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CONTENTS . LEADERS— PAGE Freemasonry in Sweden ... ... ... ... ... 477 On the Prowl Again ... ... ... ... ... ... 47 S Ancient and Accepted Rite ... ... ... ... ... 47 S Provincial Grand Lodge of Dorset ... ... ... ... ... 479 Provincial Grand Chapter of Durham ... ... ... ... 479

Provincial Grand Chapter of Somersetshire ... ... ... ... 4 S 0 Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Staffordshire ... ... ... 4 S 0 Masonic Address ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 S 0 Centenary Celebration of the Lodge of Peace and Unity , No . 314 ... ... 481 Provincial Grand Chapter of Ayrshire ... ... ... ... 481 Craft Masonry ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 S 1 MASONIC

NOTESChairman for the Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution in 1 S 9 S ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 R 3 Consecration of the Past and Preser , t Lodge , No . 2665 ... ... 4 S 3 Transactions of the Lodge of Research , No . 2429 ... ... ... 4 S 3 Lodge Quatuor Coronati , No . 2076 ... ... ... ... 483 Correspondence ... .,, ... ... .,. ... 484

Reviews ... ... ... ... ... ,.. ... 484 Craft Masonry ... ,,, ,,. ... ... ... 4 S 4 Lodges and Chapter of Instruction .,, ... ... .,. ... 4 S 6 Board of Benevolence ... .,, ... .,. ... ,,. 4 S 6 Obituary .,, .,. .,, ... ... . „ ... 4 S 6 Masonic and General Tidings ... ... ... ... ... 4 S 8

Freemasonry In Sweden.

FREEMASONRY IN SWEDEN .

Assuming there is no rule of practice to the contrary , we venture to think it would be . 111 act of grace on the part of our Grand Lodge if it voted such an address of congratulation to his Majesty OscAR II ., King of Sweden and Norway , on

completing the 25 th year of his reign and of his G . Mastership of the Craft in those countries , as was adopted by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania at its Quarterly Communication on the ist instant , and reproduced from the Philadelphia Keystone in our issue of last week . We are not aware that the Masonic relations heretofore

existing between the State of Pennsylvania and the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway have ever been of a jjarticularly intimate character , but for well nigh a century there has been a strong bond of sympathy between the Grand Lodge of which King

OSCAR II . is the present head and the Grand Lodge of England . If the reader will consult the pages of PRESTON ' " Illustrations of Masonry" —edition Oliver , 1861 , pp . 269 , et se < j . —he will find that at a meeting of the Grand Lodge of England ,

held on the ioth April , 1799 , unde r the presidency ot Bro . the Earl of MOIRA , Acting Grand Master , a letter addressed by CHARLES , Duke of Sudermania , " National Grand Master of all the Lodges re-united under the Grand Lodge of Sweden

working in the Royal Art within the states and dominions dependent on our august Sovereign , Master , and Protector , his Majesty the King of Sweden , " on behalf of his Grand Lodge , to the " Most Illustrious , Most Enlightened , Most Sublime , Most

Venerable , and Venerable the National Grand Lodge of England , the National Grand Master , " & c , & c , was presented by Bro . Baron DE SlLYEUHJLLM , Minister from the King of Sweden to the Court of Great Britain . In this letter , which is dated

"Grand Lodge of Sweden , 24 th Jan ., 179 8 , " Baron DE SlLVEIt-HJELM is described as being " decorated with the highest degrees of Masonry , " and is strongly recommended to the fraternal consideration of the Grand Lodge of England , while

the jjurpose in transmitting the letcer is stated to be not only " to express to you the sincere esteem we bear you " but also to state " how desirous we arc to contract with you a fixed and permanent union . " It had previously been pointed out in

language more than ordinarily ornate that the Order enjoyed in the two States " the same privileges and the same protection of government , " and that it enjoyed " the sacred ri ghts of true liberty ( their essence ) in being able without

Freemasonry In Sweden.

danger to exercise those charitable deeds towards the unfortunate , which are the principal objects of our duty ; " and it had been argued that "this uniformity of situation , as well as the fundamental principles of the Craft , which we equally profess ,

authorise us to consolidate and to draw closer a confidence , friendship , and reciprocal union between two bodies whose common object is the good of humanity , who mutually consider friendship as the nerve , and the love of our neighbour as the

pivot of all our labours . " It is subsequently suggested that " the union , which is the basis of our labours , being now established between two nations who reciprocally esteem each other , and who are both known to possess the requisite qualities of all

Free and Accepted Masons , it will consolidate for ever the foundation of the Masonic Temple , whose majestic edifice will endure to future ages . " The letter concludes— " May the Most High , the Grand Architect of the Universe , deign to be

favourable to the wishes we offer for the success of your endeavours , and we remain always , Most Illustrious and Most Enlightened Brothers , by the Sacred Numbers , your devoted Brother , CHARLES Duke of SUDERMANIA . "

The letter having been read , it was unanimously agreed that the Grand Master be requested to return an answer " expressive of every sentiment correspondent to the warm and brotherly address received , " and also that " the Baron DE

SlLVERHJELM be received as the representative of the Grand Lodge of Sweden , and have a seat with the Grand Officers at all meetings of the Grand Lodge . " At the next meeting of Grand Lodge , on the 8 th May following , the Earl of MoiRA , who presided ,

reported that his Royal Highness the Prince of WALES had complied with the wishes of Grand Lodge , and returned an answer in which were expressed sentiments correspondent to those uttered by the Duke of SUDERMANIA , the Prince

trusting that the admiration the two nations feel for each other may be " improved by a close relation between the members of the Craft , the existence of which in each of the countries is founded on beneficence to mankind . " Elsewhere occurs the following

passage : "We are fully sensible how much a course of communication must contribute to preserve that simplicity which has for so many centuries distinguished the Craft ; a simplicity at once dignified in itself , and satisfactory as a pledge towards

every government that affords us protection . Let us unite to maintain it . Let us proscribe all those innovations which can enable either dangerous enthusiasts or profligate conspirators to work in darkness , under the hallowed veil of our Institution ;

and let our labours , like those of our predecessors , be characterised by our adoration of the Almighty ; by our submission to the government of our country , and by our love to our neighbour . "

A few years later—at the consummation of the Union between the " Ancient" and " Modern " Grand Lodges of England on the 27 th December , 1813—among those present at the Grand Assembly of English Masons held in Freemasons' Hall on the

day just specified was " His Excellency Count BE LAGARDJE , the Swedish Ambassador , Grand Master of the first Lodge of the North , visitor , " and when the Duke of SUSSEX had been

elected Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge , " His Royal Highness was placed on the Throne b y the Duke of KENT and the Count LAGARDJE , and solemnly obligated . " But later occurrences have drawn still closer the bonds of the union thus established between English and Swedish Freemasonry . Towards the close of the year 1868 H . R . H . the Prince of