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form the basis of an inquiry by the Provincial Grand Lodge . To pass it by unnoticed is to admit that there is some truth in the charges put forward , whereas we hope there is some way of satisfactorily explaining the apparent discrepancies .

Some interesting details of the past year ' s work were submitted at the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire , held on Wednesday , at Nantwich . Although the Cheshire grants to the London Charitable Institutions only reached £ QS

during the year the local brethren had not been idle in the cause of benevolence , the contributions to the two county funds : the Cheshire Masonic Benevolent Institution and the Cheshire Educational Masonic

institution , acldecl to the amount sent to Lioruion , bringing up the totalfof the year to £ 3 , 007 1-1-J 6 d actually paid by Cheshire brethren in the cause of charity . The particulars given in regard

to the newly established local Benevolent Institution as well as the older Educational one were most gratifying , and gave evidence of sincerity and great zeal on the part of the members of the Province .

The report of a Scottish Lodge meeting supplies the idea for a novelty which might find some supporters this side the border . Interspersed between the toasts and the songs of the evening was a Masonic address , rendered by one of the Past Masters . We

do not mean the rendering of an address is anything of a novelty , but the time at which it was here delivered ; and although such subjects may be best discussed within a tiled Lodge it is certain there are many who would appreciate a brief address on

Masonry during the period set apart lor recreation after a quiet meeting , particularly as it would not then delay the closing of the Lodge and the commencement of the after proceedings .

A strange admixture of things is found in the announcement of a billiard match for a whisky bottle , " with a Masonic charm attached . " The terms were that it should be played for by Freemasons or the sons of Freemasons only , but we think the Masonic

enthusiasm of the donor carried him a little too far , as we cannot see what need there was for this association of Masonry , billiards and whisky , although we have heard of members of the Masonic

Order for whom a whisky bottle had a certain amount of charm—apart from the attachment provided in the case under notice .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 70.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 70 .

BY BRO . CHAS . F ., FOBSIIAW , LL . D . UNITY .

Inspired by God—Israel ' s loved Psalmist sang Of many things which thrill the human breast ; Ilia harp no ' er sounded with discordant twang , Yet tells all tales o'er yet we go in quest .

Freemasons love one Psalm surpassing well , And 'tis well known to all their vast community j " It tells how good for Brethren 'tis to dwell Together bound in bonds of Love and Unity . Let us , my Brothers , ever cultivate

Affections goldon and all-hallowed tie ; Harbouring no feelings that can separate The unison which tends to glorify . Let us clasp hand and swear by help divine To e'er uphold sweet Unity ' s design . Winder Ilouse , Bradford , 11 th September 1893 .

Tbe annual meeting of the Grand Lodgo of Murk Master Masons for tbe Provinco of Devonshire will be held at Exeter ou Thursday , the 28 th inst . Sir Stafford Northcote , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master will prosidc .

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum

ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM

( VI . PART 2 ) . Br BRO . R . F . GOULD .

BY the recent publication of part 2 of our Transactions for the current year , Bro . Speth has presented us with what I shall venture to term , both in regard to the temporary cessation of his own arduous labours , and tho general Masonic inactivity at the present season , as the "Holiday" number of Ars Quatuor Coronatorum .

It commences with " A Sketch of the Earlier History of Masonry in Austria and Hungary , " by Bro . Ladislas do Malczovich , the first portion of which appeared in Vol . IV . ( pp . 20-24 ) , and therefore tha article or essay has entered upon the third year of its existence .

The writer began by informing us ( Vol . I V " . p . 20 ) thafc "tho particulars were taken from the historical work of Brother Louis Abafi , which was founded on the best sources , in part not generally known , " and the promise of new matter , thus held out , has been faithfully carried into execution . But

authorities are too sparingly cited , and unless Brother Malczovich is content that the entire sketch should practically rest on the faith of the compiler , he will do well to marshal—before finally parting with his subject—the array of testimony by which the general body of his remarks are supported .

The idea to which I have just given expression has been very forcibly suggested by a perusal of our brother ' s latest contribution . The point he has now reached is a deeply interesting one . The full story of the STRICT OBSERVANCE has never yet been told , nor from the nature of things can

we suppose that it ever will . But a sketch of the " Earlier History of Masonry " in any part of Germany , professedly based on materials not generally accessible , and therefore imperfectly known , even if it does not sensibly add to our information , ought at least to

render our ignorance with regard to tho subject less profound . The strange adventures of Baron Von Hand , tho mystery relating to Johnson , and other curious features of the greatest of " Masonic aberrations , " are left , however , by Bro . Malczovich , very much in the same obscurity as when

he commenced to dilate upon them . It may be , of course , that there is no new light which can be shed upon the familiar story , though since our brqther promises to return , in a later contribution , to Von Hund and his Rite , let us hope , that in the fulness of time , the curiosity of those

readers who are interested in tho marvellous though fleeting triumph of the STRICT OBSERVANCE over all other continental Rites , will be amply satisfied . Bro . Malczovich , however , would do well to accelerato the pace at which he is

proceeding . " It is the business uf a good antiquary , us oj a good man , to have mortality aliuays before him , " Also , to repeat what I have hinted at before , a more frequent reference to authorities , would be gratefully welcomed by the numerous admirers of his excellent paper .

The Tan as a Key-stone , " by the ( late ) Bro . H . J . "Whymper , " serves at once to illustrate the versatility of the writer , and to accentuate the gvief of both Circles at the

loss they have sustained , The latter sentiment is admirably voiced by Hughan in the very next article , and a speaking likeness of our deceased brother , which appears with it , will be very generally appreciated .

Tho Grand Secretary of Holland , Bro . J . P . Vaillant , furnishes a highly interesting description of Les Chevaliers des Cinq Epees . The degrees were Aspirant , Chevalier , Commandeur , and Grand Cross , and in the last three , wero

used the words , " Union , Vertu , Simphcite . There was also a catechism . The society or club existed during the latter part of the 18 th century among the students at the University of Leyden .

The first paper read before the L 8 dge ( 5 th May ) was The Tracing Board in Modern , Oriental , aud Mecliceval Operative Masonry , of which the W . M ., Professor T . Hayter Lewis , said , — " It is a paper which very few men ,

whether within our circle or out of it , could have written : for the practical knowledge and aptitude to decide and apply it to our purpose is in the possession of very few , whether Freemason or not . "

The 1 . 0 ., Bro . C . Purdon Clarke , OLE ., in his instructive discourse , touched on many points of deep interest to the literati of Freemasonry , and his essay is entitled to rank among the best and most scholarly productions that have adorned the Transact tuns of the Lodgo .