A Notable Discovery.

A NOTABLE DISCOVERY .

WE find we were a little hard on one of our constant readers and well wishers , in our issue of the 22 nd ult ., in the remarks we offered under the above heading . As we therein explained , we received an unsigned slip announcing a meeting of experts and distinguished

Brethren , "to examine into no less a subject than the discovery of the genuine Secrets of a M . M ., " and we treated the whole matter as a joke , in consequence of what we remembered of the early days of the FREEMASON ' S

CHRONICLE—when , at the weekly meetings of the staff , all manner of strange events were recorded by one or two of the Brethren of a facetious turn of mind , including such

items as the recovery of the working tools used by King Solomon in the erection of the Temple , the unearthing of Charters and other rare and curious documents

long given up as lost , and—an event of very frequent occurence—the discovery of the actual secrets to which reference was made on the announcement sent us . The jokes of those early days in our career were well worked

up , and some most interesting papers were read in support of the wild ideas put forward , apparently in all good faith . Looking at the matter from present day experiences we much regret the articles were not carefully preserved , as

we feel sure many of our readers would enjoy with us a perusal of them , while some might at least serve a useful purpose , in causing a laugh at some quiet Lodge meeting . But they were not preserved , and their authors , alas , have long since joined the great majority .

We hope this explanation will be accepted as a sufficient excuse for the error we made , for we have since learnt that the gathering we were asked to announce was a perfectly genuine one , while the subject of it turns

out to be of extraordinary interest and importance . The meeting was called by invitation of the General Purposes Committee , and was duly held in their Board Room , at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Tuesday , 25 th ult ., the

object being to hear from Bro . Sydney T . Klein W . M . of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , an epitome of his essay on "The Great Symbol , " followed by an esoteric Demonstration proving that he had made the "Discovery "

which for centuries has been wanted to explain a "Blank " in our Craft Ritual , and which , by some strange ordinance , was to remain unfilled " until" time or circumstances restored what was formerly the heritage of a M . M .

The meeting was strictly limited to Installed Masters , and included , in addition to the Grand Secretary and the members of the Board of General Purposes , such a

number of distinguished and expert Brethren as have probably never before assembled in connection with the work of the Craft , and it is significant that , at such a meeting of Brethren known for sound erudition , critical

A Notable Discovery.

capacity , and some , we might almost say for stubborness in resisting innovations , Bro . Klein not only succeeded in interesting , but was rewarded by a unanimous vote of those present , couched in the strongest terms of

recommendation possible for that meeting to address to the highest executive Committee of Grand Lodge . The next move must now come from the Board of General Purposes , " Qu ' en fera-t-il" as Bulwer Lytton would have said .

As explained by the Chairman of the meeting ( Bro . Richard Horton Smith , Q . C , Deputy Grand Registrar ) the subject of Bro . Klein ' s demonstration had been before the Board of General Purposes for some time , its author

suggesting that the matter was of such importance as to call for consideration at an emergency meeting of Grand Lodge , but before adopting such a course the Board had felt that those of their number who had not already

witnessed the demonstration should have the opportunity of seeing and judging for themselves , Bro . Klein being authorised to ask such expert and distinguished Brethren

as he might think advisable to also be present ; the result being shown in the list we give below of those who , in addition to the members of the Board , accepted the invite .

Bro . Klein first thanked the Chairman , as representative of the Board , and then expressed his gratification at having such a distinguished audience , some of whom had travelled hundreds of miles to be present . He next proceeded with

the epitome of his paper on "The Great Symbol , " and concluded , with the assistance of old prints and diagrams , and by a most curious method of employing the working tools of a Master Mason , with his demonstration that the

KEY by which it . was possible to unravel the mystery and meaning of certain strange traditions was still to be found embedded in the ritual , and that by conscientious work

every Master Mason could prepare himself for some day becoming possessed of this knowledge , when he had fitted himself for the occupation of the chair of a Lodge .

Bro . Klein further pointed out that the question before the meeting was not whether the ritual should be altered , nor whether the matter should be placed before an emergency meeting of Grand Lodge—that was a matter

for the Board of General Purposes to decide—but having such an influential meeting of Installed Masters , which might well be considered as really a Committee of Grand

Lodge , he hoped that a decided expression would be given as to whether or no the subject was of great interest and importance to the Craft .

We tender our warmest congratulations to Bro . Klein on the results which followed , for at the suggestion of the Chairman a cordial vote of thanks was passed to him , and ,

after a short discussion , a resolution was proposed by Bro . R . F . Gould P . G . D ., seconded by Bro . C . E . Keyser , F . S . A ., P . G . D ., and unanimously agreed to , to the following effect :