Consecration Of The Herschel Lodge, No. 1894, At Slough.

submission lo His governing and Fatherl y hand . His Masonic brethren would at once see that he could easily apply that view of the subject more closely to them with reference to the various offices they held in the Provincial Grand Lodge , and also in their private lodges , for such was thc nature of their institution that some must rule and teach , and others submit and obey , while humility on the part of all was an essential duty . There were to be

found in every building stones of different quality and value , some finding p laces in the vaulted arch , and some in thc p illars supporting the building . The same order of things prevailed in the social condition of thc world at large , and there was no need of anyone who , by the appointment of the Divine Builder , had been placed in a less conspicuous position than others , to suppose that he was on that account useless or of no consequence . A stone

in an obscure and humble position may be as important to the entire structure as any in the building . The welfare of any association must depend in a great measure upon the conscientious performance of the alloted task by every member , and especially b y every office bearer , however humble the office he bears may be . On the other hand those who were placed in more prominent positions had no right to be puffed up as if they formed thc

mainstay of the building , because they would be as nothing but for those very stones of which some might take little or no account , owing to thc minor positions they occupied . Rather let them look up to the Great Architect who rules the universe , and acknowledge that He it was who had placed them in their present positions , and that it was from Him alone that they could hope to receive strength , so to fill their parts as not to be mere

useless ornaments in the Master ' s house . Referring to the more especial cause of their gathering that da )' , the preacher said they had come together to consecrate a Masonic lodge in that town , which had not hitherto possessed one . At the close of the present service the Masons would adjourn to their lodge-room , and there consecrate with reverence and solemnity their new lodge in conformity with the ancient usages and landmarks of

the Order . Although as Masons they performed their peculiar work in secret , their Order was—as the term Freemasonry implied—free and open to all men who , in good , faith and honest purpose , were seeking admission lo their institution , and , therefore , it was in the power of any respectable member of society to become acquainted with the mysteries of the Order . As Masons , they had nothing to be ashamed of ; but , on thc other hand , much

to be proud of ; and when their Order was extended by thc consecration of a new lodge , they wished to make the fact both public and conspicuous . They desired to show their unselfishness by giving their alms that day for the Building Fund of the Parish Church . The rev . brother went on to refer to the Freemasons as the builders of some of the noblest cathedrals , and to the fact that the foundation stone of the new cathedral for thc West of

lingland— -at Truro—had been laid under the auspices of thc Grand Lodge of England by the Grand Master , the Duke of Cornwall ; and that the collected offerings for the work were received b y the Duchess of Cornwall . In conclusion , the preacher expressed his earnest hope that the Herschel Lodge would never be found wanting in one of its most and important duties , namely , the support of those noble Institutions—the Masonic Charities .

Hymn 274 was then sung , and a collection made for thc Parish Church Building , Fund amounting to ^ 10 9 s . 6 d . On leaving the sacred edifice the brethren again formed into procession , and walked to the Mechanics' Institute , where lodge was opened , and the consecration service was performed according to the ancient riles and ceremonies by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , assisted by the Grand Secretary and the Provincial Grand Cli . ipl .-tii ? , and otlier oflicers .

The DEPUTY GRAND MASTER expressed the pleasure it afforded him to visit Slough fpr such a purpose , and his hope that in some other parts of the Province where there was a desire for Freemasonry new lodges might be consecrated . It gave him much p leasure to install Bro . Bent as first Master of the Herschel Lodge , having long known him as a member of Grand Lodge , and as one whom he had began to reckon among his best friends . He wished the lodge all possible prosperity .

The GRAND SECRETARY and the representatives of the dilfcrcnt lodges tendered their " Hearty good wishes " for the success of the lodge . Bro . BENT , the newly-installed W . M ., thanked the brethren , mentioning that it gave him special p leasure to see neighbouring lodges so well represented , as it showed there was not the slightest amount of jealously , but quite the reverse , which augured well for the future , and , he hoped , there would be a frequent interchange of visits between them .

The W . M . appointed Bros . J . Watson , High Sheriff of Bucks , as S . W ., but being abroad , his collar was temporaril y handed to Bro . Turner ; A . H . Kennedy , J . W . ; Turner , Treas . ; Lawton , Sec . ; D . Webb , S . D . ; and Crowhurst , J . D . ; the remaining appointments being deferred until after the initiations at subsequent meetings .

Thc business in lodge having closed , the brethren returned lo the Crown Hotel , where Bro . Herold provided an excellent banquet , at which Bro . Bent , thc W . M ., ably presided , Bro . Turner filling the vice-chair . Thc banqueting room was beautifully decorated with floral designs and plants b y

the employes at the Royal Nurseries , through the kindness of Bro . Turner . Thc musical portion of thc consecration service , and the vocal performances at the banquet were sustained by Bros . Rutland , Cox , and Fountainc , to whom the brethren were much indebted . The usual Masonic loasts were honoured , and some excellent speeches delivered .

The Early Use Of The Word Freemason.

THE EARLY USE OF THE WORD FREEMASON .

UY MASONIC STUDENT . The very able paper ' under this head published in the last Freemason deserves the attentive perusal of all Masonic students , as a lucid and careful contribution towards a subject full of abiding interest , both to the philologist and archieologist , whether Mason or non-Mason .

As regards the passage in the " Parentalia " and Henry ' s history , it clearly rests , after all , on " ut dicitur" of Sir Wm . Dugdate . Now , Sir Win . Dugdale is himself a great authority , but we can hard ]) ' rely on a second-hand , if not a fourth-hand reference , inasmuch as it comes to this : Sir Wm . Dugdale mentioned it probably to Sir Christopher Wren , Sir

Christopher Wren to his relative , and his relative to Ames . "S 011 may shorten the chain by one reference , but that is all . And yet , perhaps , there is a germ of " truth " in il all , as we may yet light on some papal or ecclesiastical charter , or guild , or fraternity ionnation which would explain the tradition and give colour to the legend .

J » resperl of thc early use of Freemason , that has yet to be proved , but we obtain a considerable amount of direct and inferential evidence proving that our nomenclature is "Norman-French . " "Romnne , " "Latin . " Anglo-

The Early Use Of The Word Freemason.

Saxon clearly hardly enters into thc origin of the terminology of the buildingguilds , though the word " guild " itself appears to be Anglo-Saxon . ° The old word " Cocmentum ' "' Ceinentum , is the foundation of Ccmentarius , Cimcntarius , Scmentarius , Simentarius , just as Macon is the origin of Maceon , Masson , Maszun . Architcclus has been generall y held kTbe of Greek origin , and Archiatros is clearl y of Greek derivation .

Where thc words Latomus , Latamus , Lathomus , Latham us , Litlamus were first used is not yet quite clear , though they will be found , probably , of earlier existence than was once svipposcd . Indeed , these words seem nearly synonymous , though a " Latamus " is not necessarily a Cementarius , bein" - properly Lapicida , Lithotomos , whereas the Cementarius had to do with the ¦ ' Cemcntum . "

And hence , as it appears to me , we may fairl y lay down thc following terms of Masonic use as not only probably , but very nearly certainly , derived from Norman French and Latin ; and if so the real ori gin of thc building guilds is also thrown back on Norman French and Latin Roman

sources . Mestre is from Magister ; Le Loge , from Logcrium ; Macon , from Mansio or Maccria ; Tyler , from 'regulator ; Wardens , from Guardiani , ( thou » 'h something might be said here ); and the various names , as Opcrarii , Opcrantas , Magister , Laboratores , Latoini , & c , arc all of Norman French and Latin derivation . Indeed , there is hardly any term of Masonic usa ^ c vhich cannot so be traced , just as Fraternity comes from Fraternitas , of which Brotherhood is probably an Anglo-Saxon translation ; and Mystery from Mvsterium or Mesticre .

It was pointed out in some "Illustrations of thc Early History of Freemasonry in England , " published some years back , that all building art in England after the Roman times , when thc Collegia Fabrorum executed such works , is to be traced back to Rome , lo " Romanum opus " and "Romano more ; " and that the " novum ,-edili candi genus , " mentioned b y William of Malmesbury as coming in after the Norman Conquest , is by some called Norman ; by others Lombardic ; by others Romanesque ; b y

others Lombardo Bzyantine . In all our earliest Masonic traditions , incorporated into history by Anderson and Preston , curiously enough , the connection seems to be with building operations with Macons from Rome , Italy , Gaul , as under Augustine , at Canterbury ; Paulinus , at York ; Benedict Biscop . at Wcremouth ; Wilfred , Dunstan , and Swithin , Alfred and Athclslan . And so , again , after the Conquest , under Gundul ph and others .

Wc ought to be very much obliged , in my opinion , to Masonic students like the writer of the lucid paper I have been alluding to , who do not disdain to employ their valuable time to the elucidation of such intricate points , and , above all , arc not so selfish as to keep their knowledge to themselves , but are good enough , as true Freemasons , to afford light and help to their brother -Masonic students . These discussions , which are a " speciality " in the Freemason , deserve both perusal and encouragement from all who are pleased with everything which lends to offer value and reality to contemporary Masonic research .

The M.W. Grand Master In Liverpool.

THE M . W . GRAND MASTER IN LIVERPOOL .

The whole Fraternity will rejoice lo hear that the visit to Liverpool of Bro . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . Grand Master , accompanied by H . R . H . thc Princess of Wales and the three young Princesses , was the most brilliant 011 record in the annals oi thc city . The Grand Master was every where welcomed with , enthusiasm by the hundreds of thousands who

lined the streets , and the whole of the day ' s ceremonies was acknowledged lo be the most brilliantly successful in which their Royal Highnesses ever took part . The proud position held in Masonry by the Prince was not lost sight of by the citizens , as was shown b y Masonic flags at the Prince of Wales Theatre ( Bro . Emery ); 50 , Lord-street ( Bro . G . G . Walmsley ); Monument-place ( Bro . Kenning ); and at other points on lhe Royal route .

Some Famous Masonic Relics.

SOME FAMOUS MASONIC RELICS .

When the historian or magazine writer of thc next century selects a topic for the press , he will have at his service an almost inexhaustible mine of records , in the literature of this nineteenth century . Notwithstanding his facilities , it may be questioned whether his labour will be to any degree lessened , but rather increased , from the fact that he will be comocllcd to digest so many descriptions and incidents , many of which are highly coloured

and the work of glib writers , requiring much tact and ingenuity to separate simple facts from rich embellishments . This prospective state of affairs , every . student of history knows , is in striking contrast with the labours a writer of the present day has to perform in learning even the more important and prominent events of the past century . The newspapers of that day

did not have the space to publish the details that a modern journalist would be eager to record upon a page or more of solid type , in a sixteen page daily ; consequently the alylc ot the newspapers of the last century is concise to severity , compared with the llowcry dil'fuscness that characterises the newspaper correspondence with which wc are so frequently afflicted .

Tins paucity of detail renders it extremely laborious to gather anything like an elaborate description of events that took place half a century or more ago , and when the writer has succeeded in compiling a tolerably comprehensive article , its length and accuracy of description give no indication of the scope of his research , nor of the variety of sources from which he has been obliged to glean his information .

These reflections have been forced upon mc in the strongest possible manner during the investigation of the subject of this article , and although the experience is by no means novel it has been none the less deeply impressed . On Wednesday , September iSth , 1793 , the important ceremony of laying lhe corner stone ol the United States Capitol , in the embryo city of

Washington , was performed in a Masonic manner . 1 hree lodges participated in this great national event : Lodge No . 9 , of Georgetown ( it had no name ) Federal Lodge , No . 15 , of Washington ( which had been organised but a few days ) ; and Alexandria Lodge , No . JJ , of Virginia ( of which George Washington was Master several terms , and at whose death the lodge petitioned lhe Grand Ledge to be known as Alexandria-Washington Lodge ,

No . 2 _\ a title by which it is still designated ) . Bro . | oseph Clark , Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Maryland , acted as Grand Master . Tlie newspaper account of this important occasion would occupy about one-fourth ol a column of a Chicago daily , scarcely more than the space given to the record ., of the public courl . ( To be Continued :.