" Masonic Records " And Brother Jacob Norton.

that I was doubly mistaken ; inferring ( I suppose ) that he thinks what I considered a mistake was not a mistake at all , as he definitely says that what I " thought wrong was right , and vice versa . " Now I do protest against such

unfairness in controversy . If Bro . Norton's statements and arguments are only based upon " rumour , " I cheerfully retire from the field , in his favour . I claim , however , to be judged not by nimour but by what I have written ,

which is open for any brother to read . If Bro . Norton will refer to the Freemason of 15 th January last he will find my actual words , viz .: " In a work of such a character , with so many thousands of figures , one could

scarcely hope for absolute freedom from inaccuracy , typographical or otherwise . I shall be obliged by your allowing me to point out to such of your readers as possess the work , that the date set opposite No . 79 a on page 27 should have been in brackets , indicating that sucli date

that List gives no dates at all . I put " 1731 " in my book after very careful consideration , and I adhere to that date still , and may reasonably complain of Bro . Norton's want of fairness when he treats the above simple and natural

[ 1731 ] does not appear in the Dublin List of 1735 . My sole reason for writing this was to prevent , if possible , any erroneous impression being conveyed by the insertion in " Masonic Records" of the date 1731 , as if that date appeared in , and was copied from the Dublin List , whereas

statement , intended to guard against any possible misconception or misinterpretation , as indicative of a withdrawal of that date altogether , and of the substitution of 1732 in its place , which I certainly never did . Consequently , Bro . Norton ' s statements , that I seem " to have believed

that both charters were issued in 1732 , " is not only erroneous , but unworthy of Bro . Norton's well-known skill as a controversialist . For , not only do I not believe , or even " seem to believe , " anything of the kind , but I

still unequivocally maintain my opinion , for the reasons given by me in the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE of 19 th of February last , that there was a Lodge ( I do not say where it was located ) having tbe number 79 in 1731 prior to the Lodge at Highgate of 1732 .

I have neither the time nor inclination to go over again all the " side issues " that have been raised , but merely state that Bro . Norton does not appear to have grasped the point of my argument in reference to Nos . 42 and 67 . I

regret I did not state when No . 67 was removed from the Lists , but that does not affect my argument that the Lodge , like many others , had ceased to attend Grand Lodge for a great number of years , and that , consequently , under the

Grand Lodge Law of 24 th February 1735 it was liable to be , and subsequently was , erased . It certainly is far more reasonable to assume that these several Lodges were

erased for violating a well-known and recognized Law , than for " rebellion " or some other " sin " about which we have absolutely no information whatever .

Finally , Bro . Norton says he " cannot see how the Grand Lodge at any time could have allowed entire newly-formed Lodges to take precedency of older Lodges by assuming the numbers of extinct Lodges . Such was indeed the practice

among the Ancients , but ( he adds ) I do not believe that the Moderns have ever done so . " Now , if Bro . Norton will kindly read the preface to "Masonic Records " ( pp xviii , xix ) he will discover several instances of this

very thing . I ean give here one only . An entirely new Lodge , at Wolverhampton , paid the usual £ 2 2 s in 1768 for its Warrant , the number of which should have been 433 , but influences operated to procure for it the number

i 7 , which had then recently been vacated by a Gateshead Lodge , whereby this Neio Lodge , not warranted until 5 th November 1768 , thenceforth took the number and position of a Lodge of 8 th March 1735 .

Many similar cases ( at least thirty ) are recorded in the text of my Book , so that what Bro . Norton says he does not believe the Moderns have ever done , I have shown was

nevertheless frequently done by them ; and what he says could not have been suffered by the Grand Lodge " was actuall y allowed and officially sanctioned .

Now , I think Bro . Norton will admit himself to be Mistaken in reference to this subject also , aud whilst I disclaim entirely any " air of superiority , " I anticipate the ^ me ( may it not be far distant ) when Bro . Norton will

question the accuracy of his own opinions in relation to these and other disputed points , and be induced to look at a ° « , Stu < * y tnese matters dispassionately , impartially , and w « h no other desire than that of eliciting the Truth , the wuole Truth , and nothing but the Truth . So mote it be .

Our Bluff And Hearty Brother.

OUR BLUFF AND HEARTY BROTHER .

( COMMUNICATED . ) THE " eccentricities of genius " assume so many varied forms that it is difficult at times to strike out the

delineation of a " subject " without becoming prosaic . We are not in the slightest degree that way inclined when we think of the " Hail ! fellow , well met " type of a Brother

who is just now in our mind's eye , and whom we will liken to a modern and refined Harry Bluff . It may be that our friend did not , like the original of the song which sailors love to sing , quit the parental roof at an early age , and bid

adieu to " his dear native land o er the ocean to roam ; but he nevertheless displays so many of the excellent qualities attributed to the " true British sailor " that one is feign to draw a perhaps far-fetched comparison . It is hardly

necessary to indicate the time or place of our introduction to this specimen of the fine old English ilk , in whom is so fully developed the axiom that a " contented mind is a continual feast . " Forty summers , if on 9 , have passed over

his head , for the silver threads among the gold will tell their tale ; and yet there remain , in an abundant measure , the buoyancv , the cheerfulness , the knack of making

everybody happy who rubs shoulders with him , which are rare with those who have reached the meridian of life , and know what the struggle for existence means .

Well , it was an off-night , I was informed , as my friend and I sauntered into the City , to pay a visit to au ancient Lodge . Whew ! wasn ' t it hot ! The first days of June had gone out , and carried the last remaining dregs of an

eight months' winter along with them , at which the eyes of expectant holiday-seekers glistened , and fond Materfamilias sorted out the almost forgotten summer dresses , to supersede the heavy costumes which had been rendered

so long necessary . But summer had descended , with tbe suddenness of a thunder-clap , and the change had come so rapidly that we had no time to become acclimatised . The Brethren assembled in the reception-room , wiped

their perspiring foreheads , and sought for consolatiou in Apollinaris and Chateau Lafitte . But it was of no use ; the overpowering stuffiness of the atmosphere stfled all hilarity ; and the Brethren were content to puff and blow

like grampuses , and to wish that the work of the " emergency " meeting was over . But what has all this to do with "Harry Bluff ? " Why , you will soon know , for b ? 8 cheery voice in the vestibule has an electrical effect , and all

know now that bonlwmmie will soon usurp the place of lassitude and limpness . And so it does . There is no unnecessary or ostentatious fuss about Harry Bluff ; he skips jauntily into the apartment , and bids a hearty welcome to

all around him . It is reported of a criminal , ouce upon a time , who perceiving the eagerness with which the spectators crowded round the scaffold , grimly advised them not to be in such a hurry , as there would be nothing done

until he got there . The parallel is not made disrespectfully , but really it seemed to me as though the presence of our mutual friend were essential to the opening of business—the winding up of the evening's watch . After that

all went " swimmingly , " and the reason was not far to seek . Ubiquitously moving about , doing little matters of detail which required to be set straight , speedily the right men were put into the right places , our friend smilingly filling

up any of the interstices , and quite happy in sustaining the role of the " general utility man . " Long may the appellation stick to him , say I , for he rejoices in it ; and few I know can sustain it with such perfect tact and suavity .

I need not dwell upon the work done so excellently that night , nor even whisper that a " call-off " was rendered advisable—through the heat ; but it was so . There are many excuses for

drinking—A friend , good wine , or being dry , Or lest you may be , by-and-bye—Or any other reason why .

Any how , the lemonade and ice surreptitiously provided by the genial subject of my sketch was like the refreshing drausrht so welcome to the traveller when he reaches an

oasis , and we were all grateful for the act of kindly consideration , though it struck me that Harry Bluff ' s acquaintances of longer standing were by no means astonished at it .

Business duly despatched , we had the opportunity of more closely studying and appreciating the sterling qualities of the "jolly good fellow " to whom we had been introduced . Don't let it be understood Harry Bluff is a