-
Articles/Ads
Article Original Correspondence. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 2 of 2 Article REVIEWS Page 1 of 1 Article Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
such black sheep , and it would be a good thing if we could have promulgated some ruling ( authoritative ) on the subject . . . This , like many other points , in which enquiries nave been made in your columns , revives a suggestion , made by me and others some years ago , that a code of decisions in
points of Masonic law should be published , as is done annually in the United States , for the guidance of Masters of lodges . The records of the Board of General Purposes must contain many important legal opinions , and if these could be collected and tabulated the result would , I feel sure , be of the greatest value to us all . —Yours fraternally , T . B . WHYTEHEAD . March iCth . '
To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reference to the case to which " Lex Scripta " refers , " if there are four members of a lodge persisting in blackballing every candidate proposed , " the ( irst step the W . M . and Wardens of the lodge should have taken would
have been to have sought the advice of the Provincial Grand Master , and if any particular difficulties presented themselves he would doubtless have referred them to the Board of General Purposes for advice as to the course they should take , and , without divulging the secrecy ofjthe ballot , the Board would have taken measures to put an end to the continuance of such proceedings .
A PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY . March 13 th , 1885 .
"IN REBUS MASONICIS . " To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I hope the proposal more than once made , and again revived by Bro . Shackles in 3 'our last issue , will be
taken up at head-quarters . A most magnificent collection could now be got together at Freemasons' Hall , and if two rooms could be devoted for a month to the purposes of an Exhibition , all Masonic collectors and students would have an opportunity of viewing the archaeological wealth of the Craft . —Yours fraternally , T . B . WHYTEHEAD .
"AHIMAN REZONS . " To the Editor of " The Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In addition to the Ahiman Rezons mentioned by a " Student in Masonry , " I have an 1 S 07 Dublin edition , Downe ' s second edition , with additions , Svo ., 220 pp ., and 1 S 39 Dublin , by Underwood , " with certain lectures , charges , and a Masonic ritual . "—Yours fraternally , J . E . LE FEUVRE .
PRESTON'S "ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY . " _ To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I had recently occasion to look through some back volumes of the " Gentleman ' s Magazine , " and in the course of my researches I lighted on an obituary notice of Bro . Wm . Preston , at p . 372 , vol . SS , part 1—January to June 1 S 2 S . Towards the end of this notice occurs the
, following passage : " Mr . Preston published a catalogue of Mr . Rudditnan ' s Books , Svo . ; Illustrations of Masonry , of which twelve editions have been published since its first appearance in 121110 ., 1772 . " This confirms the statement in " A Student in Masonry ' s " letter last week , wherein , on the authority of Bro . Hughan , he points to the 1 S 12 edition as being the 12 th ; that of 1 S 21 , by Bro . Stephen Jones , being the 13 th . —Faithfully and fraternally yours ,
G . BLIZARD ABBOTT .
THE MASTER'S LIGHT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to a questioner in your last and penultimate issues , I send you copy of a letter addressed to a great Masonic authority , the late Bro . Peter Matthew , by a greater authority , Bro . Wm . Henry White , then Grand
Secretary , which office he tilled singly , or in conjunction with another , from 1 S 10 to 1 S 57 . lhis C 0 Py ' preserved in the archives of the Emulation Lodge , No . 21 , in which lodge he was initiated in March , 1799 . This settles the question so far as tradition governed the practice , for some considerable period after the Union . —Yours fraternally , BRACKSTONE BAKER , P . M . 21 .
fCopy . ] Freemasons' Hall , 7 th December , 1839 . Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to your questions as to the propriety of extinguishing the Master ' s Light , and if extinguished , of introducing a Lanthorn with a Star , &_ c , I feel no difficulty
of stating that such extinguishing is not only improper , but positively in violation of a most maturely considered and unequivocal direction of the Grand Lodge , and that the introduction of a Lanthorn , & c , is equally against the Order . In the Lodge of Reconciliation , the extinguishment had been proposed , and occasioned much dissatisfaction , in
order , therefore , to settle that , and some other points , or , more properly speaking , to carry out the direction of the Act of Union , that there should be a uniformity of working , & c , a Special Grand Lodge was convened on the 20 th May , 1 S 16 , to witness the ceremonies proposed by the Lodge of Reconciliation . These concluded , the several points were discussed ; amongst others , the
Lights in the Third Degree ; and decisions were come to upon them . But to afford opportunities for the most mature consideration , and to leave the subject without a possibility of objection , another Special Grand Lodge was holden on the 5 th June following , to approve and confirm what had been done on the 20 th May . At these Meetingsthe M . W . G . Master presided , and
, the attendance of Members was larger than at any other I recollect ( excepting the day of Union ) . The decision was , that the Master ' s Light was never to be extinguished while the Lodge was open , nor was it by any means to be shaded or obscured , and that no Lanthorn
or other device was to be admitted as a substitute . One of the reasons is , that one of the Lights represents the Master , who is ahvays present while the Lodge is open , if not actually in his own presence , yet by a Brother who represents him ( and without the Master or his representative the Lodge cannot be open ) so his Light cannot be ex-
Original Correspondence.
tinguished until the Lodge is closed ; the other two lights figuratively represent luminaries , which , at periods , are visible—at other times , not so . As to the penalty with which the Grand Lodge might think fit to visit a Lodge acting in contravention of its positive orders , I venture no opinion ; you are as capable as myself to decide upon that point . —I remain , dear sir and brother , yours fraternally , ( Signed ) WILLIAM H . WHITE , Peter Matthews , Esq . G . S .
Reviews
REVIEWS
THE FREEMASONS CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY , FOR LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND , FOR 1 SS 5 . Thirteenth year of publication , compiled by Bro . SAMUEL S . PARTRIDGE , D . P . G . M . Bro . Partridge ' s compilation is , if possible , more complete and accurate than in any previous issue , and though as one calendar succeeds another , there is a kind of natural tendency to increased perfection in the care of annual publicaworth
tions of this character , it is most creditable to our y brother , that he should so carefully have overhauled his work in the past as to have reduced the possibility of present and future errors , to something very closely approximating to zero . We consider the Leicestershire and Rutland Calendar is a model of its kind , the one thing which in our opinion , would improve it being a nominal list of present and past Prov . Grand Officers for the Craft , and Arch Degrees .
THE FREEMASONS' CALENDAR FOR THE PROVINCE OF DORSET FOR 1 SS 5 . Compiled by Bro . J A . SHERREN , P . P . G . P . Weymouth : Sherren and Son , 79 , St . Mary-street . 'Ihis is an old and welcome friend , not greatly altered in appearance as compared with former years , though where any alteration has taken place , it must be looked upon as
an improvement . The feature of the Dorset Calendar is that it furnishes the lists of members subscribing to the various lodges in tbe province , those v . ho have passed the chair , as well as those who belong to the Royal Arch chapters and Mark lodges being indicated by certain marks
' against their names . I * urther , the space hitherto allotted to the almanac has this year been curtailed , there being substituted a calendar in the most concise form possible , and a table showing the dates of meeting of the lodges , chapters , Mark lodges , and other bodies . Bro . Sherren is to be congratulated on the neatness and accuracy of his work .
THE MASONIC YEAR BOOK FOR CAMBRIDGESHIRE FOR 1 SS 5 . Cambridge : W . P . Spalding , 43 , Sidney-street . The brethren ot this small province have every reason to be satisfied with their Calendar . The mere fact of its being published regularly shows that our Cambridgeshire brethren interest themselves in the general doings of the
Craft , while the compiler of the Calendar has taken care to let the outside world of Masonry obtain a glimpse at the doings within the province by prefixing to the Calendar proper a short sketch of the principal events connected with each lodge , or , in other words , a short sketch , in each case , of the year ' s work . We are glad to see there is a
Provincial Charity Organisation , the subscription to which is ios . 6 d . a year , which has already done good work in behalf of our general Charities , and also that a new lodge at Newmarket will shortly be added to the provincial roll . We must compliment the unknown compiler of this Calendar on the excellence of his work .
THE FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR OXFORDSHIRE , 1 SS 5-S 6 . Edited and published by Bro . W . R . BOWDEN , P . P . G . Organist , & c , Oxon . We feel called upon to speak in terms of almost unqualified praise of the new issue of the Oxfordshire Calendar . As regards the Province itself , there is room left for
further extension , every kind of information that is likely to be of any use being already published . What relates to its outside relations with neighbouring provinces , London , and elsewhere , has been extended with considerable advantage in this instance , and the editor is prepared to enlarge
this portion of his calendar so far as Berks and Bucks are concerned if the amount of encouragement he looks for justifies him in so doing . The whole is preceded by a neat and concisely-written sketch of the late Duke of Albany ' s Masonic career . In fine , Bro . Bowden has done his work admirably , his calendar being a most valuable work of reference to the Masonic student .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
li 1 1 J— " ——* 538 ] KLOSS'S LIBRARY . A suggestion has been made that Kloss ' s Library is not in the Royal Library , but in the Library of the Grand Orient of Holland ! Can this fact be ascertained ?
MASONIC STUDENT . 539 ] ———DR . STUBBES , HECTOR ASHLEY , AND THOMAS
WARD . Can any one give me another reference to cither of these names , which appear in the Privy Purse experience of Henry VIII ., as those of persons having the control and payment of large building operations for the King ? MASONIC STUDENT .
540 J THE STATUTS OF 1 755 . Bro . Findel seems to think that this manuscript is still at Frankfort ! Can any Frankfort brother tell me where it is ? Could a transcript be taken ? We never have had
Masonic Notes And Queries.
the original French presented to us for critical consideration . Much will depend on the French verbiage as to date , & c , which cannot be realised in Kloss's translation into German ' . Take for instance the word translated honourable birth . It may mean either legitimate or " gentilAtre ; " if so , that would be equivalent to a declaration that they must be " gentilhommes" — " edel , "
" armsbeating , " which would decide the question as far as the Grand Lodge of France and the Kit Ecossais arc concerned ! It is idle and worse than idle in 1 SS 5 to rest upon the " ipse dixit" even of Kloss , however able and trustworthy . We can judge of the meaning of the words ourselves properly used , and in some respects under more favourable conditions than Kloss himself . MASONIC STUDENT .
541 ] FIDELITY CHAPTER , No . 93 , LEEDS . My friend , Bro . W . VVatson , P . M ., of Leeds , has kindly placed in my hands his notes on the minute book of the Royal Arch chapter which was started at Leeds in -793 . Those brethren who are familiar with my new work on "The Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry " * will have noticed a "List of Chapters " in the Appendix 17 C 9 to 1 S 13 . It includes the one at Leeds as No . 03 under the
year 1794 ; but , according to Bro . VVatson , the charter was dated October 15 th , 1703 , and was granted to Comps . Robt . Sutcliffe , Dr . Boothman , and W . Brown , who were the Three Principals . The first meeting apparently was held on Sunda } , November 3 rd , 1793 , at the " Old George Hotel . " A visitor was present from No . 62 , Knaresborough , and another from Darlington ( possibly of No . 5 6 , of that town ) . In March , 1794 Bro . McGee , of the 6 th
Innis-, killing Dragoons , Lodge 335 , was proposed , elected , and exalted ( " by consent of the companions" ) , having to go abroad . Visitors attended from No . S 6 , Halifax , and Lodge No . 335 , the name of the chapter to which the latter brother belonged not being given . The regiment referred to was a noted one , Masonically , having been granted several warrantsf viz ., a charter by the " Atholl " Masons in 1763-75 , another by the Regular Grand Lodgein
1777 , and one by the Grand Lodgeof Ireland . The Grand Chapter at York also granted it a chapter in 1770 , and a similar authority for Scotland likewise did so this century , lt is likely that the visitor from this regiment hailed originally from the York Chapter . On February 17 th , 179 6 , it is stated that the " Chapter cloesd E past 9 in Perfect Pease . " On March gthjthe Scribe states that the " Chapt . Could not be Open'd on account of not Haveing 4
Principles . " The Scribe appears to have considered a man was a poor scholar who could only spell a word in one way , for on May sth , 1799 , he declares that a brother was " Exhalted to the degree of R . A . M ., and paid the sum of £ 1 si . o ., and one shilling to the Genitor . " Comp . Wright proposed that larger letters on the pedestal be made , instead of the present letters , which was unanimously approved of , and ordered to be done . It was also " proposed that the Arch
be thoroughly repaired , and that the steps be cleaned , and thc top of the pedestal be made to slide , so as to contain the IBible , when open , to shew to the new exalted Companions . " There does not seem to have been any ceremony on the installation of the Principals , as it is stated on February ist , 1795 , that "Com . Sutcliffe was unanimously elected Z ., and Com . Smithson was elected H . Likewise Com . Banks , J ., and immediately took their seats in their
respective places ( being a different trio to the preceding meetings ) . " Comp . Scribe N . ranked before Scribe E ., both being chosen by the Z ., who also selected the P . S ., the two Assistants being chosen by the H . and J . respectively . As there is no mention of Scribe E . in several of the minutes , it is likely that the Scribe N . was the actual Secretary of the chapter at that time . The records end on May Sth , 1 799 ; but the chapter was probably continued under
the new regime , and holding the same name— " Fidelity " —as there is one so described in the list of . chapters of the United Grand Chapter , A . D . 1723 , as No . 546 , nozo 2 S 9 , being the numbers of the "Fidelity" Lodge after the " Union " of 1 S 13-17 . There were some 30 chapters in all warranted in Yorkshire from 177 S to iS 13 , beginning with
No . 17 , " Unity , York , and ending with No . 161 , " Good Intent , " Heptonstall , nearly double the number chartered in London from 1769 to 1 S 13 . Lancashire also largely patronised the Degree , during the last century especially . As , however , the list of these and all the other chapters arc to be found in my last work , I need not give them now . W . J . HUGHAN .
Approaching Festival Of The Girls' School.
APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .
The first meeting of the Board of Stewards was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Monday , the 16 th inst . Bro . H . B . Marshall , G . Treas ,, presided , and among the goodly muster of brethren present were Bros . John L . Mather , F . R . Spaull , Frank Richardson , P . G . D .: R . G . Barton , J .
Gordon Langton , W . Holloway , Claud Scott , Hugh Wyatt , Edward Chatfield , Geo . V . A . Schofield , Edgar Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . R . Johnson , H . Greene , S . W . D . Williams , H . Tipper , C . R . Revington , E . L . Valeriani , W . Belchamber , W . A . Cubitt , A . F . Godson , John Sayers , Donald Glass , Joseph J . Marah , Sam . Wheeler , J . A . Wilson , j . H . Matthews , W . A . Dawson , Fred . W . Smith ,
A . Barfield , C . A . Woods , Rob . E . H . Griffin , Charles Barry , C . Hammerton , F . Ernest Pocock , M . D ., Robert D . Cummings , Robert Grey , P . G . D . ; George Graveley , Jas . Robertson , Walter H . Glazier , J . H . Campion Coles , VV . A . Scurrah , and F . R . VV . Hedges . The business of the day was of the usual character , the first duty being the election of the ofiicers , who are as follow : President , Bro . Lieut .-General Randolph , Prov .
G . S . W . Sussex—the Chairman ' s province ; treasurer , Bro . D . P . Cama , P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., Patron ; Chairman of Ladies' Stewards , Bro . J . H . Matthews ; and Hon . Secretary , Bro . Hedges , Secretary of the Institution . The Music and Dinner Committees were chosen , and the Stewards' fee fixed , as usual , at £ 2 2 s . Uther formd business having been transacted , the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
such black sheep , and it would be a good thing if we could have promulgated some ruling ( authoritative ) on the subject . . . This , like many other points , in which enquiries nave been made in your columns , revives a suggestion , made by me and others some years ago , that a code of decisions in
points of Masonic law should be published , as is done annually in the United States , for the guidance of Masters of lodges . The records of the Board of General Purposes must contain many important legal opinions , and if these could be collected and tabulated the result would , I feel sure , be of the greatest value to us all . —Yours fraternally , T . B . WHYTEHEAD . March iCth . '
To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reference to the case to which " Lex Scripta " refers , " if there are four members of a lodge persisting in blackballing every candidate proposed , " the ( irst step the W . M . and Wardens of the lodge should have taken would
have been to have sought the advice of the Provincial Grand Master , and if any particular difficulties presented themselves he would doubtless have referred them to the Board of General Purposes for advice as to the course they should take , and , without divulging the secrecy ofjthe ballot , the Board would have taken measures to put an end to the continuance of such proceedings .
A PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY . March 13 th , 1885 .
"IN REBUS MASONICIS . " To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I hope the proposal more than once made , and again revived by Bro . Shackles in 3 'our last issue , will be
taken up at head-quarters . A most magnificent collection could now be got together at Freemasons' Hall , and if two rooms could be devoted for a month to the purposes of an Exhibition , all Masonic collectors and students would have an opportunity of viewing the archaeological wealth of the Craft . —Yours fraternally , T . B . WHYTEHEAD .
"AHIMAN REZONS . " To the Editor of " The Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In addition to the Ahiman Rezons mentioned by a " Student in Masonry , " I have an 1 S 07 Dublin edition , Downe ' s second edition , with additions , Svo ., 220 pp ., and 1 S 39 Dublin , by Underwood , " with certain lectures , charges , and a Masonic ritual . "—Yours fraternally , J . E . LE FEUVRE .
PRESTON'S "ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY . " _ To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I had recently occasion to look through some back volumes of the " Gentleman ' s Magazine , " and in the course of my researches I lighted on an obituary notice of Bro . Wm . Preston , at p . 372 , vol . SS , part 1—January to June 1 S 2 S . Towards the end of this notice occurs the
, following passage : " Mr . Preston published a catalogue of Mr . Rudditnan ' s Books , Svo . ; Illustrations of Masonry , of which twelve editions have been published since its first appearance in 121110 ., 1772 . " This confirms the statement in " A Student in Masonry ' s " letter last week , wherein , on the authority of Bro . Hughan , he points to the 1 S 12 edition as being the 12 th ; that of 1 S 21 , by Bro . Stephen Jones , being the 13 th . —Faithfully and fraternally yours ,
G . BLIZARD ABBOTT .
THE MASTER'S LIGHT . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to a questioner in your last and penultimate issues , I send you copy of a letter addressed to a great Masonic authority , the late Bro . Peter Matthew , by a greater authority , Bro . Wm . Henry White , then Grand
Secretary , which office he tilled singly , or in conjunction with another , from 1 S 10 to 1 S 57 . lhis C 0 Py ' preserved in the archives of the Emulation Lodge , No . 21 , in which lodge he was initiated in March , 1799 . This settles the question so far as tradition governed the practice , for some considerable period after the Union . —Yours fraternally , BRACKSTONE BAKER , P . M . 21 .
fCopy . ] Freemasons' Hall , 7 th December , 1839 . Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to your questions as to the propriety of extinguishing the Master ' s Light , and if extinguished , of introducing a Lanthorn with a Star , &_ c , I feel no difficulty
of stating that such extinguishing is not only improper , but positively in violation of a most maturely considered and unequivocal direction of the Grand Lodge , and that the introduction of a Lanthorn , & c , is equally against the Order . In the Lodge of Reconciliation , the extinguishment had been proposed , and occasioned much dissatisfaction , in
order , therefore , to settle that , and some other points , or , more properly speaking , to carry out the direction of the Act of Union , that there should be a uniformity of working , & c , a Special Grand Lodge was convened on the 20 th May , 1 S 16 , to witness the ceremonies proposed by the Lodge of Reconciliation . These concluded , the several points were discussed ; amongst others , the
Lights in the Third Degree ; and decisions were come to upon them . But to afford opportunities for the most mature consideration , and to leave the subject without a possibility of objection , another Special Grand Lodge was holden on the 5 th June following , to approve and confirm what had been done on the 20 th May . At these Meetingsthe M . W . G . Master presided , and
, the attendance of Members was larger than at any other I recollect ( excepting the day of Union ) . The decision was , that the Master ' s Light was never to be extinguished while the Lodge was open , nor was it by any means to be shaded or obscured , and that no Lanthorn
or other device was to be admitted as a substitute . One of the reasons is , that one of the Lights represents the Master , who is ahvays present while the Lodge is open , if not actually in his own presence , yet by a Brother who represents him ( and without the Master or his representative the Lodge cannot be open ) so his Light cannot be ex-
Original Correspondence.
tinguished until the Lodge is closed ; the other two lights figuratively represent luminaries , which , at periods , are visible—at other times , not so . As to the penalty with which the Grand Lodge might think fit to visit a Lodge acting in contravention of its positive orders , I venture no opinion ; you are as capable as myself to decide upon that point . —I remain , dear sir and brother , yours fraternally , ( Signed ) WILLIAM H . WHITE , Peter Matthews , Esq . G . S .
Reviews
REVIEWS
THE FREEMASONS CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY , FOR LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND , FOR 1 SS 5 . Thirteenth year of publication , compiled by Bro . SAMUEL S . PARTRIDGE , D . P . G . M . Bro . Partridge ' s compilation is , if possible , more complete and accurate than in any previous issue , and though as one calendar succeeds another , there is a kind of natural tendency to increased perfection in the care of annual publicaworth
tions of this character , it is most creditable to our y brother , that he should so carefully have overhauled his work in the past as to have reduced the possibility of present and future errors , to something very closely approximating to zero . We consider the Leicestershire and Rutland Calendar is a model of its kind , the one thing which in our opinion , would improve it being a nominal list of present and past Prov . Grand Officers for the Craft , and Arch Degrees .
THE FREEMASONS' CALENDAR FOR THE PROVINCE OF DORSET FOR 1 SS 5 . Compiled by Bro . J A . SHERREN , P . P . G . P . Weymouth : Sherren and Son , 79 , St . Mary-street . 'Ihis is an old and welcome friend , not greatly altered in appearance as compared with former years , though where any alteration has taken place , it must be looked upon as
an improvement . The feature of the Dorset Calendar is that it furnishes the lists of members subscribing to the various lodges in tbe province , those v . ho have passed the chair , as well as those who belong to the Royal Arch chapters and Mark lodges being indicated by certain marks
' against their names . I * urther , the space hitherto allotted to the almanac has this year been curtailed , there being substituted a calendar in the most concise form possible , and a table showing the dates of meeting of the lodges , chapters , Mark lodges , and other bodies . Bro . Sherren is to be congratulated on the neatness and accuracy of his work .
THE MASONIC YEAR BOOK FOR CAMBRIDGESHIRE FOR 1 SS 5 . Cambridge : W . P . Spalding , 43 , Sidney-street . The brethren ot this small province have every reason to be satisfied with their Calendar . The mere fact of its being published regularly shows that our Cambridgeshire brethren interest themselves in the general doings of the
Craft , while the compiler of the Calendar has taken care to let the outside world of Masonry obtain a glimpse at the doings within the province by prefixing to the Calendar proper a short sketch of the principal events connected with each lodge , or , in other words , a short sketch , in each case , of the year ' s work . We are glad to see there is a
Provincial Charity Organisation , the subscription to which is ios . 6 d . a year , which has already done good work in behalf of our general Charities , and also that a new lodge at Newmarket will shortly be added to the provincial roll . We must compliment the unknown compiler of this Calendar on the excellence of his work .
THE FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR OXFORDSHIRE , 1 SS 5-S 6 . Edited and published by Bro . W . R . BOWDEN , P . P . G . Organist , & c , Oxon . We feel called upon to speak in terms of almost unqualified praise of the new issue of the Oxfordshire Calendar . As regards the Province itself , there is room left for
further extension , every kind of information that is likely to be of any use being already published . What relates to its outside relations with neighbouring provinces , London , and elsewhere , has been extended with considerable advantage in this instance , and the editor is prepared to enlarge
this portion of his calendar so far as Berks and Bucks are concerned if the amount of encouragement he looks for justifies him in so doing . The whole is preceded by a neat and concisely-written sketch of the late Duke of Albany ' s Masonic career . In fine , Bro . Bowden has done his work admirably , his calendar being a most valuable work of reference to the Masonic student .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
li 1 1 J— " ——* 538 ] KLOSS'S LIBRARY . A suggestion has been made that Kloss ' s Library is not in the Royal Library , but in the Library of the Grand Orient of Holland ! Can this fact be ascertained ?
MASONIC STUDENT . 539 ] ———DR . STUBBES , HECTOR ASHLEY , AND THOMAS
WARD . Can any one give me another reference to cither of these names , which appear in the Privy Purse experience of Henry VIII ., as those of persons having the control and payment of large building operations for the King ? MASONIC STUDENT .
540 J THE STATUTS OF 1 755 . Bro . Findel seems to think that this manuscript is still at Frankfort ! Can any Frankfort brother tell me where it is ? Could a transcript be taken ? We never have had
Masonic Notes And Queries.
the original French presented to us for critical consideration . Much will depend on the French verbiage as to date , & c , which cannot be realised in Kloss's translation into German ' . Take for instance the word translated honourable birth . It may mean either legitimate or " gentilAtre ; " if so , that would be equivalent to a declaration that they must be " gentilhommes" — " edel , "
" armsbeating , " which would decide the question as far as the Grand Lodge of France and the Kit Ecossais arc concerned ! It is idle and worse than idle in 1 SS 5 to rest upon the " ipse dixit" even of Kloss , however able and trustworthy . We can judge of the meaning of the words ourselves properly used , and in some respects under more favourable conditions than Kloss himself . MASONIC STUDENT .
541 ] FIDELITY CHAPTER , No . 93 , LEEDS . My friend , Bro . W . VVatson , P . M ., of Leeds , has kindly placed in my hands his notes on the minute book of the Royal Arch chapter which was started at Leeds in -793 . Those brethren who are familiar with my new work on "The Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry " * will have noticed a "List of Chapters " in the Appendix 17 C 9 to 1 S 13 . It includes the one at Leeds as No . 03 under the
year 1794 ; but , according to Bro . VVatson , the charter was dated October 15 th , 1703 , and was granted to Comps . Robt . Sutcliffe , Dr . Boothman , and W . Brown , who were the Three Principals . The first meeting apparently was held on Sunda } , November 3 rd , 1793 , at the " Old George Hotel . " A visitor was present from No . 62 , Knaresborough , and another from Darlington ( possibly of No . 5 6 , of that town ) . In March , 1794 Bro . McGee , of the 6 th
Innis-, killing Dragoons , Lodge 335 , was proposed , elected , and exalted ( " by consent of the companions" ) , having to go abroad . Visitors attended from No . S 6 , Halifax , and Lodge No . 335 , the name of the chapter to which the latter brother belonged not being given . The regiment referred to was a noted one , Masonically , having been granted several warrantsf viz ., a charter by the " Atholl " Masons in 1763-75 , another by the Regular Grand Lodgein
1777 , and one by the Grand Lodgeof Ireland . The Grand Chapter at York also granted it a chapter in 1770 , and a similar authority for Scotland likewise did so this century , lt is likely that the visitor from this regiment hailed originally from the York Chapter . On February 17 th , 179 6 , it is stated that the " Chapter cloesd E past 9 in Perfect Pease . " On March gthjthe Scribe states that the " Chapt . Could not be Open'd on account of not Haveing 4
Principles . " The Scribe appears to have considered a man was a poor scholar who could only spell a word in one way , for on May sth , 1799 , he declares that a brother was " Exhalted to the degree of R . A . M ., and paid the sum of £ 1 si . o ., and one shilling to the Genitor . " Comp . Wright proposed that larger letters on the pedestal be made , instead of the present letters , which was unanimously approved of , and ordered to be done . It was also " proposed that the Arch
be thoroughly repaired , and that the steps be cleaned , and thc top of the pedestal be made to slide , so as to contain the IBible , when open , to shew to the new exalted Companions . " There does not seem to have been any ceremony on the installation of the Principals , as it is stated on February ist , 1795 , that "Com . Sutcliffe was unanimously elected Z ., and Com . Smithson was elected H . Likewise Com . Banks , J ., and immediately took their seats in their
respective places ( being a different trio to the preceding meetings ) . " Comp . Scribe N . ranked before Scribe E ., both being chosen by the Z ., who also selected the P . S ., the two Assistants being chosen by the H . and J . respectively . As there is no mention of Scribe E . in several of the minutes , it is likely that the Scribe N . was the actual Secretary of the chapter at that time . The records end on May Sth , 1 799 ; but the chapter was probably continued under
the new regime , and holding the same name— " Fidelity " —as there is one so described in the list of . chapters of the United Grand Chapter , A . D . 1723 , as No . 546 , nozo 2 S 9 , being the numbers of the "Fidelity" Lodge after the " Union " of 1 S 13-17 . There were some 30 chapters in all warranted in Yorkshire from 177 S to iS 13 , beginning with
No . 17 , " Unity , York , and ending with No . 161 , " Good Intent , " Heptonstall , nearly double the number chartered in London from 1769 to 1 S 13 . Lancashire also largely patronised the Degree , during the last century especially . As , however , the list of these and all the other chapters arc to be found in my last work , I need not give them now . W . J . HUGHAN .
Approaching Festival Of The Girls' School.
APPROACHING FESTIVAL OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .
The first meeting of the Board of Stewards was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Monday , the 16 th inst . Bro . H . B . Marshall , G . Treas ,, presided , and among the goodly muster of brethren present were Bros . John L . Mather , F . R . Spaull , Frank Richardson , P . G . D .: R . G . Barton , J .
Gordon Langton , W . Holloway , Claud Scott , Hugh Wyatt , Edward Chatfield , Geo . V . A . Schofield , Edgar Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . R . Johnson , H . Greene , S . W . D . Williams , H . Tipper , C . R . Revington , E . L . Valeriani , W . Belchamber , W . A . Cubitt , A . F . Godson , John Sayers , Donald Glass , Joseph J . Marah , Sam . Wheeler , J . A . Wilson , j . H . Matthews , W . A . Dawson , Fred . W . Smith ,
A . Barfield , C . A . Woods , Rob . E . H . Griffin , Charles Barry , C . Hammerton , F . Ernest Pocock , M . D ., Robert D . Cummings , Robert Grey , P . G . D . ; George Graveley , Jas . Robertson , Walter H . Glazier , J . H . Campion Coles , VV . A . Scurrah , and F . R . VV . Hedges . The business of the day was of the usual character , the first duty being the election of the ofiicers , who are as follow : President , Bro . Lieut .-General Randolph , Prov .
G . S . W . Sussex—the Chairman ' s province ; treasurer , Bro . D . P . Cama , P . P . G . S . B . Middx ., Patron ; Chairman of Ladies' Stewards , Bro . J . H . Matthews ; and Hon . Secretary , Bro . Hedges , Secretary of the Institution . The Music and Dinner Committees were chosen , and the Stewards' fee fixed , as usual , at £ 2 2 s . Uther formd business having been transacted , the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding .