Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

—«—DICKENS . It may bs interesting to state that although Charles Dickens himself was not a P ' reemason , he always entertained a hi gh opinion of the

Fraternity ; one of his nieces , Augusta Maud Dickens , the child of his late brother Alfred , is at the present time a pupil in the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls at St . John ' s Hill . Battersearise . VIATOR .

THE REVIVAL OF A . D . 1727 . As the communications of Bros . Yarker and Paton in your paper for 4 th June might have lead your readers to suppose that the 1717 theory originated with Bro . Buchan . I send you

an extract from a work published at Utica in 1829 : — " That a society claiming the glories of Free Masonry should have existed for ages unnoticed by any writer , noble or contemptible , foolish or learned , is wholly incredible and

unworthy of belief . 1 he Puritans and the Presbyterians , the Cabalists and the Rosicrucians , the Gypsies and the Necromancers , the Alchymists and the Jesuits , & c , are each liberally noticed i . i the works of various authors durinsr the 16 th

and 17 th century ; but Free Masonry has not so much as a name until the 18 th century . They are silent as the grave from the days of King Solomon down to 1717 . To any historical scholar this fact is alone enough . " W . G . DORIC .

A HUNDRED YEARS OF AGE . The scepticism of the late Sir George Cornewall Lewis and others , with regard to the existence of centenarian human lives in the modern world , has been refuted by several well-proved

instances ; and many of us can testify to having known , among our personal acquaintances , two or three old men or women who , before they died , were nearer to a hundred than to ninety years of age . We have been favoured by the

Rev . C . H . Drinkwate-, curate of Richmond , m Yorkshire , with a communication respecting Matthew Greathead , a neighbour of his there , who actually attained his hundredth year on April 23 , having been bom on that day in 1770 ,

in the parish of High Conischffe , in the county of Durham , four miles from Darlington . His baptismal register runs thus : — " Matthew , son of John Greathead , was baptised on the 24 th day of April , 1770 . " He is a widower , and has

one son and two daughters living , with four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren . We are glad to say that thisvenirable sire enjojs good health and spirits ; he is in full possession of all his senses and mental faculties : he can

read without spectacles •and his memory is still good . Mankind ought to thank him for setting us all a happy example . He has been a Freemason seventy-two years , and is , no doubt , the oldest member of that brotherly craft in the

United Kingdom . —Illustrated London News , June 11 . [ An esteemed brother has promised us some particulars as to Bro . Greatheads Masonic career for our next number . —ED . F . \

ST . JOHN ' S GATE . ( Continued from page 2 S 3 . ) " irSS . —Guy , King of Jerusalem being released from prison , having been detained in chains for a year at Damascus , summoned his

despised followers to unite , and associating with himself the Templars , Hospitallers . Venetians , Genoese , and the noble pilgrims who had arrived , laid seige to Acre , to the deliverance of which Saladin , without any alarm , came , and after a

fierce battle of three days , lo ! they beheld an innumerable fleet of Danes and Frieslanders entering the harbour , without hindrance . When Saladin saw this , he immediately fled •leaving

the city without hope of relief . The strength of the city was , however , impregnable , and the garrison on the side of Saladin consisted of 9 , 000 armed men .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

" 1260 . —A Templar , who came in haste frorii the Holy Land , arrived in London on St . Botolph ' s Day , bringing letters to the king and the master of the Temple , and others . He performed the journey with such rapidity that he

entered London the day thirteen weeks after he left the Holy Land , making only oneday ' sjourney from Dover to London . When the letters were read , great grief arose , for the Tartars with an innumerable host had made themselves masters

of the Holy Land as far as Acre . ' Nor , ' said he , ' will Christendom be able to help •them , unless supported by the powerful hand of God

as an ally . For , as nearly all the Templars and Hospitallers are killed , unless speedy succour arise , a terrible destruction will soon visit the world , which God forbid . '

" 1292 . —The Princess Joanna of Acre , in her 18 th year , renowned for her beauty and high spirit , daughter of Edward the First , and his faithful and dear Queen ( " chere reine . '" ) ,

Eleanor of Castile , was married with great pomp at the monastery of the Knights of St . John , Clerkenwell , to the Premier Peer of England , Gilbert the Red . Earl of Gloucester .

1337- —In tenth of Edward HI ., the Inner Temple Hall was assigned to the prior and brethren of the Hospital of St . John , together with the church , cloisters , & c . •while the other hall

remained in the hands of the Crown , and was not granted to the Hospitallers until the 13 th Edward III . Soon after this period they conceded the use of both halls to the professors of the law . " VIATOR .

In answer to a " Constant Reader , " we beg to state that H . R . H . the . Prince of Wales was initiated in Sweden by the King , Charles

John XV , who is the Grand Master ofthe Masonic Order in that country ; his title being the Vicar of Solomon . We are further informed that the Crown Prince assisted in the ceremony .

B . L . GREEN . —We have great pleasure 111 replying to your queries . No . 1 . Objection should be taken at the time to votes of brethren in arrear ; and , if so taken , their votes would become null and void , in

accordance with the bye-law . No . 2 . The order of procedure is precisely as you have stated it ; but , upon the amendment being put as a substantive motion , any brother is

at liberty to move another amendment , and so on ad infinitum . No . 3 . Seven days' notice must be given , if initiations form part of the intended business . — [ E D . F ]

Consecration Of The Hervey R.A.

CONSECRATION of the HERVEY R . A .

CHAPTER , No . 1260 . This new Chapter , which is attached to the highly successful Hervey Lodge , was form-illy opened and consecrated on the nth inst ., at the George Hotel , Walham-green , by M . E . Comp . John Hervey , Grand

Scribe E ., assisted by Comps . J . Boyd , as II . ; J . Brett , as J . ; and R . W . Little , as Director of Ccrc-•monics . The programme of the proceedings was strictly carried out as follows , and it is needless to add that the various ceremonies were performed in a masterly manner .

The Companions of the new Chapter , and the visitors entered in order , marshalled by the D . C , Comp . Little . Co : np . Brett then offered up the introductory prayer . The Acting G . S . E . then read the Petition and charter , and the M . E . Z . having

inquired of the Companions if they approved of the officers nam :. l in the chatter , the Companions signified their approval in Masonic form . The M . E . Z then proceeded to constitute the Companions into a regular Chapter in ancient form .

An oration , on the nature and principles of the Institution , was delivered by Comp . J . Brett , P . Z . Thefollowingaiithcm ( i 33 rdPsalm ) , was then sung by the choir : — 'Tis a pleasant thing to sec

Brethren in the Lord agree , Children of a God of Love Live as they shall live above ; Acting each a Mason ' s part , One in life , and one 111 heart .

Consecration Of The Hervey R.A.

Like the precious ointment shed Upon Aaron ' s hallowed head ; Gently as the dews distil Down on Zion's holy hill ;

So the peace of Heaven descends On the union sweet of Friends ; and was followed by the Dedication Prayer , first portion .

The Companions turned to the East while the M . E . Z . gave the invocation . The prescribed portions of the scripture were then

read , the Chapter pedestal was uncovered , and the D . C . carried the elements three times round the Chapter , & e ., solemn music being played during the procession .

Sancttts , " Glory be to Thee , O God . " Comp . Brett then took the censer three times round the Chapter , and afterwards offered up the Dedication Prayer , second portion . Another anthem succeeded : —

"Glory to God on High , Let Heaven aud Earth reply , Praise ye His name ; Masons His love adore ,

lyl d 111 their mystic lore And cry out evermore , Glory to God . " The M . E . Z . then dedicated and constituted the Chapter .

Thechoirthenbeautifull y rendered the well-known anthem : —

I have surely built Thee an house , " andtheceremonywasconcludedwifh the Patriarchal Benediction . A Conclave of Installed Principals was then formed , and Comp . Little , P . Z ., then presented

Comps . G . King , jun ., G . King , and E . A . Baber , to Comp . Brett for installation into the third chair . Comp . Codner then presented the Comps . King to Comp . Little , who installed them in the second chair , after which the Grand Scribe E . installed

Comp . King , jun ., as the first M . E . Z . of the Chapter . Upon the re-admission ofthe Companions the rank of Honorary Member was unanimously conferred upon Comps . Hervey , Boyd , Brett and Little , for

thctr efficient services . Comp . Baker was invested as E . ; Comp . Andrews , as N ., and a number of brethren having been proposed for exaltation , the Chapter was closed in ancient form .

Asumptuousbanquct , provided by Comp . Gosden , of Mason's Hall Tavern , Basinghall-street , was then served , and it is but bare justice to Comp . Gosden to say that it was most admirable in every respect ,

and the wines were really choice vintages . The M . E . Z ., Comp . King , jun ., presided with great geniality and tret , and every Companion present thoroughly enjoyed the evening .

Although the Hervey Lodge has not been much more than a year in existence , it is already a very flourishing and influential body , thanks to the untiring energy of Bro . George King , jun ., who has been well seconded by Bros . King , sen ., and Baber ,

and other members , so that he is enabled to crown the Masonic edifice by the establishment of a Royal Arch Chapter , which bears the same honoured name of " Hervey . " The new Chapter has our sincere wishes for its prosperity , and it would , indeed , be

strange if under such auspices anything but success could attend its career . We must also not omit to note the efficient services of the musical brethren , Bros . W . Dawson , G . T . Carter , R . Barnby , Chaplin Henry and Distin , who both in the Chapter and

over the dessert delighted the Companions with their harmonious strains . Among the members and visitors present wc noticed the following Companions : —Comps . J . Hervey , G . S . E . ; J . Boyd , P . Z . andZ . 145 , as II . : I . Brett , P . Z . 177 and 975 , as

J . ; R . XV . Little , P . Z . 177 and 975 , D . C ; H . G . Buss ( P . Z . 177 ) , F . Binckes ( P . Z . 10 ) , J . Nunn ( P . G . D . C ) , XV . Smith , ( P . Z . 33 ) . A . Codner ( Z . 25 ) , W . Smeed ( Z . 946 ) , W . Mann ( P . Z . 186 ) , G . S .

States ( P . Z . 145 ) , R . Barnby ( 820 ) , A . C Bean ( 19 ) , J . XV . Dawson ( H . 186 ) , S . Millis ( 19 ) , T . Distin ( 742 ) , W . Lowdcr ( 186 ) , C . B . Payne ( P . Z . 177 ) , W . S . Lines , & c .