Original Correspondence.

donosor undertook to strengthen the tower , when " an engele smote him with divers speihe . " After which we are brought back again to " Clerky Euclyde , " teaching his pupils the seven sciences , of which " gemetry" is the most important . The above indicates the germ of some of our laws as

well as lectures . The rest of the poem is devoted to moral and religious advice . Its religion , however , was simply the Roman Catholic religion , viz ., to go to church , to shrive , to sprinkle with holy water , etc . It also says , " Much more ye must wyten [ know ] then ye fynden hyr wryten . " This ,

however , does not indicate any secrets or mysteries , but merely refers to piety , religion , etc . It is evident from the whole poem that five hundred years ago our ancient brethren knew nothing of Saint Alban , of York Masonry , or of St . John ' s Masonry ; but what is most startling , they actually

new nothing , with the exception of Nabogodonosor , of any other scriptural Grand Master—not even of King Solomon and the Hyrams , The inference , therefore , is , that those legends were a manufacture of a later date . I know that the mere omission of an event does not necessarily prove that the event

was unknown because it was omitted . In this case , however , the omission of , for instance , of naming the Saints John or Solomon from the said poem proves that the writer did not know their connection with the Masonic brotherhood . For be it remembered that we have internal evidence that the author of thepoem

was a priest , who was a warm , friend and eulogist of the Fraternity , who must have had access to the assemblies , as well as the manuscripts , of the brethren , and who must consequently have been in possession of all the legends then known or in vogue among the Masons . The composition of the

poem must have cost considerable time , labour , patience , thought , and expense—all of which must have been done from no mercenary motives , but purely for the purpose of edifying the brethren . And how , then , can we reconcile an evident fact that a Catholic Driest , whose aim must have been to

exalt the importance of the Masonic Brotherhood , as well as his religion , should have devoted so much of his composition to the Egyptian children , to Euclyde , the four martyrs , Nabogodonosor , Adelstouns , etc ., and at the same time should have utterly ignored every Biblical Grand Master from

Adam up or down ? I have also perused Matthew Cooke ' s Constitution . One in the Freemasons' Magazine ( 1794 ) , one in C . W . Moore ' s Magazine ( 18 * 43 ) , one in the Gentlemen's Magazine ( 1 S 15 ) , and five of the same class of documents published by my esteemed friend

Bro . Hughan . I shall not at present attempt to compare ihem , but must only state some of them , if they are not forgeries , indicate a secret amongst the Masons . There is a strong family resemblance between all , and yet the legends differ . It reminds us of the tune of" Yankee Doodle , " with variations ;

and however the variations may be , " A'ankcc Doodle" is discovered to form the back-bone . They nearly all begin with an invocation , followed by legends , and ending with " so help you God and the holy contents of this book . " Others have it " this scroll ; " and still in another we have it "

help you God and your halydom . " Here we can see the different modes of taking- an oath . In old Catholic times the Bible was not used for administering an oath—the word halydom or holiness sufficed . Afterwards "the contents of this scroll " was introduced . This could not have had reference

to the Bible . I hav e never heard that Christians , after the 15 th century , had their Bibles written on scrolls . The word scroll therefore simply meant the Constitution ; and last of all the Protestant fashion of swearing by a book was introduced . And now let me venture another suggestion .

Very few intelligent Masons now disagree that previous to 1717 the Masonic Brotherhood were in possession of more than one ceremony or degree . It now strikes mc that , as nearly all the old parchment Constitutions preserved in your libraries or museums begin with an invocation , immediately

followed by or with " Good brethren and fellows , our purpose is to tell you in what manner this Craft was began , "and each winding upwith an oath , that each and all of those parchment Constitutions must therefore have been especially written for the use of old lodges , and that they were designed for the double

purpose of a constitution and of a ritual . These constitutions , in short , contain the qist of the mysteries revealed to the then candidate ' s . AVhen the authorities of the G . L . of England in 1720 or 22 called upon the old membersof the Craft to bring forward their old documents for the of

purpose having a constitution printed , the old bricklayers were naturally horrified at the idea of printing their legends , so they immediately destroyed their manuscripts . The probability , however , is , that the manuscripts that were then burnt were neither more

nor less than similar constitutions to those above alluded to ; and if any brother would take the trouble , and place all the constitutions preserved in rotation according to their seniority , he may at a glance discover the successive additions made to

our legendary stock from the 14 th century to our own day . One fact , however , must not be overlooked , viz ., that in no constitution written previous to 1717 can I find mention made of observing St . John ' s Day , nor is the name of St . John anywhere alluded to . Fraternally and respectfully yours , JACOB NORTON .

Boston , U . S ., May 25 , 1871 . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As is well known , oneof the degrees in our Craft has especial reference to the " hidden mysteries of nature and science , " and we are charged to " study such of the liberal

arts and sciences as may lie within the compass of our attainment . " More especially are members of our order interested in all matters which have reference to building and architecture . In the case which it is now desired to place before your readers , there is a union of the latter with science which

cannot fail to be interesting to all who take delight in archseological pursuits . In many of our old towns , increased knowledge of the requisites for health and longevity , and many other causes , have led to the demolition of a large number of ancient buildings , some of which may perchance be

connected with historical events or with the lives of great men of past ages , and it is very important that , while such relics are . in existence , authentic records should be made and preserved , the compilation of which often brings out facts which are in danger of being lost . How much present labour ,

uncertainty , and expense , for instance , would have been saved had correct plans been preserved of King Solomon's Temple and the adjacent buildings , and thereby how much light might have been thrown on our Masonic traditions , by which they would have been confirmed or overthrown , and thus left

no room for doubt or scepticism ? To the point , however . Dartmouth — several centuries ago a town of great commercial importance—has fallen into comparative insignificance ; yet it boasts of the names of great men who have been connected with it , and of none more so than

Newcomen , or Newcomin , whose fame as the inventor of the steam engine has been lost in that of AVatt , its improver , for the machine of the former was effectively used to drain the mines in Cornwall long before the latter commenced his operations . Happily , Bro . Capt . Thomas Lidstone , P . M ., P . Z .,

P . P . G . S . W . for Devon , a most worthy and skilful member of our Fraternity , while carrying on business as an architect and builder , imbued with the spirit of research as an operative as well as speculative Mason , being often called upon to pull down old edifices and to erect new ones , has for many

years carefully stored up decorations in wood or stone , chimney-pieces , panellings , & c , with a view to their preservation and adaptation elsewhere . Some time ago he was directed to destroy the house in which Newcomen had resided , in order to open a thoroughfare and make way for modern

improvements . Anxious to preserve an authentic memento of so great a man , he purchased an old house of the period , in a situation not likely to require removal , completely restored it in the proper style , and arranged one room with the internal fittings which he had taken from that occupied by

Newcomen . His next course was to compile a small work , which was published in 186 9 by Longman and Co . ( price 3 s . ) under the title of " Some Account of the Residence of the Inventor of the Steam Engine , " illustrated by woodcuts . This ran through several editions , and was very favourably noticed in the

Athenaum , as " a remarkable book . " The result has been much correspondence , further inquiry , and the issue , last month , of another work by the same author , published by Hotten , 74 , Piccadilly , London' ( price Sd . ) , entitled " A few Notes and Queries about Newcomen ; a drawing of his engine , his house , and something about his kettle , his

monument , & c . " A copy of this interesting work will be placed in your hands , and it cannot be doubted that your reviewer will favourably commend it to the notice of your readers to such effect as to lead to its extensive perusal ; further , it is to be hoped that some persons may be able to furnish Bro . Lidstone with the additional information which he seeks . Yours fraternally , Totnes , June 6 th , 1871 . H . H .

AVAS IT MANLY ? ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Excuse me expressing my disgust at the paltry " motion " recorded at the beginning of page 363 . In my eyes it breathes a strong feeling of jealousy , while

the personal attack implied against the " subaltern" referred to is anything but manly . Further , allow me to inform the supporters of this motion that the foundation upon which the Constantinian Order referred to is based , is just as good , cither in fact or in a historical point of view , as that of the

Original Correspondence.

Temple , or any other Masonic pseudo-Knightly " Order . " If this is the sort of warfare the " Knights Templar" of to-day engage in , the sooner they beat their swords into door-scrapers the better . I am , fraternally yours ,

AN ONLOOKER . " FREEMASONRY AND ISRAELITISM . "

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In the middle of my letter at page 346 , there is a small lapsuspennce , or misprint , viz ., in , " Since God has bestowed upon man the gift of reason , He surely expects that man

will do so , " the two last words should be use ii ; i . e ., " He surely expects that man will use it . " The references being to the distinction to be drawn between true faith and what is in reality only simple credulity . I am , yours fraternally . AV . P . B .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

?—CONSTITUTION OF THE PROV . GRAND MARK LODGE FOR MIDDLESEX AND SURREAL

Iu accordance with a summons issued by the Percy Lodge of Mark Masters , No . 114 , a considerable number of brethren of the Order assembled in the Council Chamber in the Town Hall , at Guildford , on Friday , the 2 nd inst ., for the purpose of assisting at the constitution of the

new province of Middlesex and Surrey , and the installation of Bro . Colonel Francis Burdett as Provincial Grand Master . The M . AV . G . Mark Master , the Rev . George Raymond Portal , M . A ., having expressed his intention to personally constitute the Provincial Grand Lodge , and to

instal its first Grand Master , was supported by the V . AV . Bros . James Stevens , G . J . O . ; Thos . Meggy , P . G . M . O . ; F . Binckes , G . Sec ; and AV . Bros . S . Rosenthal , G . D . C . ; R . Spencer , P . G . S . B . ; C . Hammerton , G . Steward ; the brethren of the Percy Lodge ; the following

brethren from London lodges , viz ., Bros ; E . Cronin and J . Thomas , of tlie Macdonaid Lodge , No . 104 ; F . Davidson , No . 7 ; G . Barlow , Bon Accord ; and others , whose names we were unable to ascertain . Apologies for non-attendance were received

from tlie R . AV . Bros , the Earl Percy , D . G . M . M . ; the Earl of Limerick , GS . W . ; Colonel Adair , G . J . AV . ; Lord Eliot , P . G . AV . ; and Bros . Sctna , Harrison , Charrington , Goodliff , F . M . AVilliams , and others of various lodges ; and from Bros . Captain Burgess , Alfred Williams , Deane , AVaterall , and others , of the Macdonaid Lodge ,

No . 104 . Tlie Percy Lodge having been duly opened , the M . AV . G . M . M . proceeded to instal Bros . Col . Francis Burdett and F . Davison as Masters of lodges , and subsequently constituted the new province , installing in due form Bro . Col . Francis Burdett as R . AV . P . G . M . M . for Middlesex and

Surrey . The new Provincial Grand Master then appointed and installed Bro . Frederic Davison as R . W . D . P . G . M . M ., and the usual salutes were given to the newly-installed officers .

The Provincial Grancl Master then appointed and subsequently invested his Grand Officers as follows : — Bro . A . R . Grccnfell G . S . \ A . „ Captain G . Barlow ... G . J . AV .

„ AV . E . Elkins G . M . O . „ J . Nealds G . J . O . „ Rev . L . O . Bigg ... G . Chaplain . „ G . J . Smallpicce ... G . Treasurer .

„ C . Hammerton G . Secretary . „ AV . Cookson ... . ... G . D . C . „ John Thomas G . Sword-Bcarer . „ J . AV . M . Piggot ... G . Recorder .

Jn making these appointments , the R . AV . P . G . Mark Master intimated that he had purposely left open some of tlie offices , in order to afford the opportunity to several lodges in the united province to recommend zealous members of the

Order for appointment thereto , ancl it was to be distinctly understood that the acceptance of provincial office should not hinder promotion to office in Grand Lodge ; but , on the contrary , the M . AV . Grand Master would be disposed to give consideration to services in provincial