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WE call attention elsewhere in our reviewing column to a book by Bro . Dr . WEISSE , and wliich deals with the Alexandria obelisk and the Belzoni MS . and illustrations . We agree in the opinions put forth by our reviewer , and which are expressed both in clearness and moderation .

THE philanthropic and munificent efforts of our esteemed Bro . Professor ERASMUS WILSON :, in bringing Cleopatra ' s Needle to the Embankment , have aroused a spirit of emulation in the L nited States , which has culminated in takinsr another

obelisk , ( also called Cleopatra ' s Needle ) , to New York . As a contemporary says ' -. "The enthusi"asm occasioned by the arrival of Cleopatra ' s " Needle in thc United States has caused the New " York San to break out in the following poetical " lines -.

" I- rom sands Egyptian the Obcliscus , Through waves promiscus , is on her way , What pious rapture and CNuItation , Likewise elation , in my bosom play . ' " We cannot congratulate our friends on the other side of tlie "little millpond " on the poetry which the obelisk has evoked .

* * WE are son- ) - to note two very serious railway accidents within thc last few days , the more so as the railways arc now crowded with holiday tourists .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , hut wc wish in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—fret discussion . ]

THE STATUS OF PROV . GRAND MASTERS , & c . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Is " Revivisco " quite correct , cither in his assumption or his conclusions ? It is true that Prov . and District Grand Masters aro not actual officers of Grand Lodge , but are they not so reckoned in some sense as such by the Book of Constitutions ? If they be not such , in any sense , why

is it they can preside over Grand Lodge ? They do not do so , as far as I know , by any other provision ofthe Book of Constitutions than that which gives the same authority to the Present and Past Grand Officers of Grand Lodge . This is a most important point , which so far seems overlooked in the discussion , and , if my view of the matter be correct , is perfectly fatal to " Revivisco ' s " contention . Yours fraternally , NOT INFALLIBLE .

GRAND CHAPTER . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — What gives the right of presiding at a Grand Chapter ? R . ARCH . [ We apprehend seniority of appointment as a Present or Past Grand Officer of Grand Chapter . —ED . F . M . ]

" 39 GEO . III ., CHAP . 79 . " To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — For the information of "W . M . 143 S , " permit me to mention that the annual custom of sending a list of members of each lodge to the clerk of the peace has been observed in the county of Cumberland for many years past .

The fee of eight shillings and sixpence , however , has never , to my knowledge , been exacted . Tlie earliest reference I know of it is to be found in the minutes of the Sun , Square , and Compasses Lodge , Whitehaven , in 1807 , then . No . 157 , now No . 119 . A good illustration of the origin and purpose of the custom is to be found in the following extract from my book on " Craft Masonry in Cumberland and Westmorland : "

List of all and every the members of Lodge 157 , part of and under the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England , according to the old Constitutions , which said Grand Lodge was held long before the passing of the Act of Parliament after-mentioned , in conformity to the rules prevailing among the lodges of in this

I ' reemasons kingdom , . . . . . . to be registered pursuant to the statute in that case lately made and provided , intituled , ' An act for the effectual suppressing of societies established for seditious purposes , and for better preventing treasonable and seditious practices . ' 39 George 11 ) ., chap . 79 . " Here follow the members' names .

' Cumberland lo wit . —We , whose names are hereunder written and subscribed , two of the members of the above lodge , No . 157 , do hereby attest , make oath , and declare , that the said lodge is held for the purpose of Masonry , and in conformity to the rules prevailing amongst the lod ges of Freemasons in this kingdom , and that the above is a correct list and descriptions of

all the members of the said lodge , and times and place of their meeting , pursuant to the statute in that case made and provided . Sworn at Whitehaven , this Sth day of March , 1 S 07 , & c , & c . " The _ statute referred to is ( lie "Sedition Act , " which ,

while it suppressed every oilier secret society , exempted certain societies which have been long accustomed to be holden in this kingdom under the denomination of Lodges of Freemasons , the meetings whereof have been in a great measure directed to charitable purposes . " An American Masonic writer says : "The English nation , while composed

Original Correspondence.

most largely of non-Masons , recognized by Act of Parliament the lofty character of Freemasons , their pure purposes and charitable practices . " The Duke of Athole , the then Grand Master of the "Ancients , " took a prominent part in the passage of the "Bill" through , the House of Lords , as may be gathered from the fact of his grace being made the recipient of many complimentary resolutions and

addresses . The following will further enlighten your correspondent : "That thc most respectful thanks of the above lodges ( five 'Ancient' lodges in Manchester ) are justly due to our R . W . Grand Master , his Grace the Duke of Athole , for his very spirited , noble , and able defence of our ancient and honourable Institution in the House of Lords , on Thursday , the 20 th of June , 1799 . " And , again , the duke's interest in the welfare of Masonry was " nobly

displayed in your grace ' s animated and noble exertions in the House of Lords when the late Bill was pending theie ; and it is to your grace ' s able defence of our Order we enjoy the privilege of meeting as Masons . " In Cumberland , I may add , the law was so rigorously adhered to fifty years ago , that a single year ' s neglect to send in the returns brought down on the defaulting lodge or lodges the warmest censure of Prov . Grand Lodge . Fraternally yours , W . F . LAMONBY , P . M . 1002 .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " DeSr Sir and Brother , In reply to the query of W . M . 145 S , by the 39 Geo . III ., cap . 79 , Freemasons are bound to send a list of the members of their lodges annually to the Clerk of the Peace . By the 2 nd of the Ancient Charges , to which a W . M . signifies his assent before being installed , he pledges himself to conform to the laws of the country , and this is one of them .

It may not be generally known that no other secret society than Freemasons is allowed by the law to administer an oath . The law excepting Freemasons from the general regulation not unreasonably requires that the names of those so specially favoured shall be officially registered . I consider it an official recognition of the Freemasons as a law-abiding body . Yours fraternally , P . P . G . SEC . 10 th August .

BAYARD AND THE GRAND LODGE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — With reference to Bayard's query as to the relative status of Grand Officer and Provincial Grand Master , I think the latter is certainly not the former . By the Book of Constitutions if the Grand Master be

dissatisfied with the conduct of any of his Grand Officers he ( page 31 , sect . 7 ) may submit the cause of complaint to Grand Lodge , and no Gxand Officer can bc removed without the approbation of Grand Lodge , whereas by page 49 , sect . 12 , the Provincial Grand Master onl y holds his office at the pleasure of the Grand Master . By page 45 , sect . 1 , the Prov . Grand Master is invested with a rank

and power in his particular district , similar to those possessed by the Grand Master . A P . G . Master is not , therefore , a Grand Lodge Officer , but is himself in his province the Grand Master himself . Yours fraternally , P . P . G . SEC . 10 th August .

[ We have already expressed our opinion elsewhere on the subject , and we beg our correspondent to look at pages iG and 17 of the Book of Constitutions— " Regulations for the Government of the Craft "—and to ask him how on his view he explains either the preface or the Table of Precedence . —ED . F . M . ]

BRO . IRVING DE LISLE'S QUERY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The difficulty referred to by Bro . De Lisle arises from defective bye-laws , according to which the VV . M . is to be elected in November and installed on St . John the Evangelist's Dai- ( 24 th June ) . Now , as the lodge by its

Byelaw I . meets each month , this is impossible ; for , by the Book of Constitutions , page 62 , sec . 2 , the VV . M . should be installed at the next meeting after his election , when the minutes were confirmed . This is a case where the bye-law is evidently , by an oversight , at variance with the Book of Constitutions ; therefore , is of no force .

The VV . M ., being elected in November , should be installed at the regular meeting in December , when the minutes are confirmed . The bye-law , which should not have been approved by the District Grand Master , being contrary to the Book of Constitutions , should be at once altered . Yours fraternally , P . P . G . SEC . 10 th August .

Reviews.

Reviews .

THE OBELISK AND FREEMASONRY . B y Bro . J . A . WEISSE , M . D . J . VV . Bouton , Broadway , New York . This is a very readable book and admirably illustrated , though we cannot say that it is either very deep , or original , or convincing . It is the fate of all compilations , and all works in which communications to a contemporary press are reprinted , that they have an apparently shallow and unsatisfactory appearance to the Masonic student , who asks

for careful criticism , or distinct authority . As regards the Obelisk-, its only connection with Masonry is somewhat vague and wholly inferential , being based on the existence of certain " signs "on the pediment , which maybe accidental , some playful records of the workmen , or simply Masons' marks . We think , ourselves , that too much has been made of the obelisk . As regards Belzoni ' s MS . notes , and his illustrations of the

tomb of Pharaoh Osirie , a good deal more may be said , undoubtedly , though even here again we are confronted by the peculiar ceremonial and views of the Egyptians as regards the dead , and their trials , purification , and judgment . It is , however , possible , and we lean to it on the whole , that we have in these representations a description of Egyptian

mysteries , and if so , of something much akin to Freemasonry . We do not know where Bro . Dr . Weisse obtained all these illustrations from—they are not , if wc remember rightly , in Belzoni ' s original work . We remember only , however , a peculiar dogmatism in our worthy brother to which we very much object , as warranted by no facts , up-

Reviews.

ported by no authorities . We confine ourselves to three points to which we beg to draw a' tention : 1 . We repudiate ex imo cordc his assertion , that our Masonic aprons represent the " fig leaves of Adam and Eve , and originated therefrom . " ( Page 39 . ) Such an assertion is , indeed , calculated to bring a good deal of ridicule on Freemasonry . It is utterly unsupported by any authority , and is an imaginative theory of Bro . Weisse's .

Our modern aprons are the devclopement of operative working Masons . Pharaoh ' s apron may have had a derivation of its own , but certainly not Adam and Eve . All such statements land us again in the throes of the uncritical—historical school of Freemasonry . 2 . Too much stress cannot be laid on modern accounts of the Oriental and Aryan mysteries . There is very little authority for them , except chance passages of some writers

who had no authority for their glowing details . Most of the Egyptian details rest upon "Sethos , " which is a romance . That here and there we may " strain a few passages of the classical writers into allusions to the mysteries is possible , but we know very little indeed about the Eleusinian mysteries . Much that has been written about them is purely imaginative and sensational . Indeed , there is a school now which denies that the " mysteries " contained any teaching ,

and that slaves as well as free men and strangers could be members . VVe do not agree with this school , but it shows how very little is known for certainty about the mysteries . VVe are also anxious for the authority that Pope Boniface , 111 ., C 14 , granted to the Masonic Guilds a charter , & c , making them free of local , royal , or municipal statutes . That as an historical fact is , we apprehend , an impossibility and an anachronism . If it were so we should have , no doubt , the

explanation of many a " crux" in Masonic history . The earliest operative guild rules so far known , —those of Paris , —say ; nothing of this Pope , but the "King Charles Martel , " and in England all guilds required a "royal licence , " and our earliest guild charters were granted , not by the Pope , but by King Athelstan , and some , perhaps , by Eadwin of the Deira , King of Northumberland . Canute is said to have founded more than one guild . But having said this ,

and cautioned Masonic students , who when they read the book will need no further caution from us , we recommend Bro . Weisse's book as an interesting compilation from various sources , and an admirably illustrated contribution to Masonic history and archaeology . VVe think it right to remark that in the "Masonic

Magazine first appeared the coloured illustration of Bro . Belzoni ' s MS ., which was also published from his original MS ., and that thc colours there are facsimile of the illustrations in Bro . Belzoni's MS .. originally coloured by Belzoni himself , No doubt Bro . Belzoni ' s illustations deserve careful study and consideration , and we would suggest a Masonic Committee of travel and study for that very remarkable tomb .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

COLOURED LODGES IN AMERICA . In the "Sentimental and Masonic Magazine" for 1795 is the account of a coloured lodge , in Massachusetts , and of its meetings , its procession , and a sermon preached before it . VVhat lodge was that ? Can Bro . Hughan , or an American brother , tell me ? ALBUS .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

dttatt Jteonrg . ALL SAINTS LODGE ( No . 1716 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Friday , the 6 th inst ., at the Town Hall , Newby Place , Poplar , when the following were present : Bros . | . K . Coleman , VV . M . ; L . Potts , S . W . ; VV . C . Young , J . W . ; J . Dennis , P . M . ; and several other brethren . 1 'he minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed , the lodge proceeded to

elect the VV . M . and Treas . for the ensuing year , and Bro . Leonard Potts , S . W ., for the former position , and Bro . VV . H . Farnfield for the latter , were unanimously elected The Audit Committee was composed as follows : The officers under the Bye Law , and Bros . Day , Bates , S . D ., and Rundell . Bro . Harrison was unanimously re-elected Tyler , Bro . Dennis , P . M ., in a very able speech , proposed

that the Jusual P . M . ' s jewel be presented to Bro . Coleman on thc termination of his year of office . This having been seconded was about to be put by the S . W ., when the VV . M . expressed his reluctance to receive the the gift considering that he had had no opporunity of working during the year ,

owing to the absence of candidates . This view havingbeen combated by Bro . Dennis , who pointed out the competence of the W . M . to do the work had it presented , thc motion was put to the meeting and carried unanimously . The VV . M . having returned thanks , the lodge was closed in due form with solemn prayerand adjourned .

STAFFORD . —Staffordshire Knot Lodge ( No . 72 G ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , the 10 th inst ., atthe North-Western Hotel . There werepresent Bros T . VVood , VV . M . ; S . Scott , acting S . W . ; Ii . Sudbury , ] . W . ; Rev . K . C . Perry , Chap . ; * J . Llovd White , Sec ; John Barker , S . D . ; John Mottram , J . D . ; E . N . Taylor , Org . ; E . J , Mousley , I . G . ; Captain Hunt , Steward ; R .

Tomlinson , Tyler ; II . Woodhouse , P . M . ; T . E . Fowke , I . P . M . ; S . S . Plant , G . T . C . Barker , R . Podmore , T . Rigby , J . Wooldridge , and R . Heath . Visitor : Bro . P . Bodnll , 1325 . The lodge was opened in thc First Degree , and thc minutes were confirmed . The ballot was then taken for Bro . Jas . Senior , as a re-joining member , from Lodge of Honour , 326 , and Mr . Fredk . Woolley , Mr . W . P .

Duncalfe , and Mr . Henry Newton , jun ., as members of the lodge , all of which were unanimous . Bro . Rev . 1-2 . C . Perry then , in a very impressive manner , presented a Past Master ' s jewel to Bro . T . 1- ; . Fowke , I . P . M ., as a token of the lodge s appreciation of his services as VV . M . The lodge was then raised to the Second Degree , and Bro . Barker

was entrusted , and , on his retiring , the lodge was opened in the Third Degree , and Bro . Barker was admitted in due form , and raised to the Sublime Degree of a M . M . ; the ceremony being rendered by the VV . M ., who also delivered the charge , and explained the Third Tracing Board and presented tlie working tools . The lodge was then closed in ancient form , and , the brethren retired to thc banqueting room .