The Grand Lodge Of Ireland And The "Antient" Grand Lodge Of England.

244 , ancl Anth >' - Brown Master and W - Asplin S . W ., No . 4 66 , on the Registry of Ireland for the noble stand they made in supporting the legality of Lodge No . 148 ( under our sanction ) to the General Benefit of the Antient Craft . " This lodge , No . 148

which was warranted on the 5 th September , 1767 , is still on the roll of Grand Lodge under the style and title of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 11 5 , has received a Centenary Warrant , and still meets in the fortress of Gibraltar .

Further evidence of the close friendshi p mamtainedwith Ireland will be found in the minutes of the Special Grand Lodge held b y command of his Grace the Duke of Atholl , son and successor in the title and in the Grand Mastership of the " Antients , " of John D . of Atholl , who died in 1774—on the 25 th of March , 1775 ,

when his Grace Avas formally installed in office in the presence , among other distinguished visitors , of his Grace , the Duke of Leinster , Past Grand Master of Ireland , to whom , subsequently , in recognition of his services to the Antient Craft , a gold medal was voted and presented ; and also in the frequent correspondence which is referred to in the " Antient " Minutes . Indeed ,

as regards the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland , the "Antient" Grand Lodge of England was on the iriendliest terms with both , nor , as we had the opportunity of showing in an article which appeared in these columns on the 12 th January last , entitled "William Preston and the 'Ancient' Masons , " did

the efforts of the author of the " Illustrations of Masonry" or the other leading lig hts of the " Modern" Grand Lodge have the slig htest effect on disturbing these relations . Nothing , indeed , is more remarkable in the history of Societies of every description , whether existing in bygone or recent times , than the

slow , but certain , progress made by the " Antient" Grand Lodge of England from the day that Laurence Dermott , Past Master of Lodge No . 26 , in the City of Dublin—who brought his knowledge of the Masonic Ritual with him , when he left Ireland for London —was appointed its Grand Secretary . But we have completed

this portion of our task , and shall reserve such additional remarks as we feel it our duty to offer till some future occasion , when we trust we shall be able to demonstrate satisfactorily to our readers , that though Bro . CHETWODE CRAWLRY ' S theory as to the Irish character of the " Antient" Grand Lodge of England

is correct so far as we have considered it , Dermott considered there was a common orig in for both the " Antient" and " Modern " systems of English Masonry in the Grand Lodge of England as established in London in 1717 . It was the "Moderns " who , according to Dermott , were the seceders from " Antient "

Masonry , not the bod y with which he became connected earl y in 1752 , and this theory of his was borne out by Grand Secretary Spenser , when he declared that the Society with which he was connected , and of which he was the official mouthp iece , was " neither Arch , Royal Arch , or Ancient , "

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

The annual festival of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire was held by permission of Bro . the Dean , Grand Chaplain of England , in the Chapter Room of Gloucester Cathedral on the 5 th inst . Bro . the Right Hon . Sir Michael E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., P . S . G . W . England , Prov . G . M . ; Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , P . S . G . D . England , D . Prov . G . M . ; and Bro . James B . Winterbotham , P . P . S . G . W ., Prov . G . Sec , together with a large company of brethren of the Gloucestershire lodges , were

present . Bro . C . Lee Williams , P . P . G . O ., gave an organ recital at 11 . 30 o ' clock in the morning , and at 12 o ' clock the Very Rev . the Dean conducted a large partv over the Cathedral . The brethren met for the tram a : tion of business at two o ' clock , and half an hour later adjourned for service in the Cathedral Choir .

The order of the procession , which was of a most imposing character , was as follows : St . Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 2541 , Avonmouth ; Hicks-Beach Lodge , No . 2407 , Stroud ; Tyndall Lodge , No . 1363 , Chipping Sodbury ; Royal Forest of Dean Lodge , No . 1067 , Newnham ; Zetland Lodge . No . 1005 , Gloucester ; Prince of Wales Lodge , No . 951 , Stow-on-the-Wold ; St . George ' s Lodge , No . gut . Tewkesbury ; Lodge of Sympathy , No . 855

Woolton-under-Edge ; Royal Gloucestershire Lod ^ e , No . 839 , Gloucester ; St . John ' s Lodge , N ¦> . 7 61 , Dursley ; Sherborne Lodge , No . 702 , Stroud ; Cotte .- > wold Lodye , No . 592 , Cirencester ; Royal Lebanon Lodye , No . 493 , Gloucester ; Foundation Lodge , No . 82 , Cheltenham ; Roval Union Lodge , No . 24 6 . Cheltenham ; and Royal Lodge of Faith and Friendship , No . 270 , Berkeley .

The rear of the procession was brought up by the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge in full regalia . The sermon was preached by the Very Rev . the DEAN , who said that he believed Masonry had a noble future . Throughout Europe there was a painful , anxious feeling of unrest and discontent j but if the great levelling

of classes which some were s : » iving for were accomplished , work as well as wealth would be shattered . If dark days of strife fell on us , the Brotherhood of Masons would . surely be a bulwark of order , for they were a numerous company , welded together by bands forged in no catthly workshop—a company of all sons and conditions of men , from the Princes of the House of England down to the Uiler for a daily wage ; each city had its Masonic

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

garrison , each district its faithful lodge of Masons . Please God the lowering clouds would disperse , and the shadows flee away . But Jet Masonsjbe ready , standing shoulder to shoulder , quietly , resoIuteb /[ teaching order and obedience , and reverence for all that was higher and nobler than themselves ; holding fast those sublime teachings which Masons knew so well and prized

so highly ; living up to that high Masonic ideal which ever set before them self-sacrifice for others , loyalty to their . Queen , patriotism , and , above ' all , clinging to that pure and simple religion which their forefathers taught them , and which alone had made England free , great , and strong . Then in coming days , whether of sunshine or storm , would Masons be the noblest , truest , patriot army ever dreamed of .

At the conclusion of the service the brethren returned to the Chapter Room , and resumed the business of the lodge . The following } officers were appointed by the Prov . G . M . for the ensuing year :

Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith ... ... ... D . Prov . G . M . „ R . P . Sumner ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Hooper ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Lefroy Austin ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Penley ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ J . B . Winterbotham ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ F . Boulton ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ f . Herbert ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D .. „ C . G . Shepherd ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ Godsell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Moody ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ S . Millard ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ S . Griffiths ... ... ... - } Prov . G . Std . Brs „ Viney ... ... ... ... J „ Dr . Johnson ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ LI . Evans ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ Kyle ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . ,, Washboura ... ... ... ) ,, Studman ... ... ... ... > Prov . G . Stwds . ,, Col . Atkinson ... ... ... ) „ W . Window ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The Treasurer , Bro . Nelson Foster , resigned after nine years of office His resignation was accepted with regret , and Bro . James Bruton was ap pointed to the office . In the evening a banquet was held at the Bell Hotel .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northants And Hunts.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHANTS AND HUNTS .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northants and Hunts was held on Thursday , the 6 th instant , under the auspices of the Perseverance Lodge , No . 45 s , at the new Masonic Hall , York-road , Kettering , which forms part of the new Drill Hall . Bro . the Earl of Euston , D . L ., Provincial Grand Master , supported by Bro . John Haviland , P . P . S . G . D ., D . P . G . M . nominate , presided , and about 120 brethren were

present . The Board of Benevolence and Charity Organisation Committee met in the large room at the Conservative Club prior to the meeting , and transacted the usual business .

Prov . G . Lodge was opened in due form at half-past two o'clock , and after the preliminary business had been disposed of , the Prov . Grand Master read the patent appointing Bro . John Haviland to the office of Dep . Provincial Grand Master in the place of the late lamented Bro . Butler Wilkins , who

had held the position for many years and who was highly respected and esteemed by the members of the Craft . His lordship having duly installed and invested Bro . Haviland , whose appointment has been received with universal satisfaction , the following brethren ware appointed Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year , viz .:

Bro . T . P . Dorman , P . M . 1764 ••••••Pr <> v . S . G . W . „ A . Webb , W . M . 455 - ... - Prov . J . G . W . " R ^ T . Hodgson , P . M . 373 •••" ] Prov . G . Chaps . „ Rev . A . W . Gross , 1911 ... ... ) r „ A . Cockerill , P . M . 3 60 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Dr . Knight , P . M . 443 , 2283 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ F . S . Buckle , P . M . 442 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ H . C . Clarabut , W . M . 442 ... - Prov . S . G . D . „ H . H . Packer , W . M . 737 ••••••Prov . J . G . D . „ J . Pascoe ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ G . Ellard , P . M . 3 , 60 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . J . Hart , P . M . 3 60 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Captain Wallace , 1911 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . " £ 1 > ' PP \ , i , " pM o | Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ Major A . K Mulhner , P . M . 2380 ... ... ) „ E . j . Gibbs , 243 1 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ G . W . Williamson , 455 ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ E . Archer , 360 ... ... ... " 1 „ Beeby Thompson , 1764 ... ... ... I " k , -K E . ngta 7 ' 2431 •' •" r Prov . G . Stwds . „ VV . J . King , 607 ... ... ... f „ F . Caster , 442 „ B . Baker , 455 ... ... ... J „ G . Robinson , 360 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . Prov . Grand Lodge having been closed , the brethren subsequently sat down to an excellent banquet in the Assembly Room of the Conservative

Club , the chair being taken by the Provincial Grand Master . The usual preliminary toasts were given from the chair , and subsequently Bro . H . H . PACKER proposed " The R . W . Provincial Grand Master ,

which was loyally received and graciously acknowledged . The PROV . GRAND MASTER afterwards proceeded to propose the toast of "The W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , Present and Past , " and in the course of his remarks spoke of the good work Bro . Haviland had done for the promotion ° ' Masonry , and of his exceeding fitness for the office to which he had that day been appointed ,