Notes For Masonic Students.

Notes For Masonic Students .

3 . —THE PATENT OF STEPHEN MORIN . IT would seem to me inadvisable to set out here , at full length , the Patent in French , the more so as it has been often printed , though the copy supplied by Daruty , page 19-4 , and certified by Bro . Albert Pike , is undoubtedly the most correct , and has the two original attestations which I give below , besides Bro . Pike ' s Certificate . As I

before remarked , it is moreover only the translation of a translation , and though there is no reason to donbt either its genuineness or authenticity , it has necessarily not the authority of the original Patent . A little difficulty has arisen from the fact that Delahogue UBed certain abbreviations , whioh seem to prove the fact of a copy ,

though on the other hand they have led to the liberties certain transcribers have taken both with phrases and even names . It has been suggested that the original Patent was in Latin ; if BO , that would explain many of the anomalies of the case . It has been affirmed that this document , important to tbe history

of the High Grades , was issued to Morin conjointly by the Grand Lodge of Franoe and the " Conseil des Empereurs , " but this seems to be a complete mistake . It is in truth an emanation , not from the Grand Lodge of Franoe , but from the Grand and Sovereign Lodge of St . John of Jerusalem ,

established at the Orient of Paris , and the Perfect Grand Masters of the Grand Conseil of the regular Lodges , under the protection of the Grand Sovereign Lodge , under the numbers sacred and mysterious . Now this 13 a formula of whioh no precedent exists as used by the Grand Lodge of France .

It is Bigned by some High Grade personages , and by Daubertin , Grand Seoretary of the Grand Lodge , ( that is , of the Grand and Sovereign Lodge of St . John of Jerusalem ) and of the Sublime Council of Prince Masons in France . The Comte de Clermont was Protector , as he is termed , of all

Orders and Grades in France and Lodges of every kind . This docnment is sealed with the seal of tbe Grand Master , and of the Grand Lodge and Sovereign Council , not with the Beal of tho Grand Lodge of France . Some writers interpolate after Grande Loge ( de Franoe ) , but

that nowhere occurs in the original docnment , and the Grand Loge is dearly , that with whatever name the Patent begins , the Grand Lodge of Perfection , of Sublime and Perfect Masonry . It is very important to keep this before us .

The following is Delahogue's Certificate : — Certifie veritable et conforms traduction de l'originale extraite des registres du Gd . Inspr . Gl . H . T . Long , et signede lui et transmis par lui aux archives du Ed . et Souvn . Conseil des Princes Sublimes du Royal Secret de Charleston Caroline du sud .

J . BIB . Mm DEIAHOGUE . ADRE . FROIS DE GKASSE . At the commencement of the Copy of the Patent . — Copie de Lettres Patentes et pouvoirs accordees par La Grand

Loge et Souverain Conseil des Sublimes Princes de la Maconnerie an Gd . Orient de France an T ., pt . et Rble . Fr . Etienno Morin dont les titres ont ete vns et appronves par les principaux membres de Loges Regulieres qu'il a visitee dans ses voyages , & c .

Bro . Pike gives the following Certificate to the copy of the Patent printed by Daruty , as communicated to him by Bro . Pike : — I do hereby certify that the four preceding pages contain a true and exact copy from the Register of Jean Baptiste Delahogue in the archives of our Supreme Conncil for the Southern Jurisdiction of the

United States , the last entry wherein is of date 12 October 1799 , and the first 20 June 1798 , and that the signatures of the said Delahogue and Alex . Francois Auguste de Grasae in the said Register to the original whereof the foregoing is a copy , are genuine , as I am able to verify by many other signatures of each .

ALBERT PIKE 33 ° , Or of Charleston , So . Carolina , 20 September 1877 . Some reflections and comments ou what I have now noted for students I reserve for my next note . SPERO .

2 . —THE INIGO JONES MS . AS some questions have arisen about this so-called MS ., it seems desirable to supplement my former note on the subject . Tho Inigo Jones MS ., so-called for convenience sake , aud one or two circumstances attendant on its discovery and peculiarities , is undoubtedly a pre 1700 MS .

Everything about it points to that conclusion , —paper , binding , chirography ; and that it can iu any sense be an eighteenth century MS . can only be attributed to an unexpert appreciation of the facts of the case .

It was assumed originally , both at Messrs . Puttick ' s sale and in Mr . Pickering's catalogue , that the drawing was by Inigo Jones himself , but that is not necessarily tho case . The endorsement at the foot of tho drawing may only mean , after all , when fully considered , that tho original drawing was by Inigo

Jones , of whioh the undoubtedly bud " replica" has been made . As the one decisive proof of its real antiquity is wanting , and cannot now we fear be discovered , we must be content with an expert approximation of its date , which is from 16 S 0

to 168 o-90 . But certainly pre 1700 . An argument has been put forward , I understand , that it is later tban tho 1723 Constitutions , on the grounds ( 1 ) that its chronology is the chronology of the Conatitutiou of 1723 , and ( 2 ) that many of its state-

Notes For Masonic Students.

ments are takeu from Josephus , and that therefore it cannot be of date 1606 , and may therefore , and probably is , a manufacture sub sequently to Anderson ' s Constitution in 1723 . Unfortunately such an argument proves too much , and is altogether unsound in theory and in fact . It does not seem to have occurred to so acute a critic

that ceteris paribus it is just as likely , rather more so , that Anderson copied from the MS ., than that the transcriber of the MS . copied from Anderson . As regards the argument from Josephus , that fails even as regards Inigo Jones .

The first edition in English of Josephus , by Lodge , was pub . lished in folio in 1602 . There was a fine copy of his works in Greek , with notes , in two volumes , royal folio , by J . Hudson , published in 1726 , while Whiston ' s Josephus first edition of the standard edition in English came out BO

late as 1737 , one volume folio . I cannot see then how such an argument can be protruded any further . It appears to me utterly " out of court . "

There is no possibility of the so-called Inigo Jones MS . being arranged for the purpose of deception . Nothing was known of it until about 1881 , and it had never come before Masonic students at all .

It was advertised by Puttick and Simpson , re-advertised by Mr . Piokering , purchased by Bro . Woodford , and is now , 1 understand , at Kidderminster . Its history was truly given originally in the Freemason and

Masonic Magazine , and tbe moment it waB discovered tbat the date assigned to it by its original advertisers could not be sustained , it was so announced , and the date was reduced from 1606 to 1680 . Of its earlier history nothing it seems is known . SPEEO .

The Swallow-Tailed Coat.

THE SWALLOW-TAILED COAT .

Oh , for the old-fashioned days of our sires , When Craftsmen were judged by their measure of merit ; When worth superseded ambitious desires , And Masons were Masons in letter and Bpirit .

In those days the clothing tbat one wore to meeting His standard of excellence did not denote , And a Brother was sure of a Brotherly greeting , Although not togged out in a swallow-tailed coat .

Then the rich and the poor , the mighty and lonely , All met together , with one common care ; To propitiate friendship their purpose was wholly , And to meet on the Level and part on the Square .

Then the humble mechanic , without being invited , Could to visiting Lodges his evenings devote , And be cordially welcomed , and never be slighted , By some elderly dude in a swallow-tailed coat .

And yet , after all , 'mongst these swallow-tailed Brethren . Are some of the best that the Craft ever knew ; They consider the Lodge a society gathering , And merely conform to the prevalent view .

Bnt others , who come to the Lodge thus attired , Are striving their owu selfish ends to promote , And think they were born to be praised and admired Because they have borrowed a swallow-tailed coat .

There are hundreds of Brethren in prominent station , With hearts of pare gold and intelligence rare , That have not been accustomed to fashion's dictation Regarding the style of the clothes they should wear ,

And names have the pages of history brightened , Of more than one soldier and statesman of note Who , though battles they fought and the world they enlightened , Would feci out of place in a swallow-tailed coat .

Then reserve evening dress for society rackets , The wedding reception , or " Upper-ten " ball , And let Brotherly Love , and true Friendship to back it ,

Prevail in the Lodge-room among one and all . Don't be too high-toned ; but , without hesitation , To yonr humbler Brother your talents devote ; Don't recall to his mind his inferior station By parading around in a swallow-tailed coat . —Keystone .

TEETOTAL LODGES . —We canuot understand the idiosyncrasy that brings about this idea iu the minds of Masons . Are we drunkards that require reclaiming ? or are we geutlemen that know how to behave deceut . y and in order ? Surely we have not forgotten one of the most prominent teachings of our good old Craft , " Let

temperance chasten you . How familiar does the grand old lesson sound find how useful is it to remember ! not only in the use of alcoholic drinks . It would be a poor thing to say it should stop ' there . Let temperance chasten you in all things , Brethren ; that is tho meaning

to be conveyed . Act as intelligent and educated men , having proper control over your minds and bodies ; do your duty as Masons . Succour the widow and tbe fatherless , and keep yourselves unspotted from the world , and jou will not require Teetotal Lodges . — Victoria Freemason .

HOLLOWAI- s Ot . TOEjiST AUD PILLS . —Counsel for the delicate . —Thos > to whom the changeable temperature is a protracted period of trial should scek the earliest opportunity of removing all obstacles t , good health . This cooling Ointment , perseveringly rubbed upon the skin , is the most reliable remedy for overcoming nl ! diseases of tho throat aud chest . Quinsev , relaxed tonsils ,

sore throat , swollen ghmds , ordinary catairh , and bronchitis , usually prevailing at this season , may be arrested as soon as discovered , and every symptom banished by Hollo way ' a simple and eifective treatment . This Ointment anil Pills iii'o highly commended tor the facility with which they successfully contend with inflaunza ; thov ullay in M increiliblv short time the distressing fever and teaming tuugh .