Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible / or the opinions of our Cor . resvondents . All letters musk bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but a . s a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected citnitnunic atiuns .

REV . BRO . JOHN ENTICK . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Within six months a history in five volumes , by the Rev . John Entick , was sold here at auction . I spoke about that work to Bro . Nickeraon ( our Grand Socretary and Librarian ) , but he declined to buy it for tho Masonio library . Tho other day I happened to consult Bro . Kenning ' s ( or Woodford ' s ) Masonio

Cyolopcedia , and by pure accident the article on Entick attracted my attention , whioh I herewith reproduce , just to show how little the compiler of the Cyolopcedia knew about the life of Bro . Entiok . Bro . Woodford says : " Entick , John , Rev ., was an English olergyman of the Churoh of England , of whom not much is known , except that he was a

Freemason , and edited two editions of Anderson ' s Constitutions , 1756 , 1767 , and Mackey says also that of 1769 . One octavo edition of 1769 has no mention of Entick , and we do not think , ' pace' Mackey , that he had anything to do with the 1769 edition . Oliver only credits him with those in qnarto of 1756 , 1767 . He preached several Masonic sermons , some of which were published ; and delivered a

leotnre , ' A Free Representation of Freemasonry , ' at the Kind ' s Head Lodge , Poultry , London , 1751 , printed in Cole ' s Antient Constitutions , & c , 1751 . Oliver says , in his ' Revelations of a Square , ' that his habits were grave and sober , that he was a good master and a'fair disoiplinarian , popular among the Craft , an expositor of Masonry in many printed works , and at the same time he preserved his status

in the Grand Lodge . The Doctor concludes , ' which ought to have been preserved , as they did honour to his head and his heart [ Query ! If they were not preserved how did Dr . Oliver know about doing honour to his head and his heart ?] He also , as is known , published more than one dictionary , and few of ns who have nsed either his Latin or English dictionary will , perhaps , have remembered that it was the work of our old Masonio teacher . "

It is evident from the above that neither Dr . Oliver , Mackey , or Bro . Woodford were aware of Entick ' s ( above referred to ) history in five volumes . In Alibone ' s Dictionary of English Literature , I found the followiug notice about Entiok .

"Entick , or Entinck , John , 1713-1773 . Speculum Latinnm , London , 1728 , 8 vo . New Naval History , 1758 , folio . General History of the late War , by Entick and others , 1763 , 5 vols . 8 vo . Relates principally to the war in America . See London Monthly Review . Survey and History of London , & c , 1766 , 4 vols 8 vo . Not mnch valued . New Latin and English Dictionary , 1771 , 12 mo . Many editions 1786 , by

W . Crackelt . This Dictionary has been republished within the last few years . Present State of the British Empire , 1774 , 4 vols . 8 vo . New Spelling Dictionary , 1764 , 12 mo . By Crackelt , 1784 , 12 mo . 1788 , 4 to ; 1795 , 12 mo . New edition , 1850 , sq . Other works , he was engaged in some theological , and some political publications . " We see now that something moro than bis being a Freemason can

be known about Bro . Entick . According to the above brief notices Entick was born in 1713 , and died in 1773 ; his first work , ascribed to the year 1728 , is evidently a mistake , for in 1728 Entick was only fifteen years old ; however , it is not impossible that he may have published something in 1728 . Besides which , he was the author of several other works . Buj ; the last words in Alibone's paragraph , viz .

"and some political publications , " rivetted my attention . I remembered having read , about twenty years ago , in May ' s Constitutional History , something about John Entick , but never suspected that it referred to our Bro . Entick , for as a rule Reverends of the Church of England in those days were the most bitter haters of popular liberty . However , I find now that Bro . Entick was a decided exception to the

rule of his order j he was indeed one of the most successful champions of popular rights , for whioh his memory should be dear to every Englishman , or at least to every English commoner . Bro . Entick may be oalled the forerunner of Sidney Smith j he was most probably an associate of Home , Tooke , and other patriots of that time , and was a decided thorn to the would-be despots of the period ,

as the following quotation from May ' s History will show : — " The liberty of the subject was further assured at this period by another remarkable judgment of Lord Camden . In November 1762 , the Earl of Halifax , as Secretary of State , had issued a warrant directing certain messengers , taking a constable to their assistance , to search for John Entick , Clerk , the author , or one concerned in the

anting , of several numbers of the 'Monitor or British Freeholder , ' and to seize him , together with his books and papers , and to bring them in safe custody before the Secretary of State . In execution of this warrant , the messenger apprehended Mr . Entick in his house , and seized the books and papers in his burean , writing desk , and drawers . This case differed from that of Wilkesas the warrant

, specified tbe name of the person againsf ; whom it was directed . In Aspect of the person it was not a general warrant , bnt as regards the papers it was a general search warrant , not specifying any particular papers to be seized , but giving authority to the messengers to tako a " his books and papers according to their discretion .

Mr . Entick brought an action of trespass against the messengers ° r the seizure of his papers , upon which the jury found a special verdict with £ 300 damages . " ( Vol . 2 nd , p 249 , & o . ) * > 3 ° nly necessary to state that in 1765 Lord Camden severely ebuked the Secretary of State for issuing warrants , and Lord Manse'd and the other law dignitaries coincided with Lord Camden ' s

Correspondence.

opinion , and all condemned tho practice of tho Secretary of State as dangerous and unconstitutional . Now , with all duo respect to tho opinbns of Dr . Oliver about tho high merit of Bro . Entick ' s sermons , I think that tho patriotic stand ho made during tho most critical period of English history entitles Bro . Entick to a higher degroe of veneration from every Englishman , .. . i . i . •>)< - . ... ii ¦ . . . least from lish than all tho Masonic

* or at ovovy Eng Commoner , and other sermons Bro . Entick preached during his liftitno . That there exists sufficient materials for tho compilation of an oxtended and connected biography of that distinguished Bro . Maaou I have not the slightest doubt ; and if our brilliant Masonic writers could bo persuaded to give up searching for the connection of Freemasonry with Adam , Noah , Moses , Pythagoras , De Molay , Rosicrucians , & c , & o .,

and devote a little time for collecting materials for the purpose above indicated , I think they would do a great deal more good to Freemasonry and to their own reputations . Should a worthy brother be inspired with a desire to follow my suggestion I would recommend him not only to examine tho books alluded to in Mr . Alibone ' s paragraph , but also to read tho preface to Alibone ' s Dictionary , whence he will learn tho sources of Alibone's information . Fraternally yours , JACOB NORTON . Boston , U . S ., 19 th Aug . 1884 .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , N . Picturesque Wales . A Handbook of Scenery accessible from the Cambrian Railways . By Godfrey Turner . Tublished officially . London : W . J . Adams and Sons , 59 Fleet-street . Simpkin , Marshall and Co ., Stationers' Hall-court . 1884 .

THIS is an admirable Guide Book , and we heartily congratulate the Editor on the materials he has collated , and the manner in which he has arranged them . Prominent among the places whioh are described at some length is Aberystwyth , which is admirably situated for a health resort , being on a gravelly slope , and " sheltered , with .

out being shut in , on all but its western or Atlantic side . " So sparkling is its water and so pure and invigorating- the air that Sir James Clark , we are told , is credited with the declaration " that a fortnight in Aberystwyth is equivalent to a month at most water , ing places . " As to its attractiveness , wo read— "Past mid present ,

town and conntry , sea and mountains , lake , stream , and waterfall , invest the spot with charms for the health-seoker , the vacation , tourist , the angler , the boating man , tho artist , and tho antiquary . The mild salubrity of its atmosphere is so well-known that many havo mnde their winter quarters in a place which holds forth such palpable

recommendations as a geuial temperature , small rainfall , sheltered situation , and cheap lodging . " There is one other reason given which ought to induce peoplo to ( look to it in preference to visiting foreign parts : " As comploto a chango for English visitors is afforded in the manners , enstoms , and oven language , of the peoplo as wonld be

found abroad , so that the clement of strangeness , which is one of the main essentials to enjoyment and recreation in travel , enters as much into a stay at Aberystwyth as into an extended European tour . " Other particulars equally interesting are furnished , and certainly give one a most favourable idea of the place and the country round about ,

tho Devil ' s Bridge being a very conspicuous feature in the description . Dolgelly is another spot to which particular attention is devoted , and which we are told is " a charmingly qnaint place in itself , little , if at all , spoilt by contact with the civilisation due to its excursion popularity . " Among its principal attractions is the Torrent Walk ,

" one of the finest ferneries " in the district , and known , too , for the variety of its mosses ; it is " considerably more than a mile long , and ends with a fall of crowning beauty and a picturesque bridge . " Other places selected are Harlech , Porttnadoc , and Criccieth , of all

which , as well as of those we have not enumerated , detailed accountswithin reasonable compass of course—and written in an easy and most agreeable style are given . Those who may intend availing themselves of the Cambrian lines during their autumn holiday will do well to provide themselves with a copy of this " Picturesque Wales . "

Bro . Thomas M . Pomeroy , Past Grand Master of Montana , had barely completed the ceremony of Installing the newly-elected Officers of the Grand Lodge of that jurisdiction when he was taken suddenly ill , and died after a brief illness of only four days' duration . Our deceased

brother appeared to have had a kiud of premonition of his approaching end . At the close of his annual address , as Grand Master , he remarked : " Something within me seems to admonish mc that my work is ended ; that I shall never meet you again in Grand Lodgo assembled .

So feeling , I now invoke upon the Grand Lodge , and every brother here assembled , the choicest and richest of Heaven ' s blessings . May you each and all ao work that the Grand

Master above shall approve your work , and welcome you to the Celestial Lodge with , a ' Well done , good and faithful servant , enter thou into the joy of thy Lord . ' " Four days later he was dead .