English Authors And American Pirates.

together with impressions of the portraits . To this , no answer having been received , Mr . Yorston—March 27—asked for one by April 14 , and concludes— " We again repeat our wish to make a satisfactory arrangement with you ; if not , we are only leftto take the alternative which we prefer to avoid . "

The narrative must here be interrupted , because , while I hardly suppose that Mr . Yorston in his recent letter to myself expects to be taken an sirieux , some statements occur in it with reference to the late Mr . Jack , for which he is obviously bound to give chapter and verse , or , in other words , the dates of the several communications wherein they appeared . Thus , in his letter to me , dated September 12 , 1887 , Mr . Yorston writes : —

" 1 . I negotiated with Mr . Jack , and expected , m accordance with my correspondence with him , to publish the work in this country . 2 . I was prepared to purchase a duplicate set of stereotype plates of the text , and also electro plates of such portraits as were desirable for use in this country . 3 . I was also prepared to purchase the sheets of the letter-press portion of the work , and impressions of such portraits as were desirable for use in this country .

4 . If neither of the foregoing propositions was acceptable , I told Mr . Jack to name his own terms and 1 would accept . "

Of the above statements the last is simpl y untrue , and the second and third are only true in the sense that Mr . Yorston expressed a willingness to purchase the various articles referred to , at his own price , which was far below what Mr ; Jack considered that he could rationall y entertain . Returning , however , to our story , the next letter—from Jack to Yorston —is dated April 14 , 1884 , and the writer stales

;—I did not like your threats to reprint , nor your prospectus , which I shculd not have heard of but through Masonic channels . I delayed replying to your last letter till to-day —the latest you give me—and 1 have just received a letter from a prominent Mason in Philadelphia , which leads me to decide not to place the book in your hands ,. My correspondent reveals a system of black-mailine on your part , which I would never be a party to ; a system which would bring certan disgrace on thc book , and end only in disaster to u ^ bosh . [ And the writer adds ] 1 give you notice that effectual measures will be taken to denounce jour attempt to include portraits only of those who will pay 300 dollars .

June I 2 th , 18 S 4 , Yorston to Jack . The writer complains of a report being circulated , on the authority of the latter , that he was " black-mailing the Freemasons , " calls the statement a " criminally libellous falsehood , " and concludes with the following : " VVe refer you to our letter of February 6 th ; we made you a liberal offer there for a set of the plates , if it is not satisfactory , make us your offer . "

Bearing the like date—June 12 th—from the same to the same , there is another Utter marked "Personal , " which reads : .

Both Mr . Nickerson , of Boston , and Mr . Carson , of this city , have seen the correspondence between you and ouiselves in this matter , and are quite satisfied we have acted in an hi nviuable , candid , aud fair manner in ti . is matter . June 27 th , 1884 , lack to Yorston . The former reminds the latter that

he ( Yorstun ) does not deny having made the demand , observing that "it 300 dollars ior such a demand is not black-mailing , " he ( Jack ) " does not kno > v what is ; " but , not wishing to do him an injury , he ( Jack ) recalls the charge . The writer then remarks that Messrs . Nickerson and Carton could have onl y decided upon an exparte statement , and adds :

I say it was neither honourable nor fair to demand 300 dollars for those portraits , and 30 U were neither " candid " nor "fair" to mc in your attempts to coerce me by threats of reprinlini ; , and if you consider the offer you made a liberal one , I can only say I am of a totally different opinion . We were on the fair way to work amicabh together until your threats of reprinting weie made . I never could divest myself of the suspicion that •ou were repiinting while 1011 were negotiating with me .

Here the correspondence ends ; but a few words are necessary before I pass to tne second part ol my subject . First of all , let me take the question of inseiling portraits for money . This scheme was as much a source ol annoyance to my-ell as to Mr . Jack , as my name was freely used in working it , and 1 do not hesitate to declare that had Mr . Jack employed the person who instigated such a practice as his agent in the United States , I should have thought it inconsistent with any feeling of self-respect on my part to have continu' d working at a history of Freemasonry in company with such associates .

Next , there is the certificate of character , tendered b y Yorston to Jack , and here I object at the outset to the use of Mr . Niekerson ' s name , without further prool than has been yet afforded . Tins gentleman , like many others , was asked to write something lor the piratical edition of my work , but promptly declined to do any such thing without my approval . I , therefore , regard it as extrt-m ly unlikely that he was led to express so unqualified an endorsement ol Mr . Yorston ' s actions as the latter would suggest .

Il is quite clear that Yorston could reprint without let or hindrance , but it would seem that , being a Fteemasoh , it was deemed advisable to find some colour or excuse lor the contemplated piracy ot a history of Freemasonry ihat migiit go down wilh ihe brethren at large . In olher words , Yorston , like the King of Ashantee , wanted to be painted white , and the artist who consented to perlorm this operation for him was Mr . Enoch T .

Carson . The laiters action in this matter , indeed , appears 10 have been not unlike that of Gripus , in Dryden ' s play , who , when puzzled between the two Amphitryons , after one side had spoken , begged the other to hold his tongue , for lear of puzzling what was clear to him . Such a thing as hearing both sides does not seem to have occurred to Mr . Carson , nor , though in correspondence with myself , belore , after , and while the p iracy

was being arranged , did he apparently think it would interest me to be informed of it . How and when the adhesion of Bros . Drummond and Parvin was secured I do not know , but I learn that the former is to write on Symbolism and the Royal Arch ; the latter on Templarism ; and Mr . Carson on the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite 33 . Bros Drummond and Parvin are Past Grand Masters and Chairmen of Foreign

Correspondence , and I desire to speak of both with the very gteate ^ t respect . Mackey says , and I entirel y agree with him— " At this day the reports of the Committees on Foreign Correspondence in all the Grand Lodges of this country constitute an important portion of the literature of the Institution . - . these reports will form the germ of future Masonic history , " and of the Chairmen of the Committees he observes— " the ' Reponorial Corps '

, as these hard labouring brethren are beginning to call themselves , exercise , of course , a not trifling influence in the Order . " Now , the reports presented by Bros . Drummond and Parvin are models of their kind . Grand Lodges , Lodges , and individual Masons are alike lectured and instructed . Yet I respectfull y put it to the-e distinguished brethren , " that precepts may lead ,

but examples draw , " and ask them , fraternally , whether they can justif y to themselves the alliance which they have set up with Mr . Yorston of Cincinati ? Let it even be assumed that the English Masonic author may be plundered by his brethren with impunity . Still , in some sort ot fairness , ought not the work , il reprinted , to be reproduced with exact fidelity to the ori g inal—that is , without alterations or additions ? Surel y the reputation

English Authors And American Pirates.

of the writer remains his own , even though he may be held to have no property in his writings . The " assistance" which was foisted upon me may , and probably will , exceed in value anything that I am capable of writing ; but yet , however brilliant and instructive it may prove to be , I demur strongly to there being included in a History of Freemasonry which passes under my name , anything whatever that has not been previously sub .

milled for my approval . Lastly , and with great respect to Bros . Drummond and Parvin , I am constrained to place on record my conviction that by arranging , as it were , behind my back , to contribute to the reprint of Mr . Yorston , they have neither acted in accordance with the general comity of Masons , nor have I experienced at their hands the ordinary courtesy which one Masonic Student has a ri ght to expect from another . R . F . GOULD .

Old Warrants.—Iii.

OLD WARRANTS . —III .

BY BRO . W . 1 . HUGHAN . The "Anchor and Hope " Lodge , No . 37 , Bolton , has the second oldest original Warrant , so far traced , in England , the second of the series being the senior . The history of this old lodge has been written most interestingl y by Bros . Brockbank and Newton ( 18 S 2 ) , who prove that No . 37 " has the especial distinction of being the oldest of the lodges originally warranted in

a province , and remaining on the roll from its constitution until now . " It is thus " the Premier Provincial Lodge , having preserved its continuity as such from ils constitution in 1732 to 1882 , a period of 150 years , never having been removed from the town for which it was first of all granted , and never having lapsed , or apparently been liable to erasure Irom any cause whatever , throughout that long period , a distinction for which its members may justly feel proud . "

T he lodge has had nine different numbers in all , as No . 39 , Exeter . Bro . Lane notes that in the Engraved Lists that the dale is given as " 9 th November , 1732 , " whereas the Warrant as follows states " 23 rd October , 1731 .... 5732 . " It may be , as the author of the " Masonic Records " suggests , thai the later period reters to ihe day of Constituiion . The year

173 1 is evidently an error , and should be A . D . 1732 A . M . 5 / 32 . I'he preserved minutes do not begin until 1765 , but the existence ot the lodge is abundantly confirmed b y reference to all ihe Engraved Lists prior to that year 10 1734 , tne earliest pieseived ; and it also may be found in Rawlinson ' s List ot 1733 .

Bro . Gould pointed out in his famous " Four Old Lodges" that in the 1781-91 numeration " ihe date ol constitution , or warrant , ot the lodge was peimanenil y placed at the year 1731 from 1732 . " Of late years , this error has been corrected in the Grand Lodge Calendar . There are no country lodges originally chartered as such Irom 1723 to 1731 in existence at the

pieseni lime , though virtually No . 41 , Bath—ihe Warrant of which will lorm one ot the present series—is a continuance of the premier country lodge chartered in 1724 as No . 28 in the Ciiy of Baths ! The senior was not erased until 1736 , as with original No . 39 , Bristol , and the names of some ol its members will be found in ihe earliesi register of the present lodge at Bath .

COPY OF WARRANT OF "ANCHOR AND HOPE LODGE OF FREEMASONS , No . 37 , BOLTON . YY Montague I Seal J G . M . Whereas a Petition has been presented unto . us , and signed by several Brethren residing in and about the Town ol Bolton-le-Moors , , in the County Palatine of Lancashire

humbly praying that they may be constituted into a Regular Lodge . These are therefore to Impower and Authorize our Kt . Worshiplul and welbeloved Brother , Mr . Edward Entwisle to convene our Biethren at Boiton-le-Moors aforesaid , who have signed the said Petition , and that he do in our place and siead constitute themintoa regular Lodge in due form , ( He the said Mr . Edward Entwisle taking special care that you admit none but whai have been regulaily made Masons ) with like Priviledges as

all other duly constituted Lodges , and that they be required to conform themselves to all and every the rules and regulations , in the Piinted Cook of Constitutions , and observe such i ther rules and regulations , as shall from time to time be transmitted to them , by us or Thomas Batson ihe Deputy Grand Master , or the Grand Master or his Deputy for the time being . And shall forward to our Deputy a list of the members of their Lodge , together with a copy ot the regulations to be observed to tne end , they may be entered

in the Grand Lodge Book .-, and upon the due execution of this our Dispensation , the said Mr . Edwaid En . wisle isheieby required to transmit to us or our said Deputy , a certificate under his hand , of the time and place of such constitution , in order that it may be c-ntred in the Book of the roll of Lodges—Given under our hand and seal of office this 23 rd day of October 1731 and in the year of Masonry 5732 . by the Giand Masters Command .

THOS . BATSON D . G . M . G . E . ROOKE S . G . W . J . M . SMY 1 HE , J . G . W . The first Master of the old Lodge at Bolton was Bro . Edward Entwisle , who was the premier Prov . G . Master of Lancashire , having been appointed to that distinguished position in 1734 . The Division of the County , for Masonic purposes , did not occur until 1826 so that until then , the Prov .

Grand Master , for the time being , presided over the whole of Lancashire . Bro . J . Newton ' s copy of the Engraved List of Lodges , by J . Pine—the only one known—was owned by R . W . Bro . E . Entwisle , the account of its transmission to the present lime , being narrated in the work aforesaid . The Lodge Summons is printed from a plate engraved over a hundred and twenty years ago , and is a mofe curious and antique looking production than the old plate used by No . 30 , Exeter .

The 150 th Anniversary ot the Lodge was celebrated on October 23 rd , 1882 , a full account of which appeared in due course in the Freemason . The Craft in Bolton is now rejoicing in having a Masonic Hall of their own in which to assemble , and continued prosperity appears to be insured , humanly speaking , for the old Lodge under the devoted care of the Veterans , Bro . Brockbank , its indefatigable Secretary , Bro . James Newton , its faitlnul Treasurer , and its other numerous friends , who , it is to be hoped , will so t

influence the minds and hearts of the rising Masonic generation , as induce them in like manner to look after the welfare of the senior Provincia Lodge . The " Royal Kent Lodge of Antiquity , " No . 20 , Chatham , is now , and has been for some time , a Provincial Lodge , but it was origma V warranted lor London . The chief points in the History of this very 0 Lodge , dating Irom 1723 , will be found in Bro . John Lane ' s " Maso Records , 1717-1886 . "