Here And There.

answered to the Lodges of the Masons . Apprentices had to comp lete their time in the former Craft before boing engaged as journeymen , under pain of twenty shillings line , ancl Masters had to pay a similar sum to the Altar aforesaid on taking " ane Prentice to teach him the said Craft , " and they had on Saturday

afternoons to examine and pass the work . Even the Surgeons , ¦ with St . Mungo as their Patron Saint , were not allowed to practise " any Poynts of our saids Crafts of Surgery , or Barbar Craft , within this Burgh , but gif he be first frie man and Burges of the samen . . . . Every man that is to be . made frie man be examined and provit on their Points , " itc .

Free to use the Crafts as a means of livelihood , in the city of Edinburgh evidently , after a lawful apprenticeship aud satisfactory workmanship , constituted a " Frie-man" Craftsman , and hence the notion that " Frie" was a corruption of Frere nowhere suggests itself in an examination of the old laws of the Crafts in Edinburgh or elsewhere .

Another item provides ( A . D . 1505 ) that "Every Master that is receiv'd frie man to the said Crafts ( " Chirurgeons " ) shall pay his oukly Penny with the Priest ' s Myte , as he shall happen to come about . " The 6 th Eule enacts " That nae Person nor frie man of the said Crafts purchase any Lordships in contrail * the

Eules and Statutes above-written in heredring ' or skaithing of the Grafts foresaid or common , weall thereof , under the Pain of Tinsel of their Freedoms ; " and the following item requires that " All the Masters , frie men and Brefcher of the saids Crafts , readily obey , and come to their Kirk Master , or Deacon , at all Tyms . ' "

Bufc enough has been given from this history of the " Blue Blanket " to illustrate the customs of Craftsmen in the " dayes of yore , " and that the freedom conferred in those times meant admission to the privileges and monopolies of the Crafts in the City aforesaid . W . J . HUGHAN .

Ifc is the general belief that Freemasonry was introduced into England so early as 674 , the Grand Lodge of York being founded in England in 926 . In the year 1424 Freemasonry was temporarily interdicted in this country . The Grand Lodge of England was established in 1717 , and that of Ireland was

founded in 1730 . Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , London , vvas built in 1771 , and again in 1869 , when it vvas consecrated anew . The Earl of Zetland and the Duke of Sussex each occupied the position of Grand Master for a quarter of a century . The Prince of Wales was installed into that position ( which he still holds ) on 28 fch April 1875 . Freemasonry has its ramifications all over the world , and Lodges are to be found in Africa , China , India , the West Indies ,

North and South America , Cape of Good Hope , New Zealand

Australia , Palestine , & c . It is computed that in England between two and three thousand persons are initiated every year , in spite of papal allocations and feminine denunciations . Though not generally known , I believe I am right in saying fchafc Freemasonry is strictly prohibited in the following countries : Austria , Poland , Eussia , and Spain . STEEBO . i — -- — "

Old Charges Of British Freemasons.

OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS .

BEO . W . J . HUGHAN P . G . D . England , of Dunscore , Torquay , has now in the press a second edition of his

well-known work on " The Old Charges of British Freemasons , " which was published in 1872 . The new volume will be entirely re-written on quite another plan , and be " up to date . " Full particulars of all the known MSS . will be given , and a complete

reproduction of the Haddon MS . There will be numerous illustrations . The edition will be limited to 250 copies at 12 s 6 d each , post free . Names of subscribers will be received by the author .

The Mason's Apron.

THE MASON'S APRON .

AS the years pass by changes take place in the details of Masonry one by one , which , in the abstract , are deemed unimportant . But when we look back , how many of those changes are discernible ( take the Mason ' s apron as an instance ) ? The " New York Masonic Chronicle " tells us that immediately after the Masonic revival of 1717 it was not the custom with

Brethren to wear aprons , membership being designated by a blue nbbon and a jewel , worn the same as knights iu chivalric orders carry decorations the present day . Tho Officers displayed their jewels suspended from a wide ribbon ensautior , i . e ., round the

neck . When aprons came in vogue and the Eoyal Arch and the Degree of the Temple vvas appended to ancient Masonry by some capitular Lodges , wherein all die degrees were conferred , an extra colour vvas added to the apron ' s edging to denote fche

The Mason's Apron.

exaltation its wearer had attained . Consequently red , in conjunction with blue , showed the Brother to be a Companion of the Eoyal Arch , while an additional black announced him to have the Chivalric Degree of the Temple . — " Trestle Board . "

Our paragraph last week as to the consecration of a new Lodge in the district of Cheetham Hill , Manchester , appears to have been founded on a misapprehension . It reached us from a usually most reliable source , but we are now officially informed

there is not a word of truth in the statement . We are very sorry we have been led into the error , more especially as we are told that some who might have interested themselves in such a project are greatly annoyed at the paragraph . This latter item

would seem to imply that such a Lodge as was referred to is not wholly impossible , and we hope ere long we may be able to officially announce its formation . The particulars we published may have been premature , but we fail to see any reason for

secrecy when operations are in progress for the formation of a new Lodge—all the same , we regret the announcement having been inserted in our pages apparently against the wishes of those moving in the matter .

Worcester Freemasons learn with pleasure that Lieut .-Col . Warner Ottley succeeds Bro . Godson , M . P ., in the distinction of Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Colonel Ottley , says the " Worcester Journal , " is a Past Master of the Eoyds Lodge ,

Malvern , has held the office of Treasurer in the Lodge for some years , aud has also been honoured in Provincial Lodge . He is well known outside Freemasonry , in patriotic service and in

public life . Last week he was in camp afc Towyn , as fche popular commander of the Worcestershire Volunteer Artillery . He also does good work as chairman of the Malvern Link Urban District Council .

A series of Instruction meetings will be held on Fridays , 23 th and 30 fch August ; and 6 th and 13 th September , at 8 p . m ., at the " Northampton Arms , " Goswell Eoad , in connection with

the Duke of Connaught Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 199 , when the attendance of members of fche Degree is requested . Bro . Alfred W . Humphreys P . M . 199 P . Prov . G . Swd . Br . Middx . is acting as Hon . Sec .

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GAIETY RESTAURANT , STIR ^ nSTD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and EESTAUEANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , afc 1 / - per head ; served from 4 till 6 in EESTAUEANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5-30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 5 / - ) and a la Carte . Smoking after 7 * 45 . AMERICAN BAR . THE GRILL ROOM is open till Midnight . PRIVATE DINING EOOMS FOR LARGE AUD SMALL PARTIES .