Freemasonry In Torquay.

opening in 189 S . During the past year £ 27 had been contributed to the Red Cross Relief Funds in connection with the South African War . The brethren afterwards adjourned to the banqueting hall , where about go sat down to an excellent spread provided by Mr . Lintern . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , and

some songs were excellently rendered by various brethren , accompanied on the p iano by Bro . J . Heaton Bailey , Org ., whose musical service for the lodge , which has recently been printed , has met with unqualified approval by musical experts and Masonic students of the Craft , all of whom consider it very suitable and appropriate for the purpose .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Dorsetshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DORSETSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Prov . G . Lodge was held at the Mowlem Institute , Swanage , on the 6 th instant . The Prov . G . Master , Bro . Montagu John Guest , presided , supported by the Dep . Prov . G . Master , Bro . Colonel Brymer , M . P ., and a large number of Prov . G . Officers and brethren . At the conclusion of the business the Prov . G . Master appointed and invested his officers as follows :

Bro . J . M . Burt ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ B . Morris ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . F . Salmon ... ... ... ProvT G . Chap . „ R . D . Thornton ... ... ... Prov . G , Treas . „ Robert Case ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ A . H . Yeatman ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ F . P . Oakley ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ W . J . Dick ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ I . Vye ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ O . G . Barrow ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ H . C . Burt ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C .

„ J . I . Courtenay ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ 1 . T . Hillier , jun . ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ H . B . Vincent ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ R . O . Boon ... ... ... ... 1 „ G . F . Bignall

„ J . N . Luff ... ... ... ... 1 „ _ „ R . E . S . Clark f Prov . G . Stewards . „ H . G . Terry j „ H . J . Whadman ... ... ... J „ S . C . Vye ... ... ... ... Prov . G . T yler . The Provincial Grand Lodge duties being concluded , the brethren

afterwards adjourned to the Ship Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet was served . The Provincial Grand Master presided , and most of the brethren who had attended the Provincial Grand Lodge were present .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Lodge Montagu , No . 665 . A better day than Monday , the 10 th instant , climatically , could not have been chosen for the above lodge to celebrate its 45 th anniversary at Lyme Regis , Dorset , since the geniality of the day ' s weather savoured of summer on the one hand and bespoke the "season of mellow fruitfulness" on the other . That very fact , coupled with fraternal " zeal for the Institution , " inspired

the attendance of a fair number of visitors when the lack of easy communication with this 13 th century borough is considered . Lodge was called for four p . m ., and previous to opening the following brethren subscribed their names to the signature book as visitors , viz . : Bro . Rev . R . Peek , P . G . Chap . Eng . ; SirC . E . Peek , Bart ., P . P . S . G . W . l > oyset ; the Rev . Rowland Hill , P . P . G . Chap . ; C . Hann , 1367 , P . P . G . Purst . ; C . loleman , 1367 , P . P . G . D . of C ; F . P . Kitson , P . P . G . Reg . ; H . W . Chatterton , t . P . G . Reg . Middx . j G . Brooks , 1367 ; F . W . Kerbey , 11 ; and the local brethren .

After lodge had been opened , and minutes and apologies read , the Auditors reported that , notwithstanding special calls during the year , the funds had increased by about £ 10 , and that the books had been excellently kept by Bro . Sprackling . Of the work done during the year there had been four ceremonies , each tracing board had been given twice , the charge rehearsed once , and eight papers contributed on Masonic topics by the brethren . Besides this there had been ten private rehearsals of official w , ° fk . In matters of charity the lodee had returned its record amount to the D . M . C .

A' 2 12 s ., £ 15 15 s . had been collected for a distressed provincial brother , £ 2 2 s . voted 10 the War Fund , and almost enough to purchase a vote ( £ \ odd ) made by the monthly charity box and refreshment department . For two years past no brother had been retirnedinarrear . It had been a year of sound and steady work . The W . M . had been so assiduous in his duties that the brethren unanimously desired him ( a month previously ) to continue in office . Such being agreed to , the W . M . at this point handed

over the gavel to the oldest P . M . of the lodge , viz ., Bro . W . H . Kerbey , P . P . G . S . | Wks , Dorset , P . P . J . G . D . Hereford , to repeat the installation , which was done with expression and sincerity born only of zeal and experience . It is no flattery to say that the ceremony in its entirety was admirably performed by this venerable brother , and hearty indeed were the congratulations at the closing of the lodge . For the ensuing year the officers invested were Bras . H . R . Morgan , P . P . G . O ., W . M . ; Rev . R . Hill , P . P . G . Chap ., •P . M . ; J . Radford , P . P . J . G . D ., S . W .: I . Spurr , J . W . ; A . T . M . Bond . Chao

••ISprackling , Treas . ; R . C . Radford , P . P . G . S . of W ., Sec . ; D . T . Chapman , S . D . ; ' , . W . Bloye , J . D . ; li . H . Wallis , P . P . J . G . D ., D . C ; J . L . Rumsey , P . P . G . O ., Org . ; >'•laul , I . G . ; F . Britton and K . W . Kertey , Stewards ; and G . Legg , Tyler . As is usual , the W . M . handed each brother present a calendar of work for the ensuing year , « promises work of some kind for each lodge meeting , and the subjects set down for orationists art— " I ' he P . P s . of my E ., " * ' The triangle , " " The Key , " " The

"uoge , I he Compasses , " " the Hope of Reward sweetens Labour , " " The Acacla ) ,... TheV . S . L .. " » The Objects and Ends of Masonry , " and " The Temple . " » Uort oration 01 paper is expected from some brother upon each of the foretroinc during the year , and the full number has been allotted . ,- •er lcd S e was dosed the brethren adjourned to Bro . Host Grove ' s Royal Lion to paiticipate in refreshment of a recherche nature . [ By the way , Bro . Host John Grove Z ™? Eemor "ember of the lodge , and Bro . John Grove ( nephew ) is the iunior cdiuer

•" . j As to the toast list-that of " The Queen and the Craft" was loyally received . its » i P ° ndln C for 'he toast of "The Grand Lodge , " Bro . Rev . R . Peek testified to Win ., j ^ t 0 . i . """ lue extension of Freemasonry under the rule of their exalted and Gloved Grand Master . woik ' ? i - . be , t p eek also responded , and said he admired the vitality of Craft a bit ' f u ' £ etsll ' ' and also a " ^ ^ to the universality of the sc ience by giving ivhih . •. L ., , raterna ' experience as a " globe trotter . " Some years ago , FreenJ" s of Australia , the Postmaster was able to "ring up" a number of ( Uto sfr ° r ?^ hundred miles a P > and by the help of the wire to allow himself Pleasinr , ; t ? ' 2 d otber distinguished " globe-trotters" present to carry on a bon ( lnFfr ; i j Ctange ? f . fraternal B reet ' U - The unique fact assuredly impressed the <» « inendship and the brotherhood of man .

Craft Masonry.

The I . P . M . gave "The W . M . " in eulogistic terms . He was an instance of "Ne varietur " indeed , for as at first so now , Bro . Morgan was a thoroughly good man and Mason . The proposer could not recall snything he had slid of the W . M . ' s excellencies last year—hU vocabulary would have been exhausted entirely had not his good friend on the left ( Bro . Hann ) given him a pointed " Djsset" word which would be exactly applicable . He ( Bro . Morgan ) was a " iinic" fellow . ( Hear , hear . )

Bro . J . Radford , S . W ., next gave "The Installing Master , " who had worked most assiduously for 16 years in fair weather and foul , had held every office , in times of lodpe vicissitude had administered that distinctly Masonic cordial— " Hope , " was the mainspring of our charity effort , and one who , without 11 Jttery , h id proved merit to bs title to our privileges , and certainly one on whom "our fivours had not been undeservedly bestowed . "

" His praises due , who could rehearse , f n nervous prose or flowing verse . " Long may his example be an inspiring influence in f-. odge Montigu . ( Hear , hear . ) in eloquent terms Bro . Chatterton painted the virtues of "The Charities , '" great ones and local . Charity was the backbone of the Fraternity , and the vast amounts contributed by the Order to relieve the distressed was ample testimony to answer any occasional reproach of Freemasonry .

Happy was the mover of "The Visitors , " and equally happy were some half-adozen brethren who replied . Bro . the Rev . R . Peek pronounced an encomium upon the lodge officers , whose work was careful and thorough , and characterised , moreover , by healthy emulation . " The Future Year ' s Work" and " The Host " being duly honoured , the Tyler's toast brought the happy anniversary to a close .

The Metropolitan Of India On Freemasonry.

THE METROPOLITAN OF INDIA ON FREEMASONRY .

Bishop Welldon delivered an address at Simla on the 25 th July last on " The Grave and Gay Side of Freemasonry . " The large room in the Town Hall was crowded . The Commander-in-Chief occupied the chair , and among those present were the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab and the Military Member . The CHAIRMAN introduced the Bishop as not only Metropolitan of India but as W . Bro . Welldon .

The METROPOLITAN , after a few introductory remarks , said his address was a substitute for a sermon which at one time he hoped he might deliver in Christ Church . It was not his thought at first to address a large audience , many of whom were not Masons . In the presence of such an audience he was debarred from dwelling upon some points and aspects of Masonic doctrine or ritual . The Masonic Brotherhood was undoubtedly a secret

society , but he could assure his listeners it was an innocent and beneficent institution , speaking of it as he knew it in Great Britain and in India . After touching upon the real and imaginary history of Masonry , and tracing its transition from Operative Masonry , his lordship said that Masons had converted the signs and symbols of the art of building to a moral and spiritual significance . As to the gay side of Masonry , which was sometimes exposed to the laughter of the multitude , there was a

predilection of Masons for high-sounding titles , distinct ! ves dresses , and dinners , which sometimes erred in the direction ot prolixity , and amusements such as dances to which the outer world was invited . All this gay side was regarded by Masons as a vestibule to the solemn temple of Masonic doctrine . In itself it was harmless , if not particularly useful . Trie gay side of Masonry was only its shell , its kernel

was the symbolism by which Masons aspired to impress lessons of moral and spiritual significance upon men's hearts . It was by the use of symbolism that Masonic teaching differed from others . The lessons taught were above all others charity and piety . Masons had ever been foremost in good works , they had received sums of unparalleled amount for Masonic Charities , and he who entered into the Masonic brotherhood was sure of

finding friends all the world over . Dr . Welldon concluded : " In India , where the division of races and religions is more acute , perhaps , than anywhere in the world , it is the wisdom of good citizens to seek rallying points . Such a rallying point is found in the cult of Masonic doctrine . To myself , though the most convinced of Christians , the opportunity of meeting men of other beliefs than my own upon the common ground of faith in God

and immortality has been a privilege of great utility and pleasure . So long as it is impossible that anyone shall become a Freemason without professing his intellectual and spiritual adhesion to sublime religious doctrines , and so long as no one can live worthily as a Freemason without developing the fruit of his doctrines in charity and philanthropy , Freemasonry will deserve the confidence of thoughtful and virtuous citizens , and will play a great and salutary part in human life . "

The address was listened to with the closest attention , and applause was friquen ' , while the humorous allusions Wire fully appreciated . —Madras Mail .

Scotland.

Scotland .

A CANADIAN IN NORTH SCOTLAND . A CANAMAN PAST GRAND MASTER VISITS HIS GRANDFATHER ' S MOTHER

LODGE . Bo > . J . Ross Robertson , proprietor of the Toronto Evening Telegraph , member for the Dominion Parliament for the East Division of the City of Toronto , Ontario , and Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Mason of Canada , arrived by the mail boat on Monday night under arrangement to visit the Fortrose Lodge , No . 101 , of Freemasons , of which his grandfather , Bro . Hector Sinclair , was a member , being initiated 102 years ago .

A special meeting of the lodge was convened on Tuesday night to receive Bro . Robertson . The lodge room was tastefully decorated , and there was a large attendance of the brethren , including Bro . Provost Anderson , P . M . ; Bro . Tucker , P . M . ; and Bro . Hector Smith , P . M . Bro . John Smith , R . W . M ., presided , and all the officebearers were present . Bro . Robertson delivered an interesting lecture on the " Origin of Freemasonry , " and afterwards gave a description of the conduct of the Order in Canada . The lodge was thereafter called off to harmony , when , after the usual loyal and patriotic toasts ,