Freemasonry In 1897.

Among other events which mav fitl y be included in this review ol the year ' s proceedings will be found the opening ol two Masonic Halls , one belonging to the St . Eleth Lodge , No . 14 S 8 , Amlwch b y liro . Col . l ' l . Plait , P . G . D ., Dep . P . G . M . of North Wales , and the other at Lyme Regis in January , while

daring the latter half of the same month the Studholme Lodge , No . 1591 , celebrated the 21 st anniversary ol ils constitution , on which occasion Bro . the Ri ght lion . W . Hume Long , M . P ., P . G . D ., President ol the Board of Agriculture , was installed VV . M . In February , as usual , the annual Festival of the

humiliation Lodge of Improvement , was held under the presidency of Bro . Lieut .-Gen . Laurie , M . P ., Past G . W ., Past G . Master of Nova Scotia , and there were also two Masonic Conversaziones , one at Bcurnemouth under the auspices of the Horsa Lodge , No . 2208 , and the other at Plumstead under those of Union Waterloo Lodge .

No . 13 . In March the Pilgrim Lodge , No . 238 , celebrated ihe hundredth anniversary of the birth of the late limperor William I . of Germany , who for many years was Protector of Masonry under the three Grand Lodges in Berlin . In April two events of interest occurred , one being the visit of the Gallery Lodge ,

No . 1928 , to St . Paul's Cathedral , and thc o < her the reception and the banquet to the Masonic members of the National Union of Teachers b y the Indefatigable Lodge , No . 237 , Swansea . On the 29 th June a special meeiing of the Empire Lodge , No . 2108 , was held , at which two Indian Princes

were initiated into FYcemasonry , while on the 13 th July , Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., Prov . ( i . Master of Hertfordshire , attended with the officers of his Prov . G . Lodge at Berkhampslead and

laid the foundation stone of certain new schools about to be erected in that town . On the 30 II 1 of the latter month a similar function was performed at Ashby-de-la-Zouche , when Bro . Earl Ferrers Prov . G . Master of Leicestershire and

Rutland , laid the foundation stone of a new Cottage Hospital . In August , Bro . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . G . Master of East Lancashire , laid the first stone of the Radcliffe Hall National Schools , and Bro . ihe Duke of Devonshire , K . G ., Lord President of the Council , Prov . G . Master of Derbyshire

attended b y invitation and performed the same function in the case of the Bradford Royal Infirmary , there being present a very numerous gathering of Masons , including most of the olficers and members of the Bradford lodges , and likewise Bro . the Right Hon . W . Lawies Jackson , M . P * Prov . G . Master of

West Yorkshire , and his Prov . G . Officers . Marl y in September , Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., Prov . G . Master of Worcestershire , opened a new Masonic Hall at Worcester , and slill more recently there was at Warwick a muster in force of the brethren on the occasion of Bro . the liarl ol Warwick , Prov .

G . Master of lissex , at the request of Bro . Lord Lei gh , Prov . G . Master , and the brethren of Warwickshire , unveiling a new pulp it recentl y p laced in St . Mary ' s Church , Warwick . There have also been sundry lodges hi g h up on the register ol the ( irand Lodge of England , to which bis Royal Highness the

M . W . G , Master has been p leased lo grant Centenary Warrants in consideration of their having been able to prove ; lo the satisfaction of the Grand Lodge authorities that they have been in continuous working for 100 years . These lodges include the Lodge of Stability , No . 217 , and that of Charity , No . 223 ,

Plymouth , which were both lounded b y the " Ancients " in 1797 ; the Lion Lodge , No . 312 , Whitby , which was held under the auspices of llie Prov . G . Lodge of Yorkshire ; and the Lodge of Peace and Unity , No . 314 , Preston . The Strong Man Lodge of Instruction , No . 45 , also celebrated ils centenary . There have also been the usual

number—or it may be more than the usual number— - of presentations made to brethren who have had ollice and other distinctions conferred upon I hem lor their services to F ' reemasonry , or who have retire I Irom ollice at the close of lorn'' and arduous services : anion !' ' the brethren thus honoured

being Bro . Joseph Robinson , P . M ., P . Prow G . Warden , Dorsetshire , by the Lodge of F ' aith and Unanimity , No . 417 , Dorchester ; Bro . Hans Scharien , W . M . of the Ranelagh Lodge , No . 834 ; David Rose , P . M ., Preceptor to ihe Rose Lodge of Instruction ; Bro . C . J . Woodford , P . M ., Secretary ,

P . Prov . ( J . P . Dorsetshire , by the Lodge ol Amity , No . 137 , Poole ; Bro . J . Whitehead Smith , P . M ., P . Z ,, No . 022 , V . Prov . G . W . Dorsetshire ; James Stephens , Dep . G . D . C , who was presented with his G . Lodge Clothing b y the Lodge of Fellowship , No . 2535 ; Mro . ( j . II . Hutchinson , I . P . M ., b y the

Furnival Lodge , No . 255 8 , Sheffield , on his leasing lingland ' "i- British Columbia ; Mro . J . J . Thomas , P . G . Std . Br ., who presented wiih the G . Lodge Clothing of his rank . Mro . !•' . tiil . Iin Thoin . 'is , P . Prov . ( j . W . liasl Lancashire ; Mro .

Richard Luck , bv Restoration Lodge , No . 111 , Darlington , on the occasion ot his appointment to the rank of Past G Deacon of lingland ; Mro . W . Vincent , b y Villiers Lodge , No . 119 . J , Hampton Court , on his appointment as G . Std . Br . ; Bro . W , II . Cowper , on his becoming G . Std . Br ., b y Lodges

Nos . 602 , 1818 and 2391 , Middlesborough ; Bro . the Earl Iigerton of Tatton , Prov . G . M . Cheshire , on his advancement to the dignity of an liarl ; and Mro . the Rev . C . Ilenton Wood , M . A ., on his appointment as Past G . Chaplain by the brelhren of Leicestershire and Rutland , the presentation being made in

open Prov . G . Lodge on the 28 th October . Nor must we omit to refer to the very interesting event which occurred at Poole on the 26 th August , when the City Masonic Club Lifeboat , presented by the London City Masonic Club , was launched amid public demonstrations of pleasure and

satisfaction . There have been likewise numerous entertainments in different parts of . the country b y lodges and brethren to the poor , both young and aged , who , we maybe assured , have not been overlooked in this year of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee .

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY . 'I he Royal Arch Chapters , for which warrants have been granted during the present year may not be more numerous—as a matter of fact they are less numerous bv one—than in 1806 .

but on the whole we arc inclined to think that Royal Arch Masonry has well maintained its position , while undoubtedly the

proceedings in Supreme G . Chapter have created a hi gher interest than usual . One thing wc have noticed that in the great majority of the petitions for warrants which have been submitted to the authorities , the number of companions signing them has been considerable , the inference being that there are more who

lake an interest in this branch of constitutional Masonry than formerly . Be this as it mav , there have been warranted this year 15 Chapters , of which seven arc in London , seven in the Provinces , and one abroad ; as compared with the 16 of last year , of which six were London , eight Provincial , and two Colonial :

with 17 in 18 95 , of which two were London , eleven Provincial , and four Colonial ; and wilh 22 in 18 94 , of which six were London , nine Provincial , and seven Colonial . From these figures it is clear that while at home , the Uoyal Arch has held its own , there has been a dearth of new Chapters in the Colonics , while

one South African Chapter , which is reported as never having been consecrated , has been erased from the list , and a few others which have made no ' returns for years have been called upon to show cause wh y they should not be similarl y dealt with . Thc seven new London Chapters are the Philbrick Chapter , No . 1662 ,

attached to the lodge which bears the same honoured name , and meeting at Walthamstow in Essex , but within the limits of the Metropolitan District , which was started on its career b y the G . Scribe E , under Comp . William Shurmur , as ils lirst M . E . Z . ; the Skelmersdale , No . 16 58 , with Comp . I lall as the premier First

1 rmcipal ; the Crusaders , No . 1 ( 177 , which has started under a very worth y Companion , James Speller , as its first M . Ii . Z ., and the Abbey Chapter , No . 2030 , with Bro . Ilardwicke , M . Ii . Z . The Plucknett , No . 1708 , 1 ms Comp . G . J . Austin lo preside over it during the first year ol " its existence , while the Columbia

Chapter , No . 2397 ; attached to the Columbia , a lodge which is modelled on the lines of the Anglo-American , can hardl y fail to be a success , seeing ihe first M . Ii . Z . is Comp . R . C . Sudlow , one of the most capable exponents of Masonic Ritual of the present day . The remaining Chapter is the Papyrus , No . 25 62 , attached

to the lodge of the same name which has entered upon ils career under Comp . ( i . F . Burbridge as its First Principal . Of the seven new Provincial Chapters , one , the Grcnville , No . 17 8 7 , Buckingham , under Comp . Lord Addington as M . E . Z ., has been

p laced on the roll of Buckinghamshire , a second is located at Birkenhead in the Province <> l Cheshire , attached to the Minerva Lodge , No . 2435 , and was consecrated b y Comp-. the lion . Alan de Tatton Iigerton , ( i . Superintendent , as t / ie Newhouse Chapter , out of compliment lo Comp . Richard Newhouse , Prov .

G . S . li ., who , on the constitution of the chapter , was installed as M . Ii . Z . ; while a third- Ihe Radnor , No . 2587 , attached lo the lodge ol the same name , al Folkestone—was consecrated b y Comp . Earl Amherst , G . ll ., ( i . Supt . of Kent , and has Comp . Lieut .-Col . James Hamilton for its lirst M . Ii . Z . The remaining

four are distributed equall y between the Provinces of Worcestershire and West Yorkshire , the two in the former being the Godson , No . 2385 , Oldburv , with Comp . Enoch Wood as M . Ii . Z . ; and the Masefield , No . 2034 , Moseley , wilh Com ]) . 11 . Clark in a like capacity . The West Yorkshire two are the Colne Valley ,

No . i (> 4 . "i , Slaithwaile , under Com ]) . Walter Dyson F"irsL Principal Z . ; and the Milton , No . 1 239 , attached to the Wentworth Lodge , Sheffield , with Comp . II . j ! E . Holmes as its M . E . Z . The solitary chapter in Foreign Paris for which a warrant has been granted is the liinulation , No . 1100 , meeting in the city of

Bombay , which enters upon its career under the auspices of ( omp . his Excellency Lord Sandhurst , Governor of the Presidency , as its M . Ii . Z . As regards the proceedings in Supreme Grand Chapter , nothing occurred at the February Convocation which is worth calling attention to . In May the Grand Oflicers