Masonic Lecture At Barnstaple.

MASONIC LECTURE AT BARNSTAPLE .

The spacious and handsome Masonic Temple at Barnstap le , North Devon , was well filled on Monday last , the 3 rd inst ., on the occasion of a second visit from Bro . James Stevens , P . M ., P . Z ., of London , for the purpose of lecturing on "The Ritual and Symbolism of Freemasonry . " The " good report" which

had attended his earlier visit in the spring of last year had supplied an incentive to brethren of the Loyal Lodge , No . 251 , at Barnstaple , and of neighbouring lodges , to attend in force on this occasion , and the gathering was highly creditable in point of Masonic rank and numbers . The lodge was opened at 7 p . m ., and Bro . STEVENS immediately commenced his discourse , skilfully taking

up the thread of his former address , and continuing his instructive remarks into the Second and Third Degrees . In these , as he pointed out , the work of the innovater is as fully apparent as in the First , and the full and perfect meaning of their allegories and symbols even less understood . He was listened to with an attention which was enthusiastic in its silence , and two full hours had passed by before his audience marked the lapse of

time . Unbounded satisfaction with the valuable instruction afforded was expressed as he resumed his seat , and the thanks of the meeting were , on the proposition of Bro . the Rev . THOMAS RUSSELL , P . P . G . W ., Chap ., voted with acclamation in his favour . Amongst the many brethren present in lodge were Bros . F . J . Codd , I . P . M . ( who in the unavoidable and regretted absence of the W . M ., Bro . Sir W . R . Williams , Bart . ) , occupied the chair , John Brewer ,

P . M ., P . P . J . G . W ., Treas ., H . C . Guppy , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ., Sec , C . J . Davey , P . M ., Prov . G . Sec . Devon , Drewett , P . M . 869 , P . P . G . Std . Br ., and numerous members of the Loyal Lodge , No . 251 ; J . S . Catford , P . M ., H . A . G . Barnett , Sec , and a large contingent of members of the Concord Lodge , No . 1135 ; J . A . Carter , W . M . 382 ; and representatives of Lodges 257 , 1563 , 1 593 , 1638 , 1833 , & c .

After the lodge was closed , supper was served at the Royal and Fortescue Hotel , and the remainder of a very pleasant and generally satisfactory evening was spent in harmony and good fellowship . An early visit of Bro . Stevens to the Concord Lodge at Ilfracombe was partly arranged for , and the brethren of North Devon will certainly welcome his re-appearance amongst them .

Bro. Stevens' Lecture At Morecambe.

BRO . STEVENS' LECTURE AT MORECAMBE .

A special meeting of the members of Morecambe Lodge , No . 1561 , was held in the lodge room at the King ' s Head Hotel , Morecambe , Lancashire , on Tuesday evening , the 27 th ult ., for the purpose of hearing the interesting exposition of the Ritual and Symbolism of Freemasonry , which Bro . James Stevens , of London ,

is now making popular throughout the provinces . The good officers of the W . M . of the Morecambe Lodge , Bro . John Schofield , P . M ., and of Bros . William Duff , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; and W . Longmire , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , the respective Secretary and Treasurer of that lodge , secured an excellent attendance of local brethren , and the W . M . ' s of the Lancaster lodges , with

many of the members of their several lodges , accepted the invites accorded to them . A lodge was not formally opened as it was sought to afford the lecturer all the time possible . After the necessary introduction by Bro . Duff , Bro . Stevens commenced a discourse which commanded the earnest attention of the brethren for rather more than

two hours . It could evidently have been further extended but for the exigencies of the train service for return journeys . In the course of his lecture Bro . Stevens introduced , by request , two admirable Masonic recitations . At its conclusion , and amidst numerous expressions of delighted satisfaction , the thanks of the brethren were recorded to the lecturerand it was

, freel y admitted that more knowledge of the beautiful allegories and symbols of the Ancient Craft had been acquired b y his hearers that evening than they had believed to be obtainable through any ordinary lodge work , A more profitable and enjoyable Masonic evening could not have been spent by the manv earnest

t-raftsmen present , and we are not at all surprised to k'arn that a second visit to the Lancastrian province f ° r a like purpose is already mooted . We congratulate Bro . Stevens on his further continued success towards securing a more perfect understanding amongst the Craft of the true meaning and intent of the ritual .

The Cross Deaf And Dumb School.

THE CROSS DEAF AND DUMB SCHOOL .

MASONIC STONE-LAYING . The deaf and dumb children of North and East Lancashire , of whom there are now about 93 of school age , will soon have school accommodation with board and lod ging for 50 , in a suitable building about to be erected on the confines of the borough ot Preston , the site overlooking the Ribble Vallev in thn direction of An of

^ amlesbury . economical extension the school jo hold 100 children is contemplated . The teaching or the first year will be on the oral system , and when e children ' s capacities have been tested the combined , r oral and digit , system is to be employed . The "ipetus to an institution which is being named theCross eat and Dumb School was given by Miss Cross , of Houghton , who promised ^ 5000 on condition that * 5 oo was collected within a limited period . In less

The Cross Deaf And Dumb School.

than the stated time an energetic Committee ( of whom Archdeacon Rawsthorne is Chairman , and the ^ Rev . J . D . Harrison , vicar of Barton , Honorary Secretary ) , raised nearly £ 3000 . A five-acre site has been secured , and the building , of which Messrs . James and Green , Blackburn , are the architects , will comprise masters ' residence , board room , boys' wing , girls' wing , sick

ward , and administrative block . The first outlay is estimated at , £ 5200 . Cheerfully complying with the request that the foundation-stone should be laid with Masonic ceremonial , the Earl of Lathom , Pro Grand Master of England and Prov . Grand Master of West Lancashire , on Saturday , the 1 st inst ., held an especial Provincial

Grand Lodge at the Guildhall , Preston , which was opened in the presence of Bro . J . Humber ( Mayor of Preston ) , and Bro . the Rev . T . B . Spencer , P . G . Chap , of England , acting as Deputy Prov . G . M . Bro . J . D . Murray , Grand Treasurer , was present , together with the following brethren : Bros . W . Forrester , P . G . Std . Br . of England ; John Christie ,

P . J . G . W . ; James Burgess , P . J . G . W . ; T . Nevett , P . P . G . S . of W . ; H . W . Johnston , P . P . G . S . B . ; Rev , Dr . Stainer , P . P . G . Chap . Surrey ; T . Buxton , P . P . G . R . ; Rev . C . Hesketh Knowlys , P . P . G . C . ; Rev . J . Pimblett , P . G . C . ; W . Piatt , P . P . G . T . ; T . R . Jolley , P . P . G . T . ; W . Troughton , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . E . M . Tomlinson , M . P ., P . P . S . G . W . ; John Rigby , P . P . G . T ,

E . Lanes . ; R . Armitage , P . G . Reg . ; Charles Heywood , P . G . D . ; L . G . Gilbert , P . P . G . Reg . ; Rev . S . Y . B . Bradshaw , P . P . G . C . ; W . Savage , P . G . T . ; W . H . Cunliffe , P . P . G . D . C . E . Lanes . ; T . Adams , P . P . G . D . ; Myles W . Walker , P . P . G . W . Leicester ; C . Wadsworth , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; and others . The Past Masters and Master Masons assembled in

goodly numbers , among the latter being Lord Skelmersdale . The procession to the site , some three miles distant , was headed along Church-street by the band of the 5 th Artillery Volunteers . At the entrance to the Blackburn-road a dozen tramcars and several carriages were waiting . In these the processionists journeyed

as far as the Pleasure Gardens terminus , a little below which , on the right of the descent to the Halfpenny Bridge , a large tent covered the first portion of the intended building . The members of the Committee , many ladies and gentlemen who are donors , and a party of mutes were here assembled , together with a choir . Among the company were Mr . C . R . Jacson ,

J . P ., D . L ., the clergy of Preston Parish Church , the Rev . T . Abbot Peters , and Mr . J . G . Shaw , Blackburn . Archdeacon RAWSTHORNE , in presenting a silver trowel to Earl Lathom , gave a short history of the Institution , and said the two missionaries employed by the committee had taken the census of mutes of school age in North and East Lancashire . For them and for

children born or living in the north and east of the county the institute would chiefly be reserved . The religious instruction would be on the same basis as that in the Harris Orphanage , Preston . In accepting the trowel the PROV . GRAND MASTER briefly expressed his pleasure at assisting in the erection of so excellent an institution . He proceeded to

lay the stone with the prescribed ritual , interpolating , as the Prov . Grand Chaplain did in his prayers , sentences appropriate to the occasion . The ceremony and speeches were interpreted to the mutes present , who numbered many adults . A liberal collection having been taken , and a vote of

thanks accorded to the Prov . Grand Master and the lodge , the brethren returned in carriages , rain having commenced to fall heavily , to the Guildhall , where the lodge was closed . The onerous duties of D . of C . were efficiently carried out by Bro . C . Haywood , P . G . D . C , assisted by Bro . J . N . Hounsell , Prov . A . G . D . C

An Oration.

AN ORATION .

Oration delivered by Bro . the Rev . ARTHUR SV . MONUS , J . W ., P . P . G . Chaplain , at the Centenary Celebration of Lodge Unanimity , No . 287 , on the 14 th ult .: " At first sight it may appear that , in attaching such importance to the centenary of the existence of a Masonic lodge , we are exposing ourselves to the charge

of inconsistency . If the origin of Masonry be so ancient , as our traditions tell us that it is , why draw the attention of the world to the fact that our local history extends back but a century . A century after all is but a fragment of time when compared with the life of the world , but a very short space even compared with the 30 centuries which have nearly elapsed

since the building of King Solomon's Temple . That Masonry is coeval with thought , as was recently stated at a meeting of Grand Lodge in Kansas , is a highsounding claim beside which the puny life of a century might well be thought to fade into insignificance . But surely the inconsistency is rather on the part of those who confuse the outward and symbolic character of

Masonry with the underlying and hidden principles of the Craft which in themselves are eternal , and which can be traced with more or less clearness down the history of the ages . The material history of our lodge , it is true , extends back but a century , but this century of united work and life is in itself a pledge to

ourselves and to the world of the soundness of those principles which underlie our outward organisation and give vitality to our existence . The science ot operative Masonry is indeed coeval with the history of civilisation , and none can fail to remark that from the earliest days the highest development of the operative work of the Craft has been in connection with the I

An Oration.

worship of the great Architect of the Universe . From the earliest times those engaged in the craft of Masonry appear to have been bound together by ties of brotherhood , and , to take only into consideration the history of our own land , we know that prior to the

12 th century the Masons were organised in guilds . The Halliwell MS ., dating from the latter end of the 14 th century , tells us something of the conditions on which members were admitted to the Craft in those days . The Master Mason must be ' both steadfast , trusty , and true . ' Of the 'prentice it

states—That he no bondsman prentys make . And again , the bodily perfection of the candidate is shown to have been necessary in the following lines—¦ To the craft hyt were gret schame To make an halt man and a lame , For an imperfect man of suche blod Schulde do the craft but lytyl good .

There is , however , no evidence that at this time teaching by symbolism was thought of , and though the moral teaching inculcated in the ' Old Charges , ' the oldest of which is said to date from the 14 th century , is peculiar to the operative fraternity of Masons , it is not until some centuries later that we must look for the development of speculation or philosophic Masonry , as

distinguished from operative Masonry . No emblem or token relating to speculation Masonry has been discovered prior to the middle of the 17 th century , but in 1646 we know that Ashmole , the antiquary , was admitted to a lodge at Warrington . It was during the 16 th and latter half of the 15 th century , that speculation , as distinguished from operative ,

Masonry was developed , and this development culminated in the revival or reconstruction which took place at the beginning of last century . We see , therefore , that the history of Masonry , although continuous , has undergone a change . It no longer concerns ourselves as a society with the operative work of the Craft , but confine ourselves to the moral and social welfare of our

members . Masonry has indeed been well described as 'a system of morality veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols , ' the allegory being drawn from the temple of King Solomon , the symbols being those which have in all ages been used amongst operative Masons . Although , then , we cannot claim for the history of speculative Masonry a separate life of more

than 250 years , we do claim that the Masonry of to-day and of the last two and a half centuries is but a development of the life of the past , and that the symbolic and allegorical teaching of to-day is the same in principle as it has ever been . The attainment , therefore , of the age of a century by any of speculative Masons is in itself an event worthy of commemoration . We

do not , therefore , dissever our connection with the past ; on the contrary , we , as a new branch , shot out a century ago , assert our living unity with the great eve of Masonry , which taking new life at the beginning of last century has thrust out its branches to the very end of the earth . When we were admitted to the Craft we were enjoined to make a daily advancement in Masonic

knowledge , and can we then do better than study the history of the past of which our centenary reminds us ? When we remember how utterly false and mistaken ideas about the history of our Craft prevail , not only in the outside world , but even within our lodges , we may well take into consideration whether it is not worth our while to make ourselves better acquainted with the

true facts of our history . Masonry is not an invention of the 19 th century , it is not a mere organisation for social purposes , but a living organisation founded upon the very purest principles , and having as its aim above all things the moral and social welfare of its members . No one can listen to the charges which are delivered at our lodge meetings without recognising this , and

surely we are bound by the ties of fraternal interest , by the common welfare of the Craft to do our utmost to secure the carrying out of the principles upon which our Society is based . This century has seen many changes in the world at large , and nowhere perhaps has this been more perceptible than in Masonry . The Craft is now a power in the land . Its Charities are unrivalled ,

its membership is sought and valued by the very highest in the land , and long may it continue so to be . We , then , to-day may well look back with pride upon the past century of our life . They , indeed , who founded this lodge and gave us our connection with the past have passed away , but the example that they have set us , and which has been emulated by so many who have

since filled their place and then like them passed away to what Spenser so happily terms ' the common sun of rest , ' may well arouse in us a greater enthusiasm for the Craft , a greater interest in the common welfare of our brethren , a more unbounded Charity , and a determination to show to the world that we , like them , are animated by the true spirit o brotherhood which has been the guiding star of Masonry throughout the ages ,

and which alone , under the direction of the Great Architect of the Universe , can bring about the full realisation of the brotherhood of man . And remembering the virtues and works of those brethren wno have gone before us , and who have handed do . vn to us the traditions and principles of Masonry for tne last 100 years , take to heart tnose touching and absolutely

true words ot Longfellow—Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime , And , departing , leave behind us , Footprints on the sands of Time .

Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire arrived at Chestcilield iiouse from Devonshire House , on . Monday evening , and at once proceeded to HardwiCK Hall , whe re they have since been entertaining a large shooting party .