Grand Mark Lodge.

Australia . Blood ss * as thicker than water . He ssas born in England , and jie svould be an Englishman in spile of everything . In some other lodges t 0 svhich he belonged he adhered to ihe' British government . No more loyal brethren existed in the empire than the Australian Masons . Allosv him to express the pride and pleasure he had in being an Englishman . Only yesterday he went down to see that most magnificent cathedral of

Canterbury . After he had looked with emotions which he could not express at the g lorious pile he saw outside a gentleman who asked him a question svhich he could not anssver , as he was a colonist . The gentleman said so svas he ; he was from Canada . He ( Bro . Boucaut ) lold ' him he was from Australia , and they shook hands in memory of their glorious country . Thc Canadians , the gentleman said , were as loyal as the South Australians , j le should remember his visit as long as he " lived , and he should tell his

children and his friends svhen he got back of thc intense pleasure he felt at the hospitable reception he met with in the old country . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Col . A . B . COOK proposed " The Stewards , " mentioning that the Grand Lodge h : id been more largely attended than it ever was before , and the hosp itality of the Stess'ards could not have been exceeded . He congratulated them on their success , and assured them that their kindness svas appreciated to the full . ( Cheers . )

Bro . Major CARRELL , President of the Board of Grand Stewards , responded , and said the Stewards had tried to carry out their duties in the best way , and they hoped the brethren had had a sufficiency of everything . Und ' er the direction of Bro . Alfred King , Mus . Doc . Oxon ., PiG . 0 ., a pretty selection of music was performed by Bros . Herbert Schartau , Edsvard Dalzell , VV . Bradford , and C T . Johnson . The company separated shortly after 10 p . m ., having experienced a most enjoyable evening .

''Ars Quatuor Coronatorum."

' ' ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM . "

The first part of volume ( ive of the " Transactions of the Lodge Ouatuor Coronati , No . 2076 , London , " speaks most emphatically of the extraordinary , in fact phenomenal growth and prosperous condition of this , the literary lodge , not only of the English Constitution , but in a still wider sense of the Craft universal . The frontispiece to the new volume is devoted to our esteemed W . M ., Bro . VV . H . Rylands , P . M . No . 2 , P . G . Stesvard , whose

abilities , Masonically , artistically , archteologically , scientifically , and general !)' , are of a high order , and whose researches relative to Freemasonry have been well directed and most fruitful in results . Bro . Rylands is a Master of whom the oldest lodge on the English roll svas proud to have in its chair , and beyond question his rule will be as warmly appreciated by the members of the Inner and Outer Circles of No . 207 G .

The full financial statement submitted by the Audit Committee is satisfactory and complete as usual , save that annually I consider it my duty to protest against the action of our respected Secretary in arranging that his well-earned salary shall not be paid for the past year , but only for the preceding one . It is time this injustice to himself should be rectified . Over

£ 1500 for the financial year represents a large total , the only sorrowful picture in the printed account being the heavy list of arrears , which , for the sake of the lodge , and the credit of the members affected and concerned therein , should soon be paid , and never allosved to occur again . No pay , no privileges , will have to be a rigid motto in the future .

"Brahminical Initiation" in relation to "The Noose Symbol" is a thoughtful article b y Bro . W . Simpson , P . M ., but not quite the subject for discussion in these pages , and there is also a suggestive paper by Bro . John Yarker on the same study . The latter brother thinks that " all the papers on Indian thought" that have appeared lack the links which connect them

wilh the Craft . In the discussion at the lodge on the Sth January , Bro . Rylands confessed he could not quite follow the arguments , and was unable to sec clearly where the Masonic connection enters in thc subject . This is my position . Bro . Speth thinks that the paper has increased the possibility of tracing the Cable Tow through the Noose to the Sacred Cord of Eastern initiatory rites .

Bro . Ladilas de Malczovich continues his very interesting article on " The Earlier History of Masonry in Austria and Hungary , " and this time affords some invaluable information respecting the Lodge of thc " Three Hearts , " one o the oldest instances of what is known as a " Deputy Lod

ge . " When the whole has been printed , I venture to stale lhat wc shall all feel much indebted lo my friend for his researches , and shall esteem his paper as by far thc most useful , accurate , and most important account of the Craft in those two countries that has ever appeared . I hope to refer lo tne completed history in due course .

Bro . Dr . Dieperink writes most vigorously in defence of his statements ¦ joncerning the three different Rites or Systems of Dutch Freemasonry . I hough Bro . Cross-e took an opposite view , his authority was stated to be Iho , Vaillant , so , naturally , Bro . Dieperink addresses his remarks to the latter brother , who , doubtless is svell able to hold his osvn . In the present (•' oiii niunication however , it does appear as if the "High Degrees " are on

a more favourable footing than Bro . Vaillant allows , though not more so man they deserve in Holland , and I am glad that Bro , Speth has decided 0 permit of Bro . Vaillant writing a rejoinder , confined exclusively to the evidence adduced . „ . fhe pleasing and instructive paper by Bro . P ' . J . VV . Crowe on •'• lasonic Clothing " is on a topic familiar to my friend . He has a ss'onderful election of apronscollars , and jewels of s * arious Grand Bodiesand is

, , ( iuitc at home on thu subject of their peculiar differences and varied character . Quite recently 1 had the pleasure to look over his curious stock 01 these articles , and to refresh my memory as to his enormous albums of c ' -i'tilicates , summonses , and Masonic relics of all kinds . Brethren may '"trust to him , with every confidence , any curiosities they can part svith , " -speciall y as ultimately thc whole of his important collection will come into

• c bands of our lodge . The illustrations to thc present contribution are Cr y useful , and add much to the value of the historical account . Brethren ot acquainted with the numerous styles of clothing will be surprised lo read 1 c roany singular facts which have been accumulated and nosv made knosvn , y Bro . Crowe . So many are these thai I must forbear reference to ihem st now , except to express my admiration of the sketches themselves . Ihe

, " Remarks on the Cra t Legend of the Old British Masons" call p careful study , as they are written by my able collaborator , Dr . Begemann , D r . ° ' Grand Master of Mecklenburg . The completion svill probably be Muted in part two , so that it would scarcely be fair lo say much about it " V " i 7 * n- ' "' ' y > however , state that he emphasises the \ r alue of the j \ illiam Watson " version , and maintains that much of the ordinary " -0 . Was made up from this noted Text , besides illustrating the importance

''Ars Quatuor Coronatorum."

of the "Thomas W . Tew MS . " as forming a kind of link between the former scroll and the prevailing text . The professor considers that the " William Watson " version was revised " in the 16 th century , say about 1510 to 1520 . " I await , with pleasurable anticipation , the completion of this able analysis of the legends of the Old Charges .

The " Masonic Genius of Robert Burns , " by Dr . B . W . Richardson ; " Who was Naymus of the Greeks ? " by Bro . S . R . Forbes ; and other papers call for treatment , but my space is filled up , so they must be left to other writers , as also the welcome Reviews and Notes and Queries , which are of even more than ordinary value , these departments being a strong feature of the journal so ably edited by Bro . G . W . Speth .

I strongly object to Bro . Gould ' s dictum , in his review of Dr . Barlow ' s valedictory address , that " The lirst three Degrees , as we nosv have them , though communicated in two steps , instead of three , were in existence before the era of Grand Lodges . " My opinion is ( and Bro . Gould knows

it is also shared by Bros . Lyon , Lane , and several other Masonic students ) that there were no separate Masonic Degrees before the era of Grand Lodge , and hence I object to my conscientious belief being entillcd "a popular delusion . " Surely we should tolerate each other's viewsj and also eschesv infallibility . W . J . HUGHAN .

The Late Bro. Col. Sir Francis Burdett, Bart.

THE LATE BRO . COL . SIR FRANCIS BURDETT , BART .

Fesv members of our Order have taken a more active part in the affairs of Freemasonry , or held at one and the same time a greater number of important offices than Bro . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart . j nor are there many whose services to the Craft will be more gratefully remembered . Our Middlesex brethren especially will be deeply grieved by the loss of their Provincial Grand Master , who had presided over them with such

conspicuous tact and judgment , and so genially from the date of their constitution as a Province . The loss will be the more severely felt Irom thc suddenness of its occurrence , his death having taken place in Cheshamplace on Tuesday , when he svas on a visit to his daughter , Mrs . Houston , and when to all appearance he was in thc enjoyment of his usual health . True he had attained the ripe age of 79 years , but he bore himself bravely

in spite of his age , and was accustomed to exhibit so much activity , and was so frequently in our midst , enacting one or other of the many parts assigned to him svith so much vigour , that it is difficult to realise that he is no longer with us , and will never again discharge those duties , in the fulfilment of which he found such pleasure . For more than 20 years our distinguished brother had been a foremost member of our Grand Lodge , his

earliest appointment being lhat of a Past S . G . W ., which was conferred upon him in 1869 , svhen the Grand Lodge of Ireland selected him as its representative at our Grand Lodge . Later in the same year , on the constitution of Middlesex as a Province , Bro . Col . Francis Burdett—as he then was—was chosen to be its first Provincial Grand Master , and was formally installed in office in the early days of the following year . In 1870 he

had conferred upon him the office of Provincial Grand Mark Master of Middlesex and Surrey , svhile in 1871 the range of his duties and responsibilities was slill further extended by his appointment as Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masonry in Middlesex . Then these important positions—together with that of representative at our Grand Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Ireland—our late brother had

held continuously till his death , and it was in these offices that his chief services to the Craft were rendered . But in addition he was M . I . Grand Sovereign of thc Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine , as well as Chief Inteiidant-Gcneral for Middlesex , Essex , and Surrey in England , and "Past Grand Sovereign of thc same Order in Scotland ; Inspector General , 33 ° , Unattached in the Ancient and Accepted Rile in England , and

an honorary member of thc Supreme Council ol ihe rite in Ireland ; and one of the Hon . Vice-Presidents of the Rosicrncian Society of England . Other offices of distinction had also been conferred upon him al different times during his career , and it may justly be said of him that whatever he put his hand to , thai did he right well with all his hcarl and soul and strength . Nor is there a Mason of our day with svhom it was

a greater pleasure or a greater honour to be associated in any branch of Masonic duly . As regards our Charitable Institutions , he was a warm supporter of them all . Hc headed the contingent of Middlesex Stewards both al the Centenary of the Girls' School in 1888 , and at the Jubilee Festival in February last of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , while in 1 S 00 he presided as Chairman at llic Annual Festival

of the former Charity , and his daughter presented the prices . Tsvo other occasions on which our late brolher look a prominent part arc also worth y of mention . The first took place a lew ycars since , when his cousin , the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , presented a set of chairs to the Lodge No . 1278 , which bears her name , and a dispensation having been granted for the purpose by the M . W . Grand Masier , her ladyship was conducted iijto the

lodge room by Sir Francis Burdett—it is almost needless to say the lodge was not at labour at the time—and the vote of thanks for her gifl was acknosvledged by him . The more recent occasion was in 1884 , when he accompanied the same lady on her visit to Wood Green to lay the memorial stone of tli 3 new hall . It was , hosvever , as we have already pointed out , in his Province of Middlesex that his

chief services to thc Craft werc rendered , and though his death will be very generally lamented , it will be in Middlesex that the blosv svill be most severely felt and most deeply and sincerely regretled . Outside that province he was known and respected as one of the leading members of our Society , but within its borders he was knosvn and beloved as the ruler

who had presided successfully over its destinies for close upon a quarter of a century . The knosvledge of this fact and the feeling that iii their bereavement they have thc sincere sympathy of all English Freemasons will doubtless be some slight consolation to the widosv and family of our late distinguished brother .

The remains of Sir Francis Burdett will be interred at Foremark , his Derbyshire scat , to-day ( Friday ) . Thc funeral svill be attended by the tenantry on the estate , and also by a deputation of the tenantry on his Ramsbury estate in Wiltshire .