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tho realm did , for ho gave them 2 s Od a-week and 3 d to their cheer , for before that time thro wo land a masson had but a penny a day and his meat . " It is written trnt at the period of Austin that " the clergy found it p ' so convenient to study geometry and architecture as well as

divinity , and came to bo very expeifc masters and great designers , and tho Li Iges and r-ssembl ' ts of the Freemasons were always kept in monasteries , which at that timo woro only built of wood . " From this representation of the then status of English Freemasonry , tho dato being

given A . D . GOO , threo years only after its introduction , tho monks of thoso days must havo been apt and quick students , it would appear to bo regrettable that tho bnildiugs in which the masons met had not been constructed of some material more substantial and less inflammable

than wood , for in tho reign of Atholstan , during an invasion by the Danes , tho MS . and documents relating to Froomasonry were placed away in what was thought to be safety , but notwithstanding this caro , thoy woro destroyed by fire by tho invaders . If , however , wo take the

introduction of the Craft in this country as from St . ^ ban , who is reputed to have been a skilled architect , ecclesiastical architectu"o could have made but small progress during the period between him and Austin , but it must not be forgotten that during a great portion of this time

Christianity had , through the continued internocine wars , been driven from the Saxon Heptarchy , and Paganism again held sway , but not apparently by very strong bonds , for when the Northumbrian King Edwin called a council of his notables to advise with them as to the putting down

their false gods and the establishment of Christianity , Coifi , chief priest of Northumbria , is said to have spoken thus : " As to what the relig ion is which is now propounded to us , Oh , King , see to it . For my part I will assert what I certainly know , that

which we have hitherto held is good for nothing , for among all thy people there is no one who has given himself more diligently to the worship of our Gods than I ,

and yet many have received greater benefits , and obtained higher dignities , and prospered better in whatever they UllOlertOOli , OUC K lUUSU Gudo liacl pooaootjod otiy power thoy would rather havo rssisted me . " ( To 1 ) conlinui 1 . )

Tho Western Morning Neivs , which devotes a considerable amount of its space to recordiug Masonic even t s , givas tho following interesting summary : — Thore is not much of a special character to chronicle in roference to th i Masonio Craft in Devon and Cornwall , save that in literarj matters tho former county continue ;) to more than hold its own .

Bro . Hughan has published two more works of importance , viz ., one relating to tho r'jique copy of the Engraved List of Lodgos for 1734 , and the other a complete history of tho old Apollo Lodge , York ; tho latter , by request , being dedicated to the Lord . Lieutenant of Ireland id Provincial G . M . of North and East Yorkshire . Bro . John Lano has also issued a very valuable handy book to the study of the

Lists ( dedicat 1 to Bro . W . J . Hughan ) , whioh has {"' ready baon most warmly welcomed at home and abroad . The " Masonic Orations , " by Dr . Metbam , edited by Bro . Chapmau , completes the list . The sale of this has been of such a gratifying ohai actor that a substantial sum is likely to be handed to the Orphan . Asylum at Stoke , on whose behalf . the volume wa 3 published . Singular to

state , thrse threo brethren reside at Torquay . Tbo Prov . G . L . for Devon was held at Seaton " , on 6 th November , by Lord Ellington , M . P ., the Prov . G . M ., a gi idly muster behg present . The number of brethren returned by tho 52 Lodges amounted to 2871 , being slightly in advance of last year . AU tho repotts wero favourable , and testified to the zeal and efficiency of

the fraternity under tbo geuial rule of his lordship . Tbe Prov . G . Chapter met at Ply month on tho 30 th July , and was largely attended , as might havo been anticipated , owing to tho majority of tho companions being within easy dis nee of that populous neighbourhood . Tbo chair was tnken by Major Davie , iu the unavoidable abaenco of the Grand Snperintondent .

Owing to the lamented deceaso of Bro . C . Spenco Bate , F . R . S ., tho D . Prov . G . M . for the Mark Degree , tho Mi -k Prov . G . L . was hold at Ta ' fit ' ck , on 23 rd October , by authority of tho Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., Prov . G . S . W . Captain Strode-Lowo was norr ' nat 1 for the office of Prov . G . M . now vacant , tho final doc ' iiou bo ' i" iu the hi-ids t-. f II . Il . lI . the IV'ice of Wales , lis M . W . G . M . Tne Cornish Prov . G . L . assembled at Liskeard , on 27 th Aug . itt ,

m der the chf " ' in : -iship of the Earl of Mount Edgoumbe , and pa nil off with great eclat , the critei ' > irjg Lodge being St . Mfl I ' S , No . 510 . Tho Prov . G . Chapter , invoned at Falmouth , w ; again prisWod over by Lord Mount Ed ^ cumbo , and proved a most pbasr-it m -ling . S - Ghr-lcs B . Graves-Sawle , Bart ., held tho Mark Prov . ti . L . at L , thu luimber of luein ' ici'u re . . od w ' ig 32 L ,- with •¦" viuiL g Tf-iMng ' r ¦ " n ¦ ty I < c . !•• a

Gossip About Freemasonry;

the 1500 bretb-en subscrib ^ ig in tho Craft Prov . G . L . Of course , Sir Charles Sawle was again nominated as Prov . G . M ., a better ohoice not being possible , nor could any ruler be moie r opular . Tho degree of Koight Templary still langnishes , so it is hoped that the effort now being made by Bro . John Chapman to secure a retain to the old resime will prove Successful .

The snpport of the Charities by the two Provinoial Grand Lodges was fair , but certainly not at all profuse or generous . The Benevolent in February , wh ch realised over £ 13 , 000 , was chiefly aided by tho stewardship of Bro . G . B . Pearce , of Hayle , who took up £ 157 10 s . For the Girls , the Rev . T . W . Lemon for Devon , and Mijor J . J . Ross for Cornwall , had eaoh abont £ 100 on their respective lists , the

g . and total obtained being £ 5354 This comparatively small sum is duo to the £ 50 , 000 seenred daring the previous year . The Boys ' raised fully £ 13 , G ) . Bro . Lemon for Devon , and Bro . P . W . Thomas ( Camborne ) for Cornwall , having oaoh somo £ 1 C 3 as stewards , and Bro . C . Trtiscott , of St . Austell , also obtaining from the same cauuty a list of donations to tho extent of £ 82 . Most of

the sums from Cornwall were due to tho " Chaiity Associations . The educational fends in Devon and Cornwall aro doing well , especially in the foimer , du ' ing the past year , for as the merits of the Devon fund become bettor koowu , tho subscriptions will surely increase from year to year ; added to wbiob , tho expenses of managament are praotioally nil , and the subscriptions are thus wholly devoted to the purposes of eduoation and maintenance , besides

being spent iu tho 1 « < ality from whioh thoy are i . ? sed . Tbe Masonio Casual Reliof Fund for the Three Towns has done good Bervice , and for the small sum of £ 25 , needful aid has been rendered in a systematic and discreet manner to worthy applicants . Leotures have again been delivered on points of Masonio ritual and hiitory , presentations have been made to distinguished and zealous brethron , and many havebi in the pier 'cnt visitations between , the LL lges end Chapters .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsiblo for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the "Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

"HOLES IN MASONRY . "

To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . SIR AND BROTHER , —I notice in your issue of this day that you have published a oopy of an article which has recently appeared in an American Masonio paper oalled the Keystone , under the heading of " Peep Holes in Masonry , " in which it is stated that " the Grand

Secretary : of England" appears to havo issued printed rituals to the Lodges in New South Wales . My ! attention had already been called to the original article , and I havo lately written to the editor of tho Keystone to inform him that the statement therein made is entirely untrue , and to point out that

had he carefully read tho paper from whioh ho quotes , the Sydney Freemason of 7 th September last , he must havo seen that the person referred to therein was the Grand Secretary of the Independent Grand Lodge of Now South Wales , and not the Grand Secretary of

England . As you have reproduced the incorrect statement , I have to request that you will now publish this contradiction of the alleged proceeding on my part , which would have been quite contrary to tho distinct ruling of Grand Lodge .

I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , SnADWELL H . CLERKE , Colonel , Grand Secretary . Freemasons' Hall , W . C . 28 th December 1889 .

A MASONIO VAGRANT .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR Sut AND BROTHER , —On Sunday last an individual , who gave tho namo of Robert Audersou , of Lodgo Prince of Walos , No . 426 , Renfrew , called on mo for relief . He stated that he was a printer seeking oruploymeut . Ho had heard that the local printer wanted a hand . This was the caso , but up to Monday night he had made no

application . Ho has no certificate , nud I would theroforo suggest to Lodge Almoners not to relieve him . He is about 5 ft . 7 in . in height , and says ho was initiated 24 yc ; irs ago , and talks about having attendod a meeting at Glasgow of' 1000 Masons , & c , & o . I have writtou to tho Secretary of his Lodge for information , and

will communicate tho result to yon . Ho informed mo ho was ou his way to Chichester , whero ho had reqnostod his certificate to bo sont , so in all probability by tho timo this communication rcaohos your readers ho will have passed into Surrey , or beyond the borders of Kent .

I remain , yours frateruully , THOS . FIIANCIS . Havant , 31 st Doc . W .

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riOLEMAN'S lilEBIU'S EXTRACT OF MEAT and MALT \ . y WINK . —A 2 s ' M lji . ttlo of tin ' s celebrated wine sent free by Parcels IV . i . for ' .. V ! Ktiunpts . Over 2 , 900 to . itimouiiils received from mcil ' ica ! men . COLEMAN Sc CO .. Lumr . u , NOItWlUU . Sol . I everywhere .