A Hundred Years From Now.

What ! an old chair ? Yes , but it was more than a century old , and around it lingered the aroma of the courtly days of the vice-regal Botetourt ; tradition claiming that it was one of the three chairs presented by that loved and so lamented royal governor to the Masonic fraternity , in the then colony of Virginia . In what distinctive loclge they were first used is not now known , the earlier records not having been preservedbut it is claimed that they

con-, stituted a part of the furniture of Williamsburg Lodge , No . 6 , when it was first constituted on the 6 th of November , 1773 , on which date was also instituted another lodge , named in honour of the Governor , Botetourt Lodge . Lord Botetourt will be remembered , too , as the donor of that "warming machine , " of " elegant design , " the old stove now preserved with meet reverence in the eastern hall of our State Capitol .

The old chair in question—the Master ' s—is of mahogany , ancl now , from age , almost ebon lined . It measures in height four-and-a-half feet , and is furnished with arms , each terminating in a lion ' s head , the supports of the chair being correspondingly represented by the legs ancl clawed feet of the same king of beasts . The back of the chair is quite straightand is covered with elaborate

, carving in relief . First are represented three columns , representing the three orders of architecture—the Doric , Ionic , and the Corinthian—equi-distant from each other , and allowing a marginal space on either side , upon which branches of the acacia tree find place , whilst between the columns , the Masonic emblems , the square , the compass , etc ., are represented . Above and centrally is displayed an armorial bearing , as follows : Between 3 towers , a

clierion , as . bearing a pair of compasses extended . Crest . On an esquire ' s helmet , a tower . On either side of the arms appear respectively the national emblems of England and Scotland—the rose and the thistle . When it is recollected that with the loclge at Williamsberg originated the proposition to form a State Grand Loclge , and that within its portals was consummated this important action , the peculiar interest which clings to the old chair will at once be apprehended .

Here , on the 6 th of May , 1777 , met a Convention composed of delegates from the then five existing lodges—Norfolk Kilwinning , Port Royal Cross , Blandlford , Williamsbiirgh , and Cobin Point Royal Arch Lodge—the delegates from Williamsburgh lodge being Bros . Win . Waddill and John Rowsay . Bro . Matthew Phripp was elected President , and Bro . James Kemp , Clerk . A Committee was appointed for " drawing up reasons wh y a Grand Master should be chosen" and the Convention adjourned to meet on the 13 th of May

, , proximo : at which meeting , Bro . Matthew Phripp not being present , Bro . Duncan Rose presided . The report was presented , but no election held . Adjourned to the 23 rd of June following , when Bro . James Mercer presided . At this meeting "His Excellency Bro . General George Washington" was recommended " as a proper person to fill the office of Grand Master , " ancl an " appointment" made for another Convention on the 1 st clay of June ensuing .

The Convention appears not to have met , however , until the 13 th of October , 1778 , when Bro . Rev . Robert Andrews presided , ancl Bro . W . Waddill acted as Secretary . " The Right Worshipful Bro . Wamer Lewis , Past Master of Botetourt Lodge , being nominated to the office of Grand Master , declined the acceptance thereof ; and then the Right Worshipful Bro . John Blair , Past Master of the Williamsburg Loclge , was nominated and unanimously elected ,

who was pleased to accept the office . * * *" The membership of the Loclge has been ever most distinguished , and it was , doubtless , during its session held in the period of our struggle for independence , honoured with the presence of General Washington , Lafayette , Count d'Estaing , Generals Knox and Hamilton , and other distinguished patriots who are known to have been members of the Masonic Fraternity . Among its later members was General William B . Taliaferro , late State Grand Master .