Original Correspondence.

these premium votes will be strictly limited to the number fixed at the Quarterly Court , namely , in respect of subscriptions to the extent of £ Sooo and no more , and that to this extent only will the votes of old Life Governors be depreciated . —Yours faithfully , VICE-PRESIDENT .

[ The former part of our correspondent ' s letter is answered by Bro . Binckes ' s circular , which we print elsewhere . —ED . F . M . " ] THE 1 S 15 CONSTITUTIONS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , —

Whilst the minds of all earnest Masons are more or less occupied by the revision of the Book of Constitutions a reference to the compilation - of the Original Constitutions of the " United Grand Lodge " may not be inappropriate . I have been favoured with a copy of the Constitutions as

printed in 1 S 15 , which belonged to the eminent brother who was deputed by Grand Lodge to " print and publish " the same , and in whom thc copyright was vested . Next to the preface comes an article headed " Sanction , " which cannot fail to interest any of your readers who may not have read it previously .

"SANCTION . " At a Grand Lodgeassembled on the 27 th day of December , 1813 , it was resolved ' That the laws and regulations which existed in the two societies previous to the re-union should be referred to the Board of General Purposes , with directions to them to form one system for the future government of the united Craft ; ' and the Board having

attentively considered all the laws then existing , as well as those of most of the other Grand Lodges in Europe , prepared a Code of Laws which was submitted to the consideration of a special Grand Lodge on the ist day of February last ( i . e ., February , 1 S 15 ) , whereupon it was ordered that copies should be made and left at two convenient places for the perusal of all the members of Grand Lodge for one

month . " During this month the Board of General Purposes met weekly to receive and discuss any alterations and amendments which might be suggested . " The laws thus improved were again read and discussed at a special Grand Lodge , on the 3 ist May , 1 S 15 , and were then ordered to lie open for another month for the perusal

of the brethren . At a special Grand Lodge held on the 23 rd August , 1815 , these laws were a third time read , discussed , and unanimously approved ; and it was resolved that they should be in force for three years from the ist of November , 1 S 15 , and then be subject to revision . " In order to make these laws as perfect as possible and to enable Grand Lodge to avail itself of the tes " t of

experience , it was further resolved that any heather who can suggest any useful alteration or amendment be requested to transmit his opinion to the Grand Secretaries ; and , when the laws are revised , such suggestions will receive due consideration . " It being essential that these laws should be printed for the use of the lodges , and the copyright preserved , the

R . W . Bro . William Williams , Prov . Grand Master for the county of Dorset , offered to take upon himself the printing and publishing , and to apply any pro'it which may accrue to the use of the Grand Lodge , which offer the Grand Lodge gratefully accepted , and thereupon unanimously resolved that Bro . William Williams be authorised to print a new edition of the Book of Constitutions , and that the copyright thereof be vested in him . "

I will not trespass on your space to venture any remarks on the above at this moment beyond noting that the first " general regulation" contains the Table of Precedence , which was evidently settled at the Union by the " Grand Lodge ; " and which , according to Law X ., p . 22 , of this original copy , can only be altered by Grand Lodge . See also edition of 1873 , pp . 17 and 24 . —Yours truly and fraternally , E . T . BUDDEN , Prov . S . G . W . Dorset .

THE BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS . To the Editor of the "Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , — A first meeting by a few members of Grand Lodge has been held , and a number ( 1 S 4 ) of clauses have been hurried through , without that deliberation and thoughtfulness which are advisable when considering matters of such

vital importance and interests to the maintenance of the proud position of our Order . Five and half long weary hours , in a close , stifling atmosphere , were we hurrying through the new revised regulations . The work began , after the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , had opened the lodge by his telling us what we might all have expected from the graciousness and sense of justice of H . R . H . the M . W . Grand Master , of the rescinding theorder , or mandate

as some one called it , which his advisers had been so 111—j udged as to cause to appearin his name . It had been my intention to enter a protest against the manner and time of calling this Special Grand Lodge ; but after the gracious message from the M . W . Grand Master , I felt disarmed somewhat , and expected that the subsequent matter would have been calmly and deliberately discussed , instead of the improper haste and attempt to crowd four or five days' work into one .

Now , as to the manner in which this Special Grand Lodge was called , the utter ignoring , the contempt of the amenities and courtesies due to . the Craft at large . The date on the official papers is May 31 st , so that the reconsiderations must have been finished some days before , and the Board of General Purposes must have known of their intention to advise the calling of a Special Grand Lodge , nay , the very day ; but had they the common honesty , courtesy , or justice _ caii it wbat you will—to inform the brethren of

Original Correspondence.

the Order of this , to intimate their intention to Grand Lodge at the Quarterly Communication of the 6 th June following ? No , sir , for not only do they forbear doing this self-evident act of duty , but they purposely talk against time on a useless , uninteresting , and threadbare topic , in order that my motion which might possibly have elicited

from them that notice it was their bounden duty to give to the brethren generally , and thus the Craft would have known and could have made arrangements for attending accordingly . There can be only one motive in all thisand that is , desire to stifle discussion , and this inference is still further carried out by the time chosen , and themannerin

which the clauses were scampered over ; how were the notices sent ? just within thc letter of the law—10 days previous to the meeting , —no advertisement in the Masonic issues or elsewhere ( a motion in regard to which I intend to give notice of in September next ) , and for when was the Special Grand Lodge called ? when all the London

lodges were in recess , and it would be improbable that all those entitled to attend could receive due notice , or , if they did , too late to be of any avail , and also , a few days after the Boys ' Festival , when the provincial brethren had returned home , and would not be likely to spare thc time to come to town

again , though some of them , much to their praise be it said , travelled long distances to do their duty to their constituents . Again , what day was fixed ? the most inconsistent of the week when the hour is taken into consideration , namely , fouro ' clock on a Friday . a time when all business

men are making up their American and Australian mails . If the above arrangement was not a set purpose for avoiding discussion , then I can only say it was a most miraculous concatenation of circumstances , too much so for the faith of , yours faithfully , C . J . PERCEVAL , P . M . 1607 . S , Thurloe-place , S . VV .

Reviews

REVIEWS

THE MAGAZINES . The magazines for July are before us in great force and full vigour , despite the warm weather . "The Cornhill Magazine . " —A new series of this valuable serial , once distinguished by the ability of Mr . Thackeray , now claims the public ear and attention under the effective editorship of Mr . Payn . It is well worth perusal , and takes a very high position as regards imaginative

literature . We think our readers will be greatly pleased with its commenced and completed tales . " The Giants ' Robe , " "The Lay Figure , " "The Old Woman of the Sea , " " My Tiger Watch , " " King Pippin , " and "Sweet Clive " are all powerfully , strikingly , and pleasantly written . We augur for this new magazine considerable and deserved success . Let our readers obtain it and judge for themselves .

" Longman ' s Magazine . " We wish ive could say or think that this serial improves with each month , or has attained , or will attain the high position hoped for by many . "Thicker than Water" progresses with force ; but " Love a la Mode " is too scratchy a sketch . It is an " old , old story . " "Strawberries" reminds us , perforce , of a very remarkable article in "Scribner's , " though as we always like to hear of strawberries as of pears , we have

duly perused a p leasant little article . " Across the Plains , " "In the Carqumez Woods , " are effective ; "The Dorsetshire Labourer "interesting ; and " The Royal Irish at Telel-Kebir" seasonable and savoury , if not very strong . "Temple Bar , " with " Belinda , " ' •Tone Stewart , " "A Peaceful Prima Donna , " and " La Dame a la Tassc de The" will gratify many readers and pleasure many tastes .

" The Century" appears with many claims on our interest and admiration . " Recollections of the John Brown ' s Raid , " "Striking Oil , " "Flood and Plague in New Orleans , " "Black Bass Fishing , " "Anthony Trollope , " . and " Old and New Roses , " are all in " Scribner ' s "

very best form . "All the Year Round" offers us "Jenifer , " "Mr . Scarborough's Family , " "Time Bargains , " "Doctorand Patient , " "New Guinea , " "The Soldier at Home , " and "Before the Hospital Fire , " all fresh , readable , and effective contributions .

"The Antiquary" and " Bibliographer " equally ask for the countenance and interest of patient archaeologists and sagacious " Dryasdusts . " "Our Homes and How to make them Healthy . " This monthly part , No . 17 , out of 20 , edited by Shirley

Foster Murphy , and published by Cassell and Company , has its interest for all who study hygienic laws and arrangements . It is contributed to by some of the recognised authorities of the day . This number mainly deals with the all-important question of " water . "

"The Arabian Nights , part xi ., published by the same firm , re-introduces to us some old friends , " The History of Ganem , of Codadad and his Brothers , Prince Zeyn , Alasnem and Abou Hassan . We wish the illustrations were somewhat more first-class in artistic excellence .

" Le Monde Maconnique" for June is before us . It is purely the outcome of the French Masonic craze in everything just now ; in tone , taste , temper , and tendency .

HOLLOWAY ' OINTMENT AND PILLS . —A frequent cause of gout and rheumatism is the inflammatory state of tlie blood , attended witli bad digestion and general debility . A few doses of the Pills taken in time are an ellectual preventive against gout and rheumatism . Anyone who lias an attack of cither should use Holloway's Ointment also , the powerful action of which , combined witb the operation of the Pills , must infallibly effect a cure . These Pills act directly on tlie blood , which they purify and improve , llavingonce subdued thc severity of these diseases , perseverance with the Ointment , after fomenting the affected joints with warm brine , will speedily relax all stillness and prevent am- permanent contraction —[ Anvr . ]

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

2 04 ] A LOVING BROTHERHOOD . These words , accredited to Stowc , have puzzled Masonic enquirers . They are clearly not originally in Stowe or even in Guilh ' m , however they may possibly have crept in any later editions . But they are to be found in Howell ' s " Londinopolis " of 1657 , where , at page 44 , he savs : " The

Company of Masons , otherwise called Freemasons , were used to be a loving Brotherhood for many ages , yet they were not relegated to a society till Henry IV . Their arms —sable , on a chevron between three castles argent , a pair of compasses of the first . " In the same page he tells us the Company of . Carpenters was incorporated by letters

patent of Edward IV ., by the name of the Master , Warden , and community of the mystery of the carpentry of the City of London . Their arms—azure , a chevron engrailed between three compasses argent . All these entries and others are commentated upon by a seventeenth century hand in the margin . ANT 1 QUARIUS .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SURREY .

The meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey was held this year at Oatlands Park Hotel , Walton-on-Thames , where it met under the banner of the Lodge of Friendship and Harmony , No . 1616 . There was a good attendance , 24 out of the 25 lodges in the province being

represented . The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , General Brownrigg , C . B ., presided , having on his right the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , the Rev . C . VV . Arnold , Past Grand Chaplain . The following officers of thc year were also present : Bros . Charles Greenwood , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . S . W . ; James E . Barton , P . G . J . W . Rev . R . Milner , P . G . Chap . ; VV . A . Barrett , P . G . Reg . ;

G . Price , P . G . Treasurer ; C . Greenwood , jun ., P . G . Secretary ; J . B . Boucher , P . G . S . D . ; A . E . Taylor , P . G . Superintendent of Works ; H . E . Frances , P . G . D . C ; I . H . Askham , P . G . A . D . C ; F . A . Manning , P . G . Std . Br . ; C . T . Speight , P . M . 27 , P . G . Tyler . There were also present Chevalier Desanges ; Rev . Watson , Vicar of St . Mary ' s , Oatlands ; Rev . Ambrose Hall ,

P . P . S . W ., P . G . Chap . ; George Trower , ; R . J . Elsam , P . P . G . D . C , J . W . ; M . Piggott , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Youlden , P . P . J . G . D . ; VV . J . Kemp , P . P . G . Purst . ; R . Sebastian Hart , P . G . S . ; Charles Belton , P . G . S . ; R . R . Davis , P . G . S . ; S . G . Kirchoffer , P . S . G . W . ; lames Squire , P . P . G . S . B . ; Edwin M . Lott , P . P . G . O . ; G . B . Brodie , P . P . G . S . W . ; W . C . Beaumont , P . P . G . S . W . ; Ford Foakes Jackson , P . P . G . Chap . ; Dr . H . J . Strong ,

P . P . G . S . W . ; J . Webster , P . P . G . Chaplain ; and others . The PROV . GRAND MASTER having opened Provincial Grand Lodge and the roll of the lodges in the province having been called over , the minutes of the Prov . Grand Lodge held at Woking in July last were read and confirmed ; also minutes of two special Prov . Grand Lodges , the first held at Freemasons' Tavern on the 21 st

November , 1 SS 2 , and the other at Bagshot on the 9 th April last , when the Prov . Grand Lodge assisted H . R . H . the Dukeof Connaught , K . G ., Past G ^ S . VV ., in laying the foundation-stone of St . Anne ' s Church . The report of the Finance and Audit Committee was read and showed a balance to the credit of Prov . Grand Lodge of £ 71 2 s . 2 d . £ 5 "'as voted to the Oatlands Working Men ' s Club

Building Fund . Dr . Strong suggested that it would be a great convenience if the financial returns from the lodges in the provinces were made at a date a month earlier than at present , and it was agreed that a rule to this effect should bo drawn up for consideration at the next meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge . The Prov . Grand Master said that two provisional grants had been made from the funds of Prov .

Grand Lodge which required the sanction of the present meeting ' . One was a grant of £ 63 which had been made on the occasion of his presiding at the festival ' of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , on which occasion it had afforded him intense satisfaction to realise how generously the brethren of the province had given him their support , 22 lodges having ; sent up Stewards who had collected a

sum of nearly ^ IOOO , the total amount obtained for the Institution at that festival beingjconsiderably over £ 13 , 000 . The other grant requiring to be passed by this Prov . Grand Lodge was a sum of £ 10 ios . to the St . Anne ' s Church , Bagshot , Building Fund . These votes were then duly sanctioned , and the Prov . Grand Master next proposed the re-election of Bro . George Price as Prov . Grand Treasurer .

He was aware that Bro . Price was very angry with them for having so impoverished their exchequer , Bro . Price havingalways laid it down as a rule that there should always be a balance of not less than £ 100 to the credit of Prov . Grand Lodge . He hoped however that Bro . Price would nevertheless consent to accept the office of Treasurer . The proposition having been seconded , the ballot was taken and

Found to be unanimous in favour of the re-election of Bro . Price , who acknowledged the honour in a few words . The R . W . PROV . GRAND MASTER then invested the officers for the year as follows : Bro . W . R . G . Farmer Prov . G . S . W . „ Col . Dundas Prov . G . J . W . „ Rev . A . H . Sitwell Prov . G . Chap .

„ G . F . Romian Prov . G . Reg . „ Chas . Greenwood , P . G . Swd . Br . Prov . G . Sec . „ T . Franklin Lloyd Prov . G . S . D . „ Charles Belton Prov . G . J . D . „ G . D . Lister Prov . G . 5 . of W , „ John G . Horsey Prov . G . D . C . „ Byron H . Ridge Prov . G . A . D . C . „ Lardner Prov . G . Org .

„ Thos . Vincent Prov . G . Swd . B . „ G . Payne Prov . G . Purs . Bros . W . P . Catterson , T . P . Phillips , - ) Charles Ledger , and W . G . [¦ Prov . G . Stwds . Batchelor J The Audit Committee of last year was re-appointed . Bro . General BROWNRIGG then addressed the brethren , and urged on them the desirability of their attending any special meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge that might chance to be convened . The state of Freemasonry in the