Masonic Notes.

It will be seen from the list of Grand Officers and the particulars we relate elsewhere of their past achievements in lodge , chapter , and province , that this year's honours were not only well bestowed , but also very evenly distributed between town and country . One feature will be particularly noticeable—that a few

of the decorated first saw the light of Masonry in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , Oxford . It is true that the chief services of most of these brethren were rendered elsewhere , either in London or in one or more of the Provinces and sometime after they had quitted the University , but the fact remains that , like so many of their predecessors in the purple

of Grand Lodge , they were initiated under its banner , and Apollo University may justly claim them as her own , their subsequent achievements notwithstanding . There is probably no other lodge in England , which can rightly claim to have been the mother lodge of such an array of Grand Officers , both Present and Past .

It will have been seen from our report last week of the proceedings at the Boys' School Quarterly General Court on the 14 th inst . that Bro . George Plucknett , P . G . D ., did not offer himself for re-election as Treasurer of the Institution , and that the Grand

Secretary has been chosen his successor . But , in tendering our congratulations to Bro . Letchworth on his appointment , we must not forget to express , on behalf of all friends and supporters of the Boys ' School , the gratitude that is due to Bro . Plucknett for his long and faithful services . He was elected to office as far back as 187 s , in succession to the late Bro .

Algernon Perkins , and during the 20 years that have since elapsed has fulfilled the dnties of his oflice with great ability , and with marked tact and judgment . We trust he may be spared for many years to see the School , whose interests he has so assiduously watched over , in still higher favour with the Craft than it is now , al the moment of his retirement .

# # # The annual Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshite was held at Wakefield on the 19 th inst . Upwards of 300 brethren were present . Owing to the continued indisposition of the Prov . Grand Master , the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Henry Smith , again presided . In the course of

an able address , Bro . Smith announced that the Prov . Grand Master , feeling there was no prospect of his being able to discharge the duties of his office in the way he considered they should be discharged , had placed his resignation in the hands of the Grand Secretary .

• * * We cannot express the feeling that will be experienced by all Masons to whom the Provincial Grand Master is known in better terms than those used by Bro . Smith , who said : " Brethren , this is a great blow to West Yorkshire . It is almost impossible to rate too highly the

splendid services and constant devotion of our Prov . G . Master . Consider his strong personality ; his genial hospitality ; his unbounded generosity ; his entire lack of personal ambition ; his noble advocacy and support of our Charities ; his munificently fostering care of our Masonic library ; his unwearied efforts to

elevate the character of our assemblies—to guide , to teach , and to sustain us . Consider , I say , all these attributes , and you will agree with me that he is a Provincial Grand Master whom it is a calamity for us to lose , and whom it will be difficult , if not impossible , for us to replace . "

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

\ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed bv our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . 1

IRISH MASONS IN CEYLON . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In response to a letter of mine , which you were good enough to print in the Freemason of 25 th February last , I this morning received an authority ,

duly signed , sealed , and stamped , from the officers of Sphinx Lodge , No . 107 ( I . C . ) , Colombo , authorising me to use nine votes on their behalf in favour of the daughter of the late Sergeant-Major Dalton at the ensuing June election of the Irish Masonic Female

Orphan School . ( Copy of Secretary ' s letter enclosed . ) I shall feel obliged if you will give a place in your next issue to this public acknowledgment of such truly Masonic feeling on the part of our brethren in Colombo . —Yours fraternally ,

JOHN W . GODDARD , P . M . Military Lodge , No . 728 ( I . C . ) . 136 , Lcinster-road , Rathmines , co . Dublin , April 24 .

Reviews.

Reviews .

FREEMASON ' ¦> ' CALENDAR , DERBYSHIRE , 1 S 93 . This very handy and accurate annual is in the t Sth year of publication , and the last issue compares most favourably with its numerous predecessors . Since it assumed the present arrangement of the many detai ' s the useful directory has come into the first rank and taken its place side by side with the best published . Bro . Naylor . the

energetic Prov . Grand Secretary , is the esteemed editor , and thus adds to his arduous duties , as the holder of the " cross pens , " by compiling this calendar for his province . There is no brother so suitable for Such a purpose as the Prov . Grand Sec , only it is hard on that heavily-worked official , and says much for his zeal , when he agrees to discharge that duty with so many else . There are now 25

lodges , seven Royal Arch chanters , six Mark lodges , a Rose Croix chapter , & c . ( the Knights Templar appears to be omitted ) , and the votes of the Charities are ably arranged and detailed , being about 2000 in all ; also nearly 700 for the valuable Mark Benevolent Fund . The calendar is most compact , clearly arranged , well printed , and contains an excellent portrait of Bro . W . H . Marsden . When are we to have Bro . Naylor ' s ?

FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF OXFORDSHIRE , 1 S 93-94 . ( W . R . Bowden , High-street , Oxford , is . Od . percopy , post free . ) Bro . Bowden is thoroughly competent to discharge the duties of editor , printer , and publisher of this well-known calendar , for he has exercised ' such important functions for

several years , in succession to the late Bro . R . | . Spiers , P . G . S . B ., D . Prov . G . M . Oxford , & c . Under the new auspices , however , it is but fair to state that the work has been much increased , the particulars given being practically exhaustive , and the size is in proportion , so that Bro . Bowden well deserves increased support , and should not have to solicit it , as he does , on behaif of some of the

lodges in the province . It is an official publication , but issued at Bro . Bowden ' s expense , so that the dozen lodges , with its 600 members ( including some 130 Past Masters ) , should at once subscribe for the edition , and save the editor the labour of making it known . The various Masonic bodies existing in the province , and the votes held in the several Central Masonic Charities , with much information

besides , are all carefully detailed , ably arranged , and neatly printed , rendering this annual all that could possibly be desired . The roli of Past Masters , as well as of the present officers of such lodges as the "Apollo University , " No . 357 , has an interest tar beyond the city of Oxford , and so also the roll of officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge from

1 S 37 . Information is also afforded of an earlier date , and , doubtless , the Earl of Jersey , P . G . W ., the Prov . G . M ., and Viscount Valentia , P . G . M . W ., the Mark Prov . G . M ., are very pleased to have such an invaluable directory of their province at hand , for it must prove exceedingly useful to the local rulers in all the Degrees .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS . Merchant Navy Lodge ( No . 7 81 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge took place on Wednesday , the 19 th inst ., at the Silver Tavern , Burdett-road , Limehouse , Bro . F . R . Gooch , W . M ., presiding . He was supported by Bros . T . Neville , P . M . ; R . C . Pasfield , P . M . ; 1 . W . Reeves , P . M . ; A . H . Shepherd , P . M . ; Somerset , Craft flDasonrp .

P . M .: W . Timson , P . M . ; 1 . H . Pringle , P . M . ; F . Robinson , P . M . ; W . E . Turriff , S . W ., W . M . elect ; G . J . Anderson , J . W .- ; T . B . Daniell , P . M ., Treas . ; C . Breden , P . M ., Sec . ; G . H . Seage , S . D . ; T . B . Burges , J . D . ; A . Bebrouth , D . C . ; J . Lancett , I . G . ; J . Grout , Org . ; A . W . Ellingford , P . M ., Tyler ; J . C . Todd , F . K . Saunders , T . Huett , J . R . Speck , J . Maclean Caroell ,

Chas . L . Nelson , W . Thompson , W . H . Thrift , W . H . Mitchell , jun ., J . E . W . Chapman , C . S . Higgs , J . Spurgeon , sen ., W . Odling , J . K . Reedman , S . VV . Buli , C . Badcock , J . VV . Chapman , D . G . Thompson , J . Hussey , I . Porter , F . Richards , W . H . Vickers , R . | . Hamilton , P . Saville , H . Truscott , H . Lane , A . Jacobs , J . H . J . Jacobs , J . W . Shaw , VV . A . Patrick , W . Vinter , 1 . G . Spurgeon ,

jun ., G . Martin , T . S . Cooper , G . 11 . Morrow , G . G . Frances , F . H . Hughes , F . VV . Rendell , T . Colquhoun , C . Lewis , T . Howells , and others . Among the visitors were Bros . J . VV . Burdett , 898 ; J . Smith , 1716 ; G . A . Brabazon , 1278 ; H . Cotter , P . M . 554 ; T . Roberts , J 7 ^ Si J . Mills , 1765 ; and others . The lodge being opened , the minutes of the last meeting

and the recent lodge of emergency were read and confirmed . Bro . Shepherd , P . M ., acting as D . C , then presented Bro . W . E . Turriff , VV . M . elect , to Bro . Pringle , who then took the chair and duly inducted Bro . Turriff into the chair of K . S . He then invested the following officers . * Bros . F . R . H . Gooch , l . P . M . ; G . Anderson , S . W . ; G . H . Seage , J . W . ; T . B . Daniell , P . M ., Treas . ; C . tsreuenivi 1 3 1

, r .., sec . ; . u . Durges , . U . ; . Lancett , J . D . ; A . P . Bebrouth , I . G . ; J . Grout , Org . ; S . W . Bull , D . C . ; G . E . Morrow and D . G . Thompson , Stwds . ; C . L . Nelson , Asst . Sec . ; and A . VV . Ellingford , Tyler . Bro . Pringle , P . M ., who acted as Installing Officer , then addressed the W . M ., Wardens , and brethren . Bro . Pringle has on many previous occasions given the greatest satisfaction to the brethren by his admirable working of the

beautiful ceremony of installation , and he added to his laurels by his working on the present occasion . Bro . Shepherd efficiently performed the duties of D . C . The W . M . then presented Bro . Gooch , I . P . M ., with the jewel with some words of eulogy for his performance of the duties

of W . M . during the past year , and presented Uro . Pasfield with a Past Master ' s collar and jewel . Twenty-five guineas were voted to the Girls' School , on the proposition of I 3 ro . Shepherd , P . M ., seconded by bro . Pasfield , P . M . It was also proposed by Bro . Shepherd and seconded by Bro . Gooch , P . M ., that the votes of the lodge be given to Bro .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

Daniell , P . M ., to assist Bro . Gaisford ' s most deserving case . A vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Huett , jun . for his present of a block and falls to the S . VV . 's pedestal . Several letters read by the Secretary were referred to the Committee . A hearty vote of thanks was unanimousl y accorded to Bro . Pringle for his masterly performance of the ceremony of installation , and to the W . M . for the

efficient manner in which he had invested his officers . All Masonic business being ended , the lodge was closed , and the brethren , to the number of about So , sat down to a well-served banquet . The customary toasts were duly honoured , and variots brethren contributed to the harmony till the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

DalhOUSie Lodge ( No . 860 ) . —The installation meeting of this distinguished lodge was held on the 13 th inst ., at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , and was wel ' - attended , both by members and visitors . There wert present Bros . E . Aines , W . M . ; W . G . Poole , S . W . ; T Glass , J . W . ; J . R . Baron , Sec ; R . Burleton , P . M ., Treas . ; J . D'Ardenne , S . D . ; Berry , I . G . ; H . Delma ,

Org . ; W . Robinson , Stwd . ; T . B . Dodson , P . M . ; F . Richardson , P . M . ; E . Bond , P . M . ; Christian , P . M . ; VV . Jenkins , P . M . ; G . Holman , J . L . Taylor , W . Fisber , A . Loveridge , W . J . Francis , W . Wyles , W . Seaman , T . P . Bennett , C . H . Griesler , J . Michallson , S . Brandt , A . R . Brunton , H . Sexton , T . J . White , E . B . Buck , J . Fox , W . H . Purkiss , I . Medley , G . Booth , G . E . White , T .

Schroeder , J . Wade , T . Newell , G . D . Bettson , and others . Visitors : Bros . A . Brandt , 1619 ; C . Poole , 1 S 92 ; W . F . Noakes , 92 ; A . W . Bulow , l . P . M . 619 ; T . Clark , P . M . 2246 ; C . M . Dowling , P . M . 1472 ; S . C . Kaufman , W . M . 1766 ; Hodgkinson , 1 707 ; R . Mably , 2369 ; W . E . Mackay , 59 ; R . 'H . Stimpson , 5 g ; W . Pile , P . M . 1 S 92 ; VV . H . Bond , 127 S ; W . W . Morgan , jun ., 177 ; I .

Pratt , 1744 ; A . McLean , 733 ; W . Tomack , 134 S ; Ebridge , 55 ; R . T . West , 1744 ; and others . The lodge was opened , and , the minutes of the previous meeting having been read , the W . M . elect , Bro . W . G . Poole , was presented and installed in a highly praiseworthy manner by Bro . T . B . Dodson , P . M . The following brethren were appointed and invested officers for the

year : Bros . T . Glass , S . W . ; J . B . D'Ardenne , J . W . ; R . Burleton , P . M ., Treas . ; J . R . Baron , Sec . ; G . Stockwin , S . D . ; C . H . Berry , J . D . ; W . Robinson , I . G . ; M . Christian , P . M ., D . C . ; T . B . Dodson , P . M ., and W . H . Purkiss , Stwds . ; H . Delma , Org . ; and J . Marsh , Tyler . The usual addresses were very ably rendered by Bro . T . B . Dodson , P . M ., and were listened to with marked attention by the members and visitors ,

who heartily congratulated him . The Secretary reported that the Secretaries of the three Institutions had been invited to dine with the brethren , but owing to previous engagements they were not able to attend . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet , which was prepared by Bro . A . Clemow in his well-known style , and ably served under the superintendence of himself and his manager , Bro .

Evans . When ample justice had been done to the many good things , the VV . M . gave the loyal and Masonic toasts with a few appropriate remarks . In proposing "The Health of the VV . M ., " Bro . Ames , the I . P . M ., said that that was the only toast that fell to his lot , and it gave him much pleasure to have the honour of and

proposing it . He wished the W . M . a happy prosperous year of office , during which he would have the support of all thc members . The Worshipful Master , on rising to respond , was received with much warmth . He thanked the brethren for their flattering greeting . After the installing ceremony which had been so ably conducted by their esteemed Bro . Dodson , he felt somewhat doubtful as to his ability to carry

out that office , but he would do his best in the working and for the interests of the lodge . In conclusion , he earnestly hoped that the members would give him their attendance , and support him during his term of office , which he trusted would be successful . The Worshipful Master gave the toast of" The I nitiate , " who had been admitted at an emergency meeting . He

would , he thought , be a worthy member of the lodge , and in the words of Shakespeare would , he hoped , be " a man of good repute , carriage , bearing , and estimation . " Bro . T . J . White , in reply , said that he was pleased he had been admitted a member of that lodge , and hoped that it would never be ashamed of him , and that his conduct would be as spotless as the apron he had then the honour to wear . The Worshipful Master proposed "The Health of the

I . P . M ., " who , he stated , had had a successful and happy year of office . He had had many initiates , and had done his work well . He left the chair with the hearty respects of the brethren . He took that opportunity to present him with a Past Master's jewel , which had been unanimously voted by the lodge in recognition of his services in the chair , the W . M . remarking that it gave him great p leasure to do it , and hoped that hc might live tor many years to

WC 3 T it Bro . E . Ames , in reply , thanked the W . M . for his kind words , and the brethren for the great honour they had conferred upon him . From his reception that night , he telt that the little he had done had been appreciated by the brethren . He hoped the lodge would continue in its present prosperous state . In conclusion , he gave the Past Masters it

his sincere thanks for their great assistance , as without he would not have been able to fulfil the duties , and ne should never forget his happy year of office . (( T . In eulogistic terms the W . M . gave the toast of tw Installing Master , " observing that he and the brethren were greatly indebted to Bro . Dodson , P . M ., for " * splendid workine that nieht . Thev had the good fortune wei

to have other Past Masters who might have done it as , but certainly no one could have done it better . , , Bro . Dodson , on rising , was very cordially received , was , he said , a pleasure and a very great honour to ni to do the installation ceremony . He was in the 0 ' ° position of being the " Father " of the lodge in which n was initiated 20 years ago , and had hid the p leasure

seeing every present member of the lodge initiated . je was glad at any time to do anything for the lodge , then stated that he had been requested to present to o E . Ames an extra jewel which had been subscribed 10 several of the members , in addition to the one a referred to . He then handed the jewel to Bro . Am e ' \ i few well-chosen words , and in conclusion hoped he * be amongst them for very many years .