Original Correspondence.

A SAD CASE OF SICKNESS AND DESTITUTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In this town we have the proprietor of an itinerant marionette theatre very dangerously ill of inflammation of the lungs and bronchitis , which was brought on by exposure to

the weather and want of food . There being his wife and eight little children ( eldest only eleven years ) make it a case of peculiar distress . Our Almoner has given 25 . Gd ., which he says is all he can do for them . We are anxious to raise a few pounds to prevent their starving , and to send them into the manufacturing district on his recovery , where he will have a better chance of earning a living .

Our brother was initiated , & c , in the Thistle Operative Lodge , 15 S Dundee , in 1864 , to which lodge we have applied . Will you allow this to appear in your valuable paper , as an appeal to the Craft generally , to help a brother in distress . All enquiries and any sums sent will be gratefully acknowledged and answered by yours fraternally , G . A . JEFFERIES , P . S . VV . 591 ,

St . Mary s Boys School , Aylesbury , Bucks , and C . F . W 1 SKINE , Aylesbury . Aylesbury , Dec . iSth . [ At this Christmas season , and under the special aspects of the case , we depart from our usual rule and print the appeal of our corespondent . —ED . F . M . " ]

Reviews

REVIEWS

GENEKOI KANONISMOI . KANONTSMOS TES STOAS PUTHAGORAS . We are indebted to the energetic editor , Bro . Professor Em Galani , of the Athenian Masonic paper Puthagoras ( we think it is called ) , for this printed copy of the laws of the Grand Lodge of Greece , and the Bye-laws of the Puthagoras Lodge . If any Greek brother , or any brother who reads modern Greek wishes to see them , by writing to the Editor , they are heartily at his service .

CHRISTMAS BOOKS AND CHRISTMAS CARDS . Their name is positively "legion , " as if to demonstrate unmistakcably how great and far extending is the influence and attraction which Christmas has on all families , on society , on the world to-day ; and we are pleased to note the fact , for fact it is , full of pleasant thoughts and healthy associations . Despite the wonted and somewhat callous way of the

world ; notwithstanding some counterbalancing motives , and some less commendable results , it surely is a matter deeply and truly to be rejoiced at , that if Christmas comesbut once a year , when it does come , it appears laden with all those genial and graceful associations which lend ! decorous grace to simple tastes , and those aesthetic and pervading influences which shed pleasure and refinement

on contrasted walks and callings of life . There is a remarkable outcome of true-hearted sympathy and goodwill , which is developed in Christmas trees and Christmas gifts ,, and Christmas rejoicing gatherings , which is evidenced by that thoughtful consideration evinced for others , by the giving of happiness to young and old , in graceful souvenirs and appropriate mementos . Numberless just now are the

preparations and efforts made to light up many a cornel } shrine of home affection and sympathy for the meeting of old friends , for the assembly of young and joyous . spirits And finally , it is a sign of the times commendable and good in itself . At a period when the tendency of much of the common routine of existence is to render us selfish and materialistic , thinking a good deal of

ourselves and our little comforts , and wants , and doings , and perhaps not quite enough as regards others like us , equally our fellow mortals here , it is a very happy and appropriate idea , which makes us , at Christmas time especially , think of others , and place for others , and try to pleasure others . Anything which brings us all closer together , anything which gives us more sympathy for one another ,

anythingwhich tends to close in as to a common centre contrasted classes , anything which seeks to heal the ever open wounds or common suffering humanity , is a good thing , depend upon it , tor us all , for the world , and for mankind . Therefore let us welcome Christmas once again , —King Christmas , — with rejoicing hearts and grateful sympathies , and let us be glad to think that our lot is , after all , cast in an age where .

amid many shortcomings , social amenities and humanitarian tendencies are neither ignored nor forgotten . When too much praise can hardly be awarded to numerous good friends of ours for their supply of Christmas delicacies , it almost seems injudicious , if not inviduous , to individualize . We may we think , however , fairly mention the Queen ' s printers , Messrs . De La Rue , M . Mc Michael , Messrs . Houghton ,

Parkins and Gotto , Messrs . Cassell , Petter , and Galpin , Messrs . Dean , Mr . lindean , and those excellent London and other societies which supply such excellent literature for old and young . Messrs . Dean and Son send us some excellent specimens of chromo-printed toy books , which we can cordially recommend to the attention of parents and guardians at this festive season . The chromo illustrations are beautifully

transparent and delicate , and the designs chaste and artistic . "Tiny Lawn Tennis" is a charming book , the designs being by the same artist as the " Children ' s Kettle Drum , " so popular last season . " Dottie ' s Pets , " "The Light of the Nursery , " by an American artist , and " Lambert s Sunny Hours " are all excellent in their way , full of characteristic sketches and richly-coloured pictures . Messrs . Dean and Son are the oldest producers of children ' s books , we think , in London ; and it is very gratifying to I ' md that they are but rather

not content to rely on their past reputations , anticipate than follow the public taste in the direction of high class literature for children . Grant ' s Christmas Annual this year is by R . E . 1 'iancillan , and is called "Ouits atLast ; an Account in Seven Items . " Thestory issuflicTently btrange and sensational to satisfy the desires of those who seek for an extra supply of these qualities in Christmas literature , and the whole is well told , as might be expected from this author ; there are no illus-

Reviews

trations this year , which we take to mean that Mr . Francillan ' s name alone is a sufficient attraction to readers .

THE CITY DIARY . Collingridge and Sons , City Press , Aldersgate-street . This annual has attained its twentieth year , which is , we think , sufficient proof of its excellence and usefulness . It appears to contain everything required to be known about the City and its Institutions , from the Lord Mayor and Corporation to the Ward Beadles , while the Diary proper is well arranged , and printed on capital paper .

MUSIC . THE PARTING TOAST , GALOP . — "Happy to meet , sorry to part , happy to meet again . By GEORGE MILLER . This is a spirited composition which wc can cordially recommend , not only for the ball room but to home musicians .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

94 ] HISTORIES OK FREEMASONRY . Two histories of Freemasonry , in French , have quite recently , for the first time , come before my notice , to which 1 think well to call attention . One is " La Franc Maconncrie dans sa veritable Signification , " & c . It is edited by the Abbe Gyr , a priest of the Diocese of Liege . It is taken from the German of Eckert . It is in two volumes , and was published in 1 S 54 , by J . G . Lardinois , n , Rue

Seeurs-de-Hasque , Liege , Belgium . It is a Roman Catholic view and attack on Freemasonry , marked by much silliness and unfairness , though professedly written in a critical , historical , and impartial spirit . The Abbe Gyr follows implicitly Eckert , who is fully convinced that Freemasonry is Gnostic or Manichiean in its origin ; was reproduced by the Templars , who had learned a philosophic Deism in the East ; was identical with the Illuminati ; was the "fautor" of the

first French Revolution ; the propagandist of unbelieving views generally ; and , since the Masonic Congress at Strasbourg , in 1 S 4 S , has been employed in disseminating destructive and Agnostic principles ; being entirely inimical to religion wherever it is found . Such is the " outcome " of these two serious volumes , translated , as we said before , from a German work . I need not point out to your readers the utter absurdity of the whole of the

author ' s and translator ' s arguments and conclusions . Theylhoth lay great stress on the so-called Masonic Congress of 1 S 4 S , at Strasbourg , which is a myth . Any such meeting had nothing to do with Freemasonry , though among some of the ardent political partizans there assembled , some may have been Freemasons . But it is not be wondered at that such views are propounded , for as wc said before the work is simply a translation from the German of

a Saxon lawyer , Ed . Em . Eckert , at Dresden , published first I believe in 1 S 51 , though I have not seen it . He was a bitter enemy to Freemasonry , and a Roman Catholic , and professed to have discovered , according to his translator , the secret and cause of all European revolutions in Freemasonry . How much besides his numerous " notes , " which the worthy Abbe has incorporated with the text , belongs exclusively to him , could only be found out by

collating carefully the translation with the professed original . But certainly "the game is not worth the candle . " In Gyr and Eckert's history , the granting of Papal Bulls to the corporation of workmen is asserted . Eckert is represented by Gyr as saying " nous savone , " " we know , that these corporations received from the Popes and Sovereigns important franchises . " Gyr , however , mostly quotes from "Rebold , " who traces the " gilds , " as we call them , from

Rome to Brittany and thence to trans-alpine Gaul , and declares that the Popes confirmed on them a monopoly of the building art , especially Nicholas III , 1277 , and from him tfie Popes to Benedict XII , 1334 . From whom did Rebold take the statement ? Whence do these assertions ori g inally spring ? Are they German or French in their parentage ? Perhaps Bro . Speth , who has been looking into this special subject can help us in the

investigation . In Germany r . ckert ' s works are laughed at . 2 . The second history is a " Histoire Philosophique de la Franc Maconnerie , " & c , by Kauffman and Cherpin . It was published at Lyons , in 1 S 50 , by J . Cherpin , 6 , Rue des Celestins . It isentirely friendly to Freemasonry ; but takes the foreign view of it , alike in its philosophic tendencies and its religious outcome , which is not accepted in England . It is , however , well worth reading , more so , as it contains

much that is very interesting about the ancient mysteries and philosophies . Of course , it repeats some errors and myths , which wc have long given up in England , —such as that Freemasons are mentioned by name in the ninth century , and that in the seventeenth century Ashmole and others remodelled Masonry , making a new First Degree out of the Egyptian mysteries . Writers , however , who rely on "Sethos" and Thomas Moore's "Epicureans , " which is copied from "Sethos , " for an account of the

Egyptian mysteries , cannot altogether be safely followed . In a footnote , at pages 170-71 , the writers mention the " Compagnonage , " and Agricole Perdiguier ' s Book , and state that it had the effect of healing somewhat the cruel and murderous context of the compagnons of Maitre Jacques ( stone masons ) , and the compagnons of Pere Sonbisc , ( carpenters ) . They add that all these "Societies of Compagnonage" which exist in France , ( in 1 S 50 ) , trace their origin to Solomon ' s Temple , & c . BOOKWORM .

95 J BRO . DR . STUKELEY . Some very important points for consideration arise out of Bro . the Rev . C . Lukis ' s discovery of Dr . Stukeley ' s Diary . Stukeley was made a Freemason , he tells us , in his diary , in 1721 , January 7 th , at the Salutation Tavern , Tavistock-strcet , with a Mr . Collins and Capt . Rowe .

Any information about these two brethren would be acceptable , especially Mr . Collins , who may be the Collins of the so-called Locke MS . of which the earliest authentic evidence , so far , is 1753 . In 1721 , June 24 th , Stukeley was at the Grand Festival , ( apparently ) at Stationers ' Hall . The Duke of Montague , Lord Herbert , ( is he afterwards the Lord Pembroke of the so-called Locke MS ., )? Lord Stanhope , Sir Andrew Fountain , and Dr . Desagulicrs , who

Masonic Notes And Queries.

pronounced an oration , of which so far no trace remains . The G . M . Payne ( Pain ) produced an old MS . of the Constitution , 500 years old , from the West of England . On December 27 th , 1 7 , a meeting took place at the Fountain Tavern , Strand , where a new lodge was constituted by Dr . Beal , D . G . M „ of which Dr . Stukeley was , he says , the first W . M . The lodge is not traceable so far in any of our lists , though in Anderson ' s Constitutions of 1723 ,

No . 12 has Dr . Beal as its W . M ., and in 1733 , No . 71 , The Fountain , Catherine-street , Strand , was constituted . On May 22 nd , 1722 , Dr . Stukeley states that he met the Duke of Queensborough , Lord Dumbarton , Lord Hinchinbrooke , and others , to arrange the festival of St . John . On Nov . 3 rd , 1722 , the Duke of Wharton and Lord Dalkeith visited the lodge at the Fountain . On October 4 th , 1723 , Dr . Stukeley read a discourse on the " Dorchester'Amphitheatre "

at the lodge , and gave to each member a copy . Is any one of these copies extant ? In i 72 Gheset up a lodge at Grantham , which lasted for some years . In 172 S he mentions the death of Lambert , landlord of the Fountain , where this lodge was held . Two entries are called by Bro . Whytehead remarkable , which they certainly arc—namely , that on the 7 th

November , 1722 , the "Orderof the Book" was instituted , and on December 2 S , 1 7 , he himself made Lord Hertford and Lord Winchelsea members of the ' Order of the Book , or Roman Knighthood . ' " Like Bro . Whytehead , 1 ask in these columns if any brother can throw light upon any of these statements . Some very important considerations flow from them , but I must now hold my pen . MASONIC STUDENT .

gGJ _ 1 reproduce these allusions to Bro . Dr . Stukeley for several reasons . First , to interest Bros . Hughan and Gould in the verification of the facts as to the two lodges . Secondly , we may perhaps obtain some evidences , as Bro . Whytehead has already asked , of this early knightly order . Thirdly , because , by the kind intermediation of Bro . Whytehead , perhaps Bro . Lukis may send some notes of his own thercanent to the Freemason " Notes and Queries . " MASO ~ NTC STUDENT .

Scotland.

Scotland .

ABERDEEN CITY PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . A special communication of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Friday , the 15 th inst ., in the Masonic Hall Buildings , Aberdeen , the R . W . P . G . M ., Dr . Beveridgc , presided . The meeting had been called chiefly for the purpose of

an official visitation to St . Andrew Lodge , No . no , which was meeting in the hall below . The Prov . Grand Lodge having been opened , adjourned to the hall , where it was received with due Masonic honours by St . Andrew Lodge . The W . M . ( Bro . Charles Shepherd ) , at the request of the R . W . P . G . M ., proceeded with the business of the evening , which was the initiation of two gentlemen ( previously

accepted ) , Dr . Profcit , Her Majesty ' s Commissioner at Balmoral , and Mr . J . Pirrie , Haddo , Foveran . The ceremony , including the charge and tracing board , was given in a most admirable manner by Bro . Shepherd , and received great commendation from the Provincial Grand Master , who congratulated the lodge on being presided over by one who appeared so familiar with his duties . The

books of the lodge , which had previously been examined by the Prov . Grand Treasurer and Clerk , Bro . McConnochie , were very favourably reported on . The Prov . Grand Lodge then retired , when a few routine matters were discussed . The Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . C . C Macdonald , arranged to give the annual Masonic sermon in St . Clement ' s Church .

on the 14 th January , when a collection would be made for a local chanty . It was resolved that the Craft should present one of the peal of bells about to be procured from a Belgium firm for the city . It was reported that a practice had spruiv up among certain brethren of using Masonic signs in public , and unsuitable occasions

on , and the Clerk was directed to write to Masters of Lodges to use their influence to <* et such practices put an end to . " At the close of the proceedings the Provincial Grand Lodge was entertained to supper in the hall by St . Andrew Lodge .

On Saturday evening last , Mr . Cottell , founder and principal of the London Conservatoire of Music , in recognition of his abilities , and the care he had bestowed on the members of the institution , was presented with a handsome testimonial , the subscribers to which numbered some 25 S . Mr . Schlesinger , as their representative , had an easy task to fulfil in making the presentation , the praise he bestowed on Mr . Cottell being loudly applauded . After speeches by other gentlemen and one from Mr . Cottell nimseir

, in recognition ot the compliment paid him , a concert was given in honour of theoccasion . The programme , which consisted principally of songs and light instrumental pieces , was got through very successfully , in a manner which rejected credit on those who took part in it—Miss fcrmlie Conyngham who sang Bishops " Lo , here the gentle lark , " Mr . Alfreo Hervey , whose bass voice was well tesed by D'Alquen ' s "In cellar cool , " and Madame Aubrey—particularly distinguishing themselves .

Itis certain theQueen ' s Physician , Dr . Fairbank n ! Mv " r ^ SA ^ n e , y rocom '"< : J '" S LENTILLA , or TONIC DAILY 1 'OOD . It cures Indigestion , Heartburn , Constipation , Liver and Stomach Complaints , & c , besides having such wondrous nourishing properties . Makes Soups , Porridge , Custards , Puddings , Biscuits , & c . Tins , ilb . is 6 d , lb ., tod . Barrels , 2 Slb ., 30 s . ; . lb ., iGs . Of all Chemists ! —Proprietor , II . J . Deacon , Beckenham , Kent . —[ ADVT . Ji l \ ' ''* ™ the l > "tthe cheapest

^^^^ ^ " " . : , ami the most popular remedies . —At all seasons and under all r ' ' enmstances they may l , used with safety and with the certafntv of doing good . Eruptions , rashes , and all descriptions of skin disease , sores , ulcerations , and burns are presently hcnclitcd and ult matchcured by these heahng . soo , g , and punfving medicaments The Ointment rubbed upon the abdomen checks Sll tendency o irritation of the bowels , and averts dysentery and other disordc s of the intestines . 1 implcs blotches , inllnmmation of the skin inuscul ! r pams , ncuralg . c allcctions , and enlarged glands can cirerti ' civ be overcome by using Holloway's remaliesacconling to th " ' Mn . struction accompanying each packet . —rAuvr . l