Christianity And Freemasonry

assisting two necessitous persons , of whom , as he suggests , one is a Christian and the other is not ; nor because he is unable to assist both does he commit any sin or violate any obligation . Neither Christianity nor Freemasonry exacts impossibilities

of its followers . We recommend OFFEIRIAD to read up his New Testament and expend the modest sum of eio-hteenpence in the purchase of our Book of Constitutions . When he has mastered the contents of these

volumes he will be better qualified to sit in judgment on the conduct of those English clergymen and laymen who have not thought it derogatory to their character as ministers of

religion and educated men to enrol themselves as members of our Fraternity . He might at least do worse than acquaint himself with the nature of Christian as well as of Masonic

Charity . A knowledge of these virtues would materially assist in divesting him of the absurd prejudices he appears , to have formed against our Scciety .

The Province Of Devonshire.

THE PROVINCE OF DEVONSHIRE .

The proceedings at the recent annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire—of which we published a full report in our issue of last week—were of more than usual interest , and , consequently , there was not only a very large attendance of the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge and of the

representatives of private lodges , but there was also a considerable muster of Grand Officers , amongst whom were the Grand Secretary , Bros . HUGHAN and LANE , Bro . MCLEOD , the Secretary of the Boys' School , and Bro . . Col . J ELLIOTT , the Past District Grand Master of Barbados . The occasion which

brought together so many of our most distinguished brethren was none other than the installation of a new Grand Master of the Province—Bro . the Hon . Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTEwhom , on the resignation being announced of Bro . Viscount EBRINGTON , his Royal Highness was pleased to select as his

lordship ' s successor . Thus at the outset of the meeting the retiring Prov . Grand Master very impressively and at the same time very gracefully discharged thc duty of Installing Master , and inducted . the new Provincial Grand Master into the chair of the Province in strict accordance with the ancient usages

of the Craft . Bro . Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE was then proclaimed and saluted , ancl Bro . DAVIE , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , presented him , on behalf of the Worshipful Masters of thc several lodges in Devonshire , with a hearty address of welcome , and , in doing so , not only uttered a few words of congratulation

to their newly-installed chief , but , at the same time , tendered a plain , but heartfelt , tribute of respect to Bro . Viscount EBRINGTON for the many valuable services he had rendered during his 17 years' tenure of office , and for the exceeding care and kindness with which he had watched over their

interests . The PROV . G . MASTER having acknowledged the address , and eulogised the services of his predecessor , proceeded to invest , as his Deputy , Bro . DAVIE , whom he thanked for consenting to retain that office , and to whom an address of thanks was presented by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER of the premier

lodge in Devonshire—that of St . John the Baptist , No . 39 , Exeter—for his eloquent oration at the recent opening of the new Masonic Hall at Exeter , and his general services to Freemasonry . Then followed the business , which is ordinarily transacted at these annual gatherings , and from the reports that were

submitted , it is evident that both as regards membership and funds , the Province is in a prosperous condition , the total number of subscribing members on the books of P . G . Lodge being 3318 , while the Prov . Treasurer ' s closing balance for the past year was in excess of that with which he * opened the account . It was

likewise shown that the Fortescue Annuity Fund was doing good and greater work than in the past , the number of annuitants being at the present time 11 , as against nine in the year 1894-5 , Nor were the services of the Rev . Bro . W . WHITTLEY , as the representative in London of the Provincial Petitions

Committee , unforgotten , and the opportunity was taken of his retirement in favour of Bro . WESTLAKE , to present him with a silver salver in recognition of the able manner

in which he had performed the duties that had devolved upon him . Lastly , on the motion of the Provincial Grand Master Provincial Grand Lodge having unanimously adopted a resolution of regret at Bro . Lord EBRINGTON ' retirement and in warm

The Province Of Devonshire.

appreciation of his services , his lordship acknowledged the compliment , and expressed his gratitude to the Province generally , but more especially to its officers for the loyal and ungruding support he had always received at their hands . It is a Iona time since so important a programme of business has had to be

disposed of at a Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire , and wc heartily congratulate our Devonian brethren on the marked success of this memorable meeting . We have no doubt its honourable traditions will be as worthily maintained under the guidance of the ncw Provincial Grand Master as they were under his distinguished predecessor .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday , the 2 id prox .: 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 3 rd June for confirmation . 2 . The minutes of the Special Grand Lodge of the 29 th July for confirmation .

3 . To read acknowledgment of address from Grand Lodge to his Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master on the occasion of the 21 st Anniversary of his Installation as Grand Master . 4 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , viz .:

A brother of the Lodgeof Philanthropy , NJ . 9 p , Stockton-on-Tee *; £ 5 } o o A brother of the St . Ambrose Lodge , No . 1 S 91 , London 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Social Lodge , No . 93 , Norwich ... 50 0 o The widow of a brother of the Prosperity Lodsfe , No . 65 , London 75 o 0 A brother of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , G * avesend 50 o o A brother of the Trinity Lodge , No . 254 , Coventry 50 o o

5 . REPORT or THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board have to report that the following presentations have been mide to the Library and Museum since the last meeting of Grand LoJge , all of which have been accepted with thanks :

TITLE OP OBJECT . BV WHOM PRESENTED . Cata Ge ra ? Germany * ° ^ f * Arch ! medeS * } Paul Fis = her , Librarian . A Handbook of Jamaica in 1 S 9 6 ) , . r- „ .. , j „ PM , O , K Official and Other Personages in Jamaica ... j * A * Feur ' ° * * * 'S . VRoyal Arch Clothing of the late Eirl of" \ Curious " ofd Workbox ' ; with Masonic Em " . Urd Bo , ton - Past G Warden * blems ... ... ... ... ... )

A Masonic Manuscript ( French ) Ishak Ibrahim ( Alexandria ) . History of Freemasonry in Rhode Island ... p 7 . ^ ' Granrl Secretary RhoJWarrantof Walmsley Lodge , No . 14 , Nova 1 Col . F . R ! Sewell , D . P . G . M . Cumber-Scotia j land and Westmorland . History of Lodge St . John , No . 16 , Scotland George R . Urc , P . M . iG . Old Masonic Jewel ( silver ) J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B .

Old Royal Arch Jewei Dr . J . Wilkie Burman , P . M .-5 f * i . Celebration of 150 th Anniversary of the ? c . , ¦„ ,- ¦ « . „ ¦ . . a .-Massachusetts Lodge ... j Samu * I W . Creech , jun . German Masonic J < w : l F . J . W . Crowe , P . P . G . O . D ; von . Tactics and Manual for Knights Templar ... - *• Book of Constitutions and Sundry Proceed- ( u o r t c c— \ r ' y 1 ings of Grand Lodge and Grand \ * B * Grant > G * Sac * Ksntu !* y-Chapter of Kentucky J

The Board also submit a Statement of the Grand Lodge Accounts at the list meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 14 th day of August inst ., showing a balance in the Bank of England ( Law Courts Branch ) of ^ 6992 is . jd ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash ^ 100 , and for servants ' wages ; £ ioo . ( Signed ) RICHARD LOVELAND LOVELAND ,

Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , iSth August , 1896 . President . A Report of a Special Meeting of the Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , dated 28 th July , 1896 , will be laid before Grand Lodge , in which the following proposed alteration of Rule 18 , and the addition to Clause l of the Widows' qualifications , then agreed to , are submitted for approval . That Clause 18 be expunged , and the following substituted in lieu thereof . *

In consideration of the grants from Grand Lodge , the Master of ever )' lodge in the London District shall at every election for Male Annuitants be entitled to two votes , and at every election for Female Annuitants to one vote . Every Provincial Grand Master , or his Nominee , shall at every election for Male Annuitants be entitled to two votes , and at every election for Female Annitants to one vote for every lodge in his

province . And in consideration of the grants from Supreme Grand Chapter , the First Principal of every London Royal Arch chapter shall at every election for Male Annuitants be entitled to two votes , and at ' .-very election for Female Annuitants to one vote . Every Superintendent of 3 province , or his Nominee , shall at every election for Male Annitants be entitled to two votes , and every election of Female Annuitants to one

vote for every chapter in his province . In the case of a province where there is no Superintendent , the v . > tes shall be sent to the First Principal of the respective chapters . The number of lodges and chapters clai"i ; n"I in the provinces to be determined by the number of lodges recorded in the " Freemasons' Calendar and Pocket Book " for the current year . That in Clause No . 1 of the Widows' qualifications , after the word

" Lodge " in the third line , the following words be inserted : Unless in the case of her last husband ' s petition having been accep ted by the Committee , and he had died before his election , in such «* •< - ' ber application will be considered eligible . List of lodges fo : which warrants have been granted by the M . W . fit * "' Matter since thq last Quarleily Communication of Grand I . odge . No . 2616 , The St . George ' s Lodge , Barbadoes .

2617 , The Murchison Lodge , Cue , Western Australia . 2618 , 'Ihe Lodgeof Friendship , Helena Vale , Western Australia * 2619 , The New Brighton Lodge , New B ighton , Cheshire . 2620 , The Cavendish Ledge , Lot , don . 2621 , The Military Lodge , London . 2622 , The Beach Lodge , London . 2623 , The Etekwine Lodge , Durban , Natal . 262 . ) , The Excels ' or , Lodge , Ivon , Queensland .