Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We elo not heilil ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , thc opinions expressed bv our eorrespomlents , but we wish in re spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—tree discussion . ]

REPLY TO A QUERY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — My attention has been directed to a letter in the Freemason , signed "P . P . G . R . Oxon , " in which I am called upon to repl y to a certain statement made in a letter published thc previous week . From the extract quoted it would appear that on thc day

of the ceremony , on entering thc western enclosure , I , then and there , insisted on something or—to use thc words of the "P . P . G . R . "—threatened to do something very absurd . There were so many Present and Past Grand Officrs around me during the whole of the time that I should have thought a contradiction unnecessary . 1 am not aware that I opened my lips except to give directions to my friend Bro . Robert Grey . who kindly actedas my assistant , or perhaps to a Grand

Officer who had some duty to perform . The statement alluded to was probably founded on an incident that occurred on the previous day , when there was some misunderstanding of orders on the part of the clerk of the works , which led me to remark on the inconsistency of the Grand Master and the Grand Officers appearing on the

platform in the western enclosure , in Masonic clothing , if the stone was not to be laid in Masonic form by His Royal Highness as Grand Master of Masons , but the apparent difficulty was speedily removed , and orders weic issued in conformity with thc printed programme , which 1 had been instructed by Sir Albert Woods to carry out . Yours fraternally , T . FENN .

Reviews.

Reviews .

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEBRASKA STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE , 1 SS 0 . This is a report which all intending emigrants to the United States should read . It has a map of the State , which is a new one , and not yet fully reclaimed , and somewhat ominously near thc Indian reserves . However , the operations of the Board are very striking , and its report most interesting , for it deals with pure agriculture ,

farms , cattle , sheep , & c , and also touches upon horticultural matters , and tells us much and pleasantly about fruits and vegetables , and also fowls , and " such like . " We confess we like the facts thus outrollcd before us , and for all who wish to make either a fresh start in a new land , or to find plenty of elbow room , and the necessaries of life ,

leaving our ovcr-crowtled marts at home , there is much to recommend in Nebraska . One point we would urge upon all—do not go without capital . 'The olel French proverb is still true , that "the man who knows how to wait , wins , " and if only the settler can make his " footing" good , and surmount the difficulties of a first location , be is pretty certain to do well .

APPARITIONS , & c . By the Rev . B . WRAY SAVILI . E , M . A . Second edition . Longmans and Co . This work strikes us , on the whole , though we note that it has reached a second edition , as weak and retrograde . It inserts many stories which seem to have little point , omits some which are much more ad rem . But the truth is , we fancy , the inherent weakness of the case it is which renders

all such works incomplete and unsatisfactory . Ihe compiler is headed at every step he takes by those conditions , both of thought , belief , and experience on the subject , which Johnson summed up so well in the last century , and which still remain as a striking proof of the clearness of his vision and the soundness of his philosophy . "It is wonderful that nearly 6000 years have now elapsed since

thc creation eif the world , and still it is undecided whether or not there has ever been an instance of the spirit of any person appearing after death . All argument is against it , but all belief is for it . The idem of the deceased re-visiting the scenes on earth , where in the flesh they had either suffered or rejoiced , seems to have been grafted into the mind by the Creator . " In Rnsseliis , always pleasant to read , the

sage thus further expounds his views : " I hat the dead are seen no more I will not undertake to maintain against the concurrent and unvaried testimony of all ages and nations . There are no people , rude or learned , among whom apparitions of thc dead are not related and believed . This opinion , which perhaps prevails as far as human nature is diffused , could become only universal by its truth . Those

that never beard of another world would not have agreed in a talc which nothing but experience could read as credible . " Lord Byron writes : "I merely mean to say what Johnson said'That , in the course of some 0000 years , All nations have believed that from the dead A visitant at intervals appears ;

Anel what is strangest on this strange head Is that , whatever bar the reason rears 'Gainst such belief , there's something stronger still In its belief ; let them deny who will . " Admitted then the possibility of a spiritual reappearance , what shall we say as to the probability ? And there it is where wc join issue with Mr . ' 3 aville , antl all

who think with him . If you ingiht say that there was little reason in the " llercsforel Ghost Story , " the remaining stories have really no apparent meaning in them at all . 'The eui bono surges up inevitably again and again , and the general result seems to be that all such

stories , for the most part , are to be relegated by the sane and the reasonable to the" limbo" of a disordered stomach , a weak head , and an excited imagination . 'That the popular belief in " ghosts " is as strong as ever we do not deny , but if we admit the fact , i / iin a fact , we can neitheraffect to sympathize with its existence , or admit its reasonability .

ENGLISH SOUNDS AND ENGLISH SPELLING . By . F . G . FLEAV . Collins . This is a work which is published b y the firm which Puts forth the useful "Collins' School Lives , " but about which many and contradictory opinions may be formed . Mi ' . Fleay professes that it is the exposition of arguments in favour of spelling reforms , and the adoption of a phonetic s i'stem . He adds that " the sneers to which its advocates

Reviews.

have long been accustomed must now give way to a calmer and more judicious method . " But we agree with our contemporary , the Guardian , and doubt whether its grave peculiarities will ever allow its acceptance by English public opinion . Do our readers , as the Guardian so lucidly points out , realize the change , for instance , which is advocated in our familiar cherished " Lord ' s Prayer

?"—" Our Fadher which art in heven , Halowed -bee dhie nahn . Dhie kingdom kum . Dhie wil be dun in erth , as it iz in heven . Giv us dhis day our daily bred . And forgiv us our trespesez , az wee forgiv dhem dhat trespas agenst us . And leed us not intoo temptayshun , but deliver us from eevil : for 'dhien iz dhe kingdom , and dhe power , and dhe glori for ever . Aimen . "

And we may note that this change , great and , we will add , mournful as it is , only after all represents the result of partial "reform , " without the introduction of new signs for TO /; , eh , sh , sh , th , d / i , ng , and 00 , as is recommended by some fanatics . But we think it fair to add that to those who are bitten by this " craze , " for it is positively a craze , Mr . Eleay sets out his argument in favour of "phoneticism in a most clear and compact form .

MATRIMONIAL BONDS . By FLORIAS . 'Three vols . J . and R . Maxwell , London . Though we do not often review novels , for this is a novel , we feel bound to say that we cannot recommend this one to our fair readers , though , perhaps , for that very reason they will wish to see it . Its aim is apparently to interest " many vCTio have failed in the matrimonial speculation , and

who bear the penalties attached to such failure . " Then they are asked to peruse the pages of this work , and give what help they can towards obtaining " equal facilities for both sexes in thc loosening of the marriage bonds . " 'This is not a healthy idea , nor can it be profitable reading for any , and we are sorry that any such view should be commended to the sympathy of young or old .

Marriage is no doubt a serious venture , a great lottery , and a grave problem , all combined , but nothing can be conceived more prejudicial to the best interests of society than any lax dealing with that most sacred of earthly ties , which is alike the best guarantee for and the real developement of man's truest happiness and comfort here below .

MAGAZINES FOR JUNE . SCRIBNER'S MAGAZINE for June is a very remarkable production . We are not saying too much when we add , it has in its actual "form " no equal in this country . We are glad lo hear that it is growing in favour with English readers .

MASONIC MAGAZINE . Despite the partial anomaly of reviewing in the Freemason a " serial" of the same active publisher's , owing- to thc importance of the subject we think it right to call the attention of the brethren to this number in respect of

Belzoni's MS ., and the Egyptian illustrations . By Bro . Wilde's kindness an interesting paper , and these striking illustrations have been put before the Craft , and while we thank Bro . Wilde for his fraternal consideration , we think it right to call the attention of Masonic students to this new "theory " of Egyptian Freemasonry .

As regards the greater portion of the magazines which appear month by month , for various reasons we are unable to review a large proportion of them in the Freemason , but we can speak most favourably of | "Aunt Judy , " "Golden Hours , " "Young England , " " Cornhill , " "Fraser , " "Good Words , " "New Monthly , " "Sunday at Home , " and "Boy's and Girl ' s Own Paper , " Blackwood , " "Time , " & c , & c .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

GRAND LODGE LIBRARY . Strictly speaking , 1 find there are two collections of books , one in the Grand Secretary's room , the other in the so-called library ; that in the Grand Secretary's room is not , I understand , as yet catalogued , but is valuable to

English Masons , as containing the " Lists cf Lodges " and other curious books . 1 still repeat my regret that the library is not a permanent institution of the head-quarters of English Freemasonry . Under the proposed rearrangement of the offices at Freemasons' Hall , the library , qua a library , is fated apparently .

MASONIC STUDEN 1

THE GRAND LODGE LIBRARY , & c . It seems strange to me that the Editor of thc Freemason knew not of the catalogue of the library of the Grand Lodge until shown a copy b y Bro . R . 1 ' . Gould , S . G . D . 1 have long had one , and considered the Rev . Bro . Woodford had one also . 'There was no " mystery" about it , and it was duly announced in the report of the Board of General

Purposes , dated iCth November , iSfig , as follows : "The Board have had a catalogue of the books in the library at the hall prepared under the supervision of Bro . Henry VV . Hemsworth , a member of the Board , who kindly undertook the duty . Thc catalogue has been printed , and copies _ are deposited in the office of the Grand Secretary . " It is quite destitute of merit as a catalogue , howeverfor

, students of Masonic bibliography . 'The MS . about which " Masonic Student" enquires is the " Grand Lodge MS ., " which I transcribed in full , and had printed in my "Old Charges of British Freemasons , " through the kindness of our dear Bro . Hervey . Since then I discovered its origin , & c . It is not older than the sixteenth century ; in my

opinion 1132 , being likely enough 1532 . There are virtually two Grand Lodge libraries , the catalogue only referring to that popularly known as the library , but the other , in the Grand Secretary ' s office , has the richest and finest collection in the world of Masonic engraved lists , calendars , and Constitutions ; also three old MS . charges .

VV . J . HUGHAN

JACHIN AND BOAZ . There is great force , undoubtedly , in all Bro . W . J . Hughan's remarks , but there is equally much point in Bro . Walter Spencer ' s statement that he believes he saw a copy of 1760 . For if that fact be correct , all Bro . Hughan ' s able "building" falls to the ground . It will be patent to all that if firo . Spencer saw a copy of 1760 ,

Masonic Notes And Queries.

the first edition could not be published in 17 G 2 . I was talking the matter over with a most intelligent bookseller on Friday week , and agree with him , that though you might , perhaps , think that Oliver ' s statement of 1750 was an error for 1762 , yet you cannot get over the fact of Bro . Spencer ' s edition of 1760 or Bro . Dr . Oliver's assertion of a fifth edition in 1764 . For let us note how categorical is

the doctor ' s statement—see " Revelations of a Square , page S 2 , and note " Jachin and Boaz , " & c , London , 1750 . Fifth edition , Nichol , 1764 ; other new editions by the same printer in 177 G , 1777 , 1779 , 17 SS , 179 1 , 1704 , 1707 , New York : Berry , Rogers , and Berry , 1 793 ; London : Newbury , 1 S 00 . The twenty-first edition , Dewick , 1 S 05 , and other editions were printed in London in 1 S 11 , 1 S 12 , 1 S 14 ,

and 1 S 25 . 1 here are many country editions . I possess several copies , one printed in 1779 , for W . Nicol , 51 , St . Paul ' s Churchyard , and F . Newberry , the corner of Ludgate-street . 'This is said to be a new edition , greatly enlarged and improved . The plate and frontispiece is of date August 10 th , 1776 , by VV . Nichol . You mig ht on this argue fairly enough , prima faciethat the first edition was

, published in 1776 . But yet , as we know , Bros . Carson and Bower possess undoubted copies of 17 62 . There is an edition of 1 S 11 , twenty-fourth edition , by Crosby and Co . and J . Harris . The plate is said to be by E . Newberry , Sept . ist , 1797 . Krause uses , we note , a copy of 1776 . I also observe that he mentions , which Oliver does not appear to

observe , that the edition of 1793 has this statement : "Improved , New York ; printed by Berry , Rogers , and Berry , No . 35 , Hanover-square , 1793 . " Esoterically , if I remember rightly , with all due deference to Bro . Hughan , the argument is decidedly in favour of the earlier than the later publication . 1 am now endeavouring to obtain a 1762 edition , and to ascertain if there be an earlier one .

EDITOR " FREEMASON . "

In your note of the 12 th inst ., I observe that you state that "in a late edition , " which you possess , " allusion is made to an edition of Nichol ' s , but date not given . " I am in possession of a copy published in 17 SS— "Printed for W . Nicoll , at No . 51 , St . Paul ' s Churchyard "—which may possibl y be the one alluded to . I also possess a copy published in 1 S 07 , which is described as the " twenty-second

edition , greatly enlarged and improved . " This latter may perhaps be the edition which you have , as allusion is therein made to a letter ( of which a verbatim copy is given ) , " For R . S ., at Mr . Wm . Nicholl ' s , at the Paper Mill , St . Paul ' s Church Yard , London . " 'The former contains a list of lodges , "brought down to the year 17 SS , " and the latter to

1 S 06 , with a list of the "Officers of the Grand Lodge of England from its revival A . D . 171710 the present time " ( 1800 ) . I have not seen an earlier edition than the one of 17 SS , but I have in my possession a pamphlet , published in 1762 , entitled " A Free-Mason's Answer to the Suspected Author of a Pamphlet entitled Jachin and Boaz , " & c .

B . BROUGHTON

MASONS' MARKS . Bro . Hughan is quite right in calling attention to a little slip of mine . What I ought to have said was this : " South of the Trent there is , so far , no known use of marks discovered in the lodges until the end of the

eighteenth century . North of Trent , though , there is no trace of such usage at York , there is at Alnwick , thanks to Bro . Hughan ' s researches , in 1701 . This , I think is the true state of the case . At the same time more evidence may accrue on the subject . "

YOUR REVIEWER

OLD MASONIC BOOKS . 1 have a pamphlet published at Frankfort and Leipsic , in 1736 , called " Le Franc Macon . Dans la Republique , des Reflexions Apologiques sur les persecutions des Francs Masons , par un tnembrc de l'Ordre , Avec une Lettre a

Madame de oil Ton invite plusieurs auteurs celebres d'entrer dans le dit Ordre . " This little work is dedicated to the Count de Bruhl . It is translated in " Scott's Pocket Companion" for 1 754 , partially , with an address to which I will . call attention next week .

MASONIC STUDENT

NAPOLEON 1 , —Is said to have been made a Mason at Malta between June 12 and July 19 , 1798 . Be this as it may , the lodge " La Vraie Fraternity , " at Strasburg , always gave as their first health , " Notre cher frere Buonaparte , Chef de la Nation . " The "Abeille Maconnique " of 1 S 29 , and Clavel in 1 S 3 C , declared that incognito he

visited a lodge in Pans ; and most certain is it that not only did he appoint Joseph Buonaparte in 1 S 04 Grand Master of the Grand Orient , but under his regime French Freemasonry flourished and was protected . —Kenning ' s Masonic Cyclopiedia . [ At Golden Square is an apron which iis said . to have been worn by Napoleon 1 . —Ed . Freemason . ' ]

LODGE NUMBERS , 17 S 1-91 . As to Bro . Hughan ' s suggestion that in citing the numeration of 1781-gi we should distinguish by a separate reference the lodge numbers of 17 S 1 from those borne in 17 S 2-91 . This , I think , wonld cause great confusion , besides conflicting with the method adopted by Grand Lodge .

Lodges Nos . 1 G 3 ( London ) and 319 ( Blandford ) were brought forward from the numbers they had previously borne on the numeration of 1770-S 0 , and being shown as Nos . 1 ( 13 and 319 respectively on the list for 17 S 1 ( at the alteration of numbers)—in the same year were erased and altogether disappeared from the roll of lodges . In the later lists , however , of the same numeration ( 17 S 1-91 ) the

lodges in question were designated as Nos . 164 and 320 in the " List of Lodges Erased , the official calendar thereby attaching to them numbers they had never actually borne , but which represented the order of precedence in which they would have stood in 17 S 1 , had not the Plymouth Lodge ( No . S 6 ) been accidentally omitted from the list of that year . In my prefatory note to list No . 16 , on page OS of " The Four Old Lodges " I sought to convey that the

earlier lists of the 1781-91 numeration were unreliable , as in many respects 1 found them to be . If , however , I ever attain the distinction of a second edition , and my life should be providentiall y spared to witness the event , I will ask the enterprising publisher of the future to omit the head note to list No . 16 , which as it has misled our Bro . Hughan , I can now hardly think has fulfilled the purpose for which it was inserted . R . F . GOULD .