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Reviews.
REVIEWS .
THE MAGAZINES . The magazines are before us yet again in their vitality and reality . It is remarkable in itself the fact , —whether for good or bad we say nothing , —what an enormous amount of our normal and abormal reading to-day is bound up with
these monthly magazines of ours . It is , we repeat , a fact needful to note , while impossible to overlook . In "Longman ' s" "Jack ' s Courtship" is truly entitled a tale of love and shipwreck . " Norway Once More , " " The Hermit of Saint Eugene , " and " Madam " all will find readers .
"The Century" is very interesting indeed in "Lights and Shadows of Army Life , " "Rosa Bonheur , " "Social Conditions in the Colonies , " " Thc Odyssey and its Epoch , " " The New Astronomy . " " Dr . Sevier" comes sadly and touchingly to a close . "The Price I Paid for a Set of Ruskin " is amusing , and * ' Brie a Brae" is clever , and pointed , and seasonable .
Harper s Monthly Magazine has some valuable contributions and is admirably illustrated . "The Home of Hans Christian Andersen , " " Nature ' s Serial Story , " " Artist Strolls in Holland , " " The Gateway of the Sierra Madre , " and " A Reminiscence of Mr . Darwin" are all admirable articles , and keep up the high character of the magazine . " My Life as a Slave " is also very moving .
"The Illustrated English Magazine" contains The " Ancient and Modern Horse , Heidelberg , " and " Loch Fyne , " in their way most effective . "A Family Affair " is very good reading ; "The Little Schoolmaster Mack " is too transcendental for us . "Temple Bar" sets forward "A Perilous Secret" and "Peril , " and contains also " Dr . Beroni ' s Secret , " very sensational , and "The Necrologist , " very amusing . "Emma ,
Lady Hamilton and " Emerson " and " Recollections of the London Stage" will find readers . •'All the Year Round" keeps "Gerald" and "Afte r Long Years" before us . " A Cruise in the Mozambique , ' " Flowers in the Flowery Land , " "Our Shining River " and " Maiden Hall " will gratify many . Are we wrong , or is our old friend becoming slightly prosy ? Let us hope not .
"The Antiquary " and " Bibliographer , " the Castor and Pollux of Dryasdustian literature . come seasonably and read well . But as Caviare is an acquired taste , and some never " tumble to it , " so we fear that such magazines can only appeal to a limited class of readers . They deserve encouragement and support . " Le Livre " is a French monthly review , and announcement of books of all kinds , and is needful for the amateurs
of literature and the collectors of books . It is . admirably printed and edited . " The Voice of Masonry , " as usual , contains articles worthy of perusal and thought . VVe are always glad to welcome it and pore over its varied contents . "The Philadelphia Keystone " is in high force and vital energy . May its shadow never grow less , and "more power to the arm " of Clifford McCalla !
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
424 ] ENGLISH CUSTOMS . Bye-laws of Lodge of the 3 Globes , Berlin , made yth Nov . 1740 ; ch . ii . § S . " In conformity with the customs of the lodges in England , our lodge shall submit every St .
John ' s Day three candidates ; in order that one of the three may be received gratuitously : this shall be done by ballot , and the one receiving most votes shall be preferred to his two companions . " Does any proof of such a custom exist in England ? If so , where ? G . W . SPETH .
425 ] GBAND INTERPRETER . O'Etzel in his history of the Three Globes , Berlin , states ( p . CS , fourth edition ) that on the gth May , 1766 , the Grand Secretary of the Sublime Grande Loge de France wrote to the Grand Secretary of the Three Globes requesting the
establishment of a mutual correspondence , and further , that he had been favoured with the correct address by Bro . Leautier , Secretary , interpreter to thc Grand Lodge of London . This title is quite new to me : Did it ever exist ? Is anything known of Bro . Leautier ? If so , who was he ? 426 ] G . W . SPETH .
WHOLE OF LIMBS , AS A MAN SHOULD BE . This note may interest our American brothers . In 1 755 , in the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes , Berlin , there was proposed for initiation Signor Luini , a court singer and eunuch . Objections were raised and advice was sought at almost the fountain head , i . e . at the Lodge Absalom , in Hamburg , the first German Lodge , No . 1737 , holding its
warrant directly from London , working pure English Masonry , and at that time the Prov . Grand Lodgeof Lower Saxony , under the English Constitution . Hamburg answered that " undoubtedly eunuchs might be made Masons provided they otherwise possessed the essential qualifications of true and upright Masons and were free from vice . " The ballot of Luini proved unanimous .
G . VV . SPETH . 427 ] DR . DESAGULIERS . 1 lind in this week ' s Freemason an enquiry from " R . J . S ., " and he quotes that John Theophilus Desaguliers di ed the 29 th of February , ( 1744-1743 ) , at the Bedford Coffee House , in Covent Garden , and was buried in the adjacent ground belonging to the Savoy —( Edward T . Reimbault in
Illustrated London Ncius November 17 th , 18 . 53 ) . This paper is published on Saturdays ; this 17 th of November was on a Thursday , and I do not find any record on Saturday , the 19 th , 1 S 53 , therefore I fancy some error has occurred . Was his name John or Jean ? I find in the "Monthly Chronologies" of March , 1744 , the death of the Doctor recorded at page 152 . I also find in " Beaton ' s
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Biography" that he is called Jean , not John—a French philosopher , who came to London with his father , entered into holy orders 1710 , gave lectures on philosophy and fires improved , being a New Method of Building Chimneys . Born at Rochelle . B . 1 GS 3 ; D . 1749 . This must be an error . I find the Doctor was at Haberdashers' Hall , with other Grand MastersApril 22 nd , 1740 . He was also
, present at the same Hall March 19 th , 1741 , G . M ., Earl of Morton , Kt ., when the G . M . presented a staff of office to the Treasurer of neat workmanship . I take it the staff of office was of neat workmanship . A large cornelian seal of the Masons' arms , properly embellished , and set in gold , was presented to the G . M . by Wm . Vaughan , Esq . Senr .
Grand Warden , at the same time . As a Mason , 1 should prefer to know if the staff of office and the cornelian seal are in existence than what became of the second son , Jean , of the learned doctor . I am sorry to trouble you with this long epistle ; but I thought there were some points of interest to Masons generally . Worcester , Oct . 4 . LAMB SMITH .
42 S ] ANOTHER CUSTOM . " In conformity with the customs established in England , the officers of the lodge shall hold a meeting every three months , which shall always be the last Saturday of said 3 months , in order to examine all differences and other matters which might arise concerning said Iodge , as also the receipts and expenses . "—Ibid , ch . vi . § 9 . What other
proof have we of the ' alleged tri-monthly meeting in English lodges of a board of officers forming a Masonic court of justice and Audit Committee combined ? I think these two statements very curious and worthy of attention . The source whence they are derived is beyond suspicion . If these customs did not obtain in England , how are we to account for it that our German brethren so firmly believed in their existence ? G . VV . SPETH .
429 ] A MISSING RECORD . On page 91 of "The Freemasons' Magazine" for August , 1794 , are these words— "A record in the reign of Edward IV . ( about 14 60 ) in the Bodleian Library says' The charges and laws of the Freemasons have been seen and perused by our late Sovereign , King Henry VI ., and by the Lords of his most honourable council , who have allowed them , and declared that they be right , good , and
reasonable to be holden , as they have been drawn out , and collected from , the records of nunticat tymes , ' " & c . Is anything known about this record ? The officials of the Bodleian Library can give me no clue to it . Is it identified with the aporcyphal " Leland-Locke " MS ., which is given on pp . 79-S 3 of the same number of " The Freemasons ' Magazine , " and is described by Bro . Gould in his " History of Freemasonry , " vol . II ., p . 4 S 7 ?
A BROTHER AT OXFORD . 430 ] THE FAME AND CONFESSION , & c . Bro . E . L . Hawkins , P . M ., of Oxford , has discovered among the Ashmolean MS . a copy of the Fame and Confession , in MS ., in the time of James I . or Charles I ., that is any time between 1 C 03 and 1640 . The MS . has the " name of Richard Joylife on the last page . " This
discovery raises several very interesting questions and considerations for Rosicrucian Students . The "Allgemeine Reformation , " & c , is said to have been printed at Cassell in 1 G 14 . " Fama Fraternatitias , R . C ., " & c , was also printed at Cassell in 1615 , whether written by Valentine Andrea ; , or Jung , of Hamburgn . "Fama Fraternatatis Beneben , & c , " ( and this is the copy I possess ) was printed
at Frankfort , A . M . 1615 . These three works are , it is to be noted , different works , and not as is sometimes the case , confounded together . It is possible and probable that other editions exist . Vaughan ' s Fame and Confession was published in London in 1652 . Nicolai was ri g ht in mentioning another edition of 165 S , as Bro . Hawkins has just found it in the Bodleian , despite the quasi doubts of Kloss .
The great point to be noted is that we have a very early entry in English , almost contemporary with the Cassell edition of 1614 , and anterior to Vaughan ' s edition of 1652 . Of course , careful collation will be required between this MS . and the edition of 1652 , to discover what are the agreements and disagreements ; but it seems to me that if
this MS . proves to be an early and independent MS ., the old theory that the edition of 1614 is an original work will have to be given up , as 1 believe it is untenable , and we are thrown back upon an earlier MS . work , on which Andrea ; or Jung founded the " Fama Fraternitatis . " The best thanks of students are due to Bro . Hawkins . MASONIC STUDENT .
431 ] THE WREN MS . By the persevering energy of W . Bro . C . W . Robinson , of Chester , I hope that we may ere long light upon the original of the manuscript , certified by L . Higson and by Bro . Brown in 1 S 52 . I give below a portion of two MSS . still extant among the papers of Dr . Crane , whose descendant and representative has placed them in Bro . Robinson's
hands , and who has kindly forwarded them to me for publication in the Freemason . It is unfortunate that _ the portion of "an older MS ., " as he terms it , is so short . Bro . Robinson has asked his correspondent to make further searches , and if we could only find the books of the old Chester lodge , we might obtain some most valuable information . If any one
has them in keeping , he would confer a great boon on Masonic students if he would allow Bro . Robinson to see them , and make extracts from them . The other portion of the MS . which was among Dr . Crane ' s papers deserves careful collation with the portion of the Wren MS . previously alluded to as in my possession , but which is at present with Mr . Thompson British Museum . I hope by
next week to have collated it myself . I would just add this little matter amongst others demonstrtes the need of search and verification . What valuable evidence lies close at hand if we care to try to find . it , and when found make a proper use of it . Copy of paper in handwriting of Rev . Thos . Crane . Extract from an old MS . on parchment : "The first ( charge ) is , that they or you shall be true man or men to God and holy Church , and that you shall use
neither Errour nor Heresy by your understanding or by indecent men ' s teaching ; Also that you shall be truly given to the King without treason or treachery , and if you shall know either treason or treachery , look you amend it if you may , or else privately warn the King or his Rulers or Officers ; and also that you shall be true one to another , that is to say , to every Master or Fellow of the Craft of Masonry that be allowed Masons , and lo do to them as you
Masonic Notes And Queries.
would they should do to you ; and also that every Mason keep truly counsels both of lodge and chamber , and all other counsel that ought to be kept by way of Masonry ; And also that no Mason shall be thief or thief's phere as far forth as he knoweth ; And that they shall be true to the Lord or Master they serve , and truly look to his profit and advantage ; And also you shall call Masons your beloved
or your brethren , and by no other foul name , nor you shal ! not take your fellow's wife in villany , ney further desire his daughter , ney servant ; And also you shall pay truly for your meat and drink where that you go to board . Also you shall do no villany in the house whereby the Craft should be slandered . These be the charges in general that every Mason holdeth by , both Masters and Fellows . " An older M . S .:
... be thief , neither in companielas far forth as he may knowe . " " Nother desere nngodly his daughter . " ' •Should howld both maister and fellowe . " " Gram . Rhet . Dialectic or Logic , Arithmetic , 12 3 4 "Geom ., Music , Astronomy . " . 5 6 7 »
_ There are one or two points in connection with the Wren MS . which deserve attention . The transcript I have was made by Mr . R . Sims , of the British Museum , from another transcript , but of which he has no reference . This MS . was published in 1 S 79 in the " Masonic Magazine . " Can Bro . Hughan help us ? I have a faint idea he originally called my attention to it , but so many years have
passed away , and I have seen so many MSS . that I am not quite clear about it . Mr . Sims copied it from some MS . and sent it to me , but he has now no idea he tells me where the original of his manuscript is . It will be interesting to know for whom Bro . Brown , a real personage , made the copy in 1 S 52 . Bro . Gould states that the copy was sold by Bro . Brown to a Mr . W . R . Bainbridge , of Liverpool ,
but I do not know whence he obtained his information . If Bro . Brown still lives , can be not be interviewed ? On looking back to the December number of the " Masonic Magazine" for 1 S 79 , I find that the original publication seems to have come from my esteemed friend , Bro . VV . J . Hughan , who may be able to throw light on the Bainbridgs incident .
A . F . A . W . 432 ] RECEPTIONS INTO A FRATERNITY . While I was examining the Ashmole MSS . in the Bodleian Library , in compliance with the hint given by Bro . Gould ( "History of Freemasonry , " vol . 3 , p . 171 , note 2 ) , my attention was arrested b y the two curious documents of which I send copies . Each is written on a leaf of vellum ,
and has been cut on the right-hand side , so that a part of each document is wanting . I do not pretend to understand their significance ; but 1 thought their reproduction might be interesting , and perhaps some readers of the Freemason can explain what they refer to . The blanks in my copies occur where the original documents have been mutilated . The first is thus described in the catalogue of the Ashmole
MSS . — "Letters of frater Johannes gardianus receiving Richard Ghonge ( or Young ) and Marjory , his wife , into a fraternity . Dated in the Epiphany , 1450 . " The document is as follows : " In Christo sibi karissimis Ricardo Zonge et Mariorie consort ! sue frater Johannes gardianus vite merita gaudia sempiterna . Deuocionem quam ad ordinem nostrum et specialiter a beneficiorum
exibicione demonstratam . Spiritualibus beneficiis ( bene ?) compensari desidera tocius que capituli provincialis de assensu vnanimi conventus nostn superius memorat conventus nostri suffragia recipio tenore presencium in vita pariter et in morte . Plen spiritualium concedendo que per eosdem fratres mee cure commissos operari dignabitur
cle-. .... special ! vt cum obitus vestri vna cum representacione presencium in nostra local ! cap ..... sicut pro nostris fratribus defunctis recommendatis ibidem fieri consueuit . Ualete felic gloriosa . Datum in nostra local ! capitulo in Epiphania domini Anno domini M" ! oCCCO"o I ° . " The second is thus described in the catalogue— " Letters
of frater Ni . . . . receiving John Claxtone and Matild his wife into a fraternity . Dated at Colchester . . . . " The following is the document : " In Christo sibi karissimis Johanni Claxton et Matildi consorti sue ffrater Ni cis vite merita gaudia percipere sempiterna . Deuocionem quam ob de ! reuerenciam a . . . . et acceptans cupiens que nobis vices rependere salutares . Nos ad vniuersam et
senemm in vita pariter et in morte . Plenam nobis participacionem bonorum omnium mee cure commissos operari dignabitur clemencia saluatoris . Adiciens insuper de grac . . . . . in nostra prouinciali capitulo fuennt nunciati pro nobis fiat per totam admn ' factoribus ordinis nostri defunctis recommendatis ibidem fieri consueuit . Je Data in nostra prouinciali capitulo Colcestrie cetebrato in festo Assum " A BROTHER AT OXFORD .
BRO . HUGHAN'S NEW WORK . . On page 122 the author refers briefly to an attempt made in 1793 to induce the members of the various chapters to withdraw from the Grand Chapter . I have just discovered a circular issued in that year anent this question , and I think its publication in full might be interesting to the
readers ot the above work . I should like to take this opportunity of thanking Bro . Hughan for producing in so condensed a form , which enables his readers to arrive at a fair knowledge of the origin and history of the Royal Arch Degree without losing an endless amount of time in wading through innumerable pages of dry and almost incomprehensible matter . I enclose the circular referred to .
J . H . SILLITOE . GRANT ) ROVAL ARCH CHAPTER OF GENERAL COMMUNICATION , HELD AT FREEMASONS' TAVERN , LONDON , ON FRIDAY , MAY . 0 , A . L . 5797 , . D . , 793 . ' PATRON OK THE OKDUR , HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY , !•That the thanks of this Chapter be transmitted to the several Chapters that have expressed , in such handsome
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
THE MAGAZINES . The magazines are before us yet again in their vitality and reality . It is remarkable in itself the fact , —whether for good or bad we say nothing , —what an enormous amount of our normal and abormal reading to-day is bound up with
these monthly magazines of ours . It is , we repeat , a fact needful to note , while impossible to overlook . In "Longman ' s" "Jack ' s Courtship" is truly entitled a tale of love and shipwreck . " Norway Once More , " " The Hermit of Saint Eugene , " and " Madam " all will find readers .
"The Century" is very interesting indeed in "Lights and Shadows of Army Life , " "Rosa Bonheur , " "Social Conditions in the Colonies , " " Thc Odyssey and its Epoch , " " The New Astronomy . " " Dr . Sevier" comes sadly and touchingly to a close . "The Price I Paid for a Set of Ruskin " is amusing , and * ' Brie a Brae" is clever , and pointed , and seasonable .
Harper s Monthly Magazine has some valuable contributions and is admirably illustrated . "The Home of Hans Christian Andersen , " " Nature ' s Serial Story , " " Artist Strolls in Holland , " " The Gateway of the Sierra Madre , " and " A Reminiscence of Mr . Darwin" are all admirable articles , and keep up the high character of the magazine . " My Life as a Slave " is also very moving .
"The Illustrated English Magazine" contains The " Ancient and Modern Horse , Heidelberg , " and " Loch Fyne , " in their way most effective . "A Family Affair " is very good reading ; "The Little Schoolmaster Mack " is too transcendental for us . "Temple Bar" sets forward "A Perilous Secret" and "Peril , " and contains also " Dr . Beroni ' s Secret , " very sensational , and "The Necrologist , " very amusing . "Emma ,
Lady Hamilton and " Emerson " and " Recollections of the London Stage" will find readers . •'All the Year Round" keeps "Gerald" and "Afte r Long Years" before us . " A Cruise in the Mozambique , ' " Flowers in the Flowery Land , " "Our Shining River " and " Maiden Hall " will gratify many . Are we wrong , or is our old friend becoming slightly prosy ? Let us hope not .
"The Antiquary " and " Bibliographer , " the Castor and Pollux of Dryasdustian literature . come seasonably and read well . But as Caviare is an acquired taste , and some never " tumble to it , " so we fear that such magazines can only appeal to a limited class of readers . They deserve encouragement and support . " Le Livre " is a French monthly review , and announcement of books of all kinds , and is needful for the amateurs
of literature and the collectors of books . It is . admirably printed and edited . " The Voice of Masonry , " as usual , contains articles worthy of perusal and thought . VVe are always glad to welcome it and pore over its varied contents . "The Philadelphia Keystone " is in high force and vital energy . May its shadow never grow less , and "more power to the arm " of Clifford McCalla !
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
424 ] ENGLISH CUSTOMS . Bye-laws of Lodge of the 3 Globes , Berlin , made yth Nov . 1740 ; ch . ii . § S . " In conformity with the customs of the lodges in England , our lodge shall submit every St .
John ' s Day three candidates ; in order that one of the three may be received gratuitously : this shall be done by ballot , and the one receiving most votes shall be preferred to his two companions . " Does any proof of such a custom exist in England ? If so , where ? G . W . SPETH .
425 ] GBAND INTERPRETER . O'Etzel in his history of the Three Globes , Berlin , states ( p . CS , fourth edition ) that on the gth May , 1766 , the Grand Secretary of the Sublime Grande Loge de France wrote to the Grand Secretary of the Three Globes requesting the
establishment of a mutual correspondence , and further , that he had been favoured with the correct address by Bro . Leautier , Secretary , interpreter to thc Grand Lodge of London . This title is quite new to me : Did it ever exist ? Is anything known of Bro . Leautier ? If so , who was he ? 426 ] G . W . SPETH .
WHOLE OF LIMBS , AS A MAN SHOULD BE . This note may interest our American brothers . In 1 755 , in the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes , Berlin , there was proposed for initiation Signor Luini , a court singer and eunuch . Objections were raised and advice was sought at almost the fountain head , i . e . at the Lodge Absalom , in Hamburg , the first German Lodge , No . 1737 , holding its
warrant directly from London , working pure English Masonry , and at that time the Prov . Grand Lodgeof Lower Saxony , under the English Constitution . Hamburg answered that " undoubtedly eunuchs might be made Masons provided they otherwise possessed the essential qualifications of true and upright Masons and were free from vice . " The ballot of Luini proved unanimous .
G . VV . SPETH . 427 ] DR . DESAGULIERS . 1 lind in this week ' s Freemason an enquiry from " R . J . S ., " and he quotes that John Theophilus Desaguliers di ed the 29 th of February , ( 1744-1743 ) , at the Bedford Coffee House , in Covent Garden , and was buried in the adjacent ground belonging to the Savoy —( Edward T . Reimbault in
Illustrated London Ncius November 17 th , 18 . 53 ) . This paper is published on Saturdays ; this 17 th of November was on a Thursday , and I do not find any record on Saturday , the 19 th , 1 S 53 , therefore I fancy some error has occurred . Was his name John or Jean ? I find in the "Monthly Chronologies" of March , 1744 , the death of the Doctor recorded at page 152 . I also find in " Beaton ' s
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Biography" that he is called Jean , not John—a French philosopher , who came to London with his father , entered into holy orders 1710 , gave lectures on philosophy and fires improved , being a New Method of Building Chimneys . Born at Rochelle . B . 1 GS 3 ; D . 1749 . This must be an error . I find the Doctor was at Haberdashers' Hall , with other Grand MastersApril 22 nd , 1740 . He was also
, present at the same Hall March 19 th , 1741 , G . M ., Earl of Morton , Kt ., when the G . M . presented a staff of office to the Treasurer of neat workmanship . I take it the staff of office was of neat workmanship . A large cornelian seal of the Masons' arms , properly embellished , and set in gold , was presented to the G . M . by Wm . Vaughan , Esq . Senr .
Grand Warden , at the same time . As a Mason , 1 should prefer to know if the staff of office and the cornelian seal are in existence than what became of the second son , Jean , of the learned doctor . I am sorry to trouble you with this long epistle ; but I thought there were some points of interest to Masons generally . Worcester , Oct . 4 . LAMB SMITH .
42 S ] ANOTHER CUSTOM . " In conformity with the customs established in England , the officers of the lodge shall hold a meeting every three months , which shall always be the last Saturday of said 3 months , in order to examine all differences and other matters which might arise concerning said Iodge , as also the receipts and expenses . "—Ibid , ch . vi . § 9 . What other
proof have we of the ' alleged tri-monthly meeting in English lodges of a board of officers forming a Masonic court of justice and Audit Committee combined ? I think these two statements very curious and worthy of attention . The source whence they are derived is beyond suspicion . If these customs did not obtain in England , how are we to account for it that our German brethren so firmly believed in their existence ? G . VV . SPETH .
429 ] A MISSING RECORD . On page 91 of "The Freemasons' Magazine" for August , 1794 , are these words— "A record in the reign of Edward IV . ( about 14 60 ) in the Bodleian Library says' The charges and laws of the Freemasons have been seen and perused by our late Sovereign , King Henry VI ., and by the Lords of his most honourable council , who have allowed them , and declared that they be right , good , and
reasonable to be holden , as they have been drawn out , and collected from , the records of nunticat tymes , ' " & c . Is anything known about this record ? The officials of the Bodleian Library can give me no clue to it . Is it identified with the aporcyphal " Leland-Locke " MS ., which is given on pp . 79-S 3 of the same number of " The Freemasons ' Magazine , " and is described by Bro . Gould in his " History of Freemasonry , " vol . II ., p . 4 S 7 ?
A BROTHER AT OXFORD . 430 ] THE FAME AND CONFESSION , & c . Bro . E . L . Hawkins , P . M ., of Oxford , has discovered among the Ashmolean MS . a copy of the Fame and Confession , in MS ., in the time of James I . or Charles I ., that is any time between 1 C 03 and 1640 . The MS . has the " name of Richard Joylife on the last page . " This
discovery raises several very interesting questions and considerations for Rosicrucian Students . The "Allgemeine Reformation , " & c , is said to have been printed at Cassell in 1 G 14 . " Fama Fraternatitias , R . C ., " & c , was also printed at Cassell in 1615 , whether written by Valentine Andrea ; , or Jung , of Hamburgn . "Fama Fraternatatis Beneben , & c , " ( and this is the copy I possess ) was printed
at Frankfort , A . M . 1615 . These three works are , it is to be noted , different works , and not as is sometimes the case , confounded together . It is possible and probable that other editions exist . Vaughan ' s Fame and Confession was published in London in 1652 . Nicolai was ri g ht in mentioning another edition of 165 S , as Bro . Hawkins has just found it in the Bodleian , despite the quasi doubts of Kloss .
The great point to be noted is that we have a very early entry in English , almost contemporary with the Cassell edition of 1614 , and anterior to Vaughan ' s edition of 1652 . Of course , careful collation will be required between this MS . and the edition of 1652 , to discover what are the agreements and disagreements ; but it seems to me that if
this MS . proves to be an early and independent MS ., the old theory that the edition of 1614 is an original work will have to be given up , as 1 believe it is untenable , and we are thrown back upon an earlier MS . work , on which Andrea ; or Jung founded the " Fama Fraternitatis . " The best thanks of students are due to Bro . Hawkins . MASONIC STUDENT .
431 ] THE WREN MS . By the persevering energy of W . Bro . C . W . Robinson , of Chester , I hope that we may ere long light upon the original of the manuscript , certified by L . Higson and by Bro . Brown in 1 S 52 . I give below a portion of two MSS . still extant among the papers of Dr . Crane , whose descendant and representative has placed them in Bro . Robinson's
hands , and who has kindly forwarded them to me for publication in the Freemason . It is unfortunate that _ the portion of "an older MS ., " as he terms it , is so short . Bro . Robinson has asked his correspondent to make further searches , and if we could only find the books of the old Chester lodge , we might obtain some most valuable information . If any one
has them in keeping , he would confer a great boon on Masonic students if he would allow Bro . Robinson to see them , and make extracts from them . The other portion of the MS . which was among Dr . Crane ' s papers deserves careful collation with the portion of the Wren MS . previously alluded to as in my possession , but which is at present with Mr . Thompson British Museum . I hope by
next week to have collated it myself . I would just add this little matter amongst others demonstrtes the need of search and verification . What valuable evidence lies close at hand if we care to try to find . it , and when found make a proper use of it . Copy of paper in handwriting of Rev . Thos . Crane . Extract from an old MS . on parchment : "The first ( charge ) is , that they or you shall be true man or men to God and holy Church , and that you shall use
neither Errour nor Heresy by your understanding or by indecent men ' s teaching ; Also that you shall be truly given to the King without treason or treachery , and if you shall know either treason or treachery , look you amend it if you may , or else privately warn the King or his Rulers or Officers ; and also that you shall be true one to another , that is to say , to every Master or Fellow of the Craft of Masonry that be allowed Masons , and lo do to them as you
Masonic Notes And Queries.
would they should do to you ; and also that every Mason keep truly counsels both of lodge and chamber , and all other counsel that ought to be kept by way of Masonry ; And also that no Mason shall be thief or thief's phere as far forth as he knoweth ; And that they shall be true to the Lord or Master they serve , and truly look to his profit and advantage ; And also you shall call Masons your beloved
or your brethren , and by no other foul name , nor you shal ! not take your fellow's wife in villany , ney further desire his daughter , ney servant ; And also you shall pay truly for your meat and drink where that you go to board . Also you shall do no villany in the house whereby the Craft should be slandered . These be the charges in general that every Mason holdeth by , both Masters and Fellows . " An older M . S .:
... be thief , neither in companielas far forth as he may knowe . " " Nother desere nngodly his daughter . " ' •Should howld both maister and fellowe . " " Gram . Rhet . Dialectic or Logic , Arithmetic , 12 3 4 "Geom ., Music , Astronomy . " . 5 6 7 »
_ There are one or two points in connection with the Wren MS . which deserve attention . The transcript I have was made by Mr . R . Sims , of the British Museum , from another transcript , but of which he has no reference . This MS . was published in 1 S 79 in the " Masonic Magazine . " Can Bro . Hughan help us ? I have a faint idea he originally called my attention to it , but so many years have
passed away , and I have seen so many MSS . that I am not quite clear about it . Mr . Sims copied it from some MS . and sent it to me , but he has now no idea he tells me where the original of his manuscript is . It will be interesting to know for whom Bro . Brown , a real personage , made the copy in 1 S 52 . Bro . Gould states that the copy was sold by Bro . Brown to a Mr . W . R . Bainbridge , of Liverpool ,
but I do not know whence he obtained his information . If Bro . Brown still lives , can be not be interviewed ? On looking back to the December number of the " Masonic Magazine" for 1 S 79 , I find that the original publication seems to have come from my esteemed friend , Bro . VV . J . Hughan , who may be able to throw light on the Bainbridgs incident .
A . F . A . W . 432 ] RECEPTIONS INTO A FRATERNITY . While I was examining the Ashmole MSS . in the Bodleian Library , in compliance with the hint given by Bro . Gould ( "History of Freemasonry , " vol . 3 , p . 171 , note 2 ) , my attention was arrested b y the two curious documents of which I send copies . Each is written on a leaf of vellum ,
and has been cut on the right-hand side , so that a part of each document is wanting . I do not pretend to understand their significance ; but 1 thought their reproduction might be interesting , and perhaps some readers of the Freemason can explain what they refer to . The blanks in my copies occur where the original documents have been mutilated . The first is thus described in the catalogue of the Ashmole
MSS . — "Letters of frater Johannes gardianus receiving Richard Ghonge ( or Young ) and Marjory , his wife , into a fraternity . Dated in the Epiphany , 1450 . " The document is as follows : " In Christo sibi karissimis Ricardo Zonge et Mariorie consort ! sue frater Johannes gardianus vite merita gaudia sempiterna . Deuocionem quam ad ordinem nostrum et specialiter a beneficiorum
exibicione demonstratam . Spiritualibus beneficiis ( bene ?) compensari desidera tocius que capituli provincialis de assensu vnanimi conventus nostn superius memorat conventus nostri suffragia recipio tenore presencium in vita pariter et in morte . Plen spiritualium concedendo que per eosdem fratres mee cure commissos operari dignabitur
cle-. .... special ! vt cum obitus vestri vna cum representacione presencium in nostra local ! cap ..... sicut pro nostris fratribus defunctis recommendatis ibidem fieri consueuit . Ualete felic gloriosa . Datum in nostra local ! capitulo in Epiphania domini Anno domini M" ! oCCCO"o I ° . " The second is thus described in the catalogue— " Letters
of frater Ni . . . . receiving John Claxtone and Matild his wife into a fraternity . Dated at Colchester . . . . " The following is the document : " In Christo sibi karissimis Johanni Claxton et Matildi consorti sue ffrater Ni cis vite merita gaudia percipere sempiterna . Deuocionem quam ob de ! reuerenciam a . . . . et acceptans cupiens que nobis vices rependere salutares . Nos ad vniuersam et
senemm in vita pariter et in morte . Plenam nobis participacionem bonorum omnium mee cure commissos operari dignabitur clemencia saluatoris . Adiciens insuper de grac . . . . . in nostra prouinciali capitulo fuennt nunciati pro nobis fiat per totam admn ' factoribus ordinis nostri defunctis recommendatis ibidem fieri consueuit . Je Data in nostra prouinciali capitulo Colcestrie cetebrato in festo Assum " A BROTHER AT OXFORD .
BRO . HUGHAN'S NEW WORK . . On page 122 the author refers briefly to an attempt made in 1793 to induce the members of the various chapters to withdraw from the Grand Chapter . I have just discovered a circular issued in that year anent this question , and I think its publication in full might be interesting to the
readers ot the above work . I should like to take this opportunity of thanking Bro . Hughan for producing in so condensed a form , which enables his readers to arrive at a fair knowledge of the origin and history of the Royal Arch Degree without losing an endless amount of time in wading through innumerable pages of dry and almost incomprehensible matter . I enclose the circular referred to .
J . H . SILLITOE . GRANT ) ROVAL ARCH CHAPTER OF GENERAL COMMUNICATION , HELD AT FREEMASONS' TAVERN , LONDON , ON FRIDAY , MAY . 0 , A . L . 5797 , . D . , 793 . ' PATRON OK THE OKDUR , HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY , !•That the thanks of this Chapter be transmitted to the several Chapters that have expressed , in such handsome