Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ] THE FIRE AT THE AIRE AND CALDER LODGE ROOMGOOLE .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , The Aire and Calder Lodge , No . 458 , Goole , has by a fire which broke out in a shop on the ground floor of the premises of which it occupied the second and top floors , lost well nigh everything it

possessedcharter , furniture , regalia , minutes , records , & c , besides many gifts it had received from brethren , valued not merely because of their intrinsic worth , but from fraternal associations also . Many , too , of the brethren have lost their Masonic clothing and jewels , while certificates in some cases have been destroyed .

Once before has the lodge been threatened by fire . Before it occupied the rooms in Boothe Ferry-road it had smaller rooms in Ouse-street ( now the Goole Weekly Times Printing Office ) . Then a fire broke out in the shop underneath , and the building being filled with smoke , some of the men working on an upper storey

had to escape over the roof , which by this and other causes was broken in . In the minute book ( now destroyed ) is an entry somewhat to this effect : "The brethren met as usual for lodge business , but finding the lodge room open to the firmament on high , separated without forming a lodge . " The loss then was ,

however , slight , and work was resumed a month later . The lodge premises at the Goole Market Hall were first occupied in 1883 , and consisted of a lodge room , banqueting room , preparing room , and smoke room ( commonly called the kitchen ) , with small entrance hall . It was fitted up at great cost , several of the

brethren supplementing the funds of the lodge by individual gifts . It was dedicated ( during Bro . Ezra Gooderidge ' s year of office as W . M . ) on December 14 th , 1883 , by Bro . Thos . W . Tew , J . P ., then Senior Grand Deacon of England , and D . P . G . M . of West Yorks , and who is now Prov . Grand Master of our province .

I , on that occasion , had the pleasure of installing Bro . H . Wilson ( now P . P . G . S . B . of West Yorks ) in the chair of King Solomon . We last used the lodge on Friday , January 23 rd , when Bro . J . A . Bray , P . M ., in the absence of Bro . C . Grant , W . M ., presided at a lodge of emergency , and passed a seafaring brother ,

initiated in a Guernsey lodge , to the Second Degree . On Wednesday , the last meeting held on the premises was that of the Goole Local Board ( which had a suite of offices on the first floor ) and when I and the other members of the Board left the building at 10 . 20 there was no appearance of anything being wrong . Within

little more than half an hour the fire broke out ; in lets than a quarter of an hour all approach to the lodge was cut off , and within a very short time we watched the devouring element ruthlessly sweeping away our Masonic home and all it contained . Fortunately we are to a considerable extent covered

by insurance , though not wholly . Our greatest loss is that of our records , minutes , & c , while , of course , those brethren who had their clothing on the premises will be losers to that extent individuall y . The lodge , I may add , met fur the first time at the Lowther Hotel , Goole , on the 12 th July , 18 39 Bro . Charles T . laques

, being the first W . M ., and it was consecrated on Oct . 141 I 1 , l 84 l . by Bro . C . Lee , the first D . P . G . M . of West Yurks . The warrant was granted by H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , G . M . ( the lodge being then numbered 6 72 , altered to 458 in 1863 ) , and was signed b y H . John Spencer Churchill , D . G . M ., and W . H . White . Grand

Secretary . We little thought when Bro . H . Wilson , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., acting as Installing Master on December 14 th last , handed the warrant to the incoming Master , Bro . Charles Grant , that we had looked upon it almost for the last time . Fortunatel y it was photographed some time ago , and we shall be able to obtain

a copy of it . During the half century of its existence we may fail ly claim that the lodge has had a useful and honourable career , having received into its fold a large number of good and worthy Masons ( its membershi p is now nearly So ) , and , seeing the many demands upon it as a

lodge in a seaport , aiding the Charities to the best of its ability . It has met in four places , viz ., the Lowther Hotel , the Sydney Hotel , the Ouse-street Rooms , and the rooms at the Market Hall Buildings ; it took a prominent part in the ceremonies of laying the foundation stones of St . John ' s ( Parish ) Church and Christ Church

( Congregational ) ; it entertained Provincial Grand Lodge in 1841 , JS 65 , and 1870 . The lodge room just destroyed was deservedly admired by visiting brethren , and in it have been cordially welcomed not only the Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and other illustrious Masons of our own

province , but brethren of rank and influence from all parts of the globe . The Aire and Calder Lod ge is the mother lodge of the one recentl y formed at Thorne ( St . Nicholas , No . 2259 ) , and the brethren of that lodge have through one of their number—Bro . John Constable , J . W . ( also W . M . Isle of Axholme Lodge , No . 1482 ^ Crowle)—hastened to place at our disposal their lodge

room , furniture , & c . In connection with the lodge , in 1885 a Royal Arch chapter was formed by companions who had chiefl y belonged to the Wakefield Chapter , No . 495 . The warrant was granted by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , on August 5 th , 1885 , and the First Principals were Comp . E . T . Clark , P . P . G . R ., Z . ; myself , H . ; and Comp . Ezra Gooderidge , J . The chapter was conse-

Correspondence.

crated on October 15 th in the same year by Comp . C . L . Mason , P . P . G . H ., the Provincial Superintendent—Comp . T . W . Tew—and a number of distinguished Masons , including Comp . M . C . Peck , North and East Yorks , being present . The chapter loses everything it possessed , though fortunately it , like the lodge , is

protected by insurance . As I write I have before me a letter addressed to me in 188 3 by our then D . P . G . M ., in which he accords his sanction to the conduct of our business in our new rooms . He says in the letter : " I can only say go on and prosper . It would be better to have your rooms

visited by myself before I dedicated , and the terms on which you occupy them sent to Wakefield , and some assurance that a removal is not likely to take place again in the lives of all of you . I can only congratulate the Aire and Calder Lodge on its apparent prosperity , and to the members I wish success and happiness . "

Unfortunately the assurance then given , and which was accepted by Bro . Tew , has been interfered with by the fire of Wednesday last , and the brethren are again without a Masonic home . We have not yet met , but some hope that temporary arrangements will be made with the view of having in due course a building of our own . —Believe me , fraternally yours ,

H . T . GARDINER , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C . ( W . Y . ) January 31 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

931 ] THE WILLIAM WATSON MS . Few more interesting finds have been made of late years in Freemasonry than the MS . copy of the Constitutions so ably commented on in your last issue by Bro . Hughan . He is undoubtedly ri ght in studying it in conjunction with the Cooke MS ., and the account

of the Freemasons given by Plot in 1686 . A careful perusal of Plot will convince anyone that , although he once mentions the document he saw as a "volume , " he really meant a roll of parchment , because at other places he speaks of it as a " schrole " and " scrole . " Plot mentions two circumstances as contained in this

scroll which are not mentioned in any other MS . Constitution extant , viz ., the tutor of St . Alban , St . Amphiball , and the approval of the rules of King Henry VI . The new MS . mentions both these points , and calls Amphiball St . Amphabell . thussomewhatapproaching the corrupt rendering of " seynt adhabelle " given

in the Cooke MS ., and showing that my supposition that these two were one was correct . It is , however , curious that the William Watson MS ., after following the Cooke so carefully for 600 lines should depart from it just at the last , although g iving the same matter , but with additions . Now , the dates forbid the

supposition that this should be the identical MS . which Plot saw , but I have little doubt that it is a copy of this MS ., and we may therefore consider one great puzzle of Masonic students as practically solved . But the discovery of this MS . upsets some of the assertions in my commentary on the Cooke MS . I there stated that

the Cooke MS . had not served as a model for any subsequent Constitution , that it had drifted into a backwater and never reached the ocean . We have here a proof that the Plot MS . and its offspring , the one under consideration , were directly derived from the Cooke , and if not its daughters , are , at least ,

great-grandchildren . I rejoice that my assertion should be so soon falsified , because it gives the Cooke a higher place than it held before , but the puzzle is rather intensified , and the question arises— " Why have so few of this particular famil y turned up ? " Even the above remarks are , I

fancy , uncalled lor , because Bro . Hughan seems to have said all that can profitably be said in a small space upon the subject , and it onl y remains for me to congratulate the West Yorkshire Library upon its great acquisition . G . W . SPETH .

932 J A CURIOUS MS . In a catalogue of " Valuable Books , Manuscripts , and Literary Curiosities , " on sale by Mr . J . E . Cornish , 16 , St . Ann ' s-square , Manchester , the following occurs . ( Italics , & c , as original ) -. " Manuscript—466 Form of Installation of a fraternity of SHOEMAKERS of

NUREMBERG , containing a burlesque oath similar to the Horns at Highgate . MS . on a block used for dubbing a new member by striking on the head ; floriated capitals in the style of the Nuremberg Chronicle . FOLIO morocco , brass mounts . £ 3 3 s . Hans Sachs was a member of this Guild . The morocco covering

cannot be as old , but the block itself was inflicted upon him . " I consider this souvenir of the " olden tyme " should be acquired for some Masonic collection ; not for practical use , for evidently Hans Sachs died after the ceremony ! but simply as a portion of the effects of old and extinct Guilds . W . J . HUGHAN .

933 J A CURIOUS ENTRY . In J . S . Courtney ' s "Guide to Penzance" ( 1845 ) under '' 1691-2 " it is stated in the Corporation Records that 4 s . was paid for " drinking unnion with the bretheren , " and in a note appended the reference is declared to be to the " Free Masons , " as likewise another

extract respecting the payment of £ ^ is . fid . for expenses on returning from "Colonel Godol phin ' sfuneral , the bretheren being present . " Bro . Hughan , who has been appealed to , considers the entries refer to some Guild or Fraternity at Penzance in 1691-2 , and not to the Free Masons . I am anxious for more particulars . CHISHOLM .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft fIDasonrp .

METROPOLITAN MEETINGS .

Peace and Harmony Lodge ( No . 60 ) .-This old lodge met at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queenstreet , on the 23 rd ult . Among those present were Bros , E . Rogers , P . M . 1238 , P . P . G . D . Middx ., P . G . S ., W . M . Slade , G . S .. S . W . ; Dr . W . Kempster , P . M ., J . W . ; Hi Young , P . M ., P . G . S ., Treas . ; F . Binckes , P . M ., P . G . S . P . G . S . B ., Sec ; R . Clowes , P . M ., P . S . G . W . Sussex ! S . D . ; Capt . T . C . Walls , P . M ., P . P . G . W . Middx ., I . D . !

H . J . Lardner , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . Surrey , A . D . C . ; Masteis , I . G . ; VV . Kempster , jun ., Stwd . ; Altaian , C . C , P . G . S ., l . P . M . ; Barton , P . M ., P . G . S . ; Chancellor , P . M ., P . G . S . ; and others . Among the visitors were Bros . Wood , P . M . 102 S ; Lieut .-Col . Sedley , Lucknow , India ; De Luca , 101 ; Belsham , 733 ; and Mostyn , 160 S . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read

and confirmed , the ballot was taken on behalf of Mr . Alexander Andrade , but from unavoidable causes he was unable to attend to be initiated . Bro . Dr . Kempster , J . W ., was unanimously recommended to the M . W . G . M . as Grand Steward for the year iSot-92 . Bro . Masters , I . G ., was elected to represent the lodge as Steward at the Festival of the R . M . I , for Boys , and the sum of five guineas was voted

to head his list . It was also resolved unanimously that the election and installation meetings take place respectively in the months of June and October , instead of March and June as heretofore , and that the by-laws be amended accordingly .

The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet . Upon the removal of the cloth the W . M . gave the customary loyal and Masonic toasts briefly but pertinently . The proceedings , which were throughout of a most agreeable nature , terminated at an early hour .

Faith Lodge ( No . 141 ) . —This ancient lodge met at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , on the 27 th ult ., when there were present , among others , Bros . W . Langdale , VV . M . ; Sheppard , S . W . ; Welch , J . W . ; VV Carter , P . M , Treas . ; W . Stuart , P . M ., Sec ; Taylor , S . D . ; Ryan , J . D . ; Wetzlar , l . P . M . ; Sharp , Org . ; Trott , LG . ; E . Hopwood , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; C .

Dairy , P . M . ; Capt . Walls , P . M ., P . P . G . W . ; R , Jordan , P . M . ; Fronvmholz , P . M . ; Coop , P . M . ; Hudson , P . M . ; Hakim , P . M . ; and others . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment . A few toasts were given and duly honoured .

In giving " The Health of the W . M ., "the l . P . M . said that , although Bro . Langdale had had no opportunity of showing what he could do as an exponent of Masonic ritual , yet he ( the speaker ) firmly believed that when that time arrived the W . M . would be equal to the occasion . He was a very genial—he might say a jolly—fellow , and he ( the l . P . M . ) trusted that his year of office would be in every way a success . The Worshipful Master responded in a brief and modest speech . The proceedings terminated shortly afterwards .

Bedford Lodge ( No . 157 ) . —The installation meeting of this old lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , on the gth ult ., when there were present Bros . Vincent Larner , W . M . ; J . C . Main , S . W ., W . M . elect ; Dr . Donovan , J . W . ; E . F . Shoebridge , S . D . ; Joseph Bruton , J . D . ; Geo . Millen , Asst . Stwd . ; Thomas Cubit , P . M ., Past G . Purst . ; S . Millis , P . M ., Stwd . ; I . T . Briggs , Treas . ;

W . Liddall , P . M ., Sec ; John Soper , P . M . ; T . Walton , P . M . ; and Arthur Toms . The lodge having been opened , the minutes of the last lodge were read and confirmed , during which a very happy incident cropped up , viz ., the conferring upon Bro . Walton , P . M ., an honorary membership , with the full privilege of a subscribing member in recognition of the able and efficient

services he had rendered the lodge during the many years he had been a member . The Auditors' report was then presented and accepted , the balance in the hands of the Treasurer being about double that of previous years . The lodge was heartily congratulated upon its prosperous condition . The installation of the incoming Master was then proceeded with , and the ceremony

was performed by the outgoing Master , Bro . Larner , in a manner which reflects the highest credit upon him , the work being done in a most impressive manner . The newly-installed Master then appointed and invested his officers as follows : Bros . Dr . Donovan , S . W . ; E . F . Shoebridge , J . W . ; J . T . Biggs , P . M ., Treas . ( he having again been re-elected to that post ); Wm . Liddle , P . M ., Sec ; JT 3 .. „ L __ c T ~\ . A -u rp r r \ _ r * n / r-ii i r . . Burton Arthur MillenIGJ

, S . D . ; Toms , J . D . ; George , .. John Soper , P . M ., D . C ; S . Millis , P . M ., and Percy JChiosso , Stwds . ; and G . Longstaff , Tyler ( re-elected ) . The W . M . then presented to the l . P . M . a Past Master's jewel , previously voted by the lodge , also a little surprise packet in the shape of a Past Master ' s collar , with a silver jewel attached , which had been subscribed for by a number of the members as a further mark of good feeling .

I he business of the lodge soon afterwards terminating' , the brethren aujourned next door to the Freemasons Tavern , where a very excellent banquet was served , after which the usual loyal and other toasts were given and responded to in that hearty manner which distinguishes the Bedford Lodge . The speeches being interspersed by sonic

capital music under the conductorship of Bro . Colling 5 ) assisted by Mr . Lloyd and Miss Alice Sugden . Among the numerous visitors present in the lodge were Bros . Herbert J . Roach , l . P . M . 55 ; G . Baker , W . M . elect 10 S ; George Reed , S . W . 16 95 , J . W . 1910 ; T . A . Map le . John Capper Lodge ; H . Long , 79 ; and F . C . Ohlfeldt , 5 '

Lodge Of Industry ( No . 186 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held at Freemasons' Hal ') on Tuesday , the 27 th ult . After the dispatch of form 1 ' business , Bro . John Blount Sherring , l . P . M ., in the unavoidable absence of Bro . Nicholas Cornock , W . M . j ' ' stalled Bro . Stewart Melville Banker , P . G . Std . Br . HertS )