Original Correspondence.

"Incujus rei testimonium huic presenti carta ; nostrre , sigilla nostra apposuimus , hii ' s testibus , Roberto de Alanby , Thoma de Carleton , Alexandra Atkynson , Johanne Gerard , Willielmo Shakespere , et alns . Datum apud Penrith die Dominica proxime post festum Paschi , anno

regni Regis Ricardi Secundi vice . imo pumo . ' The date of the deed would , therefore , be about April , 139 S , or 166 years before thc birth of Shakespeare . May it be that Shakespeare ' s ancestors were originally settled in Cumberland , near the Scottish border , and that one of them , following the standard of the Earl of Richmond afterwards Henry VII ., settled at

Stratford-upon-, Avon after the Battle of Bosworth Field ? In an exemplification of the grant of arms by the Heralds ' College to Shakespeare's father in 1599 it is recorded that "his Teat grandfather for his faithful and approved service to the late most prudent Prince King Henry VII .,

of famous memory , was advanced and rewarded with lands and tenements , given to him in those parts of Warwickshire , where they have continued by some descents in good reputation and credit . " I am Sir , your obedient servant ,

JOHN NANSON , Town Clerk of Carlisle . Carlisle , July 25 .

cellent contemporary cater to any clique , to the vitiated taste of the hour , b y the somewhat careless , and we must say unartistic , caricatures of " Goodwood" in its last number ? We regret to see the illustrations for many reasons , and chiefly because they detract gravely both from the hig h literary and artistic reputation of the Graphic . They are unworthy the paper and the subject !

2 & c & teti . S . GRAPHIC SUMMER NUMBER . Second Notice . We aie pleased to note the approval which this remarkable production has achieved , and to find how much it is appreciated in all quarters . As a literary and artistic contribution we think it deserves the praise of all who admire artistic excellency , or can be pleased with alight and perfectly harmless literature . By the way , why does our

cx-FREEMASONRY IN JAMAICA . By Bro . H . J . BURGER . Bro . Burger , who is a student and an enquiring Mason , has written a short history of Freemasonry in Jamaica , which has been printed in the " Government Handbook " for that colony for 1 SS 1 . He has kindly sent u ; a copy of it , and while we thank him for it , think it deserves both

notice and perusal . Bro . Burger seems to be of opinion that no documentary evidence has yet been found to prove that Freemasonry existed in Jamaica before April 14 , 1739 , when thc mother lodge of Kingston was warranted as No . 1 S 2 by the Grand Lodge of England . If Jamaica was "two years" behind " Antigua , " it " saw the light , " Bro . Berger emphatically declares , " before Switzerland ,

Frankfort , Denmark , Rotterdam , and Amsterdam . " How far Bro . Burger is actually correct in these statements we must leave other commentators to point out , as we write far from books and authorities and can only rely on our memory . The history of Freemasonry in Jamaica is not , as Bro . Burger tells us , important " per se " or marked by any very noteworthy incidents . But this fact is to be

iemembered , that in 1 S 13 the lodges working under the Grand Lodge of England , or " Moderns , " were all in " abeyance , while those under the "Antient" Grand Lodge were "working . " The first Prov . G . M . was Dr . Sir M . Benignus Clare , under the " Ancients , " be it observed , in 1 S 06—he left in 1 S 19 . The late lamented Dr . Hamilton was appointed Prov . G . M . for East Jamaica in

1 S 58 . From 1739 to 1775 fourteen lodges were constituted by the Modern Grand Lodge and several by the Antient Grand Lodge , and alter the appointment by the Duke of Atholl of Dr . Clare as Prov . G . M ., the Modern Lodges " came in " or collapsed apparently . In 1 S 17 the Grand Orient of France issued charters to some French refugees in Kingston ( a very questionable proceeding ) to erect some chapters or consistories of the High Grade . In 1 S 15 the

Giand Lodge of Scotland issued a charter for the "Elgin Lodge , " and for others . There are at present in Kingston two Prov . Grand Lodges , the Prov . Grand Lodge of East Jamaica and the Prov . Grand Lodge of Scotland . Under the former there are nine lodges , under the latter there are five . There are also four Mark lodges and two Rose Croix chapters , and a Provincial Mark Grand Lodge . Such is a short " resume " of Bro . Burger's clear , but contracted "History of Freemasonry in Jamaica . "

CHALDEAN MAGIC ; ITS ORIGIN AND DEVELOPEMENT . By FRANCOIS LENORMANT . Samuel Bagster and Sons , 15 , Paternoster-row . What adds to the interest of a very curious work is the fact that we have a preface by the original author , as well as one by his editor , W . R . C . The book appeared in France originally in 1874 , and the translation which has lately

come before us appeared so far back as 1877 , but is for some reason or other unknown to most of our readers . Mr . Lenormant has recast some of the earlier chapters of the work , and rewritten some of the latter . How far the Chaldean superstitions came from or went to Egypt is a point yet to be decided . Wc . find , no doubt , in the Chaldean inscriptions the existence of a sacred namethe "Sehem , " which may , as the writer points out , be identical with the "Memra " of the Cabalistic lewsand

, justifies the apothegm of Yarro , " Nomen , Numen . " there seems , however , to be a good deal of difference as between Chaldean and Egyptian teaching , though both systems seem to point to a belief in a Great Creator—nay , even to a Triune Deity . Yet this truth is soon lost in thc mazes ot a plurality of deities . We have not , so far , been able to discover any traces of Chaldean Mysteries—a very curious fact in itself .

T . ^ LEANINGS FROM THE "BLUE . " „ . 1 "Blue" is the magazine of that name , and the as a h 'V ^ are s e'ec '' ons from its pages . The collection , f f e > may be described as fair reading , though some Q tne PaPers will have but little interest for those uncon-

Original Correspondence.

nected with Christ s Hospital . A rather interesting paper —though much too brief—is that on "The Death Scenes of Shakespeare ;" and there is also a discriminating notice of Mr . " DuMaurier , " as an artist , with some apt observations on modern social life . The paper , headed " The Social Amateur , " is instructive as well as amusing , though it is difficult to see how to get rid of such a horrid bore , seeing

that he is a production of the age . If men and women would have the courage to be ignorant of some things , they might then have thc satisfaction of knowing well a few things ; but , alas , we fear this will never be , or at least , not yet . If any of our readers are of the class who look—or affect to look—regretfully to the past , we would advise them to read the article headed the " Good Old Times . "

where they will meet with a few sensible observations . No doubt the old times were good in many respects , and , in some , superior to ours , but , on the whole , we are decidedly of opinion that the present arc better . We cannot agree with the author of the article on the " Puritans . " We take his estimate to be poor , and even unjust . We readily admit that the Puritans were not faultless , and that they

were guilty of some acts which were highly censurable . But who are we ? There can be no doubt as to their deep and strong sincerity , and their personal religiousness was beyond question . Honour , therefore , to whom honour is due . There is a brief notice of the late " George Eliot , " and we quite agree with the remarks made about that noble writer . The author of the " Epic of Hades" is also

referred to , and we consider the estimate ot that writer to be discriminating and just . Undoubtedly the " Epic" is a noble poem , and the author one of the foremost poets . There are -i number of other papers in the volume , and more or less interesting to those well acquainted with the " Blue . " We may remark , in conclusion , that thc volume is dedicated to the Rev . Dr . Brette , a gentleman well-known to many of our readers , and worthy of esteem .

A CORRECTION . By a typographical erratum " Tao " was put for " Iao , " said to be the Sacred Name of Greek and Egyptian mysteries .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

HERAlETIC WORKS . In a catalogue of books appended to a curious old book , termed "The New World of English Words , & c , or General Dictionary , " by E . P . E . Phillips , and printed by E . Tyler for Nath . Brooke , at thc sign of the Angel , Cornhill , 165 S , I found some interesting ' titles . I may add that this dictionary , or prototypical Cvclopiedia , contains

communications by Elias Ashmole , en antiquity ; Lilly and Booker , on astrology ; Mr . Turner , on magic ; Mr . Sanders , on-hyromancy ; and Mr . E . Carter , on architecture . Among the books sold by Nath . Brooke at the Angel , Cornhill ) are—1 , "New Jerusalem : A Sermon by thc Society of Astrologers , 1651 ; " 2 , " Divinity no Enemy to Astrology , by Dr . 1 " . Swadling , 1 643 , before the Society of Astrologers ; " -i , "Ma ™ ic and Astrology Vindicated , by H .

Warren ; " 4 , " Lux Ventatis , by VV . Ramsey , Gent . ; " 5 , " An Introduction to the Teutonic . Philosophy , by C . Hotham , Fellow of Peter House , Cambridge ; " 6 , "Cornelius Agrippa , his 4 U 1 Book of Occult Philosophy , made English by R . Turner ; " 7 , "Paracelsus' Occult Philosophy and his Secret Alchemy ; " and a large number of similar works by Hcydon , W . Lilly , Culpeper , G . Wharton , " T . S ., " Elias Ashmole , and others . 1 find no trace in the work above mentioned either of Freemasonry

or Rosicrucianism . MASONIC STUDEN 1

AN OLD BOOK . There is a curious little work , not much known , entitled , " Introduction a la Philosophic des Anciens . Par un Amateur de la Verite . " Published at Paris , Chez Laurent D'Houry , 1 7 . I mention it for three reasons : firstly , because there is somewhat of a mystery about its real date , and secondly , because it is an Hermetic work of some

pretensions , and thirdly , because it has been carefully read over and interlineated by a French student , of the name of " Binet , " who signs his name , June 4 th , 1727 . It seems that at Cologne , in 1 C 93 , a book was published termed " Escolier des Sages , Tresor de la Philosophic des Anciens , & c , Sic . " It is stated that this work was published 'Mis en lumi . re "— "given to thc light , " by Barcntz Coenders Van Helpen , gentilhomme , at " Claude lc

Jcune's , " in folio , 1 C 93 . Curiously enough , the Royal permission to print the "Introduction h la Philosophic des Anciens , " at Paris , is dated 16 S 7 , and it is expressly stated that it was printed for the " first time , " November 22 , iCSy . Yet this work , which is complete , has no token of a new or second edition in itself . I , therefore , think it right to call attention to this fact , as another proof , if proof be needed , of thc " glorious uncertainty " of " title pages . "

2 . The work itself , full as it is of alchemical directions , and most diligently studied and conned over as it has been , by some enthusiastic and faithful " Adept , " does not seem to recognise the Rosicrucian Fraternity . 3 . Can any learned brother tell me who " Binet" was ? Was he a Freemason of that epoch in Paris ? MASONIC STUDENT .

EARLY USE OF THE WORD FREEMASON . Thc " point" to which " Brighton " calls attention is a very interesting one , and the statement of " Henry " is one that has formerly attracted my attention , lint I apprehend it is founded practically on a statement in the " Parentalia , " and that oft-quoted assertion rests solely , it is to be feared , on an " ut dicitur" of SirWm . Dugdale , at

second-hand , moreover . I am not aware of any such passage in any nf Sir Wm . Dugdalu's . works , nmUhoiigh 1 for one believe that many of the building fraternities or guilds received religious or Royal charters , yet none such as yet have turned up . Heideloff mentions a Papal "letter " or " charter , but gives no reference and no authority , a « far as I remember . 1 will have a look , when possible , into Matthew of Paris . MASONIC . STUDENT .

THE ARMS OF FREEMASONRY . Can any brother student tell me when the present coat of arms was first adopted by the Antient Freemasons ? The reason I ask is , I have heard indirectly of a representation of those of- " circa , 16 S 0 . " HERALDICUS .

Consecration Of The Graystone Lodge, No. 1915, At Whitstable.

CONSECRATION OF THE GRAYSTONE LODGE , No . 1915 , AT WHITSTABLE .

On Thursday , the 2 Sth ult ., the beautiful ceremony of the consecration of a new Masonic lodge at Whitstable was performed by the Right Worshipful the . Provincial Grand Master , Viscount Holmesdale , assisted by V . W . Bro . James S . Eastes , D . Prov . G . M . ; VV . Bro . the Rev . R . Jamblin , W . M . 1 S 37 , Prov . G . Chaplain ; VV . Bro . H . Ward , 31 , P . M . 5 S 6 , 622 , 1112 , P . P . J . G . W . Wilts , acting

as D . C ; and VV . Bro . Dr . Longhurst , W . M . 31 , Organist . The new lodge is called the Graystone . It is not the first Masonic lodge which has existed at Whitstable , as the records of Grand Lodge show that , early in the century , the Athol Lodge , No . 64 , was revived , becoming No . SS at the Union in 1813 . This lodge was originally constituted by the Athol Grand Lodge in 1757 , to meet at Deptford , but ceased in 1759 . In 1764 it appears to have met at

Birmingham . On the 4 th June , 1 S 13 , a warrant of revival was granted to certain brethren of No . 24 ( now 31 , Canter , bury ) to meet at the Duke of Cumberland at Whitstable . The lodge , however , appears to have made only two members before , and one ( in 1816 ) after the Union . The lodge ceased to exist and was erased by Grand Lodge in Dec . 1 S 27 . It is rather remarkable that among the names of the brethren of 1 S 13 , was one William Griffiths , and

that a son of his , a member of the present Graystone , has fortunately preserved some of the relics of the old lodge . •The new lodge meets at tthe Foresters' Hall , a building well adapted to the purpose . At the consecration ceremony about a hundred brethren were present , including the P . G . Treasurer , Bro . B . K . Thorpe ; the P . G . Sec . Bro . Spencer ; Bro . Charles Holttum , P . Prov . G . S . VV . ; Bro . Herbert T . Sankey , P .

Prov . S . G . W . ; Bro . Rev . B . Harrison , P . P . G . C . ; Bro . W . B . Wood , P . J . G . W . ; Bro . VV . B . Snowden , P . P . J . G . W . ; Bro . P . Higham , P . P . J . G . W . ; Bro . Finch ( Ramsgate ) , P . P . G . D . C . ; brethren from Canterbury , Margate , Ramsgate , Dover , Deal , Faversham , Sittingbourne , & c . There were no less than forty Past Masters present . The brethren having entered the lodge room in

procession , the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Lord Holmesdale , took the chair , and appointed his officers pro tern .: Bro . Snowden P . P . S . G ., as S . W . ; Bro . Wood , P . G . J . W ., as J . W . ; Bro . John R . Hall , P . P . Assist . G . S ., as I . G ., when the lodge was duly opened . The R . W . P . G . M . and the W . the D . P . G . M . were saluted in antient form . Bro . Ward having been requested by his lordship to act as D . C , the the brethren of the Graystone Lodge were arranged in order ,

and the Prov . G . Sec . read the petition and warrant , upon which the R . W . Prov . G . M . proceeded to constitute the new lodge . The Prov . G . Chaplain having given the invocation , then delivered an eloquent oration , enforcing upon the brethren the duty of exhibiting in their outer lives the noble principles of Freemasonry . The anthem , " Behold how good and joyful , " was then sung , and the prayer o £ dedication offered up . Grand Honours followed , and , after

thc incensing of thc lodge by the Prov . Grand Chaplain , the truly solemn and imposing ceremony of consecration was performed in a most impressive manner . The R . W . P . G . M ., scattering corn , dedicated the lodge to Masonry ; then pouring out the wine , dedicated the lodge to Virtue ; and pouring out the oil , dedicated the lodge

to Universal Benevolence . The scattering of salt was followed by the consecration prayer , and the R . W . P . G . M . declared the lodge duly constituted . The brethren who had most ably taken the musical portion of this ceremony ( Bros . Plant , Moulding , Rhodes , and Higgins—Dr . Longhurst presiding at the organ ) now sang Boyce's beautiful anthem— " I have surelv built Thee an house to dwell in . "

On the conclusion of the consecration ceremony , the R . W . P . G . M ., Lord Holmesdale , placed the gavel in the hands of the D . P . G . M ., Bro . J . S . Eastes , for the purpose of installing the VV . M ., Bro . R . Boughton-Smith . After the installation the W . M . appointed his officers as follows : Bros . Williams , S . VV . ; G . Barton , J . W . ; J . T . Reeves , Sec . ; A . Anderson , Treas . ; Henry Gann , S . D . ; W . P . Coleman , J . D . ; McCue , I . G . ; and H . Ward , I . P . M .

The W . M . was elected to serve on the Charity Committee of the P . G . Lodge . Thanks to the Prov . Grand Master , Lord Holmesdale ; D . Prov . Grand Master , Bro ; Eastes ; and thc Prov . Grand Chaplain , Bro . Jamblin , were voted by acclamation , and they were elected honorary members of the lodge . A large number of candidates were proposed and some joining brethren . Nothing further having been proposed for the good of Masonry in general , or the Graystone Lodge in particular , the lodge was closed

in due form . Subsequently about eighty of the brethren adjourned to the Bear and Key Hotel , where a splendid banquet had been prepared . The VV . M ., Bro . Boughton-Smith , presided , and was supported by Lord Holmesdale and the officers of Prov . Grand Lodge mentioned above . The

usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and received in true Masonic form . Several admirable speeches were delivered by the P . G . M ., the D . P . G . M ., and others . The lodge thus commences its career with a large number of members , and under the most favourable auspices for future prosperity . So mote it be !

ORIENTAL MANUSCRIPTSAND BOOKS . — -VVehave been requested to call attention to the fact , which we gladly do , that at the recent exhibition of arts , manufactures , c _ c , atLucknow , India , one of thc most interesting exhibits was the department devoted to MSS ., Indian printing and engraving , and paintings . One of the earliest manuscriptwas a copy of the Persian "Game of Polo , " written in the year 1581 , and illustrated with very curious pictures of the

incidents in a polo match between two Eastern Princes . Among the pictures we have , of course , Zoffany's "Ghari lleehee , " the Persian beauty whom General Martin bought at thc age of six from M . Care , a Frenchman who went about the Native Courts of India selling Persian and Circassian slave girls . The earliest dated book printed in Oudh comes from the first King's Press in thc year 1 S 22 , and is a Persian dictionary in seven volumes , entitled the

" Seven Seas . " The first book printed in India was , we learn from the catalogue , a treatise on Indian drugs , printed at Goa in 15 G 3 , only eighty-six years after Caxton ' s first venture ; and . one of the earliest books printed in the vernacular was issued from the Tranquebar Mission Press in 1717 . The type is said to have been cast by three Danish missionaries from the leaden covers of some Chesire cheeses sent out to them by the English Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge ,