Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS jor Consecration of the Bryon Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners at Nottingham Joa Constitution of a Prov . Grand Royal Arch Chapter for Gloucestershire 592 Some Ancient York Masons and their Early-Haunts ( Continued ) jgi Gradeand Degree 593

CORRESPONDENCEThe Late Bro . Levander __ $ Re Non-Confirmation of Minutes 595 Confirmation of Minutes 595 Masonic Mendicancv 595 Reviews . ' . S 9 S Notes and Queries Sg $ REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 596 Instruction 59 $

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS ( Continued)—Royal Arch 598 Mark Masonry 599 Knights Templar 599 Red Cross of Constantine 599 Royal Ark Mariners 599 Correspondence between thc Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of

Quebec $ _ g Obituary 600 Masonic and General Tidings 600 Freemasonry in 1884 601 The " Red Apron ** Lodges 605 A Visit to the British Ophthalmic Hospital , Jerusalem 6 ofi Occurrences of the Year G 08 Bro . Rob Morris ' s Reminiscences of Smyrna 610 Lodge Meetings for Next Week Cover .

Ar00100

VVE call attention elsewhere to the official correspondence between the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of Quebec , and we can only add , according to the old adage , we do not think that the Grand Lodge of Quebec has a "leg to stand upon . " * * *

VVE hasten to correct some little errors which appeared in an editorial comment on a letter relative to the Prestonian Lectureship in our last number . In iSSi , the ancient trustees having died out , the fund was transferred into the names of Bro . Sir ALBERT WOODS and Bro . MCINTYRE . There has been no official appointment , as we said , since Bro . HENRY WARREN

and no payments have been made to anyone since to himself in 1 S 62 . We were in error in supposing that any such payments had been made subsequently to 1 S 62 . From 183 S downward there seem to have been the following appointments ;—Bros . L . THOMPSON , LEVINSON , THISSELTON ,

HEWLETT , and WARREN . It would almost appear as if from about 1819 Bro . STEPHEN J ONES , of the Lodge of Antiquity , held the appointment until his death . We hope that this statement will clear up any uncertainty as to the facts of the case .

* . * BY the lamented death of our esteemed Bro . Lieut .-Col . J CREATON the office of Treasurer to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls becomes

vacant . We are pleased to hear that Bro . Sir J B . MONCKTON , P . G . W ., has consented to allow himself to be nominated for the vacant office . His high position in the Craft , as well as his long services and great experience , eminently qualify him for the appointment .

* * * WE note that Bro . LE FEUVRE is appointed Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire , and we congratulate our worthy brother on his well-merited promotion , and the province on having so very zealous and able a brother placed over them , under their distinguished Bro . VV . W . B .

BEACH . We are quite certain from what we know of Bro . LE FEUVRE that he will seek to maintain the high Masonic character of the important province which he has been called upon to help the Prov . Grand Master in executive administration , and we augur , both from his zeal , knowledge , and discretion , much benefit to Freemasonry , with , at the same time , a

commendable support of our great Charities . Bro . LE FEUVRE has been actively connected with the Charity Committee , and knows better than most the real value of these now remarkable organizations , and the needs and duties of his own province . Every province , in our opinion , either singly or conjointly , ought to be strong enough in votes to secure the election of a fitting number of candidates for all the Charities .

* * * WE are informed officially that the paragraph in the Times of Monday relative to . the Provincial Grand Mastership of Durham is without any authority . The paragraph is as follows : — " FREEMASONRY IN THE NORTH .

—It is understood that Sir Hedworth Williamson , Whitburn Hall , Sunderland , will be appointed Provincial Grand Master of Durham , by the Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England , in succession to the late Lord Londonderry , " * «

THE taste for special lodges seems to be on the increase . The last " outcome" of this peculiar movement of the Masonic mind , through taste and temperament of the hour , is to be seen in the formation of the "Quatuor Coronati" Lodge , of which Bro . Sir CHARLES WARREN , now in Bechuanaland , is to be the first Worshipful Master . There were various

reasons , connected alike with that distinguished brother and the formation of the lod ge , which rendered silence " golden " as in the Spanish proverb , but all occasion for reticence is now removed , and we can speak freely of

what has been for some time a " fait accompli . " The Quatuor Coronati and the Quinque Scul ptores play a conspicuous part in the history of Operative Masonry , at least in Germany and England . Allusion is made to the Quatuor in the Masonic poem , late fourteenth century , and the Coronati

Ar00101

were undoubtedly the Patron Saints of the German Steinmetzen , more or less . There is still a church at Rome where the relics of these nine worthies are said to be preserved . In commemoration these old and faithful Mason the founders of the new lodge have taken a very good name , while the object they have in view , is , as it seems to us , both laudable and common sense ,

and truly Masonic . It is for the furtherance of Alasonic culture and the study of Masonic archaeology . The membership is not intended to be an idle one . Papers will be read and probationary essays required . Bro . Sir CHARLES WARREN is the first Worshipful Master ; Bro . XV . H . RYLANDS the Senior , and Bro . R . F . GOULD , P . G . D ., the Junior Warden . Bro .

WALTER BESANT , the well-known writer , will be among the officers , and Bro . W . J . HUGHAN , who needs no praise from us . Bro . PAUL RYLANDS , so honourably connected with the ranks of the Harleian Society , and Bro .

PRATT , Military Academy , Woolwich , and Bro . W . SPETH will no doubt be pressed into good Masonic " suit and service . " We trust that the future of the Quatuor Coronati may be one of unmingled prosperity , harmony , and utility . ##

4 THE Grand Scribe E ., Col . SHADWELL CLERKE , installed Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH as Grand Superintendent for Gloucestershire , at Cheltenham , on the nth inst ., before a large assembly of Royal Arch Masons . *»*

WE are again approaching the period when the greater part of the elections for Worshipful Masters takes place . We feel it to be our duty once again , though it is always a seasonable topic of advice and exhortation , to call the attention of our readers to the importance of their duty , and the greatness of their responsibility in this respect . At a time when Freemasonry is so

popular , and its lodges so " filled up , " there is a danger , though it always exists , in truth , in greater or less degree , of allowing other considerations than absolute fitness in every respect to influence the choice of a Worshipfu ] Master . Even in Masonry the " potentiality of wealth " and the influence of social position are felt , and sometimes the Masonic interests of the lodge

are sacrificed , as it seems to us , for reasons utterly unfitting and outside Freemasonry proper . Nothing is more humiliating to bri ght Masons than to see a Worshipful Master in the chair who cann ot go through even his commonest routine without the prompting an d aid of an indispensable Past Master , and who to the brother who knows

his work , and has taken the trouble to study his duties , appears either a Masonic " faineant , " or a Masonic drone . Of course , there are exceptions to every rule , and each case must stand or fall by itself alone j but we feel sure weare right in impressing on our readers that the first element of fitness forthe Master is a thorough knowledge of his work , and a skilful .

while courteous , discharge of hisownjduties . So long as he usesa " crutch , " so long as he leans upon others , so long as he does not rely on himself , hi s work must , at the best , be a patchwork , a disjointed work , and leave an unfavourable impression on expert members and casual visitors . Many of the incongruities , and solecisms , and variations , and interpolations which

mar the chaste dignity and consummate beauty of our ritual may fairly be ascribed to the hurry or carelessness of presiding officers not up to their work , to that tendency to " get up " for particular occasions , instead of the earnest effort of the contemplative and sincere Freemason to attain , by constant attention in our lodges of instruction and on qualified teachers the remarkable if oral lore of our ancient Brotherhood . There is a

recklessness just now , amid some portions of our Order , which bodes no good to the future of English Freemasonry , unless checked and controlled in time . Those who are admitted into our lodges seem to think that they are to have everything and obtain everything all at once , and many brethren are far too rapidly pushed forward , from some cause or

another , over the heads , too , of better men and Masons than themselves . They forget that in other days , and those not so far removed from our own generation Freemasons had to serve often a long apprenticeship before they were promoted , and we behold the initiates of yesterday seeking for the highest posts in our lodges . There are again of course exceptions . There are

those who for instance merit every honour that can be conferred on their Masonic zeal , labour , energy , and sacrifices . We have before our eyes as we write one whom no one grudges the honours he has fitly received . Though comparatively a young Mason , by his geniality , his readiness to help and oblige , his Masonic zeal , and above all his efficient discharge of the

most arduous work , he has endeared himself to his contemporaries , and for him the Craft has few honours to which he may not eventually and legitimilely aspire . But as a general rule we require care and caution in selection ,

above all , of a Worshipful Master . And , therefore , we again venture to remind our readers of their special and important Masonic duties at this season of the year , and to say to them , one and all , let your motto be in the election of a Worshipful Master , " Palmam qui meruit feral , "