Origin Of Masonry.

retail dreams and silly stories about Solomon ' s Temple having 1453 Parian marble columns is simply ridiculous , viz . : " On three sides it ( Herod's Temple ) was surrounded by double porticos or cloisters of two rows of columns , that to the east being called Solomon ' s ( probably

simply in honour of that king ) . To the south stood the magnificent Royal Porch or Stoa Basilica erected by Herod . This consisted of four rows ot Corinthian columns , forty in each row , and consequently 15 feet apart from centre to centre . The outer aisles were 30 feet in

width , the central 45 feet , or two and three mtercolumniations respectively . The central aisle terminated in a bridge , which , spanning the intermediate valley , led direct to the city . " As I pointed out above , Bro . Steinbrenner strives to get the origin of some of the chief

features in our Gothic cathedrals 111 Solomon ' s Temple , but I would merely observe that a Roman Basilica would be nearer the mark . At page 158 it says : "Sixthly , we read of two p illars , ornamented with network , lily-work , and pomegranates , which certainly have no likeness

to anything we know of , unless it is the Gothic p innacles which sometimes surmount the pillars ( buttresses ?) with their leafy ornaments . " Now what these ornaments on Solomon ' s two pillars , executed 1000 E . G ., had to do with Gothic pinnacles

erected 1300 A . D ., I know not . The network , lily-work , and pomegranates was before then in quite common use in Asiatic and Assyrian work . The pillar at the Tomb of Atreus has an alliance with this style ; while the metal plates fixed on to the walls with nails reminds us of 2 nd

Chron . 111 ., 9 . Towards the end of his work , Bro . Stein brenner has some very interesting and useful remarks ; indeed it is a great pity that the author is so far astray in his ideas upon the history of Gothic architecture , as well as

architecture generally , for there are many highly valuable passages in his book . At page 155 he says : " The legend ( of Hiram ) itself is evidently borrowed from certain idle tales , taken out of the Jewish Targums , which were published in London in 1715 , from a manuscript in the

University Library at Cambridge ; and these two brothers were publicly accused by their seceding contemporaries of manufacturing the degree , which they never denied . " In the foregoing hasty remarks I have attempted to show how great is the necessity for

a proper history of Freemasonry , and one which will give England fair play in more senses than one , as also one which , when it condescends to treat upon the subject of architecture and Operative Masonry , will do so in a style which will stand examination . The best history of

Freemasonry , as such , which I have hitherto seen is Findel ' s edition of last year , for which he deserves all praise , only there is considerable room for improvement , especially in the architectural portion ; in fact , if Bro . Findel , were to do himself justice he would re-write several portions of it . However , it appears to me that there is still

a great gap—one which is waiting for some good honest and scholarly English brother to fill up , unless indeed some " canny " Scot does it before him . That such a one may soon arise and come forward is certainly my sincere wish , and I am sure that every true Freemason and lover of the truth will join in wishing him God speed .

FAITH LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . — The above Lodge of Instruction is held every Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock , in the spacious and commodious rooms at Bro . Fisher's Restaurant , Metropolitan District Railway Station , Victoria , S . IV . Ceremonies and lectures worked every Tuesday , except the third Tuesday in the month , when the ceremonies alone are rehearsed . Thi DOMATIC CHAPTER OF IN

STRUCTION is also held in the above rooms every Friday evening , at 8 o ' clock , from October until April inclusive . MR . TRAILING , of the Daily Nezus Office , writes Feb . 20 , 1 S 6 9 : — " I had the misfortune to sprain foot

my badly last August , After trying all sorts of remedies for it without benefit , I was at last induced to use your Vegetable Pain Killer , which in a few days entirely cured it . I have since constantl y kept it in my house as a family medicine , and have great confidence in it .-To P . Davis & Son . '

Grand Lodge Of England.

GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

[ Owing to a misconception of our instructions , our reporter ' s notes of the Quarterly Communication held on the 7 th inst . were not left at the printing office in time for insertion in last week ' s number . In order to complete the record of Grand Lodge

proceedings , we now subjoin the report , and have taken steps to prevent the recurrence of any such omission in future . Similar observations will apply to the previous non-appearance of the account now furnished of the meeting of the Mark Grand Lodge on the 8 th inst . We regret this the more as

ours is the only Masonic journal which employs a reporter to attend Grand Lodge , and render a verbatim transcript of its proceedings , a privilege specially accorded to us by the Most Worshipful Grand Master , and one which we highly value and appreciate . ]

On Wednesday evening week the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of England was made in the Hall , the Earl de Grey and Ripon , M . W . G . M ., on the throne . Although the paper of business was lighter than has been known for many years , there was a very large attendence of Grand

and Past Grand Officers and members of private lodges , Freemasons appearing thereby to takeamore lively interest in the proceedings at head-quarters than they formerly did . The elocutionary strength , too , of Grand Lodge seems to be constantly on the increase , if we may judge from the numerous good

speeches which are made there at present than was the case some time ago ; but as the principal part of this elocution on Wednesday week was devoted to thc case of a brother who sought relief at the Lodge of Benevolence , it must necessarily be given in brief in these columns . A very small paper of

business became , by the speeches which were made on it , the foundation of a good evening ' s work , and what could easily have been accomplished in an hour occupied the brethern , through their verbose representatives , nearly three hours . The Grand Lodge having been opened with the

customary formalities , the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 7 th September and of the Especial Grand Lodge of the 16 th of September were read by Grand Secretary and confirmed . The Grand Master said that a notice stood on the paper to thc effect that he would makea

communication to Grand Lodge in reference to the district of Montreal , but as the question related to a matter which occurred several years ago , at a time when he did not appear to be present in Grand Lodge , he would request Bro . Havers , who was acquainted with all the circumstances of the case , to make the

communication for him . Bro . Havers said it would be in the recollection of many members who attended Grand Lodge that on thc 29 th June of last year , in consequence of the absence of the Grand Registrar , he ( Bro . Havers ) took charge of the appeals . Among them was one

of Bros . Brown and Robinson , pf Montreal , and thc remarks he made upon it had given great dissatisfaction and discomfort . Many letters had been received on the subject , among others , from Bro . Badgley , District Grand Master , stating that his authority had been set at nought in his own

province in consequence of that statement . At the time he ( Bro . Havers ) made it he believed it to be true , and he would give the grounds of his belief at that time that Bro . Badgley was not District Grand Master of Montreal . He hoped the statement he was about to make would be satisfactory to that

brother , but he thought it his duty , in justification of his own conduct to make it . In 1859 , iu the troubles of which he ( Bro . Havers ) took a large part , thc then Grand Master , Lord Zetland , said that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Montreal having virtually ceased to exist for several years past , he

did not think it advisable to , nor should he , take any steps to resuscitate it . He thought then and now , that from the time the words were uttered thc District Grand Lodge of Montreal did not exist . But it appeared there was subsequent action taken , and the late Grand Secretary , Bro .

Gray Clarke , wrote to Bro . Badgley and asked him to resign . But he did not resign ; and that letter coming from the recognised officer of this Grand Lodge , must be taken to be an admission that Bro . Badgley still held office . An answer was requested , which did not come , and nothing more was heard .

of the affair . In i 860 the Grand Secretary removed the name of Bro . Badgley from the calendar , But he had never been superseded , and therefore , from the course events had taken , he was still District Grand Master of Montreal . Thc explanation ,

he hoped , would be satisfactory to Bro . Badgley , and be deemed an apology for any wounded feelings he ( BroHavers ) might have caused . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart : I rise with a very great deal of pleasure to nominate the Right Hon .

Grand Lodge Of England.

the Earl de Grey and Ripon , our Grand Master , as Grand Master for the year 1871 . I am quite certain we all deplore the unfortunate circumstances which prevented his being amongst us so much as we could have wished , but at the same time we have the satisfaction of knowing that he has

Masonry at heart , that his zeal and ability in Masonry are found everywhere ; and it is therefore with feelings of the very greatest pleasure that I rise to nominate him as Grand Master for the year ensuing . ( Cheers . ) The Grand Master : The next business that

stands on the paper is the election of a Senior and Junior Vice-President of the Lodge of Benevolence . Before that takes place , however , I propose to nominate as President of the Lodge of Benevolence Bro . Clabon . ( Cheers . ) The balloting papers were then distributed , and

the election of Vice-President , and of twelve Past Masters , to serve on the Lodge of Benevolence was proceeded with , scrutineers being appointed to examine the votes . On the report of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter being reached ,

The Grand Master said that one of the two grants recommended by it ( , £ 250 ) to a brother of No . 181 was very large , and he was almost inclined to think unprecedented . Bro . Joshua Nunn , as W . M . of the Lodge of Benevolence on the occasion of this grant being

recommended , moved the confirmation of it . Bro . Binckes seconded it , and gave a history of the great good the proposed recipient had always done to the charities of the Order . Bro . Horace Lloyd said it was always a disagreeable task to oppose any generous gift that

might be recommended , but he felt on this occasion that the sum was too large , whatever services the brother had rendered to the Craft . He adopted the reasoning of the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , who had said , " when a large grant was proposed in Grand Lodge not long ago , that

there was a tendency in all large bodies—and we could claim no exception from thc general weakness in this respect—to dip their hands into the public purse , and to spend freely rather than with discrimination the funds at their disposal . It was simply human nature , but it was his duty to caution the

brethren of it . It was an invidious duty to perform , but it was thc duty of all in any position of authority or trust in that hall to press that advice upon Grand Lodge , not from a niggardly or churlish spirit of parsimony , but from a consideration of what was due to the Order and those sound

principles of economy of which they were in a certain sense the guardians and trustees . " The amount seemed to be very large , and in his ( Bro . H . Lloyd ' s ) opinion , should be reduced by , £ 100 . He therefore moved that as an amendment . Bro . Snell seconded it .

Bro . C . H . Gregory supported the original motion . The proposition came before one of the largest Lodges of Benevolence of recent times , and there were only two dissentients to it . At the following board it was adopted unanimously . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart thought that Lord

Carnarvon ' s words were all very well when applied to what was probably a questionable grant , but not to this . He felt it right to raise his voice in support of this grant . He also thought that while they had a Board of Benevolence , they should have confidence in their discretion .

Bro . John Savage said it was undoubtedly a large grant , but great services had been rendered by the brother to whom it was to be given . For twentyfive years he had worked hard in Masonry , and was untiring in his zeal for thc welfare of the Order . Bro . Bailey , P . M ., 1 , supported the amendment .

He thought they ought to know something of the station in life of the needy brother , the state of his distress , and liis family disasters . He did not see how they could vote thc proposed sum simply because for so many ycary he had greatly distinguished himself as a member of the Order . No one had

said under what circumstances it was to be given ; the board had seemed to be guided only by the fact that he had been a good Mason . Bro . James Mason believed that in spite of the courage evinced by Bro . H . Lloyd in proposing such an amendment , Grand Lodge would not deal

out charity with such a cold hand . The wore liberal they were , the larger would be the funds they would in future have to administer . The funds of Grand Lodge were large ; they had been accumulating year by year ; and there was no necessity for being niggardly . Brethren should bear in mind

that the brother to be assisted had served the charities as Steward no less than thirteen times . Bro . Havers supported the amendment , and Bro . Parkinson , P . M . 1 Si , upheld the original motion , upon which Bro . Joshua Nunn replied , and the

amendment was then put and lost by an overwhelming majority . The original motion was then put and carried . Thc second grant of ^ 50 recommended by the board was also carried .