Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries .

no man regarded . " Then in Isaiah ix ., 12 and 17 , we find the stretching out of the hand alluded to as a symbol of entreatyand mercy . Then Gen . xiv .. 22 : "I have lift up mine hand to the Lord . " The appearance

. of both the man and the woman is similar , and quite in keeping with their circumstances . Both are simply shown as walking , while the left hand of the man resting on his stomach , or above his girdle , has no

more connection with Freemasonry than any other portion of the sketch , and I must say that to fancy that the artist who executed this had any thought of _ Freemasonry in his head at the time , is , in my

opinion , purely imrginary ; only I am ready to admit that Bros . Desaguliers and Anderson got a number of their ideas from subjects similar to this when they

manufactured our present system . There is nothing mysterious in up and transmogrifying old stones into a new building . . W . P . BUCHAN

P . S . —In connection with this I would respectfully request Bro . Craig to read and think over my quotations at page 42 of last week ' s FREEMASON , from the old Burgh

Records of Aberdeen , especially under date 1530 ; and after doing so , it strikes me he will get " more light , " in a manner which may be useful to him in his future Masonic readings . W . P B .

At a meeting of a Lodge of Emergency for the purpose of an initiation and passing , the other evening , the S . W . and J . W . were both absent . The W . M . directed the-1 . P . M . to take one chair , and one of the P . M . ' s the

other , and one P . M . the I . P . M . ' s collars , there being several junior M . M . ' s in office capable and anxious of an opportunity of filling those chairs . The question afterwards arose as to " there being a right on the

part ofthe P . Mis to claim to fill those chairs " or if the junior officers ( at the discretion of the Master ) might not rightly fill them for the evening ? An answer in your valuable paper will much oblige , A SUBSCRIBER . [ The W . M . has the absolute right to nominate in such instances . —ED . F . ]

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The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed b Correspondents .

QUALIFICATIONS OF VISITORS TO LODGES . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —Having had considerable experience in the above subject , 1 think I can answer "An Old P . M . " in a tolerably satisfactory mariner . 1 st . Should a perfect tit ; .. ii ^ cr present himself for

admission to a lodge , my custom has been , for the last twenty years or more , and it is derived from very old and experienced Masons , on the I . G . announcing that there is a stranger in the porch seekfor admission , to send out the Deacons or two trustworthy brethren to examine him in the three

degrees , and also his G . L . certificate , or any other he may have ; at . the same time I would not reject a brother entirely , unless I felt convinced he was an impostor , as I have known instances where men have been entered , passed , and raised in a lodge in the colonies , and have not entered a lodge for

aconsiderable time afterwards , when words and signs have been forgotten and no G . L . certificate may ever have been given to the brother . I know an instance of this , when a brother wished for admittance to a lodge but could not pass himself in , and was very nearly rejected , but an old experienced brother came out , and after putting a number of to him

questions , felt convinced that ho could not have known what he did had he not been legally entered , passed and raised , but of course this required great caution and care . This brother rose eventually very high in the Order , and held wry prominent offices ; had he been rejected , the Order might have been deprived of a very useful member . 2 nd , With respect to vouchers , the only way they

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can be relied on is , when a brother in the lodge can " vouch" that he has previously sat in lodge with the visitor who presents himself , or that some other well-known brother has " vouched " to him that the visitor has sat in lodge with him . It is certainly necessary to exercise every caution

in admitting a perfect stranger , but at the same time a certain amount of discretion may be used ; for a very worthy brother may be rejected , and perhaps annoyed and disgusted , and never attempt to enter a lodge again . What I have written is entirely from practice and experience , and I don't think I ever

remember an instance where this test has not proved satisfactory . I may say that in one lodge where I was W . M . and P . M ., in the neighbourhood of a large garrison town and camp , we had an immense number of strangers presenting themselves of all sorts

and denominations , when we were , of course , obliged to be veryparlicular , a . nd though a few were rejected most were admitted . The Book of Constitutions ( page S 9 ) recommends due examination , but says very little on the subject .

I am , Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , F . B ., An old P . M . and P . G . M .

BRO . LITTLE AND THE "TESTIMONIAL . "

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) VERY DEAR BROTHER , —I am delighted to know that Bro . Robert Wentworth Little ' s worth is to be recognised in a tangible form . We have all been familiar with him as a most energetic , zealous aud learned Mason ; and , what is more , London Masons

are not the only brethren who are aware of Brother Little ' s great exertions on behalf of the Craft , for his fame is known throughout the length and breadth of the land , and as many of the articles from his gifted pen have been anonymous , we make bold to say that even where his name has not been heard ,

his admirable articles have been read and appreciated most heartily . In fact we know such is the case , as we have had letters on the subject from brethren who have acknowledged the excellence of Brother Little's writings , to whom the talented brother was unknown , but who , however , " gave honour where

honour was due . " I beg , Bro . Editor , to unite my feeble testimony to the most fraternal communication of Bro . James Weaver , in THE FREEMASON of to-day . I support every word of that letter , and believe Bro . Little to

bc all and even more than Bro . Weaver says ; and I feel sure that the worthy Chairman , Treasurer , and Secretaries will receive a ready response to their appeal . Fraternally yours ,

W . JAMES HUGHAN , Prov . G . Sec . Cornwall Truro . 21 st Jan ., 1871 .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Fully coinciding as I do in the sentiments so ably expressed by Bro . Weaver in THE FREEMASON last week , I am sure my motives in now addressing you will not bc misunderstood when I say that the advertisement

signed by Bros . Moss and Levander has in some respects caused considerable surprise to a large section ofthe Craft . I do not for a moment question their good intentions , which arc sufficiently evident ; but I may bc permitted to suggest that it would have been more in accordance with the

feelings of Bro . Little ' s Masonic friends if a general meeting had been called , and an opportunity had been afforded to other brethren who have known Bro . Little for a more lengthened period than have the two above-named Hon . Secretaries , to take an active part in initiating a testimonial in his honour .

At such a meeting the officers could , have been chosen , and thus what now appears to be a selfelected status , would have been avoided , while many would have been greatly pleased to originate lists of subscriptions in their own immediate circles . I merely throw this out as a hint , and to

remove impressions which seem to prevail ; and will simply add that our esteemed Bro . Brett is giving practical effect to a similar idea by making a goodly collection on his own account , and I am sure he will receive the hearty support of very many metropolitan Masons .

I will also mention that at the last meeting of the Plantagcnct Conclave , Bros . Major FinneyJ . L . Thomas , Finney , jun ,, Cubitt , Dr . Ward , and others mooted tlie question of a testimonial to Bro . Little . Dr . Ward and myself were asked to act as

Secretaries , but we did not consider ourselves of sufficient weight and influence in the Craft to carry out so desirable and importantan object , but thought it would be much better to call a meeting of Bro . Little ' s friends . On the following Saturday , with much surprise , I read the advertisement in THE FREEMASON .

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I have since received a note from Bro . Moss asking me to be one of a committee . I have not yet replied to his note , as I await an opportunity of consulting the brethren connected with the movement to which I have referred . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally ,

JOHN BOYD . P . M . 145 and P . Z . 145 . ( To the Editor of 7 he Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I was highly pleased to see the advertisement in your last issue informing the brethren that a testimonial was being " got up" for presentation to my esteemed and valued friend Bro . Little . I feel confident that the time

has arrived when it would be a great injustice not to recognise in some public manner the many services he has rendered to our Order ; and the object of my writing to you , is to suggest that a Committtee be at once formed for the purpose of receiving subscriptions from the brethren who

know and esteem him so highly , and that such Committee should include one of the Grand Officers of the province of Middlesex , of which Bro . Little is the first Prov . G . Secretary , and in the formation of which he has done so much .

Yours fraternally , A PROVINCIAL BROTHER .

Our valuable contemporary the Era thus alludes to the "Wentworth Little Testimonial " : —

"BRO . ROBERT WENTWORTH LITTLE . " Following the example set in the cases of Bros . H . Muggeridge and James Brett , the brethren have resolved to give a proof of their recognition of Bro . Little ' s services to Freemasonry by presenting him with a testimonial . The services of Bro . Little , it

should , however , be understood , are of a different character to those rendered by Bros . Muggeridge and Brett . These brethren , as the present representatives of the instructors in Freemasonry , have rendered invaluable assistance to the Craft in communicating the knowledge ofthe forms and rituals

which make a perfect officer of a lodge or chapter ; and consequently have exercised great influence over the spread of Masonry , and made it more attractive by the accuracy with which the ceremonies are performed when new members are added to the Order . Their labours have therefore been

rewarded in a most liberal and handsome manner , and with a due regard to the value of their works . Bro . Little , however , though as perfect as they in his knowledge of lodge and chapter ritual , has devoted much of his time and attention in another direction . With him it has been a duty to pursue

antiquarian researches after the history of Freemasonry , and to remove the dust and rubbish which , in a long succession of centuries , have naturally accumulated on the original fabric of the mystic art . To present it in its purity , undeformed by modern so-called improvements in the structure ,

to strip it of all ' meritricious graces' on the one hand , and to restore it ' majestic in its own simplicity ' on the other , has been his end and aim ; and while the services of Bros . Muggeridge and Brett were justly recognised as invaluable to the Craft , those of Bro . Little , in a higher and more eminent degree ( seeking after knowledge " as silver and

searching for her as for hidden treasure" ) , merit an ample and substantial reward at the hands of his brethren . The movement has met with cordial approval among the leaders of the fraternity , and Bro . Colonel Burdett , P . G . M . for Middlesex , and Bra . John Hervey , G . S ., have accepted the offices , respectively , of Chairman and Treasurer of the Fund .

"Our American Contemporaries.

"OUR AMERICAN CONTEMPORARIES .

BY BRO . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) In the interesting article with the above

heading in THE FREEMASON for January 14 th you omit a magazine which I think one of the best published in the Masonic world , viz ., The Masonic Monthly ( Thcop . G . Wadman , Boston , US . ) .

It is just probable it may not be sent you in exchange , and if it is not , it ought to be . The omission would be at once remedied by Bro . Wadman ' s attention being called to the fact ; and , on the other hand , if you do receive it , I know well the leaving it from your admirable sketch was an oversight . " Our American Con-