Archæology.

ARCH ? OLOGY .

The first theory to which I wish to call attention , and point out carefully its facts and its difficulties , is the guild theory . That a guild system existed is undoubted , " and that it was a Roman institution , accepted and worked out by the Anglo-Saxons , is , I think , undoubted also ,

for several reasons . Toulmin Smith seems to lean to the idea that it was an Anglo-Saxon institution , but I think that he was quite wrong , and that Mr . Coote is quite right who derives the Anglo Saxon " gild , " or guild , fromthe "Collegia Privata" of the Romans . It would be far too

ong a narration to . explain here in what this similarity between the ' two systems-consisted , so as to prove that the Anglo-Saxon is the continuation of the Roman , and I hope to do it shortly in another p lace . But suffice it to say that a very great likeness exists , and that there can be little

doubt that Mr . Coote is right in asserting the Roman orig in of the guild system . As I said before , the guild system existed , but of it until lately we knew next to nothing . I am now talking of the Craft guilds , of which the Masons was one , especially , though even of the

pure religious guilds not much more was known to us . There are still in the Record Office many hundred returns from guilds tempore Richard II ., of which Toulmin Smith published a few , and there are probably also in the Prerogative Court many p-uild certificates , in

which depository , a few years ago , Mr . Tyssen found the rules and ordinances of four London secular guilds , and two German religious guilds . Mr . Coote ' s view of the case may be best given in his own words , — "It is unnecessary to say that every guild was isolated , and independent of all

others of the . same description . This is traditionally said to have been the constitution of the guilds of Freemasons , now called lodges . ( Mr . Coote is not , we believe , a Freemason . ) Originally they were like other guilds , distinct communities , neither affiliated to nor dependent

upon any other association of the same Craft . At the beginning of the present century ( perhaps at the end of the last ) through extraneous influences , a hierarchical system Was introduced into Freemasonry , and all the independent lodges ( or guilds ) submitted themselves to one lodge in

London as their chief , at the same time surrendering to the latter their Royal charters , or licences , and their ordinances . These were probably all destroyed by the central authority at the time of the surrender . Copies of the charters , however , will possibly be found in the

Record Office amongst the returns under the lath Richard II ., and Mr . Tyssen ' s discovery shows it to be more than probable , that the rules and ordinances are registeredin some of-the ecclesiastical courts , where they will be discovered whenever a search shall be made for them .

When they shall be found we may assure ourselves that Von Hammer ' s hypothesis of Bakhornet will not hold good , still less will Mithra ' s , another and a later theory , stand

a chance of being accepted . " The exact place where the returns 12 th Richard II . are still extant , as we see , on referring to Toulmin Smith ' s guilds , where we find that these returns are known at the Record Office as

" Miscellaneous Rolls Lower Records , and were sent up in 1 . 399 , They are called certificates of guilds in 1842 , but they are probably only a part of the returns , and we may perhaps find copies of many more in local prerogative courts , and amid chapter and

collegiate muniments . It is perhaps not generally known that by the 37 th Henry VIII ., c . 4 ( 1 , 545 ) , and by the ist Edward VI ,, c 14 , the property of all the " brother hedds and guyldes" were confiscated by the Crown , and all their records and the like seized . So that by the end of the

i 6 th century the guild system may be said to have , been dissolved . What , then , is the connexion as between our speculative Grand Lodge to-day , and this old guild system ? Simply this , our speculative system is only a perpetuation of the guild system , of course with great

and needful modifications . It is quite clear from Ashmole and from Plot ' s evidence , that towards the middle of the 17 th century a Masonic Order existed , exactly akin to our own . This is even more clear from Plot ' s words than Ashmole ' s diary . The meeting in London , 1682 , at which

Archæology.

Ashmole was present , was not that of the Mason ' s Company , nor was it of a pure operative Order , but was clearly of a fraternity , as at Warrington in 16 4 6 , partly operative , partly speculative . We must not lay too much stress on condensed statements and loose terminology ;

but evidence there is plenty to show , that the Freemasonry to which Plot alluded , and into which Ashmole was admitted , is practically identical in general with our own at this hour . In order to get out of the difficulty of this continuation of identical existence , the " social

theory " has been put forward , making in fact a third system , but it will not , to use a common adage , "hold water . " Neither is it a good answer to the guild theory to say that our present ceremonial is not that of the guilds . and is modern ; —modern in the sense of the word it certainly is

not , as many are its undoubted archaisms . But it is quite sufficient to point out on this head , that no doubt our present ceremonial , while it is an elaboration of the revived Grand Lodge of 1 717 , has kept the "landmarks" which were then in existence , as handed down by the brethren who formed part of the Old St . Paul ' s

Lodge , and the other Masons who were congregated in speculative Grand Assembly in 1717 . The evidence of Scotland has been adduced to prove the modernity of our present system , and its parentage from the pure speculative system . But I think too hastily . If the evidences of Scotland are carefully gone through seriatim , it will be found that thp . rt- is some direct and a

good deal of implied evidence in favour of distinct and well known severances and secrets of grades . That the records only alluds to the First Degree is but natural , and it may be doubted if any minutes , until late in the last century , were kept of anv but the First Degree . There

were , for instance , many " Master ' s lodges " in the middle of the last century—where are their minutes now ? Lessing stated , and his hasty words have been accepted by some as truth , that no evidence existed of the word Freemason being in use until the beginning of the 18 th

century , and two recent American writers have reproduced his words as if of undoubted authority , and as if they unsettled the question . But Lessing is most undoubtedly wrong . There is plenty of MS . and even printed evidence , to produce that Freemason was a well-known word in use

before Ashmole ' s time . There is the MS . evidence of "Wm . Horwood , Freemason , " who contracted to build Fotheringay Chapel in 1436 ¦ there is a record of John Wood , Masoun , 13 th Henry VI ., 1439 , who made a contract with the Abbot of St . Edmondsbury for the repairs and

restoration of the great bell tower , " in all manner of things that longe to Freemasonry . " Some have even said that William of Wykeham in his will nearly a hundred years before , when he talks of " et alios sufficientes discretes et in ilia arte approbates , " alludes to the " accepted" Freemasons

but perhaps this is really and truly only " post hoc propter hoc , " and is hardly reliable as evidence , though undoubtedly the words are peculiar and seem to have a special meaning . I know of none like them used elsewhere . The first use of " Freemason " in Scotland , Bro . D .

Murray Lyon tells us , is in 16 36 under the name "Frie Mesones , " the Frieman Maissons " seems to be in use as early as 1600 . From 1600 , and indeed a Httle earlier , the name of " Freemason " is to be found in Registers of burials and the like continuously . Hence t is clear that LessinEf ' s assertion is perfectly untenable . I

do not say that the guild theory is free from difficulty , but in my opinion it is the most free in comparison with others , and after I have gone through the other three theories of Masonic history , I will sum up in a concluding communication the pros and cons for the Guild theory evidentially .

PHOVINCIAI . GRAND LODGE or WEST LANCASHIIIE . — Owing to some difficulty in the way , the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Western Division of Lancashire early next month will take place at the Masonic Hall , Liverpool , and not at the Pomona Gardens , Manchester . Owine to limited accommodation , it is saitl that onlv

Masters and Wardens will be admitted on this occasion . This arrangement ( which is very fortunately novel in Freemasonry ) is sure to cause great dissatisfaction amongst other officers and private members , and it is to be hoped that even now some place should be secured where the whole of the lodges may be present if they desire to attend .

Archæology.

YORKSHIRE AUCH / EOI - OGICAI . SOCIETY . — The Yo 1 , shire Archaeological and Topographical Societv had th tenth annual excursion on Wednesday , Halifax beinp- *'' lected as the centre . Col . Akroyd , late member lor HaHf * . " was president of the meeting . The excursion was und ' the direction of Mr . Fairless Barber , F . S . A ., one of the ho ^ secretaries . The members and friends assembled in orr , '

numbers at Halifax parish church m the morning , whe they were welcomed by the Rev . F . Pigou , M . A ., the vicar who hinted that he should like to see a restoration of th ' church by the removal of the galleries , throwing open th nave to the west door , and the removal of the pul pit f rorn the midst of the nave to near the chancel . The pewiiw and galleries are of old date . Mr . Barber read a paper

prepared by himself and a Mr . h . J . Walker , of Halifax on the antiquities and history of the church , which is of fin ' proportions and of great length . Though a church existed here in Norman times , he assigned to the oldest part of tht present edifice—a part of the north wall of the nave aisle- - no higher date than the 1 -jth century , the windows there showing something of the transition from the early English

to the Decorated . An eminent local antiquary , Mr . V . A Leyland , has conjectured that this may be of Saxon ori gin ] The rest of the church Mr . Barber believed to be wholly perpendicular , dating mostly from the 15 th century . The east end , indeed , was completed in 1480 , and there was documentary evidence showing that the tower was begun in 1450 , and took 20 years in building . The Rokeb y

Chapel was added in 1521 , and the Holdsworth Chapel in 15 * 54 . The pewing of the floor of thc church , in black oak Was done in 1634 . Thc chantries and altars , the registers and other interesting features were referretl to at some length Several ancient books from the library of the church were . shown , as also the registers , which date from the earl y part of the 16 th century . These last record the burial of many

people in front of their own dwellings who died of the plague of others who who were beheaded under the Halifax Gibbet Law , and the ba ptism of Archbishop 1 illotson , who was born in the parish at Haugh-entl . The party next visited Shibden-hall , an old house , partly timber-built , which dite-1 from early in the 15 th century . An account of it was ren d by Mr . John Lister , the owner , and the quaint old dining .

hall and bedrooms were inspected . Some ancient armorial glass in thc windows is of great interest to local families . The party thence returned to Halifax , where luncheon was provided at the Assembly Rooms . There was an exhibition at the Museum , adjacent , of old deetls and manuscripts , principally local , together with drawings of the old mansions in the district , and a collection of tiles antl pottery from the

Roman station of Cadmalodunum . At the luncheon the secretary announced that the society contemplated the exploration of the site of Byland Abbey—a work which has never yet been undertaken , and towards this the Duke of Norfolk has promised a donation of £ 30 . Leaving Halifax by train the party visited the extremely interestin-j church of St . Mary , at Elland , the greater part of

which is perpendicular , but which has an early English chancel arch . Mr . Barber having pointed out some of the leading features of the church , Mr . James Fowler , F . S . A ., read a paper on the cast window . This was filled with stained glass at the latter end of the i-jth century . It is i 1 five lights , antl the subjects , arranged in panels , with explanatory inscriptions iu Latin , are taken from the life of the Virgin Mary , in whose name the church is dedicated .

Mr . Fowler extremely regretted that the window was " restored " 20 years ago , certain of the panels being filled with new glass . Strange to say , the whole character ol the subject was mistaken , and the new panels portray incidents in the life of our Lord . The visit to Elland Church closed the meeting , which was one of great interest , but Was somewhat marred by the rain which fell in the latter part of the day .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The monthly meeting of the Committee of this Institution was held on Wednesday last , Col . Creaton in th . - chair , J . Smith , J . M ; Stedwell , A . II . Tattershall , John G . Stevens , C . A . Cottebrune , K . Wentworth Little , James Brett , W . Hilton , H . G . Warren , Wm . Stephens S . Rawson , Benj . Head , Dr . Jabez Hogg , Thos . Cubitt ,

W . Hale , F . Adlard , John Constable , H . Massey ( " rrcimason " ) , and Jas . Terry , Sec . The Secretary communicated the information to the Committee of the death of four annuitants . Thc Warden ' s report informed the committee of trie reception of one annuitant into the Institution , and the death of one widow . It also conveyed the intellig ence of the

good health of all the inmates of the asylum , and that they were much gratified at the entertainment lately given w them with such great success . The report also conveys to the brethren who gave the entertainment their best thanks for the same . Authority was afterwards given to the Chairman to sig " cheques ; and Two petitions were received from poor brethren .

Bro . Terry then read a letter from Bro . J . Norris , v * - ' den of the asylum , thanking the committee in tilt -name ol himself and the other inmates , for the increase in the annuity lately made . . Bro . Terry also read a letter from the son of the late Mr . Walkley thanking the brethren for the kindness his la " mother had received whilst an inmate of the asylum . The Committee then adjourned .

HOLLOWAY ' REMEDIES are much used in various imflam ^_ ton * states of the svstcm , and the vcry greatest advantage •? , j mived from their use when the blood lias become imp "' =. from the excess of any kind , and thc general health " < - '* - > " ;* m from the same cause . It is needless to srecify tbe iiumertw ; litrects' persons suffer from , who have overtaxed tliuir l > o > . , u they arc sufficiently obvious to all , and these effects are physical and mental . No one , however , need despond aDouiself , for , by attacking the source of the evil with a " *«? " *? ' „ , ) ¦ to conquer it , tile battle is half won . Holloway ' s remedies pro | (; , and judiciously used impart nutrition to thc blood , anu res- " the nerve cells their natural tone—ADVT .