Thoughts On The New History.

Bro . Gould , who had already wrought himself up to a mild pitch of enthusiasm about his * theory , is of course dissatisfied with the joiner's commonsenae statement ; and , what is worse , Perdignier was a " Son of Solomon . " I shall not , however , attempt to give Bro . Gould's arguments ; they are too weak for a serious rebuttal . It is indeed very difficult to deal with his arguments , because he foresaw all that

could be said against his theory 5 bnt here he begs the question , and there he has an if or a but to excuse the deficiency of argument ; a system well understood by gentlemen trained to the legal profession , and which they know so well how to handle when defending a weak cause . I shall , however , proceed to show the possibility of a legend being introduced into the ritual of a secret society , the origin of

which , after a while , might be altogether lost and forgotten ; Bimilar to the introduction of the Hiram legend into the Compagnon ceremony—that is , if it formed part of their ceremonies at all . In 1873 I undertook to hunt up the origin of the legend of the monument which King Solomon is said to have erected to the memory of Hiram . Well then , I went to wo > k , examining all the American

Masonio books , Monitors , Trestle Boards , and Manuals that I could lay hands on . At last I found the engraving of the monument in the first edition of " Cross's Chart . " Agreeably to my theory abcut legends , stated in my first communipation upon this subject , I became convinced that Jeremy L . Cross was the father thereof . I afterwards told it to Bro . John W . Simons , P . G . M . of New York ; he

however , had something more to tell me about it . It seems that Cross , whose business was to lecture on Masonry , and to sell Webb ' s Monitors , aspired in 1819 to get up a manual of his own , illustrated with engravings ; when he took a notion into his head that Hiram ought to have a monument erected to his memory . In vain he was reminded that Jews had no monuments in their burying grounds .

Bnt what did Bro . Cross care whether Jews bad , or did not have , monuments P he was determined that Hiram , at least , should have a monument ; and so he went searching in churchyards for a model ; and in Trinity Churchyard , in New York , he found a monument that took his fancy , which he copied with slight variations , and had it engraved for his Chart ; but he left out the legend . Even the third

edition , printed in 1824 , was minus the legend . In 1826 he had a legend , when the symbol and story was introduced into the New York ritnal , and with the exception , perhaps , of Pennsylvania , the said legend was introduced into all the rituals of the Lodges in the United States . From 1842 , when I first came to Boston , no one could inform me about the origin of the monument and its legend , and the

only answer I could get was , " Tradition informs us , & o . I was the first writer who made the above facts known to our Fraternity . ( See Freemason , 1873 , vol . vi . p 798 ) . I must here add that tbe wellknown Dr . Folger , of New York , was in or about 1850 Grand Seoretary of the A . and A . Eite , when Cross was the S . Grand Chaplain . Bro . Folger then received the history of the monument from Cross

himself , who communicated it to Bro . Simons , who , in turn , told me about it . Bro . Folger a few years ago published the same facts in an American paper . Dr . Mackey , though prejudiced against me , in his Cyclopedia admitted that Cross was the author of the monument story . Dr . Eob Morris still believes that the legend is ancient , while the great mass of American Masons never heard that there t « cta

any doubt about its antiquity . Now , if no Masonic books whatever had been printed in America np to the present time , and if Cross had not told to Dr . Folger what he did , the origin of the monument and its legend would have been forgotten by this time , past recovery . Now , the Compagnons , as already stated , have no kind of written or printed matter in their

possession calculated to throw light upon this intricate question . The Hiram legend was most probably obtained by them , as Perdignier believes , by one or more of their members having been initiated into an early French Masonio Lodge . The difference in time between 1726 ( when Masonry , aocording to Bro . Gould , was planted in France ) and 1841 ( when Perdignier published his book ) is one

hnndred and fifteen years ; and the difference between 1819 ( when the monument symbol was manufactured ) and now , is only sixty-four years . If , therefore , sixty-four years would have been sufficient to have obliterated all recollection of the origin of Cross ' s legend , why could not a hundred and fifteen years have sufficed to obliterate all recollection of the introduction of the Hiram legend into the

Compagnonage . I shall here add , that though Bro . Gould argues a great deal , he nevertheless has not irretrievably committed himself to his theory ; he seems to think that we ought to have a theory , and if this one is not adopted , we cannot get another . * It is not impossible , however , that our brother may be in possession of a clue leading to some

farther information ; and who knows whether his theory may not after all turn ont" right side np . " If so , I shall apologise for the hard hits I have administered ; so far I am not to blame ; I could judge and reason only from the statements before uie . The subject is , however , likely to attract the attention of the curious . I think , therefore , that Perdignier ' s book should and ought to appear in an English garb . We shall then have a larger field for observation .

A meeting of the North London Chapter of Improvement was held on Thursday , the 9 th instant , at the Canonbury Tavern , St . Mary ' s-road . Comp . Edmonds Z ., Gregory H .,

Killick J ., Strugnell S . N ., Sheffield P . S . There was a large gathering ; the Companions of the Metropolitan Chapter paid a complimentary visit . The ceremony of exaltation was conducted by the Officers in a very able manner .

Holiday Haunts.

HOLIDAY HAUNTS .

— : o : — MIDLANDS , ENGLISH LAKES , AND SCOTLAND .

A SOMEWHAT irregular , though pretty direct trunk line , leads from the St . Pancraa Station , London , to Carlisle , where it diverges , one branch on the right going to Edinhurgh , and the left to Glasgow . This line is the main artery of the Midland system , out of wbioh spread a host of other lines leading to every part of the country . Between Trent and Clayoross , on the left , there i 3 a loop which connects another main artery at Derby , runniug south through

to Birmingham , Woroester , Cheltenham , Gloucester , Bath , Wimborne , Poole , and Bournemouth . Bristol is reached by a branoh just before arriving at Bath . The line in tho other direotion from Derby goes north-west , and serves Matlock , Baxtoo , Stookport , Manchester , War . rington , and Liverpool . A glance at the map that is issued with the Company ' s timetable will show that the Midland Railway main lines

traverse the very heart of England and Scotland , while their branohes and other lines , in direot communication , convey passengers to almost every part of the land opened up by railway connection . Broadly speaking the Midland Railway is an inland system , passing through towns and districts full of absurbinginterestto Englishmen , and in some instances revealing beauties whioh poets aud artists revel in

depioting . It wonld be impossible in one article to embrace one-tithe of the sights that are to be seen , they are almost inexhaustible . We purpose therefore pointing out some of the more salient features , feeling sure that we shall but whet the appetite for further pleasures . The hungry will know where to fill themselves ; onr duty shall be to give a fillip to their desires , to satisfy some and to give zest to the remainder .

Almost at the very outset interest is awakened by the viewa of Qampstead and Highgate , whioh cannot fail to open up vistas of a long past to those who are acquainted with the history of the locality and the many persons of note who have been associated therewith . Then there is St . Albao ' s Abbey a few miles farther on , with its long nave and gaunt appearance . Whatever the bnilding lacks iu beauty

is made up by the story of its foundation , by us surroundings , and the origin of the town itself . St . Albans was a British settlement , enclosed withiu earthworks , the remaiuB of whioh can be traced to this day . It was the stronghold of the Casii , whose king , Cassivelaunus , off-red a stout resistance to the Romau legions under Julius Csesar . When they had subdued the natives , thoy ereoted a

fortification in another part of the town , and called it Veralamium , after the river Ver , by tbe side of the famous Roman road known aa Watling Street . The name of the town is taken from one Alban , a Roman of good family , who sheltered a persecuted Christian named Amphibalns , who succeeded in converting his protector to the new faith . Albao , in his zeal , tried to pass himself off as Araphibalus , but

was detected . Declining to Baorifioe to the gods , he was cruelly tortured , afterwards beheaded , and became tbe protomartyr of Britain . It is believed that the present Abbey is built ou the site of Alban ' s martyrdom , and was founded towards the end of the eighth century . It was rebuilt in the time of the Conqueror , but has since undergone many alterations , nntil now tbe

tower aud transepts , and part of the nave alone remain of the Norman builder . St . Alban ' s was rich in the patronage of saints and kings , and for centuries maintained a glory that was second to none in the kingdom . The Abbey however went to decay , and it was not until abuut half a century ago that aotive steps were taken to restore this massive structure to something like its wonted character . The work

has been continued ever since , and in 1875 St . Albans was made a city , and tbe centre of a new bishopric carved out of tbe sees of London and Rochester . Freemasons have done something towards the good work of restoration , which is still going on . Many romantic stories are told in connection with the Abbey and its occupants , and those of the present who wish to live in tbe past must bring a cnlti .

vative imagination to bear . The result would be worth the effort . Beyond , to the left , are the Chiltern Hills , whioh extend from Goring in Oxfordshire through Bucks to Tring . These hills were at one time the haunts of gangs of outlaws , and an office called " Stew , ard of the Chiltern Hnndreds " was created by the Crown to put these gentry down . The office still exists , but instead of being used for

its original purpose , it is now the means resorted to by Members of Parliament who wish to relinquish their seats without resigning them , hence the practice of accepting the "Chiltern Hundreds , " nominally now , bat at first realty a paid office under the Government . Elstow Church and Village , just before entering Bedford , will remind the traveller of John Bonyantinker and dreamer , author of one of tbe finest

, books in the EngliBh language . As an allegory " Pilgrim's Progress ' stands unrivalled ; as a British classic it takes first rank for aimplicity and power . Some time could be spent here and at Bedford if only iu viewing the scenes connected with the career of Bunyan . Leaving the main line , a branoh passes through Olney , a village linked with the name of Cowper , who is scarcely less honoured than the

once reprobate of Elstow . The line continues on to Northampton , a town that has gained a kind of reputation in consequence of its modern Parliamentary history . The county is full of olJ . time associations , and the town itself is not without considerable interest . Returning to the main line , Kettering is next reached . It was hero that British missions had their birth , and from henoe a line to the

right turns off to Huntingdon and Cambridge . It is impossible to sever Huntingdon from the name of Cromwell . Here the Protector was born , and in the county , at Hinchinbrook A 00 ! 9 ' his progenitors lived in wealth and splendour for many years . " cannot dwell upon the incidpnts connected with the name of

Cromwell , but it is not a little noteworthy that the elder branch were loyal to the backbone and prosperous , and that it remained for the last descendant of the elder line , and for Oliver , to depart from » t « traditions and bow tbe seeds of decay that rapidly followed tbe deatfl of the Protector . Going north , another branoh line leadB to Manton ,