^ / ^v<. -i V FPOM THE BENNO LOEWY LIBRARY COLLECTED BY BENNO LOEWY 1854-1919 BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY >-^^ ,hA CorneH UnWersity Ubrary HS598.L84 SU ^ consWu« olin,anx '^ft V f r4 r /-\ '^w T^ rr^ > >--^. -h.A'^ -rwo^ The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/cletails/cu31924030301729 St, Peary's lotrg^, i^To. es. CHRONOLOGICAL EECOED FEOM THE CONSTITUTION IN 1757 TO THE CENTENARY FESTIVAL IN 1857, BY Beo. FEEDEEICK ALBEET WINSOE, p.m. ; CONTINUED FROM 1857 TO THE PRESENT TIME, BY Beo. WILMEE HOLLINGWOETH, P.M. and Sec.: WITH A SERIES OF OBSERVATIONS ON FREEMASONRY IN GERMANY, BY Beo. EENEST E. WENDT, D.C.L., G.S.G.C, P.G.N., P.M., P.Z. 'Ett bjfioU (mixta anU leiebtseii fig Bro. GEOEGE KELLY, F.R.G.S., F.R.M.S., P.G.S., P.M., P.Z., AND Treasurer, AND Bro. WILMER HOLLINGWORTH, P.M., P.Z., AND Secretary. LONDON: 1883. CONTENTS. PAGE Warrant 5 List of Worsliipfiil Masters 7 List of present Members ... 11 Centenary Festival 13 Dispensation for Centenary Jewel 39 Chronological Record, 1857-1882 41 Petition for Chapter 67 Warrant for Chapter .... 69 List of Members of Chapter 71 Petition for Wickham Lodge 73 Warrant for Wickham Lodge 75 Observations on Freemasonry in Germany 79 A 2 COPY OF WAEEANT. Blesinton, G. Master. Wm. Holford, D.G.M. Jas. Nisbet, S.G.W. John Abercromby, J.G.W. To all whom it may Concern. No. LXIII. We, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Ample form assembled, Do hereby Authorise and Impower our Trusty and Well beloved Brethren Henry Frye, Master, James Welsh, Sen"" Warden, and William Hanaway, Jun' Warden (with their Lawful Assistants), To form and hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at the sign of The White Hart, in the Town of Bow and County of Essex (or elsewhere), and in such Lodge Admit, Enter, and Make Masons according to the Ancient and Honorable Custom of the Royal Craft in all Ages and Nations throughout the Known World; and We do hereby further Impower our said Trusty and Well beloved Brethren Henry Frye, James Welsh, and William Hanaway, with their Lawful Assistants, To Nominate, Chuse, and Install their Successors whom they are to invest with their power and Dignity, and such Suc- cessors shall in like manner Nominate, Chuse, and Install their Successors, &c., &c., &c,, such Installations to be on every St. John's day during the Continuance of this Lodge for ever : Providing that the above- named Brethren and their Successors always pay due respect to this Eight Worshipful Grand Lodge, other- wise this Warrant to be of no force nor virtue. Given under our hands and Seal of the Grand Lodge, London, this fourteenth day of April, Anno Dom., 1757, Anno Lap., 5757. Lau Dehmott, G. Sec^. ST. MAEY'S LODGE. Chronological List of Worshipful Masters, <^c. 1777. Aug. 4. Bro. B. Aldhouse joined returned to G. L. 3rd Sept. 1789. Bro , B. Aldhouse Installed W.M . Feb. 2. 1790. 5J Ed. Lawrence 33 5) Jan. 4. )) >i J. James 33 33 July 8. 1791. 5) Thos. Armond 35 33 Jan. 3. }} J* Leybarn 33 33 July 4. 1792. )) James 3J 33 Jan. 30. j; 3> Jno. Saltraan S) 33 June 24. 1793. )> Brinner 33 33 Feb. 25. 33 » Wm. Burgess 33 33 July 9. 1794. J> Lawrence 33 33 Dec. 30/93 3J 53 Lawrence Reinstalled 33 June 30. 1795. 33 Aldhouse and James filled chair till 33 Grandison was Installed June 29, 1796. 33 C. S. Hodgson 33 Dec. 25/95 33 3) Morton 33 Aug. 19. 1797. 33 Morton Eeinstalled Jan. 3. 3> 35 Morton 33 Aug. 28. 1798. 33 Aldhouse 53 Jan. 3. 8 1799 to 1801. Bro. James officiated as W.M. 1802. Bro. Reid Installed W.M. June 28. „ „ Lorn „ „ Sept. 29. 1803 and 1804. Bros. Pellrey, Yallance, and Parry- officiated as W.M's. Bro. Drummond officiated as W.M. 1805. 1806. 1807. 1808. Installed W.M. Dec. 30/05. „ Jan. 22. Tipping T. Vallance „ „ GuUen „ „ Dec. 30/07. „ „ W. Gooch „ „ June 30. 1809. „ J. Fisher „ „ Dec. 29/08. „ J. Meek „ „ June 29. 1810. „ Vanderpump „ „ Dec. 28/09. ,, „ Murrant „ „ June 28. 1811. „ Danl. Lawrence „ „ Dec. 31/10. „ „ J. Harding „ ,, June 29. 1812. „ Bruce ,, „ Dec. 30/11. 1813. „ Puwr „ „ Dec. 31/12. 1814. „ Gunyer „ „ Dec. 30/13. 1815 to 1816. Bro. Gullen „ „ Dec. 29/14. 1816. June 29th, "St. Mary's Lodge" appears first under this date. 1817. Bro. Gunyer Installed W.M. Jan. 30. 1818 to 1820. Bro. Bruce Reinstalled W.M. Jan. 28. 1821. Bro. Crome Installed W.M. Jan. 11. 1822 and 1823. Bro. Caiman „ „ Jan. 10. 1824. Bro. Grething „ „ Dec. 30/23. 1825. „ Branson „ ,, Dec. 30/24. 1826 and 1827. Bro. G. Jones „ „ Dec. 28/25. 1828. Bro. Caiman „ „ Jan. 23. 1829 and 1830. Bro. Wm. Seaman Installed W.M. July 21. 9 1831 and 1 1833. Bro. 1834. }? 1835. a 1836. )3 1837. }j 1838. J? 1839.' ?j 1840. 3> 1841. J! 1842. J) 1843. J) 1844. 5? 1845. y: 1846. J) 1847. •j> 1848. 5? 1849. J » 1850. J3 1851. J3 1852. )? 1853. 35 1854. J3 1855. )) 832. Bro. Jno. Angus Walmisley Installed W.M. Feb. 19. Wm. Evans „ „ Dec. 29/32. Geo. Jno. Dyke „ „ Dec. 28/33. Fredk. Wilson „ „ Dec. 27/34. Arthur Cocke „ „ Dec. 19/35. P. Lys Seager „ ,, Jan. 28. Chas. W. Hallett „ „ Jan. 27. Geo. Kennett Pollock Installed W.M. Jan. 26. Chas. Levien ,, ,, Jan. 16. Fred. Albert Winsor Installed W.M. Jan. 21. William Hunter William Price William AspuU Henry Emly Francis Watts H. V. De B. Taylor Installed W.M. Jan. 21. Arthur Cocke (P.M., 1836) Eeinstalled W.M. Mar. 16 Henry Emly (P.M., 1845) Reinstalled W.M. Jan. 18. Jean Theodore Lemale Installed W.M. Jan. Wm. Saml. Burton Installed W.M. Jan Wm. Crampten „ „ Jan Wm. Robt. Wood „ „ Jan. 20. Wm. Skelton „ „ Jan. 19. George Kelly ,, „ Jan. 18. Jan. 20. Jan. 19. Jan. 18. Jan. 16. Jan. 15. 17. 16. 15. 10 1856. Bro. Harris Wilson, M.D. Installed W.M. Jan. 17. 1857. 1858. 1859. 1860. 1861. 1862. 1863. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868. 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. CENTENAEY. Richd. M. Lawrance, M.D. Installed W.M. Jan. 15. Geo. W. Van Abbott Installed W.M. Jan. 21. Fredk. A. Durnford Installed W.M. Jan. 20. Frederick Payne ,, „ Jan. 19. Wm. Frs. Heideman Installed W.M. Jan. 17. Thomas Lane „ „ Jan. 16. Fredk. Albert Winsor (P.M. 1841) Reinstalled W.M. Mar. 19. Wm. Fredk. Forsyth Installed W.M. Jan. 21. Wilmer HoUingworth Installed W.M. Jan. 19. James Tyler „ „ Jan. 18. Wm. R. Gritten „ „ Jan. 1 7. Wm. Travers, M.D. Installed W.M. Jan. 16. Chas. Humby „ ,, Jan. 21. Thos. Harrison „ „ Jan. 20. R. R. Arntz „ „ Jan. 19. Wm. H. Kelly „ „ Jan. 18. E. E. Wendt „ „ Jan. 16. W. E. G. Pearse, M.D. Installed W.M. Jan. 15. 11 1875. Bro Ignace Gibsone Installed W.M Jan. 21. 1876. M. Higgs 5? JJ Jan. 20. 1877. George Brooke JJ JJ Jan. 18. 1878. Edmund Perken if 35 Jan. 17. 1879. F. J. Pearse J3 }} Jan. 16. 1880. Wm. Ackland 3J 33 Jan. 15. 1881. George Page 33 33 Jan. 20. 1882. John Hy. Watts 35 33 Jan. 19. List of Peesent Membees. WiUiam Kobert Wood, G.P. George Kelly, F.R.G.S., F.RM.S., P.G.S. Wilmer HoUingworth. William Travers, M.D. Ernest Emil Wendt, D.C.L., G.S.G.C, P.G.N. W. E. Grind ley Pearse, M.D. Ignace Gibsone. Marcellus Higgs. George Brooke. Edmimd Perken. Francis J. Pearse. William Ackland, George Page. John Henry Watts. Edmund Culver. Cole Alfred Adams, F.R.I.B.A. Thomas Eutherford Adams, M.D. John Octavius Abbott, A.R.I.B.A. 12 Ashley Gibbings. Arthur Baume, Charles Lowther Kemp. Stephen Wastel Hooper. Charles Alfred Nicholas. William Purdie Treloar. Robert Treloar. Reginald Louis Verley, M.D. Joseph WooUey Brooke. Wladimir de Smirnoff, Lord of Wereskouny. James Glaisher, F.R.S., V.P.RM.S., P.G.D., Honorary. THE CENTEl^ARY Of St, nbarig's Xobge, IFlo, 76 (now 63), APRIL 16th, 1857, ^ WITH THE HISTOEY OF THE LODGE From its Constitution in April, 1757. AN ADDEESS DELIVEEED ON THE CELEBEATION OF THE OENTENAEY BY Bko. FREDERICK ALBERT WINSOR, Past Mastee and Teeasueee. 15 CENTENAKY OF ST. MARTS LODGE. Feeemasons' Hall, Thursday, April 16th, 1857. Lodge met in Temple. Banquet in Great Hall. Present: Bro. R. M. Lawrance, Bro. Winsor, P.M. and Bro Treasurer. „ Wilson, I.P.M. „ Lemale, P.M. ,, Burton, P.M. ,, Crampten, P.M. „ Wood, P.M. „ Skelton, P.M. „ G. Kelly, P.M. and Secretary. „ Durnford, S.W. ,, Payne, J.W. Visitors. M.D., W.M. '. Abbott, P.S.W. Jones, S.D. Chambers, J.D. W. H. Kelly, I.G. Muncke. Heideman. Gibsone. Beningfield. Robinson, Watts. Smith. Burrowes. Bro. Cutland, late of St. Mary's. „ J. Howe, P.M., No. 82. „ ' W. P. Scott, W.M., Antiquity. „ Wm. Price, late of St. Mary's. IG Bro. Beningfield, British C. G. Hope. ,, Neltnor, Old Dundee, No. 18. „ J. Sanders, Oak Lodge, „ F. Walker, Amitj. ,, Geo. Simons, late of St. Mary's. „ H. A. Burstall, St. John's. „ K. H. Giraud, P.S.G.D. ,, H. Spencer Smith, late of Chigwell Lodge. „ John Hervey, P.S.G.D. ,, H. Greene, P.M., 318. „ F. Davison, W.M.E., 269. ,, H. G. Buss, P.M., No. 29. „ E. F. Leeks, P.M., No. 82. ,, H. Richardson, No. 22. „ R. W. Wheeler, Gd. Stwd. Lodge, P.M. 27, W.M. 324. „ A. Ambrosoni, 318, J.D., 394. ,, J. Measor, 318, J.W., 394. „ Em. Thomel, late of St. Mary's. ,, F. Crew, P.M., No. 1. „ W. B. Graham, late P.J.W. of St. Mary's and Gd. Stwd. „ F. W. Best, S.D., No. 3. „ T. Anns, late of St. Mary's. „ C. G. Guthrie, late of St. Mary's. „ Joseph Burrowes, Grenadiers, No. 79. ,, J. S. Lavies, Lodge Celtic, Edinburgh. ,, E. Rouse, Treasr., 318. ,, Robt. Barnby. ., Donald King. ,, Shoubridge. ., Kingsbury. 17 The Lodge was opened in the first degree. The Minutes of the last regular Lodge Meeting were read and confirmed. The Minutes of the Lodge of Emergency, held on the 14th inst., were read and confirmed. On the motion of Bro. Winsor, the Secretary read the Warrant of the Lodge, bearing date the 14th day of April, 1757, whereupon Bro. Winsor gave a chrono- logical history of the Lodge from its earliest period, which, on the motion of Bro. Burton (carried by accla- mation), was ordered to be entered on the minutes, viz. : — " The St. Mary's Lodge," now No. 76, originally numbered 63 under the Athol Constitution, became 86 on the union of Grand Lodges. For the purpose of commemorating such an occasion as the centenary of a Lodge, it seems most appropriate to take a chrono- logical review of prominent matters connected with its existence. The following statement will therefore attempt such a review with reference to this " The St. Mary's Lodge," both as to the localities of its meetings, and as to the names of the persons who have been con- nected with it as members. The earliest record is traced to 1768, when 12 members are registered to this Lodge as No. 63, being a period of 1 1 years only after the date of the Lodge Warrant j ust read. In 1777 the Lodge No. 125 having a number of only 6 members, they merged into this Lodge, No. 63, and surrendered the Warrant No, 125. Our own B 18 Records, according to the Minutes in our possession, reach back to the year 1784, and therefore above seventy years of the Centenary we are now commemo- rating. The Lodge was then numbered 63 under the then existing Constitution of Freemasonry. Masonic duties are here recorded as having usually commenced at 6 or 7 o'clock in the evening, the call to refreshment about 9, and the closing to have taken place between 10 and 11. The number of Brethren up to the year 1800 appears to have fluctuated between 12 and 20. The first and second degrees were, at this period, usually given at the same meeting of the Lodge ; and where the newly-introduced Brother was about to travel, the third degree was also conferred at once, i.e., at the same meeting. On the 3rd September, 1787, a communication from Grand Lodge is recorded, as being in the third year of the Grand Mastership of the Rt. W. and Rt. Hon. Randal (William), Earl of Antrim, denouncing 18 members of No. 2 Lodge as expelled for apostacy, probsibly as a notice to other lodges against admitting the apostates. In June, 1792, the Lodge, which had hitherto met at the " Three Crowns," Old Jewry, was moved to the " Queen's Arms Tavern," Cheapside. In June, 1793, the Lodge was summoned by the Grand Secretary to attend the grand procession to Hampstead Church, to a sermon, and afterwards to dine at the Long-rooms ; and the following July the 19 Lodge removed to the " King's Arms," Shoreditch ; in AprU, 1794, to the "Queen's Arms," Wapping. In December, 1795, from the "deranged state of the cash-book" the balance could not be ascertained, but £12 was accepted from Bro. Stuart in satisfaction of the same, and a Bro. Hodgson succeeded, him as Treasurer. In February, 1797, the Lodge being obliged to remove from a change of landlords, it was resolved that in future the landlord of the house where the Lodge met should not hold office in the Lodge. The " Glasgow Arms" was subsequently fixed upon for the meetings ; also in 1797 it was resolved that every gentleman made in this Lodge should pay 3 guineas for initiation. From and after this period several Brethren were passed through the Chair for the pxirpose of Exaltation into the Koyal Arch Degree. In January, 1801, the Lodge met at the "King of Denmark's Head," Wapping, and in 1802 at " St. An- drew's Tavern," as well as at the " Ship and Pimch Bowl," and settled in 1803 at the "Black Boy," Wapping. In 1805 the initiation fee appears to be raised from 3 guineas to 8^ guineas in this Lodge. The Minutes before and about the year 1806 fre- quently record Brethren as being raised to the degree of Excellent and High Excellent Master Masons In 1808 the initiation fee was reduced to 2-J guineas, and a Book of Constitutions directed to be purchased, which no member should take from the Lodge without first depositing 1 Is. Of two Books of Constitutions which were found B 2 20 with the Minute Books of this period, one appears to have existed in 1771, and contains several points of interest to Freemasons. In and after November, 1808, the numbers of the Lodge appear on the increase, this month's meeting being 30 with visitors, and the first record appears (upon the motion of Bro. Aldhouse) to present the retiring Master with a Past Master's Jewel, In 1809 the initiation fee is again raised to 3 guineas, and shortly after to 3^ guineas. On the 26th September, 1811, on the motion of Bro. Aldhouse, thanks were voted to Bro. McOann " for his good advice and explanation respecting ' the Union,' and his usefulness to the Craft in general." On June 30, 1814, the last Minutes are recorded under the No. 63, the following Lodge on 28th July, 1814, the number is changed to 8C. In -April, 1815, the Lodge removed to the " Swan," Wapping, and in November to " Shad well Dock Coffee House." The Minutes of the 29th June, 1816, are for the first time headed " St. Mary's Lodge," the previous headings having been only Lodge No. 63 or No. 86. The meetings from this period are held at the " Northumberland Arms," Shadwell Dock. In July, 1816, a School of Instruction in Freemasonry is directed to be held on every Thursday in each month. The initiation fee, raised for some time past to 4^ guineas, was in 1817 lowered to 4 guineas. In July, 1819, the meetings were held at the "Sir John Barleycorn's." One of the Minute Books closes with February 7, 1822, prior to which date the number of members appears to have decreased. 21 In July, 1823, the Lodge was removed to the " Britannia," St. Georges-in-the-East, and in the following year a considerable accession of members is recorded, and the initiation fee raised again to 4-| guineas. In October, 1826, the Lodge is recorded in the handwriting of the late Bro. Seaman as meeting at the "New York Coffee-house," Cornhill, and from this date the Minutes of St. Mary's Lodge are entered with great care and regularity by Bro. Seaman, as the Secretary. After the masonic recess of 1831, the St. Mary's Lodge quitted Cornhill and the extreme east for a West End position, by meeting in October, 1831, at Harris's Hotel, Parliament Street, and from this period the talents of Bro. Broadfoot were frequently in request in aid of the new Brethren entering masonry in St. Mary's Lodge. It is a fact worthy of notice, from whatever source the name of St. Maiy's Lodge originated, that there is none other that has adopted the name in England itself, but that we must travel to another hemisphere to find a namesake, as the only other St. Mary's Lodge that has been traced among the upwards of 1,000 Lodges now existing under the Consti- tution of the United Grand Lodge of England is located at Digby in Nova Scotia, and numbered 572. Lovers as Freemasons doubtless are of the fair sex, the only other feminine denomination held by Lodges is in reference, and evidently from affection, to Her Most Gracious Majesty our Queen, and these number only four, viz. I 22 " The Eoyal Victoria Lodge," in the Bahamas, No. 649. " The Victoria Lodge," Kingston, St. Vincents, No. 755. " The Loyal Victoria Lodge," at Collington, in Cornwall, No. 815, and " The Victoria Lodge," Port Sarnia, Canada "West, No. 950. Having thus in 1831 become a west-end Lodge, St. Mary's began to adopt west-end habits, the first step taken to which was to fix a subscription of 20s., payable half yearly, with supper fee of 3s. 6d. and 5s., fixing the initiation fee at 4^ guineas, and the joining fee at 1 guinea, exclusive of registry fee in the latter case. In 1832, upon a general new numbering of lodges, the St. Mary's rose from 86 to No. 76, its present number. From the closing of Harris's Hotel in Parliament Street, the Lodge removed to Proctor's Hotel, West- minster Bridge Road in May, 1832, and at the close of that year the annual subscription was raised to 3 guineas, payable half-yearly, to include refreshment fees, and the initiation fee was fixed at 5 guineas. In March, 1834, the increased number of members requiring greater accommodation, the St. Mary's Lodge met at the "Freemason's Tavern," where up to the celebration of its centenary it has now continued for 23 years. In the same year the annual subscription was fixed at its present amount of 4 guineas, and in its annual appointment of officers that of a Director of Ceremonies took date. From and since 1835 a regular annual subscription 23 has been voted to the respective Royal Freemasons Charities for Girls and for Boys, the girls' school sub- scription being increased to two guineas annually. In 1839 the day of meeting v?as changed from the last Saturday to the third Thursday. On the proposed Masonic Annuity Fund being communicated from Grand Lodge in 1842, a donation of £10 was voted to promote its formation. In 1843 the subject of the design of medals pre- sented to the Masters after fulfilling the duties of W.M. was carefully considered, and a medal combining the various attributes of Freemasonry according as they are demonstrated in the several lectures of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Degrees was settled upon, and this has since continued to be the Presentation Medal of this Lodge, but only voted on the prior recommendation of the permanent committee. From the great increase of members in 1844, a scale of fees was adopted increasing the initiation fee to 7 guineas when the number of regular members reached 30, and 10 guineas when the number exceeded 40. Regulations were at, and prior to this time, also sanctioned for holding meetings for mutual instruction in Masonry exclusively for the St. Mary's Lodge, and in accordance with the Book of Constitutions. The localities of our Lodge having now been traced up to its present headquarters, it ought to be a source of gratifying reflection, exemplifying the universality of our order, that, however humble in its origin, as meeting according to its "Warrant 100 years ago, the second centenary commencement of St. Mary's is permitted to assemble even in front of the Grand Master's Throne, 24 and in the most exalted locality known to English Freemasons. Next as to many of the persons who have been and are Brethren of the Lodge. The St. Mary's Lodge in the first centenary of its existence, reckoned among its members eighty years ago one of the most, if not actually the most, venerable member of the craft, in the person of the la,te Bro. Beujn. Aldhouse, by occupation a weaver, who is recorded as a member from the 4th day of August, \7*77, and on the Minutes of the 24th February, 1785, as delivering the lecture of the first degree, a similar record in reference to Bro. Aldhouse appearing during many subsequent years. In November of that year the Rt. W. the Grand Secretary is recorded as acting for the W.M. of the Lodge, and in the following month (December), Bro. Aldhouse is deputed to wait on the Deputy Grand Master in reference to a complaint against one of its members for entering, as "it stated," a law suit against a brother without giving him any notice of such being his " intention." In 1789 Bro. Aldhouse was W.M. of this Lodge. In 1791 he moved and carried that a memorial be presented to the Deputy Grand Master, Bro. J. Perry, for his upright and spirited conduct in supporting the ancient craft. In 1798 Bro. Aldhouse again occupied the chair of the Lodge, and recommended a petition to the Deputy Grand Master, Bro. Wm. Dickey, for the funeral expenses of the late Bro. Donaldson. In 1808 a subscription, per Bro. Aldhouse, from 25 the Lodge for the Charity for Children of the Ancient Masons, of 1 guinea is recorded. At the Lodge, 24th April, 1806, Bro. Aldhouse moves that the subscription of 1 guinea to the Masonic Charity be granted yearly, carried unanimously; and at the Lodge, 23rd February, 1809, he moves and carries that 1 guinea be granted to relieve a distressed Brother, similar entries occurring frequently afterwards, especially on the lotli April, 1812, when, upon his motion, the wife of a Bi'other taken prisoner in France was relieved with £1. About this time the Lodge met weekly, and even sometimes oftener, yet the benevolent contributions are as frequently recorded, for on the 30th April (a fortnight only after the pre- ceding), another Brother is relieved with £2, and this again on the motion of Bro. Aldhouse. On the 30th November, 1815, Bro. Aldhouse was appointed Tyler, and in succeeding years filled various offices, the year 1822 recording him again as S.W. The Minute Book of the Lodge, begun in March, 1822, will rapidly extend that chain of our own memorial of St. Mary's Lodge, of which Bro. Aldhouse presents the first link, as has been stated, for so far back as eighty years. The office of Treasurer, held at intervals by various members, was again undertaken by Bro. Aldhouse in the year 1826. The second link in our past memorial is the introduction of the late Bro. Seaman into this Lodge, joining it from the St. John's Lodge, No. 138, on the 30th June, 1829, and at the same meeting being elected W.M. and presiding over it until February, 1831 ; and 26 to the accession of this justly esteemed Brother must be attributed, both directly and indirectly, the con- nection of all its subsequent members, for upon Bro. Seaman's proposition the third link in our chain presents itself in the joining from the Lodge of Unity, No. 305, of our Bro. John Angus Walmisley, elected W.M. the same year, now an honorary member, as well as the present Father of the St. Mary's Lodge, with which he has now been connected 26 years. As Bro. Aldhouse's name thus remains recorded as an acting member of this Lodge for more than half a century to the date we have now arrived at, it is fair to presume that age and infirmity had already over- taken him, yet his attachment to the St. Mary's Lodge remained unabated, though he had evidently to struggle wdth difficulties to maintain the Lodge in existence, as it not unfrequently mustered only from 3 to 5 members at a meeting, one of these being Bro. Martin, son-in- law to Bro. Aldhouse, and whom he was accustomed to call his " Boy," though this so-caUed boy was aged three score and ten years. The year 1831 increased the links of our present historical chain to 12, by Bro. Sir J. P. Milbanke, Bart., W. Evans, G. J. Dyke, N. Harris, becoming joining members of the Lodge, and by the initiation of Bro. Hughes, J. Kilpin, Fredk. Wilson, and Ar. Cocke. Our venerable Bro. Aldhouse and his " Boy," Bro. Martin, continue contributing members of St. Mary's, and, as usual, Bro. Aldhouse advocates the charitable relief of the widow of one of its former members, Bro. GuUen. During the years 1832 and 1833, Bro. Walmisley 27 was succeeded by Bro. Evans as W.M., the duties of the chair being several times undertaken in their absence by Bro. Sir J. P. Milbanke. Bro. Aldhouse's " Boy," Bro. Martin, the Acting Tyler of the Lodge, requiring relief, was unanimously recommended to the Board of Benevolence. In the year 1833 Bros. Seager, Procter, and Smith joined the Lodge, and L. H. Thompson, Wm. Price, C. W. Hallett, Jos. Carter Wood, F. J. Stevens, H. J. Daniell, Geo. Selby, and Jno. and Geo. Elvy were initiated. The Past Master's Jewel, long worn by the vener- able Bro, Aldhouse, was at this time made the property of the Lodge, by purchase, and designates our I.P.M. In 1834, while Bro. Dyke filled the chair, the following were initiated, viz. : T. Senill, W. Clarke, G. and J. Kempson, P. Hearle, Chr. Wordsworth, Geo. Pollock, Wm. Creed, none of whom nor of those pre- viously named are numbered among our present full contributing members. During the year 1835 our late highly-esteemed Bro. Fredk. Wilson presided over the Lodge, and the following were initiated : T. C. Battley, L. Hughes, H. B. Leeson, F. A. Winsor, Chs. Levien, H. F. Holt, W. F. Pocklington, W. Hunter, and G. B. Smyth, of whom the present Treasurer continues the only member in this centenary year ! In conformity with the authority given to the members of the St. Mary's Lodge, No. 76, to wear the Jewel in commemoration of the centenary,* Bro. P. M. * See page 39. 28 Winsor, as Senior Member of the Lodge, claimed the privilege of investing the W.M. Bro. Lawrence, M.D. therewith, which was done accordingly. The W.M. thereupon was about to invest the Treasurer, when he requested that he would first invest the I.P.M. Bro. Marris Wilson, M.D., which being done, the W.M. in- vested the Senior Member, Bro. Winsor, P.M, Treasurer. The chronological statement was continued by the Treasurer, as follows : — At the Lodge, held on the 30th April, 1836, our venerable Bro. Aldhouse attended as Senior Past Master of the Lodge, and had the gratification of the presence of his constant friend and patron, Bro, Richd. Herv^ Giraud, now a Past Grand Officer in the craft, who this day (being twenty-one years since that visit) graces our centenary by his presence. The late Bro. Seaman having long filled the various offices of the Lodge, acquitting himself in all with marked devotion to maintain its interests and promote its prosperity, at this time desired to be relieved of the duties of Treasurer, to which office the present Treasurer succeeded in 1836, and, with, the exception of tbe year of his being W.M. of the Lodge, has been since annually elected thereto. The year 1836, our late much esteemed Bro. Arthr. Cocke being W.M., the following were initiated : Wm. Cocke, F. H. Forster, W. G. Howes, W. T. Smith, Chs. J. Winkworth, C. J. Ellis, and L. F. Watson, being 7 in number, of whom none remain with us at this time ; and to mark the high sense of the Lodge for Bro. Cocke's zeal and ability he was con- 29 stituted a Life Governor of the Girls' School Charity by a donation of 10 guineas thereto in his name. The installation of Bro. Seager in 1887, graced as it was by the late Bro. Sir David Pollock, P.S.G.W., and the late Dr. Moore, P.S.G.D., with an assembly of above 30 brethren, was a gratifying testimony of the prosperity to which our Lodge had arrived. During this year the Lodge was represented by the Treasurer as Steward at the Girls' School and at the contemplated Aged Masons' Asylum, and in the following year (1838) Bro. Leeson represented the Lodge as Steward at the festival of the Girls' School, the chair of the Lodge being ably filled by Bro. Chas. W. Hallett, who, with his predecessor, had initiated the following : 1837 — Jno. Lube, Stephen Winckworth, Jas. Weston; 1838 — B. W. Holt; and on this occa- sion the Lodge voted a medal to be presented to Bro. Hallett to mark its sense of his masonic qualifications, which had been also presented to Bro. Cocke previously, for the example set by him personally to fulfil the duties of the chair. This is the more worthy of par- ticular notice, as until Bro. Cocke filled the chair, the Lodge was much indebted to the assistance of non- members, i.e., Bro. Broadfoot, Bro. Pollock, P.S.G.W., Bro. Malyn, and Bro. Hardy. In the years 1839 and 1840, the chair was succes- sively filled by Bro. Pollock and by Bro. Levien, Bros. Savory and AspuU joining as members, with the following initiations : Lieut. Wood, Geo. Haig, J. C. Hughes, T. Percy, and Chas. Guthrie, of whom we still number Bro. Percy as one of our honorary members. 30 Bro. Walmisley represented the Lodge at the Girls' School Festival in 1839. In 1841 Bro. Winsor having been elected W.M. resigned the office of Treasurer in order to enable him to hold and fulfil the duties of the higher office, in which year were initiated J. G. Maude, H. H. HaUett, H. T. Emly, Fras. Watts, Wm. Burridge, H. de B. Taylor, 0. H. Collette, L. N. Bonar, and Geo. Coope ; and Bro. Chas. Sorror became a joining member. Medals for presentation to the W.M. having fiUed the chair were voted for presentation in 1842, and a design for the same was directed to be prepared. Bro. Guthrie served the office of Steward at the Girls' School Festival from this Lodge in 1842. During the year 1842, Bro. Hunter being W.M., F. J. Chester, W. Nash, Jno. B. Spurgin, C'has. W. Hoffinan, Edw. L. Boyd, and Wm. Skelton, were initiated, of whom Bro. Skelton only continues with us as a member at this time and a P.M. of the Lodge. The year 1843 Bro. Wm. Price was elected W.M., and the record of initiations comprises J. L. Basche, G. D. Aubin, Albert Smith, G. M. Wilson, and Edward Gardner, of whom Bro. Wilson remains a member, and is the I. P.M. at the present commemoration. The accession to our numbers in 1844 while Bro. AspuU was W.M. was but one, but that one then a joining member, Bro. Lemale, has continued ever since with us, and is now a P.M. and our justly respected D.C. of the Lodge. And here it becomes necessary to record the extinction of the first link of our historical chain, commencing in 1777 with Bro. Aldhouse, who, after a 31 masonic career of sixty-seven years as a member of St. Mary's Lodge, died about this time at a very advanced age, having been the Grand Tyler of the craft up to the union in 1813, and one of the Grand Tylers, w^ith his fuU pay as a pension as such, up to the period of his decease. Another epoch for the St. Mary's I^odge arose in 1845 by the installation of the late Bro. Emly as "W.M., whose masonic ability and devotion to its duties have had few parallels, which the craft in general, and this Lodge, as well as other Lodges in particular, have experienced and benefited by, until his decease early in 1856 ; his exertions in the Lodges of Instruction obtained for him the repeated and especial thanks of the Brethren. The record of his year of office intro- duced an initiate in W. S. Burton, one of our most justly esteemed members and P.M. of the present day. The late Bro. Emly was followed in the chair of this Lodge in the year 1846 by one who not only fulfilled the duties with ability, but who won the good will and affection of the Brethren over whom he presided, and the St. Mary's Lodge will long remember the good qualities of the late Bro. Francis Watts. In his year of office we had as initiates : A. Pollock, H. G. Buss, A. B. Pollock, W. Crampten, J. F. West, G. Dressier, C. J. and C. M. Major, besides Bro. S. Pollock as a joining member ; of these Bro. Crampten stiU ranks with us as a justly and esteemed member and P.M. In 1847 Bro. Taylor held office as W.M., and in this year J. K. Cooke and E. Thomel were initiated. In 1848 our worthy P.M., the late Bro. Cocke, 32 was elected for the second time to the office of W.M., which he had ably filled in 1836, and again exemplified his zeal for the welfare of the Lodge, initiating Captain Fearon, J. A. Corlett, Hy. Cooke, and W. E. Wood, of whom Bro. W. K. "Wood remains with us as a valued member and P.M. The precedent for a second year of office was again adopted in 1849 by electing Bro. Emly W.M. for that year, also as a mark of the high sense entertained of his merits, and in addition he was requested to repre- sent the Lodge at the Girls' School Festival for the second time, the hfe donations and all charges being paid from the Lodge funds, the festival being attended by the Brethren en masse, the subscriptions on that day reaching the then unparalleled amount of £1,030. Here the Permanent Committee's report, dated January 10th, 1850, was read. The members of the Lodge also presented Bro. Emly with a silver inkstand as a token of their esteem. The initiates of this year were C. Wettye, F. De la Cour Blyth, and John Hearle. The election of W.M. for 18.50 placed Bro. Lemale in the chair, when R. Harris, J. T. Wootton, W. B. Graham, J. T. Green, and W. F. Cutland were initiated. Bro. Lemale having long held the office of Director of Ceremonies. Bro. Burton was elected in 1851, and with high talent presided that year, Bro. Kerry becoming a joining member, and Thos. Anns being initiated. To Bro. Burton the Lodge has been enabled to look for talented and kind assistance on several occasions as Installing Master. 33 In 1852 the presidency of the Lodge was unani- mously conferred on Bro. Crampten, whose efficient and urbane fulfilment of the duties of W.M. was acknow- ledged by all. It must not be omitted that in thii? year the St. Mary's Lodge reiterated its acknowledg- ment of the Treasurer's services by presenting him with a valuable clock as a testimonial of their regard. The initiates of Bro. Crampten's year were : Geo. Kelly, Geo. Simons, Geo. W. Y. Abbott, P. Meugens, J. Oswin, Dr. Lfiwrance, and E. K. Blyth, of whom we number at present, Bro. Lawrance as W.M., Bro. G. Kelly, P.M., as Secretary, and Bro. Abbott, P.S.W., all as continuing members. The following year, 1853, Bro. W. R, Wood was elected W.M., and his quiet retiring demeanour led to prognostics on his duties, which he realised by a most gratifying fulfilment of them to the entire satisfaction of the Lodge, F. D. Jones and J. L. Scott being initiated. Approaching our own day we come next to 1854, when Bro. Skelton was elected W.M., and beside the ability with which he fulfilled his duties of labour, the Lodge retains the most pleasurable recollection of his social qualities. F. A. Durnford and F. Payne were the initiates, the first Brother now ranking as S.W. and the second as J.W., giving the Lodge high promise of gratification when they may be called to its highest office. In 1855, and but two years since, the Lodge met with great satisfaction vmder the rule of Bro. Geo. Kelly as W.M., as he brought recollections of our former P.M., the late Bro. Watts, into the chair, c 34 witK the manifestation of his good qualities ; Hy. Fras. Emly, son of our late highly talented P.M., Anty. B. Robinson, Lieut. J. Gumming, Jno. Jones, and Chas. Chambers were this year initiates. Of these Bros. E/obinson and Gumming continue honorary members, their avocations calling them to a distance, and Bros. Jones and Ghambers are holding the rank of S. and J. Deacons. We have now arrived at the year 1856, for which Bro. Harris Wilson was elected W.M., and during his talented masonic exertions the Lodge emerged from its ninety-ninth into its one hundredth year of existence. Bro. Leakey joined, and W. H. KeUy, J. H. Watts, and Saml. Burrowes were initiated ; Bro. W. H. Kelly being our Actual Inner Guard, and Bros. Watts and Burrows evincing every disposition to prove themselves useful as well as ornamental members. The recent joining Brethren being Bro. Dr. Muncke, Bro. Wool- loton, Bro. Sawbridge, and Bro. Heideman. The Gentenary Year, which opened under the auspices of the present I.P.M., has already witnessed the office of W.M. ably filled by Bro. Dr. Lawrence, who has just given proof of his talent and masonic zeal by the initiation of Frank Beningfield (who is about to be called to distant climes), of Wm. Tgna,ce Gibsone, and Fredk. Smith, upon whom, as members of the St. Mary's Lodge, in this Gentenary Year, the privilege of wearing the medal will devolve, in common with its other full subscribing members, as soon as they have obtained the rank of Master Masons, in pursuance of the Dispensation granted to that effect by the M.W. the Grand Master,- 35 These Brethren, as yet but E.A. in the craft, are the two last links in the historical chain which has thus been traced in the centenary of St. Mary's Lodge, the first link of which in the person of Bro. Aldhouse, who entered this lodge eighty years since, i.e., in 1777, has taken part in the duties and enjoyment as its senior P.M., and the companion of several Brethren now present in this masonic temple. The last links are our present Entered Apprentice Freemasons, who were admitted on the very day exactly 100 years after the date of our Warrant, namely, 14th April, 1757. May the Great Architect of the Universe, whose Omniscience is exemplified by the emblem of the All Seeing Eye on the obverse of our Centenary Jewel, receive our supplications to make us all to grow in the knowledge of His Word in the open Sacred Volume before you, as the foundation of the Edifice we ought to raise to His Glory, and send us an answer of Peace by the emblem of the Dove on the reverse of our Centenary Jewel, and build us up in Faith, in Hope, and in Charity. During the progress of the reading of the remainder of the statement, each Brother, according to his seniority, was formally escorted to the East by the S. and J. Deacons, and invested by the W.M. with the Centenary Medal in the following order : — Bro. William Skelton, P.M. Bro. Jean Tr. Lemale, P.M. and D.C. Bro. Wm. S. Burton, P.M. 36 Bro. Wm. Crampten, P.M. Bro. W. E. Wood, P.M. Bro. Geo. Kelly, P.M. and Secy. Bro. G. W. V. Abbott, P.S.W. Bro. F. A. Durnford, S.W. Bro. Fredk. Payne, J.W. Bro. Jno. Jones, J.D. Bro. Chas. Chambers, J.D. Bro. Wm. Hy. Kelly, I.G. Bro. John Hy. Watts. Bro. Samuel Burrowes. Bro. Dr. Muncke. Bro. Wm. Fredk, Heideman. The W.M. Bro. Lawrance, Treasurer Bro. Winsor, and I.P.M. Bro. Wilson having been invested, according to rank {see statement), and Bros. Wm. I. Gibsone and Fredk. Smith's investiture being postponed until they become Master Masons {see proviso in Dispensation), On the motion of Bro. Skelton, seconded by Bro. Crampten, it was Resolved — " That the best thanks of the Lodge are due, and are hereby presented to Bro. Winsor for his very careful and interesting statement." On the motion of Bro. Burton, seconded by Bro. Wood, and carried by acclamation — " The preceding statement by Bro. Winsor is ordered to be entered in its place on the Minutes." 37 The usual questions being put by the W.M., Bro. Lemale proposed, and Bro. Crampten seconded — " Mr. William Frederick Forsyth, of 71, Grosvenor Terrace, Westminster, Surgeon-Dentist, for initiation in, and to become a joining member of this Lodge." The Lodge was closed in due form and adjourned. Memorandum. The Lodge, on this memorable occasion, met in the Temple, and after business was concluded retired to the Great Hall, where the banquet was prepared. The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro. Barnby, assisted by Bros. D. King, Shoubridge, and Kingsbury. Geokge Kelly, P.M., Hony. Secy. 39 THE DISPENSATION GRANTED BY THE M.W. THE GRAND MASTER "THE EARL OF ZETLAND," FOR THE WEARING OF A CENTENARY JEWEL. " To the Worshipful Master Wardens and other Members of the St. Mary's Lodge No. 76, and all others whom it may concern : — " Whereas it appears by the Records of the Grand Lodge, that on the 14th day of April, 1757, a Warra.nt under the hand of the M.W. Grand Master and Seal of the Grand Lodge, was granted to certain Brethren therein named, which Lodge was accordingly opened in London, and was then registered in the Grand Lodge Books No. 63, but by the union of the two Grand Lodges on the 27th December, 1813, became No. 86, and by the closing up of numbers in the year 1832, became and now is No. 7G, meeting at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen Street, under the Title or Deno- mination of ' The St. Mary's Lodge.' " And whereas the Brethren composing the said Lodge are desirous, now that it has entered into the one hundredth year of its existence, to celebrate the event at their next regular meeting, and also to be permitted to wear a distinguishing Commemorative 40 Jewel, and have prayed the sanction of the M.W. the Grand Master for that purpose, and the Grand Master being willing to accede to the request, doth accordingly hereby give and grant to all and each of the actually subscribing Members of the said Lodge, being Master Masons, to wear in all Masonic Meetings, suspended at the left breast by a sky-blue ribbon not exceeding one inch and a half in breadth, a Jewel of the pattern and device similar to the drawing in the margin hereof, as a Centenary Jewel, to be worn only by Brethren who are hond-fide subscribing Members to the said Lodge, and by them so long only as they shall subscribe thereto, and shall be returned as such to the Grand Lodge of England, " Given at Freemasons' Hall, London, this 14th day of April, a.l. 5857, a.d. 1857. " By command of the Earl of Zetland, M.W. Grand Master. (Signed) " William H. White, G.S." CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OP THE HISTOKY OF St, mark's Xoboe, IFlo, 63. FOE THE QUARTER OF A CENTURY 1857-1882, BEING AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY Bro. wilmee hollingwoeth, Past Mastee and Seceetaet ; I.P.Z. 63 ; W.M., Wickham Lodge, No. 1924, On Thursday, November 16, 1882, 43 Freemasons' Hall, Thumday, November 16, 1882. Bro. John Henry Watts, W.M., in the Chair. Worshipful Master, — I hope that I need no excuse for reminding you, Sir, and the Members of this Lodge, that on more than one occasion during the past few months I have suggested that the present year, durmg which St. Mary's Lodge is under your direction, is no ordinary year, and that the 125th anniversary of our existence makes special claim on our attention. It will be fresh in your recollection that this view had commended itself to us, and that we were prepared worthily to celebrate the completion of our fifth quarter of a century, when the Almighty Architect saw fit to inter- pose and to remind us how slight is our hold on this our sublunary existence. The Brethren of your Lodge adopted, W.M., a proper and dignified course under the mournful circum- stances to which I allude, and to which I will further refer in their proper order ; but it has occurred to me, and in fact, after much consideration, has impressed itself upon me almost in the light of a duty, that this leading landmark in our history should not be neglected, and I venture to hope that you will allow me to take the opportunity of continuing the history of St. Mary s Lodge, so worthily commenced on the occasion of the 44 Centenary Festival in 1857 by our late Treasurer, Bro. Winsor. WiLh this hope I propose to submit to you the result of a careful examination of the books and archives of our Lodge since that period. K any should be inclined to hold that although a centenary celebration is proper and justifiable, the period of one quarter of a century is too short to merit any special consideration, I hope that before I have finished that opinion may be altered ; and I feel sure that we should all have been deeply grateful if our first quarter of a century — or say the period from our constitution in 1757 to 1784, when the first records in our possession commence — ^had been subjected to the same condensed review which I now place before you. The mention of these old dates leads me, W.M., to say that in the record so carefully compiled by Bro. Winsor, there appear a few circumstances, in themselves so remarkable, that any one attempting at any time to write any portion of the history of St. Mary's Lodge would be almost certain to bring them forward for the benefit of succeeding hearers, and that no matter how often repeated, it is not likely that they would ever fail of interest. One is that the St. Mary's Lodge, not under that denomi- nation, but by authority of that Warrant under which we now work, and which now lies on your pedestal, was one of the so-called Antient or Athol Lodges, at a time when there were two supreme Masonic juris- dictions in this country, both with their headquarters in this metropolis. By a curious paradox, the members of the earlier Grand Lodge were denominated the 45 Modern, and those holding under our Grand Lodge the Antient, Masons ; and I believe that at the time of the schism which caused our ancestors to break away from the recognised Grand Lodge of England, they professed to trace their descent and their ritual back to the York Masons, who claimed a much greater antiquity than could be proved by the body from which they seceded. It is certainly not my intention to introduce any controversial matter, nor are any of us likely to have time or opportunity to throw fresh light on these questions which so miich exercised our ancestors in the latter half of the last century. I mention the matter merely to explain why it is that if you open your Masonic Calendar you find that your Lodge, No. 63, was constituted in 1757, whereas Lodges 61 and 64 were both constituted in 1738. However this may be, all differences were happily terminated by the union in 1813 of all English Lodges into one Grand Lodge, under the Grand Mastership of H.E.H. the Duke of Sussex ; and as the Lodges under the two systems were evidently amalgamated by striking out all extinct Lodges and numbering the others alternately from each system, our Lodge at the time of the union received the No. 86, and this leads me to the second striking fact or coincidence arising out of the comparison of dates and numbers as appearing in the centenary history, viz., that whereas at the union we received the No. 86, and retained that number until the next revision of Lodges in 1832, when we became No. 76, we at the last excision in 1863 received further promotion to the No. 63, the very number under which we were constituted in our 46 original Warrant to which previous reference has been made. I fear that at the next sifting and revision, which is said to be closely impending, we must be prepared to see our old number transferred to others. From a careful examination of the present lists, I can only find that one Lodge senior to ours has ceased work, and it would be very little satisfaction to us to become 62 instead of 63; I am afraid, however, that nothing we could do would alter the fiat. The next circumstance in which I have to refer to the previous record of our history, is the probably unexampled Masonic career of one of our early members, Bro. A-ldhouse. This worthy Brother, although not actually initiated in our Lodge, joined it in 1777, and continued a member for not less than sixty-seven years, dying in or about the year 1844, or some time after Bros. Walmisley, Winsor, Emly, Watts, and Wilson, whom many of us remember, had joined our numbers. The P.M.'s jewel worn by Bro. Aldhouse, and subse- quently acquired by this Lodge, is at the present moment suspended round the neck of our worthy Bro. Wm. Pearse, and long may it continue with us as a memorial of the past. One observation more before I turn to the pre- sent. Not until 1806 does the appellation St. Mary's appear on any of the Lodge records ; the Warrant leaves the Lodge nameless, and nothing is known as to the reason why our ancestors chose St. Mary as their patroness. Certain it is however that for many years there was no other Lodge delineated in a female name, although Her Gracious Majesty's name now appears in several. Although there are now other instances of 47 female names being employed, we for a long time enjoyed the singular honor of being alone in our conspicuous devotion to the softer sex. And now, W.M., you will agree with me it is high time that I addressed myself to the real object of my observations, which is to take up the chronological history of our Lodge at the point where it was left by our former historian at the time of the Centenary Festival, which was holden on the 16th of April, 1857. At that time our late Bro. Dr. 11. M. Lawrance was in the chair, Bros. Dumford and Payne, S. and J.W.'s, Brother Winsor, P.M. andTreas., Bro. Geo. Kelly, P.M. and Secty., Bros. Jones and Chambers, S. and J.D.'s, and Bro. W. H. Kelly, I.G. The Lodge met in the Temple, and the banquet took place in the Grand Hall ; there were present 23 members of the Lodge and 34 visitors, and Bro. Winsor in his observations dwells with becoming pride upon the fact that the Lodge, after many wander- ings and vicissitudes, was holding its Centenary Festival on the very highest spot known to English Freemasonry, and immediately in front of the throne of the M.W.G.M. himself Of the members then attending, the only ones who still remain with us are Bros. Wood, G. Kelly, Gibsone, and, W.M., yourself One immediate and important result of this grand celebration was, as may readily be conceived, to increase, if it were possible to do so, the strong feeling of bro- therly affection and attachment which had always been conspicuous among the Past Masters. So we find that for several immediately succeeding years the progress of the Lodge was achieved almost entirely by P.M's. I may mention a remarkable fact, only recalled to my 48 recollection by the perusal of these old records, that when I was myself placed in the chair of the Lodge, three P.M.'s were good enough to hold under me the distin- guished positions of S. and J,D. and I.G. ; the offices of Treasurer and Secretary being of course then, as now, also held by P.M.'s. At the date with which we commence, there were 30 members on the books of the Lodge, and before the close of the year 185.7 the numbers were increased by the initiation of Mr. W. F. Forsyth and Lieut. Henry James, of Her Majesty's Navy. In January, 1858, our Bro. G. W. V. Abbott, the brother of our present J.D., was installed, and during his year of office Mr. Thos. Lane and Mr. John Steward were initiated. In 1859, Bro. F. A. Durnford, Colonel of Volunteer Artillery, filled the chair, and during his year of office there were no initiations or joinings, but a most import- ant exchange of communications took place with the Board of General Purposes. A circular was received in January, setting forth particulars of the property in the possession of Grand Lodge, and requesting sugges- tions as to the mode in which it could best be utilized for the benefit of the craft. In February a reply was agreed to by the Lodge, and was duly forwarded to the Board ; and this reply or report, from the masterly manner in which it is drawn up, and the perfect grasp of the entire subject which it reveals, constitutes a document of the highest interest, and reflects the greatest credit upon those who at that time conducted our affairs. I find no record of its acknowledgment, nor can I inform you what influence it exercised upon the 49 deliberations of the Board ; but it is certain that the plan recommended by it was almost identical with that ultimately carried out, which resulted in the erection of the buildings in which we are now assembled. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Bro. Winsor for the care and consideration with which the report had been drawn up, and I am sure that no vote was ever more thoroughly deserved. In the month of November, in the same year, a circular from Grand Lodge was read and attached to the Minutes, warning all Masons against spurious Masons working at Stratford, in Essex, under the so- called Grand Lodge of Memphis, issuing what purported to be Masonic certificates. Li the year 1860 Bro. Frederick Payne occupied the chair, and Mr. Edward Coombe was initiated. From this year dates the establishment of our Charity Fund in its present shape, the " Skelton Maul " having been presented by Bro. William Skelton, P.M., at the meeting of the 15 th November, which proved to be the last at which he was allowed to be present in the Lodge which he loved so well, and for which he had done so much. Tn the year 1861 the Lodge went outside the number of its own immediate children for its W.M., and the chair was filled by Bro. Captain William Francis Heideman, who had joined early in 1857 from the Cotsworth Lodge. During this year Mr. Wilmer Hol- lingworth and Mr. Alfred Billing were initiated. One of those Brethren is stUl present here ; the other never proceeded — in this Lodge at least — beyond the first degree. At the meeting in February, the death was 50 announced of Bro. Skelton, P.M., and thus was made the first gap since the centenary in the close rank of the Past Masters of St. Mary's. In January, 1862, Bro. Thomas Lane was the in- coming Master, and on the night of his installation the re-investment of Bro. Winsor with the collar and jewel of Treasurer was marked by a very agreeable incident ; a valuable ebony and silver inkstand, adorned with appropriate emblems, being presented to that worthy Brother in the name of the Lodge by Bro. Burton, P.M., the presentation being made, as the Minutes record, in a speech of surpassing excellence, and grate- fully acknowledged by tbe venerable recipient. This was again a year in which the Lodge had neither initiates or new joining members. The name of Bro. Winsor again comes prominently before the Lodge in the following year, 1863, which was marked by one of the few — I am happy to say the very few — regrettable occurrences which it will be my duty to place on record. At the usual period — the November Edeeting of 1862, Bro. Forsyth, S.W., having intimated his wish to stand aside for a year — the suf- frages of the members had been unanimously given to Bro. John Steward, J.W., whose initiation has been previously mentioned as taking place in the year 1858. Bro. Steward had in the meantime attained to a con- siderable degree of excellence in the working of masonic ritual. When the Lodge assembled in January in the expectation of taking part in the ceremony of installa- tion, it was announced that for private reasons Bro, Stewart had retired from the Lodge, and at the same time a letter was received from Bro. Lane, the I.P.M., 51 announcing his departure for India, and consequent resignation. The Lodge being thus left without a head, the only course open was to place the senior P.M. in the chair, and to issue a summons for a fresh election in February ; and as it was not considered advisable permanently to alter the period of installation, Bro. Winsor was unanimously elected to the chair for the remainder of the year, and Bro. Burton succeeded him as Treasurer. Thus terminated Bro. Winsor's long and honourable tenure of the Treasurership of this Lodge, which, commencing in 1836, had continued, with the sole interval of the year during which he fulfilled the duties of Master, down to the period now under record, or a term of twenty-seven years. During this time Bro. Winsor had taken the highest honours in Masonry in the higher degrees, he and his fellow initiate hei-e, Bro. Dr. Leeson, being long at the head of the thirty-third degree ; it does not appear that he ever sought preferment in. Grand Lodge. Bro. Winsor's connection with our Lodge did not terminate until December, 1869, when his resignation, in consequence of advancing years, is recorded ; but he declined to reassume the office of Treasurer. It may interest the Brethren to be reminded that Bro. Winsor and his brother were the first intro- ducers of gas lighting into the metropolis. Having dwelt somewhat at length upon the year 1863, it only remains to mention that during this year Mr. James Tyler and Mr. William Eichard Gritten were initiated. In 1864 Bro. W. F. Forsyth held the chair and Bro. Charles Stuart Smyth was admitted as a joining member. At the meeting in February, Bro. Burton, the Treasurer, pointed out the strange circumstance, D 2 52 tha^ a Lodge, so venerable and respected as our's, appeared never to have possessed any printed by-laws, and the matter was forthwith taken in hand. On the 27th April the Lodge was largely represented at the laying of the foundation stone of the new buUdings in which we are now, the ceremony being performed by the M.W.G.M. the Earl of Zetland. In January, L865, Bro. HoUingworth, who has now the good fortune to act as the compiler of this historical record, was installed as W.M., and at the meeting in March the by-laws, previously recommended by the Per- manent Committee, were adopted. In the year 1865 there were received as initiates, Mr. William Travers, Mr. Paul Panton, Mr. Charles Humby, and Mr. Thomas Harrison, and as a joining member Bro. T. M. Jenkins. And here I must ask permission to make a slight digres- sion. I have throughout this record felt myself in a difficulty as to whether Brethren initiated in former years at the meetings at which the installation took place, should be looked upon as belonging to the out-going or in-coming year ; I have throughout reckoned them to the incoming year, and one reason why 1 think this is right is that I certainly do not believe that our worthy Treasurer ever considered such Brethren as belonging to the outgoing year in respect to the fees payable to Grand Lodge ; but I am not at all sure on the subject, and it is one which, if it were worth while discussing at all, I might discuss on personal grounds, for I was myself initiated on the night of installatio]i, and by the out- going Master., But the point has ceased to be of any practical importance owing to our very proper rule not to take any initiations on that evening, and my principal 53 reason for alluding to the difficulty is, that, although four initiates are credited to my year of office, I do not wish the Brethren erroneously to suppose that they were all initiated by myself, for as a matter of fact, Bros. Travers and Panton were initiated by my pre- decessor in the chair, Bro. Forsyth. In January, 1866, Bro. Tyler was installed as W.M., and this forms another of those rare epochs to which we have to look back with regret. Bro. Tyler had reached the chair with unexampled celerity, but from circumstances of pecuniary and other regrettable difficulty he was absent from his place throughout the year, with only one exception, and at the succeeding installation meeting his resignation was received. From the records of this year, during which there were no accessions to our ranks, I gather only one agreeable reminiscence, and that a most purely selfish one, viz., that the Lodge was pleased to pass a vote of thanks to myself for filling the Master's place in his absence. The Lodge did its duty to him subsequently when occasion ofiered, and has very recently done more than its duty to his widow. During this year also a serious calamity befell the Lodge in the removal by death of another of the most prominent of our P.M.'s, Bro. William Crampten, who had for many years officiated as Installing Master His death, which occurred in the month of August, was announced to the Brethren at the meeting in November, and increased the gloom with which the year was surrounded. With the installation meeting for 1867 brighter times returnedi although on that occasion not less than 54 three resignations were received, and a serious falling off in the number of members commenced, which con- tinued during the two following years. On this occasion Bro. W. R. Gritten was placed in the chair, and fulfilled the duties of his office in the most acceptable manner. During this year we received as initiates Capt. Henry Dundas Gloag, of H.M.'s army, and our esteemed friend Br. William Edwin Grindley Pearse, and as a joining member our late Bro. E,. R. Arntz, who joined us from the St. Mark's Lodge. At the same meeting which witnessed the instal- lation of Bro. Gritten, the sum of ten guineas was voted to a fund for purchasing into the Boys' School the eldest son of our late Brother Crampten. It was announced tliat this fund, commenced only at the audit meeting by voluntary subscription, was complete, and on the 24th of January the sum of £157 10s. was paid to the Secretary of the Boys' School, into which the orphan William Landzells Crampten was admitted on the following day. This munificent act of the Brethren of the Lodge was not the only testimony rendered by them to the worth of their esteemed Brother, as will appear hereafter. In November, 1867, a letter of admonition was read from the M.W.G.M. on the subject of appUcations for admission to Lodge meetings by unqualified persons, and enjoining the greatest care for the future. As the regulations therein laid down are still in force, and as many Brethren are unaware of the terms under which they are entitled to claim admisssion to other lodges^ it may not- be uninteresting now to repeat them. In the first place the ordinary masonic certi- 55 ficate must be produced, and, in the next place, the applicant for admission must prove his identity with the Brother to whom the certificate was issued. Then, and not till then, the usual masonic examination must be resorted to, and under no circumstances should any masonic questions; be put to a.n applicant who is unprovided with the vouchers which this Grand Lodge precept lays down as essentiah Bro. Wm. Travers succeeded to the chair of the Lodge in January, 1868, and during his year of oflBce there were no accessions. In November the deaths were announced of Bro. Lemale, another of the old band of P.M.'s, and of Bro. Pan ton; and at the same meeting it was announced that Mabel Harriette, the eldest daughter of the late Bro. Crampten, had, at the October election, been carried into the Girls' School at the head of the poll. In 1869 Bro. Charles Humby was placed in the chair, and at the meeting in February, Bro. Burton, the Treasurer, was appointed to represent the Lodge on the list of Stewards at the inauguration of the Masonic Buildings, fixed for the 14th April. During this year the number of members inscribed on the roUs of St. Mary's Lodge was smaller than at any other period in the quarter of a century now under review, viz., 20 ; and several P.M.'s again came to the rescue by accept- ing junior ofiices in the Lodge. In January, ] 8 70, which witnessed the accession of Bro. Thos. Harrison to the Master's chair, the annual subscription, which from a period antecedent to the centenary had stood at four guineas per annum, was permanently raised to five guineas, and coincident 56 with this increase there was a large accession to our numbers ; as initiates we received Mr. Marcellus Higgs, Dr. Edward C. R. Roose, Mr. George Brooke, and Dr. TUbury Fox, and as a joining member, Br. Ernest Emil Wendt, honorary member of two German Grand Lodges, who, upon being offered by the M.W.G.M. the appointment of Grand Secretary for German Correspondence, and thereby impelled to affiUate himself to an English Lodge, was introduced to and found a permanent home with St. Mary's. It may be here observed that Bro. Wendt has since been annually re-appointed to the honorable and honorary office in Grand Lodge above-mentioned. In 1871 the Lodge had again the pleasure ot promoting to the highest honours a joining member in the person of Bro. R. R. Arntz, who during his year of office was not fortunate enough to welcome any fresh accession to our numbers. He had, however, the satisfaction of announcing to the Brethren at the meeting on the 20th April, that during the previous week, Kathleen Norah, the third child of Bro. Crampten, had been elected into the Girls' School, his widow having died in the previous November. It is most gratifying to think how her declining health must have been cheered by the knowledge that our Brother's children were being well cared for by his mother Lodge. At the meeting of November in this year a fresh warning was received, from Grand. Lodge against the so-called Rite of Memphis, which seems to have been still carrying on an unworthy existence at the east-end of London. 57 The next occupant of the chair of St. Mary's Lodge was our Bro. WiUiam Henry Kelly, who, by seniority, by regularity of attendance, and by firm hold upon the affection of our members, might long previously have attained to that honourable position. His naturally retiring character led him, however, constantly to decline offers of office, and it was only the strongly expressed general wish of the Brethren that induced him at length to alter that resolve. Upon his induction into office the new P.M.'s jewel was first made use of, being presented in due form to Bro. Arntz, the I. P.M., and at the same time, by subscription among the members, identical jewels were, presented to Bros. Burton and Geo. Kelly, the Treasurer and Secretary. During this year Mr. Francis J. Pearse and Mr. Robert Langlow were initiated, and Bro, Edmond Perken joined us from the Albion Lodge ; and during the recess a most elaborate and perfectly enjoyable summer banquet was provided at Richmond for the whole of the members of the Lodge, at the sole expense ofthe W.M. It may here be mentioned that other summer banquets appear to have been held during the period which has been previously reviewed, but as their dates are not always definitely fixed by the Minutes, I have not thought it absolutely necessary to include them in this chronological statement. In 1873 Bro. Wendt, above described as a joining member, and as Grand Secretary for German Corre- spondence, occupied the chair, and at the meetings in February, March, and April read to the Lodge a series 58 of observations upon Freemasonry in Germany, and upon the differences between the systems of that country and of our own.* The reading of these papers led to a cordial vote of thanks being presented by the Lodge to the W.M. at the meeting in April. At the same meeting the death of our esteemed P.M. Gritten was announced. In this jear occurred also the death of the Earl of Zetland, P.G.M., and for more than a quarter of a century the M.W.G.M, of the Grand Lodge of England, of which official notice was taken at the meeting in November. From this date, 1873, to the present time, I am happy to say that the successive occupants of the chair have been spared by the G.A.O.T.U., and still remain with us as active or honorary members. In January, 1874, Bro. W. K G. Pearse was placed in the chair, and during his year of office received Mr. William Ackland, Mr. Edward Culver, our W.M.E., Mr. George Henry Palmer, and Mr. Herbert H. Davis as initiates : Bro. George Page, who had been initiated and passed in a Lodge at the Cape of Good Hope, being admitted as a joining member, and duly raised to the third degree. In this year the Brethren also received with much regret the final i*esignation, owing to failing health, of Bro. Marris Wilsoh, one of the old P.M.'s, who, with the exception of a trifling interval, had belonged to the Lodge since 1843. Bro. Marris Wilson was the brother of Bro. Sir Erasmus Wilson, whose eminent services both inside and outside of Masonry require no comment. * See page 81, et seq. 59 In January, 1875, Bro. Ignace Gibsone, an old member of the Lodge, who had been present at the Centenary Festival, but who had not previously attained to the office of Master, was placed in the chair, and received as initiates Mr. Cole Alfred Adams, our present J.W., and Mr. William Francis Vandevell. During this year the ever memorable installation of H.E.H. the Prince of Wales as M.W.G.M. took place at the Albert Hall on the 28th of April, when your present Secretary was honoured by being selected by the Lodge as its Steward, and was presented out of the Lodge funds with the splendid jewel specially struck for the 334 Stewards who officiated on that occasion. The next occupant of the Master's chair was Bro. Higgs, installed in January, 1876, on which occasion the furniture of the Lodge was entirely renovated and new collars provided at the sole expense of one of our P.M.'s, Bro. WilHam Pearse. This year also witnessed the initiation of Dr. Thomas Rutherford Adams, our present S.D. And now, W.M., we approach a period in the history of St. Mary's Lodge at which, without any abandon- ment of the landmarks handed down to us from our ancestors, we find a distinct increase of Masonic acti\aty and of generous rivalry in Masonic acquirements and usefulness which cannot be too warmly recognised and a,cknowledged. By a remarkable coincidence this epoch is marked by the completion of twenty years' indefatigable service as Honorary Secretary by our esteemed Treasurer, Bro. Geo. Kelly ; and upon the occasion of the installation of Bro, George Brooke, in January, 1877, a beautiful silver-gilt goblet, suitably 60 inscribed, was presented to Bro. Kelly, with the warmest thanks of all the members of the Lodge. It was speedily made evident that in other respects also this was to be a memorable year, for at the February meeting the working of the Masonic lectures by the members of the Lodge was commenced and has been continued on all available occasions down to the present time. At the same meeting in February, the resignation of Bro. Burton, P.M., was received and accepted with deep regret. This closed Bro. Burton's connection with St. Mary's Lodge, which had continued without interruption for a period of thirty-two years. He however gave the warmest support to the proposition for the formation of a Royal Arch Chapter in con- nection with the Lodge, which also owed its inception in a great measure to the energy of Bro. Brooke, and the establishment of which was resolved upon at a Lodge of Emergency held in June. In this year Mr. John Octavius Abbott and Mr. George Jackson, who at present hold ofl&ce as J.D. and I.G. respectively, were initiated, and Bro. Johann Carl Hermann Holler joined us from the Olive Branch Lodge of Bremen, in Germany^ Upon the 3rd of January, 1878, but still during Bro. Brooke's year of office, another Lodge of Emer- gency was held, at which it was announced that Bro. Burton had in the previous month succumbed to his fearful malady ; and that his decease had necessitated the postponement of the audit previously summoned for the 20th of December, and which it was agreed to abandon altogether. At this meeting the report of 61 the Committee for the constitution of the Chapter was received, and the petition to Grand Chapter resolved upon.* At the ordinary meeting on the 1 7th of the same month, January, 1878, Bro. Edmond Perken was installed, and the chair of St. Mary's was thus again filled by a joining member. At this meeting Bro. George Kelly was elected Treasurer of the Lodge, and thereby vacated the office of Secretary, which he had filled uninterruptedly since the 15th January, 18.57. Your present Secretary, who had for many years been annually re-appointed Director of Ceremonies, was appointed to fill his place. In this year Dr. Bartho- lomew Arcedeckne Duncan, Mr. Ashley Gibbings, Mr. Arthur Baume, and Mr. Charles Lowther Kemp were initiated ; Bro. James Glaisher, P.G.D., was elected an honorary member in recognition of his eminent services in the formation of St. Mary's Chapter ; and the list of members reached the highest total attained since the centenary, viz., 34. At the meeting in March of this year a com- munication was received from G.L. on the subject of the altered constitution of the Grand Orient of France, all clauses referring to the G.A.O.T.U. having been expunged therefrom. Grand Lodge ordered that no foreign Brother should be admitted into Lodge unless his certificate shows him to have been initiated in a Lodge professing belief in the G.A.O.T.U., nor unless he himself acknowledge that this belief is an essential landmark of the Order. Bro. Frank Pearse succeeded to the chair in * See page 67, et seq. 62 January, 1879, in which year Mr. Stephen Wastel Hooper was initiated, and in November an address of sympathy was drawn up, signed in open Lodge, and at once dispatched to Bro. John Hervey, Grand Secre- tary, on the occasion of his resignation of that important office. In January, 1880, Bro. VVilHam Ackland was placed in the chair, and although during his year of office there was no accession to our numbers, it was marked by increased attention to the masonic lectures. At the meeting in February the death was announced of Bro. G. H. Palmer, S.U. On the occasion of the audit of accounts in- December in the same year, a splendid banquet was given to the whole of the members at the sole expense of Bro. George Kelly, Treasurer. In January, 1881, Bro. George Page, who, as above stated, had joined the Lodge as a Fellow Craft, was placed in the chair, and during his tenure of office we received as initiates Mr. Charles Alfred Nicholas, Mr. William Purdie Treloar, and Mr. Robert Treloar. At the meeting in January the munificent donation of 10 guineas was voted to the Hervey Memorial Bene- factions ; in March the beautiful album now lying before you was presented to the Lodge by Bro. W. E. G. Pearse, P.M. ; and in April the Lodge recom- mended to the favourable consideration of the M.W. G.M. the petition of the proposed Wickham Lodge, to be held at St. Peter's Hall, Brockley, and of which your present Secretary was nominated as the first W.M. This petition was subsequently granted, and the Lodge in question, which may not incorrectly be 63 described as an offshoot of St. Mary's, has just com- pleted its first year of prosperous usefulness.* A further pleasing reminiscence of this year of 1881, is that at the Grand Festival in April the M.W.G.M. was pleased to appoint the father of our Lodge, Bro. W. R. Wood, P.M., to be Assistant Grand Pursuivant, which has since been followed by his promotion during the present year to the office of Grand Pursuivant, which he still holds. Thus at length, W.M., the close of this chrono- logicjil record approaches, and it is not too much to say that the advent of this present year was hailed with hopes that were perhaps presumptuous in their temerity. When, on the 19th of January, we saw you assume the chair of W.M., we welcomed the accession to the highest office of one of the oldest of our members, who had himself been fortunate enough to be present at the cen- tenary ; of one who being the son of Bro. Francis Watts — an old-esteemed P.M. , who had filled the chair of our Lodge with dignity and distinction in the year 1846 — and being closely related to our present worthy Trea- surer, had always appeared to possess to a marked degree that truly fraternal masonic feeling which is one of the proudest inheritances of this Lodge. We had felt that nothing would be wanting on our part to make this year a worthy pendant to that of 1857, but the G.A.O.T.TJ. had other teachings in store for us. At our meeting of the 16th March, after report had been rendered of the proceedings of a Special Grand Lodge, holden on the previous day for the purpose of congratulating Her Most Gracious Majesty * See page 73. 64 the Queen upon her happy deliverance from the hand of the assassin, at which as usual the Lodge was duly represented, the mournful intelligence was communicated of the death of Bro. Arntz, P.M. Notwithstanding the grief occasioned by this announcement, it was at the meeting in April considered not indecorous to proceed with the arrangements for the contemplated summer festival, and a Committee was duly appointed for that purpose. Upon leaving this meeting our Bro. Wm. Henry Kelly, P.M., was seized with a chill which brought on serious illness, and before the end of May he also was taken from us. Under these distressing circumstances there was no hesitation on the part of the officers of the Lodge as to their obvious duty; all idea of festivity was at once abandoned, and on the 8th of Jime a Lodge of Emergency was held especially to record regret at the untimely decease of ovir worthy Brother, and sympathy and condolence with his rela- tives. And thus, W.M., under the chastening hand of the Almighty Architect, the 125th anniversary of our existence has gone by. It only remains to add one or two details of general interest, and to bring these observations, already too lengthy, to a close. During this quarter of a century the number of our members has varied from 20, the lowest, in 1869, to 34, the highest, in 1878. Through- out the whole period our work has been carried on in Freemasons' Hall, and our ordinary banquets at the Freemasons' Tavern. I find that we first became tenants of the Tavern in February, 1834, and have so continued ever since. During the term the Lodge's standard of work has been very high, and on several 65 occasions Brethren belonging to us have been selected to work in public at the grand annual festivals of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, with which we have always been intimately connected. It is hardly neces- sary to say that during this period the Lodge has not had to look beyond its own members for assistance in the due performance of the Masonic Ceremonialj and even the ceremony of installation has not been an exception, it having been performed seven times by Bro. Crampten, once by Bro. Heideman, twice by Bro. Brooke, and fifteen times by myself. In conclusion, W.M. and Brethren, allow me to assure you that if in this historical record there has been anything to interest you I am amply repaid, for the compilation has been to me indeed a labour of love. Difficulty there was none, owing to the admir- able manner in which your minutes were always kept by Bro. George Kelly. At the time when Bro. Winsor, with so much care and research, built up his record from the mouldy archives of bygone years, he congratulated the Lodge that never had the Lodge been at a higher level of prosperity. It is a proud and welcome satisfaction to his successor to be able to reiterate the statement and to apply it unhesitatingly to the present time. We have again to look back upon a quarter of a century of uninterrupted progress, not progress in the mere sense of inflation of numbers, which would be but a sorry substitute for the progress on which we congratulate ourselves. Go to a noble cathedral or to a college in one of our universities, and find them filled with intellectual life and vigour : return after the lapse of a few years, and you do not complain E 66 because you do not find them doubly or trebly filled ; you do not accuse them on this ground of want of energy, vitahty, or progress. So with our Mother Lodge, although numbers have not largely increased, those who have passed through our walls have never left us without feeling that the true spirit of Free- masonry is here implanted ; and the maintenance of this standard from year to year, and from lustre to lustre, is truly progress in its largest and noblest sense. Long may this position of excellence be here main- tained ; and as my predecessor concluded his record with the words Faith, Hope, and Charity, so I will conclude with the expression of the fervent hope that St. Mary's Lodge may in the future, as in the past, be ever guided by the three grand principles Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. Upon the conclusion of this statement, which was very warmly received, Bro. W. E. G. Pearse, P.M., proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the Secretary for his interesting record, and that this vote of thanks, as well as the record itself, be entered tipon the minutes. This was seconded by Bro. Kelly, P.M. and Treasurer, and carried unanimously. Bro. Kemp proposed, Bro. W. E. G. Pearse, P.M., seconded, and it was carried unanimously : "That the history of the Lodge, as commenced by Bro. Winsor in 1857 and continued by the Secretary, be printed and circulated among the members," 67 PETITION FOR CHAPTEE, St. Mart's Chapteb, No. 63. To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England. We, the undersigned, being regular registered Royal Arch Masons of England, of the Chapters men- tioned against our respective names, having the pros- perity of Royal Arch Masonry at heart, are anxious to exert our best endeavours to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of the Art, and are desirous of form- ing a New Chapter to be attached to the St. Mary's Lodge, No. 63. In consequence of this desire, we pray for a Charter of Constitution empowering us to form and hold a regular Royal Arch Chapter, to be named the " St. Mary's Chapter," to meet at the Star and Garter Hotel, Kew Bridge, on the third Thursday in the months of May, June, and October, and there to dis- charge the duties of Royal Arch Masonry in a consti- tutional manner, according to the form of the Order and the laws of the Supreme Grand Chapter, and we have nominated and do recommend Companion James Glaisher, P.G.D., P.Z., P.M. of Lodge No. 33, to be the first Z ; Companion Ernest Emil Wendt, G.S.G.C., P.M. of Lodge No. 63, to be the first H ; and Companion George Brooke, W.M. of Lodge No. 63, to be the first J of the said Chapter. The prayer of this Petition being granted, we promise strict obedience to the commands of the First E 2 68 Grand Principal, and the laws and regulations of the Supreme Grand Chapter. Extract from Minutes of the Lodge, held on June 14, 1877, it was resolved — " That the consent of the Lodge be given to the following proposition : ' That a petition be presented to Grand Chapter, praying for a Charter or Warrant of Constitution for a Chapter to be attached to St. Mary's Lodge, No. 63.'" This was confirmed at the Meeting of the Lodge on November 15, 1877. (Signed) James Glaisher, P.G.Asst.S., of Britannic Chapter 33. William Eobeet Wood, P.Z. St, James's Chapter, No. 2, P.M. 26, 63, 318, 811, P.G.S., P.Provl. G.S.W. Sussex, P.Z. Yarborough Chapter. George Kelly, P.G.S., P.M., P.Z., Industry Chapter. Ernest Emil Wendt, G. S.G. C. , Belgrave Chapter. Geo. Brooke, W.M. No. 63, Eose of Denmark Chapter 975. George Micklby, P.M. 449, P.P.G.D. Herts, St. Barnabas Chapter 870. John Henry Watts, P.M. 1201, Mount Sinai 19. Frank James Pearse, J.W. St. Mary's 63, St. George's Chapter 370. William Ackland, S.D. St. Mary's 63, Britannic Chapter 33, Scribe. 69 WAKRANT FOR CHAPTER. St. Mary's Chapter, No. 63. Albert Edwa^rd, Z, Skelmersdale, H. De Tahley, J. In the Name of the Grand Architect of the Universe, to all the Enlightened our Brethren of the several Degrees of the Royal Craft, but more especially those Citizens of the World and Servants of the Omnipotent who have been, or hereafter may be, honoured by Exaltation to our Sublime Degree. Health. Peace, Goodwill. Be it known That our Excellent Companions James Glaisher, Z., Ernest E. Wendt, H., George Brooke, J., William Robert Wood, George Kelly, George Mickley, John Henry Watts, Frank James Pearse, and WUiiam Ackland, having made known to our Supreme Grand Chapter their desire of holding a Chapter of our Order for the Cultivation of this Grand and Universal Science, in Hopes thereby the more to extend their Aid to and Promote the Happiness of all our Brethren and link 70 Mankind together by indissoluble Bonds of Friendship, Peace, and Harmony. And that our Grand Chapter having taken their Petition into Consideration and finding it Concordant with our Grand System of Universal Benevolence, we do hereby, with the Consent of our said Grand Chapter, grant unto the said Companions tliis our Charter of Constitution, to be held with and attached to the "Warrant of the Lodge No. 63, called St. Mary's Lodge, with full power for Them, their Companions, and Successors, to open and hold a Chapter of our Order at the Star and Garter Hotel, Kew Bridge, Ealing, in the county of Middlesex, or at such other place and at such time as our said Companions and their Successors shall, with the Consent of Us and our Successors, Grand Officers for the time being, think meet. The first Chapter to be opened on Thursday, the 2nd day of May now next ensuing, by the title of the St. Mary's Chapter, with such Privileges, Powers, and Lnmunities as do of right belong to regular established Chapters and Companions of our said Most Excellent Order, subject, nevertheless, to the General Laws and Ordinances already or to be hereafter enacted by Our Most Excellent Grand and Royal Chapter. Given at London under Our Hands and the Seal of Our Grand and Royal Chapter this 6th day of February, a.l. 5878, A.D, 1878. (Signed) Nath. Geo. Philips, N. (Signed) John Hervey, E. 7L ST. MARY'S CHAPTER, No. 63. List op Members. Founders. Compn. J. Glaisliei*, F.R.S.^ 1, Dartmouth Place, Blackheath. „ E. E. Wendt, AGX., 15, Fenchurch Build- ings, E.G. ,, G. Brooke, 2, Pump Court, Temple. „ W. R. Wood, Carlisle House, Brighton. „ G. Kelly, F.R.G.S., 9, Sutherland Gardens, Maida Vale, W. „ G. Mickley, M.A., M.B., St. Luke's Hospital, Old Street, E.G „ J. H. Watts, 70, Great Queen Street, W.G. „ F. J. Pearse, 2, St. George's Square, S.W. W. Ackland, 185, Cold Harbour Lane, S.E. Honorary. Compn. Thomas Fenn, P.G.S.B. „ Sir Francis Burdett, G. Supt. Middx. „ Revd. A. F. A. Woodford, P.G.P.S. „ John Hervey, Grand S.E. „ H. G. Buss, A.G.S. 72 Compn. Wilmer HoUingworth. „ W. E. Grindley Pearse, M.D. „ Marcellus Higgs. „ Ed. Perken. „ William Travers, M.D. „ George Page. Ed. Culver. „ T. E. Adams, M.D. „ Albert Saunders. „ Ignace Gibsone. „ J. Steele. ,, C. Lowtber Kemp. „ Asbley Gibbings. „ Arthur Baume. „ K. L. Verley, M.D. „ Stephen W. Hooper. „ Epifanio Rodriguez. 73 PETITION FOR WICKHAM LODGE. To the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the United Fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England. We, the undersigned, being regular registered Masons of the Lodges mentioned against our respective names, having the prosperity of the Craft at heart, are anxious to exert our best endeavours to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of the Art ; and, for the conveniency of our respective dwellings and other good reasons, we are desirous of forming a new Lodge, to be named the Wickham Lodge. In consequence of this desire, we pray for a Warrant of Constitution, empowering us to meet as a regular Lodge, at St. Peter's Hall, Wickham Park, Brockley, S.E., on the first Monday in January, March, May, July, and November, and there to discharge the duties of Masonry, in a constitutional manner, according to the forms of the Order and the laws of the Grand Lodge ; and we have nominated and do recommend Brother Wilmer Hollingworth to be the first Master, Brother Charles Augustus Murton, P.G.D. to be the first Senior Warden, and Brother William Freeth 74 Dennant to be the first Junior Warden of the said- Lodge. The prayer of this Petition being granted, we promise strict obedience to the commands of the Grand Master and the laws and regulations of the Grand Lodge. Charles A. Murton, P.M. 7 & 83, P.G.D. of England. WiLMER HOLLING WORTH, P.M. & SeC, 63. Wm. a. Adam, P.M. 90. William Freeth Dennant, W.M. 140. John Octavius Abbott, I.G. 63. William Joseph Sprat ling, 1293. Charles Lowther Kemp, 63. Henry Nuding, S.D. 140. John A. Burton, 342. Stephen W. Hooper, 63. This Petition is recommended for the favourable consideration of the Most Worshipful Grand Master by the Officers of the St. Mai-y's Lodge, No. 63. Geo. Kelly, P.M. pro, W.M. John Henry Watts, S.W. Geo. Brooke, P.M. pro. J.W. 75 WARRANT FOR WICKHAM LODGE. Albeet Edwaep, G.M. To all and every our Right Worshipful, Worshipful, and Loving Brethren, We, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, &c., &c., &c., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of England, Send Greeting-— Know ye That We, by the authority and under the sanction of the United Grand Lodge of England, vested in us for that purpose and at the humble Petition of our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Brethren, WUmer HoUingworth, Charles Augustus Murton, William Freeth Dennant, William A. Adam, John Octavius Abbott, William Joseph Spratling, Charles Lowther Kemp and others, do hereby constitute the said Brethren into a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the Title or denomination of No. 1924, the Wickham Lodge. The said Lodge to meet at St. Peter's HaU, Wickham Park, Brockley, in the county of Kent, on the first Monday in the months of January, March, May, Julj, and November, empowering them in the 76 said Lodge, when duly congregated, to make, pass, and raise Free Masons according to the Ancient Custom of the Craft in all ages and nations throughout the known World. And further at their said Petition and of the great trust and confidence reposed in every of the above-named Brethren, We do appoint the said Wilmer HoUingworth to be the first Master, the said Charles Augustus Murton to be the first Senior Warden, and the said WUHam Freeth Dennant to be the first Junior Warden for opening and holding the said Lodge, and until such time as another Master shall be regularly elected and installed, strictly charging that every member who shall be elected to preside over the said Lodge, and who must previously have duly served as Warden in a Warranted Lodge, shall be installed in Ancient form and according to the Laws of the Grand Lodge, that he may thereby be fully invested with the dignities and powers of his office. And We do require you, the said Wilmer HoUingworth, to take special care that all and every the said Brethren are or have been regularly made Masons, and that you and they and all other the members of the said Lodge do observe, per- form, and keep the Laws, Rules, and Orders contained in the Book of Constitutions, and all others which may from time to time be made by our Grand Lodge or, transmitted by Us or our Successors, Grand Masters, or by our Deputy Grand Master for the time being. And We do enjoin you to make such By-laws for the government of your Lodge as shall to the majority of the members appear proper and necessary, the same not being contrary to or inconsistent with the General Laws and Regulations of the Craft, a copy whereof you 17 are to transmit to us. And We do require you to cause all such By-laws and Regulations, and also an account of the proceedings in your Lodge, to be entered in a Book to be kept for that purpose. And you are in no wise to omit to send to Us or our Successors, Grand Masters, or to our Deputy Grand Master for the time being, at least once in every year, a List of the Members of your Lodge, and the names and descriptions of all Masons initiated therein, and Brethren who shall have joined the same, with the fees and monies payable thereon. It being our will and intention that this our Warrant of Constitution shall continue in force so long only as you shall conform to the Laws and Regulations of our Grand Lodge, and you the said Wilmer Holling- worth are further required, as soon as conveniently may be, to send us an account in writing of what shall be done by virtue of these presents. Given under our Hands and the Seal of the Grand Lodge at London this 12th July, A.L., 5881, A.D. 1881. By command of His Royal Highness the M.W. Grand Master, Lathom, D.G.M. Shadwbll H. Clekkje, G.S. OBSERYATIONS ON FREEMASONEY IN GERMANY. THREE ADDRESSES DELIVERED TO St, riDari^'e Xobge, Bo, 63, BY Bro. EENEST E. WENDT, D.C.L., G.S.G.C, P.G.N., HoNOKAEY MeMBEK OF THE ThREB QlOBES AND GoUNTRIBS OF Germany Grand Lodges, W.M. IN 1873. 81 FIRST ADDRESS. Delivered to St. Mary's Lodge, February 20th, 1873. Beetheen, — It will be in the recollection of those who attended my installation at our last meeting, that I took an opportunity of referring to the difficulties I would always have to contend with in performing my duties with equal efficiency as those amongst our Brethren who had been accustomed in their earlier years to attend the regular meetings of the Emulation Lodge, and learn there by heart, and with a fluency which I cannot but admire, the impressive words in which our Masonic working is conducted ; and I mentioned as an excuse for what I could not call otherwise than my ritualistic shortcomings, that in the system of Free- masonry to which I originally belonged, as weU as in all other Masonic systems in Germany, every offi- ciating Brother had a printed ritual in his hand from which he read the words, which according to our rules he has to learn by heart. I added that under these circumstances I felt to be under a sincere obligation towards the Brethren of this Lodge for having, nevertheless, placed me in this 82 chair, and I concluded with the promise that in order to prove my gratitude I would endeavour to prepare myself to deliver at the three following meetings of this Lodge a series of observations respecting the German Grand Lodges, which I expected would not be unworthy of your attention. Now, Brethren, for reasons which will become apparent in the course of my future observations on the subject in question, I have considered it most interesting for you to commence them by reading to- day the translation of the Address delivered by H.R.H. the Crown Prince of Prussia in his double capacity as Deputy Protector of the Three Prussian Grand Lodges and M.I. Master of the Order of the Countries of Germany Grand Lodge, on the 24th of June, 1870, their Centenary Festival. H.E,.H. said — " My Brethren, — " The solemn moment has arrived in which we " have to close the first century of the existence of " the Countries of Germany Grand Lodge. Before we " hail the commencement of the new century, let " your attention be bestowed upon a few words which " I as Deputy Protector and Master of the Order feel " anxious to address to you at this festival. " As Deputy Protector I am connected alike with " all the three Prussian Grand Lodges, and this is no " difficult task for me, because, according to my con- " viction, there is only one Freemasonry, which exhibits " itself only in different /orwis in. conformity with their " various teachings. That such could have been the " case, that different branches could grow out of the 83 "one Freemasonry is easily comprehensible, when " regard is had for the particularity of our Order and " its historical development. " We call Freemasonry a science, nay, even a royal " science. This designation is undoubtedly meant to " point out that true Freemasonry is not only the " ability to possess and to know but to act, and " moreover the very highest action — the portraying of " morality in life. But, my Brethren, Freemasonry " has another side in which it is connected with " science. " Like the creative science, Freemasonry brings " her truths to view by forms observable to the human " senses. There is only that difference between the " two, that science creates figures in which we see the " idea of the artist as it were directly incorporated, " whereas the Craft adopts symbols which only suggest " the idea, signs with which the thoughts or the truths " are, however suitably, nevertheless more or less arbi- " trarily combined. Just this symbolisation is precisely " suitable for the objects of Freemasonry, because sign " and thought are not completely identical, and the " latter does not find its entire immediate expression " in the former ; such signs require their special inter- " pretation, and may therefore serve to represent to the " initiated matters which one unpossessed of the key " cannot conjecture. " But on the other hand it might easily happen " that different explanations could- be attached zo such " symbols from the most simple relations to life to the " most abstract thoughts, from the most serious truths " to mere foppery. Just as easily might it happen, F 2 84 " that in different stations of life and under different " circumstances, such forms — yes, even from the most " simple origin — might be multiplied in a different " manner, and in larger and smaller numbers and " variety. Add we to this, that, as it is reported " to us, the traditions of our Order were by more " than one way handed down from the old to the new " time, so is it indeed explicable, that various modes " of teaching could be established. " But it is nevertheless quite as evident that in " spite of aU such differences we have only one Free- " masonry, flowing from the same original spring, but " in consequence of variable influences, differently " shaped and coloured. "It is a pity that this has not always been so " acknowledged, as ought to have been the case in our " Craft. The past century has not been free from " violent altercations and spiteful accusations of heresy " among those who adopted different modes of teaching. " Let us be grateful to God that this is quite different " at the termination of the century. " We have to-day the satisfaction that representa- " tives of different Grand Lodges join us in a brotherly " celebration of this festival. Let us thank all Brethren " who have assisted in promoting this conviction of the " unity of Freemasonry. Let \is here especially thank " His Ma-jesty the King, our most gracious Protector, " that by his influence the Prussian Grand Lodges have " been more and more closely connected, and that he " has thereby understood how to awaken and maintain " the consciousness of the unity of the Brethren and " Lodges of the different modes of teaching. 85 " With regard to myself, this co-operation corre- " spends entirely with my personal and sincere desire " and my conviction, and as Deputy of our most gracious " Protector, I consider myself specially obliged to follow " my father in this endeavour. To you, my Brethren, I " address therefore on the occasion of to-day's festival one " urgent request : Let us hereafter keep steadfastly in " view the consciousness of the unity of Freemasonry, and " of the connection of the various modes of teaching. " Let every one renounce that self-conceit which believes " that it alone possesses the whole and real truths, and " that it alone adopts for such truths the real and proper " form. May the new century really become a new era " in which every one may meet, in fraternal esteem and " acknowledgment, thosewho think differently and work " under different forms, so that all may bear the shield " of peace before their hearts ! Can it be an honour to " us that we boast of the best traditions and the most " correct revelations if we neglect to comply with the " real task of the royal science to let the teachings of " our Craft conduct us through life, and to carry them " into practice ? Of what value can it be that the " denomination of Brother is applied within the circle " of Freemasonry, if a dispute respecting any advantage " can lead to the ignoring entirely of all fraternal senti- " ments ? No ! Look up to the great teachings and " truths which are presented throughout the whole " Freemasonry by our signs and symbols, so that we " preserve ourselves and the Craft from the danger of " looking upon little and immaterial things as the " principal object of Freemasonry, and do not afford the " opportunity for raising inferior points into so called 86 " burning questions, which like a wedge it is sought to " thrust into the productive tree, whose roots date back '■ for thousands of years, and thereby to shiver it into " useless little atoms. " Let us struggle after that unity, in which the " various Grand Lodges — bearing in mind their equal " origin and their equal mission — acknowledge each " other as members of one great body, like the provinces " of one realm, of which each retains its own particu- " larity ; but all equally united by the same love to " King and Fatherland, and by the same strenuous " efforts to work for the welfare and prosperity of the " whole State. " Unity ! Let that be the first wish which I express " to all Brethren on the occasion of to-day's beautiful " festival I " I now address myself in particular to the Grand " Lodge which celebrates to-day its centenary festival, " and to which I as Master of the Order stand in a par- " ticular connection, the Grand Lodge of the Countries " of Germany. It has been, down to the most recent " period, the object of attacks, sometimes of a very " bitter character. These attacks can the less disturb " us in proportion as they clearly prove that the adver- " saries are acquainted only with some fragments of the " history and of the tea.ching of the Countries Grand " Lodge, and with these not even accurately. It is a " matter of frequent experience that even educated " people pass by with contempt a remnant of an antique, " for instance ; whereas the artist who knows how to " construct in his mind the whole figure, attaches a high 87 " value to the very smallest remnant of that piece of " art. " We can consider competent to express an opinion " upon the Countries Grand Lodge, only those who are " thoroughly acquainted with her teaching, her arrange- " ments, and her history. But I would ask, at the " same time, if nothing could be done on our part to " enable a more correct judgment to be extended even " beyond these limits. And here I would particularly " call the attention to one point. The records of the " Countries Grand Lodge state clearly and distinctly " that the history of the origin and of the progress of " this mode of teaching is different from the history of " other systems. They teach that, although our Order " has received the same knowledge as the other Free- " masons, it has been received by another channel, by " other mediation, and, consequently, in a different " exterior. " Such various transmission of the same know- " ledge, if it even had led to a different representation "and organisation, would in itself, especially in our " day, be no reason for a separation between the " Countries Grand Lodge and the rest of the Masonic " world. But it has been the cause of separations, " because the same records demand that the history of '• the Countries Grand Lodge, in its widest extent, must " be kept secret, and even in the Order itself may only " at last be communicated to the few oldest and most " trustworthy Brethren. " This however was a stipulation with which even " the last century could only very imperfectly comply, " and which with every hour becomes less possible, 88 " unless we make a distinction founded on the nature " of the thing itself; unless we at least separate from " that history which is intimately connected with the " symbolic actions and mysteries of the different " degrees of the Order, the history of the foundation " and development of the Countries Grand Lodge, and " lay open the latter to the investigation of all who " belong to the Order. " We should by such an arrangement avoid the " evil of having the history of our Grand Lodge, which " never could remain entirely unknown to the other " Freemasons, portrayed from doubtful sources and in " an imperfect and falsified manner, whereby not only " are fajse opinions maintained and propagated among " the holders of other modes of teaching, but even in. " our own circle many Brethren are led to entertain " doubts as to its own origin. " I am far from intending to express, by the " wish for this alteration, an accusation against our " ancestors. On the contrary, I tender with all of you " our grateful acknowledgments to the memories of " those Brethren who acquired our records with trouble " and sacrifices, and who, often in danger and difficulty, " often even without the compensation of a full compre- "hension of their contents, have for a long century " taken care of them and handed them over to us. " But the reasons which our ancestors had to " extend the secret so far, cannot under different " circumstances induce us to bind ourselves quite as "closely, if we consider that the history of ! the origin " of our mode of teaching is no longer a secret and " cannot be so, because the historical relations of the 89 " Countries Lodge are frequently — and unfortunately " to our detriment incorrectly and only half correctly — " to be read in print. " I do not hesitate therefore to-day, at the entrance "into anew century, to break through the bonds of " the historical secret hitherto strictly observed, and to '•' make public here, on the occasion of this festival, an " historical document which has hitherto been kept " secret. " A hundred years ago Brother von Zinnendorff " was accused of perjury and treachery, because he " merely showed to other Brethren the Warrant which " had been transmitted with the first original records " from Sweden, which was addressed to Yon Zinnen- " dorff, and which contained an express authority to " him to read it aloud. This Warrant, of the existence " of which even to day many Brethren have no know- " ledge whatever, although it has at least the value of " having first caused the formation of this Grand Lodge, " I wiU to-day cause to be read to you, in spite of its " peculiar form, as the first sign of freer movement in " the new century. " If the outward history of the foundation and the " development of our Grand Lodge requires the exten- " sion of limits hitherto too narrow, the interior history " in its connection with the teaching and organisation " of our Order requires more security and clearness. " We possess a complete system of signs formed "in conformity with a regular geometrical principle. " Connected with these are numerous other symbols, " whose origin partly emanates from particular historical " connection. Especially with reference to the origin 90 " of the latter, full reports are found in our Records, " nor is our Order deficient in documents. " But while earlier ages contented themselves with " the authority of traditions, in our days the investiga- " tions of historical criticism have become a power, " which even the most revered traditions cannot escape. " The demands made by this power upon our Order " also cannot, without serious consequences, be left " permanently .unheeded. " Doubtless a number of Brethren even to-day " refer to and are satisfied with authority and tradition. " There are a number of other Brethren who, in com- " pliance with the present state of historical inquiry, " demand a careful and satisfactory account of every " historical tradition. And these are in our Order not " less entitled to their due than the others. " I do not hesitate to acknowledge here publicly " what is wanting to enable us to comply with this '■' incontestable demand of the present age. Honesty " is never a reproach. - I therefore say without conceal- " ment, that in this respect everything is not so certain " and so clear with us as to enable us to subdue every " doubt with efiicient historical proofs. " My endeavour has, therefore, for a long time " been to cause an honest and careful investigation of " the historical documents to be made, and to put them " in order. I am consequently grateful to all who " have assisted me in this endeavour. Particularly I " feel most grateful to His Majesty the Most Gracious " and Wise Master of the Order of the IX, Province, " the King of Sweden and Norway, who in the most " fraternal and kind manner, placed at the disposal of 91 " the commission which we dispatched last year to " Stockholm, all documents and treasures of the Swedish " Lodge for renewed research and careful investigation. " But in spite of all this we have not yet succeeded " in our researches so far as to attain that aim which " is suitable for our Order, which holds the symbol of " light so high that everything within it ought to be " light and clear. " Therefore, forward in our researches ! Follow me " — as your Master of the Order — into the new century " with the resolution not to tire out even under the " greatest difficulties and to leave it with confidence " to capable Brethren to dispel the shadows which stdl " exist, and for all arrangements and teachings which " owe their origin to historical relations to gain a sure " historical basis. " One may regret it, but it is a fact that the " simple faith in authorities has ceased to supply this " sure basis for the present generation. Not being " able to be without it, and because our Order is not " to be a burthen which we have to bear, but rather a " force which bears, incites, and strengthens us, we " must gain it in another manner. " For in matters of intellectual truth, reasons and " proofs may help us, whereas all moral and religious " truths bear immediate witness through their operation " upon our heart and our life. Historical truths, how- " ever, can only be secured by historical investigations ; " therefore such studies are in our time a serious obli- " gation, towards the Order, from which we cannot " withdraw, having the confident conviction that what- " ever the result may be they can in the end be only 92 " beneficial. If they are confirmatory of the tradition, " then in the result doubts wUl disappear ; should " they prove anything to be untenable, the love of truth " will give us the manly courage to sacrifice what is " untenable, but we shall then with the greater energy " uphold that which is undoubted. " I add hereto another demand which appears to " me indispensable for the prosperity of the Countries " Grand Lodge in the new century, viz., simplification " of our lodge life. " Do not fear that I intend to demand refoims at " the expense of that which, although old, is still " capable of life and able to difi'use life. " I direct myself solely against that which, no " matter whether originating in ancient or modern " time, endeavours to hinder or really hinders the " intellectual activity and the effect of the teachings of " our Order. I am also here far from ordering or " demanding or desiring to use any undue pressure " upon your conscience and upon your conviction. I " will only with all candour express my conviction, and " leave it then to you to examine, to make way for, " and to introduce, what possibly can be done in order " to advance the intellectual life in our Lodges. I will " solely justify myself before the future — which once " will sit in judgment over this day — that I have " expressed at the proper time what appears to me " to be necessary. " When I was initiated into the Order, I entered " the Countries Grand Lodge, probably as most " Brethren do, without any special knowledge of Free- " masonry or the particularities of our Grand Lodge. 93 " But tried and faithful men had assured me that in " our Order — although often choked up with dead and " barren stone and covered with superfluous matters — "-are concealed ancient traditions and excellent truths, " independent of every time-serving spirit, as well as " important and productive for our moral life. " I have indeed found these assertions confirmed, " but I ask you, is it proper that it is so ? Ought it to " continue that what is efficient and vital is covered *' and consequently concealed from the eyes of many " Brethren by decayed and superfluous matters ? If " we allow that to last, is it not our fault if many " Brethren never penetrate into the good and produc- " tive kernel, and consequently that some turn dis- " dainfully and mockingly away from our actions, while " others use the Order solely for the purpose of satis- " fying their vanity, who thereby become morally " debased instead of morally improved ? Let us beware " lest, whereas time advances with important steps, " our eyes — by too devoted attachment, to old and " beloved habits— become blinded to the present and " its necessities. "Be it far from me to demand arbitrary altera- " tions. I have, as Master of the Order, vowed to " watch with all my power that the teaching of the " Order is delivered to my successors pure and genuine, "and I will keep this vow. But just for this very " reason I caution you, let us beware of acting impru- " dently, or even of throwing away what displeases " some Brethren, however estimable and well informed " they may be ; while at the same time I impress you " with the necessity of using your best endeavours, 94 " that the Order, by its organisation and teaching, " may work principally in the moral improvement of " the community of the Brethren. Because if this " capacity is wanting, our labours would become — as I " stated at the commencement — in spite of the richest " possessions of symbols and their interpretation, " merely useless squandering away of time and strength, " empty words, and fruitless fopperies. " Be it our serious endeavour to comply with " these two considerations, as it has been my sincerest " desire from the time that I accepted the office of " Master of the Order. I shall gladly hail all proposals " which may be made to me in this sense by the officers " of the Order, and shall always be ready to make use " of my prerogatives as Master of the Order for the " purpose of its more extended spiritual development, " and according to the wants of the times to intensify " the light in order that it may enlighten the very " outermost circle of our Order. May we be successful " in finding the proper means and measures for it ! "As it appears to me, there are two points to " which we have principally to direct our attention. " First, that even in the lowest degree the instruction " shall give to the Brethren a sufficient knowledge of " everything belonging thereto. It could never be my " desire that the teachings and symbolic actions of the " various degrees should be mixed together, and that " the Apprentice should before the time be made a " Master. But it appears to me to be necessary that " he should receive from the beginning such an expla- " nation of everything which he naturally meets new " and strange, as is compatible with his state of edu- 95 " cation. If our Order is not to appear like a ruin of " olden times, at which one gazes with astonishment, " which one prizes or perhaps even admires because so " old, if our Order exists in the present to benefit the " life of the present time, then its actions and symbols " must be able to warm the heart, to provoke medita- " tion, and directly to assume its part in the views and •' ideas of the present time, and in order to become this, " an undeniable condition is — a sufficient comprehension. " Let us abandon the fear that we are acting " wrongly, if we take from the instructions of the " higher degrees into the lower, that which will enrich " the latter. This would he the best application of the " higher degrees, because — and this is the second point " to which I would call your attention — the opinion " that in our time the working of the blue degrees is the " principal aim of Freemasonry, must gradually more " and more take effect in our Grand Lodge. " These degrees comprise the largest number of " Brethren, and these will extend the Order's greatest " blessings, and operate the principal effect which is to " emanate from the Order. Certainly there will be iri " this circle no necessity for me to clear myself from the " suspicion that I could intend to alter the Order, and " misuse it for purposes entirely foreign to its maxims. " But it is my hope, and it is what in fact maintains " my lively interest in it, that I consider the Order " suitable through its qiiiet working to nourish the " roots of a healthy moral life in our people, and that it " will best do if its spiritual sources become adopted " with consciousness in the largest circles. Our records "teach that the whole knowledge of Freemasonry is 96 " already contained in the tracing-board of the first " degree. Well, then, let this truth become more and " more a reality, and let us at the same time remove the " suspicion that our higher degrees teach something " different from the Masonry of the blue degrees. " What a success if we could thereby cause the higher " degrees to assume a clear and unenvied position, free " from calumny and accusation ! They will then appear " before the whole world of Freemasonry as what they " should reaUy be, namely, the degrees of improvement " for those who have to guard and extend the teaching " of the Order, and the rooms of probation for those " whose destiny it is to serve the Order by maintaining "it in lively elastic strength. The high degrees will '* then more and more appear as the commentary, filled " with the wisdom of ages, to the records of the blue " degrees, from which may be learnt what is to be " taught and proclaimed in the blue degrees. " I have herewith openly and candidly expressed " my opinion as to what is necessary for our Grand " Lodge in the new century. " I know that all Brethren are not of my opinion, " and that some among you apprehend from these " opinions damage and harm for the Order. May my " words be an inducement to these Brethren to examine " earnestly, and without prejudice, whether the ground " shaken by the expression of this opinion does not " more resemble an ice crust, which keeps back life in a " state of torpor, than a rock upon which the structure " of our Order could feel secure in proud quietude. " I would not have spoken in this manner on our " to-day's festival, if I had not known that these senti- 97 " ments have for years been re-echoed by the whole " world of Freemasons as well as by the Countries Grand " Lodge. " There is yet life in the old beautiful tree ; there " is yet hope that it will bear rich and good fruits, if " properly nursed and cared for by trusty Masters, who " are not afraid when the dry leaves fall off in order to " make room for the young green. " May, at the commencement of the new century, a " spring air breathe through our Order, so that a new " and fresh life may awaken and show itself with such " strength that the fruits may not remain wanting ! " Move on with discretion, with temper, with " mature forbearance, but also with fresh and joyful " courage, without fear and with perseverance, and rest " convinced that on this important path I shall gladly " and steadfastly walk at your side. " As imperfect as the passing century has left us, " so imperfect the coming one at its conclusion will " designate what we have done. But might the glory " be acknowledged to us, that we have been sincerely " trying to act in the sense of those of our ancestors " who are worthily called the wise, and that we have, " in compliance with the spirit and manner of our time, " been endeavouring to give the Order such a form that, " in conformity with its noble aims, it wlU not only be " valued by the present generation but be instrumental " to its felicity. " Certainly one great thought this Temple has " always had ; by one great thought this Temple shall " always be inspired — of more value than all the high G 98 " knowledge — I mean, by a clear efflux of the real great " secret of Freemasonry. " Peace rest in these Temples, together with mercy " and help, sincere friendship, obedience to the law, love " for the Fatherland, pious reverence to our King and '•' Sovereign, and a harmonious praise of sincerity and " gladness rise always to the Almighty Father of men. " May it always so remain, this grant the Great Archi- " tect of the Universe !" I cannot think, Brethren, that anything which I might add could in any way be listened to by you with a particle of interest after having heard the impressive words which our Imperial and Royal Brother uttered on the memorable occasion in question, little thinking at that moment that within scarcely a month from that time he would have had to enter on a career of warfare, which for almost a year would prevent him from watch- ing over the carrying out of the suggestions which he therein made. Allow me. Brethren, to conclude by saying that I trust I shall not be prevented from redeeming the whole of my pledge on the third Thursdays in March and in April. 99 SECOND ADDEESS. Delivered to St. Mary's Lodge, March 20th, 1873. Brethren, — In the observations I am going to address to you to-day respecting Freemasonry in Germany, I shall, in referring to the address of H.I. and E.H. the Crown Prince of Prussia, a translation of which I read to you at our last meeting, confine myself to a few words in order to explain to you the allusions therein made to the King as Protector, and the Crown Prince in his double capacity as Deputy Protector and Grand Master of one of the Grand Lodges. All of us know that within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, although for centuries under one Sovereign, different Masonic bodies, ruled by their respective Grand Lodges, have been and still are in existence, and it cannot therefore cause much sur- prise that the German Empire, which until very recently was divided among thirty and more sovereign princes and commonwealths, has at this present moment besides eight Grand Lodges (with 304 Lodges owing allegiance to them) Jive independent Lodges, in fact therefore thirteen separate ruling Masonic bodies. Perhaps it wUl not be without interest to the G 2 100 Brethren to be informed that the last official retxirn (of June, 1872) shows that — The Three Globes Grand Lodge consists of 109 ' Lodges, with 12,256 Brethren. The Countries of Germany Grand Lodge, con- sists of 77 Lodges, with 8,347 Brethren. The Royal York Grand Lodge consists of 46 Lodges, with 5,283 Brethren. The Frankfort Grand Lodge consists of 10 Lodges, with 1,396 Brethren. The Hamburg Grand Lodge consists of 23 Lodges, with 2,629 Brethren. The Dresden Grand Lodge consists of 18 Lodges, with 2,908 Brethren The Bayreuth Grand Lodge consists of 15 Lodges, with 1,268 Brethren. The Darmstadt Grand Lodge consists of 9 Lodges, with 846 Brethren. And including the five distinct Lodges in Altenburg, Gera, Hildburgshausen, and two in Leipzig, with 1,194 Brethren, the number of Freemasons owing allegiance to the different Masonic bodies in Germany amounted altogether to 36,127. Now the eight Grand Lodges above referred to have, since the 19th of May last, joined in a "Con- federation of German Grand Lodges " for the purpose of guarding and promoting their harmony and co-opera- tion, and of occupying a joint Masonic position towards such Grand Lodges as exist out of Germany ; but I must add, it is distinctly covenanted that everything else, especially any differences in the teachings and the 101 rituals of the different Masonic bodies in question, remaius as heretofore and entirely unaltered. You may take it for granted therefore, Brethren, that even the re-establishment of the German Empire would not have been able to bring this confederation of German Grand Lodges very quickly about, if since May 22nd, 1840, the day when the present Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia was initiated into Masonry, His Majesty, then Prince of Prussia, had not assumed the position of Protector of the three Prussian Grand Lodges, and had from that time till now accus- tomed their respective heads to meet regularly under his presidency, for the purpose of discussing all sub- jects having a joint interest for them, and setthng all differences which in course of time arose between these three Grand Lodges and the different filial Lodges owing allegiance to them. The utihty of this arrangement, which was per- fected by the nomination of the Crown Prince as Deputy Protector, became in the thirty years of its existence so apparent to the eyes of the Brethren who belonged to the five non-Prussian Grand Lodges in Germany, that, very soon after the Empire was re- established, the negotiations entered upon for the formation of the "Confederation of German Grand Lodges " were crowned with success. Let us sincerely wish that this may be only the stepping-stone in the formation of one united Grand Lodge of Germany, under whose banner all the ritualistic differences of the present thirteen German Masonic bodies may disappear, thereby presenting to the outer world the unmistakable proof that there is 102 really only one Freemasonry in existencej and this, quite irrespective of all the other advantages the mem- bers of the craft w^ould derive from such a union ! Although the short space of time I have at my disposal will not allow me to give you, Brethren, a full history of the beginning and progress of Freemasonry in Germany, I think my observations could not attain the object I have in view if I did not at least try to point out to you some of the most material circum- sta,nces by which such beginning and progress were surrounded. I find that the M.W.G.M., the Earl of Strathmore issued in 1733 a Warrant to eleven German gentle- men and good Brethren for the purpose of constituting a Lodge in Hamburg, which — the first and oldest in Germany — was duly opened in 1737, and acquired the most remarkable renown by the circumstance that in the year following (1738), on the 14th of August, the then Crown Prince of Prussia (who as Frederick II. soon proved to be as great a warrior as he was a philosopher) was formally initiated in the mysteries of the Craft in Brunswick by a delegation of that Hamburg Lodge. It is apparently not easy to ascertain what reasons the young and royal philosopher had in joining the Craft ; one may have been the hatred with which the Roman CathoHc clergy already at that time opened their warfare against our Order, for it was only a few months before the initiation of the young prince that Pope Clement XII. on the 28th of April, 1738, issued the Bull : " In eminenti apostclatus specula," by which he warned all temporal and spiritual officials not to enter 103 into, nor to propagate, nor to protect, nor to receive in their houses or palaces, anybody belonging to the Society of Freemasons on the pain of excommunication ; one incident which undoubtedly prompted the resolution of the Crown Prince to join the Order was, that when on a visit with his father at the Loo (the residence of the Prince of Orange) a lively discussion about Free- masonry arose at a banquet, in the course of which King Frederick William I. used some very hard and disparaging expressions about the Order, whereupon Count Lippe Biickeburg took up the defence of the Order with such a degree of warmth that the Crown Prince almost immediately afterwards expressed a wish to join a confederacy which had gentlemen among its members who loved and asserted the truth in the manner he had witnessed. It was on returning from this visit to the Loo, that the initiation in question took place in Brunswick ; and it is a well known fact that as soon as the Crown Prince arrived at his residence in the Castle of Rheins- berg he opened a Lodge there, and with his most intimate friends went thoroughly into the mysteries of the Craft, so that after the death of his father, and having mounted the throne, he, then King Frederick II., himself took the gavel, and on the 20th of June, 1740, opened in the Castle of Charlottenburg the first Lodge. Soon after, on the 13th of September, was founded in Berlin, under the King's auspices, the Lodge " To the Three Globes," which the King in 1744 raised to the well-known Grand Lodge of the same name, assuming himself the Grand Mastership, which he 104 retained till the Seven Years War gave him so much occupation that he was gradually estranged from all Masonic labours. I have rather minutely related these circumstances, because there can scarcely be a doubt that if Frederick the Great had not joined the Craft, it would never have taken such a deep root and flourished in the degree it has done since then in Germany. That from the philosophical turn the great King's mind had, he was not likely to stick very closely to the minutest details of everything delivered into his hands, will surprise nobody ; as soon as he was thoroughly versed in the mysteries of the Craft, the great philosopher tried to improve, and by-and-bye estabhshed a system of Freemasonry which is well known as the Three Globes System, and has by its working succeeded in rallying the largest numbers of German Freemasons around it, as you, Brethren, wiU have noticed from the statistical notes I gave you at the beginning of my observations. How and by what means the German Brethren are made acquainted with the particularities of the system to which their respective Lodge belongs, I shall endeavour to explain to you in the course of our next meeting. The next subject of interest to which I have to allude is the formation of the " Countries of Germany Grand Lodge," — the second in importance as far as regards the number of Brethren owing allegiance to it — and considering that one of the sons-in-law of our Sovereign is now at the head of it, and that the Prince of Wales, our own M.W.P.G.M., has been initiated 105 in the Mother Lodge from which the Countries of Germany Grand Lodge obtained its secrets — as you had an opportunity of ascertaining at our last meet- ing — I imagine that my observations will be looked upon with some curiosity. I may here prelude that although a Swedish Brother of eminence asserts that Freemasonry was inti'oduced into that country under the reign of King Inges the younger in the year 1125, and that during the reign of Queen Margaret in 1390 the Freemasons used to assemble at Stockholm and at Lund, it is quite evident that until 1735 no Lodge was worked in Sweden under any of the formahties similar to those now used in the Craft. Although from that period down to 1771, when King Gustav III. mounted the Throne, and soon afterwards joined the Craft and placed himself at its head, Freemasonry could scarcely be said to have consolidated itself in Sweden, there was yet already before that time something so peculiar in its teach- ing that it attracted the attention of some of our German Brethren in no small degree, and the consequence was that they tried and succeeded in obtaining what is known by the name of the Swedish Acts, and, on the faith of the rules of teaching contained in them, founded in 1768 a Lodge in Berlin, which having, up to the 24th of June, 1770, been joined by eleven other Lodges in the north of Germany, was raised into the " Grand Countries Lodge of all Free- masons of Germany," a designation which in course of time has been altered to the present one. Now the peculiarity of the teaching of the 106 Swedish system consists principallj in the specific Christian character which runs through all, especially the higher degrees ; that it consists of ten degrees in three divisions, of which — 1. The St. John's Lodge with three degrees, viz. : the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Crafts, and Master degree ; 2. The' St. Andrew's or Scotch Lodge, with two degrees, viz. : (a) the Andrew's Apprentice, Fellow Craft ; and {b) the Andrew's Master degree ; 3. The Stewards' Lodge or the Chapter, with four degrees, viz. : (a) the Confidential Brethren of Solomon or Knights of the East in the Rising of Jerusalem ; (&) the Knights of the West ; (c) the St. John's Confidants ; and (d) the St. Andrew's Confidants ; to the tenth degree must be counted the Division of so-called Architects or Knights and Commanders of the Red Cross to whom the government of the whole Order is solely confided, at the head of which, as Vicarius Salomonis, is the Cross Master of the Order, to whom I have had an opportunity so frequently to refer. The third Grand Lodge in rank of importance in Germany is called " The Grand Lodge Royal York of Friendship in Prussia," and was founded as such on the 11th of June, 1798, in consequence of a union of eight Lodges, which by-and-bye had adopted the working of the English system in its main features. 107 I ought to mention that in this Lodge two in embers of our Eoyal Family were initiated : the first was the Duke of York, who soon after his initiation procured on the 24th June, 1787, for this then single Lodge, a Warrant from our Grand Lodge under the title of " La Royal York de I'Amiti^," and was carried in the Register of our Grand Lodge under No. 330, till it became a Grand Lodge itself; the second member of the Royal Family who was initiated into the mysteries of the craft in that Grand Lodge was the Duke of Sussex, who retained to the end of his life a very lively affection for that Lodge and everything in connection with it. The fourth Grand Lodge on the Roll of the Confederation of German Grand Lodges is that at Frankfort-on-the-Main, which was established by the well known philosopher the Baron de Knigge in 1783, for the purpose, if possible, of abolishing the higher degrees, and it assumed the designation of the " Eclectic Confederation," which it retains to this day. I may add that this " Eclectic Masonry," as it is sometimes called, acknowledges the three symbolic degrees only as the true ritual, but permits each Lodge to select at its option any of the higher degrees, provided they do not interfere with the uniformity of the first three. The founder of the rite hoped by this system of diffusion to weaken the importance and at length, totally to destroy the existence of these high degrees ; but in this expectation he failed, and although the Eclectic Confederation was in 1789 joiaed by as many as 30 Lodges, it now consists, as we have seen, of only 10 Lodges. 108 The fifth Grand Lodge to which I now have to refer is that at Hamburg ; you will recollect that I had to allude to the first Lodge in Germany being founded in the city of Hamburg in 1737. Now since that time the Craft has been continually on the increase in Hamburg, and several Lodges work there in the mysteries of the Craft under almost all the systems since known and introduced to the Continent. This went on till 1811, when the political system forced upon unfortunate Europe by Napoleon I. neces- sitated our Hamburg brethren to foim a Grand Lodge of their own, which since that time has made very satisfactory progress. In the same year (1811) the principal Brethren in the kingdom of Saxony united for the formation of a Grand Lodge at Dresden, which is the sixth, and in respect of the number of Brethren belonging to it has the fourth rank among the German Grand Lodges. The seventh Grand Lodge, " the Sun," in Bay- reuth, was established in 1810 and 1811, and has only within the last twenty years obtained such an exten- sion that the other principal German Lodges entered into fraternal connection by the interchange of mutual representatives with it. Now I come to the eighth and last of the Grand Lodges, namely, the Grand Lodge at Darmstadt, which is at the same time the youngest in Germany, as it was formed only in 1846 by a union of some of the Lodges in the south of Germany. Brethren, before I conclude to-night's — my second of a series of— observations on German Freemasonry, I beg to announce to you that those Brethren who wish 109 to hear something about the differences in the working of the English and German systems are invited to attend our next meeting on the third Thursday in the month of April. Of course, if I use the word " system" in an assembly of Craft Masons, I can only mean that which applies to the three blue degrees — because I do not think that I could well be expected to allude from this chair more than has been done, if even only as matter of history, to the progress which the higher degrees, during the time that Freemasonry was most cultivated in Ger- many, have made among our German Brethren. Perhaps you may think that information was meagre enough, but pray bear in mind that the present relations of the different degrees of Masonry among the English Craft will prevent me to do more than to add, in general terms, that many Brethren who are held, in great reverence by the Craft in general consider that the mind of a Brother who is able to attain within a comparatively small space of time the degree of a Master Mason cannot possibly be sufficiently prepared to digest the whole of what is instructive in Free- masonry, and have therefore thought wise to reserve the finish of education in or learning of Freemasonry to the so-called higher degrees ; these were first, about the middle of the last century, introduced from France into Germany, and, on a careful comparison with the Masonic knowledge principally derived from Scotland, everything not properly relevant to Freemasonry — and it is well known to the Brethren who have searched for wisdom in the archives of the royal art that a very great deal of matter not in the slightest degree belong- 110 ing to it was smuggled in under the colour of belong- ing to its mysteries — was in course of time thoroughly- expunged from the teaching of the higher degrees in the German Grand Lodges, which are differently classi- fied and still more differently denominated in each of them. Ill THIRD ADDRESS. Delivered to St. Mary's Lodge, April 17th, 1873. Brethren, — Having given you at our last meeting a sketch of tlie most important historical events by which the introduction and development of Freemasonry in Germany were accompanied, I propose to point out to you this evening the principal differences in the working of the German system as compared with our own. That I approach this subject with a certain diffidence will not be surprising, because it ought to be borne in mind that although now — thanks to your kind indulgence — in the chair of an English Lodge, my education in Freemasonry was obtained, and my knowledge of the mysteries of the royal art accom- plished according to one of the principal continental systems, the working of which I am now going to expound before you. Well, Brethren, when you enter a German Lodge the first thing which undoubtedly must strike you will be that aU Brethren in open Lodge assembled remain covered, and — as it is explained at the initiation 112 — they keep their hats on for the purpose of showing their equality as freemen and brethren. Then the Lodge Boom is in so far differently arranged that the two Wardens have their situations opposite the dais on which the Worshipful Master is placed, who has on his left-hand the chair for the immediate Past Master, and on his right that for any distinguished Brother to whom either as visitor or as member of the Lodge the Worshipful Master may be desirous to show a particular mark of respect. Now a little to the right of this dais is the place for the Secretary — who, by-the-bye, be it observed, is expected to record the Minutes during the proceedings in the Lodge, which are never closed until such Minutes are read and confirmed — and a little to the left is the place for the Orator, an official unknown in our Lodges, but to whose important duties I shall have an opportunity to refer later and more fully. On the right side of the Worshipful Master and about as far down as the Senior Warden is situated, all Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts find their places ; whereas on the left, and about as far down as the Junior Warden is placed, all Master Masons are seated. The two Deacons sit, the one about half-way down amongst the Master Masons, and the other opposite to him amongst the Fellow Crafts and entered Apprentices. I may here mention that although in Berlin the three Grand Lodges have each several Lodges working according to their systems and under the roof of their respective Halls, a similar indulgence is not granted to 113 the, towns in the interior, if ever so large ; there the rule is laid down that each Grand Lodge may only have one filial Lodge in the same place; and conse- quently you find some with as many as three to four hundred members. That under such circumstances the number of Brethren who pass the chair or even obtain office during the whole of their lives, is comparatively very small, can readily be imagined; those who obtain office retain it so long as they give general satisfaction, and although the election of the Worshipful Master takes place either every year, or under some constitutions every three years, such act of election is usually only a re-election, till the Worshipful Master grows too old and becomes incapable to fulfil his duties, or till some very distinguished Brother attracts the attention of the members of the Lodge in so remarkable a degree that he is by-and-bye appointed through all minor offices, till after many years of arduous labour his fitness for the highest post is generally considered as undoubtedly established. I may mention at this place that in the large Lodges — I mean those which consist of several hundred Brethren — we find besides the Worshipful Master not only a Worshipful Deputy Master but likewise n Worshipful Assistant Deputy Master, who usually divide their work between them in such manner that one of them takes all the working in the Lodges of the Entered Apprentice degree, the other of the Fellow Crafts degree, and the third of the Master Masons degree; that in this manner the preparation for the H 114 highest office in the Lodge is gradually but surely attained will be apparent to you. From the almanack of one of the principal Lodges I had^an opportunity to refresh my memory. I find that during the months of September, October, November, December, January, February, and March of the year, one evening in every month is set apart for v?hat is called the Lodge of Instruction in the first degree, another evening for the same purpose in the second degree, and another evening for the like in the third degree ; the Brethren belonging to the respective degree then meet from 6 to 8 o'clock for the object of being instructed in the knowledge appertaining to it, and although the acting Worshipful Master after the opening of the Lodge reads usually a part of the lecture of instruction destined for the evening, the principal part of those lectures are delivered by the Orator to whom I previously referred, who explains the tracing-board, and, in fact, has the principal care that, for instance, the Entered Apprentices, after the ex- piration of one year, which is the shortest time that they must have remained in the first degree, are able to pass such an examination as alone would entitle them to be passed into the second or Fellow Crafts degree. Here I may mention that no Fellow Craft could be raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason unless he had during two years regularly attended the Lodges of Instruction of the second degree, and passed his examination in the same satisfactorily ; and only when he bjecomes a Master Mason, that is, after at 115 least three years' diligent attendance to Masonic duties, lie is entitled to a vote on matters of his Lodge. One very natural consequence of this slow progress I have often perceived, namely, that those who only in a hasty moment, or for reasons which are not altogether Masonic, enter the Craft, either withdraw very soon altogether from it, or remain the whole of their lifetime an Entered Apprentice. Now, Brethren, if you compare this exceedingly careful and slow course of promotion on the ladder of the Craft with the rapidity with which our young Masons after their initiation are passed and raised — that is usually after their attendance at three or four Lodge meetings — I think it ought not to cause any surprise that German Masons are amazed at the difference made on such vital points in the two countries ; and if we find that we are rather quick, ought it not to be insisted upon that the opportunities which the Lodge of Emu- lation or the hke Lodges of Instruction offer for im- provement in, and learning of, Masonry must not be neglected ; in fact, there is scarcely any other occasion for an English Mason to make himself acquainted with all the beauties and the thorough wisdom of the pre- cepts of our Order than by a regular attendance at the working of the different parts of the ritual. And here I must now refer to another very mate- rial difference of the working under our system as compared with those of the Continent, Germany of course included. Whereas the officers of all English Lodges are expected to know by heart the beautiful sentences of 116 which our ritual is composed, every ofl&ciating Brother in a Germaa Lodge is provided with, and has in print before him when so officiating, everything that he has to say ; and although a delivery by heart when made with impressiveness, and, in fact, in perfection, is very beautiful, it cannot be denied that a very rare gift is required in order to attain this. And, Brethren, how much valuable time has to be spent for the purpose of accomplishing such a task ? Have not many of us, especially those who were in younger years not able to apply themselves energeti- cally to the task of learning to perform all our cere- monies by heart, often thought it time which might be more usefully devoted in the consideration how to act up to the spirit of the Craft ? And all this I naturally say with the assumption that the Brother or Brethren who undertake such tasks absolve themselves creditably of them ; but is there any one who would not concur with me in preferring to have everything read, than to run the chance — even if it be only a very remote one — of hearing any of our beautiful ceremonies what may be called blundered through ? I have omitted to say that in these Lodges of Instruction for each of the three degrees respectively, the ceremonies of initiation, passing, and raising are alone performed ; in fact, the work is strictly confined to the degree to which the evening is appropriated, so that no Entered Apprentice would receive a summons for any Lodge in the second, and no Fellow Craft for the third degree. After the work stipulated for the meeting is performed, the Brethren adjourn 117 until the next meeting without sitting down to a banquet. The banquets, there called " Banqueting Lodges," follow only upon the initiation of a candidate, and upon what is called " Festival Lodges," which are on the 24th of June (the day of St. John the Baptist, a day which is by all the German Grand Lodges celebrated in a similar manner to our Grand Lodge Festival), the 31st December as the last day of the year, the Emperor's birthday, and the Anniversary of the Foundation of each Lodge respectively ; so you find that out of twenty Lodge meetings in a year, only four of necessity conclude with a banquet. Now I must mention what is called the " Mourn- ing Lodge," which is celebrated in every German Grand Lodge in about the November of each year to the memory of every Brother who, having been a member of the Lodge, has during the previous twelve months departed this life ; the private Lodges in the provinces usually meet only every three or four years for this mournful object. The Orator, assisted by the Master of the Ceremonies, deposits the badge of every departed Brother on a resting-place appropriately decorated, adding such words to his memory as he deems proper, and I need not assure you that very rarely is any ceremony imaginable which so completely fulfils what is expected from it as the one here alluded to. But there is one other ceremony which is never omitted at the close of every Lodge, namely, that all the Brethren present form the masonic chain and sing 118 the parting song; a ceremony which, although veiy impressive indeed, I have never seen performed in any Lodge in this country. I think. Brethren, there are one or two points I have yet to mention. In order to avoid the initiation of any candidate who is not a moral and true man, no ballot can take place unless his name as a candidate has been posted for four weeks, not only in the Hall of the Lodge where he is proposed for initiation, but in the Halls of all the other Lodges established at the same place ; a similar formality takes place with any Brother proposed as a joining member. And perhaps some of you Brethren — when I alluded to the number of Instruction Lodges the German Masons have, and with regularity, to attend, before they can make any progress on the ladder of Masonry — may have felt some curiosity as to how the time for such instruction was to be employed, if no ritualistic coaching for initiations, passings, or raisings had to take place. My answer is, that the whole system of "Masonry is by the respective Grand Lodges divided into such a number of lectures that in each of the three degrees everything is read, taught, and explained that belongs to the degree, and that in language which is as im- pressive and beautiful as possibly can be imagined, so that those Brethren who are anxious for their own improvement have really plenty of opportunity for it. Under these circumstances you will see that the initiations, passings, and raisings — beautiful as the 119 ceremonies are — are not the only work to be per- fonned in the German Lodges ; and, I may add, that when the stipulated lectures have been deHvered by the Orator, the principal historical facts relating to the Craft in all parts of the universe are expounded by him. In this manner an interest is awakened and a knowledge diflFused among the Brethren which can scarcely be surpassed, and, in order that no irregu- larities may slip into these lectures, we find that, for instance, the Confederate Directory of the Three Globes Grand Lodge in Berlin (which is, as I men- tioned in our previous meeting, the largest of the German Grand Lodges), published a year and a half ago a volume of over 700 closely printed pages entitled " Historical Teachings " for the Master Degree of that Order, which contained the history and the .constitution of the Grand Lodges of England, France, and Sweden, But besides this there is yet another mode adopted among our German Brethren for keeping steadily alive an interest for everything which relates to the Craft at home as well as abroad — for the quarterly communications of the principal German Grand Lodges contain very interesting extracts, sometimes most minute translations of the latest Grand Lodge minutes which, from all parts of the world wherever a Grand Lodge of Freemasons is recognised, reach them officially in due course. Well, Brethren, I think I may fairly say that I have tried my best to make the series of observations on Freemasonry in Germany, which I have now 120 brought to a conclusion, as interesting as I possibly could ; and thanking you most ' sincerely for the patience with which you have kindly listened to me, I beg you always to bear in mind that I would never have ventured to deliver these observations if I had not felt that I must do something exceptional in order to compensate the Brethren of this Lodge for my ritualistic shortcomings. On the motion of Bro, Burton, P.M. and Treasurer, seconded by Bro. Geo. Kelly, P.M. and Secretary, it was unanimously Resolved — "That a prompt vote of thanks be given, and is hereby given, to the Worshipful Master for the very interesting course of Lectures upon Masonry in Germany which has been concluded to-night. The Lodge desires to say that it -finds it difficult to estimate which is of the higher value, the Lectures themselves or the fraternal feeling by which they were prompted." ,^^^r>~= i ./ r' > i >. .X N \