Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Leicestershire, Rutland, &C.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE , RUTLAND , & c .

ANNIVERSARY OF THE DERBY LODGE , No . 302 . The anniversary of the Derby Mark Lodge , No . 302 , was held on Monday , the 18 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Gower-street , Derby . Special interest attached to the proceedings by reason of the invitation extended to

the Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire , Derbyshire , Northamptonshire , and Rutland , to meet under the banner of the Derby Lodge—an invitation which was not merely very heartily accepted , but which led to the assembling of a very numerous and influential body of Mark Master Masons from the various counties named .

The business of the Derby Lodge was first transacted , and included the installation of Bro . Walter J . Piper as Worshipful Master , the ceremony being performed by his predecessor in office , Bro . John Walker . Subsequently Bro . Piper invested his officers in the following order Bros . John Walker , l . P . M . ; W . Beadon Woodforde , S . W . ; William

Cooper , J . W . ; T . E . Yeoman , M . O . ; E . J . H . Hoskyns , S . O . ; Thos . Oldham , J . O . ; J . O . Manton , P . M ., Treas . ; T . H . Harrison ( Mayor of Derby ) , Sec ; the Rev . Thomas Orrell , Chap . ; W . H . Wheeldon , R . of M . ; T . C . Eastwood , S . D . ; F . E . Leech , J . D . ; Edgar Home , P . M ., Org . ; Raymond Slater , D . of C ; W . H . Wright , I . G . ; John Jones and Harry Slater , Stwds . ; and Wm . Stone , Tyler .

After the disposal of formal business , the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge were received with the accustomed honours . In the bodily infirmity of Bro . Wm . Kelly , the venerable and venerated Prov . G . M ., his place was ably filled by his worthy Deputy , Bro . Thomas Cox , the acting D . P . G . M . being Bro . Young . The annual reports from the various lodges were read , and proved in

respects encouraging . The General Purposes Committee also presented a satisfactory account of their operations . A written address from Bro . Kelly was read by the Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . the Rev . S . WATHEN WIGG , and listened to with sympathetic interest . The writer lamented the fact that physical weakness prevented him being

present , dwelt gratefully upon the prosperity which had attended , and was attending , Mark Masonry , and expressed the hope and belief that its future might be in all respects successful . Bro . Kelly also made reference to the removal by the hand of death of Bro . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., and Bro . Cleaver , the latter of whom had long served the province in the capacity of Treasurer .

A vote of sympathy with Bro . Kelly in his affliction , and a vote of condolence with the family of the late Bro . Cleaver having been passed , Bro . A . Woodiwiss , P . G . M . O . England , was unanimously chosen as Prov . Grand Treasurer .

Amid cordial expressions of approbation , it was also resolved to recommend to the M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Bro . Kelly to reappointment as Prov . Grand Master for the ensuing three years . In this connection Bro . S . WATHEN WIGG mentioned that Bro . Kelly was by far the oldest Prov . Grand Master in England , his warrant of appointment bearing date 1858 .

The Acting Prov . Grand Master then invested the Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year . The appointments included several items of local interest , notably the selection of Bro . John Walker , of the Derby Lodge , as the Prov . S . G . W ., and Bro . Alfred Schofisld , of St . Martin's Lodge , as Prov . G . M . O . The following are the Prov . Grand Officers for the year :

Bro . Thomas Cox , P . M . 302 ... ... D . P . G . M . „ John Walker , W . M . 302 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Carl Lowenstein , W . M . 19 ... ... Prov . J . G . W .

„ Alfred Schofield , P . M . 414 ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ Henry J . Goodall , W . M . 21 ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ C . F . Chamberlin , P . M . 339 ... ... Prov . J . G . O . ,, Rev . S . C . Hayward , Chap . 414 ... ... Prov . G . Chap .

„ Abraham Woodiwiss , P . M . 302 , P . G . O . ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, Harry Manfield , Treas . 245 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Rev . S . Wathen Wigg , 245 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ J . H . Cooke , P . M . 353 ... ... Prov . S . G . D .

„ Sydney S . Pridmore , W . M . 30 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ George Smedley , W . M . 246 ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ H . Goodacre Marriott , J . W . 194 ... ... Prov . G . D . C . .. I . H . Ormc . S . W . 216 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C .

,, William Cooper , Sec . 302 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ R . R . Blackwell , J . D . 19 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ G . A . Capes , Org . 339 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . I . Curtis , P . M . 194 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec .

„ Frank Winterton , M . O . 194 ... ... Prov . G . l . G . ,, T . H . Harrison , l . G . 302 ... ... ... "V „ Wm . Davenport , S . W . 3 = 53 ... ... f n ^ c , " T . S . H . Asmveli , S . W . i 94 f Prov . G . Stwds . ,, C . L . Fcrneley , 21 ... ... ... J

Subsequently tbe brethren sat down to an excellen t banquet provided by Bro . T . Day , after which a short toast list was gone through . The festival was altogether a most successful one .

Consecration Of The St. Swithin's Mark Lodge, No. 445, At Horncastle.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . SWITHIN ' S MARK LODGE , No . 445 , AT HORNCASTLE .

On Wednesday , the 20 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Horncastle , under the auspices of the Provincial Grand Mark Lod ge of Lincolnshire , the consecration of the St . Swilhin's Lodge , No . 445 , took place . The ceremony was performed by Bro . Jack Sutcliffe , Prov . Grand Master , assisted by Bro .

Anderson Bates , Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and the following Provincial Grand Oflicers : Bros . W . Mason , 172 , P . S . G . W . ; VV . Mortimer , 11 7 , P . J . G . W . ; W . Hurst , 1 S 8 , P . G . M . O . ; Rev . E . M . Wcigall , 387 , ' P . G Chap . ; W . R . F . Morton , P . G . Sec . ; C . E . Ward , P . S . G . D . ; E . J . Dalton , 117 , P . J . G . D . ; G . A . Gamble , P . A . G . D . C ; F . L . Thornton , P . G . Stwd . ; and M . Lancaster , P . G . Tyler .

Consecration Of The St. Swithin's Mark Lodge, No. 445, At Horncastle.

Other Prov . Grand Officers and brethren assembled in the lodge room and the Consecrating Officer appointed his officers , the Wardens beinn-Bros . W . Mason , P . S . G . W ., and Johnson , P . J . G . W ., Bro . Mortimer acting as D . C , and Bro . G . A . Gamble , A . D . C . The brethren of the new lodge having been arranged in order , the petition and warrant were read , and an excellent oration on the nature ant ] principles of the Institution was delivered by the Prov . Grand Chap ., Bro E . M . WEIGALL .

The invocation , consecration , strewing corn and pouring wine and oil proceeded , and salt was sprinkled , and the Consecrating Officer dedicated and constituted the lodge , which had been duly censed . The Patriarchal Benediction was pronounced , and Bro . the Rev . Humphrey Sandwitli Fawsett was installed W . M ., Bro . Anderson Bates , D . P . G . M ., acting as

Installing Master , and Bros . Wm . Taylor Sharpe and Wm . Carrol Otway were made Senior and Junior Wardens . The brethren afterwards dined at the Victoria Hotel , Woodhall Spa . This makes the fourth lodge consecrated in this province during the reign of Bro . Jack Sutcliffe as Prov . Grand Master .

Masonic Bibliography

MASONIC BIBLIOGRAPHY

The subject of Masonic Bibliography has not been a favourite study m Great Britain and Ireland , save with a very few , but it has been quite otherwise on the Continent and so in the United States . Yet for works of real importance and critical value , English-speaking countries are more favourably situated than any other , though our foreign brethren " beat us hollow " as respects works on Masonic Medals .

Practically , we have had to rely on Germany for " Masonic Bibliography , " as Bro . H . J . Whymper , CLE ., indicates in his able address before the District Grand Lodge of the Punjab , 27 th December , 1888 , and more recently in his excellent account of * ' Masonic Catalogues , Libraries , and Books , " delivered to the members of the " Albert Victor Lodge , " No . 2370 , Lahore ; which is by far the best lecture on the subject ever given , and deserves a wide circulation . *

C . A . Thory's " Acta Latomorum" ( 1815 ) contains some 400 titles , whereas the " Bibliographic der Freimaurerei , " by Dr . Geo . Kloss , A . D . 1844 , has about 6000 ! The " vast research " exemplified in the latter work is admirably portrayed by Bro . Whymper ' s translation of the 43 Sections , and quite as many sub-divisions of that colossal work . Since 1844 a vast accession has been made to our literature , and several

old books have been traced , either unknown to Dr . Kloss , or only familiar by their titles . Some idea of the great number published during the last 50 years may be obtained by carfully consulting the " Catalogue of Bibliographies , Lists and Catalogues of Works on Freemasonry , " - ) - issued this year by my indefatigable collaborateur , Bro . Whymper , which is such a remarkable compilation .

This excellent aid , however , is not final , nor was it so intended to be , for even during its printing the compiler discovered more valuable catalogues , titles of which he has sent me ( as the subject is very dear to both of us ) ; and I have several more not noted , to all of which he is most heartily welcome . California ( 14 and 15 ) had a catalogue issued , dated March , 1873 , and also a very full one for the year 1879 , and New York is having a catalogue

of its fine library issued in parts annually by my good friend Bro . H . G . Carter , the Grand Librarian , who began the work in A . D . 1883 . The No . 21 of the Whymper series I allude to in the massive " American History of Freemasonry , " ( fraternity Co . of Boston , U . S . A . ) 1891 , in connection with the " Royal Order of Scotland . " My copy is dated 23 rd February , i 860 , but the sale did not then take place . Another edition was

issued for the auction on 27 th March , 1863 , which is Bro . Carson ' s No . 176 and Bro . Whymper ' s No . 25 . Bro . Carson , who is the Bibliographical authority of America , tells me the collection belonged to Thory . 1 here was also another catalogue , not so large but very valuable , of the 3 rd November , 1863 , being the library of J . Kilner , 30 , and was issued by Claudin ; likewise one by Guillemot , in 1862 , both of Paris .

Ihe" Pythagoras Lodge Library , New York , was distributed by auction in 1887 , two catalogues being published for that purpose by the vendors , the well-known Masonic Publishing Co . of that city , many of the lots being of great rarity . The " Masonic Exhibition " Catalogues of the two at York , and one each at Worcester , Shankhn , and Plymouth are very useful guides , and there is now ready a large catalogue of the very valuable collection of Masonic works ,

medals , curios , & c , at Worcester , edited by Bro . G . Taylor , with " Bibliographical Notes" by myself . About a thousand articles are described . I hope the grand collection of " West Yorkshire Library" will be similarly catalogued , ere long , by my esteemed friend , Bro . William Watson ( Leeds ) , the Honorary Librarian , who has already done so for a portion of his own Masonic books .

The late Bro . Spencer was the best informed , in his time , as to Masonic works , his first catalogue , apparently , being published in 186 T . I attended the great sale of his books in 1875 ( the catalogue of which was prepared by his son , Bro . Walter Spencer , F . R . G . S ., who succeeded to the business ) , and bought for my lamented friend , R . F . Bower , of Keokuk , Iowa , about , £ 80 worth , out of the total of some £ 350 in value sold . The prices ran

high for some books , but the 600 lots ( having frequently many books unu " one number ) realised much less than was expected , and certainly mostly below their value . Bro . Whymper's catalogue , 2 nd edition 1891 , of 65 pages , illustrates what can be done by a persevering collector , though so far removed from London , in the procuring of rare and valuable works , some of which aie uniqueand most of them of considerable importance .

, . . Gustav Wolf , of Leipzig , has been in the habit of periodically publishing catalogues of works on the Craft , many of which numbers I have , but they are mainly foreign . Bro . John Hogg , of Paternostcr-row , London , l ' a ' done good work in the same direction , and of other catalogues might

enumerated those of the lamented VVoodford Collection % ( sold by M . ^ Hodgson in 1885 ) , mostly purchased by Bro . Kenning ( and £ ' . / an Catalogues ) , the late Dr . Mackey ' s collection of Washington , U . S . A ^ \ . priced , total about ^ 300 ) , the John W . Simons's Library , New Yor » , 1871 (?) , issued about 18 S 1 ; that of the late Bro . Leon Hyneman ' s Masoi "__