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Article REVIEWS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article A MASONIC LIBRARY FOR JAMAICA. Page 1 of 1 Article GOULD'S HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY VOL. III. Page 1 of 1
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Reviews.
a wise discretion in suppressing many details which should never appear in print , and he has given us a clear and even a graphic description of the earlier difficulties and the later triumphs of the good Lodge of Prosperity . Latterly , under some very worthy and well-known brethren , it has been distinguished for its zeal for our great Charities . In early days it seems often to have had a hard struggle for
existence , and to have emerged from straits and drawbacks not a few , through the loyalty of faithful members and the constancy of devoted friends . Originally an Atholl Lodge , and succeeding to the warrant of a dormant Portsmouth Lodge , by a very clumsy arrangement of the old Atholl Grand Lodge , it seems to have actually begun its work in 1 S 10 , though no minutes from
1 S 10 to 1 S 23 are now available . Bro . terry calls attention to a curious label in this form , "Lodge 91 , A . M ., 5 P ., 23 . " These latter letters have exercised the ingenuity of many brethren . VVe understand that Bro . VV . H . Rylands has solved the difficulty , by discovering from a facsimile that the letter P . represents the Hebrew letter which is used numerically for Soo , and therefore there cannot be any doubt that probably some Hebrew Scribe has given us the
Hebrew reckoning , Anno Mundi , 5 S 23—1 S 23 . The proposed solution of "five points" is inadmissible , as based on no authority or precedent , and practically without coherence here . VVe wish all brethren who write lodge histories would imitate the discretion of Bro . Ferry , and give us as clear and connected a narrative , and by no means uninteresting , of its " minute details , its troubles , and its prosperity . "
EARLY HISTORY OF ST . JOHN'S LODGE , PHILADELPHIA . By CLIFFORD P . MACCALLA . Owing to a very fortunate find of ourable Confrere , C . P . Maccalla , in the library of the Historical Society of Philadelphia , he has lighted upon an early lodge book of St . John's Lodjje , Philadelphia . The book is marked " B , " so it is not the first book , but is the oldest lodge book in America , and
seems to prove that the lodge was formed in the end of 1730 or the beginning of 1731 , and is identical with the lodge mentioned in the "Pocket Companion" for 1735 , printed in Dublin , and first alluded to by Bro . VV . J . Hughan as 1 id , the Hoop in Water-street in Philadelphia , first Monday . VVe congratulate Bro . Maccalla on his find , very
important in more considerations than one . Bro . Maccalla has thus the satisfaction of having discovered by far the earliest record in America , and also of having strengthened the presumption almost amounting to certainty that Philadelphia is the mother city of American Freemasonry . With Bro . Maccalla , we think other documents may yet be found .
PROVINCIAL MASONIC DIRECTORIES . Two very useful ones lie on our table— " The Official Directory of the Province of Cornwall , " edited by Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D . ; and " The Masonic Calendar for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , " compiled by Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , P . M . and Prov . Grand Secretary . Bro . Hughan has taken crcat pains with his useful little work , and
must have given himself great trouble , and spared no pains in compiling the Annals of the Cornish Craft . Wc hope another year the Directory will be complete with its annual balance-sheet . There arc now 29 lodges and 1507 members ; the average number of members to each lodge is 52 , the maximum number being So and the minimum 20 . Cornwall has 045 votes for the Charities . Bro . Huclian will , wc
believe , shortly favour us with a comparison and collation of the various Provincial Calendars . VVe cannot praise too highly the unwearied labours of our distinguished brother . —Bro . Le Fcuvrc's well compiled Calendar gives us much interesting information , and must be most useful to Hamphirc brethren . It gives us the names of all the Officers and Past Officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge , as
well as the Masters and Ofliccrs , Past Masters and Past Principals of lodges and chapters . The funds of the provinces arc flourishing , it has 3000 votes in round numbers for the province , and 14 girls , live boys in our schools , and 13 annuitants . When the calendar gives us the number of brethren in Hamphirc and the Isle of Wijjht it will be perfect . The Province has 40 lodges . VVe regret to note
that some lodges have sent 110 returns , adding to the labours of the Prov . Grand Secretary , and marring the completeness of his valuable calendar . —Another very handy and useful calendar that , for the province of Durham , has just been issued , under the authority of the Provincial Grand Lodge ol Durham . A list
of the whole of the meetings of _ the Craft , Arch , Mark , and other Degrees in the province arc given , and the whole of the present officers and Past Masters . There arc also added a list of the Past Prov . Grand Masters for the past half century , as well as all the Past Prov . Grand Officers . The work is nicely got up , and reflects great credit on the compiler , Bro . R . Luck , P . P . G . Registrar .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
i' ¦ 'it r T ' ' 330 ] THE CHRISTOPHER WREN STORY . I have been very much gratified by the perusal of the careful and elaborate arguments of Bro . R . F . Gould on the subject of Sir Christopher Wren , in his splendid
"History of Freemasonry , and equally have I read with pleasure the able article of "Masonic Student" on the same subject in the Freemason of April 12 th . From a strictly critical point of view I do not think there can be much doubt that Bro . Gould has demolished the statement that Sir Christopher Wren was a Grand Master of
Freemasons , or even a member of the speculative Uruer . but is llro . Gould ' s method , logically critical as it is , exactly the light and spirit in which to approach the examination of the legends of the Borderland of historic Masonry ? How . . r .. . i ~ _„ . /• 1 1 : .. : : _ often do not find serious discrepancies occurring in
we national histories themselves ; and contemporary records and news-sheets are by no means the reliable authorities that could be desired . The regular newspaper reader of our own clay must sec the difficulties that would present
themselves to the historian of a century hence , who may desire to write a fair and unbiassed account of our own times from the files of the English press . How much more must that difficulty be magnified when the sources of information are dated a couple of centuries back , at a period when literature was scarce and when oral legends largely occupied the place of printed matter ; and
Masonic Notes And Queries.
how much more intensified were those drawbacks to the Masonic historian of that early date by the fact that practically he had no records at all to work upon , owing to the essentially secret nature of the organisation and the antipathy of its members to committing anything to writing . We know from the earliest records of York Freemasonry that even the ordinary minutes of meetings were kept in such scant form as hardly
to preserve the bare names of those who were admitted . Several causes contributed to this state ot things . First of all there was the deficiency in education amongst all classes , and the consequent dislike to any pen-work not absolutely necessary . Then there was the lack of any central Masonic organisation , which led to all kinds of irregularities . Lodges were not warranted , were under no sort of control , and apparently held meetings at the will of anybody anywhere ,
and of course kept no minutes at all . Lastly , there was the reluctance to putting anything connected with the mysterious Craft into writing , and the fear of any such writings finding their way into the hands of the profane—a senseless notion , but one which unhappily is by no means extinct at the present moment in an aggravated form . There are old lodges at the present moment whose minute books are sealed even to the Masonic world outside the membership
of those lodges ; yet although their members have not the leisure or are unable or arc too idle to investigate their own archives , they decline to grant access to them to brethren who would willingly give the time and trouble to examine their old records and render available anything that might prove to be of historic value . When therefore wc find an old Masonic historian making a statement that has about it nothing upon the face of it that is ridiculous
or improbable , I am inclined to doubt the fairness of applying to his assertion the same crucial tests that might be perfectly justifiable in the case of an allegation put forward by one who was known to have had access to recognised authoritative documents , to which appeal could be made at the present time . It must be candidly admitted that we have no absolute proof of Sir Christopher Wren having filled the office of Grand Master ; butthereis surely
nothing antagonistic to our present notions , and to the little knowledge wc have of Freemasonry as it existed in those days , in the story that he did occupy that distinguished position . The question therefore is , I think , quite open to argument , and to the influence oi possible future discoveries , which , as I have long held , arc far more likely to be made amongst private libraries , muniment rooms , and deed chests than in any published works extant . T . "B . WHYTEHEAD .
Bro . Hughan tells me the illegible name of the Secretary of the Cestrian Lodge in 1 S 52 , who gives the attestation to the portion of the Wren MS ., is " Browne . " Can any Chester brother help me to trace him ? Who " L . Higson " was does not yet appear , whose name appears at end of the MS ., under "Vera copia . " The " mnemonics " or Latin verses are held to be curious . MASONIC STUDENT
JJ 2 J __ As I was reading Mrs . S . C . Hall's "Pilgrimages to English Shrines" I came across the paragraph ( p . 203 ) which I have appended below . As I have seen several letters in your paper about Sir Christopher Wren 1 send it , wondering if it would help you at all in deciding any questionable points as to whether Sir Christopher was really the Master of a lodge . " Boyer House , or Manor
House , Camberwell . —Here , perhaps , originated the meeting which Heider asserts was the origin of the Freemasonry of St . John . Here , with a few friends , to save his journey home to dinner , he arranged to dine somewhere in the neighbourhood of St . Paul's ; and a club was formed which by degrees introduced a formula of initiation and rules for the conduct of the members , expressed by symbolic language derived from the Masonic profession . Knight
thinks it rather corroborative of Holder ' s assertion that , while the biographers of Wren mention the attendance of the lodge of Freemasons , of which he was the Master , at the ceremony of placing the highest stone of the lantern , no mention is made of their attendance at laying the foundation-stone , and every lodge in Great Britain is an offshoot from the Lodge of Antiquity , of which Sir Christopher Wren was Master . " P . S . W . 302 .
CHICHESTER . Can any brother at Chichester put himself into com munication with me , care of " Editor , " as to some anti quarian enquiries there ? M . S .
CAGLIOSTRO'S EGYPTIAN RITE . I have at last seen an official copy of this Rite , which belonged to the " Ecossais Philosophique , " Paris , and , just as I thought , there is no Freemasonry in it . We can only wonder to-day at the charlatanism of such a rogue , and the credulity of his dupes . M . S .
A Masonic Library For Jamaica.
A MASONIC LIBRARY FOR JAMAICA .
A movement of a very praiseworthy character , and one which we beg to commend to the attention of Masonic bodies much nearer home , has been started in Kingston , Jamaica , for the following particulars of which we are indebted to one of the Provisional Committee : —A preliminary meeting in connection with the formation of a Masonic Library in
Kingston was held at Sussex Hall on the 31 st of March . The several lodges in the city were fairly represented by influential members . Bro . C . L . Campbell was called to the Chair , and Bro . Charles Burton , by request , acted as Secretary . The meeting was addressed by Bros . Paine , Priest , Leon , Spicer , Duff , Lawrence , Feurtado , Burger , and Burton , who all commended the movement and pledged
themselves to its support . It was resolved —( 1 ) "That a Masonic Library be at once established in this city , to be named ' The Jamaica Masonic Library . ' " ( 2 ) " That a Provisional Committee be appointed to solicit aid from the District and Provincial Grand Lodges in this city , annual grants from Subordinate Lodges in the Island , and donations and subscriptions from individual Masons , and to take such other
steps as may be necessary for properly organising the movement . " ( 3 ) " That the entrance fee be 4 s ., and the annual subscription Gs . from each member , payable in advance . " The Provisional Committee is composed as follows : Bros . C . L . Campbell , Chairman ; II . Priest , Treas . and Librarian ; W . A . Payne , Hon . Sec ; E . X . Leon , K . J . Spicer , Wm . Duff , M . 11 . Lawrence , H . j . Burger , A . Hart , Jno . Hoyes , W . A . Feurtado , and C . T . Burton .
Gould's History Of Freemasonry Vol. Iii.
GOULD'S HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY VOL . III .
THIRD NOTICE . BY MASONIC STUDENT . Since I wrote my last Notice , a curious discovery has been made in the British Museum relating to Harleian 1942 , which is not without its importance relatively , and has to
be considered when we discuss the value historically and critically of that remarkable MS . The paper mark dates apparently from 16 G 3 to 1664 . Without laying too much stress upon this fact , for paper marks run on some-times for years , and in this case may cover a certain number of precedent and subsequent years , we yet gain a "landmark , " by which we may fairly , to some extcntat any rate ,
fix its approximate date of transcription . The MS . is itself undoubtedly a seventeenth century MS ., most probably as markedly , Caroline in chirography , and of the Restoration period , and it is pretty certain before 1 G 70 . It is very curious and interesting to note here that Anderson , so much attacked and depreciated , and even accused of " historical falsification , " is hereby indirectly supported
reason for specifically affixing such a date . He could not have done it at random or hap-hazard ; he probably gave it " deliberately on some special authority , " and our " Crux " is to find out what that authority was . My own impression is that Anderson knew of Harleian 1942 , and had some source of information , as the Author of " Multa Paucis " seemingly had anotherwhatever the value be of cither
in the date he gives to this very manuscript , namely , December 27 th , 1663 . I am aware it may be said that he bases his remarks apparently on Robert ' s published manuscript of 1942 , but it is astonishing if he does so , why he does not accept Robert ' s date , but gives another one , however , namely , December 27 th , instead of December Sth . It is quite clear that Anderson had some
, may which they took the seventeenth century history of Freema- " sonry prc-1717 . As far as Anderson ' s argument and object went ( if he had any ) in such a statcmcnt . it would not have signified to him actuall y whether the date was December 27 th , 1652 , 16 G 2 , or 1 G 72 , and it is impossible to suppose that out of his own "inner consciousness , " for some inexplicable reason , he deliberately invented the date .
Whatever our later contentions may prove or disprove , Anderson , writing in 1737-3 S , gives this date for some reason and on some authority , so far inaccessible to us , and even if we assume that he took Roberts as his authority , ( which I do not see there is any evidence of ) , he did it apparently perfectly "bonA fide , " and there is no " a priori reason whatever to doubt that Anderson may bo
quite correct after all , in the date he gives us of 16 C 3 . Whatever our views may be , the MS . exists , is a seventeenth century MS . and has to be explained . You may reduce it if you like to a copy for antiquarian purposes ; you may assume that it is onl y the constitution of a particular lodge or body , in which the transcriber of an older MS . interpolates new matter , of which he was probably the
contemporary recorder ; but do what you will you cannot divest it either of importance or reality , or exclude it from consideration as to its general and special value , when you touch upon the various Guild legends , except arbitrarily and uncritically . If the result of our present little controversy is to rehabilitate Anderson to some extent , and I for one entirely dessent from the cnarges made arrainst him of deliberate
historical falsification , I shall not be surprised , and shall be on the contrary fully confirmed in the view I have never departed from . Just as of old wc gave way too much to shcepwalking and a credulous and careless habit of accepting unproven statements and unverified authorities , so to-day wescciii bent on going to the other extreme , running a fad to earth , and allowing some subsidiarv
technicalities of unimportant details to interfere with our broader views of historical and expert criticism . I shall recur to this important question of seventeenth century traditions before 1 conclude these notices , and therefore will only add that the discovery of the papermark of 1942 Harleian , now for the first time publicly alluded to , materially validate Anderson ' s version nf th *
probable date of the MS ., and gives it an importance in the sequence of our legends which we cannot afford to disregard or undervalue . It would seem that the main objection to the " New Articles " of 1942 arises from this fact—that they are not mentioned in earlier or later Constitutions , that they come to us unaccredited by any actual Masonic authority , and therefore fall out , so to sav . of the
ranks of the Guild legends as a system . I confess , as is said , I "do not see it "; but rather on the well-known ground of textual criticism consider its very " abnormality" —if I may use such a word , —a fact in itself , and one deserving on that very ground the most careful and expert consideration . The use of the word " certificate " generally in our English language is before 1 G
70—Masonically it may bo later . Hut it seems to me we lose sight of this other very important matter that lodge certificates and Grand Lodge certificates arc two and entirely distinct things . I hat lodges gave certificates long before Grand Lodge is , I believe , undoubted , and , as I read the words , Harleian 1942 alludes to lodge " certificates , " or call them by what name you like . On . M ! n l . ff . . . — It .- n / - > . . ... ....... . » £ uvti 1730 constitutions 1
« .. . „ ..,,, mc again una , that Anderson distinctl y mentions several occasions between 1 GSS-9 and 1707 when the Grand Assembly met , as in 1695-0-7-8 . It would almost seem that in 1738 it must have been know as a fact whether the father of the then Duke of Richmond was a Freemason , as Anderson asserts , or not in 1 G 9 S , and no doubt so clear and decided is Andcr-5 ? " vVs eac 1 , and as to Wren ' s Masonic membership and
. Grand Mastership , that as Bro . Gould rejects both proposil ' . adinit he has nothing left for him but to accuse Anderson of deliberate falsihcation , a very sad climax , and a most serious charge . Those who take this view must forget the "Approbation " for the Constitutions of 173 . 3 , page 199 , by which it appears that , if Anderson was
guilty of the great crime of falsification of history , the then Duke of Richmond , Lord Darnley , Bros . Desaguliers , Payne , Cowper , Ward , Lumley , and Graeme , were deliberatel y and avowedly " participes criminis . " As I venture to consider such a conclusion a " reductio ad absurdum " and a most unjust charge in itself , 1 think it well again to call attention to the matter .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
a wise discretion in suppressing many details which should never appear in print , and he has given us a clear and even a graphic description of the earlier difficulties and the later triumphs of the good Lodge of Prosperity . Latterly , under some very worthy and well-known brethren , it has been distinguished for its zeal for our great Charities . In early days it seems often to have had a hard struggle for
existence , and to have emerged from straits and drawbacks not a few , through the loyalty of faithful members and the constancy of devoted friends . Originally an Atholl Lodge , and succeeding to the warrant of a dormant Portsmouth Lodge , by a very clumsy arrangement of the old Atholl Grand Lodge , it seems to have actually begun its work in 1 S 10 , though no minutes from
1 S 10 to 1 S 23 are now available . Bro . terry calls attention to a curious label in this form , "Lodge 91 , A . M ., 5 P ., 23 . " These latter letters have exercised the ingenuity of many brethren . VVe understand that Bro . VV . H . Rylands has solved the difficulty , by discovering from a facsimile that the letter P . represents the Hebrew letter which is used numerically for Soo , and therefore there cannot be any doubt that probably some Hebrew Scribe has given us the
Hebrew reckoning , Anno Mundi , 5 S 23—1 S 23 . The proposed solution of "five points" is inadmissible , as based on no authority or precedent , and practically without coherence here . VVe wish all brethren who write lodge histories would imitate the discretion of Bro . Ferry , and give us as clear and connected a narrative , and by no means uninteresting , of its " minute details , its troubles , and its prosperity . "
EARLY HISTORY OF ST . JOHN'S LODGE , PHILADELPHIA . By CLIFFORD P . MACCALLA . Owing to a very fortunate find of ourable Confrere , C . P . Maccalla , in the library of the Historical Society of Philadelphia , he has lighted upon an early lodge book of St . John's Lodjje , Philadelphia . The book is marked " B , " so it is not the first book , but is the oldest lodge book in America , and
seems to prove that the lodge was formed in the end of 1730 or the beginning of 1731 , and is identical with the lodge mentioned in the "Pocket Companion" for 1735 , printed in Dublin , and first alluded to by Bro . VV . J . Hughan as 1 id , the Hoop in Water-street in Philadelphia , first Monday . VVe congratulate Bro . Maccalla on his find , very
important in more considerations than one . Bro . Maccalla has thus the satisfaction of having discovered by far the earliest record in America , and also of having strengthened the presumption almost amounting to certainty that Philadelphia is the mother city of American Freemasonry . With Bro . Maccalla , we think other documents may yet be found .
PROVINCIAL MASONIC DIRECTORIES . Two very useful ones lie on our table— " The Official Directory of the Province of Cornwall , " edited by Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D . ; and " The Masonic Calendar for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , " compiled by Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , P . M . and Prov . Grand Secretary . Bro . Hughan has taken crcat pains with his useful little work , and
must have given himself great trouble , and spared no pains in compiling the Annals of the Cornish Craft . Wc hope another year the Directory will be complete with its annual balance-sheet . There arc now 29 lodges and 1507 members ; the average number of members to each lodge is 52 , the maximum number being So and the minimum 20 . Cornwall has 045 votes for the Charities . Bro . Huclian will , wc
believe , shortly favour us with a comparison and collation of the various Provincial Calendars . VVe cannot praise too highly the unwearied labours of our distinguished brother . —Bro . Le Fcuvrc's well compiled Calendar gives us much interesting information , and must be most useful to Hamphirc brethren . It gives us the names of all the Officers and Past Officers of the Prov . Grand Lodge , as
well as the Masters and Ofliccrs , Past Masters and Past Principals of lodges and chapters . The funds of the provinces arc flourishing , it has 3000 votes in round numbers for the province , and 14 girls , live boys in our schools , and 13 annuitants . When the calendar gives us the number of brethren in Hamphirc and the Isle of Wijjht it will be perfect . The Province has 40 lodges . VVe regret to note
that some lodges have sent 110 returns , adding to the labours of the Prov . Grand Secretary , and marring the completeness of his valuable calendar . —Another very handy and useful calendar that , for the province of Durham , has just been issued , under the authority of the Provincial Grand Lodge ol Durham . A list
of the whole of the meetings of _ the Craft , Arch , Mark , and other Degrees in the province arc given , and the whole of the present officers and Past Masters . There arc also added a list of the Past Prov . Grand Masters for the past half century , as well as all the Past Prov . Grand Officers . The work is nicely got up , and reflects great credit on the compiler , Bro . R . Luck , P . P . G . Registrar .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
i' ¦ 'it r T ' ' 330 ] THE CHRISTOPHER WREN STORY . I have been very much gratified by the perusal of the careful and elaborate arguments of Bro . R . F . Gould on the subject of Sir Christopher Wren , in his splendid
"History of Freemasonry , and equally have I read with pleasure the able article of "Masonic Student" on the same subject in the Freemason of April 12 th . From a strictly critical point of view I do not think there can be much doubt that Bro . Gould has demolished the statement that Sir Christopher Wren was a Grand Master of
Freemasons , or even a member of the speculative Uruer . but is llro . Gould ' s method , logically critical as it is , exactly the light and spirit in which to approach the examination of the legends of the Borderland of historic Masonry ? How . . r .. . i ~ _„ . /• 1 1 : .. : : _ often do not find serious discrepancies occurring in
we national histories themselves ; and contemporary records and news-sheets are by no means the reliable authorities that could be desired . The regular newspaper reader of our own clay must sec the difficulties that would present
themselves to the historian of a century hence , who may desire to write a fair and unbiassed account of our own times from the files of the English press . How much more must that difficulty be magnified when the sources of information are dated a couple of centuries back , at a period when literature was scarce and when oral legends largely occupied the place of printed matter ; and
Masonic Notes And Queries.
how much more intensified were those drawbacks to the Masonic historian of that early date by the fact that practically he had no records at all to work upon , owing to the essentially secret nature of the organisation and the antipathy of its members to committing anything to writing . We know from the earliest records of York Freemasonry that even the ordinary minutes of meetings were kept in such scant form as hardly
to preserve the bare names of those who were admitted . Several causes contributed to this state ot things . First of all there was the deficiency in education amongst all classes , and the consequent dislike to any pen-work not absolutely necessary . Then there was the lack of any central Masonic organisation , which led to all kinds of irregularities . Lodges were not warranted , were under no sort of control , and apparently held meetings at the will of anybody anywhere ,
and of course kept no minutes at all . Lastly , there was the reluctance to putting anything connected with the mysterious Craft into writing , and the fear of any such writings finding their way into the hands of the profane—a senseless notion , but one which unhappily is by no means extinct at the present moment in an aggravated form . There are old lodges at the present moment whose minute books are sealed even to the Masonic world outside the membership
of those lodges ; yet although their members have not the leisure or are unable or arc too idle to investigate their own archives , they decline to grant access to them to brethren who would willingly give the time and trouble to examine their old records and render available anything that might prove to be of historic value . When therefore wc find an old Masonic historian making a statement that has about it nothing upon the face of it that is ridiculous
or improbable , I am inclined to doubt the fairness of applying to his assertion the same crucial tests that might be perfectly justifiable in the case of an allegation put forward by one who was known to have had access to recognised authoritative documents , to which appeal could be made at the present time . It must be candidly admitted that we have no absolute proof of Sir Christopher Wren having filled the office of Grand Master ; butthereis surely
nothing antagonistic to our present notions , and to the little knowledge wc have of Freemasonry as it existed in those days , in the story that he did occupy that distinguished position . The question therefore is , I think , quite open to argument , and to the influence oi possible future discoveries , which , as I have long held , arc far more likely to be made amongst private libraries , muniment rooms , and deed chests than in any published works extant . T . "B . WHYTEHEAD .
Bro . Hughan tells me the illegible name of the Secretary of the Cestrian Lodge in 1 S 52 , who gives the attestation to the portion of the Wren MS ., is " Browne . " Can any Chester brother help me to trace him ? Who " L . Higson " was does not yet appear , whose name appears at end of the MS ., under "Vera copia . " The " mnemonics " or Latin verses are held to be curious . MASONIC STUDENT
JJ 2 J __ As I was reading Mrs . S . C . Hall's "Pilgrimages to English Shrines" I came across the paragraph ( p . 203 ) which I have appended below . As I have seen several letters in your paper about Sir Christopher Wren 1 send it , wondering if it would help you at all in deciding any questionable points as to whether Sir Christopher was really the Master of a lodge . " Boyer House , or Manor
House , Camberwell . —Here , perhaps , originated the meeting which Heider asserts was the origin of the Freemasonry of St . John . Here , with a few friends , to save his journey home to dinner , he arranged to dine somewhere in the neighbourhood of St . Paul's ; and a club was formed which by degrees introduced a formula of initiation and rules for the conduct of the members , expressed by symbolic language derived from the Masonic profession . Knight
thinks it rather corroborative of Holder ' s assertion that , while the biographers of Wren mention the attendance of the lodge of Freemasons , of which he was the Master , at the ceremony of placing the highest stone of the lantern , no mention is made of their attendance at laying the foundation-stone , and every lodge in Great Britain is an offshoot from the Lodge of Antiquity , of which Sir Christopher Wren was Master . " P . S . W . 302 .
CHICHESTER . Can any brother at Chichester put himself into com munication with me , care of " Editor , " as to some anti quarian enquiries there ? M . S .
CAGLIOSTRO'S EGYPTIAN RITE . I have at last seen an official copy of this Rite , which belonged to the " Ecossais Philosophique , " Paris , and , just as I thought , there is no Freemasonry in it . We can only wonder to-day at the charlatanism of such a rogue , and the credulity of his dupes . M . S .
A Masonic Library For Jamaica.
A MASONIC LIBRARY FOR JAMAICA .
A movement of a very praiseworthy character , and one which we beg to commend to the attention of Masonic bodies much nearer home , has been started in Kingston , Jamaica , for the following particulars of which we are indebted to one of the Provisional Committee : —A preliminary meeting in connection with the formation of a Masonic Library in
Kingston was held at Sussex Hall on the 31 st of March . The several lodges in the city were fairly represented by influential members . Bro . C . L . Campbell was called to the Chair , and Bro . Charles Burton , by request , acted as Secretary . The meeting was addressed by Bros . Paine , Priest , Leon , Spicer , Duff , Lawrence , Feurtado , Burger , and Burton , who all commended the movement and pledged
themselves to its support . It was resolved —( 1 ) "That a Masonic Library be at once established in this city , to be named ' The Jamaica Masonic Library . ' " ( 2 ) " That a Provisional Committee be appointed to solicit aid from the District and Provincial Grand Lodges in this city , annual grants from Subordinate Lodges in the Island , and donations and subscriptions from individual Masons , and to take such other
steps as may be necessary for properly organising the movement . " ( 3 ) " That the entrance fee be 4 s ., and the annual subscription Gs . from each member , payable in advance . " The Provisional Committee is composed as follows : Bros . C . L . Campbell , Chairman ; II . Priest , Treas . and Librarian ; W . A . Payne , Hon . Sec ; E . X . Leon , K . J . Spicer , Wm . Duff , M . 11 . Lawrence , H . j . Burger , A . Hart , Jno . Hoyes , W . A . Feurtado , and C . T . Burton .
Gould's History Of Freemasonry Vol. Iii.
GOULD'S HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY VOL . III .
THIRD NOTICE . BY MASONIC STUDENT . Since I wrote my last Notice , a curious discovery has been made in the British Museum relating to Harleian 1942 , which is not without its importance relatively , and has to
be considered when we discuss the value historically and critically of that remarkable MS . The paper mark dates apparently from 16 G 3 to 1664 . Without laying too much stress upon this fact , for paper marks run on some-times for years , and in this case may cover a certain number of precedent and subsequent years , we yet gain a "landmark , " by which we may fairly , to some extcntat any rate ,
fix its approximate date of transcription . The MS . is itself undoubtedly a seventeenth century MS ., most probably as markedly , Caroline in chirography , and of the Restoration period , and it is pretty certain before 1 G 70 . It is very curious and interesting to note here that Anderson , so much attacked and depreciated , and even accused of " historical falsification , " is hereby indirectly supported
reason for specifically affixing such a date . He could not have done it at random or hap-hazard ; he probably gave it " deliberately on some special authority , " and our " Crux " is to find out what that authority was . My own impression is that Anderson knew of Harleian 1942 , and had some source of information , as the Author of " Multa Paucis " seemingly had anotherwhatever the value be of cither
in the date he gives to this very manuscript , namely , December 27 th , 1663 . I am aware it may be said that he bases his remarks apparently on Robert ' s published manuscript of 1942 , but it is astonishing if he does so , why he does not accept Robert ' s date , but gives another one , however , namely , December 27 th , instead of December Sth . It is quite clear that Anderson had some
, may which they took the seventeenth century history of Freema- " sonry prc-1717 . As far as Anderson ' s argument and object went ( if he had any ) in such a statcmcnt . it would not have signified to him actuall y whether the date was December 27 th , 1652 , 16 G 2 , or 1 G 72 , and it is impossible to suppose that out of his own "inner consciousness , " for some inexplicable reason , he deliberately invented the date .
Whatever our later contentions may prove or disprove , Anderson , writing in 1737-3 S , gives this date for some reason and on some authority , so far inaccessible to us , and even if we assume that he took Roberts as his authority , ( which I do not see there is any evidence of ) , he did it apparently perfectly "bonA fide , " and there is no " a priori reason whatever to doubt that Anderson may bo
quite correct after all , in the date he gives us of 16 C 3 . Whatever our views may be , the MS . exists , is a seventeenth century MS . and has to be explained . You may reduce it if you like to a copy for antiquarian purposes ; you may assume that it is onl y the constitution of a particular lodge or body , in which the transcriber of an older MS . interpolates new matter , of which he was probably the
contemporary recorder ; but do what you will you cannot divest it either of importance or reality , or exclude it from consideration as to its general and special value , when you touch upon the various Guild legends , except arbitrarily and uncritically . If the result of our present little controversy is to rehabilitate Anderson to some extent , and I for one entirely dessent from the cnarges made arrainst him of deliberate
historical falsification , I shall not be surprised , and shall be on the contrary fully confirmed in the view I have never departed from . Just as of old wc gave way too much to shcepwalking and a credulous and careless habit of accepting unproven statements and unverified authorities , so to-day wescciii bent on going to the other extreme , running a fad to earth , and allowing some subsidiarv
technicalities of unimportant details to interfere with our broader views of historical and expert criticism . I shall recur to this important question of seventeenth century traditions before 1 conclude these notices , and therefore will only add that the discovery of the papermark of 1942 Harleian , now for the first time publicly alluded to , materially validate Anderson ' s version nf th *
probable date of the MS ., and gives it an importance in the sequence of our legends which we cannot afford to disregard or undervalue . It would seem that the main objection to the " New Articles " of 1942 arises from this fact—that they are not mentioned in earlier or later Constitutions , that they come to us unaccredited by any actual Masonic authority , and therefore fall out , so to sav . of the
ranks of the Guild legends as a system . I confess , as is said , I "do not see it "; but rather on the well-known ground of textual criticism consider its very " abnormality" —if I may use such a word , —a fact in itself , and one deserving on that very ground the most careful and expert consideration . The use of the word " certificate " generally in our English language is before 1 G
70—Masonically it may bo later . Hut it seems to me we lose sight of this other very important matter that lodge certificates and Grand Lodge certificates arc two and entirely distinct things . I hat lodges gave certificates long before Grand Lodge is , I believe , undoubted , and , as I read the words , Harleian 1942 alludes to lodge " certificates , " or call them by what name you like . On . M ! n l . ff . . . — It .- n / - > . . ... ....... . » £ uvti 1730 constitutions 1
« .. . „ ..,,, mc again una , that Anderson distinctl y mentions several occasions between 1 GSS-9 and 1707 when the Grand Assembly met , as in 1695-0-7-8 . It would almost seem that in 1738 it must have been know as a fact whether the father of the then Duke of Richmond was a Freemason , as Anderson asserts , or not in 1 G 9 S , and no doubt so clear and decided is Andcr-5 ? " vVs eac 1 , and as to Wren ' s Masonic membership and
. Grand Mastership , that as Bro . Gould rejects both proposil ' . adinit he has nothing left for him but to accuse Anderson of deliberate falsihcation , a very sad climax , and a most serious charge . Those who take this view must forget the "Approbation " for the Constitutions of 173 . 3 , page 199 , by which it appears that , if Anderson was
guilty of the great crime of falsification of history , the then Duke of Richmond , Lord Darnley , Bros . Desaguliers , Payne , Cowper , Ward , Lumley , and Graeme , were deliberatel y and avowedly " participes criminis . " As I venture to consider such a conclusion a " reductio ad absurdum " and a most unjust charge in itself , 1 think it well again to call attention to the matter .