Masonic Notes.

new hall . On the 17 th July , the third gathering vvas in connection with the dedication of the new Masonic Hall at Crook , Bro . B . Boulton , P . P . G . Treasurer , being the acting P . G . M . * * *

The annual meeting , on the 24 th September , took p lace in the Victoria Hall , Sunderland , under the presidency of the Prov . G . Master , and vvas largely attended by . the Durham brethren , as well as by a

deputation of brethren from Northumberland , headed by Bros . R . Holmes , P . G . D . England , D . P . G . M ., and Col . Addison Potter , C . B ., P . G . D . England , Grand Superintendent .

* * * From what took place on this occasion , there is no doubt the position of the province is sound . The subscribing members muster 2181 , while its voting power comprises 909 Boys' votes , 525 Girls' votes , and 853

Benevolent votes ( 463 men and 390 widows ) . The balance in hand on the Treasurer ' s account amounted to upwards of £ 25 . 1 , while the capital of the Charity Fund is . £ 97 6 , which has been accumulated since 1882 .

These returns are excellent , and our Durham brethren have good reason to be proud of the work they have achieved under the presidency of their Present and Past Prov . G . Masters .

The Times , in a notice of the "Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar , " which appeared a few days since , remarked on the absence of any information which would enable the reader to estimate even roughly the number of Freemasons . The plurality of membership

permitted under the English Constitution vvould render such an estimate almost impossible , even if the authorities were inclined to furnish the information they possess , but in American Lodges , where a Mason may be a member of one lodge only , it would simply be a question of counting .

The many Masonic and other friends of Bro . Lennox Browne will be glad to see by a report of the meeting of the Warner Lodge , in another column , that he has not only returned safely and well from his

tour in South Africa , but that he shows his continued interest in Freemasonry by putting in an appearance thus early at a Masonic meeting . We trust that he has laid in a stock of health and energy which will be lasting .

* * * A suggestion . vvas made at the meeting of the Gallery Lodge , on Saturday last , to publish a book comprising " Recollections of the Press Gallery of the House of Commons . " The proposal is for all the

older members of the gallery to each contribute his quota of " recollections , " as it is thus thought that an interesting volume might be compiled . The suggestion

was made by Bro . W . Senior , of the Daily News , who expressed his willingness to contribute to the series of sketches and to edit the work . The proceeds are to go to Masonic Charities .

* * * In a lodge working under dispensation at a place bearing the very euphonious name of Oklahama , in Indian territory , the W . M . is said to hail from Kansas , the S . W . from Colorado , the J . W . from Missouri , and

the Deacons from Missouri and Illinois . The Cincinnati Masonic Review deduces from this that " this is a great country , " which is true . But vvould it not have been more to the point to have suggested that the officers of the lodge in Oklahama vvere a " scratch " team ? * * *

A correspondent in the same paper for November thus explains the relation of the 47 th Proposition of Euclid to Freemasonry : The base represents Osiris , the male principle ; the perpendicular , Isis , or the female principle the

hypothenuse , Horus , the product of the other two . He adds that Pythagoras and his followers called these respectively the Monad , Duad , and Triad , the last being the world formed by the creative principle out of

matter . For , as the square on the hypothenuse is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides , so is the world , as it is formed , equal to the formation cause and matter clothed with form .

* * * We have received from Bro . George Robertson , P . M . 1521 ( E . C . ) , a copy of the history , compiled by him , of the New Zealand Pacific Lodge , No . 517 , which

commenced working under dispensation from the D . Prov . G . Master of Australasia , the first meeting having been held on the 23 rd November , 1842 . The work appears to have been written carefully from the minutes , and is a worthy record of good work done b y its members .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

___¦ ~ t ~ - ^ 1 ^ ~^ $£ !—*—~~ ZZ ^& L ^^ . ^—865 ] KNIGHT TEMPLARY . The distinguished frater , Col . MacLeod Moore , Great Prior of Canada , has published the "Allocution" he deliveredat Montreal , 22 nd October , 1 S 89 . It is fully equal to his previous deliverances on the subject , and

makes a very readable sketch and exceedingly interesting digest of the facts relating to the origin and character of Masonic Knig ht Templary . Had such enlig htened and common sense views prevailed in the past , there is no doubt that the Order would have taken a firmer hold of the Craft in this country . Any attempt to prove the continuity or direct descent from the ancient military Order after its suppression in the

fourteenth century must fail , as , Masonically , the imitation of the extinct body was subsequent to the orig in of Degrees early last century . I quite believe , with Colonel Moore , that if K . Templary is dead " its teachings have survived . " The Great Prior ' s declaration that the present Knights Templars " are not a military

association , they only borrow the name from the ancient chivalric Orders , whoseprinciplesand rulesthey are supposed to imitate , " deserves to be carefully noted , as it is true in theory and fact . Likewise an objection to the prefix " sir , " used throughout the U . S . A ., and to " sir knight" in England , " assuming a title of the

British aristocracy , " is an inconsistency which should be entirely removed by the adoption of the term Frater , being merely the Latin term for brother . He says " there is no such thing as Masonic Knighthood , " and another bubble is also pricked in his statement that the "York Rite" has been dead from about 1790 . The modes of recognition peculiar to the K . T . and Malta

are shown to be modern in origin , and the " Baldvvyn " of Bristol and other old encampments cannot claim an existence prior to the latter part of the last century . The allocution deserves a large circulation and many readers , as no one can speak more authoritatively and sensibly on the subject than the veteran Col . Moore , of Canada . W . J . HUGHAN .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft fIDasonry . jflfeetropolitan jflfoeetings .

Ranelagh Lodge ( No . 834 ) . —A meeting of this lodge vvas held on Tuesday , the ioth inst ., at the Criterion , Regent's-circus , W ., vvhen there vvere present Bros . VV . | . Coplestone , VV . M . ; Edwin Lucas , S . VV . ; F . Craggs , J . W . ; H . Purdue , P . M ., P . / .., Sec ; A . Williams , P . M ., J . D . ; VV . VV . Williams , l . G . ; Hans Scharien , Stwd . ; H . Evenden , P . M . 749 Tyler ; J . G .

, Doncaster , P . M . ; H . Shaw , P . M . ; F . J . Oliver , P . M ., Org . ; C . Barker , P . M . ; Jas . Sims , P . M . ; H . | . Inderwick , W . G . Boyes , G . E . White , J . Worth , C . Heinemann , E . D . Richards , T . Jobson , VV . Iceton , S . M . Scgar , S . E . Holland , C . J . Chambers , R . Philips , H . Spencer , VV . Iredale , VV . J . Bowles , F . Herbert , H . Stokes , H . Hewitt , R . S . Cartwright , H . R . Spooner , and H . VV .

Dyne . Bro . W . Stunlekers , 1732 , vvas a visitor . The lodge having been opened , Bro . C . Heinemann was raised , and Bro . H . W . Dyne , initiated . A gentleman was proposed for initiation . Bro . J . Sims , P . M ., announced his intention to stand as Steward at the next Festival of

the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and vvas very handsomely supported by several brethren of the lodge , being no more than he so richly deserves , he having devoted the whole of his spare time in cultivating the beautiful ritual of Freemasonry as the Preceptor of the Ranelagh Lodge of Instruction , and Z . of the Andrew Chapter .

St . Leonard Lodge ( No . 1766 ) . —The annual installation meeting in connection with this lodge was held at the Town Hall , Shoreditch , on VVednesday , the nth inst . Amongst the members present vvere Bros . J . Cox , VV . M . ; H . J . Thrower , S . W . j L . A . Harrison , J . W . ; C . F . Barham , P . M ., Sec . ; VV . Beasley , S . l ) . ; W . Shurmur , P . M . 1471 , J . D . ; R . S . Ricketts , Org . ; S .

C . Kaufman ; L . Stean , P . M . ; G . T . Barr , P . M . ; E . Benjamin , P . M . ; J . Funston , P . AL ; R . Drysdale , P . M . ; Frank Matthews , P . M . ; !•' . Meriton , and many others . Visitors : Bros . H . Gush , P . M . 1541 ; F . Clark , Steward 28 ; C . Gamage , 72 ; G . Cunnington , SGo ; jas . Smith , P . M . 193 ; S . J . Thrower , S 62 ; VV . Blenkinsop , 754 ; D . E . Lewer , 172 S ; S . Alberts , 16 S 5 ; S . Smither , VV . AI .

193 ; H . Smither , 193 ; J . A . Fagg , l . G . 127 ; V . Powke , 127 ; W . H . Page , 127 S ; T . C . Taylor , 45 ; E . Smith , P . M . 1336 , P . P . J . G . W . North Wales ; Cooper , S . D . 211 ; A . J . Rudd , 144 C ; R . Dovcll , 704 ; J . Woodman , 1425 ; J . L . VV . Bertolle , P . M . 115 S ; VV . H . Baker , P . M . 2030 ; andW . W . Lee , 1 S 97 .

Lodge being opened , and the preliminary business disposed of , thc chair was taken by Bro . L . Stean , P . M ., who proceeded to install the W . M . elect , Bro . H . J . Thrower . A numerous Board of Installed Masters vvas formed for the purpose , and Bro . Thrower was duly installed into the chair as W . M . for the ensuing year with the customary

formalities . The appointment and investiture of officers vvas made as follows : Bros . L . A . Harrison , S . W . ; VV . Beasley , W . M . elect 1524 , J . W . ; J . Cox , I . P . M ., Treas . ; C . F . Barham , P . M ., Sec ; VV . Shurmur , P . M . 1471 , S . D . ; S . C . Kaufman , J . D . ; F . Meriton , I . G . ; Batchelor , D . C ; L . Levy and H . Levy , Stewards ; R . S . Ricketts , Org . ; and ] . Very , Tyler . The addresses vvere rendered

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

by the Installing _ Master , Bro . L . Stean , P . M . Ballot having been unanimously taken in favour of the following candidates , they were initiated into Freemasonry by the VV . M . : Messrs . T . VV . D'Aubney , Geo . Bishop , and B . J acobs . The VV . M . said that one of his first duties vvas an exceedingly pleasantone , beingto present Bro . Cox , I . P . M ., with a handsome Past Master ' s jewel , and , without beinir

invidious , he could say there was no one who had had the lodge more at heart than their I . P . M . The members sincerely hoped that Bro . Cox vvould be spared for many years to wear the jewel in their midst . Bro . Cox , I . P . M ., briefly acknowledged the gift , and the lodge vvas closed . After banquet , the usual toast list and a lengthy musical programme were duly carried out , but the hour being late ,

the speeches were necessarily short . Bro . E . Smith , _ P . P . G . W . North Wales , responded for " The Grand Officers " in the absence of any members of that body . He said he had not the honour to belong to that distinguished body , but , as there vvere none present , he should be pleased to reply . He need say but little in that assembly of London Masons , for it vvas well known that the

Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers did their duty to the best of their ability , and there vvas no occasion on which they vvere not ready to respond to the call of duty , and endeavour to further the interests of Masonry . He hoped it vvould be the endeavour of every Mason , young and old , to maintain the grand principles taught by Masonry . Bro . Joseph Cox , I . P . M ., said the brethren vvould quite

understand , as he had been permitted to resume the gavel for one or two moments , the object he had in view . It gave him great pleasure to have the opportunity of proposing "The Health of the VV . Master . " . He had a good many reasons for evincing pleasure in that duty . One reason vvas that Bro . Thrower , W . M ., vvas an old personal friend whom he had known for many years to be engaged in an

important duty—that of instructing and informing and bringing up the rising generation in the way they should go . The VV . M . vvas initiated amongst the early members of the lodge , and had worked up until he found himself occupying the most important position . It vvas the greatest honour that could be conferred upon a Mason , and he was glad to say it had been conferred upon Bro . Thrower . Another

reason why he felt pleasure in proposing that toast was that fromthe way the VV . M . had commenced his duties he was certain to have a prosperous year of office . The position of Bro . Thrower in the chair would tend to the better working of the lodge , and for that and other reasons he ( the I . P . M . ) asked the brethren to heartily drink to the health of their VV . M .

Bro . H . Ihrower , W . M ., in response , said that ten years ago he occupied the chair that was that evening filled by one of the initiates , and he little thought he should ever be the VV . M . of the lodge , but he vvas told that by perseverance and a great deal of work it vvas possible , lt vvas a long time to look forward to , but a short period on which to look back . He vvas proud to occupy his present position , which

had been the one ambition of his life . He vvas indebted to Bro . Stean , P . M ., who initiated him , for installing him that evening , and he sincerely trusted that brother would be spared for many years to work that ceremony . He thanked the brethren exceedingly for the kind way in which the

toast had been received , and would not detain them longer , as there vvas a long programme . Othertoasts vvere given and appropriately responded to , and the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings . Under the direction of Bro . Rickett ' s , Org ., a capital musical programme vvas caried out .

Gallery Lodge ( No . 1928 ) . —The installation meeting ot this lodge vvas held on Saturday last , at the Brixton Hall , Acre-lane , Brixton , vvhen , as there vvas a considerable amount of business to be transacted , the lodge was opened at 3 p . m . In the absence of Bro . R . J . Griffiths , VV . M ., the lodge vvas opened by Bro . Massey , P . M . and Treas ., as acting W . M . The minutes of the

last regular meeting having been read and confirmed , the report of the Audit Committee was presented and received . The ballot vvas then taken for the following joining members : Bros . H . J . Fisher , gi , and Frederick W . Brodie , formerly Sec . 1254 , and vvas found to be unanimous in favour of their admission . The nextbusiness vvas to take the ballot for the following candidates for initiation , namely :

Mr . George H . Ribbons and Mr . Henry Lewis Bell , and , being declared in favour " of their admission , they were initiated by Bro . Massey . The lodge vvas then called off for refreshment preparatory to the installation of the VV . M . elect , Bro . Herbert Wright , the S . W . of the past year , who had been unanimously elected by the lodge to the office of Master for the ensuing 12 months . Upon

the brethren being summoned to resume labour , Bro . Wright was presented to Bro . Massey , as Installing Officer , to receive at his hands the benefit of installation , whereupon Bro . Massey addressed the brethren present upon the practice among Craft lodges in reference to the annual election and installation ot the Presiding Officer , and he , having afterwards pointed out to the VV . M . elect the

qualifications necessary in a candidate for the chair , directed his attention to the Secretary , who recited the ancient charges , to all of which the VV . M . elect gave his unqualified assent . Bro . Wright then took the obligation of a VV . M . elect , and all brethren below the rank of Installed Master having retired , a Board of Installed Masters was formed , in whose presence Bro . Wri ght was installed into the chair of K . S .,

and received the salutations and congratulations of the members of the Board of Masters . The brethren vvere then re-admitted , and the newly-installed Master was proclaimed and saluted in the Three Degrees . Bro . Wri ght then proceeded to invest his officers , of which the following is a list : Bros . W . T . Perkins , S . VV . ; R . J . Albery , I . W .: H . Massey , P . M .,

Ireas . ; Thos . Minstrcll , P . M ., Sec . ; C . B . Cooke , S . D . ; h . E . Peacock , J . D . j F . Gale , I . G . ; J . Henwood Thomas , P . M ., D . C ; C K . Moore , Asst . D . C ; F . H . Pattison , Manning , Lock , and Sanderson , Stwds . ; P . W . Husk , Org . ; and Very , Tyler . The lodge having been thus organised for the coming year , the installation ceremony was brought to a close by Bro . Massey delivering the customary addresses to the Master , the Wardens , and the lay

brethren , winding up with the oration upon the nature and principles of Freemasonry . There vvas a very good attendance of members , and among the visitors vvere the following : Bros . C . J . Phillips , P . AI ., P . P . S . G . D . ; Samuel Edgar , 62 j W . A . Barrett , P . G . Org . ; E . Walker , P . M . 72 ; R . Temple , 1319 ; A . E . Albert , VV . AI . 1949 ; J . Lardlow , P . M . 90 ; VV . T . Alartin , 1 G 26 ; F . W . Stephens , 134 S ; E . G . Field , J . VV .