Provincial Grand Chapter Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF DURHAM .

On Saturday afternoon , the ioth instant , the annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , Ingramstreet , South Shields , when there was a numerous attendance . The Grand Superintendent , Comp . Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., was unavoidably absent , being confined to his residence at Whitburn , and a letter regretting his inability to be present was read from him by the Prov . G . S . E ., Comp . R . Hudson .

The Provincial Grand Chapter was opened by Comps . J . D . Todd , as G . Superintendent ; T . Coulson , Prov . G . H . ; and J . C . Moor , Prov . G . J . ; assisted by Comps . R . Hudson , Prov . G . S . E . ; John Holt , Prov . G . S . N . ; R . Stewart , Prov . G . Treas . ; D . Cameron , Prov . G . Reg . ; James Lee , Prov . G . P . S . ; J . K . Wilkes and J . Sedcole , Prov . A . G . Ss . ; H . Brown , Prov . G . D . C . ; W . G . Hetherington , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; J . Joel , as Prov . A . G . S . E . ; and T . Grieves , Prov . G . Janitor . Among those present

were—Comps . W . M . Lyon , P . P . G . H . ; Thos . Purvis , P . G . S . E . Northumberland ; H . J Turnbull , P . P . G . H . ; F . H . Bennett , P . P . G . H . ; J . S . Wilson , P . P . G . J . ; J . T Wilson , P . P . G . J . ; W . R . Staveley , P . P . G . J ; F . S . Coivper , W . E . Moffett , R Todd , R . Whitfield , G . Harland , A . T . Munro , T . Atkinson , T . R . Jobson , E Sutherst , T . G . Garrick , Joshua Curry , and other P . P . G . Officers ; Aid . T . G Mabane , Wm . Biggam , A . Grundy , C . Cox , John Robinson , Wm . Swailes , R

Hauxwell , J . T . Henderson , T . B . Grimes , John Hunter , W . Hodgson , C . T . Johnston , E . Lautebach , James Robinson , R . Madgshon , and J . £ igby . The roll of lodges was called and responded to by the Principals of the several chapters , after which Comp . R . Hudson and the acting G . Superintendent , Comp . J . D . TODD , briefly addressed the Prov . G . Chapter . The former reported an increase of 60 members in the whole of the chapters for the past year .

A vote of sympathy was expressed by the Prov . Grand Chapter with the G . Superintendent , on the motion of Comp . J . D . TODD , seconded by Comp . GEORGE HARLAND . The Treasurer ' s financial statement was read , and sums were voted to the Hudson Benevolent Fund Festival and to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , on the motion of Comp . F . H . BENNETT . The acting G . Superintendent afterwards invested the following Prov . G . Officers for the ensuing year :

Comp . Harland , 240 ... ... ... Prov . G . H . ,, T . Atkinson , So ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ Robert Hudson , So ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . S . E . „ W . Biggam , So ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . ,, John Redhead 240 ( absent ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ J . J . Wilkes , in ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ W .. J . Jobson , 4 S ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S .

„ R . Hauxwell , 12 4 ... ... ... ) D . „ „ . „ A . Grundy , 97 ... ... j Prov . A . G . So s . „ W . Watson , 9 ( absent ) ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . Hodgson , 509 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ E . Lautebach , 94 , 97 ... ... ,,, Prov . G . D . C . „ R . Madgshon , 1119 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ J . M . Moore , 1230 ( absent ) ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ C . T . Johnson , 509 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ T . Grieve , 943 ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . The Provincial Grand Chapter was afterwards closed .

Jews As Freemasons.

JEWS AS FREEMASONS .

The following appeared in the Jewish Chronicle of the 16 th inst , and will , doubtless , prove highly interesting to our readers : In the nth volume of Ars Qua / nor Coronatonim there is an elaborate article on the Masonic MSS . in tbe Bodleian Library , by W . J . Chetwode Crawley ; and in the'Calendar of the Rawlinson MSS ., No . 30 ( page 30 ] , there is introduced the name of Mr . Daniel Dchalle . In the Daily Post of

l'nday ( not Monday ) , 22 nd September , 1732 , the following paragraph appeared : ' On Sunday about two in the afternoon was held a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at the Rose Tavern , in Cheapside , where , in the presence of several Brethren of Distinction , as well Jews as Christians , Mr . Edward Rose was admitted of the Fraternity , by Mr . Daniel Delvalle , an eminent Jew snuff merchant , the Master , Captain Wilmot , & c , who were

entertained very handsomely ; and the evening was spent in a manner not infringing on the Morality of the Christian Sabbath . " In the Gentleman ' s Magazine , 1732 , ii ., 9 6 G , the paragraph appears thus : "Sunday , 17 th September , 1732 . At the Rose Tavern , Cheapside , was held a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , when Mr . Edward Rose , of the said tavern was admitted of the fraternity , by Mr . Daniel Delvalle ,

an eminent Jew snuff-merchant , Master , in the presence of several brethren of distinction , both Jews and Christians , for whom was a handsome entertainment . " The Editor of the Grub Street Journal says : " These Jews , I fear , entertained no favourable notion of this manner of keeping the Christian Sabbath . " [ Thursday , 18 th September , 1732 . ] In endeavouring to trace the word " Mason " to its ori gin , " your most

affectionate Brother A . H ., " writing in the Grub Street Journal , No . 163 , hebruary Sth , 1732—1733 , says that " there are some wicked persons who , 1 know , would derive this name from the Papish mass which I own is of a very intricate nature , yet must I reject such a malevolent supposition if it was onl y because so many zealous Protestants , nay , even Jews , the constant enemies of transubstantiation , are accepted brethren . "

" It further deserves notice , " says the writer of a letter in The Crafts-; ' «« , No . 563 , April 16 th , 1737 , "how artfully they have dispersed them-H'ves m different lodges through all parts of the Kingdom , and particularly m this great metropolis , as it were on purpose to beat up for volunteers , in Much they not only admit Turks , Jews , Infidels , but even Jacobites , r ° " -Jurors , & c , & c .

B y a co-incidence , designed or undesigned , the very next paragraph in T Dai Post states : "Last Monday ( iSth September , 1732 ) , the Jews , erved in a very strict manner their Annual Fast in memory of the estruction of Jerusalem . " If these dates are accurate—though the introuction of the " Destruction cf Jerusalem " renders it doubtful-Mr . Daniel J eivalie , ( he Master , initialed Mr . Edward Rose on the Eve of Kippur . trem SSaid t 0 be t , le firstdi finite record of the admission of Hebrew etnren : the date being 17 th September , 1732 . And certainly the affair

Jews As Freemasons.

produced a little excitement , for in Fog ' s Journal , No . 204 , Saturday , 30 th September , 1732 , there is the usual advertisement that "At the Oratory , the corner of Lincolns Inn Fields near Clare Market , to-morrow ... in the evening at six , " there will be " another question whether a Jew can be a Mason , or a Mason can be made on a Sunday , caused by a letter on a late Making in Cheapside . " In the following number , 20 5 , of Fop ' s

Journal for Saturday , 7 th October , 1732 , it is announced that "At the Oratory , the corner of Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , near Clare Market , on Wednesday [ nth October , 1732 ] the case of the Jew Masons [ will be ] fully cleared , and the affair of the Bricklayers' Lodge from Barbican to the Rose in Cheapside discussed . " The Oratory was the scene of Orator Henley ' s performances . In the MSS . Department ol the British Museum there are more

than 40 volumes of Orator Henley ' s sermons and lectures , in his own handwriting , extending from 172910 1756 ; but dilijjent search has hitherto failed to discover the oration about Jew Masons . The Rose Lodge , or the " Lodge at the Rose , " held its first meeting on 27 th December , 1732 , and the name of Daniel Delvalle stands 29 th on the list of members ; the "Rose " was held previously " at the Bricklayers' Arms at Barbican , " it having been

originally constituted 26 th January , 1730 , the Master being a snuff merchant , and Mr . James Carrington , who officiated as Junior Warden , being a tobacco merchant . According to the Gentleman ' s Magazine , xxxviii ., 447 , James Carrington , Esq ., father to the Rev . Mr . Carrington , Chancellor of Exeter , died on 6 th September , 176 S . Daniel Delvalle appears to have been

Master of the Rose Lodge up to Sth July . 1734 , when he settled accounts , from which accounts it was shown that the Lodge was in debt to its Master in the sum of £ i ~ , 19 s . Sd . Thus far Daniel Delvalle ; it remains yet to be discovered when and in which Lodge he was initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry . " Mr . Delvalle , a Jew merchant , died in Bunhilfields , August 1 , 1737 . " [ Gentleman ' s Magazine , vii .. 514 . ]

Some difference of opinion exists as to when Jews first entered the ranks of speculative Masonry . In 1725 the Register contains the names of Israel Segalas , of Solomon ' s Temple Lodge , Hemming ' s Row , and Nicholas Abraham , of the Golden Lyon Lodge , Dean Street . In 1730-2 the Register contains names of members of No . S 4 at Daniel ' s Coffee House , Lombard Street , viz ., Solomon Mountford , Solomon Mendez , Abraham Ximinez , J acob Alvares , Isaac Baruch , and Abraham de Medina . Grand Stewards 173 S-9 , Moses Mendez and Samuel Lowman .

With regard to a Lodge having been founded and " started " by Jews , the earliest instance given (*) is Lebeck ' s Head Lodge , constituted 24 th August , 1759 , for which there were 23 petitioners , 13 of whom have " unmistakably Jewish names . " And as to nine , these are they : "Founders , Initiates , Officers : —Jacub Moses , Lazars Levy , Edward Morley , Solomon Levy , Jacub Arons , Senur Warden , Joel ; Secretary , Henry Lyon ; Tresher

( Treasurer ) , Ross ; Past- Master , Moses Levy . " But reaching 1759 brings the student within a short distance of the date of the foundation of the lodge known as the " Joppa , " which still flourishes . Many years since an ingenious gentleman , anxious to connect Jews with Freemasonry at a remote period , endeavoured to prove that an early lodge , if not the very first lodge , was held by Moses . MATTHIAS LEVY .

Scotland

Scotland

LAYING FOUNDATION-STONE OF MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS AT GOVAN .

The foundation-stone of the new Municipal Buildings for the Burgh of Govan was laid on Saturday afternoon , the 17 th inst ., by Bro . Provost James Kirkwood ( by the courtesy of Bro . John Graham of Broadstone , Provincial Grand Master of the Glasgow City Province ) . The importance of the occasion was clearly marked by the presence at the ceremony of such a large number of gentlemen wh o

are closely connected with the many and important industries carried on in the burgh . A representative procession of the various trades and crafts paraded through the principal streets under the guidance of Bro . Macgregor Malloch , Chief Marshal , and the Freemasons fell in at the rear of the procession under Bro . William Phillips , Chief Marshal .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in the usual manner , and the working tools to be used at the ceremony were entrusted to the members of Lodge of Glasgow St . John , No . 3 bis , the oldest Jodge in the province . On arrival at the scene of the foundation-stone , Bro . James Kirkwood was presented with a silver trowel and an ebony mallet , and a duplicate of the mallet was presented to Mr . Russell , joint convener of the Building's Committee .

At the conclusion of the ceremony , Bro . KIHKWOOD thanked the Commissioners and his broiher Masons for the honour they had done him on this epochmaking period of the burgh ' s history . He was proud of the progress which the burgh was making . When it was first erected into a burgh in 1864 , the population was about 9000 , whereas now it stood at about 70 , 000 . In 1867 they erected burgh buildings at a cost of . 6 5000 , but these had long since been quite inadequate for the accommodation needed , and now the public had wisely consented to the present venture , which was estimated to cost somewhere between ^ , 30 , 000 and £ 35 , 000 .

Bro . J AMES TAVLOR , jun ., Sub-Provincial Grand Master , spoke on behalf of the Freemasons present . He was certain that he spoke for them all when he said how pleased they had been to assist in the important work of laying the foundation stone of a building which was to confer so many benefits on the people of Govan .

Miss Elsie Frew ( daughter of Bailie Frew ) presented Mrs . Kirkwood with a handsome bouquet as a gift from the Commissioners . Mrs . KIKKWOOO thanked the members of the Board for their kindness . She could hardly hope to preserve their gift for long , but recollections of the day would be always with her . A banquet was given by the Burgh Commissioners in the evening , at which Bro . Kirkwood presided , and the croupiers were Bailies Marr and Hutcheson and ex-Bailie Williamsom ; the purveyor being Mr . A . M . Thiem , of the Windsor Hotel .

The platform was graced by the presence of Mrs . Kirkwood , Lord Provost Richmond ( of Glasgow ) and Mrs . Richmond ; Sir Charles Cameron , M . P ., and Lady Cameron ; Mr . Barns Graham , Convener of the County , and Mr . Graham' ; Provost Brown ( of Renfrew ) , Major Bode and Captain Wemyss , of the Maryhill Garrison , while amongst the company were most of the large employers of labour in connection with shipbuilding , engineering , and many other industries so successfully carried on in the burgh .