Bygone Masonic Amenities.

In 1808 , Daniel , assisted by other members of the Royal Naval Lodge , instituted a second Masonic Charity for the purpose of relieving the svidosvs and orphans of brethren under the " Modern " sanction . Owing to his characteristic energy and personal liberality , he was fairly successful in

this , as he svas in all his undertakings . After the Union of the tsvo Grand Lodges in 1813 , he endeavoured to unite the two Charities , i . e ., that of 1798 , and of 1808 , and in 1817 the formal Union was effected , thus forming svhat is now known as the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

In February , 1810 , he joined the Lodge of Felicity , present No . 5 8 , and svas elected Master on the following day . During his connection svith the Royal Naval Lodge he is said to have acted as Master for upwards of seventeen years , and to have initiated o \ 'er 600 American seamen , and near 400

British naval officers , but a small proportion of whom were registered at the proper time in the books of the Grand Lodge . In consequence of this glaring irregularity , the Grand Lodge passed a resolution on the 28 th of November , 1810 , suspending Bro . Daniel from all his Masonic functions and privileges until the registering fees , due from the Royal Naval Lodge , be paid .

The fees above mentioned amounted to upwards of X 3 C 0 , svhich sum the Lodge of Felicity generously agreed to pay by instalments to the Grand Treasurer . On the 7 th December , 1814 , in consequence of a report made by the Board of General Purposes , it svas resolved in

Grand Lodge that '' Bro . F . C . Daniel be nosv restored to his Masonic functions , and he being in attendance svas conducted into the Grand Lodge by two Stewards , and after receiving an admonition from the M . W . Grand Master , svas re-invested svith his Masonic clothing , and took his seat

accordingly . " I have already adverted briefly to the position held by Bro . Daniel in the medical profession , I might safely go a step further and say he svas the best advertised man of his time . His biographer informs us that he was "the first

svho constructed the medicine chest for sea en just principles , " and that he " published a pamphlet of directions for the treatment of the most frequent diseases incident to seamen , " svhich pamphlet always accompanied his medicine chest where no surgeon svas on board . Modesty does not appear lo have troubled him much , for in 1804 , he published

" An Address to the Duke of Athole on the subject of an Union , " the pamphlet consisting chiefly of abuse of his former colleagues , the " Ancients" over svhom the Duke presided as Grand Master . In 1806 , he invented a life preserver and gave several

exhibitions of its qualities on the Serpentine , in the presence of royalty , and also on different parts of the Thames , a sketch of the principal one being here reproduced from his memoir . The following is a description of the exhibition from the newspapers : —

"A Curious Aquatic' Exhibition—Daniel's Life Preserrer . " " On Monday Afternoon an immense concourse of people assembled on London Bridge and the River to witness an exhibition of the Life Preserver , in case of Shipwreck , invented by Mr . Daniel , Surgeon , at Wapping .

" The Machine or Jacket is composed of water-proof leather , prepared to contain Air , and is inflated through a silver tube , by the wearer , in half a minute ; it then supports the Head , Arms , and Body , completely on the surface of the water . We observed Dr . Daniel , in a large handsome Barge , svith a boardt d covering , attended by several boats , fancifully fitted up , and filled with his Friends -. several men jumped

from Dr . Daniel ' s Barge into the River , to the high amusement of the thronged Thames . The People svere clad in nankeen dresses , svith red leather helmet caps , and having on the aforementioned Jackets , they appeared to float freely , and to rest breast high in the water perfectly at their ease .

" The Procession passed up the River from Gun Dock , through London , Black friars , and Westminster Bridges ; one of the men took an excursion to Putney : they seemed to enjoy themselves , for sve saw one playing the Violin , others the Bugle and French Horn , some svere smoking their Pipes and

and taking their Wine , as they drifted up svith the tide . We •also observed two men carrying large white bags on their backs , which we understood to be biscuits , on svhich svere marked 281 b , 14 days' provision : they represented a Porter carrying a load . But svhat svas still very extraordinary , sve saw a man

float through the three Bridges , supporting tsvo other people , and at the same time he loaded and lired a large horse Pistol several times , carrying ammunition in his cap ; in fact , the whole of them seemed to perform svith as much indifference as on Dry Land . They then proceeded dosvn the River without the least accident , just below the entrance of the