London Masonic Charity Association.

LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION .

The meeting of this Association took place on Friday last at No . 16 a , Great Queen-street , when thc officers were elected for 18 S 1-S 2 , a Sub-Cominittce " appointed to conduct thc election in October , and the Candidates selected for the support of thc Association . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford was rc-elcctcd Chairman , Bros . Middlemass and Headon were elected Vice-Chairmen , Bros . Gladwell and Willing Auditors , and Bros . Tisley and Webb Secretaries . The Sub-Committee for thc elections was also appointed .

It was unanimously resolved on thc present election only to support Arthur Fellowes as candidate for that Boys' School election , and that Edith Mary Orridge ( her last chance ) , and Nellie Louise Walters should be the only candidates for the Girls' School election . The support of the London brethren is much needed to enable thc Association to succeed at the approaching elections .

Masonic History And Historians.

MASONIC HISTORY AND HISTORIANS .

BY MASONIC STUDENT . Having been able to refer to Facciolati , I can now deal with some questions which relate lo the early use of " cementum . " It seems that Facciolati always spells it with an " a :, " though in later times it was written " cementum , " " amentum , " " sementum , " " siment'lin , " and the personal noun became " cementarius , " cinientarius , " " sementarius , " and " simentarius , " accordingly .

Facciolati tells us that " cementum" meant cement . " It also meant , and I beg my readers to note this , " rough unhewn stones , " " stones as ihcy came from the quarry , " " p ieces cut off from larger stones , " " material for building ; " any stuff of which walls are built—" stones , " " rubbish , "

" cement . " Thus , " cementarius" is a "builder of walls , " " a Mason , " " qui cemcnla componit et mures struit . " " Cnementarius " thus became even in classic times a term for " Mason , " and thc word was used even apparently as synonymous with " lapicidae , " stone cutters .

Facciolati does not recognize " latomus " or " lithotomus , " though he mentions "latomia ; , " stone quarries , as identical with " Iautumirc , " or latumi ; c , but prefers lautumi .-e , though I think it is quite clear that " latomia ; " was in more frequent use . The word latomia ; , or laotomia , in Greek , seems to come from Iaas , a stone , and

tcmno "I cut . " " Lapicid . x , stonecutters , hewers of slonc , come from " Iapicidinre , " and refers to those " qui lapides ca : dunt . " " Lithourgos , " " latomos , " all mentioned by Facciolati , and " latomia , " a stone-quarry , as of Greek usage , though Liddell and Scott prefer " laotomia , " and recognise the use of "latomos , " " lithotomos , " "lithourgos . " We have since in medical parlance still , "lithotomy" and " Iithotrity . "

Hence then we see that latomus is of Greek origin , if of past classic times and o fmonasdc use . The barbarous use of " sementarius " needs no allusion here . It is a very remarkable fact , as pointing to the cessation of all active Mason work and lifc in the period between thc fall of the Roman Empire and the revival of arts , architecture , letters , & c , that in the " Romane , " or "low Latin , " the " patois" of three or four hundred ycars

used by the Latin races , no trace appears , according to Roquefort , of those common technical words such as " cementum , " & c , and the like , though he mentions "Macon" as coming from " mansio . " Architect comes from " architectus , " Latin , and architecton from the Greek " urchitekton . " But " archiatros , " alluded to in a ijrcvious communication ,

is really a chief physician , and not an architect at all , and is another proof of thc caution required in dealing with similar entries , as two facts ought always to be kept before us , the "ignorance" of many of the scribes of Greek , and even Latin , their usage being merely "hearsay , " learnt by rote , and also the misuse of words often introduced in monastic common

terms . It may interest some admirers of the " rights of women " to know that thc Latins recognised an " architecta , " a female architect . it * The result of such researches appear to me to be this , that cementarius or cementarius is of early classic use ; that latomus is of monastic use , and

is Greek in its derivation ; and that " cementarius precedes the use of " latomus . " I think too , we may safely add that everything is pointing to a Roman and Grecian origin of the guild system , beyond , far beyond Teutonic , Bauhiitten , and Steinmetzen and Anglo-Saxon sodalities , as the product and the remnants of Roman civilization in this country .

Some Famous Masonic Relics.

SOME FAMOUS MASONIC RELICS .

( Concluded from page 416 ) . When the President of the United States , Bro . George Washington , the acting Grand Master and the Master of Lodge No . 22 , had taken a position to the east of the stone , with the Craft in a semi-circle westward , the Grand Marshal delivered to thc Commissioners a large silver plate , upon which was the following inscription , which was read aloud : —

"This South-east corner-stone of the capitol of the United Stales of America , in the city of Washington , was laid on the iSth day of September , 1 793 , in the thirteenth year of American independence , in the first year of the second term of the presidency of George Washington , whose virtues in the civil administration of his country have been as conspiciousand beneficial as

his military valour and prudence have been useful in establishing her liberties , and in the year of Masonry 5793 , by the President of the United States , in concert with thc Grand Lodge of Maryland , several lodges under its jurisdiction and lodge No . 22 , from Alexandria , Virginia . Thomas Johnson , David Stewart and Daniel Carroll , Commissioners ; Joseph Clarke , R . W . G . M . P . T . ; James Hoban and Stephen Hallate , architects ; Collin Williamson , Master Mason . "

The plate was then handed to the President , who , attended by the Grand plaster and three Worshipful Masters , descended to the trench and placed 't and the stone in position , with the mystic rites of the Craft . A gavel was manufactured for use of Bro . Washington on this occasion , ¦ ind after the ceremonies he presented it to Worshipful Bro . Valentine Reintzel , Master of Lodge No , 9 , at Georgetown . This lodge was organised in 17 S 9 , and at the time the corner-stone was laid was in vcry Prosperous condition ; but it soon afterwards ceased to exist , Bro . John

Some Famous Masonic Relics.

Mountz , who was ils Secretary at thc time of its dissolution , said it fell to pieces by its own weight . The brethren , however , were indisposed to do without Masonic communion , and October 22 nd , 1795 , the Grand Lodge of Maryland received a petition from a number of brethren in Georgetown , askinir for a rh .-irlor fnr n lnrln-f * il-tf > -o ; ,-, - ^^~* A ~~— ,.. * ii , ... u : u .. ¦¦¦¦¦ uicicuiiwttii

, , , „ „ , * = > . T •* -- — -- ¦* - " & - - " * - * -, cn . v . . c wiiiuti lequesc Columbia Lodge , No . 19 ( now Potomac Lodge , No . 5 ) , was formed ; the Washington gavel had remained in the custody of Bro . Reintzel after the suspension of Lodge No . 9 , and when Columbia Lodge No . 19 , was organised as a continuation of Lodge No . 9 , he placed thc gavel in the possession of the new lodge , as its property , and it was used as the Master ' s gavel until 1 S 1 S .

August Sth , 1829 , a double celebration was observed in Baltimore—the centennial of the foundation of the citv and the planting of thc first stone of the Baltimore Susquehanna Railroad , now the Northern Central of the Pennsylvania Company ' s system . The Masonic Fraternity participated m these ceremonies , and , after appropriate centennial observances at the Battle monument , a procession was formed , consistim ? of the Grand I . nHo-P

and its subordinates , the Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons of Maryland , and Maryland Encampment , No . I , Knights Templars , together with other societies and the state , city and railroad officials . Colonel William Stewart , Deputy Grand Master , performed thc ceremony of planting the stone , and used the gavel with which Bro . Washington had planted the corner-stone of the National Capitol , at Washington . About ten years

ago the Railroad Company made some changes in the line of its tracks and it became necessary to remove this stone , which was done , October 28 th , 1870 . February 22 nd , 1 S 60 , the equestrian statue of George Washington , by that distinguished artist and Craftsman , Bro . Clarke Miles , was dedicated in Washington city . The Grand Lodge of Freemasons of the District of

Columbia performed the rites of the Order in the inspection of the foundation , after which the Grand Master , Most Worshipful Bro . G . C . Whiting , addressed Bro . James Buchanan , President of thc United States and Past Master of Lancaster Lodge , No . 43 , of Lancaster , Pennsylvania , as follows :

" Mr . President : This gavel , prepared expressly for the purpose , was used by Washington , as President of the United States , and as Grand Master of Masons pro tempore , in laying the corner-stone of the capitol of the nation , on the iSth day of September , 1793 , and I now have the honour

of requesting , in the name of the Fraternity , that you , his brother and successor , likewise employ it in thc crowning act of dedicating his statue . " The President received the gavel and in appropriate language solemnly dedicated the " statue to the immortal memory of thc ' Fatfier of his country . "

September 17 th , 1866 , this famous gavel was again employed in laying the corner-stone of the elegant Masonic Temple on North Charles-street , Baltimore . Here , again , the President of the United States attended as a Mason in the person of Bro . Andrew Johnson , Past Grand Master of Tennessee .

Another famous relic was used on this occasion—a gold trowel that had been manufactured for use in laying the corner stone , of the Masonic Hall , St . Paul-street , Baltimore , May 161 I 1 , 1 S 14 , and bore this inscription : " This trowel was presented to his excellency Levin Winder , Grand Master of Masons , at the ceremony of the laying of the corner stone of the Masonic Hall , May 16 th , 1 S 14 . "

July 4 U 1 , 1815 , this trowel was again used b y Most Worshipful Bro . Winder , in laying the corner stone of the Washington Monument , at the intersection of Charles and Monument-streets , Baltimore ; and again on July 4 th , 182 S , it was employed ih the Masonic ceremonies attending the inauguration of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad , on which occasion the venerable Charles Carroll , of Carrollton , thc last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence , turned the lirst ground for this great undertaking .

Another valuable relic present upon the occasion of the laying of the corner stone of Baltimore's magnificent Temple , was the apron worn by the Most Worshipful Grand Master , John Coates , which was made by Madame La Fayette and presented by her to Bro . George Washington .

I here are numerous Masonic relics possessed by lodges throughout the Union , and their history should be written before it becomes tinctured with tradition ; modern Masonic research is in the direction of Truth , and in the matter of our curios we ought to have the truth , the whole truth , and nothing but the truth . —Voice of Masonry .

The Cardinal Virtues.

THE CARDINAL VIRTUES .

Every initiate in Masonry is taught that there arc four cardinal virtues which mark his character as a Mason , and by these he is at all times ready to prove himself to those who are entitled to test his qualifications , and the claim he makes of being a member of the great Fraternity which has no limit on this earth , but forms a complete connecting chain ajl around the world . But how few are there who can even tell the names of these four

cardinal virtues , much less explain their attributes , or how they work on the character of the members of thc Craft . We have met many who , having stated that they would stand the lest at once failed to do so on the application of the proof . When asked what they were , the answer had almost invariably been , " I was not posted on that . " Why not ? No candidate has ever yet been initiated without being informed that these four virtues

constituted a portion of his character , and it should be the duty of every Master to impress this fact upon thc mind of the noviciate . It is of as much importance as thc investiture of a new name , which is given with so much solemnity . A Mason who cannot prove himself by the test he offers , is virtually no Mason at all ; for what is the value of Masonry unless the brother can prove himself while travelling in foreign lands ?

Where the brother is well known , the proof is rarely required ; but the advantage of Masonry is that its disciples can make themselves known where otherwise they are , and would be , totally unknown . No matter what the language of the country may be , or whether the traveller is conversant or not with thc tongue of those with whom he is brought in contact , Masonry will always furnish an interpreter . Some will say that these virtues are not

essentials , but in this we differ . Everything in Masonry is an essential , especially when offered as proof . There is not a step in Masonry that is not essential ; there is not a position that is not essential , else why arc they so particularised '' ' Consequently the perfect points of a Mason's character are very essential . No Master can afford to neglect the cardinal virtues , nor allow his disciples to be neglectful of them . Brethren , think of this!—Ncv ) York Courier .