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GRAND LODGE OP MARK MASTER MASONS OF ENGLAND AND WALES , AND THE COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES OF THE BRITISH CROWN . THE RIGHT HON . LORD HENNIKER , M . VV . Grand Master . THE RIGHT HON . THE EARL OF KINTORE , R . VV . Deputy Grand Master . A MOVEABLE GRAND LODGE VVill be held under the auspices of thc Britannia Lodge , No . 53 , at the FREEMASONS' HALL , SURREY ST ., SHEFFIELD , On THURSDAY , 22 nd inst . Grand Lodge will be opened at 2 . 30 o'clock precisely . BUSIN-ESS . Installation of V . W . Bro . J . W . Woodall as R . VV . Provincial Grand Master of North and East Yorkshire ; and Installation of Bro . S . H . Gatty , Worshipful Master Elect of the Britannia Lodge , By the M . VV . Grand Master , assisted by his Grand Ofiicers . The Banquet will take place at Five o ' clock . Tickets , 12 s . Gd . each , inclusive of Wine , application for which must be made to Bro . H . A . Styring , Freemasons' Hall , Surrey Street , Sheffield , on or before Monday , 12 th inst . By command of the M . W . Grand Master . FREDERICK BINCKES ( P . G . J . W . ) , Secretary . Ofiice—Sa , Red Lion Square , London , W . C , ist September , 1 SS 1 .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

The following stand over : Masonic History and Historians . Provincial Grand Mark Lodge , South VVales .

BOOKS , Sic ., RECEIVED . "The Citizen , " " Die Baiihutte , " " Jewish Chronicle , " "Der Long Islaender , " "The North China Herald , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "The Liberal Freemason , " " La Acacia , " " La Chaine D'Union , " " Freemason ' s Repository , " "Boletin of Del Sup . Cons . De Mexico , " "The Sunday Times , " " Broad Arrow , " " The VVest London Advertiser , " " Hull Packet . "

Ar00605

THE FREEMASON . SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 10 , 1 SS 1 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

CVVe tlo not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , thc opinions expressed by ourcorrespondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

THE ORDER OF CONSTANTINE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The other day I stumbled upon , in a French Work , published at the Hague , in 1721 , and entitled " . Histoire des Ordtes Militaires , ou des Chevaliers , " & c

& c , and of which , I believe , more than one edition has been published , a curious dissertation , in vol . i ., relative to the " Order of Constantine , " and where also I found a Medallion with a likeness of Constantino thc Great , with the mystic monogram , and which was worn round thc neck attached to a collar of pearls—at least , so says the writer .

Some doubts exist as to whether this Medallion was to be borne by his Imperial Guard of Fifty , to whom thc "Labarum" was entrusted , or by his Knights , and whether he ever did institute an Orderof Knighthood . It seems , from this writer , that thc " Labarum " was not a purely novel standard , but new only for the Christian

monogram . In 1712 a certain Marquis Maffei wrote in Latin a work on thc Chivalric Orders , and also endeavoured to prove the " fable of thc institution of any such Order ;" and , undoubtedly , there is a great deal of obscurity as to the creation by Constantine of the Order of thc Knights of

the Red Cross , and of the Knights of the Golden Angel . The first official publication of the statutes and ceremonial in Europe seems to have been about 1 G 24 . Partial publications are said to have been made earlier , which do not seem to be authentic , and as the laws are asserted to be the same as those which the Emper Isaac

Angelos Comnenius is said to have drawn up in ujo , he seems to be the real founder of thc Order . The Abbe Justiniani , indeed , asserts that this was the revival of the Order of Constantine . I think wc must give up the old story of Constantino's leprosy and baptism at Rome , and the formation of a

" Christian Militia ; " but r . quites , " or knights were not unknown to the Romans , and it seems not unreasonable to suppose that Constantine , after all , did institute an order of Christian knighthood , as is asserted in the work of the Jesuit Mambrunius , in the seventeenth century , in long poem in Latin verse .

Original Correspondence.

Some of the old rules of the Order of Constantine , which seems to be now historically vested in the Duke of Parma , though the Pope also claims to be its patron and superior , are very curious , and the old vow of the knights deserves notice , viz ., " to defend widows and orphans , to follow the standard of the Christian Militia of St . George , to fight courageously for religion and the church , to be humble

and charitable , and to leave something to the Order when they die . " It seems that there were four classes of the Order : 1 , Knights Grand Crosses and Senators ; 2 , Ordinary Knights ; 3 , Knights Ecclesiastic ; 4 , Serving Knights , the latter arrangement being " unique . "

I note that thc Abbe Justiniani is not credited in all his statements , but that greater reliance is placed on other writers , such as Honorc St . Marie , and , above all , Mr . Basnage . I thought that these facts might interest you , and am , yours fraternally , BOOKWORM .

REPRESENTATION OF TEXAS IN GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As the courteous letter of jthe Grand , Master of Texas appointingmehisrepresentativein England appeared in your columns , I think it only right and proper that the enclosed

copy of a letter just received should also be made public , in justice to myself and to thc Grand Lodge of Texas . Perhaps if representatives of foreign Grand Lodges reported annually to thc bodies they represented , mistakes and misunderstandings might be avoided , and the Craft benefited thereby . Fraternally yours , EMRA HOLMES , F . R . H . S . September Oth .

[ Corv . ] " Office of the Grand Master of Masons , " Austin , Texas , August 19 th , 1 SS 1 . " Right Worshipful Emra Holmes , Fowey , Cornwall , " Dear Sir and Brother , — " In addition to communication from yourself , addressed to Bro . H . M . Holmes , my private Secretary ,

I have this day received a communication from Bro . S . H . Gierke , Grantl Secretary Grand Lodge of England , in answer to mine of the 28 th March , in which he says that Bro . Jas . Wilde holds commission as representative for Grand Lodge of Texas , dated in 1 S 47 , and that , ' until his patent is formally revoked , the Grand Lodge of England must continue to consider him as your Giand

Representative , and cannot accept the appointment of Bro . Holmes , of whom our Grand Lodge knows little , as he lives in the far west of England , and very seldom attends our meetings . ' " Now , as it was not my intention , in the first place , to supersede any one , but only to fill , what I supposed to be , a vacancy ( and justly so supposed , as our Grand Secretary ,

who has filled that ofiice for eighteen years , had never heard of this person ) for the present , until I enquire more into this matter I must recall your commission , or rather request you to take no action thereunder until you hear further from me . In my answer to Col . Gierke , I make use of the following language in reply to thc paragraph quoted : ' In reference to the appointment of Bro . Emra Holmes , I

would say that 1 do not deem it essential that our representative should reside in London ; and that he is known here as a zealous and able Craftsman , a well-informed author on Masonic subjects , and , I believe , with all fraternal deference , would represent us as well as a brother from whom we have not heard for eighteen years . ' " I believe that your commission ipso facto annuls and

cancels the former appointment , but I do not desire to raise this question or to seem arbitrary and harsh to a brother who in good faith may deem that he has done his whole duty by the Grand Lodge he represents , and whose actions , or want of action , have never been called in question by his constituents , because they were in ignorance that they occupied that position . I shall fully enquire into

this matter and advise you of the result . " I am , my dear Sir , fraternally "J . II . MCLEARY , Grand Master . " [ Bro . Holmes states that he never sought this appointment , and that when first asked whether he would accept it he demurred , and forwarded to the Grand Master a copy of the Cosmopolitan Calendar in which Bro . Wilde ' s name

appeared as representative . He was informed , however , that nothing was known of Bro . Wilde in Texas , and it was concluded that he was dead , as nothing had been heard of him for many years . Bro . Holmes then accepted the appointment subject to approval . It would certainly seem

desirable that representatives of foreign Grand Lodges should make , as Bro . Holmes suggests , periodical reports to their respective Grand Masters , as otherwise it is hard to understand what is the use of representatives at all unless they are mediums of communication between Grand Lodges . ]

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE FREEMASON . To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 am greatly obliged to "Masonic Student" and Bro . Robert Whitfield for their courteous replies to my query . After writing my former letter I did , what I ought to have done at first , viz ., studied Brand Mackenzie , Sykes Richardson , Src , & c . The whole of those " Local

Historians" agree in stating that in 1215 " King John constituted in Newcastle a Society of Free merchants ( i . c ) " Merchant Adventurers ; " therefore lhc word Freemason which occurred in the " Annals of the Northern Counties " was cither a " lapsus penna ; " on the writer's part or a misprint of his printers . Yours fraternally , NOVOCASTRIAN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

HEREAFTER . By A . F . HEATON , B . A ., Senior Curate , Worksop Abbey . Provost and Co ., 40 , Tavistockstrcet , Covent Garden , London , VV . C . This a poem , by Bro . Heaton , printed in a somewhat peculiar mode , and which novelty of form we cannot say we like , either for appearance or convenience . The work is difficult to read in this method , more so as printed , than in the common-place manner . We don't think that this novel idea is likely to command readers , or obtain general

approval . Thc poem—in the form of a dialogue and blank verse—seems both able and sustained , animated and effective , and will , we feel sure , give pleasure to many in its perusal . The poem deals with abstruse and serious subjects , but wc are carried along by the words of the writer until wc enter both into the truth and spirit of thc dialogue between "Christianus" and "Theophil , " and until we think we see that wc can yet expect better and

stronger poetry from the author . Just now there is a great deal of most indifferent so-called " Poiesis " afloat , and that there arc " poets and poets " is a truism which each reviewing column attests . It is , therefore , pleasant for us to turn away from thc " waste " and " rubbish " of mere " windbags " of so-called "poets , " who arc not " poets , " and never will be poets ; " of young gentlemen who " write with ease , " but have mistaken

"their vocation ; " and thc wearisome utterances of a very unpoetical school , to greet lines which can fairly be commended for their truth and sense—their perceptible " reality , " and the latent and even evident tokens of the " sacred fire , " which probably will yet burn more brightly still—than in this interesting little " pome . " Indeed , the poem is itself a developcment of the well-known , if somewhat misused apothegm , " Mors janua vita ; . "

NOTES ON ST . BOTOLPH WITHOUT , ALDERSGATE . By J STAPLES , F . S . A ., Alderman of the Ward of Aldersgate . This very interesting work , printed for private circulation , has come before us , and , we think , deserves "note and comment" especially , as our readers will see , in the Freemason . It seems the origin of the work was an address delivered on thc occasion of the opening to the

public as a recreation ground the garden formerly reserved as the burial ground of St . Botolph—a very seasonable and judicious proceeding — and that address , somewhat amplified , has now been printed . We may pass over some "facts , " and " jottings of antiquity " dear to intelligent and zealous " Dryasdusts , " and come to what has a special interest for our readers . We may remark that the book is very well printed and is very easy and pleasant reading ,

a compliment we cannot always pay to a good deal of type outcome to-day . It seems that there were three guilds , or fraternities , or brotherhoods in the church of St . Botolph , first , that of the Holy Trinity ; secondly , that of St . Katharine ; and , thirdly , that of Fabian , and St . Sebastian . The Guild of the Holy Trinity was founded in 1374 , and five years afterwards , it being enlarged , a chaplain was appointed " pro operariis et laborariis , " we may fairly

understand " Masons" under such terms , who went to the church for the religious services of the day . That chaplain , the worthy alderman tells us , " still officiates , " if in altered form . This brotherhood was suppressed , with all other guilds , in 1547 , the first year of Edward VI . The hall and old chapter of the guild , if still really existing , now belong to thc parish . The fraternity had a master and wardens and male and female members . They met annually on Trinity Sunday . It seems that by a supplementary

charter of 144 G Henry VI . gave license to Joan Astley , his nurse , and Richard Cawode and Thomas Smith , to establish a perpetual guild , consisting of one master , two custodes , or wardens , and " brethren and sisters " of the parishioners of the same parish and " others who would be of the same fraternity , in honour of his consort and himself . " This seems to be a sort of " revival" of the old guild . The date of the origin of the Fraternity of St . Katharine is not known , but

in 13 S 0 the wardens of this fraternity appeared before the Council of thc Lord the King at Westminster , on the 30 th of January , and presented a return of the authority , foundation , inception , continuation , and regulations of the said fraternity , as are more fully set out in the schedule hereunto annexed . " Let our readers note what follows . " The first ' poynt' in thc said schedule is , ' that when a brother or sister shall be received that they shall be sworn upon a book

to the brotherhood for to hold up and maintain the poynts and the articles that be writ after following , each man to his power , saving his estate ; and that every brother and sister , in token of love , charity , and peace , at recei / ing should kiss every other of them that be there . If any of the brotherhood suffer from poverty , old age that he may not help himself , sickness , or loss by fire or water , he shall have fourteen pence a week ; also , what

man is to take on to be a brother shall pay to the alms at his entry as the Masters and he may agree ; and every quarter , for to maintain the light and the alms of the brotherhood , ' . threepence . And if he have a wife , and she will be a sister , the two lo pay sixpence for thc quarter , or 2 s . a year for them boih . ' 1 he brethren and sisters to associate together in the Church of St . Botolph on the day of St . Katlierinc and hear a mass , and 'offer in the worship

of her —( a strongish order !)—and on thc afternoon of tlic same day , or the next Sunday following , together to choose their masters for thc year following . The brethren and sisters arc to attend the burial of a brother or sister , file gild shall pay costs of worshipful burial of any brother dying within ten miles of London 'if he were not of power to pay them for himself . ' Loans may be granted to the brethren in such amounts that one may be eased as

well as another . " This gild was also dissolved in ist Edward VI . The Fraternity of St . Fabian and St . Sebastian was founded 51 Edward 111 ., A . D . 1577 . There was a return madc . of the guild in 138 9 to the King Richard II ., according to Act of Parliament . The masters ot the guild were Johannes Duncastre and Ricardus Spaignc . Ihe following were the regulations : When a brother or a sister shall be received , he shall be sworn on a book to

maintain thc points and articles of the brotherhood , and every brother and sister " atle receyvynge" should , in token of love , charity , and peace , " help all of those that live there . " Weekly help , to the extent of fourteen pence , is lo be given in cases of suffering from poverty , old age , sickness , lire or water , or any other mishap , so it be not through his own wretchedness . The young that fall into " meschef , " and have nought of his own to help himself

“The Freemason: 1881-09-10, Page 6” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 10 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_10091881/page/6/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
CONTENTS. Article 1
Untitled Article 1
UNITED GRAND LODGE. Article 2
RECEPTION OF THE MASONIC MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT YORK. Article 3
Untitled Ad 6
To Correspondents. Article 6
Untitled Article 6
Original Correspondence. Article 6
Reviews. Article 6
Masonic Notes and Queries. Article 7
DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF THE EASTERN DIVISION, SOUTH AFRICA. Article 7
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 8
Royal Arch. Article 8
Mark Masonry. Article 8
Red Cross of Constantine. Article 8
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Article 8
Obituary. Article 8
Masonic and General Tidings. Article 9
METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS Article 10
MASONIC MEETINGS IN WEST LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE Article 10
Births, Marriages, and Deaths. Article 10
Untitled Ad 10
Untitled Ad 10
Untitled Ad 10
SPECIAL OFFER OF MASONIC WORKS. Article 10
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Page 1

3 Articles
Page 2

Page 2

2 Articles
Page 3

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3 Articles
Page 4

Page 4

2 Articles
Page 5

Page 5

2 Articles
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6 Articles
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5 Articles
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Page 8

7 Articles
Page 9

Page 9

3 Articles
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8 Articles
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Ad00604

GRAND LODGE OP MARK MASTER MASONS OF ENGLAND AND WALES , AND THE COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES OF THE BRITISH CROWN . THE RIGHT HON . LORD HENNIKER , M . VV . Grand Master . THE RIGHT HON . THE EARL OF KINTORE , R . VV . Deputy Grand Master . A MOVEABLE GRAND LODGE VVill be held under the auspices of thc Britannia Lodge , No . 53 , at the FREEMASONS' HALL , SURREY ST ., SHEFFIELD , On THURSDAY , 22 nd inst . Grand Lodge will be opened at 2 . 30 o'clock precisely . BUSIN-ESS . Installation of V . W . Bro . J . W . Woodall as R . VV . Provincial Grand Master of North and East Yorkshire ; and Installation of Bro . S . H . Gatty , Worshipful Master Elect of the Britannia Lodge , By the M . VV . Grand Master , assisted by his Grand Ofiicers . The Banquet will take place at Five o ' clock . Tickets , 12 s . Gd . each , inclusive of Wine , application for which must be made to Bro . H . A . Styring , Freemasons' Hall , Surrey Street , Sheffield , on or before Monday , 12 th inst . By command of the M . W . Grand Master . FREDERICK BINCKES ( P . G . J . W . ) , Secretary . Ofiice—Sa , Red Lion Square , London , W . C , ist September , 1 SS 1 .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

The following stand over : Masonic History and Historians . Provincial Grand Mark Lodge , South VVales .

BOOKS , Sic ., RECEIVED . "The Citizen , " " Die Baiihutte , " " Jewish Chronicle , " "Der Long Islaender , " "The North China Herald , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "The Liberal Freemason , " " La Acacia , " " La Chaine D'Union , " " Freemason ' s Repository , " "Boletin of Del Sup . Cons . De Mexico , " "The Sunday Times , " " Broad Arrow , " " The VVest London Advertiser , " " Hull Packet . "

Ar00605

THE FREEMASON . SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 10 , 1 SS 1 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

CVVe tlo not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , thc opinions expressed by ourcorrespondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

THE ORDER OF CONSTANTINE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The other day I stumbled upon , in a French Work , published at the Hague , in 1721 , and entitled " . Histoire des Ordtes Militaires , ou des Chevaliers , " & c

& c , and of which , I believe , more than one edition has been published , a curious dissertation , in vol . i ., relative to the " Order of Constantine , " and where also I found a Medallion with a likeness of Constantino thc Great , with the mystic monogram , and which was worn round thc neck attached to a collar of pearls—at least , so says the writer .

Some doubts exist as to whether this Medallion was to be borne by his Imperial Guard of Fifty , to whom thc "Labarum" was entrusted , or by his Knights , and whether he ever did institute an Orderof Knighthood . It seems , from this writer , that thc " Labarum " was not a purely novel standard , but new only for the Christian

monogram . In 1712 a certain Marquis Maffei wrote in Latin a work on thc Chivalric Orders , and also endeavoured to prove the " fable of thc institution of any such Order ;" and , undoubtedly , there is a great deal of obscurity as to the creation by Constantine of the Order of thc Knights of

the Red Cross , and of the Knights of the Golden Angel . The first official publication of the statutes and ceremonial in Europe seems to have been about 1 G 24 . Partial publications are said to have been made earlier , which do not seem to be authentic , and as the laws are asserted to be the same as those which the Emper Isaac

Angelos Comnenius is said to have drawn up in ujo , he seems to be the real founder of thc Order . The Abbe Justiniani , indeed , asserts that this was the revival of the Order of Constantine . I think wc must give up the old story of Constantino's leprosy and baptism at Rome , and the formation of a

" Christian Militia ; " but r . quites , " or knights were not unknown to the Romans , and it seems not unreasonable to suppose that Constantine , after all , did institute an order of Christian knighthood , as is asserted in the work of the Jesuit Mambrunius , in the seventeenth century , in long poem in Latin verse .

Original Correspondence.

Some of the old rules of the Order of Constantine , which seems to be now historically vested in the Duke of Parma , though the Pope also claims to be its patron and superior , are very curious , and the old vow of the knights deserves notice , viz ., " to defend widows and orphans , to follow the standard of the Christian Militia of St . George , to fight courageously for religion and the church , to be humble

and charitable , and to leave something to the Order when they die . " It seems that there were four classes of the Order : 1 , Knights Grand Crosses and Senators ; 2 , Ordinary Knights ; 3 , Knights Ecclesiastic ; 4 , Serving Knights , the latter arrangement being " unique . "

I note that thc Abbe Justiniani is not credited in all his statements , but that greater reliance is placed on other writers , such as Honorc St . Marie , and , above all , Mr . Basnage . I thought that these facts might interest you , and am , yours fraternally , BOOKWORM .

REPRESENTATION OF TEXAS IN GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As the courteous letter of jthe Grand , Master of Texas appointingmehisrepresentativein England appeared in your columns , I think it only right and proper that the enclosed

copy of a letter just received should also be made public , in justice to myself and to thc Grand Lodge of Texas . Perhaps if representatives of foreign Grand Lodges reported annually to thc bodies they represented , mistakes and misunderstandings might be avoided , and the Craft benefited thereby . Fraternally yours , EMRA HOLMES , F . R . H . S . September Oth .

[ Corv . ] " Office of the Grand Master of Masons , " Austin , Texas , August 19 th , 1 SS 1 . " Right Worshipful Emra Holmes , Fowey , Cornwall , " Dear Sir and Brother , — " In addition to communication from yourself , addressed to Bro . H . M . Holmes , my private Secretary ,

I have this day received a communication from Bro . S . H . Gierke , Grantl Secretary Grand Lodge of England , in answer to mine of the 28 th March , in which he says that Bro . Jas . Wilde holds commission as representative for Grand Lodge of Texas , dated in 1 S 47 , and that , ' until his patent is formally revoked , the Grand Lodge of England must continue to consider him as your Giand

Representative , and cannot accept the appointment of Bro . Holmes , of whom our Grand Lodge knows little , as he lives in the far west of England , and very seldom attends our meetings . ' " Now , as it was not my intention , in the first place , to supersede any one , but only to fill , what I supposed to be , a vacancy ( and justly so supposed , as our Grand Secretary ,

who has filled that ofiice for eighteen years , had never heard of this person ) for the present , until I enquire more into this matter I must recall your commission , or rather request you to take no action thereunder until you hear further from me . In my answer to Col . Gierke , I make use of the following language in reply to thc paragraph quoted : ' In reference to the appointment of Bro . Emra Holmes , I

would say that 1 do not deem it essential that our representative should reside in London ; and that he is known here as a zealous and able Craftsman , a well-informed author on Masonic subjects , and , I believe , with all fraternal deference , would represent us as well as a brother from whom we have not heard for eighteen years . ' " I believe that your commission ipso facto annuls and

cancels the former appointment , but I do not desire to raise this question or to seem arbitrary and harsh to a brother who in good faith may deem that he has done his whole duty by the Grand Lodge he represents , and whose actions , or want of action , have never been called in question by his constituents , because they were in ignorance that they occupied that position . I shall fully enquire into

this matter and advise you of the result . " I am , my dear Sir , fraternally "J . II . MCLEARY , Grand Master . " [ Bro . Holmes states that he never sought this appointment , and that when first asked whether he would accept it he demurred , and forwarded to the Grand Master a copy of the Cosmopolitan Calendar in which Bro . Wilde ' s name

appeared as representative . He was informed , however , that nothing was known of Bro . Wilde in Texas , and it was concluded that he was dead , as nothing had been heard of him for many years . Bro . Holmes then accepted the appointment subject to approval . It would certainly seem

desirable that representatives of foreign Grand Lodges should make , as Bro . Holmes suggests , periodical reports to their respective Grand Masters , as otherwise it is hard to understand what is the use of representatives at all unless they are mediums of communication between Grand Lodges . ]

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE FREEMASON . To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 am greatly obliged to "Masonic Student" and Bro . Robert Whitfield for their courteous replies to my query . After writing my former letter I did , what I ought to have done at first , viz ., studied Brand Mackenzie , Sykes Richardson , Src , & c . The whole of those " Local

Historians" agree in stating that in 1215 " King John constituted in Newcastle a Society of Free merchants ( i . c ) " Merchant Adventurers ; " therefore lhc word Freemason which occurred in the " Annals of the Northern Counties " was cither a " lapsus penna ; " on the writer's part or a misprint of his printers . Yours fraternally , NOVOCASTRIAN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

HEREAFTER . By A . F . HEATON , B . A ., Senior Curate , Worksop Abbey . Provost and Co ., 40 , Tavistockstrcet , Covent Garden , London , VV . C . This a poem , by Bro . Heaton , printed in a somewhat peculiar mode , and which novelty of form we cannot say we like , either for appearance or convenience . The work is difficult to read in this method , more so as printed , than in the common-place manner . We don't think that this novel idea is likely to command readers , or obtain general

approval . Thc poem—in the form of a dialogue and blank verse—seems both able and sustained , animated and effective , and will , we feel sure , give pleasure to many in its perusal . The poem deals with abstruse and serious subjects , but wc are carried along by the words of the writer until wc enter both into the truth and spirit of thc dialogue between "Christianus" and "Theophil , " and until we think we see that wc can yet expect better and

stronger poetry from the author . Just now there is a great deal of most indifferent so-called " Poiesis " afloat , and that there arc " poets and poets " is a truism which each reviewing column attests . It is , therefore , pleasant for us to turn away from thc " waste " and " rubbish " of mere " windbags " of so-called "poets , " who arc not " poets , " and never will be poets ; " of young gentlemen who " write with ease , " but have mistaken

"their vocation ; " and thc wearisome utterances of a very unpoetical school , to greet lines which can fairly be commended for their truth and sense—their perceptible " reality , " and the latent and even evident tokens of the " sacred fire , " which probably will yet burn more brightly still—than in this interesting little " pome . " Indeed , the poem is itself a developcment of the well-known , if somewhat misused apothegm , " Mors janua vita ; . "

NOTES ON ST . BOTOLPH WITHOUT , ALDERSGATE . By J STAPLES , F . S . A ., Alderman of the Ward of Aldersgate . This very interesting work , printed for private circulation , has come before us , and , we think , deserves "note and comment" especially , as our readers will see , in the Freemason . It seems the origin of the work was an address delivered on thc occasion of the opening to the

public as a recreation ground the garden formerly reserved as the burial ground of St . Botolph—a very seasonable and judicious proceeding — and that address , somewhat amplified , has now been printed . We may pass over some "facts , " and " jottings of antiquity " dear to intelligent and zealous " Dryasdusts , " and come to what has a special interest for our readers . We may remark that the book is very well printed and is very easy and pleasant reading ,

a compliment we cannot always pay to a good deal of type outcome to-day . It seems that there were three guilds , or fraternities , or brotherhoods in the church of St . Botolph , first , that of the Holy Trinity ; secondly , that of St . Katharine ; and , thirdly , that of Fabian , and St . Sebastian . The Guild of the Holy Trinity was founded in 1374 , and five years afterwards , it being enlarged , a chaplain was appointed " pro operariis et laborariis , " we may fairly

understand " Masons" under such terms , who went to the church for the religious services of the day . That chaplain , the worthy alderman tells us , " still officiates , " if in altered form . This brotherhood was suppressed , with all other guilds , in 1547 , the first year of Edward VI . The hall and old chapter of the guild , if still really existing , now belong to thc parish . The fraternity had a master and wardens and male and female members . They met annually on Trinity Sunday . It seems that by a supplementary

charter of 144 G Henry VI . gave license to Joan Astley , his nurse , and Richard Cawode and Thomas Smith , to establish a perpetual guild , consisting of one master , two custodes , or wardens , and " brethren and sisters " of the parishioners of the same parish and " others who would be of the same fraternity , in honour of his consort and himself . " This seems to be a sort of " revival" of the old guild . The date of the origin of the Fraternity of St . Katharine is not known , but

in 13 S 0 the wardens of this fraternity appeared before the Council of thc Lord the King at Westminster , on the 30 th of January , and presented a return of the authority , foundation , inception , continuation , and regulations of the said fraternity , as are more fully set out in the schedule hereunto annexed . " Let our readers note what follows . " The first ' poynt' in thc said schedule is , ' that when a brother or sister shall be received that they shall be sworn upon a book

to the brotherhood for to hold up and maintain the poynts and the articles that be writ after following , each man to his power , saving his estate ; and that every brother and sister , in token of love , charity , and peace , at recei / ing should kiss every other of them that be there . If any of the brotherhood suffer from poverty , old age that he may not help himself , sickness , or loss by fire or water , he shall have fourteen pence a week ; also , what

man is to take on to be a brother shall pay to the alms at his entry as the Masters and he may agree ; and every quarter , for to maintain the light and the alms of the brotherhood , ' . threepence . And if he have a wife , and she will be a sister , the two lo pay sixpence for thc quarter , or 2 s . a year for them boih . ' 1 he brethren and sisters to associate together in the Church of St . Botolph on the day of St . Katlierinc and hear a mass , and 'offer in the worship

of her —( a strongish order !)—and on thc afternoon of tlic same day , or the next Sunday following , together to choose their masters for thc year following . The brethren and sisters arc to attend the burial of a brother or sister , file gild shall pay costs of worshipful burial of any brother dying within ten miles of London 'if he were not of power to pay them for himself . ' Loans may be granted to the brethren in such amounts that one may be eased as

well as another . " This gild was also dissolved in ist Edward VI . The Fraternity of St . Fabian and St . Sebastian was founded 51 Edward 111 ., A . D . 1577 . There was a return madc . of the guild in 138 9 to the King Richard II ., according to Act of Parliament . The masters ot the guild were Johannes Duncastre and Ricardus Spaignc . Ihe following were the regulations : When a brother or a sister shall be received , he shall be sworn on a book to

maintain thc points and articles of the brotherhood , and every brother and sister " atle receyvynge" should , in token of love , charity , and peace , " help all of those that live there . " Weekly help , to the extent of fourteen pence , is lo be given in cases of suffering from poverty , old age , sickness , lire or water , or any other mishap , so it be not through his own wretchedness . The young that fall into " meschef , " and have nought of his own to help himself

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