Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B ., Senior Vice-President , occupied the President ' s chair ; Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President , took the Senior Vice-President ' s chair ; and Bro . S . Rawson , Past District Grand Master of China , occupied the chair of Junior Vice-President . There were also present Bros . Col . H . S . Somerville

Burney , G . P . Britten , Frank Richardson , William Clarke , Charles Dairy , W . H . Ferryman , W . Mann , Henry J . P . Dumas , John Wright , Chas . Fredk . Hogard , J . M . Case , J . D . Collier , William Stephens , Arthur E . Gladwell , W . M . 172 ; H . Phythian , P . M . 1293 ; C . G . Dilley , P . M . 1155 ; G . Brown , P . M . 169 ; George Roper , M . D ., W . M . 6 9 ; A . W . Wells , W . M . 209 ; Alfred Calais , P . M . 834 ; Albert Fish , W . M . 1366 ; John Skirving ,

W . M . 87 ; ' Walter Spencer , P . M . 263 ; Irvine Harle , I . P'M . 178 ; A . Darch , W . M . 72 ; Thomas Goddard , W . M . 1 445 ; Robert Forster , W . M . 1441 ; James Bake Andrews , W . M . 158 S ; John Beresford , P . M . 104 ; W . J . Edney , W . M . 933 ; Nicholson Brown , P . M . 13 ; G . Gardiner , W . M . 749 ; H . G . Buss , Asst . G . Sec . ; A . A . Pendlebury , W . Dodd ; H . Sadler , G . Tvler ; and H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

The brethren first confirmed grants recommended at last meeting to the amount of £ 330 . They then proceeded to consider the new cases , of which there were twenty-four on the list , The brethren , in the course of a three hours' sitting , dismissed one of these as ineligible , postponed four , and granted to the remainder , ^ 735 , in the following amounts : one £ 250 (^ 250 ); one £ 75 G £ 75 ) ; three £ 40 ( £ 120 ); three £ 30 ( £ 90 ); one £ 25 ( £ 25 ); six £ 20 ( £ 120 ); one £ 15 ( £ 15 ); one £ 10 (^ io ) ; and one £ 5 ( £ 5 ) . The lodge was then closed .

Provincial Priory Of Hampshire.

PROVINCIAL PRIORY OF HAMPSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Priory of Hampshire was held at the Phoenix Rooms , no , High-street , Portsmouth , on Saturday , the 16 th inst ., at three o'clock p . m . ; the V . E . Provincial Prior , W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., presiding . Among those present were Sir Knights W .

Hickman , P . E . P ., Sub-Prior ; J . E . I _ e Feuvre , P . E . P ., E . P . Egbert ; R . W . Bradley , P . E . P . ; R . L . Loveland , P . E . P . ; R . Osborne , E . P . Royal Gloucester ; G . F . Lancaster , E . P . Royal Naval ; R . Dampier Child , F . Newman , E . E . Street , E . S . Main , J . R . Hayman , H . Reed , R . W . Mitchell , and others .

The V . E . PROV . PRIOR congratulated thc Priory on the success of thc Order in the province , and urged thc resuscitation of the William Sluart Preceptory , if possible , during the ensuing year . He then appointed and invested his officers as follows :

Sir Knight W . Hickman - - - - Prov . Sub-Prior . „ ,, Rev . G . H . Dc Frame - Prov . Prelate . „ . „ R . W . Bradley ... p . Chancellor „ ,, G . F . Lancaster . . . Prov . Constable . „ „ R . Osborne - - - - Prov . Marshal . „ ,, G . D . Goodwin - Prov . Registrar .

n T T n „ ni ., n , i f Prov . Vice-Chan ,, ,, K . L .. l ^ ovc ana - - > , ,., ' c . and I reas . ,, „ Fras . Newman ... Prov . Sub-Mars ! „ „ E . E . Street - Prov . Herald . „ „ E . S . Main ... Prov . Chambrlin

„ „ R . W . Mitchell - - - Prov . Capt . ofGs . After the usual business had been transacted , the Provincial Priory was closed in solemn form , and the Knight Companions sat down to a banquet , presided over by the V . E . Provincial Prior , where the customary toasts were oiven and responded to , and an enjoyable evening was spent .

Rosicrucian Society Of England.

ROSICRUCIAN SOCIETY OF ENGLAND .

A meeting of the High Council was held on Thursday , the 14 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , at 3 . 30 . p . m . A communication was read from the Secretary General in Scotia , suggesting that there should be an exchange of representatives between the H . C . of England and Scotland . It was proposed by the

is . S . M .. and seconded by the Sec . Gen ., that Captain Hunter , Hon . 9 , should be appointep the representative of the H . C . of England , at or near the H . C . of Scotland , and that the S . M . be recommended for appointment as representative of Scotland at or near the H . C . of England . The Sec . Gen . was instructed lo again write to certain colleges , and to report thereon at the next meeting of the H . C .

A meeting of the Metropolitan College was afterwards held at thc Freemasons' Tavern at 5 . 30 . The minutes of lhe previous meeting were read and confirmed . A ballot was taken for Bro . George Michley , M . E . Z . 948 , and he was admitted to the Grade of Zclator in due and antient form . It was proposed by the S . S . M ., seconded by the Sec . Gen ., and carried with acclamation that theacting Secretary be instructed to convey to the S . M . the hearty

congratulations of the Metropolitan College on his marriage , and that the same be entered on the minutes . During the meeting a telegram was received from the S . M ., conveying his " Hearty good wishes " to thc Metropolitan College , and regretting his inability to attend the meeting . The following brethren were amongst those present at the meeting : Fras . II . C .

Levander , S . S . M ., acting as M . of F . ; C . C . Peck , Hon . 9 , Sec . Gen ., acting as C . of N . and Secretary ; Charles Hunter , Hon . 9 in Scotia , acting as ist Antient ; E . H . Thiellay , 7 th Antient , acting as 2 nd Antient ; Major F . Dunbar , acting as 3 rd Antient ; H . Lardncr , acting as 4 th Antient ; and John Gilbert , Acolyte .

Letters of apology and regret for non-attendance were received from many of the fratres . There being no other business before the college il was closed in due and antient form . The fratres then adjourned to their customary banquet .

Early Use Of The Word Freemason.

EARLY USE OF THE WORD FREEMASON .

HY . MASONIC STUDENT . Mr . Wyatt Papworth ' s interesting letter to Bro . Gould in the last Freemason opens out several " points " which il is important for us lo note and keep belore us . 1 . So far the earliest verified use of thc word " Freemason " was in Wm .

Early Use Of The Word Freemason.

Horwood's contract to build Fotheringay Chapel , 1435 , though E . W . Shaw had mentioned in 1862 , without a reference to distinct words , that in the Exeter Fabric Rolls there were entries of the word " Freemason " in 1396 , i 397 » 1427 * and l 43 ° - 2 . Steinbrenner says there is a use in 1396 of " Lathomos vocatos Ffremaceons , " and Mr . Wyatt Papworth now courteously tells us , that no doubt

the reference is taken from one of his valuable papers read before the Society of British Architects , and republished in the old " Freemasons' Magazine , " at any rate partially , in 1 S 62 . In this he is clearly correct . I think those papers are well worth reprinting " consentiente Mr . Papworth . " He also tells us that the words are taken from " Rymer ' s Fcedera , " " an unquestionable

reference , " as he adds , and are , as Steinbrenner puts it , with this addition , " Lathomos vocatos , ligiers "—probably "layers . " Thus , then , we get to this fact , that the word " Freemason " was in use in 1396 , the end of the 14 th century , forty-one years before the contract of Fotheringay . It is jus possible , as I have often pointed out , that we may yet find an earlier use of this well-known word .

3 . It is interesting to note the use of , as Mr . Papworth mentions , at Exeter , of " Sementarius " and " Latharius . " The reason why I said that Mr . Papworth took practically the same view as mine , that "Freemason " is of 15 th century use , is to be found from his words reported , whether correctly or not I cannot profess to say , in " Freemasons' Magazine for January , 1862 .

There , at p . 7 , he is reported as saying , " In the ( 13 th ) century one Henry wassurnamed Latomus . In the 15 th ' century Mastcr Masons were found to be so designated when employed at Westminster Abbey . In the same century contracts were made by persons described as Freemasons and Warden Masons . "

4 . It has always seemed to mc that there has been a " sequence " in thc use of words , from century to century , beginning with Cemenlarii , Latomi , Latami , Macons , Masonns , Freemaceons , and Freemasons , lhat I have been accustomed to treat Freemason as the latest in use . It maj ' , however , not be so . In my view of the whole case I shall be quite content to have an early use of Frcmaceon or Freemason .

5 . Mr . Papworth winds up his valuable communication by saying that he does not think Freemason has anything to do with Free and Accepted . I hardly , I confess , understand what is his real " contention " in such words . He cannot ignore the fact of his own reference in the first place , which qualifies "lathomos" by thecquivalcntorsynonym , orexplanation , "Fremaceons . " What , I presume , he means to imply is , that the Fremaceons of 1396 had

nothing lo do with thc Freemasons of 1717 . But that is a very wide and difficult question , and would lead me into a tract of country at a distance from our present limited area of discussion . I do not for one moment suppose that Mr . Wyatt Papworth , wilh all his technical knowledge , will endorse Mr . Halliwell's view , that " Freemason " means simply " free-stone Mason . "

C . Surely if thc " Macons , " for they were also called " Masouns , " " Masonns , " " Massouns , " were termed in addition Fremaceon— "Freemason "—they were " free " of something . " Free " of what , then ? Surely of the " Guild " which played such a part , hardly yet realized by us , in the social life of the mcdia 3 val times in England .

But here I stop for to-day , gratified to think that Mr . Papworth has made good Mrs . Glass ' s famous recipe , " Before you cook a hare first ' catch ' it . " He has given us a reference !

Connection Of Freemasons And Templars.

CONNECTION OF FREEMASONS AND TEMPLARS .

UY BRO . COL . \ V . J . B . MACLEOD MOORE , G . PRIOR COMMANDER . My views with respect to the origin of thc Templar Order , and its connection with Freemasonry , have been considerably modified ; however , it is the privilege of every one to change his views as new sources of information are brought to his knowledge . I cannot agree wilh the learned author of a "Consise History of the Templar Order , " who docs not think the Ancient Order ever found any shelter in the Masonic Body ; he holds lhat Masonry , as a speculative mailer , did not exist until the time of Elias Ashmole .

I here is very httlc doubt that during the early days of the Templar Order , when in lhe zenith of their power and wealth , a connection did exist between the two bodies . Those warrior monks , when assisting at the erection of the magnificent churches and cathedrals that still remain , and constructing their houses and preceptories , employed the Fraternity of Freemasons skilled in ecclesiastical architecture , not the mere builders of walls or stone

masons , but the scientific leaders of the Craft , many of whom were of high rank and great learning , and whose chief patrons were the Order of Benedictine monks , who had also drawn up the Rule lor the Templars . This affinity between them probably tended to promote a feeling of sympathy at the time of the persecution of the Templar Order , when its members , denounced and dispersed , sought refuge and concealment amongst those they had at time

one employed in their service . Although the rule of the Order required the knights to be of noble birth , men of all professions and ranks of society were to be found who had allied themselves to thc Order , either by affiliation or by joining thc class of " Freres Servientes , " such as the squires , men-at-arms , artisans , & c , to whom , in common with the knights , the confiscation of the property of the Order had brought utter ruin and desolation .

ihe Masonic Fraternity , no doubt , were glad and proud to assist men who had belonged to an Order so famous as the Templars , and who were still capable and anxious to render themselves useful to the secret Fraternity of Builders , whose intercourse ( from their wandering life ) wilh people of various nations , views and beliefs , disposed them to offer shelter to a body of men persecuted for the more liberal opinions they had entertained in

advance of lhe age . By this connection of the Templars with the skilled architects and workmen of the Masonic Fraternity , who were patronised and constantly employed in the architectural services of the religious houses until about the period of the Reformation , we may infer that the usages and ceremonies of the Templar Order were preserved from complete annihilation .

1 his is thc theory of the origin ol the present Templar Society—known as the " Direct descent theory , " to distinguish it from that of the Masonic origin Templary , so frequently and inconlestably shown lo be a mere fiction . It certainly bears the mark of reason and probability that some of the members of the great Order of the Temple , at its dissolution , found refuge and protection by joining a secret society , with the leading memberf , of which they had been formerly intimate . — Keystone .