Masonic Notes And Queries.

one of many very curious and valuable for sale by these noted firm of antiquarian booksellers , and if a copy could be made of such a work for publication in the " Freemason " or " Masonic Magazine , " it would gladden the hearts of many Masonic students now prevented owning such from the high price . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

f Coniiintctf . ) THE CHINESE MASONIC CHART . Dear Sir and Brother , — Adverting to the lecture given by thc Rev ' P . P . Agnew on thc subject of Freemasonry , an account of which appeared in the " Freemason " newspaper of the iSth instant , he remarked ,

Coming down to later times , and thc introduction of Masonry into Britain , it would be found to have become established about thc time of King Alfred , and in the year 928 it was said that Prince Edwin , a brother of the King , called the first meeting of Masons in England at the City of York , and there

drew up the first English Constitution . " I have to inform you for the benefit of such of your readers as may not be aware of it , that St . Alban formed the first Grand Lodge in Britain , A . D . 287 , and King Athclstanc granted a charter to Freemasons in 926 , the same year in which Prince Edwin

formed a Grand Lodge at York ; this I deem it essential to mention , as , until thc publication of thc " Freemason , " many old intelligent members of our Ancient Order and high in Masonic rank , have endeavoured to impress more juvenile members wilh thc idea that there was no legitimate record of the establishment of Masonry prior lo

the completion of St . Paul's by Freemasons in I 7 ' 3-I chanced to meet with a Masonic book a few days ago , printed in the commencement of thc present century , from which I cull thc earlier date ( 2 S 7 ) of remarkable events in Masonry , the title of which work , with other particulars thereof , I now send you : —

"MASONIC MISCELLANIKS , By STKPHKN J ONES , P . M ., of thc Lodge of Anti quity ,. No . 1 , acting by immemorial Constitution . A New Edition , enlarged and improved . London : Printed by AV . Wilson , 4 , Grevillc

street , for A ' crnor , Rees , Orme and Brown , Paler nosler-row ; Crosby and Co ., Stationcrs' -court ; J Asperne , Cornhill ; and T . Keys , Coleinan-strect . " Yours fraternally , A PROVINCIAL P . M .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Hi-other , — In your report in to-day's " Freemason , " of a lecture on Freemasonry , by thc Rev . P . P . Agnew , delivered at thc Lome-street Hall , Auckland , New Zealand , we arc told : — " It was a strange fact that

Masonry existed among the Chinese in a form which led to thc belief lhat its origin was still more remote than thc generally received authority . There was in his ( the lecturer ' s ) possession a Chinese chart which contained emblems of far greater antiquity than any in use among the Masons

of thc present day . In this chart were to be found tho ark of Noah , the dove , the olive branch , thc pillar of cloud , & c , and many signs which were as yet inexplicable , and this antiquity was further borne out by the very excellent Masons who were to be found amongst the Chinese . "

I very much doubt the antiquity of the Chinese chart . Emblems of Noah ' s ark , thc dove and olive branch , & c , arc frequent in British Masonic charts , both of Inst century and thc present , and belong to thc Ark Degree , still practised , I believe , in Lancashire . At least I know that I got it and

others at an Ark , Mark , Link , and Wrestle Lodge , at Radcliffe Bridge , for thirtecnpcncc-halfpenny , some years ago . I will be glad to learn full particulars of thc present state of all the Side Degrees in thc North of England . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fratcrnaliv ¦

. " -.. ~ ~ „ ' , GKOKC ; : * MARKHAM TWKODKLI .. Rose Cott . igc , Stokcsley , December 18 , 1875 .

MASONIC JEWELS . To // it Editor of thc Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Kindly allow mc to point out to " W . M . " that the extract given in my letter of the 27 th ult ., made special mention of some Lodges having jewels of their own . Believe mc , yours fraternally , J AMES A . HAYI '* * ,

Correspondence.

QUERIES . To the Editor of the Freemason , Dear Sir and Brother , AVill you be kind enough to answer the following question for our information : — Has the Tyler of thc Lodge any right to vote for the

election of Master , or any other purpose ? I may add that our Tyler is a subscribing member and is returned to Grand Lodge as such , at the same time the Lodge pays him a sum each year for his services . In Bro . R . H . Mackenzie ' s Royal Masonic Cyclopaedia ( page 65 ) I read : " Thc Tj'ler who is

not necessarily a member of thc Lodge , ancl , in thc case of payment for his services , has no vote . " Please say which is correct . In the event of the AA ' . M . placing thc ruling of the Lodge in thc hands of the S . AA * . would

it be necessary for the S . AA " . to leave his chair and take a seat in thc E , or could he rule the Lodge from thc AV , and could he ( all business being ended ) close the Lodge . Thanking you for past courtesies , I am , dear Sir and Brother , Faithfully and fraternally yours , S . C . H .

[ 1 . AVe arc decidedly of opinion that supposing the Tyler was not initiated in the Lodge as a serving brother , and has joined it since in thc usual way , and is now a subscribing member of the same , he ' is " entitled to all the privileges and benefits of the craft , " ( sec page 87 Book of Constitutions . ) and is clearly entitled to vote . AVe cannot

accept Bro . Mackenzie ' s dictum as to payment for services being a disqualification , such a view is clearly erroneous . 2 . The S . AA * . rules the lodge . In our opinion , if not an installed master , he must take a chair next thc AA ^ . Ms . chair , and appoint a new S . W .- pro tempore . With this seat he can open and close the Lodge . —En . l

Obituary.

Obituary .

THE LATE BRO . THOMAS SLEATOR . A noble , large-hearted , and universally respected Mason has recently passe ;! away , and we deem it our duty , as a faithful chronicle ofthe Craft , to bear testimony to his worth and integrity of purpose . Wc refer to Bro . Thomas Slcatorwho had

, reached nearly 68 years of age , and who resided at Oak Villa , Summcrland , AVatcrford . On Friday night , thc 3 rd instant , at about eleven o'clock he fell into a slumber which proved to be literally " the sleep that knows not waking , " as in almost twenty-four hours he quietly passed away

without having awakened . His life was useful and good , his death peaceful and calm . Deceased was P . M . of Lodges 5 , 32 , and 297 ; P . Z . of Chapters 5 and 32 ; a member of the Temple Lodge , No . 1 , 094 , Liverpool ; Secretary to Lodge No . 5 , Waterford , P . G . Secretary of the

South-eastern Division of Ireland ; a Governor of tlie . Masonic Male and Female Orphan Schools , Dublin ; Life Governor of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution ; and a Governor of thc Commercial Travellers' School . These sufficiently indicate the zeal and true charity which

Bro . Slcator brought to bear on thc Masonic duties of his life . His hand was ever ready lo help the struggling , his heart to sympathise with the distressed ; and no case of genuine charity wus ever allowed by him to pass without recognition and succour . With all his charily he was invariably

unostentatious , and with the simplicity of a child his invariaable desire was to remain out of sight when deeds of charity were performed by him . Combined with those and many other noble qualities , Bro . Slcator was an enthusiastic member of the Craft , and it will not be easy to till the blank which his departure has created .

The Waterford Mirror , of the 9 th instant , thus describes thc funeral of Bro . Slcator : — "Upon this sad event becoming known in the city ( AVatcrford ) on Sunday it was resolved by the Masonic Body that with thc consent of his afflicted family the funeral should bt celebrated with the honours due

to one who had occupied a high position in thc Order for many years , ancl dining that time acted up to its principles as a true and worthy brother . Bros . H . R . Sargent . Alexander Nelson , and H . Waugh having been elected stewards the following arrangements were made and carried out on

AVednesday , the 8 th instant . Brethren assembled at the residence of deceased , Oak Villa , at a quarter to one precisely . Each Brother attended in black clothes , with a spring Acacia tied with black ribbon , nnd a ribbon

of the colour of his degree worn in the left buttonhole . The Master Mason ' s colour was blue ; Royal Arch , red ; Knights Templar , black and white ; Prince Masons' red and gold . Tlie stewards appointed lo marshal the proces-

Obituary.

sion each carried a wand with a piece of crape tied on the top . The Brethren proceeded , as directed by those stewards : — Master Masons ( not now in office ) two abreast . Royal Arch Masons , two abreast . Knights Templar , two abreast . Prince Masons , two abreast .

Tylers of the AVatcrford Lodges . I . Gs . ditto . I . Ds . with wands , ditto , and crape on them . S . Ds . ditto , ditto .

Secretaries and Chaplain . J . AV . of AVatcrford Lodge . S . AV . ditto . Past Masters , ditto . AV . Ms . ditto . Bros . Blair , AVhallcy , and AVhalley , jun ., alternately carrying the Bible , Square and Compass , and

the Book of Constitutions , on a cushion covered with crape , the Bible and Book being also covered with crape . Deputy Provincial Grancl Master .

Bro . H . Palmer . Bro . W . A . Sargent . „ J . Scott . COFFIN . „ Henry Denny . ,, P . Lcckic . „ St . G . Freeman .

MOURNERS .

The route taken was through Thomas-street , the Quay , Henrietta-street , to thc front entrance of the Cathedral . Arriving there thc procession then matched up the aisle , separating on cither side , the organ softly murmuring a solemn voluntary , and thc coffin being brought into thc church by thc

bearers , who were selected from thc Knight Templars and Royal Arch Masons , thc two highest grades to which thc deceased belonged . . -The funeral cortege was met by the Rev . Mr . -Bradley , M . A ., who read the usual service for the dead ,, aft ? r which Mr . T . Artherton sang , " I know that my

Redeemer liveth " ( Messiah ) , which was followed by the full choir of the Cathedral , chanting the Psalm appointed for thc service , and the appropriate hymn , " Great Captain of Salvation . " After the service concluded thc coffin was again borne from the aisle through the outer transept and the main

entrance to thc Cathedral square , where it was placed on the hearse , Bro . James Moreland playing Handel ' s " Dead March" in Saul . Thc procession then went by Colbeck and Catherine-streets , up John's Hill to the cemetery . The coffin was then carried to the grave by thc bearers . AVhen

deposited a circle of thc Brethren was formed , with the Chaplain ancl Deputy Provincial Grand Master at the head of the grave . The Burial Service was then read , after which thc Masonic Lecture was read by thc Chaplain , the Deacon-, holding their wands crossed over the coffin . At the conclusion

the silent salute was given , time being taken from Bro . Harry R . Sargent . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then placed thc deceased ' s apron in thc grave , ancl each Brother likewise placed his sprig of Acacia there . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro .

Abeam Denny , then removing the deceased Knight Templar ' s Sash and Apron from thc top of thc coffin , replaced them by a Mason Master ' s Apron , after which the coffin was lowered to its last resting place , while the beautiful words of the hymn " Thy will be done " were sung by a hundred voices with marked effect .

BRO . JAMES BURTON . It is with regret that wc have to announce the death of an old and highly-cstccnied brother of thc Craft , Bro . James Burton . This well-known brother died on thc 30 th of November , rather suddenly . He was initiated in the Albion Lodge , No . 9 , 1850 ;

he served all thc offices , and was for some time secretary of that lodge ; joined thc Globe Lodge , No . 23 ; Phcenix Lodge , No . 170 ; Berkhampstead Lodge , No . 504 ; was Past Provincial Grand Senior AVarc ' en of Hertfordshire ; was P . Z . ofthe

Jerusalem Chapter , No . 1 S 5 ; and Knight Templar . He took a great interest in the charities of the Order , having been a Life Governor of the three Mnsonic charities and served the office of Steward on five occasions . The death of this brother is deeply regretted by thc Craft generally .

THE LONDON M ASONIC CI . UIS . —Ave are glad to sec that the effort to establish a Masonic Club has been successful . Thc premises , which arc situate lor , Queen A'icloria-strcet , K . C , and are handsome , spacious and central , will be opened fur the use of members on or before the 1 st March next , and no doubt brethren will gladly avail themselves of what we look upon as a great

boon to the Craft . Difficulty has been experienced in meeting with a suitable s te , but llic premises now taken are certainly all that could lie wished , and are capable ot being enlarged to meet all rci | tiiremcn * s should the influx of member ' s render extension necessary . Our space

precludes referring to tins mteicstnnr subject at greater length on diis occasion , but we shall refer to it in future numbers ; in die meantime we wish it every success , and recommend our Masonic readers to semi in their applications for membership without delay , and refer for further information lo our adveitising columns .