Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

beautiful Masonic degree inculcating the very principles enunciated by Bro . K ., in almost identical words . It is that of Templar Priest , but unfortunately limited to

Templars , Avhilst many clergymen do not belong to that Order . Bro . Kingston ' s proposal deserves the hearty support of the Craft . J YARKER

MASONIC SKETCHES AND REPRINTS . I beg most cordially to join with Bro . "Lupus , " at page 185 , in recording my thanks to Bro . Hughan for his recent firstclass addition to our Masonic literature . I

look upon Bro . Hughan as one of my schoolmasters in the Masonic literary way , and value him as one of the most reliable of our historians ; and though Ave sometimes differ slightly as to the conclusions to be

draAvn from certain facts , yet it must be acknowledged that it is to Bro . Hughan ' s energy alone that in many cases Ave have come to the knoAvledge of several most

valuable and interesting facts . I Avish him good health and strength to carry out his intention of giving us some more " hitherto unpublished MSS ., " as also reprints , as soon as possible . W . P . BUCHAN .

ST . JOHN THE EVANGELIST AND THE 1717

THEORY . At page 185 Bro . Paton asks for evidence that he " not only slunvs his ignorance of Avhat the 1117 theory really is , but

also shows his Avant of observation as to Avhat takes place in the columns of THE FREEMASON . " NOAV , I beg to acknoAvledge receipt of the necessary evidence in his OAvn remarks at page 201 , April ist . W . P . BUCHAN .

As dates , Avhen made matter of history , should be accurate , and an " inexactness " having crept into some of our accounts of

the dates of the initiation of the Dukes of York , Gloucester , and Cumberland , I beg to be allowed to correct it through your columns . Preston , by Dr . Oliver , states that the

Duke of Gloucester Avas initiated 16 th February , 1766 , and that "the Duke of Cumberland Avas initiated at an occasional lodge at the Thatched House Tavern , " but no date is given of the latter event : and in

the " Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar " for the present year it is stated that the " Dukes of York and Gloucester Avere initiated in 1766 , " but no mention is made of the Duke of Cumberland . The Duke of

York Avas initiated into Masonry abroad , but thc place or date at Avhich this eA'ent took place is , I believe , unauthenticated . The Duke of Gloucester Avas initiated , as

stated in Preston , on the 16 th February , 1766 , as the folloAving extract from the original minute book of the " New , " but aftenvards re-named the " Royal " Lodge , No . 313 , in my possession , proves : —

" New Lodge at the Horn Tavern , Palace-yard , Westminster , on thc 5 th March , 1766 . Present Rt . Hon . and Rt . Worshipful Lord Illancy , Grand Master ; Col . John Salter , D . G . M . ; Richard Ripley , Esq ., S . W . ; Peter Edwards , Esq ., J . G . W . pro tern . ;

Horatio Ripley , Esq ., M . L . " The Rt . W . G . M . reported that , at a Lodge convened by him on Sunday , the 16 th day of February last , his R . H . the Duke of Gloucester was made a

Mason , and raised a Master , in the presence of His R . H . the Duke of York ; and that at the same time their R . H . ' s desired their names to be entered in the Book of the Lodge , ancl that they may be admitted as Honorary M embers thereof . "

The Duke of Cumberland Avas initiated

February 9 th , 1767 , as appears by the folloAving extract from thc minutes of the same lodge : — " Royal Lodge , held at thc Thatched House Tavern , Saint James ' s-street , on Wednesday , 4 th March , 1767 . Present : Thc R . W . Colonel Salter

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

D . G . M ., as M ., in the chair ; R . W . George Patterson , Esq ., as M . of the Lodge ; W . Alexander Campbell , Esq ., S . W . ; W . Thomas Twisleton , Esq ., J . ., & c , & c , and a very full lodge , amongst whom was the Duke of Beaufort , afterwards G . M . " The R . W . the D . G . M . acquainted the lodge that

at a Grand Lodge convened for that purpose on Monday , the 9 th February , at the Thatched House Tavern , St . James-street , his R . H . the Duke of Cumberland was made a Mason , had passed the degree of Fellow Craft , and was raised Master .

That his R . H . had at the same time done this lodge the honour of desiring to become a member of it . Ordered that his R . H . ' s name be inserted as an Honorary Member . . . Two lectures in Masonry were given . "

At the lodge on the ist April following both the Royal Dukes of Gloucester and Cumberland attended , and the Duke of Cumberland Avas then installed as its W . M ., which office he held during the two following years . In December , 1770 , he Avas again elected W . M ., and presided-several

times during that year of office . In December , 1771 , he Avas elected Perpetual Hon . M ., and frequently took the chair during the years 1772 and 1773 . Many of the minutes , Avhich extend from 1763 to 1777 , are curious and amusing . CHARLES GOODAVYN .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

— <*¦ — The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents QUALIFICATION FOR MASTERSHIP OF A MARK LODGE .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — From the last report of the Mark Grand Lodge , I see that this question has been under the consideration of the General Board ; but regret to find that , " while recognising the difficulty in which lodges are

undoubtedly placed , the Board thinks it wiser to defer this question for future consideration . " It appears to me that the present rule , which requires that a brother must be an installed Master in the Craft before taking the chair in a Mark lodge , is one very detrimental to the

interests of the Mark Degree . A Mark lodge is usually smaller in number than a Craft lodge , consequently the duties and responsibilities of government are somewhat lighter ; but what could be a better preparation for presiding over the Craft than previously taking the chair of the

Mark ? In my own lodge I have known instances of brethren who have taken great interest in the Mark , and have worked up to the chair , and then , though quite competent to take the office , have been compelled to retire . Were this rule

not in force I am persuaded that we should find many good Masons ( who are , perhaps , " crowded out" from office in the Craft ) devoting themselves to this degree , to its very great advantage j but now that the highest honours are not attainable , the Mark is looked upon Avith indifference ,

and only to be attended to after filling the chair of the Craft Lodge , when , as we all know , in many instances there is an immediate and marked diminution of Masonic zeal . The governing body of the Mark have always

shown themselves so very ready to adopt needful reforms , that I cannot believe this can be long delayed . In the meantime , I trust that those Mark Masters who are not P . M . 's in the Craft will bestir themselves , and endeavour to secure what appears to me to be a right .

To show that I am not actuated by motives of self-seeking , I beg to subscribe myself , Yours fraternally , A CRAFT P . M .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Having removed from Glasgow—in which town I had the honour of being Master of my mother lodge , Caledonian

Railway , No . 354—I find , on coming to Maryport , Cumberland , that I am deprived of Masonic privileges unless I pay 55 s ., my initiation fees being in mother lodge £ 2 1 os . The above sum being Avith my fees

Original Correspondence.

already paid more by one guinea than the fees of said lodge , which are £ 4 4 s . ; and which said lodge have by-laws to the effect that no brother shall be allowed to visit more than once in twelve months . I may also state that there is in

this town more than thirty members of the Scottish Constitution , who are desirous of fraternising together as Masons should , but from the above cause are debarred from doing so . Would you , therefore , Avith your usual kindness , say if it Avould be competent to get a charter from the

Grand Lodge of Scotland to meet in Maryport , as there is more than a sufficient number of Avellqualified brethren Avilling and competent to hold and constitute the same . Trusting that you will excuse the liberty of a constant reader of your valuable payer , I am yours fraternally ,

WILLIAM FOSTER , P . M . 354 S . C , and P . Z . 87 R . A . C . Maryport , April 3 rd , 1871 . OUR ANCIENT BRETHREN .

( Concluded from page 203 . ) And again—Regulation for the Trade of Masons , 30 / 7 & Edward ILL , A . D . 1356 . Letter Book G ., fol . xli . ( Latin and Norman-French . ) AT a congregation of the Mayor and Aldermen , holden on the Monday next before the Purification of the Blessed

Virgin Mary [ 2 February ] , in the 30 th year of the reign of King Edward the Third ., etc ., there being present Simon Fraunceys , the Mayor , John Lovekyn , and other Aldermen , the Sheriffs , and' John Little , Symon de Benyngtone , and AVilliam de Helbeche , Commoners , certain Articles were ordained touching the trade of Masons , in these words : —

Whereas Simon Fraunceys , Mayor of the City of London , has been given to understand that divers dissensions have been moved in the said city , between the masons who are hewers on the one hand , and the light masons and setters on the other , because that their trade has not been regulated in due manner , by the government of folks of their trade in such form as other trades are ; therefore the

said Mayor , for maintaining the peace of our lord the King , and for allaying such manner of dissensions and disputes , and for nurturing love among all manner of folks , in honour of the said city , and for the profit of the common people , by . assent and counsel of the Aldermen and Sheriffs , caused all the good folks of the said trade to be summoned before him , to have from them good and

due information how their trade might be best ordered and ruled for thc profit of the common people . Whereupon , the good folks of the said trade chose from among themselves twelve of the most skilful men of their trade , to inform the Mayor , Aldermen , and Sheriffs as to the Acts and Articles touching the said trade , that is to say : AValter de Sallynge , Richard de Sallynge , Thomas

de Bredone , John de Tyryntone , Thomas de Gloucester , and Henry de Ycevelle , on behalf of the masons hewers ; Richard Joye , Simon de Bartone , John de Estone , John Wylot , Thomas I lavdegray , and Richard de Cornwaylle , on behalf of the light masons and setters ; the which folks were sworn before the aforesaid Mayor , Aldermen and Sheriffs , in manner as follows : —

In the first place : That every man of the trade , if he be perfectly skilled and knowing the same . Also—that good folks of the same trade shall be chosen and sworn every time that need shall be , to oversee that no one of the trade lake any work to complete , if he does not well and perfectly know how to perform such work ; on pain of losing to the Commonalty , the first time that

he shall by the persons so sworn be convicted thereof , one mark ; and the second time , two marks ; and the third time , lie shall forswear the trade for ever . Also—that no one shall take work in gross [ wholesale or by contract ] , if he be not of ability in a proper manner to complete such work , and he who wishes to undertake such work in gross , shall come to thc good man of whom

he has taken such work to do and complete , and shall bring with him six or four ancient men of the trade , sworn thereunto , if they are prepared to testify unto the good man of whom he lias taken such work to do that he is skilful and of ability to perform such work , and lhat if he shall fail to complete such work in due manner , or not to be of ability to do the same , they themselves who so

testify that he is skilful and of ability to finish the work , are bound to complete the same work well and properly at their own charges , in such manner as he undertook ; in case the employer who owns the work shall have fully paid the workman [ the contractor ] , and if the employer shall then owe him anything , let him pay it to the persons who have so undertaken for him to complete such work .

Also—that no one shall set on apprentice or journeyman to work , except in presence of his master , before he has been perfectly instructed in his calling ; and he who shall do the contrary , and by persons so sworn be convicled thereof , let him pay , the first time , to the use of the Commonalty , half a mark , and the second time one mark , and the third time twenty shillings ; and so let him

pay twenty shillings every time that he shall be convicted thereof . Also—that no one of the said trade shall take an apprentice for a less term than seven years , according to the usage of the City ; and he who shall do to the contrary thereof shall be punished in the same manner . Also—that thc said Masters , so chosen , shall oversee that all those who work by the day shall take for their hire