Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , t he opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary mits—free discussion . ]

"HEARTY GOOD WISHES . " To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I agree with your correspondent ( P . M . ) it vvould be convenient to know if Grand Lodge objects to the familiar " Hearty good wishes " so often heard from the visitor . I hear that at a recent installation

meeting , and in presence of the Grand Secretary , the nesvly-installed W . M . told the visitors , in reply to their " Hearty good wishes , " that they were " out of order , " and , in contradistinction , I vvas present at an installation meeting the other day vvhen a distinguished P . G .

I reasurer was one of the hrst to wish the W . Master "Hearty good wishes . " When doctors differ , vvho shall decide ?—Yours fraternally , PUZZLED P . M . March 29 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

8 73 ] VALUABLE PAMPHLETS .

Bro . G . W . Bain , of Sunderland , has lately secured three valuable pamphlets , possibly unique . At all events , I have not seen them before , and my researches extend over many years of a diligent Masonic life . I think the " Notes and Queries " ( Masonic ) might be

more utilized than customary , so as to make knosvn all such curios as the following . The first pamphlet supp lies an earlier use of the name " Union " than will be found in Bro . John Lane ' s invaluable " Masonic Records . " All are of special interest . W . J . HUGHAN .

No . I , OF A . D . 1779 . A Short Address delivered to the Master and Brethren of the Union Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at the Dedication of their New Room in Gateshead , April 5 , 1779 , by J . ROTHERAM , M . D . Newcastle : Printed by Brother Augus and Sold by Brother Chalmers , in Gateshead , for

the Benefit of the Fund of Charity , belonging to the said Lodge , 1779 . ( Price 4 d . ) [ Then follows" ] Union Lodge , April 5 , 1779 . Resolved— 'That the thanks of this Society be given to Brother Rotheram for his excellent Discourse delivered this

Morning and that he be desired to alfosv the same to be printed . John Bocolt , Master . Edsv . Smith ) ... , JohnCosvI j Wardens .

No . 2 , OF A . D . 1 79 6 . An Oration delivered at the Opening of the Iron Bridge at Wearmouth , August 9 , 179 G , by WILLIAM NESFIELD , M . A ., Provincial Grand Chaplain Durham . And a Sermon preached in the Chapel at Sunderland on the same occasion

by J BREWSTER , M . A ., Chaplain of the Lodge of Philanthropy , Stockton , No . 19 . To which is added an Appendix containing an Account of the order of the Procession , Ceremonies used on that occasion , & c . Stockton : Printed by Christopher and Jennett . Anno 1796 .

No . 3 , . D . 1777 . An Oration delivered at the dedication of the Nesv Free Masons Hall erected by the Brethren of St . John's Lodge , No . 1 S 4 , in Newcastle-upon-Tyne , Thursday , Oct . iCth , 1777 , by J AMES SCOTT , D . D ., G . C . P . T . Nesvcastle-upon-T ' yne : Printed by Brother T . Robson & Co ., and sold by Brother E . Humble in Nesvcastle and by E . and C . Dilly in the Poultry , London .

8 74 ] AN OLD MASONIC JUG . The jug svhich Bro . J . L . Carson has so fortunately acquired is , possibly , of late last century date , and represents the regular or " Modern " Grand Lodge . I should not like to venture any very positive opinion

about the matter until I have seen a photo of the designs , & c . Bro . Watson , of Leeds , has a fine specimen of the " Ancient" or " Atholl " Grand Lodge ; photographs of the tsvo designs on the jug , vvhich he kindly sent me , are now in my hands for examination . Bro . Carson should have his treasure photographed in like manner . W . J . HUGHAN . 875 ]

Some years ago I vvas an enthusiastic student of the ceramic art , not to say a chinamaniac , and expended considerable time and a little money in securing specimens of rare English pottery and porcelain . In reply to Bro . J . L . Carson , in your last issue , I have to state that his Masonic jug is by no means scarce , nor

is it particularly valuable . He does not , however , state whether it is of pottery or china , simply describing it prosaically as " crockery . " If it is porcelain , its value would be greater than if made of pottery . Now , as to its probable parentage . There ' are existing specimens of pottery with Masonic emblems that ivere

manufactured in Liverpool , Leeds , and Staffordshire in the last century . The colour of the pottery being cream of various shades . The porcelain factory at Worcester also produced specimens of jugs , cups , bowls , & c , Masonically adorned , but they were white . In 188 7 , the collection of the late Dr . Diamond , F . S . A ., was

Masonic Notes And Queries.

sold by Messrs . Sotheby , at their rooms in Wellington-street , Strand , and in the collection vvas one of the finest specimens of transfer printing on a porcelain mug I have ever seen . It was , to the best of my recollection , about six inches high , and vvas shaped like a barrel . The Freemasons' arms were in the

centre , and the rest of its surface vvas covered with emblematical Masonic designs and figures in scrolls . The engraving was so beautifully executed that it bore the test of a powerful magnifying glass . What made the specimen more valuable and interesting was the circumstance that it bore the inscription , " Sadler ,

Enl . Livl . " I was desirous of securing it , but it fetched more money than I vvas disposed to give , viz ., £$ . Mr . John Sadler , of Liverpool , vvas a celebrated enameller and engraver of that port , and claimed to be the inventor of printing upon pottery and china , and , together with a Mr . Guy Green , carried on business

from 1750 . The secret of transferring designs to pottery , & c , from copper plates , did not remain with those artists long , as in 1755 the old gossip Horace Walpole , writes to his crony , Richard Bentley , the dramatist , as follows : " I send you a trifling snuffbox , only as a sample of the new manufacture at

Battersea , vvhich is done with copper plates . " The china factory at Bow , in the county of Middlesex , also produced china printed with designs about the same period . Dr . Wall , the first proprietor of the " Worcester Porcelain Company , " at that time likewise employed three

good engravers , viz ., Richard Holdship , Josiah Holdship , and Robert Hancock . So clever were they that there are verses extant in connection with them , of which the following lines will suffice : " Hancock , my friend , don ' t grieve ,

Though Holdship has the praise ; 'Tis yours to execute , 'Tis his to wear the bays . " In the Schreiber collection at South Kensington there vvas , and may be still , a specimen of china engraved vvith the Freemasons' arms and other Masonic designs .

In the Royal Porcelain Works Museum at Worcester are two jugs vvith the arms of the old Worcester lodge . I should be inclined to think that Bro . Carson ' s jug is of Liverpool decoration , not because it is said " to have come into this country ( Ireland ) with a famil y from Liverpool over a 100 years ago , " but in consequence of

there being a specimen in the Museum of Practical Geology , Jermyn-street , London , vvith similar emblems . It is a teapot and cover in cream-coloured ware , supposed to be Wedgwood , and ornamented in red transferprinting . On one side Masonic designs inscribed Deum time et Regem honora , and on the other certain

heraldic devices inscribed Amor , Honor , et Justitia , and Sit Lux et Luxfuit . From records still in possession of the present firm of Messrs . Josiah Wedgwood and Sons , it is known that the celebrated Josiah Wedgwood used to send loads of cream-coloured ware to Sadler and Green , at Liverpool , to be decorated with

designs in transfer . Although I have seen many specimens of Masonic pottery , & c , I have not yet seen any vvith figures " in clothing , such as one sees on men in Ben Johnson ' s time . " This is rather vague , because " Rare Ben " flourished between 1574 and 16 37 , during the reigns of three sovereigns , when masculine costume

undersvent many changes . Are the figures clothed in doublets , trunk-hose , and ruffs ? or doublets , breeches , high boots , and falling collars ? In conclusion , I may also mention that there vvas a well-known china factory at Lowestoft A . D . 175 6—1803 , vvhich also sent out punch bowls and mugs bearing Masonic designs , & c , in

colours . Dr . Diamond had a china punch bowl vvith Freemasons' emblems , inscribed "Dundee Lodge , Wapping , Date 13 . 7 . 5803 . " What became of this interesting specimen I know not . It was not in the catalogue of the sale already referred to ; it may have been destroyed in the great fire , in 18 73 , at the

Alexandra Palace , Wood Green , where many of the doctor's curios were on viesv . The host of the " Dockray Hall " Inn , at Penrith , once shosved me a Leeds ware jug covered vvith Masonic devices , in black transfer , that had belonged to his deceased father , who vvas a Mason . In the small museum of an old castle built

by the Scrope , mentioned by Shakespeare , near Leyburn , Yorks , there are several very fine Masonic jugs , in excellent preservation , vvhich I judgetobeof old Leeds manufacture . In the present low state of the antique china and pottery market , I should say that £ 2 svould be a fair price for a jug of the type described by your

correspondent , unless specially marked , as svas the case with the one sold by the Messrs . Sotheby . Marked specimens ot the ceramic art even now , fetch sums far in excess of their merit as artistic productions . Apologising for the length of this communication , but vvhich I trust will be interesting to Bro . Carson and other readers of your paper . T . C . WALLS , Associate " Quatuor Coronati . '

8 7 6 ] SALE OF MSS . Allow me to thank " Chisholm , " through your columns , for his note 8 72 in your last number . It caused me to at once write to the Rev . Mr . Fenwick , the present owner of the Phillipps MSS ., and he informs me that there is no intention of parting with the MSS . in question . G . W . SPETH .

Bro . Sir John E . Gorst , Q . C , M . P ., has returned to England and resumed his Parliamentary duties after having attended the Berlin Labour Conference for the purpose of watching , from a legal point of viesv , the subjects considered by the delegates .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

latBsaglBgfimDaB

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

Peace and Harmony Lodge ( No . 60 . )—This distinguished lodge met at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , Holborn , W . C , on the 28 th ult ., svhen there were present , among others , Bros . Altman , C . C , P . G . S ., W . M .,- E . Rogers , G . S ., S . W . ; Slade , J . W . ; Henry Young , P . M ., P . G . S ., Treas . ; Frederick Binckes , P . M .,

P . G . S ., P . G . S . B ., Secretary ; Dr . Kempster , P . M ., S . D . ; Capt . Walls , P . M ., P . P . G . W . ; J . G . Masters , P . M ., Stwd . ; Chancellor , P . M ., P . G . S . ; Barton , P . M ., P . G . S . ; H . J . Lardner , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . Surrey ; G . H . Kenning , Balliston , Kempster , jun ., and others . Bros . John Barnett , jun ., W . M . 2192 , and Hudson , 1657 , were

visitors . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . Binckes , at the request of the W . M ., svho svas indisposed , raised the Brothers Slade to the Third Degree , and most impressively initiated Mr . C . Grogeon . Bro . E . Rogers , P . M ., G . S ., P . P . G . D ., & c ., vvas unanimously elected AV . M . for the year ensuing . Bro .

Henry Young , P . M ., P . G . S ., vvas also unanimousl y reelected Treasurer . Bros . Dr . Kempster and Capt . Walls svere elected Auditors . Bro . Balliston having been elected Stesvard to represent the lodge at the forthcoming Festival of the R . M . I , for Boys , the sum of five guineas vvas voted to head his list . A Past Master ' s jesvel svas unanimously voted to Bro . Altman , W . M ., in recognition of his past

services . The lodge svas then closed , and the brethren and their visitors adjourned to the banquet . Upon the removal of the cloth , the usual toasts received full justice . The W . M . presided most ably and genially . During the proceedings , several of the members vocally and dramatically entertained the brethren . The members separated at an early hour .

Caledonian Lodge ( No . 134 ) . —Any departure from Masonry pure and simple should alsvays be carefully noted and faithfully watched by all brethren . Hosvever , we find it is possible to have departure from ordinary Masonic circumstances svithout fear , and groundless of any suspicion . Such an innovation took place on Friday , the 21 st ult ., in one of our oldest City lodges . This

timehonoured lodge had a special banquet at the Ship and Turtle , at which the brethren svere requested to invite their svives and sweethearts . The working of the lodge , svhich is in excellent form , had been previously satisfactorily carried through at the usual last gathering , and the ordinary banquet dispensed svith , or rather postponed until the 21 st ult ., svhen the ladies had an

opportunity of testing the fare so bountifully supplied by that ancient hotel . After the banquet the W . M ., Bro . Arthur Bosvman , gave the usual Masonic toasts of the Queen and the Craft and the Grand Master , after svhich the able and esteemed Secretary of the lodge , as one of the oldest Past Masters and personal friend of the W . M ., in very fitting and affecting terms ,

gracefully proposed the health of the W . M ., In response to vvhich the W . M . replied . The Worshipful Master : Ladies and Brethren , —The first toast I have tha pleasure to propose to you this evening is one that is alsvays well received by Englishmen , especially Masons , for it matters not what part of the world Masons meet , vve as Masons are loyal to the Crosvn . Brethren , this

toast needs no more words from me , and therefore I ask you to drink " The Health of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and the Craft . " The Worshipful Master : Ladies and Brethren , —The next toast I have to present to you is that of " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . of England . " I think very fesv svords are needed from me , as vve all honour our Most

Worshipful Grand Master . I believe he is devoted to the Craft , and svithout any further comment I ask you to drink to the health of our beloved Prince . Bro . J . R . Glanville : Ladies and Brethren , —I have the privilege , by the permission of the I . P . M ., to propose the next toast . It is that of "The W . M . of the Caledonian Lodge , " and it is appropriate that I should do this to-night ,

for this is a very special occasion . I have knosvn the W . M . nearly 30 years , and been intimately associated svith him all that time—a much longer acquaintance than any other excepting his brother , ss * ho is nosv present . 1 had the pleasure of introducing him , and have svatched his Masonic career svith almost parental interest , and complimented you and him on his selection to fill the highest and most

honourable- position svhich the lodge can confer . 1 knosv that he svill perform all his duties svith the punctuality and ability svhich has characterised his conduct throughout . I believe he svill have a successful and honourable year of office , and very early you svill find it inaugurated by a departure from our traditions by the exceptional presence of ladies at this banquet , an example svhich I shall hope to hear is being

follosved in other lodges . It has been urged against Masonry that sve are all too selfish , that sve meet and dine and forget our wives and daughters . This svill not be a complaint in the future . We have for several years had the presence of ladies at our summer banquets in the country , and we determined unanimously that vve vvould devote an evening to svork without refreshment , and then have a special

evening , when our brethren might have the privilege and pleasure of seeing ladies present . For 130 years this lodge has been established , and this is the first occasion that vve have stepped aside from the old routine . We are not going to impart any of our Masonic secrets or divulge the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry , but vve desire you all to be

assured of the purity of our principles and the foundation of our Order as a help-meet to our Christianity , founded on the great principle of "Brotherly love , relief , and truth . " It has been our W . M . ' s privilege to occupy the chair when the resolution inviting ladies svas so agreeably and unanimously carried , and I hope and believe they svill be pleased by our welcome at this festive board . I have , ladies and