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Article Original Correspondence. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 2 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 2 of 2 Article OUR GRAND MASTER'S VISIT TO LIVERPOOL. Page 1 of 1 Article PRESENTATION TO BRO. DR. MOORE, P.M. 1051, P.G.S.B. OF ENGLAND. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
« p" sharply and abmptly by some "letter perfect youngster for a misplaced adjective or an inadvertently substituted participle ? Fancy Mollke giving the wrong word to a corporal ' s squad , and being set right by the drummer boy ! Imagine Garnet VYolselcy being instructed in thc accurate formation of "fours" by thc lincndrapcr ' s shopman , who for six months has
shouldered his " Snider " in a volunteer corps ! Conceive Admiral Hornby directed how to carry his squadron safely through the Dardanelles by the coxswain of a Cockney boating club ! Imagination of course fails to realise such absurdities , yet I do wish that my brethren in the Craft would recognise the oft proclaimed principle that literal accuracy in litual is
not thc be-all and end-all to be desiderated in the profession of speculative Freemasonry . He who spake as never man spake pointed out that the Sabbath was made for man , and not man for the Sabbath . In like manner that combination of ritual and action which we call woiking has been devised as thc ancillary , and not the leading , feature of the Order . The same Divine authority , as we
of the brethren who are of thc Christian communion believe Him to be , has also told us that thc letter killeth but the spirit giveth life , and in adapting His sublime language to this subject in a sense that , while desiring to elevate inward principle above mere outward profession , shall nevertheless not discourage the pi ' mstak ing and enthusiastic student in his endeavours to attain the most
complete accuracy of word and working , we may with ail reverence again quote His not irrelevant reminder , " This should ye do and not leave the other undone . " We shall be none the worse Masons if we each one remember that judicious distribution of labour indicated in the text , "there be some who serve and minister and some who stand and wait . "
But to return to H . H . B . s shrewd conjectures . Once let us assume—take for granted—that Raffaelle , Michael Angelo and the other owners of the great names of the artists of the Renaissance period , were affiliated to asomething or other—of which speculative Freemasonry , as we know it at the present day , is , at all events , thc outcome , if not the legitimate heir and successor , and see what a
vast ocean of investigation and speculation we are launched upon . For , pssuming that the * * * * and * * * * used by ourselves are substantially the same as those employed in the middle ages , mere ritual falls into its proper place , that is to say , becomes , as it should become , as I have above intimated , ancillary and subordinate to thc great truths proclaimed by thc Craft . Far
from me , however , as I have already said , be thc design to discourage the attainment of perfect accuracy in working . I believe it , on thc contrary , to be of the greatest , if not ol the very greatest , value . It consolidates us . It tends to the catholicity—i . e ., to thc universitality of the Order—and in the extreme catholicity of Freemasonry consists the fraternal utility of the Institution .
I think it is Lord Macau lay who somewhere assumes to account for the potency of the Roman Catholic faith in words which I cannot attempt to reproduce , but which substantially point out what a binding principle of union is involved in the knowledge of each member of that Church , that millions of his fellow-worshippers , in every portion of thc earth ' s suiface , are engaged at the same
certain stated moments in repeating the very same prayers and listening to the very words he himself is ( hen preferring or hearing . So with Freemasonry . It is of the highest mpoitance to know that the working is substantially identical all over the world . But given that—that object taken for granted as having been achieved—we are permitted , nay , commanded , to extend our researches into higher
fields of speculation , and no more attractive region , I conceive , can we cxplorr , than that which offers tous a reasonable hope ot finding some clue to the continuity of thc science of the Order—some expectation that we may with thought and labour one day be able to approach thc formulation of that very vague , unsatisfactory , indefinite epoch so frequently alluded to , and so loosely spoken of , as
" from remote antiquity . " As time and other occupations permit , and as you may friendlily allow me space , I propose , encouraged by the kindly feeling with which my former lucubrations have been received , to trespass a little upon your columns in travelling this oath—a path I cannot better indicate than by a reference to the beautiful apologue in one of our lectures which describes the two renowned
columns at the entrance of K . S . 's temple as formed hollow —referring to their external appearance as their outer rim or shell—and instructing us why they were so constructed and the nature of the treasures they contained . I venture to apply this allegory to my proposition , and to ask my
kind readers' assent to my view , which regards " ipstssima verba" as the indispensable outer rim or shell , but knowledge of Masonic philosophy , history , and principles as the precious core within thc covering . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , S . p ., P . M . 902 , 1491 .
PAPAL CHRONOLOGY . To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me to call the attention of your readers to the amusing blunder made by one of the scribes of the Roman Church , and alluded to by Mr . Whittaker in the following Utter , which appeared in The Times of Tuesday last . If the editor of " Whittakcr ' s Almanack " is coircc
though it is not rig ht to blame the Pope for thc blunder , a Roman scribe has made a nice little " beefsteak . " Vours fraternally , MASONIC AIICIU : OI . OUIST . "In The Times of lo-day your Roman Correspondent g ives an outline of the Apostolic letter creating the Scottish hierarchy . In this thc Pope gives a cursory view of the Scotch Church from its origin , referring to 'St . Ninhn instructed in the faith of the Venerable Bede . ' Herein His
Original Correspondence.
Holiness cither makes us acquainted with a new miracle , or shows that he is not infallible in his chronology , for St . Niin ' an died in thc year 43 J , while the Venerable Bcde was not born till 673—241 years after St . Ninian's death . I by no means wish t > impute any error to I lis Holiness , but so great n . miracle as that of Bede teaching or h ? . \ ing taught St . Ninian should not have been omitted by thc
learned Bollandists in their exhaustive records . Wc note that Bro . Sala in a letter to thc Times , April 2 , takes a different view , for he says . — " The slight clerical error in the chronology of S . S . Pope Leo XIII . is obviously due to thc ciJcumslancc that there are twoBedes or Bcdans mentioned in ecclesiastical history . " The Venerable Bedc , " writes Alban Butler ( "Lives of the Saints and Martyrs . "
Dublin , 1833 , vol . B ., P . 603 > , " called by thc ancients Bedan , is not to be confounded with a monk of Lindisfarne of the same name , but older . " Further information might be found in the Bollandists respecting the older ( and by seniority more Venerable ) Bede whom S . S . evidently had in his mind ' s eye when alluding to St . Ninian . " [ Wc would , however , observe that there is but one "Venerable" Bede . —ED . ]
MASONIC MAGAZINE FOR JAN ., 18 74 . To t'ie Editor of ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly permit mc to ask any brother who possesses a copy of the Matonic Magazine for Jan .,
1874 , which he docs not want , to do me the great favour of sending it for me to the Freemason office , 19 8 , Fleetstreet . It is the only number missing from my set since the commencement of the magazine . Faithfully and fraternally yours , W . T .
MASONIC SPEECHES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In reply to "Young Mason ' s " letter of last week . I would recommend him to read thc Ji ' rcttnasoii regularly every week . Yours fraternally , Quiz . Hayle , Cornwall .
KENNING'S CYCLOP / ED 1 A . Dear Bro . Kenning , — My attention has been called to a review in the Sunday Times , in which the writer says , " inter alia , " "Bro . Kenning ' s work is stated to be laid down on Bro . Mackey ' s ' lines . ' This is : i mistake ; in our copy of Bro . Mackey ' s valuable lexicon wc open the book in the
middle , and find thc first half is devoted to thc first half of the alphabet , and thc rest of the work tj the second . In Bro . Kenning ' s publication 500 pages are given to the first , and only 150 to thc second division of thc alphabetical letters , which clearly shows that thc work was started on more ambitious ' ¦ lines" than were ultimately built up . " Now , I need hardly remind your readers , or
repeat fur your information , that the writer of this review is hardly correct or lair in his view of matters . I have followed Mackey in his general lines more or less all through , and 1 have previously explained , that owing to the excusable impatience of some of our correspondents wc decided 10 abbreviate all thc letters from S to X . IE the letters Irom S to Xave not as exhaustively treated , as from
A to S , you and I hope lo mend matters , " favorite' thc Craft , in a second edition . Thc writer ' s view of a cyclopaedia is so different from mine that wc are as far as the " poles asunder , " and 1 can see no good in prolonging a controversy with a writer who has clearly yet to learn the use and interest of a cyclopaedia . There are many other
remarks in that , icview lo which I might allude , but to say the truth " le jeu nc vent pas la chandelle , " and as they arc of little importance , and less meaning , 1 will pass them by " sub silcntio . " I am , yours friternally , YoL'ii EDITOR or THE CYCI . OPXUIA .
A QUERY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you or any of your readers kindly inform me whether or not it is curect and proper for the Chaplain
to wear a surplice in lodge on ordinary occasions ? My experience is against such a custom , but I understand it obtains in some provinces . Ought not the custom of G . L . to guide us in a nutter like this ? Fraternally yours , W . M . 809 .
THE ASTOR LIBRARY . To Hie Editor of the " Times . " Sir , —The recently issued report of the trustees of this world-famed library—founded by the munificence of the Astor of New York—contains some particulars as to its progress during the past two years which may interest your readers .
During thc past two years the expenditure for increase oE the library , binding , and catalogues was ^ 63 , 595 ; of this sum the books alone absorbed 850 , 800 . The fund for thc maintenance of the library is now £ 417 , 500 , and the total endowment fund $ 1 , 050 , 405 . The auditions to the library durir . g the pa-t year , by purchase and donation , amounted to 11 , 533 volumes ; thc total increase during the two years being about 25 , 000 volumes . S line of those
additions were very costly , and the average expense of all the volumes was about Si 20 c . The total number of readers for the past year was 5 8 , 621 , an increase of nearly 23 per cent , over 18 7 6 , and an average of more than 210 readers daily . The volumes consulted were 156 , 091 , rather more than 8 per cent , over the previous year . On the istof January , 1 877 , the total number of volumes in thc library was 165 . 854 . Thc trustees attribute the large
Original Correspondence.
increase in the number of readers and the enhanced usefulness of thc library to thc large additions recently made to the library and to the use of the " alphabetical" and " subject" card catalogues . These catalogues arc complete from the year 1866—when the printed book catalogue ended—down to the present time , and are placed in the hall of thc library , so that readers can thus select for
themselves , with great facility , any work added to the library during thc past 11 years . Under this plan the " catalogue of additions" is placed before the public a few days after thc books arc purchased . The books are insured for § 200 , 000 , and the building for ha'f that sum . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , EDWARD PRESTON " . 1 , Great College-street , Westminster , S . W .
Our Grand Master's Visit To Liverpool.
OUR GRAND MASTER'S VISIT TO LIVERPOOL .
DISTINGUISIID HONOUR TO A LIVERPOOL BROTHER . The recent visit of Bro . His Royal Highness thc Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., to Croxtelh Hall ( thc Lancashire seat of the Earl of Sefton ) , in the immediate neig hbourhood of Liverpool , created much interest , and in no circles
more than amongst the Masonic . H . R . H . passed through Liverpool both in coming and going , and his presence at the Liverpool Spring Race Meeting on Thursday and Friday was the centre of much attraction , there being the largest attendance ever witnessed ( probably 100 , 000 persons ) on the course on the " Grand National " day . A most aristocratic company was invited to meet our Royal
brother at Croxteth Hall , amongst those who were thus invited by the Earl and Countess of Sefton being thc Duke of Hamilton , the Duke of Montrose , Lord and Lady Cadogan , Lord and Lady Howe , lord and Lady Wilton , Lord and Lsdy Downc , Lord Lonsdale , Lord Gerard , Mrs . Gerard , Lord Melgund , Lord Cork , ' Lord Lascelles , Lord Carrington , Lord Marcus Bcresford , Lord Norreys ,
Colonel and Mrs . Molyneux , Captain Molyneux , Colonel Forester , Colonel Hibbert , Mr . G . Payne , Mr . Swainc , the I Ion . Dudley Milner , Sir G . Chctwynd , and Major Russell equerry to thc Prince ) . After spending two days most pleasantly H . R . H . started from Liverpool en Saturday home . A most distinguished honour was paid to a talented and
worthy Liverpool brother in connection with this visit , in which everyone will greatly rejoice as being a mark of Royal favour towards one who has often delighted the members of local lodges by his musical efforts . As we stated some time ago , Bro . Hargreaves Gill , cue of the ofiiccrs of the Walton Lodge , No . 10 S 6 , had the unexpected honour of being invited by Bro . the Right Hon .
Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M ., R . W . P / 5 . M . West Lancashire , to visit Lathom House and give his well-known " Fairy Bells" performances there before a large and distinguished gathering of guests . The unique and charming character of Bro . Gill ' s " Fairy Bells" teems to have been much thought of and doubtless talked about in upper circles , and as a consequence of this Bro . Gill
received a kindly and cordial autograph invitation from thc Countess of Sefton to attend at Croxteth I lall for the purpose of allowing His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the honourable company the opportunity of hearing the fairy-like music . Bro . Gill was accordingly at the Hall on Friday evening , the 29 th ult ., when in the presence of the Prince and Frincess , the Earl and Countess of
Sefton , and of their distinguished guests , he gave them a programme of his " Fairy Bells " music . The whole company expressed their great delight at the novel musical treat afforded by Bro . Gill , and the Earl and Countess of Sefton specially thanked him for his kindness
in coming to Croxteth Hall on that occasion . The I'airy Bells " have frequently given special deli g ht to the brethren in several local lodges , and they have also often been sounded in thc cause of true and pure charity ; and Bro . Gill deserves to be congratulated on having thus achieved an honour which is received by few .
Presentation To Bro. Dr. Moore, P.M. 1051, P.G.S.B. Of England.
PRESENTATION TO BRO . DR . MOORE , P . M . 1051 , P . G . S . B . OF ENGLAND .
On Tuesday evening , the 26 th ult ., nearly thirty members of the Rowley Lodge of Freemasons ( 1051 ) , Lancaster , assembled at thc King ' s Arms I lotel , in response to an invitation from the W . M ., to attend a complimentary dinner given to Bro . J . D . Moore , M . D ., P . M .
1051 , P . G . S . B . of E ., eSrc , who for the last eleven years has filled the office of Hon . Sec . of the RowlcyJ Lodge , but which he resigned at Christmas last . The dinner was served in capital styie , under the personal supervision of the manager , Mr . Piper . Another pleasing feature in the evening ' s programme was the presentation of a handsome epergne to Bro . Moore , va ' ue £ 40 , which had been
subscribed for by the members of the lodge as a slight acknowledgment of the many and varied services he has rendered to the lodge . The epergne , which is of frosted silver , stands about sixteen 'dehes high , and has a very elegant and chaste appearance , thc stem being formed of vine branches , thc foliage and fruit of which is so arranged at thc top as to form a receptacle for holding a cut glass
dish , in which fruit , flowers , & c , may be placed . On the base are three medallions , on one of which is the following inscription : — " Presented to Bro . J . Daniel Moore , M . D ., P . M . 1051 , P . G . S . B . of K ., & c , by the members of the Rowley Lodge , in appreciation of his long and valued
Masonic services to them as Masons , March 26 th , 1 S 7 S . In thc two remaining medallions Dr . Moorc ' scoat of arms and the jewel of a Past Master arc respectively engraved . Bro . A . Sheriff , W . M . of the lodge , presided . After the usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been given and ( responded to , the Chairman
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
« p" sharply and abmptly by some "letter perfect youngster for a misplaced adjective or an inadvertently substituted participle ? Fancy Mollke giving the wrong word to a corporal ' s squad , and being set right by the drummer boy ! Imagine Garnet VYolselcy being instructed in thc accurate formation of "fours" by thc lincndrapcr ' s shopman , who for six months has
shouldered his " Snider " in a volunteer corps ! Conceive Admiral Hornby directed how to carry his squadron safely through the Dardanelles by the coxswain of a Cockney boating club ! Imagination of course fails to realise such absurdities , yet I do wish that my brethren in the Craft would recognise the oft proclaimed principle that literal accuracy in litual is
not thc be-all and end-all to be desiderated in the profession of speculative Freemasonry . He who spake as never man spake pointed out that the Sabbath was made for man , and not man for the Sabbath . In like manner that combination of ritual and action which we call woiking has been devised as thc ancillary , and not the leading , feature of the Order . The same Divine authority , as we
of the brethren who are of thc Christian communion believe Him to be , has also told us that thc letter killeth but the spirit giveth life , and in adapting His sublime language to this subject in a sense that , while desiring to elevate inward principle above mere outward profession , shall nevertheless not discourage the pi ' mstak ing and enthusiastic student in his endeavours to attain the most
complete accuracy of word and working , we may with ail reverence again quote His not irrelevant reminder , " This should ye do and not leave the other undone . " We shall be none the worse Masons if we each one remember that judicious distribution of labour indicated in the text , "there be some who serve and minister and some who stand and wait . "
But to return to H . H . B . s shrewd conjectures . Once let us assume—take for granted—that Raffaelle , Michael Angelo and the other owners of the great names of the artists of the Renaissance period , were affiliated to asomething or other—of which speculative Freemasonry , as we know it at the present day , is , at all events , thc outcome , if not the legitimate heir and successor , and see what a
vast ocean of investigation and speculation we are launched upon . For , pssuming that the * * * * and * * * * used by ourselves are substantially the same as those employed in the middle ages , mere ritual falls into its proper place , that is to say , becomes , as it should become , as I have above intimated , ancillary and subordinate to thc great truths proclaimed by thc Craft . Far
from me , however , as I have already said , be thc design to discourage the attainment of perfect accuracy in working . I believe it , on thc contrary , to be of the greatest , if not ol the very greatest , value . It consolidates us . It tends to the catholicity—i . e ., to thc universitality of the Order—and in the extreme catholicity of Freemasonry consists the fraternal utility of the Institution .
I think it is Lord Macau lay who somewhere assumes to account for the potency of the Roman Catholic faith in words which I cannot attempt to reproduce , but which substantially point out what a binding principle of union is involved in the knowledge of each member of that Church , that millions of his fellow-worshippers , in every portion of thc earth ' s suiface , are engaged at the same
certain stated moments in repeating the very same prayers and listening to the very words he himself is ( hen preferring or hearing . So with Freemasonry . It is of the highest mpoitance to know that the working is substantially identical all over the world . But given that—that object taken for granted as having been achieved—we are permitted , nay , commanded , to extend our researches into higher
fields of speculation , and no more attractive region , I conceive , can we cxplorr , than that which offers tous a reasonable hope ot finding some clue to the continuity of thc science of the Order—some expectation that we may with thought and labour one day be able to approach thc formulation of that very vague , unsatisfactory , indefinite epoch so frequently alluded to , and so loosely spoken of , as
" from remote antiquity . " As time and other occupations permit , and as you may friendlily allow me space , I propose , encouraged by the kindly feeling with which my former lucubrations have been received , to trespass a little upon your columns in travelling this oath—a path I cannot better indicate than by a reference to the beautiful apologue in one of our lectures which describes the two renowned
columns at the entrance of K . S . 's temple as formed hollow —referring to their external appearance as their outer rim or shell—and instructing us why they were so constructed and the nature of the treasures they contained . I venture to apply this allegory to my proposition , and to ask my
kind readers' assent to my view , which regards " ipstssima verba" as the indispensable outer rim or shell , but knowledge of Masonic philosophy , history , and principles as the precious core within thc covering . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , S . p ., P . M . 902 , 1491 .
PAPAL CHRONOLOGY . To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me to call the attention of your readers to the amusing blunder made by one of the scribes of the Roman Church , and alluded to by Mr . Whittaker in the following Utter , which appeared in The Times of Tuesday last . If the editor of " Whittakcr ' s Almanack " is coircc
though it is not rig ht to blame the Pope for thc blunder , a Roman scribe has made a nice little " beefsteak . " Vours fraternally , MASONIC AIICIU : OI . OUIST . "In The Times of lo-day your Roman Correspondent g ives an outline of the Apostolic letter creating the Scottish hierarchy . In this thc Pope gives a cursory view of the Scotch Church from its origin , referring to 'St . Ninhn instructed in the faith of the Venerable Bede . ' Herein His
Original Correspondence.
Holiness cither makes us acquainted with a new miracle , or shows that he is not infallible in his chronology , for St . Niin ' an died in thc year 43 J , while the Venerable Bcde was not born till 673—241 years after St . Ninian's death . I by no means wish t > impute any error to I lis Holiness , but so great n . miracle as that of Bede teaching or h ? . \ ing taught St . Ninian should not have been omitted by thc
learned Bollandists in their exhaustive records . Wc note that Bro . Sala in a letter to thc Times , April 2 , takes a different view , for he says . — " The slight clerical error in the chronology of S . S . Pope Leo XIII . is obviously due to thc ciJcumslancc that there are twoBedes or Bcdans mentioned in ecclesiastical history . " The Venerable Bedc , " writes Alban Butler ( "Lives of the Saints and Martyrs . "
Dublin , 1833 , vol . B ., P . 603 > , " called by thc ancients Bedan , is not to be confounded with a monk of Lindisfarne of the same name , but older . " Further information might be found in the Bollandists respecting the older ( and by seniority more Venerable ) Bede whom S . S . evidently had in his mind ' s eye when alluding to St . Ninian . " [ Wc would , however , observe that there is but one "Venerable" Bede . —ED . ]
MASONIC MAGAZINE FOR JAN ., 18 74 . To t'ie Editor of ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly permit mc to ask any brother who possesses a copy of the Matonic Magazine for Jan .,
1874 , which he docs not want , to do me the great favour of sending it for me to the Freemason office , 19 8 , Fleetstreet . It is the only number missing from my set since the commencement of the magazine . Faithfully and fraternally yours , W . T .
MASONIC SPEECHES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In reply to "Young Mason ' s " letter of last week . I would recommend him to read thc Ji ' rcttnasoii regularly every week . Yours fraternally , Quiz . Hayle , Cornwall .
KENNING'S CYCLOP / ED 1 A . Dear Bro . Kenning , — My attention has been called to a review in the Sunday Times , in which the writer says , " inter alia , " "Bro . Kenning ' s work is stated to be laid down on Bro . Mackey ' s ' lines . ' This is : i mistake ; in our copy of Bro . Mackey ' s valuable lexicon wc open the book in the
middle , and find thc first half is devoted to thc first half of the alphabet , and thc rest of the work tj the second . In Bro . Kenning ' s publication 500 pages are given to the first , and only 150 to thc second division of thc alphabetical letters , which clearly shows that thc work was started on more ambitious ' ¦ lines" than were ultimately built up . " Now , I need hardly remind your readers , or
repeat fur your information , that the writer of this review is hardly correct or lair in his view of matters . I have followed Mackey in his general lines more or less all through , and 1 have previously explained , that owing to the excusable impatience of some of our correspondents wc decided 10 abbreviate all thc letters from S to X . IE the letters Irom S to Xave not as exhaustively treated , as from
A to S , you and I hope lo mend matters , " favorite' thc Craft , in a second edition . Thc writer ' s view of a cyclopaedia is so different from mine that wc are as far as the " poles asunder , " and 1 can see no good in prolonging a controversy with a writer who has clearly yet to learn the use and interest of a cyclopaedia . There are many other
remarks in that , icview lo which I might allude , but to say the truth " le jeu nc vent pas la chandelle , " and as they arc of little importance , and less meaning , 1 will pass them by " sub silcntio . " I am , yours friternally , YoL'ii EDITOR or THE CYCI . OPXUIA .
A QUERY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you or any of your readers kindly inform me whether or not it is curect and proper for the Chaplain
to wear a surplice in lodge on ordinary occasions ? My experience is against such a custom , but I understand it obtains in some provinces . Ought not the custom of G . L . to guide us in a nutter like this ? Fraternally yours , W . M . 809 .
THE ASTOR LIBRARY . To Hie Editor of the " Times . " Sir , —The recently issued report of the trustees of this world-famed library—founded by the munificence of the Astor of New York—contains some particulars as to its progress during the past two years which may interest your readers .
During thc past two years the expenditure for increase oE the library , binding , and catalogues was ^ 63 , 595 ; of this sum the books alone absorbed 850 , 800 . The fund for thc maintenance of the library is now £ 417 , 500 , and the total endowment fund $ 1 , 050 , 405 . The auditions to the library durir . g the pa-t year , by purchase and donation , amounted to 11 , 533 volumes ; thc total increase during the two years being about 25 , 000 volumes . S line of those
additions were very costly , and the average expense of all the volumes was about Si 20 c . The total number of readers for the past year was 5 8 , 621 , an increase of nearly 23 per cent , over 18 7 6 , and an average of more than 210 readers daily . The volumes consulted were 156 , 091 , rather more than 8 per cent , over the previous year . On the istof January , 1 877 , the total number of volumes in thc library was 165 . 854 . Thc trustees attribute the large
Original Correspondence.
increase in the number of readers and the enhanced usefulness of thc library to thc large additions recently made to the library and to the use of the " alphabetical" and " subject" card catalogues . These catalogues arc complete from the year 1866—when the printed book catalogue ended—down to the present time , and are placed in the hall of thc library , so that readers can thus select for
themselves , with great facility , any work added to the library during thc past 11 years . Under this plan the " catalogue of additions" is placed before the public a few days after thc books arc purchased . The books are insured for § 200 , 000 , and the building for ha'f that sum . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , EDWARD PRESTON " . 1 , Great College-street , Westminster , S . W .
Our Grand Master's Visit To Liverpool.
OUR GRAND MASTER'S VISIT TO LIVERPOOL .
DISTINGUISIID HONOUR TO A LIVERPOOL BROTHER . The recent visit of Bro . His Royal Highness thc Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., to Croxtelh Hall ( thc Lancashire seat of the Earl of Sefton ) , in the immediate neig hbourhood of Liverpool , created much interest , and in no circles
more than amongst the Masonic . H . R . H . passed through Liverpool both in coming and going , and his presence at the Liverpool Spring Race Meeting on Thursday and Friday was the centre of much attraction , there being the largest attendance ever witnessed ( probably 100 , 000 persons ) on the course on the " Grand National " day . A most aristocratic company was invited to meet our Royal
brother at Croxteth Hall , amongst those who were thus invited by the Earl and Countess of Sefton being thc Duke of Hamilton , the Duke of Montrose , Lord and Lady Cadogan , Lord and Lady Howe , lord and Lady Wilton , Lord and Lsdy Downc , Lord Lonsdale , Lord Gerard , Mrs . Gerard , Lord Melgund , Lord Cork , ' Lord Lascelles , Lord Carrington , Lord Marcus Bcresford , Lord Norreys ,
Colonel and Mrs . Molyneux , Captain Molyneux , Colonel Forester , Colonel Hibbert , Mr . G . Payne , Mr . Swainc , the I Ion . Dudley Milner , Sir G . Chctwynd , and Major Russell equerry to thc Prince ) . After spending two days most pleasantly H . R . H . started from Liverpool en Saturday home . A most distinguished honour was paid to a talented and
worthy Liverpool brother in connection with this visit , in which everyone will greatly rejoice as being a mark of Royal favour towards one who has often delighted the members of local lodges by his musical efforts . As we stated some time ago , Bro . Hargreaves Gill , cue of the ofiiccrs of the Walton Lodge , No . 10 S 6 , had the unexpected honour of being invited by Bro . the Right Hon .
Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M ., R . W . P / 5 . M . West Lancashire , to visit Lathom House and give his well-known " Fairy Bells" performances there before a large and distinguished gathering of guests . The unique and charming character of Bro . Gill ' s " Fairy Bells" teems to have been much thought of and doubtless talked about in upper circles , and as a consequence of this Bro . Gill
received a kindly and cordial autograph invitation from thc Countess of Sefton to attend at Croxteth I lall for the purpose of allowing His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the honourable company the opportunity of hearing the fairy-like music . Bro . Gill was accordingly at the Hall on Friday evening , the 29 th ult ., when in the presence of the Prince and Frincess , the Earl and Countess of
Sefton , and of their distinguished guests , he gave them a programme of his " Fairy Bells " music . The whole company expressed their great delight at the novel musical treat afforded by Bro . Gill , and the Earl and Countess of Sefton specially thanked him for his kindness
in coming to Croxteth Hall on that occasion . The I'airy Bells " have frequently given special deli g ht to the brethren in several local lodges , and they have also often been sounded in thc cause of true and pure charity ; and Bro . Gill deserves to be congratulated on having thus achieved an honour which is received by few .
Presentation To Bro. Dr. Moore, P.M. 1051, P.G.S.B. Of England.
PRESENTATION TO BRO . DR . MOORE , P . M . 1051 , P . G . S . B . OF ENGLAND .
On Tuesday evening , the 26 th ult ., nearly thirty members of the Rowley Lodge of Freemasons ( 1051 ) , Lancaster , assembled at thc King ' s Arms I lotel , in response to an invitation from the W . M ., to attend a complimentary dinner given to Bro . J . D . Moore , M . D ., P . M .
1051 , P . G . S . B . of E ., eSrc , who for the last eleven years has filled the office of Hon . Sec . of the RowlcyJ Lodge , but which he resigned at Christmas last . The dinner was served in capital styie , under the personal supervision of the manager , Mr . Piper . Another pleasing feature in the evening ' s programme was the presentation of a handsome epergne to Bro . Moore , va ' ue £ 40 , which had been
subscribed for by the members of the lodge as a slight acknowledgment of the many and varied services he has rendered to the lodge . The epergne , which is of frosted silver , stands about sixteen 'dehes high , and has a very elegant and chaste appearance , thc stem being formed of vine branches , thc foliage and fruit of which is so arranged at thc top as to form a receptacle for holding a cut glass
dish , in which fruit , flowers , & c , may be placed . On the base are three medallions , on one of which is the following inscription : — " Presented to Bro . J . Daniel Moore , M . D ., P . M . 1051 , P . G . S . B . of K ., & c , by the members of the Rowley Lodge , in appreciation of his long and valued
Masonic services to them as Masons , March 26 th , 1 S 7 S . In thc two remaining medallions Dr . Moorc ' scoat of arms and the jewel of a Past Master arc respectively engraved . Bro . A . Sheriff , W . M . of the lodge , presided . After the usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been given and ( responded to , the Chairman