Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . ] ALLEGORICAL SCULPTURES IN . MEDIAEVAL CHURCHES .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In the difference of opinion between Bro . "Cryptonymns" and me anent the above subject , we must not forget the real poiut at issue , whicb is—whether these sculptures were wrought " iu defiance , " or "with consent . "

Bro . Cryptonymns asserts the former , I hold by the latter . His remarks at page 3 , June 19 th , are , I consider , rather in my favour ; and as to what he says anent "the continued hostility of the Romish Church , either in very remote times through the butchery of Molay , to the anathema of Pius IX ., "

I would ask—What had "the butchery of Molay , " the Knight Templar , in 1314 , to do with Freemasonry , or the Freemasons ? Freemasonry was not in existence till centuries after . Molay was not a Freemason . Truly , the Romish Church has anathematized Freemasonry , after it was born , viz .,

in the 18 th and 19 th centuries ; but not before , that I know of . And as to the operative mason , or old freemason ( freemason—a mason free of his guild ; or , as the 1628 Rosling Charter has it , " freemen of the saidis vocations , " that is , "freemen of the maissones and hammermen ) , I have yet to learn that

the Romish Church either was , or had any cause to be , afraid of them—especially in "the thirteenth and fourteenth" centuries , any more than of any other craft . No ! the masons then were the children of the Church , and iu many cases the priests themselves superintended and took an active interest in

the work . Consequently , the old sculptures referred to can only be allegorical , and could only have been done " with consent , " as I have said . And if any further proof were needed to show that they could not have been done " in defiance , " Bro . " Cryptonymus" himself has given it , by referring to the

Knights Templar ; for if the Romish Church was so powerful about the beginning of the 14 th century as to have been able to annihilate such a puissant body as tho Templars , how , I would ask , can auj one ( without the most substantial proof ) dare to assert that the masons—a mere body of workmen—either

could , or would dare to ridicule their employers , the Romish Church ? Ergo , Bro . " Cryptonymus and his authority , Bro . Findel , are both wrong upon this point ; as Bro . Findel , I consider , ia on several in connection with architecture . I am , yours fraternally , LEO .

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY . ( To the Editor of the J reemason . ) DEAR SIR AND UROTIIEK , —In last weeks FREEMASON Uro . McAnley challenges the correctness of the tradition I related respecting Enoch ' s pillars . Allow tne to say once I ' or all that 1 do not vouch for tlie

accuracy ot the legend , and indeed , in the quotation from Savary , git'cn iu this week ' s issue , another version , which differs both from Bro . AlcAuleys and mine , is alluded to . Some weeks ago friend "Leo " who seems pleased to have a tilt at everybody and everything ( I hope not rt I ' uulrance ) ridiculed my

assertion that the temple ot boloniau was the model for other ancient edifices . Let lit nt read Bayard's " Discoveries in Nineveh and Babylon , " in which that distinguished traveller draws a comparison between the temple and palace of Solomon , and tlie buildings at Nineveh , and in

which he finds many points of resemblance , in the plan and general design . The same fragrant woodcedar—was used for the beams , roots and ceilings , and even in reference to the period of construction , the temple was finished in seven years , and Sennacherib built his palace at Konyenjik in the same time . Nn person will dispute tho fact , of which Bro . " Leo "

advances certain proofs , that the ancient Egyptians were a most wonderful people ; great in astronomy , great in architecture , and great iu literature . I shall have a word or two to say by-and-bye upon tho last article by " Cryptonymus , " whoso ability I recognize and highly respect . Yours truly , THE SON Ol- ' SALATI 11 EL .

( 7 'o the lidilnr of the Freemason . ) SIR ANI > BROTHER , —I was pleased to seo in your lastnumheraletter from Bro . McAulcy callingatlcntioii to a statement of tlie " Sou of Salathiel" with regard to thc pillars of Enoch , which statement I had previously noticed to ho contrary to thu tradition as given in Oliver ' s " Antiquities . "

ilia "Sou oi Jstilatmcl states ( in his paper in the number for June ijth ) that the marble column was inscribed with curtain hieroglyphics ; that thero was a curious treasure concealed iu arches underground , and the brazeli column , with the princi p les of the liberal arts , and sciences ; and that in accordance with the patriarch ' s design , the brazen column was the one which survived the destruction of the flood .

Original Correspondence.

Oliver , on the other hand , states that Enoch erected two pillars ; one of marble , the other of brass , th . eybrmer of which he conceived would withstand fire , the latter water . On these ( i . e ., both of then )) he engraved the elements of the liberal sciences , including Masonry , & c- Tlie deluge destroyed every work of man , and

and even the brazen pillar of Enoch gave way before the torrent of destruction , but God preserved the pillar of stone , aud by this means the state of Masonry before the flood was transmitted to posterity . The " Son of Salathiel , " therefore , differs from the

legend as given by Oliver in two particulars , viz ., as to tho subjects engraved on the pillars , and as to which of the pillars was preserved . I join Bro . McAulay in desiring to know which is the correct statement , or , at all events , which is the more generall y received tradition . I am , yours fraternally , F . I . W . Winchester , 22 June , 1869 .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

At the Annual General Meeting of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and AVidows of Freemasons , held at Freemason ' s Hall , London , on Friday , the-. 21 st May , 18 G 9 , the Secretary reported that tho Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Bight Hon . the Earl of Zetland , K . T ., President of thc Institution , had named AVednesday , the 26 th

January , 1870 , for the next Annual Festival . And that Sir Daniel Gooch , Bart ., M . P ., Bight Worshi pful Provincial Grand Master for Berks and Bucks , would preside on that occasion . The following Report of the Committee of Management was read , approved , and ordered to be entered on the Minutes , viz .:

—The Committee of Management , in presenting this their Annual Hcport , regret that they cannot congratulate the Governors and Subscribers so heartily its they have been enabled to do in past years , the great depression in trade having caused a decrease in the amount collected , both from Urethral and Lodges in the metropolis and country . " The Anniversary Festival , holden by direction of the

Host Worshipful Grand Master , on the 27 th January last , was presided over by the Kight Hon the Envl of Carnarvon , It W . Provincial Grand Master for Somersetshire , when the Donations and Subscriptions contained in the list , of seventy Brethren who kindly acted as Stewards on that occasion , and supported his Lordship , amounted to £ 2 , 219 15 s . 2 d ., being a decrease on the amount announced last year of

. £ 908 8 s . lOd . Notwithstanding the falling oif iu the amount announced at the Festival , the Committee of Management have adhered strictly to Kule 42 , requiring one-third of the Lifo Donations to bo invested , and accord ingly £ 500 Stock in the 3 per Cent . Hcdttccd Annuities was purchased on account of the Male Fund , and n like sum of £ 500 Stock in tlie 3 per Cent , lfeiluced Annuities was

purchased on account of the l'cmalc l'uiid . " Thc Committee have to report that the Asylum Building is in perfect repair , and that out of 152 Annuitants now receiving ihe benefits of this Institution , 11 males and 20 females have accepted the offer of Apartments , and are now occupants of the Building , the remaining number , 121 ,

residing in different parts of London and thu Country , as they may deem fit . * ' Your Committee cannot but urge , on the Brethren generally , the need of renewed exertions during the present year , for , although the Committee have recommended an increased r . mubiT of Annuitants to be elected at thc Annual

(¦ enoral Meeting ou tlie " 21 st instant , they were scarcely warranted in so doing , looking to the state of the funds ; hut as thev infer that tho Craft generally would wish as large a number as posMble placed on the Institution , they rely nn sufficient support being accorded to them to justify their having done so , and I hey would therefoi'o again urge upon the Moi-hers of the Craft for renewed support , ill

con-Ri ! f | iieiico nf this Institution differing , as it does from the other . Masonic Institution * , iu the fact that there is no limit to thu number of Annuitants so long as the Committee arc supplied with funds . " The receipts of the Male Fund , during the year , were . £ . ' 1 , 178 lis . !)

Annuities , i > : > ' . U ) a iris . ; the receipts of thc I'einale Fund , were £ ' 2 , 072 18 s ., and the disbursements , including purchase of £ i > W Stock , o per cent . Reduced Annuities , i . ' 2 , 10 l lis . 2 d . Now that this Institution has au adequate amount of funded property it would be well to consider the advisability of rescinding Rule 12 , which directs that

one-third of the annual donations received shall bo invested . It will be seen from our synopsis of the Report that the whole of the yearly income is required for annuities actually in force . Wo subjoin a list of unsuccessful Candidates , with numbers to bo carried forward , and added to the Poll at the next Election ,

MAI . K ANNUITANTS . Br . S , M . Lotinga .. 220 Br . Joseph Thornton . . 2 ,, John Clode .... 7 'J ,, Joseph llodgon .. 2 ,, Henry Murritt .. 11 ,, Joseph N'owsomc . 0 „ William Ilighton 10 „ Geo . W . Kcrkin .. 0 ,, Joseph Vernon .. 6 ,, James 1 * . Munro ,. dead „ James Pickup 4 „ Samuel Shcpheard dead

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

WIDOWS . Mrs . Jane Ward .... 30 G Mrs . E . Young 31 „ Sarah A . Cromo . 257 „ M . A Pendlebury 19 „ E . Warrington .. 132 „ Ann Carvell .... 8 „ C . Jackson .. .. 123 „ Mary Jenkins .... 6 „ Maria Kead 10 ?* „ Ann Schofield .. 3

The following Resolutions were carried at the Meeting : — "That the thanks of this Meeting bo given to the Scrutineers . •' That the result of the Ballot , with the names of the successful candidates , be advertised in the Times , Telegraph , A dvertiser , and Standard , morning papers—Era , Sunday paper— -Freemason's Magazine , and TIIIS FREEMASON .

" That the proceedings of this day bo printed and circulated amongst Lodges under the Grand Lodge of England . " That the thanks of this Meeting are due , and are hereby given to the W . Bro . John Udall ( P . G . D . ) a Vice President of the Institution , for the manner in which he has presided over the Meeting this day . "

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS

For the Week ending July , 318 C 9 . Monday , June 28 . Lodge No . 831 , " British Oak , " Bank of Friendship Tavern ,. Bancroft-place , Mile-end . „ 902 , " Burgoyne , " Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . „ 905 , " De Grey and Ripon , " Angel Hotel , Great Ilford .. R . A . Chap , 188 , " Joppa , " Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street ..

Tuesday , June 29 . Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , George Hotel , Aldermanbury at 7 ; Comp . Brett , Preceptor . Domatic Lodge of Instruction , Palmerston Tavern , Grosvenorpark , Camberwell , at 7 . 30 .

Wednesday , June 30 . Lodge No . 808 , " Temperance in the East , " 0 , Scwby-place ,. Poplar .

Thursday , July 1 . Lodge No . 554 , "Yarborough . " Green Dragon , Stepney . „ 822 , " Victoria Hides , " Freemasons' Hall . „ 1155 , " Fxcclsior , '' Sydney Arms , Lcwisham-road . „ 1178 , "Perfect Ashlar , " Gregorian Anns ,

Bermondsey-road . R . A . Chap 733 , "Westbourne , " New Inn , Edgware-road . „ 712 , " Crystal Palace , " Crystal Palace , Sydenham . Friday , July 2 . R . A . Chap . 745 , "High Cross , " White Hart Hotel , Tottenham .

Saturday , July 3 . LodgcNo . 1191 , "Villiers , " Northumberland Arms Hotel ,. Isleworth . General Committee , Boys' School , Frcctnaoiis' Hal f , at -1 .

MASONIC PIC-XIC . —On Saturday last , the brethrenof St . John's Lodge , No . 210 held a " pic" in a beautiful haugh near the village of Stow . They were honoured by the presence of a numerous party _ of Grand Lodge oflicials from Edinburgh , including Bro . Henry Ingles Grand Substitute Mister of Scotland , Bro , Mann , Grand Junior Warden , and Bros .

Clark , Mackenzie , Bryce and McCowan , members of Grand Committee ; also deputations from the Lodge Journeinan , Edinburgh , St . Luke ' s , London , ami St . John's Galashiels . Refreshments were provided by Bro . Dickson of tlio Railway Hotel . Music supplied by W . and G . Crosby , of llawielc . Aud what with dancing , athletic sports , & c , the afternoon and evening till about nine o ' clock passed agreeably .

THE Royal Christy ' s Minstrels , at St . George ' s Hall , Langham-place ' ( Bro . II . Montague lessee and manager ) , have , iu addition to their already attractive programme , engaged the services of the " Only Leon , " as he is justly denominated , and Bro . Edwiu Kelly . They tire great acquisitions to this powerful

company . Leon ' s great talent displays itself in Ids wonderful delineations of female characters , which are perfect and artistic ; he has a charming fresh voice . Bro . Kelly is also an excellent vocalist , and . au exceedingly gentlemanly actor . Bro . Nimmo is the indefatigable acting manager .

Every act has its consequence . Ihe consequence ot good is reward ; of evil , puidsliment . The spirit of Cod is in every soul , and only concealed by evil . The atheist may live the full period of life , boasting of his dislielii-f ill Supreme Power , and that all is chance . Yet in moments of despair ou the bed of death , thoughts come that never were before . —Ellis .

SHKERNKSS Ptiiir . 10 C OMPANY . —Wc have received the prospectus of this company , and will endeavour to p lace its merits more prominently before our readers in next week ' s issue . [ Wfi have been compelled to keep over a number of articles of more or less interest , but hope to find room for them next week —ED . 'J