Masonic Curiosities. —Vi.

MASONIC CURIOSITIES . —VI .

BY BRO . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . P . M . 131 , Prov . Grand Secretary Cornwall , &> c ( Continued from page 603 ., ) No doubt it is known to most students of Freemasonry that it was the custom for lodges to issue certificates as well as the

Grand Lodge . In fact , we more frequently meet with the former during the last century than the latter . " Clearance Certificates" they were called , and were in much request . We believe in many instances they did duty for the regular Grand Lodge certificate , although such was

not allowable according to the Constitutions , but the proceedings then were not so uniformly legal as they are now . At the present time many lodges issue certificates on members resigning their lodges to join others elsewhere , some of which are as remarkable for their character as works of

art as they are useful to the holders of them . The following was the form generally observed for such documents in the latter part of the last century , and to it was

attached a piece of one-inch watered sky ribbon and a seal affixed , with Masonic emblem and name and number of the lodge , and the one now presented has all these fairly preserved : —

To all whom it may concern—O > WE do hereby certify that the Bearer hereof , our n , g Trusty , True , and well Beloved Brother Edwd . T s * Kinsela , is a regular Master Mason in Lodge No . 2 a . g , 828 , and during his stay with us has behaved 5 , o * = himself as such . sr " * ¦ £ Given under our hands and seal of our Lodge

„ g * in our lodge-room at Drumquin , tins 7 th day of 3 M g * March , 1797 , and of Masonry 5797 . T- ' A *< J O'NEILL , M . g- 2 , J ROULSTON , S . W . ^ J . WILSY , J . . ° . BRYAN KELLY , Sec .

( Seal ) We have often regretted to find lodges without seals . Of late , especially , we have seen the trouble such has occasioned . Several brethren have left for the United States , and have written home for their

clearance certificates , and " paid up to the time of withdrawal . " The " clearances " have been sent , but minus the lodges ' seals , and in consequence the members of the lodges they intended joining have refused them until the documents have been

regularly signed and sealed by the proper officers . We know of more than one lodge lately having had seals made to secure the comfort and happiness of their brethren leaving home , and who desire to fraternise with and become united to the members of

lodges abroad . In the United States , Canada , New Brunswick , & c , the laws of Masonry are considered more binding , even to minute matters , than in this country ; and a document being sealed is insisted on as an essential .

The foregoing certificate is written on paper , the next one is on parchment , and most elaborately printed , & c . : — To alt Tthom it may concern—O £ " > WE hereby certify that the Bearer hereof , our

o , a . g beloved Brother Edward O Iiara is a regular £ n " j registered Master Mason in Lodge No . 369 , and 6 , ! £ g , during his stay with us behaved as an honest 2 , ° o Mason . M 2 ° Given under our hands and seal of our Lodge , j » . ° 5 in our lodge-room in Fentona , this 71 I 1 day of * Sir ! February , 1 S 14 , and in the year of Masonry U 3 2 5 S 14 .

" „ „ <» ROBERT UANNA , M . £ ? o cf ( Lodge seal . ) W . M . Ci'UiEKTsoN , S . W . -r * -r * 3 ( Lodge seal . ) JNO . Iluitsr , J . W . J ARMSTRONG , Secy .

As an instance of how particular some lodges were not to initiate bastards , the following applications for membership and certificates as to being " born in lawful wedlock " are to the point : —

Masonic Curiosities. —Vi.

November 26 th , 1813 . The Humble Petition of Charles Morgan , who wishes to become a member of your Antient and Honourable Society , and if admitted , your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray , & c .

( Signed ) CHARLES MORGAN . To the Master , Wardens , and Members of the Masonic Lodge , No . 332 , Omagh . Recommended by Joseph Love .

The Humble Petition of Hugh Johnston , who wishes to become a member of your Ancient and Honourable Society , and if admitted , your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray , & c . ( Signed ) HUGH J OHNSTON . To the Master , Ward ens , and Members of the Masonic Lodge , No . 332 , Omagh . Recommended by Joseph Love .

Note . — " All agreed to their coming forward . " [ CERTIFICATES . ] Isabella Tully , otherwise Johnston , came before me this day and maketh oath and saith , she was lawfully married

to Robert Johnston , in the presence of James Higerty and Elizabeth Higerty his wife , by the Rev . James Stevenson , minister ; and further saith that her son , Hugh Johnston , and daughter , Jane Johnston , were both born in wedlock . Sworn before me this 30 th ) , -. „ , „ ,.. „ * .- — - C S

„ day of Nov ., 1813 ° | HARLES COTT . her ISABELLA + J OHNSTON . mark Hugh Johnston also maketh oath and saith , that he never knew anything to the contrary of what is above specified . HUGH J OHSTON . CHARLES SCOTT .

It is the opinion of many Masons under the Grand Lodge of Ireland that illegitimates are not eligible for initiation into Freemasonry , although it is not positively illegal for such to be admitted under that

Grand Lodge . It is also allowable under the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland , and some who have been received as members with the bar sinister have been really zealous Masons and ornaments of the Craft . The old O . B . of a Master Mason

given in Ireland is very curious , and contained clauses requiring the brother to pledge himself not to confer the degree on an " atheist , libertine , bastard . or idiot , " & c ., or upon a " bailiff ' s process-server , livery servant , travelling tinker , or on any one of

a low or mean occupation . " We believe that an illegitimate , or not freebcrn , candidate for Freemasonry would be eligible for initiation , if otherwise approved of and worthy , and could be legally accepted in England , Ireland , and Scotland . ( To be continued . )

"The Rectangular Re View."

"THE RECTANGULAR RE VIEW . "

MASONIC CHARITIES . We have received the following letter from the Editor ofthe Rectangular Review , with a request for its insertion in our columns . We cannot pledge ourselves to the accuracy of any of the statements .

"Although not usual for a Review to reply to observations upon their articles , yet on the present occasion , the matter being Masonic , and the subject charity , the Editor feels disposed to relax the rule . First , he

must remark , that it is hardly fair for Bro . Binckes to have brought Bros . Hervey , Farnfield , and Patten into the discussion , as they were in no way referred to . The principle ( sic orig . ) intention of the article was to

attack the ACTIVE members of the Committee of Boys' and Girls' Schools , and to charge them with a misapplication of the funds . The money is subscribed for

special purposes . What right had these gentlemen to vote £ 240 for a purpose not intended by the donors nor for the benefit of the children ? and who originated the proposition for this grant ?

" Bro . Binckes in his remarks states that the annual office expenses of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys amount to £ 910 . Now , if we- look at the printed

"The Rectangular Re View."

statement of accounts for the year ending 1869 , we find that there was collected during that year £ 12 , 847 9 S- iod ., and the total expenses of the establishment at Wood Green , and the office expenses as above , are

put down at £ 4 , 671 19 s . 8 d ., or per boy £ 44 is . 6 d . It would thus seem that there is actually expended upon the boys' not much more than one-third of the amount collected . The question may fairly be asked ,

What becomes ofthe remaining £ 8 , 175 10 s . 2 d ? So far as appears in the statement of accounts referred to , the amount received from Stewards' fees , amounting probably to another £ 1 , 000 , is entirely excluded .

Now , without desiring to scrutinise the accounts in a niggardly way , there seems to be room for retrenchment here . And would it not have been better for Bro . Binckes , as he seems desirous to court an inquiry , to

have faced the position boldly , instead of conveying an impression to the superficial reader , that the total expenses ofthe charity , apart from what the boys receive , amounts only to £ 910 per annum .

The article in the Rectangular Review would not have been written but for the special misapplication of the funds referred to above , and it would be better for those who 'kissed the beauty' to pay for the

pleasure out of their own pockets . Bro . Binckes is undoubtedly a most valuable Secretary to the charity , but he has evidently forgotten the true Masonic secret —Silence . THE EDITOR , ' RECTANGULAR REVIEW '"

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Cumber Land And Westmorland.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF CUMBER LAND AND WESTMORLAND .

On Wednesday , the 23 rd ult .., the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Cumberland and Westmorland was held in the city of Carlisle . Members of the Order from all parts of the two counties , as well as from distant parts , assembled , and made

altogether a very large muster—200 or 300 . On their arrival in town , the brethren assembled at the Freemasons' Hall , Castle-street but subsequently proceeded to the County Hall , where at half-past eleven the Craft Lodge was opened in due Masonic form . At noon the Provincial

Grand Lodge Officers were admitted , and the Grand Lodge was at once opened . The following among other Provincial Officers took part in the business ; Bros . Lord Kenlis , R . W . P . G . M . John Whitwell , MP ., R . W . D . PG . M . ; Dr . W . T . Greaves , P . DPG . M . ; Joseph Nicholson ,

P . G . S . W . ; Rev . Jas . Simpson , P . G . Sec . ; John Lemon , P . G . Treas . ; Edward Busher , P . G . S . B ., England ; John , Barr , P . M . and P . G . Sword-Bearer ; J . Iredale , P . D . P . G . M . ; F . W . Hayward , P . P . G . S . W . John Barnes , Tyler ; G . G . Hayward , P . P . G . Sword-Bearer ; James Sumner ,

P . G . P . ; Joseph Sealby , P . G . J . D . ; E . W . Braithwaite , P . P . G . S . D . ; C . G . Thompson , P . G . R . ; John R . Tickle , P . P . G . S . ; Gamett Braithwaite , P . G . H . 859 , P . S . G . W . Cambridgeshire XV Dodd , P . G . S . B ., W . M . 1074 , H . 995 ; T . Gawith , P . M . 129 , P . G . D C . * John Bowes , P . P . G . Reg .

and P . G . S ., Lancashire j Wm . White , P . G . T . ; T . W . Rowland , P . G . O . ; James Pearson , P . G . C . j Rev . H . L . Puxley , P . G . C . J . Spittal . P . Supt . of Works ; Crowther Moreton , W . M . 1267 , P . M . 1004 and 872 ; Robert Buttenvorth , P . G . O . ; Thomas B . Arnison , P . P . G . S . B . John Hutton ,

W . M ., P . G . S . John Matthews , P . P . G . Steward . The business connected with the province was transacted in a most harmonious and satisfactory manner . Candidates were selected for the schools and pensions awarded to aged and infirm brethren .

A procession was formed at half-past one o ' clock for the purpose of attending divine service at the cathedral . The Carlisle Volunteer Artillery Band headed the long line of Freemasons , who moved away from Botchergate in inverted order , the junior lodge in the front and