Masonic Facts Versus Fictions.

him how much of this old Masons' gossip he really considers savours " more of fact than of fiction ? " Does he believe the whole of it , or only so much as seems to serve his present purpose ? I should like his opinion on the last sentence but one . According to Bro . Lane ' s argument , these people must have been actual members of Scotch lodges , as well as those of the two Sister Kingdoms , or they could not

possibly have discovered that the " Modern system was not the same as that practised in " Ireland and Scotland . " I should also like to know whether Bro . Lane can furnish any reason for this record other than that of a desire to impress future readers with a sense of the superiority of their own , at that time , poor and struggling organisation , as well as to depreciate as much as possible the rival Society . And ,

as for the " many that withdrew from the Modern lodges " to support the true Ancient system , " I will repeat that " many " might , with equal truth , have signified five or six or almost any number ; in fact , it is too indefinite to be of any value at all . I prefer , therefore , to fall back on the Register , which , with an absence of motive of any kind , gives the number of those who joined from the "Moderns" down to December , 1752 , as five only ;

but however many there may have been , according to the construction of the sentence , " the true Ancient system " must have been then in existence , or they would not have left the " Modern " lodges to support it , so that as evidence of a schism this record is practically worthless . If Bro . Lane can furnish any plausible reason why these identical five persons , and no others , should have been represented as coming from the " Modern " loclees ,

it will have due consideration . His statement that the " distinctive appellations ' Modern' and 'Ancient' had not become familiar" although probably true , does not , in my opinion , supply a reason for the omission of the names of others . These appellations were certainly used as far back as 173 8 , and , as Bro . Lane knows , or can ascertain by a reference to their first " Rules and Orders" of which we have any knowledge , the supposed

" seceders called themselves " Ancient Masons from the beginning . The fact that the term "Moderns" is not met with until June , 1752 , is accounted for by there being no reference whatever to that Society in the records of the- " Ancients" prior to that date . According to my reading of Morgan ' s Register , five lodges , comprising 7 8 members , took part in the organisation of the "Ancients" on the 17 th July , 1751 , and if I

rightly interpret the meaning of Bro . Lane these are the " other Masons whose claim to the distinction of being seceders" he says " Bro . Sadler quietly ignores . " I plead guilty to this charge with all possible alacrity and pleasure , and until some evidence stronger than Bro . Lane ' s * ' conviction " he adduced , I shall continue to believe that they were not " seceders" and that those who persist in so stigmatising them forfeit their claim to being considered reliable and impartial historians .

It is easy to conceive what would be the result if the complainant or accuser in a court of justice , when asked to substantiate his charge , had nothing to offer but his " conviction" that the defendant committed the offence , or crime , with which he was charged . I must say that I cannot

quite see how Bro . Lane can expect me to produce " rebutting evidence " unless he supplies me with something in the shape of evidence to rebut . I am not , however , without a hope ot being able to induce him to alter , or , at all events , modify , his views of the secession theory if he continues to discuss the subject with me .

The following extract from " Morgan ' s Register " seems to me to indicate pretty clearly the origin of the " Ancients . " It will be found on pp . 76 and 77 of " Masonic Facts and Fictions ""And whereas several of the lodges have congregated and made Masons without any Warrant ( not with a desire of Acting wrong , but thro : the Necessity above mention'd ) , in order to Rectify such . irregular proceedings

( as far as in our power ) it is hereby Order'd That the Grand Secretary shall write Warrants ( on Parchment ) for the Unwarranted Lodges , viz ., The Lodges known by the Title of No . 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , and that all the said Warrants shall bare date July the Seventeenth One thousand Seven hundred fifty and One being the day on which the said lodges met ( at the Turk ' s head Tavern , in Greek street , Soho ) , to revive the Ancient Craft . "

It will thus be seen from their own records that the lodges that formed the Grand Lodge , or , to be strictly accurate , the Grand Committee , of the " Ancients " were in precisely the same position as the several lodges that formed the Grand Lodge of England in 1717 , i . e ., 'they were working without warrants , but there is no direct evidence to show how long they had been in existence . A not unreasonable conclusion to come to is that indicated on

Pp . 127-128 ; that the origin of the Irish lodges being formed in London may fairl y be attributed to the following incident , which is recorded , in the minutes of the regular Grand Lodge on December nth , 1735 . " Notice being given to the Grand Lodge that the Master and Wardens

of a Lodge from Ireland attended without , desiring to be admitted by virtue of a Deputation from the Lord Kingston , present Grand Master of Ireland . But , it appearing there was no particular Recommendation from his Lordship in this affair , their Request could not be complied with unless they would accept of a new Constitution here . "

It will thus be seen that certain Irish Masons were actually refused admission to the Grand Lodge ; and yet Bro . Lane says " these Freemasons undoubtedly sought and obtained membership with one or more of the lod ges then working in London . " / think it much more likely that the subordinate lodges " would take their cue from the Grand Lodge and refuse to open their doors to these

strangers , whose working was different to theirs ; " and that , rather than submit to the deprivation of their Masonic privileges , these brethren , if ney were not then the actual officers of a lodge meeting in London ( and it js my opin ion that they were ) , opened a lodge on their own account , " or y virtue of the before-mentioned Deputation or Warrant , for we must member ^ ' excius { ve Masonic jurisdiction' was unknown at that «!! ¦ ^ ! ° d ge wouldof coursebeget othersand so it probablwent

- , , , y until unconstituted Masonic lodges became the rallying points or centres seeI Jni ° n ° ^ near ' y a " Ir ' mechanics and labourers that came over to this * I 11 p , 0 yment in l . English metropolis . The migratory character of numh S W '" ' lmn' { i sufficiently account for the comparatively small also 1 L ° be found on lhe register at the formation of their Grand ' Lodge , 'or the rapid growth of their provincial and military lodges . " Without entering into details of other circumstances nf a corroborative

i - acter > * consider that I have a perfect right to claim the incident of not / f stron g presumptive evidence that the Irish Masons in London did EnskT ' k wembers of ln < J regular lodges under the Grand Lodge of de Pend ' tnat lne y met in lodges of their own formation from the first , tll e sam ' ° " ° sancllon or authority outside their own doors ; precisely me as we find them on their first introduction to us in 1751 .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

The annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held on the 22 nd inst ., in the Freemasons' Hall , Institute-street , Bolton , where excellent arrangements had been made by the Bolton chapters for the accommodation of the companions . The Hall had been decorated for the occasion by a considerable number of flags and banners , and presented a beautiful and striking appearance .

The Grand Superintendent , Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , was , unfortunately , unable to be present , owing to his being detained in London on urgent business . In his absence the chairs were occupied by Comps . J . H . Sillitoe , P . G . H ., as acting G . Supt . ; A . Clegg , P . G . J ., as P . G . H . ; and Col . H . L . Rocca , P . P . G . S . N ., as P . G . J . The other Prov . Grand Officers and companions present

were—Comps . John Chadwick , P . G . S . E . ; J . Wilson , P . G . P . S . ; W . R . Sowter , P . G . 1 st A . S . ; R . Harrison , P . G . 2 nd A . S . ; S . Buckley , P . G . Treas . ; S . Goldstone , P . G , S . 13 . ; Walter Newton , P . G . D . C . ; VV . Tattersall , P . G . Org . ; Jas . Newton , P . A . G . S . E . ; T . Higson , P . G . Janitor ; J . Horrocks , P . P . G . 2 nd A . S . ; T . T . Richardson .

P . P . G . 2 nd A . S . ; R . Rushton , P . P . G . Treas . ; J . VV . Kenyon , P . P . G . S . B . ; Thos . Hindle , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Black , P . P . G . S . B . ; N . Nicholson , P . P . G . S . B . ; R . Duxbury , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . A . Martin , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; O . Startup , P . P . G . D . C ; J . VV . Taylor , P . P . G . Org . ; and representatives from 35 of the 37 chapters in the province . Comp . H . Smith , P . G . S . E . West Yorkshire , was present as a visitor .

Altogether about 100 companions were present , and the greatest unanimity distinguished the proceedings . The Provincial Grand Chapter was opened at 2 . 45 , and the rolls of Prov . Grand Officers and chapters were called over . The minutes of the last annual meeting , held at Blackburn 29 th March , 18 S 8 , were , by consent , taken as read , and unanimously confirmed .

Comp . SILLITOE , acting Grand Supt ., in feeling terms , referred to the lamented deaths since the last annual meeting of Comps . G . P . Brockbank , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., P . P . G . S . N ., and Jas . A . Birch , P . P . G . J . ; and moved that letters of condolence be sent to their families on behalf of this Prov . Grand Chapter . The motion was seconded by Comp . A . CLEGG , P . G . J ., and carried unanimously .

The annual report of the P . G . H . and P . G . J , was read , and ordered to be printed . Comp . S . BUCKLEY , P . G . Treas ., presented his accounts for the past year , which were of a satisfactory nature , the payments including a donation of . £ 2 1 to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . The Auditors' report on the accounts having been read , they were unanimously approved , adopted , and confirmed .

On the proposition of Comp . E . G . HARWOOD , P . Z . 221 , seconded by Comp . A . CLEGG , P . G . J ., Comp . W . Duncan , M . D ., Z . 221 , was unanimously elected P . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year . Comp . DUNCAN briefly expressed his sincere thanks to the companions for the honour conferred upon him .

Comp . SILLITOE announced amidst applause that Comp . Col . Starkie , Grand Superintendent , had been pleased tore-appoint himself ( Comp . Sillitoe ) as Prov . G . 2 nd Principal , and Comp . A . Clegg , as Prov . G . 3 rd Principal . Comp . SILLITOE , on behalf of the Grand Superintendent , appointed and invested the other officers of Prov . G . Chapter , viz . : Comp . John Chadwick ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ E . G . Harwood ... ... ... p v . G . S . ' ! „ W . S . Barlow ... ... ... p . Q . P . Soj . „ John Booth ... ... ... Prov . G . 1 st A . S . „ John Kenyon ... ... ... Prov . G . 2 nd A . S . „ Wm . Duncan ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . V . Stallon ... ... ... p . Q . Reg . „ Nath . Dumville ... ... ... p . G . S . B . „ Thos . Schofield ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . ,, C . D . Cheetham , jun . ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ G . V . Blaikie ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C . „ Wm . Lamb ... ... ... p . G . Org . „ James Newton ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . A . S . E . „ Thos . Higson ... ... ... p v . G . Janitor .

Comps ^ C . Crabtree and E . Williams were duly appointed Auditors of the Prov . G . Treasurer ' s accounts . On the proposition of Comp . E . G . HARWOOD , Prov . G . S . N ., Chairman of the General Committee of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , a donation of ^ 10 was granted to that Institution from the Prov . Grand Chapter Funds . All business being concluded , the Prov . Grand Chapter was closed . The banquet was held in the large dining room , at the Swan Hotel , under the presidency of Comp . Sillitoe , who was supported by about 40 members of the Prov . Grand Chapter , and a pleasant and agreeable evening was spent .

The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and an admirable glee party , organised and accompanied on the pianoforte by Mr . Wm . Greenhalgh , organist and choirmaster of St . Anne ' s Church , Turton , ' greatly added to the evening ' s entertainment . The glee party consisted of Bro . John Binns , and Messrs . Barnes , Walls , and Green , their selection of glees , songs , & c , eliciting the heartiest applause of the companions .

Many regrets were expressed at the unavoidable absence of the Grand Superintendent , Comp . Col . Starkie , and also of his Worship the Mayor of Bolton , Comp . John Barrett , H . 221 , who , like Comp . Col . Starkie , was also detained in London on pressing public matters . The healths of each of them were dul y proposed and heartily received in the course of the evening .

Bro . Lord Charles Beresford , M . P ., entertained at dinner at the House of Commons on Tuesday a small party of friends , among whom were Bros , the Earl of Fife , Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., Sir James Fergusson , Bart ., M . P ., and Sir E . Hamley , M . P . H . R . H . the Princess of Wales has consented to lay the foundation-stone of the New Hospital for Women in May on her return to London after the Easter holidays . The new building will be in the Euston-road , to which the hospital is to be removed from its present quarters in the Marylebone-road .

BERKELEY HOTEL ( late St . James ' s ) , 1 , Berkeley-street and 77 , Piccadilly , London , W . First class accommodation for residents , with a Restaurant newlyattached for high class luncheons and dinners , at fixed prices and a la carte . —C . DIETTE , Manager . —fAovT . ]