Original Correspondence.

THE THREE INSTITUTIONS .

To the Editor of the"Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Knowing the interest that you and your readers take in all Masonic matters , especially our three noble Institutions , I venture to submit to your notice for publication , a set of tables referring to them , and which purpose

to show how much ( according to the Festival reports ) each province gives to , and how much ( according to the annual official reports ) each receives from them . Of course there are conlributions given extraneous or outside of the Festivals which are not included in these tables , as it would be impossible to ascertain to whom they belonged , but I venture to think that although the difference between the

Festival announcement and the actual sum received from London and the provinces during the year would not amount to very much ; yet it might take somewhat from the very heavy deficiencies of some provinces , more especially in the Benevolent table , some dozen of them have deficiency of three figures amounting to nearly £ 4000 . Fortunately , this Jubilee year has helped all our

establishments in a large measure ; there has this year been a great improvement in this respect , both in the Boys ' and Girls' reports , neither so many or such a large amount as last year . 1 hear many excuses given , for instance , the rich provinces ought to help the poor ones , but that is not so , for ( he pooi provinces , or rather those behind hand are trying to do too much in starting Institutions of their own ,

forgetful of the obligations they are under to the parent associations , consequently one of them must starve or be inadequately fed . I will not point out any of them , but your readers can judge for themselves . I would call attention to the Provinces of North Wales and Shropshire , these

provinces were amalgamated up to and inclusive of 18 S 5 , so I have added the sums jointly given for the first five years and have divided the aggregate equally , giving a half to each , the amount given since their separate existence . The cost of the Boys is £ 40 6 s . 7 Jd . each , and the Girls £ 34 ios . 3 d . —Yours fraternally , J . 174 .

The tables referred to -will be found on page 50 S ,

THE ONLY LADY FREEMASON . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , If there be truth in the following excerpt from a society journal , under date of the 12 th February last , the

Craft must forego the satisfaction they have hitherto had in the legend of which Miss St . Leger ( afterwards the Hon . Mrs . Aldworth ) is the recognised heroine . I have heard of other claims to the title of " Lady Freemason " ( without the only ) , but none so definitely

particularised as this : — " It is not often that a woman is by Imperial and Royal Decree converted into a man ; but this was the unique experience of the Countess Helen Hadik von Futak , who has just died in Hungary . The lady was the widow of Vice-Admiral Count Bela Hadik von Futak , a member of the Emperor of Austria ' s Privy Council . In her person vested

the representation of the ancient Hungarian family of Barkoczy von Scala ; and in right of this distinction the Emperor of Austria , as King of Hungary , accorded to the countess all the rights and prerogatives of a man , in so far , that is , as Emperors can change the course of nature . She was ' Lord Major Domo' of the lands and possessions of the Barkoczys ; and was admitted and initiated as a

man in the Cassovia Lodge of Freemasons , despite that the superior Masonic authorities refused to sanction her admission . The historic Miss St . Leger has now to share the glory she has hitherto enjoyed as the only feminine Mason with the intrepid Hungarian Countess . " This may be as true as any other record which claims

initiation for any of the fair sex , and one can only say with the Italian proverb , "Se non e vero , e ben trovato . " In any or either case there must have been a tremendous innovation in Masonic ritual and observance , to say nothing of a wilful disregard of ancient charges and regulations . — Yours faithfulland fraternall

y y , JAMES STEVENS , P . M ., P . Z . S , Queen-street-place , E . G ., September 12 th .

PAST MASTERS' COLLARS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The awful collar business is once more to the fore , and what does it mean ? In days gone by we knew , or thought vve knew , what a P . M . ' s collar was , and where he could wear it , but now we

are in a fog . The resolution agreed to at the last meeting of G . L . being only permissive , simply increases the number of collars , viz ., Plain Blue— Plain Blue with silver cord over it—Plain Blue with silver chain ( any pattern ) , and now silver braid quarter-inch wide down the centre . This last pattern is available in all lodges , whether

member or visitor , but the old collar is not , so that no P . M . can wear a collar when visiting a sister lodge unless it has the quarter-inch silver braid ; consequently old P . M . ' s must have a second collar if they wish lo wear one when paying a visit—new P . M . 's can make do with one . This 's not fair , neither do I think it was intended . Nevertheless , such is the actual interpretation of the new law .

How much better would it have been to let all P . M . 's wear their old collars , simply attaching to each a distinctive bad ge to show they were only joining members or visiturs , fhe happy result being that Past Masters of a Iodge would have a collar and no badge ; Past Masters in a lodge would haye a collar and a distinguished badge ; Past Masters visiting a lodge would have a collar and a special badge . in

this way no possible offence could be given , but I fear that endless discord will arise through the present arrangement ( if confirmed ) . However , as only a W . M ., it is of no inconvenience to me personally , but I do most strongly object to anything that will cause disagreement or ill-feel-¦ in

ng the Craft . Ttare are many in the Craft much wiser than myself , and 1 ask them to study this new law so as to see if there may not be some way out of a dilemma before it is con-!?* 7 * Yours faithfully and fraternally , W . M . 12 th September .

ton r ° " e Mar quis of Hartington , M . P ., returned bePn f 0 nsh ' House , Piccadilly , on the 9 th instant , having Engla rj Previous fortnight shooting in the north of

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

THE REVELATION OF THE SHECHINAH , OR THE TREE OF LIFE IN THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH . BY "VINCIT QUI SE VINCIT , " Hon . Magus , a Rosicrucian at the Metropolitan College . This is an occult Rosicrucian essay , and its author takes for his motto on the title page , the quotation from the "Geheime Figuren Den Rosen-Kreutzer , " namely , "Tria

sunt Mirabilia , Deus et Homo , Mater et Virgo , Tnunus et Unus ; " " Three things are wonderful , God and Man , Mother and Virgin , Triune and One . " To the advanced Occult Student this essay will be interesting , but from the apparently intentional obscure style in which it is written , it will be incomprehensible to one who is not an Occultist of some experience . The symbolism of Masonry is , as all

Mystic Masons know , closely connected with lhat of all the Occult rites of Antiquity , as well as with Rosicrucian and Alchemical glyphs ; but we think that the author of this essay is hardly justified in his statement that the labours of Hercules are the same as the working tools of E . A ., F . C , M . M ., and the pickaxe , crowbar , and spade . For while we may admit a resemblance in the symbolic

number of twelve in each , to our thinking the two are on entirely different planes . That the Greek legend of Heracles , like the Persian one of Mithras is symbolic of the progress of the initiate is perfectly tenable , but certainly the working tools of the Degrees appear to us rather as symbolic of the preparation of the candidate for Occult initiation , than of his progiess when he has passed the portals

of the Temple . Again we do not see that the sevenbranched candlestick " of the ark" ( we should rather say " of the Temple" ) is so likely to refer to the "Sephirotic tree" which has ten branches , as to the " seven palaces of the Kingdom , " the " seven churches of the Apocalypse . " Now these are said to be the churches in Asia or Asiah , the mystical name of the material world . Now on page

18 of this essay in speaking of the Taro , Tora , or Rota , the author is not apparently aware of the fact that the four aces represent the "Astral key of their relative cards , " in the formation of what he calls the " circle of cards which forms this wonder-wheel . " On pages 28 and 29 are two very beautiful mystical prayers , the first of which is composed after the Sephiroth , and the latter after their

Synthetical triad . Altogether we must compliment "Vincit Qui Se Vincit , " on the production of an essay which must have cost him considerable care and thought ; and it at once stamps the Metropolitan College as one that appreciates the study of Esoteric science when such essays are read at its meetings . But what we think is a great pity is , that at the end of so erudite a work as this essay , its author should

have printed such miserable and doggerel verses as those which are called the "Meditation of the Magus . " In them every known rule of versification is disregarded , and were they hot printed in the form of verses , no person could distinguish them from prose . There is truly but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous , and in the " Meditation of Magus " this is taken .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

741 ] PRE GRAND LODGE FREEMASONRY . The interesting communication from the Masonic Statistician , Bro . John Lane , suggests plenty of scope for the labours of Masonic Investigators . The old " Lodge at Hexham " recorded in the " Book M . " ( 1736 ) is doubtless one out of many that existed before the Grand Lodge Era , and continued to vvork long afterwards without in any way

participating in the new movement . It cannot now apparently be settled as to the Masonic character of the members at Hexham , who petitioned for a ' warrant from the Grand Lodgeof England in 1763 , and dul y obtained it , but vve shall not err in considering that the petitioners belonged to the old Lodge in question . Unfortunately , the Grand Lodge never recorded such instances , but evidently there

were many such . Bro . W . Logan , in his capital History of No . 124 , proves that the " Marquis of Granby " assembled as a Lodge from 173 S ( and probably much earlier ) , the Records being regularly kept from that year , although the brethren did not petition for a Charter from the Grand Lodge of England until 1763 , the same year as did the brethren at Hexham . The authorities clearly admitted the

petitioners as regular Masons , though not on the Grand Lodge Roll , just as under similar circumstances the " Modern " Grand Chapter of the R . A . last century , accepted the " Work " of the old Chapter at Bolton , long before it came on the Roll , as Bro . James Newton has abundantly demonstrated . Bro . Sadler ' s new vvork , "Masonic Facts and Fictions , " will contain many instances of a like character , for the number of old Lodges

that were at work , independent of the Grand Lodge , in my opinion far exceeded the estimates that have been made on the subject . A cursory glance over the first score or two of pages of Bro . Lane ' s " Masonic Records , " side by side vvith particulars of Lodge meetings as cited in newspapers down to 1750 , will reveal the true state of the case , and prove that there vvas no lack of old Lodges early last century meeting by what is known as "time immemorial authority . " w > T HUGHAN .

"THE LOST TEN TRIBES OF ISRAEL . —On the evening of the Gth inst ., in the Montgomery Hall , Sheffield , before a large audience , Bro . John Chapman gave an interesting account of an interview vvith , and read a paper prepared bv , the Rev . James Caughey , of America , upon " The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel . " Bro . Charles

Wardlow presided , and , in introducing Bro . Chapman , said the subject of their gathering was a question vvhich affected the whole of our countrymen . If they gave it consideration , they vvould be fascinated vvith it , and in time become converted . They hoped some real practical good vvould result , and that there would be many successful meetings during the winter .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

, f » Craft jlasoixrg .

LODGE OF PERSEVERANCE ( No . 1743 ) . —The above lodge held its installation meeting on Saturday last , and a most successful meeting it was , at Anderton ' s Hotel . There could not have been any assembly of the brethren where there was more perfect accord between those present ; there was not a hitch , nor a rub the wrong way , from beginning to end of the proceedings . The work

m lodge was done well , and done with due solemnity , and the demeanour of those who were spectators only vvas exceptionally decorous and attentive . The cause is probably to be found in the character of the founders , officers , and members of the lodge , and the respect in which the Master , Past Masters , and officers are held by the members and their friends . The ceremony of installation was performed

by Bro . Louis Leins , P . M . and Treas . of the lodge , who may be said to be its father ; Bro . C . H . Reed , the W . M ., to whom no doubt the privilege of installing his successor belonged , having waived his right in Bro . Leins' favour for the very kindly feeling , that as the W . M . elect vvas a " child" of Bro . Leins , it vvould be gratifying to both parties if the highest honour the lodge could bestow on any

of its members were conferred by the same person who had given the grip and word to the initiate . For a similar reason we believe Bro . Reed vvas last year himself installed by Bro . John L . Mather , now a Deacon of Grand Lodge , who is also one of the founders of the Perseverance , and was present on Saturday to see Bro . Reed assume the otium cum dignitate of a Past Master . One element

that contributed not a little to the interest and success of Saturday's meeting lay in the : fact that the W . M . elect vvas the last of the founders of the lodge who had not yet passed the chair : the heir presumptive to the chair for the next year being their first initiate , who now occupies the seat of S . W . Beyond the fact that he is one of the

founders , the W . M . elect , Bro . C . E . Ferry , was also the highly popular Secretary of the lodge , and many an old friend from the Prosperity Lodge , from which the Perseverance emanated , came to see htm installed . It is needless to add that Bro . Leins , who is well-known for his excellent work , performed the part of Installing Master in a most efficient manner .

Prior to the installation , however , the ceremony of initiation vvas performed by Bro . Reed upon Mr . Frederick Boiverman Smith , introduced by Bros . John and James Stait . Mr . Frederick William Flaxman , on the introduction of the same brethren , vvas also successfully balloted for , but was not present for initiation . The officers whom Bro . Ferry invested to assist him in ruling the lodge

during the coming year are as follows : Bros . Michell , S . W . ; W . Smith , J . VV . ; Bro . Louis Leins , Treas- ( the Secretary nominated by Bro . Ferry was : Bro . Chamberlain , who is at present on the continent , and in his absence Bro . Broad received his collar , and will hold his office until his return ); C . J . Fox , S . D . ; Salter , J . D . ; Squire . D . C ; Clement , Asst . D . C ; Lovell , J . G .: J . Stait

W . S . ; O'Brien , Asst . W . S . ; and Lane , Tyler . At the conclusion of the banquet , to which the brethren with their guests adjourned atter the completion of the work , the proceedings at the truly hospitable board were continued for some time under the presidency of the new Master , who , by the way , makes an excellent host , and gets through a long list of loyal and Masonic toasts with

praiseworth y rapidity . There is no flagging in the proceedings while Bro . Ferry is in the chair : toast and reply , with a song and recitation between , succeed each other with no awful pauses between ; he keeps the ball rolling , infusing his own briskness into those around him , and the brethren who had on Saturday to reply for toasts emulated his brevity and directness , so that the proceedings went at

a pleasant canter to a cheerful and satisfactory ending . In regard to the first toast , the Worshipful Master said that as this was a "certain" year he had prepared an elaborate speech or dissertation on the reign of her Majesty , which vvould take him an hour and twenty minutes to

deliver , but as particular reference to the subject was deprecated on account of the novelty having been a little brushed off it , he should content himself vvith asking those present to be up-standing and to drink vvith their customary enthusiasm the toast of "The Oueen and the Craft . "

In regard to the toast to "The Health of their M . W . Grand Master , " the W . M . said there was nothing to be said vvhich had not been heard many times before , and he should therefore confine himself to asking them to drink to the health ot H . K . H . the Prince of Wales . In regard to the toast to "The Grand Officers , " the VVorshipful Master said that he had a very pleasing duty

to perform , because the lodge was specially honoured on that occasion . They had most of them had the privilege of attending Grand Lodge observances on one or two State occasions lately , and had got a little more insight into the matter than they had had before ; and in proposing "Health to the great Dignitaries of Grand Lodge , the Earl of Carnarvon and the Earl of Lathom , and including the

whole of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " he wished to say that the lodge vvas very much indebted that evening to a gentleman who was one of their founders , and who had now attained the dignified position of being a real , live present Grand Officer . It had been the speaker's privilege to be present when Past Grand Officers had visited them , but it vvas especially gratifying to have among them a

present Grand Officer , who was also a founder of Perseverance Lodge , and he was sure that every member of that lodge would drink this toast with the most kindly feeling of congratulation to Bro . Mather on the attainment of his present position . In replying to this toast , Bro . Mather , G . D ., referring first to the Pro and Deputy Grand Masters , said that the

Earl of Carnarvon , from his strict impartiality , was specially fitted for his office ; and they all knew how thoroughly he conducted all business brought before him . The same remarks applied to the Earl of Lathom , and the brethren might rest assured that any grievance brought before Grand Lodge was very fully considered by these two noblemen . He thoroughly believed that the whole of the Grand Officers were thoroughly qualified to hold their offices . As