Reviews.

farming at the Cape of Good Hope . The work , _ which is well illustrated , is clearly and forcibly written , with much apparent reality and good sense . Mr . Douglass seems to put "Ostrich Farming" in a very favourable light for some adventurous young Englishmen or Scotchmen , with a certain amount of capital , and who finding the " old country" too small for them , mi ° -rate to seek fairer pastures and more " elbow room " colonics lass

in some one of Her Majesty ' s . Mr . Doug recommends an intending ostrich farmer and settler to apprentice himself to a successful farmer for twelve months , paying " one hundred guineas " premium , and then start business on his own account , cither as a whole or half proprietor of ostriches . Though many are the risks , and difficulties , ancl expenses , and dangers attendant on the rearing of ostriches , Mr . Douglas declares that under fortunate circumstances ancl careful "husbandry "

the profits are exceptionally large . And though it is , perhaps , at first sig ht difficult to account for the fact , yet such it is . We recommend the work cordially to all who are about settling at the Cape of Good Hope ; and , we may add , that having read the work with interest and pleasure ourselves , we feel quite certain that it is not only well worth reading , ( which many books are not now ) , but that it contains very clear and reliable " data , " on a very important phase of emigrant life and prospects and possibilities in South Africa .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

I wish to call the attention of my readers to a fact to which my own attention was directed the other day by a very able confrere ! Who is the king represented in the original frontispiece by Pine to Anderson ' s Constitutions of 1723 ? Is it William the III . ? And do those pillars represent a

locale or hall in Hampton Court ? The Presentor has been held to be the Duke of Montague ! Anderson , Desaguliers , and Payne are supposed to be standing behind the king ? Or is one of them Sir Christopher Wren ? In fact , can any one explain the frontispiece ? J MASONIC STUDENT .

THE CHARTER OF COLOGNE . It may perhaps not Ibe generally known that Eckert ( Eduard Emil ) in his curious work , " Mystcrien der Heidenkirche , " & c , ( Schaffhauscn , 1 S 60 ) , gives us an alleged "facsimile" of the " signatures" to this so-called charter . As some of my readers well know , though Eckert seems himself to support the reality of the document , and

other writers have upheld it , it is generally discredited in Germany . Ancl certainly if the alleged "facsimile" of the " autographs" be corrective are inclined to think that " experts" would generally doubt and deny the genuineness of the document . It may be a question , however , whether it would not be well to republish the charter in Latin , with an English translation , as students forget such "

evidences , " ( if they be evidences ) , ancl also to give a "facsimile" of the alleged signatures . Perhaps some brother can refer me to one or more of the various translations of the " charter , " as I am anxious to select the best and , being very busy just now , to save myself the labours of a retranslation ? I have seen a good translation ; I have also seen an indifferent one . MASONIC STUDENT .

ARMS OF GRAND LODGE . Can any heraldic brother tell me if the Grand Lodge of England has ever taken out a "Grant of Arms" at Herald ' s College ? And , if not , can he further tell me whence and how the present " Coat of Arms" in

common use originated ? The present " bearings seem to be acknowledged as lawful by our distinguished Bro . Sir Albert Woods , Garter ; but I should be pleased if any brother learned in such lore could point out its probable and possible origin , or any Grand Lodge order or resolution in favour of its adoption . ANTIQUARIUS .

Metropolitan Masonic Benevolent Association.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION .

The annual meeting of the members of this Benevolent Association was held on Friday , the 4 th inst ., at Bro . Yates' , Portugal Hotel , Fleet-street , when Bro . J . R . Stacey was reappointed President of the Association , Bro . While , Vice-President , and Bro . W . W . Snelling ,

Honorary Secretary , and twelve members were elected as Committee , and Bros . Fitch , Parden , and Johnson were appointed Auditors . The annual report was read by Bro . Snelling , showing that since the formation of the Association he had received £ 1179 ios . 4 d ., and that there had been paid to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , . / T 3 S 2 15 s . for Aged

Freemasons , and £ 21 , 0 5 s . for Widows ; and to the Boys ' School , £ 189 , anil to the Girls' School , £ 299 5 s . As the association is now a permanent one , brethren in London or in the provinces may become members at any time without payment of back subscriptions , and thus by small subscriptions of one shilling per week make

themselves Life Subsctilicrs or Life Governors of any of the Masonic Charities . Bro . Snelling will forward prospectus and bye-laws of thc association gratis , to any brother who may be desirous of becoming a member of the association . A vote of thanks to the Committee and officers for their valuable services during thc past year terminated the proceedings .

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Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE .

The annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Friday , the 4 th inst ., at the Town Hall , Bradford-011-Avon , the receiving lodge being the Lodge of Friendship and Unity , No . 1271 . In the absence , through temporary illness , of the Prov .

Grand Master , Lord Methuen , the meeting was presided over by thc Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Bart ., M . P ., who was supported by a numerous gathering of Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers , amongst whom were Bros . C . F . Marshall , P . S . GW . ; Alfred Plummer , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . A . Lloyd , P . G . Chap . ; F . H . Goldney , P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . Treas . ;

William Nott , P . P . J . G . W ., P . G . Reg . ; Henry C . Tombs , P . G . D ., P . G . Sec ; T . S . Futcher , P . J . G . D . ; E . B . Merriman , P . G . S . of W . ; John Chandler , P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . D . C . ; W . S . Bambridge , P . G . O . ; Robt . Stokes , P . P . S . G . W . ; T . H . Chandler , P . P . S . G . W . ; E . Turner Payne , P . G . D ., P . P . J . G . W . ; T . Graham , P . P . J . G . W . ; John V . Toone , P . P . S . G . D . ; T . P . Saunders , P . P . J . G . D . ; S . Gauntlctt , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . J . New , P . P . G . A .

D . C . ; J . C . Collie , P . P . G . O . ; James Sparks , P . P . G . O . ; W . H . Brinkworth , P . P . G . O . ; H . E . Bishop , P . P . G . P . ; W . G . Stodard , P . P . G . P . and otheis . Amongst the visitors were Bros . R . M . Worlock , P . P . S . G . W . Bristol ; T . Ringer , P . M . 130 S ; J . Robinson , P . M . 417 ; and others . The roll of the various lodges was called , and all being

found to be properly represented , the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened . The DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER having expressed his own regret , which he was sure they would all feel , and which he knew , personally , was deeply felt by their Provincial Grand Master , Lord Methuen , that the latter was unable to preside over them to-day on account

of a severe neuralgic affection , called upon the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Tombs , to read the minutes of the last meeting . These having been read were duly confirmed . The PROV . GRAND TREASURER then read his accounts which showed good balances in hand on the general account , the General Charity account and the Benevolent

Fund account . These accounts had been duly audited by Bros . E . Turner , Payne and Merriman ; the former moved that the Treasurer ' s accounts should be passed , especially approving the inclusion therein of a small sum being the balance of the cost of printing the Wiltshire Masonic Calender for 1 SS 1 , after crediting the amounts received for sale of copies thereof . This was seconded by Bro . Stokes

and carried unanimously . The P . G . SECRETARY then read the minutes of a meeting of the Provincial Charity Committee held that same morning , when , after having had the General Charity accounts as well as the Benevolent Fund account before it , the Committee had resolved to recommend the Prov . Grand Lodge to direct the investment in Government stock

on the former account of the sum of £ 100 , in thc names of the P . G . M ., thc D . P . G . M ., and the P . G . Treas ., and to suggest that a like sum of £ 100 should also be invested on the Benevolent Fund account in a different Government stock , in the names of the same Trustees . The Report of the Charity Committee and its recommendations were unanimously approved and confirmed .

The Provincial Grand Registrar , Bro . WILLIAM NOTT , then read his report , from which it appeared that the number of subscribing members in the province was 449 , being practically unaltered since the preceding year . The general working- expenses averaged 14 s . gd . per member , whilst the expenditure devoted to charity stood at 4 s . 5 d . per member . The report called attention to the gratifying

fact that the amount of subscriptions in arrear from members of the various lodges had very largely decreased . The report also brought to notice the fact that in some cases the names of members had not been included in the fee and other returns from private lodges to the Provincial Grand Lodge , simply on account of non-payment of their subscriptions , and without such members having either

resigned , died , or been excluded , the P . G . Registrars opinion was that the lodge was , according to thc Provincial bye-laws , bound , in the absence of any one of these causes , to include the names of all members in the Provincial returns , and pay dues for them , whether they had or had not paid their subscriptions . He suggested the desirability of the Provincial Grand Lodge expressing an opinion on the

subject , in order to remove the misapprehension on the point which existed in some quarters . Some discussion took place upon the point raised ; the PROVINCIAL GRAND S ECRETARY reading a letter from the Grand Secretary in reply to a question as to payment of Grand Lodges dues under similar circumstances , which payment , it was Colonel Shadwell Clerke ' s opinion , should

not be made . The Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . TOMBS , stated that this opinion had been obtained in consequence of some little difference which had arisen between him and the Secretaries of some of the lodges last year , and he trusted that now the question had been raised by the P . G . Reg ., some steps would be taken to make the position and

duties of the Provincial Grand Officers clear in the matter . Bro . NOTT pointed out the difference between Grand Lodge payments , which were , in fact , payments from the individual member , and entitled him to participation in the benefits of the Fund of Benevolence , and the payments under the Provincial bye-laws , which were payments from the lodge itself , calculated according to the number of

members composing the lodge . In support of this view he read the Provincial bye-laws bearing upon the subject , and suggested that if it were the opinion of the Provincial Grand Lodge that the payments in question should not be made then that the bye-laws should be altered . Eventually the Registrar ' s report was approved , with the exception of the last mentioned portion thereof , the subject referred to in

which was referred to the Committee which had to consider the alteration of the bye-laws . The DEPUTY P ROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER then called upon Bro . W . Nott , as Charity Secretary , who read the report of the Charity Organization and Benevolent Fund

Committee . First , as regards the Charity Organization , the report recapitulated the work done by the Committee during the past year . It stated that almost without exception all the Wiltshire votes had been placed at the disposal of the Committee , which had thereby been enabled to very greatly reduce the liability of Wiltshire to other provinces ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.

although there was still , owing to the exceptional circumstances of the previous year , a very considerable amount of indebtedness remaining . The number of votes the Committee had received for the various institutions during the year numbered 1176 . The report stated that Wiltshire was now on terms of close union with some eight or ten other provinces , principally in the west of England and

Wales , and mentioned as showing the strength engendered by such union , that at the elections for the Boys' and Girls ' Schools at the beginning of last month this confederation was instrumental in carrying two out of the fifteen successful candidates for the Girls' School , and three out of twelve who were elected for the Boys' School . Secondly , as regards the Provincial Benevolent Fundthe report

, stated that the contributions from the various lodges in the provinces , and their members during the . past year , the first of its existence , after meeting ail working expenses , had amounted to £ 105 , and that there was good reason to believe that thc receipts would be considerably increased nextyearby contributions from lodges which had not yetseen their way to make any vote , and by increased contributions

"from others . No claim on behalf of any applicant for assistance had yet been brought before the committee . The report further stated that the Committee had found in practice that certain slight additions to the Benevolent Fund rules were desirable , and had , therefore , given notice thereof , as would be seen in the agenda for the Provincial Grand Lodge . The report was unanimously approved and confirmed .

The alterations of the Benevolent Fund rules alluded to were , first , to give to Royal Arch Chapters or Masonic Bodies of any other Degree ( as well as to Craft lodges whoalone had the right under the present rules ) , the right of constituting any of their officers Life Governors on payment of £ 50 . And secondly , that all investsments should be made in the names of three Trustees to be appointed by the Provincial Grand Lod

ge , such appointment to be made from time to time as may appear necessary . These additions were proposed by Bro . NOTT , and seconded by Bro . ROBERT STOKES , and were carried unanimously . It was further unanimously resolved , on the proposition of Bro . Stokes , seconded by Bro . James Sparks , that the trustees of this fund be the same as those before appointed

for the General Charity Fund of the province , viz : the P . G . M ., the D . P . G . M ., and the P . G . Treas . for the time being . The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY , on behalf of the Committee appointed at the last Provincial Grand Lodge to consider the revision of the byelaws , stated that through an accidental circumstance this Committee was not in a .

position to report , and asked that the period for making their powers might be extended to the next meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge . This was agreed to , the Committee being enlarged so as to make it more generally representative , and for that purpose to consistof the whole of the members of the Charity Organization Committee , lo this Committee was more especially referred a

question brought forward by Bro . E . Turner Payne , as to the desirability of raising the fees of honour on appointment of Provincial Grand Officers , and another brought forward by Bro . tlie Rev . John A . Lloyd , P . G . Chap ., for the issue of certificates of appointment to office in Provincial Lodge on payment of a small fee . The D . P . G . M ., Bro . Sir GABRIEL GOLDNEY , then stated that he

had a pleasing duty to perform . He was glad to find the work of the province so well and so happily carried out , and he was glad to invest two of those brethren , who might be called the working bees of the hive , and two of those to whose labours the present condition of the province was largely attributable . He had to invest Bro . 1 ' . H . Goldney , the Prov . Grand Treasurerwith the jewel

, voted to him last year as a slight acknowledgment of his munificence in presenting to the Provincial Grand Lodge , and to every brother in thc province , his work on Wiltshire Freemasonry , at a cost of upwards of £ 100 . He was sure that work had been highly appreciated , and was greatly to the advantage of the province , and it was a great gratification to himself , speaking of the Provincial Grand

Treasurer , both as his son and his brother , to bear in mind the kind expressions used by Lord Methuen last year , and to now invest him with this jewel as a mark of esteem and affection . Bro . F . H . GOLDNEY briefly but warml y thanked the lodge for the compliment . , As regards Bro . William Nott , the Charity Secretarv . h .

( the D . P . G . M . ) had a similar p leasing duty to perform , namely , to invest him with the jewel voted last year in recognition of his labours in relation to the establishment of . the Provincial Benevolent Fund . Bro . Nott was always anxious and willing to promote the interest of the Craft and its Charities , and to him was largel y due the success of the Committee of the Provincial Chanty organization , in Wiltshire candidates

getting elected as recipients of the Chanties , and his steady , persistent endeavours entitled him to all honour at the hands of the brethren Bro . NOTT thanked the D . P . G . M . for his kind remarks , and the brethren generally for their appreciation of his services as shewn by the honour just conferred upon him . Ihe D . P . G . M ., Bro . Sir G . GOLDNEY , in addressing the

Prov . Grand Lodge , expressed his regret at the absence of Lord Methuen , whose attendance that day nothing but illness would have prevented , and whose heart was still with them . They all knew the pleasure he took in thc work of the province , and that he was always ready for anything that might advance its prosperity . The D . P . G . M . in glancing at the proceedings of the meetinsr , expressed

ins pleasure at learning from the Registrar ' s report the substantial sums the brethren of the province were able to devote towards charity , and also that the amount of arrears of subscription had been very greatly reduced . That the province had been able to put by such a balance as enabled them to make the investments that day ordered , he considered to be extremel y gratifying , for now was the time , when they had no special calls upon them , to out bv for a . in

rainy aay . alluding to the successful starting of the Benevolent Fund , tlie D . P . G . M ., announced his mtention of making a donation to it towards qualifying- himself as a Life Governor . He then alluded to the admirable manner in which the proceedings of the Provincial Grand Udge were managed by the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Henry C . tombs , who made all the arrangements in so admirable a manner , and who , without the assistance of any shorthand writer , managed to lay before them as correct a record of their proceedings as , he believed , it was possible to make , The great advantage of such a full and