Masonic Mems.

Masonic Mems .

Freemasons will be gratified to learn that both the newly-elected representative Peers of Scotland — Lord Saltoun and Viscount Strathalian—are members of the Craft , * * * At the Chiswick Lodge of Freemasons , held at the Star and

Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge , on the installation of Bro . W . A . Dovvling as Master for the current year , Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., First Lord of the Admiralty , the Master of the Lodge for the past year , was presented with a valuable Past Master ' s jewel , in recognition of his services to the Lodge during his year of office . Lord George will be our Eminent Mason at Home in an early number .

# # * Bro . F . Burgess—of Moore & Burgess Minstrels—has been installed W . M . of the St . Albans Lodge . * * * Lord Brooke , M . P ., the Prov . G . M . of Essex , had intimated his

intention of being present at the consecration of the Easterford Lodge , at Kelvedon , of which Bro . the Rev . Thomas Lloyd ( Chaplain Blackwater Lodge ) is to be the first Master . The Lodge has been established through the instrumentality of the Blackwater Lodge , who supported the petition for its formation to Grand Lodge ,

and is to be named Easterford , which was the ancient Saxon name of Kelvedon . The new Lodge will be numbered No . 2 , 342 . # * # The death is announced of Bro . James Wallace , of Lodge 56 , Aberdeenshire , who at his jubilee as a Mason , about six years ago , received a small annuity subscribed by the brethren in the Province of Aberdeenshire East .

* * The case of jewels recently stolen from the Masonic Hall at Chester , during the holding of a Royal Arch Chapters , has been recovered and returned to its owner . * # *

Under the auspices of the Alliance Lodge ( 1 , 827 ) there was a large gathering of members of the Craft and of prominent members of the Corporation to meet the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs at a banquet at the Guildhall Tavern . The Lodge was opened at half-past six by the W . M ., Lieut .-Col . Perry Godfrey , and his Wardens , and Bros .

Edwin F . Fitch and Frank S . Jackson , for the reception of the Brethren invited to meet the principal guests . Amongst those present were Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , Grand Secretary ; Bro . Edward Terry , G . T . ; Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . R . ; Captain N . G . Phillips , Bro . Michael Maybrick , G . O . ; Dr . E . Zacharie ,

Bro . Thomas Beard , Under-Sheriff ; Colonel Sewell , Captain Dunfee Bro . Peter de Lande Long , Bro . Henry Clark , Bro . J . A . Wild , Bro . Alexander Peebles , City Architect , and others . The banquet which followed was enjoyed by a large company of visitors . The guest of the evening very aptly paralleled the connection of his

dignified office with Freemasonry , setting forth the claims of both to the distinction of undoubted antiquity , their respective freedom from connection with political influence , and , above all , that perfect freedom permitted to both for the worship of the Great Architect of the Universe according to individual conscience .

# # * At the termination of the Mastership of Lord Clanmorris of the Union Lodge ( 746 ) , Bangor , his Lordship was presented with a valuable P . M . ' s jewel set with diamonds . He made an excellent speech when returning thanks . Unlike most of his Brethren in his own circles of society , Lord Clanmorris has accepted the office of

Worshipful Master of his mother Lodge no less than four times , and to his great love of the Craft and affection for the traditions of the Union Lodge the Masonic Hall at Bangor owes its existence .

Early last month a deputation of the Renfrewshire East Provincial Grand Lodge waited on Sir Archibald and Lady Campbell at Blythswood , and presented them with the following address congratulating them on the attainment of their silver wedding 1— " To Sir Archibald C . Campbell , Bart ., of Blythswood , M . P ., LL . D ., and the Hon . Lady Campbell . —We , the Provincial Grand Lodge of

Renfrewshire East , desire to offer you our true and hearty congratulations on the auspicious occasion of your silver-wedding , and to express the sincere prayer that you may be long spared to enjoy undisturbed peace and happiness , and that every blessing may attend you . We recall with pleasure the fact of you ( Sir Archibald )

being elected to the office of Provincial Grand Master twenty-three years ago , and feel grateful for the unwearied energy and zeal you have displayed in the discharge of your various Masonic Provincial Grand Master ' s duties , which have tended so much to raise the tone of Masonry in this province ; and , while watching with pride and

satisfaction your Masonic career , we avail ourselves of this opportunity to congratulate you on being appointed for the fifth time Grand Master Mason of Scotland—the highest known in the power of Scotch Freemasons to confer . " Sir Archibald briefly thanked the deputation on behalf of himself and his wife .

* * * The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which gives annuities of £ " 40 to " poor and distressed " Brethren and £ 32 to widows of such Brethren , is face to face with a great difficulty , for which members of the committee of management are asked to suggest a remedy . Although the Institution received nearly

, £ " 19 , 000 last year , there are so many candidates applying for election on the fund that , unless the subscriptions at the annual festival this month are far in excess of previous years , only a small proportion of the whole number of applicants can be taken on . The list of candidates for election in May , it is expected , will

be 130 , and at the present time there are but eleven vacancies . Of course a proposition to reduce the amount of each individual annuity would meet with strong opposition ; but it has been suggested that the age at which a petitioner can be qualified for candidature might be raised .

* x * The Rev . Bro . T . Randall , of Durham , has been installed W . M . of the Marquis of Granby Lodge . * * * The testimonial now being organised on behalf of Bro . Robert

Freke Gould , the historian of Freemasonry , is assuming a cosmopolitan form . This is only as it should be , for the famous work by which he is best known is a history , not only of Masonry in the British Islands , but of the Craft universal . Its merits were at once recognised in the United States of America by the immediate

publication of an American edition , which has had an immense sale , though without profit to the author . For this , however , some compensation will doubtless be found in the contributions from across the water to the Gould Testimonial Fund .

* * * The Brethren of the Provinces of Northampton and Huntingdon have entertained over 800 of the aged poor in their provinces . # # # On Wednesday , the 22 nd ult ., Major George Lake , 2 nd ( Hertr )

V . B . Bedfordshire Regiment , was installed Master of the Centurion Lodge by the outgoing Master , Lieut .-Col . Thomas Tully , 4 th V . B . East Surrey Regiment , in the presence of a large and distinguished gathering of eminent Masons and officers of the Regular and Auxiliary Forces . Amongst those present were . —Brothers F . S .

Kuyvett , P . G . Deacon ; J . E . Dawson , P . G . Swordbearer ; Mackintosh , P . G . Steward ; Wilson , P . G . Steward ; R . Shillitoe , P . G . Warden , Herts ; Slaughter , P . G . Warden , Iierts ; Lieut . lies , R . E . ; Colonels Bolton , Hancock , and Gardner ; and Majors Cant , Roberts , Boyes , Marley , Beaumont , Ewen , Baggallay , and Putney .