Thoughts On The New History.

MS . stands next in order as No . 2 , and the forty-eight remaining MSS ., which Bro . Hughan called " The Old Charges , " are the progeny of the Cooke MS . In what order the " Old Charges " stand to each other ia immaterial , for it is certain that they were written at different times , and for different Lodges in various parts of England , and oven for one or more Scotch Lodges ; in short , the Cooke MS .

contains some legends borrowed from the poem and tho Old Charges , though with some variations and improvements , reproduced all the legends given by the author of the Matthew Cnnke MS ., hence the legends in the succession of the said Masonio MSS . prove the exist . en <* e of a Masonio fraternity at the time when the Halliwell poem was written . As to the question of the age of the poem there is some

difference of opinion , but anyhow they differ only in abonh forty years . One dates its age to 1390 , and another , dates it 1427 or a little later . And if we further take into consideration the succession of Masonio laws : —thus , the laws enacted by the Mayor , Aldermen , & c , in 1356 , were absorbed as it were , and form part , of the Halliwell Constitntion , and the thirty laws of the Halliwell Constitution form

more or less the backbone of the Constitutions given in the Old Charges , and add thereto the Statute of 1360 , above quoted , —these , altogether , furnish a chain of evidence of the continuous existence of a Masonic organisation for about five hundred years . I said , that the 17 th century MSS . were copied from the Cooke MS ., with " variations and improvements . " I will jnsfc point out some of

these improvements . Thus , the two oldest MSS . give a full account of the Athelstan assembly , bnt neither location nor date is mentioned , but the oldest writer of the 17 th century discovered that the assembly was held in Y rk , and of course the succeeding writers copied it . Dr . James Anderson discovered , in 1723 , that the Athelstan assembly met " about A . D . 930 . " But in 1738 our learned anthor fixed the

exact year , viz ., 926 . Similar discoveries are abundant about the other legends . I must , however , call attention to one legend in particular , viz ., the author of the Cnoke MS . merely says , "And the King ' s son of Tyre was his [ Solomon ' s ] master mason . " And that is all he says about the King of Tyre and Solomon ' s master mason . The writer of the 17 th century— "Old Charges "—discovered that

the King s son of Tyre , who was Solomon ' s master mason , was named " Aynon . " The remainder of the Old Charges repeat the nam ? , though variously spelled . In 1723 , Doctor Anderson discovered that Hiram Abif was Solomon's master mason . In 1738 a copy of the Old Charges was printed ( evidently from the one engraved by Pine in 1729 ) in whioh , besides copying from Anderson the name of Hiram

Abif , the writer added a discovery of bis own , viz ., that Hiram Abif ' s father was " TJrias the Israelite ; " and in 1819 an American Masonio luminary discovered the model of the monument which King Solomon erected to the memory of Hiram Abif . I am , however , puzzled , first , as to whether Hiram Abif belonged to the tribe of Napthali , or to that of Dan ? For tho Books of Kings

and of Chronicles differ about it . And second , the Bible does not say that Hiram Abif was the builder of Solomon ' s Templo at all . I am , however , jnst now too tired to speculate about it , and must , therefore , let the Hiram Abif puzzles be solved by the coming Masonio historian of the war fu ' ure who , in hi * history , based on "Masonio Archseo ' ogy , " will doubtless solve all . Masonic riddles . Boston , 4 th September 1 83 .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Wiltshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WILTSHIRE .

'PHE annual meeting of this Grand Chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , Salisbury , on Friday , the 7 th inst ., nnder the presidency of the P . G . Snpt . the Right Hon . Lord H . F . Thynne , the chairs of H . and J . being occupied by Companions Stokes and Wyndham respectively , the

former , owing to the unavoidable absence of the P . G . H . Companion King , the latter owing to the vacancy caused by the death of Companion S . Ganntlett , who was

appointed to that office at the previous P . G . Chnpter , and whose loss to the Province was alluded to in feeling terms by the P . G . Superintendent .

There was no special husiness before the Provincial Grand Chapter , and the usnal routine was quickly disposed of , the following being the appointments of the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : —

Comps . W . Nott 632 ... P . G . H . J . Sparks 632 P . G . J . H . C . Tombs 355 P . P . G . H . ( reappointed ) P . G . S . B . W . C . Powning 586 and 1478 - - P . G . S . N . W . Nott 632 ( re-elected ) - - P . G . Treas . W . Tusker 586 and 1478 - - P . G . P . Soj .

E . Eyres 355 P . G . Keg . T . Ringer , M . D ., 355 - - - P . GS . B . J . Chandler 355 P . P . G . H . ( re-appointed ) - P . G . D . C . 0 . S . Mackrell 1478 - - - P . G . Org . J . Savory 355 ( re-elected ) - - P . G . Janitor

After the Chapter was closed the Companions dined together at the Red Lion Hotel .

, The Fermor-Hesketh Lodge , No . 1350 , Liverpool , held its installation meeting on tbe 10 th inst ., when Brother Henry B . Brown was installed as Worshipfnl Master for the ensuing year .

Obituary.

Obituary .

—* . o : — THE LATE BRO . DR . P . H . WILSON ILES .

ALTHOUGH equality is one of the cardinal points in the economy of Freemasonry , there aro some who stand out conspicuously as being worthy of special honour . Even in life such brethren are marked out for preferment , but it is only when death comes that the rare virtues of some are

really appreciated . 'Twas at the witching hour of night on Tuesday that Brother Dr . F . H . Wilson lies , Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire , passed from life to death ; we hope to a new life that shall he immortal . Bro . lies was a devoted Mason , a laborious worker , and

a generous supporter of every good movement . From our knowledge of tbe Province , gained by actual experience , we can say that Herts has lost a nohle representative , and the Order generally a bright and shining light . The Province has stood high in the list of contributors to the

Masonic Charities , owing in a great measure to Bro . He ' s indefatigable and unselfish efforts . Masonry to him was a labour of love , its lessons a gospel , and their practice a duty . How well he realised his obligations and sought to

honour them , let those testify who were intimately associated with him . We knew him , and respected him for his devotion ; we mourn his loss with those who , perhaps , hare a still deeper sense of how great that loss is than we have . At the time of his death Bro . lies was Master of the

Clarendon Lodge , No . 1984 , into which office he was installed by the Provincial Grand Master of Hertfordshire , Brother Halsey , M . P ., in December last . He was an able worker , and the mode in which he invested his Officers ou

tbe occasion of his installation afforded intense pleasure to those who were privileged to hear him . The Lodges tn the Province will go into mourning in memory of Bro . lies , and it is to be hoped that the deeds he did in the flesh will long be remembered as mementoes of a noble soul . We learn that

our deceased brother had the misfortune to scratch oue of his fingers while performing a surgical operation . He paid no attention to what appeared to be a very simple matter , and unfortunately blood poisoning set in , which terminated in death as stated abive . We may add that

Brother lies was initiated in the Watford Lodge , No . 404 , at Watford , in 1859 ; in 1866 he filled the post of W . M . of his Mother Lodge , and afterwards became its Treasurer , an office he held until his death . In 1874 , on tbe installation of Brother T . F . Halsey , M . P ., as Provincial Grand

Master of Hertfordshire , Brother lies was appointed Prov . Grand Secretary . Ho subsequently , upon the resignation of Brother Sedgwick , in 1879 , was selected to fill the office of Deputy Grand Master of the Province . We have already mentioned his connection with the Clarendon

Lodge , and other instances of duty done in behalf of Craft Masonry might be mentioned . He was a member of the Royal Arch and Mark degrees . He was exalted in May 1861 in the Watford Chapter , No . 404 , and was First Principal in 1868 and 1873 . He was also a

Past Grand H ., Treasurer of his Chapter , and in February 1875 he consecrated tbe Gladsmuir Chapter , No . 1385 , Barnet , of which he was elected an honorary member . Brother lies was S . W . aud Treasurer of the Watford Lodce of Mark Masters , No . 24-1 , a P . E . C . and Treasurer

of the Stuart Encampment of Knights Templar , Watford , a P . A . G . D . C . of the Great Priory of England . He was not less conspicuous in charitable movements in connection with the Order . Brother lies was a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Boys' School , and the Royal Masonio

Benevolent Institution , and had served the office of Steward to both Charities . He was also a Life Subscriber of the Girls School , for which he intended to act as Steward at the next Festival . Such a record is

rarely reached , and the loss of Brother lies can only be approximately measured by taking into account the * various movements with which he was so intimately associated . The funeral will take place to-day ( Saturday ) at Watford Cemetery , at 3 * 30 p . m .

The ceremony of installation of W . M . will be rehearsed by Bro . James Stevens , P . M . of The Great City Lodge , in the United Pilo-rims Lodge of Instruction , No . 507 , at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , S . E ., on Friday , the > 8 th inst ., at 7 . 30 . The members of the Lodge of Instruction will be pleased to welcome visitors on this occasion .