Masonic Notes.

be issued when the final meeting of the Board of Stewards has taken place . We may state , however , with reference to the £ 105 given by the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire , which , in the absence of any advice as to its allocation , we placed to

the creditof Bro . George Miller , D . P . G . M . should have been assigned to Bro . Aid . Harwood , J . P ., as one of the Stewards for Lodge No . 1723 . We also desire to state that though the West Lancashire total was g iven correctly as . £ 6025 ios ., the details of the Stewards' Lists are in

some instances short of the full amount that should have been given , while the sums contributed by lodges which were not represented by Stewards were not , in the absence of any authority as to where they should be placed , entered at all . All these matters will be set right in the aforesaid reprint .

* * * The visit customarily paid by the Stewards of the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution to the Asylum at Croydon took p lace on Tuesday , when about 200 brethren and ladies attended ,

and , after inspecting the building and making or renewing acquaintance with its worthy inmates , partook of a lig ht refection , under the presidency of Bro . J . A-

Farnfield , Treasurer , Bro . James Terry , the Secretary , being likewise conspicuous , as usual , by his kind attentions to the Old People , as well as to their friends and visitors .

Reviews

REVIEWS

HISTORY OF THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GOLD AND SILVER WYRE DRAWERS .

Compiled by HORACE STEWART , citizen and Gold and Silver Wyre Drawer ( Master 1888 ) . Illustrated by Estelle D'Avigdor . London : Printed for the Company by the Leadenhall Press , E . C . 1891 . Though the Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers is one of the youngest of the City Guilds , yet

the " Trade Art & Mistery of Drawing & Flatting of Gold & Silver Wyre , & Makeingand Spinningof Gold & Silver Thread & Stuffe , " which it is its object to promote , dates back from the very earliest times . This , indeed , is clearly shown in the opening chapters of this history , Evidence is also furnished that the Art of Embroidering

with Gold Thread was practised in England in Anglo-Saxon times , while under the Plantagenets and Tudors the art made very great progress . In 1461 the Court of Common Council gave their attention to the " Wiredrawers , " while the mere mention of what is known historically as "The Field of the Cloth of Gold" in

the reign of Henry the VIII ., is enough to show that the industry must have been of the greatest importance , though those who practised it may not have been incorporated as a Guild , and were dependent mostly for protection on the Guild or Company of Brodieres . It was not , however , till the commencement ofthe Stuart dynasty

that a really serious attempt was made to establish in this country the manufacture of Gold and Silver Thread , and the working of it into lace , and it was only after encountering the most strenuous opposition from the Goldsmiths and others , that at length in 16 93 a charter of incorporation was granted to the

freemen of the trade Gold and Silver Wire-drawing , constituting them " as one Body Corporate and Politic in Deed , Fact and Name ; with the title of — Master , Wardens , Assistants , and Commonalty of the Art and Mystery of Drawing and Flatting of Gold and Silver Wyer ; &—Making &

Spinning of Gold & Silver Thread & Stuffe in our City of London . " This charter secured to the Company many important rights and privileges , not only for its own government , but likewise for the regulation of the Trade , Art , and Mystery which it represented . The above summary has been compiled from the

earlier chapters of Bro . Stewarts work , while the subsequent history of the Company , its difficulties , the opposition it met with , its struggles , ultimately successful , to obtain a Grant of Livery , its decline , and revival in 1879—thanks to the exertions of Bros . Colonel Sewell , George Kenning , Major Joseph ,

Gabriel Lindo , the late Colonel Duncan , M . P ., Major George Lambert , and others—are more fully and very ably described in the chapters which follow . It is evident , indeed , from what has been done during the last 12 years of its existence that the Company has been making great and successful efforts to place the

Art and Mystery of Wyre-drawing on a substantial basis , so far as the promotion and protection of its interests are concerned , and we are far from flattering Bro . Horace Stewart , the painstaking author of this most interesting volume , unduly , when we say that his admirable compilation will be of considerable service to the Company in their further efforts to expand the

industry over which they preside . We may add that Bro . Stewart's style is very clear and concise , and that the book , while containing all that is needful to the illustration of the trade , is not cumbered with a mass of details . The volume , too , is well printed and handsomely bound in cloth , and the illustrations , by Estelle D'Avi gdor , are characterised by a true artistic spirit . The appendix , containing particulars as tothe Acts of

Reviews

Parliament relating to the Company , lists of the Masters and Clerks from 1693 , and of the present Master , Wardens , & c , with the Index , add largely to the value of the book . It is to be regretted however that Bro . Stewart was unable to find a corner for a list of the "Gifts" which have been made

from time to time to the Company , namely , the "Silver Tankard , " given in 1719 by Christopher Blower , who was Master in 1701 ; silver salver , in 1742 , by Mrs . Christian Russell ; silver loving cup , in 1849 , by James Scovell , Master in 1839 ; snuff box in tortoise-shell , in 1862 , by F . F . Camroux , Master in

1 S 44 ; Freeman's declaration book , in 1880 , by Bro . H . W . Henniker Ranee ; bannerol of the Company ' s arms , by Bro . Col . Sewell , in the same year ; arms of the Company , worked in gold and silver wire ( framed ) , by Bro . George Kenning , Master in 1882 and 18 S 3 ; and banner of donors' arms , by Bro . Major Joseph , CC . Master in 1884 , 1885 , and 1886 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

945 ] A RARE WORK . Bro . G . W . Bain drew my attention to a work on Architecture of 1724 which was quite unknown to me , and possibly to most students of the Craft . Since then I have succeeded in finding a copy , though from what Bro . W . H . Rylands tells me there is not one in the

British Museum . The English edition seems to have been published in two separate volumes of different years of issue and partly different publishers . What doubtless was the first issue is entitled "A Treatise of Architecture , with Remarks and Observations necessary for Young People , who wou'd apply themselves to that

Noble Art . —By Seb . Le Clerc , Knight of the Empire , Designer and Engraver in Ordinary to the Cabinet of the FrenchKing . London , & c , 1723 . " [ Svo . pp . vii ., and 144 . ] The second volume has tor title ( engraved , with vignette ) , " A Treatise of Architecture , & c . ( as before ) , Engraven in Two Hundred Copper Plates by John

Sturt , Translated by Mr . Chambers . London , & c , M . D . CCXXIV . " ( Svo . plates , and list of subscribers at end on two engraved plates ) . There are four plates of dedications to the Master and Wardens of the Masons , Bricklayers , Carpenters , and Joyners , being in

most complimentary language by their " obedient servant , John Sturt , " and each has its appropriate plate of arms , with proper heraldic description at the head of the dedication . That for the first of the quartette reads" To the Master and Wardens of the Compa . of

MASONS LONDON . " May it please your Worships " This company was Incorporated in Anno 1410 . Having been call'd the Free Masons a Fraternity of great Antiquity being Honoured by Several KINGS & very many of ye Nobility &

Gentry being of their Society . And are a body of Worknen which have advane'd their Art to such a heig ht that they out do all their Brethren in Europe both in Number & Art to the glory of their Nation . "This Treatise of Architecture by the most

Correct Designer & Architect Sebastian le Clerc , that has yet Appear'd in the world ; whose Rules and Proportions well follow'd may advance it yet farther , is most humbly Dedicated by your Worship's obedient Servant , "JOHN STURT . "

The last plate is numbered 181 in all three copies , so far traced , so it is likely the number 200 refers to the original work , about which it would be interesting to know a little , at least . There is no plate 61 . but 61 A ,

61 B , and then 62 , and 79 is not enumerated . Several plates may have represented two each in the first issue . The frontispiece by "J . Start , Sc . " is of Le Clerc , and is a fine production . Bro . Ry lands agrees with me as to the rarity and value of this book . W . J . HUGHAN .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft flDa 8 onr \> . METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

Quatuor Coronati Lodge ( No . 2076 ) . —This lodge met at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , the 24 th ult ., when there were present Bros . W . M . Bywater , P . G . S . B ., W . M . ; Colonel S . C . Pratt , I . P . M . ; W . M . Williams , I . G ., as S . W . ; G . W . Speth , Sec ; C . Kupferschmidt , Stwd . ; R . F . Gould , P . M ., P . G . D . ; W . H . Rylands , P . G . S .: and Dr . W . B . Richardson Also the

followingmembers of the Correspondence Circle : Bros . Colonel Sir N . Pringle , Bart ., as J . W . ; Dr . Belgrave Ninnis , R . N . ; C . W . Mapleton , C . B . Barnes , R . P . Couch , J . Vallentine , S . Vallentine , G . P . ; F . H . Ansell , H . VV . Williams , Colonel M . Petrie , G . Gottlieb , R . Roy , E . H . Ezard , E . H . Cartwright , Rev . R . C . Fillingham , J . Newton , E . C . Armitage , R . A . Gowan , J . G . Koch , C . N . Maclntyre North , G .

Gregson , J . B . Mackey , VV . F . Vernon , H . M . Hobbs , Palmer Thomas , and E . H . Bramley . Also the following visitors : Bros . G . F . Marshall , P . M . 69 ; Gordon Smith , G . S . ; and VV . Fooks , J . D . 2033 . Captain Albert Hastings Markham , R . N ., A . D . C . to the Queen , the leader of the sledge parties in the last Arctic Expedition , who planted the Union Jack in a higher latitude than ever before reached ,

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

the author of the " Great Frozen Sea , " and of several other books of travel and discovery , was elected to the membership of the lodge . The following three lodges and 37 brethren were elected to the membership of the Correspondence Circle : The Douglas Lodge , No . 077 S . C , Rockhampton , Queensland Mount Morgan R . A . Chapter , and Mount MoTgan Lodge '

No . 763 b . C , Mount Morgan , Queensland ; Bros . L . C Hodgkins , 95 6 , and W . H . Harris , P . M . 956 , Pietermaribl burg ; J . H . Liley , 1 S 32 , Kimberley ; H . Beak , 6 77 S . C . " Rockhampton , Queensland ; G . F . Bennett , 775 S . C ., J . X ' Boyce , 775 S . C , and C . Kemp , 233 S , all of Toowoomba ' Queensland ; J . Simpson , 4 , Waitangi , Tasmania ; T . ' Taylor , P . M . 119 S , Madras ; R . D . Mehta , Dist . G D '

Bengal ; W . H . S . Perkins , 3 , Nanaimo , Vancouvers Island ; T . A . Williamson , 452 , Albany , New York ; £ , Rund , Fosston , Minnesota ; T . F . Knock , 124 , Petersburg- ' Virginia ; J . R . Charleston , 9 , Richmond , Virginia ; R ' MacDonald , G . S . Scotland , Glasgow ; S . Bell , P . M . iCjg * Newcastle-on-Tyne ; H . Soderberg , P . M . 1119 , Jarrowon-Tyne ; J . jackman , 139 , and F . E . Nickols , 1513 , both

ot Sheffield ; M . INewsome , J . ? ., r . M .. 20 S , Southport E . Lee , C . E ., P . M . 2 C 5 , Leeds ; G . T . Hawkins , 360 ' Northampton ; 0 . Parker , 737 , Higham Ferrers , Northamptonshire ; Rev . R . C . Fillingham , 393 , Ampthill , Bedfordshire ; F . P . M . Schiller , 357 , and H . G . VV . Drink water , P . P . G . W . Oxon , both of Oxford ; W . K . Thomas P . M . 65 , Bristol ; F- F . Cornish , F . S . I ., P . M . 303 , Tei ^ n !

mouth , Devon ; Rev . J . W . Horsley , 913 ; Rev . G p Merrick , P . P . G . Chap . Surrey ; H . H . Shirley , P . M . i 4 qi 1 J . W . Stevens , A . R . I . B . A ., 2234 ; L . C Haslip , P . M . 813 ; A . F . Lamette , 271 ; E . H . Bramley , P . M . 957 ; and R * Palmer Thomas , P . M . 1929 . A curious ring—the property of the Salopian Lodge , No . 262—was exhibited , the opinion expressed by the brethren

being that it was probably rather monastic than Masonic . Bro . Dr . B . Ward Richardson , F . R . S ., delivered a lecture on the curious book , printed in English in 1732 , " The Legend of Sethos , " stating his reasons for thinking that it had probably influenced the ritual of the Craft , and that it was the production of the Jacobites . Bro . Speth

demurred to the first conclusion , in which he was supported by Bro . Gould , who , however , thought the second one very likely to be correct . A vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer , who replied on the discussion . The brethren then adjourned to the Holborn Restaurant for dinner . ?

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS . CHINGFORD . Chigwell Lodge ( No . 453 ) . —The installation meeting of this old Iodge was held on Saturday , the 20 th ult ., at the Forest Hotel , Bro . F . C Dixie , VV . M ., presiding . The other brethren present were Bros . VV . T . Christian , P . M ., S . VV . ; F . A . Renshaw , J . W . ; John Glass , Treas . ; G . Corbie , Sec ; A . J . Dixie , D . C . ; H . S . Homewood ,

Stwd . ; J . R . Brading , P . M . ; A . Buck , P . M . ; G . Motion , P . M . ; R Martin , P . M . ; W . Holloway , P . M . ; A . Lucking , P . G . P . ; E . Tholander , P . M . ; O . Abennis , Grand Lodge of Sweden ; VV . Abbott ; W . Salter ; Rev . H . Hebb , Master R . M . I . B . ; T . J . Railing , P . G . Sec ; G . Everett , G . Treas . ; J . Blundell , P . M . ; H . J . Day , Wm . Shurmur , Prov . G . Treas . ; Thomas Scoresby

Jackson , P . S . G . D . ; J . Salmon , P . P . G . Reg-. ; Henry Massey , 160 , P . M . 619 and 192 S ; and Orlton Cooper . Bro . Edwin Purkiss was passed to the Second Degree , and Mr . Frederick Arthur Cox was initiated by the W . M ., and after Bro . Dr . William Ernest Dring , 23 iS , had been elected a joining member , the W . M . installed Bro . Walter T . Christian , P . M ., S . W . and W . M . elect , as VV . M . ofthe

lodge for the ensuing year . The following brethren were invested as the W . M . ' s officers for the year : Bros . F . C . Dixie , I . P . M . ; F . A . Renshaw , S . W . ; E . Hobbs , J . VV . ; John Glass , P . M ., Treas . ; George Corbie , P . M ., Sec . ; VV . S . Homewood , S . D . ; VV . A . Glass , J . D . ; A . J . Dixie , D . C . ; R . Seeker , P . M ., I . G . ; Bonsall , Stwd . ; and Goddard , P . M ., Tyler . A Past Master's jewel was

presented to Bro . F . C Dixie , I . P . M . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to a beautiful banquet , after which the usual toasts were proposed and honoured . Bro . George Everett , Grand Treas ., in reply to the toast of "The Grand Officers , " said it was with great p leasure he attended that day as the guest of the Chigwell Lodge ,

and had the honour of responding to the toast of ' » Grand Officers of England , Present and Past . The p leasure of his visit had been much enhanced by the fact that the lodge numbered amongst its members many valued friends with whom he had been associated for some time past , in what ) he hoped , was good Masonic work in connection with that deserving Institution , the Bovs' School , notablv that grand

and stalwart Mason , Bro . John Glass , their Treasurer , and that most genial and large-hearted of souls , Bro . George Corbie , their present worthy Secretary . With regard to Bro . Glass , he ( Bro . Everett ) owed to him a deep debt M gratitude , because Bro . Glass did him the honour to _ nominate him for the post he now had the pleasure and privilege of occupying . He ( Bro . Everett ) was not present when w . u ^ v-u ^ piig . .... \^ i , \ j . _ jvv . iu . iy _ V <_ .- _ 11 UL y . \ . ^ 1 heard

the nomination was made , but those who it had done nothing but speak of it ever since , those who did not hear it regretted it much . It was , however , a matter of history now , and could it not be read 1 the chronicles of London ? Bro . Glass , with that discernment and discrimination with which he was so ' ^* J endowed , had discovered in him qualities that he had idea he nossessed . and had said such kind things W

regard to him on the occasion in question that he dro away all opposition , and he ( Bro . Everett ) had in cons e - quence a walk over , instead of the trouble and anxietyf > contested election . Another attraction to him as a visi to the lodge was that he had been told on each recurrmt installation day Bro . John Glass delivered htmsell ot oration which was worth going miles tu hear . When oration wnicn was worm going miles Cu neai . " -- y , douht

came on presently all the brethren would , no ,, very much delighted . He had spoken of the plea given him in coming here , and he might now he considered it also somewhat of a duty- „ brethren were aware that his was an elective " n ([ and every brother who was a member oi , , u Lodge was a constituent of his , and he felt wftein _ opportunity served he had aright to come and visit n ^ stituents and report his stewardship . He was gladJ ^ the Province of Essex was going on well . His acces