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Article Notes For Masonic Students. ← Page 2 of 2 Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1
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Notes For Masonic Students.
and prints Macedonians , why should not a copyist at an earlier date , using any of the editions of Lodge ' s translation printed between 1602 and 1620 , have make the same alteration ? I am nofc contending for an earlier date than 1655 for the Inigo Jones MS ., but merely wish to show thafc in an examination like fche
present one , many matters require to be considered before we can attempt to say off-hand what -must be tho date of a given text . I may mention that after the 1620 edition , i . e ., after the death of the translator ( and probably the earlier one's also ) the various editions appear to be simply reprints , page for page , as far as a cursory
examination would prove ; for example , the letters always occur on page 194 . The dedication chapter to Charles Lord Howard , Baron of Effingham , E . G ., the Lord High xVdmiral of the fleet when the Spanish Armada was defeated , and afterwards ( 1596 ) created Earl , of the county of Nottingham , was quite correct up to the last edition
published in Lodge ' s lifetime ( 1620 ) , but it was repeated in the editions of 1655 and 1670 , long after the death of the Earl ( 14 th of December 1624 ) , and was nofc removed until the new translation of 1676 was published . Dr . Begemann states that "the Inigo Jones MS . itself pretends to
be of the year 1607 , but that cannot be the truth ( he says ) , as tho English translation of Josephus above mentioned was not published before 1670 . " As above shown , this statement is based upon a too superficial knowledgeof the facts . Itwaspublished ^ 'ye times , commencing with 1602 , before that date . I must confess it was new to me that
any one having any knowledge on such subjects had claimed for the MS . the date 1607 . You will no doubt remember that when examining the MS . some years ago with you , I poiuted out that it must be a far later copy , and that the frontispiece , although it might be an imitation of a drawing or engraving by Inigo Jones , could not well be
the work of his hand , as he could not have been guilty of the bad perspective it contains . I also suggested that had it been an original drawing by him , " fecit" would probably have been the word used in place of " delin " or " delineavit . " To me it would seem probable , if any reliance at all is to be placed on fche date 1607 , and there is no
reason to think otherwise , that it simply means that the original MS . npon which the Inigo Jones MS . was based bore that date . This may not have carried the full title of " Free and Accepted Masons , " but I have seen no evidence to prove thafc such was impossible . It is one of those matters upon which we may theorise but not
dogmatisea most unsafe though popular basis upon which to found an argument . The little time I can give to Masonry is afc present employed on other matters , so I cannot now enter into the reasons which induce me to believe , contrary to the opinion * f Dr . Begemann and others , that the text of the Spencer MS ., as wo have it in the reprint , although
probably based in part on the same original or copy as fche Inigo Jones MS ., is a later production than the Inigo Jones MS ., and therefore the latter is an earlier usage of the words than the Roberts ' edition of the Old Charges . It is very much to bo regretted that Spencer , in his printed edition
of the MS ., gives no description whatever of it ; but giving no attention to the form of spelling , & c , the fact that it is written in a flourishing hand , and its small size , appear to point , as Bro . Hughan states ( Old Charges , p . 19 ) , to its having been Cole's MS . for the engraved plates published by him . It would be interesting to
compare the two to see if they bear any similarity . Dr . Begemann is struck by the word being written Verulam . In 1726 it is nofc difficult to understand thab the editor who corrected , and in some instances ignorantly , the original MS ., from which lie copied in writing the Spencer MS ., aud knew that Syrus was intended
for Cyrus , should also be aware that Verulum ( Inigo Jones MS . ) should be Verulam . Nor do I think it extraordinary that any fairly educated person , writing in tho 17 th century , should know thafc Verulam was an ancient name of St . Albans , when we remember that the distinguished philosopher aud author Francis Bacon , who
was publishing his works between those years , was created Baron Verulam in 1618 , and Viscount St . Albans in 1621 . He died in 1626 . Drake was an antiquary of no mean repute in his time , and I think it would be hardly necessary for him to have to look anywhere for so well-known a fact . It would be impossible to say whether tho lost
York MS . contained the word or not , but the fact that Verulam and St . Albans were one and the same place was never such a profound secret that its being found in a printed speech of 1726 , and in a MS . of uncertain date , can in any way be taken as assisting us to arrive at the period at which the hitter was written . Such statements are , in my opinion , mere waste of time . Yours sincerely , W . HARRY RYLANDS . 23 rd October 1887 .
Our attention has been call ed to the fact that at- a number o Masonic banquets the refiain , "For he is a jolly good fellow , " is frequently sung in connection with tho toasts . We think it is hardly necessary to point out that such a course is un-masonic iu every sense of the term , and it is to bo honed that W . M . 's will see
their way to abandon it . There are plenty of " fires , " and if the brethren were to learn and use them instead of " profane" catches , the effect would be much better . Tv'hilst on this subject ifc may not seem out of place to suggest that a fu , v more Masouic songs might be appropriately introduced into tho after proceedings of our
banquets . We hear " The little Hero , " "Nancy Lee , " " Pour ont the Rhino wine , " & c , & c \ , everywhere , and a brother who attends all the monthly meetings in any large town can safely say beforehand what songs he will hear at any particular meeting . Masonry
possesses a number of really beautiful songs , both as regards words and music , and if some of our musical brethren would occasionally favour the Lodges with one or two of them , they would be conferriu <> a benefit not only on their listeners , but on tho Craffc generally , as such a course would heighten the tone of our social hours . —Exchange .
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions ef our Cor respondents . 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 .
A PROTEST . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your issue of lsfc October , page 218 , ' A STUDENT OP BRO . GOULD ' S HISTORY , " begins his letter , headed " The New Philadelphia and Time Immemorial Theory , " with
" As both Bro . Jacob Norton and Bro . J . F . Brennan ran prettymuch in the same groove , " & o . Now . with all dne respect to " A STUDENT , " I beg to assure him that each of the above-named " paddles his own canoe . " We do indeed agree thafc the Philadelphia Coxe theory is extremely
fallacious , that the No . 79 theory is fallacious , and so is the Henry Bell letter , but I do not believe in either Mackey's , Oliver ' s , or any other kind of landmarks , nor do I believe that any one forged the Henry Bell letter . But , in justice to Bro . Brennan , I must say that he was not the first man who believed that the said letter was manufactured .
nor is he the only one who believes it to have been forged . I heard more than one person , both in Boston and in New York , express the same opinion ; and even the late Bro . Leon Hyneman believed that the
letter was a fraud . I have good reason to differ with Bro . Brennan and others upon the question at issue , and Bro . Brennan can tell you that I have remonstrated with him upon the subject , and so I have done with others .
There is , however , one thing I must say about the Bell letter , viz ., I believe the whole truth has not been told about it j and as long as it suits our Philadelphia friends to keep back facts actually known to them about it , I cannot blame people for believing in a forgery . Fraternally yours , JACOB NORTON . Boston , 18 fch October 1887 .
AN URGENT APPEAL . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR , —Knowing well that yon are ever willing to assist in any real charitable cause , may I , on behalf of the Committee of the Queen's Jubilee Hospital , encroach upon your valuable space in order to bring before the notice of the benevolent public the urgent need
of funds in aid of this Institution , which may be considered the only one of a charitable nature that is likely to remain existent when all other memorials of tbe Jubilee have passed away . Though this Hospital has been established but ten months , upwards of 200 mosfc necessifcons persons are now being relieved weekly , and
fche numbers are so rapidly increasing that we are wholly unable to cope with them for want of funds . Subscriptions , no matter how small , will be thankfully received , either by the Secretary at the Hospital , from whom all particulars can be obtained ; tho London and Westminster Bank , Brompton Square , W . or
Your obedient servant , J . B . SULIVAN , Rear Admiral . 2 Pelham Crescent , West Kensington . 29 th October .
A preliminary meeting of the Board of Stewards for the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was hold at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday . The R . W . the Deputy Grand Master Bro . the Earl of
Lathom was elected President of the Board of Stewards ; Bros . Sir J . B . Monckton , Rev . O . J . Martyn , T . Fenn , H . Smith , F . West and Col . Shadwell H . Gierke were appointed acting Presidents ; Lord Leigh Hon . Treasurer ,
H . B . Marshall acting Treasurer , Lord Mayor Hanson Chairmar of the Ladies' Committee , and F . R . W . Hedges Hon . Secretary . On the proposition of Bro . Fenn an Executive Committee was formed , and nearly 100 brethren
gave m their names to acfc , Bro . R . Grey being elected Chairman . The Stewards' fee was fixed at £ 2 2 s ; foreign Stewards , £ 1 Is . The dining fee for ladies is to be fixed by the Executive Committee .
We notice tho name of Past Master Minsrell , tho present Zif . E . Z . of the Gallery Chapter , in the list of gentlemen who have successfully passed the bar examinations held by tho Conncil of Education under the direction of the Inns of Court .
Bro . Jacob Norton wishes us to state that Bro . Lane , in n is list of the members of No . 79 , did not spell one of the n ames correctly . Instead of " John Pollexen " it should have been John Pollcx sen . ( senior ^ .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Notes For Masonic Students.
and prints Macedonians , why should not a copyist at an earlier date , using any of the editions of Lodge ' s translation printed between 1602 and 1620 , have make the same alteration ? I am nofc contending for an earlier date than 1655 for the Inigo Jones MS ., but merely wish to show thafc in an examination like fche
present one , many matters require to be considered before we can attempt to say off-hand what -must be tho date of a given text . I may mention that after the 1620 edition , i . e ., after the death of the translator ( and probably the earlier one's also ) the various editions appear to be simply reprints , page for page , as far as a cursory
examination would prove ; for example , the letters always occur on page 194 . The dedication chapter to Charles Lord Howard , Baron of Effingham , E . G ., the Lord High xVdmiral of the fleet when the Spanish Armada was defeated , and afterwards ( 1596 ) created Earl , of the county of Nottingham , was quite correct up to the last edition
published in Lodge ' s lifetime ( 1620 ) , but it was repeated in the editions of 1655 and 1670 , long after the death of the Earl ( 14 th of December 1624 ) , and was nofc removed until the new translation of 1676 was published . Dr . Begemann states that "the Inigo Jones MS . itself pretends to
be of the year 1607 , but that cannot be the truth ( he says ) , as tho English translation of Josephus above mentioned was not published before 1670 . " As above shown , this statement is based upon a too superficial knowledgeof the facts . Itwaspublished ^ 'ye times , commencing with 1602 , before that date . I must confess it was new to me that
any one having any knowledge on such subjects had claimed for the MS . the date 1607 . You will no doubt remember that when examining the MS . some years ago with you , I poiuted out that it must be a far later copy , and that the frontispiece , although it might be an imitation of a drawing or engraving by Inigo Jones , could not well be
the work of his hand , as he could not have been guilty of the bad perspective it contains . I also suggested that had it been an original drawing by him , " fecit" would probably have been the word used in place of " delin " or " delineavit . " To me it would seem probable , if any reliance at all is to be placed on fche date 1607 , and there is no
reason to think otherwise , that it simply means that the original MS . npon which the Inigo Jones MS . was based bore that date . This may not have carried the full title of " Free and Accepted Masons , " but I have seen no evidence to prove thafc such was impossible . It is one of those matters upon which we may theorise but not
dogmatisea most unsafe though popular basis upon which to found an argument . The little time I can give to Masonry is afc present employed on other matters , so I cannot now enter into the reasons which induce me to believe , contrary to the opinion * f Dr . Begemann and others , that the text of the Spencer MS ., as wo have it in the reprint , although
probably based in part on the same original or copy as fche Inigo Jones MS ., is a later production than the Inigo Jones MS ., and therefore the latter is an earlier usage of the words than the Roberts ' edition of the Old Charges . It is very much to bo regretted that Spencer , in his printed edition
of the MS ., gives no description whatever of it ; but giving no attention to the form of spelling , & c , the fact that it is written in a flourishing hand , and its small size , appear to point , as Bro . Hughan states ( Old Charges , p . 19 ) , to its having been Cole's MS . for the engraved plates published by him . It would be interesting to
compare the two to see if they bear any similarity . Dr . Begemann is struck by the word being written Verulam . In 1726 it is nofc difficult to understand thab the editor who corrected , and in some instances ignorantly , the original MS ., from which lie copied in writing the Spencer MS ., aud knew that Syrus was intended
for Cyrus , should also be aware that Verulum ( Inigo Jones MS . ) should be Verulam . Nor do I think it extraordinary that any fairly educated person , writing in tho 17 th century , should know thafc Verulam was an ancient name of St . Albans , when we remember that the distinguished philosopher aud author Francis Bacon , who
was publishing his works between those years , was created Baron Verulam in 1618 , and Viscount St . Albans in 1621 . He died in 1626 . Drake was an antiquary of no mean repute in his time , and I think it would be hardly necessary for him to have to look anywhere for so well-known a fact . It would be impossible to say whether tho lost
York MS . contained the word or not , but the fact that Verulam and St . Albans were one and the same place was never such a profound secret that its being found in a printed speech of 1726 , and in a MS . of uncertain date , can in any way be taken as assisting us to arrive at the period at which the hitter was written . Such statements are , in my opinion , mere waste of time . Yours sincerely , W . HARRY RYLANDS . 23 rd October 1887 .
Our attention has been call ed to the fact that at- a number o Masonic banquets the refiain , "For he is a jolly good fellow , " is frequently sung in connection with tho toasts . We think it is hardly necessary to point out that such a course is un-masonic iu every sense of the term , and it is to bo honed that W . M . 's will see
their way to abandon it . There are plenty of " fires , " and if the brethren were to learn and use them instead of " profane" catches , the effect would be much better . Tv'hilst on this subject ifc may not seem out of place to suggest that a fu , v more Masouic songs might be appropriately introduced into tho after proceedings of our
banquets . We hear " The little Hero , " "Nancy Lee , " " Pour ont the Rhino wine , " & c , & c \ , everywhere , and a brother who attends all the monthly meetings in any large town can safely say beforehand what songs he will hear at any particular meeting . Masonry
possesses a number of really beautiful songs , both as regards words and music , and if some of our musical brethren would occasionally favour the Lodges with one or two of them , they would be conferriu <> a benefit not only on their listeners , but on tho Craffc generally , as such a course would heighten the tone of our social hours . —Exchange .
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions ef our Cor respondents . 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 .
A PROTEST . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your issue of lsfc October , page 218 , ' A STUDENT OP BRO . GOULD ' S HISTORY , " begins his letter , headed " The New Philadelphia and Time Immemorial Theory , " with
" As both Bro . Jacob Norton and Bro . J . F . Brennan ran prettymuch in the same groove , " & o . Now . with all dne respect to " A STUDENT , " I beg to assure him that each of the above-named " paddles his own canoe . " We do indeed agree thafc the Philadelphia Coxe theory is extremely
fallacious , that the No . 79 theory is fallacious , and so is the Henry Bell letter , but I do not believe in either Mackey's , Oliver ' s , or any other kind of landmarks , nor do I believe that any one forged the Henry Bell letter . But , in justice to Bro . Brennan , I must say that he was not the first man who believed that the said letter was manufactured .
nor is he the only one who believes it to have been forged . I heard more than one person , both in Boston and in New York , express the same opinion ; and even the late Bro . Leon Hyneman believed that the
letter was a fraud . I have good reason to differ with Bro . Brennan and others upon the question at issue , and Bro . Brennan can tell you that I have remonstrated with him upon the subject , and so I have done with others .
There is , however , one thing I must say about the Bell letter , viz ., I believe the whole truth has not been told about it j and as long as it suits our Philadelphia friends to keep back facts actually known to them about it , I cannot blame people for believing in a forgery . Fraternally yours , JACOB NORTON . Boston , 18 fch October 1887 .
AN URGENT APPEAL . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR , —Knowing well that yon are ever willing to assist in any real charitable cause , may I , on behalf of the Committee of the Queen's Jubilee Hospital , encroach upon your valuable space in order to bring before the notice of the benevolent public the urgent need
of funds in aid of this Institution , which may be considered the only one of a charitable nature that is likely to remain existent when all other memorials of tbe Jubilee have passed away . Though this Hospital has been established but ten months , upwards of 200 mosfc necessifcons persons are now being relieved weekly , and
fche numbers are so rapidly increasing that we are wholly unable to cope with them for want of funds . Subscriptions , no matter how small , will be thankfully received , either by the Secretary at the Hospital , from whom all particulars can be obtained ; tho London and Westminster Bank , Brompton Square , W . or
Your obedient servant , J . B . SULIVAN , Rear Admiral . 2 Pelham Crescent , West Kensington . 29 th October .
A preliminary meeting of the Board of Stewards for the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was hold at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday . The R . W . the Deputy Grand Master Bro . the Earl of
Lathom was elected President of the Board of Stewards ; Bros . Sir J . B . Monckton , Rev . O . J . Martyn , T . Fenn , H . Smith , F . West and Col . Shadwell H . Gierke were appointed acting Presidents ; Lord Leigh Hon . Treasurer ,
H . B . Marshall acting Treasurer , Lord Mayor Hanson Chairmar of the Ladies' Committee , and F . R . W . Hedges Hon . Secretary . On the proposition of Bro . Fenn an Executive Committee was formed , and nearly 100 brethren
gave m their names to acfc , Bro . R . Grey being elected Chairman . The Stewards' fee was fixed at £ 2 2 s ; foreign Stewards , £ 1 Is . The dining fee for ladies is to be fixed by the Executive Committee .
We notice tho name of Past Master Minsrell , tho present Zif . E . Z . of the Gallery Chapter , in the list of gentlemen who have successfully passed the bar examinations held by tho Conncil of Education under the direction of the Inns of Court .
Bro . Jacob Norton wishes us to state that Bro . Lane , in n is list of the members of No . 79 , did not spell one of the n ames correctly . Instead of " John Pollexen " it should have been John Pollcx sen . ( senior ^ .