Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

* m * — - ¦ - ' " the St . Clair Charters in possession of the Grand Lodge are " merely drafts , " is a specimen , of the way in which he does not scruple to deal ¦ frith historical documents to suit his own purposes . It is not usual for the autographs of parties , and attestations by notaries public , to be adhibited to " mere drafts . "

It is a curious and somewhat inexplicable fact that whereas the Hay copies of the St . Clair Charters are , like the originals , without date , the copies of the second charter which are given in Laurie ' s 'History of Freemasonry , ' published in

1804 , and Father Hay ' s 'Genealogies of the Saintclairs of Rosslyn , ' published in 1835 , bears the date " Ed ., " 1630 . " This and other facts in connection with the Hay MSS ., I have referred to in my History of the Lodge of Edinburgh . D . MURRAY LYON .

P . S . —Since the above was written , I have received acommunication from James Maidment , Esq ., advocate , Edinburgh , the learned editor of the " Genealogies ofthe St . Clairs , " in which he states his impression that he copied the date from Laurie ' s ' History . ' That seems to fix on Laurie the onus of interpolating a date into the second charter . D . M . L .

[ Having inserted Bro . Lyon ' s answer to the explanation offered by Bro . Paton , ( which was a reply to the statements made by the former brother respecting the " St . Clair Charters" sent by Bro . Paton , as copies from the originals , we must now close the correspondence . We cannot afford our numerous subscribers the

necessary space to express their opinions of the worth of Bro . D . Murray Lyon , and of his devotion to Freemasonry , for the sufficient reason that their communication would occupy the whole of our columns for one week . We all know that Bro . Lyon ' s fame as a . Masonic Historian is world wide . —ED . F . M . l

South London Masonic Hall.

SOUTH LONDON MASONIC HALL .

For a long time Freemasons in South London have very justly complained that thty had no regular place in which to hold their meetings , but were forced to resort to public-houses—a course attended with many serious disadvantages . The brethren have at last made decided efforts to

obtain a hall exclusively for Masonic purposes . When the scheme was first mooted , now little better than 12 months ago , owing to some mistake made as to the amount of capital necessary to be subscribed , but little support was given ; but this defect having been remedied , the

affair has been brought to a successful issue , and a company formed , with a capital of £ 3 , , in 600 shares of £$ each . The object of the company is to provide a building specially adapted to the requirements of Masonic lodges , chapters , and conclaves , held

in the South Metropolitan district , and in connection with this building there will be a large hall for the general use ofthe public , when it is not engaged for Masonic purposes . A most favourable site has been secured for the erection of the building . It is situated in the Camberwell

New-road , between the Post-Office and County Court , close to the station of the London Chatham , and Dover Railway Company , and to the tramways from Brixton , Vauxhall , West minster , Blackfriars , Peckham , and Greenwich

The site possesses a frontage of about 70 feet , •with a depth of 150 feet , and it has been secured for a term of 99 years , at a very low groundrent . The plans have been prepared by a wellknown architect and member of the Craft , and

embrace every improvement and convenience that long experience could suggest . The front of the building in the Camberwell New-road will be of red brick , faced with stone dressings . The large hall will be approached by a corridor leading from the vestibule . It will

be 54 ft . by 37 ft . by 26 ft ., and atone end will have a raised platform , and at the back of this a small room , 15 ft . 6 in . by 10 ft . Here there will be every accommodation for dressing , kc , so that the hall will be eminently adapted for an . eteur dramatic performances , and similar entertainments .

'Ihe size of the lodge-room is to be 28 ft . by -22 ft . by 13 ft . lt will be fitted in the most approved Masonic style , and in strict accordance

South London Masonic Hall.

with the rules of the craft , every attention being given to that detail which characterises a wellappointed lodge ^ room . In communication with this will be a reading-room , 18 ft . pin . by 13 ft . by 13 ft ., fitted with a small library , and well supplied with papers and magazines . On the opposite

side of the building the dining-room is to be situated . In size it will be 32 ft . by 18 ft . pin . by 13 ft ., plainly but comfortably fitted . In connection with it will be a board-room , 18 ft . pin . by 11 ft . by 10 ft ., for the transaction of Masonic business . The basement storey is to contain the

most modern and perfect cooking appliances , as well a range of wine cellars and larders . The whole building will have excellent lavatory and water-closet accomodation , and in connection with the lodge-room there will be a well-fitted retiring and an ante-room .

Although the chief object of the company is to promote the good of Freemason )* , the directors seem not to have lost sight of the important fact that it is necessary to study the shareholders from a commercial point of view , so that their investments mav give a fair return . Estimates have

therefore been carefully prepared , and it is found that the annual expenditure for ground rent , taxes , gas , coals , and sundries , will amount to about £ 200 j the estimated annual receipts from lodges , chapters , lodges of instruction , conclaves , & c , including rent of wine cellars , about / 220 j

and from rental of hall for concerts , public meetings , & c , about £ 300 . The hall will be capable of accommodating about 700 persons , and the cost , including the spacious Masonic rooms , furnishing , & c , is estimated at from £ 2 , soo to £ 3 , , so that if

the expectations as to receipts are realised—and there is every reason to believe they will be—the concern should pay 1 o per cent , interest on the capital . This may fairly be taken as the minimum , for a good hall for theatrical and other purposes is so much needed in South

London , that public lettings alone should return a very handsome per centage . A more favourable site could scarcely have been selected , being as it is in the heart of the southern district , and easily accessible from all parts . In erecting the building great attention is to be given to drainage and

ventilation , while every room will be well lighted and amply supplied with water . Among thc directors of the company are Bros . E . Worthington , P . M ., P . Z ., of Loughborough Park ( chairman ) , and John Thomas , P . M ., P . Z ., of Denmark-street , Camberwell ( deputy

chairman ) ; M . S . Larlham , York-street , Walworth ; E . Pinder , M . D ., Wilby Lodge , Camberwell ; North Ritherdon , Wellington-road , West Hackney ; James Adley Reeves , Gresham Park , Brixton ; Win . Ramsey , Farringdon-street ; George Kenning , Upper Sydenham . The bankers are the London and County Bank ,

and the solicitor , Bro . Percival A . Nairne , P . M ., P . Z ., of Grove Hill , Camberwell . The offices of the company are 47 , Leipzicroad , Camberwell . From the very large amount of support the movement is receiving from the craft , it may safely be predicted that the Surrey Masonic Hall will soon become a flourishing South London Institution . —South London Press .

"The Initiate's Welcome."

"THE INITIATE'S WELCOME . "

t BY BRO . WILLIAM CARPENTER , P . M ., P . Z . Welcome brother ! Well we greet thee ! Partaker of our mystic lore , The gate of knowledge ope ' s before thee , And , oh , how plentiful the store .

Linger not upon the threshold , For nothing there cans ' t thou acquire , But onward press , nor pause a moment ; Let Truth and Virtue thee inspire .

The mystic pillars stand before thee , The triad—Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty , — To lure thee onward in the path Of self-devoted duty .

To God we'll give our hearts and lives , To man ungrudging aid ; And rise to that Grand Lodge above , Where He who all things made Lives and reigns for ever !

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THOMAS PRINGLE . With sincere regret for the death of a good man , much esteemed and respected of all other men , we record the decease of Mr . Thomas

Pringle , at Donoghue ' s , in the Ross District , New Zealand , on the 7 th March . He was one of the early business men located in Hokitika , where

he carried on trade for some time before he removed to the Totara . In Hokitika he was ever ready to assist in any movement for the good of his fellow men , and , being a Freemason , he took an active interest in the formation of a Masonic Lodge here in the early days . He was

one of the founders of the Pacific Lodge , and remained a member to the last . More lately , when a Royal Arch Chapter was formed in Hokitika he became a Companion . His funeral was therefore conducted with Masonic ceremonial . The body was removed from

Donoghue ' s in funeral procession earl y in the morning , and being brought to the Masonic Hall was placed there for the usual exhortations at the death of a brother . The lodge having been opened in due form , the brethren were called off to assist in the ceremony for

which they had assembled . The funeral cortege was headed by a band playing the " Dead March in Saul . " The members of the Pacific Lodge ( of which the deceased was a member ) followed , the Entered Apprentices first , then the Fellow Crafts , and then the

Master Masons . The Kilwinning Lodge joined with the Pacific Lodge , and the officers of the two lodges followed a . ter the members . These were succeeded by the officers of the District Grand Lodge , the Royal Arch Masons , and the three Principals of the Chapter ; Comp . Lazar ,

D . G . M ., and Past Z ., acting as Chief Principal . The hearse followed with four brothers as pallbearers , then the chief mourners , and after them the general public on foot , on horseback , and in carriages . Comp . Osborne marshalled the Masonic portion of the procession , which was one of the largest of the kind that has taken place in

Hokitika . At the grave , after the church service was performed b y the Rev . Mr . Kirkland , Bro . Lazar read the beautiful Masonic service most impressively . The brethren then returned in procession to the lodge . We may mention that Bro . Hudson , as W . M . of the Pacific Lodge , took a very active part in the Masonic ceremony , and was very ably assisted by his officers .

BRO . EDWARD TUNBRIDGE . On Tuesday , April 22 nd , Bro . Edward Tunbridge died at Alkham , near Dover , the residence of his father , aged 57 . He had ( returned for the benefit of his health ) to England , from Port Elizabeth , Cape of Good Hope , after an absence

of 30 years . He was a member of the Lodge of Goodwill , No . 711 , to whichhe had subscribed 13 years . He was a good and affectionate husband and father . His death will be mourned by a large circle of relations and friends , in England and Port Elizabeth .

BRO . JOHN PRIDHAM . The funeral of this much-esteemed and highly respected citizen of Exeter took place on Saturday morning , at the Cemetery , before a goodly number of spectators . The funeral cortege , which consisted of a hearse and three mourning coaches , left the residence of the deceased

shortly after half-past nine o ' clock . All along the route shutters were up and blinds drawn , as a mark of respect towards the deceased . He was a Freemason , in which Order he took high honours , and by the members of the fraternity he was highly esteemed . The following

members of the Order , who wore sprigs of acacia and white gloves , attended the remains of the deceased to the grave r—Bros . S . Jones , P . P . G . S . D ., 112 ; Brewster , P . P . G . R ., P . M ., 39 ; H . W , Hooper , P . M ., 1 , 254 ; W . Easton , P . G . S . W .,

3 p ; J . Moas , W . M . elect , 1 , 284 ; Way , P . P . G . T ., 3 p ; Dand , P . G . S . B ., 3 p ; T . Gardner , P . G . S ., 3 pj J . Tucker , P . M ., 1 , 254 ; Bailey , W . M ., 444 j W . Hugo , W . M . 1 , 254 ; G . Heath , P . M ., 371 ; Wills , P . M ., 1 , 284 J . Heath , Totnes , P . M ., 710 j J . Northern , B . L *