Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad00403
NOWREADY. THIRTEENTH ANNUAL ISSUE . THE COSMOPOLITANMASONICCALENDAR AND POCKET BOOK FOR 1883 . Price 2 s . ; Post Free , 2 s . id . ; About 2 S 0 pages , Roan , Gilt Edges , Elastic Band or Tuck . " The most comprehensive Masonic Book of Reference issued . " THE COSMOPOLITAN MASONIC CALENDAR contains full particulars of all Grand Masonic Bodies in England , Scotland , and Ireland , with complete lists of Craft Lodges , giving Dates of Constitution , Royal Arch Chapters , Mark Lodges , Rose Croix Chapters , Knights Templar Preceptories , Red Cross Conclaves , Colleges , £ v : c . There are also Lists of London CRAFT AKD MARK LODGES , AND ROYAL ARCJI CHAPTERS . Those Meeting in the Country are shewn in towns alphabetically arranged . Tables are given shewing the different Lodges and Chapters grouped under their respective Provinces ; and a List of Lodges and Chapters meeting on Foreign Stations . The London Meetings of the Craft , Royal Arch , Mark , Ancient and Accepted Rite , Knights Templar , and Red Cross are noted in the Memorandum space of each day . Meetings of the various Committees of Grand Lodge , Grand Chapter , and Charitable Institutions are also given . Also the Grand Bodies , with their Officers , in France , Belgium , Switzerland , Germany , Spain Portugal , Italy , the Netherlands , Sweden and Norway , Denmark , Hungary , Greece , Turkey , Egypt , Canada , Quebec , New Brunswick , British Columbia , United States , Hayti , Central and South America , Republic of Liberia , Cuba , New Zealand , & c , giving in most cases also Lists of Lodges , Sec . It also contains the Three Charges and Entered Apprentice ' s Song . Maybe had of all Booksellers , or at GEORGE KENWING ' S Establishments—LONDON : 16 , GREAT QUEEN STREET , Opposite Freemasons' Hall ( Office of Publication ) , i , 2 , 3 , 4 , LITTLE BRITAIN , &•197 , ALDERSGATE STREET . LIVERPOOL : 2 , MONUMENT PLACE . MANCHESTER : 47 , BRIDGE STRREET . GLASGOW : 9 , WEST HOWARD ST .
Ad00404
ROYAL SEA BATHING INFIRMARY , MARGATE . ESTABLISHED 1791 . THE ONLY ONE EXCLUSIVELY FOR SCROFULOUS POOR . COL . CREATON , TREASURER . JOHN M . CLABON , ESQ ., HOX . SECRETARY . This Hospital requires aid . An extra liberal diet table is of necessity required on account of the exhausting nature of this terrible disease . Donors of £ 10 10 s ., Annual Subscribers of £ 1 is ., can recommend patients . 250 beds . Average number of Inpatients per year , 750 , and of applicants over 1000 . Bankers , the Bank of England ; Coutts and Co . ; and Cobb and Co ., Margate . Offices : No . 30 , Charing Cross , W . JOHN THOMAS WALKER , Secretary .
Ad00405
STABLING— TO BE LET , excellent THREE-STALL STABLE and CARRIAGE HOUSE , in Parker-street . —Apply , Freemason Office , 16 , Great Queen-street , W . C .
Ad00406
FOUNDRY TO LET , with Smiths ' Shop . Stables can be had adjoining . Formerly occupied by Messrs . Cutler , Parker-street , Little Queenstreet , Holborn . Apply at the Freemason Office , iG , Great Queen-street ( opposite Freemasons' Hall ) .
Ad00407
A M . M ., with small income , would be glad of EMPLOYMENT . Is a TAILOR'S CUTTER by trade , but willing to make himself u-cful in any capacity . Aged 31 . Has been several years in Australia . Undeniable references as lo charae ' er , & c . M . M ., at Charle Tayler ' s Advertisement Offices , 154 and 155 , Fleet-street , E . C .
Ad00408
EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT , UNDER THE SANCTION OF THE LODGE OF UNIONS , No . 256 . STEWARDS , Bro . J . E . Anderson , S . O . iS , Bro . A . Marvin , W . M . 176 s . and 255 . „ J . H . Matthews , P . Dis . „ W . Bcattie , P . M . 143 . G . O . Bengal . „ W . A . Blackmorc , 14 S 5 . „ E . M . Money , S . D . 2 S . „ H . Bue , S . D . 1820 , J . W . „ * C . A . AIurton , P . G . D . 196 s . „ | . Muzio , P . M . 1150 . „ G . Brown , W . M . 140 . „ T . VV . Ockcndcn , P . M . „ Col . Shadwcll H . Clerke , 1512 . Grand Secretary . „ G . C . Pulsion ! , Sec . 1 S 0 . 1 . „ R . R . Davis , P . M . aj 6 . „ * A . A . Richards , P . G . S ., „ *\ V . A . Dawson , P . M . 176 S P . M . S and 865 , P . Prov . „ G . Drysdalc , W . M . 222 . G . | . \ V . Middlesex . „ H . 1 . P . Dumas , P . G . D . „ J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . „ A . W . Durcr , P . M . 1768 , „ Sir Bruce M . Seton , Bart . and 1223 . P . G . S . „ A . Escott , P . M . 1593 . „ S . W . Shaw , S . U . lor ,. „ * T . Kenn , P . G . D . Treas . „ *\ V . Smallpeicc . P . M . „ A . Fvson , 1768 . 1395 , S . W . 969 , Sec . „ G . Gardiner , P . M . 749 . „ A . C . SpauII , P . P . G . Reg . „ R . Grey , P . G . D . N . Wales and Salop . „ W . H . Johnson , l . G . iguS- ,, I ' . R . Spaull , P . M . 1768 , „ J . W . Jones , S . D . 5 . W . M . 1124 . „ " C . Lowther Kemp , 63 and „ R . Clay Sudlow , W . M . l . W . 1924 . 196 S . „ W . G . Kentish , W . M . „ T . Truman Tanqueray , 1293 . •S . D . 1965 . „ I . W . Lambert , P . M . 143 „ T . Thomas , I . G . 1420 . and 1415 . „ S . B . Wilson , P . M . So . „ J . Gordon Langton , I . G . „ R . A . Zeederberg , Good 96 . Hope . „ P . de L . Long , P . G . D . > * Members ot the Committee . THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL Of the Lodge will take place at FREEMASONS' HALL , On Friday Evening , November 24 th , 18 S 2 , On which occasion BRO . THE REVEREND AMBROSE WILLIAM HALL , Past Grand Chaplin , has kindly consented to preside . The Lodge will be opened in the Grand Hall , at Six o ' clock precisely . The Work will be the First Lecture , viz .: — I . Section by Bro . J . Gordon Langton , I . G . 96 . II . „ „ H . Bue . S . D . 1 S 20 . III . „ „ A . Fyson , 176 S . IV . „ ., T . Truman Tanqucray , S . D . 1965 . V . „ „ W . G . Kentish , W . M . 1293 . VI . „ „ R . A . Zeederberg , Good Hope . VII . „ „ R . Clay Sudlow , W . M . 1965 . Tickets for the Banquet , price 4 s . each , may be had of the Stewards , or of Bro . W . SMALLPEICE , Secretary , 3 S , Lamb ' s Conduit Street , W . C . N . B . —The Emulation Lodge of Improvement meets at Freemasons' Hall every Friday evening throughout the year at Seven o ' clock .
Ar00400
© o ( EorresponDeittg . The following stand over : — . Lodge St . Hilda , No . 240 . Hilda Chapter , A . and A . Rite . Consecration of the Urania Lodge , No . 1972 . Correspondence—Spectumer Agendo . BOOKS , & c . RECEIVED . "The Broad Arrow , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "Public Ledger , " "The Toronto World , " " The Liberal Freemason , " "Irish Times , " " Caygill ' s Tourist's Chronicle , " " Proceedings of the Councils of Deliberation , A . A . S . Rite , " " Proceedings of the Grand Commandery of Vermont , " " Boletin Masonico , " " Freemasons' Repository , " "The Orient , " " The Watchman , " "The Court Circular , " "Die Baiihutte , " "The Jewish Chronicle , " " The Royal Cornwall Gazette , " " The Keystone , " " The Cheltenham Examiner , " " Voice of Masonry , " " Allocution read before the Great Priory . "
Ar00409
SATURDAY , NOVEMBER IS , 1882 . ^ ..
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by ourcorr ' espondents , but we wish in a spirit of fairplay to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussioii . l
REVISED CONSTITUTIONS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Your correspondent's note of November nth , in reference to my letter in the Freemason , ol November 4 th , does not meet the case . I did not state that " any time during the year will do for the Grand Lodge return , " but thatsuch
returns " are now made to Grand Lodge at very different periods of the year by lodges in the same province , " which is quite a different statement . These annual returns are required to be made by Grand Lodge , I understand , at the end of the quarter next after the installation meeting of the lodge , whenever that may happen to be ; and I assume that Grand Lodge will still
require private lodges to make their annual returns and remit the contributions , as they now do , whereby the funds of Grand Lodge are supplied with money all the year round , and the work of Grand Secretary's office is evenly distributed over the entire year ; which , however , would not be the case if all lodges made their returns and sent their confributions at one and the same time .
Original Correspondence.
The question appears to me to be important , and needing' consideration chiefly in relation to the private lod ges and their Provincial Grand Lodges , and I trust some able brother may be induced to throw a littte light on the question . Meanwhile , may I ask your correspondent to kindl y
inform me how he arrives at the conclusion that " Provincial Lodges generally make out both ( returns ) together for transmission ? " and what the law of Grand Lodge is in reference to the exact period of the year when the annual returns are required to be transmitted ? Yours fraternally , W . M . 1402 .
NEPTUNE LODGE , No . 1264-BENEVOLENT FUND . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very pleased to see , by the report of the meeting of the Neptune Lodge , No . 1264 , in your
impression of the nth inst ., that they have established a Benevo- , lent Fund for the relief of their indigent members , but beg to take exception to your correspondent's concluding remarks , as follows : " Although the voluntary system has not hitherto been tried in connection with Benevolent Funds in this province , " & c .
The Lodge of Israel , No . 1502 , the pioneer of the Benevolent Fund system in this province , established their fund principally on the accumulation of voluntary subscriptions and donations , the amount appropriated from the lodge funds being the smallest portion of their present investments , which now amount to nearly £ 300 . I do not think
I am far wrong when I state that from 1875 to the present date not more than £ 70 has been taken from the lodge funds ; and by the fact their indigent members , widows , and orphans have been considerably relieved during the existence of this fund , some to the extent in individual cases of £ 50 , £ i ° > £ - ° > & c - You will at once perceive that the
voluntary system has been successfully in operation years before the Neptune matured theirs . I only hope other lodges in this large province will use their utmost to follow in the footsteps of those that have already adopted this system , and which , if established on a firm basis , must eventually , by superseding the present
system , confer far greater benefits on those unfortunate members of the Craft who have occasion to appeal to their more •fortunate brethren . Yours fraternally , MAURICE HART , P . M . and Treas . 1502 , P . G . S . West Lane . 207 , London-road , Liverpool . November 13 th .
OBSOLETE WORDS IN MASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Many thanks for your kinkness in inserting my suggestions as to the origin of the word "cowan ; " also for your insertion of the necessary explanation of the
perhaps excusable printer's error in my first letter . I quite agree with Bro . Hughan , that the modern translation of the word " cowan , " is eavesdropper , which I think is also an old Masonic word ; the punishment awarded to convicted " cowans , " by our ancient operative brethren being , as tradition tells us , " To tie the offender under the
caves ot a building in rainy weather , and to allow the water from the gurgoyles to drop on to his head . " With regard to the word " hele : " I believe it to be the Saxon noun " hele , " viz .: ( a hole in the ground ) , which wc have simply made into a verb . From the Saxon " hele , " are derived two nouns at use in the present day , viz .:
" hole " ( a cavity in the ground ) , and " Hell " ( Hades or Paradise , the place of departed spirits . ) Our Saxon ancestors connected the physical and national burial of the bodies of their departed friends with their ideas of a future state , and it is a little unfortunate that our first English translators of the Bible should have seized upon this Saxon
word , and made it to represent the "Hades" or "Paradise" of the Greek ; and it still more unfortunate that Puritanical commentators should have so far corrupted the original meaning as to speak of " Hell " as the abode of the lost . However , we , as Freemasons , use the word in its original and literal sense . When our candidates promise
to " hele " our mysteries , they simply promise to bury them in the recesses of their hearts , just as a corpse is buried in a grave or hole in the ground . I apologise for this trespass on your valuable space , but 1 feel very strongly , that instead of characterising our obsolete words as meaningless , wc should carefully ,
patiently , and filially enquire into the origin of them . They have been handed down to us as precious heirlooms by our " ancient brethren "; and I feel sure of this , that our candidates , and our younger officers too , would take a far greater interest in our ritual were they to have a fuller understanding of the true intent and meaning of it . Yours faithfully and fraternally , T . WARD CHALMERS . Market-street , Stafford , November 13 th .
A MEMORIAL MASONIC HALL IN EGYPT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The halo of old world associations which will for all
time surround Egypt , gives an interest of no mean kind to the past and present of the Royal art in that country . The Egyptian Grand Orient sprang originally from an English District , ruled by H . H . Prince Halim , and of which the present M . W . G . M ., Bro . Raphael Borg , was D . D . G . M .,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad00403
NOWREADY. THIRTEENTH ANNUAL ISSUE . THE COSMOPOLITANMASONICCALENDAR AND POCKET BOOK FOR 1883 . Price 2 s . ; Post Free , 2 s . id . ; About 2 S 0 pages , Roan , Gilt Edges , Elastic Band or Tuck . " The most comprehensive Masonic Book of Reference issued . " THE COSMOPOLITAN MASONIC CALENDAR contains full particulars of all Grand Masonic Bodies in England , Scotland , and Ireland , with complete lists of Craft Lodges , giving Dates of Constitution , Royal Arch Chapters , Mark Lodges , Rose Croix Chapters , Knights Templar Preceptories , Red Cross Conclaves , Colleges , £ v : c . There are also Lists of London CRAFT AKD MARK LODGES , AND ROYAL ARCJI CHAPTERS . Those Meeting in the Country are shewn in towns alphabetically arranged . Tables are given shewing the different Lodges and Chapters grouped under their respective Provinces ; and a List of Lodges and Chapters meeting on Foreign Stations . The London Meetings of the Craft , Royal Arch , Mark , Ancient and Accepted Rite , Knights Templar , and Red Cross are noted in the Memorandum space of each day . Meetings of the various Committees of Grand Lodge , Grand Chapter , and Charitable Institutions are also given . Also the Grand Bodies , with their Officers , in France , Belgium , Switzerland , Germany , Spain Portugal , Italy , the Netherlands , Sweden and Norway , Denmark , Hungary , Greece , Turkey , Egypt , Canada , Quebec , New Brunswick , British Columbia , United States , Hayti , Central and South America , Republic of Liberia , Cuba , New Zealand , & c , giving in most cases also Lists of Lodges , Sec . It also contains the Three Charges and Entered Apprentice ' s Song . Maybe had of all Booksellers , or at GEORGE KENWING ' S Establishments—LONDON : 16 , GREAT QUEEN STREET , Opposite Freemasons' Hall ( Office of Publication ) , i , 2 , 3 , 4 , LITTLE BRITAIN , &•197 , ALDERSGATE STREET . LIVERPOOL : 2 , MONUMENT PLACE . MANCHESTER : 47 , BRIDGE STRREET . GLASGOW : 9 , WEST HOWARD ST .
Ad00404
ROYAL SEA BATHING INFIRMARY , MARGATE . ESTABLISHED 1791 . THE ONLY ONE EXCLUSIVELY FOR SCROFULOUS POOR . COL . CREATON , TREASURER . JOHN M . CLABON , ESQ ., HOX . SECRETARY . This Hospital requires aid . An extra liberal diet table is of necessity required on account of the exhausting nature of this terrible disease . Donors of £ 10 10 s ., Annual Subscribers of £ 1 is ., can recommend patients . 250 beds . Average number of Inpatients per year , 750 , and of applicants over 1000 . Bankers , the Bank of England ; Coutts and Co . ; and Cobb and Co ., Margate . Offices : No . 30 , Charing Cross , W . JOHN THOMAS WALKER , Secretary .
Ad00405
STABLING— TO BE LET , excellent THREE-STALL STABLE and CARRIAGE HOUSE , in Parker-street . —Apply , Freemason Office , 16 , Great Queen-street , W . C .
Ad00406
FOUNDRY TO LET , with Smiths ' Shop . Stables can be had adjoining . Formerly occupied by Messrs . Cutler , Parker-street , Little Queenstreet , Holborn . Apply at the Freemason Office , iG , Great Queen-street ( opposite Freemasons' Hall ) .
Ad00407
A M . M ., with small income , would be glad of EMPLOYMENT . Is a TAILOR'S CUTTER by trade , but willing to make himself u-cful in any capacity . Aged 31 . Has been several years in Australia . Undeniable references as lo charae ' er , & c . M . M ., at Charle Tayler ' s Advertisement Offices , 154 and 155 , Fleet-street , E . C .
Ad00408
EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT , UNDER THE SANCTION OF THE LODGE OF UNIONS , No . 256 . STEWARDS , Bro . J . E . Anderson , S . O . iS , Bro . A . Marvin , W . M . 176 s . and 255 . „ J . H . Matthews , P . Dis . „ W . Bcattie , P . M . 143 . G . O . Bengal . „ W . A . Blackmorc , 14 S 5 . „ E . M . Money , S . D . 2 S . „ H . Bue , S . D . 1820 , J . W . „ * C . A . AIurton , P . G . D . 196 s . „ | . Muzio , P . M . 1150 . „ G . Brown , W . M . 140 . „ T . VV . Ockcndcn , P . M . „ Col . Shadwcll H . Clerke , 1512 . Grand Secretary . „ G . C . Pulsion ! , Sec . 1 S 0 . 1 . „ R . R . Davis , P . M . aj 6 . „ * A . A . Richards , P . G . S ., „ *\ V . A . Dawson , P . M . 176 S P . M . S and 865 , P . Prov . „ G . Drysdalc , W . M . 222 . G . | . \ V . Middlesex . „ H . 1 . P . Dumas , P . G . D . „ J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . „ A . W . Durcr , P . M . 1768 , „ Sir Bruce M . Seton , Bart . and 1223 . P . G . S . „ A . Escott , P . M . 1593 . „ S . W . Shaw , S . U . lor ,. „ * T . Kenn , P . G . D . Treas . „ *\ V . Smallpeicc . P . M . „ A . Fvson , 1768 . 1395 , S . W . 969 , Sec . „ G . Gardiner , P . M . 749 . „ A . C . SpauII , P . P . G . Reg . „ R . Grey , P . G . D . N . Wales and Salop . „ W . H . Johnson , l . G . iguS- ,, I ' . R . Spaull , P . M . 1768 , „ J . W . Jones , S . D . 5 . W . M . 1124 . „ " C . Lowther Kemp , 63 and „ R . Clay Sudlow , W . M . l . W . 1924 . 196 S . „ W . G . Kentish , W . M . „ T . Truman Tanqueray , 1293 . •S . D . 1965 . „ I . W . Lambert , P . M . 143 „ T . Thomas , I . G . 1420 . and 1415 . „ S . B . Wilson , P . M . So . „ J . Gordon Langton , I . G . „ R . A . Zeederberg , Good 96 . Hope . „ P . de L . Long , P . G . D . > * Members ot the Committee . THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL Of the Lodge will take place at FREEMASONS' HALL , On Friday Evening , November 24 th , 18 S 2 , On which occasion BRO . THE REVEREND AMBROSE WILLIAM HALL , Past Grand Chaplin , has kindly consented to preside . The Lodge will be opened in the Grand Hall , at Six o ' clock precisely . The Work will be the First Lecture , viz .: — I . Section by Bro . J . Gordon Langton , I . G . 96 . II . „ „ H . Bue . S . D . 1 S 20 . III . „ „ A . Fyson , 176 S . IV . „ ., T . Truman Tanqucray , S . D . 1965 . V . „ „ W . G . Kentish , W . M . 1293 . VI . „ „ R . A . Zeederberg , Good Hope . VII . „ „ R . Clay Sudlow , W . M . 1965 . Tickets for the Banquet , price 4 s . each , may be had of the Stewards , or of Bro . W . SMALLPEICE , Secretary , 3 S , Lamb ' s Conduit Street , W . C . N . B . —The Emulation Lodge of Improvement meets at Freemasons' Hall every Friday evening throughout the year at Seven o ' clock .
Ar00400
© o ( EorresponDeittg . The following stand over : — . Lodge St . Hilda , No . 240 . Hilda Chapter , A . and A . Rite . Consecration of the Urania Lodge , No . 1972 . Correspondence—Spectumer Agendo . BOOKS , & c . RECEIVED . "The Broad Arrow , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "Public Ledger , " "The Toronto World , " " The Liberal Freemason , " "Irish Times , " " Caygill ' s Tourist's Chronicle , " " Proceedings of the Councils of Deliberation , A . A . S . Rite , " " Proceedings of the Grand Commandery of Vermont , " " Boletin Masonico , " " Freemasons' Repository , " "The Orient , " " The Watchman , " "The Court Circular , " "Die Baiihutte , " "The Jewish Chronicle , " " The Royal Cornwall Gazette , " " The Keystone , " " The Cheltenham Examiner , " " Voice of Masonry , " " Allocution read before the Great Priory . "
Ar00409
SATURDAY , NOVEMBER IS , 1882 . ^ ..
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by ourcorr ' espondents , but we wish in a spirit of fairplay to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussioii . l
REVISED CONSTITUTIONS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Your correspondent's note of November nth , in reference to my letter in the Freemason , ol November 4 th , does not meet the case . I did not state that " any time during the year will do for the Grand Lodge return , " but thatsuch
returns " are now made to Grand Lodge at very different periods of the year by lodges in the same province , " which is quite a different statement . These annual returns are required to be made by Grand Lodge , I understand , at the end of the quarter next after the installation meeting of the lodge , whenever that may happen to be ; and I assume that Grand Lodge will still
require private lodges to make their annual returns and remit the contributions , as they now do , whereby the funds of Grand Lodge are supplied with money all the year round , and the work of Grand Secretary's office is evenly distributed over the entire year ; which , however , would not be the case if all lodges made their returns and sent their confributions at one and the same time .
Original Correspondence.
The question appears to me to be important , and needing' consideration chiefly in relation to the private lod ges and their Provincial Grand Lodges , and I trust some able brother may be induced to throw a littte light on the question . Meanwhile , may I ask your correspondent to kindl y
inform me how he arrives at the conclusion that " Provincial Lodges generally make out both ( returns ) together for transmission ? " and what the law of Grand Lodge is in reference to the exact period of the year when the annual returns are required to be transmitted ? Yours fraternally , W . M . 1402 .
NEPTUNE LODGE , No . 1264-BENEVOLENT FUND . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very pleased to see , by the report of the meeting of the Neptune Lodge , No . 1264 , in your
impression of the nth inst ., that they have established a Benevo- , lent Fund for the relief of their indigent members , but beg to take exception to your correspondent's concluding remarks , as follows : " Although the voluntary system has not hitherto been tried in connection with Benevolent Funds in this province , " & c .
The Lodge of Israel , No . 1502 , the pioneer of the Benevolent Fund system in this province , established their fund principally on the accumulation of voluntary subscriptions and donations , the amount appropriated from the lodge funds being the smallest portion of their present investments , which now amount to nearly £ 300 . I do not think
I am far wrong when I state that from 1875 to the present date not more than £ 70 has been taken from the lodge funds ; and by the fact their indigent members , widows , and orphans have been considerably relieved during the existence of this fund , some to the extent in individual cases of £ 50 , £ i ° > £ - ° > & c - You will at once perceive that the
voluntary system has been successfully in operation years before the Neptune matured theirs . I only hope other lodges in this large province will use their utmost to follow in the footsteps of those that have already adopted this system , and which , if established on a firm basis , must eventually , by superseding the present
system , confer far greater benefits on those unfortunate members of the Craft who have occasion to appeal to their more •fortunate brethren . Yours fraternally , MAURICE HART , P . M . and Treas . 1502 , P . G . S . West Lane . 207 , London-road , Liverpool . November 13 th .
OBSOLETE WORDS IN MASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Many thanks for your kinkness in inserting my suggestions as to the origin of the word "cowan ; " also for your insertion of the necessary explanation of the
perhaps excusable printer's error in my first letter . I quite agree with Bro . Hughan , that the modern translation of the word " cowan , " is eavesdropper , which I think is also an old Masonic word ; the punishment awarded to convicted " cowans , " by our ancient operative brethren being , as tradition tells us , " To tie the offender under the
caves ot a building in rainy weather , and to allow the water from the gurgoyles to drop on to his head . " With regard to the word " hele : " I believe it to be the Saxon noun " hele , " viz .: ( a hole in the ground ) , which wc have simply made into a verb . From the Saxon " hele , " are derived two nouns at use in the present day , viz .:
" hole " ( a cavity in the ground ) , and " Hell " ( Hades or Paradise , the place of departed spirits . ) Our Saxon ancestors connected the physical and national burial of the bodies of their departed friends with their ideas of a future state , and it is a little unfortunate that our first English translators of the Bible should have seized upon this Saxon
word , and made it to represent the "Hades" or "Paradise" of the Greek ; and it still more unfortunate that Puritanical commentators should have so far corrupted the original meaning as to speak of " Hell " as the abode of the lost . However , we , as Freemasons , use the word in its original and literal sense . When our candidates promise
to " hele " our mysteries , they simply promise to bury them in the recesses of their hearts , just as a corpse is buried in a grave or hole in the ground . I apologise for this trespass on your valuable space , but 1 feel very strongly , that instead of characterising our obsolete words as meaningless , wc should carefully ,
patiently , and filially enquire into the origin of them . They have been handed down to us as precious heirlooms by our " ancient brethren "; and I feel sure of this , that our candidates , and our younger officers too , would take a far greater interest in our ritual were they to have a fuller understanding of the true intent and meaning of it . Yours faithfully and fraternally , T . WARD CHALMERS . Market-street , Stafford , November 13 th .
A MEMORIAL MASONIC HALL IN EGYPT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The halo of old world associations which will for all
time surround Egypt , gives an interest of no mean kind to the past and present of the Royal art in that country . The Egyptian Grand Orient sprang originally from an English District , ruled by H . H . Prince Halim , and of which the present M . W . G . M ., Bro . Raphael Borg , was D . D . G . M .,