Original Correspondence.

I have before me a copy of the report of the last Prov . Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire , kindly furnished by its able Secretary , and 1 would recommend its perusal by " Zeta , " who would find it interesting- and instructive , as it would enable him to form an opinion as to the beneficial application by Committees of the local funds referred to , which I find are not merely 2000 guineas , but are upwards of

3000 guineas . There is much to be said in praise of the Central Charities , and as an old advocate of their great worth I cordially support every effort to aid them ; but I also consider there is room in most of the provinces for local funds , and willing hearts to form and support them , as auxiliaries to the three grand Central Charities of our Order .

In conclusion , I would , in a truly Masonic spirit , suggest that if we all desire to see our Central Charities well supported , the object will not be obtained by passing reflections upon the charitable doings of others , based upon statements comprising a part and not the whole of the facts . —Fraternally yours , November qth . ' HERGIAN .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It is not necessary for trie to go into the figures "Zeta" quotes in his last letter as 1 have not disputed the accuracy of the list of votes . All I do is—1 st . I say the description given by " Zeta " of the province "he could name with over a score of lodges which

for years past has done but little for the Institutions , and yet has received much from them , and which has five children in the Boys' School and four in the Girls' School , and five annuitants , " points without doubt to Lincolnshire , as no other province with this description appears in the financial table for the Girls' School as not giving anything to this Institution .

2 nd . Such being the case 1 deny the accuracy of his statement— "that for the last four years it has given nothing to the Girls' School" —as I have sent from the province during the past two years £ 42 to that Institution . If Lincolnshire is not referred to it will be easy for " Zeta " to say so . If it is , it ought not to be difficult for him to confess his error . —Yours fraternally , B . V 1 CKERS , P . G . Sec . Lincolnshire .

CAN A WARDEN CONFER DEGREES ? To the Editor of the " Freemason " Dear Sir and Brother , Before the last revision of the Constitutions no question seems to have divided opinion much more than this . Whether it is made clearer now is , I think , in the absence

of a definite decision since the new Constitutions were adopted , a matter of opinion . Can you inform us whether such a decision has been given ? The old law was discussed at great length in the " Freemasons' Magazine , " in 1 S 57 , 1 S 61 , and 1 S 62 . —Yours fraternally , 14 th November . LEX SCRIPTA .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Permit me , through your columns , to thank Bro . Ashley for his correction of an error in the statistical table for the Girls' , which will also make the average wrong . I find it corrected in pencil in the copy , apparently overlooked

by the printer ' s type-setter . The sum aggregate for London should be £ 40 , 901 16 s . 3 d ., and the annual average . £ 5843 2 S . 4 d ., and the annual excess £ 3185 13 s . id ., instead of £ 50 , 921 i ( Ss . 3 d ., £ 7274 10 s . 7 d ., and £ 4617 is . 4 d ., respectively . —Yours fraternally , .. November 14 . J . 174 ,

BROWNE'S MASTER KEY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I beg to thank Bro . Ramsden Riley for the kind offer contained in his last favour to furnish me with the key

reading of the above book , if I sent him the copy thereof . This I have done direct , and have no doubt I shall hear from our respected brother in due course . I thank him in anticipation , and beg to express my gratitude to you for the use of your columns in this matter , —Yours fraternally , X . Y . Z .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

MASONIC FACTS AND FICTIONS . By HENRY SADLER , P . M . and P . Z ., Grand Tyler and Sub-Librarian of the Grand Lodge of England . London GEORGE KENNING , 16 , Great Queen-street . 18 S 7 . There is little doubt that Bro . Sadler's work will create a strong feeling of interest among Craftsmen generally , but especially among those who have made it a practice to

accept unquestioned whatever theories or sketches of our history a former generation of Masonic writers may have been pleased to propound , and who will now find their innocent little beliefs either entirely confounded or , to phrase it more gently and therefore more acceptably to their self-esteem , most unceremoniously disturbed . ' It Cannot be gainsaid that till quite recently it was the

custom of Masons to endorse unreservedly anything in the shape of a history of our Society , in any country or at any epoch , which any wiiter who had the requisite assurance and just a slight suspicion of an acquaintance with the contents of our archives saw fit to compile . We are not altogether surprised at this facility of belief . We derive What little knowledge we possess of the early career of Freemasonry from the historical prefaces to the various

editions of the Old Charges which have been preserved to our time . Those prefaces are the result of oral tradition handed down through a long series of generations , and it is b y no means surprising that the information they contain should be of a somewhat composite order . Well known personages of biblical and profane history are strangely brought together , whole centuries being bridged over in establishing the connection . No one appears to

Reviews.

have seen anything incongruous in associating together Abraham , Euclid , Charles Marcel , and others ; for the oral records of intervening ages had been forgotten , man ' s ordinary retentiveness of memory proving unequal to the strain of recapitulating whatever of consequence had happened in connection with Art and Science from the beginning of time . And this facility of belief continued

to exert its influence even when the Society made a fresh start in life under a new name and organisation , and it so continues now , but less generally and conspicuously , though for the best part of two centuiies . Freemasonry has had a veritable history recorded by its chosen scribes , and available for research by brethren qualified to desoibe its doings . The earlier historians of Speculative

Freemasonry either suppressed , so far as in them lay , all knowledge of important events , or designedly misrepresented or distorted them , while those who have followed since have almost without exception adopted the same course , the consequence being that it is only during the last few years and through the instrumentality of such conscientious writers as Hughan , Gould , Woodford , and others , a too

credulous Masonic public has been able to acquire anything like a clearly-defined and well-authenticated knowledge of our history . Whole regiments of ancient theories havenot without a sharp struggle , however—been exploded , and now that Bro . Sadler ' s " Masonic Facts and Fictions , " has been published , we may reasonably look forward to the explosion of a few more on matters which , as they relate to

differences and dissensions within the Society , have either rested on less uncertain foundations , and have on that account been more strenuously upheld ; or have been considered—as indeed they are to this present day—as of less consequence to be controverted or disturbed ! Whateverservices may have been rendered to Freemasonry by the historian , William Preston , who flourished between

the years 1770—or earlier—and 1 S 18 , we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that it is chiefly owing to his suppression or misrepresentation of contemporaneous or almost contemporaneous events that our present knowledge of the true state of the Fraternity in England during his life time is so inexact . He was ambitious of being the historian of the Ciaft , as well as a lecturer on its riiual . He had many of

the qualifications which are held to be indispen * able for the former role , and his opportunities for obtaining authentic informa ion were abundant . But it does not appear to have occurred to him that it was any part of his duty to record what was uncongenial or distasteful . No one knew better than he that during the most active part ot his career , there were two rival societies of Freemasons in

this country , and however much , as a partisan , he may have abhorred the one of whicn he had ceased to be a member , yet on that very account the obligation lay all the more strongly upon him as an historian , to describe to the best of his ability , its principles and proceedings . Preston , however , in the historical portion of his " Illustrations ol Masonry , " almost wholly ignores the existence ot his

" ancient" rivals . His references to them are only occasional , and for the most part inaccurate , nor is it till the question of a union of the two societies upon terms honourable to both is being seriously discussed that we rind ourselves in a position to realise how numerically strong and influential the " Ancients " must have been to be able almost to dictate the terms on which they were willing to

unite with the Society of so-called " Moderns . " Bro . Stephen Jones , the friend and literary executor of Preston , and Dr . Oliver , by whom subsequent issues of the "Illustrations" were edited , appear to have adopted the same course , and had it not been for the inquiries of Bro . Hughan and his associate workers , we might still have remained in the same condition of ignorance as to the true

history of the Craft since 1717 . However , a series of successful researches has been made during the last 20 years ; lodge and Grand Lodge archives have been ransacked for information as to the cause and nature of the dissensions which prevailed in English Freemasonry from about the middle of last century till 1813 ; and though all is not clear as yet , and possibly never will be so , we seem to be on the

right track , and it will be no faultof the present generation of Masonic students , if what has heretofore been considered to bean impenetrable mystery , turns out to be no mystery at all . We have said that Bro . Sadler ' s book is likely to create a stir even in the best informed circles , and it is not improbable that the opinions which he enunciates in his ' Masonic Facts and Fictions , " will at first

experience a considerable amount of disfavour . He indulges in the belief that Masons are a body of studious men , to whom an occasional spell of Masonic reading is in the nature of a recreation . We may or may not be of the same opinion , but if his view is correct , and the present generation of brethren are fully conversant with the histories of our Society , or of some of its constituent parts ,

which has been published during these later years , then we think his theory as to the origin of the "Ancients , " which differs materially from all that have been formulated by previous writers , will meet with many and serious objections . These , however , will not seriously affect his belief , which , as it is well supported both by facts and arguments , will stand a very good

chance of maintaining its ground as a reasonable proposition ; if , indeed , it does not succeed in establishing itself as the only solution which is possibleof a difficult problem . In his official capacity Bro . Sadler has had access to the records of Grand Lodge , a privilege which our courteous Grand Secretary would freely extend to any qualified brother j but he has also enjoyed advantages above and beyond

this—advantages which may be said to have had their origin in his own eager desire for further and fuller information on disputed questions . He has known precisely where to lay his hands upon mateiial for formulating his theoiies , and by collating what is pretty generally known—now-adays , at all events — with books and documents that have been hitherto overlooked or hidden away in odd

recesses and corners which have been undisturbed for years , he has been able to accumulate an array of new evidence which , as far as our own inquiries have gone in the same field of labour , would seem to justily his views as to the origin of "Ancient" Masonry . In order to make this clear it will be our duty to guide the reader through the

series of "Masonic Facts and Fictions" which Bro . Sadler has brought together in the successive chapters of his valuable work , and as our prefatory remarks have already extended to some length , we shall defer entering upon the fulfilment of that important duty to a second article . ( To be continued ) ,

Browne's Phonetic Shorthand, Based Upon The Syllabic And Phonetic Principles Of The English Language. A. M. Browne, 2, Whitefriars-Streel, London, E.C.

BROWNE'S PHONETIC SHORTHAND , BASED UPON THE SYLLABIC AND PHONETIC PRINCIPLES OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE . A . M . BROWNE , 2 , Whitefriars-streel , London , E . C .

Bro . Brownesends us a copy of his new Phonetic Shorthand , which he describes as a Piimerof the new system which he is now introducing . It is pretty generally admitted , by those

best acquainted with the subject , that there is an urgent want of a system of shorthand at once ea- ; y to learn , facile to write , and of assured legibility , and which , while biief enough for reporting , & c , is at the same time legible enough for ordinary correspondence , & c ; and Bro . Browne claims for his system that it fully answers these requiremen s . The Primer appears to contain only the lullcst

style of writing , but it seems brief enough for reporting , although it has the disadvantage that it gives somewhat ungainly outlines for some long words . The reporting style , we believe , is but an extension of the principles contained in the Primer , and provides brief facile outlines of every word in the language . The essential difference between legible Phonography and Pitman's system is that

the former is not an alphabetic system , and the theory is that as we listen to a speaker the sounds that reach our ears are not the letters but the syllables of the words uttered , and that a writer having at command a series of sufficiently brief signs to represent all such syllables , can have no difficulty , having acquired the necessary manual dexterity , in taking down the words of a speaker as fast as they are

uttered . A great merit in this system is certainly its consistency , like sounds being always written alike , thereby reducing the heavy memory work demanded by the old system . Shorthand is daily becoming more essential to young men of all classes , but it cannot be denied that Pitman's system exacts a degree of study , of care in

writing , and of intelligent application of its principles , that the majority of young men are unable to give to it , and we therefore welcome Bro . Browne ' s Phonetic Shorthand as a boon to a large number who are unable , from various circumstances , to afford the time and study hitherto necessary to acquire this useful art .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

7541 AN OLD CERTIFICATE . Bro . A . Higerty , P . M . 1714 , ike , has sent me a copy of the old certificate to which he iefened in the Freemason -if October 29 th 1 SS 7 , and 1 have much pleasure in having it reproduced in these columns , as it is both old and curi . us . Wnen "King Solomon ' s Lodge" was formed at New York , it is not now , apparently , possib e exactly to

determine , but it must have been during the Provincial Grand Mastership of the George Harrison , Esq ., mention , d on the document inques . ion . Ihe deputation to that brother was dated June 9 m , 1754 , so Bro . J . G . barker tell ., us in the capital volume entitled " Eaily Histo . y and Transactions 0 / the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State ot New York " ( 1 S 76 J . Sir John Johnson

succeeded as Prov . G . M ., and was installed in 1771 , the Patent , however , being dated some four years earlier . Bro . Barker gives a li = t of five lodges formed by the first named Prov . G . M ., including "King Solomon ' s Lodge , " as lor the year 1767 . An extract is also appended from the New York Mercury for December 28 th , 1767 , in which mention is made of " the St . John's , Trinity , Union , and

King Solomon ' s Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons , " who proposed to celebrate the Festival of St . John ' at the house of Mr . John Junes , vintner , at the sign ot the Masons Arms . " The following certificate is written on parchment , the seal being attached to a green ribbon . The Arms are somewhat after those adopted by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , the motto being the

same" Follow Reason "—but the Certificate Seal has no supporters . I feel assured that these particulars will be acceptable to our brethren in New York , especially to Bro . Carter , the Librarian ot the Grand Lodge , who is amassing a fine collection of cutiosat the Masonic Temple . It would be interesting to know if Bro . Carter has any certificates so old as the lollowing . W . J . HUGHAN .

755 ] NEW YORK CERTIFICATE , A . D . 1767 . And the Darkness comprehended it not In the East a place full of Light where reigns reason silence and Peace , We the subscribers , Master , Wardens , Treasurer & Secretary of King Solomons Lodge No . 7 , of Free and Accepted Masons , of the Register of New York Granted to us by a Dispensation of Great Britain to George Harison Esqr ., Grand Master of this Province

, Dedicated to St . John . Adorn'd with all their Honours and Regularities Assembled Lodge in Due Form , do declare certifie and attest to all men Lighten'd and spread on the Face of the Earth . The Bearer hereof our well Beloved Brother John Ledsam hath been Received by us an entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft ; and after having Sustained with Strength , Firmness & Courage The most Painful

works and Secret Tryals , we have Raised , and given qnto him the sublime Degree of a Master Mason and have admitted and lntitled him as such into the Misterious and most Secret works of the Free and Accepted Masons . And may without Demur or Hesitation , be Incorporated into any [ SEAL ! Comrnu "i ty where-ever Meet , Congngattd or Con-J vened . He having Strenuously to the Utmost of

his Ability Supported and Contributed to the advancement & lnteiest of Masonry with Zeal & Vigor . Given under our hands & seal in our Lodge at New York this Ninth day of July in the Year of Masonry 5767 and of Salvation 1767 . J KING , Treasr . J LEDSAM , Secretary .

( Signed ) HENRY VAN DEN HAM Master . . . E . J . PRYOK Senr . Warden . J BESSONET Junr . Warden . Bro . Baron Henry de Worms , M . P ., who has been appointed principal British delegate at the approaching International Conterence on the Sugar Bounties question , will , in that capacity , preside at the sittings , which commence on the 24 th instant .