Installation Of The District Grand Master Of Jamaica.

Wm . Duff , A . C . Sinclair , R . H . Holwell , and G . N . Cox was appointed to prepare a banquet in honour of the event . It is satisfactory to note the heartiness with which the whole affair was entered upon . There was not a single brother who if called upon was not ready , not only to do something , but to do his apportioned share to the best of his ability .

The lodge room of the Friendly was selected as the place of installation , and was fitted up with the utmost elegance according to Masonic line and rule . The entrance to the Temple was marked by columns surmounted with palm trees , leading from which the Grand Stewards stood in line , clad in aprons and collars bordered in crimson and gold , and carrying white rods . On the tesselated pavement a rich carpet was spread immediately

in front of the pedestal . I he chair was canopied in purple and gold , and the Sacred Volume and insignia rested on a cushion , also of purple and gold . On right and left of the throne chairs were placed for the D . D . G . M . and the P . G . M . of Scotland . On the left of the P . G . J . VV . the Doric light , emblematic of wisdom , was placed . Behind the D . G . S . W . the banner of the Grand Lodge was unfurled , and at his left the Ionic light , emblematic of

strength , while the Corinthian light , emblematic of beauty , was placed to the left of the chair . The banners of the several lodges were arranged round the lodge , the Royal on the right and the Friendly on the left , In line with the Royal were the Sussex , the Hamilton , the Collegium Frabrorum , and the Kingston ; in line with the Friendly sat the Phcenix , the Jamaica , and the United Service .

Grand Lodge was then opened in form . The District Grand Pursuivant announced the presence of the Right Wor . S . C . Burke , the Provincial Grand Master of Scotland , and his Grand Officers . They were received at the door by the D . G . D . C . and the Grand Stewards .

The Right Wor . brother having received a cordial greeting from the Deputy District Grand Master , he and his officers were conducted to seats in the East , and were saluted by the brethren . The Depuly District Grand Master announced the receipt of a communication from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of England ,

informing him of the appointment by the Most Worshipful the Grand Master of England , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , of the Wor . Bro . John Charles Macglashan as District Grand Master of Jamaica ; also of the receipt of a letter from Bro . Macglashan , stating that he was prepared for installation . Both letters were read by the District Grand Secretary .

The D . G . D . C . having reported that the District Grand Master designate was in attendance , a deputation of Past Masters was appointed to wait on him and conduct him into the lodge . The procession on entering opened right and left , and the Grand Master and his supporters passed up the centre and stood in front of the throne . As the procession entered the brethren rose , and the organ pealed forth a grand voluntary . The patent having been examined by the installing D . D . G . M ., was read by the Secretary .

The District Grand Chaplin , Bro . the Rev . H . F . McDermot , offered up a prayer . The ceremony of installation was then performed by Bro . J . W . Whitbourn , P . D . D . G . M ., in a solemn , and impressive manner . The investiture and enthroning were done with marked ability , and were witnessed cy the brethren with rapt attention . The District Grand Master having been proclaimed by the D . G . D . C , according to Masonic custom , the first act of homage was peiformed by the P . D . D . G . M .

An address of welcome on behalf of the District Grand Lodge was read by the P . D . D . G . M . The Masters and Wardens of the private lodges under the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica were introduced by the Director and Assistant Director of Ceremonies , according to seniority , and presented addresses from their respective lodges .

A magnificent banquet was afterwards served , and , justice having been done to the good things provided , the usual toasts were given and responded to .

Bro. Lane's Masonic Records.

BRO . LANE'S MASONIC RECORDS .

The volume of " Masonic Records" by Bro . John Lane , of Torquay , about which so much has already been written , and from which so much is expected , is rapidly approaching completion . F ' ully one half has been printed ( over 150 pages ) so that the most difficult portion—relating to the early lodges with their numerous changes in numbers and places of

meeting—is now in print . The work will be divided into four parts . I . " The Grand Lodge of all England held at York , " and its subordinates . II . "The Grand Lodge of England , south of the river Trent , " and its few lodges . III . ( a ) "The

Grand Lodge of England" ( premier organisation of the kind . ) ( b ) "The Grand Lodge of England , according to the Old Institutions . " ( c ) "The United Grand Lodge of England ( with the lodges also under each of the foregoing being over 3600 in number !) IV . The Index .

Parts I . and II . were soon disposed of , as but few lodges were warranted under the auspices of York , and those were confined to England exclusively . Part III . Division ( a ) is also concluded , page 14 S having seen the end of the 'Ancient , " or "Atholl" Lodges . Some of the special features of this branch of the subject are of a most interesting character , especially the

curious Lists of Lodges 1751-2 , first detected by Bro . Lane in what is known as " Morgan's Register , " that of 1752-4 , with dates of warrants , Willi the " moving up " of certain numbers , previously unnoticed , being particularl y valuable , as also the incomplete Roll of 1755-7 . These are all preparatory to the real text of the work which begins at page 9 .

_ From a careful examination of the printed sheets of the final revise , kindl y placed at our disposal at Torquay by Bro . Lane , we consider the arrangement of the typo all that is needful to enable the reader at a glance to recognize existing lodges , and to note the towns in which the meetings are now or have been held , all alterations in the rooms , halls , inns , taverns , or hotels being easily detected . The various sizes and styles of

Bro. Lane's Masonic Records.

type used throughout the work , unformly , for specific purposes , arc the means of rendering the intricate details , quite clear and distinct , so that even an ordinary brother , who has not mastered the numerous and difficult problems connected with the study of lodge history and nomenclature , could master the plan of the work with comparative ease and dispatch .

At the left of each page the numbers are given of the existing lodges ; then follow the name , or names , adopted from time to time to distinguish each lodge , with the years noted accordingly . Under the same column are given the distinctive privileges ( if any ) enjoyed by the members , e . g ., " The Grand Stewards' Lodge , " as having a Special Medal , Freemasons' Hall Medal , Centenary Jewel , Crimson Aprons and Collars , and assembles as a Master Masons' Lodge . The third column gives the places of meeting .

These in many instances are very numerous , e . g ., the Lodge of " Industry , " No . 1 S 6 , London , has had 35 different abodes in less than a century . Several lodges appear lo have made "Removing" their chief business , quite a number having- 30 or more changes recorded , with the years when each new hotel or hall , Sec ., was entered upon . The signs of the houses have been most carefully and accurately described , thus adding much to the value of the volume , from an antiquarian point of view .

Then follow the " Dates of Warrants , " or of * ' Warrants of Confirmation , " the day of the month , as well as the year being duly chronicled , as far as possible . The dates of erasures or joining other Grand Lodges are also noted , these particulars forming a valuable and compact account of extinct lodges , and also occasionally of Prov . Grand Lodges .

After the fourth come eleven smaller columns , in which are printed the numbers under the several numerations of 1729 , 1 740 , 1755 , 1770 , 17 S 0 , 1781 , and 1792 . The "Atholl" lodges have a column to themselves , and then follow the numerations ot the " United Grand Lodge" of 1 S 14 , 1 S 32 , and 1863 .

As the last column contains ( on the right ) the numbers of 1863 , both the extreme left ? nd right columns are registers of the present numbers which distinguish existing lodges . The lodges of the regular Grand Lodge ( known as the " Moderns " ) are entered in chronological order , according to each numeration , whether in existence now or not , those of the " Atholl " Grand Lodge being taken

alternately , as far as possible , with the " Moderns , " as respects the numbers assigned immediately afler the " Union " of the two rival Grand Lodges in December , 1813 . By this method the regular lodges are arranged according to dates of origin , and " /// and out , " the " Atholl" lodges fall into line . Bro . Lane tried several plans of arranging these lodges ; but eventually adopted the one mentioned , and we believe he has acted wisely in so doing , taking all the points into consideration .

Whenever two or more warrants have been granted under the same number , each successive issue is indicated by letters of the alphabet , beginning with the first . To make our meaning plain , Bro . Lane gives under No . 16 the following warrants : i 6 « , "Atholl" ( London ) , of nth December , 1752 , which became 146011 27 th December , 1752 ( 14 ^ becoming 126 , 12 a becoming ioZ > , 10 a being erased 27 th Decembor , 1752 ) thus feaving 16 vacant . Then 16 b was chartered ( London ) loth January , 1753 ; bin Was

erased on 71 I 1 August , 1754 . 16 c ( London ) was afterwards started in April , 1757 , but lapsed about 1760 ; after which ioWwas finally granted loth July 1810 , becoming 27 in 1 S 14 , and 25 from 1 S 32 , and has continued to be the "Robert Burns" Lodge , London . There are several instances of two , three , four , and even five warrants being authorised in this fashion , under one number , by the " Atholl " Masons ; the " Moderns " also doing a little in the same line at times .

The numeration of 1755 , which is a long one , was not exhausted until page 120 of the work was reached , 1770 concluding at page 145 , and 1780 isnowrunning out , so that very soon the " Union " list will be reached , when all will be plain sailing . Page 152 , before us now , ends with the " Prince of Wales' Lodge , " London , of 20 th August , 17 S 7 , the numeration at thin stage requiring but five columns . The painstaking author considers tint about 150 pages more will be sufficient to give all the lodges down to the month of issue . **

We should mention that the Engraved Lists of 1723 and 1725 ( two additions ) are given in the work , and a ( me facsimile o ( the late issue of 1725 is to be the appropriate frontispiece of the work , which , by gracious permission , is to be dedicated to H . R . H .. the Prince of Wales , Grand Master . The introduction by Bro . Hughan , Past S . G . D ., with a list of all the known

Engraved Lists , and a preface by Bro . John Lane , P . M . 1402 , will doubtless add much to the value of the volume , as we understand these portions of the "Masonic Records" will be devoted to an elucidation of various problems connected with the subject , and thus aid Masonic students in appreciating the numerous details embraced in this great work , which we confidently anticipate will be ready in October or early in November .

HERMKTIC PHILOSOPHY . —It is not quite easy to say what this term really implies . If it means anything , it relates to the philosophical teaching of a supposed Hermetic Brotherhood , as derived from ihc works of Hermes Trismegistus ori g inally , and subsequently of his followers , who practised alchemy and studied the occult sciences , and were believers in the Philosopher ' s Stone and the Elixir of Life . Il is idle to attempt to

cover this simple fact with a jargon of meaningless words and technical absurdities . The Hermetic Philosophy is , as far as we can reach into its profundity to-day , very questionable indeed ; and though there may be truth mixed up with its fallacies , it cannot be treated as a philosophy in any true sense of the word . Latterly a great deal of nonsense has been written about " Hermetic Philosophy . " Any scientific treatment of it is , \ vc

believe , impossible , as a good deal is attributed to it which it never professed to hold or to teach . As far as we can master the Hermetic treatises , the greater portion of their teaching turned upon the transmutation of metals , the Philosopher ' s Stone , the adaptation of Hebrew cabalistic forms and words to magical ceremonies , the question of nativities , and the whole

machinery of judicial astrology . That there may have been , in ignorant times , some teaching beneath all this paraphernalia of rubbish , we do not deny ; but , as far as we can see , that " residuum " was very small , and now is no longer useful or valuable to man . —Kenuing ' s Cyclopedia of Freemasonry .