Victorian Freemasonry.

and in the course of the proceedings a communication was read from Bro . E . COULSON , the M . W . G . Master , in which he expressed surprise at the progre'ss which Mark Masonry was making in the Colon ) 7 , though the Grand Lodge had only been established a twelvemonth since . The interest in the Mark had

steadily increased during the year , and in consequence there had been a great improvement in the attendance at the private lodge meetings . There had also been a steady increase in membership , and though , as the returns had not been received

from all the lodges , it was impossible to give the exact figures , there could be no doubt that the Mark G . Lodge was entering upon the second year of its existence in greater strength than at its formation . Financialiv , too , the position was a sound one , while

it was an additional matter for congratulation that recognition had been accorded to the Grand Lodge by the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland . Bro . E . COULSON was re-elected M . W . Grand Master , and the Grand Officers for the ensuing year

having been invested , Grand Lodge was closed , and , at the invitation of the M . W . Grand Master , the brethren partook of refreshments . There are now 15 lodges on the roll , the Murray Valley Lodge , at Wahgunyah , having been consecrated only a

few days before the Grand Lodge held its meeting . There is thus every prospect that the Royal Arch and Mark , being now well set up , will go on increasing in prosperity , anel we trust

that at future annual meetings , the reports , both statistical and financial , will continue to show a steadily progressing improvement .

The "Beaumont Ms."

THE "BEAUMONT MS . "

I am delighted to hear of the discovery of the missing MS . of the "Old Charges , " to be known as the " H . F . Beaumont M . S ., " and very pleased to congratulate my esteemed collaborator , Bro . William Watson , on the acquisition of that important scroll for the West Yorkshire Masonic Library , which now , thanks mainly to my friend , contains nine Manuscripts of the " Old Charges , " being the largest number in any collection .

All these versions have been reproduced in the valuable series of reproductions edited by Bro . Watson , excepting the latest , which was printed in the Freemason for August nth , 1 S 94 , from an ordinary copy made about 18 G 9 by the late Mr . Dunderdale , of Whitley Beaumont . Now , however , it will doubtless ere long be published in completion of the series , so far . I say , so far , because it is not likely that the indefatigable Editor will-rest

contented even with nine MSS ., but will be on the look out for more ! Mr , H . F . Beaumont has kindly spared the MS . so as to be placed in Masonic custody , and hence the scroll will be named after him , as it should be . As his late steward made a fair transcript , we know the character of the text , but Mr . Watson mentions some differences , so it will be better to await the report' of his careful collation before thoroughly comparing its text with the " Buchanan MS ., " which I consider it closely resembles .

The Invocation differs from most MSS ., agreeing only with the " Buchanan " in the valuable Grand Lodge Library , and the " Atcheson-Haven , " preserved in the Library of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . It has the " five mile " limit , in common only with three others , viz ., the " Tew , " " Atcheson-Haven , " and " Buchanan " MSS .

In my "Old Charges of British Freemasons ( 1 S 95 ) the missing MS ., under Xio . may now be deleted , and the number D 3 S left to describe the original document now happily traced . I appp"d particulars of the series of MS . reproductions edited by Bro .

William Watson , and also of those published rolls which are preserved elsewi ere in the county of Yorkshire , ol which now there are 17 ! I often think of the lamented Bro . Tew and his munificence respecting these MSS ., and how heartily he would have rejoiced in another addition being made to the collection he did so much to obtain for his beloved province .

W . Y . REPRODUCTIONS . 1 . Thomas W . Tew MS ., 17 th century 1 SS 9 in . Second Edition in 1 S 92 . 2 . William Watson MS ., A . D . 16 . 8 7 1 S 91 3 . Clapham MS . ( circa ) , 1700 18 92

4 . Waistell MS ., 16 93 1 S 92 5 . Hughan MS ., 17 th century 18 92 6 . Stanley MS ., 1677 181 , 3 7 . T . W . Embleton MS ., 17 th century 1 S 1 J 3 8 . Macnab MS ., 1722 ihWj

Ix PREPARATION ' . 9 . H . F . Beaumont MS ., 17 th century . ALSO IX THE PROVINCE , 4 a . Hope MS ., 17 th century 1 S 92 4 b . Probity MS ., iSth century 18 92

Then there is the fine volume of the " Ancient Masonic Rolls , " published by Bro . M . C . Peck , of Hull , for the " York Lodge , " No . 236 , edited by Bro . T . B . Whytehead and the late Bro . Joseph Todd , with an Introduction by me , containing six MSS . The work is one of the handsomest of its kind ever issued , and does the publishers and editors great credit .

YORK MSS . No . 1 . The Drake MS ., iGth century . „ 2 . ( With " Annagraime" ) , 17114 . ,, 4 . The lice and Slice MS ., 1093 . » 5- ( Slightly imperfect ) , 17 th century .

,, h . The " Christians " MS ., 17 th century . E . 11 . Scarborough MS ., 1705 . These ha \ e also besn reproduced by mc in various works . W . T . HUGHAN .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The ( Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , London . Bro . W . W . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight , presided . Bro . Major-Gen . J , Wimbum Laurie , Prov . G . Master of South Wales ( W . D . ) , acted as Dep , G . Master ; Bro . Sir Gerard Smith , P . Dist . G . Master Western Australia , Present Grand Master of the New Grand Lodge of Western

Australia , acted as Past G . Master ; Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W .,

as S . G . W . ; ; . < J Bro . Thos . Fenn , P . G . W ., as J . G . W . Among other brethren present were Bros . Frank Richardson , acting G . D . of C ; John Strachan , Q . C ., G . Reg . R . D . M . Littler , P . Dep . G . Reg ., W . Lake , Asst . G . Sec ; W . J . Mason , Vice-President Board of General Purposes ; Samuel Cochrane , P . G . Treas . ; Harry Manfield , G . Treas . j George Everett , P . G . Treas . ; ex-Sheriff Hutton ; John C . Rutherglen , P . D . G . S . B . ; W . F . Lamonby ; J . S . Eastes ; E . M

Money ; Robert Grey , P . G . W . ; J . H . Matthews , President Board of Benevolence ; D . D . Jlercer , Senior Vice-President Board of Benevolence ; H . A . Tobias , P . G . Std . Br . ; Major Henry Wright , P . G . Std . Br . ; W . S . Whitaker , G . P . ; C . Letch Mason ; Lieut .-Col . Kiallmark ; Major J . E . Le Feuvre ; P . de L . Long , P . G . D . ; Daniel Mayer , G . D . ; Dr . W . H . Cummings , P . G . Org . Alderman Vaughan Morgan , P . G . Treas . ; E . W . Nightingale ; R . W . Ker ; W . M . Bywater ; W . Fisher ; Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . C . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C ; and H . Neville , P . A . G . D . C .

Grand Lodge having been opened in form , Bro . W . LAKK , Assist . G . Sec , read the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of June 6 th , which were put to the meeting and confirmed . Bro . BEACH said he had to submit to the brethren-a motion to which he was sure they would give a ready assent . The loyalty and affection which thev felt for their Grand Master the Prince of Wales led them to

associate themselves promptly with all his joys and his sorrows . He had recently lost his brother , the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha , and they had to sympathise with him in the sorrow he must naturally feel . It must be a great blow to him to have his next brother cut off , and he was sure that as Freemasons they desired to express their sympathy with , him in the loss he had sustained . He could not help saying that it must be a great grief to them as Englishmen , and to Masons above all others , that her Majesty the

Queen , after the sympathy and interest which she had felt for the sufferings of others , should be subjected in her old age to such grief . He therefore respectfully submitted to them a motion to assure the Grand Master that the Freemasons of England sympathised most heartily with him and the rest of the Royal Family in the loss they had sustained . He submitted the motion : "That this Grand Lodge desire to offer to H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . its respectful and fraternal sympathy in the loss he has sustained by the'beath of H . R . H . the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha . "

Bro . Sir J . W . LAURIE , M . P ., Prov . G . M . for South Wales ( W . D . ) , said it would mar the effect of the graceful words in which the acting Grand Master had expressed the feelings of the Craft if he were to add anything . But as a matter of duty he desire to second the motion . The motion was carried unanimously , all the brethren standing .

On the motion of Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , President , seconded by Bro . D . D . MERCER , S . V . P ., the Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter was ordered to be received and entered on the minutes , and the following recommendation contained in it confirmed :

The widow of a brother of the St . Oswald Lodge , No . 1124 , Oswestry ... ... ... ... . £ 75 o o The widow of a brother of the Halsey Lodge , No . 1479 , St . Albans ... ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Union Lodge , No . 3 S , Chichester ... ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Kingswood Lodge , No .

227 S , Broxbourne ... ... ... ... 50 o 0 A brother of the Liberty of I layering Lodge , No . 1437 , Romford ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Barnato Lodge , No . 22 G 5 , London ... 75 o o

Bro . W . J . MASON , Vice-President , moved , and Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON seconded , that the Report of the Board of General Purposes ( as printed in the Freemason last week ) be taken as read , and this having been agreed to , Bro . Mason moved that the report be received and entered on thc minutes .

Bro . FRAXK RICHARDSON * begged to second the motion . He did so with a great deal of confidence , feeling that Grand Lodge would confirm the whole of the grants that had been asked for , because he was sure that all the members of Grand Lodge who had visited—and he knew very few of them who had not visited the adjuncts to the old building—would acknowledge that they did credit not only to Grand Lodge but to Masonry

in general . The grants asked for were not large . Although the contract was for ; £ i 2 , 000 the extras required in consequence of the rottenness eif the adjoining building made it necessary that another ^ 464 should be laid out . The Board of General Purposes had taken great care in the fittings and furniture of the premises and they asked Grand Lodge to sanction the expenditure of a sum not exceeding ¦/ yKoo . The amount up to the present

for fittings and furniture was only £ 2241 , but the Board asked for £ 2500 , as it was thought a further addition might be required . For the installation of the electric light the sum of ^ 421 was necessary , and the cost of the book cases , show cases , shelves and lockers in the new building was £ 1 MSThe best kind ol work had been put in because the Board felt they would be consulting the feelings of Grand Lodge if they took care that there should be no tinkering in the work that was done . There were some extras . the

In the new building there was an extra lodge room provided and at present " time that had not been furnished and extra money would be neces-sary for the chairs and other Masonic furniture for that room . H asked the brethren with great confidence to confirm the grants which they asked for for the special work that had been begun . Bro . E . M . MOXEY asked whether the estimate that had been g ive " included anything for a subject which had been spoken to once or twice le " the convenience of the brethren in the body of the Hall or on the dais .

Bro . FRAXK RICHARDSON - said there was nothing of that sort at present but that would come before long . . , Bro . BEACH then put the motion that the recommendations contain in the report of the Board of General Purposes be confirmed . The motion was carried unanimously .