Masonic Notes.

at the Finsbury Barracks . The latter is formed by the officers of the City of London Militia out of members of their own corps , Col . Dundas being the firs ! Master . The consecration ceremony was performed by the Grand Secretary , Bro . E . Letchworth . * * *

The final meeting of the Board of Stewards for thc recent Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys will be held at Freemasons' Hall on Friday next , the 20 th inst ., at 4 . 30 p . m ., when the accounts will be examined , and , if approved , ordered to be paid , and votes of thanks to the officers of thc Board be passed . Any other business that may present itself will then be disposed of , and the Board dissolved .

* Following what has now become a time-honoured custom in the Aldersgate Lodge , thc members entertained Bro . E . F . B . Fuller , the retiring W . M ., and Mrs . Fuller to a complimentary banquet at Whitehall Rooms , Hotel Metropole , on Saturday , the 30 th ult .

The present W . M ., Bro . George Rawlinson , presided . The toasts were few and commendably brief , but the time was pleasantly filled up by an excellent programme of music performed by the students of the Guildhall School of Music , with Miss Kate A . Davies at the pianoforte . About 50 brethren and ladies were present .

It has been suggested by several correspondents that as Grand Lodge has most gracefully accorded a vote of congratulation on the birth of a Prince , there is no necessity for private lodges to send congratulatory addresses . The representative body has done all that is required .

We learn from a report in last month ' s number of the Indian Masonic Review that the Madras Masonic Institution has well maintained its position during the year 1893 , but the Committee of Management earnestly impress upon the brethren "the necessity of regular subscriptions , as , under Article XII . of the Bylaws , all donations must be funded , and the current

expenses met from subscriptions and interest on invested capital . " However , these sources of income appear to have been nearly , if not quite , sufficient for the purpose , while the amount of invested capital has been increased during the year by 1000 rupees . The number of children to whom the benefits of the Institution were extended was 12 , as in 1892 . « * *

From the same Review we have strong evidence of the prosperity of Freemasonry in the District of the Punjab . This is made manifest by the speech of Bro . Col . C . F . Massy , D . G . M ., when he presided at the meeting of D . G . Lodge on the 10 th March last , and showed that all the lodges in the district , with on

excepticn , were in a flourishing condition , and in the case of the excepted lodge its weakness appears to have been due , not to any lack of zeal on the part of the members or any differences among them , but to their being " scattered over a large area , living long distances from the lodge , with a very small field for recruitment . " It is equally satisfactory to note that

the Punjab Masonic Institution is likewise in a satisfactory condition , notwithstanding that the subscriptions during the past year showed a very serious falling off as compared with its predecessor , while the expenditure remained about the same . We trust our Punjab brethren will take heed to the appeal of their D . G . M ., and remedy this in the coming year .

» * * The services of Bro . J . L . Power , Grand Secretary of thc Grand Lodge of Mississippi , who has held that office for 25 years , were very honourably recognised at the annual Communication at Holly Springs in February last , when our respected brother was elected

and constituted an Honorary Past Grand Master . Bro . Power , indeed , appears to be almost the oldest member of his Grand Lodge , there being only three left of those who were present as Grand Officers 26 years ago . It is a long period to look back upon and Bro .

Power must be gratified beyond measure to find , as successive years have passed , that he has not only retained , but retained in an enhanced degree the respect and affection of those for whom he has laboured so diligently and successfully .

The past year appears to have been an exceedingly busy one in the Grand Lodge of the District of Colum - bia , U . S . A ., which held no less than five Special Communications in addition to those appointed by its Book of Constitutions , two of these having been occupied With the exemplification of Degrees and the dedication

of a new lodge hall , and another with the constitution of a new lodge . The Grand Master for the current year is Bro . Henry S . Morrill , while Bro . W . R . Singleton retains the office he has held for many years past of Grand Secretary . The jurisdiction is a small one , there being only 24 lodges on the roll , but as the total membership is 4711 , the average number of brethren per lodge is close upon 200 .

Corresponoence

Corresponoence

HONORARY MEMBERS , & c . To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Refcring to a letter in your last issue , a former Grand Secretary , the late Bro . John Hervey , decided that honorary members were simply ornamental , and it is stated that he once wrote to a brother who had

signed the annual returns as " Honorary Secretary ' that he knew of no honorary officers or members in Freemasonry . The election of a member as an honorary member is simply an act of courtesy , and it prevails in all branches of Masonry . No dues are paid by honorary members , and I think that very few take advantage of their position by attending banquets too frequently .

My experience shows that honorary members are often very useful and arc heartily welcomed by the members of lodges . As to a letter from Bro . Geo . Board on Masonic Insurance , he does not give details of his scheme , but is probably aware that a Masonic Insurance Company started some years ago was—well , not a success . — Yours fraternally , HENRY LOVEGROVE .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Your correspondent "Gavel" will , I think , find all he wants to know about Honorary Members in the following circular signed by the then President of the Board of General Purposes , and issued by Grand Lodge some 30 years ago . —Yours fraternally , P . M . "UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

"RE 'HONORARY MEMBERS . " Extract from the Report of the Board of General Purposes of the 23 rd November , 1864 , approved by Grand Lodge on the 7 th December , 1864 . " The Board have to Report that their attention has been directed to the question of the status and privileges of what are termed Honorary Members of

Lodges who are not mentioned in the Book of Constitutions . Upon this subject the Board have received a communication from the Colonial Board , which embodies the views ot the Grand Registrar , whose opinion the Colonial Board had consulted . The Board fully coincide in the opinion expressed on the subject by the Grand Registrar and adopted by the Colonial Board ,

viz ., that the Book of Constitutions does not in any way recognise Honorary Members of Private Lodges . When that Book speaks of Members it means only those Brethren who are regularly contributing Members to the funds of the Lodge to which they may belong . Such Brethren only ought to be returned to Grand Lodge as Members of Private Lodges . The

status of an Honorary | Member must be strictly confined to the Lodge which so elects him , and can in no way give him any position in the Craft outside the door of his Lodge . He cannot , therefore , hold any office in the Lodge or vote on any subject which might , even remotely , affect the Craft at large . In short , his status and privileges as an Honorary Member entitle him to attend the Meetings of the Lodge and partake

of its refreshments without the necessity of being introduced , by a Subscribing Member , provided always that he be a Subscribing Member to some other Lodge . Honorary Members have no other right or privileges whatever . " ( Signed ) J . LLEWELLYN E VANS . " President . " Freemasons' Hall , London , " 23 rd November , 1864 . "

Dear Sir and Brother , In your notice of my forthcoming History of " The Hole Crafte and Felowship of Masons " of the 30 th ult . you state that probably members of the Craft

"AN IMPORTANT WORK . " To the Editor of the " Freemason . "

will be accepted as subscribers at 15 s . 66 . 'This arrangement only refers to the members of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , and not to the general body of Freemasons , to whom the price is one guinea . 1 should be much obliged if you would kindly make a note of this in order to prevent disappointment . —Yours fraternally ,

EDWARD CONDER , JUN . July 10 th . Langston House , Charlbury , S . O ., Oxon .

Royal Masonic Institution Foe Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOE GIRLS .

A Quarterly Court of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday , the 13 th inst . Present : V . W . Bro . Robert Grey , President Board of Benevolence , in the chair ; Bros . E . Letchworth , Frank Richardson , A . C . Spaull , W . Lake , F . R . W . Hedges , and others .

The minutes of the General Court of the 12 th April were read for verification , and the summaries of minutes of General Committees for information . The 18 candidates remaining from the last election , together with the 24 whose petitions were approved , were placed upon the list for the October election , and 20 vacancies were declared .

Revicws.

Revicws .

"TALES OF THE SUPERNATURAL . " Six romantic stories by James Piatt , jun . Price one shilling . London : Simpkin , Marshall , Hamilton , Kent , and Co . —Lest anyone should be tern pted to reproduce these tales , which are certainly neither Supernatural nor Romantic , though they are doubtless romances , the title page contains the needless warning that " all Rights are reserved . " The "Seven Segils " concludes with the declaration that as the Hero " stared

dead eyed , he was mercifully unaware that " bis feet were being swept by Ihe inexorable waves of the advancing Bottomless Lake . " " The Hand of Glory" ends with the statement that the heroine " was instantly riven into a million shreds and sprinkled in a red rain , " & c , and the remainder are equally fatal in their finish , so it is as well to leave particulars to interested readers , if such can be found .

"MIDLAND RAILWAY : HOLIDAY TOURS IN THE BRITISH ISLES . "—This is a real useful , interesting , and valuable Guide for the Season 1 S 94 , prepared by the General Manager , Mr . Geo . H . Turner , and may be obtained from any of the numerous offices of this live Company , It is what the description states a Pocket

Tourist Guide to the Holiday Resorts in the British Isles , abundantly illustrated , the notes being down to date , brief and to the point , and there is also a List of Furnished Lodgings in Farmhouses and Country Districts adjacent to the Midland Line . The plates are most suggestive , and the manual is a boon that thousands will much appreciate .

"D OMESTIC HYGIENE , "by Thomas Dutton , M . D ., Sic London : Henry Kempton , 82 , High Holborn , and Hirschfield Bros ., Fetter-lane , E . C . —This is a valuable and handy Home Guide , which should be carefully consulted at this time of the year especially , and were it generally known , and the advice of the author followed , disease would not only be kept away , but no end of worry would be saved , personally and relatively . It should have a large sale , for the work is calculated to do very much good .

"UNITED G RAND LODGE OF VICTORIA . A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN CONNECTION WITH ITS INAUGURATION , MARCH 20 TH AND 21 ST 1 SS 9 . Compiled by W . F . Lamonby , P . S . G . W ., & c . London : George Kenning , & c . "—This is a very acceptable souvenir of the new start made by the Victorian Freemasons . The account is ably written by Bro . Lamonby , whose familiarity with

the proceedings of the Grand Lodge from 1 SS 3 , and the formation of the United Grand Lodge ( by the joint action of the three District Grand Lodges ) renders him a most suitable and accurate chronicler . The whole History of the movement for the union , and the consummation much hoped for and at last realised , are most pleasantly described by

the author ( who styles himself the compiler ) , and the brochure will be most acceptable to a large number of brethren , not only of the various Grand Lodges in Australia , but also in the old Country and in the United States . We think Bro . Lamonby has acted wisely in thus placing on record the narrative of this great Masonic event , alike memorable to all concerned .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

MWMm ^^ m ^ l

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Anglo-American Lodge ( No . 2191 ) . —The installation meeting of this well-known lodge was held at the Criterion , Piccadilly Circus , VV ., on the 19 th ult ., when there were present : Bros . G . Reynolds , W . M . ; W . Hancock , I . P . M . ; G . Herbert Reynolds , S . W . ; J . Skinner , J . W .: I . S . Brownrigg , P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; J . B .

Cumming , Treas . ; J . Coltart , Sec . j F . Jackson , S . D . ; C . O . Burgess , acting as J . D . ; C . G . Rotter , acting as I . G . ; H . W . Schartau , P . G . Org . Middx ., Org . ; R . F . Potter , Tyler ; J . J . Woolley . P . M . ; F . Kedge , P . M . ; G . T . Atkinson , A . H . P . Snow , B . R . Paul , Stanley Spooner , J . Woodward , W . L . Lincoln , W . C . Thomson , Stanislaw Solcberg , James Rowe , J . Hansen , G . P . Bertini , and

others . Visitors : Bros . S . J acobs , P . M . 2396 , P . G . P . Herts ; J . Boulton , P . M . 2291 , P . S . G . D . Essex ; S . F . Cross , 1366 ; A . E . Dargue , 198 ; W . G . Kent , P . M . 13211 Grouse , 172 ; E . B . Lane , Mus . Bac , P . M . 1765 ; Geo . Evans , P . M . 172 ; R . Jennings , 1437 , P . P . G . S . B . Essex ; G . T . Clough , 2077 j W . Harbert , 10 S 7 ; Geo . W . Lovejoy , M . D ., 2 = ; . P . G . R . G . L . Quebec ; H . T . Lewis , 361 Texas ;

W . B . Williamson , J . P ~ P . M . 2 S 0 , P . P . G . S . W .. Mass ., U . S . A . ; A . L . Bullen , P . M . 1614 ; F . Herald , P . M . 105 G ; F . Buxton , P . M . 1891 ; S . Machin , 231 ; H . Machin , I . G ' 231 ; Percy Machin , Org . 231 ; John J . Pittman , J . W . 538 ; W . E . Fenn , P . M . 538 , P . P . S . G . D . Surrey ; W . L , Phillips , 188 ; G . R . Cashfield , P . M . 615 ; J . Wimburn Laurie , Past Grand M aster Nova Scotia ; S . E . Southgate ,

P . M . 700 ; W . Downes , 1614 ; and others . The lodge was opened and the minutes of the meeting held in May were read and confirmed . The Auditors report was received . Bro . F . Kedge , P . M ., presented Bro . G . Herbert Reynolds ( son of the W . M . ) , as W . M . elect , who was accordingly installed as Master for the ensuing year by Bro . G . Reynolds , W . M ., the Board oi

Installed Masters numbering 28 . The W . M . appointed his officers as follows : Bros . Geo . Reynolds , I . P . M ., Sec . ; . )• Skinner , S . W . ; Frederick Jackson , J . W . ; the Rev . JBrownrigg , P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; J . Coltart , Treas . ; V 0 . Burgess , S . D . ; C . E . Rotter , J . D . ; John W . Elvin . I . G . ; Hermann C . E . Hirsch , D . C ; Herbert VV . Schartau , P . G . Org ., Organist ; Stanley Spooner , «* y-!

Vilian , and Albert H . P . Snow , Stwds . ; and Robert ' . - Potter , Tyler . All the brethren were invested with their collars with the exception of Bro . John Elvin , I . G ., who was unavoidably absent on account of severe illness . } - ^ W . M ., in presenting a Past Master ' s jewel to the I . P . M-i Bro . G . Reynolds , said he did so with a great deal ot pleasure , as it was not only in recognition of the services he had rendered to the lodge while in the chair , but lor