Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

3 bis , and pass off as agreeably , as that of the 812 th ! Certainly , as Bro . Lyon never stays away from Mother Kilwinning , notwithstanding the stuff that has been written about it , Bro .

Buchan need not absent himself from Lodge of Glasgow St . John , No . 3 bis , as all he has written on the subject has been done in the best spirit for its true position and prosperity . AV . T . HUGHAN .

Bro . W . P . Buchan ' s letter and explanation is simply confirmatory of what he has already said , " That the lodge called Mother Kilwinning is

neither the oldest lodge in Scotland , nor yet is the other lodges throughout Scotland offshoots from it . " On this I am satisfied , and wish it to rest in this way . ONE WHO WISHES FACTS .

On reference , I find that this lodge granted three charters previous to its joining in the formation of Grand Lodge of Scotland , and during

its time of holding its independence after its receding from Grand Lodge , during a period of sixty-four years , granted twenty nine . ONE WHO WISHES FACTS .

THE " MASONIC TOBACCO BOX . " I have just had the pleasure of receiving a photo , of the above , containing three good views of the valuable little box . The photograph is

well worth the half-crown , as a matter of curiosity , and as it is sold for the benefit of the Children ' s Wing of the Convalescent Home , Weston-super-Mare , it is to be hoped many brethren will procure copies of the same , and thus aid Bro . Dr . Swete in his good work . AA ' . J . HUGHAN .

Bro . Swete having sent Bro . Buchan a photograph of his old box , I had the pleasure of examining it , and consider it to be very interesting ; yet , withal , I must adhere to my remark at page 57 , January 29 th , viz ., "The engraving is nearer

1770 than 1670 , and the style will suit the iSth century . Jacobite relics were manufactured , as witness several specimens of one relic . The arms are improperly blazoned , but that is nothing uncommon , when parties not acquainted with

the subject adopt them , as , e . g ., certain stained glass windows of Glasgow cathedral , which , as I understand , had to be taken out and altered at the command of the proper owners . Persons of the same surname have no title to steal the

arms of the head of the house . The date " 1670 " is not upon the same side of the box as the Masonic emblems , but on other side , below the Drtiinmond shield , and had this been reall y cut to a Drummond's order in 1670 , wc would

have expected him to have been able to know and explain his own coat of arms properly . However , the engravings are very interesting , and as Bro , Swete is able to sell the photographs at 2 s . 6 d ., such brethren as take an interest in such

matters ought to get one and judge lor themselves . Bro . Swete says : " . Masonic Tobacco Box—was given by the Earl of Perth at the defeat of the Pretender , in 1745 , to a relative who became afterwards the great grandmother of the owner ,

Mrs . ; this lady ' s grandfather died at the age of 82 , more than 40 years ago . It has thus been a Masonic heir-loom , in one family , for more than 130 years . " " Si * inches x 2 j < * ijf , thick . " Now we should be told the name of

this " great-grandmother , " and also that of her husband . Supposing the lady bad this box in 1745 or 1 746 , it may have been her husband who got the arms and Masonic emblems engraved afterwards . However , where ' s the proof the lady

got tne box ( a tobacco-box , mind you ) from " the Earl of Perth at the defeat of the Pretender in 1745 ? " and tell the circumstances under which it was given—when did she get it , and where ?

Seeing it was Bro . Sweto himself who introduced this subject to the readers of THE FREEMASON , he is certainly entitled to give us " more light . " LEO .

TRADE TOUCHES , MARKS AND SYMBOLS . In former times every trade bad a touch , by which members recognized etich other . Many of these have de .-. cended lo modern times , and among operative masons not only is the ancient touch known , but the tool and stone mark has

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

come down lineally from sire to son . The present system of trade marks is simply an extension of the operative stone-mason mark . The late David Roberts brought home from Egypt with him , among other curiosities , a mould for casting

bricks , which bore upon it the mark of the overseer of the makers . Ancient buildings have many examples of the mark , as is known to every one , and there is little doubt that touches of trades and societies are of equal antiquity . Among

modern trades , we find the blacksmiths having the lewis grip , formed by linking the thumbs and little fingers of the right hands . The gardeners have a similar grip , only the points of the thumb and finger touch . The engineers lock the

thumbs , the butchers the forefingers . The cadgers of the Scottish border , generally gypsies , have a regular system of initiation . After various ceremonies , such as passing under a donkey ' s belly and jumping over a creel , the candidate is

sworn " to he , cheat , and steal as best he can , but never to wrong a brother cadger . " He is then blind-folded , his mouth filled with salt , after which he takes a bath , being precipitated into a tub of lime . The smiths , during the middle ages ,

were considered of the utmost importance , and took " precedence of the other trades . I remember many years ago of reading an account of the ceremonies used in receiving members into this guild , but forget what book it is to be found in .

It would repay the trouble if some competent person would give us an account of the trades , from the archives of the London guilds . The records must be rich in every kind of lore , and might also throw no inconsiderable light upon

history . The breaking of rings and sixpences between lovers , and the exchange of white stones bearing a peculiar mark among friends , are evidences of the bent of man to create symbols

emblemizmg love , friendship , and truth . Ihe white stone was , with a ring , the symbol of trust , and the voucher of an envoy . ANTHONY O'NEAL HAVE .

BRO . BUCHAN AND HIS 1717 THEORY . Bro . Buchan has endeavoured to maintain in : i variety of ways that Freemasonry dates from 1717 . I think he has already admitted that the

Mother Kilwinning Lodge was m existence , and granted a charter , in 16 77 , to the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge , to hold their meetings at Edinburgh . What explanation can lie give of this ? ONR \ Y _ K > WISHES FACTS .

HIRAM , CHIEF OF THE METAL-WORKERS AT THE TEMPLE . The following is from Dr . AVilliam Smith ' s "Dictionary ofthe Bible : "— "Jewish legends relate that , because he was a God-fearing man

and built the temple , he was received alive into paradise ; but that , after he had been there a thousand years , he sinned by pride , and was thrust down into hell ! " That ' s a nut for Freemasons to crack . AV . P . B .

ROS 1 CRUCIAN SOCIETY OF ENGLAND . Allow me to thank Bro . Hughan for the in formation he so readily gives at page 151 . LEO .

• SCOTCH MASONS . Some say that Scots Masons is the proper way to spell the word . Apart from this , the brother making an enquiry as to this , has only to refer to

a speech lately made , by a Scotsman who has travelled nearly over all the world , in Dundee , and he will see the reason Scots Masons are not respected so much as they ought to be . CIPES .

A CONCLAVE , of Knights ofthe Ued Cro . ; . - of Rome and Constantine is about to be held at f ' onlypooJ . BREAKFAST . — EIT .-. ' . S C < - : OA . — Grateful and Comforting . —Tim wry agreeable el'araettT of this prepar . V . u > : i has ren Uaeil ii : i general favauile . Tho Ciril Serf ,- . ' ( , ' .::,: ' . ' . remarks : " lly ;; l ! . <> r . » _ i , _ : h knowledge of thi . ' natural laws which e-ivurn the uiieni : io . i : ; of di . _ ' , es ; ion

an : l iii' . ' . vili ) .., n . iii l > y r . careful . ipplie . t'ioii of tin .- hue properties of v . el .-selerled i-oeon , Mr . Kppi has provided tillr 1-reakfa . t tables willi a dv _ ie . ii > .-ly- _ la \ o _ iiv . l beverage M-Jii . i ' i may saw- i-s n . i . iy heavy ' l-i ! ' : . " Made siinnlv v .-ilh hailing valer or milk . Su' . d only in lin-liucd packets , labelled J AMKS Kfi-s ii Cvi ., Uoino : ojv . uhie Chemists , London . —[ Advt , ]

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

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

UNIFORMITY OF WORKING . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — I have been so severely ill since the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge on the 2 nd of March , that I have had no care nor consideration for the subject upon which

I and others have expended so much time and trouble with the intent of effecting a reform in the present system of working . It appears from the correspondence in your columns during the interval , that an impression has arisen that the entire question is " shelved" in consequence of the manner in which

the proposition of certain names as members of the Committee of Enquiry was dealt with by Grand Lodge on that occasion . But , notwithstanding the unanimity with which the further consideration of the appointment of a committee was deferred , the principle that reform in working is necessary

has been declared , and the resolution of the Grand Lodge thereupon confirmed . It can hardly be supposed that Grand Lodge would stultify itself by neglecting to carry out in its integrity a decision so deliberately made , and therefore there can be no doubt that a committee will be appointed . It is

really a matter of minor importance to those who have promoted this movement as to whom shall be deputed the carrying out of the " enquiry into the merits of the various systems of working , with a view to report thereon . " For my part , although the proposer , at the request of others , of the thirty-three

names selected at a meeting of above forty brethren as fit and proper members for the committee , it is very immaterial to me who may bc appointed , provided the enquiry is entered upon earnestly and with a determination to arrive at some practically good result . It is equally immaterial whether few

or many arc concerned in the enquiry , although as a matter of fact there is a work of considerable magnitude , and one requiring the assistance of members of the Craft in both metropolitan and proi-jncj . il districts , to bc performed . Now permit mc , with the utmost respect to the

members of Grand Lodge , to ask whether on the last occasion of meeting , the proceedings in reference to this question of " Uniformity of Working" were altogether dignified , or worthy of that assembly ? The former meeting—the largest wc have ever hadresolved that a Committee of Enquiry should be

formed ; at this meeting that resolution was confirmed . The agenda paper provided for the appointment of the committee . Whether in the exercise of good judgment or the lamentable want thereof , a large number of the Craft had selected what they thought might be

considered a fair list of names , and looking to the amount of work to bc done had named thirty-three brethren of greater or less rank in Freemasonry , but all Past Masters . The proposition of these names was , on the number being mentioned , received with much laughter . Why , I am even now

obtuse enough not to be able to understand ! When Bro . Matthew Cooke , in his usual would-be facetious manner exaggerated the number and made 33 represent 39 , in order that he might , with true fraternal delicacy and good taste , designate worthy and respected brethren as " the thirty-nine articles , " I

could understand the laughter which greeted his miserable attempt at a joke . But it being quite in the power of the Grand Lodge to reject that proposition in a business-like manner , and to decide upon other names for the committee , and it being really a part of the business for which , according to

the agenda , Grand Lodge was convened , it does appear surprising that , with but one dissentient , ( myself , ) the appointment of the committee should have been deferred . And may I not also fairly ask why , there being nearly all of those brethren present ' who had prepared the list of names

proposed , and had expressed themselves so earnest in the movement , I was left in " the glorious minority of one " on that question ? However , without a direct vote of Grand Lodge erasing the resolution already made and confirmed , " Uniformity of Working" is not shelved , and it

will of course be expected by the Craft generally that the required committee shall bc appointed . I am sure that if only true Masonic charity , forbearance , and unselfishness were brought to bear upon the subject , what is really meant by the term ' Uniformity of Workiii ' -T " would be better

understood ; but it requires great oratorical ability , most powerful lungs , and a seat on the dais , to secure such a hearing : is could fully explain what is sought for , and how to do it . Neither of these qualifications have I , nnd therefore must , with others , patiently

endeavour to obtain the sympathy of the Craft with tho movement by other means . In the meanwhile I shall consider it my duty to ask for the committee at the proper seasons , and if ultimately it be determined that the resolution and its confirma-