Freemasonry In England.

Grand Master for five years , during which period the following deputations for appointment of Provincial Grand Masters were granted!—Antigua and the leeward Carribee islands ; the town of Norwich , and the county of Norfolk ; for the Bahama islands , iu room of the governor deceased ; Hamburgh , ancl Lower Saxony ; Guadaloupe ; Lancaster ; the province of Georgia ; Canada ; Andalucia , and places adjacent ; Bermuda ; Carolina ;

Mnsquito shore : and East India . The Earl of Ferrers succeeded Lord Aberdour , 3 rd May , 1762 ; during his term of office nothing material occurred in Masonry , but by the diligence of the Deputy Grand Master , General Salter , the business of the Society was regularly conducted , and the Fund of Charity considerably increased . The Grand Master granted the following provincial patents ,

namely , for Jamaica , East India , Cornwall , Armenia , AVestphalia , for Bombay , the Dukedom of Brunswick , the Grenadas , St . Vincent , Dominica , Tobago , & c , and for Canada . On the 8 th of May , 1764 , Lord Blaney was elected Grand Master , and Lord Ferrers invested Br . John Eevis , late Deputy Grand Master , as proxy for Ms lordship , who continued in office for two years , during which period , being principally in Ireland , his duties were faithfully performed by the Deputy Grand Master , General Salter . A scheme for the opening of a

subscription for the purpose of purchasing furniture for the Grand Lodge ivas proposed at this time , but failed for the want of encouragement . During Lord Blaney ' s administration , the dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland were initiated into the Order ; the former at an occasional Lodge , held at the Horns Tavern , Westminster , on the 16 th of February , 1766 , at which the Grand Master presided in person ; and the latter at an

occasional Lodge held at the Thatched House Tavern , in St . James ' s Street , presided over by General Salter , His lordship granted several deputations for the office of Provincial Grand Master ¦ namely , for Barbadoes ; Upper Saxony ; Stockholm ; Virginia ; Bengal ; Italy ; Upper ancl Lower Rhine , and the circle of Franconia ; Antigua . ; the Electorate of Saxony Madras , and its independencies ; Hampshire ; and Montserrat . Among

the various resolutions passed by the Grand Lodge during this Grand Master ' s term of office , was one to tiie following effect : —That as the Grand Lodge entertained the highest sense of the honour conferred on them by the initiation of the Dukes of Gloucester and . Cumberland , it was resolved that each of their royal highnesses should be presented with an apron lined with blue silk ; and that in all future processions they should rank as Past

Grand Masters , next to the Grand Officers for the time being . The same compliment was also paid to their royal brother , the Duke of York , . who was initiated into Masonry abroad , whilst on his travels .

Plus brings tins history of Freemasonry in England down to the beginning of the reign of George 3 rd , who succeeded to the throne on the 6 th October , 1760 . During the former reign it was the opinion of some persons that Masonry enjoyed a golden era , and it can hardly be doubted that a foundation was then firmly laid for the construction of the present stately edifice . The Committee of Charity had been established ancl several improvements made in its working , ancl various excellent institutions and