Masonic Notes.

the subject . But it strikes us as being rather more than a little self assertive on the part of Bro . Attenborough to set up his opinion as to the legality of the proposed pension against that of the Provisional Committee , which includes , as we said , a Queen's Counsel and

several solicitors . If the opinion of these legal mem bers of the Provisional Committee is worth nothingand they are not the men to sanction an illegal pro posal—then the opinion of Bro . Stanley J . Atten borough must be worth less than nothing .

From which it follows that the opinion of the Provisional Committee , as justified by their legal members , is , after all , the better worth following of the two . ** ¦ ¦ * * Bro . Attenborough is also slightly obscure , at least

in the following passage : To my mind , a resolution claiming to be passed , which , if carried into effect , is practically a misappropriation of trust funds , is a distinct breach of faith . " It would be just as well that Bro . Attenborough should furnish

a key to this sentence , for it is sadly in need of one . It is also a great compliment which he pays to the legal brethren on the Provisional Committee , when he suggests there should be an appeal from them

to " some Equity Counsel of eminence . " The opinions of one Queen ' s Counsel , or two if we include Bro . Samuel Pope , Q . C , and several solicitors , is of no account in Bro . Attenborough ' s estimation . * A *

We are very pleased to state that Bro . W . J . Hughan , of Torquay , vvas elected to Honorary membership in the " Masonic Veteran Association of Illinois , " in October , 188 9 , the neat certificate of which he has duly received , signed by General John C Smith , M . W .

Grand Master , the venerable chief , and Bro . Gil . W . Barnard , the Secretary . This compliment from so distinguished a society in the United States vvill doubtless be much esteemed by our brother , vvho must have an exceptionally good memory if he can bear in mind

the names and localities of all the Masonic bodies at home and abroad vvho have enrolled him as an Honorary Member . This is the second Veteran Organisation which has thus recognised the literary services of Bro . Hughan .

A series of articles , entitled " Outlines of a History of Freemasonry , from the most Ancient and Modern Times , " are being written by Bro . Geo . F . Fort in the

columns of the Telegram , Camden , New Jersey , U . S . A . The first number vvas published 26 th April , 188 9 , and the " Outlines" appear from week to week , many months being required to complete the set .

* * * Bro . Fort has already written the most interesting and entertaining history of the Craft extant , though not the most exhaustive or critical , and now he bids fair to

achieve a like success in other directions . The articles so far have mainly to do vvith the remote past , at least , those so far as we have seen , but when more modern times are dealt vvith , vve shall gladl y make known the character and extent of his well-directed researches .

* * * The London Irish Rifles Lodge made a most successful start last Saturday . The Grand Secretary , fresh from a similar function at Manchester on the previous day , vvas in good form , and the Grand

Officers who assisted at the consecration carried out their various duties admirabl y . We offer our sincere congratulations to Bros . Major Carrell , Col . Ward , and the other founders , not only on the event of

the day , but on the prospects of a flourishing future . The munificent gift to the lodge of all the furniture , jewels , and preliminary expenses on the part of Bro . Col . Ward , Bro . Major Inglis , and the W . M ., starts the lodge free from any encumberance .

* * * From time to time a good deal of controversy has arisen on the subject of women Freemasons , but it has been reserved for Leeds brethren to be brouo * h t face to face with the subject in a practical form . A case

recently come under the cognisance of . the local Charity Committee , in which an applicant for relief , a Spaniard , produced not onl y his own certificate , but what appeared an equally valid one on behalf of his wife , vvho , it is said , proved herself in all the Degrees " a good Mason . "

* * * It vvas explained that in the Spanish lodges from which our brother hailed it vvas the custom to initiate , pass , and raise the wives of Masons , who were dul y vouched for by their husbands , and that this was done for the purpose of keeping the ladies out of

Masonic Notes.

the hands of the Jesuits . The lodges in vvhich this custom prevails are called " mixed " lodges , but what strikes us as the most extraordinary part of the story is that " peace and harmony prevails . " * * *

The Glasgow Evening News devotes a column or more every Tuesday to Masonic matters . Amongst other items it has the following reference to the newlyelected Grand Cashier of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; " Bro . David Reid is now actively disengaging himself

of the duties of Provincial Grand Secretary for Glasgow , and next Tuesday will discharge his last function in that office . He has held the position of Provincial Grand Secretary for six years , and that he has

fulfilled the duties of the office vvith every satisfaction is sufficiently borne out by the testimonials given by the Provincial Grand Office Bearers in recommending him for the high position he has now attained . "

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but vve wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] A CORRECTION .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Permit me to correct an error vvhich appears in your issue of this week . In noticing the lamented death of Bro . the Rev . George Warburton Weldon , M . A ., vicar of St . George ' s , Bickley , Kent , you state that "the M . W . G . M . was pleased to confer on him the brevet rank of . Past Grand Chaplain at the Masonic celebration of the Oueen ' s Jubilee on the 13 th of June ,

1887 , " whereas he vvas appointed that year as my colleague at the Annual Festival on April 27 th . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , THOMAS CARTWRIGHT SMYTH , D . D ., Past Grand Chaplain . November 16 th .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft flfrasonry . flDetropolftan / IDeettngs .

Strong Man Lodge ( No . 45 ) . —This lodge met at the Masons' Hall Tavern , on Thursday , the 7 th inst ., and was presided over by Bro . Cubbon , W . M . There were present Bros . E . H . Dove , S . W . •W . H . Liddall , J . W . ; H . Follet , P . M ., Treas . ; H . T . Nell , P . M ., Sec . ; C . Dowsett , S . D . ; Bruty , J . D ., * G . Symonds , P . M ., D . C ; C . Whitby , I . G . j J . G . Cobb and J . Margett

Stwds . •E . Mallet , Tyler ; F . Driver , P . M . j J . Smith , P . M . ; R . E . Hunt , P . M . j Fountaine , P . M . ; C . S . Maden , W . Mills , D . Langdon , F . E . Eastwood , W . W . Soar , B . C . Liddall , W . Saurmes , J . Smethurst , R . Dell , S . Wood , J . tt . Rutter , A . S . Best , j . Cuer , T . I * . Taylor , A . Whitby , and the following visitors : Bros . T . Blyth , 1 S 04 ; F . Taylor , 2256 j Milton Smith , 19 j A . H . Osman ,

j . W . 117 S ; C . Ackerman , 1706 J Rawlinson , I . G . 2 iS 6 j and R . Sidney , 30 . The lodge being opened , and the minutes of the last meeting confirmed , Bro . Soar vvas passed , after which the ballot vvas taken for Bros . Thos . C . Taylor and John Cuer . Both being unanimously elected , they were duly initiated , the ceremony , as well as the passing , being admirably

carried through by the VV . M . A guinea was voted and handed to a needy brother who had applied to the lodge to support a petition to the Board of Benevolence , vvhich the lodge did not feel competent to recommend . Bro . R . E . Hunt , P . M . _ , accepted the office of Steward to the Benevolent Institution , and was voted £ 10 . Other formal business having been transacted , " Hearty

good wishes were given , and the lodge duly closed . The brethren then adjourned to a sumptuous dinner , catered by Bro . S . Wood . The various toasts of "The Oueen , " "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and "The Grand Officers , Present and Past , " having been appropriately proposed and suitably acknowledged ,

The W . M . proposed the toast of "The Initiates , " and expressed his pleasure and the gratification of the lodge in receiving amongst them such promising members . Bro . Taylor , in responding , said he need hardly tell the brethren how great his pleasure was in joining so ancient and worthy a lodge , and that he would do his best to be a worthy member . He thanked them sincerely for the kind

reception given to him . Bro . Cuer reiterated the statements of his fellow initiate , and expressed his feeling of the great honour accorded him by the lodge making him one of them , and said he felt no greater duty than that of thanking the members most sincerely .

The toast of "TheW . M . " was next proposed by the Immediate Past Master , vvho expressed his admiration of the very able manner in vvhich the working had been done by the present W . M ., and said that if all the Masters vvho followed did the ceremonies in an equally creditable manner the Strong Man Lodge would earn a reputation for good Masters .

1 he Worshipful Master , in his reply , said he was very thankful for the kind way the brethren received him , and could not see how a W . M . could do but well when he was so well supported by his brother officers who worked so heartily . He wished to be efficient , and tried to throw his

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

heart and soul into the working . It vvas a great pleasure to know the brethren , to whom he felt bound by strong ties of affection . The toast of "The Visitors" vvas next given by the Worshipful Master , who asked the brethren to drink their health with all the cordiality that was manifest that night . Bro . Milton Smith , 19 , in responding , said he considered

that one of the most pleasant features of Freemasonry was the practice of visiting lodges . Brethren were enabled to compare the working of other lodges vvith their own , and thus able to learn and improve themselves and their lodges . He expressed himself very pleased vvith the excellence and correct working of the ceremonies that evening and with the musical element . He belonged to an old

lodge himself , but had observed during the evening that while his lodge was over 120 years old and numbered 19 , this lodge , although numbered 45 , was more than 150 years old . One could be proud of belonging to a lodge 150 years old , and particularly when its reputation vvas so well kept up as the Strong Man Lodge . Anyone could see the lodge vvas old by the grand old furniture , vvhich was certainly unique and looked quite the age of 150 . Bro . A . H . Osman , 117 S , expressed his gratification at the

reception given to him and his brother visitors . The toast of "The Past Masters " was responded to b y Bros . Symonds , P . M ., and Smith , P . M . The toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary " vvas proposed in a cordial manner by the W . M . The Treasurer , in response , said he thanked the W . M . for the very kind words he had uttered in his favour , and

assured the brethren that while he vvas Treasurer he vvould do-his utmost to further the welfare of the lodge as he had hitherto tried to do , and said his vvork vvas easy because of the ability of the Secretary , the lodge never having had a better Secretary . The Secretary expressed his thanks for the very kind words spoken of him , and said he tried to do work vvith

satisfaction . He was glad to have had the pleasure of introducing Bro . Taylor into the lodge that night , and vvho , he thought , vvould do honour to the lodge . He drew attention to the desirability of the members obtaining centenary jewels , and hoped the members vvould join in making up an order for at least 25 . "The Officers" vvas then proposed by the W . M ., vvho

said that a lodge could not succeed without good officers , but that they had not much to complain of in that respect , and drew attention to the necessity of officers attending a lodge of instruction . The S . W . and J . W . responded , expressing their desire to be able to do the working well as they progressed in office . During the evening songs , & c , were given by Bros . Nell , P . M ., Sec . j Taylor , Ackerman , Marden , Milton Smith , and C . and A . Whitby .

Whittington Lodge ( No . 862 ) . —This lodge met at the Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on Monnay , the iSth instant . It being installation night , there was a good assemblage of brethren . Among those present Bros . James Irvine , _ W . M . ; Brocklehurst , S . W . ; Pauncefort , J . W . j Kingston , Treas . j Weaver , Secj Day , S . D . j Colles , I . G . j Bonsall , D . C . j Packer , P . M . j

Bolton , P . M . ; Godden , P . M . j Ross , P . M . ; Collinson , P . M . ; Lewis , Gumnziroi , Jung , and Harris . Visitors : Bros . Upton , 1599 ; Gowan , 2029 j Scurrah , I . P . M . 107 j Whitly , P . G . O . j Faurance , 2 i 6 Sj Heenson , S 58 J Bolton , P . J . G . W . Kentj Stiles , P . M . 19 S 7 ; Purvis , P . M . 227 j Gregory , S . D . 1962 ; Hayns , P . M . 619 j Little , 1607 j Buckley , 2033 j Henson , 85 S j and Ormston , 1607 .

In the course of the evening the W . M ., Bro . J . Irvine , vacated the chair , having completed his term of office , and in a most fluent and forcible manner , installed his successor , Bro . Brocklehurst , S . W . Great vvas the ability displayed in this ceremony , and great was the admiration of the brethren present for both the retiring and ascending W . M . ' s , whodischarged their respective duties vvith exceptional ability .

Through the officers being selected by rotation , Bro . Pauncefort became S . W . j Bro . Day , J . W . j and Bro . Lewis , D . C . The proceedings gave great satisfaction , and after the lodge was closed , and the banquet over , a very choice jewel was presented by the lodge to Bro . Irvine , I . P . M ., who replied to the complimentary remarks of the W . M . in his

usual eloquent manner . The other speeches were of the usual type , and in every case the visitors replied to the toast of their health . Some excellent songs were sung , Bro . Pauncefort being the Organist .

In this Iodge , for many years past , each retiring W . M . has installed his successor , and performed the duties of the duties of the chair without fault or failure , and the present W . M . shows himself a true specimen of the normal type of Whittington Masters . The same kind of spirit of emulation is apparent in all the officers of the lodge .

Belgrave Lodge ( No . 749 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge , for the purpose of installing the W . Master for the ensuing year , was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , on Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., upon vvhich occasion a large number of brethren , members of various lodges , assembled for the purpose of witnessing the induction of Bro . H . W . L . Hobbs , J . W . and W . M . elect , into the chair of K . S .

The lodge was opened by Bro . Thomas Weeks , W . M .-assisted by the following officers : Bros . Kedge , S . W . J H . W . L . Hobbs , J . W . j Parsons , P . M ., Treas . j Garrod , P . M ., Secj Triggs , S . D . j AustinJ . D . j J . N . H obbs , P . M ., D . C ; Turnpenny , I . G . j Banks , Steward j and Homewood , Tyler . The minutes of the last regular meeting having been read and confirmed , Bros . Rathbone ,

Turnbull , and Bagge were passed to the Second Degree , after which . the ballot vvas taken for Messrs . J . Miskin and Wm . Denton , which proving unanimous , they were initiated . Bro . H . W . L . Hobbs vvas presented by Bro . J . W . Hobbs , P . M ., forthe benefit of installation , and vvas formally installed as W . M . in the presence of some 28 Installed Masters , Bro . Thomas Weeks , the Installing Master , performing the ceremony , vvhich , it is needless to sav , gave the greates

pleasure to all present for the admirable manner in vy , he fulfilled the task . The newly-installed W . M . appointed and invested the following brethren as his officers : Bros . &• Triggs , S . W . j E . E . Austin , J . W . j P . Parsons , P-M- ' Treas . j H . Garrod , P . M ., P . G . P .. Secj W . D- \ - Turnpenny , S . D . j J . H . Brand , J . D . j A . Banks , lX > - > J . W . Hobbs , P . M ., D . Cj J . Mahon , A . D . C . J A . ILeech , P . M ., and F . Kedge , Stevvardsj and Homevvooo , Tyler . A Past Master ' s jewel , unanimously voted bv » lodge , vvas then presented by the W . M . to Bro . T . Weeit ,