Masonry In Northern Natal.—The Boer War.

Laagte , which was received with loud cheering by the troops . Acting under instructions from Sir George White , Brigadier General Vule , who had succeeded to the command , determined to retire on Ladvsmith . How ably he conducted that retreatthanks to the assistance rendered by Colonel Dartnell , C . M . G .,

commanding the Natal Mounted Police , now Brig .-General commanding Natal Volunteers , an old Mutiny Veteran—is a matter of history , suffice it to say , that if the Glencoe Field Force , consisting as it did of one Cavalry Regiment , three Batteries of Field Artillery , four Battalions of Infantry , and details—had not been available it would have been

impossible for Sir George to have held Ladysmith . The Column marched into Ladysmith on Thursday , October 26 th , having brought in all its transport and ammunition ; but , unfortunately , having to leave behind all its camp equipment , and , worse still , all the sick , including

the gallant Sir W . Penn Symons . The next few days were welcomed days of rest for the Glencoe Field Force . On Sunday , the 29 th October , the Boers seized

the reservoirs and cut off the water . At about 5 o ' clock on Monday morning Ladysmith was rudely awakened bv " Long Tom " beginning to shell the town . The

disasters of "Mournful Monday " we do not jiurjio . se describing — a b 1 u n d e r occurred and Sir George White generously took the whole blame on his

shoulders . On November 2 nd both the railway and the telegrajih lines were cut , and the following day the town was heavily shelled by the Boers — unfortunately

a considerable number of women , children , and noncombatants had remained in the town . With a view to saving useless bloodshed , General Sir George White

wrote to General Joubert , suggesting that the women , children , and non-combatants should be granted a safe conduct to Pietermaritzburg , to which the Boer

General replied— " he could not sanction that , but would allow tlie women , children , wounded , and civilians who had not taken uji arms against the two Rejiublics to go to a jilace about three

to live miles off , to be selected b y him . " A meeting was called by the Mayor to consider this—the meeting was held outside the Town Hall , when there was a large attendance of the civilians . It was , after some discussion , decided it was jireferahle to remain under " the Union lack " to Joubert ' s white Hag . That evening the sick and wounded

arrived from Dundee , and among them the Junior Warden of the Klip River County Lodge , Bro . Lieutenant A . C McLachlan , 18 th Hussars , Sir George White having decided to send all his sick and wounded , and those civilians who wished it , to the neutral camp of General Joubert ' s selection , the

question arose what was best to be done with the Masonic Records and so forth . All lodge books , etc ., were buried , and the Warrant entrusted to Bro . McLachlan for safe custody . The next event of Masonic interest was the firing of a royal salute of twenty-one guns by the men of H . M . S .

Powerful , in honour of the birthday of H . R . H ., the Grand Master . On November 18 th , the following message was received from H . R . H .: — " Many thanks , congratulations , wish

THE TOK'X ITATJL , LADYSJUTII .

you all success , Albert Edward . " Notwithstanding the Irving times the garrison were going through , several enthusiastic Masons suggested that they should hold a meeting . The suggestion was no sooner made than it was carried out . The warrant of the Craft lodge was sent on b y Bro . McLachlan , and

the books , etc ., dug up , and on Monday , 20 ' ih November , the lirst meeting of the lodge was held . On the 23 th November a meeting of the Ladysmith Lodge of M . M . M . was held , when Bro . Cajitain Butler , the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Council , Maritzburg , and Bro . Udal , of Cajte Town , were

duly advanced . On the 29 th November an emergency meeting of the Craft lodge was held at the Roval Hotel ( the lodge jiremises having been commandeered by the military ) , a jilace that had been deserted b y its 1 ' ormer occujiants owing to the continual shelling , the Boers having concentrated their lire on this jilace ; and here , on the 31 st day of the siege ,

was initiated into Masonry a gentleman , a townsman of Ladysmith , aged Hfty-live , in the jiresence of some sixty to seventy brethren , all of whom were either wearing the

Queen ' s uniform or the badge of the Town Guard . St . Andrew ' s Day was celebrated by an " at Home" at the Royal Hotel , mine host , W . Bro .

Charles Jones , having invited his various friends to meet him on his birthday . On the 4 th December , the regular meeting of the Ladysmith Lodge of

M . M . M . was held , at which Bros . Davis , of In go go * , T . J . Greenwood , of Johannesburg ; and T . W . Sutton , of Maritzburg , were

duly advanced . The second regular meeting of the Craft lodge was held on Monday , the 18 th December , and Mr . Reid ,

of Ladysmith , was duly initiated and Bros . Lieut . Lang Sims , attached to the Manchester Regiment , and Dr . Hornabrook , Volunteer

Medical Staff , were passed to the Second Degree . On Saturday , the 23 rd December—the 54 th day of the siege—an emergency meeting of the Ladysmith

Mark Lodge was held , and Bros . A . M . Holloway and A . McChellan , of Johannesburg , were duly advanced .

Sickness now having made such terrible strides , the hotel was commandeered for a night hosjiital for the sick jiroceeding to the neutral camji the next morning , therefore the January regular meeting could not be held . On the 19 th February the last meeting during the siege took jilace at the regular place of meeting , the old Wesleyan Chapel , and here ,

amongst what was left of the medical stores , Bro . the Rev . Duncan McVarish , Chajilain to the Forces , and Bro . Reid , were jiassed to the Second Degree and Bro . Lieut . Lang Sims was raised to the Sublime Degree of a M . M . On Monday , the 5 th March , an emergency meeting of the

Ladysmith Mark Lodge was held to advance Bro . Lieut . Lang Sims , and thus ended the Masonic meetings during this memorable siege . Amongst the military jiresent during the siege were Bros . Sir Archibald Hunter , D . S . O ., K . C . B . ; Major Marling , V . C , 18 th Hussars ; Captain the Hon . Davey , 18 th Hussars ;

Lieut . Norwood , V . C , 5 th Dragoon Guards ; Major Savile , R . A . ; and Captain Hearn , South Staffordshire Regiment .