Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

selves Masons , who know no more how to lay a Srick or a Stone as it should be laid , than they know how to make a Hog play upon a Flute , or a Horse understand Algebra . " That Sir , which gives the greatest Gloss

and Lustre to thoir Cabal , is this , viz . That they have artfully drawn up some Great Names , into their wild Latitudinarian Measures : This I cannot in the least wonder at ; for great Men are but Men , and as apt to run into giddy , whimsical

Schemes as their Inferiors . Excellent was the Observation of the Buzite where he says , Great Men are not always wise : and I really looked upon some certain Gentlemen among them , however otherwise dignified and distinguished ,

to be just such another Decoration to the Free-Masons , as Julian and Maxertius were to Atheism ; or Constantius and Valens , to the Arian Heresy . "I protest , SIR , I had like to have forgotten

one Man , who makes a most Il-Lustrious Figure amongst ' em ; and stiles himself R . S . S ., and LL . D . He makes wonderful Brags of being of the Fifth Order : I presume ( as he is a Mason ) he means the Fifth Order of Architecture ;

which is otherwise call'd , The Compound Order : and by it , one would be tempted to imagine that the Doctor is a Composition of Maggots and Enthusiasm . One thing there is , which makes me more bold in affirming this ;

and this is it . —The Doctor pretends he has found out a Mysterious , Hocus-pocus Word , and that against whomsoever he ( as a Member of the Fifth Order ) shall pronounce this terrible Word , the Person shall instantly drop down dead .

I cannot imagine how the Doctor came by this powerful word ; unless he found it in Rablais ' s Pantagruel ; or in Doctor Fuller ' s Dispensatory ; which are two great Repositories of

Incomprehensible Nonsense . I'll take all the Care I can , to keep out of the Doctor ' s Way ; for I am sure if he meets me , and knows me , out comes the great MILLESYLLARICUM , and I ' m as dead as William the Conqueror . "

Bro . John Yarker has drawn attention to this letter again of late , and the subject certainly is far from being exhausted , for it has not yet received the careful study it deserves , curious and important as it is . w . j . H .

DUNSFORD ' HISTORY OK TIVERTON , PUBLISHED IN 1790 , Part - 5 , Antiquities , Public Buildings , & c , p . 383 . " The Freemasons have a lodge at the Angel Inn , suitably decorated . It was established the

2 nd of November , 1767 , 3 ! the Vine Tavern in Gold Street , by the name of All Souls' Lodge in St . John ' s Hall , and consisted of six brothers j at present there are seventeen members . " " The mysteries of this society , and the private

signs by which the brethren are distinguished , are known , it is supposed , only to themselves . The Masonic Institution is said to be promotive of friendship , society , mutual assistance , and good fellowship , architecture , ancient and modern , with all the proportions , form , it is judged ,

the basis , on which is erected a system of ethics , by no means injurious to the peace and happiness of mankind ; a comprehensive knowledge of this , as of all other sciences , cannot be attained , it is said , even by the brethren , without due enquiry and proper application . "

The above Lodge was _ . o . 226 in 1792 ( when the numbers were altered ) , No . 268 at A . D . 1781 , and 343 from A D . 1770 . It was removed to Weymouth before the ' Union ot A . D . 1813 , " at which period it became 213 . At the numbering in 1832 it was

again changed to 199 , and from A . D . 1863 it has remained at 170 . It was the first lodge that obtained a warrant for the Centenary jewel under the new system ( A . D . 1867 ) , oral all events was the first to pay the fee of five guineas for such a valuable document .

w . j . H . CURIOUS FRONTISPIECE . The Freemasons' Repository , published by J , Sketchley , Birmingham ( pp . 44 ) contains a

curious frontispiece , which is rarely found now in any of the few copies which now and then occur for sale . Out of three that we have seen it is only - -reserved in one copy .

Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

The first part of the engraving represents a "five pointed star , " over which is placed a circle , and around the latter are the words "A Mason ' s chief and only care , Is how to live within the square . "

"Wisdom strength and beauty . ' Various Masonic emblems are also arranged within the circle . The lower figure represents a circle , within which are certain characters easily recognised by Masonic students , and the following is the

inscription : — " This figure properly explained will be of great use to the Fraternity . " We may refer to this work again ere long . It is curious also to note that it was a Bro . j .

Sketchley , whose name occurs around the rim of a "Masonic Token " in 1794 . He was distinguished as a man as well as a Mason evidently , as the letters R . A ., and F . G . S . were placed after his name . w . j . 11 .

CERTIFICATE OF AN EXTINCT LODGE AT - BATH . Our good friend and Bro . Dr . H . Hopkins ( P . Prov . S . G . W . Warwickshire ) , has just sent us a certificate ( transcript ) as follows , to unravel , knowiner our taste for such matters . We have

gladly hunted up the particulars , and find that Lodgeof Virtue was originally chartered on June 6 th , 1769 . We cannot decide as to its original number , as our old lists end 1768 , and the new do not commence until iyy 6 . Ihe lodge was then No . 380 , and held at the Queen ' s Head Tavern ,

Cheap Street , Bath . The numbers were altered in 1770 , and again in 1781 , when its position was raised to 294 , and in 178 4 met at York House in the same city . Another alteration was made in 1 792 , the lodge then being numbered on the roll as 246 , the members assembling at the White Lion , Market Place . Immediately

before the union the lodge held its meetings in the Castle Inn , near St . Michael ' s Church , and after the two rival Grand Lodges had united , the Lodge of Virtue became 311 on the roll , and must have collapsed a few years afterwards . The warrant was issued by the " Moderns , " or in other words the regular Grand Lodge .

w . j . II . " LODGE OF VIRTUE , " ( No . 3 . ) "These are to Certify that Bro . Thomas Rowland , of the City of Bath , was at the age of Twenty Seven years regularly initiated into the

mysteries of Masonry in this Lodge , on the 15 th day of December , 1817 , was passed on the and day of February , 1818 , and raised to the Degree of Master Mason on the 8 th day May , 1818 , and we having found him to be a worthy Brother do recommend him to all Masons and

Lodges to be received after due examination . To this Certificate the said Brother has in our presence , signed his name at full length in the margin . In testimony whereof we have subscribed our names in open Lodge this 19 th day of August , A . D . . 1818 . A . L . 5 818 . JAMES HISCOCKS , W . M .

GILLMORE IONES , S . W . JAS . GOULD , J . W . JOHN BENNETT , SECHBTAI * .. THOMAS ROWLAND . Let Prudence direct you ; Temperance

chasten you ; Fortitude support you ; and Justice be the guide of all your actions ; be especially careful to maintain in their fullest splendour those truly Masonic Ornaments which have already been amply illustrated—Benevolence and Charity .

PtMishcd tsl Jitlt / , 1816 , by Bro . R . W Silvester , 27 , Strand , London , Engraver lo the Grand Lodsre .

LISTS OF OLD MASONIC LODGES . Pine , from A . D . 1723 , issued an engraved List of Lodges by authority of the Grand Lodge of England . One of that year is in the library of our Grand Lodge , and so also of the year 1725 . None , however , are preserved in "Freemasons' Hall" between 1725 and 1736 .

Surely some of these missing links are about the country , and if so , we shall be delighted to hear of their whereabouts . In the Masonic Magazine for November we had printed a

Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

transcript of one of these , until recently missing links , viz ., of 1734 , and now wc are anxious to discover a still earlier issue , particularly any for the years 1729 to 1733 inclusive . We fraternally invite the co-operation of the

Craft in this enterprise , and most cordially promise our part shall be done to make the result known to all whom it may concern . In tha Masonic Magazine for January , 1877 , we shall have a reprint of the List of Lodges iu Ihe Pocket Companion of A . D . 1 733 , published at Dublin . w . j . u .

Two Christmas Eves.

TWO CHRISTMAS EVES .

Without , the trees are swerving , With wild , uncertain curving—For the wind is howling sadly , and all is dull and drear .

Whilst listening to its moaning , Its sighing and its groaning , Comes back to me the memory of many a bygone year 1

II . Within , are merry faces , Glad with a thousand graces '; Whilst berries red mock maiden lips ' midst loving

mistletoe I As bright eyes flash the bri ghter , And every heart grows lighter—Beneath the cheery influence of Christmas' ruddy glow .

III . When snow-flakes down are floating , Whilst a weird and rimy coating Weaves its mystic , lace-like pattern all o ' er the window .

pane ; E ' en when the fire burns brightest , E ' en when the laugh is lightest , I mind me of those dear old times ne ' er to come back again 1

IV . That silvery laughter ringing Sad memory is bringing , That Christmas time was once to me as merry and as

gay—Now every smile and gladness Is mingled with a sadness , Of pledges made—since broken—on that dull December day I

V . How well can I remember That drear day in December I We whispered in yon curtained bay , in accents low and few :

A soft white hand I pressed there , Whilst a trembling voice confessed there , Words of love so lovingly that I'd fain believe them true I

VI . That that sweet voice was lying , 'Twixt smiling and ' twixt sighing , In the bitterest of anguish I will ne ' er consent to own ; Yet no fond face is near me , To smile upon or cheer mc , At Christmas , as in days agone—I sit and muse alone .

VII . Can true love be more rare now , Or beauty e ' en less fair now , And hearts composed of sterner stuff to those of former

times ? For Christmas seems less cheery—Indeed , bygone and weary—Most unutterably dreary to him who pens these rhymes I

VIII . Thus often in the gloaming My saddened thoughts are roaming—Whilst winter winds are blowing , and the fire is burning

low , As I sit here nnd ponder , My memory will wander To hopes and joys of Christmas on that night of long ago . A . ' . ST __„ T-- < Boudoir Ballads . "