VISIT TO ST. PAUL'S LODGE, GROTON. WE had the pleasure of attending the 69th anniversary of St. Paul's Lodge, at Groton, on Monday, the 2d of October last, and of uniting with the Brethren in their annual dinner and festival, - a custom that has come down from the fathers of the Lodge, and is observed by their successors with commendable fidelity. It is an occasion always looked forward to, especially by the older members, some of whom have been connected with the Lodge for more than half a century, with marked interest and pleasure, and one which is no less heartily enjoyed by the "younger members of the family." The Lodge usually assembles on the morning of the day, transacts its local business, and elects its officers; after which the brethren present repair to the dining-hall of the hotel in the village, and partake of a substantial and well-served "family dinner." In the afternoon, the Lodge receives the Deputy Grand Master of the district, who makes the usual examinations, witnesses the work, and installs the newly-elected officers. The Lodge then is closed at a sufficiently early hour to enable the members, some of whom reside in the neighboring villages, to reach home before or soon after sunset. Such is the annual custom of this fine old Lodge; and we most ardently trust its present members may long be spared to enjoy it in their turn, and to transmit it to successors, who, like themselves, shall esteem it a pleasure to honor the customs and to walk in the paths so long and happily trodden by their predecessors. The recent occasion was attended by the M. W. Grand Master and a delegation of the members of the Grand Lodge, present by special invitation of the Lodge. At the dinner, short speeches were made by the Grand Master and others. The Grand Master also installed the officers and addressed the Lodge at some length, in his usual pleasant and happy manner. In the evening, the Deputy of the District, accompanied by his suite and several of the officers of the Grand Lodge, visited Caleb Butler Lodge, at Groton Junction, and witnessed the work of that excellent Lodge on the first degree. The work was beautifully done, and was warmly commended by the deputy and other visiting brethren. The officers of St. Paul's Lodge, as installed on the above occasion, are as follows: Albert L. Fessenden, W. M.; E. Dana Bancroft, S. W.; Daniel Needham, J. W.; Alden Warren, Treas.; A. S. Lawson, Sec.; Mowry Lapham, S. D.; Henry Woodcock, J. D.; David Orann, S. S.; Salmon S. Shepley, J. S.; Silas Nutting, Marshal; Moses Gill, Tyler; Luther S. Bancroft, Chaplain ; E. Dana Bancroft, Alden Warren, Alfred A. Adams, Committee on Charity; Luther S. Bancroft, Librarian. VISIT OF MONROE ENCAMPMENT. WEDNESDAY, the 25th ultimo, was a marked day with the Sir Knights of this city. The occasion was a passing visit of Monroe Encampment of Knights Templars from Rochester, N. Y., on their return from an excursion to Canada, Maine, and New Hampshire. They reached the city on Tuesday evening, and were received at the depot by a committee of Boston Encampment, and escorted to the United-States Hotel. On the next morning, the Boston Encampment, in full uniform, and numbering about one hundred and fifty members, took them in charge, and escorted them through the principal streets of the city to Freemasons' Hall, where the visitors were handsomely entertained at a banquet, served up in Brother Tarbell's best style. The address of welcome was made by Sir Wyzeman Marshall, Commander of the Boston Encampment, and was a very neat, eloquent, and appropriate address. The response was given by Sir W. B. Campbell, Commander of the Visiting Encampment. Neat speeches were also made by the Rev. Mr. Alger and others; all of which we should be pleased to transfer to our pages, had we the necessary room; but, the affair happening so late in the month, our space is almost entirely filled up. It is enough, however, perhaps, to say that the festivities at the table were all that could be desired, good speaking, good music, and good cheer. In the evening, the two encampments visited the Museum by the invitation of Sir Knight Moses Kimball, the proprietor of that popular establishment. On Friday, the visitors, attended by a delegation of the Boston Encampment, paid a visit to Bunker Hill, the Navy Yard, the State Prison, &c., by invitation of Sir Knight Haynes, the warden of the prison, by whom and Bro. George Washington Warren they were handsomely entertained, and in the evening left the city for home. The parade was a very handsome one, the escorting body appearing in large numbers and new regalia; and we are happy to know that the visitors were delighted with the kind and fraternal reception they had received at the hands of their brother Sir Knights of Boston. THE 66 'MARKS" AND "TOKENS" OF THE ANCIENT MASONS. THE ancient German operative Masons of the Middle Ages, after having faithfully served their Masters as Apprentices for the term of five years, were required to travel two years more, before they could be admitted into the Fraternity of Masters, in order to perfect themselves in the knowledge of their art. Before setting out on his journey, the Fellow Craft, who was technically declared to be " free," was instructed in the "Gruss" (salute) and "Handschenck," (token of grip), by means of which he could make himself known to the Lodges of regular workmen, and obtain employment or assistance as the case might be. He at the same time received a “Mark,” which he was bound to place on all his work, that it might be known and distinguished, and which he was not permitted to alter or change. These marks generally consisted of "right angles, horizontals and perpendiculars," in different combinations, and by many are thought to have been based on ancient formula, and which was used by the Byzantine architects in their distinctive marks. They are to be found in all the gothic edifices of Europe, and the wanderings of separate groups or companies of the travelling architects and builders can be traced by means of the constant recurrence of the same mark in different places. Brother Back, in Germany, has lately published a collection of these Stone-Mason's marks, which forms a valuable contribution to the history of Ancient Masonry. — Anon. THE Annual Communication of Boston Council of Royal and Select Masters was held at Freemasons' Hall on Thursday evening, Sept. 28, at which time the following officers were unanimously re-elected for the ensuing year, viz : Charles Edward Powers, M. I. G. M. George Haslett, I. G. M. W. Rev. J. P. Robinson, Recorder. William S. Knowles, M. of Ex. Thomas Waterman, Recorder. William S. Hills, C. of C. After balloting for the above named officers, the officers of the Grand Council were duly received, and M. P. Grand Master, William P. Anderson, proceeded to install the officers elect, and the ceremonies were of that agreeable and impressive nature which have heretofore characterized his official labors, and were witnessed by a large number of companions. After the installation ceremonies the Grand Council, by invitation of Boston Council, accompanied them to the banqueting hall, where, after partaking of a sumptuous repast, the companions were highly entertained by speeches from William P. Anderson, M. P. G. M.; William Parkman, M. W. G. M. of the Grand Lodge; Rev. J. W. Dadmun, P. M. P. G. M; and companions Stearns, Brastow, and others. We are happy to know of the prosperity of Boston Council, and hope its future may be as successful as its fondest friends may desire. Present number of members, 240; admitted last year, 47. MASONIC CHIT-CHAT. ABD-EL-KADER made a speech at a Freemasons' entertainment in France the other day, which, as coming from the mouth of a Mussulman saint and warrior, possesses interest. We give an extract: "In the per sons here present, I thank Freemasonry in every country. I consider Freemasonry as the first institution in the world. In my opinion, every man who does not profess Freemasonry is an incomplete man. I hope that one day the principles of Freemasonry will prevail throughout the whole world, and from that day forward all the nations will be at peace." ST. ANDREW'S R. A. CHAPTER.-At the Annual Communication of St. Andrew's R. A. Chapter, Boston, Oct. 4, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Lyman B. Meston, High Priest; George T. Ambrose, King; A. F. Chapman, Scribe; Charles T. Romney, Capt. of the Host; J. N. M. Clough, Principal Sojourner; William H. Hills, Royal Arch Captain; Francis P. Babbit, Master 3d Veil; George E. Hall, Master 2d Veil; Charles O. Fox, Master of 1st Veil; John McClellan, Treasurer; Thomas Waterman, Secretary; Rev. John P. Robinson, Chaplain; Marlborough Williams, S. Steward; Edward A. White, J. Steward; Horace G. Barrows, Organist; Luther L. Tarbell, Tyler. THE Grand Lodge of Illinois held its annual communication at Chicago, commencing on the third of October. Br. Reynolds, Grand Secretary, has furnished us with an abstract of its proceedings in the columns of his excellent "Trowel;" but it came to hand too late for the present month. PRESIDENT JOHNSON is said to have been made a Mason in the Lodge at Greenville, East Tennessee, but has never taken any active part in the proceedings of the Order WE have on hand the proceedings of sev eral Grand Bodies, to be attended to hereaf ter. Our pages have been so much occupied of late by other matter, that we have been more negligent of those proceedings than we should otherwise have been. WE are requested to say that "Charles W. Moore Lodge," at Fitchburg, will hold its regular meetings on the third Tuesday in each month. OUR GREAT DANGER.-The whole number of Lodges on the roll of the Grand Lodge of New York in 1864-5 was four hundred and ninety-eight. The whole number of initiations during the year was eight thousand nine hundred and fifty-one. This gives an average of rising one hundred and seven to a Lodge! The probability is that the smaller Lodges in the interior of the State did not make one-third of this average, and that some at least of the Lodges in the larger cities must have exceeded it by some hundreds! It was this wholesale and indiscriminate making of Masons that furnished the material for, if it were not the direct cause of, the anti-Masonic persecution which broke out in that State in 1826. It is said "like causes produce like results." We trust that the saying may not prove true in the present place; but is there not great danger of it? Do not the doors of our Lodges swing too easily on the hinges? "GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK" for November is at the bookstores, and, as is usual with this excellent monthly, is beautifully illustrated, and rich in its literary department. "The Country School" is one of those inimitable steel engravings for which this work is unrivalled. The "Fashion Plate" is elegantly executed, and will particularly interest the ladies; and we are pleased to notice a great improvement in the wood engrav. ings. In the literary department the number opens with a capital article, entitled "A Christmas Talk with Mothers." "Godey's Arm Chair" is rich with all sorts of good things. "FREEMASONS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE."The October number of this excellent Masonic monthly is on our table, filled with fresh, interesting articles, and bright as a new dollar. We highly prize it, and commend it as the best Masonic monthly on the American continent. It begins a new volume in November, and we wish Bro. Charles W. Moore great success. [Mystic Star. THE brethren of the Ancient and Accepted Rite at Chicago, Ill., held a continuous meeting the last month for the conferring of the degrees from the fourteenth to the thirty-second, commencing on Wednesday the 25th, and closing on Friday the 29th. All the bodies were in operation, and a large amount of work was done. BANNER AND DECORATVE PAINTER, No. 13 Tremont Row, Boston. Lodge, Chapter and Encampment Painting executed at short notice. Jan. 1, 1865. NEW MASONIC MUSIC BOOK. THE FIRST EDITION SOLD! AND THE SECOND NOW READY. The New York Courier says, "It affords us much satisfaction to state, that the estimate we formed of 'THE MASONIC CHOIR,' the title of the new Music Book, compiled by Bro. the Rev. J. W. DADMUN, and published by Messrs. G. D. RUSSELL & Co., of 126 Tremont street, Boston, has not been disappointed.Wherever it has been introduced it has given satisfaction, and promises ere long to be received with universal satisfaction." Price, $8 00 per dozen. A single copy sent, free of postage, at retail price, 75 cents. They can be obtained of the publishers, 126 Tremont street, Boston, or at Freemasons' Hall, No. 10 Summer street. S. A. STETSON & Co. GAS FITTERS. Jan. 1. Dealers in Gas and Coal Oil Fixtures, Lamps, &c. Particular attention given to furnishing MASONIC HALLS with Fixtures and Emblematic Shades. Also, MASONIC CANDLESTICKS. Boston, Jan. 1, 1865. No. 352, Washington St. MASONIC FURNISHING STORE. Sashes, Cellars, Aprons, Jewels, Swords, Charts. ASLO Masonic Books, Diplomas, Working Tools, And all the variety of Clothing for Encampments, Councils, Chapters, and Lodges, constantly on hand, or made to order. Any article in our line supplied at short notice, at wholesale or retail, by A. W. POLLARD & CO. No. 6 Court street, Boston, Mass. Also, MILITARY TRIMMINGS and EQUIPMENTS for Officers of the ARMY or NAVY. Jan. 1, 1865. T. C. SAVORY, BANNER AND DECORATIVE PAINTER, No. 13 Tremont Row, Boston. Lodge, Chapter and Encampment Painting executed at short Jan. 1, 1865. notice. |