Dedication Of The New Masonic Hall At Mirfield.

and it has also given £ 10 ios . to the Queen Victoria Presentation Fund ; making a total of £ 442 12 s . 6 d . to our Royal Masonic Institutions in London . The scheme to transfer the lodge from the Assembly Rooms , near the Black Bull Hotel , to these new premises , which are about to be dedicated to Freemasonry , was brought to a head during the second Mastership of Bro . J . B . Fairclough last year . A company was formed of Freemasons only , under the Companies' Act , the three trustees being Bros .

Fairclough , Bailey , and John H . Simpson , the five largest subscribers being Bros . J . Ibberson , John Walmsley , John Crowther , James Barker , and Matthew Thackrah . The cost of this Masonic Hall with the site is close upon £ 2000 . The members of the lodge eventually become the owners of their own Masonic Hall . From accumulated lodge funds , £ 230 ; from share subscriptions , £ 700 ; and £ 800 borrowed on mortgage , the work has been proceeded with , whilst the unprovided balance of £ 300 , the brethren do not

consider a source of future uneasiness . With the prospect of an augmentation of members , this amount at no distant time will be wiped out from the building indebtedness of the Hall . The architects of this new Hall are Bros . John Barker and A . A . Stott . The masons and bricklayers are Messis . W . and J . Milner , of Mirfield , who also were the contractors for the second virgin church of the parish . Mr . Joshua Milner has now joined this lodge . These operative Masonic constructors are heartily to be congratulated

on the skill and excellence of their workmanship . Such then istherecord of benevolent , industrial , charitable , and Masonic progress in this town of the Virgin Mary of Mirfield , in the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria A . L . 5 SS 7 . | It is therefore fitting we should rejoice to-day , as Adam of St . Victor did of old in his song of praise of the Holy Virgin on the consecration of the original church , over this new Masonic Hall until in time a third church and a third hall be required

larger and perhaps grander than these present edifices , necessitated by the requirements of unborn time and of unborn generations of inhabitants . I ask you then , to-day , like the two ecclesiastics of 1261 , to be faithful to your obligations and to be ready to pour out the oil and wine of Freemasonry into the ever open wounds of suffering humanity ; to promote the peaceful and elevating work of religion , in all that seeks to bring mankind nearer to the great Jehovah and his brother man ; in all that would lead up to a spread

of culture , education , civilization , and goodwill amongst members of the lodges of the world , whilst for the children of the dust Freemasonry always mourns and weeps and is ready to avow its concern for them and to express its fraternal sympathies and its ready interest in surviving relatives and friends . Surely , Freemasonry is never more attractive than when it takes part in charitable efforts and benevolent labours , such as is proposed

by Grand Lodge to vote £ 500 towards the relief of the present distress amongst the deserving poor of the Metropolis , and in extending the influence of religion and morality amongst all classes of society , and to try to link in cohesive bonds of amity and goodwill the now surging waves of human life ; to pave the way for a reign of kindly feelings and brotherly love amidst the often jarring discordances of the times , and to repeatoncea gain the soothingstrains of the sublimest hymn of all at Christmas

time . " Glory to God on High and on Earth , peace , Goodwill towards men . "

Brethren , such is your mission . I ask you to accomplish it , and may the G . A . O . T . U . guide , direct , and prosper you in all your doings until lime in the lodge on earth shall be lost in the eternity of the Grand Lodge above . Waiting , which , in the poetic strain of the hymnologist of the Abbey of St . Victor , may we ever be ready to sing to God on High" Hail ! the firmament ' s bright glory !

On our dark minds , we implore Thee , From above Thy rays pour down ; Calm the sea , Thou Star of Ocean ; Lest amidst the storm ' s commotion , And wild adverse winds , we drown . Amen—say ye , every one . " "So mote it be . "

" Masonic Facts And Fictions."

" MASONIC FACTS AND FICTIONS . "

The advent of a new volume on the History of Freemasonry in general , or relative to any particular department thereof , is sure to be heartily welcomed by the ever increasing band of Masonic students , whether at home or abroad . When to this fact must be added another , viz ., that the latest book is by Bro . Henry Sadler , the Sub-Librarian of the Grand Lodge of

England , and moreover contains a Preface by the esteemed President of the Board of General Purposes , it will not be a matter of surprise that " Masonic Facts and Fictions " is aheady a deservedly popular book , and has obtained the largest number of subscribers in the shortest space of time of any purely Masonic treatise that has ever been published in this country .

The chief purpose that the author has in view is to dispose of what he considers to be the . " greatest fiction in the history of English Masonry , " and certainly , if all competent critics share the opinion of Bro . Thomas Fenn , to whom " this Work is respectfully and fraternall y Dedicated , " they will agree with the declaration of the " Introduction "—that Bro . Sadler " has proved his case . " Be that as it may , all who know how to appreciate

and value honest and independent research , united with indomitable perseverance and never failing discrimination , cannot but endorse the wellearned estimate of his labours formrd b y one of the most competent Craftsmen in Em-land—that Bro . Sadler's " Book is cleverly written , his style amusing , and his arguments are well maintained to the end . " The exceptional lacilities enjoyed by the author have been most industriously

untilised , and , what is more , I can unhesitatingly declare that such special opportunities have never been treated as a monopoly by our respected Sub-Librarian . So far as circumstances and pressing duties permitted , all of us who have sought his aid from time to time have invariably been assisted , to the utmost of his power , with valuable facts , cautious advice , and constant courtesy .

The author s friends are legion , who rejoice in his success , and congratulate him most warmly accordingly . Bro . Sadler ' s " Masonic Facts and Fictions " will be well studied , for many reasons , and the more careful the scrutiny , the stronger will the belief become that the numerous extracts from the veritable Records of the

Grand Lodge of England , which are to be found in the work , is a special and important feature , and one that cannot be too highly commended . Quite apart from the debated point as to whether the "Ancients" were "Seceders" or otherwise , there are not a few decisions arrived at in the volume , in which I take a most lively interest .

The Grand Lodge of England , established in 1717 , was the first of its kind , and in all probability was started by more than the * ' four old Lodges ; " and neither is it feasible that those who joined the new Body down to 1723 , or later , were all "entirely new Lodges , doubtless some were , but in my opinion many of them were in existence piior to the formation of the Grand Lodge . '' This is a view I have long held , and indeed , so announced in my Introduction to Bro . John Lane ' s "Masonic Records . 1717—1886 . " It is

" Masonic Facts And Fictions."

refreshing , to me at all events , to find that Bro . Sadler so frequently is found " P ttg ' ng away " to prove this point , for the argument applies to numerous lodges that joined the Grand Lodge many years after the second decade of the last century . Neither in my opinion need the statement be limited to Great Britain and Ireland , for the student of Gould's colossal History will discover intimations of a similar state of things existing in America . The

sharp difference invariably drawn between old and " regular lodges is indicative of something in common , only that the former lacked the authority or countenance of the Grand Lodge . This was always easily rectified during the period noted , by brethren petitioning for " Constitution , " and obtaining warrants accordingly . To suppose that the petitioners then had all been " made " in lodges under the Grand Lodge of England , as they

generally are now , would in my opinion be wholly opposed to the evidence . This being admitted , Bro . Sadler acts wisely in alluding to the requirement in 1727—8 of the Grand Lodge of England , of the dates when the lodges were Constituted . Not , be it noted , when they originated or first began to " work , " as that in many instances undoubtedly would have been long before they were authorised to meet as lodges by the premier Grand Lodge

but , simply and only , the dates of Constitution of such subordinate Bodies . The copy of " Deputation for constituting a lodge in Gibralter , " dated March 9 th , 1728-9 , cited by Bro . Sadler , offers an excellent illustration of this point . This document , issued by the Duke of Richmond's command as Grand Master , was addressed to the W . M . and Warden ' s , as well as other brethren of " a Lodge of St . John's , " held as aforesaid , and was ,

therefore , a recognition of its existing Masonic status , as well as an instrument of regularity and Constitution . An extract from the Grand Lodge minutes of January 29 th , 1731 , reads " Dr . Douglas observed that several brethren that are not of any regular lodge , and yet are good and faithful brethren , can have no notice [ of the Grand Festival ] without public

advertisement . This again corroborates what Bro . Sadler has done well to make so prominent ; that the distinction drawn between such brethren and the regular members , is evidently to prove that they knew all that was needful , but had not been duly constituted ; and what is more , it is clear from the context that it was left to the " Direction of the Stewards , " as to the advertisement supposed to meet the eye of such Craftsmen .

The caution added by the author is worthy of being noted , " We must not , however , judge the Masonry of this early period by our present standard of almost perfect discipline and organisation . " I cannot quite accept Bro . Sadler ' s view as " to the social difference

between the old and new Order of Masons . " We have no references to the membership of any old lodges in England , prior to the eventful " 1717 , " save such as those at Warrington , York , Alnwick , & c , which testify to the distinguished class who " patronized our mysteries" in the " olden tyme , " and a walk "across the border" will flourish abundant testimony in the

same direction . One must perforce refrain from entering on several deeply interesting topics treated by Bro . Sadler relative to Masonic life early last century , and especially in regard to the Cosmopolitan sympathies and tendencies of the Craft . On this and other important matters , the chapter devoted to " The written records of the first Grand Lodge , " is particularly valuable , and will , I feel persuaded , be the means of enli ghtening those who hitherto have been but casual readers of Masonic works .

I am not able to accept Bro . Sadler ' s dictum "that those who have applied the term ' Seceders' to this section [ i . e . the ' Ancients' ] of our Order , have done so under a wrong impiession , " or in other words , that to term the "Ancients" of i 75 [ -i 8 i 3 , Seceders "isthe greatest fiction in the history of English Masonry . " The evidence submitted to justify this declaration is certainly neither emphatic

nor conclusive in my opinion , and though ably presented does not satisfy me as it evidently does some brethren . The fact of the matter , however , must not be lost sight of . There is no register of the " Moderns " that we can examine , so as to find out the Masonic biographies ot the original founders of the rival organzation . If we could compare the noted " Morgan ' s Register" with one of the regular Grand Lodge of England

of a trifling earlier period , we might soon settle the controversy , but this is impossible . Meanwhile I have no objection to a general verdict of " not proven , " and will vote for a friendly injunction in the meanwhile to restrain us from using the term "Seceders ; " those of "Ancients , " Rivals , or "Schismatics" being substituted . I hope to say a few words as to Bro .

Sadler ' s theory respecting the " Ancients" ere long , but just now prefer to wait while brethren peruse the work for themselves , and to delay any extended expression of opinion until the edition is exhausted , which will be soon , though it consists of looo copies . I shall also take the opportunity then of referring to the excellent illustrations and other features which adorn the volume . w . J . HUGHAN .

Bro. Judge Donaldson.

BRO . JUDGE DONALDSON .

Bro . Judge Donaldson , whose death was reported in the Keystone a few weeks since , is described by our contemporary as having been made a Mason just after attaining the age of twenty-one years , on April 30 th , 1820 , in Columbia Lodge , No . 159 , of Danville , Pa , His Masonic advancement was immediate and rapid . He was elected S . W , of No . 159 , in 1821 , Secretary in 1822 , and W . M . in 1823 , and again in 1827 and 1828 . In 1823

and 1826 he was elected Treasurer of the lodge , so that he surved in all its elective stations . Columbia Lodge , No . 159 , felt the full force of the great anti-Masonic tornado of 1826-37 . In February , 18 39 , the lodge room was broken into by anti-Masonic thieves , who robbed it ot its Holy Bible , lodge warrant , lodge jewels , clothing and minute books—in fact of everything except the Ashlar at the Master ' s station , which is still preserved as a valued

Masonic relic of the past . Shortly before that , by authority of the Grand Master of Pennsylvania , Bro . Donaldson , W . M ., ot lodge No . 159 , by invitation of the duly constituted authorities , laid the corner-stone of Christ ( Protestant Episcopal ) Church , Danville , on October 23 rd , 1828 . Over fifty years after , on June 24 th , i 88 r , Bro . Donaldson was present at the same site , when the corner-stone of the new Christ Episcopal Church was laid

with Masonic ceremonies by G . M . Bro . the Hon . Samuel B . Dick , on which occasion we also had the honour to be present . Columbia Lodge , No . * 59 ' of Danville , was next revived , but in 1847 a warrant was granted for a new lodge at Danville , by the name of Mahoning Lodge , No . 224 , and Bro . Judge Donaldson was named therein as the first W . M . In 1 S 48 the name of

this lodge was changed to Danville Lodge , No . 224 , which has had a continuously prosperous career , and Bro . Donaldson was its Representative in Grand Lodge from 1880 tip to the time of his death . He was also a member ol the present Committee on Correspondence of the Grand Lodge , as he had been for a number of years past .