Centenary Of The Freemasons' Hall Medal.—A.D. 1780.

during a period of thirty-three years . Brethren , during the whole of my long experience it has been my idea that nothing should be expected from the Master of a lodge beyond a strict and faithful discharge of the duties of his office , and that no one should be placed in that high position until he has proved himself competent , not only beneficially to rule the lodge , but also efficiently to adminstcr all the Degrees to candidates , and to instruct them by

giving the explanatory lectures . I have , therefore , when on former occasions placed in the Master ' s chair , avoided everything in the shape of entertainment of the members at the installation banquet . My conduct on the present occasion may appear inconsistent with such views , but I trust that I shall be able to satisfy you on this point . I must acknowledge , however , that duringmy term of office in other lodges I have received my

brethren at the festive board at my own residence , always , however , in connection with instruction or other Masonic business . My circumstances were then very different . I had p lenty of room and accommodation in my household , and a partner in life who ably and kindly seconded my desire worthily to receive and honour my Masonic friends , free from the prejudices which so often exist in the female mind- With olef age , for I am now in my seventy-third

year , comes the loss ot such advantages ana opportunities , and in my present isolation I am dependent on the kind help of our brother , James Robinson , to whom I offer my thanks . If there have been any defects in your reception at the s ocial board this evening I must ask you to impute them to him , and not to me , so far as regards provision , for your comfort . ( " None , none , " by all the brethren- ) I have already at the Masonic Hall expressed

my disappointment at the unfortunate combination of circumstances , varied as they are , yet in all cases valid , which has interfered with my desire to introduce to you , and to give you the benefit of instruction from , many eminent Masons , who by their learning and energy would have animated your zeal , and inspired you with a wish to know more than the mere routine of our ceremonies , important as these are , men who for years have devoted

their time and their money to unravelling the history of our Craft since the period when our only reliance was on tradition . Of these , Bro . Robert Freke Gould , the premier Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of England , is the most conspicuous . I am , however , gratified , and highly honoured , by the presence of his able co-worker , one of the most shininn- lights in the world , in the investigation of our histnrv . with whom intimate acquaintance for many years ,

mutual confidence and regard , and long continued labour in different directions have led to close personal intercourse . I may in his presence , without hesitation , state that no other influence than mine would have induced him to sacrifice precious time for four days , and to travel 200 miles to grace our meeting to-day , and to give us instruction . Out of the necessary correspondence between us on important noints in the history of our lodge has sprung close

investigation as to them , the result of which has been most satisfactory , adding greatly Co our character and status , by establishing several hitherto unknown facts , namely , the exact date to which the existence of the lodge can be traced back , 1724 , nine years further than was supposedthat this lodge was the first in England out of London to which a warrant was granted by Grand Lodge—that the medal I now wear is the only original one in the provinces ,

those of Falmouth , Wakefield , and Swansea having been lost , and replaced by new ones since the publication of Bro . Hughan's last work a year ago , from which , in fact , they learned that they were entitled to the medal—and , lastly , that a medal was struck here in 1 S 19 in commemoration of the dedication of Freemasons' Hall in York-street , Bath , by H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , Grand Master of England , in the presence of the Duke of Leinstcr , Grand Masterof

Ireland , six Provincial Grand Masters , one of whom was that of my old Province of Warwickshire , and 800 brethren , on one side of which is a representation of the actual building , now standing as the friends ' Meeting House , and on the other a bust of the Duke of Sussex . Since the commencement of the correspondence between Bro . Hughan and myself relative to to-day ' s meeting , he has within the last

month written to America , has obtained a sketch of the cnlv impression of the medal known , of the very existence of which we here were perfectly ignorant , and it has arrived only this morning . Brethren , before I sit down , allow me to lay before you the circumstances under which 1 have called you together in this unusual manner—First , Because , as 1 stated in my circular letter , 1 have been desirous to meet all under my rule , or at least to give each one an

opportunity of knowing me beyond the ordinary attractions of the lodge , which in some cases have not been sufficient , and to offer an inducement to such to attend more regularly in future . Secondly , Because it appeared desirable to celebrate an interesting event in the history of this lodge , and as some difficulty arose in carrying out the intentions of your Past Master in the matter , 1 undertook to make all the arrangementsand to work them out in my own way . If they

have-, not been satisfactory , 1 alone am to blame . At the same time I thank my colleagues among the P . M . 's . for the confidence they reposed in me , which 1 trust 1 have not abused . Thirdly , 1 stand in a very elifferent position from those who have before filled the first chair of this lodge . They have worked their way through the lower offices up to that of W . M ., and have honourably earned their reward . On the contrarv . I came as a stranger to Bath , not known to a

single individual , without any introduction beyond my certificate as a Mason . Naturally I was an object of some distrust , and I should p robably have remained so had it not been for the kindness of One whose recent sudden removal by death we all deplore , and to whose memory I desire to offer a grateful tribute for the trouble he took on my behalf in standing as it were as my sponsor . You accepted his recommendation of me after he and 1 bad had much

personal intercourse , and have now conferred honour upon me . I should indeed be blame-able were 1 to omit to show my sense of it in some form or other . Fourthly , Allow me to observe , that by one or two whom 1 have consulted , the course 1 have pursued has been objecteel to on the ground that it places my successor in a difficult position . To this 1 reply , that my successor in conducting the celebration of

the centenary cannot yet be in existence ? , and that we scarcely neccl consider the feelings of _ the brother who will occupy my place a century hence , in lySo , when the proceedings of this evening will have been forgotten , and ascertained only by looking back through the minute books of this lodge , when probably our present records-will appear quaint and antiquated as those

Centenary Of The Freemasons' Hall Medal.—A.D. 1780.

of a century ago do to us . Lastly , Brethren , I have now arrived at a period of life when powers begin to fail , when health becomes more and more precarious , when the interval before departure to the Grand Lodge above must under the most favourable circumstances be short , of which I have had so many warnings , by the death of dear relatives , friends , and brother Masons , since I entered on the Mastership of this lodge . I feel that the appointment to rule over

you has been the crowning point of my Masonic career , and that it is time to bring it to a close . Seldom , if ever , can a W . M . boast , as I can now do , of having been Masterof two lodges , the Royal Cumberland , No . 41 , Bath , and the St . Paul ' s , No . 43 , Birmingham , both warranted in the same year , 147 years ago , and also of having been at the head of lodges and chapters in each of the four provinces . In four months from this time my labours as your Master will cease ,

and I hope to have the pleasure of installing my successor . 1 beg you to regard that as the termination of my Masonic career , since I have fully made up my mind never again to accept any position of responsibility in connection with the Craft beyond that of Immediate P . M ., which by the Book of Constitutions It cannot avoid . When my help is sought , I shall be happy still to render it to the utmost of my ability . 'To the Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers

now present , the Masters and members of provincial lodges who have assisted in this celebration , thus rejoicing with those who rejoice , 1 am sure that I speak the sentiments of the P . M . 's , officers , and members of the Royal Cumberland Lodge , No . 41 , when 1 say that wc heartily thank them for their sympathy and support . Yet we owe a deeper debt of gratitude to the distinguished brethren who have come from a distance , not only to sanction our

proceedings , but to take part in them , and when they return to their own respective localities , I trust they will be able to report that there is much vitality in this old lodge , and that its members pride themselves on the fact that they possess the records perfect and intact from the time when the charter was granted in 1733 , and a complete list of all the Masters through 147 years . I thank you all very sincerely for your response to my summons , and for the

forbearance , courtesy , and kindness you have shown me at our lodge meetings this year , especially this evening . I deem it a privilege and an honour to be so completely identified with so creditable an event in the history of No . 41 , and trust that you will have none but pleasant recollections of it , anel of our present social gathering . In conclusion we may state that the interest was fully sustained throughout , anel the celebration will long be remembered by those privileged to attend .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

The following balance sheet has just been issued by the Supreme Council : The Treasurer in Account with the Supreme Council , 33 " , 1 st July , 1 SS 0 .

Dr . RECEIPTS . 1 st July , 1 S 79 . £ . s . d . Balance in Bank ... ... ... ... ... 1229 iS 9 „ with Treasurer 15 9 0 Receipts to 30 th June , 1 SS 0 235 S 11 1

£ s > "i iS 10 Cr . EXPENDITURE . £ s - J - By Payments for Rents , Salaries , Repairs , & c . 112 S 1 3 „ Charity Donations 2 S 9 1 9 ,, Purchase of Stock ... ... ... ... 1 O 01 o 0 „ Balance in Bank ... . SST IS IO

l . tfoi iS io 'The accounts were audited on the 2 iul July , 1 SS 0 , by Bro . S . RAWSON , 33 ' ' , Bro . 1 " . RICHARDSON , 31 . and found correct .

BALANCE SHEET , 1 st July , 1 SS 0 . ASSETS . £ s . d . Cash in Bank ... ... ... ... ... 5 S 5 15 10 / . ' 900 Madras Stock ... ... ... ... ioe > 7 5 o jD < oo ,, Debentures ... . ... Soo o 0

£ icexi Russian Bonds ... ... ... ... 11 S 9 10 o £ 1000 3 p . c . Consols ... ... ... ... 1 / 12 10 o i , ' i 6 oo Cape of Good Hope Bonds ... ... 1601 o 0 Library , estimated at ... ... ... ... 2172 1 10 Plate , valued at 393 5 o Organ , valued at ... 300 o o

Furniture , valued at ... ... ... ... 1 Sfi 7 15 7 Leases : 33 , Golden-square ... ... SiS o o 2 , Upper John-street 923 ei a Masonic Hall ... ... ... ... 12 S 2 o o Cellarage ... 300 o o

£ ¦ 1-1 . 404 1 3 LIABILITIES . £ s . d . Compounders , 31 " , 32 ° , 33 —155 Members ... 721 iS 0 ,, 30 —310 Members ion iS 6 Unappropriated 1 iS 6 Balance , being Capital 1266 S 6 3

AM . 404 r 3 *\ THOMAS MEGGY , Public Accountant , , c- ,, I 22 , Bedford-Place , Russell-square , W . C . ( Signed ) > ,, C | J .- > i 13 = Grand Treasure ,. Gen ., J 33 , GoUlen-snuarc , London , VV .

liuiLiMNi ; S OCIETIES AND THE PARKE ' MUSEUM . —At a meeting of the Directors of the XlXth Century Building Society , Mr . George Palmer , M . P ., Chairman , held at 93 , Fleet-street , on Wednesday , the 6 th inst ., the following icsolutinn was passed unanimously on the motion of Miss Richardson , M . 1 .. S . B . "That as in the

opinion of this meeting a course of lectures at the Parke's Museum of Hygiene on House Sanitation would he most valuable to the members of Building Societies ( who , to a very large extent , own the houses they live in ) the Secretary of this society be requested to ask the Committee of the Museum whether such a course of lectures could not be given gratuitously during the ensuing winter . "

Licensed Victuallers' Exhibition.

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' EXHIBITION .

[ SECOND NOTICE . ] Messrs . J AMES GALLOWAY and SON , Bolton . The largest space in the Hall devoted to Machinery was occupied by this Lancashire firm , who have the greatest variety of machines for the Manufacturers of Mineral Waters it has been our pleasure to see for some time . For

instance , the Dreadnought , No . 1 , is capable of producing 400 dozen bottles per hour ; and No . 2 , 300 dozen . The Universal Machine is capable of producing 500 dozen per hour . The last-mentioned machine has changed hands during the exhibition for £ 150 to Mr . H . Codd , the celebrated Mineral Water Manufacturer of London . We may here remark , as showing the success of this exhibit , that each

machine on show was sold to five different persons . Bro . Foote ( Foote and Hodgson , of Liverpool ) , under whose practical knowledge and superintendence the present hi gh standard for excellence is due , and whom we had the pleasure of meeting at the exhibition , showed us the names of at least twenty eminent firms who have placed their orders with him for their machinery . One feature in connection with

the firm is the fact that Bro . Foote ( who has had twentyeight years' practical experience , and is himself the sole inventor of several of the machines on view ) , gives his advice and knowledge either to those who may be about commencing business , or those already in business desirous of developing their trade . In connection with this exhibit

wc noticed Chapman and Sons' Bottling Machine ( Bro . Foote ' s patent ) , by means of which a boy can fill from eighty to one hundred dozens in an hour ; also Chapman ' s Ball Stopper . This invention is a substitute for corks , and to promote cleanliness , simplicity , and a saving of breakage . It is acknowledged to be the simplest and the most economical patent stopper in the trade .

YATES and Co ., Featherstone-buildings , Holborn . This firm had on show their patent " Hydrozesf" It is an extremely useful article , and is made in sizes suitable to the largest hotel or the smallest'dwelling-house . It can also be utilised by gardeners for the purpose of obtaining

a regular temperature . One of its chief advantages is that it can be kept clean with little trouble , and any description of fuel may be used . The firm have made arrangements for taking large contracts , and the work will be carried out by an efficient staff .

Scotland.

Scotland .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF PEEBLES AND SELKIRK . The fourth quarterly communication of the above lodge was held in the lodge room of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 216 , Stow , 'Town Hall , on Monday afternoon , the 4 th inst ., Bro . Dr . Mieldleton , of Manorhead , D . P . G . Master , presiding . 'The other P . G . officers present were Bros , lames

I . S . Elliot of Wolfelee , S . P . G . Master ; Robert Sanderson , Stow , P . G . Secretary ; John F . Walker , Stow , P . G . Treasurer ; R . Lees , Selkirk , P . G . S . Deacon ; James Rutherford , Hawick , P . G . Bible Bearer ; George Ovens , Stow , P . G . Director of Music ; Anthony White , P . G . Sword Beaver ; William Ferguson , Selkirk , P . G . President of Stewards : James Hall , Hawick , P . G .

Steward ; George B . Forsyth , No . 216 , acted as P . G . J . Deacon ; J oseph Wilson , No . 216 , as P . G . Jeweller ; Thomas Hogg , No . 32 , as P . G . Inner Guard ; and William Waddell , No . 216 , as P . G . Tyler . The following lodges were represented—St . John ' s , No . 32 , Selkirk ; St . John ' s , No . 104 , Jedburgh ; St . John's , No . in , Hawick ; St . John ' s , No . 216 , Stow . The P . G . Lodge was opened

with the usual ceremonies at five o ' clock , by Bro . Dr . Mieldleton , assisted by Bros . R . Currie , R . VV . M . No . 32 , Selkirk , who acted as P . G . Senior Warden , and Bro . Andrew Sword , R . VV . M . No . 104 , Jedburgh , who acted as P . G . Junior Warden . The P . G . Secretary submitted letters of apology from Bros . J . Wolfe Murray , Esq ., of Cringletic , P . G . M . ; Captain Black , of Kailzic , P . G .

Senior Warden ; George Pott , Esq ., Linthaughlee , P . G . Junior Warden ; and Peebles Lodge , No . 24 , Kilwinning . The following business was then taken up : —1 . Minutes of P . G . Lodge , which were read and confirmed ; 2 . Report of committee on name of province , which was submitted by Bro . Elliot , and the thanks of P . G . Lodge were recorded to him for his trouble in bringing this matter to its

present bearing ; 3 . Resolution of Grand Lodge upon motion anent bye-laws for Provincial Grand Lodges . The D . P . G . Master stated that this motion had been carried in Grand Lodge , and a committee of office-bearers and members of this P . G . Lodge was appointed to prepare a draft of bye-laws to be submitted to the lodges in the province for approval . The P . G . Lodge was then duty closed , and the annual P . G . visitation made to Lodge St .

John's , No . 21 C , when Bro . Elliot , S . P . G . M ., presided , and as Bro . Middleton is at present R . VV . M . of No . 216 , Bro . Walker , P . M ., was asked to open and raise the lodge , which was efficiently done . The books , & c , were then examined , and the usual ceritficate entered . The S . P . G . M . complimented Lodge No . 216 very highly on the able manner in which its business was conducted , and the prominent position it held in the province , & c . The whole proceedings closed about eight o ' clock .

Australia.

Australia .

BRISBANE . —Atholl and Melville Lodge ( No . 455 , S . C . )—The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the 29 th Julv , within the Masonic Hall , at 7 . 30 . Present : Bros . John M . Brydon , R . VV . M . ; Bing , S . W . ; N . ] . Kessels , J . W . ; Colin Livingston , Sec . ; with Past Masters Bros . " Alex Peters , Walter Scott , John C VV . Barnes , iS " , and a large number of members and visiting brethren . The minutes of last regular meeting and emergency

meeting having been read and confirmed , one brother was raised , the ceremony being impressively performed by the R . VV . M-, assisted by VV . S . W . and W . J . W . On resuming lodge the correspondence was read , and the banquet account passed for payment , as also this lodge ' s contribution towards the purchase of an organ for the use of the Craft . Two gentlemen were proposed for membership , and one brother for affiliation , when the lodge was closed in due and ancient form at 10 . 30 p . m .