Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

BRO . BUCHAN AND HIS CHALLENGE TO BRO .

HUGHAN . I shall be most happy to give reasons for my statement that the " true history of Freemasonry in this country is the history of an operative body . "

No one has a right to make assertions in a public print without being prepared and willing to furnish evidence in support of his opinions so expressed , and I therefore accept the challenge for proof which Bro . Buchan has thrown out .

Let me , however , first understand what I am called upon to prove . Is it that the Freemasonry of and since 1717 is a descendant of operative Freemasonry , and , in fact , was a revival of the operative body of former centuries ? I have

before objected to the term " our Freemasonry , " and do so now , as it is not specific enough . The foregoing question , if answered by Bro . Buchan in the negative , will be affirmed by W . T . HUGHAN .

Let me suggest three letters on the question : Bro . Buchan , as the negative supporter , to write first , as he is the challenger ; and therefore unless his objections are stated , I can only say ditto to what I have already advanced .

THE RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE . I am obliged to " Lupus " for his courteous explanation , but regret to find that the information at his command is so meagre . The jewel of the Red Cross of Babylon is a seven-pointed

star , with a circle 111 the centre enclosing a cross ; around the circle is the legend " Magna est Veritas , et pnevelabit , " and the ritual of the degree is essentially Jewish . We must , therefore , seek for another solution of the query :

Was the old Masonic Red Cross Order over which H . R . H . the late Duke of Sussex undoubtedly presided , and which was as unquestionably a Christian order , identical in essentials with the present Red Cross Order of

Constantine , which is a Christian organisation ; or can it be traced to a different origin , involving a different ritual and ceremony ? However , as I have been requested to examine certain papers

connected with the present Red Cross Order of Constantine , I hope soon to make known the results of my investigations to , all interested in the question . NEMO .

THE HIGH DEGREES , The only information I feel disposed to give , in print , lias possibly not reached you , as it has not appeared . Regarding the 1722 mention of the K . H ., I must remind " 333 ° " that I merely

mentioned the assertion of Dr . Leeson for it ; 1 suspect the authority , for this reason—that the degrees seem identical with the reformation of Paschalis' rite of 1754 by St . Martin . J YARKER .

THE GRAND CONCLAVE OF K . T . This treaty is almost sure to be reversed next Grand Conclave , to meet in December . It is stated in Lancashire , most positively , that Bro . Win . Birch , a member of Grand Conclave

Committee , Registrar of Lancashire , and a leading member of the Palatine Rose Croix , suppressed the agenda papers sent to him for distribution . They reached no hands in Lancashire . If this

is not so , Bro . Birch can contradict the statement in your paper ; if it is so , it will form a subject for enquiry elsewhere . LIBERTAS .

EARLY USE OF THE WORD " COWAN . " I promised my friend Bro . William Carpenter to search for the earliest records of the Craft that mention the word " cowan , " and the following is the result of my hurried examination :

¦ —In the Freemasons' Magazine , vol . 15 , page 90 , Bro . D . Murray Lyon states that " The Court of the Massoun Tred of the Ludge Kilwyning , holdin in the upper chamber of Hew Smythe , at the croce of Kilwyning , the xx . of Deer ., 164 « . . Item , they hev ordanit that Hew Mure

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

sail not work with ony Cowane in tymes cuming , under the pain of xlb . monie f and this worthy historian also presents another quotation , dated xix . Dec , 1646 : "The glk day Hew Mure in Kilmarnock was discernit to pey to the box ten

lb . monie of unlaw for working with Cowans , contrarii to the Acts and Ordinances of the said Ludge , " and one dated January 28 th , 1647 : "Guhilk day , Robert Guhyt , masoune in air upoune oath disclymed all working with the

Cowams at any tyme . " The word " cowan , " then , according to operative masonry , signified what is now called a clandestine or irregular mason ; in other words , one who had obtained a knowledge of the craft

without conforming to the general laws of the order , as to serving an apprenticeship of seven years , being elected a "Freeman , " and suchlike . Notwithstanding , however , such irregularities , " Cowans " were sometimes permitted to work

with recognised craftsmen under certain restrictions . Bro . Lyon furnishes some most interesting evidence on this point from the minutes of the " Ayr Squaremen Incorporation . " The first instance refers to a Fellow Craft Cowan , and

the remainder relates to Master Cowans : — "Feb . xxiii , 1593 : Glk day George Gibsoun , indwallar of this burgh , meanit himself to the deakin and the craft conscerning his weaknes and povertie , declairing to thame he micht nocht

pay muckill , bot wald doe his deutie so far as he micht to pay that thing he micht for his fredome to the craft . The deakin and craft foirsaid havand compasoun upon him , hes entert the sd . George to work as brother and fallow of craft

in the toun . All work he can work excep hewm work , hewing and laying exceptit . For the glk libertie the sd . George lies payit to the deakin and craft instairlie the soume of fy ve pundis and ane pitcher of aill . Guha hes maid his aith to be

leill and trew to the craft , as use is . " April xxi ., 1671 : " . . . Farder , the sd . Deacon and tred gives libertie to the sd . William Smyth to work cowan wark , he heving noe libertie by thir presents to work hewen work of the mason tred . "

Oct . xxin ., 1677 : " . . . James Kenadie was admittit and receavit freeman with the tred , with libertie to him to work wright work and cowand work , and not to work any hewin wark ; and hes maid aith as befoir to observe the actis

and statutes of the tred . " Nov . xi ., 1688 , William Mardock was admitted in like manner , and at the same time Robert Hunter , " Wright and Cowand , was receaved journeyman with the

Tred . " These instances will suffice ( out of many we have from Bro . D . Murray Lyon ) to illustrate the use of the word " cowan " in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries . W . J . HUGHAN .

THE EARL OF CARNARVON ON MONARCHY . At page 348 we find the Right Honourable the Earl of Carnarvon , Deputy Grand Master of England , observing : " In conclusion he advised them to cling to our old institutions , and

foremost among them all , the ancient and hereditary monarchy . " Allow me to add the following as a comment upon this : — " Freedom of thought is always greater under a monarchy than under the rule of jealous and narrow-minded citizens ,

and it was unknown in the ancient republics . The Greeks accomplished great things without it , thanks to the incomparable force of their genius ; but we must not forget that Athens had a complete inquisition . " W . P . B .

THE ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND AND ITS ANTIQUITY . At page 377 , " An Edinburgh Member of the Order" tells us : " The fads related to every one on his admission are , that ' King Robert

Bruce , immediately after the battle of Bannockbum , founded the Royal Order of Heredom of Kilwinning , reserving to himself and his successors on the throne of Scotland the office and title of Grand Master . " Now , this , instead of

being a fact , or" facts , " is simply neither more nor less than a little recently-manufactured legend , in which the names of " Robert Bruce" and " Bannockburn " have been made use of in order to impose all the more readily upon Scotsmen , , and give eclat to the proceedings ,

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

The story about the " chair " is also another little trick ; clever , no doubt , but none the less a trick for all that . The Grand Lodge of Scotland was instituted

1111736 , as its documents prove , but where is there any evidence of the existence of the " Royal Order " . then ? far less to boast of such an imaginary antiquity as A . D . 1314 . X . V . 7 ,.

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents .

VISIT OF AMERICAN FREEMASONS TO EUROPE .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR BROTHER EDITOR , —Your most excellent article on the above subject will be endorsed by the Craft throughout Great Britain and Ireland . London is the centre for a grand reception to be given

to our friends—say at the Freemasons' Tavern , in July . Whatever you at the " head quarters " of the Craft may decide on , will have the support and cooperation of the country Craftsmen ; and I feel sure many would do their best to be present on so

interesting an occasion . We shall be delighted to hold out the right hand of fellowship , and give them all a right hearty welcome to our country , and as American

Masonsthe representatives of United States' Grand Lodges , and gentlemen bearing the " tongue of good report , " and also well known at home as skilful Craftsmenwe shall rejoice in any way to promote their happiness and comfort while they sojourn among us .

W . J . HUGHAN . June 24 , 1871 .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —However anxious we may be to greet the American Knights Templar who are at present in this country , not only as brother Masons but also as members of the Religious

and Military Confraternity of the Temple , I fear it is out of the question that they can be received into any regular encampment in England . In your impression of June 24 , you give a report of a body styling itself the " Girvan Encampment of Knights Templar , " meeting at Glasgow , who has ,

" as the only encampment in Scotland that holds regular monthly meetings , " invited the Transatlantic brethren to visit them , & c . This invitation / apparently has been accepted by the American Knights , who by this visit recognise and acknowledge the Girvan Encampment .

: Now , on reference to the " Cosmopolitan" Calendar , we find the only bodies of Knights Templar who hold of the Grand Priory of Scotland are the Priory of the Lothians , the Priory of Ayr , and the Priory of Glasgow ( now dormant ) , and we do not find the self-styled Girvan Encampment . Nor is it

a legal and regular body , but one of a highly spurious character which has never been in connection with the Grand Priory of Scotland or with the Chapter General of the Order . We understand there are many illegal encampments in Scotland , for the most part in the neighbourhood of Glasgow , who confer the degree so called , for eighteen pence or half a

crown . There is also a clandestine encampment at Aber deen , styled the " St . George Aboyne , " which works under a charter of Fr . Alex Detichar , G . M ., and which separated from the Grand Priory in 1845 or ' 46 . This encampment is of a very different

standing to the spurious bodies in the West of Scotland , and numbers in its ranks several of the most earnest and worthy brethren of Aberdeen . Among others , we may mention the Prov . G . M ., the D . Prov . G . M ., P . G . S . W ., & c , & c . We understand this encampment will shortly give in its allegiance

to the Grand Priory and become regular , the want of recognition by the Grand Body being the only bar to this encampment being accepted as legal . The pseudo-encampments in the West of Scotkind are of a very different character , and their members of another calibre altogether . Nor cin

they ever be acknowledged , nor can any of the socalled Sir Knights be received in an English encampment or a Scottish Priory until they pass the ballot and are regularly installed as Royal Arch Masons .

We arc therefore much surprised that the American brethren should not have been better guided than to be allowed to make this first step a faux pas . We sincerely trust the report may be non-confirmed , but should it be true , wc call upon the Knights