Masonic Address.

But , in this Royal week of loyal jubilation , t would fain touch upon the relations between Freemasonry and English Royalty , in early and in recent times . If we modestly confine our connection and do not press our strong claims to historic remote fealty to King Alfred the Great , yet most assuredly we can affirm that in the days of Alfred , grandson to King Athelstan , the Royal and beneficent Patron of commerce , and education , and religion , yes , and ot Freemasonry , we have quite enough claims to hoary antiquity for the space of 950 years at least .

Edward the Confessor , Edward III ., Henry VII ., and James I . were Royal Masons . But let us take more modern instances of Masonic Monarchs , or , at any rate , Royal Patronage . William III ., Frederick , Prince of Wales , and other Princes of Wales have been Grand Masters in our honoured Order . Our Most Gracious Queen is the daughter of a Freemason , and the niece , and the mother , and the grandmother of Masons . The heir to the throne is our Most Worshipful Grand Master . God bless the Prince of Wales . His eldest son while he lived was a

credit and cause of fraternal rejoicing to the brethren . Most poignantly did Masons as a Brotherhood bewail his demise at an early age of brilliant promise as a Provincial Grand Master . But not to prolong unduly this , my noontide , address . I shall confine my remaining observations to a comparison batweea two great English Queens , viz ., Elizabeth of renowned fame , and our present noble Queen . Queen Elizabeth vainly strove to suppress Masonry , yea , she set her resolute mind on the utter annihilation of the Order . She actually sent an armsd

force on St . John s Day , 1561 , to break up by might and main the Grand Lodge of England , when assembled at York . But the then Grand Master of England sagaciously won over the Queen's emissaries to adopt Masonry during their three months' sojourn , and initiated , passed , and raised them finally to the Sublim ; Degree of Master Masons , and when they returned to Court and were received in the Presence Chamber by her ruffled Majesty , they so powerfully wrought on her mind and will by convincing the Queen of sterling Masonic loyalty , that

Elizabeth became a sturdy Patroness of our Order , and out of compliment to Bro . Sir T . Gresham she consented , at his humble petition , to honour the New Exchange , of which the foundation-stone had been laid with Masonic honours , by issuing her Royal Mandate that it should be entitled " The Royal Exchange , " out of courteous compliment to Freemasonry . But our own Most Gracious Queen Victoria inherited a friendly appreciation of our ancient Institution , and at this eventful epoch of universal jubilation throughout the enormous Empire of England , Masons of all grades and divers Constitutions manifest their loving homage

in unanimous acclaim of most hearty loyalty . And , above all other Masonic brethren , we of the English Constitution praise the Great Architect of the Universe and Most High God , that in His unerring wisdom and merciful loving kindness He hath vouchsafed to our Realm and to our Order so true a woman , so sagacious a Sovereign , and so benevolent a mother to her vast Empire . May the Supreme King of Kings continue His unspeakable grace and richest blessings to our Empress-Queen and the Royal Family and to dear Old England , our motherland and fondly-loved home .

Before we proceed to the remaining duties of praise , prayer , and blessing , let me in a few words of hearty commendation ask an alms of you in support of that admirable Jubilee work of Masonic Charity , the Queen Victoria District Masonic Pension Fund for Aged Freemasons and Widows . But finally may your Charity and liberality be stimulated by the notable example of our Sovereign Lady the Queen , herself a lone widow , herself left to guard her fatherless children ,

bereft of a loving Consort , she has always stretched out her hand in deeds of mercy and sympathy to the widowed and fatherless , the necessitous , and to all well-deserving and destitute folk . May we imitate her Imperial liberality , and be ever ready to aid generously , all who come within the range of our kindly sympathy . May the King of Kings continue to bless and preserve our honoured Queen ! May God bless and save the Queen for ever I So mote it be !

Centenary Celebration Of The Lodge Of Peace And Unity, No. 314.

CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE LODGE OF PEACE AND UNITY , No . 314 .

The celebration of the contenary of the above lodge took place on Monday , the 6 th inst ., at the Assembly Room , Bull Hotel , Preston , when there was a large and representative gathering of Masons from both far and near . The original warrant of the lodge is dated September 13 , 1797 , and continuity was able to be proved up to the present day , thus putting Peace and Unity in a proud position . It may be mentioned as pertinent to this interesting event that there are records to show that the Grand Lodge of York was founded in the year 926 , and , though Freemasonry was interdicted in England in 1424 , yet it was not annihilated , for in

1717 the Grand Lodge of England was established , Ireland following with a similar institution in 173 0 and Scotland in 1736 . The Freemasons' Hall in London was erected in 1775 , and rebuilt and consecrated in 1869 , the Prince of Wales being installed Grand Master in the Royal Albert Hall on the 28 th April , 18 75 . At the present time there are some 10 , 000 lodges in existence , and more than 1 , 000 , 000 members . Since 1721 , when the Committee of Charity was formed , princely sums have been raised and administered by it for the relief of distressed brethren and the maintenance and education of boys and girls in the Schools of the Craft .

At the celebration , the lodge having been duly opened , the Worshipful Master announced that , owing to the absence from England of the Most Worshi pful Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Centenary Warrant , which required his signature , had not yet arrived , and letters and telegrams from the Grand Secretary were read announcing that the warrant was otherwise in order . An oration was delivered by the Chaplain ol the lodge , Bro . the Rev . T . BARTOX SPENCER , M . A ., P . M ., P . G . Chap . Eng ., P . P . G . Chap .

The presentation of a very handsome banner by the W . M . to the lodge followed next , after which came a vote of congratulation to Bro . the Rev . Dr . Riley , Bishop of Peith , on his having the rank of P . G . Chap , conferred upon him . A very interesting and pleasing event came next—that of the presentation of a piece of plate to Bro . Bee , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., on the occasion of his resigning the office of Almoner of Unanimity , Peace and Unity , Royal Preston , and Concord Lodges .

A banquet , served in the style for which the Bull Hotel management is noted was afterwards served , After the banquet the following toasts and music were given : " The Queen , " " National Anthem . " " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family , " hymn , " God bless the Prince of Wales . " " The M . W . Grand Master , the Pro Grand Master , the Dep . Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past" glee , " The mighty conqueror . " " The

, Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Prov . G . M . ; the Dep . Prov . G . M . ; and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , " song and chorus , " A wand ' ring minstrel . " "Success to Peace and Unity , 314 , " glee , " Breathe my harp . " ¦¦ The W . M . of 314 , " song , " Here's to his health ! " " The Past Masters of the Lodge , " glee , "The image of the rose . " "The Masonic Charities , " song ,

" Norah , the Pride of Kildare . " "The Visiting Brethren , " song , "Silent heroes . " "The Officers of the Lodge , " quartette , " The Patent Medicine . " " The Musical Brethren , " chorus , " Let Miith and Joy , " and "All Poor and Distressed Masons . " The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . Joseph Cantor , P . M . 1609 , P . P . G . Organist , a rich musical treat being provided for the brethren present .

Scotland.

Scotland

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF AYRSHIRE

I he above Provincial Grand Chapter held its autumnal equinox meeting at Kilmarnock on Saturday , the 1 ith instant , when there was a large attendance of members , amongst those present being Comps . Col . J . M . Mathie Morton . G . Superintendent ; William Young , P . G . J . ; John Douglas , P . G . S . E . ; Thomas Duncan , P . G . Treasurer ; Charles Barclay Miller , P . G . ist Soj . ; and Hugh Sloan , P . G . 3 rd Soj .

The Grand Superintendent installed the Provincial Grand office-bearers for the ensuing year . It appeired from the reports of the companions present that Royal Arch Masoiry was steadily advancing in the province . From the Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s report it was shown that financially , the Provincial Grand Chapter was strong .

Various matters of Masonic interest were discussed , and it was arranged that the Grand Superintendent and Provincial Grand Chapter should visit all the chapters in Ayrshire before the end of December .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

St . James's Lodge , No . 482 . The installation meeting of the above lodge took place at the Masonic Rooms , Handsworth , on Monday , the 6 th inst ., when there were present : Bros . G . C . Kent , A . G . D . C . Eng . ; J . McLeod , P . G . S . B . Eng ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; J . F . Pepper , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Warrillow , P . M .. P . P . S . G . W . ; E . W . Heelis , P . M . 6 G 2 , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . F . Bradley , P . M . G 62 , P . P . G . Chap . ; H . Payton , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg . ; Gso . Shread , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . Warwickshire ; W . E . ParkesP . M . P . P .

, , J . G . D . ; Josiah Collins , P . M . 74 , P . P . J . G . D . Warwickshire ; B . Hunn , W . M . 74 , P . P . J . G . D . Oxon ; S . Jenkins , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Deely , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C . ; ] . Higson , P . P . G . Std . Br . Cheshire ; J . F . Thomason , P . M . 739 , Prov . G . Org . ; J . Dunbar Steen , P . M . 526 , P . P . A . G . Sec ; W . Lister , P . M . ; A . T . Holdsworth , P . M . ; H . Loveridge , P . M . ; T . H . Spencer , P . M . 662 ; F . T . Jefferson ,

P . M . C 62 ; D . Rose , jun ., P . M . 1031 ; J . S . Halliwell , W . M . 259 , ; T . H . Salter , W . M . 662 ; W . E . Thomason , 739 ; G . H . C . Hughes , 1782 ; and C . D . Eaton , 1 S 74 . Visitors : Bros . Bayley , Biggs , Brooks , Davis , Fenwick , Green , Jeffrey , Kellett , Male , Pearce , Powell , Migley , and 29 brethren of the lodge . Apologies were received from the Prov . G . M . Staffordshire , the Dep . Prov . G . M . Warwickshire , and many other brethren .

Lodge having been duly opened , the D . C . called upon the brethren to salute the Grand Lodge Officers present . The ceremony of the evening was afterwards proceeded with , Bro . Skevington placing his successor in the chair in the presence of a large Board of Instilled Misters . On the re-admission of the brethren , the newly-installed W . M . was dulysilu : ed , procliim ; i , and g .-ejted , and the addresses were delivered by Bros . Paytori and Hildsworth . Bro . Frank Hughes then appointed and invested his officers , Bros . F . Skevington , 1 . P . VI . ; W . Allm n , S . W . ;

P . H . Whitehead , J . W . ; W . F . Bradley , M . A ., P . M . CG 2 , P . P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; J , F . Pepper , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., Treas . ; Lincoln C . Lamsdale , Sec ; E . Booth , jun ., S . D . ; W . J . Durose , J . D . ; H . Loveridge , P . M ., D . C . ; J . F . Thomason , Mus . Bac , Oxon ., P . M . 739 , Prov . G . Org ., Org . ; B . Noc ' t , F . R . C . O ., Asst . Org . ; G . D . R . Bunting , I . G . ; H . E . Rose , F . G . Whittall , G . Loveridge , J . Appleby , and A . Browse , Stwds . ; and A . Dalley , Tyler . A special resolution of thanks to Bro . Payton for past services having been proposed by the W . M ., and carried unanimously ,

the lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to the banquet table , which bore evidences of the kindly interest taken by Mrs . Frank Hughes in the proceedings . The toasts of " The Queen " and " The M . W . G . M . " were duly honoured , and then the W . M . proposed "T . le Grand Lodge , " which was acknowledged bv Bro . I . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B . The toast of "The R . W . Prnv . G . M . of Staffordshire " was ably proposed by Bro . J . F . Pepper , who , in a few felicitous sentences , touched upon the many excellences of the Right Hon . the Eirl of Dartmouth .

In proposing " The Dep . Prov . G . M . and the Prov . Grand Lodge , " the W . M . took the opportunity ot including all the Prov . Grand Lodges represented , and called upon Bro . Warrillow , P . P . S . G . W . Staffs ., and Bro . Humm , P . P . J . G . D . Oxon , to respond . " The W . M . of St . James' Lodge , 4 S 2 , " was submitted by Bro . Allman , 3 . W ., who referred to his long connection with the W . M . in various walks of life , and also to the Masonic career of the W . M ., and expressed the earnest wish that the W . M . might have health and strength to attain to all their highest hopes of him in his exalted position as W . M . of his mother lodge .

"The W . M . 's Song " was given in dramatic style by Bro . Halliwell , the brethren joining heartily in the chorus and march . The W . M . sincerely thanked the brethren for their more than kindly reception of the toast , and , in the course of further remarks , impresssd upon the brethren the importance ot endeavouring to arrive at the innermost truths and principles underlying our great Craft and so to apply them as to render ourselves better fitted to leave this every day world of ours better for the lives that we have lived .

The W . M . proposed "The Masonic Charities" and made an eloqueit appeil on behalf of the Centenary Festival of the Boys' School , announcing that he had 100 guineas , in the form of 10 Stewardships , already promised . Bro . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . L for Boys , in responding , gave a sketch of the history of the School and some interesting details , re its present position . He fervently re-echoed the W . M . ' s hope that a "Century of Thousands" might lie raised at the Centenary Festival , which the brethren of No . 4 S 2 had so kindly promised to suppoit to the best of their ability .

The W . M . extended a cordial welcome to "The Visitors , " and thanked them for the honour to No . 482 by their presence in such numbers . Bros . Salter , Green , and Spencer responded in appropriate tern ; . The toasts of "The Installing Master , " " The Past Masters of the Lodge , " and " The Officers" were responded to by Bros . Skevington , Holdsworth , and H . E . Rose , respectively . During the evening songs were rendered by Bros . Wrigley , Jeffery , Rogers , and Skevington ; a recitation was given by Bro . Steen ; and a pianoforte du ; t by Bros . Thomason and Nock . The Tyler ' s toast brought a very memorable evening to a close .

Victoria Lodge , No . 2669 . PRESENTATIONS TO BROS . CHARLES CRAB TREE AND THOMAS NORFOLK . The first regular meeting of the above lodge took place at Salem-street , Bradford , on Monday , the 30 th instant . All the founders were present , and there was a good attendance cf visiting brethren , the Worshipful Masters and Wardens of the lodges in the Bradford district having b ; en invited to be present .

During the evening , to commemorate the consecration of the new lodge , presentations took place to the first VV . M . of the lodge , Bra . Charles Crabtree , P . M . 6 oo , P . P . G . D ., and Bro . Thomas Norfolk , P . M . 600 , P . P . G . D . C ., of a set each of very handsome photographs of the founders of the lodge . Tne photos were beautifully mounted in line gilt frames , with Masonic ornaments , and form a msmento of an occasion of much interest to Bradford brethren . The unexpected nature of the presentation made tho gift doubly acceptable , a fact which both recipients fully appreciated .