Masonic Notes And Queries.

time I have been exercized by this " Crux "—when did the operative lodges and speculative lodges really conjoin ? The eighteenth century theory of Masons origin was untenable , and all the evidences of the seventeenth century seemed to be mainly speculative after all , not operative , as vvas once supposed . Could wc find some other point of confact ? 1 think I have found it in thc dissolution of the

Guilds , 1 . Edw . \ T . But then came up this further query , What support is there for thc commonly received opinion that the lodge at Warrington , for instance , vvas mainly operative ? And then it seemed to me , as to others , that we could hardly sustain the theory . A good deal turns upon the precise age of his " New Articles " in the later Ilarliean MS ., if it be later , after all , but on thc whole I now

believe that the seventeenth century Masonry is also mainly speculative . 'Thus , though the utter difference between Bro . Hughan and myself is " not a distinction without a difference , " it is after all more in words than in reality . I will adhrc to my original statement as to the generally -understood character of the operative nature of the lodge * at Warrington , whicii 1 think very

rational under the circumstances , though recent investigations seem to show that the process of the absorption of the speculative element vvas earlier and fuller than wc once generally held . The old " Crux " of thc " point of Masonry contact " between operatives and speculatives where , as the Americans say , wc "hitched on" to thc

" old channels , " has always been before me ; and , curiously enough , the recent discoveries by * 'W . H . R . " at Warrington , ( see December "Masonic Magazine ) , bring me back to thc point I started from when I delivered my first lecture on "Masonic archarology , " now , alas ! nearly t vventy-three years ago . MASONIC STUDENT .

BRITISH BUILDERS ON THE CONTINENT . 1 add the following instances from Fallou , and as they tell against his pet theory I presume we may accept them , i n spite of his general unreliability : —A . D . 5 S 2 , St . Peter ' s Convent , Salzburg , under thc Irish monk , Rudbcrt ; Ca . A . D . 010 , Convents at Costnitz and Augsburg , under thc Irish

monk , Edumban : Ca . A . D . 60 G , Convents at Rcgcnsburg , under the Irish monk , Rudbcrt ; Ca A . D . 740 , Convents at l ' schstadt , under the Irish monk , Wilibald . It is probable , however , that very little Masonry - entered into thc composition of these buildings , and the instances I am most anxious to lind are between the tenth and thirteenth

centuries . ENTERED APPRENTICE STUDENT . LODGE HISTORIES AND HISTORY 01 £ 1 S 3 ,

LONDON . 1 am always delighted lo greet thc last " ncu-comc " on thc history of lodges , ami so most warmly hail the advent > jf that of the " Lodge of Unity , '' No . 1 S 3 , by Bro . Speth , P . M . It is quite certain that until the importance of such lodge histories ( especially pre-Union lodges ) is more lrencrally recognized wc shall not be in possession of many

facls of . interest , hidden in old volumes neglected , or ituktiimh by the present owners . Of late years , stimulated by the many articles in the Freemason , and other means , there have been several sketches of lodges added to our " -. tores , and thc wonder is , that considering the repeated enquiries and the numerous searchers after finds of value , there arc , after ail , so few published . Some brethren arc

prul-ably deterred by fears respecting the expenses of publication , and to such the columns of the "Masonic Magazine" offer an excellent medium for a concise account of the career of old lodges . When a limited edition only is needed , thc cost is not very high , and I feel furc that my good Bio . Lake , P . M ., ike , at 1 G , Great Oueen-st ., will be only too pleased lo advise anyone

desirous of writing a history of his lodge as to the probable outlay , quite irrespective of who is to be the publisher , just as he " has frequently done for me in my little ventures . The point is lo furnish whatever is of general value to the Craft , and of interest to Ihe members particularly , and there are some histories now in circulation which arc models of their kind , ami most useful as guides for those who are

laudably ambitious of handing the career of their lodge " down to posterity . " The history of the " Lodge of Unity , " No . 1 S 3 , is , in fact , a model one of its kind , and I congratulate Bro . Speth on so happy a result to his labours . Of course some lodge histories would not require the research , patience , and Masonic intelligence to write , as that of 183 , because all their

Records ate preserved , but unfortunately those of the "Unity" are missing of the very period fur which they were most wanted , and so Bro . Speth has had to study hard to fill up the lapses in its history from other sources than the ordinary niinutes . This he has done well ; and a continuous record , as far as possible , is presented of the lodge from itsorigin in 17 ( 1910 1 S . S 1 . There are several

interesting narratives in the racy volume now lying before me ; but as it is published for the benefit of the Charity Fund ( at half-a-guineaeach ) , I must not say too much about itscontcntshere , but refer in tending purchasers lo the author direct . The introduction is well and carefully written , and will prove to be a handy medium for glancing at the chief points in English Freemasonry prior to the constitution of

the lodge for those who have hitherto refrained from so intcresling a study . It is a good idea to give the old byelaws , warrant , and other documents , little often known to the brethren ; but it is nut many vvho would have taken thc trouble to compile such exhaustive tables , exhibiting the fluctuations of membership , lists of officers , places of meeting , and numbers of the lodges from the earliest records and those of the Grand Lodge registers . In these respects ,

while they arc not at all attractive features in a printer ' s view , they are most useful to the members , and will increase in value " as time rolls on . " The book , typographically and Masonically , leaves nothing to be desired . Few brethren have ci > er belter deserved a vote of thanks and gold centenary jewel than our Bro . George William Speth for such services , and I am pleased to hear that the members of the Lodge of Unity , No . 1 S 3 , have thus acknowledged his handy and readable liisto v . W . J . HUGHAN' .

PICART'S RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES . Bro . Hughan in referring to an account of this book in his "Masonic Sketches and Reprints , " evidently thinks that he has gut to the bottom of the whole subject . In that account he has seemingly worked on defective information ; but bibliography is a subject which requires

Masonic Notes And Queries.

extreme care and exactitude , and I must confess that , as far as I am able to judge , thc description in " Masonic Sketches " leaves thc subject not very clear , and the letter in your last issue does not improve the appearance of things . To turn lo •'• 'Masonic Sketches" it would be interesting to know in which edition of Picart ' s work , Bro . Hughan's friend was " unable to find any allusion to Freemasonry . " We are told in a note that the volumes of

Picart differ as to date ; thc first being 1723 , and the fifth , 1737 . Bro . Hughan winds up bis description of the note on Freemasonry thus , no number of volume being given : " ;' i Amesterdam chcz J . I ' . Bernard , MDCCXXIII . foi . " From this vve can only judge that the note in Picart vvas published 1723 , i . e . twelve years before Lord Weymouth was Grand Master , therefore it could hardly be copied , as he informs us , from

Pine's list of 1735 , and how are we to account for this date given in brackets by him in the French text . Bro . Hughan , in his letter in your last issue , informs us that Vol . IV . of Picart , containing the note on Freemasonry , " is of the year 1735 , " and vve arc told that " Pica * -t ' s List of Lodges " has been given in the Freemason , and it and many others are to be found in Bro . Gould ' s " Four Old Lodges . "

This does not agree with the original date given , 1723 , and I have looked in vain in Bro . Gould ' s work lor either Picart ' s or Pine ' s list of 1735 . Indeed , in Bro . Hughan ' s account of " A Curious List of Lodges , A . D . 173 G" ( " Masonic Magazine , " Vol . VIII . p . 404 , & c . ) vve are told that Pine ' s list of 173 . 5 is still wanting in the collection of Grand Lodge . The real facts of thc case seem to be these . The list on Picart's

plate is taken from that of Pine , as stated in the original text of Picart , and as mentioned by Bro . Hughan . The first edition of the "Ceremonies" is ,-apparently , that printed at Amsterdam , whicii is , as vve learn from thc title page , a series of plates designed b y Bernard Picard , with an historical explanation and curious dissertations , evidently to a great extent a series of articles written to a series of plates . Of this edition , printed in French , the

only volume which need be noticed is Vol . IV ., in which the note on p . 251 , trtc , contains a dissertation on Freemasonry , ( and the double plate ) . 'This volume is dated on the title 173 G . ' An edition in Dutch was issued in 1727-173 . S , "translated from French into Dutch by Abraham Moubach . " 'This was also published at Amsterdam ( antl Rotterdam , Sec ); and in Vol . VI ., pp . 233-4 , is what appears to be nothinir mure than a translation from the note in the

edition in French . The plate also is in every respect the same as that in Vol . IV . of lhat edition . From the title of the edition in Trench , published at Paris by Rollin , wc learn that the text was written by Ihe Abbe Banier , and the Abbe Mascricr . Vol . IV . is dated 1741 , 3111 ! on pp . 334-342 , vve have a discussion on " La Society des Freemasons , " based on " Masonry Dissccred , " the " Constitutions of 1723 , " and "curtain manuscripts . " This forms chapter 5

of the " Ceremonies , Sic , Reltgeuses des Prutcstans , and takes the place uf the note of Ihe Amsterdam editions . 'The plate is also given , but all the " signs of houses " and figures in the foreground being reversed even to the coat-ofaniis of Lord Weymouth , proves without any doubt that it is only a transfer from the original plate . The lettering and certain lines have been re-engraved , and the list of lodges commences at Iho

righthand top corner of the screen , whereas 111 thc original edition it commences properly at the / r / 7-hand lop corner . An edition in English appeared , A ' ol . VI ., London , 1737 , in which there is no account of the Freemasons ; but on page 203 occurs the following note to thc chapter on the Labadists ( following the original editions as to its place ) : " The Free-Masons , who are so well known in England that we need not give our Readers any

account of them : Besides it is out of the Sphere of this Work : But the ignorant or curious Reader may consult he " Book of the Constitutions" and "The Defence of Masonrv , " occasioned by a Pamphlet called " Masonry Dissected . " The Prints hercannexed represent Free-Masons . " We have here again the reversed plate , as in the edition published by Rollin . 'The title informs us that the book was " written originally in French , " and , wc learn from thc

" Preface Generale " of the edition in French ( Vol . L , a Amsterdam , 1723 I that the original intention of the publisher was to print the work in four volumes , according to the programme they issued in November , 1720 . We may , I think , fairly conclude that , except some ' of the plates were issued separately at an earlier date , vve have in the edition in French , Amsterdam , 1723-1737 , the earliest example of

the work . If Pine ' s list of 1 735 is still extant , it would be interesting to know if it bears any mention ol" Lord Weymouth or Sir Richard Steele . The position of the former at the head of Picart's list would be correct for the year 17 . 15 , Lut surel y there must have been some reason for adding the portrait of the latter , who died on thc ist September , 1729 , six years before the list was printed .

ABBEY OF ARBROATH . In my letter of last week appears a most curious sentence , viz ., "Arc any Abbcysur Convents extantbearingan impression of this seal ? " I cannot help surmising thai the printer is responsible for this , and that I wrote , as 1 certainly intended to , "Are any documents of this Abbey extant bearing , Sic " Masonic Student in his letter on the subject is scarcely so accurate as usual . Fallou does not give a representation

of this seal . M . S . however probably speaks from memory and nut by tlie hook , as his edition of Fallou happens at the present moment lo be in my possession . I am quite unable to agree with his statement that the seal represents the martyrdom of Thomas h Becket . 'The only person jiresent that could represent thc martyr is kneeling , with his right arm bared to the elbow and his eyes hoodwinked , is a young beardless man and not in clerical attire . 'The three men , represented with drawn swords arc clothed as

workmen , not as knights , aril do not appear particularly bloodthirsty . 'Their eyes and actions arc directed towards the kneeling figure , not towards the personage behind the pedestal or altar . Whicii figure does M . S . call thc king ? It must be either thc one behind thc altar _ or the one on his knees . In that case the kneeling figure must cither be the martyr or the king , and in neither case would I he costume or the bandages over the eyes be appropriate . I take the interpretation of initiation to be fully justified , and to my mind the chief question is , to whom did Ihe seal belong . ENTERED APPRENTICE STUDENT .

THE RABBI LEON . . Can anyone identify this personage , in whose possession , according to Dermott , "Ahiman Rezon , " second edition ,

Masonic Notes And Queries.

17 G 4 , p . 34 , thc Freemasons' arms now in use were found , and whom he terms the " learned and famous Hebrewist , architect , and brother , Rabbi Jacob Jehudah Leon ? " 1 say this because , as Chyle tells us of him , in the "Statutes of Wells , " his existence , and his model of the temple , to whicii Cermott also alludes , it is important , if possible , to verify him , as the very model may still be in existence . Chyle talks of his model about 1 CS 0 . Dermott says

he saw it , and a description of it , dedicated to King Charles II ., and that he had the pleasure , in 1759 and 17 G 0 , of perusing and examining both these curiosities . Dermott also mentions a patent under the Great Seal , by Charles 11 ., permit'ing the exhibition in England , signed Killigrevv . Chyle's words , as quoted in the Statutes of Wells , are as follows : " 'That model of Solomon ' s Temple composed by Rabbi Leon , of the Hebrew nation , which has beene , and

still is , common to be scene in London , and if we may believe their papers and report , was seven years in contriving , miking , and finishing , doubtless very exact , and worth any inqtiirable persons view and contemplation . " Can nothing- be done to verify these statements ? Is this Rabbi Leon , the same as the Rabbi Leon of Modena , who is said , in the preface of the English Picart of 1733 , to have written the "Jewish Antiquities" for Gafferel , or GafTarelli , in his "Curiosites Inouies ?"

ANTTQUARIUS . MASONIC RECORDS . In Bro . John Yarker ' s little book , "Speculative Freemasonry , " published 1 S 72 , tho following references appear : —I shall be glad of information on the various subjects mentioned , p . 104 note . Some stray document has been turned up in America , whicii says : " In the spring of 1 G 5 S , Mordecai Campaunall , Moses Packeckoe , Levi , and

othets , in all fifteen families , arrived at Newport ( America ) , from Holland . They brought with them the lirst three Degrees of Masonry , and worked them in the house of Campaunall , and continued to do so , they and their successors , to thc year 1742 . "—Rev . Edward Paterson , Hisloiyof Rhode Island , page 101 . Of Charles I ., Dr . Leeson has some letters alluding to Freeinasonrv , p . 113 : "Brother Alatthe-. v Cooke lias ready for republication a

book printed in England iu 1 7 , and dedicated to the Grand Lodge , March 1 st , 1 7 , whicii contains the following at p . . | t ) , " & c ., & c ., ( Bro . Yarker gives some extracts ) : —p . 12 S , " Bro . II . B . Leeson , $ z ° , is possessed of an old charter granted by the Pretender lor the High Grades , and has asserted that some French edition of the English Constitutions of 1720 , printed at Brussels in 1722 , contains in the 37 th clause allusion to the following "—i . e ., the High Grades . MASONIC ENOIUREU .

Provincial Grand Lodge F Oxfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE F OXFORDSHIRE .

'The Annual Provincial Grand Lodge of this province was held on Tuesday , the 22 nd ult ., in the Apollo University Masonic Hall , Oxford . In the unavoidable absence of the Provincial Grand Master , H . R . H . Prince Leopold , Duke of Albany , K . G ., the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , W . Bro . Reginald Bird , M . A ., presided . There

was a good attendance of thc brethren of the province . 'The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , thc reports of the various lodges in thc province were read , and stated lo be satisfactory . The Treasurer read his report , and the usual votes to Masonic and Local Charities were passed . The DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER alluded to the great services of Bro . Randall , who had for

twentysix years served the Provincial Grand Lodge as its 'Treasurer , and by the vote of the lodge presented Bro . Randall , who was now retiring from ofiice , with a Past Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s jewel , whicii was acknowledged by Bro . Randall in a very feeling speech . Bro . W . G . Emberlin vvas unanimously elected Treasurer .

A grant of £ 10 ios . was made to the " Hervey Memorial I und , " and a vote of thanks vvas given to Bros , Wyatt and Davison for service recently rendered to the province . A pension . was voted to the late Assistant Grand Secretary , Bro . 1 lobbs . Bars ol the Charity Jewel were presented to Bros . Withington , H . R . Cooper " Smith , Wigram , and J . Potts .

I he Deputy Prov . Grand Master then invested the officers for the ensuing year , as follows : Bro . J . Potts p ,-ov . S . G . W . „ J . J . Hughes Prov . 1 . G . W . „ F . IT . Penny Prov . G . Chap . „ W . II . White Prov . G . Reg . ,, W . G . Emberlin Prov . G . Treas .

„ A . Winklield , P . P . G . W . ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . P . Ellis Prov . S . G . D . „ J . Salter Prov . J . G . D . „ W . Atkins Prov . G . S . of W . ,, R . E . Baynes 7 „ ^ 1 % , ,- * , „ Al . H . Humfrey j Prov . G . D . of C ' s „ II . G . Drinkwater Prov . G . Swd . B .

„ A . Rowley Prov . G . Org . ,, H . Houghton , P . P . G . W . ... Prov . G . A . Sec . ,, W . L . Alorgan 7 „ * ,, ,, ,, „ T . E . Withington J Prov . G . Purst ' s . Bros . S . D . Darbishirc , T . Lucas , A . ) Breakspear , C . Head , S . Sand- [ Prov . G . Stwds . bach , and—Monckton ... )

Bro . G . Norwood Prov . G . Tyler . , „ W . Biggs Prov . G . A . Tyler . Thc brethren afterwards dined together at the Clarendon Hotel , when Air . Attwood supplied a repast of the most recherche description , which was served up in

excellent style . Alter the usual loyal toasts , the DEPUTY PROV . GRAND AIASTER proposed "The Grand Alaster , " "The Pro Grand Alaster , the Deputy Grand Alaster , and the Officers of Grand Lodge , " which was responded lo bv Bro . F . 1 . AIOI * KI : LL , P . G . D .

"The Provincial Grand Alaster , H . R . H . Prince Leopold , " was then proposed by thc DEPUTY PROV . GRAND . MASTER , who explained the causes of H . R . H . ' s absence that day . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER then proposed "The Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , " which was replied to by Bro . POTTS , thc Provincial Grand Senior Warden .

Bro . c . J . AIORRELL then proposed "Thc Health of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , " to which Bro . BiflP replied .