Original Correspondence.

Oversight . For my own part I am so faithful a subject , and have the Weal of Our Ancient Order so much at heart , that unless the Grand Master puts a Stop to these Proceedings , by a peremptory Charge to the Brotherhood , I wish I could honourably enter into Another . "—Yours fraternally , J . R . R .

MASONIC BIBLIOGRAPHY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I hasten to thank Bro . Hughan for his list , which will doubtless be satisfactory to "A Student in Masonry . " It serves to show also how ready our dear brother always is to communicate his knowledge for the information of Masonic students , and will , I hope , encourage similar

nueries of general interest in your columns . In my own communication read largely for large in the thirteenth line ; 1 S 07 for " 1607 , " in the seventeenth ; and if a comma be supplied after " available , " in the last line , probably your editorial susceptibilities will be less likely to he offended . —Yours truly and fraternally , J . RAMSDEN RILEY . Bradford , February 21 st .

SUSPENSION OF LODGES . To the Editor of " The Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to the request of your correspondent " S . M . M . C . O . " in last Freemason , I beg to say that the circumstances of the case were simply that a lodge was suspended for a certain period , and that the ruling was

clearly that the brethren of that lodge were " suspended from their Masonic functions , " ^ and prevented from " attending any Craft meeting during that time . " I can easily imagine that my statement is regarded by you with doubt , and that you think there must be some " grave misapprehension , " and that it is " more than doubtful whether the Board of General Purposes ever so

distinctly ' ruled , '" and that I must have been misinformed . Yet , Sir , 1 adhere to the correctness of my statement . It is a misfortune for us all that there are not more ' . erittcn laws to guide the Craft , instead of our being subjected , as we now are , to the vicissitudes of fortune . You also question my assertion as to the presence and

sanction of our distinguished brother , the Grand Registrar . My reply is that the decision I refer to was given at the December meeting of the Board , and that the Grand Registrar was present , and that there is not a doubt about it . I cannot speak as to his sanctioning the ruling , but it was that of the President , and I submit that I have a right to assume that the Grand Registrar agreed with it . —Yours fraternally ,

A LOVER OF JUSTICE . February 23 rd . [ We think our correspondent has not quite understood the ruling . —ED . FM . l

BRO . J . W . WOODALL AND THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have been given to understand that a rumour is rife to the effect that if Bro . J . W . Woodall should be elected to the Grand Treasurership on the 4 th of March , it

is the intention of his supporters to nominate him again next year for a second term of office . ; WilI you allow me to state that there is no foundation for such a statement , and that Bro . Woodall would himself object to any such attempt to monopolise the office ? The provincial brethren are as anxious to see a continuation of the one-year service system as their Metropolitan brethren . —I am , yours fraternally , T . B . WHYTEHEAD . York , February 25 th .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

517 J THE SPECTATOR . What is the exact passage in the Spectator often stated to refer to the Freemasons ? A STUDENT .

5 ' 8 ] DEAN SWIFT . ' V discussion arose some time back as to the actual passage in which Swift is alleged to ridicule Masonic Usa ges . There was some difficulty of verification . Is the passage yet quite clear ? A STUDENT .

S'OJ THE STATUTS OF 1755 . Can any brother at Frankfort , A . M ., give me a clue l ? 'he original MS ., whether still at Kloss's library or at Frankfort ? Can Bro . Findel help us ? A letter to the H'jj ' i Freemason Office , 16 , Great Queen-street , London , " L ., will be esteemed a favour . MASONIC STUDENT .

520 1 _ THE G . L . SYMBOLIQUE . so f } '' having been asked about this new body and sc " . ° - G . Lodge , on looking back to the Freemason , it L J ] 't was formed , after some agitation , only a few years nla ' ts reco K 't' ° n by ths G . Orient of France took ha 7 a'most quite recently ; but the exact dates are a little Drn ' According to our views , it is hardly a G . Lodge A c £ . bein e a swarm of Symbolic lodges out of the A . and " ¦¦ a- Rite of France . ED . FREEMASON .

S 2 'i THE G . L . ANGLAISE . . con ' ? ' ° ^ anv misunderstanding between friends and fro ' rerC students , I wish to say that it seems Bro . Speth what f " . '" . a ** communication , has hardly realized that clus ' io S m answer to his note anent my erroneous conhis ii „' c as ne P it . was partly chaff , in consequence of uneof argument as regards the title of the G . L . Anglaise ,

Masonic Notes And Queries.

and the alleged predominance of "Scots" Masonry . The truth is , he and I see the matter from different points of view , and are not likely to agree . He takes up with Kloss , I do not ; and Findel's hesitation might have led him to see " where the shoe pinches . " lam in communication with Bro . Findel on the subject , as I am determined

to try and get to the bottom of the above matter ; believing Daruty perfectly right in his conclusions , and that the alleged "Scotticisms" of the Grand Lodge Francaise are a myth and a mistake . Of my friend Bro . Speth ' s ability , clearness , and cleverness , it is impossible to speak too highly , though I cannot agree with him . A . F . A . VV .

522 ! COUNTRY STEWARDS' LODGE . In reference to Bro . W . J . Hughan ' s note ( 513 ) , I have already informed him that I am the possessor of the jewel there alluded to . No doubt , a description will interest others also . It is circular in form , of plain and frosted silver , cased in glass . The outside edge is an ornamental rim of silver , in which are set a double row of brilliants on each

side the medal , the extreme circumference being 8 in ., and the weight 4 ozs . Obverse—Awinged . female figure , draped ; to her left a representation of rocks and a cascade ; to her right a row of trees ; at her feet a cornucopia and ewer ; in her left hand a wand ; in her right hand a collar , or ribbon , to which is attached the same jewel in miniature ; the whole surrounded byja double row of green brilliants . Reverse

—A plain ground of frosted silver , upon which is the following inscription , in 10 lines : " Granted by Grand Lodge in Quarty . Communn ., 25 Nov ., 17 S 9 , to the members of the Country Stewards' Lodge . Samuel Clanfeild , 1790 , " the last two lines— "Samuel Clanfeild , 1790 , " being engraved , the remainder being in raised characters , and the whole surmounted by a double row of white brilliants . There is

a loop at the top for attaching the jewel to a ribbon or collar . I should surmise that " Samuel Clanfeild " was the Master of the lodge , and that the jewel was identified with the office . Can Bro . Hughan or others enlighten us further ? It is alluded to in Marvin , page 1798 , as being in the Rostock collection . Merzdorf also records this jewel—No . 5 —at page 4 6 . GEORGE TAYLOR . 523 ]

Several of your correspondents having expressed a desire to know something of the functions and character of the Country Stewards' Lodge , the following extracts may possibly interest as well as enlighten them . Having carefully searched the records of Grand Lodge from the earliest period I can find no mention of Country

Stewards before the 4 th May , 1772 , when at the end of the Grand Lodge minutes for that meeting , being the Grand Festival of the Order , it is recorded that "The Deputy Grand Master acquainted the brethren that the country feast was to be held at the long room at Hampstead , on the 25 th day of June next . "

The "Freemason's Calendar" for 1785 contains the following notice : "The annual country feast will be held this year on Tuesday , 5 th July , Stewards , Brothers Harris , Clarke , Nield , Barker , of whom tickets may be had . " Grand Lodge minutes 25 th November , 17 S 9 . " On a motion made by Bro . Whalley , Master of the Lodge of Antiquity , and duly seconded , it was resolved

That in consequence of the trouble attending the Office Steward of the country feast of the Society , the brethren who have served that office be permitted to wear a suitable jewel pendant to a Green Collar . " At this meeting the warrant of the Country Stewards ' Lodge , No . 540 , was paid for . I find that lodge continued to be represented in Grand Lodge , and was credited with

various sums of money down to 1 799 . The brethren named in the Warrant of Constitution are Richard VV . Whalley , aged 44 , Button Manufact ., Strand ; James Bliss , 34 , Attorney , Southwark ; James Benwell , 30 , Sadler , Bartholomew-lane ; Richd . Emblin , 40 , Wine Merchant , Fountain-court . Strand ; Peregrine Palmer , 35 , Attorney , Barnard's Inn ; John Heming , 2 S , Merchant , Bear Binder-lane ; Benjn . Pownall , 40 , Wine Merchant ,

Guildhall Coffee House ; and Joseph Moore , 36 , Printer , Drury-Iane . Fourly-six other names appear in the register , all London men ; and many of them prominent Masonssuch as Ruspini , the founder of the Girls' School ; James Dean , Christopher Cuppage , W . Hannam , John Allen , and Saml . Clanfield—all of them , with the exception of three , appear as Joining Members . The last named registered while the lodge was in London was in 1793 , being Thomas Davis , aged 36 , Broker , Bishopsgate .

Grand Lodge minutes , 25 th November , 1795 . " A Memorial was presented from the Master , Wardens , and the rest of the officers and brethren of the Country Stewards' Lodge , No . 449 , setting forth ' That they were induced to form themselves into a lodge , the better to regulate and manage the Deputy , Grand Masters , or Annual Country Feast of this Society , and for that

purpose obtained a Constitution , since which time the Country Stewards have been regularly Balloted for and approved in that Lodge , and the Country Feasts , as well by those means as thro' the indefatigable exertions of the Stewards , have been numerously and respectably attended . That , owing to the unremitted attention of the Stewards , and the prosperity with which they have conducted the Country Feasts ,

the Grand Lodge was pleased to permit them to suspend a jewel by a Green Ribbon , as a mark of their having served the office of Country Steward ; but which they humbly conceive does not sufficiently distinguish them , particularly as most of them are Officers in other Lodges , whereby they are prevented from wearing the Green Collar at the time they have on the jewel of the Lodee . That they humbly

conceive it would make the dress more consistent and uniform were they to be permitted to wear the same coloured ribbon to their aprons , and that it would be the means of creating an emulation among the Brethren at large , which would ultimately tend to the benefit of the Society . They therefore prayed that the Grand Lodge will in future permit

them and the succeeding members of the Country Stewards ' Lodge to line their aprons with Green Silk as a more certain and distinguishing mark of their having had the honour of serving that office . ' The said Memorial having been read , after debate thereon , a motion was made and seconded'That the prayer of the said Memorial be complied with , ' and , on the question being put , it passed in the Affirmative . " 10 th February , 1796 . "The Minutes of the last Grand Lodge were read , and , after debate , a motion was made and duly seconded— ' That

Masonic Notes And Queries.

the minutes be confirmed , except what relating to allowing the Stewards of the Country Feast to line their aprons with Green Silk , and on the question being put and the numbers counted by the Senior Grand Warden , there appeared " For the motion ... ... 53 "Against it ... ... ... 4 S . " In the " Freemasons' Magazine " for 1796 , amongst . the meetings of Grand Lodge announced for this year is

"Country Feast , July 5 th . " Grand Lodge minutes , Nov . 23 rd , 1796 . A Memorial was presented by the Country Stewards Lodge , No . 449 , and read as follows : " The Memorial of the Master , Wardens , and the rest of the officers and brethren of the Country Stewards Lodge , No . 449 , sheweth ,

"That your Memorialists did at the Quarterly Communication in November last present a memorial to the Grand Lodge , wherein it was stated ' That they , in the year i 7 Sg , were induced to form themselves into a lodge , the better to regulate and manage the Deputy Grand Master's or Annual Country Feast of this Society , & c , & c . " This part of the Memorial being merely a recapitulation

of that presented on the 25 th November , 1795 , 1 need not repeat it , suffice it to say , it is precisely the same as the former down to the words "having had the honour of serving that office , " after which it goes on in these words , " which memorial , with the allegations advanced in

support of the same , was duly considered , and the prayer thereof granted by a considerable majority of one of the most numerously attended Communications ever witnessed , but which was rejected at the subsequent Communication , when the minutes of the Grand Lodge stood for confirmation by a majority of 5 or 6 only . H . SADLER .

( To be continued ) . 5241 SIR RICHARD STEELE . Is it not possible to throw more light upon the asserted Masonic membership of Sir Richard Steele ? A theory once propounded by some one that he was an " Antient Mason " is hardly , I think , chronologically correct . In the plate in Picart ' s ceremonies , he is represented as " A Freemason , " before Antient Masonry was to the fore . A . STUDENT .

525 ] EARLY FRENCH MASONRY . I observe that " Masonic Student" ( 50 S , 510 ) has now come forward to corroborate Bro . Woodford . Two to one is long odds , but I must do the best I can . I claim that the Knights of the East are anterior to the- Emperors . I do not rest on the authority of Tschoudy . I wish I did , because had he distinctly stated such a fact , being a

contemporary , his evidence would have been conclusive . My authority is KIosz , France , p . S 7 , and his authority an old ritual of the " Chev . d'Orient . " At the end of the statutes are two attestations , under date 1758 , as follows : "We , Knight of the East , perpetual Grand Warden of the Seals of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Knights of the East in the Orient of Paris , testify , that the preceding

copy of the Rules and Constitutions of the Order , in 15 Articles , coincides with ., the original deposited in the Archives . " Signed , De Valois . Immediately under this" We , Deputy Grand Warden of the Seals for the North , of the Parisian Sovereign Grand Lodge of the very free * Chevaliers de l'Orient , Princes and Sovereigns of Masonry , do attest , that this copy of the Rules and Constitutions of

the Knights of the East , in 15 Articles , agrees with the original in the possession of the Sovereign Knight Br . de Valois , Grand Warden of the Seals of the Loge at Paris . Given at St . Petersburg , 15 Jan ., 1758 . " Signed , Baron Von Tschondy . This is good evidence , and what does it prove ? 1 . That there was at Paris a Sovereign Grand Lodge of Knights of the East . 2 . That the Grand Warden

of the Seals was de Valois , and his Deputy G . VV . of the S . for the North , i . e . for Russia , was Tschoudy . 3 . That Valois had caused to be prepared for St . Petersburg a copy of the Statutes , and - . had attested their exact conformity under his own hand . 4 . That Tschoudy had further attested the same copy in St . Petersburg , on the 15 th Jan ., 1758 . Allowing for the necessary time to elapse for the

organisation of the Paris body , for the organisation of the affiliated body in St . Petersburg , for drawing up the Statutes and transmitting them to Russia in pre-railway days , say in all iS months , which is certainly a moderate computation , and we arrive at a date somewhere in 1756 , as the Paris origin of the Knights of the East . Q . E . D . Therefore , as the Emperors started into being in 175 S , my

first contention , that the Knights preceded the Emperors , I take to be proved . But there is as yet only mentioned a Grand Lodge of Knights—no Sov . Council—that came later in 1762 , hence all the confusion . It was the second phase of the same Society . The subordinate bodies of this Grand Lodge were failed colleges . At Paris existed the College de Valois . In this college transformation took

place , and the account is preserved to us in two works of i 7 Soand 1781 ( vide Kloss , Bibliographie 1915 and 1916 ; also France , Vol . I , p . 95 ) . Boucher de Lenoncourt in 17 C 2 proposed two brethren in the College de Valois ; they were received , but failed to please the other brethren . Quarrels ensued , and a resolution was taken to dissolve the College . On its ruins the Sovereign Council of the

Knights was formed by these two brothers , Pirlet , de la Chaussee , and other IGrand Officers of the Grand Lodge . The title of Sovereign Council was no doubt adopted in imitation of the Sovereign Council of the Emperors , which had meanwhile been established . Brest de la Chaussee belonged to both bodies , no unusual occurrence . Tschoudy , who had meanwhile returned to Paris , and was preaching

his " Ecossais de St . Andre , had written some very bitter things about his former friends , the Chevaliers ; but when he saw all these Officers of the Grand Lodge in the new Council , he admitted them gratis to his new rite , and altered the obnoxious passages very materially . Pirlet having taken the leading part in the revolution , it would be difficult to imagine him one of the Emperors . Nor

was he then , in spite of Thory ' s assertions . But in 1765 we find him and seven other Chevaliers , partisans of the four-graded " Ecossais Trinitaire , " proscribed by the Chevaliers ; and there is reason to believe that at this time he joined the Emperors . This will explain why he did not join the Emperors in signing Morin's patent . He did not join them till afterwards . I fail to find anywhere that he was a member of the Emperors in 1761 , and certainly do