Original Correspondence.

" The lodge was soon after regularly constituted by the officers of the Ancient Grand Lodge . . . Having increased considerably in numbers , it was found necessary to move to the Horn Tavern , in Fleet-street , where it continued for some time , till that house being unable to furnish proper accommodations , it was removed to Scot ' s

Hall , Blackfriars . There it continued to flourish about two years , when the decayed state of that building obliged them to remove to the Half Moon Tavern , Cheapside , where it continued to meet for a considerable time . " At length Mr . Preston and some other of the members having joined a lodge under the regular English

Constitution , at the Talbot , in the Strand , they prevailed on the rest of the lodge at the Half Moon Tavern to petition [ the Grand Lodge of England ] for a Constitution . Lord Blaney , at that time G . M ., readily acquiesced with the desire of the brethren , and the Iodge was soon after constituted a

second time in ample form by the name of ' The Caledonian Lodge . ' The ceremonies observed , and the numerous assembly of respectable brethren who attended the Grand Officers on this occasion , must long be remembered to the honour of that Iodge . " The writer of the above admitted that he wrote from

memory , and I am compelled to come to the conclusion that his memory proved treacherous . He tells us that Preston , when eighteen years of age , arrived in London , and soon after his arrival some Edinburgh brethren petitioned the Edinburgh Grand Lodge for a warrant ; the said G . M . declined to grant the Constitution , but recommended the

Scotch brethren to the Ancients , who immediately granted them a dispensation to make Masons . Preston was initiated under that dispensation , and the Iodge was soon after regularly constituted , Sec . The repeated mention of " soon after " would lead one to suppose that the lodge at the White Hart Tavern

originated in 1760 , or at least not later than 17 G 1 . Again , he says , " Having increased considerably in numbers it was ; found necessary to remove to the Horn Tavern , . , where ] it continued for . some time , till the house being unable to furnish accommodation , it was removed to Scots' Hall . . . . Here it continued to flourish

for about two years . " Then the lodge removed to thc Half Moon . We may naturally infer that some years at least must have intervened between the removal of the lodge to the Half Moon Tavern , Cheapside , and its final secession from the jurisdiction of the Ancients . Now , first , the lodge " increased considerably in

numbers , " as to oblige it to remove to the Horn Tavern . Lodges , however , are not apt to increase very rapidly in numbers ; our lodge must , therefore , have continued to meet at the White Hart at least from six months to a year . Next , the Iodge continued to meet at the Horn Tavern for some time ; then it met at Scots' Hall for about tivo

years . The lodge then removed to the Half Moon , where , as already remarked , it continued for some time under the rule of the Ancients . By putting the soon afters in the beginning of the narrative with the some times in the after part , adding thereto the about two years the lodge remained at the Scots' Hall , we must come to the conclusion that the lodge received a dispensation from the Ancients

not later than 1761 , and that Preston was then initiated , and the lodge continued under the rule of the Ancients for at least , say , four or five years . But , thanks to Bro . Gould's "Atholl Lodges , " and to the lodge lists in his " Four Old Lodges , " I am enabled to prove Bro . Stephen Jones ' s | errors . First , in the " Atholl Lodges , " p . 22 , may be seen the following notice of the Iodge at the White Hart , with the date of its constitution by thc Ancients .

[ No ] " III ., White Hart , Strand , London , [ constituted ] April 20 th , 17 63 . " Here , then , the date of its constitution by the Ancients is proved , and as the writer of the 1 795 memoir of Preston informed | us that Lord Blaney granted the same lodge a charter when it assumed the name of " Caledonian Lodge , "

and knowing that Lord Blaney was Grand Master of the Moderns from May Sth , 17 G 4 , to April 27 th , 17 G 7 , I , therefore consulted our Bro . Gould ' s " Four Old Lodges , " and on p . Go I found the date of the Half Moon Lodge , when it was chartered by Lord Blarney , viz ., " 325 . Half Moon , Cheapside , ye Caledonian Lodge ,

Nov . 15 , 17 G 4 . " Thus , instead of years intervening between its origin as an Ancient Lodge and its final absorption by the Moderns , it in reality remained under the rule of the Ancients not quite nineteen months . But what has become of the Caledonian Lodge of 17 G 4 ?

is it still alive or not ? Before I proceed to answer these questions I must inform the younger readers of the Frccmason that as lodges ] arc ' ^ mortal , and many lodges have from time to time become extinct , the Grand Lodge of England has at different periods expunged the dead lodges from her | Iodge listsand pushed the hinder lodges

, higher up to the vacant numbers . For instance , Lodge No . 2 ( one of the Four Old Lodges ) , died before 1740 . In that year the Grand Lodge , for the first time , winnowed out all the extinct lodges from her lodge list ; the then No . 3 was promoted to No . 2 , and all the succeeding lodges on

the list were pushed up to higher numbers . But as twenty or more other lodges had become extinct by the end of ' 739 , the last lodge on the list of 1739 was , therefore , pushed up on the list of 1740 some twenty or more numbers higher than it held in 1739 . Such re-numbering of wages took place in 1 740 , 1756 , 1770 , 1781 , 1792 , 1814 ,

Original Correspondence.

1 S 32 , and 1 S 63 . Bros . Hughan and Gould have furnished lodge lists of the above periods , and have placed beside each lodge its previous numberas well as the new number . Bro . Gould ' s lodge lists extend to 1792 ; and Bro . Hughan , in his " Masonic Memorials , " gave a lodge list , showing the changes in the numbers of the respective lodges in

1 S 14 , 1 S 3 S , and 1 SG 3 . By the aid of the said lodge lists I was easily enabled to trace the career of thc Caledonian Lodge from 1764 to 1 S 74 , when Bro . Hughan ' s book was printed . Thus I have already quoted from Bro . Gould's lodge list that the Caledonian Lodge was chartered by Lord Blaney in 1763 ; next let us sec what the 1770 lodge list has to say about that ^ Iodge .

LODGE LIST , 1770 . Old No . New No . 325 . 2 G 3 . Caledonian Lodge , Half Moon , Cheapside , Nov . 15 , 17 G 4 . There . Bro . Stephen Jones was right in saying that the lodge continued to meet at the Half Moon "for a considerable time . " And now for

LODGE LIST , 17 S 1 . Old No . New No . " 2 G 2 . 211 . Caledonian Lodge , Freemasons'Tavern , Gt . Queen-st . " " 211 . 180 . Caledonian Lodge , Half Moon Tavern , Gracechurch-st . "

I have detailed how the Caledonian Lodge was ' successively pushed up on the Iodge lists from No . 325 to No . 1 S 0 . But in 1 S 13 the Union of the Ancients and Moderns took' place , and in order to gratify the conceit of the Ancients their lodges were devctailed between thc lodges of thc Moderns , hence at the re-numbering of the lodges

in iS 14 , Caledonian Lodge of 17 G 4 was pushed down on thc list from No . 1 S 0 to No . 21 S . But in 1 S 32 it was pushed up from 21 S to No . 156 , and in 1 SG 3 its present number was assigned to it , viz ., No . 134 . From Bro . Hughan ' s list of 1 S 14 I learn that in that year Caledonian Lodge met in Fleet-street , and in 1 S 74 it held its meetings

in Leadenhall-street . "The Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar of 1 SS 1 " shows not only where the said lodge meets now , but also that it is the identical Caledonian Lodge which was constituted in 17 G 4 , viz . : " 134 . Caledonian , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-street , 17 G 4 . "

That Preston was initiated in the same lodge , now No . 134 , there can be no doubt . But as to taken he was initiated , unless the Iodge had preserved its oldest records , cannot be answered with certainty . However , if the exact date of Preston's initiation cannot be proved , we can at least come very near it . In the first place , thc Ahiman

Rezon required a candidate to bc twenty-five years old , and although the Grand Master ' s dispensation might have been used in certain cases , yet , as Preston was not quite twenty-one years old even when the lodge was constituted , it is not likely that he was initiated before 17 G 3 . Second , Bro . Stephen Jones says that soon after he was initiated

the lodge was regularly constituted , and though Bro . Jones wrote from memory , and was consequently apt to be inaccurate , yet , in this case he may bc correct . And third , Dr . Mackey , in his "Cyclopaedia" states on the authority of Laurie , that a lodge in question did not ' petition the Grand Lodge of Scotland for a charter before 1762 . I

could not find that statementin "Laurie ' s History , " though it may be there , or he may have stated so elsewhere . If , therefore , Laurie did make that statement , and if the present Grand Secretary of Scotland would please to confirm the said statement , I think that no doubt could bc afterwards entertained that Preston was initiated cither late in

17 G 2 or early in 17 G 3 . Preston is not my favourite Masonic historian ; his faults however were due to the age he lived in . But whatever his faults may have been , his works contain many valuable materials for the use of the forthcoming Masonic historian . Besides which , Bro . Preston did not write for the purpose of making money out of

Masonry ; he was not only unselfish , but even generous , and was certainly regarded for many years by the Craft at large as the most distinguished Masonic writer of the last century , and so he really was . The brethren of Caledonia may , therefore , well be proud of belonging to William Preston's mother lodge . Should they , therefore , be pleased

with my investigation and demonstration they must thank Bros . Gould and Hughan for if . ; not merely thank them with words , which cost nothing , but each of its members who can afford it should show his appreciation of the labours of those distinguished writers by immediately supplying himself with their works , which suggested the

information herein given . The Masonic Magazine of 1 795 was known to Bros . Mackey , Mackenzie , Woodford , and other Encyclopaedists , but their work's were written before Bro . Gould's work appeared ; hence , with all their industry and learning the inhere and vihcn of Preston ' s initiation

was a puzzle to them , and I venture to assert that if Bro . Gould's and Bro . Hughan's works had not been printed , the question of Preston ' s initiation would havelcontinued a puzzle to all the future Encyclopedists until doomsday . Fraternally and respectfully yours ,

JACOB NORTON . Boston , U . S ., July 4 th , 18 S 1 . MASONS' MARKS . Dear Bro . Kenning , — In reply to Bros . Lamonby and Vernon and other correspondents , I beg to say that I hope , either in the August or September number of the "Masonic Magazine , "

Original Correspondence.

to reproduce Bro . Creed ' s able paper thereanent , recently alluded to in the Freemason , with the special 'and kindly consent of all concerned . For this concession Masonic students will feel great [ obligation to those who have acceded to thc request made , in so genial and helpful a manner . I am , yours fraternally , THE EDITOR OF YOUR "CYCLOPAEDIA . "

THE FIRST AND MOST EMINENT MASON IN THE WORLD . To the Editor of the J'Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , —¦ This phrase struck my attention forcibly in the last Freemason . Agreeing with much your correspondent

from Cairo— " A 33 ° " —says , especially as regards our very distinguished visitor and . brother , King Kalakaua , I cannot quite concur in such a description of Bro . Albert Pike . No doubt he is a most worthy and zealous Mason ; he is a very distinguished personage , and leading authority in

the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . But to say that he is the " first and most eminent Mason in the world " is an exaggeration of terms , and is neither correct nor justifiable as an assertion . There are many Masons who could be named who , both from their researches , their learning , their eloquence , and

their extended Masonic knowledge , can compete with any brother , and even with Bro . Albert Pike , for such a character . But though I say this , I am second to none in my admiration of Bro . Albert Pike ' s services to the Ancient and Accepted Rite , for instance , and his general Masonic acquirements , and I have long been taught to regard him ,

in his Masonic arena , with much respect and admiration . He is undoubtedly one of the chief " lights " of modern Freemasonry . Is my good brother "A 33 " an American ? If so , he has , perhaps , fallen into the "hyperbole , " amusingly

mentioned , if I remember rightly , by "Sam Slick , " where a citizen of the Great Republic watching the Guards admiringly in Canada , some years ago , said , self-consolingly and decidedly to his Canadian friend , "The Britishers , can whip all the world , and Tt'ecan whip the Britishers , " Yours fraternally , FRIENDLY PROTEST .

AFFECTED ENGLISH . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In this hot weather , and at this special season of the year when "Masonry" has become rather languid and " used up , " some little " copy" helps a despairing editor .

So I send you a few curt remarks on that affectation of spelling and pronunciation which seems coming like a " wave" over us , and which does , in my opinion , "fearful despite" to the purity and perfection of the " Queen ' s English . " Not that argument is of much avail . I have noticed that , as regards the " fads" of the day , they most are

above argument and despise " ratiocination . " In such cases perhaps "chaff" is the best weapon we can employ . The American papers contain several illustrations of this prevailing folly , which , as " hits , " deserve our notice . I take these , which may amuse us in the hot weather , and when we want something to relieve the despairing influence of constant perspiration .

No . I . " There is a young lady of St . Croix , Who is ' gone' on a clever young boix , They swing on the gate , Both early and late , And their lives are o'ergushing with joix . "

No . II . " An old yellow dog in Cologne , Ran away with an old woman's bogne ; But the wrathful old crogne , Hit him twice with a stogne , And 'twas dreadful to hear the dog grogne . "

No . III . ; " There was a young girl of Eua Claire , Who was witty , and good , and scau faire , All the other girls found , . That when she was around , They were just counted out as neau whare . " Accept my " warm " salutation , and believe me , yours fraternally , A LOVER OF OLD ENGLISH .

BRADLAUGH IN THE SURREY MASONIC HALL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — On Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., a meeting was held in the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New-road , to protest against the exclusion of Mr . Bradlaugh from

Parliament , when the infidel agitator announced that it was his intention to commit a breach of the law by forcing his way into the House of Commons on August the 3 rd . 1 do not know whether the right of letting the above hall rests with the brethren by whom it is frequented , but if the proprietorship is in their hands they are surely guilty of

very un-Masonic practices in granting the use of it to an avowed atheist , and in thus manifesting their sympathy with one who insults and defies that God whom all wellordered members of the Craft revere . With what degree of consistency can we exclude from our lodges the French Masons , who have eliminated the Deity from their ritual , if we give the right hand of fellowship to the zany who "lias