impressive and characteristic. The proceedings of the day were highly auspicious to the interests of Freemasonry and the happiness of the Lodge.

JEWISH FREEMASONRY-JOPPA LODGE, No. 223, March 4.-The members celebrated the 58th anniversary. The inauguration of the new Master, the appointment of officers for the current year, and the admission of five gentlemen to the mystic art, were the leading features of the day; and there were present, in addition to its members, W. H. White, Esq., Grand Secretary; Henry Shute, Esq., Provincial Grand Master of Bristol; and several other distinguished visiting brethren. A handsome gold jewel, set with diamonds, and bearing a suitable inscription, was presented to the retiring Master, Bro. Joseph Abraham.

The new Master, Bro A. Cannar, entered upon his office under most favourable auspices; the Lodge, which consists of between seventy and eighty members, having ample funds. Amongst the officers whom the Master appointed, it will be only necessary to remark upon one which is held in this Lodge, namely, Brother the Rev. D. A. de Sola, as minister thereof. This appointment has given general satisfaction to the Brethren within, and cannot but do so to the uninitiated without, as it tends to convince those who are unacquainted with the Order, that it must be a religious and moral institution, and of such a universal nature that the Israelite, Christian, and Mahomedan can unite in one fraternal bond of friendship and brotherly love. "What a contrast is English compared to Prussian Freemasonry!" The former acknowledges and receives into its Masonic temples Brethren of all creeds, sects, or opinions, while the latter excludes all those who are not of the State religion. The Masonic business of the day being concluded, the Brethren partook of an excellent dinner, provided by Bro. Myers. Grace having been very appropriately said by Brother the Rev. D. A. Sola, before and after dinner, and the cloth being removed, several loyal and Masonic toasts were given, as is usual on those occasions. The Provincial Grand Master for Bristol, in returning thanks for the honour done him and his province, stated that it was truly gratifying to him to visit this Lodge, as the great majority were Hebrew Brethren, and to one of that faith was he indebted for what Masonic information he possessed, namely, his late much lamented and deceased Brother Keyzer. During the evening "The death of Nelson" was admirably sung; and at its conclusion, as if struck by some magic spell, the Provincial Grand Master rose and said, "Brethren, I am sure you will excuse me, for my feelings are overpowered at this moment. This signet ring on my finger belonged to that immortal hero Nelson, and was given to me by his lordship's family shortly after his death.' The sensation this statement caused can better be imagined than described.

Brother White, the Grand Secretary, also expressed himself much gratified with the proceedings of the day, and in a neat speech proposed the health of the Worshipful Master, which was acknowledged in appropriate terms. Several excellent addresses were given during the evening, and at a seasonable hour the Brethren departed, highly delighted with the day's pleasure, and impressed with the words of the royal Psalmist, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity."

OAK LODGE, No. 225.-Bro. Thos. Pryer, W. M., delivered a Lecture on some Masonic Antiquities, comprising Notices of the Hiero

VOL. V.

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laotomi of Ancient Egypt; the Dionysian Fraternities of Asia Minor; the Colleges of Artificers of Rome; and the Freemasons of the Middle Ages, with Diagrams illustrative of Mason's Marks in all ages, and an explanation of their symbolical meaning and practical application in the structure of religious edifices. We regret that, from some neglect of our reporter, we are not able to present before our readers an account of this most interesting lecture. Perhaps some Brother will kindly supply the information.

BANK OF ENGLAND LODGE, No. 329.—This truly Masonic scion continues to shed its auspicious influence over the interests of the Order benevolence its motto, principle its study. Recently it bestowed 20 guineas on the family of Mrs. Field, and 5 guineas on that of Mrs. Eccles. The " Hewlett Fund" has also benefited by its generosity. Bro. Brizzi has retired from the chair with honour. Bro. Whitmore is the newly elected W. M., and under his sway we prophecy the Lodge will lose none of its merited high character.-On dit. Bro. Smith purposes to present the Lodge with portraits of every member from his own pencil.

CONSTITUTION OF A FRENCH LODGE OF FREEMASONS, March 2.— A very grand ceremonial took place at the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, being the constitution of the first French Freemasons' Lodge in England.* At the request of a considerable number of the Brethren of the Craft, natives of France, a warrant for the installation of the Lodge was granted by the Right Hon. the Earl of Zetland, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England, and the ceremonies were conducted on a very grand scale. The Lodge bears the title of "Loge Française de la Tolerance," and carrying out the principles, the title would import, in its fullest extent, Ladies are to be admitted as Sisters of the Craft.† Bro. White, the G. S., was present, as were Bros. Emly, D. W. Nash, &c.

GRAND STEWARDS' LODGE, March 17.-The public night was well attended; the first lecture admirably worked by the W. M. Bro. W. T. Smith, assisted by Bros. Hodgkinson, Giraud, J. Udall, Norris, Forman, Cox, Emly, and Shaw. In reply to Dr. Crucefix, who returned the thanks of the visitors, his Worship stated, that it was in contemplation to have a third public night.

BURLINGTON LODGE, No. 113, March 18.-Five guineas were voted from the charity fund in aid of the "Hewlett Fund.'

CHIT CHAT.

IMPORTANT TO PROVINCIAL BRETHREN.-A desideratum is now accomplished that has long been hoped for. Our much respected Brother, T. M. Bacon, the lessee of the Freemasons' Hall and Tavern in Great Queen-street, is about to open a most commodious hotel, immediately adjoining the hall, replete with every convenience as to comfort and general accommodation, and on the most reasonable terms. To the

* This is incorrect; for if the reader will turn to page 33, of the F. Q. R. for 1845, he will find a copious extract from the Minutes of a French Lodge in London, which was consecrated in 1766, and which continued to work for many years. The Minute Book is a gem, and is in the possession of Dr. Crucefix.

On this point we are sceptical, but shall be pleased to learn further particulars.

London Brethren this will prove no less pleasant than it must be satisfactory to himself, as after the meetings of Grand Lodge, and on other occasions, they will find this a ready place for rendezvous and refreshment; but it is to the Provincial Brethren that this liberal outlay of Bro. Bacon will prove more especially convenient, as instead of having to traverse the metropolis after the public meetings of the Craft, and then have to wend their way to chance dormitories, they will at once find a home under a Masonic roof; and the situation being central, they will find Bro. "Boots" at hand to call them at " early morn," in time for any railway. Need we say more—yes, one word to the non-masonic or popular world-"Try the Masons' home, and you will probably become disposed to enter the Masons' Lodge."

FREEMASONRY AND THE PRESS.-A curious and interesting instance of the expansive influence of Masonic light lately occurred to the W. Bro. Dr. Slade-he received a newspaper from the antipodes, "The Cornwall Chronicle," published at Launceston, Van Diemen's Land, June 20, 1846, containing an entire reprint, from the pages of "The Freemasons' Quarterly," of the sermons delivered by him, as Prov. G. Chaplain, before the Prov. G. Lodge of Staffordshire, held at Newcastle in August, 1845. The Rev. Doctor is not a little proud of this compliment from his far distant Brethren.

THE LATE SIR W. FOLLETT ON MASONRY.-The future Attorneygeneral had been for many months called to the bar when we again met. This was early in 1826. He reverted to past scenes and mutual friends; and, in the course of conversation, I inferred, from a passing remark, that he had become a Mason. I asked if my conclusion was correct. "It is," was his reply: "I was initiated at Cambridge." Light had not then beamed upon myself; and I expressed in scoffing terms my astonishment. "In your early struggles at the bar," remarked he, with quiet earnestness, "you require something to reconcile you to your kind. You see so much of bitterness, and rivalry, and jealousy, and hatred, that you are thankful to call into active agency a system which creates in all its varieties kindly sympathy, cordial and wide spread benevolence, and brotherly love." "But surely," said I, " you don't go the length of asserting that Masonry does all this?" "And more! The true Mason thinks no evil of his Brother, and cherishes no designs against him. The system itself annihilates parties. And as to censoriousness and calumny, most salutary and stringent is the curb which Masonic principle, duly carried out, applies to an unbridled tongue." "Well! well! you cannot connect it with religion: you cannot, say or do as you will, affirm of it that Masonry is a religious system." By-and-by you will know better," was his reply. "Now I will only say this, that the Bible is never closed in a Mason's Lodge; that Masons habitually use prayer in their Lodges; and, in point of fact, never assemble for any purpose without performing acts of religion:-I gave you credit," continued he with a smile, "for being more thoroughly emancipated from nursery trammels and slavish prejudice."-Stray Leaves from a Freemason's Note-book.

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AN AMERICAN JUDGE.-Some time ago, a poor fugitive escaped from Maryland, and, hotly followed by the pursuer, on his way to safety beneath the broad flag of Old England, in Canada, was overtaken and seized in Vermont. The abolitionists instantly got out a habeas corpus,

and carried all parties before court, to see what warrant they had to arrest any man in Vermont who had committed no crime. Three judges were on the bench, two of them young and energetic, one aged and feeble, who came to his seat by the habit of years, but seldom spoke, his eyes being dim and his strength abated. The counsel spoke-the defence wished to know why the man was held in custody. The lawyer for the slave-holder rose to reply, and said he should move the offender was guilty of a breach of the laws of Maryland state; he was a slave, and had stolen himself. The other lawyer then said he should require proof that he was a slave. The slave-owner then stood up, and held forth a document; "This," he said, " is a bill of sale, made in my favour for this man, signed by his original owner." Then the old judge rose to his feet, and with a voice of thunder, strangely loud for one so old, demanded, "Who signed it, sir?" "John Williams," replied the astonished owner. "Take it away! take it away!" said the old man, raising his hands to heaven; “it is not valid, sir; it is falsely signed, sir; it is a blasphemous forgery; none can sign that bill of sale but God Almighty.” The court was electrified; the slave-holder slunk out, and Vermont, awakened like a sleeper, gave twenty thousand abolition votes at the next election.-Extract of a Letter from Troy, State of New York, October, 1846.

JEWS AND GENERAL LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION.—A soirée of the members of this institution was held lately, at Sussex Hall, Leadenhall-street, to celebrate the first anniversary of its establishment. The institution appears to be in a highly flourishing condition. The company on this interesting occasion included a great number of ladies. A series of addresses were in the first place delivered; Hananiel de Castro, Esq., president of the institution, leading the way, followed by Mr. Sampson Samuel, honorary solicitor, Mr. Parry, and Mr. David Wire. The addresses were all to a similar purpose, exhibiting the advantages of societies like the present, and urging on public attention the fact, that although the majority of those belonging to the institution were of the Jewish faith, that circumstance did not constitute a prohibition to the admission of persons of any religion or mode of thinking, the simple prosecution of literature and science being the desired end. There are, it appears, more than six hundred members, and the library contains five thousand books ready for constant reference. A concert was the next feature in the evening's amusements; the whole concluded with a ball, which was kept up with considerable spirit until a late hour. The hall was well lighted, and most tastefully decorated, the ensemble being extremely brilliant.

CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION AMONGST DISTRESSED JEWS.-A meeting of the rabbi and other officials connected with the various metropolitan synagogues was lately held at the Jewish Free Schools, in Bell-lane, Spitalfields, for the purpose of distributing relief to the poor members of the different synagogues. To raise a requisite sum the chief rabbi had previously issued a circular, calling upon the inferior rabbis to make a collection in their various synagogues, for their immediate succour. The sum thus gathered amounted to above £700. There were above twelve hundred poor persons of the persuasion, of both sexes, present to partake of the bounty.

THE FIRST JEW RETURNED BY THE CITIZENS OF LONDON AS COMMON COUNCIL MAN.-Just as we were going to press, information reached us that Mr. B. S. Phillips, of the respectable firm of Faudel and Phillips, of Newgate-street, had been returned as a common-council man for the ward of Farringdon-Within. We have only room in this number for the following particulars: that the requisition to Mr. P. to stand for the office was signed by the leading men of the ward. Mr. Leaf, of Old Change, warmly espoused the cause. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor presided.-Jewish Calendar, Dec. 25, 1846.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE JEWS' FREE SCHOOL. Feb. 18.-Among the toasts of the evening was "the Corporation of the City of London," in proposing which, the Chairman adverted to the removal of the law preventing Jews from filling corporate offices, and called on Mr. B. S. Phillips, a member of the Common Council, to return thanks on behalf of the body of which he was a member.

Mr. B. S. Phillips returned thanks. It needed little eloquence to assure the company that he felt flattered at being associated with the ancient and honourable Corporation of the City of London. He had been returned by a large majority, a circumstance which reflected the greatest credit on the friends of civil and religious liberty. He knew no one whose efforts for the removal of Jewish disabilities had been of so much importance as those of Mr. Salomons, and he rendered that gentleman his tribute of thanks for his unwearying and unflinching advocacy of the rights of the Jews. The Jews now participated in the advancement of civilisation, and he felt assured that they would strive to promote its advancement by securing a sound, moral, and intellectual instruction for their poor. He would always devote his best energies to support the privileges of the corporation, and to promote the welfare of his own people, whose complete emancipation, he doubted not, would soon be conceded, and thus the chaplet of liberty would not want one blossom to complete its beauty. Mr. Phillips resumed his seat amidst much cheering.-Jewish Chronicle.

THE JEWISH CHRONICLE mentions that Mr. Philip Salomans has recently presented the valuable library of his late father, consisting of some very rare biblical and rabbinical works, in all about four hundred volumes, to the corporation of the city of London.

JEWISH FREEMASONS IN PRUSSIA.-We exceedingly regret having to contradict a statement which we copied, in our Number 7, from the English and German newspapers, in reference to the admission of Jewish Masons into the Grand Lodge of Prussia. We have seen a letter received by a respected correspondent of ours from Berlin, stating that the Prince of Prussia, as well as the King, are as strongly opposed to their admission as ever.-Ibid.

RANDOLPH'S REPROOF OF AN ATHEIST.-Shortly after his recovery from sickness, in 1816, he was dining at the house of a distinguished politician, with a large and mixed company. Among them, to use his own words, "Was a hoary-headed debauchee, whose vices had completely shattered his constitution, whose days seemed to be numbered; and yet, sir, he had the audacity to call in question the existence of the Deity presuming, I suppose, that there were many kindred spirits there. I happened to sit directly opposite to him, and felt so disgusted at his impiety, I could not avoid saying, I think, sir, you might better have