Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

HAMPTON COURT . IVtount Calvary Encampment ( D ) . — This old encampment met at the Mitre Hotel on the 16 th ult . Among those in attendance vvere Sir Knights L . Steele , n r ¦ Nelson Prower , M . A ., 2 nd Capt . ; Capt . T . C . Walls , P . E . C ., Reg . ; W . Maple , C . of G . ; F . Egbert Roberts , Org . ; H . Hills ; F . W . Driver , M . A ., P . E . C . ;

Q Graveley , P . E . C . ; H . J . Lardner , P . E . C . ; VV . Paas , p . G . B . B ., P . E . C . ( Hon . Mem . ); and others . The minutes of the previous encampment having been read and confirmed , the ballot vvas taken on behalf of Sir Knig ht the Rev . R . Fillingham , M . A ., Old Kent Preceptory , as a joining member , and it proved unanimous . Apologies were received from Sir Knights T . Ward , LP . E . C ; Major

p . J . Stohwasser , P . E . C , P . G . S . B ., Treas . j C Pratt , and others . The encampment was then closed , and the sir knights partook of an excellent banquet , the viands and wines being , as usual , most excellent , thanks to the catering of the genial and venerable host , Bro . Sadler . The executive ot the encampment are to be congratulated upon the success that attended the whole proceedings . In

the earlier part of the day a number of the members and their visitors proceeded by a steam launch from Tagg's Island to Staines and back , lunching en route at the Bridge Hotel , Chertsey . During the banquet Sir Knight F . Egbert Roberts entertained the party by his powerful vocalisation . Some excellent speeches vvere made by the visitors , notably Sir KnightsT . Simpson , G . Hervert , Rev . P . Oglivie Ashby , M . A ., and T . O . Harding , M . A .

MANCHESTER . St . Joseph Preceptory ( No . 9 ) . —The regular meeting was held recently at the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street . The preceptory vvas opened by Sir Knight F . VV . Lean , P . E . C , who officiated literally at a moment's notice in the absence of the Eminent Prior , and ably installed Comp . Matthew Aspden as a sir knight .

The following were present : Sir Knights F . VV . Lean , P . E . C . j J . H . Hughes , P . E . C . , * A . H . Jefferis , P . E . C . j E . Pike , P . E . C , Chancellor j Samuel VVarburton , P . E . C ; W . H . Southern , Marshal ; G . S . Smith , Sub-Marshal ; | . Hardwicke Marsh , acting as C . of L . ; G . A . Myers , Almoner ; Harry Gordon Small , and Matthew Aspden .

Allied Masonic Degrees.

Allied Masonic Degrees .

Metropolitan Council ( T . I . ) . —A meeting of this old council was held at the Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on the 17 th ult . Among those present vvere Bros . W . G . Lemon , W . M . ; H . J . Lardner , S . W ., Master elect ; W . Vincent , J . W . ; Capt . Walls , P . M ., Sec ; E . Shepherd , J . D . ; E . Sweeny , LG . ; H . H . Shirley , D . C . ; Baron de Ferrieres , P . M . j N . Prower , M . A . j andE . J . Mills , Tyler . The minutes of previous meeting vvere read and confirmed .

Bro . Nelson Prower , M . E . Z . elect , 1745 , received the Degree of H . P . Bro . H . J . Lardner having been presented was installed W . M . by Bro . Lemon . The following appointments and investitures then took place ; Bros . VV . Vincent , S . W . j A . McDowall , J . W . j George Powell , Treas . j T . C . Walls , Sec . j G . Graveley , Conductor ; C . Shepherd , S . D . j E . Sweeny , J . D . j H . H . Shirley , M . A ., I . G . j L .

Steele , C . E ., D . C ; N . Prower , M . A ., Org . j and E . Mills , Tyler . A vote of thanks was passed to the Installing Officer , and he vvas invested vvith a Past Master's jewel . The report of the Audit Committee vvas received and adopted . An important res ilution bearing upon the financial future of the council was unanimously passed . Apologies for nonattendance vvere received from Bros . C . F . Alatier , G . Sec . j Lieut .-Col . G . Lambert , P . M . ; A . Williams , P . M . ;

Major VV . B . Williams , J . P ., P . M . ; R . L . Loveland , P . M . ; Geo . Powell , Treas . ; A . McDowall , G . Graveley , and T . Poore . Bro . Poore in consequence of ill-health having lesigned the active membership of the council he was unanimously elected an honorary member . The council vvas then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Holborn Restaurant to dine . The W . M . presided most genially and ably . A few toasts were given and the proceedings terminated .

Royal Masonic Institution For. Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR . BOYS .

The July Quarterly Court of Governors and Subscribers of this Institution was held on Friday , the Sth inst . , in the Board Rooms , Freemasons' Hall , when Bro . C . E . Keyser , G . D ., presided . There were also present on the occasion Bros . W . A . Scurrah , George E .

rairchild , C . H . Webb , G . Adamson , J . S . Cumberland , James Brett , George Bolton , James Terry , J . G . Steven " , H . Massey , W . Masters , G . E . Lake , D . P . G . M . Herts , H . E . F . Bussey , C . Pulman , W . Russell , and J- M . McLeod , Secretary .

The notice convening the meeting stated that the Court was called for the transaction of the ordinary business of the Institution , to consider the following notice of motion by Bro . George Everett , P . G . Treas ., President : "That the Board of Management be

authorised to fill up additional vacancies that have occurred in the School by admitting two of the unsuccessful candidates at the election of Friday , Sth April last , who were next on the poll , " and to consider

an d , if approved , to adopt a recommendation from the Council as to the number of boys to be elected at the Quarterl y Court on Friday , 14 th October , and to determine the list of candidates . In the course of laying before the Court the minutes ot the different meetings held since the former Court ,

Royal Masonic Institution For. Boys.

a statement was read of a resolution of Council , vvhich contained among other things a notice of the unexpectedly large amount of nearly . £ 13 , 000 collected at the last Festival of the Boys' School , attributing this great collection in a considerable measure to the exertions of Bro . McLeod , the Secretary of the

Institution . Bro . KEYSER said that he fully agreed , and he vvas sure all the brethren fully agreed , vvith this reference , and he thought that a more formal recognition should have been made of Bro . McLeod's efforts , vvhich had been unremitting on behalf of the Festival , and in the interests of the Institution .

Bro . MCLEOD thanked the Chairman for his kind reference to him . The minutes of Council of the 3 rd instant showed that 15 boys vvere unsuccessful at the last election in April , that two of these were dealt vvith in Bro . Everett ' s proposed motion , which , if passed , would reduce the number to 13 , that two vvere approved at

the Council meeting in May , 12 in June , and 11 in July , and that the Council recommended that this total number of 38 should be declared as the approved list of candidates for the election of Friday , October 14 th . The Council also recommended that 24 of this number should be elected . Bro . W . MASTERS then moved for Bro . Everett , who

vvas unavoidably absent— That the Board of Management be authorised to fill up additional vacancies that have occurred in the School by admitting two of the unsuccessful candidates at the election of Friday , Sth April last , vvho were next on the poll . " He stated that the brethren were aware that two of the boys in the School left it the day after the election , and this

motion vvas to enable the Board of Management to fill the vacancies thus caused . Bro . KEYSER remarked that the brethren understood what occurred , and the Council and the Board of Management were anxious to have no vacancy , but to keep the School up to its full state of efficiency . Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND seconded the motion , which

was then put and carried . Bro . W . A . SCURRAH moved that the Court adopt the recommendation from the Council that the number ol approved candidates for the election of Friday , 14 th October , 1892 , be 38 , and that 24 boys be elected . Bro . C . PULMAN seconded the motion , which vvas put by the CHAIRMAN , and carried .

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND gave notice that he would move at the next Quarterly Court in October to alter Rule 48— " That the Council shall meet at the office of the Institution on the first Saturday in every month , except when that day shall fall on the Saturday immediately before Bank Holiday , when the meeting shall be held on the following Saturday , September

excepted , at 3 o'clock in the afternoon . " He proposed that the meeting should be on the last Friday in every month , except in the case of such day falling immediately before Bank Holiday , or on Good Friday , when the meeting shall be held on the next following Friday , September excepted , at 5 o'clock in the afternoon . He pointed out that a change of this kind was

necessary , as , with the Saturday half-holidays circumstances had so altered since the rule vvas framed , that it vvas now extremely inconvenient lor the brethren to remain in town for these meetings . The CHAIRMAN said it would not be necessary to

argue the question now . Bro . Cumberland could give notice of his motion for the next Quarterly Court and state his reasons when the motion came belore the brethren . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

The Old Charges.

THE OLD CHARGES .

A short time ago the Freemason had some notes of mine upon the old Masonic Charges , touching upon the change of front that would be necessitated by the acceptance of Bro . Howard ' s theory in regard to the derivation of Namas Grecus from Nismes , or Nimes , in France . Since then our learned critic , Bro . Dr .

Begemann , has given the great weight of his opinion , in Ars ^ Quatuor Coroiiatorttm , against the acceptance of this theory . His opinion is unchanged by Bro . Howard ' s paper and is practically that vvhich I have previously advocated , namely , that our latest Charges have been derived by evolution and selection from an original charge of Athelstan's time , carried forward

thus : ( 1 ) in the second part of the original of Cooke , siy 1400 ; ( 2 ) in the original of " Wm . Watson , " say ' 475 ! ( 3 ) > n the original of " The Modern Charges , " say 1520 . I am , however , of opinion that a good deal may yet be said in favour of Bro . Howard ' s theory . "The Regius" and second part of "Cooke , " as the purest Athelstan version , do not coalesce with our

Semitic ceremonies , which are certainly older than Grand Lodge of 1717 , such coalition only occurs in the first part or Commentary of " Cooke ; " if Bro . Howard is wrong it behoves some one to propose another and better theory , that will account for the Semitic rites . St . Albans would seem to have been prominent in Norman , and later times , as a place where we might expect to find Masonic legends , and there is nothing

improbable in the author of "Cooke" having revised his commentary , or preface , from such traditions and writings . Begemann looks however upon " The Cooke Commentary" as the personal composition of the author , and that the original of " The T . W . Te . v MS , " is the link which unites " The Wm . Watson " and other " Modern Charges . " By the kind courtesy of Bro . Wm . Watson I have been able to peruse " The Tew MS ., " and it certainly bears out Bro . Begemann ' s theory .

The Old Charges.

He relies chiefl y upon three things—the naming of Pythagoras . with Hermes ; the use in the W . W . of words as to the old and the new law of Euclid and Athelstan ; but in the name Mammongretis he is not so happy , as it appears neither in "Cook" or "Watson" MS . The uncertain way in vvhich the name is spelt rather points to an oral derivation or the unreadable nature of some

very old MS . Still , the question is worthy of being more closely argued out , but Mammongretis is as difficult to recognise as any other of the numerous forms . A few words here as to the aid vvhich is being rendered to students of these documents by the Provincial Grand Lod ge of West Yorkshire . For nearly 40 years I have speculated upon the doubtful advantage

of these bodies in the economy of Masonry . They certainly do give excuse for a good dinner , no bad thing when your digestion is good . They give an extra jewel and a more flashy apron , no good thing when it creates jealousy and disatisfaction in the lodges . Acting upon this feeling , when I vvas more active in Masonry , I declined some minor provincial offices .

But Bros . Tew and Watson have shown us how useful and important these bodies may be made b y labouring to advance the intellectual status of the Craft as a centre of culture . During the last half century many private lodges have tried to establish small libraries , but either they have not been well looked after , or have not answered , as I have often seen such books exposed for sale .

If it would not appear impertinent I should like to ask how many of our Provincial Grand Masters can take rank vvith Bro . T . W . Tew ? What are the rest doing generally for the scientific and intellectual advancement of the Craft?—and echo must answer , What ? They aid the Charities ; but there it ends . A glance through the report on the West Yorkshire

Library indicates that Bro . Tew , besides the aid which he is known to render to the Charities , is contributing large sums in cash and in books in providing a library for his province worthy of the name , and it is astonishing to see the quantity of most valuable material that has been accumulated in so short a space of time . Nor is this all . This worthy P . G . M . has gone to great

expense in printing and distributing , free of cost , seven valuable charges : —( 1 ) A copy of "The Wm . Watson "; ( 2 ) " The T . W . Tew , " before alluded to as of great archielogical value ; ( 3 ) " The Clapham " * , ( 4 ) " The Waistell " ; ( 6 ) " The Probity , " a variation vvhich tends to prove that "The Lansdown and Antiquity MS . " are copied from still older versions ;

( 7 and last ) " The Hughan . " All this seems to indicate the commencement of a new and more useful era for Provincial Grand Lodges , with better objects and more extended duties . It is worth y of remark that so far no systematic effort has been made to popularise these valuable records of the Craft , except by Bros . Hughan and Watson , the Quatuor Coronati alone excepted , whose labours , though carried out in a superior manner ,

are yet incomplete . " The West Yorkshire Reprints " vvill form a nice and useful volume to go vvith "The Halliwell , " "Cooke , " and " Hughan " volumes of " Old Charges . " It would be worth the while of some other Prov . Grand Lodge to imitate West Yorkshire , and print a handy volume of the remaining charges known to date , and not included in these sources of light .

JOHN YARKER . P . S . —The statement in " The Tew MS . " that Cain slew Abel " with an arrow " is possibly derived from that old romancer , Sir John Maundeville , as he states in Ch . X . that at 2000 years of age Lamech , Noah's father , slew Cain vvith an arrow . The knight left St . Albans for Jerusalem , vvhich he also terms the land of promise or of behest , in the year 1322 . The history vvas anciently very popular , and the charges may show some little tokens of its inlluence .

The Recent Boys' School Festival.

THE RECENT BOYS' SCHOOL FESTIVAL .

The following new lists and additions to lists have been received since our last issue :

LONDON . Lodge £ s . J . 16 73 Bro . H . Godwin _ 226 ( increasing his list to £ 38 Os . ( id . ) PROVINCES . KSSHX . 214 Bro . Rev . W . Quennell , new list 10 10 0

HANTS AND ISI . E 01- WIGHT . 723 Bro . Richard Eve 550 ( increasing his list to £ 3 6 15 s . ) LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . Bro . W . J . Thomson , new Steward

Bro . Thomas J . Barnett , P . P . G . W . Staffordshire , should have been named as representing Lodge 526 . We should also have stated in our Analysis that Bro . Saunders , vvho represented Kent , had the highest list , for which we gave Bro . Snell credit , in mistake .

Mr . Cyrus Field , whose death at the age of 73 occurred on Tuesday , vvill be always remembered for the eminent seiyices he rendered to ocean telegraphy . He took an active part in the construction of the land line in Newfoundland , and in the two attempts to lay the submarine cable

between Capes Ray and Breton . He accompanied the expeditions of 1 S 57 and 1 S 58 , and on the failure of the latter line at once set about raising the necessary capital to lay a stronger line . He vvas on board the Great Eastern when the 1 SO 5 cable vvas laid , and for his services received the thanks of Congress and a gold medal .