Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

Craft , our Royal Grand Master , or rather I should say try to express , our sympathy with him and his in ( his their terrible affliction , for I fear no words or acts of ours can go far towards alleviating that distress ; but it may p lease our gentle and beloved Prince , the Grand Master , to know that his brother Masons of Durham are thinking of him . Indeed , I may ask who , throug hout the length and breadth of the land , has not been thinking , and

thinking with love and affection , of him and his . That splendid wave of sympathetic loyalty that has swept over the length and breadth of the land , undisturbed , I believe , except by one incident so contemptible as to bear no more effect on the loyal wave than would a straw against the mi ghty billows I have lately seen falling and thundering on our coast . That wave of sympathetic loyalty from the highest to the humblest , the richest to the

poorest , all shows that Old England is still loyal to ( he core . And I may surely say that in loyal England there arc none more loyal than the Freemasons of Durham . Our Prince and our Grand Master has lost his eldest son in the flower of his age , and with the brightest prospects of happiness before him . We Masons have lost a true as well as a beloved brother . For a true brother he was , if kindness of disposition , geniality of temper , and

absence ol affectation , and the sincere respect for and admiration of the Craft , make a true brother . This was the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , and Grand Master of Berkshire , whom we this day mourn and whose loss we deplore . As a brother we loved him , and as a ruler of the Craft we respected him . Brethren , I have asked you , but I fear in but feeble terms , to sympathise with our Grand Master . Alas , there are others to be thought

of whose grief must be , if possible , greater than his . What can we think of the Princess of Wales , that all-beloved lady , our future Queen , who seems to rival even our Gracious Sovereign , if such be possible ^ in the good she does , and in the affection in which she is held by one and all of her future subjects ? Our Princess has lost her eldest son , who , as has been so louchingly described , was never so happy as when with his mother . The Royal

family has lost one of the greatest ancl most lovable of its members . Can anything in history , romance , or the drama compare with the situation ol that beauteous English girl , on whom only a few days since appeared to be opening the prospect of almost perfect happiness , the . almost certain attainment of thejhighest position in this mighty empire that can be held by woman , and the still far greater happiness of being still more

speedily allied to the man of her choice . Not an alliance such as seems inevitable in persons of Royal rank , but an alliance that recommended itself o every English man and woman ; an alliance prompted by mutual love aud affection , not of to-day or yesterday , but for persons so young of long standing . These words from me would be superfluous over such a

catastrophe , for it is nothing else . It would almost seem best for us to maintain a respectful yet sympathetic silence , or to humbly pray that the G . A . O . T . U . maybe pleased to give health and strength to all those who arc now so deeply afflicted , and that he may support and comfort them in this , their hour of trial and distress .

Bro . the Rev . Canon KYNASTON , P . P . S . G . W ., begged to second the resolution . They were all fully sensible of the great loss which had been sustained both nationally , and Masonically , and domestically , and he thought that perhaps the domestic aspect of the tragedy was the one which had been felt most by all classes and orders of English people . This was the aspect of affliction most likely to touch the hearts and draw the tears of all who

know what an English home is ; but if it was a domestic tragedy , it was , therefore , too , the very one to be deplored by us Masons , because they knew that the one great principle of Freemasonry is Charity , and Charity they mi ght define as love practically shown towards labour . It was this feeling in their hearts which prompted them to approach those who were most seriously , and nearly , and intimately afflicted by this terrible calamity .

Bro . Sir HKDWORTH WILLIAMSON spoke under feelings of deep emotion in moving the following address :

To his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , & c . Sir , —We , the undersigned , by request and on behalf of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Province of Durham , in Grand Lodge duly assembled , humbly approach your Royal Highness , requesting you to receive from us the assurance of our deepest sympathy with your Royal Highness , her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales , and all the other members of your Royal Family in the great

affliction which you are at present suffering . In his Royal Hi ghness the Duke of Clarence and Avonda ' e , you , sir , and your august family mourn the loss ol an affectionate member , the country a beloved Prince , and the Masons of England a true and worthy brother . That it may please the Great Architect of the Universe to preserve , strengthen , and support you and yours in this your great affliction , is the sincerest prayer of your Royal Highness ' s most loyal and devoted servants , the Freemasons of the Province of Durham .

Given under our hand this 21 st day of January , 1892 . HEDWORTII WII . LAMSON , Prov . G . M . H . B . TRISTRAM , Dep . Prov . G . M . R . HUDSON , Prov . G . Sec . I lie motion was carried in silence .

. I he PROVINCIAL GKA . VJJ MASTER , having again expressed his satisfac-I 1011 at the good attendance , hoped it would be a long time before they were called together again on such a sad occasion . J he Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM .

A special meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Noithumber'I'ul and Durham was held at the F ' rcemasons' Hall , Grainger-strect , "Newcastle , on Monday , the 25 th instant , to consider an address of condolence l ° H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., G . M . M ., on the death of II . R . H . > e Duke of Clarence and Avondale . In the absence , through illness , of

r JU * ' Bro' lllc Rcv' Canon T''islr ; im < , ) ' - tllc deputy Prov . J ^ - Af ., liro . R . B . Reed , P . G . S . B ., presided . He was supported by 7 ' Co 1 , Addison Potter , C . B ., P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Strakcr Wilson , P . P . ^• G . W . ; Joh n Strachan , P . P . S . G . W . ; Thomas Bell , P . P . S . G . W . ; C . *• Ford , P . G . Sec . ; R . Hurkrm p P r ; M . O Robert WhlifinWl i > u

G . R . of M . ; T . Purvis , P . G . R . of M . ; T . Dinning , P . P . G . R . ol M . ; araday Spcnce , P . P . G . O . ; W . F . Cannon , P . S . G . W . ; John Page , ¦ u - Std . Br . Seymour Bell , P . G . D . C . ; F . Cordcr , P . P . G . O . ; W .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

M . Lyon , P . P . G . M . O . ; T . J . Armstrong , P . P . J . G . W . ; R . Ferry , P . P . G . O . ; J . C . Moor , P . P . G . M . O . ; Major Bentham , Colonel Angus , F . Schnitzcr , and others . The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened by the Acting P . G . M ., Bro . R . B . Reed , whilst Bro . John Strachan acted as D . P . G . M .

The ACTING P . G . M . referred in feeling terms ( o the illness of the P . G . M ., And expressed the hope that he would soon recover his health and strength . An address of condolence , which they had met to pass that day to the Grand Master of the Order , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , had been submitted to the P . G . M ., and approved of . He read ( he address as follows :

To His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., Most Worshipful Grand Mark Master Mason of England , and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown .

May it please your Royal Highness , we , the Mark Master Masons of Northumberland and Durham , in Grand Lodge assembled , venture to approach your Royal Highness , and desire you to accept from us the assurance of our respectful and heartfelt sympathy with your Royal Highness , her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales , and all the other members of the Royal Family , in your great sorrow caused by the death of your beloved son . The lamented Duke of Clarence

and Avondale was an illustrious member of our Order , and his memory will ever be revered by us . That the Great Overseer of the Universe may deign to give you and your august family strength to bear this great trial is the prayer of your Royal Highnesses' dutiful and loyal servants , the Mark Master Masons of the Province of

Northumberland and Durham . Given under our hands this 25 th day of January , 1892 . H . P . TRISTRAM , P . G . M . M . R . B . REEO , D . P . G . M . M . C . B . FORD , P . G . Sec .

Bro . J STRACHAN proposed the adoption of the address , which was seconded by Bro . Col . ADDISON POTTER , and agreed to . The Acting P . G . M ., Bro . REED , proposed the following resolution :

That this Grand Mark Lodge of the Province of Northumberland and Durham deeply deplores the illness of its beloved Grand Master , the Rev . Henry Baker Tristram , D . D ., LL . D ., and requests him to accept the fraternal sympathy of the brethren of the province , in the hope that the Great Overseer of the Universe may see fit soon to restore him to his wonted health and usefulness .

Bro . T . PURVIS seconded the resolution , which was unanimousl y carried . At the close of the business Bro . REED expressed the thanks of the Prov . Grand Lodge to Bro . J . Gibson Voull , for permission to hold their meeting in the hall that evening . The proceedings then terminated .

Masonic Reprints, Vol. Iii.

MASONIC REPRINTS , VOL . III .

( LODGE "Q . C , " No . 2076 , LONDON . ) The publication of the third volume of the remarkable series of " Masonic Reprints , " calls for special acknowledgement and congratulation . Its excellence , variety and value , render it in not a few respects , one of the most important and interesting works ever issued respecting Freemasonry of the olden lime . The subscription still remains at the ordinary half a

guinea per copy , but how that small sum can possibly clear the heavy cost of production , will be the subject of marvel to brethren who overlook the fact that such magnificent books can only be supplied at the stipulated subscription , when large editions arc printed . The ever increasing roll of members of the " Correspondence Circle , " should lead , and has led , to a corresponding increase in bulk of the Transactions , as well as the present

extraordinary volume , which as respects facsimiles of the ancient rolls , is far ahead of all its predecessors . The live parts of this choice work are thus arranged , 1 , " Harleian MS ., No . 2054 ; " j , " Sloane MS ., No . 3 S 4 S ; " 3 , " Sloanc MS ., No . 3 ; ,.. ; , ; " 4 , " William Watson MS ., " and 5 , the " Cama MS . " The first four contain complete facsimiles as well as transcripts and introductions , and the fifth has one page in facsimile , with a full transcript , \ -c , as the others .

There are thus live complete transcripts and four full facsimiles of valuable Masonic rolls , three being in the British Museum , one in the West Vorkshirc Library , and the other in that of the Quatuor Lodge , respectively . The " Harleian MS . " is not the value ol the two Sloane ' s of A . I > . 1046 and 1651 ) , and much inferior in importance to the "William Watson " roll , which conies third in order of textual significance ; yet because of the

additions to the " Old Charges , on folios 33-4 , containing a copy of the O . I 3 . to keep secret the " words & ' signes of a free Mason , and what appears to be a Treasurer's account for a lodge , that particular scroll has long been much appreciated by students , ami in Bro . W . If . Ryland ' s competent hands has been most ably treated , besides being carefully considered in Bro . Gould ' s great history .

This volume three , gives such exact reproductions of this noted " Harleian , 2054 , " the two " Sloane ' s , " and the now famous " William Watson " MS ., that for all practical and critical purposes we arc as well off as if we possessed the originals . As they are unobtainable , we may all rest content as subscribers with the special privileges thus afforded by the publication of this grand series of the " Old Charges . " The volumes issued , additional

to the foregoing , supplies us with the " Regius " and " Cooke" MSS ., and the " Lansdownc " and " Harleian " ( No . 1942 ) scrolls . The editing throughout has been done by our esteemed Secretary , Bro . G . W . Speth ( from whom copies of Volumes 3 and 7 may still be obtained ] , and I presume he is also responsible for the useful transcripts , which add much to the interest of the work .

Bro . C . C Howard has written at considerable length in a most scholarl y manner as to several points concerning the text of the " William Watson " MS ., and by way of analysis and comparison has instituted a most careful examination of the Roll , about which doubtless Dr . Begemann , and others will have something to say , myself included .

My present intention is to simply add my testimony to the doubtless uniformly hearty expression of approval , which will be reaching our Secretary daily , for sometime to come , and to express the hope that numerous brethren and lodges in this country , will secure copies of this magnificent work before the limited edition is exhausted . W . J . HUGHAN .