Ar00200

WE are glad to find the Masonic Editor of the New York Dis-A Masonic patch has put his foot down strongly against the proposal to hold a Congress of Masons , we presume , in the United States . With him , we fail to see how , in the first place , a body of delegates from the different Grand Lodges can be brought together ; in the next , what will

be the questions they will be authorised to deal with when they have met ? in the next , what likelihood there will be of the Congress agreeing on any one subject worthy of being considered by so august an assembly ? and , lastly , what chance there is that any decrees it may issue will be obeyed by any oi the Grand Lodges represented at its gatherings ? Yet unless a

Congress can agree about something , and then enforce or secure respect for its opinions , what good can result from holding one ? But , even if we go so far as to picture to ourselves all the inherent difficulties of the situation overcome , and the Congress held with results of a most satisfactory character , how will it benefit Masonry generally ? The Grand Lodges in the

United Kingdom and the British Colonies and Possessions , in Germany , France , Italy , and other countries will not be bound by its decrees . There will remain still the differences of opinion which already exist as to what Freemasonry includes and what it does not include , what it allows and what it does not allow . There is a com mon basis on which the whole structure of Freemasonry

rests , but that has not prevented the growth and spread of a variety ot Masonic systems which it will be almost impossible to work into one harmonious whole ; and unless a Congress could see its way to achieving

some such result , we think it had better not be held . It would do nothing towards securing uniformity of system , while it would stand a very good chance of bringing the Craft generally into ridicule . Let us , therefore , bear the ills we know rather than fly to others we wot not of . We are better without a Congress .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following is the business to be transaceed in the Supreme Grand Chapter on Wednesday next : — The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES .

To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 20 th October , 18 S 6 , to the 18 th January , 1 S 87 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows : —

To Balance Grand Chapter ... £ 138 10 3 By Disbursements during the „ „ Unappropriated Quarter £ 232 10 S Account 194 84 ,, Balance 320 9 0 „ Subsequent Receipts ,,. 425 12 ,, ,-, Unappropriated Account 205 o 1 £ 757 19 9 £ 757 19 9

Which balances are in the Bank of England ( Western Branch ) . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions ;—1 st . From Comps . Edward MacFarlane , as Z . ; Frederick William

Mackey , as H . ; William Helton Daniell , as J . j and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Central Australia Lodge , No . 1898 , Bourke , New South Wales , to be called the Chapter of Central Australia , and to meet at Bourke . in the district of New South Wales .

2 nd . From Cornps . John Edward Atkinson , as Z . ; William Thomas Newitt , as H . ; Hector Marshall Upshon , as J . ; and seven others , for a chapter to be attached to the Pitt Macdonald Lodge , No . 1198 , Madras , tc be called the Pitt Macdonald Chapter , and to meet at Madras , in th e East Indies .

The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received a memorial from the companions of the St . George ' s Chapter , No . 140 ,

Greenwich , praying for a charter authorising them to wear a centenary jewel , in accordance with the resolution passed by the Supreme Grand Chapter on the ist February , 1882 . This memorial being in form , and the chapter having proved an uninterrupted existence of 100 years , the Committee recommend that the prayer thereof be granted .

The Committee have also received the following petitions praying for charters of confirmation , the originals being lost . From the Principals and members of the Beadon Chapter , No . 619 , London .

From the Principals and Members of the Orpheus Chapter , No . 1706 , London . The Committee recommend that charters of confirmation for the above named chapters be granted . The Committee have further received memorials , with extracts of minutes , on the removal of the undermentioned chapters .

From the John Hervey Chapter , No . 1260 , London , for permission to remove from Freemasons' Hall , to the Holborn Restaurant , High Holborn . From the Constitutional Chapter , No . 294 , Beverley , for permission to remove from the Assembly Rooms , to the New Masonic Hall , Register Square , Beverley .

The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of the requests , recommend that the removal of these chapters be sanctioned . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREY President . Freemasons' HaU , London , W . C , ioth January , 1887 .

The Dublin Pocket Companion, 1735.

THE DUBLIN POCKET COMPANION , 1735 .

This rare , curious , and valuable work is chiefly of importance now because of its List of Lodges , similar to one issued in London for the same year ( probably the original ) . The title-page is rather long , and the text thereof declares that its contents and circulation were " Approved of , and Recom mended by , the Grand Lodge . " It was likewise sold by "J . Pennel , at the Hercules , in St . Patrick-street , " Dublin , who was possibly connected with

the " F . Pennel ! , at the three Blue Bonnets in St . Patrick ' s-street , " for whom the Constitutions of the Grand Lodgeof Ireland were printed in 1730 ; and was probably the Bro . John PenneU who was elected to the office of Grand Secretary February ist , 1731-2 . The Plate ( Frontispiece , mainly as Smith ' s of 1735 , London ) was Humbl y Dedicated to Lord Kingsland , G . M ., and the Address is by W [ illiam ] S [ mith ] , surmounted by the Arms of Lord

Kingsland . Then follows an abbreviated History of Masonry , after the style of its prototype , the Constitutions of 1723 . The Laws which follow are mostl y taken from the same work , one or two only being altered to suit their use by the Grand Lodge of Ireland . The Entered Apprentice charge , somewhat after the style of the one now in vogue , is then given , and the official Approbation by the Grand Master and Wardens —( " Kingsland , Grand Master ;

JamesBrenan , M . D ., Deputy ; Wm . Cobbe , John Baldwin , Esqrs ., G . W . " ) The songs , & c , are of the usual kind . Pages 7 6-9 end the work , and contain " A List of the Warranted Lodges in the Kingdoms of Ireland , Great Britain , France , Spain , Germany , the East and West Indies , " & c . Those of Ireland run from numbers 1 to 37 , the lodges warranted by England comprising the remainder , running from 3 8 to 163 . To find the exact number ,

therefore , of any lodge on the English roll 37 must be deducted , being the consecutive numeration of the Irish List ; hence those of England really coyer the numbers 1 to 126 . This numeration agrees with the English edition of the same year ( 1735 ) . The Irish List , however , has the 79 ( 116 ) filled in for " The Hoop in Water-street , in Philadelphia , ist Monday , " and hence its special value and importance , for no other List , regular or otherwise ,

has yet been found to contain such a lodge on the English roll . The list itself was doubtless taken in part from some olher , possibly one of Pine ' s engraved series ; but even then that will not account for the No . 79 , save that it may have been on a still earlier issue . The only one known of Pine ' s of 1734 ( owned by Bro . James Newton ) has 128 lodges , owing to the introduction of two lodges before the 126 of Dublin which was warranted for

London November 5 th , 1734 . The two in question , for Boston ( America ) and Valenciennes , thus becoming 126 and 127 respectively , so that the Dublin roll substantially represents an engraved List of 1734 , apparently now lost . The curious points involved were noted by me in the Voice of Masonry ( Chicago , U . S . A . ) for September , 1875 , and also in the Keystone ( Philadelphia ) , and have since been referred to by other brethren , sometimes favourably and at other times adversely , as might be expected , because absolute certainty

is at present impossible . There are no dates of warrants given in this " Pocket Companion , " so we cannot tell when 79 was considered to be granted . Bro . Lane ' s estimate in the " Masonic Records " is 1731 , which , as he has explained to me , is but a guess , for there is not an atom of information in the archives of the Grand Lodge of England respecting such a lodge at Philadelphia , but , if granted at all , I agree with Bro . Lane that it was doubtless the year 1731 which he has provisionally inserted in his invaluable " Masonic Records . " W . J . HUGHAN .

Masonic Thoughts For The New Year.

MASONIC THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR .

In one sense every Masonic New Year is an old year . A profane poet has said—New lords may come and give us new laws . It is not so in Freemasonry -, we have new rulers from time to time , but rarely , if ever , new laws . The new rulers administer the old laws . The distinguishing characteristic of our Fraternity is its stability , its unchangeableness . In the profane world governments are overturned , laws are repealed , new constitutions are adopted , and not unfrequently the sword

is the arbiter of nations . It is not so in Masonry . The most sanguinary weapon used is an edict , and only ink is shed in promulgating it . Hence during the Masonic New Year upon which the Craft has just entered the history of the past year will be in the main repeated . It is worth repeating . The year which has just closed has witnessed general prosperity among our Masonic bodies . Harmony has prevailed , numbers have been increased ,

good material has been added to our spiritual temple , and the fraternal relations which should exist not only in each jurisdiction , but also between the various jurisdictions , have in general prevailed . True , the Masonic millennium has not yet arrived , and probably will not until we all reach the Grand Lodge above , for edicts are occasionally flying around , so that vve realize that while Freemasons are striving after universal harmony and good order , these have not yet been fully attained .

Let us all remember one thing , in our several lodges , at this New Year ' s season : we generally have new rulers over us , and it becomes us to be kind in our criticism of them , ever remembering that every ruler is in some sense a learner . He is new to his station and duties , and cannot be expected to be at once expert in the performance of his varied functions . It is becoming to extend Masonic charity to him who presides for the first time over the "Sons of Light . " Put yourself in his place , and you cannot fail to overlook any shortcomings you may observe . . . .

The Masonic New Year brings with it no duty for any of us , but the same old duty of faithful allegiance to the Craft , and diligent performance of the functions of our several stations and places . Freemasonry cannot be improved ; we ourselves may be , but it never . We have no " new day , new duty . " Masonry is nothing if not ancient . On its banners have ever been inscribed those words of more than magic power , brotherly love , relief , and

truth . Its weapons have never been carnal ones , to destroy , but always arms of love , to shield from distress and to draw into one fold all those who seek the light . It sends out no missionaries to proselyte the profane , while it repels no approved good man and true who honestly seeks initiation . At this New Year ' s season let us remember these old truths . They were made for all time , and will never grow out of date . Daniel Webster , in one of

his famous speeches , in criticising the views of an adversary , remarked concerning them , " What is valuable is not new , and what is new is not valu able . " This is emphatically true of the principles and usages of Masonry . A time-honoured aphorism reads , " Old wood to burn ! Old wine to drink ! Old friends to trust ! Old authors to read ! " Let us , at the opening of this glad New Year , renew our allegiance to old Masonry , for that which assumes to be new is not Masonry at all . Keystone .