Contents.

CONTENTS .

Alasonic Centenary Celebration in Liverpool 287 Provincial Grand Chapter o £ Suffolk 2 S 8 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 2 SS Royal Masonic Institution for Hoys 2 S 8 St . Alban ' s Restoration Fund 2 SS Roval Masonic Institution for Girls 288

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 28 9 Lodge of Benevolence 2 S 9 Masonic Picnic at Hoo Green , Cheshire 2 S 9 REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 2 S 9 Instruction 293 Roval Arch ' . 292

Ancient and Primitive Rite 292 Mark Masonry 293 Masonic Notes and Queries 293 LEAOERS 294 CoRRESPON'DESCEItinerant Masons 395

H . M . S . Ataianta 29 ; Reviews 295 North Africa ' . 295 Literary and Antiquarian Notes 29 * 1 Masonic and General Tidings 296 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 297 Advertisements 298 , I . to VIII .

Masonic Centenary Celebration In Liverpool.

MASONIC CENTENARY CELEBRATION IN LIVERPOOL .

On Wednesday afternoon , the iCth inst ., the brethren connected with the Merchants' Lodge , No . 241 , met at their head-quarters in the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , for the purpose of celebrating- with becoming pomp and joyousness the centenary of the lodge , which has long held thc foremost

rank for charity and good works in the long list of West Lancashire lodges . Ihe occasion was made specially interesting by the presence of our much esteemed Deputy Grand Master , Uro . the Right Hon . the Karl of Lathom , who is also R . W . P . G . M . of the Province of West Lancashire , in which he is held in the very highest esteem and admiration . The "Merchants" did an exceedingly graceful

act on this occasion by electing our distinguished brother a member of the lodge , and in presenting him with the first centenary jewel given in connection with the ceremony . Such a gathering in point of numbers and influence has rarely been seen in this part of the province , and a most impressive ceremony was the result of the excellent arrangements of the Committee appointed to carry out the

affair . In the early part of the year a petition to Grand Lodge was adopted asking for a centenary warrant and permission for the members to wear a centenary jewel . Great pains were taken by the Secretary , llro . ' 1 . Whitehead , in verifying the records of the lodge , and the prayer of the members was granted . The R . W . P . G . M . consented to be present on tlie occasion , and on this occasion fulfilled the promise , notwithstanding that he was suffering

from a severe cold . The following is a copy of the petition to the Grand Lodge : — " Merchants' Lodge , No . 241 , Masonic Hall , 22 , Hopestreet , Liverpool , February 2 S , 1 SS 0 . " To His Royal Highness Albert Victor Christian Edward , M . W . Grand Master of F ' ree and Accepted Masons , " The humble petition of Thomas Salter , W . M . ; Thos .

H . Sheen , SAV . ; and John Latta , J . W ., of the . Merchants ' Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , sheweth " That the Merchants' Lodge was constituted by warrant from Grand Lodge bearing date A . D . 1780 , on the fifth day of March in that year ; " That on tbe fifth day of March next your petitioners ' lodge will have been in existence one hundred years .

" That the Merchants' Lodge , at a recent regular meeting , passed a resolution , by unanimous vote , requesting that steps be taken to lay before Grand Lodge a petition or memorial praying that your Koyal Highness wouhi be pleased to grant permission to this , the Merchants' Lodge , to wear the centenary jewel , and to celebrate its centenary

by banquet or other suitable demonstration , accompanied by such special acts of charitable benevolence for Masonic purposes , upon which the lodge may determine , if granted such permission . " Your petitioners beg to call the attention of your Royal Highness to the subjoined copy of thc warrant ; and to extracts from such books of tlie lodge as are now accessible .

Your petitioners further beg to suggest that reference to the Grand Lodge books would suppl y any of the missing links to prove "the uninterrupted existence" of the Merchants' Lodge for'one hundred years ; ' and " Your petitioners humbly beg that your Royal Highness will see fit to grant their memorial , and your

petitioners will humbly pray , & c . " 'I HOJIAS SALTER , W . M . "THOMAS IL Sn ___ , S . W . " J LATTA , J . W . " THOMAS WIIITKHKAD , Secretary . " Subjoined are the terms of the centenary warrant which was granted : —

"ALBERT EDWARD , G . M . "To the Master , Wardens , other officers and members of the Merchants'Lodge , No . 241 , Liverpool , and all others whom it may concern . Greeting , " Whereas , it appears by the record of the Grand Lodge ,

Masonic Centenary Celebration In Liverpool.

that , on the 25 th day of March , 17 S 0 , a warrant of Constitution was granted to certain brethren , therein named , authorising and empowering them , and their regular successors , to hold a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at Liverpool , in the county of Lancaster , and which lodge was then registered in the books of the Grand Lodge as No . 522 . But , in consequence of the union of the two Grand Lodges , and the formation of the United Grand

Lodge , on the 27 th day of December , 1 S 13 , it became No . 442 , and at the alteration of numbers in 1 S 32 , it became No . 204 . Since which , owing to the general alteration of the numbers in 1 SG 3 , it has become , and now stands on the registry , as No . 241 , meeting at the Masonic Temple , Hope-street , Liverpool , under the title or denomination of the Merchants' Lodge . "And whereas thc brethren composing the said lodge are

desirous , when and after it has completed the centenary of its existence , to be permitted to wear a jewel commemorative of such event , and have prayed our sanction for that purpose , —now know ye that we , having taken the subject into our consideration , have acceded to their request , and , in virtue of our prerogative , do hereby give and grant to all and each of the actual subscribing members of the same lodge , being Master Masons , permission to wear , in

all Masonic meetings , suspended to the left breast by a sky blue ribbon , not exceeding one inch-and-a-half in breadth , a jewel or medal , of the pattern or device that we have already approved of , as a centenary jewel . But such jewel is to be worn onl y by those brethren who are bandfu / esubscribing members of the said lodge , and for so long only as each

shall pay his regular stipulated subscription to the funds thereof , and be duly returned as such to the Grand Lodge of England . " Given at London this 12 th March , A . L . 5 SS 0 , A . D . 1 SS 0 . "By command of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c .

"SHADWELL H . CLERKE . G . S . " It may be interesting to know that this is the second ceremony of thc kind whicli lias taken place in the province , but there are several lodges which have nearly reached a century ' s existence . The founders of the Merchants' Lodge in 17 S 0 were Uros . Thomas Golightly , merchant , 14 , Lord-street ; Thomas Manley , merchant , 9 , Duke-street ; James

Roberts , merchant , 75 , Duke-street ; Thomas Porter , painter , 37 , Hurst-street ; Michael Renwick , surgeon , 15 , Paradise-street ; John Christian , merchant ; Hugh II . Garbers , merchant , 20 , Cleveland-square ; Ralph Wright , merchant ; William Dcnison , merchant , 32 , Chapel-street ; and William Beale , merchant , 4 , Temple-court . The first principal oilicers were Bros . Thomas Golightly , W . M . ; Michael Renwick , S . W . ; and James Roberts , J . W . The

votes held by the lodge for Masonic Charities are as follow : West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , 4 S 7 ; The I lamer Benevolent Fund , 20 ; Royal Masonic Institution for Hoys , 17 ; Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , 4 ; Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , 14 ; and special giants to Masonic Charities ( in addition to above ) have been made of seventy guineas to mark the event . The imposing assembly of brethren having taken place , the lodge was duly opened bv Bro . Thomas Salter , the esteemed W . M .

1 here were also present Bros . Richard Brown , P . M . ( Hon . Sec . of the W . L . M . E . I . ) , J . Cobham , P . M . ; \ i . Robinson , P . M ., P . P . G . R . ; J . H . Younghusband , P . M . ; J . II . Sheen , S . W ., W . M . elect ; John Latta , J . W . ; S . J . AIcGeorge , P . M ., Treasurer , P . P . G . R . ; 'Thomas Whitehead , Secretary ; J . Pendleton , S . D . ; J . R . Duggaii , | . D . ; George Broadbridge , P . M ., M . C , P . P . G . IAC . j A . B . Ewart , Org . ; J . Brotherton , l . G . ; and P . Ball ,

Tyler . The members whose names appeared on the book were Bros . R . White , ] . Winsor , R . Jago , R . Pruddali , jun ., James Procter , W . Gorst , B . Levy , R . Richards , J . Cantrell , R . J . Mann , T . Goode , R . Hughes , J . Garrett , G . Templeton , T . Raby , D . McGeorge , | . Harrell , T . M . Stanbury , G . W . Davis , W . Bartley , ' C . A . Luker , H . Bryant , A . Woolrich , W . M . 135 ( 1 , Treasurer iGotj ; W .

Johnson , W . McLachlan ; W . Hughes , S . Jude ; N . Green , Samuel Broadbridge , T . Saxon , A . Low , H . Bramall , R . Scott , W . Savage , J . Winsor , I . P . M ., G . Robson , W . Stediford , W . ) . Watmough . T . Hatton , 203 ; D . Meek , 203 and 1276 ; ' H . Davies , P . M . 605 ; J . W . Ballard , P . M . 724 , P . G . P . ; T . W . Blades ; George Peet , P . M . ; R . ( ohnson , W . Davies , J . T . Pugiiiiic , W . Emery , R . W . Barnes , Councillor W . J . Lunt , P . M ., C .

Dunnger , and C . Warren . Besides Bro . the Earl of Lathom , R . W . D . G . M . Eng ., R . W . P . G . M . VVest Lancashire , there were also present the following visitors : Bros . H . S . Alpass , P . O . Sec ; John Chadwick , P . G . Sec . ( E . L . ); Capt . XV . J . Newman , \\ C . Reg . ; W . Laidlaw , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Dr . ) . K . Smith , P . P . G . R . ; Councillor S . E . Ibbs , P . P . G . S . B . ; Joseph Bell , P . G . J . D . ; T . Clark , P . G . S . of W . ; R . Wylie ,

P . P . G . S . D . ; Rev . J . Bethell Jones , P . P . G . C ; Major Turner , P . P . G . Treas . ; W . S . Vines , P . P . G . D . C ; | . Hayes , P . G . S . B . ; J . T . Callow , P . G . Treas . ; T . ft . Whitehead , P . G . S . ; D . W . Finney , P . G . D . C ; D . Edwards , 2 uj ; J . Balmer , P . M . 5 . S 0 ; S . ] . Henochsberg , S . W . 1502 ; H . 1 " . Wright , J . D . 1502 ; _ . Haynes , P . M .

S 23 ; H . 13 . Brown , 1350 ; J . white , W . M . 13 S 4 ; f . Foster , J . W . 13 S 4 ; Dr . F . J . Bailey , P . M . 7 S 6 ; E . Smith , P . P . G . S . of W . ; J . Fogg , P . M . 5 S 0 ; C . Whittle , J . W . -So ; H . A . Tobias , W . M . 1502 ; T . K . Hughes , P . M . 1013 ; R . Townsend , P . M . 1289 ; Richard Bennett , P . M . 1299 ; T . A . Collinson , P . P . G . D . C ; J . Houlding , P . G . S . ; J . R . Bottomley ,

Masonic Centenary Celebration In Liverpool.

I . P . M . 1675 ; H . P . Squire , iCog ; James Doyley , 21 G ; W . Brackenbury , W . M . 673 ; W . Williams , 1609 ; J . 13 . MacKenzie , Worshipful Master 1609 ; S . Harvey , 203 ; A . C . Wylie , W . M . 12 C 4 ; J . Roberts , P . M . C 73 ; li . Paull , Treasurer , 1356 ; W . T . Smith , Sec . 7 SG ; John Ballard , 1609 ; R . H . Evans , P . G . S . D . ; R . N . Hobart , 1505 ; Richard Roberts , P . M . 1473 ; J . T . Alston , P . M . 203 ; H . Longman , P . M . 1051 . P . G . S . ; W .

Delaney , W . M . 242 ; J . Heaton , P . M . 242 ; S . Bushell , 1756 ; H . XV . Collins , P . P . G . W . ; E . S . Mason , 1276 ; G . G . Walmsley , 292 ; W . Harrison , P . M . Sn ; E . Friend , P . P . G . J . W . Cheshire ; J . Skeaf , P . G . O . ; A . Child , 1505 ; J . P . Piatt , P . P . G . J . W . Cheshire ; T . J . Hughes , 216 ; J . P . Bryan , 1035 ; A . Strother , S 23 ; and Joseph Wood , 1094 ( Freemason ) . The centenary portion of the programme ( specially

drawn up by Bro . G . Broadbridge , P . P . D . C , who deserves great credit for his taste and tact ) was then proceeded with . After the Organist , Bro . Ewart , had taken his place , the R . W . P . G . M . and his officers were admitted and received with thc usual honours . The Senior P . M ., Bro . J . H . Younghusband , P . Prov . J . G . W ., then addressed the lotlge on the occasion , and requested thc Prov . G . M . to entrust the centenary warrant

to the custody of the W . M . Bro . YOUNGHUSIUND said : R . W . Prov . G . M ., W . M ., and brethren , as senior Past Master of this lodge the duty has been confided to mc of briefly addressing you on this important occasion . But first let me express the gratitude we all feel towards our R . W . Prov . G . M ., who has , at great inconvenience to himself , honoured us this day with his presence , and beg him to believe that this visit will be

referred to with pride and pleasure at many a future meeting . In a poem by Dr . Young one of his characters is represented as saying , on hearing a clock strike" 'Tis wise in man to give a tongue to time , " and if wise to record the flight of hours it cannot be otherwise to commemorate tlie lapse of days , of years , and of centuries . These may be compared to milestones on the great highway of time . They invite us to pause and reflect

on how many we have passed in our journey of life , and how many remain before we reach its final stage . This lodge , of which we are now met to celebrate the centenary , though generally prosperous , has not escaped periods of depression . One ot these occurred in i _ 44 , when it was only saved from extinction by the devotion of three of its members . 'These were Bros . Thomas Caldecut , the W . M . ; James Brindle , I . P . M . ; and lames Fairhurst , who had

served the office of W . M . in 1 S 42 , and whom I had hoped to see at this meeting . All honour to these three brethren to whom we , the members of this lodge , owe so much . Had we no other record of its existence the chairs of this lodge proclaim its antiquity . 'They point to a time previous to the Union in 1 S 13 , when many lodges , by virtue of their Craft warrants , conferred the Mark , R . A ., K . T ., Rose Croix , and other Decrrccs . These , 1 need not

say , are now under separate jurisdictions , the United Grand Lodge of England having then decided that pure Ancient Masonry consists of three Degrees only , viz ., the E . A ., F . C , and M . M ., including the H . R . A . Now , as these chairs bear emblems and inscriptions of all the abovenamed so-called higher Degrees they carry us back to the time when they were conferred in Craft lodges , and are probably as old as thc lodge itself . Permit

me now , brethren , to place on record the names of those who have contributed so materially to the success of this meeting . They are Bro . Broadbridge , P . M ., and P . Prov . D . of C , whose zeal and ability are beyond all praise , our indefatigable Secretary , Uro . Thomas Whitehead , our excellent Organist , Bro . Ewart , and the musical brethren ( all members of this lodge ) , who have kindly placed their talents at our disposal—to each and all of these

brethen our best thanks are due . Before I conclude I am anxious to pay a tribute of respect to departed merit . Six years ago , in the full vigour of his strength and intellect , our dear Bro . Mott was removed from us by death . The loss to Masonry in general and to this lodge in particular can hardly be estimated . His voice is no longer heard in our lodges , but his bright example remains , and his memory will never be effaced from our hearts . Filled with gratitude

to the Great Disposer of Events , we rejoice at the present position of our lodge . Venerable with age , yet without a wrinkle on its brow , it was never more prosperous than it now is . We rejoice at its noble exertions in the cause of charity , especially its generous support of the W . L . M . E . I ., the crown and glory of this province , to which this lodge has ever been the principal contributor . So much for the past and present . The future is hid from mortal eyes , and we can only fervently hope and pray that the principles

and tenets of our Order , especially that without which wc are but sounding brass and tinkling cymbals , may be transmitted pure and unimpaired through this lodge from generation to generation . So mote it be . 'The Secretary then presented the Centenary warrant to the W . M ., after which was sung the following anthem ( taken from the 90 th Psalm—composed specially for this occasion by Bro . C . W . Smith , J . W . CSo ) : Lord , 'Thou hast been our dwelling place in all

generations . Before the mountains were brought forth , or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world , from everlasting to everlasting , 'Thou art God . For a thousand years in Th y sight are but ai yesterday when it is past , and as a watch in the night . So teach us to number our days , that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom . O , satisfy us early with Thy mercy ; that we may rejoice and be glad in all our days .