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Article UNIFORMITY OF WORKING. Page 1 of 1 Article Reviews. Page 1 of 1 Article Reviews. Page 1 of 1 Article Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Page 1 of 1 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF CHESHIRE. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Uniformity Of Working.
UNIFORMITY OF WORKING .
To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Your article on this subject in a recent number of the Freemason must meet the approval of all who have given the matter more than cursory attention , and are not led away by a sentence which , at first sight , I
confess has some attractiveness . But is it at all possible to carry out in detail the promise of such a title ? and if so , is the play worth the candle ? Under a score or so of Preceptors in this metropolis the Ritual of Freemasonry , & c ., is learnt by the members of the Craft who are anxious to qualify themselves for the duties of their various lodges . Undoubtedly the systems of the Preceptors
vary considerably , and are inflected by their various mentalities . The elaborate system of the Lodge of Stability , and the concise working of the Lodge of Emulation , have each its firm adherents and promulgators , not to speak of the various provincial and Colonial methods . There arc , I say , in all these great variations , but there is also a singular convergence .
Now the idea of the promoters of uniformity of workings is of course good in trying to establish a general harmony . But , although the proposition appears paradoxical , I have no hesitation in stating that nothing , in my opinion , would so much tend to inharmonious results as its adoption . Any edict of Grand Lodge insisting on a particular system of working would be considered a claim to
infallibility , and in itself antagonistic to the principles , nay , even to the very name , of Freemasonry . Not in any mode of working that 1 have at present seen do I recognise perfection . Much of mediaeval tenor and grandiloquence might be removed without any detriment to the beauty of the Ritual , but I look tei Ihe good sense of tlie brethren , eelucatetl by the facilities the Masonic press
gives us in ventilating our various opinions , for remedies rather than in establishing Committees or edicts from Grand Lodge . Even supposing there be a recognised system enforced by Constitution , it woulel be necessary to compel its performance in monotone . We know how easily the signification of a word or sentence can be altered by inflection or
accent . We are tethered to our land marks , and cannot go very far astray . Let us , therefore , leave the matter of uniformity alone , or argue our different readings in the Masonic publications , and adopt in our working what seemeth best . The only uniformity we want is that of the spirit of Freemasonry , not the letter , carrying out , in our intercourse with each other , the grand principles on which the Order
is founded , thus " demonstrating to the world at large that the word brother amongst Masons is something more than a name . " I hope the author of a very useful and instructive work ( " Uniformity of Working" ) will be content with his laurels , and not attempt to persuade Grand Lodge to form a Committee to decide the difference betwixt tweedledum and tweedlcdee . Remaining fraternally yours , H , E . FRANCES , P . P . G . D ., Preceptor .
Reviews.
Reviews .
THE NEW " RED BOOK " OF THE « ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE . " ( ENGLAND , tec ) The new edition of the rules and regulations and list of members of the " Ancient and Accepteel Rite for England , Wales , and the Dependencies of the British Crown " is now ready for issue , corrected to ist September , 18 79 ; and to the bnthren of that distinguished Rite will prove a
most useful and interesting compilation . There arc several improvements in this the last edition , and every opportunity appears embraced most readily by the Secretary General to make the work all that is wanted or needful to render the members fully conversant as to the laws and customs of the Rite . In the event of any exclusion or suspension the Inspector General is to notify accordingly
to the chapters in his district , and cannot of course really take any effect until confirmed by the Supreme Council . There are changes made as to " Serving Brethren , " but as to these we need not dcsciibe them here , as they should be known only to those whom they concern . Under the 18 th Degree it is stated that at least five brethren , including a M . W . S . or P . M . W . S ., should be present at the
perfection of a candidate . This is a desirable regulation , anel should be carefully noted , as well as the fact that no chapter in England can legally admit as a candidate or joining member a brother hailing from anolhcr jurisdiction without the authority of ' . he Supreme Council being first obtained . The limited numbers of the 32111 ! and 31 st Degrees have been increased from 3 6 and ( 13 to 45 anel
72 respectively , doubtless owing to the great prosperity of the Order , and the number of active chapters being now 85 , whereas in 1877 , when the previous edition was published , there were not more than 75 . The prefix Deputy to the Inspectors General has been dropped , and thus by removing rather than by an iiddi / ion the dignity of the title has been mhUd to thereby . Instead of a breast jewel
for the 33 rd Degree , that distinction is now to be worn " on the right hip , at crossing of sash , pendant from a golden rose 011 scarlet bow , " and the effect is certainly most artistic . The Supreme Councils in Amity with that of England , tec , number one less this time than in 1877 , that , unfortunately , of Scotland being omitted , owing to
the management of the latter in some important respects not being satisfactory to the English authorities . We trust that the misunderstanding may soon be removed , so that the number of 21 Councils will be again returned to . " A chronological list of members of the Supreme Council 33 of England " is a new feature , anil one that might be considerably added to from time to time , for but little
Reviews.
is known of the early history of the Rite in this country . The original members it appears were Dr . Crucefix , the Rev . Geo . Oliver , D . D ., and Henry Udall , and the warrant is dated 26 th Oct ., 1 S 45 , Dut 10 n S before this , even during the last century , several of the Degrees were worked in England , and should be noted , we think , in a subsequent edition . H . R . H . the Prince of
Wales , K . G ., & c , 33 : , is Grand Patron , and his two Royal Brothers , the Duke of Connaught and Prince Leopold , are also 33 rd Degrees , and honorary members of the Council . The oldest member of the Council appears to be Major-General Henry Clerk , and the latest admitted into that distinguished body is General J S . Brownrigg , C . B ., Prov . G . M . of Surrey . There are five retired members (
including the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Prov . G . M . of England ) , and ten Inspectors General , with seven unattached . We must not , however , dwell too long on this little brochure , as , though numbering 144 pages , it can be had at the office of The Freemason , for the sum of one shilling and sixpence , so that no member should be without a copy .
THE SUPERNATURAL IN NATURE . C . Kegan Paul and Co ., Paternoster-square . This is a much larger book , of 477 pages , and which to treat upon fully in the limited columns of the Freemason might fairly be deemed an absurdity , if not an' impertinence . We can , therefore , only just glance at it . But we think it right to call attention to it for several reasons .
A great controversy has recently agitated Freemasonry , when an important section of the Masonic family threw over and off all avowal of belief in T . G . A . O . T . U . The effect of the change may have been deemed greater than it actually is , ( though we fear of its reality there is no possible doubt ) , but still the fact remains , outwardly , that a large boelyof Freemasons "knows not" God . Anel as in addition
to this there is in society all around us a great tendency lo cling to the natural alone and to reject the supernatural , to take up either with a crazy Positivism , ( so called ) , or a so-called " independent morality , " or a grovelling Epicurianism , or an abject Atheism , we think it well to remind our readers that our English Freemasoniy , reverent and religious as it is , from first to last avows , purely , clearly , fully ,
its belief and trust in T . G . A . O . T . U . as a personal , living , ruling , judging God , and that it accepts His inspired revelation , with all its supernatural claims on our acceptance of faith , " as the unerring standard of right and wrong , " and "bids us to regulate our lives by the Divine precepts it contains . " Therefore such a book , though so far anonymously written , may well be a study to the cultured
Freemason of to-day . Wcmightperhapsanalysc itscontents and reproduce its arguments , but we think it better to leave that pleasing task to a second notice , for we ourselves require a little more time to digest the piopositions of the able writer than a mere hasty glance can afford . But it may well be pointed out to our readers that the writer of this work has spared no pains to collect from the best sources
of information the most striking results of modem discoveries in physical science , and has applied them to the confirmation , not the confutation , of the great truths of religion , of which most men of common sense , whether scientists or not , are fully persuaded . A reviewer in the Times lias well remarked " That such arguments should be needed at all is , inelccd , the greatest reproach to this
scientific age . No one can believe that Sir Isaac Newton , hael he lived in these days , would have been perverted to atheism and disbelief in a future state by microscopic discoveries which have upset the faith of some less mature and well-balanced intellects in modern times . Hear his own noble confession in the ' Principia ' : — ' The world is not God , as the Pantheists affirm . It diel not exist from
Eternity , as the Peripatetics taught . It was not made by Fate and Necessity , as the Stoics said . It did not arise from a fortuitous concourse of atoms , as the Epicureans asserted , nor from the antagonism of two rival powers , as the Persians and Manichaians affirmed , nor was it made by Angels , or by emanations of reons , as sonic of the ancient dnostics held , nor out of matter co-eternal with God , as Hermogenes said , nor by Ihc spontaneous energy
and evolution of self developing powers , as some have affirmed in later days ; but it was created by One , Almighty , Eternal , Wise , and Good Being—God . ' " We , therefore , think it well to call the attention of the reader to this important work , agreeing with the Times reviewer where he has it , " We have no hesitation in saying that he will gain both moral and intellectual strength from its perusal . "
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
A LODGE MINUTE BOOK . I wish to call attention to the " extracts " and " notes " which follow , from a MS . recently purchased by the autboriiies of the British Museum , and to which Mr . R . Sims has kindly called my attention . Perhaps Bro . Hughan or Bro . Gould can enlighten me as to the " Royal Lodge . " A . F . A . W .
Fo . 1 . begins : " The Royal Lodge , held at the T hatched House , in St . James ' s St ., 6 Nov ., 1777 . Present : The Right W . Dr . ' Reynold , M ., in the chair ; the W . B . Birth , P . M . , the W . B . Evauce , S . W ., pro tern . ; the W . B . Goodenough , J . W ., pro tern . ; B . Bechford , B . Dalmaiden . The minutes of the last lodge read and confirmed . " Sec , tec .
Fo . 3 . The next date is 5 March , 1778 . From that elate the lodges appear to have been held twice a month to 5 June , 1817 , but either the minutes are wanting or the meetings were less frequent , since the notices Jare dated only once in the year towards the end .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
_____ aj * - ' * rcr 5 zr-wMrc- ~ _ . The last paragraph says : " The business of the lodge being ended it was closed in due form , and adjourned to the 18 th June , 1818 . " Quite at the end is printed " Hymn to be sung by the children of the Freemasons' School before the anniversary sermon of the Charity , 13 April , 1 S 04 , at St . John ' s Church , Westmr . " Then follows a notice ( printed ) of the School " St . George ' s Fields . "
CHARLES MARTEL . I note Bro . Gould ' s remarks , and I now rcplv to them . The absence from his " poem " of mention of any names but those of Euclid and Athelstan is , to my mind a proof of its antiquity . Wc have in the poem two legends , the second beginning at line 471 — Alia Ordinacio arlis gemetriie , which is henceforth a repetition of the previous legend , to which are added the " ars quatuor" and certain
rules for religious service and customary and proper behaviour at meals , & : c . The poem is of high antiquity , and though Mr Bond gives the present " Regius MS . " at early 15 th century date , Casley assigns it to the 14 th century , and so did Mr . Walbran , if ever " Pars Oculi " turns up , an old poem , now missing , front which John
Myrc borrowed his poem , a portion of winch is found in the Masonic poem , and Myrc wrote in 1420 , we shall probably find that it is Norman-French , or Latin , originally . Matthew Cooke ' s MS . gives , us , in addition to Euclid ami Athelstan , David , Solomon , the son of the King of Tyre , A ' . ban Amphibalus ( Adhabell ) , Carolus Secundus Marcus Grcecus , Athelstan , anel his younger son . Matthew Cooke's
MS . seems to contain a duplicate legend , also beginning at p . 642 . In the second legend the name Englct is found , but who clearly is not the Euclid of the first legend , but answers more nearly to the ' personage named " Mamus Groecus , " Ninias , or Memon , whoever he may really be . It is a yi . iinl to be noted , that whereas in the poem there . ire fifteen articles and fifteen points t litre are
on ' y nine eif each in Matthew Cooke s MS ., and the points and articles are in the first legend in the poem , and in the scconef legend in ( fie prose contribution . Irr DenvJanel ' s prose , which probably represents a version of 1500 , we have Euclid , David , Solomon , Hiram , Alban Amphibalus , Charles Martel , Mamus Groecus , Athelstan Edwin , all
mentioned . Some may say " vires adjunct eunelo , " but it appears to me only the natural greater fulness of the legend more elaborately treated . If Mr . Bond's view is correct as to date , Matthew Cooke ' s MS ., instead of late 13 th , is early 15 th century , contemporaneous with the MS . poem . A . F . A . W .
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
The General Committee of this Institution met last Saturday at Freemasons' Hall , Bio . S . Rosenthal in ihe chair . There were also present Bros . Donald M . Dewar , Dr . Richard Morris , R . B . Webster , A . J . Duff Filer , J . W . Dosell , W . li . Perryman , Arthur E . Gladwell , S . Rawson , leHerbert
John Constable , J . J . Berry , F . Adlard , W . Map , Dicketts , W . F . C . Moutrie , Charles Horsley , H . Venn , T . Meggy , E . C . Mather , F . Binckes ( Sec ) , and H . Masicy ( Freemason ) . The report of the Audit Committee recommended the investment of £ 1300 , and the Committee adopted the recommendation , and ordered the investment to be maele
in Reduced Three per Cents . The Committee then considered petitions for candidates , and placed the following on the list for the election in April next : —William Vincent B . Jones , son of the late Bro . the Rev . William Vincent li . Jones , of Knaresborough , who died of diphtheria on the 20 th of July , 1879 ; H . Ecclcston , son of Bro . Thomas Eccleston , of Her Majesty ' s ship " Lily , " who elicd of Asiatic cholera on the 23 rd of
September , 1877 ; Isaac Williams , sin of Bro . Williams , a mariner ( Holyhead ) , who died Oetobcr 5 II 1 , 18 77 ; S . J . Critch , cl Leamington ; G . S . Booker ; John Hogg ( Chester ); anel Ii . G . Darling ( West Ham ) . The Committee afterwards granted £ 20 to apprentice one boy , and made grants of £ 5 each to four other expupils of the Institution . The Committee adjourned , after passing a vote of thanks to the Chairman .
Provincial Grand Chapter Of Cheshire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF CHESHIRE .
A meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Cheshire Freemasons was held at the Royal Motel , Crewe , on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult . Comp . Lord De Tabley , R . W . P . G . Superintendent , presided , and there was a large number of influential companions .
The following companions were the officers invested Comp . the Rev . Spencer Stanhope ... Prov . G . H . „ F . Smith Prov . G . J . „ G . W . Latham Prov . G . S . E . „ Siddley Prov . G . S . N . Lisle Prov . G . P . S .
„ ,, . J .., — ... ... . . . - . „ liuiy Prov . G . ist A . S . „ Brooks Prov . G . 2 nd A . S . ,, Dennis Prov . O . S . I 5 . ,, Tomlinson Prov . G . Swd . Br „ F . Jackson , jun . Prov . G . Treas .
,, W . Aloek ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . The whole ot the chapters in Ihe province were represented with the exception of two . The Provincial Grand Chapter , on the proposition of Comp . Latham , voted the sum of £ 57 15 s . from the funds to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The Provincial Grand Chapter was then closed , and the companions afterwards adjourned to Ihe Crewe Arms Hotel , where a bawiuet was served .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Uniformity Of Working.
UNIFORMITY OF WORKING .
To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Your article on this subject in a recent number of the Freemason must meet the approval of all who have given the matter more than cursory attention , and are not led away by a sentence which , at first sight , I
confess has some attractiveness . But is it at all possible to carry out in detail the promise of such a title ? and if so , is the play worth the candle ? Under a score or so of Preceptors in this metropolis the Ritual of Freemasonry , & c ., is learnt by the members of the Craft who are anxious to qualify themselves for the duties of their various lodges . Undoubtedly the systems of the Preceptors
vary considerably , and are inflected by their various mentalities . The elaborate system of the Lodge of Stability , and the concise working of the Lodge of Emulation , have each its firm adherents and promulgators , not to speak of the various provincial and Colonial methods . There arc , I say , in all these great variations , but there is also a singular convergence .
Now the idea of the promoters of uniformity of workings is of course good in trying to establish a general harmony . But , although the proposition appears paradoxical , I have no hesitation in stating that nothing , in my opinion , would so much tend to inharmonious results as its adoption . Any edict of Grand Lodge insisting on a particular system of working would be considered a claim to
infallibility , and in itself antagonistic to the principles , nay , even to the very name , of Freemasonry . Not in any mode of working that 1 have at present seen do I recognise perfection . Much of mediaeval tenor and grandiloquence might be removed without any detriment to the beauty of the Ritual , but I look tei Ihe good sense of tlie brethren , eelucatetl by the facilities the Masonic press
gives us in ventilating our various opinions , for remedies rather than in establishing Committees or edicts from Grand Lodge . Even supposing there be a recognised system enforced by Constitution , it woulel be necessary to compel its performance in monotone . We know how easily the signification of a word or sentence can be altered by inflection or
accent . We are tethered to our land marks , and cannot go very far astray . Let us , therefore , leave the matter of uniformity alone , or argue our different readings in the Masonic publications , and adopt in our working what seemeth best . The only uniformity we want is that of the spirit of Freemasonry , not the letter , carrying out , in our intercourse with each other , the grand principles on which the Order
is founded , thus " demonstrating to the world at large that the word brother amongst Masons is something more than a name . " I hope the author of a very useful and instructive work ( " Uniformity of Working" ) will be content with his laurels , and not attempt to persuade Grand Lodge to form a Committee to decide the difference betwixt tweedledum and tweedlcdee . Remaining fraternally yours , H , E . FRANCES , P . P . G . D ., Preceptor .
Reviews.
Reviews .
THE NEW " RED BOOK " OF THE « ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE . " ( ENGLAND , tec ) The new edition of the rules and regulations and list of members of the " Ancient and Accepteel Rite for England , Wales , and the Dependencies of the British Crown " is now ready for issue , corrected to ist September , 18 79 ; and to the bnthren of that distinguished Rite will prove a
most useful and interesting compilation . There arc several improvements in this the last edition , and every opportunity appears embraced most readily by the Secretary General to make the work all that is wanted or needful to render the members fully conversant as to the laws and customs of the Rite . In the event of any exclusion or suspension the Inspector General is to notify accordingly
to the chapters in his district , and cannot of course really take any effect until confirmed by the Supreme Council . There are changes made as to " Serving Brethren , " but as to these we need not dcsciibe them here , as they should be known only to those whom they concern . Under the 18 th Degree it is stated that at least five brethren , including a M . W . S . or P . M . W . S ., should be present at the
perfection of a candidate . This is a desirable regulation , anel should be carefully noted , as well as the fact that no chapter in England can legally admit as a candidate or joining member a brother hailing from anolhcr jurisdiction without the authority of ' . he Supreme Council being first obtained . The limited numbers of the 32111 ! and 31 st Degrees have been increased from 3 6 and ( 13 to 45 anel
72 respectively , doubtless owing to the great prosperity of the Order , and the number of active chapters being now 85 , whereas in 1877 , when the previous edition was published , there were not more than 75 . The prefix Deputy to the Inspectors General has been dropped , and thus by removing rather than by an iiddi / ion the dignity of the title has been mhUd to thereby . Instead of a breast jewel
for the 33 rd Degree , that distinction is now to be worn " on the right hip , at crossing of sash , pendant from a golden rose 011 scarlet bow , " and the effect is certainly most artistic . The Supreme Councils in Amity with that of England , tec , number one less this time than in 1877 , that , unfortunately , of Scotland being omitted , owing to
the management of the latter in some important respects not being satisfactory to the English authorities . We trust that the misunderstanding may soon be removed , so that the number of 21 Councils will be again returned to . " A chronological list of members of the Supreme Council 33 of England " is a new feature , anil one that might be considerably added to from time to time , for but little
Reviews.
is known of the early history of the Rite in this country . The original members it appears were Dr . Crucefix , the Rev . Geo . Oliver , D . D ., and Henry Udall , and the warrant is dated 26 th Oct ., 1 S 45 , Dut 10 n S before this , even during the last century , several of the Degrees were worked in England , and should be noted , we think , in a subsequent edition . H . R . H . the Prince of
Wales , K . G ., & c , 33 : , is Grand Patron , and his two Royal Brothers , the Duke of Connaught and Prince Leopold , are also 33 rd Degrees , and honorary members of the Council . The oldest member of the Council appears to be Major-General Henry Clerk , and the latest admitted into that distinguished body is General J S . Brownrigg , C . B ., Prov . G . M . of Surrey . There are five retired members (
including the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Prov . G . M . of England ) , and ten Inspectors General , with seven unattached . We must not , however , dwell too long on this little brochure , as , though numbering 144 pages , it can be had at the office of The Freemason , for the sum of one shilling and sixpence , so that no member should be without a copy .
THE SUPERNATURAL IN NATURE . C . Kegan Paul and Co ., Paternoster-square . This is a much larger book , of 477 pages , and which to treat upon fully in the limited columns of the Freemason might fairly be deemed an absurdity , if not an' impertinence . We can , therefore , only just glance at it . But we think it right to call attention to it for several reasons .
A great controversy has recently agitated Freemasonry , when an important section of the Masonic family threw over and off all avowal of belief in T . G . A . O . T . U . The effect of the change may have been deemed greater than it actually is , ( though we fear of its reality there is no possible doubt ) , but still the fact remains , outwardly , that a large boelyof Freemasons "knows not" God . Anel as in addition
to this there is in society all around us a great tendency lo cling to the natural alone and to reject the supernatural , to take up either with a crazy Positivism , ( so called ) , or a so-called " independent morality , " or a grovelling Epicurianism , or an abject Atheism , we think it well to remind our readers that our English Freemasoniy , reverent and religious as it is , from first to last avows , purely , clearly , fully ,
its belief and trust in T . G . A . O . T . U . as a personal , living , ruling , judging God , and that it accepts His inspired revelation , with all its supernatural claims on our acceptance of faith , " as the unerring standard of right and wrong , " and "bids us to regulate our lives by the Divine precepts it contains . " Therefore such a book , though so far anonymously written , may well be a study to the cultured
Freemason of to-day . Wcmightperhapsanalysc itscontents and reproduce its arguments , but we think it better to leave that pleasing task to a second notice , for we ourselves require a little more time to digest the piopositions of the able writer than a mere hasty glance can afford . But it may well be pointed out to our readers that the writer of this work has spared no pains to collect from the best sources
of information the most striking results of modem discoveries in physical science , and has applied them to the confirmation , not the confutation , of the great truths of religion , of which most men of common sense , whether scientists or not , are fully persuaded . A reviewer in the Times lias well remarked " That such arguments should be needed at all is , inelccd , the greatest reproach to this
scientific age . No one can believe that Sir Isaac Newton , hael he lived in these days , would have been perverted to atheism and disbelief in a future state by microscopic discoveries which have upset the faith of some less mature and well-balanced intellects in modern times . Hear his own noble confession in the ' Principia ' : — ' The world is not God , as the Pantheists affirm . It diel not exist from
Eternity , as the Peripatetics taught . It was not made by Fate and Necessity , as the Stoics said . It did not arise from a fortuitous concourse of atoms , as the Epicureans asserted , nor from the antagonism of two rival powers , as the Persians and Manichaians affirmed , nor was it made by Angels , or by emanations of reons , as sonic of the ancient dnostics held , nor out of matter co-eternal with God , as Hermogenes said , nor by Ihc spontaneous energy
and evolution of self developing powers , as some have affirmed in later days ; but it was created by One , Almighty , Eternal , Wise , and Good Being—God . ' " We , therefore , think it well to call the attention of the reader to this important work , agreeing with the Times reviewer where he has it , " We have no hesitation in saying that he will gain both moral and intellectual strength from its perusal . "
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
A LODGE MINUTE BOOK . I wish to call attention to the " extracts " and " notes " which follow , from a MS . recently purchased by the autboriiies of the British Museum , and to which Mr . R . Sims has kindly called my attention . Perhaps Bro . Hughan or Bro . Gould can enlighten me as to the " Royal Lodge . " A . F . A . W .
Fo . 1 . begins : " The Royal Lodge , held at the T hatched House , in St . James ' s St ., 6 Nov ., 1777 . Present : The Right W . Dr . ' Reynold , M ., in the chair ; the W . B . Birth , P . M . , the W . B . Evauce , S . W ., pro tern . ; the W . B . Goodenough , J . W ., pro tern . ; B . Bechford , B . Dalmaiden . The minutes of the last lodge read and confirmed . " Sec , tec .
Fo . 3 . The next date is 5 March , 1778 . From that elate the lodges appear to have been held twice a month to 5 June , 1817 , but either the minutes are wanting or the meetings were less frequent , since the notices Jare dated only once in the year towards the end .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
_____ aj * - ' * rcr 5 zr-wMrc- ~ _ . The last paragraph says : " The business of the lodge being ended it was closed in due form , and adjourned to the 18 th June , 1818 . " Quite at the end is printed " Hymn to be sung by the children of the Freemasons' School before the anniversary sermon of the Charity , 13 April , 1 S 04 , at St . John ' s Church , Westmr . " Then follows a notice ( printed ) of the School " St . George ' s Fields . "
CHARLES MARTEL . I note Bro . Gould ' s remarks , and I now rcplv to them . The absence from his " poem " of mention of any names but those of Euclid and Athelstan is , to my mind a proof of its antiquity . Wc have in the poem two legends , the second beginning at line 471 — Alia Ordinacio arlis gemetriie , which is henceforth a repetition of the previous legend , to which are added the " ars quatuor" and certain
rules for religious service and customary and proper behaviour at meals , & : c . The poem is of high antiquity , and though Mr Bond gives the present " Regius MS . " at early 15 th century date , Casley assigns it to the 14 th century , and so did Mr . Walbran , if ever " Pars Oculi " turns up , an old poem , now missing , front which John
Myrc borrowed his poem , a portion of winch is found in the Masonic poem , and Myrc wrote in 1420 , we shall probably find that it is Norman-French , or Latin , originally . Matthew Cooke ' s MS . gives , us , in addition to Euclid ami Athelstan , David , Solomon , the son of the King of Tyre , A ' . ban Amphibalus ( Adhabell ) , Carolus Secundus Marcus Grcecus , Athelstan , anel his younger son . Matthew Cooke's
MS . seems to contain a duplicate legend , also beginning at p . 642 . In the second legend the name Englct is found , but who clearly is not the Euclid of the first legend , but answers more nearly to the ' personage named " Mamus Groecus , " Ninias , or Memon , whoever he may really be . It is a yi . iinl to be noted , that whereas in the poem there . ire fifteen articles and fifteen points t litre are
on ' y nine eif each in Matthew Cooke s MS ., and the points and articles are in the first legend in the poem , and in the scconef legend in ( fie prose contribution . Irr DenvJanel ' s prose , which probably represents a version of 1500 , we have Euclid , David , Solomon , Hiram , Alban Amphibalus , Charles Martel , Mamus Groecus , Athelstan Edwin , all
mentioned . Some may say " vires adjunct eunelo , " but it appears to me only the natural greater fulness of the legend more elaborately treated . If Mr . Bond's view is correct as to date , Matthew Cooke ' s MS ., instead of late 13 th , is early 15 th century , contemporaneous with the MS . poem . A . F . A . W .
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
The General Committee of this Institution met last Saturday at Freemasons' Hall , Bio . S . Rosenthal in ihe chair . There were also present Bros . Donald M . Dewar , Dr . Richard Morris , R . B . Webster , A . J . Duff Filer , J . W . Dosell , W . li . Perryman , Arthur E . Gladwell , S . Rawson , leHerbert
John Constable , J . J . Berry , F . Adlard , W . Map , Dicketts , W . F . C . Moutrie , Charles Horsley , H . Venn , T . Meggy , E . C . Mather , F . Binckes ( Sec ) , and H . Masicy ( Freemason ) . The report of the Audit Committee recommended the investment of £ 1300 , and the Committee adopted the recommendation , and ordered the investment to be maele
in Reduced Three per Cents . The Committee then considered petitions for candidates , and placed the following on the list for the election in April next : —William Vincent B . Jones , son of the late Bro . the Rev . William Vincent li . Jones , of Knaresborough , who died of diphtheria on the 20 th of July , 1879 ; H . Ecclcston , son of Bro . Thomas Eccleston , of Her Majesty ' s ship " Lily , " who elicd of Asiatic cholera on the 23 rd of
September , 1877 ; Isaac Williams , sin of Bro . Williams , a mariner ( Holyhead ) , who died Oetobcr 5 II 1 , 18 77 ; S . J . Critch , cl Leamington ; G . S . Booker ; John Hogg ( Chester ); anel Ii . G . Darling ( West Ham ) . The Committee afterwards granted £ 20 to apprentice one boy , and made grants of £ 5 each to four other expupils of the Institution . The Committee adjourned , after passing a vote of thanks to the Chairman .
Provincial Grand Chapter Of Cheshire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF CHESHIRE .
A meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Cheshire Freemasons was held at the Royal Motel , Crewe , on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult . Comp . Lord De Tabley , R . W . P . G . Superintendent , presided , and there was a large number of influential companions .
The following companions were the officers invested Comp . the Rev . Spencer Stanhope ... Prov . G . H . „ F . Smith Prov . G . J . „ G . W . Latham Prov . G . S . E . „ Siddley Prov . G . S . N . Lisle Prov . G . P . S .
„ ,, . J .., — ... ... . . . - . „ liuiy Prov . G . ist A . S . „ Brooks Prov . G . 2 nd A . S . ,, Dennis Prov . O . S . I 5 . ,, Tomlinson Prov . G . Swd . Br „ F . Jackson , jun . Prov . G . Treas .
,, W . Aloek ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . The whole ot the chapters in Ihe province were represented with the exception of two . The Provincial Grand Chapter , on the proposition of Comp . Latham , voted the sum of £ 57 15 s . from the funds to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The Provincial Grand Chapter was then closed , and the companions afterwards adjourned to Ihe Crewe Arms Hotel , where a bawiuet was served .