The Craft In Hertfordshire.

constituted 12 Craft lodges , three Royal Arch chapters and a Prov . G . Chapter , and four Mark lodges and a Prov . Grand Mark Lodge . This great progress—especially as nearly all the new lodges and chapters are fairly prosperous—is evidence , firstly , of an amazing growth in the attachment of the Hertfordshire

brethren to the principles of Freemasonry , and secondly , that the affairs of the Province must be administered in all its various branches by one who is well versed in the arts of good

government . We trust the same solid ideas about Masonry will continue to prevail in this county , and that what further progress may be made in the future will be in keeping with that which has been during the last 16 years .

West Yorkshire Masonic Library.

WEST YORKSHIRE MASONIC LIBRARY .

The report by the enthusiastic Craftsman Bro . William Watson , of Leeds ^ as Honorary Librarian of the West Yorkshire " Masonic Library and Museum , " is a remarkable publication and of a most interesting character . Bro . Watson singles out for special mention theT . W . Tew MS ., " a document unique in

some respects , and dating back two centuries " ( presented by Bro . J . W . Cocking ); the " Clajiham MS ., " which " contains the ancient charges , history , and Constitutions of the Craft recently discovered , circa 1700-20 " ( presented by Bro . W . F . Tomlinson ) ; the History of Staffordshire , A . D . 1686 , by Dr .

Plot ; "Highly interesting and valuable as containing the first known reference , in print , to Freemasonry ; " and " the beautiful Book of Constitutions , A . D . 1723 , the premier Book of Constitutions of the world" ( both presented by Bro . T . W . Tew , Prov . G . M . ) . These four are alone sufficient to stamp the collection as one of the most valuable of the kind , and are grand

treasures . Amongst the largest donors to the Library and Museum are R . W . Bro . T . W . Tew ; Bros . Henry Smith , D . Prov . G . M . ; J . W . Cocking , P . M . 2035 ; W . J . Hughan , of Torquay ; William Watson , Prov . G . S . of W . ; H . Sadler , Sub-Librarian G . L . of England ; and T . W . Embleton , P . Prov . S . G . W .

The works include nearly a complete set of " Books of Constitutions " from 1723 to 1888 ; Ahiman Rezons , 1756 to 1813 ; Grand Chapter Regulations , 1823 , & c , and numerous foreign statutes , Ancient and Accepted Rite , & c . Lodge histories are fairly represented , and the Masonic Calendars of the Grand Lodge

of England , 17 81-1890 ( not complete ) , make a splendid series , and are invaluable , especially those from 17 81 onwards . Hutchinson , Preston , and others of the old worthies are carefully noted , and bibliographical works are also duly looked after ,

but there is room yet for many more , and , doubtless , the publication of the excellent report , with the names of the donors , and particulars of their generous gifts—in which the Prov . G . M . takes the lead , financially and generally—cannot fail to induce many more donations .

I am glad to see that there is nearly a complete set of my Books , only the " Constitutions of the Freemasons , " 186 9 , being absent . There is no lack of books relating to matters occult , mystic , archaeological , antiquarian , biblical , and ritualistic , and the bibliographical notes supplied by Bro . Watson add much to

the value of the pamphlet . The collection is rich in proceedings of the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of England and foreign bodies from an early date ; and complete sets of the Freemason

and other magazines , & c , are special features of the Library . Bro . Watson may well be proud of the collection , which bids fair to prove alike worthy of the Prov . Grand Lodge , the Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire , and all concerned . W . J . H .

Transactions Of Lodge No. 2076.

TRANSACTIONS OF LODGE No . 2076 .

Part I . of the new volume ( 3 ) of " Ars Quatuor Coronatorum " ought to receive a particularly warm welcome from the Associate Members of the " Quatuor Coronati" Lodge , now rapidly extending in numbers , and likely soon to reach the thousand . The

members of the select "Inner Circle" will , of course , know how to appreciate such a boon , especially those who are veterans in the study , and so can look , back a quarter century and more to the barren times in relation to Masonic culture and literature .

As I have intimated before , even ardent well-wishers of this extraordinary movement almost felt assured that the variety , excellence , and freshness of the early Transactions could not be

maintained , while not a few , like myself , nothing doubting as to these qualifications , were dubious as to the support the Craft would be prepared to give to such an extensive scheme of literary research and publication in relation to Masonic studies .

All these fears have been " put to sleep , " through the readiness of Masonic Students—an ever-increasing number happilyto place their best at the disposal of the indomitable and inexhaustible editor , Bro . G . W . Speth , and , by the creation of an "Outer Circle" of Associate Members gathered from the "four

Transactions Of Lodge No. 2076.

quarters of the globe , " who are the honorary agents of the lodge far and wide , to make known the publications of the Society . These are so rapidly increasing that it must tax our Secretary considerably to keep pace with the demands on his time , energy , and a considerable amount of correspondence possible only to a born lingfuist .

Then , again , the delivery of Masonic lectures in lodges in Great Britain and abroad by accredited members of the lodge or of its " Outer Circle " is a mighty agency , scarcely as yet in its infancy , for there are no agencies for spreading a knowledge of

Masonic history , comparable with lectures by competent brethren , and subsequent discussion , though down to the present such a means to that end has been but little employed outside the precincts of the lodge itself .

The Societies lately formed in Yorkshire and Lancashire and elsewhere are steps in the right direction , and the admirable and suggestive addresses of Bros . Gould , Speth , Macbean , and

others cannot fail to do much good and lead to grand results . I suggest that a diploma be issued , so that members less known , but qualified , may be able to offer their services under the wing of Lodge No . 2076 to lodges generally . '

the great attraction ot this part is Bro . ( jrould s important paper " On the Antiquity of Masonic Symbolism , " which is wonderfully well written and full of interest , as is all that we have to read from his prolific pen . Bro . Gould is not quite content with the realistic school , and in the company of Bro . Speth has been

marking out some new ground , which may aptly be termed a via media , as it touches the " Traditional" disciples on the one side , and yet maintains close fellowship with the " matter of fact" adherents on the other . As 1 have so lately expressed my views in brief on the subject in an article on "The Regius MS .

and Masonic Symbolism , * it will not do to offer' another deliverance on the subject just at present ; besides which this able and original paper must be carefully studied by our Associate Members prior to any more remarks on the question . Suffice it to say that the interest is fully maintained from first to last , and

the array of facts , extracts , and inferences are sufficient almost to stagger a beginner in Masonic research . Yet , as the paper is carefully examined , it will be seen that Bro . Gould notes the sources from whence he has obtained his views , which , therefore , can be tested by his readers , and thus save them much labour in

groping about for evidence , much being of a curious character , little noticed by even experts in the past . My advice is get this part , and read and digest at leisure . It will . well repay diligent study , and though rather beyond my ken in some respects in relation to the existence of Masonic Degrees before 1720 , 1 nevertheless gladly recognise its conspicuous ability .

The discussion was a memorable one , the editor having done his utmost to give the views propounded as fully as possible . I should like to note the contributions by Bros . Macbean , Speth , and Riley as being exceedingly good , and also the excellent reply by Bro . Gould at the close of the important debate .

One of the charts by Bro . Lambert de Lintot , of 178 9 , is reproduced , and a capital explanation , which has long been needed , is supplied by the editor , of that curious and singular

conglomeration of Masonic symbols . The set of engravings by this artist is not often to be obtained , and always fetch a considerable sum of money , so I hope this reproduction means that the remainder will follow in due course .

A learned contribution by Colonel Crease , C . B ., on " The Masonic Character of the Roman Villa at Morton , Isle of Wight " ( with many diagrams to illustrate the character of these old remains ) , is certainly a feature of this part , and cannot fail to please

all who are archaeologists as' well as Freemasons . Its precise Masonic value has not yet been determined apparently , but I am not disposed to be too critical , and therefore accept it as a useful addition to our information as to these early indications of Masonic , if not Free Masonic , antiquities .

The evidence of "Steinmetz Esoterics , " by Bro . Schnitger , of Newcastle , is a very able exposition in favour of the Steinmetzen having possessed an " esoteric science , " and will put Bro . Speth " on his mettle , " for from a cursory glance there does appear some slight grounds for Bro . Schnitger ' s contention .

The frontispiece is a fine portrait of Colonel Pratt , the respected W . M . of our lodge , which we shall all much value , and cannot fail to appreciate . It is another step in the right direction . W . J . H .

^ . J . CLAUDE BESUCHET . —A doctor born at Boulogne , near Paris , in 1790 . He was a military surgeon from 1806 until 1816 . He became surgeon-major , and served in all the campaigns of the French army . He retired in consequence of

his wounds . He was one of the contributors to the " Encyclopedic Moderne , " in which he wrote the article on Freemasonry . He published several orations , and a very useful work , " Precis Historique de l'Ordre de la Franc Maconnerie , suivi d ' une Biographie , " in two volumes : Paris , 1829 . —Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry .