Ireland.

Ireland .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ARMAGH . The above Provincial Grand Lodge held its usual October meeting in the new Masonic Flail , Castleblaney ( a building which does credit to the Craft of the district ) on Friday , the 25 th ult . In the absence

0 f the Prov . G . M ., Bro . Capt . Beresford , Bro . Cooper directed the proceedings . The ordinary Provincial Grand Lodge business was transacted , and the officers for the ensuing year were ele-ted as follows :

Bro . Capt . Geo . Beresford ... Prov . G . M . A . R . Young Dep . Prov . G . M . „ C . P . Cooper Prov . S . G . W . „ H . J . Breakey Prov . J . G . W . „ Charles Ensor Prov . G . Treas . Wm . Hamilton Prov . G . Sec . „ Rev . A . B . R . Young , M . A ... ,, Rev . R . Conway ( „ „ ,- ,, " Rev . M . A . Holden , ^ Prov . G . Chaps .

„ Rev . R . Hogg , D . D . ... ) „ James M'Fadden Prov . S . G . D . „ Wm . M'Kenna Prov . J . G . D . „ F . L . Martin Prov . G . D . C . „ John Johnston Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ Henry Cuming Prov . G . I . G . „ Robert P . Logan Prov . G . Steward .

„ Robert J . Wright " ) „ Sir Robert Herron [ Prov . G . Rs . B . G . P . „ C . P . Cooper 3 James Hesse } u „ , Charles Ensor j Prov . G . Rs . G . L . I .

A welcome was accorded to the visiting brethren . Bro . Sir ROBERT HERRON , a former resident of the district , responded , and expressed himself gratified with the progress of Masonry in Castleblaney and the working of the Provincial Grand Lodge , which working , he said , he had never seen excelled .

The local brethren provided an equisite luncheon . At eight o ' clock a concert was held , amongst those present being Sir Robert and Lad y Herron , Lord Pelham Clinton-Hope , Lord and Lady Pelham Clinton , Mr . L . Walshe , Mr . and Mrs . Wri ght , J . Kelly , J . P .,

Mr . Donla , J . P ., Mr . and Mrs . Jackson and Miss Owens , Mr . and Miss Hamilton , Rev . A . B . Young . Rev . Mr . Hogg and Mrs . Hogg , Mr . Crawford , Mr . ' Pirn , Mr . Hind , Mr . Carson , Mr . Brever , Mr . Swanzey , and others .

After the concert a ball took place in the large recreation room of the hall , which was beautifull y decorated , and a supper was laid in the lodge room , which did credit to the local caterers . It was with regret that the party separated in the grey dawn of the morning , the local brethren satisfied they had given their visitors a hearty reception , and the visitors deli ghted with the entertainment .

An Important Certificate.

AN IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE .

M . W . Bro . John C . Smith , Grand Master of Illinois , has kindl y sent me a copy of a remarkable document , owned by him , of the year 1756 . It was given to . my distinguished friend b y a Brother who was unable to furnish any account of its past history , so that we are left to conjecture , and must do our best under the

circumstances . It is evidently a " clearance certificate" or "Dimit , " according to modern phraseology , and was issued to a Brother Harding , who was a member of Lodge No . 2 , Philadelphia , meeting in the " Lodge House , in Lodge Alley , " and as it is addressed to the officers and members of " constituted" Lodges , we may take it for granted that this

Lodge had been " constituted" b y some admitted or recognised authority of the period . The seal bears the legend "friendship abounds , " and encloses a prom . nent figure , known as " clasped hands , " denoting 1 ' raternity . The following is an exact reproduction of the curious and exceedingly- valuable document . [ SEAL ] " Right Worshipful Brethren :

' This accompanies our Brother , Mr . James Harding , oy whom we present you our Love and Respects ; "oping that all who profess the Honourable Craft enjoy Health and Prosperity . ' "We having a due regard for our Brother , Mr . James Harding , the Bearer hereofhope you will

ac-, cept him as one who has gone thro' the Three Degrees ot Masonry and appeared to us worthy of your regard wheresoever dispersed , which we Testify , he being regularl y admitted and became a member of our Lod ge — . We therefore desire you'll do him whatever services lie in your power , which we shall esteem is

¦ done ourselves and embrace any opportunity to return the kindness , being T " From ll ' -e Lodge House , in Lodge Alley , Philadel phia , No . 2 , the 6 th of September ,

5756 . J . ALLICOCKE , Secretary , " P . T . , " Worth y Brethren " J

"ur Loving Brothers and Most Humble Servants , WILLIAM SHULE , Master , WM . CLAMPSTER S . Warden , WILLIAM GHISELM , J . Warden . "

An Important Certificate.

"To The Masters , Wardens and Brethren of any Constituted Lodge To whom these may come . " In that grand volume , published in 18 77 , by the Library Committee , Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania

( Bro . C . E . Meyer , Chairman ) , will be found particulars of five hundred and fifty-five Lodges , at work one time or other in that State , or granted elsewhere by the Grand Lodge , prepared by my old friend , Bro . Meyer . Also three Lodges are described prior to the enumeration , which began with the " Ancients" in 1758 ,

The first , of course , is the " Time Immemorial Lodge , which met in the Tun Tavern , Philadelphia , from about 1 730 , and which has been most interestingly described by the editor of THE KEYSTONE ( now the esteemed Grand Master of Pennsylvania ) . The second is termed "Saint John ' s Lodge , James Pogrew , Master ,

1749 , " and the third , Tun Lodge , in Lodge Alley , No . 3 , 1753 or 1754 , " all three assembling in the City of Brotherl y Love . It will be noted that the Lodge which granted the dimit is not named , but is numbered 2 ; and met in "Lodge Alley , " "the Lodge House , " being the first Masonic Hall erected in America , and

was occupied by the Lodges from 1754 . In 1755 there were three Lodges meeting in the city , " Bro . Meyer tells us , a fact which is proved beyond question in a printed pamphlet still preserved of that year . There were three Lodges of the " Moderns " ( so-called ) also in 1760 , as we know from a newspaper of that year ,

the third being called the " Tun Lodge . " So I have come to the conclusion that No . 2 , formed in 1749 , is the Lodge that granted this certificate of 1756 . It is the oldest document of the kind I have ever met with issued for any part of America , and its interest and value cannot well be over-estimated . It shows how regularly

the proceedings were conducted , and that the members acted as if their position was according to ancient usage and custom . It would appear that the second and third Lodges were the outcome of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , which was an outgrowth of the old " Time Immemorial Lodge , " though the statement

made ( and officially endorsed ) to the contrary certainly deserves consideration , and may yet be found correct , though , personally , I doubt it . In "The Picture of Philadelphia , " & c , by Dr . Mease , of Philadelphia , 1811 , is a long sketch of the " Society of Masons , " wherein mention is made of a

Provincial Grand Lodge held in 1 749 , by Bro . Benjamin Franklin , authorised by Bro . Thomas Oxnard , of Boston ( as Prov . G . M ., & c ) , and at which " meeting a Warrant was granted to James Pogreen . " P ± note states that the document was signed by " William , Lord Byron , Baron of Rockdale , in the county of Lancaster

G . M . this extraordinary statement is contrary to all the evidence we have been able to discover in the archives of the Grand Lodge of England , and induces me to believe that the note should refer to some other matter , possibly the appointment of Bro . William Allen as Provincial Grand Master of Pennsylvania ,

who was so honoured by the Grand Master of England , then Lord Byron . There was not a single Lodge hailing from any part of Pennsylvania on any engraved or printed list of Lodges issued by the Grand Lodge of England — " Moderns "—for the last century , nor is there even

one noted in any MS . Register of that Body . Those familiar with Bro . John Lane ' s "Masonic Records , 1717-18 S 6 , " will be aware that there is a question as to a No . 79 , in 1731 , because it is noted in a Dublin " Pocket Companion" of the year 1735 . About this entry I need not stay to say a word , as it does not affect the Grand Lodge Records .

Yet , notwithstanding this fact , the Grand Lodge of England acknowledged the Freemasons of Philadel phia and Pennsylvania to be regular , because Benjamin Franklin and his Provincial Grand Secretary visited that august Body , on 17 th November , 1760 . It affords me great pleasure to be the medium of this aged document being first made known in the pages of the everracy KEYSTONE . —Bro . W . J . Hughan in The Keystone - *

Masonic Sermon At Marple, Cheshire

MASONIC SERMON AT MARPLE , CHESHIRE

The brethren of the Lodge of Benevolence , No . 33 6 , held at Marple , Cheshire , met on Sunday afternoon , the 20 th ult ., a dispensation having been granted by the P . G . M ., Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton . About 100 brethren , including many visitors from other lodges ,

assembled , and proceeded to Marple Church , where , by the kind permission of the Rev . R . S . Adams , vicar , a special sermon was preached in aid of the Masonic Charities by Bro . the Rev . Bigoe Bagot , LL . D ., rector of Beswick , Manchester , P . M ., P . P . G . C . Cheshire , and P . G . C . East Lancashire . The vicar conducted the

service , and the choir rendered the anthem , " Sing praises , " and other selections . Bro . Arthur Taylor presided at the organ . . Bro . the Rev . B . BAGOT said , in the course cf his sermon , that if they went through the length and breadth of the land they would find numerous proofs of

the great work Freemasons had performed in past times . They had built many of the cathedrals and churches injj England , and all over the country were to be found specimens of the great and earnest work to which their forefathers in the Craft had set their hand .

Masons met together in that friendly spirit which did not compromise one sincere connection or sanction one uncharitable thought . The magnificent Institutions of Masonry were a great lever and a great attractive power , which would ever commend themselves to the public ,

Masonic Sermon At Marple, Cheshire

and they were a means which had attracted to its rites all grades and conditions of men , from the future King of England down to the humblest subject of the Queen . In conclusion , he said he had laid before them what he believed to be the true principles of Masonry , and he hoped every brother present would act up to those

principles , would conduct himself with morality and uprightness in all his dealings , and never be ashamed to acknowledge that he was a Mason . The collections amounted to £ 1 $ 15 s . 3 d . Among the brethren present were Bros . J . Phythian , W . M . ; Thos . Eyre Mason , P . M ., P . G . T . ; R . Andrew ,

P . M ., P . S . G . D . ; J . E . Steward , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . ; FI . Jackson , P . M ., P . P . G . P ., Treas . ; J . Boardman , P . M . ; W . Hardy , P . M . ; W . Caldwell , P . M . ; J . Sherwin , P . M . ; J . Crompton , P . M . ; J . T . Cartwright , P . M . ; Jessie Tymm , P . M . ; J . E . Radford , S . W . ; W . H . Lazenby , Sec ; T . C . Wilson , S . D . ; Arthur

Taylor , Org . ; A . F . Heyworth , Asst . Org . ; J . Taylor , I . G . ; J . Osbaldistone , P . M ., Tyler ; and W . Fielding . Visitors : Bros . Thos . Brooke , P . M . 332 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; R . Clayton , W . M . 654 ; J . W . Wyatt , P . M . 654 , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Bailey , W . M . 361 , P . G . Stwd . ; J . K . Brady , P . M . 322 ,

P . P . G . S . B . ; J . W . Hartley , P . M . 1126 , P . P . G . P . ; J . Wakefield , 28 7 , P . P . G . S . ; J . Ashton , P . M . 320 ; J . E . Smith , 210 ; T . Schofield , P . M . 430 ; S . M . Brooks , P . M . 3 61 ; H . Woodall , P . M . 1126 ; A . Shirley , J . W . 2231 ; J . S . Lomas , 104 ; C . Martyne ,

138 7 ; G . Higginbotham , P . M . 654 , P . G . S . ; A . Williamson , J . W . 1774 ; J . Crompton , 152 ; W . Walker , P . M . 884 ; T . Whalley , P . M . 323 ; J . D . S . Hollingworth , 758 ; J . H . Marsh , 317 ; J . T . Bowker , - 461 ; J . Hartley , 581 ; and W . Campbell , W . M . 654 .

The Old Masonians.

THE OLD MASONIANS .

For the benefit of the funds of our " Old Boys' " Association , a body of amateur histrions , most of them members of the Old Masonians' Association , gave a performance of " Cyril ' s Success " ( considered by many connoisseurs to be the best comedy the late H . J . Byron ever wrote ) at St . George ' s Hall , on

Saturday , the 2 nd inst ., under the direction of . Mr . Fred Gartside . The amateurs had the advantage of the valuable assistance of Miss Lillie Russell , as Mrs . Cuthbert ; Mrs . B . M . de Solla , as Miss Grannett , and Miss Lilian Hingston ( Mrs . Singleton Bliss ) . Miss Russell must

be commended for a very delightful rendering of the leading female role , while Mrs . de Solla played Miss Grannett in a finished style , displaying a rare sense of humour in that effective part , and Miss Lilian Hingston , as the fascinating widow , won all hearts . Miss Gertrude Uwins , a pretty young lady worthy of better things ,

undertook the small part of Perkins . Of the gentlemen , the lead , Cyril Cuthbert , was in the hands of Mr . Mark Paton , who , though , perhaps , not quite equal to all the demands upon him , was , at any rate , easy and natural , and occasionally showed evidence of power . Mr . C . H . Uwins was incisive

and capable as Major Treheme , M . P ., playing with praiseworthy care . The Hon . Fred . Titeboy was entrusted to Mr . G . A . Seager , who , with a little more experience , would make a hit in such parts . Matthew Pincher found a very satisfactory exponent in Mr . A . B . Whiteley , while more or less clever sketches of character were given by Mr . F . Crew ( Viscount

Glycerine ) , Mr . J . C . Johnson ( Col . Ravvker ) , Mr . R . S . Chandler ( Mr . Fitz-Pelham ) , Mr . W . J . Packer ( Jonas Grimley ); the minor characters were carefully played by Messrs . O'Doherty , Dyer , Gough , and Stephenson . The stage management was most excellent , with the exception of the curtain to the second act , which , by some mistake , was rung down far too soon .

Annual Supper Of The Shepherd And Flock Masonic Clubs.

ANNUAL SUPPER OF THE SHEPHERD AND FLOCK MASONIC CLUBS .

The Fourth Annual Supper was held at Bro . Gilliard ' s , The Castle Tavern , Holloway-road , on Wednesday , the 30 th ult ., in connection with the above clubs . Bro . W . R . Haylock , W . M . 901 , occupied the chair , and Bro . R . Gilliard , D . C . 901 , the vice-chair . There were present Bros . A . H . Hickman , P . M . 228 ;

C . W . McIntyre North , J . W . 1559 ; W . Elliott , I . G . 16 93 ; Percy Phillips , 820 ; J . Hobart , 901 ; J . J . Goode , J . P ., P . M . 196 4 ; C . Bouffler , 901 ; and Rubert , 901 . The supper was graced with the presence of the following ladies : Mrs . Haylock , Mrs . Hickman , Mrs .

Gilhard , Mrs . Rubert , Mrs . Elliott , Mrs . Bouffler , and Mrs . Spratt . After the toast of "The Queen and the Craft " had been given , some capital songs were given by the ladies and brethren , and a very pleasant evening was

spent . Master Gilliard played a violin solo and sung a song with great effect . It is needless to mention that Bro . Gilliard catered in such a manner as to p-ive satisfaction to all .

+ The first entertainment of the season at Brompton Hospital took place on Tuesday evening last , and consisted of songs , duets , recitations , pianoforte and clarionet solos by Mdlle . Alice Roselli ( who organised the programme ) ,

Mrs . Welman , Miss Wclman , Miss Blanche Renwick , Miss Nicholson , Mr . James A . Bovett , Miss Augusta Hervey , Mr . Frank Farren , Mr . Lazarus , Mr . Fountain Meen , and Mr . Churchill Sibley . The patients were much pleased with the kind efforts of the various artistes .