Masonic Notes And Queries.

" Therefore seeing that Gcomctrie is the first degree of all good Art , to the end I may shew the Architcctor so much thereof , as that he may thereby be able with good skill , to giue some reason of his worke . Touching the speculations of Euclides and other authors , that have written of Georretrie , I will leave them , and onely take some flowers out of their garden , that therewith by the

shortest way that I can , I may entreat of diuers cutting through of Lines , with some demonstrations , meaning so plainely and openly to set down and declare the same , both in writing and in figures , that euery man may both conceiue and vnderstand them , and aduertising the Reader not to proceed to know the second figure , before he hafch well vnderstood and found out the first , and so still proceeding , hee shall at last attaine unto his desire .

THE CHESTER GUILDS I have been making sundry researches in connection with " Masonic Student ' s " inquiry as to the Guilds of Chester . I have not been as successful as I could have wished . Still I have found something , and it is to the effect that therewas a " Guild Mercatory " in Chester long before it had a charter . My first glance was through the pages of a work published

by Daniel King , entitled "The Vale-Royall of England , or the County Palatine of Chester , " in "London : Printed by John Streeter , in little 5 . Bartholomews , and are to be sold at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West End of Paul's 1656 . " It is described as "being performed by William Smith and William Webb , Gentlemen , " and it is from the contribution of the latter that I succeeded in obtaining the

following brief account of the Guild in question : — "We find that before the said City had any Charter , they used by prescription divers liberties , and enjoyed a Guild Mercatory , that is , a brotherhood of merchants , and that whosoever was not admitted of that society , he could not use any trade , or traffic within the city , nor be a tradesman therein . And the tenour of this Guild Mercatory did

overrun in these words : Sicut hactenus list fuerint ; and was afterwards confirmed under the Earl ' s seal . And there was appointed two overseers out of the chiefest ol the citizens , and were greatl y respected of the citizens , as officers that had the special care of maintaining those privileges . And did receive for the City all the summes of money paid by strangers for custome oi merchandize

brought either , by sea or land , except it were at the fairs , which then were , as some * say , three in the year , at Midsummer , Michaelmas , and Martjemas . " Similar particulars respecting this Guild will be found in Ormcrod's " History of the County Palatine and the

City of Chester , " and also in Barnes's " History of Lancashire and Cheshire ; " but the account in both these is very much fuller , and it is more than probable that if I can find a little leisure'during the next few days , I may be able to supplement this short note with further details , which will prove even more interesting still . G . B . A .

BRITISH BUILDERS ON THE CONTINENT . I am desirous of obtaining as many instances as possible of British architects being employed abroad during the Middle Ages . Henry , in his " History of Britain , " mentions that , A . D . 2 9 6 , the town of Autcns , in Gaul , was rebuilt by chiefly British workmen . Heldmann mentions that in the beginning of the tenth century , Berta , wife of

Rudolf II . of Burgundy , was most active in repairing the ravages of the Hungarians in Switzerland , and that the lay worl < men in the Munster Vale were under the direction of a Scotchman , Master Mackenbri , who became the progenitor of the Lords of Tavanne . Munter , in his "Church History of Denmark , " vol . 2 , p . 404 , states that the Cathedral of Drontheim , Norway , was built by English Masons in

1033 . James Murphy , " Travels in Portugal , " relates that " according to the account of those who were supposed to have had their information from the records preserved in the Royal Archives of Lisbon , the architect of the Abbey of Batalha ( uSy ) was an Englishman called Stephen

Stevenson . In some other work , which I am unable to identify , I remember another name was given , but still an English one . These are all the cases I know of at present , but am inclined to think that there may be many more . Can any brother help me to further instances with , if possible , the means of verifying all such assertions , E . A . STUDENT .

CURIOUS OLD BOOKS . 1 possess a very curious and rare Rosicrucian tract , ( a dirty little production it is ) , printed in 1 C 20 . The object of it is to prove that women—rather the " Holy Women " " •rnerally—iveremembers of a Rosicrucian , Hermetic Order , practically in Old Testament times . Kloss alludes to the tract in No . 2591 , p . 192 , but its author is unknown so far . It is not very lucid and rather incoherent , and how far ladies

were then members of the Rosicrucian Fraternity seems very doubtful . Indeed , the more you study it , —it is written , too , in old German , —the less you seem to understand it , and much of it as regards the " Holy Women of Old '' seems turbid nonsense . There is another curious work , and scarce , called "Delia Famosissima Compagnia Delia Lesina , " & c , Venice , Gio Alberti , MDCI 1 L , 1603 . Lesina

is an awl in Italian , and an " awl" is the emblem of the society or company . It seems to include all ranks . The rules are many , and there is evidently a double play on words , partly real and partly burlesque ; but not being a good Italian sfcholar myself 1 cannot , except through Latin , make out . 'the fuU meaning . If any Italian brother would like to see this hook I will gladly place it at his disposal , if he will write to the Editor , 16 , Great Queen-street . 4 MASONIC STUDENT .

EARLY USE OF THE WORD FREEMASON . Referring to my former communication on this subject , 3 rd September , I have now had an opportunity of consulting the original text ot the "Cronica Majora" ol Matthew Paris . The following references are to the edition published under the direction of the Master of the Rolls . The word which has been translated " architects " in the

account of the death of Richard , Bishop of Durham , 15 th April , 1237 , is ( vol . iii . p . 391 ) artificiiim . Again , in 1245 , when the King orders the Church of St . Peter at Westminster to be enlarged , the word translated " architects " is in the original ( iv . p . 427 ) arlificibus . Again , in 125 ; , in recording the possessions of I ' aulin Piper , the word is nperarii ; and in the account of the discovery of the tomb of St . Albans , 1257 , wc'liave ( v . 60 S ) ccmentario-

Masonic Notes And Queries.

rum . I am hardly surprised that "G . H ., " like myself , was unable to trace the deed referring to the word Freemason in " Rymer ' s Focdera . " Mr . Papworth has kindly given to me a reference which has enabled me to find it , and at his request I now print it here . In vol . xvii . of the edition of Rymer , London , 1717 , there is at the end , after the index , a syllabus or index of manuscript acts not published . It has a separate . Damnation of its own , and on

page 55 is the entry quoted , 19 th Richard II ., 139 6 ( article 25 in the list ) . A copy of the document is now before me , and the sentence in question reads " lathomos vocatos ffre Maceons et . * * * * * * lathomos vocatos ligiers . " The copy of the deed is preserved in Sloane MS . No . 459 S- "' r . Papworth also refers me to instances of the use of the word Freemason early as 1250 , 1319 , 1334 , 4 137 ° " 1403 . These , he informs me , are to be found in the " Dictionary of Architecture , " article " Latomus . " W . H . R .

EARLY USE OF THE WORD FREEMASON . In the "Statues of Wells Cathedral , " edited by Bro . H .-E ; Reynolds , Librarian , Exeter Cathedral , to which I propose to allude fully next week' " in extenso , " there occurs late in the 14 th century a distinct and apparently recognised use of " Ffreemasons" and " Ffreemasonry . " MASONIC . STUDENT .

COLONEL HENRY MAINWARING . " Though my researches in relation to the Chester Guilds have not resulted as I should have wished , I am glad to say I have found much relating to the Colonel Henry Mainwaring , who was initiated into Freemasonry at Warrington , in Lancashire , on the 16 th October , 1646 , at the same time with Bro . Elias Ashmole . The family of the Mainwarings

is one of the most distinguished in the county of Chester . In the first portion , 03 ' Mr . William Smith , of the " Vale-Royall of England , " I find that in a list written out of one of John Leland's books of " the chiefest places of gentlemen in Cheshire" is included "Sir Randal Manwaring , at Baddeley , three miles from Nantwich . " Among the gentlemen and people of rank in the " Hundred of

Nantwich " are " Humphrey Mainwaring , gent . ; " " Roger Mainwaring , gent . ; " "Tho . Mainwaring , " "John Alainwaring , major ; " "John Mainwaring , minor ; " and " John Mainwaring , minimus . " In the Eddisbury Hundred are ' ""Thos . Manwaring , of Calveley , " and "Rob . Manwaring , of Marton ; " in the Northwich Hundred , "Philip Manwaring , of Pcevcr , Esq ., " . and "Charles Mainwaring ,

of Croxton , Esq . ; " and in the Bulkley , or Buckley Hundred , " Ranulph Manwaring , of Peever . " The Colonel H . Mainwaring , of Masonic fame , was of the Mainwarings of Kermincham , orCarincham , and was descended from Ralph Mainwaringe , of Carincham , third son of Randlc Mainwaringc , of Over Peever , temp ., Henry VI . Colonel H . Mainwaring's great grandfather Was Sheriff of Cheshire

1575 , while Peter Mainwaring , of Small wood , whose daughter Eleanor was Elias Ashmole's first wife , was a younger son of Henry Mainwaring , of Carincham , the Colonel ' s grandfather . Thus by marriage Ashmole and Mainwaring were first cousins . But this is not all . In the war between Charles I . and his Parliament Ashmole was a staunch Royalist , while Mainwaring was a Parliamentarian ; and , from

the introduction to " Ormerod's History of the County oi Cheshire , " appears to have played a leading part in the struggles—at least , in his native country . Thus we read that , on December 2 nd , 1642 , the Earl of Derby , being joined by Lord Cholmondeley , at Warrington , marched thence into Cheshire with a view to surprise the militia under Mr . Mainwaring , of Kermincham . In this

attempt , however , he was frustrated . The Earl retired into Lancashire , and a part of Lord Cholmondeley ' s troops were taken and disarmed at Northwich . On Sth December another attempt was made by the Royalists , under Colonel Leigh , of Adlington , namely , to seize Macclesfield for the King , but the party were defeated by Mr . Mainwaring , " who raised

the county and attacked them therein with great fury . Two soldiers were slain , and their Colonel lied in the disguise of a drummer . Mr . Mainwaring , whose numbers were swelled by a detachment from . Manchester to a thousand horse and foot , plundered Adlington and Sir Rowland Egerton's seat at Wrinchill ; and whilst the Cheshire loyalists were flying from their residences to Chester , Shrewsbury ,

and other places , marched into Nantwich ( December 10 th ) , and was there joined by more troops from Manchester , with three pieces of cannon . " Both parties , however , about this time " began to be a good deal afraid of each other , " and , after several meetings , articles of pacification for the whole county—which were subsequently , however , declared null and void by the Parliament—were agreed to ;

and among the commissioners ( four in number ) who signed the said articles is the name of "Henry Mainwaring . " This is the " Colonel Henry Mainwaring " who , as Elias Ashmole tells us in his diary , was initiated into Freemasonry with him on the 16 th October , 1646 , at the aforesaid Warrington . By that time the triumph of the Parliament

over the King had been pretty well assured , and men of opposite parties could meet together without sacrificing their opinions . No doubt the readers of the Freemason will say that Ashmole and his'cousin by marriage could not have selected a better meeting place than a lodge of Freemasons , where political differences have no place . G . B . A .

ABBEY OF ARBROATH . I should like to add , or rather pre-pose , one more to Bro . Gould's" ifs , " viz ., If the seal has been really proved to have originally been the Abbeyseal , than thchanding down of the mysteries obtains strong presumptive evidence . And this is the point I wish to ask about ; possibly my doing so may display ignorance , but my only present means of reference

are Krause ' s work containing the copy of the seal , together with long extracts from Cordincr , and my other occupations will not allow me time at present to look at Cordiner's book . Is it beyond doubt that the seal is the veritable Abbey seal ? Are any abbeys or convents extant bearing an impression of this seal ? Granted it was found amongst the ruins of the

Abbey—even granted it belonged to the Abbey—this does not prove it to have been the Abbey seal . There appears to be some legend round the seal , but I am unable to decipher it . Again , on what grounds does Mr . Cordiner describe the chief figure as that of a Pontiff ? and in another connection , be it observed , that he places his left hand , not his ritrht , on his heart . ENTERED APPRENTICE STUDENT .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC SYMBOLISM . In Brunei ' s little book , "The Regal Armorie , " he tells us "inter alia " that the "All-seeing Eye" is a very old religious emblem in all religions , more or less , and that the Sacred Name within a triangle is practically the same all the world over—in fact the "Tetragrammaton , " with its mysterious import and mystical doctrines . ANTIQUARIUS .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

© raft jHasoitruu GIHON LODGE ( No . 49 ) . —The annual meetingof this lodge , for the election of officers and other business , was held on Thursday evening ,. at the Guildhall Tavern , when there was a goodly muster ,-under the presidency of Bro . James Moon , W . M . Bro . John Walter Moore was

unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing year ; Bro . Stillwell was re-appointed Treasurer ; and Bro . G . T . Longstaffe , was again entrusted with the post of Tyler . With the conclusion of lodge business the brethren partook of an excellent banquet , and the evening was spent in a pleasant manner usual amongst Masons .

I ISRAEL LODGE ( No . 205 ) . —The last regular meeting of this old and flourishing lodge took place on the 22 nd inst ., at the Cannon-street Hotel , E . C . Bro . H . P . Phillips , W . M ., was supported by the following officers and brethren : Bros . Joseph Da Silva , S . W . ; ] . A . Gartley . J . W . ; A . M . Cohen , P . M ., Treas . ; C . F . fiogard , P . M .,

Sec ; E . H . Norden , Steward ; E . J . Ward , I . G . ; R . J . Paton , Org . ; L . Norden , I . P . M . ; A . Bassington , P . M . ; I . P . Cohen , P . M . . H . M . Harris , P . M . ; S . M . Harris , P . M . ; G . H . Philcox , C . Richmond , M . Goldberg , C . M . Anderson , M . Jacobs , S . Jacobs , J . Jacobs , A . Cohen , M . Cohen , H . C . Lonsdale , G . Saling , and others . Visitors : Bros . G . Rashliegh Banfield , 457 ; G . jiuaub i 3 Ji

u . > , ; ana u . n . stepnens , 5 . U . 102 3 ( Freemason ) : Lodge was duly opened and the minutes of the previous lodge meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot box was called into requisition and resulted unanimously in favour of the admission of Mr . H . , Lonsdale into the Order , that gentleman beingaccdr ' dih ' gly admitted and initiated into the mysteries of the Craft in an impressive manner . Bros . E . N . Nathan , and L . Nathan were admitted to the rank of

Fellow Craft . Letters of apology from absent officers were read , and on the proposition ; of Bro . C . F . Hogard , P . M . Secretary , seconded by Brq . P . M . Harris , it was unanimously resolved to present an address , engrossed upon vellum , congratulating Brol ' H ' . R . H . the Duke of Albany , P . G . W ., upon his approaching' marriage with H . R . H . the Princess Helena , of Walburg . Other ' lodge business was disposed of and the lodge was closed in due form .

EUPHRATES LODGE ( No . 212 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday evening at Masons' Hall Tavern , Basinghall-street , when there was a numerous attendance , under the presidency of Bro , Ricknall , W . M ., ivlio was supported by Bros . C . Drosber , S . W . ; D . Glass , J . W . ; J . R . Martin , S . D . ; W . ] . Cooper , J . D . ; R . Millett , I . G . ; J . D . Coalvile , P . M . ; Thomas Rushton ,

P . M . ; J . Halsey , P . M . ; Louis Stean , P . M . ; Henry Wood , P . M . ; J . C . Franks , P . M . ; J . Coates , P . M . ; J , Covcrley , P . M . ; J . J . Marsh , Tyler ; J . Benabo , R . Mc-Lean , I . B . Copson , W . J . Bassett , S . Moss , S . J . Fisk , C . Wills , R . Mcdcalf , C . H . Evans , and others . Amongst the visitors were Bros . J . Blundell , W . M . 742 ; R . T . Cook , S . D . 435 ; J . Macgregor , J . D . , 1 445 ; and W . R . Davis ,

I . G . S . " ' " ' Lodge having been opened in due form and the business on the agenda disposed of , the voting took place for W . Master for the ensuing year in succession to Bro . Ricknall . I he choice of the brethren fell unanimously on Bro . C . Drosber , who had efficientl y dischargee his duties of the Senior Warden ' s chair during the past year . Bro . Drosber

received the hearty congratulations of the brethren and suitably acknowledged the compliment which had been paid to him . Bro . Thos . Rushton , P . M ., was elected Treasurer , and Bro . Joseph J . Marsh was re-appointed Tyler . At the conclusion of business the brethren sat down to a sumptuous repast , provided in excellent style bv Messrs .

Wood and Romaine , whose arrangements for the comfort and enjoyment of the numerous party elicited universal expressions and approbation . The customary loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , and amidst an abundance of capital music and singing a most enjoyable evening was passed .

NELSON LODGE ( No . 700 ) . —The first monthly meeting of the above excellent lodge , under the reign of Bro . E . B . Hobson , W . M ., took place on Wednesday , the iGth inst ., at the Masonic Hall , William-street , and never was its strength and his popularity more openly shown than upon this occasion , the hall bciner filled with the brethren of the lodge and visitorsand presenting an appearance at

, once hopeful and imposing in no ordinary degree . The W . M . presided , and the following officers and brethren were present : Bros . J . Wilkins , J . P . M . ; E . Bowles , P . M . ; C . W . Hobson , P . M . ; A . Woodley , P . M . ; J . Warren , P . M . ; G . Beaver , S . W . ; J . H . Roberts , J . W . J T . Butt , P . M . and Treas . ; C . Norman , P . M . and Sec . ; I . Ovenden , S . D . ; W . Ross , J . D . ; C . Sweetinrr . I . G .

W . Bidgood , Org . ; R . Hodgkinson , P . M . 13 ; H . S . Syer , W . M . 13 ; R . Bryan , P . M . 7 6 ; E . Farwig , P . M . 1 S 0 ; A . Penfold , P . M . 913 ; T . D . Hayes , P . M . 913 ; T . Peake , 70 O ; E . Crews , 13 ; Shoebridge , 13 ; W . Rees , 913 ; F . W . Upson , 913 ; W . Jobson , 147 ; J . Spier , 55 ^; H . Hammond , 1296 ; H . H . Tupper , S ; A . H . Lever , 1341 ; andC . Jolly , 913 ( I'reeinason ) . The lodge having been opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting passed , the ballot was taken

for . Messrs . J . 1 . Middleton and J . Tecs , and proving successful , those gentlemen were duly initiated into Masonry ; the ceremony was carried out by the W . M . and his officers in good style . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren partook of a neat yet plentifully served little supper , and afterwards r . , « , -ii . usuaI loyal and Masonic toasts . The I . P . M ., Bro . Wilkins , then proposed " The Health of the W . M ., " and said Bro . Hobson had well and faithfully served the