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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
that by no means overlooked , out when wc hear that one lodge considers that when a Past Master reaches a certain age he is entitled to apply to the Board of Benevolence , I think that Bros . Clabon and Stevens would do more good by directing attention to those matters than in trying to induce Grand Lodge ' to pass a resolution which has met
with so little favour . I was sorry to see the matter apparently [ shelved , because we had then no opportunity of knowing whether any other reason was assigned for these Past Masters' applications for relief . Perhaps this question will receive due consideration from the authorities , after the strong expressions used in
connection with the dispensing of charity . At any rate , sir , it may not be considered strictly Masonic to bring this matter fully before the Craft in public print , neither , I most strongly assert , should it be strictly Masonic to allow the members of one lodge to participate so largely in the funds , to the exclusion of brethren perhaps quite , if not
more worthy than they . In your issue of the 23 rd ult . there appears a . Ietter , asking for relief for the proprietorof a travelling marionncttc show , initiated into Masonry in , apparently , a Scotch lodge , and in your report of Grand Lodge , gth December , Bro . Birkenhead is reported to have said that " when these
grants appear in the papers a certain class of men would say , 'What a good thing Freemasonry is ; if anything happenstomemy wife and family would be provided for , '" and further remarked that the subscriptions to various lodges were very small , only in some cases eight shillings and sixpence to half a guinea . He further said that he
would like to see a yearly subscription of not less than twenty-one shillings—more if possible . With this latter remark I , for one , quite agree . I would not wish to see the flow of charity stayed , if in moderation and to bon _ - ( Ide applicants , such as the case mentioned above , but at the same time I think we may ask how it
was that a travelling showman could be considered a lit and proper person to be initiated into Freemasonry , and also whether it is to be wondered at that so many applicants for relief present themselves when lodges make such small subscriptions payable as those mentioned by Bro . ; Birkenhead .
In your issue of 2 Sth October you appear to thoroughly agree with the alteration proposed in the initiation fee in the revised Constitutions . As this is a very ] important matter , I would suggest also that an addition be made to this law , that " no annual subscription in any lodge shall
be less than one guinea . " I think this would prevent the more needy joining , as although our great principles are brotherly love , relief , and truth , I do not think Freemasonry should be looked upon as a gigantic benelit society . — Yours fraternally , M . M .
THE OFFICE OF CHAPLAIN . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I shall be obliged if you will favour me with your opinion as to the proper person to hold the ollice of Chaplain in a lodge . Can it be held by a layman ? And if there is only one clergyman a member of the lodge is it
customary that he should be appointed year after year and thus entirely inonpolise one of the collars ? I am a member of a lodge so situated , and have not bcen able to see why any brother aspiring to the chair should not first officiate in the lodge as Chaplain . I think this office is altogether distinguishable from that of Treasurer . — Yours fraternally . W .
THE PROPOSED WOLSELEY LODGE . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 beg to thank you for your kind notice in the Freemason in reference to the above proposed lodge , but am requested to officially point out an error which has
apparently crept in , and to ask you to kindly set same right in your next issue . In your notice ( p . 21 Freemason , January 13 ) , you say : "Thc petition which the R . W . P . G . M ., Col . Lc Gendre N . Starkie , has signed , has already been sent to head quarters and the R . W . P . G . M . has promised to support the new
lodge . " I presume you meant to convey thc following facts " The petition has already been signed by the promoters and forwarded to the Provincial Grand Secretary to be dealt with in the usual way , and that the R . W . P . G . M . ( Col . Starkie ) has consented to sign and support same . "
Your kind attention to this matter will greatly oblige the forty members of the proposed lodge , and also be esteemed by yours fraternally , P . HOWARD DAVIS , 1055 , Provisional Secretary . I , Landsdowne-terracc , Higher Broughton , Manchester , January 15 th .
IS HE LEGALLY AND REGULARLY ELECTED . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I thank you kindly for answering the above Question . I was aware that by paragraph 2 , page 62 , of
thc 1 SG 7 cd . of the Book of Constitutions " a brother must have regularly served the office of Warden in a warranted lodge " before he can be elected to the Master ' s chair , and I thought there was the same principle involved and the same conditions attached in the case of a Past Warden , as in the case of a Past Master , namely , that hc must have
Original Correspondence.
continued to be a subscribing member of some warranted lodge to preserve his work as a Past Warden ; but having for twelve months ceased to subscribe to any lodge under the English Constitution , he had lost his status , and could not regain it until he was again appointed to the office of
Warden of a regular lodge to enable him to be legally and regularly elected to the chair of K . S . Bro . A having left lodge B for nearly six years , rejoined it at thc beginning of last year , is now being pitchforked into the chair , which act of the lodge I thought was an infringement of the Book of Constitutions . —I am , dear sir , yours faithfully and
fraternally , JOHN GAMBLE , P . M . Lydney , January 13 th [ With all respect to our worthy correspondent , he will see , wc think , that it would not be right to exceed in any manner or to strain the wise limitations of the Book of Constitutions . —Ed . F . M . \
THE PROPOSED MASONIC EXHIBITION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Do you know if the idea of a Masonic exhibition has been abandoned ? It would be very interesting , and I should think well supported by the Masonic world , both by loans and in attendance . —Yours fraternally , P . M . 65 .
Reviews
REVIEWS
LIFE OF THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER . Third vol . _ By his son , R . E . WILBERFORCE , Esq . Second Notice . A still more careful perusal of this , the last volume of the story of a most eventful and remarkable life , has led us to the conclusion that our previous remarks about editorial indiscretions were perfectly justified . Indeed , we never remember
a work in whicli editorial reticence and editorial supervision were more absolutely needed . Many of the entries in the diary , striking and touching as it is , were penned when the good Bishop was jaded with labour , overcome by anxieties , affected by excited hopes or depressing realities , and coloured by tender sensibilities , or strong personal loving and antipathy . Some of the extracts given ought
never to have been published , as they can only serve to wound deeply the feeling of others , to invoke unwelcome memories , or to excite vehement antagonism . For instance , her Majesty's name ought never to have been introduced as saying this or that j and careful and competent discretion would have kept from public sight words and thoughts never intended for the public eye ; communications forwarded in the full faith and binding obligation of
unrestricted confidence . Much of the volume is most amusing , effective , striking , and affecting ; and undoubtedly the lamented Bishop stands before us in the clear outline of a most moving personality . Still we feel bound honestly to express our regret , that a work- which so many would read with delight and admiration , which might do so much real good , is marred by defects which must we fear severely affect its present authority , and , above all , its lasting value .
DUKES AND PRINCESSES OF THE FAMILY OF GEORGE THE THIRD . By PKRCV FITZGERALD . Tinsley Brothers . This is one of the works of bye-gone gossip , which is pretty sure to be read . It is very remarkable how people who will not read anything else will study pages and revelations dedicated to gossip , must we not say scandal ? Wc who
turn over so carefully the dustheaps of the past , and disinter savoury relics of forgotten cynicism or idle mystery , the often childish and spasmodic utterances of a dead and buried generation , we act too often as purveyors of very inferior wares , as caterers of bad taste and worse "form . " Mr . Percy Fitzgerald has bcen on the whole reticent and discreet . He has given us a readable gossipy book , marked bv
a friendliness of tone and loyalty of utterance which arc truly commendable . Curiously enough , he does not seem to have found out that five of thc sons of the King were Freemasons , —a fact very much to tlieir honour , and a subject of pride to the Craft . We see , we think , in these memoirs the secret of the great popularity of the old King and the Royal Family , despite violent assailants and political
convulsions . It was that honest homeliness of private life which so endeared the good old Sovereign to a loyal people . Thc great complaint of French patriots and " Destructives " has becn the prodigality of the Court . In England everybody knew that the old King and CJueen lived very much as they did , and among thc veriest violence of the times , of which wc have no idea , happily , now , nothing could sever the tie of
affection and devotion which mutually bound King , and people in this upright land of ours . We agree with Mr . Percy Fitzgerald , that we must rise from a perusal of the book , with a still stronger personal regard than ever for the virtues and manliness , the good and thorough English tastes and ideas of King George III ., and the simple realities of the family circle .
MASONIC CALENDAR FOR . THE PROVINCE OF HERTFORDSHIRE for 1 SS 3 . Edited by Bro . J . E . DAWSON , Prov . Grand Secretary . This useful little handbook for Hertfordshire Freemasons comes before us most carefully edited . No Hertfordshire brother can be without it , and many of us who like to know about Freemasonry in province as in town may well expend a shilling in thc purchase of this useful while unpretending little work .
Itis certain theQueen ' s Physician , Dr . Fairbank , has written strongly recommending LENT 1 LLA , or TONIC DAILY FOOD . It cures Indigestion , Heartburn , Constipation , Liver and Stomach Complaints , & c , besides having such wondrous nourishing properties . Makes Soups , Porridge , Custards , Puddings , Biscuits , & c . Tins , lib . is . Cd . ; Jib ., iod . Barrels , 2 Slb ., 30 s . ; 141 b ., iCs . Of all Chemists . —Proprietor , H . j . Deacon , Beckenham , Kent . —[ ADVT .
Masonic-Notes-And-Queries.
Masonic - Notes - and - Queries .
mrr—n-, f „ = _ AS __& ¦!¦¦ -r - r I 103 ] CHARLES SACKVILLE .
There are some difficulties attendant on Chas . Sackville being Lord Middlesex and Duke of Dorset which " G . B . A . " does not seem to realize . They are these . The medal is of date , Florence , 1733 ; though " Natter " seems later to have settled in London . If the " Carolus Sackville " is the Earl of Middlesex , he was in 1733 only twenty-two . In 1734 he was elected M . P . for F . ast Grinstead , and seems
after that date to have lived in England . Like all young men of fashion then he would make the " foreign tour , " and probably was at Florence , and may have becn member and "Magister" of a Florentine lodge in 1733 ; but why then is he termed Charles Sackville instead of Earl of Middlesex ? The title of Earl of Middlesex was according to Collins , granted in 1675 , and the dukedom of Dorset
in 1720 . Many foreign writers call him Dukeof Middlesex ; some English writers term him Lord Charles Sackville , which is equally absurd . But , to say the truth , this fact of identity is very doubtful . If there were any remains of " Spence" stil I extant , perhaps some light might be thrown upon the subject . " G . B . A . " seems to assume tYiat Carolus Sackville is identical with Charles Sackville , Earl of Middlesex ; but
that , let me observe , " quodestprobandum . " Sofarwcare not advanced further than in " Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia , " page 507 . If he was by courtesy Charles Lord Sackville up to 1720 , he would be Charles Earl of Middlesex in 1733 . It is acurious fact that no trace of any subsequentintercst on his part in English Freemasonry occurs , though his friend , Frederick Prince of Wales became , a member of the Order ,
nor is his name , I believe , mentioned as member of any English lodge . Perhaps Bro . Gould can help us . On the whole I am still very doubtful whether the Charles Sackville is the Earl of Middlesex , or even if he existed at all . If he did he was a Charles Sackville : but as " Natter" is said
in thc " Handbuch " to have taken to St . Petersburgh a sort of High Grade quasi Jacobite Masonic Order , and to have declared this Charles Sackville the patron , _ * c , it almost looks as if it be what thc Germans term " Ordens fabel , " a fable of the Order . 1 am quite open to conviction on this point , but thus far , I repeat , I doubt . DRYASDUST .
104 ] DR . STUKELY . My esteemed friend , Bro . VV . J . Hughan , docs not quite fully answer my query . What about the lodge at the Salutation Tavern , Tavistock-street , has it disappeared absolutely , leaving no trace behind ? Why does my able brother fix on the Cooke MS . as the ori «_ i . al of the
MS . Constitution produced by Payne ? Both as regards the lodges at the Fountain and at Grantham , no doubt great difficulty exists , as neither so far is actually identified , but yet some " indicia * " may perhaps remain . As regards the meeting on October 4 th , 1723 , a . copy of that tract relating to the Dorchester Amphitheatre must remain somewhere , humanly speaking . Can Bro . Lukis help us ? MASONIC STUDENT .
105 J THE MYSTERIES . The following interesting note connects the Elcusinian Mysteries with our country . This is a rare and very important find . I commend the letter and inscription , though incomplete , to Bro . Gould's attention . MASONIC STUDENT .
"lo thc Editor of the Times . —Sir , In the interesting letter from your correspondent at Athens , in Thc Times of this morning , he has omitted to mention that the Archa _ ologicaI Society there has recently commenced excavating at Eleusis , and is likely to bring to light much that may interest us . In company with Mr . Egerton , our Secretary of Legation at Athens , I went to
Eleusis in Jul y last , and I herewith send you a copy of a Greek inscription which was discovered during our visit . It is , as far as I know , unpublished , and the last line is unfortunately missing . This society has at least earned the gratitude of Englishmen for having discovered this
inscription , which relates , as you will perceive , to our own country . The Eleusinian mysteries were introduced b y Hadrian into Rome about the same time , where they probably survived until the time of Theodosius the Great . I remain , Sir , your obedient servant , HARTWELL D . GRISSELL . —Brasenosc College , Oxford , J an . 10 .
"H . nOAIS . TON . A 4 > . E 2 TIA 2 . MT 2 THN . KA 2 IANON . IEPOKHPTKA . nPESBKTSANTA . OIKO 0 EN . EI 2 . BPETANNIAN . A _ n . NO 0 ETH 2 ANTA . AAPIANEIflN . 2 TPATHFH 2 AI . TA — "
IQG ] LEWIS . May I remind Bro . Rylands that we have been promised from his pen thc result of his researches into the early use of " Lewis , " architecturally ? The matter is of some importance and of special interest to me , and if hc refuses his assistance 1 do not know where to turn for any help which would be one quarter so valuable . An assurance from him that he has not forgotten the subject would enable me to " steel my soul in patience . " G . W . SPETH .
107 ] HISTORIES OF FREEMASONRY-PAPAL BULLS . Bro . "Bookworm's" article ( 94 ) has long been before me without my being able to carry out my intention of answering his appeal to me—seasonable festivities and other grave matters having intervened . His account of Abbe Gyr's work is interesting . I doubt its being in the British Museum , as I have not yet seen it , and I am under the impression that 1 have thoroughly ransacked this collection .
r rom his description 1 have little doubt that it is a translation " pur et simple " of Eckert . Now , as to the Papal bulls . The persistency with which this assertion crops up appears to me to be founded on something more than sheepwalking . There are two obvious sources from wliich this tradition springs . First , the general statement in the " Parentalia , " wliich is well known to all of us j and , secondly , a very detailed list of Imperial and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
that by no means overlooked , out when wc hear that one lodge considers that when a Past Master reaches a certain age he is entitled to apply to the Board of Benevolence , I think that Bros . Clabon and Stevens would do more good by directing attention to those matters than in trying to induce Grand Lodge ' to pass a resolution which has met
with so little favour . I was sorry to see the matter apparently [ shelved , because we had then no opportunity of knowing whether any other reason was assigned for these Past Masters' applications for relief . Perhaps this question will receive due consideration from the authorities , after the strong expressions used in
connection with the dispensing of charity . At any rate , sir , it may not be considered strictly Masonic to bring this matter fully before the Craft in public print , neither , I most strongly assert , should it be strictly Masonic to allow the members of one lodge to participate so largely in the funds , to the exclusion of brethren perhaps quite , if not
more worthy than they . In your issue of the 23 rd ult . there appears a . Ietter , asking for relief for the proprietorof a travelling marionncttc show , initiated into Masonry in , apparently , a Scotch lodge , and in your report of Grand Lodge , gth December , Bro . Birkenhead is reported to have said that " when these
grants appear in the papers a certain class of men would say , 'What a good thing Freemasonry is ; if anything happenstomemy wife and family would be provided for , '" and further remarked that the subscriptions to various lodges were very small , only in some cases eight shillings and sixpence to half a guinea . He further said that he
would like to see a yearly subscription of not less than twenty-one shillings—more if possible . With this latter remark I , for one , quite agree . I would not wish to see the flow of charity stayed , if in moderation and to bon _ - ( Ide applicants , such as the case mentioned above , but at the same time I think we may ask how it
was that a travelling showman could be considered a lit and proper person to be initiated into Freemasonry , and also whether it is to be wondered at that so many applicants for relief present themselves when lodges make such small subscriptions payable as those mentioned by Bro . ; Birkenhead .
In your issue of 2 Sth October you appear to thoroughly agree with the alteration proposed in the initiation fee in the revised Constitutions . As this is a very ] important matter , I would suggest also that an addition be made to this law , that " no annual subscription in any lodge shall
be less than one guinea . " I think this would prevent the more needy joining , as although our great principles are brotherly love , relief , and truth , I do not think Freemasonry should be looked upon as a gigantic benelit society . — Yours fraternally , M . M .
THE OFFICE OF CHAPLAIN . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I shall be obliged if you will favour me with your opinion as to the proper person to hold the ollice of Chaplain in a lodge . Can it be held by a layman ? And if there is only one clergyman a member of the lodge is it
customary that he should be appointed year after year and thus entirely inonpolise one of the collars ? I am a member of a lodge so situated , and have not bcen able to see why any brother aspiring to the chair should not first officiate in the lodge as Chaplain . I think this office is altogether distinguishable from that of Treasurer . — Yours fraternally . W .
THE PROPOSED WOLSELEY LODGE . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 beg to thank you for your kind notice in the Freemason in reference to the above proposed lodge , but am requested to officially point out an error which has
apparently crept in , and to ask you to kindly set same right in your next issue . In your notice ( p . 21 Freemason , January 13 ) , you say : "Thc petition which the R . W . P . G . M ., Col . Lc Gendre N . Starkie , has signed , has already been sent to head quarters and the R . W . P . G . M . has promised to support the new
lodge . " I presume you meant to convey thc following facts " The petition has already been signed by the promoters and forwarded to the Provincial Grand Secretary to be dealt with in the usual way , and that the R . W . P . G . M . ( Col . Starkie ) has consented to sign and support same . "
Your kind attention to this matter will greatly oblige the forty members of the proposed lodge , and also be esteemed by yours fraternally , P . HOWARD DAVIS , 1055 , Provisional Secretary . I , Landsdowne-terracc , Higher Broughton , Manchester , January 15 th .
IS HE LEGALLY AND REGULARLY ELECTED . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I thank you kindly for answering the above Question . I was aware that by paragraph 2 , page 62 , of
thc 1 SG 7 cd . of the Book of Constitutions " a brother must have regularly served the office of Warden in a warranted lodge " before he can be elected to the Master ' s chair , and I thought there was the same principle involved and the same conditions attached in the case of a Past Warden , as in the case of a Past Master , namely , that hc must have
Original Correspondence.
continued to be a subscribing member of some warranted lodge to preserve his work as a Past Warden ; but having for twelve months ceased to subscribe to any lodge under the English Constitution , he had lost his status , and could not regain it until he was again appointed to the office of
Warden of a regular lodge to enable him to be legally and regularly elected to the chair of K . S . Bro . A having left lodge B for nearly six years , rejoined it at thc beginning of last year , is now being pitchforked into the chair , which act of the lodge I thought was an infringement of the Book of Constitutions . —I am , dear sir , yours faithfully and
fraternally , JOHN GAMBLE , P . M . Lydney , January 13 th [ With all respect to our worthy correspondent , he will see , wc think , that it would not be right to exceed in any manner or to strain the wise limitations of the Book of Constitutions . —Ed . F . M . \
THE PROPOSED MASONIC EXHIBITION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Do you know if the idea of a Masonic exhibition has been abandoned ? It would be very interesting , and I should think well supported by the Masonic world , both by loans and in attendance . —Yours fraternally , P . M . 65 .
Reviews
REVIEWS
LIFE OF THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER . Third vol . _ By his son , R . E . WILBERFORCE , Esq . Second Notice . A still more careful perusal of this , the last volume of the story of a most eventful and remarkable life , has led us to the conclusion that our previous remarks about editorial indiscretions were perfectly justified . Indeed , we never remember
a work in whicli editorial reticence and editorial supervision were more absolutely needed . Many of the entries in the diary , striking and touching as it is , were penned when the good Bishop was jaded with labour , overcome by anxieties , affected by excited hopes or depressing realities , and coloured by tender sensibilities , or strong personal loving and antipathy . Some of the extracts given ought
never to have been published , as they can only serve to wound deeply the feeling of others , to invoke unwelcome memories , or to excite vehement antagonism . For instance , her Majesty's name ought never to have been introduced as saying this or that j and careful and competent discretion would have kept from public sight words and thoughts never intended for the public eye ; communications forwarded in the full faith and binding obligation of
unrestricted confidence . Much of the volume is most amusing , effective , striking , and affecting ; and undoubtedly the lamented Bishop stands before us in the clear outline of a most moving personality . Still we feel bound honestly to express our regret , that a work- which so many would read with delight and admiration , which might do so much real good , is marred by defects which must we fear severely affect its present authority , and , above all , its lasting value .
DUKES AND PRINCESSES OF THE FAMILY OF GEORGE THE THIRD . By PKRCV FITZGERALD . Tinsley Brothers . This is one of the works of bye-gone gossip , which is pretty sure to be read . It is very remarkable how people who will not read anything else will study pages and revelations dedicated to gossip , must we not say scandal ? Wc who
turn over so carefully the dustheaps of the past , and disinter savoury relics of forgotten cynicism or idle mystery , the often childish and spasmodic utterances of a dead and buried generation , we act too often as purveyors of very inferior wares , as caterers of bad taste and worse "form . " Mr . Percy Fitzgerald has bcen on the whole reticent and discreet . He has given us a readable gossipy book , marked bv
a friendliness of tone and loyalty of utterance which arc truly commendable . Curiously enough , he does not seem to have found out that five of thc sons of the King were Freemasons , —a fact very much to tlieir honour , and a subject of pride to the Craft . We see , we think , in these memoirs the secret of the great popularity of the old King and the Royal Family , despite violent assailants and political
convulsions . It was that honest homeliness of private life which so endeared the good old Sovereign to a loyal people . Thc great complaint of French patriots and " Destructives " has becn the prodigality of the Court . In England everybody knew that the old King and CJueen lived very much as they did , and among thc veriest violence of the times , of which wc have no idea , happily , now , nothing could sever the tie of
affection and devotion which mutually bound King , and people in this upright land of ours . We agree with Mr . Percy Fitzgerald , that we must rise from a perusal of the book , with a still stronger personal regard than ever for the virtues and manliness , the good and thorough English tastes and ideas of King George III ., and the simple realities of the family circle .
MASONIC CALENDAR FOR . THE PROVINCE OF HERTFORDSHIRE for 1 SS 3 . Edited by Bro . J . E . DAWSON , Prov . Grand Secretary . This useful little handbook for Hertfordshire Freemasons comes before us most carefully edited . No Hertfordshire brother can be without it , and many of us who like to know about Freemasonry in province as in town may well expend a shilling in thc purchase of this useful while unpretending little work .
Itis certain theQueen ' s Physician , Dr . Fairbank , has written strongly recommending LENT 1 LLA , or TONIC DAILY FOOD . It cures Indigestion , Heartburn , Constipation , Liver and Stomach Complaints , & c , besides having such wondrous nourishing properties . Makes Soups , Porridge , Custards , Puddings , Biscuits , & c . Tins , lib . is . Cd . ; Jib ., iod . Barrels , 2 Slb ., 30 s . ; 141 b ., iCs . Of all Chemists . —Proprietor , H . j . Deacon , Beckenham , Kent . —[ ADVT .
Masonic-Notes-And-Queries.
Masonic - Notes - and - Queries .
mrr—n-, f „ = _ AS __& ¦!¦¦ -r - r I 103 ] CHARLES SACKVILLE .
There are some difficulties attendant on Chas . Sackville being Lord Middlesex and Duke of Dorset which " G . B . A . " does not seem to realize . They are these . The medal is of date , Florence , 1733 ; though " Natter " seems later to have settled in London . If the " Carolus Sackville " is the Earl of Middlesex , he was in 1733 only twenty-two . In 1734 he was elected M . P . for F . ast Grinstead , and seems
after that date to have lived in England . Like all young men of fashion then he would make the " foreign tour , " and probably was at Florence , and may have becn member and "Magister" of a Florentine lodge in 1733 ; but why then is he termed Charles Sackville instead of Earl of Middlesex ? The title of Earl of Middlesex was according to Collins , granted in 1675 , and the dukedom of Dorset
in 1720 . Many foreign writers call him Dukeof Middlesex ; some English writers term him Lord Charles Sackville , which is equally absurd . But , to say the truth , this fact of identity is very doubtful . If there were any remains of " Spence" stil I extant , perhaps some light might be thrown upon the subject . " G . B . A . " seems to assume tYiat Carolus Sackville is identical with Charles Sackville , Earl of Middlesex ; but
that , let me observe , " quodestprobandum . " Sofarwcare not advanced further than in " Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia , " page 507 . If he was by courtesy Charles Lord Sackville up to 1720 , he would be Charles Earl of Middlesex in 1733 . It is acurious fact that no trace of any subsequentintercst on his part in English Freemasonry occurs , though his friend , Frederick Prince of Wales became , a member of the Order ,
nor is his name , I believe , mentioned as member of any English lodge . Perhaps Bro . Gould can help us . On the whole I am still very doubtful whether the Charles Sackville is the Earl of Middlesex , or even if he existed at all . If he did he was a Charles Sackville : but as " Natter" is said
in thc " Handbuch " to have taken to St . Petersburgh a sort of High Grade quasi Jacobite Masonic Order , and to have declared this Charles Sackville the patron , _ * c , it almost looks as if it be what thc Germans term " Ordens fabel , " a fable of the Order . 1 am quite open to conviction on this point , but thus far , I repeat , I doubt . DRYASDUST .
104 ] DR . STUKELY . My esteemed friend , Bro . VV . J . Hughan , docs not quite fully answer my query . What about the lodge at the Salutation Tavern , Tavistock-street , has it disappeared absolutely , leaving no trace behind ? Why does my able brother fix on the Cooke MS . as the ori «_ i . al of the
MS . Constitution produced by Payne ? Both as regards the lodges at the Fountain and at Grantham , no doubt great difficulty exists , as neither so far is actually identified , but yet some " indicia * " may perhaps remain . As regards the meeting on October 4 th , 1723 , a . copy of that tract relating to the Dorchester Amphitheatre must remain somewhere , humanly speaking . Can Bro . Lukis help us ? MASONIC STUDENT .
105 J THE MYSTERIES . The following interesting note connects the Elcusinian Mysteries with our country . This is a rare and very important find . I commend the letter and inscription , though incomplete , to Bro . Gould's attention . MASONIC STUDENT .
"lo thc Editor of the Times . —Sir , In the interesting letter from your correspondent at Athens , in Thc Times of this morning , he has omitted to mention that the Archa _ ologicaI Society there has recently commenced excavating at Eleusis , and is likely to bring to light much that may interest us . In company with Mr . Egerton , our Secretary of Legation at Athens , I went to
Eleusis in Jul y last , and I herewith send you a copy of a Greek inscription which was discovered during our visit . It is , as far as I know , unpublished , and the last line is unfortunately missing . This society has at least earned the gratitude of Englishmen for having discovered this
inscription , which relates , as you will perceive , to our own country . The Eleusinian mysteries were introduced b y Hadrian into Rome about the same time , where they probably survived until the time of Theodosius the Great . I remain , Sir , your obedient servant , HARTWELL D . GRISSELL . —Brasenosc College , Oxford , J an . 10 .
"H . nOAIS . TON . A 4 > . E 2 TIA 2 . MT 2 THN . KA 2 IANON . IEPOKHPTKA . nPESBKTSANTA . OIKO 0 EN . EI 2 . BPETANNIAN . A _ n . NO 0 ETH 2 ANTA . AAPIANEIflN . 2 TPATHFH 2 AI . TA — "
IQG ] LEWIS . May I remind Bro . Rylands that we have been promised from his pen thc result of his researches into the early use of " Lewis , " architecturally ? The matter is of some importance and of special interest to me , and if hc refuses his assistance 1 do not know where to turn for any help which would be one quarter so valuable . An assurance from him that he has not forgotten the subject would enable me to " steel my soul in patience . " G . W . SPETH .
107 ] HISTORIES OF FREEMASONRY-PAPAL BULLS . Bro . "Bookworm's" article ( 94 ) has long been before me without my being able to carry out my intention of answering his appeal to me—seasonable festivities and other grave matters having intervened . His account of Abbe Gyr's work is interesting . I doubt its being in the British Museum , as I have not yet seen it , and I am under the impression that 1 have thoroughly ransacked this collection .
r rom his description 1 have little doubt that it is a translation " pur et simple " of Eckert . Now , as to the Papal bulls . The persistency with which this assertion crops up appears to me to be founded on something more than sheepwalking . There are two obvious sources from wliich this tradition springs . First , the general statement in the " Parentalia , " wliich is well known to all of us j and , secondly , a very detailed list of Imperial and