Speculum Sapientiæ -The Mysterious Mirror-Speculum Of Wisdom..

SPECULUM SAPIENTI ? - THE MYSTERIOUS MIRROR - SPECULUM OF WISDOM ..

( Communique . )

As this plate has appeared in the Voice of Masonry , and a kind brother has sent us another p hotographic copy from Leeds , for the purpose of publication in the Masonic J \ fa"ushie , we think it right to point out oUt ° why we do not publish it . In the first

place it is , as given in the Voice oj Masonry , an adaptation after 181 . 3 , of a print which nppeared in 1789 , engraved by a certain Lam bert or Poubert . We have a copy of it of that date , the half , however , only of a plate , nnd on the corresponding side appears to have

been French translations , as on the original we see the words , " Chapitre et Grande Loge d ' Ang leterre , ctc . " It had not originally the Pelican , & c ., and the dedication to the Union of 1813 is not found . If any brother has the correct p late in the whole , and will kindly forward it

to us , we will consider the propriety of publishing it in the Masonic Magazine , though we do not attach any value to it , and for this reason . We have a collection of four plates , apparently published together , of . which the half of the

original p late , as now engraved in the Voice of Masonry , is the fourth , and the first of them is designed by Bro . Wm . Finch ( the English Masonic charlatan ) , 5 , Charlotte-place , New Cut , Lower Marsh , Lambeth . We need say no more . —EDITOR MASONIC MAGAZINE . "

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

We have been requested to publish the following communique . In another column we publish an account of the meeting of the York Mark Lodge , of "Time Immemorial " constitution , which lodge recently petitioned for , and obtained , a charter

from the Grand Mark Lodge of England , and as we believe there are two , if not three , old Mark lodges still standing aloof , we take this as a favourable opportunity of making a few remarks on the subject , for we heartily join the Sheffield Mark brethren in their congratulatory remarks

to the York Mark Lodge on their recognition of the Grand Mark Lodge as the supreme head of that degree in England , under whose able rule the Mark has become , next after the Craft , the most powerful body .. Doubtless the close affinity of the Mark to the Craft has also a deal to do

with the cause of this happy state of things . But , the other day , another proof of the Mark being worked as a distinct degree , as far back as sixty-eight years ago , was evinced by the old minute books of the Sheffield Royal Arch Chapter of Paradise , No . 139 , extracts from

which are being published in the Masonic Magazine by our Bro . S . B . Ellis . It is not our intention here to enter into the merits , or demerits , of the Grand Mark Lodge of England , & c . it has weathered the storm , rilled a certain hiatus in our system , serves a good end , and , as

the Earl de Grey and Ripon ( as M . W . G . M . ) said in 1870 , "All the brethren composing the Mark Degree are necessarily Master Masons , and as such they will at all times have his best wishes . " This all true Craftsmen must concede . However , our present remarks are on the

York Mark Lodge ; the very name of " York " is , to all English Masons " a tower of strength , " indeed , York has been termed " the cradle of English Masonry "—as Kilwinning was of the Scotch ; The Grand Mark Lodge therefore de . rives no little honour and advantage in the

adhesion of the York Mark Lodge , T . I ., but , on the other hand , the honour and advantage that accrue to the York Mark Lodge are equally great ( if not greater ) , as is obvious when we run through the names of those illustrious brethren who fought for , obtained , and continue to uphold the utility , the dignity , and the honour of the Grand

Mark Lodge of England , & c . ; we particularly refer to the M . W . Past Grand Masters—videlicet , the Earl of Carnarvon , Viscount Holmesdale , M . P ., Lord Leigh , W . W . Beach , Esq ., M . P ., Earl Percy , M . P ., the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A ., and the present Grand Master , the Earl of Limerick , and his Deputy ; Lord Skelmersdale , all of

Mark Masonry.

whom are Constitutional Masons , and of high position in the Craft ; indubitable and irrefragable evidence ( to the York Mark Brethren , did they need it ) of the proud status the Grand Mark Lodge deservedly enjoys , in the lustre of which the York Mark Brethren now

" ( Rous'd from their dark alcoves ) , delight to stretch And bask in its invigorating rays . " In conclusion he would say to the York Mark Lodge , we congratulate you on recognising the

accepted , constituted authority , for in so doing you are carrying out the principles of the true teachings of the Craft , therefore , you have " our hearty good wishes ; " and to the other Mark Lodges who , at present ; '' stand out in the cold we would say , " go thou , and do likewise . "

Kenning's Masonic Almanac.

KENNING'S MASONIC ALMANAC .

We beg leave to call attention to an elaborate illuminated Masonic Almanack for 1877 , printed on card , in gold and colours , with portraits of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . ; the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro G . M .: the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , R . W .

D . G . M ., in full Masonic regalia ; and medallions of the Right Hon . Lord Donoughmore , S . G . W . ; the Hon . W . W . Vernon , J . G . W . ; Samuel Tomkins , Esq ., G . Treasurer ; John Hervey , Esq ., G . Secretary . We are also pleased to announce that this very artistic almanack may be

obtained of the publisher of the Freemason , at 198 , Fleet-street , London , gratuitously , or will be sent , post free , to any part of the world on receipt of name or address , legibly written , accompanied by two penny stamps . We recommend an early application for it .

Reviews.

Reviews .

THE COMMISSION AGENT , Anglo-Australian Edition . — Barbican , London . We have perused and are much struck with this publication . It will be very valuable to all engaged in the

Anglo-Australian trade , and gives an immense amount of information admirably and clearly . The expense of its production must be very great , and we wish it all success . The sex-lingual announcements on the cover are very striking .

THE FREEMASONS' CALENDAR 1011 THE PROVINCE OK DORSET . We congratulate Bro . Howard , the esteemed P . G . S . of Dorset , for this useful and much increased Provincial Calendar . It reflects equal credit on his province , and himself . We venture to suggest that in his next issue he

should give us the exact number of Freemasons in his province , and also the last balance sheet of the province . Perhaps , too , if he had "totalled " the amount of votes for the vaiious charities it would also have been an improvement . But we thank him for the Calendar , and deem it worthy of all consideration .

FREEMASONS' CALENDAR FOR 1877 . LEICESTERSHIRE

AND RUTLAND . We have received and read this admirably printed little Calendar with great gratification , and congratulate Bro . Parttidge on his most effective editorship . The entire woik is thoroughly well got up , and is a most creditable and useful little publication . We thank Bro . Partridge for sending it to us .

THE MASONIC RECORD roit WESTERN INDIA . This well conducted Masonic periodical has reached No . 10 , vol . xiii ., and pursues the " even tenour " of its way with marked ability and , we trust , success . It fully

deserves the support of the Craft in India , and the p . rusal of brethren at home , as it is always most readable , and in its pages we can always light upon something calculated to interest and improve the Masonic student , the tolerant and thoughtful Freemason .

LONDON : WHAT TO SEE . —Messrs . Reeves and Son , Playhouse Yard . Messrs . Reeves and Son have put out a little Handbook to London and London sights , which is a very useful and handy little production , and owing to its guaranteed

circulation of 5000 , is a very valuable medium for advertizing , as the London season is just beginning , it will be very helpful to our " country cousins . " We wish it all success , and recommend it to the notice of those who wish to advertise , as well as those who desire to " do London . "

THE EXCLUSION OF HEBREWS FROM FREEMASONRY . With reference to a recent leader in the Freemason on this subject , the Jewish Chronicle thus writes : —

" It is truly soothing to Jewish feelings , especially at a time when the persecution of the Jews in a most atrocious form has been revived among a so-called Christian people in Roumania , to hear such words of sympathy and . such testimony borne to universal Jewish charity . "

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE SCOTTISH FREEMASON . — We call attention to an announcement in our advertising columns of The Scottish Freemason , which made its de'but yesterday ( Friday ,, as a candidate for the patronage of tiie Craft under the Scottish Constitution . It will be published fortni ghtly by Bro . George Kenning , at his office in Glasgow ( No . 9 , West Howard-street ) , to

which address subscriptions , letters to the Editor , & c , should be directed . The Freemasons of Leeds gave on Tuesday , February 20 th , a very successful minstrel entertainment in the Masonic Hall , in aid of the Leeds Benevolent Institution . The programme and the performance seem to have been equally effective .

The installation meetings of the De Warenne Preceptory of Knights Templar , and the Eureka Chapter , Rose Croix , will be held on Friday and Saturday , March 9 th and 10 th , at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , each day at 3 30 p . m . Only those who have visited this preceptory and chapter can form an idea of the completeness of their fittings . Any member of these degrees sojourning at

Brighton , or able to run down , will assuredly be gratified , not only with the beautiful aspect of the chapter-rooms , but with the work , of which at each meeting there will be an abundance , while on Saturday visitors will run the risk of being entertained at the banquet , which takes place at Markwell ' s Royal Hotel . The Grand Lodge of Florida has a Masonic

Library of 200 volumes , and also a Public Masonic Academy Library , of literary and scientific works , of 1200 volumes . Bro . John Carlovitz is Secretary and Librarian . The nineteenth Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina was held in Raleigh , on the 5 th December . The principal officers elected are H . H . Munson , M . W . Master ; C . A . Cilley , D . G . M . ; R . W

Hardee , S . G . W , ; J . C . L . Gudger , J . G . W . ; W . E . Anderson , G . Treas . ; D . W . Bain , G . Sec . The Grand Lodge of Tennessee met on the 13 th November . Nearly 400 subordinate lodges were represented . The following are the principal officers elected : Bros . E . Edmundson , of Pulaski , G . M . ; A . B . Jones , of Jackson , D . G . M . ; R . M . Edwards , of Cleveland

S . G . W . ; L . B . Adams , G . Bolivar , J . G . W . ; W . H . H . Marrow , of Nashville , G . Treas . ; John Frizzell , of Nashville , G . Sec . At the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia , Bro . E . G . Davis was elected Grand Master ; Bros . J . H . Jochum , D . G . M . ; H . A . Whitney , S . G . W . ; J . S . McCay , J . G . W . ; W . J .

Stephenson , G . Treas . ; and W . K . Singleton , G . Sec . The new Masonic Hall at Salt Lake City , Utah , was dedicated on the 14 th of November . and brought together a large number of the fraternity . The spread of Masonry in Mormondora will have a good effect upon society there . It is not probable that Prophet Brigham Young will like Masonry .

We regret to hear of the continued illness of Bro . Gouley , one of the editors of the Voice of Masonry . Bro . Emra Holmes has during the past month been delivering his lecture , already published in the pages of the Masonic Magazine , " Odds and Ends of Wit and Humour , " at Leiston , in Suffolk , under the auspices of the

Village Club and Reading Room Association , the principal objects of which institution appear to be the formation of village clubs throughout the country , to provide lectures on questions of general interest , neither political nor theological , to give information respecting provident societies , & c , and to assist in obtaining for the labouring classes increased facilities for intellectual and social

recreation . Lady Skelmersdale and family arrived in Portland Place , London , on Wednesday , the 21 st ult ., from Lathom House , Ormskirk , near Liverpool . The annual ball of the members of the Lodge of Israel , No . / 502 , in aid of the Benevolent Fund of that lodge , took place on Wednesday , 21 st ult ., at the Adelphi Hotel , Liverpool , and was very largely attended . A report t \ . the brilliant gathering will appear in due time .

Lord Coleridge , addressing the grand jury at Durham assizes , said his judicial experience taught him that crimes of violence were all traceable to drink , and if England was sober we might shut up nine-tenths of our gaols . The Prince of Wales , through General Sir W . Knollys , has sent a donation of £ 23 to the Hunt Servants '

Benefit Society . We are authorised to state that the Queen will hold a ! : vee at Buckingham Palace on Monday week , at three o ' clock . Bro . Wm . J . Murlis , for many years manager to Messrs . Wyburn & Co ., of Long Acre , offers himself as

a candidate for the office of Collector to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Bro . Murlis ' s reason for offering his services is , that he believes out of door exercise would be more conducive to his health . Bro . Murlis is a Life Governor of the three Institutions , a founder of two lodges , P . M . and' Sec . 148 9 , W . M . 1 G 42 , and P . S . Chap . 802 .

CONSTITUTIONAL LODGE OV I NSTRUCTION , No . 55 . — The Fifteen Sections will be worked ' in this lodge ' on Tuesday next , the 6 th inst ., at half-past six o ' clock . Bro . W . H . Lee , W . M . No . 975 , P . M . No . 1524 , will preside . We are informed from Berlin that Bro . Herr Wagner intends giving some concerts of his o > vn music in London during the months of May and June .