Original Correspondence.

changes from year to year in the various lodges ; nor without such a publication can they note the advance or otherwise of practical Masonic work in the province , an advance which is , I believe , much stimulated by being brought before the eyes of brethren in a clear , concise manner . Bro . Basevi would not , I fee ! sure , claim for the Calendar

and Masonic Charity Association together credit for the whole advance in voting power ( and therefore in amount of support to our institutions ) , shewn on page ninety-seven ; but advances of 30 per cent , in 1 S 79 , 17 per cent , in 1 SS 0 , and 3 S per cent , in 1 SS 1 , have assuredly not been tin " influenced by agencies introduced in and since 1 S 7 G .

1 should like very much to know to what extent , and with what measure of success , similar efforts have been made of late years in cur other provinces Perhaps ere long the Freemason will lurnish this information to its many readers , and thus oblige among others of them , Yours fraternally , H .

A BEGGING MASON . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have just learned that a mendicant Mason , named Staunton , has been plying his nefarious trade of be" « ing in the Province of North Connaught . I would feel grateful to any brother that would supply me with any

information relative to this man , as I believe him to be the same person that I read of some time ago in the columns of the Freemason . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , JOHN DERMODY ( i 7 S , Scotland ) , R . I . C . Oristown , Kills , Co . Meath . March 21 , 1 SS 2 .

THE COMING SCHOOLS ELECTIONS . Dear Bro . Kenning , — You have been so kind previously as to allow me to appeal for votes in the Freemason that I trespass again on your space to-day , to say that for various reasons I am

most anxious to obtain as many Girls' and Boys' votes as possible in April , and shall esteem it a great favour and personal obligation if any subscribers , assuming they have no special case to support , will kindly send me their votes . I am , dear Bro . Kenning , very fraternally yours , A . F . A . WOODFORD . 2 i . \ , Norfolk-crescent , Hyde-park , \ V .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

CALENDRIER MACONNIQUE DU GRAND ORIENT DU FRANCE . SECRETARIAT GENERAL . 10 , Rue Cadet , Paris . This little work , with its well known orange-coloured cover , ( nothing however to do with the pious , glorious , and and immortal , & c ) , is , as many readers know , the official calendarof the French Grand Orient . andispublishedannually like as with us , under the auspices of a printing committee .

It is a useful little work , but it seems to us not so correct as usual in the details of foreign Grand Lodges , and wants what would be a great addition , an annual balance sheet . For the balance sheet of the Grand Orient is indeed a " mystery of mysteries , " and I have never yet met any French brethren who could explain them , much less understand them . There are , it seems , 276 lodges , 35 chapters , 12 , conscils , 1 Grand College des Rites , and 1

Consistoire , in all 325 bodies under the Grand Orient . Just now , unfortunately , a very serious gulph exists between French and English Freemasonry . We can only hope for better days , and that sooner or later , the Grand Orient may see its way to remove that great stumbling block of offence , the alteration of the great and ancient landmarks

of English so of French Freemasonry . Such an aspiration for happier times and greater union , is however , we fear at present , destined to remain a matter of sentiment , not thefulliment of reality . We understand from the best authority , that many worthy Freemasons in France are much dissatisfied with the present stateof affairs , and have practically resigned their membership .

REPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN AND CITY POLICE ORPHANAGE FOR 1 SS 1-S 2 . Metchim and Son , 20 , Parliament-street , S . W . This report , always lucid and interesting , is rendered doubl y so this year by ' the illustrative drawing of the Orphanage itself , and the striking group of its little inmates , as well as b y the official reports of educational progress and sanitary well-being which are most judiciously supplied . People

sometimes complain of the vagueness or the generalistic tendencies of similar reports . Here all is distinct , clear , and matter-of-fact , so that all can understand the returns , and can form for themselves fair conclusions as to the realit y 0 f the work of the Orphanage , and the soundness ° f the principles on which it is conducted . Having had to do with a good many similar institutions in our life , and stud ying a good many reports , we have never met with

any on which , as it seems to us , arc more legibly written , the outcome of honest painstaking efforts , the conviction of most successfully adapting your means to the end in view . We recommend out readers to study the report for themselves , and in no case can the annual guinea be better bestowed , and which Mr . E . Mills , 4 , Whitehall-place , J 'H thankfully receive . One of the most remarkable features

connected with the Orphangc is the actual material support tendered to it by the " Force , " very much 'o their credit . As the report remarks , out of a body of ¦ 2 , 008 , only 74 are not subscribers , leaving 11 , 934 subscribers . These 74 , by the way , are made up of one 5 « geant and thirteen City Police ; one inspector , ten sergeants , and twenty-five men of Thames Police ( why this

Reviews.

large proportion of Thames Police ?); two of the men stationed at Pembroke ; one sergeant sixteen men Metropolitan Police ; and one sergeant four men at Woolwich . We hope that _ another year this small percentage of ncn-subscribers will disappear . 1 he educational position of the school , according to Mr . J . Rice Byrne , H . M . Inspector of Schools , is very good ;

the remarks of the visitors are most cheering , while the surgical and work reports are very satisfactory . The eighty-three girls of the orphanage , of whom twenty-two are between live and seven , have mended S 90 G pairs of socks and stockings , have made 1423 necessary articles of apparel—in all , for one year , 10 , 329 proofs of industrial handiwork . The conduct of the children is said to have

been very good , and their appearance is Said to be most cheerful and striking . Indeed the school administration and organization seem to be thoroughly effective . When we come to the balance sheet the realistic character of the institution is made still more apparent , in that of the whole amount of £ 11 , 573 4 s . 4 d ., the actual subscriptionsof the sergeants and constables amount to X 234 S 2 s . iod ., the

subscriptions of retired police sergeants and constables to £ 40 5 s . Sd ; boxes in police stations , £ ioG 7 s . Sd . ; and prolits on concerts , & c , to £ 4544 Gs . 5 d . Thus we may fairly place the direct and indirect contributions of the force at £ 712925 . 7 d . The balance last year was £ 538 19 s . 5 d . ; this year it is £ 1645 Gs . id . The expenditure is highly satisfactory : Furniture and clothing have cost

£ 1367 us . Gd . ; salaries and wages , £ 1534 us . 2 d . ; housekeeping , £ 2384 17 s . Sd ; rates , taxes , gas and water , £ 350 5 s . iod . ; fuel , £ 230 3 s . 4 d , ; books , stationery and printing , £ 323 Ss . jd . ; medical attendance and medicine , I 124 19 s . ( id . ; portage and conveyance , £ 70 6 s . 2 d .

sundries and postage , ^ . iSoSs . iod ; new wing ( building ) , £ 3017 Gs . tod . ; with a balance of £ 1645 Gs . id . The institution has £ 5014 2 S . iod . in Metropolitan Stock . We note that the average expenditure per head is £ * 2 S on 243 inmates daily . We wish tlii 3 ., exceIIent .. institution all prosperity and success .

CATALOGUES . E . W . Stibbs , 22 , Museum-street , W . C . Mr . E . W . Stibbs in his catalogue , N 0 . 35 , gives us a list of works for sale ; many very valuable , many very curious , and some altogether unique , perhaps not likely to occur again for purchase . We commend the catalogue to the notice of our readers . Some of the books relating to the Greek

and Latin classics , heraldry , witchcraft , genealogy and family history , fine arts , history , biography , " Pactz ' s British Topography , " deserve the attention of experts , connoisseurs , and book collectors . We heard the other day that many have already gone , and there can be no doubt that early purchasers will be found for such really valuable and curious books .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

i FRATRES PONTIFICES . Les frcres deslPonts , the Bridge Brethren , the " Haly Wark Folk , " mentioned by Hutchinson , all seem to come from the same origin , and to point to an early institution before the monastic organization , which took care of the bridges . In medueval times the making and mending of bridges was considered a work of piety and necessity , and it is just possible that the earliest of those who directed

such works were monks , ftatres , freres , and brethren . The words frere and frater may refer , as in the Compagnonage and the Gilds , to a member of a bridge-building , bridgerestoring fraternity . Ragon , in his " Nouvcau Rituel de Kadosch , " Paris ( without a date ) , gives us this note on a Nineteenth Grade , which he calls "Sovereign Pontiff , or Sublime Ecossais , so-called of the Heavenly Jerusalem . " See page 2 , foot-note . " Five centuries before our era ,

Horattus Codes , wishing to oppose the passage of the army of Porsenna over the bridge which gave entrance to Rome , found himself obliged to yield to numbers , he made his soldiers evacuate the bridge , which he destroyed , and cast himself into the Tiber and saved Rome . In memory of this heroic action they formed a college of men , at the same time carpenters and soldiers , to whom were confided the guard and the keeping of the bridges , with the name of

Pontilices , makers of bridges . Their chief called himself Summus Pontifex , Sovereign Pontiff , This dignity became one of the most considerable in the Republic . Julius Caisar ambitioned it , and attained it in the year ninety-two before the common era . Until the third century it continued to be a prerogative of the emperors . But Boranius tells us that Gratian , a Christian emperor , rejected in 362 the title of Sovereign Pontiff , because it belonged

to the superstition of the Gentiles . Later , the Bishop of Rome , less scrupulous , took possession of this Pagan dignity , which he changed into a Christian dignity . It was not , however , until 1090 that a council gave the title of Pope ( father ) to the Bishop of Rome , and instituted chief of the Roman Catholic reli g ion , to the exclusion of other bishops . " How far Ragon is correct in the old controversy of the Pope , Bishop of Rome , is immaterial for

my purpose , and fruitless and forbidden to discuss in these columns . As regards the Pontifices , Facciolati , than whom we can have no safer authority , tells us that the meaning of "Pontifex" was that of " Iereus , " a priest , sacer , magister religionis , & c , though there is a doubt whether the word came originally from " posse et facere" or " ponte . " He tells us that the Pontifices were divided into " majorcs" and "minores , " and the "Pontifex

Maximus" was the chief . There ' seems no trace of " Summus Pontifex " or of _ the "Pontifices . " If any such designation was used it would probably have been " Pontiles . " It is just possible , as Cicero seems to htnt ^ that at one time the bridges were under the "Collegium Pontificum . " Julius C . 'esar , as we know , took the title for a time of

Pontifex Maximus in or about 4 G B . C ., when he reformed the calendar , but was never called Summus Pontifex . In Kenning's Cyclopaedia occurs an account of the bridge builders , who may have existed in other countries under a different name . _ One of the duties of one of the English Gilds , according to Cornelius Walford ' s interesting work , was to keep a particular bridge in repair . MASONIC STUDENT .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MR . COLLINS AND LOCKE'S LETTER . Is it possible that the Mr . Collins is Mr . Collins the compiler of the "Peerage ? " Does Anthony Wood mention any Mr . Collins at Oxford contemporary with Mr . Locke ANTIQUARY .

ELI AS ASH MOLE . I am happy to be able to send , to some extent at least , a reply to the queries asked by " Masonic Student , " in your issue of March 4 th . From the " Literary Anecdotes " of William Bowyer , published by J . Cough Nichols , 1 S 12 , Vol . iv ., page 29 , we learn that " Milling-ten sold , May Gth , 1 GS 4 , at the Auction-house , opposite the ' Black Swan , in Ave Maria Lane , the library of Dr . John Owenecc & cand

, , , that of Esq . Ashmole , Mar . 5 , 1 G 93-4 , at the same place . " Ashmole died iSth May , 1 G 92 , so some , at least , of his books were sold soon after his death . It is evident however , that a portion of his manuscripts remained in the hands of his heirs—probably his wife , who survived him , and died at Lambeth , April , 1701 ; for in the collection of MS . letters bequeathed by George Ballard to the Bodleian Library m 1 755 , is one ( ij . 11 . ) from Rawlinson , dated

I ' eb . 25 , 173 G-7 , m which he says , "that he had bought about two years since some of Ashmole's papers from ' his heirs , including some of Dugdale's . " [ " Lit . Anecdotes , " Vol . v ., 495 ;; , and Macray ' s "Annals of the L ' odlcian , " 177 . V . J But apparently Rawlinson did not become possessed of many MSS . of Masonic interest ; at least , they rw appear now t 0 I 50 in ,, is collections preserved at Oxford . My own impression has for some time

been that a portion of Ashmole ' s manuscripts on alchemy , and possibly on Masonry , were purchased by Sir Hans Sloane . Referring to the transfer of books , coins , & c , made by the trustees of the Ashmolean Museum , according to Macray ' s " Annals of the Bodleian , " p . 2 SG , " First are those of Eltas Ashmole himself , numbering originally 2175 , but reduced by losses before the transfer to 2 ° 3 G , of which about S 50 are MSS . " A note to the manuscripts says , "I his number includes some fifteen or sixteen

volumes given by subsequent donors , but incorporated with Ashmole s own books . " Ever since I suggested , some months ago , a possible" connection between ' the two Sankeys and the Pagetts , I have been collecting notes on the subject , but it will take time to elucidate , and cannot be answered off-hand . With regard to Ashmole's will , probably the easiest way of settling the question would be to go to Somerset House , and a very few minutes would decide if it is there preserved . YV . HARRY RYLANDS .

St. Alban's Cathedral Masonic Restoration Fund.

ST . ALBAN'S CATHEDRAL MASONIC RESTORATION FUND .

On the 17 th inst . a meeting of the Sub-Committee was ¦ )' ¦ . ,- ^ , ° ' ° ' ^ rook-street , W . Present : VAV . Bro . 1 . I « . Halsey , M P ., Prov . G . M . Herts , in thechair ; Bros . Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C . ; F . Sumner Knyvett , Steward

P . G . , Prov , G . Treas . Herts ; J . E . Dawson P . Prov . S . G . W ., Prov . G . S . Herts ; P . W . Taylor P . Prov . J . G . W . Herts ; T . R . Webster , P . P . S . K ^' Berks and Bucks ; II . C . Finch , P . P . G . Re" -. Herts-T . Kent , P P . J . G . D Herts ; I . N . ' Edwards , P . P . G . Reg ! dthe

"? , ' ? . * ™ > Hon - Secretary , Bro . C . E . Keyseri J . G . W . Herts . J The minutes of the last meeting were read , also the following statement of accounts . Subscriptions received £ 38016 o Interest on deposit money ... . * S G o Subscriptions promised " .. ' , ,-,- > ,, 0

£ 511 19 o Expenses up to date ... £ 32 iG 11 A beautiful design for a pulpit , sent in by Mr . J . O . bcott , together with some tenders for executing the same , haying been submitted to the meeting , the following" resolutions were proposed and carried unanimously : °

ti . ; mat Mr . bcott ' s design for the pulpit be approved , ( 2 . ) "That Bro . Miskin ' s tender of March 17 th to execute the same , exclusive of the sculptures , for £ w > , ' be accepted . J ' ( 3 . ) "That Bro . k ' cyser be requested to take steps to procure the additional funds ( about £ 200 ) required to carry out in its entirety the original design of Air . J ' O

.. bcott for the pulpit . " J With a vote of thanks to the Chairman the mcetin " adjourned . ° Donations as promised , and additional and special subscriptions , can be sent to C . E . Keyser , 67 , Brook-street , Grosvenor-square , W . ; after Easter to Merry Hill House , Bushey , Watford . *

A Masonic Meeting At Sea.

A MASONIC MEETING AT SEA .

A meeting of Masons was held on board the Trojan , on the 1 st ult ., on her outward voyage from Southampton to the Cape . I he following brethren were present , and took part in the interesting proceedings of the somewhat novel gathering viz . :-Bros . W . C Thompson , S- 'g , ( in the chair ); J . C . Lory Marsh , M . D ., P . M ., wO ; H .

Eastwooa , 350 ; 11 . W . Stockham , 334 ; James Chilcot , 290 ; George Hctt , 437 ( S . C . ); Henry Hastings , GSi ; G Goldsmidt , 302 ; D . Harris , 1 S 33 ; Henry J . Price , 34 ; James D . Ellis , S 53 ; Henry E . "Ellis , S 53 ; " Charles D CoxweII , 130 ; J . A . Holland , SG 3 ; C . Alexander , 17 S 0 ; John Bradley 103 ; H . W . 11 . Dunsmure , 1574 L . MA Etthng , Lodge , Rising Sun , Burghersdorp Uwen Hall , aec . 1574 . Thesumof £ 2 12 s Gd having been collectedit was

de-^ , cided that it should be devoted to the funds of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and it was directed to be forwarded to the Secretary of that institution in London . . . ;• , " ' ollow ' ff resolution was unanimously adopted : "I hat Bro . J C . Lory Marsh , P . M . 57 G , should , in his return to England , apply to Grand Lodge , to ascertain tinder what regulations travelling Masons may be permitted to hold lodges of instruction on board vessels at sea . "

Bro . H . R . II . tbc Duke of Albany , K . G ., and suite left London on Friday for Calais , en route for Mentone , and afterwards Germany .