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Edward I ., at Rhuddland Castle , in Wales , in the tenth and eleventh year of his reign . In this account sundry payments are charged to Masons ( commentarii ) on the following scale : — The Master Mason , 6 d . per diem ; the other Masons , 4 d . ; and workmen , 3 d . In 1351 wages

were lower , and this , too , was just after the pestilence ; a Master Mason , by the day , 3 d . ; other Masons or Tilers , 2 d . ; and their servants or boys , ij ^ d . In a petition from the House of Commons , presented A . D . 1445 , in the 23 rd of Henry VI ., to regulate wages , which was

granted and converted into a law , it is prayed that with respect to Masons , & c , " Yat from the Fest of Ester unto Mighelmesse ye wages of euy fre mason or maister carpenter excede not by the day iiii d ., withe mete and drynke ; and without mete and drynke , v d . ob . A Maister

Tyler or Sclatter , rough maister and meen carpenter , and other artificiers concernynge bildynge , by the day , iii d . ob ; " and from Michaelmas to Easter the Master Masons and carpenters one halfpenny less by the day . In 1446 , from Easter to Michaelmas , a Free Mason , with diet ,

by the day , 4 d ., without , s j-z d . ; a master tiler , rough Mason , slater , by the day , with diet , 3 d ., without diet , 4 ^ d . ; from Michaelmas to Easter , one penny by the day less . By 6 th of Henry VIII ., c . 3 , it is ordered that " A Free Mason , mayster carpenter , rough mason , bryklayer , mayster tiler , plommer , glasyer , earner , and

ioynerfrom Ester to Mighelmas to take by the day vid ., withoute mete , and withe mete , iiii d . ; and from Mighelmas to Ester , withoute mete , v d ., and withe mete , iii d . " In the regulations for the wages for articifiers , made 28 th of May , 1610 , by the Justices of Okeham , in the county of Rutland , and which would be similar to those throughout the rest of the country , they allow ,

With meat . Without meat . A Free Mason which draws his plotwork and set accordingly , having charge over others before

Michaelmas , by the day 8 d . 12 d . After Michaelmas ... 6 10 A rough mason , which can take charge of others , before Michalmas ... ... 5 10 After Michaelmas ... 4 8

By similar regulations for Warwickshire , m 36 of Charles II ., the allowances are for—A Freemason 6 d . is . 4 d . A master brickmason 6 10 Their servants and apprentices , above

eighteen 4 ° From the middle of September to the middle of March one penny by the day to be abated off the wages above specified . There is a tradition of Queen Elizabeth that being jealous of the Masons being in possession of peculiar secrets

which they would not divulge , she sent an armed force to York to break up the Grand Lodge , but that Sir Thomas Sackville , the Grand Master , interposed , and procured the initiation of some of the principal officers , who consequently made such a favourable report of the Society that she

countermanded her intended persecution . Under superintendence of Inigo Jones , the Fraternity prospered , and held regular assemblies , and many gentlemen were initiated . But not long after his Grand Mastership , the civil dissentions in the kingdom commenced , which caused great

interruption to Freemasonry , though in the midst of them the origin of the Free and Accepted Masons , or Speculative Masonry , appears to have taken place , although it did not become fully established for some time . Elias Ashmole was made a Mason at Warrington in 1646 . At

the same time , a Society of Rosicrucians had been formed in London , founded partly on the principles of those established in Germany in 1604 , and partly on , perhaps , the plan of the Literary Society , allegorically described in Bacon ' s " New Atlantis" as the House of

Solomon . Among other emblems they made use ofthe sun , moon , compasses , square , triangle , & c . Ashmole and some of his friends—literary characters—belonged to this society , which met in the Masons' Hall , as well as the Masons , and they revised and added to the peculiar emblems

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and ceremonies of the latter , which were simple , and had been handed down to them through many ages . They substituted a method of initiation founded in part on the knowledge of the pagan mysteries and rites , and partly on the system of the Rosicrucians ; and retaining ,

probably , in somewhat varied form the whole or greater part of the old Masonic secrets , and hence arose the first degree or Apprentice of Free and Accepted or Speculative Masonry , which was shortly after followed by the Fellow Craft degree . The Master ' s is said to have been

invented during the Commonwealth , with reference to the unhappy fate of Charles I . ; but there is no sufficient proof of this , and it is more likely to be of more recent origin , and that for some time none were recognised as Master Masons until they had filled the chair of a lodge .

These innovations of Ashmole were not , perhaps , immediately adopted by the Fraternity in general , but Speculative Masonry gradually increased , and mingled with Operative Masonry until the beginning of the eighteenth century , when it was agreed , in order to support the

Fraternity , which had been on the decline : " That the privileges of Masonry should no longer be restricted to Operative Masons , but extend to men of various professions , provided that they were regularly approved and initiated into the Order . " This had the effect of rendering

Freemasonry still more a speculative society , as it entirely became a few years later . In the meantime , since the initiation of Elias Ashmole , two kings , who were Freemasons had reigned , viz ., Charles II . and William III ., and Sir Christopher Wren had succeeded to the Grand Mastership ,

and presided over the old Lodge of St . Paul's , now represented by the Lodge of Antiquity . This lodge has in its possession , among other relics , the mallet with which Charles II . laid the foundation-stone ofSt . Paul ' s Cathedral in 1673 . In the year 1718 Sir Christopher Wren , then

aged 86 , was superseded as Surveyor of the King ' s Buildings by Mr . William Benson . A great number of Masons in London , disgusted at this treatment of their Grand Master , refused to act in conjunction with the new officers , particularly as some new innovations were

introduced into the Craft in 1717 , as will be hereafter mentioned , which did not meet with their approbation . They accordingly , with a number of country lodges , declared themselves to be acting under the old lodge at York , where the Grand Lodge under this system , which was now

called Ancient Masonry ( as they professed to keep inviolate all the ancient landmarks of the Order ) , was now established and supported , and for many years no friendly intercourse subsisted between them and the Grand Lodge of London , or of the Modern Masons as the Ancients

called them . These last , however , flourished , and added to their number many men of rank and fortune . The Ancient Masons removed their Grand Lodge in 1757 to London , the Earl of Blesington being chosen Grand Master . For many subsequent years the schism continued

between the two societies until 1813 , when a union was happily effected between them under the auspices of" the Dukes of Kent and Sussex , their respective Grand Masters . The Duke of Athol , who for fifty years previously had presided over them ( the Ancients , thence called

frequently the Athole Masons ) , having resigned in favour of the Duke of Kent for the express purpose of facilitating the union . Sir Christopher Wren vacated the office of Grand Master before he was superseded as Surveyor of the King ' s Buildings , but no successor was

immediately appointed , and the meetings of the society were much neglected . Several of the London Masons , in opposition to those , as we already mentioned who ranged themselves under the York banner , endeavoured to renew the assemblies , and revive the Fraternity . They met accordingly ( including the only four lodges

in the sonth of England ) in 1717 , to make such arrangements as they thought were requisite , and appointed a Grand Master . Dr . Desaguliers , who was appointed to that office 1719 , took great interest in their proceedings , and revised and introduced some alterations in the usages of the Craft for these brethren , which were the more readily received in order to make some

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slight distinction between themselves and the Ancient Masons . Each party , however , probably * : > reserved the original emblems of the society , differing only in those ceremonies of recent introduction . At the same time the peculiar signs of the Masons were revived

or arranged , and from this period may be dated the establishment of the present system of Freemasonry in London , and the commencement of its authentic annals . Searches and enquiries were also made for any records or manuscripts relating to the origin or doctrine of the society for the purpose of compilation , but several

valuable papers were destroyed for fear of divulging too much to the uninitiated . The spread of Speculative Masonry from this time , both at home and abroad , is so generally known that I think that any more on this subject from me will be unnecessary ; therefore , I hope in finishing this series that it has been of some little benefit to a few of the readers of THE FREEMASON .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings .

Reports of Masonic Meetings .

- —«¦ >—THE CRAFT .

METROPOLITAN . The Lodge of Temperance , No . 169 . —This lodge held its usual meeting at the White Swan Tavern , High-street , Deptford , on Thursday evening , the 19 th January . Bro . John Thomas Moss , W . M ., in the chair , supported by his officers as follows : Bros . Alfred Pulley , S . W . ; W . P . Marshall , J . W . ; J . W . Barrett , P . M ., Treas . ; J .

Rosenstock , S . D . ; T . K . Tippett , J . D . ; and T . Littlecott , I . G . The lodge was opened in due form , the previous minutes were read and confirmed , and Mr . Thos . Richard Biggs Debac was regularly initiated into the Order by the W . M . The lodge was then opened in the second degree , and Bro . George Bolton , P . M ., then installed Bro . Alfred Pulley into the chair of K . S . The

necessary formalities were proceeded with , and the installation was completed in a most impressive manner according to ancient usages , the charges being given by Bro . Bolton with excellent taste . The W . M . then appointed and invested his officers in the following order : Bros . W . P . Marshall , S . W . ; J . Rosenstock , J . W . ; T . K . Tippett , S . D . ; T . Littlecott , J . D . ; J . Dingle , I . G . ;

and J . w . Barrett , P . M ., Treas . After the appointment ofthe officers , the W . M . then presented Bro . John Thos . Moss , I . P . M ., with a Past Master ' s jewel , which had been voted unanimously by the lodge at their last meeting . The brethren having adjourned to the banquet , after the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , the W . M . expressed his thanks to Bro . George Bolton , P . M ., for

the services he had rendered that evening as the Install , ing Master , and it was now suggested that at the next meeting the thanks of the whole lodge should be given to Bro . George Bolton for the impressive manner he had rendered thc ceremony , and that the resolution should be entered on the minutes . Bro Bolton , in responding , expressed his gratification at the kind feeling evinced by

the lodge , and his desire at all times to be of assistance to the members of the lodge . The lodge then broke up after a most pleasant evening . Visitors : Bros . Dilley , W . M . 1155 j Smith , W . M . Sydney Lodge ; Swain , 83 i ; and Combs , 548 . Euphrates Lodge , No . 212 . —The installation meeting of this prosperous lodge was held at the Jlasons' Hall ,

Masons' Avenue , Basmghall-street , on the 25 th ult . The ceremony was beautifully rendered by Bro . F . M . Stean , a very old member of the lodge . Several initiations , passings , and raisings were effectively done by the W . M ., after which Bro . S . W . Pranks was installed in the chair of K . S ., and appointed his officers as follows : —Bros . Field , S . W . ; Hammond , J . W . ; Rushton , S . D . ; Thomp .

son , J . D . ; Dent , I . G . The lodge was afterwards closed with solemn prayer , and the brethren , amongst whom were many visitors , adjourned to an excellent banquet where everything was of the choicest description . The usual honourable toasts were drank and the evening was joyfully spent in mirth and harmony . Fitzroy Lod ^ e , No . 569 . —This celebrated lodge held

its installation meeting at the head-quarters of the Honourable Artillery Company , Finsbury-square , on Friday , January 27 th , Bro . Peter Gowland , M . D ., W . M ., presiding . There were also present : Bros . W . Jolli / Fe , S . W . ; P . Matthews , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Eglcse , P . M ., Sec ; J . C . Daniel , J . D . ; L . J . Drew , I . G . ; H . J . Adams , 1 " . Helshan , T . Wilson , and J . W . Long ,

P . M . ' s ; J . Dyer , C . J . Watson , G . Smith , J . B . Fawcett , R . G . Webster , F . W . Barker , W . H . Honey , T . J . H . Wilkins , W . H . Main , A . Bashford , Hall , J . IH . Stevens , F . Graves , W . L . Holt , R . Palmer , W . T . Spicer , R . J . Jenkins , J . M . Gerrard , & c . Amongst a large number of visitors we noticed : Bros . S . C . Hadlcy , P . M . I ; J . A . Rivington . P . G . P . Oxon , 357 ; E . Ransford , P . G . O . ;

F . A . Philbriek , W . M .-elect 18 ; E . Triggess , 14 ; H . V . Rawling * , n ; C . H . Pook , P . P . G . S . B . Herts , P . M . 869 ; E . H . Finney , 478 ; J . W . Hughes , 95 ; M . Edwards , 218 ; J . Dale , P . M . xi ; R . J . Chappell , S . W . 7 ; T . \ V . White , J . W . 21 ; F . Walters , W . M . 1309 ; T . Kingston , 862 ; W . Gore , 917 ; H . St . John Ingram Scay , 860 ; D . W . Pentecost , 231 ; & c . The work done was initiating Mr . J . M . Garrard and passing Bro . R . G . Webster , these ceremonies being rendered in