Masonic Notes.

pamphlet for the current ' year contains a very lucid account of what has happened during the past 12 months , and it is evident from the particulars furnished at the annual meetings that the Craft is in a highly prosperous condition in the County Palatine . The

Treasurer's statement showed a balance in hand at the close of the account of over ^ 350 . The report of the Charities' Committee was also satisfactory , there being 19 children on the Educational Fund , who are being educated at a total annual cost of about , £ 150 . The

capital account of- this fund amounts now to over £ 1400 , being the total of donations since its establishment , the total subscriptions for the same period being a few pounds short of ^ 850 . The balance at close of account was , £ 212 . #

* * The Prov . G . Master ' s address is also worthy of a careful perusal . Bro . Sir Hedworth Williamson has evidently a very high sense of the duties and responsibilities devolving on him , and there is nothing

happening in the Province which , as far as we can judge , is permitted to escape his attention . Under such a chief , supported as he is by such a Deputy as Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , it follows that the standard of excellence must needs rank high , so that

the lodges are in good strength and discharge their duties in an exemplary manner . And what we have said with reference to the Craft is equally true in the case of R . A . Masonry , All is prosperous because everybody does what is required . We trust that future reports will be equally satisfactory .

* The Mark brethren in Wiltshire appear to have had a very successful field-day at Salisbury on Wednesday , a new Mark lodge having been consecrated and a Prov . Grand Mark Master , in the person of Bro . the Earl of Radnor , having been installed in office by Bro . the

Earl of Euston , Deputy P . G . M ., assisted by Bros . Col . A . B . Cook , P . G . M . M . Middx . ; Frank Richardson , G . Registrar ; and C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., Grand Secretary . The ceremonies were most impressively carried out , End the rejoicings over the new lodge and the new Prov . Grand Master were marked by more than the usual enthusiasm .

» » * The proceedings at the annual Grand Conclave of Grand Commandery of New York , which was held in the city of Oswego on the 13 th and 14 th September , with the accompanying reports and particulars

make a goodly volume of upwards of 200 pages , to which the two very finely executed engravings of Sir Knight G . F . Loder , I . P . G . Commander , and Sir Knight Robert Macoy , the veteran Grand Recorder of the Commandery , furnish an excellent frontispiece .

We gather from the statistics that Templar Masonry is in a very flourishing condition in the Empire State , while the report on foreign correspondence is replete , as usual , with useful information relating to the various Templar Bodies in the United States .

» * * In the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of . Washington it is held that " the territorial jurisdiction of a lodge must be determined from an air line equidistant between it and and all neighbouring lodges . Provided

that lodges outside of the corporate limits of cities or towns shall not receive a petition for the Degrees of Masonry from a person whose residence is within the said corporate limits without the consent of the lodge

having territorial jurisdiction over him . " If they go much further with this kind of legislation in the United States , the only thing notcontained in American Freemasonry will be freedom to live and move and have our being .

The celebrated " Stanley MS . has been secured b y the indefatigable Honorary Librarian of the " West Yorkshire Masonic Museum and Library , " presumably for that collection . If so , we congratulate that Province and tender our sympathy to other bodies accordingly . * *

This copy of the " Old Charges " is a valuable one , not only because it bears the year of transcription ( 1677 ) , but it contains , by a later hand , an extraordinary addition , both unique and curious , which is an immense attraction to the document , and renders the version proportionately important and special . Even

from a monetary point of view , its value is not a trifle , as we understand Bro . Hughan valued it from 25 to 30 guineas , and certainly not at all too much , if the additional matter turns out to be of the early period assigned to it by Bro . G . W . Speth , who was the first to make it known .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

f We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play re » 11 to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

A QUERY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . ' ' Dear Sir and Brother , In a pamphlet by the late Charles Bradlaugh , entitled , " What Freemasonry Is , " he wrote : " I have been present in a New England lodge at the same time

with the coloured King of the Hawaian Islands , and with Joshua Smith , born a slave , and afterwards Senator of the State of Massachussets . " Can anyone inform me where and when " Charles Bradlaugh" was initiated , and to what lodge he belonged ?—Yours fraternally , H . WHYMPER , Park Lodge , Rawul Pindee , East India , 18 th November .

HISTORY OF THE OLD LODGE OF ' DUMFRIES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have read with much interest Bro . Smith ' s "History of the Old Lodge of Dumfries" (

Kilwinning , No . 53)—a most valuable contribution to the hitherto partially hidden records of Scottish Masonry . Reference in its pages here and there to the name of Bro . William Millar , Prov . Grand Master of Dumfriesshire , during the early part of the present century , brings to mind a singular incident , in which the

Operative Lodge , Dumfries , then No . 138 , and now No . 140 , was concerned . The particulars I gathered 14 or 15 years ago from the records of the extinct Lodge of Harmony , in Carlisle , in the possession of Bro . J . A . Wheatiey , P . P . J . G . W ., Cumberland and Westmorland , and presently Mayor of the Border

City . The incident f am referring to embraces none other than the fact that the warrant of the Operative Lodge crossed the Borders for the purpose of making Masons in the City of Carlisle . It was in the year 1825 when a number of Scotch stonemasons were

employed in the erection of the county gaol . These artisans were desirous sf being made Freemasons ; but the story is best told in the official correspondence which passed between the chiefs of the Provinces of Dumfriesshire and Cumberland :

( I . ) " Nunfield Cottage , Dumfries , Jan . 26 th , 1825 . " My Dear Sir , —The Master of the Journeymen Masons' Lodge , of this place , has informed me of his intention to visit Carlisle , and , at the request of many of his brethren , at present visiting in that city , to hold

a lodge for the purpose of initiating several of his countrymen ( Operative Masons ) , and who are anxious to become members of the Craft . I have thought it right and respectful to communicate this circumstance to you , and , as the greatest harmony most happily exists amongst the enlightened on both sides of the

Border , I have every reason to hope that you will afford your countenance and protection to the bearer of the letter and his Masonic brethren now in your province . —1 have the honour to be , dear sir , very faithfully , your most obedient and fraternal servant , "W . MILLAR , P . G . M ., Dumfriesshire . " " G . Blamire , Esquire , P . G . M . Cumberland . "

( II . ) " By George Blamire , P . G . M ., of Manual , Instrumental , and Scientific Masonry for Cumberland . —To all whom it may concern . —Know ye , —that upon the recommendation of William Millar , Esquire , P . G . M . of Dumfriesshire , and upon the petition of the Master

of the Operative Freemasons' Lodge , No . 138 , Dumfries , to hold and open a lodge in the city of Carlisle , it is the will and pleasure of George Blamire , Esquire , that the undermentioned brethren open a lodge at Thomas Hilton's , innkeeper , known by the name or sign of the Green Dragon , Scotch-street , on Friday , the 28 th day

of January , and Saturday , the 29 th day of the same month , at seven o'clock in the evening , for the purposes mentioned in the said petition—John Thomson , W . M . ; William Coupland , S . W . ; and Geo . Carr , ] . W . —which lodge is to be open one hour , or as long as business may require—Dated at Carlisle , this 28 th

day of January , in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five , and of Masonry five thousand eight hundred and twenty-five . By order of GEORGE BLAMIRE , Esquire , P . G . M . "Christ . J . Spencer , P . G . Secretary . " Subsequently a letter was forwarded by " John

Thomson , R . W . M . of the Operative Freemasons here , No . 138 , " conveying the warmest thanks of the officebearers and brethren , for the " very kind and attentive friendship " shown to a deputation of their body whilst on a visit to Carlisle , and for their exertions in assisting them ( the Operatives ) in opening and holding a

lodge in Carlisle . Now , apart from the international character of this interesting occurrence , must be noted the combination of the operative and speculative element , the very last of its kind , it may reasonably be assumed , in the records of English Masonry . —Fraternally yours , W . F . LAMONBY .

Reviews.

Reviews .

TRANSACTIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL GRANh CHAPTER , PROVINCE OF DURHAM , 1 S 92 ? This neat pamphlet , from the press of Bro . John Bailev Darlington , gives full particulars of special provincial meet ings held on 21 st January , 1892 , and those of November 27 th and 17 th December , 1 S 91 ( for consecration of Nos 2415 and 2418 respectively ) , as well as the annual p , „'

vincial Grand Lodge of the 27 th September last , and that of the Provincial Grand Chapter which assembled on 13 th July , 1 S 92 . These reports are models of their kind , and have all been carefully prepared by Bro . Robert Hudson the indefatigable Prov . G . Sec . and Grand Scribe E . for Durham must be invaluable to

. They members of this large and active province , now numbering 35 lodges , and having a roll of over 2500 members . There are 12 chapters and about 400 subscribing companions . These figures indicate less prosperity in Royal Arch Masonry in proportion " and leaves room for improvement . '

THE ROYAL ARCH CHAPTERS OF THE PRO . VINCE OF SUSSEX , A . D . 1 S 92 . This little gem of a manual has been compiled b y Lieut-General C . W . Randolph , the esteemed Grand Superintendent , who has presented a copy to all the companions in Sussex , just as that Companion did with the first edition issued in 1890 . The labour of the compilation must have

been considerable , for the roll of Provincial Grand Officers is given from the year 1 SS 1 , and two capital tables are printed , exhibiting the places and days of meeting of the nine chapters , and full statistics of the province . Under each chapter the names of all the members are given , with their addresses , rank , & c , and an alphabetical index of all

these names , 256 in number , is also printed , with references to the pages where they are to be found . Surely the companions in Sussex are to be congratulated on having such a zealous and able Grand Superintendent . The manual has been nicely printed and most artistically bound by Messrs . Farncombe and Co ., of Lewes and Eastbourne .

MASONIC ANNUAL , DISTRICT OF NORTHERN CHINA . Shanghai , August , 1892 . The editor of this very useful and complete Masonic directory is Bro . F . M . Gratton , P . M . 590 , & c , and , as it is the first year of publication , it is to be hoped that the annual will be as well supported as its merits deserve . Excellent photographs of the K . W . Bros . Cornelius 'Thome ,

Past District Grand Master , and John Irwin Miller , the present respected District brand Master , adorn its pages , and doubtless will be much appreciated by the members . There are four English lodges , one Scottish , and one American lodge in Shanghai , and one Royal Arch chapter of each Constitution , besides a preceptory , E . G ., a Rose Croix chapter ( Scotland ) and Consistory , 30 ° , and Royal Order of Scotland . The last-mentioned was formed in

1865 . Many of the particulars afforded of Freemasonry in Shanghai are most interesting and valuable , and all the more so , because they are not generally obtainable . An excellent obituary is given of the late Bro . C M . Donaldson , Prov . Grand Master under the Scottish Constitution , and the "General Masonic Notes" will prove very helpful . This "Masonic Annual" is a new departure that should take well , and be warmly supported by the brethren under the genial rule of the R . W . Bro . J . I . Miller .

FAIRBAIRN'S BOOK OF CRESTS OF THE FAMILIES OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND . A New Edition , in Two Volumes . Edinburgh : T . C . and E . C . Jack , Grange Publishing Works , 1892 . 42 s .

These grand quarto tomes are an immense credit to all concerned , and have been so radically altered by Mr . Arthur Charles Fox-Davies that they may be accepted as entirely new works . The first edition by Fairbairn was published in i 860 , but , knowing both , we unhesitatingly state that , valuable as WAS the original edition , the present publication is far ahead of it in all respects . In the first

place , the volumes are about twice the size of the former , and there are over 40 , 000 entries of surnames of families , & c , bearing crests with full blazons , mottoes , numerous addresses , and other particulars . The second volume , devoted to the engravings , contains some 3000 crests arranged generically , and printed on a tint . The number of plates monopolized by the " King of Beasts" is 21 ,

with exactly 2 S 1 representations of that animal . Each plate is numbered , and the several crests are also particularised , so that the ably-arranged key to these most artistic illustrations is the means of facilitating reference to them and to the text of the first volume , which considerably aids the enquirer in his search for desired information . We have subjected the magnificent work to several rigid and

severe tests , but with the most satisfactory results , and , indeed , have the notion that it is as near perfection as it is ever likely to attain as an authoritative collection of crests and mottoes . Evidently a determined search of the original edition has been made by Mr . Fox-Davies , for crests which have no other authority than heraldic stationers , who are willing to find armorial bearings for all applicants who are claims

ready with the necessary fees . The editor that not even in one solitary instance has a crest been passed without due enquiry and proof of authenticity . The preface is excellent reading , and proves how carelul and persistent have been the labours of Mr . Fox-Davies during the compilation of these massive volumes , and who , not content with the heavy work of the text proper , has furnished nearly 100 triple-column Daces of mottoes ,

alphabetically arranged , with translations when needful and the families they distinguish . A dictionary of heraldic terms and subjects is also a great boon . We sincerely congratulate Messrs . Jack Brothers on the publication of these handsome and important volumes , which are without rivals or equals . As a firm , their name and fame are well k nown to the Craft as the publishers of Bro . Gould ' s invaluable " History of Freemasonry , " and we trust their enterprise and conspicuous ability will meet with their due reward .

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of D ublin enter , tained Mr . Morley , M . P ., the Chiet Secretary for " * 2 ?' at dinner at the Mansion House on Monday evening , guests present on the occasion were numerous .