A Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution For Scotland.

J . Young , Perthshire ; Bros . G . H . Pagan LL . D ., Fifeshire ; Bros . Col . Acheson and Alex . Henry , Dundee ; Bros . Beveridge M . D ., Capt . C . Leith Hay , and W . E . Grandfelt , Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire ; Bros . G . Laurie G . Sec , Major Ramsay , H . D . Copland , G . Murray , and

J . B . Douglas , Edinburgh , together with all whose assistance had been already promised . Others there are , too , in the Colonies , who are both able and willing to work , and whose services may prove invaluable . All we can say—may the scheme prosper . Its object is worthy of the support of the whole Craft in Scotland , and we , as far as lies in our power , will do our best to further the project .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Record of tho Installation of Bro . Lieut .-Col . Sir Henry Edward , Bart ., D . L ., J . P ., P . M . No . 61 , Probity , as Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Province of West Yorkshire , at Halifax , 21 sfc April A . L . 5875 . Also the Installation of His Royal

Highness Albert Edward Prince of Wales , as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Antient , Free and Accepted Masons of England , at the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , London , on Wednesday , the 28 th April A . L . 5875 . Edited by Thomas William Tew J . P ., P . M . No . 910 , and D . P . G . M . of West Yorkshire . Dedicated by permission to Sir Henry Edwards . Pontefract : R . Holmes , Printer , Market Place , 1875 .

THE events of which this pamphlet is the record are among the most important that havo occurred , of late years , in English Freemasonry . One , indeed , cannot be surpassed in the annals of all Masonry . There may have been greater gatherings , as at the dedication of the Masonic Hall in Philadelphia , and at that of the Now Masonic Temple New York , on which we comment elsewhere , bnt

the ceremonial in the Albert Hall stands alone , and far above all other Masonic ceremonials . Nor is the election of Sir Henry Edwards to the Prov . Grand Mastership of Yorkshire without its significance . It was of this province that our late M . W . G . M ., tho Marquis of Ripon , waa G . M . It is a large and important province , with 59 Lodges , and an aggregate membership of 2 , 835 . Yorkshire , too , is

foremost among our provinces in its support of our Charities . It is quite natural then that our Yorkshire brethren should desire to possess some lasting record of the last election , and as that of the Prince of Wales followed so closely upon tho heels of the former , it was equally natural that members should desire an account of tho Royal Albert Hall to be embodied iu the same pamphlet . We do not

think the task could have heen entrusted to better hands . Bro . Tew has faithfully completed his task of compilation . Taking the most trustworthy accounts he could obtain , ho has extracted from them a plain and lucid narration of tho two Installations . The narrative , in fact , is eminently readable , and the facts are marshalled in their proper sequence , so that no confusion can possibly arise as to the

character or regularity of the proceedings . It is needless , of course , for us to select any evidence in support of these statements , for we should only be reproducing what , in another form , has already appeared in these colums . Nor need we say more aa to Bro . Tew's task . Ho has done his work well , and we feel sure ho will ! reap the only reward to which he aspires : the thanks , not of Yorkshire brethren only , but of the Craft generally .

The Masonic Eevievi for June ( Cincinnati , Ohio ) opens with an article from the pen of the Editor , entitled " A Stupid Atheist , " Mr . Charles Bradlangh as a Freemason being tho text . We quite agree with the editorial comments . Assuming that Mr . Bradlangh has been regularly initiated—a question wo shall certainly never trouble ourselves to discuss—it was in France , not in England , that the

mistake occurred ; such , at least , is the current story . English Freemasonry is free from the taint of having admitted "a stupid atheist . " We respectfully object , however , to Mr . Bradlangh being set down by the Editor as a " distinguished" Englishman . He may be a " notorious " one , in a not over complimentary sense , but that is all . A

most valuable item in this Review is a " Masonic Bibliography , " by Bro . Enoch T . Carson . This appears to be very carefully compiled , and cannot fail to be of the utmost value to Masonic students and writers . Wo trust that , when completed , this Bibliography will be published in a connected form . From the " Editorial Department " we extract the following note : —

" HUGHAN AND NORTON . —It is a mistake to couple these brethren in an attempt to ignore the ago and traditions of Masonry . Norton is a kind of Arab , —his " hand against every man " who deems Masonry older than 1717 ; while Hnghan is a scholar , a historian , a man of extensive reading and research . He has done more to develope the true history of tho Order than any man who over wrote on the

subject . Ho has spent years iu the examination of old documents and ancient records , and proves beyond a doubt that speculative Masonry was practised Jong anterior to 1717 . That he should discover changes in our rituals , forms , ceremonies , etc ., is not strange ; it would be strange if there had been no changes . In the long lapse of centuries , among so many nationalities , and worked in so many

various languages , it would be a miracle if Masonry had not been modified . And when we remember that the landmarks and essential :-are few , and the largest portion of our verbal ceremonies aro ol modern growth , we ought to rejoice that we have it as pure and unchanged as we have . No , no ; never couple the names of Hu ° hau and Norton as engaged in a crusade against the life and truths of M & BOOIJ , '

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . — : o : — AN OLIVER SCHOLARSHIP .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . 23 A Great Queen Street , 22 nd June 1875 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I trust the noble initiative of the Rev . Bro . Daniel Ace , D . D . ( one who is never weary in well-doing ) will speedily awaken the response it deserves . An University Masonic Scholarship will be worthy alike of the Fraternity , and of tho memory

of Dr . Oliver . I have already had the honour to contribute to the Oliver Memorial Fund , but now that it expands into so appropriate and honourable a project , I feel double satisfaction in offering another Five Pounds for the purpose . Your obedient servant , RICHARD SPENCER , Past Grand Steward .

Reports Of Lodge Proceedings.

REPORTS OF LODGE PROCEEDINGS .

To the Editor of T HE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . Queen ' s Hotel , Cardiff . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It is surprising in these enlightened days , how frequently old Acts of Parliament , bye-laws , and other matters crop up to disturb the even tenour of our way . I was rather taken by surprise at a discussion I hoard last weekj in a Lodge far from here , in connection with a circular received from your office , soliciting that reports of the Lodge be forwarded for

your paper . It appeared to me that the W . M . and P . M . ' s wero as well read in the Book of Constitutions as they were good workers , for they nob only rendered the first section of the lecture in a beautiful manner , but pointed out , iu the Book of Constitutions , that no member of a Lodge waa empowered to send a report to any paper of the

proceedings of any Lodge without permission of Grand Lodge , or Past Grand Master ; consequently , it was unanimously Toted that no report could be sent , and I regret from such a cause that I cannot give further publicity to tho evening's proceedings , but hope that somo brethren of Grand Lodgo may see this letter , that such a

clause , although no doubt useful at the time it was made , may be brought before its members for their opinion , under existing circumstances . I remain , Yours fraternally , M . M . M .

Royal Institution.

ROYAL INSTITUTION .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR AND BROTHER , —Attentive consideration of the conclusions drawn by the Masonic historian , " Dr . Findol , " from his investigations , suggests to me the following reflections . The German Steinmetzen may have changed the signification of what they inherited from the Roman Collegia , but tho English

Freemasons have undoubtedly preserved it . There seems no possibility of our having taken the customs of tho Steinmetzen for models , we must have inherited them from elsewhere . The ideal of tho English Freemason was evidently independent of that of his brethren of Strasbourg or elsewhere iu Germany . The connecting liuk for us would be the annual assembly at York and the Athelstan Charter ,

and the open question remains : —Is the former unfounded tradition and the latter a lie ? I believe not , and hope to sec full evidence for my belief before long . Dr . Findel does not admit tho possibility of links for us , because his theory denies all our connection with antiquity . One cause of tho vitality of old formulae and symbols in Masonry ,

may be pointed out . The Dionysiacs threw off travelling branches , the Pythagoreans did so too ; stray initiates from the East must have been ever turning up wherever ( in the West as elsewhere ) branches existed . These stray brethren from the fountain-head would powerfully aid the maintenance of the old traditions . Thus , with the survival of the similar Druidical mysteries , travelling Roman

initiates would amalgamate ; evenso wandering Steinmetzen , and Syrian artificers brought back in tho wake of tho Crusades . In the bosom of the Masonic Associations originated the " Platonic Academy" of Florence , in 1780 , tho " Company of tho Trowel , " iu 1512 , and the Famossisima Campagnia dolla Leaina at Venice , in lo'OO , all having for object the reformation of morals , by the practice of

speculative Masonry . I would not seem to underrate the labours and the critical acumen of Dr . Findel , though I cannot follow to his conclusions ; one passage on page 22 of his " History'' opens a loophole through which hi . ^ theory must ebb away , he there admits : — "Several Homauauthors and somo monumental inscriptions furnish undeniable proofs that these

associations of artists and artizans , continued among tho Romans for a considerable period . That they were iu Gaul and Brittany is ueyond a doubt , and that a certain connection existed between them and tho building corporations of later date can scarcely be disputed . " I am new to discussions on this subject , though I have attentively

perused the matter of your pages ; I am not controversially disposed , but have derived decided impressions , which I have much pleasure ia placing at your service , should you think them worthy of a place . Yours , & c , Sereaoaks , Kent , 21 st Jane 1876 . BFMVIF ,