Visit Of The British Association To York.

Visit of the British Association to York .

r pHE brethren of the four York Lodges , namely York I Lodge , No . 236 , Eboracum Lodge , No . 1611 , Agricola Lodge , No . 1991 , and Albert Victor , No . 2328 , decided some time ago that during the visit to York of the members of the British Association its Alasonic members should be entertained . The Worshipful Masters of the four lodges

met and a Committee was formed to carry out the details of the entertainment . . It was decided that a Lodge should be held at the York Ledge , and this took place on the afternoon of Friday , the 3 rd August . There were present on the occasion a large number of members of the four York

Lodges , viz . : the York Lodge , No . 236 , the Eboracum Lodge , No . 1611 , the Agricola Lodge , No . 199 1 , and the Albert Victor Lodge , No . 2328 , as well as those of other neighbouring lodges . The Lodge having been opened the Officers selected

W . Bro . T . C . Thompson to read an address of welcome as follows : — " Brethren , —It is but fitting that upon the occasion when the British Association for the Advancement of Science , holds its meeting within our Ancient City the right hand of

fellowship should be extended by York Freemasons to visiting members of the Craft . It has , therefore , afforded the greatest satisfaction to the Masters of the four lodges in York to accede to the wishes of their members and extend a hearty invitation to our brethren to be present this afternoon .

Photo E . . 1 / . Sulelije , Whitby . BRO . T . (' . THOMPSON , W . M . YORK LOUGK , Xo . 230 . There appear to my mind to be several points of analogy between the British Association and the Craft of Freemasonry , more particularly as it appertains to York . In the

first place the City of York was the birthplace of the British Association . Bro . Hughan in his History of the Apollo Lodge , York , alludes to the " Apollo " having been located at York The Masonic City of England , hence such a famous birthplace , he continues , has invested its records with more

than ordinary significance and value . It is , perhaps , but natural that each Institution should remember that nature has implanted in its breast a sacred and an indissoluble attachment towards that City whence it derived its birth and infant nurture .

Again both Institutions have made most substantial progress since the last occasion on which they met in York twenty-live years ago . The Craftsmen of this City have to congratulate the British Association upon the magnificent progress of their movement during that period ; whilst they feel sure that the British Association on their part will be

interested to note , that , whereas on the occasion of their last visit there were but two lodges in the City , there are now four healthy and vigorous for the performance of the duties of the Craft . A further point of similarity between the two bodies will

be found in the fact that both Institutions are labouring for the benefit of mankind . The labours of the British Association for the Advancement of Science can have but one result—namely , the perfecting of the means whereby man shall be enabled

toeliminate disease , and generally improve his knowledge and surroundings . And so the Mason also strives to eliminate distress , by extending relief to the helpless , the widow , and thefatherless ; by teaching and clothing the little ones and caring for the helpless ; and the last point of similarity

between the two Institutions to which I shall direct your attention is that we both have our Great Annual Meetings or Festivals at which we present the first fruits of our year ' s .

labours , and by which both the Institutions in question and also the individual are benefited and encouraged . Surely , brethren , upon this occasion we may one and all claim an especial Brotherhood , children of one birthplace ,, hearty and vigorous to carry forward one common aimnamely , the amelioration of distress and disease and the

advancement of mankind . This , brethren , is the spirit in which the four lodges of York beg to tender a hearty welcome to the visiting brethren of the British Association for the Advancement of Science . It has been instilled into our minds that Freemasonry is universally spread over the

surface of the earth . It necessarily follows that whenever the Masonic members of the British Association in their " much wandering wanderings" should happen to pitch their tents , a Masonic welcome is assured , and yet I venture to think ( and trust my sentiment finds a responsive echo in

their hearts ) that in no other locality shall they find so hearty a welcome as that which , in the name of the four lodges of York , I tender them this afternoon . "

The address was supported by W . Bros . Pfluger , W . M . of the Eboracum Lodge , No . 1611 ; Cutforth , W . M . of the Agricola Lodge , No . 1991 ; and Sir Joseph Sykes Rymer , P . M . of the York Lodge . Each of whom endorsed the words of welcome spoken by W . Bro . T . C . Thompson . The following visiting brethren replied , and in suitable

terms thanked the brethren of the York Lodge for the hearty welcome accorded to them , namely : —W . Bros . W . Briggs , M . A ., L . LD ., P . M ., L . D . C ., No . 45 , P . M ., No . 1492 , P . P . G . D . Cambridge ; Professor Smith , Asylum Board Lodge , No . 2416 , Mayor of Holljorn , London ; H . T . Strong , Cape Town ,.

South Africa , No . 39 8 , P . A . G . D . C . England ; and H . Marsh , P . M . 1221 , P . P . G . Treas . West Yorks . W . Bro . A . Proctor , P . M . of the York Lodge , had promised to read a paper on the History of Freemasonry in relation to the City of York , but he could not be present , and

in his absence W . Bro . E . Fox Thomas , P . G . Std . B . Eng ., and Charity Representative of North and East Yorkshire read such paper , and of which the following is a copy : — '' The Reception Committee have asked me to give you a sketch of Freemasonry in relation to the City of York . The subject is a large one , and to be treated properly and in detail would absorb much more time than there is at our

disposal this afternoon , so in these notes I have referred tothe subject in the briefest outline . We shall be glad to speak round the table in more detail as you have the opportunity of seeing our documents and other articles of Masonic interest . The British Association for the Advancement of Science

in assembling at York this year , is returning to the place of its birth 75 years ago , and it is justly regarded as an interesting feature of this meeting . To those Members of the Association who have seen the light of Masonry it must be doubly interesting , because they