Freemasonry And Its Etymologies.

Mr . Halliwell ' s friend , that there is a connection between freestone and freemasons . Freestone mason was merely abridged into r ree . mason . Tho question here naturally snggosts itself , —Why have freemaso-. i » received higher wages ? and why was tho privilege conceded to them of being allowed to work at their trade in towns of which thoy woie

not ircemen ? P . D . G . M . Bro . Chas . Levi Woodbury , known here as Judge Wood , bury , who , without exception , is the best generally well-informed brother among my Masonic acquaintances who travelled in Europo and visited the old churches , suggested a very good reason to my question . He told me thai ; tho stone ornamentations , statuary , and

bas reliefs in the old churches , wero generally wrought out of freestone . This kind of stone , he said , being soft , is therefore best adapted for that kind of work ; hence the freestone mason required a higher degree of skill than the ordinary rongh stone mason ; the former was an artist , the latter an artizan , and thafc is the reason why the freemason received higher wages . Again , every town ,

doubtless , had among its freemen . a sufficient supply of ordinary masons , bnt every town may not have had the best class of statnarists , or ornamental stonemasons , and we may readily imagine thafc when a church had to be built , or a nobleman ' s mansion , where some ornamental work was desirable , thafc superior craftsmen had to bo

brought to the town from other cities . The local freemen then , doubtless , raised a hue and cry about invasion of their " vested rights , " hence we may account for the statute "Allowing freemasons to work in towns , although they wero not free of those towns . "

We have seen that there was no need to hunt through all creation for the etymology of freemasonry . The term freemason grew and matured on English soil , and iu spite of the assertors of Masonic antiquity , we may rest assured thafc we are nofc only indebted to England for our Speculative Masonry , but that England is also the mother of Freemasonry in every sense of the phrase . Boston , 11 th September 1879 .

Metropolitan Hotel, Finsbury.

METROPOLITAN HOTEL , FINSBURY .

ON Wednesday , 19 fch ultimo , a complimentnry dinner was given afc the Metropolitan Hotel , iu honour of Bro . J . Pilson , who has recently undertaken the management of this establishment . There was a good attendance of brethren and personal friends of the host to do honour to the occasion , and everything passed off in a manner to render the evening a most enjoyable one . Tho chair was occupied by Colonel Chamberlain , and the vice chairs by Messrs . Hatch and

Patterson . Bro . J . B . King supported tho chairman , and among tho other members of the Craffc may be mentioned Bros . T . J . M lidwell , D . Jacobs , E . Aveling , Harper , Wilson , W . W . Morgan jun ., & c . ; Messrs . W . Dawson , J . Dawson , T . Norton , Marner , Captain Webb , Westley , Norton , Lieutenant Nettleship , & c . The dinner was well served , and reflected great credit on tho establishment .

Afc the conclusion of the repast , the Chairman proposed the nsual loyal and patriotic toasts , Lieut . Nettleship being called npon to acknowledge that of the Army and Navy . Bro . Jacobs next proposed " Prosperity to the Metropolitan Hotel . " He hoped those present would attend the Hotel on many future occasions , and do all in their power to render the management of Bro . Pilson a success .

He was aware that many of those around him wero personally acquainted with the capabilities of the establishment , bufc to such as were not , he desired to recommend their attendance on a future occasion , feeling sure they would then enjoy repetition of the first-rate catering they had witnessed thafc night . Bro . Pilson desired to thank his friends for the kind reception they had accorded the toast just

proposed . He said he intended to . do all in his power to make the Metropolitan Hotel a success , and briefly enumerated the various improvements ho had made or contemplated making , especially referring to his intention to establish a grillroom and table d'hote , both of whioh he hoped would meet as much success as he trusted they would deserve . He hoped to see all who were then present

frequenfc attendants in the future . The Chairman proposed the Press , which was briefly acknowledged , and then Captain Webb called upon the company to drink the health of the Chairman . This done , the Chairman expressed his acknowledgments . The present was the first occasion on which he had ever presided at a festive board in Old

England . One thing ho had found wherever he had been , and that was thafc freedom always existed if the Anglo-Saxon tongue was spoken , this was forcibly impressed on him afc one of the first dinners he attended after landing on English soil , some time since , when the chairman in proposing a toast , gave the following quotation : —

" Here ' s a health to old honest John Bull , When he ' s gone we shan't find such another ; Then , with hearts and with glasses brimfull , Here ' s a health to Old England his mother . " These were so entirely his sentiments that he could not help repeating the lines on the present occasion . Bro . King proposed the health

of the Ladies , to which Mr . Brornley responded . The company then separated . The hotel , which is situate in South Place , Finsbury , h ; is recently been re-decorated , and is now replete with every comfort . We heard a whisper that ono of our most successful Lodges contemplate holding thoir future meetings under its roof , should the members decide on doing so , we may have further opportunity of testifying to the ability of tho new manager Bro . Pilson .

THE ROSICRUCIAN SOCIETY . — A new College , under the title of " York" College , under the Rosicrucian Society of England , was , by authority of Fra . W . H . Woodman M . D . IX . Supremo Magns in Anglia , opened in York by Fra . C . F . Matier IV . Sup . Mag . in Scotia . Fra . T . B . Whytehead VIII , was afterwards installed as Chief Adept ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE .

AN especial Prov . ( i . Lodge of Emergency was held at ihe Old Hall , Glindon , on Monday , 1 st December , at 12 . 30 , \ V . Bro . W . H . Smyth R . W . Provincial Grand Master on the throne . Lodgo was opened in due form as soon as possible after the close of tho P . G . Chapter . Tho hymn of Invocation having been sung to a new-accompaniment by Bro . A . W . Lambert 588 P . G . O ., the R . W . Prov . G . M .

called attention to the bnsiness of the day , viz ., the confirmation of certain alterations in the existing rules of the Prov . G . 2 nd Benevolent Fund , and the additions thereto of certain rules respecting tho " Oliver Memorial Fund , " which had been drawn up by the present committee of tho Prov . G . Fuud of Benevolence . Proposed by W . Bro . W . Watkins 297 P . P . G . S . of W . and seconded by Bro . T . M .

Wilkinson 297 P . G . S ., " That tho I . P . M . of each Lodge should in future be a member of the committee of the P . G . L . Fund of Benevolence , and share with tho W . M . the voting power of the Lodgo . " For this pro . position 32 voted against 15 , and ifc was declared carried . The re » mainder of the revised rules were passed without opposition , and on the proposition of W . Bro . C . M . Nesbifcfc , seconded by W . Bro . A . P

Peacock W . M . 1386 P . G . S ., wero unanimously adopted . The requisite authority was given to W . Bro . W . H . Radley 838 , P . G . Charity Secretary , to secure the purchase into the R . M . I . B . of two boys now on the Provincial List , viz ., Alfred Thomas Cole ( No . 1 ) , and Phillipson Marshall ( No 13 on the October List of candidates for election ) . W . Bib . W . H . Sissons 1447 P . G . J . W . gave notice of his intention at the next Prov . Grand Lodgo to propose , " That a fund similar to

tho ' Oliver Memorial Fund' be raised in this Province for tho purpose of obtaining the admission by purchase of candidates for tho II . M . I . G . " This concluding- the business , Provincial Graud Lodgo was thou closed in due form , and the Brethren and Companions adjourned to a luncheon in the magnificent banquet chamber of tho Old Hall , where tho usual Loyal and Masonio toasts wero given and responded to , the brethren separating afc an early hour .

South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA .

Peace and Harmony Lodge . —A regular meeting was hold on 1 st October , at Du Toifc ' s Pan , South Africa . Present—Bros . Henry Hartog W . M ., P . Van TJIsen S . W ., J . Van Sombeek J . W ., T . Van Sombeek Treasurer , B . Klisser Sec , J . B . King Preceptor , D . Avis Almoner , B . Kimpor Architect , E . Garish Asst . Secretary ; P . M . ' s Bros . C . Sonneriberg and C . Roberts D . M . ' , T . C . Ma rite ,

P . J . Steyn , E . B . Hoffmann , A . Yockmonitz , and J . C . liefer . Visitors —Bros . J . Wolff Era 1423 , W . R . Smith , Richard Giddy , E . Harris Sir Hugh Myddeltou , W . Henderson 309 , Alfred Turner , D . N . Defries Cosmopolitan 1409 , J . Sweet British , G . Brown Globe 23 , andC . Ashbnrner Charles Warren . The Lodge opened , and the minutes of previous meeting wero read and confirmed . Ballot took place for Messrs .

D . J . De Vosand D . W . Van Bleck , who wore duly elected as candi : dates for initiation , and Bro . C . Arburrow was elected a joining member . Bros . E . B . Hoffmann , Fred . C . Hefer and Abraham Yockmonitz were duly raised to the degree of M . M . The Lodge having been closed to tho third and second degrees , the W . M . thanked the visiting brethren for their attendance , also Bro . D . Defries for his

services at tho harmonium . Labour being ended , tho Lodge was closed , and the brethren departed iu " Peace and Harmony . " Tho pretty little Lodge at Do Toil ' s Pan , nnder tho able control of Bro . H . Hartog , with his exceedingly effective working , bids fair to become " the " Lodge of the Diamond Fields . When the present Officers were

elected the Lodgo was heavily in debt ; it has now paid' ofi all liabilities , and has actually a balance in hand , whilst the thorough Masonic working is drawing numerous applications from brethreu to become joining members . These tidings arc rnosb gratifying , and wo heartily wish our brethren a continuance of prosperity .

Derwent Lodge, No. 40.

DERWENT LODGE , No . 40 .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In the report of tho consecration ¦ of the Sfc . Leonard ' s Lodge , No . 1842 , which appears in your issue , of the 29 th ult ., the V . W . D . P . G . M . for Sussex , Bro . J . Henderson Scott , is reported to have snid , " That it was upwards of one hundred years since the Derwont Lodge was first established at . Hastings . "

I think this is an error , which is caused by taking the position the Lodge holds on the roll of G . L . As it is No . 40 , it is generally supposed thafc it must be one of onr oldest Lodges . Snch , however , is not the case ; tho Lodgo , nnder the G-L . Ancients , which was numbered 36 , was established about 1755-6 , and met in London , and it had ceased to exist for many years when tho Derwcnfc Lodge , No .

36 now 40 was established at Hastings , in 1813 , the latter being , a new Lodge , with a new warrant , placed in the position on the roll of the extinct Lodge ; it was not a resuscitation of the old Lodge , ' ora warrant of confirmation . The first Lodge established at Hastings was informally under the G . L . Ancients ; as it is the only authorised

list published , it shonld be perfect . For further information on Ante-union Lodges , I would direct those who take an interest in the same to a recent publication , entitled " A Numerical and Numismatical Register of Lodges which formed the United Grand Lodge of England , " and which can be purchased of the author , Bro . J . W . Hughan , Truro , Cornwall .

Yours fraternally , . . . . T . F . 66 y 804 . 1 st Dec . 1879 ,