Masonic Missions.

hers . In 1854 and 1855 , the Worshipful Master was Bro . J . Pursall , to whom a Past Master ' s jewel was presented for his services in those two years , at a meeting of the Lodge , on April 8 th , 1856 . In 1856 , the Worshipful Master was Bro . Walker .

We should like much to know whether these Lodges have any ancient records , furniture , portraits , or objects of interest . The Lodge of Light , No . 689 , although dating only from 1840 , is one of the most flourishing of the Birmingham Lodges , and counts fifty-four members . It was fortunate in initiating Bro . Lord Leigh , who has been its Master , and is

now Provincial Grand Master . In 1856 , Bro . Roberts was Worshipful Master ; in 1857 , Bro . James Tcrtius Collins ; and , in 1858 , Bro . Blake . The Faithful Lodge , No . 696 , used to meet in the Assembly Rooms , and adjourn to banquet ; to a respectable tavern . It dates from 1840 , but is not so numerous as its

contemporary , the Lodge of Light , for it has only twenty-five members . It has an Organist attached to it . In 1856 , the Worshipful Master was Bro . Harry Lees ; and , in 1857 , Bro . T . Fisher . Bro . Thomas Perkins was the oldest Past Master . Bro . J . A . Baker , the Secretary of No . 696 , is the author of some Craft music , and on the occasion of the death of Bro . Solomon Weiss , No . 947 , he composed suitable music , and performed it at the funeral service in the Lodge .

We now come to one of the youngest , but what may be justly styled one of the most distinguished Lodges in Birmingham—one known not only throughout tho province , but the country—the Howe Lodge , named in honour of Bro . Earl Howe , the late Grand Master of the province , and founded only in 1850 . Already , in 1856 , its numbers were foity-five ;

iu 1857 , fifty-eight ; and , in 1858 , fifty-three . It was this Lodge which first took the useful step of providing itself with Masonic rooms , and which , by the energy ancl liberality of its members , now offers a safe asylum to the Lodges and Chapters of Birmingham , It was in 1856 that the Howe Loclge removed to the new premises in Ncwhall-street , the alterations

of which were carried out by Bro . Frederick Empson , P . M ., of No . 51 . By the time it had been five years established , this Lodge had expended £ 300 in the purchase of furniture , and invested £ 200 more for Masonic purposes in the public funds . Bro . Bassett Smith is a Past Master , and , in 1856 , delivered a funeral oration ou Bro . Weiss . Bro . J . W . Lloyd , Treasurer , is a Past Master . The Secretary is Bro . Brouglitoii . In 1856 , Bro . Ross was Worshi pful Master ; in 1857 , Bro . E . Marshall ; and , in 1858 , Bro . Hall .

Attached to the temple is a banquet room , capable of accommodating fifty guests , in which fche banquets are served by a respectable hotelkeeper , a brother of the Lodge . The nucleus of a library has been formed by an eminent and enlightened Mason , Bro . Broughton , the Secretary of the Loclge , who presented in 1857 a complete set of the

Freemasons' Magazine , with the Penny Gyclopmdia and supplement . This example has been followed by several brethren . This is , however , only one instance of the munificence of Bro . Broughton , The funds for the temple having been provided by a subscription in shares of £ 5 , he presented no less than forty of these sharesor £ 200 to the Lod on the

, , ge , 9 th of March , 1857 . The grand principle on which this Lodge was established by its founders at the outset was , that the funds contributed for Masonic purposes should be applied to Masonic purposes alone—that Masonic rites shall not be celebrated in taverns , ancl that the expense of all banquets should be defrayed by those who partook of

them . This has been fully carried out with the results Ave have related , and there can be little doubt that the Howe Lodge has had great influence in promoting the establishment of Masonic halls in tho midland districts . It was to bo expected that the Howe Lodge should pronounce a strong opinion on the question of purging the hall of the Craft from tavernkeeping , protesting against the continuance of

such a course , and appealing to its own history as an example . Attached to the Howe Lodge is a Lodge of Mark Masters . In 1858 Bro . A . McCrackeu was Worship ful Master . There is also a Royal Arch Chapter , which is , we believe , in good working . No . 1051 is the last Lodgo founded in Birmingham ,

, dating from 1858 . It is called the Temperance Lodge , the object of its founders bein g to conduct their banquets ou the temperance system ; one among many instances of the catholicity of Masonry , which gives full latitude to opinion , and places no restraint on conscience . The number of members of this new Lodge was , in 1858 , twenty-one . Its

Worshipful Master in 185 S was the Eev . T . W . Herbert , P . Prov . Grand Chaplain of Worcester ; and in 1859 , Bro . Thomas Mills . Of course this Lodgo was amongst those whicli this year expressed its conscientious objections to the Grand Loclge of England keeping a tavern . The hih degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Bite ,

g under the Supreme Council of England , are in Birmingham administered as far as the ISth degree , by the Vernon Chapter . In 1857 , the M . W . S . was Bro . Dee , a distinguished Mason of the province , who has held the office oi Prov . Senior Grand Warden . In 1858 , the M . W . S . was

Bro . Ward . The number of candidates admitted to the 18 th degree in 1858 was about five . According to their custom of assisting in the working , the Birmingham Chapter has several times been visited by members of the Supreme Council ; and 111 . Bro . Vernon is an affiliated member . Several zealous Masons of the province have been by the Supreme Council promoted to higher degrees as far the 30 ° .

We shall now leave Birmingham and describe the other Lodge towns of the province , beginning with the antient cit y of Coventry . Here is the Trinity Lodge , No . 316 , founded in 1784 . This meets at a tavern in the city , though there must be many public buildings . We know very little about this Lodgefor we regret to say that it is the only Lodge in

, this considerable city ancl lias only twenty-three members , being a slight increase over 1850 . The proportion of Masons to the whole population , is not one in 1 , 000 , and has been nearly as low as one in 2 , 000 . This shows something wrong , as it is even worse than Birmingham . There is a Eoyal Arch Chapter attached to No . 316 called the Cumberland

, Chapter , which meets in the same place . With from eighteen to twenty-three members in the Lodge it is not likely to be very considerable or very active . Many a smaller town has a hall and library . In 1856 Bro . Bursall was Worship ful Master , aud in 1859 Bro . H . Matherson , and that is all we are able to state .

Warwick ancl Leamington are so close together that they may almost be considered as one town ; Warwick is , however , a county and manufacturing town , and Leamington a watering 2 'lacc . They have between them three Lodges , and one Royal Arch Chapter . The total number of Masons who were members of Lodges in the two towns wasin 1856 one

, , hundred and nine ; in 1857 , ninety-seven ; ancl in 1858 , ninety-one ; so that the position of the town is retrograde , principally owing to the decline of the Leamington Lodge . The average in the two towns of Masons , to the population , lias been as one to 300 and 200 .

No , 356 , the Shakspeare Lodge , at Warwick , meets at a tavern . It dates from 1791 , and is the oldest Lodge now surviving in fche towns . It has a Royal Arch Chapter . It is the most considerable Lodge in the jirovince , having about sixty members . We have no further particulars regarding it . No . 828 the Unit }' at Warwickis a now ancl small Lodge

, , , , dating from 1849 , meeting in a tavern , and having about twenty members . No . 556 , Guy ' s Lodge , at Leamington , dates from 1 S 29 , and meets in a tavern , From some cause it appears to be rapidlv