaged in the summer in repairing the buildings of the Institution . The Committee thought they would like out of their own funds to give her some slight tribute of their respect and esteem . She had

been the Matron of the Institution some 23 years . He was deputed on the part of the House Committee to hand to Miss Norris a diamond and sapphire ring , and they hoped she might be spared many years to minister to the comfort of the inmates of the Institution , and work out the wishes of the Committee as satisfactorily as she had done for so long a period hitherto .

Dr . STRONG expressed Miss Norris s thanks . Bro . J AMES TERRY , Sec , in responding for himself , after some playful allusions to Miss Norris ' s being wedded to the Institution by the gift of the ring , said it gave him great pleasure to respond for the Institution after 37 years' connection with it , and he hoped it would go on prospering , and to prosper . The Chairman had alluded to the fact of £ 29 , 587 having been paid into the colters of the Institution during the past year , and to the Institution being at the top of the tree . It was not the first