Antiquity Of Freemasonry.

the great privilege of consulting his rare , extensive , and very valuable library , for all of which I have to return my most sincere thanks ; and with it all , I cannot manage la trace the existence of our system of Freemasonry before 1717 . For want of any tangible foundation , I have had to throw over the Adamite , Mosaic , Solomonic , Roman , and Guild theories of the origin of Freemasonry ,

and , resting upon the solid foundation of the 1717 theory , I respectfully refiise to move therefrom until another foundation equally solid , and which will bear looking at and handling , is pointed out to me . My object Sn ail this is to support the real honour of the Craft , and jo something to assist in placing its history on a true and unassailable foundation , and I only wish I could enlist the

sympathy of Bro . Paton and others in enabling me to cany forward what I really have at heart—viz ., the true dignity of our Order . By doing so , we shall not only arrest the sneer of the scoffer , but also be doing our duty as Masons . It is not its pretended antiquity that will recommend Freemasonry to the support or the learned , the good , or the noble . No ; it is upon its principles that Freemasonry must depend . And in so far as these are

carried into practice , so farjwill Freemasonry be recommended by Freemasons . I must now thank you lor your great kindness and courtesy in giving us so much or your valuable space in discussing this subject , and hope that wliat has been said will assist in throwing a little light upon this quite unnecessary quttislio obseura . I am , yours respectfully , Glasgow , August 6 th , 1870 . W . P . BUCHAN .

Bro . Paton , at page 346 , referred to the omission of a few words relative to Dr . Anderson , how that occurred I do not remember , but the sentence is as follows : " As to Dr . Anderson , whom Bro . Paton eulogises so strongly , his works are described in M'Kenzie ' s ' Universal Biography ' as being ' the result of some labour , but display little judgment . '"

Now , I have read Dr . Anderson ' s " Defence of Masonry , " and while I admit there may be a certain cleverness in it , I also consider there is also a considerable amount of sophistry . As to the remark in M'Kenzie , which I quote , I leave the author to support his own words ; only I am afraid he must have had some foundation for his description when

he gave it . Consequently , Bro . Paton , by calling attention to my supposed mistake has only " jumped out of the frying-pan into the fire . " As to Bro . Carpenter ' s remarks at page 380 , I would ask him how much would be left of our system if its rituals and its universality , as laid down in the first head of the 1723 Constitutions

were taken away ? The former is the body , the latter the spirit—the whole , Speculative Freemasonry . Further , it is not how it can be denied that Speculative Masonry existed before last century ; but how can it be proved that it did exist . It is not dreams or wishes we want to hear about , but real evidence .

As to what a number of writers on Masonry said last century , I have merely to repeat which I said in the " Gentleman ' s Magazine , " for May , 1 S 69—viz ,, that either through ignorance or intention they wrote a vast amount of nonsensical absurdities and lies , and as to what a 1 743 Encyclopaedia would say about Freemasonry I would not value it at a

farthing , unless it could be supported . I am astonished at Bro . Carpenter putting any weight upon it ; give us something a little before 1717 , not the old thing over again—sixty-six years old . Dr . Anderson , in 1730 , could not get past 1717 , so 7 am lot the least astonished at Bro . Carpenter and others in 1870 failing to do so . As to Bro . Goodwyn , at page 369 , he is quite safe in my opinion to use

me word fraud " when referring to last century Masonic writers . Anderson and others wrote with Iheintention not to give the slightest impression that any such radical change did take place—c . g ., who ¦? rged the Malcolm Canmorc Charter about sixtysix years ago ? And although only a forgery , how wnic it to be published , and supported by so many Glasgow historians as a genuine article ? Was it Tint ; . « ! i _ * . « _ 1 i * . ¦ '

* --uiqjosiuon mac proauccci it , and ignorance that propagated it ! And so on ct stti generis . I am , yours fraternally , n , W . P . BUCHAN . Glasgow , August 9 th , 1870 .

FAITH LODGE OE INSTRUCTION . — The above afo 8 ° of Instruction is held every Tuesday evening , » o clock , in the spacious and commodious rooms , ; . f ° - Fisher ' s Restaurant , Metropolitan District \ 1 \ ay Sf ali <» i > Victoria , S . W . Ceremonies and « urcs worked every Tuesday , except the fourth esday in the month , when the ceremonies alone 1 j . - » — -- ---- j --.. v >« v « . v . \*\ . l \ . Ul \ JlH \ , a ( 11 V / 11 V ,

SrRif arSCd - T 1 , C "OMATIC CHAPTKR OK INFriH I 0 N , s a , s 0 ) lc , d ' t , lc a ,: ) 0 VC rooms every may evening , at 8 o ' clock , from October until A Pnl inclusive . "" c ! l ? J ' n- ^ ' s PlLLS nrc an exccllcnt remedy for Jc l'rc . wi , r' . ' ° " s" <« s and sick headache , from whatever cause these "icsc P P . , '" "' '" ay arise . The extraordinary cures effected by rc l » iic , »„ hecn " '"" us of bringing them into the highest

»' orld Th » sociciy every pari ol lhe civilised \ * . UuvtirLJ : * y , laHcl 1 ¦ " " limcs ] > y Persons suffering from a " > 'ly inmli ' < lcra "l . ' « stomach , and disordered liver . As . 1 "' ¦""! cnW- ,, le T ' ' ''» ei | iiallcd . because , though powcr"' ¦ '<>• lie niv ™ ' t ,, c / s "' Ki"larly '"" Id in their operation , and " contn ,. ' '" P"l < - ' « confidence to young- children . 'Jlicy do ts "" ot do harm " rAd , " ' y or any othcr noxious substance , and

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS

For the Week ending September 17 , 1870 . MONDAY , SEPT . 12 . Red + Conclave , Plantagcnet , Cannon-street Hotel . Sincerity Lodge of Instruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern Fenchurch-street Station , at 7 .

Wellington Lodge of Instruction , White Swan Tavern , Deptford , at S . Camden Lodge of Instruction ( 704 ) , Adelaide Tavern , Haverstock-hill , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Eastern Star Lodgeof Instruction ( 95 ) , Royal Hotel ,

Mileend-road , at 7 . 30 , Bro . E . Gottheil , Preceptor . British Oak Lodge of Instruction , Bank of Friendship Tavern , Mile End , at 7 for 8 .

TUESDAY , SEPT . 13 . Lodge 548 , Wellington , White Swan , Deptford . ,, 1269 , Stanhope , Thicket Hotel , Anerley . Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , Portugal Hotel , Fleet-street , at 7 ; Comp . Brett , Preceptor .

DomaticLodgeof Instruction , PalmerstonTav ., Grosvenorpark , Camberwell , at 7 . 30 . Royal Union Lodge of Instruction ( 3 S 2 ) , Hotel de Cologne , 60 and 61 , Haymarket , at 8 ; Bro . T . AAdams , Preceptor . Faith Lodge of Instruction , Metropolitan Railway , Victoria

Station , at 8 ; Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Preceptor . Yarborough Lodgeof Instruction , Green Dragon , Stepney , at 8 ; Bro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor . Prince Fredk . William Lodge of Instruction ( 753 ) Knights of St . John ' s Tavern , St . JohnWood ; Bro . F . G . Baker , Preceptor . Prestonian Club of Instruction ( for M . M . ' s only ) , Lyceum Tavern , Strand .

WEDNESDAY , SEPT . 14 . Committee R . M . Benevolent Institution , at 3 . Lodge 13 , Union Waterloo , Masonic Hall , Woolwich . ,, 87 , Vitruvian , White Hart , College-st ., Lambeth . 11 M 7 i Justice , White Swan , Deptford . ,, 1216 , Macdonald , Head Quarters 1 st Surrey Rifles ,

Brunswick-road , Camberwell . ,, 122 S , Beacontree , private rooms , Leytonstone . ,, 1260 , Hervey , George Hotel , Walham Green . Chap . 619 , Beadon , Greyhound , Dulwich . Pythagorean Lodge of Instruction ( 79 ) , Prince of Orange , Greenwich , at S ; J . Robt . Nash , Preceptor . United Strength Lodsre of Instruction ( 228 ) , Bull & Gate

Kentish Town-road , atS ; Bro . J . N . Frost , Preceptor . Israel Lodge of Instruction , Rising Sun Tavern , Globeroad , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor . Strong Man Lodge of Instruction , The Grapes Tavern , Duke-street , Manchester-square , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , P . G . P ., Preceptor . New Concord Lodge of Instruction , Rosemary Branch

Tavern , Hoxton , at S . Sydney Lodge of Instruction ( 829 ) , Cambridge Hotel , Upper Norwood , at 7 . 30 . Peckham Lodge of Instruction , Maismore Arms , Parkroad , Peckham ; Bro . David Rose , Preceptor . Temperance in the East Lodge of Instruction , George the Fourth , Catherine-street , Poplar .

THURSDAY , SEPT . 15 . Lodge 127 S , Burdett Coutts , Approach Tavern , Approachroad , Victoria-park . Fidelity Lodge of Instruction ( 3 ) , Goat and Compasses , Euston-road , at S ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Finsbury Club of Instruction , Jolly Anglers' Tavern , 42 , Bath-street , City-road .

United Manners Lodge of Instruction , 'lhree Cranes , Mile-cnd-road , at S ; Bro . T . J . Barnes , Preceptor . St . George's Lodge of Instruction ( 140 ) , Globe Tavern , Royal Hill , Greenwich , at S . Burdett Coutts Lodge of Instruction ( 1278 ) , Approach Tavern , Approach-road , Victoria-park , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . John Saunders , Preceptor .

FRIDAY , SEPT . 16 . Chap . 176 , Caveac , Radlcy ' s Hotel , Blackfriars . K . T . Encampment , Kcmys Tynte , Masonic Hall , Woolwich . K . T . Encampment , St . George , 14 , Bedford-row . Stability Lodge of Instruction , Guildhall Tavern , 33 , Giesham-st ., at 6 ; Bro . IIcnry Muggeiidge , Preceptor .

St . Lukes Lodge of Instruction ( 144 ) , i ' lcrllll ., Chelsea . Unions Emulation Lodge of Improvement for M . M . ' s , Freemasons' Hall , at 7 . Domatic Chapter of Instruction , Metropolitan Railway , Victoria Station , at 8 ; Comp . Cottebrune , Preceptor . Pythagorean Chapter of Instruction ( No . 79 ) , Prince of Orange , Greenwich-road , at S ; Comp . W . West

Smith , Preceptor . Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , Portugal Htl ., Fleetstreet , at 7 ; Bro . Brett , Preceptor . United Pilgrims' Lodge of Instruction , Duke of Edinburgh , Shcpherd's-lane , Brixton . Belgrave Lodge of Instruction , Duke of Wellington Htl ., Spring-gardens , Charing-cross ; Br . Pulsion ! , Preceptor Doric Lodge of Instruction , Three Cranes Tavern , Mile

end-road , at 8 ; Bro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor . Duke of Edinburgh Lodge of Instruction , Silver Lion , Penny-fields , Poplar , at 7 ; Br . D . S . Potts , Preceptor . Temperance Lodge of Instruction , Victoria Tav ., Victoriaroad , Deptford , at S . Charterhouse Club of Instruction , Hat and Feathers Tavern , 25 , Goswell-road , at 8 ; Bro . J . Mather , P . M . O 5 , Preceptor .

SATURDAY , SEPT . 17 . Mark Lodge , Southwark , Bridge House Htl ., Southwaik . Star Lodge of Instruction ( 1275 ) , Marquis of Granby , New Cross-road , at 7 .

Poetry.

Poetry .

v " ARE MACONNES GUDDER MEN THAN ODHERS ?" Ancient Manuscript . VERSION II . I saw a goodly company Assemble at that hall , Where Masons go right joyfully , At the Master's wonted call .

I saw them , though of many a sect , Go join a solemn throng , And raise to the Grand Architect A glad , a noble song . A stone was laid , tried with the square By the Grand Master's hand ; And corn and wine and oil were there , Brought by that careful band .

Then all together prayed with zeal , That blessings God will pour Upon their work , which they may feel Themselves for evermore . It was a Church they thus essayed , A Church they meant to raise ; And not one brother grudged his aid—Not one withheld his praise .

Each knew the end thus sought was good , This was the commoa tie—The Heavenly Architect , He would Be glorified thereby . And in like manner would they rear A Chapel's stately fane ; For Masons prejudices fear—Of other men the bane . A . R . VS . , 100 S .

FAITH , HOPE AND CHARITY . The Mason ' s Faith in Heaven's love Supports him under many a trial , And keeps him in temptation's hour In Virtue ' s path of self-denial . However dark his fate may be , Religion ' s power consoles him still ; He knowcth God " docth all things well , " And feels resigned unto His will .

The Mason ' s Hope shines radiant Through all this world ' s unceasing strife , For 'tis a sweet unfading hope—The hope of an immortal life ! It soothes him when by care opprcst , It seems to whisper " God is near ;" It gives relief unto his breast , Though little may be left to cheer .

But , oh ! the Mason ' s Charity , Evinced in sympathy and love , Will fit him for that blessed home He hopes to reach in realms above . Thus Faith , and Hope , and Charity Should light the path by Masons trod , And guide them in the blessed way That leads to Virtue and to God .

A . C . S . FEMALE CONFIDENCE IN MASONRY .

COMPOSED 1 JY A YOUNG GIRL . We know there is a mystic tie , That binds this Brotherhood ; And need not question if that bond Be founded deep in good .

For by their works we judge of them , And well the maiden cried : " O ! Lord , had ' st Thou been here , alas ! My brother had not died . " With willing hands we'll strew the palms Along their pathway here , And ever deem ourselves secure With brother Masons near .

THE CITY DIRECTORY —Messrs . W . H . and L . Collingridge , lhe City Press , announce for publication , early in December , " The City Directory . " It is stated that this work will he compiled from original sources of information , and will coiiimise many new features of

considerable importance , thus supplying a long-felt want . According to the prospectus , all matters of interest to traders in , and connected with , the City of London , as well as banking , insurance , public companies , parochial anil official , will be singularly complete and

ENJOYMENT . — Freemasons arc allowed the privilege of enjoying themselves with innocent mirth , treating one another according to ability , but avoiding all excess , or forcing any brother to eat or drink beyond his inclination , or hindering him from going when his occasions call him , or doing or saying anything offensive , or that may forbid an easy and free conversation ; for that would blast our harmony and defeat our laudable purposes . —Ancient Charges .