Laying The Foundation Stone Of The New Cathedral At Truro.

marclied to the Cathedral enclosure , where , in the presence of the Princess of Wales , Princes George and Albert Victor , and a lare'e concourse of the

nobility , clergy , and public , the two stones were dul y laid ; ihe one in the norlh-west with Masonic ceremony , and that in the north-east ecclesiastically .

A public luncheon afterwards took place at the Market House . Tlie R . W . Provincial Grand Master , ' ihe [ Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , presided as Lord Lieutenant of the county , and was supported by their Royal Hig hnesses the Prince and Princess

of Wales , the Earl of Lathom , the Bishop of Exeter and Truro , the Lord Mayor of London , and most of the county :::: jnates . The whole of the proceedings were of the most satisfactory character , and reflected the greatest credit on the city authorities .

The I ^ ORD MAYOR , in acknowled ging the toast of his health , intimated that he hoped before quitting office that he mi ght be able , on behalf of the citizens of London , to do something - lo assist

the citizens of Truro to raise tlie Cathedral . We understand that the I-ord Mayor himself has intimated his intention of presenting a window to the Cathedral . A full report is being prepared , and will appear in the next number of the Freemason .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , tlie opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in aspirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

PARTY SPIRIT IN MASONRY . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As 1 think that a great evil is increasing amongst us , I let off the " steam " and expose my complaints in your impartial pages . I need hardly say that I allude to that display of party spirit and personal feeling which lately has

been so conspicuous amongst us , and which threatens such evils to English Freemasonry . Indeed , he must be a very careless spectator of Masonic proceedings , or an indifferent reader of the Freemason , who does not realize both what I mean and say . For some time past a " cabal , " or " clique , " has been seeking to establish a power and influence in various ways in metropolitan Masonry , which , were it to

succeed , would be deplorable , and were it not to be checked must be productive of annoyance to us all , and a lasting injury to Masonry itself . Those of us who will reflect on the events of the last few months , will recognize the movements of a "clique" in resolutions , and counter resolutions , in circulars and mendacious calumnies , and in numberless other measures and threats , which are positively a disgrace to our very

Masonic profession . Even if this "clique , " or "cabal , " or "camarilla , " or "caucus , " call it by what name you like , were in the possession of every public and domestic virtue , such a system would be unendurable , as English Freemasons are too independent to be governed by a "coterie , " or dictated to by a "cabal . "

But , certainly , if you may take the common estimate of this " new party , " which affects to dictate to Grand Lodge , and to rule our Institutions , keeping up a perpetual fermentation , it is not distinguished by any superior characteristic to the rest of its humbler and less self-asserting brotherhood . It certainly is not superior in morality or intellect , in Masonic zeal , in kindly sympathies , in knowledge of

. Masonry , in reverence for truth , in love of religion , to those who arc anxious to avoid the debasing animosities of party and personality , and it has , therefore , no claim whatever to be heard , to be considered or to be obeyed . I for one trust that so much public spirit yet remains

amongst us , that by a determined and united effort we may be induced , Masons of all ranks and ages , to "put our foot upon this audacious effort to hand over Masonry in the metropolis to this "outcome" of personality and malevolence , the intrigues of a petty clique , or the arrangements of an audacious " caucus . "

Vours fraternally , ] J . I .- . [ We insert this " " strong meat" for "babes , " as we arc not insensible to the threatened evils "B . F . " speaks of . —ED . ]

ELECTION OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am utterly at a loss to understand the animus of your remarks in three detached paragraphs on this subject

in your leader of the 15 th inst . As one of the twenty-four nominated , and one of the " new blood" suggested to be infused into that Committee , permit me to say , at once , that 1 know of no " clique" who are pulling the bobbins to effect revolutionary changes . That I am equally ignorant of "this movement" being the result of any " petty cabals ; " in fact the question of this election has never

assumed in my eyes the proportions of " a movement . " Nor have 1 any conception to what you allude as " the malevolent assertions of deliberate slander . " My Masonic instinct keeps me clear of the very border lands of such volcanic ground . From my utter ignorance of all the pernicious and un-Masonic influences to which you have alluded I am left to

conclude that I am one ( to use your elegant words ) of the ' worth y brethren , " to " become a cat ' s paw . " In a long Masonic experience of active work in England and Ireland I have never occupied that undignified position , and I never shall . t My position is simply this . Asked by a brother distin *

Original Correspondence.

guished for the good work he has done for our Masonic Charities whether I would serve , if elected , on the House Committee , 1 have consented , and , believing that all our Committees would be sensibly improved by a modicum of fresh blood being introduced every year , 1 shall go to the poll . If successful my purpose is to serve the Institution , not a " clique ; " if unsuccessful , my hope that it may be better served by someone else , my abiding regret in connection

with the matter being that you should have thought it necessary to impart such rankerous expressions into your remarks , and invest the contest for a "labour of love" with as much invective as an " Eatanswell election " manifests . If the independent Mason seeking—nay , not even seeking , but willing to- work when sought out—is to be

permitted to take office on the Committee's four Charities , except by the consent of an organised clique , then I am ashamed of the " English" Masonry to which I have attached myself so ardently , and must seriously contemplate retirement fron an Institution untrue to its professions . Yours fraternally ,

J . H . SOUTHWOOD , P . M . and Sec . 1260 , Z . 1260 , P . M . 120 , Irish Constitution , Steward for Girls ' School , 1 S 76 ; Steward for Boys ' School , 1 S 77 ; Steward for Benevolent Institution , 1 S 7 S ; and Steward

for Girls' School , 1 S 79 . [ With all esteem and respect for my excellent Bro . Southwood , it is just possible that we of the Freemason may know a little more of what is going on "behind the scenes " than he does . Our remarks do not , of course , apply to him . —ED . ]

ADMISSION INTO ENGLISH LODGES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother ,- — I think you must surely have been made the subject of a hoax , for I can hardly credit the statements contained in a letter in your issue of the 15 th inst ., purporting to be written by a brother named "Fowler" as to his having been refused admission to five or six lodges meeting

on one evening at the Freemasons' Hall in the month of October last . Allow me to state that at the meeting of one of my lodges in November last ( the University , No . 11 iS ) , an American brother , unknown to any member of the lodge , came and requested permission to attend our meeting . The Worshipful Master instructed mc to go out and examine him , and to sec if his papers were in order . The examination of the brother himself proved in every respect satisfactory , and his papers being in perfect order , he was

at once admitted to the lodge , paid every honour while there , and invited to attend the banquet when the lodge was over ; and he left us expressing himself very much gratified at the way in which he had been received . These facts show that all London lodges do not follow the course so justly complained of , and 1 must therefore ask you kindly to send a copy of the Freemason in which this letter appears to your American correspondent . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,

HUGH H . RIACII , P . Prov . G . Sec . O . xon , P . M . S 74 and 1523 , Sec . of the University Lodge , No . 111 S . Pall Mall Club , S . W ., 20 th May . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , —

Your correspondent last week in his complaint that he was refused admission to lodges which he desired to visit as a stranger only expressed an almost universal misconception of our laws on the subject . Yet the Book of Constitutions is very clear . Art . 1 of Visitors says : "No visitor shall be admitted into a lodge unless he be personally known , recommended , or well vouched for , after due examination , by one of the present

brethren . " No . 15 of the Ancient Charges and Regulations , subscribed to by every VV . M ., says : " You promise that no visitor shall be received into your lodge without due examination and producing proper vouchers of his having been initiated in a regular lodge . " It follows , therefore , that to entitle a brother to enter a

lodge as a visitor he must produce his voucher ( his certificate ) , be duly examined , and find some one to whom he is personall y known , or who will recommend or vouch for him . This is very different from an indiscriminate admission of every one who can pass an examination . Yours fraternally , P . G . SEC . May 19 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

MASONIC JEWELS . Bro . Broadley ( D . D . G . M . Malta and Tunis ) writes , " In 1 S 23-24 the brethren of Lodge St . John and St . Paul ( Valeria ) assumed a distinctive jewel—what was its description ? " It is possible , though not probable , that Bro . Hughan , or some former member of this lodge , may be able to supply particulars . Bro . Broadley also puts another

query , which I trust some reader of this column may be in a position lo answer , viz .: "What was the locality of a monument erected by the Masons of Malta in 1 S 5 7 to their brethren w-ho fell in the Crimea ? " So far as I can recollect , having been stationed with my regiment ( the 31 st ) at Malta during the first half of that year , no Masonic monument was erected up to June , 1 S 57 . R . F . GOULD .

BRO . FRANCIS DRAKE . Bro . the Rev . VV . C . Lukis , who is editing a volume of correspondence for the Surtees Society , has forwarded to me two extracts from letters addressed b y Francis Drake , Junior G . Warden of the Grand Lodge of All England , to Bro . the Rev . Dr . Stukeley , which are not without a certain amount of interest .

The first is dated July 15 , 1753 , and says , "I heartily wish more unity amongst our brethren . " The second is dated May 25 , 1754 , and says , "lam sorry for the dissentions amongst our brethren . Strange , that this new charter , which surely was designed as a stronger cement to bind them faster together , should make them so loose and ungovernable . " Dr . Stukeley was a Cambridge student of medicine , and practised as a physician at Grantham . Where he was made a Mason I know notbut in a letter written to Samuel

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Gale , Esq ., dated from Grantham 6 th February , 1726-7 , he says : " We have likewise erected a small but well disciplined lodge of Masons , the recommendations of some of my good friends at London . " In 1729 Stukeley took Holy Orders , and was presented to the living of All Hallows , Stamford . His patron was the Duke of Montague , who was Grand Master in 1721 . His brothers-in-law , Roger and Samuel Gale , were also Freemasons .

What lodge at Grantham is referred to by Stukeley ? The present lodge seems to have been warranted in 1 S 20 . Have the Grantham brethren any records of an older lodge ? I do not find mention of any in the published lists . And what does Drake refer to when he speaks of " dissentions " and a " new charter ? " Is he referring to the first Constitutions , and the division between the "Moderns ' and "Ancients ?" T . B . WHYTEHEAD .

. JOSEPH AMES . Bro . Samuel Poynter ' s note of last week affords much welcome information respecting the responsible editor of the Parentalia , and I look for the promised transcript of his epitaph with much interest . According to Nicholl ' s Literary Anecdotes ( 1 S 12 , vol . v ., p . 256 ) , Ames attended Dr . Desagulier ' slectures in 1720 , and after twenty-five years '

labour in collecting and arranging his materials , brought out in 1749 his "Typographical Antiquities , " being an historical account of printing in England , with some memoirs of our antient printers , and a register of the books printed by them , from theyear 1471 to the year 1600 . In a letter from Sir Peter Thomson , F . R . S ., to Dr . Ducarel , dated 12 th May , 17 G 2 , the following appears : —

" In 1755 , in the summer of that year , Mr . Ames pleasured mc with his company here ( Poole ) about three months . That was the time he copied as much of Mr . Hutching's abstract from Aubrey ' s MS . as he chose , On his return to London he formed it into a book of an octavo size , " & c . Taking all circumstances into consideration , viz ., Ames ' acquaintance with Desaguliers ; his editorial (?) supervision

of the Parentalia ; the interest he evinced in a MS . of John Aubrey ' s ; and his membership of the Royal Society , in whose library reposed the especial Aubrey MS . which treats of Wren's initiation , I think it is fairl y inferential that Ames must have deliberately rejected what is now known as the " 1691 theory" of Wren ' s admission into theSociety . I am imperfectly acquainted with the " Typographical

Antiquities , " and other works of Joseph Ames , but I incline to the opinion , that if their phraseology is compared with that of the Parentalia , the same ruggedness of style , and other noticeable peculiarities , will strike the reader as being common to both—thus , it may be , justifying the impression that the Parentalia was not only edited , but actually written by Ames . R . F . GOULD .

IN 1 GO JONES . I am now in correspondence about the best method of ascertaining the exact value of Inigo Jones' MS ., and hope , in a number or so of the Freemason , to report progress . The evidence is , of course , so far "inferential , " but if it can be authenticated , it supports collaterally the verity of the Masonic traditions . It is just possible we shall not arrive at more than this , though I do not give up the hope of yet stumbling on some 17 th century Masonic documents . A . F . A . VV .

TRAVELLING MASONS AND MARK BUILDERS . In VV . Collett Sandars ' s translation of Rosengarten ' s " Architectural Styles , " which I have reviewed more fully in the " Masonic Magazine , " there occurs at p . 2 S 9 the following passages : " Besides the social revolution of the 12 th century , with its efforts to extricate society from the bonds of the Church ( of Rome ) , the fraternities , or guilds , of Masonsfrom whom the Freemasons derive their origin

, , may have contributed greatly to the completion of the pointed arch , the system on all its parts , as well as the unity and harmony of its entirety , being passed from fraternity to fraternity . These fraternities were probably formed as early as the period between the Romanesque and the pointed styles in order to afford counterpoise to the

organization ot the priesthood , tor until the twelfth century architecture in the north of Europe was in the hands of the monks and the clergy , whose prejudices led them to cling to the Romanesque round arch , even in the period of transition , & c . I am not convinced with the exact correctness of such views , but I make a " note" of the subject . MASONIC STUDENT .

COLE'S LIST OF 1770 . Is it worth while to re-publish this list ? I note that it seems to recognize No . 54 , Royal Exchange , Boston , founded in 1733 , as the oldest American lodge . It also contains Solomon ' s Lodge charter form , South Carolina , founded 1735 , a lodge at Savannah , Georgia , founded in I 735 > a second lodge , No . 12 S , founded at Bolton , 1749 . What does Bro . Hughan think of this list ? MASONIC STUDENT . "OUR ENGLISH RITUAL , " No . 1 . __ 'I he editor of the Freemason has written " Notes on our English Ritual" in two parts , and after considerable research as to titles and figures , & c , has given us a rapid resume of the various MSS . and works said to treat of the subject from early last century . In fact , the sketch itself begins before there were Masonic Degrees , and ends at a

period when one more Degree was added to the simple " English Rite . " I say one more , with the full knowledge that it is considered by many not to be a Degree , but the completion of three previous Degrees . It is simply impossible to consider the extensive subject treated by the Rev . Bro . Woodford in the pages of a Masonic paper , or , indeed , other than orally , and hence it

is equally impossible to answer some of the queries mentioned in the articles referred to in print , as they should be done , to explain our position . Many of the works alluded to are of value , and still more are , if not utterly , certainly ritualistically , entirelv -worthless . I have long

studied the various so-called rituals or exposes , as others have done , and each time with the growing conviction of " their being the same , only different , " as the old saying runs , or , in other words , all start with the original " skeleton sermon , " and vary onl y in the clothing . The subject can easily be ^ eonsidered bibliographically , in that respect present * few difficulties , and is one of pecu lia r