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any : ; ense of Masonic law , rig ht , or precedent left among us ? We wondei what our learned Bro . VAUX would have said , if the Grand Lodge of Manitoba had claimed to form a new territorial Grand Lodge in an outlying territory ( unori-upied ) of the United States , and had given a warrant to a lodge

to meet temporarily , let us say . in "Old Missouri . ' Imagination Luis to realize what lhe eliert would have been on lhat distinguished brother ! Even our good old friend CLIM-ORD MCCALLA could not do justice to the position in the always effective pages of the Keystone !

WE think it well to call attention elsewhere to the proceedings at the consecration of the Clerkenwell Lodge , as the ceremony was most interesting in itself , and most impressively performed , and the GRAND SECRETARY so pointedly alluded to the unwillingness of His Royal Hig hness the GR \ ND

MASTER to increase the number of metropolitan lodges . In Bro . EOGAR BOWYER the Clerkenwell I . odge have most assuredly selected a most admirable premier W . M ., and we augur , from his able and genial sway , the certainty of much good Masonic work , and the assurance of manly efforts for our great Charities .

Bro . CARSON has an agreeable theory of his own about Templar origin , which was noticed in this paper some time back . He rejoins lo our leader ette , and the writer thereof replies to him . It is a very pretty controversy as it stands , but it is a little too special and recondite to occupy the space of our leading columns . We refer onr readers to the correspondence .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B ., President of the Board of General Purposes , occupied the President ' s chair ; Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., Junior Vice President , look the Senior Vice-President ' s chair ; and Bio . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C , was placed in the chair of Junior Vice-President .

The other brethren present were Bros . H . G . Huss , Asst . G . Sec ; A . A . Pendlebury , VV . Dodd , G . P . Britten , P . M . 1 S 3 ; J . IL Matthews , P . M . 143 ; William Stephens , P . M . ; Charles Atkins , P . M . 27 ; Charles Frederick Ho-jard , P . M . 20 ^; Charles Dairy , P . M . 141 ; J . D . Collier , P . M . 13 6 G ; Raynham VV . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Thos . Cull , P . M . 1466 ; A . 1 . Graham , P . M . 700 ; T . M . Purchase , W . M . 1635 ; J . H . Sillitoe , P . M . 645 ; Arthur E . Gladwell , P . M . 172 ; L . C . Haslip , VV . M . S 13 ; VV . H . Klinking . stein , VV . M . 73 ; E . E . Barrett Kidder , VV . M . 12 ; ] . B . Lemaitre P . M . 1613 ; T . J . Stohwasser , P . M . 5 G 9 ; William H . Bateman , W . M . 171 ; XV . E . Rogers , W . M . 704 ;

E . Zwinger , W . M . 715 ; XV . H . Ley , P . M . 1091 ; Fredk . Binckes , P . AI . G . Stewards Lodge ; A . Posener , W . M . 15 ; James Weaver , P . M . Sfc 5 John Seex , P . M . iSG ; VV . Jcwett Miller , P . M . 7 66 ; lohn S . Terry , P . M . 507 ; Walter Hopekirk , P . M . 307 ; J . McLean , W . M . 177 ; William . H . Dean , VV . M . 1900 ; A . F . W . Ramsay , W . M . 1 S 91 ; K . Squirrell , P . M . 206 ; VV . H . Perryman , P . M ., VV . M . 1351 ; Frederick Davison , W . M . 10 ; G . J . Jeffrey , P . M . 119 G ; W . B . Heath , P . M . 19 S ; Lewis M . Myers , VV . M . iSS ; R . forster , P . M . 1441 ; IL J . Johnson , P . M . 1791 ; Thomas Cross , W . M . 1194 ; H . Sadler , G . T . , * and H . Massey , W . M . 192 S ( Freemason ) .

The brethren first confirmed recommendations to the amount of £ 235 , made at the last meeting , and then proceeded with the new list , of which there were thirty-seven cases . The brethren sat four hours and a half , during which time they deferred two cases and dismissed two . The remaining cases were relieved with £ 775 , which was composed of three grants of £ 75 each ( £ 225 ); one £ 40 ( £ 40 ); five £ 30 ( £ 150 ); one £ 25 ( £ 25 ); eleven £ 20 ( £ 220 ); two £ 15 ( £ . 3 " ); seven £ , ( £ 70 ); and three £ 5 ( £ 15 ) .

Consecration Of The Clerkenwell Lodge, No. 1964.

CONSECRATION OF THE CLERKENWELL LODGE , No . 1964 .

This new lodge was consecrated on Saturday last , at lhe Holborn Viaduct Hotel , when the company assembled was very numerous . The Consecrating Officer was Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , G . S ., the number of whose consecrations is perhaps up to the present time larger than that of any other consecrating officer . In his duties he was assisted by Bro . Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D ., who acted as S . W . ; Bro . R . VV . H . Gidd y , Dist .

G . M . Griqualand , as J . VV . ; Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . Chaplain , as Chaplain ; Bro . James Terry , Prov . G . S . W . Norths and Hunts , as D . of C . ; and Bro . H . C . Levander , G . D ., as LG . The other brethren present were—Bros . Edgar Bowyer , T . Hastings Miller , J . T . Goode , G . A . Potter , Colonel Henry Radcliffe , Major Robert Rolfe , John Tuck , Charles Frederick Hogard , P . M . 20 S ; H . Shaw , I . P . M . S 34 : Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; A . H . Hickmon , VV . M . 22 S ; Alfred C .

Spaull , P . M . 1768 ; VVm . Stephens , P . M . 14 S 9 , & c ; G . N . Howse , 1677 ; Raynham VV . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Charles Stevens , S . D . 1 793 ; John L . Mather , 15 S 0 , P . P . G . D . C . Herts ; R . L . Sturtivant , W . M . 127 S ; Thos . Clark , S . D . 117 S ; Henry J . Dutton , 170 G ; T . VV . Hanson , 170 G ; Capt . Bedford Pirn , 274 ; E . Locock , 712 , D . P . G . M . Lincoln ; Howard Vyse , P . M . 1 G 2 ; Arthur Millward , j . D . 179 ; F . Sumner Knyvett , P . M . 5 S , P . G . S . ; Edward F . Storr , P . M . 22 ; Geo . F . Cook , P . M . and Treas . 1471 ;

J . W . Simmonds , P . M . 125 S ; H . T . Crutch , P . M . 1278 ; William Barlow , P . M . ; Thos . Griffiths , P . M . 907 ; G . A . Rooks , P . M . 142 ; Frederick Davison , VV . M . 10 ; M . Brickwood , P . M . 192 ; Richard Baker , P . M . 18 S ; Frederick Binckes , P . G . S . ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; Edward Wharton , 170 G ; George Lambert , G . S . B . ; John Dennis , P . M . 907 , 79 , 171 G , and W . M . 1 S 04 ; and H . Massey , P . M . fiio and VV . M . 1928 ( Freemason ) .

The musical brethren were Bros . Dutton , C . Stevens , T . Hanson , and Edward Wharton , who performed under the direction of Bro . Charles K . Tinney . After the lodge had been formally opened , Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , addressing the brethren , said : It was not now very easy to obtain a warrant for a new London lodge , but H . R . H . the Prince of Wales had thought it right to make a special exception in favour of this Clerkenwell

Lodge , on account of the fact that there was actually no lodge in Clerkenwell . Therefore he had acceded to the petition of Bro . Edgar Bowyer and others , and decided to grant a warrant to this new lodge . As a genera ] rule he ( Col . Shadwell II . Clerke ) made a point when consecrating new lodges of impressing upon the brethren the great carefulness they ought to show in admitting new members , owing to the fact that at the present moment Freemasonry possessed such great and material advantages , and it was to be feared that many were forcing themselves into it practically only

Consecration Of The Clerkenwell Lodge, No. 1964.

for what they might get out of it . However , in the case of the present lodge such advice was not necessary , as the founders were experienced Masons , and he had not the sli ghtest doubt that they would carefully watch over all those who sought admission to Freemasonry through the Clerkenwell Lodge . He felt certain from what he knew of these brethren that the lodge would be a-successful one , worthy of the decision of the Grand Master , and reflect credit and lustre on the Craft .

The Rev . A . F . A . WHOIWORD then delivered the following oration : — V . W . Consecrating Officer . As lhe duty of the Chaplain on these interesting occasions seems limited by our Ancient Ritual to a short oration on the nature and principles of Freemasonry , I propose , with your permission , simply and briefly lo point out to my assembled brethren , what are the nature and princip les , yes , and excellencies of that really great institution

ot whose membership we may be all of us justly proud , and whose name and work we may we Hbe glad " to " own "in society and the world to-day . And 1 say this advisedly , wilh lhe same confidence , because many whom I have the honour of addressing are not Neophytes of our Order . On the contrary , the memories of most of us can carry us back in some cases through a long array of years , to that hour , now far away , when he first saw the light of

Freemasonry ; and experience has only attested more and more the value , and Timehasonly more intensely proved the reality of Masonic teachingsand fellowship to ourselves . The older wc have grown , the more we have found that Freemasonry has a meaning and an importance for us all alike , whatever our ranker condition in society may be , in that it has cemented firm friendships , in that it has augmented kindly sympathy , ir , that it has cheered us in sorrow

and given us many an hourot innocent , happy , gracious companionshi p here . And if to-day we look back , as we must sometimes do , sir , regretfully on vacant places and vanished forms , if we recall with a si gh many a lost mate always at our side in lodge work , and who cheered the hearty board of social hospitality with a sunny and unfailing welcome , such things we know are ever but the accompaniment of mortal life

and mortal strivings . And we , who have learnt wisdom from our Masonic , lore , will ever bear in mind , that though such things are here in the good providence of the Great Architect of the Universe , they do but add to , — they seem onl y to increase , —our own personal sense of present privileges , the value of Masonic association and the kindliness of Masonic fellowship . But to pass on . If then we arc tempted to ask what are the

nature and principles of I ' reemasonry , before I attempt t 3 describe them , I may , I think , fairly remark that Freemasonry itself is a very remarkable " factor " in the history and struggles of mankind . Its origin shrouded in obscurity , its past history lost in the dimness of ages , it starts into fresh life and remarkable vigour when a few faithful English Craftsmen met together in 1716 , reconstituted the Grand Assembly , revived the Quarterly

Communication , —in fact , founded the present Grand Lodge of Engle . nd . We must then look to its avowed teaching , if it had any then , to ascertain what are properly its nature and principles , to discover its " raison d ' etre , " its meaning , its reality , and its end . Practically we are now governed and controlled by the settlement and compact of 1 S 13 , but as it is always well to go back to first principles , so it is equally advisable io turn to the historical

commencement of our society when we seek to realize what it is , what it professes , what it seeks lo be . And , if , then in thc first authoritative publication of Grand Lodge , or , rather , under the sanction of Grand Lodge in 1723 , we hnd that Freemasonry is intended lo be a Cosmopolitan Fraternity , whose motto may be fairly said lobe Charity and Loyalty , whose leading tenetsare Brotherl y Love , Relief , and Truth , a sodality which inculcates reverence for God and

love for man , loyalty to the throne and obedience to law , we find surely enough en the threshold ol our enquiry to arrest attention and gratify interest . But if , in addition to these facts , we note aUo plainly that Freemasonry seeks to enclose in its mystic circle all good men and true , without distinction of creed or caste , nation or opinion , only premising that all must honestly believe in T . G . A . O . T . U ., and carefully eschew all anarchical and

all revolutionary tendencies , we gain a further gratif ying mark of the importance and meaning and character of Freemasonry proper . And then , if further still we find that basing all its didactic lore on tlie Divine morality of God ' s Inspired Word , English Freemasonry , without entering into any of these divisions which divide , these separations which sever us , those controversies which loo often serve but to debase the intellect , arouse the

passions , and part us from our fellow-creatures here , proclaims unfailingly and unfalteringly thc Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man , and all those moral duties and all those social claims by which we are bound so closely and happily together here , and without which the world in which we live would soon become a realm of savages , a chaos of endless conflicts , hateful violences , and over-mastering passions , we may fairly hail with

grateful acclaim both the tenets and the mission of Freemasonry . For thus Freemasonry is set before us in a most admirable light , a philanthropic and beneficent Order of the highest value and deepest value to us all alike , And for this reason . It seeks clearl y to unite all men in a common religious work of disinterested humanity , and this is the cause why it has seemed , and still seems lo many minds , some ,

too , of the most cultured and thoughtful of our race , to be worthy of our fullest sympathy , approbation and support . Happily its nature and principles are still unchanged as years follow upon years , and though as in all other earthly things as we know , developement is the result of growth , and accretion is the consequence of progress , yet the landmarks of English Freemasonry are still happily unaltered and

unaffected by changing times and revolving years . And long , sir , may they continue to be upheld b y us in their pristine reality and authority , in that on them and from them so much depends and so much flows for the peace , the happiness , the civilization , the welfare of mankind . Of course , in saying all this I have , however , only but glanced very imperfectly , as time only permitted , at the true nature and principles of Freemasonry ; but I

venture to think , in even my most imperfect outline , that I have sketched out enough to commend Masonic principles to those who have not thought carefully over them , or know little about them , while to those who know Freemasonry well , I love it truly , all that I have humbly advanced will appear , but may be , a feeble commentary at the best , on its ri ghtful claims to their allegiance , admiration , gratitude , and respect . And thus having , as I said before , only just glanced at its nature and principles , what may I not

further put forward in respect of the excellencies of Freemasonry ? Were 1 to treat upon them all according to my view , I should weary your courteous attention , sir , and the patience of my very friendly hearers . I can then just but-touch upon onc or two . 1 . ls not Freemasonry excellent , in that it proves a happy centre of unity , or rallying point for those of us who do not care to give up to sectionalism what i . s meant for mankind , for us , I say , who have sympath y wilh all our fellow creatures , though we differ from them , and they differ from us , on many leading points ?