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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad00704
MANCHE STER . —254 , Oxford Road . Eight Doors from Owens College . THE REV . ROBERT HAMMOND COTTON , M . A ., B . Sc ' ., LONDON , RECEIVES STUDENTS FOR BOARD , RESIDENCE , AND TUITION .
Ad00705
ATLAS ASSURANCE COMPANY . 92 , CHEAPSIDE , LONDON , E . C . FIRE , LIFE ~ ACCIDENT . Capital—One Million Two Hundred Thousand Pounds . Instituted 1 S 0 S , and Empowered by Special Act of Parliament . The Company has been in existence more than 7 6 Years . Moderate Rates . Prompt Settlements . Liberal Conditions , j All its Funds are Invested in . Great Britain . Transacts Home Business only . No Hypothecation of Funds for Foreign Policy Holders . Ample Reserves apart from Capital . LIFE DEPARTMENT—Whole-World Assurances . Liberal Surrender Values given in Cash or by paid-up Policies . Payment of Claim * immediately on proof of death . ' All kinds of Life Assurance transacted . ACCIDENTS—Assured Against , whether fatal or causing total or partial disablement , at moderate rates , and with liberal Compensation . FIRE—Policies issued free of expense . LOSSES OCCASIONED BY LIGHTNING will bepaid whether the property be set on lire or not . LOSS OR DAMAGE caused by Explosion of Coal Gas in any building assured will be made good . , even Years' Policies granted on payment of Six Years' Premiums . Active Agents Wanted . SAMUEL J . PIPKIN , Secretary .
To Correspondents.
To Correspondents .
The following reports , & c , stand over for want of space until our next : CRAFT LODGES—Medina , 35 ; City of London , 901 ; Sphinx , 1329 ; Eboracum Lodge , 1611 . LODGES OF INSTRUCTION—Faith , 141 ; Hyde Park , 1424 . MARK LODGES—Old Kent ( T . I . ); St . Mark ' s , No . 1 ;
Brixton , 234 . CORRESPONDENCE—Bro . Brackstone Baker ; Temperance Lodges ; Rob . Morris ; An old Mason ; Hughan Testimonial ; J . Chapman . Faith Lodge of Instruction Banquet . Consecration of a New Masonic Hall at Mountmellick . Some Ancient York Masons and their Early Haunts .
BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " Freemasons' Repository , " "Sunday Times , " " Jewish Chronicle , " "Keystone , " "La Chaine d'Union , " "Die Bauhiitte , " " Our Old Nobility , " " Hull Packet , " " Broad Arrow , " * ' Citizen , " " The Court Rolls of thc Borough of Paington , Devon , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " " Court Circular , " "Information for the Members of thc Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite , " "Sunday Times " ( New York ) , " Freemason " ( Cliristchurch ) , " Tricycling Journal . "
Ar00707
SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 22 , 1884 .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of the opinions expressed by ourcorrespondents , but we wish in aspirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]
THE WORCESTER MASONIC EXHIBITION CATALOGUE . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — If I did not know how generally indifferent the great majority of the members of our Craft are to Masonic literature , and indeed to almost everything that is outside the absolutely necessary work of the lodge and its
subsequent entertainment , I should have felt more surprised than I did on seeing an intimation in print to the effect that the only edition published , or to be published , of the catalogue of Masonic exhibits at the late soiree and subsequent Exhibition at Worcester in August last , is not yel exhausted . It appears that a loss will accrue to several worth , brethren if the remaining copies should not he disposed of and if such becomes a fact it will reflect discredit
upon all who affect an interest in Masonic work and yet refrain from rendering assistance . The catalogue is an admirable record of Masonic antiquities , compiled at the expense of much labour by the Prov . Grand Secretary for Worcestershire ( W . Bro . Geo . Taylor ) , and fully annotated by our eminent Masonic historian , Bro . Hughan . It is handsomely bound , and full of valuable information in respect of nearly 1200 interesting
exhibits , and is not only a work of importance for present reference , but will certainly become in the future a libre d ' or without which no Freemason ' s library will be complete . I am informed that the remaining copies of this most useful work are offered to the Craft at the cost price of two shillings per copy only . Now , setting aside the obligation on the part of all true Freemasons to "support laudable undertakings , " and merely looking at the matter as a
question of kind consideration for the voluntary and unpaid services of devoted brethren , ought we to forego the opportunity for becoming possessors of what is even now worth more than the price named , and will certainly grow into much greater value ? If the brethren will take a hint from one who acknowledges that he may be sometimes intrusive , but even when so has the welfare of the Craft and the individual interest of its members at heart , and send a postal order for two
Original Correspondence.
shillings to Bro . George Taylor , Summcrdyne , Kidderminster , for the copy of the work , I'll answer tor it they will never blame the adviser . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , JAMES STEVENS , Clapham , Nov . 17 th , 1 SS 4 . P . M ., P . Z .
CONSECRATION—A QUERY . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As a Past Master of the English Constitution and a subscriber to your excellent paper , will you kindly decide a question which has arisen through the word " consecration " being omitted from the revised edition of the Book
of Constitutions ? Ihe authorised edition , issued 1 S 73 , states that "The following is the manner of constituting a new lodge according to the ancient usage of Masons . " " The lodge is then consecrated according to ceremonies proper and usual on those occasions ; but not proper to be written , and the Grand Master constitutes the lodge in ancient form . " Grand Secretary , Bro . J . Hervey ,
in an addenda and corregenda states "that no meeting as a lodge can be held by the petitioners until the Iodge has been duly consecrated and the Mastcr designate installed . No dispensation can be granted to supersede these regulations . " The revised edition states that " In order to avoid irregularities , every new lodge shall be solemnly constituted " — j
no mention is made of consecration . Question A . —Is the consecration of a lodge necessary for the legality of its constitution ? Question B . —What is a lodge ? This very simple question has divided us into antagonistic triads—1 Considers that a " a lodge " is the building in which '
Masonic meetings are held . When the building has been once consecrated , it is quite unnecessary to go through the ceremony again . It is "the lodge , " no matter how many separate and distinct warrants may be worked under its roof . 2 Argues that a lodge consists of its members , as with a place of worship the congregation constitutes the church , ,
not the building in which they assemble ; or with an academy , a building without scholars is no academy . 3 Is an old-fashioned party , and support their views by Preston's " Illustrations of Masonry . " This great authority of his day states that " the Grand Master and his officers , accompanied by some dignified clergyman , having taken their station , and the lodge , which is placed in the
centre , being covered with white satin , the ceremony of consecration commences The lodges being then uncovered , the first clause of the consecration prayer is rehearsed , & c . The above ceremony being finished , the Grand Master advances to the pedestal and constitutes the new lodge . "
The great distance weare from the Grand Lodgeof England , and our lamentable want of knowledge upon Masonic forms , customs , and ceremonies , will , I am sure , excuse my troubling you upon what appears to us a serious difference of opinion , more particularly as Masonry is in a very unsettled condition at this time in the colony . —Yours fraternally , P . M . E . G ., Victoria . Melbourne , October Sth .
MASONIC MENDICANCY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Here in the past three years , out _ of a score of applicants for relief , there was but one whom inquiry showed to have anything like a decent claim . Some were rank impostors—all were vagrants . It is high time that Masonic
mendicancy was sharply checked . These tramps are a discredit to the Fraternity and make a living- out of what would or ought to be applied to deserving objects . I hope Bro . Stevens will be able to plan some workable organization . My firm conviction is that not five in a hundred of the claimants upon the Almoner ' s box are worthy of even the very slightest help . —Yours fraternally ,
JAS . EARDLEY MASON , VV . M . and Almoner , 1600 . Alford , 10 th November , 1 SS 4 .
MASONIC ARCH / EOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I read Bro . Hawkins's very sensible and able letter in your issue of 27 th September , and am sorry to find it has not found a number of interested correspondents in reply . As I do not myself profess to be an authority on the
ways and means of forming such an Association as is advocated by Bro . Hawkins , I had hoped , past experience notwithstanding , that the little farthing rushlight once more aglow would burn more brightly week by week , and that some of our better informed London brethren would take up this question and inform Bro . Hawkins—and through the
Freemason , me—how the thing is to be done . That it has been tried before and failed is not a good enough reason why it should again fail ; but does not the want of interest suggest the query why this much needed Association appears again to have no chance of being formed ? I think the answer as it crosses my mind is perhaps as strong an argument in . favour of Bro . Hawkins's suggestion as I
can give . There is at present a general indisposition amongst the members of lodges to interest themselves in matters which they think are of questionable utility . Some go so far as to say that Freemasonry has gained nothing by these restless investigators of the past—that as a matter of fact they have proved a nuisance , destroying a very good (?) history , and unable to supply the Craft with a better ; that they now
do nothing but quarrel over the remains and expect then brethren to do the applause . Anyhow , these opinions are openly expressed ; and the cause is not difficult to lind when we know that such expressions are the result of annoyance , and not by any means to be attributed to superior knowledge . They are , too , I am glad to say , invariably expressed " more in sorrow than in anger . "
So long as the present generation of Masons is bored tn the lodge on every possible pretext and opportunity by learned disquisitions on Masonic Archaeology—even if out of respect for an otherwise sensible and highly esteemed brother an audience may be found—all genuine interest in such subjects is naturally deadened and often destroyed . In my opinion , the lodge is not the proper place for those discussions , _ and further , a meeting of the members of such an Association as Bro . Hawkins advocates is .
Original Correspondence.
I sympathise ( I had nearly written condole ) with those brethren who , having , it may be , a genuine attachment to their lodge , and love for its legitimate work , but no natural taste for antiquarian research , are expected to listen with rapture and delight to a description of one of the ugliest specimens of the potter ' s art ever seen—the latest " find . " It may have three handles , or two , perhaps only one—but
somehow Masonry will keep up its traditions , and they are punch-bowls or loving-cups all the same . But let it be all that is claimed for it on the score of antiquity , nay , rather than have it broken on our somewhat hard head , we will concede that one of the figures must be the Queen of Sheba . 1 am not surprised that brethren should consider a
description of the tracing boards would be more profitable tudy—at any rate , in the lodge . There is a second " reason why " in the fact that a large proportion of Masons do not know what is going on outside their own lodge . This , however , is the old style and in time will regulate itself . —Yours fraternally ,
J . RAMSDEN RILEY , N v ' ?> lSS 4- P . M . 3 S 7 , & c . THE LIBRARY OF THF GRAND LODGE OF
SCOTLAND . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear . Sir and Brother , I readily snd with pleasure reply to the query put by our esteemed Bro . G . VV . Speth through the Freemason of ist November . In August , 1 S 49 , the widow of Dr . Charles jMorison , of
Greenfield , in the county of Clackmannan , presented to thc Grand Lodge of Scotland a collection of Masonic books and manuscripts , numbering upwards of 2000 volumes ; inclusive of brochures and pamphlets . This collection embraces the books , rituals , and MSS . referred to as having belonged to Thory . While I write I have before me Lenoir's MS ., entitled " Nouvelle Explication des Mysteres Anciens
et Modernes , " and containing a portrait of the author ; Lenoir's " L'Antiquite de la Franche-Maconnerie prouvee , par 1 'explication des Mysteres d'Isis et de Ceres , " Paris , 1 S 1 S ; the Rite Hermetique in MS . ; Societe des Priseurs in MS . ( unique ); and a number of pamphlets—Frederick the
Great giving public protection to Masonry , Berlin , 1774 ; Masonic Festival in the Lodge Royal York , at Berlin , on the King's Birthday , 177 S ; the Red Lodge Unveiled , 1790 ; the Secret Societies judged by Washington , 1794 , & c . There are also autograph letters of celebrated Masons .
I am at present , in conjunction with my friend and brother , Dr . John T . Loth , LL . D ., engaged in preparing a catalogue of Grand Lodge Library , and hope to have it completed early next year . D . MURRAY LYON , Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , Grand Secretary . November 17 th .
MASONIC PORTRAIT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I regret to say I have not yet succeeded in identifying the portrait of the Provincial Grand Master mentioned in your issues of the ist and Sth instant .
For the information of " Masonic Portrait Collector , " I may state that it is not a portrait of the first Earl of Durham , as I am perfectly familiar with the features of that nobleman , who would have been a much younger man in 1 S 1 S ; and , moreover , I have had a portrait of him in my possession for some years past . —Yours fraternally , H . SADLER .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
459 ] MASONIC JEWELRY AND INDIANS . Referring to the interesting letter of Bro . B . P . Lascelles , regarding imitations of Masonic jewelry found amongst the Tuscarora Indians , I should suspect that at some earlier period an unfortunate brother had fallen into their merciless
hands , and that some of his Masonic jewels have been found by them . Many such articles must have been taken by Indians in former years when they made their furious raids upon outlying settlements ; and these , as in the case of the coins , & c , also named , have been admired and imitated without any notion as to their meaning . T . B . WHYTEHEAD .
4 60 ! A HEBREW GUILD OF MASONS . Bro . C . Stanhope , P . G . C , in his able oration in the Isle of Man , propounds the theory that there was in Solomon ' s time certain Masonic Guilds , the precursors of all similar subsequent bodies . Though , thus far , the Hebrew evidences on thc subject are not clear , there seems to be a great probability that such was the case , the more
so as Artificer Guilds are known to have existed " tempore Salomonis . " The terms used in the Bible relating to the Masons such as Menatchkim , Ghiblim or Gebalim , & c ., & c , seem to be technical terms , of familiar use , and I agree with Bro . Stanhope that not only is there nothing improbable in the assertion , but I also think that further careful researches may educe Rabbinical recognition of such peculiar words . It is too often assumed that we already
know all that needs be known , or is to be known , as to Masonic archa : ology . Whereas , in my opinion , we only resemble Newton ' s searcher on the sea shore " picking up pebbles , " and have still to confront great haze , uncertainty , doubt , and difficulty , on many important points , on which we should naturally wish to have clearer light and fuller knowledge . But we are living in a very conceited age , and such a fashionable way of thinking reacts on Masonic studies . MASONIC STUDENT .
People have been taking so much interest of late in the doings of Freemasons , that we shall be excused for pointing out , with a certain sense of pride , that there has been a very considerable increase in the number of lodges constituted by authority of the Grand Lodge of England .
According to the " Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar and Pocket Book for 1 SS 5 , " just published , there are now 20 G 4 lodges on the roll of England , as against 2022 at the corresponding period of 1 S 84 . This shows an addition of no less than 42 lodges as affecting England only , to say nothing of those added in other countries .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad00704
MANCHE STER . —254 , Oxford Road . Eight Doors from Owens College . THE REV . ROBERT HAMMOND COTTON , M . A ., B . Sc ' ., LONDON , RECEIVES STUDENTS FOR BOARD , RESIDENCE , AND TUITION .
Ad00705
ATLAS ASSURANCE COMPANY . 92 , CHEAPSIDE , LONDON , E . C . FIRE , LIFE ~ ACCIDENT . Capital—One Million Two Hundred Thousand Pounds . Instituted 1 S 0 S , and Empowered by Special Act of Parliament . The Company has been in existence more than 7 6 Years . Moderate Rates . Prompt Settlements . Liberal Conditions , j All its Funds are Invested in . Great Britain . Transacts Home Business only . No Hypothecation of Funds for Foreign Policy Holders . Ample Reserves apart from Capital . LIFE DEPARTMENT—Whole-World Assurances . Liberal Surrender Values given in Cash or by paid-up Policies . Payment of Claim * immediately on proof of death . ' All kinds of Life Assurance transacted . ACCIDENTS—Assured Against , whether fatal or causing total or partial disablement , at moderate rates , and with liberal Compensation . FIRE—Policies issued free of expense . LOSSES OCCASIONED BY LIGHTNING will bepaid whether the property be set on lire or not . LOSS OR DAMAGE caused by Explosion of Coal Gas in any building assured will be made good . , even Years' Policies granted on payment of Six Years' Premiums . Active Agents Wanted . SAMUEL J . PIPKIN , Secretary .
To Correspondents.
To Correspondents .
The following reports , & c , stand over for want of space until our next : CRAFT LODGES—Medina , 35 ; City of London , 901 ; Sphinx , 1329 ; Eboracum Lodge , 1611 . LODGES OF INSTRUCTION—Faith , 141 ; Hyde Park , 1424 . MARK LODGES—Old Kent ( T . I . ); St . Mark ' s , No . 1 ;
Brixton , 234 . CORRESPONDENCE—Bro . Brackstone Baker ; Temperance Lodges ; Rob . Morris ; An old Mason ; Hughan Testimonial ; J . Chapman . Faith Lodge of Instruction Banquet . Consecration of a New Masonic Hall at Mountmellick . Some Ancient York Masons and their Early Haunts .
BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " Freemasons' Repository , " "Sunday Times , " " Jewish Chronicle , " "Keystone , " "La Chaine d'Union , " "Die Bauhiitte , " " Our Old Nobility , " " Hull Packet , " " Broad Arrow , " * ' Citizen , " " The Court Rolls of thc Borough of Paington , Devon , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " " Court Circular , " "Information for the Members of thc Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite , " "Sunday Times " ( New York ) , " Freemason " ( Cliristchurch ) , " Tricycling Journal . "
Ar00707
SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 22 , 1884 .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of the opinions expressed by ourcorrespondents , but we wish in aspirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]
THE WORCESTER MASONIC EXHIBITION CATALOGUE . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — If I did not know how generally indifferent the great majority of the members of our Craft are to Masonic literature , and indeed to almost everything that is outside the absolutely necessary work of the lodge and its
subsequent entertainment , I should have felt more surprised than I did on seeing an intimation in print to the effect that the only edition published , or to be published , of the catalogue of Masonic exhibits at the late soiree and subsequent Exhibition at Worcester in August last , is not yel exhausted . It appears that a loss will accrue to several worth , brethren if the remaining copies should not he disposed of and if such becomes a fact it will reflect discredit
upon all who affect an interest in Masonic work and yet refrain from rendering assistance . The catalogue is an admirable record of Masonic antiquities , compiled at the expense of much labour by the Prov . Grand Secretary for Worcestershire ( W . Bro . Geo . Taylor ) , and fully annotated by our eminent Masonic historian , Bro . Hughan . It is handsomely bound , and full of valuable information in respect of nearly 1200 interesting
exhibits , and is not only a work of importance for present reference , but will certainly become in the future a libre d ' or without which no Freemason ' s library will be complete . I am informed that the remaining copies of this most useful work are offered to the Craft at the cost price of two shillings per copy only . Now , setting aside the obligation on the part of all true Freemasons to "support laudable undertakings , " and merely looking at the matter as a
question of kind consideration for the voluntary and unpaid services of devoted brethren , ought we to forego the opportunity for becoming possessors of what is even now worth more than the price named , and will certainly grow into much greater value ? If the brethren will take a hint from one who acknowledges that he may be sometimes intrusive , but even when so has the welfare of the Craft and the individual interest of its members at heart , and send a postal order for two
Original Correspondence.
shillings to Bro . George Taylor , Summcrdyne , Kidderminster , for the copy of the work , I'll answer tor it they will never blame the adviser . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , JAMES STEVENS , Clapham , Nov . 17 th , 1 SS 4 . P . M ., P . Z .
CONSECRATION—A QUERY . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , As a Past Master of the English Constitution and a subscriber to your excellent paper , will you kindly decide a question which has arisen through the word " consecration " being omitted from the revised edition of the Book
of Constitutions ? Ihe authorised edition , issued 1 S 73 , states that "The following is the manner of constituting a new lodge according to the ancient usage of Masons . " " The lodge is then consecrated according to ceremonies proper and usual on those occasions ; but not proper to be written , and the Grand Master constitutes the lodge in ancient form . " Grand Secretary , Bro . J . Hervey ,
in an addenda and corregenda states "that no meeting as a lodge can be held by the petitioners until the Iodge has been duly consecrated and the Mastcr designate installed . No dispensation can be granted to supersede these regulations . " The revised edition states that " In order to avoid irregularities , every new lodge shall be solemnly constituted " — j
no mention is made of consecration . Question A . —Is the consecration of a lodge necessary for the legality of its constitution ? Question B . —What is a lodge ? This very simple question has divided us into antagonistic triads—1 Considers that a " a lodge " is the building in which '
Masonic meetings are held . When the building has been once consecrated , it is quite unnecessary to go through the ceremony again . It is "the lodge , " no matter how many separate and distinct warrants may be worked under its roof . 2 Argues that a lodge consists of its members , as with a place of worship the congregation constitutes the church , ,
not the building in which they assemble ; or with an academy , a building without scholars is no academy . 3 Is an old-fashioned party , and support their views by Preston's " Illustrations of Masonry . " This great authority of his day states that " the Grand Master and his officers , accompanied by some dignified clergyman , having taken their station , and the lodge , which is placed in the
centre , being covered with white satin , the ceremony of consecration commences The lodges being then uncovered , the first clause of the consecration prayer is rehearsed , & c . The above ceremony being finished , the Grand Master advances to the pedestal and constitutes the new lodge . "
The great distance weare from the Grand Lodgeof England , and our lamentable want of knowledge upon Masonic forms , customs , and ceremonies , will , I am sure , excuse my troubling you upon what appears to us a serious difference of opinion , more particularly as Masonry is in a very unsettled condition at this time in the colony . —Yours fraternally , P . M . E . G ., Victoria . Melbourne , October Sth .
MASONIC MENDICANCY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Here in the past three years , out _ of a score of applicants for relief , there was but one whom inquiry showed to have anything like a decent claim . Some were rank impostors—all were vagrants . It is high time that Masonic
mendicancy was sharply checked . These tramps are a discredit to the Fraternity and make a living- out of what would or ought to be applied to deserving objects . I hope Bro . Stevens will be able to plan some workable organization . My firm conviction is that not five in a hundred of the claimants upon the Almoner ' s box are worthy of even the very slightest help . —Yours fraternally ,
JAS . EARDLEY MASON , VV . M . and Almoner , 1600 . Alford , 10 th November , 1 SS 4 .
MASONIC ARCH / EOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I read Bro . Hawkins's very sensible and able letter in your issue of 27 th September , and am sorry to find it has not found a number of interested correspondents in reply . As I do not myself profess to be an authority on the
ways and means of forming such an Association as is advocated by Bro . Hawkins , I had hoped , past experience notwithstanding , that the little farthing rushlight once more aglow would burn more brightly week by week , and that some of our better informed London brethren would take up this question and inform Bro . Hawkins—and through the
Freemason , me—how the thing is to be done . That it has been tried before and failed is not a good enough reason why it should again fail ; but does not the want of interest suggest the query why this much needed Association appears again to have no chance of being formed ? I think the answer as it crosses my mind is perhaps as strong an argument in . favour of Bro . Hawkins's suggestion as I
can give . There is at present a general indisposition amongst the members of lodges to interest themselves in matters which they think are of questionable utility . Some go so far as to say that Freemasonry has gained nothing by these restless investigators of the past—that as a matter of fact they have proved a nuisance , destroying a very good (?) history , and unable to supply the Craft with a better ; that they now
do nothing but quarrel over the remains and expect then brethren to do the applause . Anyhow , these opinions are openly expressed ; and the cause is not difficult to lind when we know that such expressions are the result of annoyance , and not by any means to be attributed to superior knowledge . They are , too , I am glad to say , invariably expressed " more in sorrow than in anger . "
So long as the present generation of Masons is bored tn the lodge on every possible pretext and opportunity by learned disquisitions on Masonic Archaeology—even if out of respect for an otherwise sensible and highly esteemed brother an audience may be found—all genuine interest in such subjects is naturally deadened and often destroyed . In my opinion , the lodge is not the proper place for those discussions , _ and further , a meeting of the members of such an Association as Bro . Hawkins advocates is .
Original Correspondence.
I sympathise ( I had nearly written condole ) with those brethren who , having , it may be , a genuine attachment to their lodge , and love for its legitimate work , but no natural taste for antiquarian research , are expected to listen with rapture and delight to a description of one of the ugliest specimens of the potter ' s art ever seen—the latest " find . " It may have three handles , or two , perhaps only one—but
somehow Masonry will keep up its traditions , and they are punch-bowls or loving-cups all the same . But let it be all that is claimed for it on the score of antiquity , nay , rather than have it broken on our somewhat hard head , we will concede that one of the figures must be the Queen of Sheba . 1 am not surprised that brethren should consider a
description of the tracing boards would be more profitable tudy—at any rate , in the lodge . There is a second " reason why " in the fact that a large proportion of Masons do not know what is going on outside their own lodge . This , however , is the old style and in time will regulate itself . —Yours fraternally ,
J . RAMSDEN RILEY , N v ' ?> lSS 4- P . M . 3 S 7 , & c . THE LIBRARY OF THF GRAND LODGE OF
SCOTLAND . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear . Sir and Brother , I readily snd with pleasure reply to the query put by our esteemed Bro . G . VV . Speth through the Freemason of ist November . In August , 1 S 49 , the widow of Dr . Charles jMorison , of
Greenfield , in the county of Clackmannan , presented to thc Grand Lodge of Scotland a collection of Masonic books and manuscripts , numbering upwards of 2000 volumes ; inclusive of brochures and pamphlets . This collection embraces the books , rituals , and MSS . referred to as having belonged to Thory . While I write I have before me Lenoir's MS ., entitled " Nouvelle Explication des Mysteres Anciens
et Modernes , " and containing a portrait of the author ; Lenoir's " L'Antiquite de la Franche-Maconnerie prouvee , par 1 'explication des Mysteres d'Isis et de Ceres , " Paris , 1 S 1 S ; the Rite Hermetique in MS . ; Societe des Priseurs in MS . ( unique ); and a number of pamphlets—Frederick the
Great giving public protection to Masonry , Berlin , 1774 ; Masonic Festival in the Lodge Royal York , at Berlin , on the King's Birthday , 177 S ; the Red Lodge Unveiled , 1790 ; the Secret Societies judged by Washington , 1794 , & c . There are also autograph letters of celebrated Masons .
I am at present , in conjunction with my friend and brother , Dr . John T . Loth , LL . D ., engaged in preparing a catalogue of Grand Lodge Library , and hope to have it completed early next year . D . MURRAY LYON , Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , Grand Secretary . November 17 th .
MASONIC PORTRAIT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I regret to say I have not yet succeeded in identifying the portrait of the Provincial Grand Master mentioned in your issues of the ist and Sth instant .
For the information of " Masonic Portrait Collector , " I may state that it is not a portrait of the first Earl of Durham , as I am perfectly familiar with the features of that nobleman , who would have been a much younger man in 1 S 1 S ; and , moreover , I have had a portrait of him in my possession for some years past . —Yours fraternally , H . SADLER .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
459 ] MASONIC JEWELRY AND INDIANS . Referring to the interesting letter of Bro . B . P . Lascelles , regarding imitations of Masonic jewelry found amongst the Tuscarora Indians , I should suspect that at some earlier period an unfortunate brother had fallen into their merciless
hands , and that some of his Masonic jewels have been found by them . Many such articles must have been taken by Indians in former years when they made their furious raids upon outlying settlements ; and these , as in the case of the coins , & c , also named , have been admired and imitated without any notion as to their meaning . T . B . WHYTEHEAD .
4 60 ! A HEBREW GUILD OF MASONS . Bro . C . Stanhope , P . G . C , in his able oration in the Isle of Man , propounds the theory that there was in Solomon ' s time certain Masonic Guilds , the precursors of all similar subsequent bodies . Though , thus far , the Hebrew evidences on thc subject are not clear , there seems to be a great probability that such was the case , the more
so as Artificer Guilds are known to have existed " tempore Salomonis . " The terms used in the Bible relating to the Masons such as Menatchkim , Ghiblim or Gebalim , & c ., & c , seem to be technical terms , of familiar use , and I agree with Bro . Stanhope that not only is there nothing improbable in the assertion , but I also think that further careful researches may educe Rabbinical recognition of such peculiar words . It is too often assumed that we already
know all that needs be known , or is to be known , as to Masonic archa : ology . Whereas , in my opinion , we only resemble Newton ' s searcher on the sea shore " picking up pebbles , " and have still to confront great haze , uncertainty , doubt , and difficulty , on many important points , on which we should naturally wish to have clearer light and fuller knowledge . But we are living in a very conceited age , and such a fashionable way of thinking reacts on Masonic studies . MASONIC STUDENT .
People have been taking so much interest of late in the doings of Freemasons , that we shall be excused for pointing out , with a certain sense of pride , that there has been a very considerable increase in the number of lodges constituted by authority of the Grand Lodge of England .
According to the " Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar and Pocket Book for 1 SS 5 , " just published , there are now 20 G 4 lodges on the roll of England , as against 2022 at the corresponding period of 1 S 84 . This shows an addition of no less than 42 lodges as affecting England only , to say nothing of those added in other countries .