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Masons , their widows and orphans . " The whole cost of management has been about £ 1400 , so that economy and efficiency have been combined in an able manner , and the " itemised statement of disbursements , " printed with the elaborate report , enables all concerned to trace the expenditure of every dollar , besides which an interesting account is given of the receipts at the

tables , by tickets , and through donations , under lodges , Committees , and ladies' gifts . We have never seen a better or a more exhaustive report in our experience , and , to our minds , it speaks volumes in praise of the management which has thus obtained the largest sum at any Masonic Fair in the

world , at the lowest possible cost , to the immense benefit of the beloved Craft . So far , then , the ladies of New York have earned the prize for the best and largest Masonic Fair , and well deserve the heartfelt thanks of the brethren for whom they have so . successfully toiled , All honour to them we say , and so will all say , who even slightly realise what the great effort has

meant . * * # THE Grand Lodge of New York is evidently well managed of and most ablv financed under the present regime ; and though

New York . Qne catmot help wishing that similar efficiency had been displayed in years gone by , any feelings of regret for past incompetency are swallowed up in the satisfaction felt with the success which has followed the genial rule and indomitable determination of Grand Master LAWRENCE who bids fair to witness the extinction of the Hall debt during the present

term of his eventful Grand Mastership . His address to the Grand Lodge in June last is now printed and lies before us , making most interesting and suggestive reading . Since the present efforts , so ably inaugurated in 1866 by the Grand Master , over £ 67 , 000 have been voluntarily contributed by lodges to discharge their share of the debt , and others , holding aloof until

now , are preparing in like manner to discharge their obligations , so that the comparatively small adverse balance will soon be wiped out , and the funds of the Grand Lodge be alloted to Charitable purposes . For the latter purpose the "Masonic Fair" Committee have placed over £ 15 , in the hands of the Grand Master , and when the debt is cleared the large

income of the Grand Lodge will form a grand and certain means of providing the annual expenditure for the contemplated Benevolest Institution . The Grand Master speaks in the highest terms of the service rendered by Grand Secretary EHLERS , and likewise of Bro . H . G . CARTER ' valuable labours as the Grand Librarian . The Library and Reading-room have

grown in favour . and have continued to deserve the appreciation of all brethren who visit the building . Two classes of Masonic works have been catalogued during the year , the lists being published with the proceedings , and 180

volumes have been added to the library , so that Bro . CARTER is jubilant and encouraged . R . W . Bro . C . T . MCCLENACHAN is writing a history of the Grand Lodge , for which he is so competent , and we are glad to hear the first volume is confidently looked for during this session .

Old Warrants.—Xv.—Xvi.—Xvii

OLD WARRANTS . —XV . —XVI . —XVII

COPY OF No . 60 , ENNIS , A . D . 6 [ 1803 ] Signed By the Right Worshipful & Right Honourable The Lord Viscount Tyrone , G . M . Tyrone Grand Master of all the Lodges of Freemasons in the Kingdom J . Brennan , of Ireland ; the Right Worshiplul James Brennan , M . D ., Deputy D . G . M . Grand Ma-ter ; the Wpful . John Corneille & William Sandford , Esqre . I & Wardens ] Grand Wardens . Whereas our Trusty and Well-beloved Brothers George Lotton Henry McClosky & John Uniack have besought Us , that we would

be pleased to erect a Lodge of Free-Masons in the Town of Ennis and County of Clare of such Persons who by their Knowledge and Skill in Masonry may contribute to the Well-being and Advancex ^ . -N . ment thereof . We therefore duly weighing the Premisses , and f \ having nothing more at Heart than the Prosperity and true Advance-I Seal 1 ment 0 I Masonry , and reposing special Trust and Confidence in our \ I Trusty and Well-beloved Brothers , the said George Lotton Henry

\ / McClosky & John Uniackof whoseAbilities and Knowledge in Masonry , ^ ^ _^^ We are satisfied : Do by these Presents , of our certain Knowledge and meer motion , Nominate , Create , Authorize , and Constitute the said George Lotton Henry McClosky and John Uniack to be Master and Wardens of a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , to be held by them and their Successors , lawfully admitted in the said Lodge , for ever . And we do hereby give and grant unto the said

George Lotton Henry McClosky and John Uniack and their Sue-No . 60 cessors , full Power and lawful Authority , from Time to Time , to proceed to Election of a new Master and Wardens , to make such Laws , Rules and Orders , as they , from Time to Time , shall think Proper and Convenient , for the Well-being and Ordering of said Lodge ; reserving to ourselves and our Successors , Grand Masters

or Grand Wardens , ot Ireland , the sole right of deciding all Differences which shall be brought by Appeal before Us , and our Successors , Grand Masters or Grand Wardens of Ireland . In Witness whereof , we have hereunto set our Hands and Seal of Office , this thirtyeth day of December in the year of our Lord God 1736 and in the year of Masonry 5736 . Enter'd by me

JOHN PENNELL Secy . I do hereby certify that a Warrant of this tenor and Date was this day produced to me much injured by time & accident & that this is a true Duplicate & reorbal thereof May 24 th 1 S 03 . „^ J A . SETON

D . G . S . Bro . John Hill , of Ennis , has kindly sent the foregoing transcript . It will be seen that the old warrant of 1736 was useless , and hence a copy was officially furnished the Lodge No . 60 in 1803 , duly sealed , by which it still works . The value of this document to us students is derived from the fact that this seal of 1803 is the same as the one referred to by Bro . H . Sadler in his second interesting article on " Grand Lodge Seals of the Ancients "

{ Freemason , July 7 th , 1888 ) , bearing the motto , Silentio , virtute et amore . When the seal was cut or first used , I am unable at present to determine , but quite think with Bro . Sadler that Bro . Rylands has good grounds for believing it was employed to attest warrants of the Grand Lodge of Ireland at least a century or more ago . I remember seeing one or more seals attached to old Irish charters , which , though much injured , resembled that of this drawing E given by Bro , Sadler * and > at all events , Uiat of No . 6 o

Old Warrants.—Xv.—Xvi.—Xvii

proves it was used in 1803 on a warrant . I have also seen a certificate attested by the same seal dated 8 th November , 1792 . Bro . Sadler has done excellent service in relation to seals , and I hope he has not yet finished the subject , for those used by the original Grand Lodge of England are well deserving of attention , especially the earliest known with the motto in Greek , "In the beginning was the word . "

COPY OF No . 49 , CHARLEVILLE , A . D . 1736 . Kingston , G . M , By the Right Worshipful , and Right Honourable Lord Kingston Ja . Brenan Grand Master of all the Lodges of Free-Masons in the Kingdom of D . G . M . IRELAND , the Worshipful James Brenan M . D . Deputy Grand Mas . [& Wardens ] ter , the Worshipful John Baldwin and John Corneille , Esqrs Grand Wardens . No . 49 WHEREAS our Trusty and Well-beloved Brothers James Donegan ivlLewis uent

. u . Bruce ana Keuoen Kooercs , , nave besought Us that we would be pleased to erect a Lodge of Free-Masons , in the Town of Charleville in the County of Cork , of such persons , who / N . by their Knowledge and Skill in Masonry , may contribute to the f \ Well-Being and Advancement thereof . We therefore duly weighing ' c I J the Premisses , and having nothing more at Heart , than the Pros-1 seal . 1 perity and true Advancement of Masonry , and reposing Special

\ ^^_ _ ^ / Trust and Confidence in our Trusty and Well-beloved Brothers , the said James Donegan Lewis Bruce and Reuben Roberts , of whose Abilities and Knowledge in Masonry , We are satisfied ; Do by these PRESENTS , of Our certain Knowledge , and meer Motion , Nominate Create , Authorize and Constitute the said James Donegan , Master ' Lewis Bruce and Reuben Roberts , Wardens , to be Master and War ' , dens of a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , to be held by them

and their Successors lawfully admitted in the said Lodge , for ever . AND We do hereby Give and Grant unto the said James Donegan Lewis Bruce and Reuben Roberts and their Successors , full Power and lawful Authority from Time to Time to proceed to Election of a new Master and Wardens , to make such Laws , Rules and Orders , as they from Time to Time shall think Proper and Convenient for the Well-Being and Ordering of the said Lodge : reserving to Our Selves

and Our Successors , Grand Masters or Grand Wardens of IRELAND the sole Right of deciding all Differences which shall be brought by Appeal before Us and Our Successors , Grand Masters or Grand Wardens of IRELAND . In WITNESS whereof , We have hereunto set our Hands and Seal of Office this twelfth Day of April in the Year of our Lord God , 1736 and in the Year of Masonry , 57313 . Intratur per JOHN PENNELL Secretary .

The foregoing was forwarded by Bro . Weldon , whose careful transcri pt has enabled the printer to exhibit its typographical character . Being an orginal warrant of 1736 , it is well worthy of reproduction , though the name of the Grand Master was known and registered previously . An impression of the seal , forwarded by Bro . Armstrong of Bandon , bears the name of "Emerald Lodge , Charleville , Instituted 1736 , " thereon ; names of lodges are rarely noted for Ireland . There is also a seal of " Charleville Lodge , No . 49 " for a higher Degree .

COPY OF No . J 4 » GALWAY , A . D . 1733 . By the Right Worshipful , and Rt Honourable the Lord Viscount Netiwille Grand Master of all the Lodges of Fremasons in the Kingdom of Ireland , the Rt Worshipful , and Rt Honourable the Lord Viscount Kingsland , Deputy Grand Master ; the Rt Worshipful , and Honourable , Wm Ponsonby ; and Dillon Collard Hampson ; Esqrs ; Grand Wardens .

Whereas , our Trusty and Well beloved Brothers . Robert Andrew , John Cox , and Dominick Lynch , have besought us , that we would be pleased to erect a Lodge of Freemasons , in the town of Galway . in Ireland ; of such persons ; who by their Knowledge , and Skill , in Masonry ; may contribute to the wellbeing and advancement thereof . We therefore , duly weighing the Premises , and having nothing more at Heart , than the Prosperity and true Advancement of Masonry , and reposing special Trust and Confidence . in our Trusty and wellbeloved Brothers , the said Robert Andrews . John Cox . and

Dominick Lynch—of whose Abilities and Knowledge in Freemasonry We are satisfied . Do by these Presents , of Our certain Knowledge , and meer Motion . Nominate , Create , Authorize , and Constitute , the said Brjs Robert Andrews Bro John Cox , and Bro . Dominick Lynch , to be Master and Wardens of a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , to be held by them and their Successors lawfully admitted in the said Lodge for ever , And We do hereby give and Grant unto the said Bros Robert Andrew . John Cox . and

Dominick Lynch and their Successors , full power and lawful Authority from Time to Time , to proceed to Election of a new Master and Wardens , to make such Laws Rules , and Orders , as they , from Time to Time , shall think proper and Convenient , for the well being , and ordering of , the said Lodge , reserving to ourselves , and Our Successors . Grand Masters or Grand Wardens of Ireland the sole right of deciding all Differences , which shall be brought by appeal before us and Our Successors , Grand Master or Grand Wardens of Ireland .

In witness whereof . We have hereunto set Our Hands and Seal of Office this First day of May in the Year of Our Lord . God . 1733 . : and in the Year of Masonry . 5733 . Entered by me .

EDW . SPRAT L Seer Were the above of 1733 a transcript of an English warrant , it would be of special value , but as a copy of an Irish charter , it is not of such an unusual character , there being several preserved of that Grand Lodge dating even so far back as 1733 , and even to 1731 . The Grand Lodge Calendar of 1888 has the year 1732 ascribed to No . 14 , which is clearly an error , the original of the above being of the 1 st of May , 1733 . W . J . HUGHAN .

Past Festivals Of The Girls' School.

PAST FESTIVALS OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

It is to be regretted that the brethren of former days should have set their faces so resolutely against the publication of anything in the nature of Masonic intelligence . Had it been otherwise , we should have known more about their proceedings at lodge and Provincial G . Lodge meetings , and more about their opinions on topics of general interest to the Craft . It 1 S

indeed highly probable that if there had been such a medium as a Weekly Journal or Monthly Magazine of Masonry must afford for the interchange of views on the Masonic differences which prevailed in Eng land during the latter half of the i 8 th and and the first 13 years of the present century , these differences would have been less acute , and a modus vivendi

between the rival sections of the English Craft would have been soonei found . But , a century ago , and even in times more recent , there v > many brethren who regarded it as rank heresy for Masons even to whisper in the ears of the profane , and , still worse , to communicate to the profane press , any news about Freemasonry . There was , it is true ,

Freemasons' Magazine published monthly during the years 1793-9 8 , but the bulk of its contents related to general topics , the Masonic matter being the general in about the same proportion as Falstaff ' s bread was to n ' " unconscionable deal of sack . " However , it fortunately happens , aproP of the Festival which we have been celebrating this year with so much sfo v