Masonic Veteran Associations.

being January 25 th , 1 S 72 . It seems likely that to this brother is due the organisation of the Association on the present lines , as the idea of the original promoter evidently did not go beyond a special meeting of the lodge . In the bye-laws of the New York Society , the aims of the " Fraternal " is thus ably set

forth" To perpetuate existing friendship ; to form new ones ; to keep alive and fructify the zeal of brethren ; to place before the younger Craftsmen an example cf long continued devotion to the cause and of a zeal not to be affected by the changes and vicissitudes of times and seasons ; to assist in developing and preserving the history of the Fraternity ; to pay the last tribute of respect to the departed members of the Association , and to preserve in its archives a memorial of their lives and services . "

Other Associations have been formed in the same State , the total membership in the State of New York probably reaching 2000 , about half that number belonging to their venerable parent . Ohio has the credit of forming the third Association on October 15 th ,

1872 . and for a time required 24 years of Masonic life as a qualification for membership , but of late has reduced the age to 21 years , as with most Societies . Its first proceedings , issued in 1891 , contain an interesting account of the meetings from 1872 , with portraits . My honorary membership—much valued—dates from 23 rd October , 1895 .

The fourth embraces a most extensive jurisdiction , including 12 States and Territories , together with Mexico , British Columbia , and the Hawaiian Islands , entitled the Pacific Coast . " It is a living force , and its badge is a passport to all things Masonic in that part of the Union . " Its active members number over 300 , and its honorary roll is also large , " including the names of distinguished Masons throughout the world . " The start was made on 27 th December , 1878 , but perfected and completed 8 th January , 18 79 .

Mine for Maryland was granted me in 1897 , accompanied by an artistic Certificate , which is valued all the more by me , because of the numerous friends of that Jurisdiction , who so efficiently conduct its proceedings . An Association was launched on Mav 24 th , 1879 , for Central New York ( Syracuse ) , and one for the District of Columbia , August 24 th , 1879 . The

latter I have long been familiar with through my beloved and lamented friend , General Albert Pike , who was the first President , and continued in that honourable capacity to his regretted decease . The first volume of its Transacticns , 1879 10 18 S 7 , is very valuable because of the many address's delivered by the President , and the second published was entirely devoted to his addresses in 1888 , 1 S 89 , and 1890 .

|§ 1 Cbc -national / $ §& •% ^ # ffimsonic Veterans' association tilf ? \^ - ~ Great ISvltrtn ai : b jrc ! a : i & niit > the Colonics nni > Iw , ScpcnScndco ot tiic Krttiab Grown . | W . __ \ ii ; i ! Zhls l & to Certify S ' il ? l ! Ht l ' cr .: rat (! BKttcr OCOl'QC ^ ICUWi Q , ***** P \\\ ° f *»» = * 5 LiCI 1 Bill ) 'JLam ' O , « « o . 102 , of free imS R « c ; Uc : > noncono i A en tbs xiciu ci the . Xfjhiltcb Oiaiib Xooge of England . r \ 'I j Iwrlno cjblblKH s . itloftitoi'v ctitciw of hit , Mvlitj l < c ;« a amour nr . ww tor lufii . T-cnc V \ JMIjj reus , rn 6 Dnlp Iiuttllc 9 In U ; e cluir rt 1 :. C , IMB h » lno bc : n Milv cl « K 6 if nDcinbccfbip In IK ' ^|| " ( National tffoasonic Veterans' Essociation ,

( 1 . lo CITOUCS a fiscmocr hereof . /h / V Di-nc a t \ cwcaslk <* on * Zvnc , im 2 Ut tw oijlfarcb , \ $$ C \ > Or- ¦ \ i'hntit l ' ~> SicKturf . Ck ^ - 't'lA ^ sltA ^ ' - > prcslJcM . The Veterans of Pennsylvania associated at Philadelphia June 3 rd , 18 S 1 . and is the 7 th on Dr . Metcalfe ' s interesting list , from which I quote th «

dates of origin , being the only one of the kind known to me . The miniature badge is very appropriate , and I hope is as much prized by all the members , as it is by the writer , who was admitted on September 30 th , 18 S 4 . Its new Bye-Laws and List of Members for 1900 , has been ably edited by Bro . Charles W . Packer .

Many of its lists of members , published annually , have been of quite an artistic character , and its influence has been most beneficial in and beyond this truly Masonic State . There is also an Organisation for Western Penn ' a Veterans , founded at Pittsburg , November 30 th , 1 S 85 . One of the best known , and certainly the most popular of all , is the * ' Masonic Veteran Association of Illinois , " established January 13 th , 1 SS 6 , at Chicago , M . VV . Bro . Dewitt C . Cregier being the first Venerable Chief ,

and my dear friend , General John Corson Smith , P . G . M ., the first Assistant Chief . The seco-d annual reunion was held at the Mansion of the then Venerable Chief ( General J . C . Smith ) , 65 , Sibley-street , Chicago , lhe circular being adopted from the form ol Summons issued by the extinct " Grand Lodge of all England " held at York ( England ) , and has since been continued , only in many varieties of antique-looking paper and styles .

'I he place of meeting is facetiously described on the invitation circulars as " SMITH ' INN . " ' Not a few of the guests , from time to time , when they arrived to meet hundreds of members and ladies assembled , were surprised to find it was Bro . Smith ' s own Happy Home they were privileged to visit , and that their Hostess was his beloved wife , whose hospitality , grace , and dignity brighten the memories of her life-long subjects .

The printed Transactions of the Association mike quite a little library , and are of considerable interest and value , owing to the Venerable Chief having been such a traveller , and able to so graphically describe so many of the sights he has witnessed , as well as enumerate the grand functions he has attended in most of the countries of the world , the troop of friends he has made also corning in for their share of fraternal attention .

There are now 14 parts published , commencing with the first issued in 1887 , o only 12 pages to the last for 1 S 99 , those from the seventh Report beiii ); bulky volumes and most lavishly illustrated . There was no Report for 1 S 8 9 published . The annual gathering in " Smith ' s Inn " is one of the Masonic events o ( the year . " Brothers and Dames from the four quarters of the globe , from

Masonic Veteran Associations.

almost every nation , and nearly every State of our own God-given country , have congregated here and mingled as one happy family knowing no nation and no cieed , " as General Smith stated in his address at the nth Assembly . There are hundreds of members , and many honorary members , distinguished as Craftsmen in their own Grand Lodges , who are proud to be thus connected with such a very Pleasant Masonic Organisation . The roll

of the latter begins with H . R . H . the Prince ot Wales , M . W . Grand Master of England , who not only accepted the compliment of honorary membership in 1893 , but subsequently sent his portrait to the General ( having the autograph of H . R . H . ) , and also a most happily-expressed letter of thanks . I had the honour of being elected October 23 rd , 1 SS 9 .

One special feature of these handsome Reports is the number of letters printed from active and honorary members , unable to participate in the meetings , from all parts and in various languages , io that the volumes are of considerable importance in many ways . I must rot stay ' to mention the other Associations that have been formed

of late years , save to note the one for Brooklyn , formed in 188 S , which , as one of the largest and most important , published a noble volume in 1894 , as well as its bye-laws and roll of members , in various editions to 1897 . The esteemed compliment paid me of honorary membership dates from iSgS , 'and I hope to refer at length to this society ere long . Their badge is both artistic and appropriate .

Another Masonic Veteran Association must be mentioned , vie ., that for Minnesota , organised June 23 rd , 1892 , over which Dr . George Reuben Metcalf has presided from then to now . The published proceedings of this body are of general interest , and contain many important addresses , not the least being the one delivered by the esteemed President at the Session of 1894 , with a full and accurate account of all the Associations formed to date , which I have found most useful in the preparation of this paper , in

fact , could not have written it without my friend s aid . Dr . Metcalf may well be entitled the historian of the movement , and is in close touch with all the Associations wherever located . The eighth Annual Report exhibits a list of 317 active and 24 honorary members . Dr . Metcalf spoke most kindl y ol "the organisation of a Veteran Association at Newcastle-on-Tvne , as an institution of purely an American origin gaining a foothold on English soil . " The badge is distinctly Masonic and most suggestive .

There is also a National Association of the Veterans 01 America for all the Societies at work in the several States , but whether such an institution is needed remains to be seen , each Grand Lodge being well able to look after its own organisations . The formation of the National " Masonic Veterans Association" for this country , is an accomplished fact ; the first Annual General Meeting having bsen held at Newcastle-on-Tyne , 21 st March , 1896 . The Society , however , had a prior existence as a local Institution .

The qualifications for members are 21 years , as a Master Mason , and an Installed Master of a regular Lodge . Associates may be elected who have the first , but lack the second of these qualifications , but in either case only brethren will be accepted " of standing , and who have shown their permanent interest in the Craft . " The head-quarters for the time are at the

Central Masonic Hall , Newcastle-on-Tyne . The special Members ' and Associates' jewels are of choice designs . The life subscription is one guinea , and special certificates are issued on vellum or imitation parchment as desired . The international character of these Institutions cannot fail to be of advantage , and aid in promoting the feeling of Brotherhood between members of all Grand Lodges . " The « - Scottish Masonic Veterans' Association" was instituted on 8 th

June , 1897 , and is a real live organisation , lhese two Societies may be referred to , before long , in a separate article , so that justice may be done to our own Associations . W . J . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

The annual meeting cf the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Wednesday , the 31 st ult ., and was attended by an exceptionally large number of brethren from all parts of the province At the last moment , and to the deep regret of all present , owing to the serious illness of the Countess Ferrers , the Prov . G . M ., the Earl Ferrers ,

found it impossible to attend , and ] iro . S . S . Partridge , P . A . G . D . C ., Dep . P . G . M ., took the chair , Bro . Rev . C . Henton Wood , M . A ., P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . C ., acting as D . P . G . M . The report of the Committee of General Purposes showed that the number of lodges remained the same as in the previous year , viz ., 14 ; 52 initiates and 13 joining members had been admitted ; whilst 12 brethren had died and 22 resigned . The total number of subscribing brethren was 809 —an increase of 32 on the year .

A very satisfactory year's work was reported by Bro . NEIGHBOUR , P . P . S . G . W ., the 1 Ion . Secretary to the Charity Committee . The contribution to the Girls' School amounted to ^ 362 5 s . The Boys' School this year will receive the support of the province , and Bro . R . B . Starkey , P . S . G . W ., was elected as the Provincial Steward . Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B ., who had kindly attended , made a very earnest and eloquent appeal on behalf of the Central Charities in generaland for the Boys' School in particular .

, Bro . Charles Bennion , P . M . 279 , was re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer , and was heartily thanked for his services . Before proceeding to invest the officers for the ensuing year , the D E >' . PROV . GRAND MASTER spoke in most grateful terms of the tokens of regard presented to him at the last Prov . G . Lodge by the brethren of the province . He said that it was the proudest moment in his life when the

brethren unanimously decided that his portrait should be hung in that hall , and that he was entirely at a loss to express what he felt with respect to that , to him , memorable event . Whilst he was glad to notice that the number of brethren in the province was gradually increasing , it must never be forgotttn that numbers were not always a criterion of progress ; he

hoped and believed that the gradual increase which was taking place was a proof of the great care it was always necessary to exercise in selecting candidates . He much regretted that the report of the " Kelly Memorial Fund " Committee was not more encouraging ; the Fund was not only a necessity for dealing with local claims which could not be met