Original Correspondence.

not answer the very pertinent enquiry made in your columns by more than one correspondent . The question I once more venture to ask is simple and intelligible , and one in regard to which 1 am at a loss to understand why explicit information should be withheld . In respect of what proportion of the total amount

subscribed at the Festival will the premium votes be assigned ? and will the assignment of these extra voles be strictly limited to those who subscribed to the Building Fund and whose subscriptions are carried to the Building Fund Account ? An unequivocal answer to this question is , in my humble

opinion , due , not only to those whose liberal subscriptions produced the magnificent result at the last Festival , but also to those who , in past years , have given a steady and generous support to the Institution without the stimulating influence of premium votes . It might also serve to remove the impression which widely prevails , that

the exceptionally large amount subscribed on the occasion referred to was due to the irresistible bribe offered by one Institution to gain the support of the Craft at the last festival , at the expense , it is feared , of the two other no less worthy and deserving Charities . I sincerely trust there is no foundation for the rumour

that , in order to effect a proper equilibrium in the relative value of votes in the several Institutions , it is contemplated by another of the Charities to follow at no distant date the example of the Boys' School . Although a temporary advantage might be secured by such a course , it could not fail to inflict a most serious injury on the Institution , by

shattering the confidence hitherto felt by those who , in many cases at great personal sacrifice , have subscribed their utmost , little dreaming that the value of the votes they acquired would , to serve a temporary purpose , be ruthlessly depreciated by the issue of premium votes in respect of like subscriptions . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , A LIFE GOVERNOR .

REBUILDING THE TEMPLE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have made careful inquiry and can hear nothing of arrangements for obtaining designs in competition , limited or otherwise , and the next Quarterly Communication is . getting very near . Surely the Committee will not

attempt to trifle with Grand Lodge and waste time by attempting to thrust upon the brethren a design contrary to the wish clearly expressed at the last regular meeting of Grand Lodge . We want something more artistic and much less expensive than the " Griffin " or one of the City markets . I hope for a large muster in September , and a determined attitude . —Yours , & c , P . M ., P . Z .

STATUS OF PAST MASTERS . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I should like it to be understood that the reason I did not do more than merely second Bro . Brownrigg's amendment re Past Masters in Grand Lodge yesterday ,

was that I did not think I had caught the eye of the M . W . G . M . in the chair , and sat down after saying the words , " I beg to second the amendment . " I intended to rise afterwards , but some brother having asked whether this amendment had been seconded , the President of the Board of General Purposes pointed to me and said , " A brother

here has done so ; my words having been heard , therefore it would have been out of order for me to have spoken again . Bro . Brownrigg ' s amendment was , I am sorry to say , lost , and , in speaking upon the further amendment subsequently proposed , I said that 1 was sorry the first amendment was not carried . I cannot help thinking that had not so uncom promising a front been shown from the dais by London

brethren to the evident wishes , in which I heartily join , of the many brethren who at the loss of time , trouble , and money came from the provinces to express their views , Bro . Brownrigg ' s amendment would have been accepted . With a view to harmonise more nearly the present disagreement , I hope that it may not even yet be too late to agree to the compromise held out by Bro . Brownrigg . —Faithfully yours ,

JOHN A . LLOYD , P . P . G . C . Oxon and Wilts , P . M . 1553 Broad Hinton Vicarage , Swindon , August oth .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . ' " Dear Sir and Brother , — Absence from town unfortunately prevented me from being in my official chair at the special meeting of Grand Lodge on the Sth inst ., but I sec through the medium of your excellent journal that it was duly carried

on that occasion that Past Masters joining a lodge " shall have the rank and position of a Past Master of the lodge . " As there are still many active members of the Craft in a state of uncertainly as to the exact meaning and extent of this sweeping and revolutionary change , may I ask you or some of your able readers to set us at rest on the following

Points : ( a ) Do Past Masters who joined a lodge before this Special Meeting become Past Masters of that lodge in I'irtue of this resolution ? ( b ) Can members who join a ''odge hereafter , and who are not Past Masters at the time ° f joining , claim the rank of Past Master of that lodge by OM'ipying the chair of any other lodge ? ( c ) Can an initiate join another lodge , and then by passing the chair

Original Correspondence.

( of that lodge ) claim the rank of a Past Master of his " mother lodge" ? I venture to think , Sir , if j'ou will recur to this allimportant subject in your next issue , and set our minds at

rest on all these points , you will confer a lasting benefit on the members of our " good old lodges , " and deserve the hearty thanks of the whole Craft . Apologising for trespassing on your valuable space . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally ,

RALPH GOODING , B . A ., M . D . ( LONIJ . ) , G . S . D ., P . M . and Sec . No . 1 . Audley , Priory-road , Bournemouth , August 13 th .

LATENT POWERS OF LODGES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In common with many others , the assumed lodge power of giving past rank , according to two most distinguished and estimable brethren , came upon me with

deep surprise . I have always understood , and I have certainly heard our excellent Grand Registrar say the same in Grand Lodge , that no past rank of any kind could be granted except by order of the Grand Master or resolution of Grand Lodge , —the concurrent jurisdiction . A Provincial Grand Master or Provincial Grand Lodge cannot confer

past rank , neither can a lodge or Worshipful Master . The bye-laws of lodges in former years were scarcely ever looked over by authority , and many very unconstitutional bye-laws , as we all tno » , may be found , conflicting that is to say with the Book of Constitutions . I do not say , mind , that it would not be a good thing to

concede to Provincial Grand Lodges and private lodges this right ; I venture to think it would be both politic and reasonable . "But I object greatly to " reading within the lines ; '' this buoying ourselves up upon tradition , instead of law ; this mysterious power , whether of "interpretation" or "dispensation , " which , though not supported by any one word or line of the " . Lex Scripta , " is to be found

somewhere . Where ? Perhaps , who knows (?) in the " eternal fitness of things , " or the " inner consciousness , " of some silver-tongued and sagacious exponent of the unwritten law . I , for one , doubt such a power very much indeed , and can only shake my head and shrug my shoulders at what I must term and deem , quite respectfully and deferentiall y , " off-hand declarations . "—Yours fraternally , LEX . As Anderson said , " From my Chambers . "

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

215 ] A CURIOUS OLD BOOK . In Kloss ' s " Bibliographic , " at p . 20 , No . 220 , is the reference to a certain " Lettre Mistique , " & c , of 1 G 02 . I have lately stumbled upon , thanks to Mr . Stibbs , a copy of the same , Leiden , 1603 , ( which probably is the proper date ) , and find that "Kloss ' s" note , that there is a likeness in

this work between Jesuitical and later Masonic forms , very " moonshiney " indeed . The work is really composed of two small tracts , " Lettre Mistique , Responce , Replique , " of 102 pages , and "Cabale Misterielle , " & c , ( of which the title page is missing apparently ) , of 1 C 5 pages . Whether the book is written by a friend or foe to the Jesuits matters little , as it is so hazy as to be almost

unreadable , and so " mystical in its allusions and assertions , that it is quite clear we want the true key . It is written in the older French , and though 1 find here and there allusions to a "Confrairie , " especially in the "Cabale Misterielle , " which is publicly described as a " Revelation in a dream to P . J . Boucher flying into Spain , " I can find nothing analogous to Kloss's Gloss . There is a great deal about conspirators , martyrs , and

others , but as all is said to be a " dream , " everything seems to be most shadowy and unreal . It is dedicated to "Count Maurice , by M . D . L . F . " I hardly know what was in Kloss ' s mind when he penned the note to which I have alluded * , we , however , have it in his work ; but the theory of a Jesuit use and manipulation of Freemasonry , the favourite "fad" of so many German writers , is , I confess , to my mind , most unlikely and unhistoric . MASONIC STUDENT .

216 ] THE COLLEGIA ROMANA . Looking over the " Inscri p tionesAntiqua * : Etrurian , " Florence , 1733 , Gorius and Salvinus , I found several inscriptions of the colleges , lt is however a difficulty to ascertain the exact name of the Masonic Collegia . Faber was a workman , and though it has been contended that" Coll . Fabr ., " when found by themselves , mean the College of Masons ;

there is some doubt on the suhje : t , as Faber was generally accompanied by a distinctive adjective like " alarius , " "ferrarius , " " argentarius , " & c . I have found among those inscriptions the words Sodaliciarius , Sodaliciarium , as well as Sodaliciari .-e and Sodaliciaria . The Collegium Speculariorum was the college of makers of glass windows and frames , and they were called

"Specular ' u . " I have also found Structor Parietarius , builder of a wall . Indeed there is a representation of Structores oi some kind at a banquet , and many are the monuments with Artificers' signs . The ladies had a Collegium Pastophorum as well as the . men , and a Jady is termed "Collega" and also Sodaliciaria . Lapicida , for masons , is hardly found , and Latomus is not apparently known . MASONIC STUDENT .

217 J CHARLES SACKVILLE . Permit me , as I have taken a leading part in the controversy respecting " Charles Sackville , " to offer just a few remarks on" Dryasdust ' s" note [ N . & Q . 205 J . It is no . v evablished , I think , that Charles Sackville , by courtesy Earl of Middlesex , was in Florence in 1732-3 , in company

Masonic Notes And Queries.

with his friend and tutor , Mr . Spence , and consequently , if any value is to be attached to the so-called Mas nic medal with " Charles Sackville " superscribed on it , it must have been intended to commemorate him , and not another Charles Sackville as yet unknown to fame . As to the fact of his lordship never having given any sign of his being a Freemason , and not having been present at the initiation of Frederick , Prince of Wales , in 1737 , I am nuite willing- to

allow that it is a strong argument against Sackville having been a member of the fraternity ; but I do not attach the same importance to his absence from the prince ' s initiation as " Dryasdust , " and for this reason , because it was not till several years after that event that his lordship was appointed a member of His Royal Highness's household . However , these are matters which , in thc present state of our knowledge , it is

impossible to determine . Again , if there is no trustworthy evidence of the medal having been struck , or if it was struck about 17 G 0 , as suggested by " Dryasdust , " and purposely antedated , I imagine the whole theory about Charles Sackville ever having been , even remotely or for the briefest possible period of time , connected with Freemason ^ ' , falls to the ground . But is the medal a myth ? I read in "Kenning ' s Cyclop . udia of Freemasonry , " under the head of " Medals , " that " Macoy gives a facsimile of

it , and tells us that it is to be found in the valuable collection of Masonic medals in the possession of the lodge Minerva" ( of the Three Palms ) " at Leipsic . " Now Bro . Macoy can hardly have invented his facsimile without an original , and he would be unlikel y to specify the whereabouts of the latter without some reason . The question , therefore , now to be settled is a simple onc . Does the collection of medals in the possession of the Minerva Lodge , Leipsic , include the Sackville medal ? If so , what is its value as a Masonic memorial ? G . B . A .

21 SJ A MASONIC TOKEN , Onc thing leads to another , and the mention b y " Past Master 2 S 1 " [ N . & Q . 207 ] of a Masonic token , described by him , and commemorating the election of George , Prince of Wales , as Grand Alaster , induces me to forward you the following official description of a leaden Masonic token ,

being No . 51 of the Beaufoy collection of "the London traders , tavern , and cofrVe-huiise tokens in the seventeenth century , " in the Guildhall Library : " 51 . Mason ' s mallet , half-moon , a mullet of five points , and a rose disposed at the four coiners . Rev ., Blank . Square in form . " Perhaps some of your readers may be able to explain this . N . P .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft ilasonrg . ALL SAINTS LODGE ( No . 1716 ) . —A meeting * of this lodge was held on the 3 rd inst ., at the Town Hall , Poplar , Bro . J . House , W . M ., in the chair , supported by Bros . T . L . Kennett , S . VV . ; VV . G . Wil-haw , Sec ; W . J . Rendell , S . D . ; J . Grout , Org . ; J . C . Pittam , I . G . ; W . C . Young , I . P . M . ; Leonard Potts , P . M . ; J . Kemp Ccleman , P . M . ; Day , Smith , Knowl <* s , Pearson , Harland ,

and Harrison , lyler ; with the following visitors : Bros . J . Lax , VV . M . 7 S 1 ; J . M . Jennings , 1326 ; F . Robinson , S . W . 7 S 1 ; H . E . VVest , 7 S 1 ; A . W . Ellingford , P . M . S 34 ; J . E . Smith , SgS ; and J . Andrews , P . M . 350 . The minutes of the pic-ceding meeting being read , Bro , H . E . West , 7 S 1 , was duly and regularly raised to the M . M . Degice by the W . M .. who dt-livered the traditional

history , lecture on the tracing board , and ancient charge in his usual excellent style . The brethren then proceeded to elect the oflicers for the ensuing year , Bro . T . L . Kennett , S . VV ., being unanimously chosen as W . M ., and Bro . W . H . Farnfield , P . M ., as Treasurer . Bro . G . Harrison was re-elected Tyler , and Bros . J . J . Pearson , E . C . Knowles , and R . H . Harland were elected to represent the brethren on the Audit Committee . On the motion of Bro .

Young . LP . SI ., seconded by Bro . J . Kemp Coleman , P . M ., the valuable services rendered to the lodge by Bro . J . House , W . M ., were recognised by the unanimous vote of a gold Past Master ' s lodge jewel and Past Master's collar on his retirement from the chair , which wa * acknowledged by Bro . House in an eloquent speech . This brought the evening ' s proceedings to a close , and the lodge adjourned till the 5 th of October next .

FARRINGDON WITHOUT LODGE ( No . 1745 ) - —This lodge met at the Viaduct Hotel , Holborn , on the 30 th ult . Among those in attendance were Bros . Goodenough , VV . M . ; H . B . Marshall , C . C , S . W . ; YounR * . JON . ; T . Simpson , J . D . ; H . J . Lardner , P . G . O . Surrey , P . M ., Treas . ; W . H . Jackson , P . M .,

Sec . ; J . Strugnell , P . M . ; Lott , P . P . G . W . Jersey , Org . ; Lister , LG . ; and others . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , a brother was passed to the Second Degree . A motion by the Treasurer that the lodge should be removed to some other hotel in the Ward was postponed until the next meeting . The brethren then separated . There was no banquet .

CHICHESTER . —Lodge of Union ( No . 38 ) . — A lodge of emergency was called for 'Thursday evening , August gth , to pass a vote of condolence with the R . VV . Prov . Grand Master who has recently sustained a heavy domestic affliction . There were present Bros . F . VV . Gruggen . W . M . ; O . Lloyd , S . VV . ; W . H . Barrett , J . W . ; J . St . Clair , P . P . J . G . W ., Treasurer ; G . Molesworth ,

P . P . G . D . ; O . N . Wyatt , P . P . G . S . of W . ; J . H . Hawes , Sec . j H . G . Breach , I . G . , * Dornan , Stwd . ; and others . lhe following resoluiion was , on the motion of the W . M ., seconded by Bro . Molesworth , carried unanimously , the Secretary being instructed to fonvard the same direct to the Provincial Grand Master : "The VV . M ., officers , and brethren of the Lodge of Union , No . 3 S . in open lodge

assembled , respectfully beg to offer their sincere condolence to the R . W . the Prov . Grand Master ( Sir W . W . Burrell , Bart ., M . P . ) , upon thc melancholy bereavement he and his family have recently sustained in the untimely death of his son , Bro . W . H . W . R . Burrell , a member of this lodge . " Bro . VV . H . Burrell was recently thrown from his tricyle while returning home from a cricket match and received injuries which proved fatal a few hours afterwards .