Masonic Notes And Queries.

or quarterly communications were heard of till iiu ) i , when lords and dukes , lawyers and shopkeepers , and other inferior tradesmen , porters not excepted , were admitted into this mystery or no mystery . "

It will be seen that great stress is here laid on some considerable Alasonic event having occurred in ificji , which is so far corroborative of Aubrey ' s memorandum . It is , however , equally possible , that the notion was suggested ( o Prichard , by the date of constitution of original No . 1 being placed at 1 G 01 in the engraved list of 1729 ?* In " ,, iv last nnfe . the exnression " morkinsr lib stream "

is erroneously given as " working ufi steam , " which is devoid of meaning . 'The idea I sought to convey is presented very clearly by your correspondent Bro . XV . XV . Austin , who in last " week ' ' s Freemason ( p . 52 ) says : — " It is far easier to build up a rite and prove back from it than to do the reverse . " . _

R . 1 ' . GUULI . J . P . S . As regards the charge of " endeavouring to clear away unhistorical myths , " I venture to remind our Bro . " Senex " that ( to use the words of an esteemed writer ) " by supporting -. chat is false , we prevent thinking men from believing ' what is true . "

THE INDIAN FRF . EAIASON'S FRIEND . Can any brother lend me a file of this paper , I mean of the edition published before the mutiny ( 185 ( 1 ) ? R . I * . GOULD ,

AIASONIC STATUTES . 'The terms of the famous statute—3 Henry VI . cap 1—( styled by Preston " An Act to abolish the Society of Alasons" ) "The yearly congregations and confederacies made by the Alasons in their general Chapiters assembled " have been regarded as confirmatory of the " legend of the Guilds "—that there was an annual assemblage of the Alasonic fraternity , or in other words , a periodical meeting of . - * . , r . , T , \ _ r . , . .: __ 1 . 1 i tne entire imiii

a governing body ( or uranu . oage ; or _ _ - hood . The construction thus placed upon the wording of this enactment was thus promulgated in the Constitution book of 1723 , and has since becn universally adopted , tlie critical scnooi

being relied upon by more or moocrn writers , as presenting the one indisputable fact , which alone prevents the old Guild Legend from being consigned to the region of fable and romance . Thus we find in a recent work , whicli may be characterised as a monument

of learning and research— " 1 * rom this phraseology —" en leur generalz Chapiters assemble ? . "— " There is no doubt , the Freemasons bad long becn accustomed to meet in a general or Grand body each year , to legislate upon all matters nertinent to the well being of the Craft .

Almost identical language , however , with what lias been so particularly dwelt upon as occurring in the law of 1425 ( 3 Henry VI . c . i . ) is used in the earlier statute of 13 C 0-61 ( 34 Edward III . cap . ix . ) : —

"All Alliances and Covines of Alasons and Carpenters , and Congregations , Chapters , Ordinances , or Oaths betwixt tliem made , or to be made , shall be from henceforth void and wholly annulled . "

To comprehend these laws ( and therewith , the import of the language in which they were expressed ) we must bear in mind that from the eighth century , the organisation of the Guilds was so complete , that their ordinances were

imitated , or at least sanctioned in legislation , and that even when tolerating the presence of the non-freeman , they could bind him bj \ fheir regulations . Being organised , the Craft Guildmcn provided for the maintenance of the custom , of tlieir Craft , framed further

ordinances for its regulation , saw those ordinances properly executed , and punished the Guild-brothers who infringed them . 'The maintenance of their independence against thc City authorities , and the possibility of carrying out and making efficient their trade rules , depended ,

however , on the condition that all who carried on tne trade should belong to the Guild . It is therefore scarcel y to be wondered at , that so summary a curtailment of their legislative prerogative , to enact ordinances for the control and regulation of tlieir members , though diredted in the flest instance against the building trades only , should have defeated its own purpose by the sweeping ancl revolutionary character of its terms .

we lind , accordingly , that in 1430-7 an endeavour was made to regulate what Parliament , confessedly , was powerless to suppress . The Statute 15 Henry VI . cap . vi ., after reciting— " that the Alasters , Wardens , and people of the many Guilds , fraternities , etc ., make many unlawful and unreasonable ordinances , " requires—" all Letters Patent and Charters to be registered , and all future ordinances to be approved by Justices of thc Peace or by Governors of Cities and Towns . "

I he particular expressions , " Congregations , and " Chapters , " wliich we have seen are employed alike in the Statutes of 1425 and 1360-fii , are further explained by the proceedings of an immediate year . In 13 SS ( 12 Rich . II . )

writs were issued to the blierilrs of l - ondon and or every Shire in England , ordering them to make proclamation , calling on the Alaster and Wardens of all Guilds and Brotherhoods whatsoever , for returns as to the manner and form of the oaths , gatherings , feasts , and General Meetings oi the brethren and sisteren . The Alasters , Wardens ,

and Overlookers of all the Mysteries and Crafts , were also to be called upon to send up in the same way , copies of their Charters or letters patent , when they had any . In a note to bis "English Gilds , " Air . J . Toulmin Smith , who had critically examined over five ' hundred returns from these associations , observes : —"( lie distinction between ( he

gatherings ( congregationcs ) nnd general meetings ( assemblias ) is seen at a glance in most of the ordinances . The Gild brethren were bound to gather together , at unfixed times , for special purposes ; but besides these gatherings upon special summons , general meetings of the Gilds were held on fixed days in every year , for election of officers , holding their feasts , " etc . —Bro . Gould ' s " Four Old Lodges . "

WILLIAM Ll LLJ-. —The celebrated astrologer , whom some have claimed as a member of an hermetic society . But we do not think that it much matters whether lie was or not , as bis name is no credit to any Order . His astrology was too much mixed up with knavery to leave anything pleasant to record of him . He was born in 1 G 02 , and died in 1 OS 1 . It has becn before observed that some writers , like Nicolai

Masonic Notes And Queries.

ancl one or two French authorities , seem to wish to make Freemasonry the product of an hermetic association , in which Ashmole , Lilly , and others took part . 'This is of course a chimera of chimeras , and an utterly unhistorical theory ; its only basis in fact being that about that time there was , no doubt , a numerous band of ' ¦ astrologers " in England , who kept the " Astrologers' Feast , " and may have formed tlie nucleus of a Rosicrucian fraternity . Wc

have mentioned , under Astrologers , several names which are found in Ashmole ' s diary , but think it well to record others here , witli whom Lilly ancl Ashmole seem to have consorted . These are as follows ;—Simeon Forman , Rev . Dr . Nappcr , Air . Evans , Sir Kcnelm Digby , Rev . A . Bedwell , Alexander Hart , Capt . Bubb , Jeffry Neve , William Poole , R . Saunders , Dr . Ardce ( whose real name was Richard Delahay ) , Charles Stcdd , John Booker , Nicholas Fiske , Dr . Gibbcrt , Sir Robert Holborne , Rev .

William Bredon , Sir Christopher Hcydon , Dr . Napier , Sir George Peckham , John Scott , John Humphry's , Dr . Percival Willoughby , John Gadbury , William Pennington , William Hodges . William Alarsh , Joshua Windor , the Scrivener , John Hegenius , a Dutchman , Oliver Withers , Gladwell of Suffolk , a certain Alortlack , John Alarr , and Napier of Alerchiston . These make epiite a school of Hermetics . As regards Lilly himself lie seems to have been looked upon as a knave , ancl is the " Sidrophel " of Butler ' s "Hudibras . " Some of us may remember the

lines— , A cunning man hight Sidrophel 'That deals in destiny ' s dark counsels , And sage opinions of the moon sells , 'To whom all people far and near , On deep importances repair .

Whate'cr he laboured to appear , Alisundcrstanding still was clear ; Yet none a deeper knowledge boasted , Since old Hodge Bacon or Bob Grosled . He is supposed to have favoured the Puritan party in the Great Rebellion , and loyal Butler thus declares that the astrologer—Aladc Alais ancl Saturn for the cause .

1 he Aloon for fundamental laws , The Ram , the Bull , the Goat declare Against the Book of Common Prayer , 'The Scorpion take thc protestation Ancl Bear engage for reformation—Alacleall the royal stars recant , Compound , and take the covenant . THE GILDS—according to modern usage more

generally written Guilds—constituted a most important element in the great social life of this and other nations for many years . The word seems to be derived actually from the Anglo-Saxon " gyld , " or " geald , " ancl was also called " gigild-scliipe , " just as the gild associate was called " gilda , " or " gegelda . " The word " gyld" seems to have becn used originally in the sense of a tax or payment , ancl the early gilds were clearly fraternities giving each a

common share to the common charge . The gild system was , however , Roman in its origin , and found its equivalent in the " societas , " the " sodaIitium , " the " consortium , " and was adopted by the Anglo-Saxons in this country from the Roman guilds existing , just as in France and Germany the guilds were but the perpetuation of an older Roman association . In the Anglo-Saxon laws , the word gild is only once found in the sense of a fraternity , in the "frio gild "

of Athelstan ; but when it is used it is merely like the " ccap glides , " a payment of money . 'The meaning is generally represented , as R . Schmid points out in his valuable "Gesetzeder Angelsachsen , " as " gcgildscipe , geferri-eden geferscipe . " Therefore , all tbat wc can say of them in those early times is that they existed . Gilds seem early to have been divided into four classes—the gilds for mutual protection and aid under certain contingencies , and

reimbursements of loss ; the purely religious gild ; the merchant gild ; and the Craft or operative gild .- 'There was also a class of gilds whose object was not very apparent , and whicli may be called , we think fairly , social guilds . With the Craft gilds we have to do entirely , though all the history of the gilds is very interesting . There is no documentary evidence of the operative Alason gilds , though wc hear of tylers and bricklayers , and carpenters and

blacksmiths . In tbe reign of Richard II . a return was made from all the then gilds in England , and it is possible that a record of an operative Alasonic gild exists among those mouldering documents . Toulmin Smith issued a collection of a few of them , but said lhat a large number of them still remained unedited . At one time the gilds assumed a great prominence in the customary existence of Englishmen , and such verified accounts as we have of them are

most interesting . The Craft gilds would no doubt more or less be governed by the same laws , and if so wc have a pretty good idea of what the gild was . 'The gild was governed by a Alaster or Warden , and Assistant Masters or Wardens , ancl other officers , and hacl one great annual assembly at which all the members must be present , or pay a mulct , when the affairs of the guild were settled , regulations passed , and the annual festival was celebrated . This

was generally preceded by religious services , most gilds having a chaplain . 'The pure trade of Craft gilds seem to have regulated wages and the price of work , and though each local gild was more or less independent , a meeting of the gilds may also have been annually held , whicli we Freemasons call the General Assembly . We think this is proved by the Statutes of "Chap iters ancl Congregacons " of Alasons . The Operative Alasonic gilds were no doubt

under the direction of ecclesiastics ancl the religious orders , and carried on all the church building ancl secular building in this country . The members of the gilds wore a "livery , " or clothing . Thc dress of the Alasons in Canterbury in the early part of the 15 th century , connected with Christ Church , was murry cloth—a sort of red or mulberrycoloured cloth . Chaucer talks much earlier of the " livery of a solempne and grete fraternyte , " and probably the

dress of the gilds varied in different localities . There can be but little doubt that careful study of the rules and regulations of tbe gilds already published , and those which we hope may yet be discovered , will throw much light on the old customs and habits of our operative forefathers , and illustrate many of those quaint usages and terms we still preserve in our speculative order to-day . —Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry .

VVowiswoRTii ' s "COCA PILLS , " the successful remedy for sleeplessness , neuralgia , ancl liav fever , as . per box , Homcropathic Chemist , 6 , Sloane-street , London . —[ ADVT . ]

Ar00403

* I have carefully examined the various files of newspapers for 1 C 91 in the library of the British Aluseum , but ; failed to discover any reference [ to Freemasonry . j

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

—_«©¦— , Craft iHasonrg . FAITH LODGE ( No . 141 ) . —This old lodge met at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , on Tuesday , the 30 th ult . Among those in attendance were Bros . Rumball , W . AI . j Alorrison , S . W . ; Heaphey , J . W . ; Carter , P . AI ., Treas . ; W . Stuart , P . AI ., Sec ; Charles Dairy , I . P . AI . ; Clark , J . D . ; E . Hopwood , P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., P . AI . ; Havard , Holmes , AIcAIullen , How , Alason , Longstaffe , Tyler .

There were no visitors . Thc minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bros . Alason and How were raised to the Degree of AI . AI ., and Bro . AIcAIullen passed to the Degree of F . C , the ceremonies being ably and impressively performed by thc W . AI . in conjunction with his officers .

'There being no other business before the lodge , the W . AI . took the opportunity of giving the interesting-lecture on the Second Tracing BOard , which effort gave the most unqualified satisfaction to the brethren . 'The lodge was then duly and forma'ly closed , ancl the brethren separated . 'There was no banquet .

ZETLAND LODGE ( No . 511 ) . — -The regular meeting of this well-known ancl highly respected lodge was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , City , on Wednesday , the 7 th inst . Punctually at five o ' clook p . m . ( thc time appointed in the summonses ) Bro . Gustav Paul Wehlen , W . AI ., opened the lodge . There were present during the afternoon and evening Bros . R . Ward , S . VV .: Williams ,

J . W . ; A . Barfield , P . AI ., 'Treas . ; G . Read , P . AI ., Sec ; R . Blum . S . D . ; K . Gregory , J . D . ; G . T . F . arnev , I . G . ; R . Schofield , D . C ; D . ' Parkhouse , Steward ; J . Avery , P . AI . ; XV . Game , P . AI . ; A . J . Hire ]] , P . M . ; E . Schoiiman , P . AI . ; H . Weiittick , P . AI . ; " E . Alillbourne , T . W . Holdstock , Grant , G . F . Wilkinson , VV . Watts , Cooper , T . Bd Loader , H . XV . 'Turner , A . Collard , S . I . Gordon , W . Bavlis , VV .

J . Chile ' s , A . C . Strickling , | . Chappell , jun ., I . Cooper , C . Cowley , J . J . Dawson , ' ) . Cork ., XV . Side , J . T ,. Alurch , XV . Shields , " J . H . Hansford , C . H . Abram , VV . Par _> ns , J . P . Scagrove , J . Bocrzer , G . Robson , J . Taps . in , T . Alace , J . Everett , " J . Richardson , VV . T . Tribleti , A . H . Brownckes , W . Park , ancl some twenty others . Amongst a large number of visitors we noticed Bros .

Fredk . Walters , P . P . G . D . Alidclx ., P . AI . 73 , P . M . S 71 , P . AI . ancl Treas . 1300 , Sec . 1321 ., & c ; J . Ouitmann , P . M . 538 ; D . Dannant , P . AI . 511 ; AI . Clegg , J . D . 12 ^ 9 ; R . Gifford , 7 S 0 ; J . T . Alathews , 1701 ; JI . ' K " . Davis , " P . AI . 53 S ; G . Green , 343 ; C . Jolly , 01 . 5 ( Freemason ) , and some whose names wc were unable to ascertain . The minutes of the last regular meeting were read ,

unanimously confirmed , ancl signed by the W . AI . The ballot taken for Air . Phineas Freed man was declared to be unanimous in favour of . his admission . 'The large amount of work on the lodge " agenda paper was commenced by the W . AI ., Bro . G . P . Wehlen , raising to the Third Degree Bros . Grant and T . W . Holdstock ; passing to the Second Degree Bros . G . F . Wilkinson , W . Watts , and J . Cooper ;

completing his work by initiating Air . P . Freedman . We were very pleased to bear an old veteran visitor remark about the W . AI . 's working , wliich he pronounced to be quite correct , very impressive , and in every way and shape most beautifull y rendered . He said that although he hacl come out of Leicestershire he considered , after what working he had witnessed there , that his journey had been amply

repaid hy his being present at that lodge meeting . It was some years since he had last visited the Zetland Lodge , ancl he felt so pleased to see tliem continuing in their old progressive manner , for it argued well for their future prosperity . We can endorse all this old worthy ' s remarks on the working , for it was certainly well and ably rendered . When we consider the W . AI . is not a native of our isles .

we must congratulate him on his triumphant success in the way lie renders the ritual . After so much good work there followed ( if possible ) better , by voting ten guineas from the Benevolent Fund to the Royal Alasonic Institution for Boys , to be placed on the list of Bro . Carter Alillbourne , who at a moment ' s notice had in the kindest and most graceful martner accepted the proud and honourable

position of being Steward to represent his lodge at the forthcoming festival of the Boys' School , and he had expressed bis determination ( if elected ) to represent his lodge next year at the Girls' School , and then representing the Benevolent Institution , meaning to become a Past Steward of each Charity—Life Governor of them all—and completing his efforts by becoming in the

course of time Vice-President of the Benevolent . As Bro . Carter Alillbourne holds a good social position , we have no doubt he will in bis various Stewardships send up some goodly sums to the Charities . Hc is an old member of the Zetland Lodge , ancl to know him is to ensure every one helping him . Some important notices of motion having been given and other good work being done , the lodge was

closed . Banquet followed , and was served in that superior style which has rendered Anderton ' s Hotel famous ancl proverbial . We cannot close our few remarks without congratulating the lodge on its possessing such an excellent W . AI ., who is so well supported by all his officers—particularly the veteran Treasurer and Secretary , and the all important large body of Past Alasters , whose look's and decorations of Jewels , & c .

showed how well they had done their suit and service to Freemasonry in general and tlie good old Zetland Lodge in particular . 'The earnest manner in which the present Steward for the Girls' School worked on behalf of that Charit y is worthy of all praise , ancl we wish God speed wilh his list , which we hope may prove a good one . It will not be for tbe want of perseverance if be does not achieve success . The usual loyal toasts were given and responded to , and a happy meeting was brought to a pleasant close .

NEW CROSS LODGE ( No . 1559 ) . — For the second time in this year of grace the members of the above lodge met together at their usual rendezvous , the Public Hall , Lewisham High-road , on Saturday last , the 3 rd inst . 'I here were present Uros . K . H . ' Thiellay , P . G . S . BAliddx ., W . M . j Ernest E . Smith , S . W . j ' VV . CowleV , J . W . ; T . Grummant , S . D . ; Hiram Henton , J . D . ; W . C . Page , S . D . 1475 , acting as I . G . ; H . Keeble , P . AI ., Treas . ; Walter Simmonds , Sec ; Church , T y ler ; AIoss , Crople }' , Ross , T . Aletham , Cash , and the following visitors : Bros .