The Freemason.

We remember an august body , years on years ago , alas ! now , being startled out of its propriety almost by the fervid denunciation of "itching for collars . " Thus history repeats itself . * ,

BRO . Grimaux , who is now , it seems , the Editor of the " Monde Magonnique , " calls our attention to a slig ht error which had crept for some time into our columns , and which was based on

a French report . We are happy to be able to allow him to correct the alleged error , and to reciprocate his good wishes and the expression of his Masonic sympathy .

* * * THE progress of the study of Masonic archaeology is well exemplified by the recent discovery of two Constitutions of 1607 and 16 . 10

respectively . As one apparently belonged to the well known Inigo Jones , and the other is said to be " newly-translated , " many important questions arise for the Masonic student .

* ASHMOLB ' MSS ., in which will propably be found his " collections " anent Masonry , have long been a " desideratum " for Masonic

students . By two communications in our last it would seem as il they might still be found in Lichfield . If so , we shall also come probably on the parchment roll and Constitution which Dr . Plot saw . ______^_______

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

fVV-. do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in 1 spirit of fair plav to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION . Dear Brother Kenning , — We have ten cases at the April elections—four girls and six boys—all good , all urgent , some most pressing cases . If any of your readeis and my brethren have no special candidate to support , whose claims they do not

consider come under the category of •' the most distressing case , " for which they are bound conscienthiusly to vote , if they will kindly forward their voting papers to me , at 25 a , Norfolk-crescent , Hyde Park , W ., I will make a due and fitting use of them . This is purely a personal request on my part to many kind

friends , old acquaintances , and correspondents in Masonry . Otherwise all papers should be sent officially to Bro . Tisley , 1 , Clifford ' s-inn , Fleet-street , E . C , one of the zealous Secretaries of the Association . Yours fraternally , A . F . A . WOODFORD . February 28 th , 1880 .

THE DISCOVERIES AT CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — You wiU greatly oblige the Freemasonic body of this and other countries if you can give further elucidations in respect to the discoveries at Cleopatra's Needle as

reported by the New York Herald . The views of Bro . Charles E . Meyer , of Philadelphia ( in last week ' s Freemason ) , are not based on autopsy , and are , therefore , I think , mere theories of his own . I hope you will be able to cause an accurate investigation to be

made concerning the whole matter by one of our brethren who is able to see himself the things , & c , discovered . I am , yours fraternally , J . S . Ch . 600 . Bradford , Feb . 22 nd , 1880 .

SWEDENBORGIAN RITE . To the Editor of the" Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Owing to long-continued illness and severe suffering I regret to inform you that our Bro . Samuel Petty Leather , who has for many years filled the office of

Supreme Grand Treasurer , has been obliged to tend ; r his resignation . The Supreme Grand Council has therefore appointed Bro . Reginald Young , P . M ., P . Z ., K . T ., to that office , which that brother has accepted . Owing to this circumstance certain changes have taken place in the officers of the Supreme Grand Lodge and Temple , as

follows : Bros . Devey Fearon Rmking , M . A ., to be Supreme Grand Sword Bearer ; William Thomas May , P . M ., to be Supreme Grand Pursuivant ; and Thomas Roberts , P . M ., to be Supreme Assistant Grand Pursuivant . You will greatly oblige me by inserting this letter in your

next issue of the 7 th inst . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , vours faithfully and fraternally , KENNETH R . H . MAC < ENZIS , Supreme Grand Secretary . Hounslow , March 2 , 1880 .

[ We have been requested to publish the following letter , which we do with a translation . ] Paris , le 25 Fevrier , 1880 . T . C . F . Kenning , — Dans un note inseree' la page 30 du Freemason de 21 Fevrier , je lis au sujtt du Monde Maconnique : " This

Original Correspondence.

French Masonic magazine , edited by Bro . Caubet , and contributed to by Adrien Grimaux ( Bro . Le Pie . ) " Permittez moi de rectifier cette legere erreur . Le Frere Le Pie ' , Venerable ( Master ) d'une Loge de Rouen , est completement e ' tranger a la redaction du journal auquel js collabore depuis onze ans , et que j'ai l'honneur de diriger

depuis un an en remp lacement du Frere Caubet . - Je profite de celte circonstance pour vous remercier , aussi que le Frere Woodford , de l ' appreciation courtoise que vous faites du Monde Maconnique dans le meme note de votre estimable journal . Nos vues , il est vrai , different

considerablement sur la connexite de la Maconnerie et des opinious religeuses , mais nous avons , egalement a cceur la grandeur et la prosperite de notre excellente Institution . Agreez , T . C . F ., l ' expression de ma consideration la plus distinguee ces de mes sentiments fraternelles .

ADRIEN GRIMAUX . Directeur de Mondt Maconnique . 5 7 , RueMonge , Paris .

TRANSLATION . Very dear Bro . Kenning , — In a note inserted page qo of the Freemason February 21 st , in regard to the Moncle Maconnique— " This French Masonic magazine , edited by Bro . Caubet and contributed to by Bro . Adrien Grimaux ( Bro . Le Pie ) .

Permit me to rectify this slight mistake . Bro . Le Pie , Venerable ( Master ) of a lodge at Rouen , has nothing whatever to do with the editing of the journal at which I have conjointly worked for eleven years , and which I have had the honour to " direct" for one year , in the place of Bro . Caubet . I profit by this circumstance to thank you , as well as

Bro . Woodford , for the courteous appreciation you express of the Monde Maconnique in the same note of your estimable journal . Our views it is true differ considerably on the relations of Masonry and religious opinions , but we have equally at heart the greatness and prosperity of our excellent Institution . Accept , my dear Brother , the expressions of my most distinguished consideration . ADRIEN GRIMAUX , Director of the Monde Maconnique .

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor ofthe " Fretmason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — If not occupying too much space in your valuable journal , would you kindly publish the annexed list of

contributions sent by the various lodges and chapters in this province to the late Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and oblige , yours fraternally , JOHN P . BELL , D . P . G . M . N . & E . Yorkshire , Provincial Festival Steward .

£ s . d . Prov . Grand Lodge N . and E . Yorks 123 o o Humber Lodge , No . 57 45 6 o Old Globe Lodge , No . 200 26 5 o York Lodge , No . 236 81 10 o Minerva Lodge , No . 250 35 o 6

Constitutional Lodge , No . 294 2100 Lion Lodge , No . 312 52 10 o Cleveland Lodge , No . 543 550 St . Germain ' s Lodge , Ne . 566 25 18 6 St . Cuthbeit's Lodge , No . 6 3 0 220 Royal Lodge , No . 643 25 o o

Camalodunum Lo . lge , No . 660 10 10 o Kingston Lodge , No . 1010 14 4 6 Sykes Lodge , No . 1040 ... 2150 Denison Lodge , No . 1248 26 5 o Falcon Lodge , No . 1416 400 Alexandra Lodge , No . 1511 1 1 o

De la Pole Lodge , No . 1605 73 10 o Eboracum Lodge , No . 1611 26 t , o Leopold Lodge , No . 1760 5 5 o Prov . Grand Chapter N . and E . Yorkshire ... 26 5 o Zetland Chapter , No . 236 34 17 6 King Edwin Chapter , No . 660 5 5 ° Londesborough Chapter , No . 734 , 315 o

Lodges and Chapters £ fil ^> ' 5 o Private Contributions 178 90 Total £ 855 4 o "MANCUN 1 UM" AND THE EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , —

The question of uniformity of ritual is one of much too delicate- a nature for me to meddle with , but I should like to say a few woids with reference to the letter signed " Mancunium " in your last impression . The writer speaks about the installation ceremony " as recognised in the north of England , " and talks about

" the lines laid down by his forefathers . " May I ask him to which ceremony in the noith of England he refers ? I have had a large experience in installation in almost every part of England for the last sixteen years , and I find every province differs in some little respect , although they as a rule preserve the Masonic unities and adhere

pretty closely—in essentials , at least—lo what is taught in the Emulation Lodge . The exception I have found to be the Province of East Lancashire , or at least Manchester , and a circle of seme twenty miles round . There they have a brand new ritual of their own , with a form of opening

and closing a Board of Installed Masters , and certain peculiar signs and secrets totally unknown to brethren at Leeds , on the one hand , or Liverpool , on the other—not only this , but a ritual for opening and closing a Board of Past Masters , and a ceremony of installing the outgoing

Original Correspondence.

Master as a P . M . with separate signs , & c , none of which are known in any other part of England . I certainly cannot admire the politeness of the brother who denounced this ceremony as " perfect rot , " if he did so in public , but I must plead guilty to very often having thought so . Even in Manchester itself the ceremony varies . I heard the Emulation Ceremony of Installation carefully and

accurately g iven in one of the lodges in that city , at their annual meeting last month , and the East End ritual is often given in another lodge I occasionally visit . I do not fancy your correspondent often visits lodges outside the city of Cottonopolis—indeed , I should question if he ever saw an installation away from home , else he would scarcely accuse the Emulation Lodge

of thrusting their working down the throats of the brothren to whom he refers . As an humble member of the Emulation Lodge I must confess my admiration for the ceremonial , and my pleasure at seeing still carried on that working which was the pride of Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson in the past , and

which is now considered by Bros . Hervey , Murton , and Fenn cum mullis altis . But if the " Manchester" secrets are a part of pure and ancient Masonry why should we not be put in possession of them ? If they are innovations why should they be allowed to continue ? . 1 All credit to the northern brethren for their exertions in

the cause of Freemasonry . No one can better appreciate them than Yours fraternally , BOS ALBUS .

WAS SWEDENBORG A MASON ? Dear Bro . Kenning , — I quite agree with Bro . Kenneth Mackenzie that tfiere is no " a priori" reason why Swedenborg should not have been initiated , but only , unfortunately , the proof is wanting . I cannot accept the " dicta , "

whether possible or impossible , of any one on a question of pure evidence , and until some proof of the fact be adduced , whether at Lund , Paris , or London , I must stil accept the view of the " Handbuch , " that" no evidence can be produced that Swedenborg was a Freemason . " Yours fraternally , A . F . A . W .

Reviews.

Reviews .

THE ANTIQUARY , No . in . Eliott Stock . Is a very interesting one , and we heartily wish all prosperity to if . TEMPLE BAR . " Temple Bar " this month is as " dull as ditchwater , " despite " Adam and Eve " and the " Rebel of tht Family . "

ALL THE YEAR ROUND . Is very pleasant reading indeed . PROCEEDINGS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF QUEBEC : PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ANNUAL CONVOCATION OF THE GRAND CHAPTER OF QUEBEC . Both these documents deserve to be read .

L'ALCHIME ET LES ALCHIMISTES , OU ESSAI HISTORIQUE , SUR LA PHILOSOPHIE HERMETIQUE . Par Louis FIGUIER . Paris , 1854 . This work has recently come before us , and we mention it for its interest to all Hermetic students who can understand the French language . It is a very amusing and striking essay .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

BRO . GOULD'S " ATHOLL LODGES . " THIRD NOTICE . Of course the minutes of the Grand Lodge alone are not sufficient to describe or account for the peculiar movements of some of the " Ancieat Lodges , " for endorsements are to be found on some of the existing warrants about

which these records are silent . This would doubtless be owing to local authorities not communicating the changes to the Grand Lodge , of which , No . 104 , Stockport , is a case in point . Granted for Longdendale , Cheshire , in 1765 , it appears to have been started at Mottram , in the same county . In 1806 it was transferred to Manchester

Hill , the records stating Stockport , and on 9 th November , 1807 , it was again removed , ol which no note appears in the Grand Lodge Register , as transcribed by Bro . Gould . Bro . Herbert Finch , P . M . of the lodge , tells me that the revival in 1806-7 was due mainly to military brethren , of probably the local garrison , and the visiting brethren were

mostly of the same class . We know for a fact that our military members were frequently of great value in the resuscitation of dormant lodges , and many owe their continuance on the roll during adverse circumstances to their well directed aid . They have not as yet received anything like a due share of credit for services in connection with

Freemasonry at home and abroad for the last hundred years , but I hope ere long Bro . Gould will do justice to their claims , as military lodees and military brethren have been the most invaluable , as a class of earnest workers , that the Fraternity has ever been privileged to possess during the period of 1750 to the "Union" of December , 1813 .

Some lodges under the " Ancient" not entitled to a centenary warrant have , however , obtained that coveted distinction by their connection with lodges—by unionof the " Moderns " of an earlier origin . Of this kind is the present 31 , Canterbury . As an "Ancient" lodge it was granted at first in 1753 , but fell through , being revived ,