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SATURDAY , AUGUST 22 , 1891 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The arrangements for the Masonic ceremony—which is to be held on 12 th September on the occasion of the laying of the foundation-stone of the new hospital for the sick poor in Dundee—have now been completed .

Bro . Sir Archibald Campbell , Bart ., of Blythswood , Grand Master of Scotland , will perform the ceremony , which will be taken part in by all the Masonic lodges in the country . * * *

The Provincial Grand Chapter of Essex , like the Provincial Grand Lodge , is in a highly prosperous condition . As was shown at its recent annual meeting at Chingford , the number of its chapters , and proportionately the number of its subscribing members , has

increased , and the feeling existing among both chapters and members is most harmonious . This is no doubt in a great measure due to their being presided over by so genial and at the same time so able a companion as

Comp . F . A . Pruibnck , but tne members themselves must be excellent " companions every one" or the harmony and good feeling which prevails amongst them would not be so conspicuous .

* * * It is a praiseworthy act on the part of the Grand Lodge of Scotland to have adopted , as it did at its Quarterly Communication on the 6 th inst ., a resolution which raises the minimum age for the admission of

candidates from 18 years to 21 years , except in the case of Lewises , and thus assimilating its rule in this respect to the rule of the Grand Lodge of England . The return for the quarter to the 25 th July last , during which the number of intrants—i . e ., initiates—was 1310 ,

shows clearly enough that there is no lack of fresh material awaiting to be received into the Order , while there is no need for | any one to hurry into our ranks . By all means let the Lewises have their privilege of earlier entrance , nor do we see any objection to young

men such as are being educated at our Universities being admitted while in statu , pupillari ; but for the general body of candidates , who cannot be so well

informed as to the character of Masonry as are the sons of Masons or not so " clubbable " as are the majority of University men , we think it is better they should wait till they are of full age before being admitted .

* * * We quoted last week from the columns of our worthy contemporary , the Keystone of Philadel phia , an article entitled " What ' s in a lodge name ? " and if lodge nomenclature were confined to such titles as the

Keystone selected for the purpose of illustration , no one could reasonably object to such names as " Universal , " " Antiquity , " " Shakespeare , " "Abbey , " " Montefiore , " & c , which are all of them appropriate enough . So , too , are the " Affability , " " Temperance , "

Unity , " " Fortitude , " which figure so numerously in lod ge rolls , as well as those which memorialise brethren of hi gh distinction , such as the " Moira , " " Carnarvon , " " Skelmersdale , " " Yarborough , " " Zetland , " and the 'ike . But nearly every Grand Lodge has under its

authority private lodges whose titles have or suggest nothing in common with Freemasonry , and there are rnany among those which have selected the names of brethren for their titles , which would be hard put to it w an answer if they were asked to explain why they had so desi gnated themselves .

# # # t This is more especially the case with lodges which nave named themselves after brethren who are considered b y their friends and admirers to have proved themselves to be bulwarks of our Order , but who are

scarcel y known outside the limits of their own Masonic circles . We shall not be guilty of the bad taste of selecting examples of this class of lodge titles , but let anyone of our readers glance through the roll of our English lodges , and he will have no difficulty in

sooting scores of titles which to him and the bulk of the 'ngiish Fraternity are meaningless , because the Masons Whose names they bear were brethren of little or no distinction . By all means let the fame of our rulers

and men of distinction be perpetuated in this fashion , . let the practice be limited to those who have distinguished themselves , so that if anyone asks " What ' s n a lod ge name ? " there may be always a . decent answer awaiting them .

Masonic Notes.

We have received a series of communications from Melbourne relating to a case recently tried in the First Civil Court in that city , in which two members of the Masonic Order figure as plaintiff and defendant respectively . It is needless to say that the action has

caused a very considerable amount of interest , it being , happily for the reputation of Freemasonry , of very rare occurrence that a civil action is brought by one brother against another in respect of circumstances which had taken place , or which arose out of what had taken place ,

within a tyled lodge . In this instance , Bro . Blashki , a Past J . G . W ., and formerly President of the Board of Benevolence of Victoria , brought an action against a Bro . Smith for an alleged libel contained in a letter

written by the latter , and published in the Australasian Keystone . Bro . Smith pleaded that the meaning attached by the plaintiff to the statements in the letter were not libellous or intended to be libellous , and in the result the jury returned a verdict in his favour .

Since the action Bro . Blashki , notwithstanding that he had resigned his membership and thus severed his connection with the Order , has been expelled from Freemasonry , by vote of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria at its Quarterly Communication in June , the majority for his expulsion being 19 6 to 5 .

* * * tt is to be regretted that such , a case as this should have occurred so soon after this United Grand Lodge has been established . At any time and under any

circumstances disputes between Masons in a Court of Law are to be deprecated , but in this dispute we see nothing which mig ht not have been adjusted . We shall refer to the matter in greater detail next week .

* * * We can hardly believe the correspondent who sends the following enquiry to Notes and Queries can be a Mason : " In the churchyard of All Saints ' , Hastings , is a tombstone erected ( A . L . 5843 ) by a local Masonic

lodge to the memory of a brother . The following word occurs among the usual Masonic symbols , ' ITNOTGAOTU , ' which , being unknown to me , may I ask some brother Mason to explain it ? " We fancy the merest tyro in Masonry would have little difficulty in enlightening a

" brother Mason " as to its meaning . The local stonecutter has evidently omitted the full-points after each letter to indicate initials , and this has led to the writer reading it as a word . " In the name of the Great Architect of the Universe" is not unfamiliar to the Masonic ear .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

948 ] ANOTHER OLD MASONIC JUG . If any of your readers who may be members of Lodge 271 read the following it may interest them . An old Masonic jug is now exposed for sale in the collection of a 5 dealer in Curios in the city of

Londonderry , Ireland . It is exact in shape , size , and engraving as my jug , of which a report was made in "Masonic Notes and Queries , " No . 871 , March 29 , 1890 , with the difference that instead of G in a triangle on the front , the number 271 appears in a triangle . JOS . L . CARSON , 891 ( I . C . ) .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft flDasonrp . PROVINCIAL MEETINGS .

BRADFORD . Acacia Lodge ( No . 2321 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Darley-street , on Thursday , the 13 th inst ., when there were present Bros . S . A . Auty , P . M ., W . M . ; Alfred Stephenson , P . P . G . D . C , l . P . M . ; Thos . Jowett , S . W . ; John Niven , J . W . j Chas . H . Ellis , Treas . ; John Thos .

Last , Sec . ; John Thornton , S . D . : Samuel Robinson , as J . D . ; Goodman Root , as I . G . ; S . A . Bailey , P . M ., D . C .: John Hill , Tyler ; George Althorp , P . M ., P . P . G . P . ; E . P . Peterson , John Morton , Robt . S . Hird , and Win . Sangwine . Visitors : Bros . Joseph Matthewmann , P . M . 1019 , Prov . A . G . Sec ; Tudor Trevor , P . M . 2009 ; and Tom E . Greenhough , S . D . 1 545 . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and

confirmed . A resolution of sympathy with the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . T . W . Tew , I . P ., in his recent illness , and sincerely hoping that the G . A . O . T . U . would speedily restore his health was passed , and directed to be forwarded to the Provincial Grand Master . A resolution for the sanction of the lodge to be given to the formation of a lodge of instruction , pursuant to the Book of Constitutions and under the warrant of the lodge , was discussed , and the debate

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

adjourned to the next lodge . An interesting and instructive lecture was then g iven by Bro . Peterson on " Masonic Triads , " after which a very cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Peterson for his able and interesting lecture , the same to be recorded on the minutes . The Committee to audit the Treasurer ' s accounts for the current year was appointed . Apologies were tendered for the

absence of a number of the brethren who were away on their holidays . Nothing further having been advanced for the good of Freemasonry , "Hearty good wishes" were tendered from Lodges 1019 , 1 545 , and 2069 , and from Prov . Grand Lodge . The lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment . After the usual Masonic toasts Bros . Matthewmann and

Trevor responded for "The Visitors , " and stated the great pleasure it had afforded them to visit the lodge , and that the very able lecture they had listened to had amply repaid them for journeying from Leeds and Wakefield respectively . The toast of "The W . M . " was ably proposed by Bro . Matthewmann , and in responding the W . M . expressed the pleasure it had afforded the lodge to receive the unexpected but nevertheless very welcome visitors .

EATON . George Gardner Lodge ( No . 2309 ) . —A regular meeting , by dispensation , was held at the Christopher Hotel , on Saturday , the 15 th inst ., when there were present Bros . A . Skinner , W . M . ; Laundy , S . W . ; E . B . Cox , Prov . G . Std . Br ., Treas ., acting J . W . ; C . P . Bellerby , Sec ; Geo . Gardner , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., acting l . P . M . ; Hannum , S . D . ; C . Corp , J . D . ; J . Broderick , I . G . ;

Pullman , D . C ; H . Squire , Kirkham , Pritchard , Manlove , Manning , and others . Visitors : Bros . May , 771 ; Payne Curtis , P . P . G . D . C . Gloucester ; and Briggs , acting Org . 771 . The lodge was opened , and the minutes were confirmed . Bro . H . Squire and Bro . R . J . Manlove , 177 , were raised to the Degree of M . M ., and Mr . Mark Laval was duly initiated .

The business connected with the future destination of the lodge was discussed , and a resolution proposed by the W . M . that in future the lodge meet at the above hotel . The brethren then sat down to a most excellent banquet , and the usual toasts were given and received in an

enthusiastic manner . The coming annual launch party of the 5 th of September brought forward promises of large support , and so ended a very useful and most enjoyable meeting . Bro . Briggs officiated at the piano , while Bros . May , Pullman , and others gave , as usual , a choice selection of songs .

FELTHAM . Lebanon Lodge ( No . 1326 ) . —The 142 nd regular meeting of this lodge was held on Saturday last , at the Railway Hotel , under the presidency of Bro . Jas . Clark Goslin , W . M . Among those present , many of whom came specially from distant parts of the country to do honour to the new W . M ., were Bros . S . Wheeler , S . W . ; F . Dunstan , I . W . ; Samuel Page , Treas . ; Harry Davey , Sec . ; E . T .

Wheeler , S . D . ; Alex . Robertson , J . D . ; W . H . Davey , I . G . ; W . Kite , D . C . ; D . Moss and S . Platten , Stwds . ; J . A . Wilson , l . P . M . ; J . J . Marsh , P . M . ; W . R . Vassila , P . M . ; J . Laurence , P . M . ; Amey , Harvey , James , Norris , Russell , and Ruthven . Visitors : Bros . Blake , Dean , Hamblin , Hart , and Pasco . The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the previous

meeting were read and confirmed . The W . M . in a very able and impressive manner initiated Mr . Donald James Ruthven , and later , in an equally perfect manner raised Bros . Harvie and James to the Sublime Degree of M . M . Other formal business was done , and two candidates proposed for admission . Among many others , apologies were received from Bros . Raymond Thrupp , D . P . G . M ., and

J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B . The incidental music during the initiation and raisings was most kindly given by Bro . H . J . Dean . After the lodge was closed , the usual banquet followed , and the customary toasts proposed and honoured . Bro . J . Laurence , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C , in responding for "The Provincial Grand Master , Colonel Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., and the Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , "

alluded to the kindly way in which the Provincial Grand Master had rewarded the efforts of the Lebanon Lodge , and said there could be no doubt that the working of each lodge in the province , its influence in the Masonic world , and its efforts to further the cause of Charity were most keenly watched by the Provincial Grand Lodge , and that the lodge which sedulously and conscientiously attended to

these points received its proper reward in the shape of Provincial Grand honours . He therefore exhorted all those who had not yet attained the chair to diligently and carefully prepare themselves for every office in the lodge , and to interest themselves to the utmost in furthering the good work of Masonry and its Charities . Bros . Marsh and Vassila also replied .

Bro . J . A . Wilson , I . P . M ., in submitting the toast of "The Worshipful Master , " congratulated him upon the very efficient way in which he had worked the ceremonies . They were simply perfect , not only were they letter-perfect , but they were worked in such an impressive manner that the candidates would not readily be able to efface from their memory what they had heard and seen that afternoon .

From what he knew of Bro . Goslin he had expected something beyond the average . The lodge had now the advantage of a W . M . who had exerted himself to become thoroughly efficient , and it was reaping the benefit of his industry and hard work . What Bro . Goslin had done that night was not only a credit to himself , but it increased the prestige of the lodge . As far as he could see , his office of

l . P . M . would be a sinecure in the matter of prompting . In conclusion , Bro . Wilson called upon the brethren to give their W . M . a bumper . The Worshipful Master , in acknowledging the way in which the toast had been received , said he could find no words sufficient to thank the brethren for their kindness . He had resolved that if ever he occupied the chair he would

endeavour to fill it in a way befitting so important a lodge , and to merit all the kind things that were said of him . He would spare no pains to further the interests of the lodge , for he knew how kindly all were disposed to him , and how very ably he was supported by each individual member of the lodge .

In proposing " The Health of the Initiate , " the W . M . said every lodge needed repairing at some time or other . Members , or bricks , as he might say , were constantly dropping away from different causes , and , consequently , to _ keep the structure in a substantial condition , new , bricks were required . Freemasonry at the present