Original Correspondenece.

Charity , " April 28 th , 1875 , it would commend itself to tlie devotion and sympathies of thousands of our Order . I trust too that , well managed , such an institution might greatly benefit our charities and Masonic benevolence . All applications should come through the Masters of Lodges to the Grand Secretary , on a form prepared for that purpose , and the jewel should be sent to the W . M ., and g iven in open lodge .

If the Board of General Purposes would issue a notification to the Craft that they would receive a design for such a jewel , many , no doubt , would be sent in , and , selecting the most appropriate , they could contract with some one Masonic jeweller to supply the authorities with the number they required from time to time . The price for each , as delivered to the W . M ., would be fixed by the

Board of General Purposes , the W . M . and lodge would be responsible for the amount , and after the jeweller was paid as per contract , the overplus on each jewel , which on the whole would amount to a considerable sum , could bc divided by the Board of General Purposes among such of our Masonic Charities as most needed it , or might be paid over to the Grand Treasurer for the Fund of Benevolence . Some may object to the mixing up of charity with

such a matter as the institution of a Commemoration Jewel , hut I , on the contrary , think it a very good and wholesome restraint on any tendency we have to fine ornamentation , as I have felt that those who want a " pineapple" must pay for it . Besides , as our Order is emphatically a charitable as well as a loyal Order , in this as in everything else , we are true to our watchword , and make loyalty and charity go hand in hand . I am , dear Friend and Brother , Fraternally yours , A PAST GRAND CHAPLAINS

THE EARL OF CARNARVON ON FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of Ihe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The great Masonic event which has just taken p lace , and which is so well portrayed in your columnsviz ., the Installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as the Grand Master of the English Freemasons—is one which

will long be remembered , and prove a landmark in the annals of the Craft . After the Prince had been duly robed and chaired , he was thereafter addressed or admonished by the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , in a most admirable speech , which might have been faultless had the Right Honourable Speaker not marred it by unnecessarily introducing certain pscudo historical remarks , based , as it

appears to me , not upon fact , but upon fiction . The words which I object to arc in the latter portion of the remark— " Freemasonry possesses many titles to respect , e , ven in the eyes of the outer world . It has first of all a great antiquity—an antiquity ascending into the sphere , I may say , of immemorial tradition . " And further on , where the speaker says— " Formerly , through the dim periods of

the middle ages , it carried its records upon the public buildings of Europe , upon the tracery cf the cathedral windows , and the ornamentation of palaces . " Now , as a student of the history of Freemasonry , I beg to say that , so far as I can judge from therecords which I have perused , our Freemasonry is not of " great antiquity , " for no evidence has been produced of its existence even so recently

s two hundred years ago . ( Even you , yourself , brother Editor , at page 178 of to-day ' s Freemason , relegate the " legends " of King Jamey I ., Charles I . and II ., William III . being Freemasons to " pre-historic times . " ) Consequently to talk of it " carrying its records " upon cathedrals and palaces " in the middle ages " is simply absurd . If however our Right Honourable brother is possessed of

private evidence supporting his statements , as yet unknown to other Masonic students , I shall be both ready and willing to withdraw , and apologise for the foregoing criticisms so soon as I have seen or heard and duly weig hed this new evidence . In concluding this letter I would beg leave to add that it is written in no mere captious spirit , but from a pure , desire to support or bring out the truth . 1 am very

glad indeed lhat the void left by the retrogression or retirement of the Marquis of Ripon has been more than filled up by the accession of the Prince of Wales , who I trust will long be spared to fill with honour the high position he holds . I am , yours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN . Glasgow , May ist , 1875 .

THE FATHER OF FREEMASONS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Bro , — ' "( The Father of Freemasons , " says the Illustrated London s \ ews , in their issue of April 10 th , commenting upon the decease of a Bro . D . Osmett , who died at Sherborne , Dorset , on the 21 st ult ., at the advanced age of

ninety-nine years , " was the oldest member of the Craft . " This is incorrect , as the respected deceased brother was initiated in the Lodgeof Benevolence No . 450 , Sherborne , in January 1820 , and , being partially blind , his deserving and honourable conduct caused his election as an annuitant on the Royal Masonic Benevolent Fund till the time of his death . During the last four years he

was a constant worshipper at the Abbey Church , Sherborne , celebrating his last three birthdays by partaking of the sacred Eucharist , his health being good till within a few weeks of his death . Deceased was born on Midsummerday 1775 , and lived with his daughter ( Mrs . Guppy ) , who devoted much loving affection towards him in his declining years . The Illustrated is in error regarding " The

rather of Freemasons . Our correspondent acknowledges the respect due to the advanced age of 99 years , but he veritably assures us that Bro . Isaac Townsend , a younger man , born in Essex , July 26 th , 1793 , Sic in copy , is an older member of Ihe Craft , he being initiated into the rites of Masonry in Lodge 79 , Greenwich , in March , 110 , 3 Sic in copy , subsequently affiliating himself to Lodge 158 , of Sheeiness ( Adam ' s ) , on the 7 th January ,

Original Correspondenece.

1834 . Bro . Townsend was W . M . in the yeai 1840 ; Z in the Royal Arch 1845 ; G . R . for the province of Kent 1833 , and 28 years Secretary of Adam ' s Lodge . Me has the pleasing recognition of his untired services to the Craft by the presentation of a valuable watch , as also a pair of gold spectacles , in case mounted

with silver , with a suitable inscription , for his energy and zeal , in forwarding the cause of Masonry . We are also creditably informed that P . W . Thorpe , of Ashford , although younger , is an older Mason than the deceased brother . " HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE . " [ We do not understand these dates . —K 11 . ]

SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL . We are glad to be able to publish this appeal in the interest of common humanity . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir , —

Permit me , on behalf of the committee of the Seamen ' s Hospital , to draw your kind attention to the accompanying appeal for funds in aid of an institution so worthy of your support—the applicants for admission are numerousthe need of help is urgent—donatious will be thankfully received : but specially do the committee plead for additional

Annual Subscriptions , to impart increased persistence and steadiness to their operations . The committee rely upon the generous support of the Press to aid them in their present great necessities . I am , dear Sir , yours sincerely , H . BURDETT , Secretary .

To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly state in your next edition whether H . R . H . the Duke of Edinburgh is a member of our ancient Order or not , as I often read of his health being proposed

as such . I think it quite necessary every Freemascn should be in possession of this information , and I know of no better means than through your valuable columns . Your early reply will oblige , Yours fraternally , "MASTER MASON . " [ The Duke of Edinburgh is not a Freemason . —En . ]

To Ihe . Editor of tin Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In looking over a periodical the other day I saw the assertion that » lady Was a Freemason , and she was

likewise the founder of the Dublin Benevolent Institution for Orphan Daughters of Masons , and it further states that she was the H on- Mrs . Aldworth ; will you kindly inform me , throng 0 in e medium of your paper , if these facts are true . T . R . D . [ Mrs . Aldworth was a Freemason . —ED . ] A Portrait ( IS . ) a iul a Memoir ( 6 d . ) may be hail at the office of this paper .

Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo ; or Masonic Notes and Queries .

THE MOIIIA APIION . The following is the description of the Moira Apron taken from " Freemasons' Magazine , " November , 19 , 1859 , page 386 , Vol . IL , 1859 , or rather Vol . L , new series : — " The design of this apron is truly unique . I shall state the outline in reference to the figures represented in the

margin . " Fig 1 . Enoch , the Priest , Excellent Grand / /// / Master , in posture of adoration . 2 . Moses 123 reading the Tables of the Law , and the /// ° ' // measuring rod with Aholiab and Bezaleel . 456 3 . St . John with his banner and the lamb . /// / /// 4- H's Royal Highness the Prince Regent ,

789 ! J . M . ; the Earl of Moira , A . G . M . ; and the Duke of Sussex , D . G . M . 5 . A perfect Masonic Abraxis surrounded by rays , the iris in a peculiar manner . 6 . The G . M . of Scotland , the G . M of Ireland , and the Earl of Moira in the centre pleading for a union of all the lodges . 7 . Solomon King of Israel , Hiram King of Tyre , and

Hiram Abiff . 8 . St . John with the Holy Bible . 9 . Z , II and J . All the figures are most beautifully engraved in their respective and appropriate robes , and printed on leather for an apron , and on paper for a frame . " L . HAYES . ' 2 , Lower College-street , Bristol , January Gth , 1813 . "

My quotation about the " Moira Apron " is quite correct , viz ., " Freemasons' Magazine , " Vol . 1 , for 1859 , " not Vol ' II . " Volume II . is for the first half of the year i 860 . HENRY T . BOUART . [ Our brother is correct in part and so arc we . The quotation occurs in the 2 nd part of the actual volume for 1859 , though it is Vol . I . of the new series . Vol . I . is properly the volume from January to June . —ED . ]

THE MASONS' COMPANY . —No . 2 . The Freemason for May ist , 1875 , will not only be remarkable because of its being the Royal number , but I venture to state that the communication from Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., on the above subject will also make it one of the most valuable ever issued in an archa ; ological sense .

Bro . Woodford has condensed the result of his inquiries of the Clerk of the Masons' Company under eight divisions , as follows : — 1 . Ashmole is correct in saying , that Mr . Wise was Master of the Masons' Company in that year , 1682 . ( Not 1862 as in Freemason . )

Ashmole makes the statement in his diary March 10 th , 1682 , and which is the second time he alludes to Freemasonry in that interesting journal . The first is dated October 16 th , 16 4 ( 1 , and is to the following effect : — "I was made a Freemason at Warrington , in Lancashire , with Colonel Mainwaring of Karticham , in Cheshire ; the names of those

Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

that were then at the lodge , Mr . Richard Penket , Warden ; Mr . James Collier , Mr . Richard Sankcy , Henry Littler , John Ellam , and Hugh Brewer . " 2 . All the names he mentions are traceable in the minutes of the Masons' Company , except Sir William Wiseman and Captain Richard Borthwick . Mr . William Woodman was admitted a member of the Masons' Company in

January , 1678 . Mr . Thomas Shorthose's name appears frequently in the minutes , as being Warden , and also on the Court ; he was Warden in 1677 . . The extract alluded to by Bro . Woodford is as follows , by which it will appear that no mention is made of " Sir William Wiseman " referred to by our indefatigable brother , but of Mr . William Wise . May this not account for his

name not being found in the register ? If so it is worth another search , as in all probability Mr . William Wise was a relative of Mr . Thomas Wise , the Master of the Company in 1682 . " Under date March 10 th , 1682 , occurs this important entry of Ashmole's . — "About 5 p . m . I received a summons to apeear at a lodge to be held the next day at Masons '

Hall in London . Accordingly I went , and about noon was admitted into the fellowship of Freemasons by Sir William Wilson , Knight ; Captain Richard Borthwick , Mr . William Woodman , Mr . William Grey , Mr . Samuel Taylour , and Mr . William Wise . I was the senior fellow among them ( it being thirty-five years since I was admitted ) ; there was present , besides myself , the fellows after named . Mr . Thomas

Wise , Master of the Masons' Company this present year ; Mr . Thomas Shorthose , Mr . Thomas Shadbolt , —Wardsford , Esq . -, Mr . Nicholas Young , Mr . John Thompson , and Mr . William Stanton . We all dined at the Half Moon Tavern , in Cheapside , at a noble dinner , prepared at the charge of the new accepted Masons . " 3 . There is no record of the meeting of the Company

on March 10 th , 1682 , at least , "there is no minute to that effect . " If there hid been it would not follow that it meant the one described by Ashmole , and as there is internal evidence of the two Societies being distinct , we quite agree with Bro . Woodford that the assembly at whieh . Ashmole was present

was a purely speculative lodge of Freemasons . ' 4 . Neither is there any record of the dinner at the Half Moon , Cheapside , on that day , as stated by Ashmole . We should like to know , however , if the Masons' Company was in the habit of dining at the " Half Moon , " for it is not unlikely that the two Societies were on most

intimate terms . - 5 . There is no minute that the Hall in Basinghall-st . was lent to the Freem itsnns .

Was there another Masons' Hall in London at this date ? If so , where . ' Was it usual for a minute to be made when the Hall was lent for other purposes than those required for the Compan ) , and is it not likely that the I lall was not used exclusively at the period in question for the Company s business ? We still think it likely that this Hall is the one referred toby Ashmole , but of course

without further evidence it is impossible to decide the matter , and so we must wait patiently and gratefully for any subsequent information from Bro . Woodford ' s most important researches on a subject hitherto either neglected by Masonic students , or beyond their abilities to secure an authentic account of , ns it has proved with us . 6 . Ashmole was not a member of the Masons'

Company . This statement , brief as it is , is about the most suggestive of the whole , and to our mind establishes the fact , that the society which met in 1682 , as already noted , was not the Masons' Company . 7 . Sir Christopher Wren was not a member of the Masons' Company . :

Phis is also a fact which should be carefull y considered , for as our old documents are discovered , and neglected MSS . are studied , they one by one appear to confirm the fact of Sir Christopher Wren having had little to do with our Freemasonry .. 8 . Robert Padgett was not Clerk to the Masons ' Company in 1686 ; his name , altera careful examination ,

is not to be found in the minutes of the Masons' Company . Bro . Padgett's signature occurs to the " Antiquity MS ., " of which an exact transcript is to be found in our " Old Charges of British Freemasons , " and , as Bro . Woodford points out , he describes himself as " Gierke to the Worshipful Society of the Freemasons of the City of London , " which would not be the title of the Masons' Company , and

consequently provesthe two Clerks , just as the two societies , were distinct . I wish Bro . Woodford every success in his examination of the fabric rolls of St . Paul's , and congratulate him most sincerely on his success in his researches respecting the Masons' Company . I do so the more warmly , well

knowing what such a pursuit involves , and also being aware that other Masonic students ( including myselt ) have » ot succeeded in achieving what he has done . His question also about the Ashmole MSS . will , I trust , be answered to the satisfaction of al ! concerned and interested in such enquiry . WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN .

Who is the author of the poem recently quoted in the Freemason , from which the stanza , beginning " We shall watch for the gleam ofthe flapping sail" is taken ? Bradford . J . W .

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