Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

correspondent says : " / have looked at the Masonic MS . mentioned , and there is not a shadow of a doubt that the word ' sfieculatyf

zs quite correct , and it occurs again almost immediately with the addition ofthe final ' e . '" This is evidence of a thoroughly competent expert .

I so far agree with your contributor " Gamma" that the criticism of

correspondence in THE FREEMASON is necessary and beneficial , when confined to the evidences and arguments advanced , and if restricted to these fair and reasonable bounds , no contributor has a right to object ; but when

it is applied simply to a writer ' s style and manner , it becomes personal and offensive , and degenerates into a mere attempt to " put him down . " It is to be regretted that this contributor , in pointing out what he

conceives to be the errors of " Beta , should have so far ignored the proprieties of correspondence as to conclude with a very unjustifiable and insulting allusion . All of us may " find occasion to forbear , " and hence

I would submit that personal criticism is in the highest degree objectionable . Even your correspondent " Gamma" exposes himself to the chance of its being said that your readers will probably have learned for

the first time that " Dogberry " claims a place in " The Merry Wives of Windsor , " and that they will perhaps wonder whether " Bottom " has , by way of exchange , had a

small part allotted to him in " Much Ado About Nothing . " Verily , if these are the " fireworks " to which your correspondents are to be treated , there will be plenty of inducement for all those who desire the fair

and legitimate use of your columns to retire and leave these pyrotechnists to practise upon each other . I crave your indulgence if I shortly recall the present position . Some time since I

ventured to say that the advocates of the 17 iy theory had never supported their assertions by a single proof ( I repeat this statement ) , whilst the fact that there was more in the old Masonic Fraternity than in

other corporate guilds was evidenced by the Statute Book of England . I was at once met by a challenge to produce an Act of Parliament passed before 1700 which referred to Masons alone , and also by an

assertion that the word " speculative could not be found in any Masonic document before the same date . I produced the statuteof 1425 , which you printed incxtenso , and I produced the MS . of 1400 ( about ) , as

containing two examples of the word " speculative . " The statute was received in silence , the position was abandoned ; but a bolder policy now attends the damaging little word " speculative , " and the veracity

of the transcriber is impugned by the insinuation that his " rendering " ( forsooth ) has been " strained and apparently for a purpose . " Your readers will now judge where the " strain " has been put on .

Long before your American correspondent opened his battery upon me I had , as you are aware , taken my leave of the 1717 controversy , and should have no more referred to the subject had I not been

forced to speak m my own defence . Unless something can be advanced in its support , I look upon the theory as mere bubble , and with all its empty and airy nothingness , again bid it adieu . LUPUS .

[ This was accidently overlooked last week . —ED . F . l

ANCIENT MSS . ON MASONRY . My friend Bro . Jacob Norton , of Boston , U . S ., has done good service in directing attention to " Memorials of London and London Life in the 13 th , 14 th and 15 tli centuries . " I have read his extracts with

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

considerable interest , and will procure a copy of the work , as it is quite new to me , and certainly must be very entertaining and valuable . I am familiar with the contents of all the knozt'ii ancient MSS . on

Masonry in England and Scotland , but I cannot accept Bro . Norton ' s opinion relative to their being of no higher purpose than for "securing bread and butter . " Let any

one peruse the Halliwell , Cooke , Lansdown , Harleian , Sloane , Kilwinning , and other MSS ., and then I fancy he will discover clear attempts to inculcate not only morality , but also religion .

I have no desire to dogmatize in the matter . There has been far too much

theory , and too little proof relative to Freemasonry in the past . At the present time , however , Masonically , we cannot be said to live in a credulous age , but in one preeminently for enquiry , honest investigation , and rejection of whatever cannot stand the

test of a careful and complete examination . That in some respects Masons differed from other guilds seems to me evident ; not , however , so much radically , but in a superior position as respects organization and membership .

Bro . Norton may be able to find similar MSS . and ancient charges in connection with other guilds , as the old Halliwell MS . and others , but I have not been able to , and know not of any one who has . On this subject I cannot do better than quote from an able letter received by me from Bro . "Lupus "in June ; 1870 : —

I am clearly of opinion that we co actually represent the ancient guild of Operative Masons . One question has been much pressed : Why should we not have been free Tailors or free Cordwainers ? I reply , because there were very few guilds containing the elements of a higher social class than the

mere trading members . The Masons comprised architects of great eminence , as well by profession as amateurs , and no doubt the latter formed a considerable infusion at all times when the art has been held in high esteem . As the necessity for a trading guild died out , the amateur class probably

became stronger , and ultimately others entered , and so it became taken up as a non-trading association , with only the name to betoken its former intent and purpose . That it was of a much higher class than most trading guilds is abundantly proved by the distinguished names of skilful members on

actual record . Take one instance only , Henry de Yeveley , an architect , and master mason to three successive kings . He was director of works at Westminster as early as 1365 . In 1370 he was employed to retain masons to be sent in the king ' s retinue over the sea . ( Issue Roll of Thos . de

Brantingham , Bp . of Exeter : Ed . by Fredk . Devon , 1835 , P- 3- ) In 2 nd Richrd II . " Master Yevelee" vvas chief mason to the new work in progress at the Church at Westminster , and receive for his fee 100 s . a . year , with 15 s . for his dress and furs ( Fabric Rolls ) . This , and the records of other

such names , plainly proves the importance of the guild , and leads to the probability of its perpetuation by other means . I am not aware of any records of distinguished tailors or great cordwainers . In another guild , once of great importance , the Clothiers , there is a local example in the ancient

city of Worcester . The clothing trade has entirely disappeared from the city for probably considerably more than a century , . and as it faded out , the more eminent citizens and neighbouring gentlemen were admitted to the guild , so that during all the long period since the trading element became extinct ,

the guild in that city has consisted of men of rank and position , having no connection whatever with the manufacture of cloth , and in very few instances with any other commercial pursuit . The guild so continues at this moment , and that there may be no mistake about its actual representation of the

old trading fraternity , I may add that the present guild not only possesses the charter , seals , books , and various insignia of its ancient brotherhood , but also holds what was unsold of its household and landed property . Again , too , the language of the early statutes relating to Masons clearly indicates

that there was much more importance in their guild , and their , ; chapters and congregations , ' ' than in the other trading bodies . What would they ordinarily want with such assemblies ? And if there was nothing of significance in them , why make the " chapters and congregations " the subject of legislative interference ? If any brother can

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

seriously ask himself why he is not a free Tailor , I think perhaps he has mistaken his present vocation , I , however , only refer to these as showing the important position of the old Craft , and the clear reason , as in the case of the Clothiers , why other persons should seek admittance , and in the end

save the guild from annihilation . In these days we have societies incorporated by charter , instead of the old guilds , and we may take the Institute of Civil Engineers as an example—a highly honourable and distinguished society , which amongst its roll

of the class called " Associates , " numbers eminent men of many professions and of no profession , distinguished soldiers , sailors , men of law , and men of science generally . Is not this a forcible example of the same kind ? Faithfully yours , LUPUS .

I had intended referring to it at more length , but regret not having the requisite time so to do . W . J AMES HUGHAN .

MISRAIM AND MEMPHIS . I am in a position to corroborate the statement made by " Veritas " last week at page 216 , as the following extracts from the General Statutes of the " Reformed Rite of Memphis " will very conclusively show : —

The Reformed Masonic Order of Memphis recognizes only three degrees , those of Apprentice , Fellow-Craft , and Master . The Masonic sovereignty is in the general body of Masters of the Order . That power is exercised collectively by the Masters of the different lodges

who form the Grand Lodge of the Philadelphes . This Grand Lodge sits at London . It is charged 1 st . To govern and administer the Order . 2 nd . To direct the scientific part of the works . 3 rd . To unite all the lodges of the Rite . 4 th . To deliver to the lodges their constitutions and diploma , and to

affix the seal of the Order . 5 th . To centralise the works of the lodges , and to collate all the archives by means of the duplicata which are gathered by them from the different lodges of the Rite . The works of the Grand Lodge are directed by the officers elected in general assembly by an

absolute majority of the members present . These officersarechosen from among the ancient members of the Symbolical Lodge , who shall be named to continue the works of initiation and instruction of the Grand Lodge of the Philadelphes , and as much as possible among those who have been already charged with any office .

The Lodge of Stratford , which was denounced by the late Grand Secretary , Bro . W . Gray Clarke , was one of the lodges held under this spurious Grand Lodge , and it is difficult to believe that this fact was not known to the parties who recently

endeavoured to implicate the Rite of Misraim in the condemnation pronounced against a totally different organization . If this be so , it presents a melancholy example of human depravity in the so-called "high places" of Masonry , indicating a

course of action which must be abhorrent to every right-thinking man . For the information of your readers , it may be stated that the " Order of Memphis " meets at the Eclectic Hall , Soho , and comprises men who are not recognized as

Masons by the laws of the land . On the other hand , the " Rite of Misraim " is comprised only of brethren who are loyal and devoted adherents of the United Grand Lodge of England , working members of the Craft , supporters of the Masonic

Charities , and who have as much right to pursue their investigations into other branches or offshoots of Freemasonry , as they have to walk about in the clothes for which they have paid . At this time of day , it will not do for interested parties who uphold the Ancient and Accepted Rite to denounce

the pretensions of another and a somewhat similar rite as spurious . If those gentlemen will take the trouble to trace their own origin , they will find it based upon as rare a foundation of mendacities as ever issued from the inventive brain of a Munchausen . The fables promulgated about Frederick the Great , the forged charters and consti