To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

The following stand over : Metropolitan Lodge , No . 1507 . Invicta Chapter , No . 10 . Royal Middlesex Chapter , No . 1194 . Metropolitan Chapter of Improvement . Notes and Queries—Grand Lodge Library of Scotland . WanderersXodge of Instruction , No . 1604 .

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . "The Gem , " " lewish Chronicle , " "Royal | Comwall Gazette , " ' Hull Packet , " " " Freemasons' Chronicle , "" Broad Arrow , " "The Tricv cling Jo urnal , " " Citizen , " " Die Bauhiittc , " " Court Circular " " The Glorious Temple and City ot Jerusalem , " "Jackson ' s Ox ' fofd Journal , " "New Zealand Craftsman , " "Masonic Record , " " El Taller , " " Allen ' s Indian Mail . "

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y' ^ P ^ C ^^^ P ^^^ ite ^ iT- ^ S ^^^ CT-g ^^^ CTW ^ v ^ roJ ^ SATURDAY , OCTOBER 25 , 1884 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of the opinions expressed by ourcorrespondents , but we wish in aspirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

DR . DESAGULIERS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Dr . Desaguliers' name was Jean' / Theophile . Being born at La Rochelle in 16 S 3 , he died , out of his mind , in 1743 ( not 1749 ) . Having emigrated to England with his father on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes , he assisted him in the management of a school at Islington . He

succeeded , in 1710 , Keill in the chair of physics at Oxford , published his lectures under the title of " System of Experimental Physics , " London , 1719 ; two vols ., in 4 to ., translated into French by Pezenas , Paris , 1751 . In addition to his " Improved Method of Constructing Chimneys , " London , 1715 , in Svo ., he published several papers in " Philosophical Transactions " and several translations in English of French works on physics and astronomy . P . G . SEC .

THE OFFICE OF GRAND TREASURER . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In your last issue there is an account of the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex , when the Deputy Grand Master , who is a Past Deacon of the Grand Lodge of England , went out of his way to make some disparaging

remarks respecting the office of Grand Treasurer , suggesting that it should rank at the bottom of the list instead of the proud position which it now holds . I , as one of the electors of the Grand Master and the Grand Treasurer , strongly object to any such alteration as proposed by a Past Grand Officer . Our brother may rest assured , after the trouble the Craft have been put to the last two years in maintaining their privilege of electing the Grand Officer

in question , that any attempt to curtail that privilege will meet with the result it so richly deserves . I am afraid Past Grand Deacon will still have to regret that the Craft enjoys the privilege of electing their Grand Treasurer . Did Past Grand Deacon consider it a derogation of the dignity of his office when he had to resign his position at the end of his year to make room for another equally deserving brother?—I am , dear sir and brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , BRIGHTON .

A MASONIC CHARITY SUNDAY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I notice several letters , also an editorial , in reply to my letter signed " Middlesex , " which you were good enough to insert in your issue of the 20 th ult . The writers appear to raise objections to my suggestion ; the matter appears to me to be very simple . Suppose Bros . Binckes ,

Terry , and Hedges , the three Secretaries ot our Charitable Institutions , were to make a list of our Grand Chaplains , Past Grand Chaplains , and all the _ members of our order who are clergymen ( all denominations ) . A letter could be sent them requesting a collection to be made on a certain Sunday in the year . One desirable thing would be attained , viz ., that a larger number of the members of our Order would have the claims of our Charities made known

to them , it being a well-known fact that our Institutions are at present supported by comparatively few members , the same brethren acting as Stewards year after year . I submit that there is not ample provision made at the present time to reach a large majority of the brethren who would be glad to contribute if they knew of the existence of the Institutions . In the hope that you will consider the above worthy of insertion , —Yours faithfully and fraternally , MIDDLESEX .

_ To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir andBrother , I fear I must plead guilty to not having written specifically enough with reference to " Middlesex ' s " suggestion about a " Masonic Charity Sunday . " When I repeated his statement as to there being " a large number of the clergy of all denominations members of our Society . "

and remarked that in all probability " they would not require much urging in order to set apart one Sunday in the year towards assisting our Charities , " I certainly had no idea that any one would imagine I intended this remark to apply to clergymen who were not Masons . It seems , however , that your correspondent , " Wasp , " has misunderstood my intention .

I still think the idea a very good one , if only it can be properly carried out . I fancy I have read more than once of the cause of our Charities having been advocated from the pulpit , only it has been done in individual instances and on behalf of a particular Institution , the clergyman so

preaching being allowed certain privileges in requital of this advocacy . The novelty of the suggestion lies in its feneral , simultaneous , and regular application , and what was desirous of pointing out was that , in order to ensure its being carried out successfully , there must be some kind of organisation . In addition to the Metropolitan Masonic

Original Correspondence.

district or area , there are 41 Provincial Grand Lodges , each having its array of Present and Past Grand Chaplains , but though there will be found many difficulties in the endeavour to give effect to the proposal of " Middlesex , " I do not suppose they are quite insuperable . There does not seem to be anything more objectionable in this kind of

advocacy than in that of the Festival Steward . To " Wasp's " remarks as to what the lodges might , could , and should do for our Charities , no one , 1 think , will venture to offer the slightest objection . Unfortunately , the Secretaries have never been able to announce even the half of the sum he mentions . —Fraternally yours , C .

PROV . GRAND MASTERS—A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , To avoid any useless correspondence , will you kindly correct a trifling printer ' s error in the enclosure to the letter I sent you last week : " Visiting brethren Rt . Hon . Ld . Ch . P . G . M . Montague

for Hants 15 th 6 ot his officers , " should read"Visiting brethren Rt . Hon . Hon . Ld . Ch . Montague , P . G . M . for Hants , w «> 6 of his officers . " In the concluding paragraph it should be " pretend to derive , " not "desire" an authority from "D . Athol . "Yours truly , FREDERICK HASTINGS GOLDNEY . Rowden House , Chippenham , 20 th October .

MASONIC IMPOSTORS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , 1 was called upon at a Craft and also at a lodge of instruction to see the " Masonic Mendicant , " and I have no hesitation in saying that the statements made by him at the former were entirely at variance with those made at the

latter . I also noticed that the vision did not appear to be so defective as when first seen . He certainly proved himself , but he was without Grand Lodge certificate , which he stated had been sent to his lodge , a regimental one , stationed in Egypt , by direction of Bro . Buss , Asst . Grand Secretary .

He may be a Mason ; at any rate , af ter . my experience of him , I should decline to assist him . He admits that he has a pension of 2 s . a day , and only himself to support , and to my knowledge he received close on two guineas from different lodges durihg a period of four weeks . —I am , dear sir and brother , yours sincerely and fraternally , ANOTHER OBSERVER . Chelsea , iSth October .

THE ROYAL ARCH . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Allow me to suggest two very simple alterations in the Royal Arch Constitutions , by which the cost of taking the Degree might be very materially reduced , which would , as Bro . Hughan so truly points out , at once greatly increase

the strength of our chapters . 1 st . Include the first year ' s subscription in the entrance fee . 2 nd . Allow Craft aprons in chapter . This would enable a Master Mason to be exalted in a chapter with an entrance fee of three guineas and a subscription of two guineas , at

a cost of , say £ 4 5 s . instead of £ 7 , which is about as low as it can possibly be done in such a chapter at present . The symbolism of the Royal Arch clothing is complete without the apron , and the light blue robe of the Third Principal is a precedent for the admission of that colour into chapter . —Yours fraternally , R . B . CROFT , J . 403 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

437 ] OLD LODGE AT HAUGHFOOT . In Bro . Hughan ' s very interesting work on the Royal Arch occurs at page ( 5 a foot-note relative to a communication made in lodge . Does not Bro . Hughamassume a little too much when he suggests that if the minute refers to

Third Degree , the communication is the same as in the First ? Do the words " carry him through , " as they say ? On the contrary , may they not mean , not that the communication was the same , but made in a similar manner ? This is a very important difference . It is impossible to be more explicit . SCOTUS .

438 ] THE WREN MS . I am delighted to find that the well-directed investigations of Bro . J . C . Robinson , an earnest Masonic student , of Chester , have resulted in the tracing of portions of MSS . amongst the late Dr . Crane ' s papers . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford has carefully considered these two extracts ( or parts ) of MSS . now apparently unknown , and favoured the Craft with a comparative view of their distinctive features .

In answer to his question as to the account furnished by Bro . Gould in his able " History of Freemasonry , " vol . I ., page 72 , I beg to confirm the same in all its particulars . The MS . published in " Masonic Magazine , " 1879 , was kindly given to me by Bro . W . R . Bainbridge , then of Liverpool , who had it , with other papers , from Bro . S . Browne , who was once Secretary of the Cestrian Lodge ,

Chester , but who , I believe , died sometime since . Bro . Bainbridge could give me no information beyond what has been stated , and failed to discover aught of consequence about the MSS ., though he tried to be of service to me . It will be noted that Bro . Gould classes the "Wren MS . " with the " Harleian , 1 942 , " "Melrose , " and three other MSS ., because it contains the comparatively rare

Apprentice Clauses . Ihe original MS . in question lacks the first part as far down as the eighth of the " Euclid " Rules . I quite think , with Bro . Woodford , that the portion traced by Bro . Robinson belongs to another MS ., and is not that known as the " Wren MS ., " because the alterations and

additions are not such as can be accounted for by the carelessness of the scribe , and in some respects differ from all known texts . It is not a replica of the original MS . which Bro . Woodford has , but a different MS—at least , such is my opinion , after a careful comparison of the several portions . The few lines of " an older MS . " somewhat re-

Masonic Notes And Queries.

sembles the " Buchanan MS . " given in fullin Bro . Gould ' s History , vol . 1 ., only that the latter is the junior of the two . I hope Bro . Robinson will continue his researches—in fact , I know he is so doing . W . J . HUGHAN .

4391 OLD WARRANTS . —I . I have just hadsentme by Bro . the Rev . J . H . Jukes , M . A ., P . Prov . G . Chap . Oxon , & c , a copy of the original warrant of the Palladian Chapter , No . So , Hereford , of A . D . 1791 . A Provincial Grand Chapter was held at Hereford , on August 13 th , I 7 gi , when the warrant was read by authority of Bro . Dunckerley , Grand Superintendent . At another

meeting , held 7 th February , 1792 , the "days" were filled in , and it was decided to hold the chapter on the 13 th of the same month . After the " Union " a new warrant was granted , dated 7 th November , 1 S 21 , by authority of the Duke of Sussex , and the chapter was attached to the Palladian Lodge , then No . igG ( now No . 120 , Hereford ) , and is so acknowledged in the List of Chapters of A . D . 1 S 23 .

Bro . Jukes has also kindly sent me a copy of the new warrant also . I hope to send other conies of charters for this department . " W . J . HUGHAN . L . S . THE ALMIGHTY J . A . H . No . So . To all the Enlightened our Brethren of the several Degrees of the Royal Craft , but more especially those Citizens of the World and Servants of the

OMNIPOTENT who have been , or hereafter may be , honoured by Exaltation to our Sublime Degree , Health , Peace , Good Will . Be it known that our Excellent Companions the Reverend Richard Underwood , Robert Phillips , Esqre ., and the Reverend Thomas Kidley , having made known to us their

Desire of holding a Chapter of our Order for the cultivation of the Grand and Universal Science . in hopes thereby the more to extend their aid to , and promote the happiness of , every Terrestrial Being , and link Mankind together by indissoluble Bonds of Friendship , Peace , and Harmony ;

And that We having taken their request into consideration , and finding it concordant with our Grand Scheme of Universal Benevolence , Do hereby grant to them this our Warrant of Constitution , with full power for them , their Companions , and their Successors to open and hold a Chapter of our Order at

HEREFORD , or at such other Place , and at such Time , as our said Companions and their Successors shall , with the consent of Us and Our Successors , Grand Officers for the time being , think meet . The first Chapter to be opened on Tuesday , the 21 st day of February now next ensuing , by the title of

Palladian Chapter , with such Privileges , Powers , and Immunities as do of right belong to regular established Chapters and Companions of our said Most Excellent Order . Subject , nevertheless , to the general Laws and Ordinances already or to be hereafter enacted by Our Most Excellent Grand and Royal Chapter . Given at London under our Hands and the Seal of Our Grand and Royal Chapter the 14 th day of August , A . L . 5795 , A . D . 1791 .

u O J . BROOKES , , ^ THOS . DUNCKERLEY , Z ., J . HASELTINE , O p . PARKER , H ., NO . ALLEN . y J . HASELTINE , J . a . tn c

J FRITH , Gd . Rr . 440 ] __ FREEMASONRY IN CHESTER IN THE iSTH CENTURY . I should be glad if Mr . BRADFORD ' S example in sending an extract from a letter of the late Rev . THOMAS CRANE to THE SHEAF will be followed by other correspodents who

possess any letters or papers referring to FREEMASONRY in CHESTER in the 17 th or iSth centuries . To complete Mr . CRANE ' account of the laying of the first stone of the arch of the BRIDGE-GATE , I send you the report of the proceedings g iven in the Chester Chronicle , 24 th May , 17 S 2 . The inscription on the plate is not so laconic as the one prepared by Mr . CRANE , and probably

not so scholarly ; but it conveys a vivid understanding of what were the prevailing thoughts in the minds of CESTRIANS , when they assembled on that Whit-Tuesday morning , 102 years ago : — "On Tuesday last , PATTISON ELLAMES , Esq ., Mayor of this City , attended by the Corporation and by antient and honourable Society of * Free and Accepted Masons , ' went in procession to the late GATE near the BRIDGE ,

where he laid the first stone of an intended Arch , in which was sunk a brass plate with the following inscription thereon : — " PATTISON ELLAMES ; Esq ., Mayor of this City , CHESTER , laid this stone in the year of the Christian a ; ra ,

17 S 2 , as D . Provincial Grand Master of Free & Accepted Masons . A numerous procession of Brethren attended . A . L . 5782 . Thomas Cotgrave and ) Esqrs ., Aldermen , Henry Hesketh , > and Murengers . Jos . Turner , Architect .

The order of the procession : 1 , Musicians ; 2 , The Mayor ( with his jewel and apron , as one of the Grand Masters ) , attended by the CORPORATION in the usual manner ; 3 , The Stewards of the Lodge ; 4 , A Tiler , bareheaded , carrying the Provincial Sword ; <; , another Tiler , bareheaded , carrying on a cushion the ' Provincial Book of Constitutions '; G , PHILIP EGERTON

of Oulton , Esquire , alone , as one of the Provincial Grand Masters , attended by his Grand Wardens and Officers , two and two ; 7 , a Tiler , bareheaded , carrying on a cushion the Provincial Bible ; 8 , The REVEREND MR . CRANE , MASTER of the PROVINCIAL LODGE , alone , attended by his Wardens and Brethren , and by the Masters , Wardens , and Brethren of all the Lodges in this City ( in united Lodges assembled ) , two and two .

The Reverend Mr . CRANE opened this Lodge with an excellent Oration on Architecture , and a solemn CHARGE TO MASONS . An elegant entertainment was provided for the Brethren in the Provincial Lodge-room at the ' Coach and Horses , ' and the evening was spent in the utmost harmony . " J . C . ROBINSON . A few copies of this learned " Charge " were printed at the time for the sole use of the _ Brethren , and I have Mr . CRANE ' S own private impression of it amongst my local literary " gems . "—Chester Coitrant . T . HUGHES .