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/ CRITERION RESTAURANT . EAST ROOM , DINNERS AND SUPPERS A LA . CARTE . WEST ROOM , Prom 1 J to 3 . ACADEMY LUNCHEON AT 2 s . < Jd . PER HEAD . "LE DINER PARISIEN , " 5 s . ; SUPPER , 4 s . INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC . GRAND HALL , THE POPULAR 3 s . 6 d . DINNER Is served at Separate Tables , 0 to y p . m ., During which the Celebrated "SP 1 ERPON" ORCHESTRA . Will Perform .

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PARTRIDGE & COOPER , "THE" STATIONERS , 191 & 192 , FLEET STREET , LONDON , Would invite attention to their LARGE AND WELL - SELECTED STOCK OF GENERAL & FANCY STATIONERY , Suitable for presents , such as Inkstands , Stationery , Cabinets , Ladies' and Gentlemen's Dressing Bags , Travelling and Brief Bags , & c , all of which are enumerated in their New illustrated Catalogue , sent free on application .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

A PAST MASTER . —We agree in the main with your views but the terms in which they are expressed in your letter appear to us much stronger than the circumstances warrant , and we cannot see that its publication will be of advantage to the Order .

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'^^^S^^S SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 29 , 18 94 .

Masonic Notes.

Masonic Notes .

The year that closed with the annual meeting of the I ' rovincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire some 10 days since has , we rejoice to say , been one of continued prosperity . As our readers are aware , it is the strongest , numerically , of all our English Provinces , the number of subscribing members being 7261 , who

we distributed among in—or , as a correspondent informed us a short while since , 113—lodges . But we have again and- again remarked that mere numbers , though undoubtedly an important copsideration , is not 'he only criterion that should influence us . Good work •md the generous observance of our grand principle of Charity carry with them greater weight , and in these

respects West Lancashire has acquitted itself admirably As to the excellent condition of all the lodges , the report of the Prov . Grand Secretary is conclusive in 1 ( s testimony , while the support accorded to the Centra ] and Provincial Masonic Institutions is equally commend , i'hle . During the year the contributions of West Lancashire to the Benevolent Institution and the two Schools ¦ 'mounted to ^ 2770 or thereabouts , of which ^ " 2500 fell l ° thc share of the Girls' School , while the three Pro-

Masonic Notes.

vincial Institutions—the Educational , the Hamer , and the Alpass—were most generously aided by thebrethren , the incomes of the first and last of the three being . tJioSS and / " 1950 respectively . # # *

The various reports to which we are indebted for this information must have been exceedingly gratifying to that distinguished Mason , Bro . the Earl of Lathom , who has presided over the Province for close on 22 years , and who himself , by his personal influence and exertions , has contributed so largely towards its

prosperity . Since his lordship was installed in office in the early days of 1 S 73 , between 40 and 50 lodges have been placed on the roll of West Lancashire , while on as many as five occasions has he presided at the Festival of one or other of our Central Charities

the assistance rendered him by his Province being exceptionally large in each case . We trust the association between West Lancashire and his lordship will endure for many years , to the credit of both and the benefit of the Craft generally .

The Province of Cheshire was less fortunate than its neighbour of West Lancashire in one respect , at all events . Its respected Provincial Grand Master , Bro , Lord Egerton of Tatton , was prevented from attending the meeting of its Provincial Grand Lodge , which was recently held at Claughton . But in all other respects

the proceedings were of a most satisfactory nature . It was shown that the utmost harmony had prevailed throughout the lodges during the past year , while the General and Charity Funds , but more particularly the latter , were in a flourishing state . A sum of 100 guineas was voted towards next year's Festival of the Royal

Masonic Institution for Boys , at which the Provincial Grand Master has undertaken to preside as Chairman , and we have no doubt this will be iargely supplemented by the contributions of thelodgesandbrethrengenerally . In 1 S 91 Cheshire raised . £ 1050 for the Boys' School , and the year following close upon ^ " 2000 for the jubilee

of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Since then it has been occupied in establishing a Benevolent I istitution of its own , for which it has subscribed a capital of some , £ 3000 . These various circumstances fully justify the faith that is in us as to the success of the Boys' School Festival in 1895 .

Bro . T . S . Parvin has been credited in the Illinois Freemason with the opinion " that all Masonry is modern except the First Degree , which goes back to a period beyond which the memory of man runneth not to the contrary . " In a letter addressed to the Voice of Masonry from Charleston , Illinois , a Brother \ V . E .

Ginther challenges the correctness of this opinion , and invites Bro . Parvin " to furnish proof for his assertion , and for the logical deduction from his opinion , that when he occupied the Grand East he was a Grand Master of Modern and not of Ancient Craft Masonry , and thus a living fiction . " We shall watch with interest to see if Bro . Parvin accepts the challenge and the reply he makes .

The address on the " Continuity of Freemasonry , " delivered by Bro . Hughan at the meeting of the Lodge of Research , at Leicester last week , was , as might have been anticipated , most interesting and instructive . Bristling with facts and figures as it was , Bro . Hughan ' s never-failing memory enabled him to deal lucidly with his subject , and rivet the attention of his audience for

over an hour without a note or reference of any kind . Another hour was devoted to questions , an exercise in which Bro . Hughan positively revels . We regret much that we are unable to present a full report of the proceedings , as we are sure it would interest our readers as much as those who had the privilege of being present . Letters were received from Bros . G . W . Speth and W . Watson , of Leeds , regretting their absence .

The deferred meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall has been fixed by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe for Tuesday , October the 16 th , at Redruth . The arrangements made by the late Prov . Grand Secretary ( Bro . Thomas Chirgwin , J . P . ) will practically remain unaltered , so that it will be a melancholy

satisfaction for the members to know that they will be carrying out the programme as arranged by their esteemed Secretary , whose decease occurred a few days prior to the day fixed for the original meeting . Thirty lodges will be represented on the occasion , and as it is

21 years since the appointment of the present popular ruler ( the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ) the reports alsu being satisfactory , there should be a good gathering under the auspices of the Druid ' s Lodge , No . 589 , Redruth .

Masonic Notes.

The New Zealand Craftsman thinks that " the interest in the Grand Lodge of England centres in the election of Grand Treasurer . " Most English Masons consider that event a mere incident in the year's work ,

but we must confess the Craftsman has some ground for its opinion when it is able to point out that the election this year secured an attendance at Grand Lodge of over 3000 members—about five times the usual number .

* * The Annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicester ' shire and Rutland will be held at Market Harborough on Thursday next . Amongst the business on the agenda paper is . 1 proposition to raise a suitable memorial in memory of the late Bro . Kelly , P . P . G . M .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

MASONIC MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am afraid it is only the collector of Craft antiquities who can sufficiently appreciate the true value of the various items presented to the museums and libraries of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , Leicester

Freemasons Hall , and Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorks . It is seldom that we have so many important reports at one time , and the Masonic student will have an opportunity he Imay never have again of digesting some of the rarest items of arch . ealogy , together with some of the raciest reports yet brought before the

Craft . The volume of " Ars Quatuorum Coronati" that precedes the Library List is one of the most interesting yet issued ; the articles maintain the standard value ; while the Notes and Queries , Reviews , and illustrations are the most interesting yet issued . 1 consider this number is sufficient answer to the question asked 10

years ago—How are you going to maintain the interest of a literary lodge and magazine ? Masonry , like the ancient roll of the law , is unfolding and disclosing information and light hitherto inaccessible . The chief interest in the Quatuor Coronati Library List lies in the gift of Articles 2792 and 2815 by Mrs . Irwin , evidently the true wife of a good Mason . These items

are pecuniarily valuable , and highly interesting , and they will be well preserved . I note that the Library List now numbers 2846 items ; a perfect nngazine of Masonic ammunition . Immediately after receipt of above list comes the Provincial Library Report of West Yorks , and here I am inclined to pause with astonishment . One notes in

the usual reports a monotonous repetition of articles already well known ; but what have we here ? Over 300 items , and all presented except two . Articles of the highest value , many unpublished , and quite new to the Masonic world ; quite a lavish display of inestimable manuscripts , unobtainable coins and medals , and the cre ' ine de la cremc ol literature . Where have

these treasures been unearthed ? Bro . Watson frankl y tells you . Bro . Tew , P . P . G . M ., as usual , turns out his purse where his heart is , and this grand and distinguished old Mason shows an example that ought to act as a stimulant to the whole province . And how one mourns at the loss of so able a second to his Provincial Grand Master as Bro . Embleton , made a Mason late

in life ! He stuck with the interest of an ardent young man to the Craftand its lore until his last day on earth . I think 1 am at liberty to reveal a fact little known , that , in his last days , he contemplated a gift to his Provincial Library that would probably have eclipsed any gift yet made in the Masonic world of letters—his fixed intention was there , but death respects neither

man or his designs—sufficient to say his gifts are only second to Bro . Tew ' s . The strength of this library lies in its MSS ., and it is indeed a proud boast to make that West Yorks stands second only to the British Museum in the possession of the rarest things in the Craft . Bro . Watson has only three more to go in and make his province peerless .

1 know sufficient of the Yorkshire men to b ; able to predict that they will not stand second longer than they can help . What West Yorkshire is weak in , our brethren at Leicester have amply satisfied themselves withcertificates . The illustrated report of the Lodge of Research , giving the literary list , embraces a collection

of the rarest certificate I have yet noticed . I look upon these documents of the past not as of exceptional rarity , but rather of antiquarian interest , they should be associated with Lodge History and Lodge Lists , and tend to prove existence , place and number of lodges , and confirm minutes . The matter of design has already been broached by Bro . Ramsden Riley , and I

will not trench on this particular depirtment of his . 1 do not knoiv of any certificate in existence anterior to the 176 4 already mentioned in the transitions of the lod ^ e . It is well for every library and museum to have its own specialitii , and the Province of Leicester is doing more than well when its small area is considered . Much more might be said on the wonderful contents

of these reports ; time and space forbid . Any brother who can lend a helping hand to secure to these collections any further treasure will be esteemed a benefactor to his Society , and secure the esteem of the wjrchy custodians of the libraries . —Yours fraternally GEORGE W . BAIN . Sunderland .