Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

THE APRON—THE BADGE OF OUR ORDER . I readily admit that , owing to my desire for brevity , my remarks as to the use of the Apron by Operative Masons of old , "in lodge , " maybe read so as to imply that I was ignorant of the fact that the ancient " Lodges " were chiefly devoted

to labour ; and I thank Bros . Hughan and " W . P . B ., " for their interesting notes which prove that such was the case . I was , however , previously aware of the fact . What I meant to suggest was , that the White Apron might have been worn in the lodge , after the operative

labour of the day was over , and I think that my brief words fairly contain this meaning . I would respectfully suggest to "W . P . B ., " that he has failed to notice that the real point of my argument turns upon the word " white " Even if a " White " Apron were given to be

worn , as he supposes , " when engaged at their usual stone-cutting work in their lodge , " most assuredly " white " gloves could not have been given for such a purpose ; and as die two articles of clothing are evidently associated together , I argue that both were equally intended to be

worn out of work hours ; possibly in processions ; possibly , also , " in lodge . " For , as " W . P . B . " admits that the Masons may have slept in their lodges , why may they not also have held tlierc those secret meetings , which we know that they did hold somewhere ? And why may

they not have rehearsed there some of those "Ancient Charges , " and doggrel catechisms , which seem to have existed , at all events , in the fifteenth century . " W . P B . " must pardon me , if I say that a bald and peremptory negative , such as that which

accompanies his first query , is both dangerous and unphilosophical . When direct proof is absent , it is better to seek for , and respectfully to weigh indirect proofs , rather than to make a public assertion of" a faith in the negative . With your permission , I will briefly summarise some of

the indirect proofs in the present matter . i . Ancient lodges were " properly tiled . " Now , from the analogy of our word "Tiler" ( which is undoubtedly an ancient and genuine term ) , I should conclude this word to mean that the lodge was so built that it could be properly protected

from spies and cowans . 2 . As " Lupus " has well pointed out , it is a historical fact , that Free Masons did hold secret " chapitres or cortgregacions . " What more fitting place for such meetings , then a " properly tiled "

lodge ? 3 . "White" Aprons and "white gloves" could not have been intended to be worn at labour . Why may not they have been worn in these " secret chapitres ?"

4 . Certain non-operative brethren were , from time to time , " accepted " into the body of the operative " Free " Guilds . These , though at firstonlyan insignificant minority , were , no doubt , the predecessors of the Speculative Masons of later times .

5 . It is possible , not to say probable , that , when these non-operative met their operative brethren , if the latter had any distinguishing maik in the way of clothing , the former would also adopt a somewhat similar badge , in

recognition of their common brotherhood . 6 . Hence , in the absence of all direct evidence to the contrary , I think it highly probable that Elias Ashmole and his confreres did wear aprons , when engaged in the practise of such Masonic ceremonies and rehearsals or . were known in their

days . It will be observed that I assume the substantial truth of the extract given by Bro . " Lupus , " and myself ; which we have evidently copied from a common source , though I cannot now verify that source . I regret that I made an

error in copying . It is Vol . xxiv . that is referred to , not No . xxiv ., as I inadvertently wrote . Possibly it is the " Freemason ' s Quarterly Review " that is quoted . I hope some brother will he able to verify the passage , and to consult the

original document ; for the subject is one of the highest importance . Too much obscurity has been introduced into the already too obscure history of our Craft , by the constant re-copying of unverified assertions ; and I therefore notice with pleasure that both Bro . " Lupus " and my-

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

self originally gave the quotation subject to a caution as to its origin and genuineness . The true historian must be slow to believe , but slow also to reject .

Bro . Hughan ' s kindly recognition saves me the necessity of appending a line of numbers and initials to my signature , in order to convince " W . P . B . " that I really am a brother . P . H . NEWNHAM .

Perhaps the following extract from Bro . Oliver ' s "Historical Landmarks of Freemasonry , " respecting aprons may not be out of place ( vol . i ., p . 169 ) . The ancient symbolical dress of a Master Mason was a yellow jacket and blue breeches , alluding to the brass compasses with steel points

which were assigned to the Master or Grand Master as the Governor of the Craft . But the real dress was a plain black coat and breeches , with white waistcoat , stockings , apron , and gloves . The 'Officers of a lodge were allowed the privilege of lining their aprons with white satin ,

and their jewels were pendant from a white ribbon ( page 313 ) . This badge ( a white leather apron , ) amongst the primitive Masons received a characteristic distinction from its peculiar colour and material , and was , indeed , an unequivocal mark of superior dignity . The investiture

of the apron formed an essential part- of the ceremony of initiation , and was attended with rites equally significant and impressive . With the Essenian Masons it was accomplished by a process bearing a similar tendency , and accompanied by illustrations not less imposing and

satisfactory to the newly-initiated fnquirer . He was clothed in a long white robe which reached to the ground , bordered with a fringe of blue ribbon to incite personal holiness , and fastened tightly round the waist with a g irdle to separate

the upper from the lower and more impure parts of the body . With feet bare and head uncovered , the candidate was considered a personification of humility , and the fear of God . CHAS G . FORSYTH .

THE TEMPLARS AND THE CRAFT . More than one Templar ' s diploma has been already printed in your columns , and as these old documents tend to throw much light upon the position of the Order at various dates , I

trouble you with a copy of one which may be seen amongst a few miscellaneous documents preserved in the museum at Bangor . It is of interest , as aiding our proof that the Templars held their meetings under the sanction of Craft lodges : —

In the name of the Father , Sou , and Holy Ghost , We the Grantl Master antl Brethren of the Honorable ami Magnanimous Assembly of Knights Templars as also Knights of Jerusalem , now commonly calletl Knights of Malta , under the sanction of Lotlge No . 44 on the Registry of England in Camp assembled cloc hereby ccrlifie that the bearer

our true well beloved and trusted Brother Sir . Charles WalhvorU was after due Examination and o being found worthy , Dttbb'd Knight of this most ;§ Honorable Order , he having proved a trusty and 2 valiant champion of J ESUS CHRIST , antl having ^ i with honour and fortitude supported the amazing

rt Tryals of Skill attending the same , and as such we P recommend him to all the Enlightened Brethren of ( L . S . ) the saitl Order on the Face of the Globe . Given under our Hands and Seal of our Grand Charter ,

No . 44 , in Nottingham this 30 th day of January 111 the year of our Constitution anel of M y 5 S 06 . Joll . S" GRIMSON * , Captn .-Genl . Titos . AUICOTT , G . W . liown . Anicori' , High Priest .

The Lodge No . 44 ( Athol Constitution ) met at the Milton ' s Head Inn , and at the Union of 1813 became No . 63 . A similar diploma is printed in the R .. W . Bro . Kelly ' s interesting " History of " Freemasonry in the Province of Leicester and Rutland , " p . 68 .

In this latter instance the diploma is dated 8 th May , 1822 , and the encampment is held under the sanction of Lodge 66 . It will be observed that this diploma is dated nine years after the Union , and it is therefore a question of some interest whether the interpretation ( at that time )

of the Articles of Union permitted the rites of the Templars ; and , consequently , whether their present exclusion is the result of a modern and more arbitrary reading of the Masonic law ? The Lodge No 66 ( before the Union , No . 47 ) was held at the Barley Sheaf , Hinckley , Leices-

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

tershire , and is possibly the same lodge as now held at the Plough Inn , and called " Knights of Malta . " If the old books of these lodges are in existence , they may , perhaps , afford valuable information . LUPUS .

" E . T . T ., 1167 , " AND THE RECORDS OF THE

WARKWORTH AND ALNWICKE LODGE . I beg to thank Bro . W . J . Hughan for his fraternal letter in last week ' s FREEMASON , and to reply as under : — ( a ) The date when these records commence and end in the first volume preserved ?

Sept . 29 , 1701 . ( b ) How many volumes are there before 1717 ? 1 have only seen the one in my possession . ( c ) The dates of commencement and end of each such volumes ? Sept . 29 th , 1701 , and Dec . 23 rd , 1757 .

( d ) Whether there is any reference to Masonic degrees in the minutes of the period mentioned ? No , I think not . ( e ) Will he kindly notice and copy exactly any differences before and after A . D . 1717 which may be apparent in such records , and inform us of the

same r I should prefer that Bro . Hughan should himself examine the records , and give the Craft his valuable opinion thereon . I shall gladly transmit them to any address he may be pleased to send me , or through the editor of THE FREEMASON . E . T . T , 1167 .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The General Committee of the Grand Lodge , and afterwards the Lodge of Uenevolence , was held on Wednesday , the 23 rd inst ., at the Board Room , Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Conrad C . Dumas , A . G . D . C , in the chair . There were present Bros . J . Hervey , G . S . ; J . Savage , P . G . D . ; B . Baker , G . D . ; J . Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; J . Smith , P . G . P . ; W . Ough , P . G . P . ; J .

Brett , G . P . ; J . Coutts , A . G . P . ; H . G . Buss , R . Wentworth Little , C . Hudson , F . Walters , S . Gale , C . A . Cottebrune , J . R . Skeen , Foxall , Weaver , H . Garrod , W . Smith , C . E ., Hemsworth , Rosenthal , W . Mann , E . Clarke , Raynham W . Stewart , J . Truelove , J . Percival , Wilson , Smith , Vorley , Hyde , and others .

Twenty-five applications were made for reliefone had - £ 50 ; one , , £ 40 ; one , ^ 30 ; four , , £ 20 ; two , , £ 15 ; and twelve . £ 10 , voted to them . Two were dismissed , and the others deferred until next meeting . The sum of , £ 350 was voted away to relieve the distressed at this meeting .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The General Committee of the above institution assembled on Thursday afternoon in the BrJhrd Room , Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Benj . Head , V . P ., presided . Among the other brethren who attended were Bros . Raynham W . Stewart , George Cox , James R . Sheen , A . H . Tattershall , Richard Spencer , E . Spooner , J . A . Ruckcr , W . Farnfield ,

S . Noble , James Terry , S . Rosenthal , Thos . W . White , Robert Kcnyon , James Horwood , John White , H . Massey , and E . H . Patten ( Secretary ) . One candidate ' s name was rejected in accordance with one of the rules of the institution , her father not being in worse circumstances now than when he joined the Order . One child ' s name was added to

the list of eligible candidates . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart moved that the salary of Bro . Patten ' s clerk be increased to ; £ ioo a year , on the ground that the business of the institution had so much increased as to require the whole time and attention of an assistant . He showed that the services of a clerk for a few hours

in the week were sufficient to perform all the work some years back , but that now it required entire devotion to the duties of the office to discharge them satisfactorily . Bro . James Horwood seconded the motion . It appearing , however , that the present clerk in the office of the Institution is only a temporary clerk ,

Bro . Raynham W . Stewart moved , that' he be appointed permanent clerk , and spoke in high terms of his ability , steadiness and courtesy , an opinion in which all the committee concurred . Bro . S . Rosenthal seconded the motion , which was then put and carried .

The motion for increasing the salary to , £ 100 was also put and carried . _ Bro . Patten said that both motions were very satisfactory to him , as a more efficient clerk than the one appointed he had never met with . The committee then adjourned .

The fallowing communications arrived too late for insertion this week : — " Suggestions on the Granting of Masonic Relief , " "In Meinoriam ; " reports of Lodges 169 , 1 S 5 , 47 s , 700 , 862 anil 975 ; Chapters , 139 and 1051 ; Instruction , 1 S 0 .