Original Correspondence.

The congress at Lausanne did not declare a belief in T . G . A . O . T . U . It simply affirmed a believe in an " Anima mundi , " and hence I believe all our Anglo-Saxon Councils have withdrawn from it . 1 have tried to write as calmly and clearly as Bro . Lambert , placing my facts before your readers , and I could only wish that Bro . Lambert had a better cause to defend than that which he so ably supports in your pages . lam , yours fraternally , MASKELYNE .

A QUERY . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Can any one explain a statement in one of thc weekly papers that a certain Mr . Watson , who also rejoices in the names of Vanderstein , Morris , Captain Beauchamp ,

Sic , who is wanted by the English police , and has been arrested by the Belgian police , recently obtained a considerable sum of money from the Benevolent Lodge of Freemasons ? What lodge is that ? Is it our Lodge of Benevolence ? Yours fraternally , CURIOUS .

QUEEN'S ENGLISH . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Replying to our Bro . "Queen ' s English , " I would venture to suggest that .-esthetic , or -esthetics , is thc term now employed to designate the theory of the line arts ; tlie

science of the beautiful , with its conceptions and emotions . Thc province of the science is not , however , very definitely fixed , and there is still some ambiguity about the meaning of thc term arising from its etymology and various use . Thus the word .-esthetic , in its original Greek form aisthctikos , means anything that has to do with

preception by thc senses , and this wider connotation was retained by Kant , who , under the title of " Transcendental / Esthetic , " treats of thc " ;' i priori "principles of all sensuous knowledge . The limitation of the term to the comparatively narrow class of sensations and perceptions occupied with thc

beautiful and its allied properties , is due to the Germans , and primarily to Baumgartcn , who started from the supposition that just as truth is the end and perfection of true knowledge or the understanding , and good that of the will , so beauty must be thc supreme aim of all sensuous knowledge .

A vcry brief survey of what has been written under the name .-esthetics is sulhcicnt to show that it includes , as its first and foremost problem , the determination of thc nature and laws of beauty , including along with the beautiful , in its narrower signification , its kindred subjects , the sublime and thc ludicrous . To discover what it is in things which

makes them beautiful or ugly , sublime or ludncrous , is one constant factor in thc icsthctic problem . ln conclusion , then , I cannot do better than call thc attention of our enquiring brother to such remarks on thc subject as " The Intuitivists , " Lord Shaftesbury ; " Inquiry into thc Original of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue , " Ilutchcson ; "Essays on thc Intellectual Powers , " Reid ;

"Modern Painters , " vol . 2 . Ruskin ; "Emotions of thc Will , " Professor Bain ; besides many essays and communications by other literary geniuses—Addison , Lord Kaimes , Burk , Alison , and others ; and whilst apologising for liaving trespassed thus far on your space , and at the same time hoping that this communication may prove of service to your correspondent , I remain fraternally yours , B . Sc . LONDON * .

To the Editor of the " I'recmasoit . Dear Sir and Brother , — In your last issue " Queen ' s English " desires to know thc meaning and derivation of thc word icsthctic . In an essay written by Thomas Carlvlc in 1 S 27 , he alludes to

a work of Richtcr ' s , called " Vorscuhle der Acsthctik" * ( introduction to rosthetics ) , a work on poetic art . In a foot note we arc informed icsthctic is from the Greek to feel , a word invented by Baumgartcn to express generally thc science of the fine arts . Yours fraternally , 100 S .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

AN ATTEMPT AT COMPILING A HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN STAFFORD . B y Bro . T . WARD CHALMERS , P . M . E . and W . Wright , 0 , Green Gate-street , Stafford . This very neatly printed little work seeks to give not only a history of Freemasonry in Stafford , in particular , but of Frccmasony in general , and therefore , in our review of this interesting essay and creditable contribution

towards Masonic history and arcluelogy , we will commence with Bro . Chalmer's account of Masonry in general . Our esteemed Brother Chalmers gives us a sort of outline of the history of Freemasonry in England , and traces it back to Roman Collegia Fabrorum in the third century . As regards

the introduction of thc collegia and gilds to England , Bro . Chalmers is no doubt correct , as thc fact that the collegia werc in this county , is established beyond doubt . What their actual relationship to the Fremasonry of 1717 was , is still a moot point ; the missing link has yet to be discovered . We do not know thc work entitled in the foot-

Reviews.

note , "Partington ' s Literature , & c , but he is clearly wrong in attributing to Numa Pompilius any such organization as Masters and Wardens . Numa divided ( he artificers , no doubt , into gilds of some kind , and the Collegium Fabrorum ( though the name is a little doubtful now ) was mainly composed of Greeks I We do not quite know why Bro . Chalmers talks of thc York General Assembly , 026 , as if authentic record ; there is as much

legendary authority for the First General Assembly at Vcrulamium under Albanus . But we note that he seems to take the Masonic poem , as the charter of the York Assembly , Mackey being bis authority following Oliver . But tlie Masonic poem nowhere mentions York , though it talks of the "syte ; " and as regards any meeting under Alfred or Athelstan , they only rest on the fact that Roman Masons came to carry on architecture

in this country . Athlestan ' s presence in the "sytc " seems alluded to in thc Masonic Poem . We are not aware whence Chambers obtained his authority , but , Albanus is mentioned in all the Guild Legends , subsequently to Matthew Cooke's MS ., but his name does not appear in the earliest MSS . Our worthy Bro . Chalmers draws a very pretty picture of the lodges from 926 " to thc sixteenth century in those close-tyled crypts , but we are not aware of

any of earl y evidences of this fact . Still it is not impossible , and there is a late evidence at York of this custom . No doubt the " modus vivendi " of the nicdi . x-val Masons is very difficult to illustrate or to realize , and we must be content , it seems to us , at present to speak very undon-matically on thc subject . That portion of our . Masonic existence , and history , and work is still a " terra incognita " , to Masonic students . We find traces of them wcrkin- * - in

lodges in minster-yards ; we hear of dismissory letters from the capitular bodies for Master Masons ; and we gather that there was a form of admission of Masons into the lodges for work ; that these bodies were under the superinttndancc of the ecclesiastics , and that there were Magister , and Master Masons , Seniores , Gardiani , Latomi , Apprenticii . But beyond this , so far , we cannot trace the evidence . If that passage about the company of

Freemasons and the churchwardens of a parish in Suffolk could be proved and verified , for the reference , Quarterly Review , xxiv ., page 14 ( 1 , does not bring it out , Though search has been made , we should have an interesting addition to our facts . Others might be given here as to the wages of Macons , and the rank and social position of the Master Macon , but space docs not permit . The lirst trace of Freemasonry akin to our own to-day is about the early part

of the seventeenth century . I low shall webridgeover the intervening period between 92 ^ 1 and 1 600 , ? As regards the Fratres "Pontilices" or the "Collegia Pontificalia , " very little is known of them further than that they existed . Hugo de Goldcliff , artificer , was undoubtedly a Master Mason of the thirteenth century , '; and we should like to see the contract of Monsieur William , license masonne , in 1314 . Perhaps Bro . Chalmers can give us a reference to it . Had our

excellent correspondent only read " Kcnning ' s Cyclopicdia , " hc would have seen what thc real entry in Win . Nlolash ' s register really says . All entries relative to the Masons until the seventeenth century are in Norman-French , Latin , and Archaic English , the latter , however , very rare . It is a curious fact that in 1724 there were no lodges in Staffordshire . Remembering Dr . Plot ' s statement , in KiSu , and one which must strike the Masonic student . The oldest

lodges appear to have been No . . SS in 1732 ; Bell and Raven , Wolverhampton , apparentl y long extinct ; No . 30 S , constituted in 17 O 7 , disappeared in 1702 . There was a military lodge ( Antient ) ist Battalion Royal Artillery , founded in 1774 , but when , in 1805 , becoming the United Potteries Lodge , was erased in 1 S 20 . Staffordshire was first formed

into a province in iSioor 1 S 20 . All this is vcry late , and as wc said before , constitutes a curious commentary on Dr . Plot ' s averments . Are there no traces of still earlier lodges than 1732 , and what has become of the minutes of No . S . S ? We thank Bro . Chalmers for a well compiled and carefully edited work .

THE REIGN OF CHRIST ON EARTH . By II . L . HASTINGS . S . Bagstcr and Sons . This is another of Messrs . Uagster ' s admirably printed books , but , unfortunately , it is just one of . ' . hose books which it is forbidden for the Freemason to discuss or review . The work relates to what is called thc Millenium , or what is also termed the Prc-Millennial Reign , based , as the theory is , on a certain statement of Paphs , and a

wellknown passage ot the Book of thc Revelation of St . John the Divine . But there is , as is also well-known , a great controversy among Divines on this very point , both as to the reality of the proposition , and the true exegesis of the Scripture thcrcancnt ; and as all subjects of political or theological discussion are wisely prohibited to English Freemasons , we can merely note the fact of the publication in 1 SS 2 , by this well-known firm of biblical publishers

of this elaborate volume of 537 pages . Some of us who may recall the Bishop ' s of Lincoln ' s remarkable Commentary on thc Book of thc Revelation of St . | ohn , will require no arguments from us to point out to " them how great and wide and deep is the difference between opposing schools of thought on tnis very subject . So we can only repeat once again , that as far as wc arc concerned , thc old Spanish proverb is most true and wise " Silence is golden . "

THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL FOR THE NORTHERN MASONIC 1 UKISD 1 CTION OF THE UNITED STATES . These "Proceedings" arc remarkable for containing a Synoptical History of all the Supreme Councils that have ever existed , and the manner of their

formation , in chronological order . Thc author of this very able sketch is Bro . C . T . McClenachan , 33 ° , well known as a zealous and indefatigable worker in many branches of Masonry . The report of Bro . Albeit G , Goodall , 330 ' on " Foreign Relations , " contains also many matters of great interest to those interested in the progress of the A . and A . Kite .

HINTS ON MATRIMONY . By a Practical Man . Kerby and Endean , 440 , Oxford-street . This animated and humorous brochure will well repay perusal . Its advice seems to us to be both sagacious and effective , calm and far-seeing in hi g hest measure . Wc agree very much indeed alike with its proverbial wisdom , its gentle sarcasms , and its safe conclusious . Matrimony is both a risk and a lottery , a " terra incognita , " and a dcbateablc land for most of mortal world ; and , parodying thc words of the " Immortal Bard , " wc feci inclined to say ,

Reviews.

* if men would only be contented to remain as they arc , there would be no great fear of unavoidable and unfclicitous marriages . " Hut man is a gregarious animal , and man will marry ; and hence it often happens that ardent youth and timid old age are alike " taken in '' by the artfulness of that dangerous sex , of which Mr . Wellcr , senior , prophetically declared of old , its lures , its craftiness ,

and its success . And yet , after all , why are people not to marry ? "Tons les guilts sont respectables . " When "like meets like , " when mutual tastes and sympathies conspire to form the compact and harmonious " tout ensemble , "—when Edward and Emily Ann agree that they can ' t live without each other , ( which fs altogether a delusion by the way ) , then we feel that the quiver of our sarcasms

is emptied , and that , like others before them , and others after them , they will tell the old , old story , and find themselves , fellow-pilgrims , on the same rough journey of life . In onr philosophy and our Masonic philanthropy we will only add , may all of good attend them ,- all hone .-t matches , all loving hearts . This last little publication of Messrs . Kerby and Endean will find many readers , we think , and wc

fancy will raise many a hearty laugh . For marriage is always a privileged subject lo jest upon genially , even for thc dullest bipeds here , though it is only the witling or thc unworthy who would venture lo call into question the reality of the blessing of a happy and befitting marriage state for poor , lonely , suffering man .

AMMUNZIATA GRIMANL By T . LOLIS OX LEV . Kerby and Endean , 440 , Oxford-street . This is a very stirring tale of Bosnian struggles and scenes . It is forcibly written , ' and very sensational in parts . Indeed , here and there the horrors upon horrors become painful , and , to say the tiuth , we do not believe the famous McColl Legend of 'Impaling . That

impalment is an Oriental punishment no one probably can deny , but that it has been in use of late years i-, we apprehend , more than doubtful . Still some people believe it , and far be it for us to throw doubt or cast suspicion on these sad legends of Bosnian trials and troubles . Mr . Oxley makes out a very effective story in two volumes ; and his work , animated in tone and vivid in description , will find we doubt

not many readers and admirers . . No doubt , too , the sufferings of thc Bosnians were great , and the cruellies of the Turks intense , and certainly Mr . Oxley has contrived to weave out a consistent if sad coloured tale out of exciting episodes and interesting personages . | ust now Bosnia has

some attraction for readers , inasmuch as it is the scene of serious warfare ' and a mysterious movement against the comparatively mild sway of the Austrian- in room of the Turks . Some of our younger readers will be glad to have this book recommended to them , who look for thrilling incidents and delight in sensational novels .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

THE FREEAIASONS . Fosbrooke , in his valuable " Knrych-pn-dia of Antiquities , " gives us the old old story of the Irccmasons

founded on the Parentalia , but he also adds Swinburne , ln which of Swinburne ' s works does this reference occur , as it is again founded on the Penentalia ? Henry Swinburne wrote about Spain and Sicily , and in his work on Spain alluded to Moorish and Roman arcbitt-rtnre . MASONIC . STUDENT .

SIR VV . DUGDALE . Can any reader of these ct lumiis refer me to a passage in any of Sir VV . Dugdalcs' works in which lu ; mentions thc Freemasons . ANTIOUAR . IUS .

OLD MASONIC CERTIFICATES . I have traced the first four numbers mentioned by Bro . Judd through my " Masonic Register , " and find thev all refer to thc same lodge . No . 327 was an "Ancient" or "Atholl" Lodge , and , according to the list of 1 S 07 , assembled then at Etruria , and in that of 1 S 13 , was at Stoke ( both of Staffordshire ) . In 1 S 14 , on the " Union " roll of lodges , it became No . 417 , and in 1 S 32 , on thc new

numbration it was 2 S 5 . It was erased before the alterations of 1 SO 3 . Brethren not having the " Ahiman Rczons " of 1 S 07 and 1 S 13 will find the lists of lodges of those years in my friend Bro . Gould ' s " Athol Lodges " ( Spencer and Co . ) , to which work I am indebted for the information that originally 327 was held in the " Salford Militia , " at Windsor , warranted 2 () th April , 1 S 01 . It was apparentl y a civil lodge , however , in 1 S 07 , though there is no record in thc minutes

of its Grand Lodge of the change . I sec by thc "Irish Freemasons' Calendar , " that . 555 , " I ' ermoy " Lodge , Cork , and ( ifio , " Mountmelliell " Lodge , Queen ' s County , are still on the roll , but Nj . 905 has been erased . Bro . Gould and I can now trace any lodge warranted from 172 ( the earliest ) to the " Union " of December , 1 S 13 , and since , of cither "Modems" or " Ancients , " and so can anyone with the works who has mastered the intricate details . VV . | . HUGHAN .

SEVENTEENTH CENTURY MASONS . In the very beautiful facsimile reprint of "Gent ' s History of I lull , " published by Bro . Peck of that town , I find the following ^ on page 54 , amongst the epitaphs in Holy 'Trinity Churchyard : "Here licth the body of George Matthews , and Sarah , his wife . She died thc Oth of May , 1717 , ; i * tat 02 . And he died Octoh . 31 , 1717 , * irtat (•*{ . And

also S children , viz ., Sarah Roebuck , late wife of John Roebuck , Free-Mason . She dy'd the 27 th of December , 170 S . And Charles Matthews , Freeman and Apothecary of this town . lie died the 26 th of May , 1715 , . irtat 25 . The other six died in their infancy . " If the description of John

Roebuck refers to our own Order it is worth noting , as in thc case of the epitaph in Wen-ley Churchyard , which I published in these columns a short time ago . Does the " Freemason " refer to thc business of these persons as stone cutters , or to their membership of a Speculative and Operative Guild ? T . B . WHYTEHEAD .

Bro . the Lord Mayor , supported by Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Hanson , and Mr . Sheriff Ogg , presided on Monday , at the Albion , at the festival of thc Metropolitan Free Hospital ,