Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

t \ Ve do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , fche opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit •f fair play to all , to perm it—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

THE UN-MASONIC TRIAL . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Refering to the recent painful case before Mr . Justice Bowen , at the Leeds assizes , I wonder whether the plaintiff has ever read the second paragraph in Clause I , Article VI ., of the "Antient Charges , " in the " Book of

Constitutions . " It is as follows : — If any complaint be brought , the brother found guilty shall stand to the award and determination or the lodge , who are the proper and competent judges of all such controversies ( unless you carry them by appeal to the Grand Lodge ) , and to whom they ought to be referred , unless a lord's work be hindered the meanwhile , in

which case a particular reference maylbemade ; but you must never go to law about what concerneth Masonry , without an absolute necessity apparent to the lodge . And again , the last paragraph of Clause 6 , in the same article : And if any of them do you injury , you must apply to your own , or his lodge ; from thence you may apply to the

Grand Lodge , at the Quarterly Communication , as has been the antient laudable conduct of our forefathers in every nation ; never taking a legal course but when the case cannot be otherwise decided . Had the plaintiff in the aforesaid case followed out the advice I have quoted , when his Provincial Grand Master decided against him , the better it would have been for

himself in general , and Masonry in particular . But it is a sad commentary on the professions of a member of the Craft , that after a decision had been given against him by recognised Masonic authority , he yet should have kept the fire of ill will smouldering in his breast all this time , to burst out into a flame at the end of three years . May 1 close with one of Dr . Oliver ' s " Aphorisms ?" The benefits to be derived from Masonry are well described

by Ovid and Horace , when they say : — ' •Ingenuas didicissc tideliter artes cmolltt mores . Asperitatis ct invidire corrector et ira ;; " which may be translated thus : " To have learned the lbieral arts faithfully softens the manners and operates as a fine corrector of ill-nature , envy , and anger . " Fraternally yours , P . M . 1002 and 1073 . Cockermouth , August 28 th .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can nothing- be done to show some sympathy with Bro . Trevor in the lawsuit he has been involved in , through no fault of his own , and in upholding Masonic principles of dut y and propriety ? It is a bad time of the year for appeals of this kind , as many brethren are away , and more have put by Freemasonry for the time . Still , that something ought to be done is the opinion of yours fraternally , LEX .

To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " VOIGT v . CARR , TREVOR , AND LAKING . Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 am very grateful for your kind recommendation of my appeal for help from the Craft in the above matter , and I trust it may receive a liberal response so soon as I am able to formulate it more precisely , and to lay before the

Fraternity a concise history of all the circumstances which led to , and are connected with , this remarkable , but very un-Masonic , trial , which 1 hope to do very soon . The letter of " P . P . G . Sec , " in your last issue , impels me , however , to add two remarks . 1 . The word " not" has been , as he rightly surmises , incorrectly inserted in your report of the trial , in No . 3 of

the reasons stated in the circular for excluding the blackballing brethren , and if he will refer to page 4 of the Times for August 12 th he will find the circular correctly quoted . 2 . Is it too much to ask that correspondence on this matter bearing any personal allusions may be subscribed by the real name and address of the writer , so that there may be no " stabbing in the dark ? " "P . P . G . Sec , " for instance .

has been good enough not only to name me in his communication to you , but be has thrown out an imputation which I do not feel it would be right even to notice until I am assured of his identity , at which , of course , I am only now able to make a guess , however shrewd . Yours fraternally , TUDOR TREVOR . Kendal , Sept . 1 st .

ROYAL ARCH SASHES AND PAST MASTERS ' COLLARS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Your correspondent "Joslibekashah" seems to forget that there are unwritten as well as written laws in Freemasonry . He proposes that the Royal Arch sash

should be worn in Craft lodges , and believes that such a custom would advertise the Degree of a Royal Arch Mason . To the minds of most Craft Masons the distinctions in a Craft lodge most coveted are those dependent upon office collars for the officers , red aprons for Grand Stewards , and purple for Grand Officers . Any costume which , even to the ignorant mind , renders the wearer more conspicuous and than

more gorgeous his fellows should depend upon office , and not upon Degrees in a Craft lodge . The distinction conferred by the Royal Arch jewel on the wearer in a Craft lodge is quite sufficient advertisement for the Degree , should any such be required . The deficiency to me in a lodge has always appeared to be that the Past Masters , who have done good and honest

work , are not sufficiently recognised . In my own lodge it is not the custom for any but the Immediate Past Master to wear a collar , and for a Past Master from another lodge to do so is regarded as a breach of etiquette . The only distinction that a Past Master has that

is he is allowed to wear the squares instead of the rosettes on his apron . If Bro . Joslibekashah would exert his influence to promote the universal custom that all Past Masters should be allowed to wear their collars in their own lodge , in strange lodges , and on all Masonic occasions , as well as in Grand

Original Correspondence.

Lodge , it appears to me his views would be more likely to find favour amongst the workers in Masonry than they would should he succeed in introducing 1 costume into Craft lodges , which is after all only a Degree taker ' s distinction , which anybody can get by paying for . I am , your obedient servant , A NEGLECTED PAST MASTER . ( R . A . )

FREEMASONRY IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me respectfully to differ from your statement that there is no " serious amount of zeal and activity " in the Province of Cambridge . Let me first speak of my own lodge , the Isaac Newton University Lodge . I question

if , with the exception of the Apollo University Lodge , there is any lodge under the Grand Lodge of England which does so much work every year—and so much good work . If the writer of the article will consult the returns to the Grand Lodge he will , I think , find that we make , pass , and raise in the year more Masons in this single lodge than are made , passed , and raised by all the lodges of many

provinces . And , without fear of contradiction , I appeal to the illustrious Masonic names which stand upon our books as a proof that our work is good . Many young men who first " saw light" in our lodge are now doing good Masonic work in all parts of the world . Our first W . M . is Prov . G . Master for Lincolnshire and Past Prov . G . Master of Nottinghamshire ; our second W . M . is one ofthe best working

Masons I know ; of our third modesty forbids me to speak , but I trust his inefficiency , which he admits , will not be imputed to the Province of Cambridgeshire . I might go through a long list of distinguished Masons . Not long ago , one who is , I believe , at the head of the Craft , Mark , and Ancient and Accepted Rite in the Province of Bombay , reminded me how many years ago ( cheu

fugaces ) I bad made him a Mason in the Isaac Newton Lodge . I hope I have said enough to prove the zeal and activity of the University Lodge . 1 have every reason to believe that the other Cambridgeshire lodges can defend themselves . Old Cambridge Masons will smile at the idea of the Three Grand Principles , of which dear old Bro . Massey ( now gone to his rest ) was the heart and soul

being considered as wanting either in zeal or activity . I will only add , and this is the chief reason why I trouble you with a letter , that a want of " zeal and activity " is an imputation which it is utterly impossible to connect with the name of W . Bro . John Dei g hton , P . G . D . of England , and D . P . G . M . for Cambridgeshire . For nineteen years I have had the great privilege of being his intimate personal

friend ; I know how , during the whole of that time , he has laboured well and wisely to promote the interests of the Craft . Many generations of Cambridge men will join with me in gratefully acknowledging the excellent Masonic instruction we have received from him . We were always welcome at his house , even when we encroached upon his busiest time , if we cameon Masonic business : few can

realize his many excellent Masonic qualities better than one who , like myself , has unworthily been called upon to perform the duties of a D . P . G . M ., and who thus understands the _ difficulties of that office , and wishes that Bro . John Deighton's _ Masonic pupil would be as " active and zealous " as his dear old Master . I remain , Sir , yours very fraternally .

J . STUDHOLME BROWNRIGG , P . G . C , P . Prov . S . G . W . Cambridgeshire , D . P . G . M . Berks and Bucks . Moulsoe Rectory , Newport Pagnell , August 2 Stn . [ Our excellent brother will kindly note that it was not our statement but that of a correspondent . —ED . F . M . ]

ADMISSION OF VISITORS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — By way of supplement to your note to the letter of Bro . I . E . Steward , M . W . 356 , in last week ' s Freemason , may I be allowed to inform him that the brethren of the Liverpool lodge who refused him admission as a visitor did so in strict conformity with an edict of Grand Lodge . This

dops not appear in the " Book of Constitutions , " 1 S 6 3 edition ; but the order to demand the certificate of a visiting brother , as the first step to his admission , was made some years ago ; I am , therefore , surprised that a W . M . of alodge was _ not cognisant of its existence . Four or five years since , in Liverpool , too , I failed to obtain admission for the same reason ; but I acquitted the lodge of any breach of hospitality , through the knowledge that I , mvself , was to blame :

in fact , I expected , like your correspondent , to have met a member of the lodge in question , who would have vouched for me , but unfortunately did not turn up in time . In future I should advise Bro . Steward , when travelling , always to have his Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter certificates in his possession , and then he need not fear being refused admission . Yours fraternally , READ , MARK . AND LEARN .

AN ANTI-MASON . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can any of your readers tell me who is Lieut .-Col . Butler , who has attacked Freemasonry in such very , very " bad form " in " Good Words , " as quoted in your columns recently ? I should really like to know something about him , as if it be " noscitur asociis" it is equally true , I think , " noscitur a Uteris . " OLD SOLDIER .

A QUOTATION . To thc Editor of the "Freemason " Dear Sir and Brother , — Is not old Ovid ' s line " lncidis in Scyllam cupiens evitare Charibdin ?"

You will say , what is there in a quotation ? but is it not Masonic to be correct ? The form you give is , I know , very common , and often repeated , but is it the right one ? Yours fraternally ,

FRATER SCHOLASTICUS . fit is many years since we read our " Ovid , " but we are inclined to think memoriter , that our correspondent is right . —ED . F . M . ]

Old Matured Wines and Spirits . —J . E . SIMND & Co ., Wine Merchants ( Experts and Valuers ) , 2 , Albert Mansions , Victoria ' street , London , S . W . Price lists on application . —[ ADVT . ]

Reviews.

Reviews .

EIN BEITRAG . By Bro . GEORGE TREU . Vienna . . This is a pamphlet in the German language directed to the question as to what " Details of a Masonic lodge should be kept secret . " It will be needless to tell our readers that there is in Germany generally a very different opinion as regards the ritual and working of Freemasonry than that which prevails in England . Still the theory of

most Grand Bodies is , as Bro . Treu points out , absolute secrecy as regards " lodge ceremonial and lodge proceedings . " It seems that the Grand Orient of Hungary , in our opinion very unwisely , has propounded this query to the lodges under it , and , of course , each lodge will answer , as the ruling one brother , or ruling many brethren , determine . It is no doubt a somewhat

difficult question , " per se , " especially in the presence and with the activity of the Masonic Press . There is a tendency in all Masonic reporters of lodge proceedings to be too communicative , too full of " gush , " to use a young man's word , and the consequence is that with the best intentions in the world , and even with the most careful editorial supervision , expressions will creep in in lodge reports ,

as in the Freemason , which undoubtedly overpass the strict rule of Masonic uncommunicativeness . But then we have to consider the altered state of affairs as regards Masonry in this country and others . When lodges were few and publications were " nil , " it was easy enough to restrain publication . But wl'at are you to do now , not only with a Masonic Press , like the Freemason , which goes all

over the world , but with many non-Masonic papers , which gladly devote a column to Freemasonry ? The only thing that can be done is to be very particular in refusing to print all that refers to " Masonic ritual" absolutely , and to excise from the lodge reports all that unnecessarily discloses our "Aporreta" to "Cowans" and non-Masons . If any questions arise about such matters they ought to be settled

in the lodge , or by a competent Masonic authority . All matters , however , relative to the history , the archaeology the current bearing of Masonic events , " raison d ' etre " of Masonic arrangements , the Charities , the work , the mission , and the developement of Freemasonry are fair subjects for Masonic discussion , and to such our Masonic journalism and our Masonic serialism ought , in our opinion , to be confined .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

FREEMASONRY IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE . The writer of the article under the above heading , which appeared in the last number of the Freemason , has overlooked the fact that one lodge at least , under the " Ancients , " existed in Cambridgeshire before the Union . It was No . 137 on the " Atholl " roll , constituted at the Isle of Ely , 5 th September , 1765 . R . F . G .

# FREEMASON , DERIVATION OF . —Many very learned derivations have been given to this word , from the Greek , Coptic , Hebrew—all , we believe , untenable . Freemason may have come from Franc Macon , as derived fromthe rights of the French operative Masons , but we are inclined to think that it is simply an English addition to a Norman-French word Macon . In the early times operative Masons

were termed caementarii , Iatomi , "les macons , " maceons , masouns , masouyns , and finally fremacons , free masons . A suggestion that the word comes from freres macons is , we feel sure , not philologically maintainable , as there is no good evidence of any such use in France sufficient to justify the use of this generic term . It is undoubtedly true that the use of "Freemason" is comparatively modern , and even

the simple word mason but precedes in its use the compound word by an insignificant period . In the earliest records at present accessible , the members of the operative order are called indifferently latomi or crcmentarii , as we said above . " Le loge latomorum , " "le magister de la loge Iatomorum , " " magister ciementariorum , " " magister , " " seniores , " " guardiani , " " apprenticii , " are expressions to be found

" mutatis mutandis , to describe various officers and members of thc body in the York , Durham , Exeter , and Westminster fabric rolls , in Exchequer rolls , and especially in the register of W . Molash , Prior of Canterbury in the reign of Henry VI . The earliest use of the word macon , I believe , occurs in Chaucer's " Romaunt de la Rose , " and we have frequent examples ofthe use of the different words niacoun .

masouns , as in the contract with the Abbot of St . Edmundsbury , 1439 , f ° 'he repairs and restoration of the great bell tower , " on all mannere of things that longe to Freemasonry , " " maisoun , " and even " masouyn . " We also find constant references , as Bro . D . Murray Lyon says , to " Robert the Mason , " " Henry the Mason . " We hear of "Richard of Cracall ,

mason , "_ in the contract to build Catterick Church , 1 5 12 , which he contracts to make new " as workmanschippe and mason crafte will . " The earliest use of the compound word Freemason , 1 believe , so far known , is in the contract to build Fotheringay Chapel , in 1435 , where W . Horwood , master mason , the Freemason , contracts with Richard ,. Duke of York , to " neyther sett mas nor fewer Freemasons

rough setters , ne boys thereupon , but such as shall be ordeigned . " We have also seen evidence of its use in 1439 . From this time the word seems to be generally used in contracts , and is found in many still extant expense rolls . We see it in an Act of Parliament ( Edward VI ., 154 S ) , and constantly find it in obituary notices , epitaphs , and the like . As yet , no genuine charter of an operative

guild has been discovered , as far as we know ; but the earliest connection of the operative guild with the use of the word Freemasons is to be found ' in the MS . Charges and Constitutions , belonging probably to the Chester Guild of Freemasons , in the British Museum , of date about 1650 ( Harleian MS . 2054 ) . The use of the word Freemason is a great deal earlier than any revival of Speculative

Masonry , as Dr . Plot , writing in 16 S 6 , mentions the existence of the _ society for some time previously under that name , and mainly as an operative order , though admitting honorary and speculative members . The word mason comes , then , from the Norman-French word " macon , " which is derived from the Latin " mansio , " just as "le Loge , "

Normanf rench , is derived from "Iogenum in Low Latin ; and the compound word Freemason is not derived from freestone , but is the term of a mason free of his guild or fraternity—in towns among the " freemen masons , " in the country either belonging to < some " loge " attached to a . monastery , or to the loge , chapiter , or assemblye of tha * "limitt . " —Kenning ' s Cyclopadia of Freemasonry *