Jubilee Festival Of The United Pilgrims Lodge, No. 507.

Bro . CHARLES W . PETERS , P . M ., Secretary , in responding , said , as the oldest Past Master present , he certainly felt very great regret that he was called upon to reply on this important occasion . Bro . Levy , the oldest Past Mister of the lodge , who joined 35 years ago , he should like to have seen present . There were also Bro . Gennett , Bro . Terry , the present Treasurer , Bro . Watts , and Bro . Joyce , all Past Masters , and all of whom he expected to see at the meeting . It was a matter of regret to him that they were not present at this jubilee meeting * , for he

was not prepared to reply to the toast , and he would have much preferred to hear any of their voices to his own . He was sorry to say that illness was the cause of many being away ; illness was the only cause of Bro . Joyce's abse ice . However , as he ( Bro . Peters ) had to reply , he would take this opportunity of giving an outline of the lodge's history , though it might be somewhat tedious to some brethren who had not the same interest as he had ; but bethought that any one interested in Masonry must feel that a lodge established 50 years must have a claim on their

attention . He had gone through the list of their P . ist Masters very carefully , and he could not find one equal to the name of Beste . He must , therefore , say that in their jubilee year they had arrived at their best , and he hoped they would be equal to the occasion . From what they had seen of him that night , he was one oi their best . It might be a surprise to the brethren , but United Pilgrims Lodee was the mother lodge of the present century . He would give extracts from the " Freemasons' Quarterly Review " about it : —

" Constitution and Consecration of the Lodge of United Pilgrims , 745 , Bro . J . L . Jones , W . M ., by Warrant Circular . Sir and Bro ., —The M . W . G . M . having granted a warrant for the consecration of this Lodge you are requested to attend on Friday , the 14 th March , at 3 o ' clock at the Pilgrim Tavern , Kennington Lane , such day having been appointed by the W . Bro . R . T . Crucefix , P . G . D ., who has been requested to consecrate the Lodge and instal the Master and Wardens nominated in the Warrant . — -1 remain , Sir and Bro ., Yours Fraternally , " W . EVANS , Secy , ( ad interim ) .

" Consecration 3 o'clock . Installation 4 o'clock . Initiation 5 o ' clock . We give the initiation circular of this maiden lodge as the best herald to record an event highly interesting to the Metropolitan Craft . The Bank of England Lodge , 329 , appears by the Masonic Calendar to have been constituted in 1788 . Since which period we believe there has not been any Lodge constituted in the London District with the exception of that at Edmonton in 1839 , which can hardly be termed a London Lodge although in the London District . We shall not now

enquire into the causes shewn and reasons given why Lodges should not have sprung up . One , however , carries with it considerable probability of justice , viz ., that at the Union of 1813 , so many lodges fell under one jurisdiction that until time should prove it to be necessary it was impolite to grant new warrants in London . Time has shewn that in the suburban Districts new lodges are wanted , and we hail No . 745 as the parent of the many future scions of the Craft , and offer to the W . M ., Wardens , and Brethren our ' Hearty good wishes' on the occasion .

"The novelty of the occasion attracted a great number of brethren , who assembled at three o ' clock . Past Masters of high estimation in the Order felt a natural anxiety to attend a ceremony which none of them had ever witnessed . That was very important , for in 1845 it was an acknowledged thing that there were thousands of Masons in the London district and outside who had never seen the consecration of a lodge , and they simply swarmed to see the consecration of the

United Pilgrims Lodge . He had obtained this information at Freemasons' Hall in a two days' attendance , but there was a great deal more . There were three initiates , the reply of one being very interesting . He was a foreigner , and he gave a very good example of what Masonry , should be , for he said that from what he had heard tbat evening and the obligations he had taken Masonry would make liim a better man .

"After banqueting were speeches , and a Grand Officer said : Brethren of the Unilci Pilgrims Lodge , may your every meeting be as happy as the first . " As far as his ( Bro . Peters '' experience went every meeting of the lodge had been quite up to it . There were 59 years between the consecration of the Bank of England Lodge and the United Pilgrims Lodge—1788 to 1845 . The lodge had done good Masonic work , which h & d been vouched for by Bro . James Terry , the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , who could record its working for 35

years , he having been intimately connected with it , and being tamiliar with the names of a large number of old members . The lodge had the reputation of being Ihe best workers of ceremonies in South London , and Masons came from all parts to be instructed under the able Secretary , Bro . John Thomas . Bro . Terry was among thc number . Bro . Thomas became one of the greatest workers and best authorities of Freemasonry . He was initiated in this lodge in July , 1847 , and was its Secretary 17 years . He died in 18 73 , and his portrait is in Grand Lodge . David Ross Farmer was another member , and he was Assistant Grand P . in

i 860 , and Grand Pursuivant in 1862 . He consecrated the Doric Lodge , 933 , in 1862 , a lodge which was still flourishing . The original pedestals and furniture of the lodrc were presented by Bro . Haddock to the Henry the Eighth Lodge at Hemcl Hempsted , No . 1757 . The United Pilgrims Lodge stood 90 in the list of London lodges . It was the mother lodge of the century . It had had 297 members on its books , and had initiated 204 . It averaged six members a year , a very good record . As far as the Charities were concerned , it had done well also . He thought they should be very proud of the position the lodge held .

liro . PETERS afterwards replied to the toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary , " the S . VV . replied to that of "The Ofiicers , " and the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings , a vote of thanks having been first accorded to the musical talent , lire . Odell acknowledging the recognition .

Belfast Masonic Charities.

BELFAST MASONIC CHARITIES .

ANNUAL MEETING AND CONCERT . IMPOSING PROCEEDINGS . Last week the annual meeting in support of the Belfast Masonic Charity Fund and the Belfast Masonic Widows' Fund was held in the Ulster Hall , and that success which was a prominent characteristic of the whole proceedings is

-what one usually associates with our great local Masonic festival . The hall was filled to overflowing , and the large assemblage , composed of members of the Order , its friends , and well-wishers , lent sympathetic ears to the appeals made on b 'half of two funds whose objects and management commended them to the warm and generous support of every member of the Society , which seems to

continue to gain strength and make progress in Belfast . If one thing more than anotherwas apparent on the occasion itwas this , and the enthusiasm which prevailed shows that the Order has aroused in the community an interest in its proceedings which is pr : gnant of increased vitality and continued prosperity , so far as its existence in Belfast is concerned . The arrangements made for the meeting by

Bros . William Brown and William Stanfield , Hon . Sees ., were most comple ' . e in their character , and the musical programme provided was probably the choicest that has yet been submitted to a similar gathering in Belfast . Bro . S . Leighton , upon whom this portion of the arrangements devolved , is to he congratulated on the happy outcome o' his efforts , the result of which wa * a concert high-class in its chara-tcr and suited to all taites . An interesting feature of the annual meeting

Belfast Masonic Charities.

is the grand procession , and last night's in brilliancy and dimensions was probabl y unsurpassed by any previous display . From seven to half-past seven o ' clock the band of the K'ng ' s Ovn Yorkshire Light Infantry , under the direction of Mr . John Le Grove , bandmaster , performed the following programme : Selection , " H . M . S . Pinafore" ( Sullivan ) ; march characteristic , "The Turkish Patrol" ( Miehaelis ) ; polka de oncert , " Birds of Passage" ( Kling ) .

At the half-hour the opening notes of the grand march from Wagner ' s " Tannhauser " announced the arrival of the procession , which had been formed under the direction of Bro . H . J . Hill , P . G . D . C . Antrim , at the main entrance to the hall . The officers of the Craft lodges soon made their appearance , preceded by Tyler , with drawn sword , and marching up the hall divided to right and left at the steps to the platform , which were carpeted with red baiz ; , and placed at each side of which was a Templar banner . The Royal Arch Masons and ofii : ers of

the Royal Arch Chapter followed , and were succeeded by the Knights Templar , who halted half way up the aisle , and with their swords formed an arch , under which the dignitaries of the Order passed on their way to the platform , which looked extremely pretty , decorated with flowers and plants , that contrasted pleasingly with the red baize with which it was carpeted . All , of course , wore their regalia , and the variety ot colouring of the costumes produced a picture , ka l eidoscopic and charming to the eye . The following was the order of the procession :

Tyler with drawn sword . Deacons with wands . Craft Masons , marshalled by Bro . Bryson . Deacons with wands . Royal Arch Masons , marshalled by Bro . Frame . Knights Templar . Prince Masons .

Officers of the Belfast Masonic Charity Fund . Officers of the Belfast Masonic Widows' Fund .

Prov . Grand Inner Guard with sword . Prov . Grand Deacons with wands . Past Provincial Grand Lodge Officers . Provincial Grand Lodge Ofiicers . Provincial Grand Sword Bearer . Provincial Deputy Grand Master .

Provincial Grand Lodge Ofiicers : Antrim—Bros . Thomas Valentine , J . P ., P . D . G . M . ; Thomas M . Walters , P . S . G . W . ; John Kirkwood , P . J . G . W .-, Wm . Rankin , P . G . Treas . ; Robert J . Hilton , J . P ., P . G . Sec . ; John Robinson , P . S . G . D . ; James Jackson , P . J . G . D . ; William Cairns , P . G . Supt . of W . ; Henry J . Hill , P . G . D . C . ; Samuel Leighton , P . G . Org . ; and Robert Rodgers ,

P . G . I . G . Provincial Grand Lodge Officers : Down—Bros . John Jackson , P . G . S . ; James Page , P . G . I . G . Past Provincial Grand Lodge Officers : Antrim—Bros . W . J . Rainey , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . Brown , P . P . J . G . W . -, Robert Carrey , P . P . J . G . W . ; Richard Stevenson , P . P . J . G . W . ; Robert Neill , P . P . S . G . D . ; Wm . Stanfield , P . P . S . G . D . ; R . B . Andrews , P . P . G . S . B .- S . Mercer , P . P . G . I . G . ; and James M'Connell , P . P . G . S .

Past Provincial Grand Lodge Ofiicers : Down—Bros . David Graham , P . P . J . G . D . ; Thomas Alderdice , P . P . G . S . ; and John T . Scott , P . P . G . I . G . Prince Masons—Bros . James Malcolm , D . L ., P . J . G . D ., Lurgan ; Wakefield H . Dixon , J . P ., Henry R . Parker , LL . D ., Harold R . Smyth , and O'Connell Shaw . Officers Belfast Masonic Charity Fund—Bro . William Haffern , P . M ., Chairman ; William Wallace , P . M ., Vice-Chairman ; William Rankin , P . G . T ., Treas . ; and William Stanfield , P . P . S . G . D ., Sec .

Ofiicers Belfast Masonic Widows' Fund -Bros . William J . Rainey , P . P . S . G . W ., Chairman ; Harold R . Smyth , P . P . S . G . W ., Treas . ; and William Brown , P . P . J . G . W ., Sec . Order ol the Temple : Preceptors—Bros . John Orr , William J . Neil , W . J . Morton , Richard Knox , and Robert Armstong . Orderof the Temple : Knights of Malta—Bros . William Scott , M . D ., Prior ; ] . H . Heaney , and F . W . M'Cullough .

Order of the Temple : Knights Templar—Bros . W . G . Murray , W . T . Braithwaite , J . Henchie , T . R . Burns , Charles W . Olley , Henry Joyce , William Mackey Frank C . Neill , William Shannon , Hugh M'llwrath , Richard Woods , Samuel Maxwell , James C . Long , and Arthur Williamson . Thc Deputy Provincial Grand Master having taken the chair , he received the customary salutation .

The CHAIRMAN , who was received with applause , thanked the audience for the fraternal manner in which they had received him that evening , and said their reception of him was to him most gratifying . He had to apologise for thc absence of their Provincial Grand Master , the Marquis of Hertford , who had fully intended to be present at the annual meeting of those two Masonic Charities , but circumstances over which he had no control had prevented him carrying out his

intention . It was most gratifying to see such a large audience assembled in the interests of those two Masonic Charities , which administered relief to poor and distressed brother Masons and the widows and orphans of deceased Masons . As would be seen by the report , their income for both funds for the past year had been larger than in the previous year , and , of course , the aid dispensed was proportionately greater . They did not confine their charity to the Masonic province

of Antrim , but they aided the Masonic Orphan Schools in Dublin , of which they were so proud , and in which orphans were clothed , fed , and educated in a superior manner , as the results of the Intermediate examinations showed . Then , again , their charity was not confined to Masonic circles , for as far as his experience went Masons were not behind other citizens in the City of Belfast or elsewhere in

contributing liberally to public charities when called upon to do so . Not only did they render pecuniary assistance to their brethren , but their advice and counsel were given when needed , and that was as important as financial assistance . The reports of the two Charities , which were highly favourable , werc taken as read and adopted . That

Bro . H . H . PARKER , LL . D ., in a very eloquent speech , then moved : " this meeting , recognising the continued usefulness of these funds , feels it to be its duty to urge upon lodges and brethren the necessity of sustaining them by » liberally increased pecuniary aid in order to meet their ever increasing claims , and hereby promote the noble virtue of Charity , the keystone of the Masonic Order . " He said they could not have too clearly before two

them the fact that they were there that night to celebrate the anniversary of distinct Charitable funds . One of them had charged itself with thc relief of the wants of the poor and distressed brethren , and also , .- < s they would see pathetically staterl in the report , of performing for those whose means would not allow it to be done out of their own resources the last sad rites demanded by their po *> r , if" " humanity , and s » cing they had a decent burial . During the past year that parti-