The West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution.

£ 239 9 - 6 d - > was £ 2850 13 s . 6 d ., while its expenditure reached £ 1679 13 s . 2 d ., so that the balance remaining in hand on the 31 st December was £ 1171 os . 4 d . Of its receipts , excluding £ 150 for repayment of a mortgage and a small item for the insurance of certain property , the donations and subscriptions

amount to £ 1175 5 s . 8 d ., to which must be added a legacy of £ 320 from the executors of the late Bro . CROSSLEY ; the interest on bonds , mortgages , & c , to £ 725 6 s . id . ; and the proceeds of the annual ball at the Town Hall , Liverpool , to £ 240 6 s . _ 3 d . ; the increase of income as compared with that of 1888 being close

on £ 600 . Of the expenditure , £ 1614 9 s . 9 d . was devoted to the education , clothing , maintenance , and advancement of children on the foundation ' ; the outlay for 192 children on the Educational Fund being £ 1252 12 s . 1 id . ; and for 17 children on the Combined Fund , which clothes , educates , and maintains them , being ,

inclusive of a proportion of purchased presentations , £ 551 4 s . iod . ; while £ 30 was paid towards the advancement in life of five children whose time on the other funds had expired . This gives a total of £ 18 34 9 s . 9 d ., of which £ 220 represents the year ' s proportion of cost of nine presentations to which the Institution

is entitled by purchase for certain terms of years , lhe working expenses amounted to no more than £ 64 17 s . 5 d ., to which we add the small item of 6 s . for the insurance of certain property . The Report , in reviewing the proceedings of the past year , speaks highly of the liberality exhibited by the younger as well

as by the older lodges in the Province , and refers with honourable pride to the smallness of the outlay for working expenses . It announces that , owing to this generosity of the lodges and brethren , the Institution was able to place the whole of the 34 candidates , whose petitions-were found in order and approved ,

on the foundation , and that , as 35 children completed the periods for which they had severally been admitted , there remained at the close of the year 221 children entitled to the benefits of the Institution . There can be no doubt , therefore , as to the greatness and importance of the services which this particular West

Lancashire Institution has been and still is rendering to the cause of Masonic Charity . Nor are these services , or rather the effects of these services , thus rendered to the children of West Lancashire brethren , by any means limited to the Province itself . Were there no such local Institution in existence ,

it is almost certain that the bulk of these children would figure in the lists of candidates for election into our two Schools . As it is , the West Lancashire children who petition for the benefits of our two central scholastic Charities are but few in number , fewer indeed in number in proportion to its

strength than the other Provinces which have not set up local educational institutions of their own . This is , indeed , a result for which the Craft generally cannot be too thankful . Our Central Charities have been so considerably enlarged during the last 12 or 15 years , that not a few even among our more

enthusiastic brethren are beginning to doubt the policy which , considering that the permanent resources of these Charities are so limited , necessitates the raising annually of an ever-increased total of voluntary contributions . And the greater prominence which our provincial educational and benevolent Charities have

assumed during the last half-dozen years inclines us to look to their co-operation for the relief from those heavy demands upon their resources which is so desirable , but which , at the same time , seems always to be fading into the more and more distant

future . It is for these reasons , as well as for the exemplary manner in which it fulfils the purpose for which it was established , that we congratulate our West Lancashire brethren on the position of their Educational Charity , and express an earnest hope for its continued prosperity .

The "Clapham" Ms.

THE "CLAPHAM" MS .

The Library of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire , commenced over two years ago under the auspices and by the practical support of the distinguished and learned Bro . T . W . Tew , Provincial Grand Master , has already become endowed with many precious relics of long past generations of the Craft . Of these none can claim a higher place in our estimation than the " T . W . Tew MS ., " circa A . M . 16 S 6 , the contents of which were first given to the world by our illustrious Bro . W . J . Hughan in the Freemason Christmas Number for 1888 .

West Yorkshire has proved to be a rich mine for Masonic curios , and to the number of the Masonic MS . already lodged in the province , viz . : the T . W . Tew MS ., the Hope MS ., and the Probity MS . Another valuable and interesting" find " has now to be added , under the name of " The Clapham MS ., " a transcript of which is given below .

The document is written on six sheets of paper , 6 inches by y \ inches , which appear to have been once sewn together in book form . The leaf containing the commencement of the text is unfortunately missing . The manuscript , until within a few weeks ago , was in the possession of Thomas Richard Clapham , Esq ., of Austwick Hall , Yorkshire , and would appear to have been held by his family for many generations . It was found along with the will of an ancestor ( dated 1723 ) and other family papers .

Mr . Clapham gave the MS . to Bro . A . G . Kershaw , P . M ., of Ukley , Yorks , who , in turn , presented it to Bro . W . F . Tomlinson , P . M . 304 , of Leeds . The last-named brother having placed it in my hands for examination , I at once pronounced it to be highly valuable , and an interesting accession to the MS . alread y known to the Craft .

The "Clapham" Ms.

Bro . Tomlinson has generously handed over the MS . as a gift to the Provincial Library of West Yorkshire , and , by the kind permission of Bro . Tew , Prov . G . M ., I am now enabled to publish the text . A careful examination of the caligraph y has led me to estimate the period as about 1700—20 , and the text itself as taken from a much older document by a

somewhat illiterate or inexact copyist . Some portions of the history appear to be confused . One phrase amongst others strikes me as differing from other MS . of a similar character that I have perused , viz ., " After ye . death of St . Alban there came Diverse Workmen into England , " & c , instead of divers wars . There are also other peculiarities , on which comment is invited .

The dotted lines tell a sad tale of ruthless destruction b y mice . Whether the subject was too dry or the material not to their liking , they fortunately came to a pause in the work of demolition , and left something attractive to the intellectual appetite of our Craft of the present day .

And it teacheth a man ye . judgement of ye . Stars and skies and Planets and these were the Seven Liberall Sciences Our intent is to let you know how or in what manner these stones were found that those Sciences were written in The great Hermerin yt . was Cush his son ye . which Cush vvas Ham his son that vvas Noah his son this same Hermerin was afterwards called Hermes the fathr . of wisemen he found one of the two Pillars of Stone and found the sciences written

therein And taught them to other men and at the building of ye . Temple of Babilon there was Masonry first made much of of ye . King ; of Babiion yt . heigh Nimrod which was a Mason himself and had used ye . Craft of Masonry As it is said with ye . Master of ye . Stones . And when ye . City Nineveh and other Cyties of the East shou'd be Builded Nimrod ye . King of Babel sent sixty Masons thither at ye . demand of the King of Nineveh his Cousin and when he sent them so then

he gave ym . a Charge every man yt . they shou'd be true each one to othr . and yt . they shou'd live truly together And yt . they shou'd serve ye . Lord truly for his pay so yt . ye . Mastr . may have worship and all belonging unto him and othr . more Charges he gave ym . And yt . was ye . first time yt . ever Mason had any Charge of his Craft . Moreover when Abraham and Sarah went down into Egypt there he taught ye . Liberall Sciences And he had a worthy Scholar which was called Euclid

and he Learned ri ght well and was Master of all ye . seven Liberall Sciences . And in his'day it befell yt . ye . Lords and states of ye . Realm had so many sons yt . they had gotten of there wives and some by other Laydes of ye . Land so yt . the Land was whole and plenteous of Generation that they had no competent living to find their Children withall wherefore they made much Care and ye . King of ye . Land made a great Counsell and parliament to witt how they

might live honestly as Gentlemen then they did Cry tho . out The Realme if there were any yt . could inform that he should come to them . And he should be well rewarded for his pains and travils that he should himselfe be well pleased . After the cry was done comes ye . worthy clearke Euclid said to the King and his Lords If you will let me have your children to govern I shall learn them one of ye . seven Liberall Sciences wherewith they may live honestly as Gentlemen

should . Under Condition that you will grant me and them a Comission and that I may have power to rule them After ye . manner that the Sciences ought to be Ruled , then ye King Sealed ye . Comission And the worthy proctr . took to him the Lords Sons and taught them ye . Craft of Geometry in practice to work' to build Churches , Castles Towns & manners And of all manner of buildings And he gave them a Charge as followeth . the it . was yt . that they should true to the

King or other Lords yt . they serve And yt . they ordain the wisest among them to be Masters of ye . work And yt . neither for love nor for great desire of riches neither for Fame to let ym , be Masters of ye . Lords work , yt . have little Cuning whereby ye lord shall be evel serv'd and you all ashamed and also 2 dly . you shall Call him Governour of ye . work so long as the work lasteth And to work with him and other more Charges yt . were too long to tell . And to all these Charges he

made ym . Swear a Great oath yt . men used at yt . time & ordained for ym . large pay and reasonable yt . they might live honestly . And also yt . they should come and asemble together every Year once how they might work best to serve ye . Lord for his profit and there own worship And to Correct within themselves ym . yt . had trespassed against ye . Craft And thus was ye Craft Grounded there first and yt . worthy Euclid gave it ye . name of Geometry and now throughout all ye . world it

is called Masonry . Sothen long after when ye . Children of Israeli went into ye . land of promise yt . is Called Palestine King David began the temple yt . is called Templum Domini : and it is with us the temple of Jerusalem . And this King David loved well masons and he gave ym . the charges and the names as he had learned of ye . Egyptians and given by Euclid and other charges yt . we shall hear afterwards . After the decease of King Salloman yt . was David ' s

Son performed out the Temple yt . his father had begun . And sent after masons into Divers countries and of Divers Lands . And he gathered ym . together say he had ( 80000 ) workers of stone and they were all named Masons besides the Lords yt . Sallomon appointed to over see ye . work even ( 3300 ) yt . were ordained to be Ministers and Governers of ye work ist of Kings Chap . ye . Lth V . ye . IL . 16 : And furthermore there was a King of another nation that men called Hiram and he

loved well King Sallomon and gave him Timber to his work . And there was one Hiram of Tickus a mason son yt . was Master of Geometry Andyt . was the chiefest of all his masons and of all the Graveing and Carving and of all other manner of Masonry yt . belonged to the Temple ye . wittness is in ye . Bible in ye . ist book of Kings C . 7 . V 14 . and this Salomon confirmed both ye . charges and ye . manners yt . his father had given . And thus was the worthy craft of Masonry in yt . Country

and many more confirmed . Men walked full wide in Divers countries some because of Learning more craft and cunning and some to teach ym . yt . had but little cunning . And so it befell yt . there was a cuning Man Named Manimus Grecus yt . had been at ye . building of Sallomons Temple and he came into France and there taught the Science of Masonry to Men of France and there was one of the Governors yt . was named Martell & he loved well such a

Craft and he drew to this Manimus Grecus & he learned of him ye . Craft and ye . Charges & ye . Manners and after by ye . Grace of God he was Elected to be King of France . And when he was in this Estate he took Masons and did help to make Masons that were none and set ym . to work and gave ym . both Charges and good pay as he had learn'd of other Masons and Confirm'd a charter from year to year to hold their Asembles where they would and thus came ye . Craft into France .

England in yt . Season stood void as for any Charge as concerning Masonry untill St . Albans time And in his Days ye . King of England yt . was a Pagon . Did wall ye . Town about yt . is now called St . Albans . Alban was a worth y Knight & Steward of ye . Kings househould & Governer of ye . Realme as also of makeing ye . walls of this Town and he loved well Masons and Chirished well Masons he made there pay right good standing as ye . Realme did them for he gaveym . 3 s . 6 d .

a week three pence to there none finchos & before yt . time tho : out all ye . Land a Mason took a penny a Day and his meat till St . Alban amended it and he got a Charter of ye . King and his Councell to hold a generall Councell and he gave it ye . name of an Assembly to make Masons & gave Charges asyu . shall hear afterwards . Right soon after ye . death | of St . Alban there came Diverse workmen into England so yt . ye . good Rule of Masonry was Destroyed Unto ye . time of Athelstone yt . was a worthy King of England & bought ye . Land into good rest and builded many

great works of Abbyes Castles , Towers , And many other Diverse buildings & he loved well Masons much more than his father did and he was a practicioner in Geometry & he drew him much to talk and Comune with Masons and to Learn of ym . ye . Craft and afterwards for the Love he bare to Masons and to ye . Craft he was made Mason and he got of his father a Charter & Comission to hold every year one . an Asembl y where every they would in ye . Realme of England . And to correct within ym . selves ye . faults and trespasses yt . were done within ye . Crafte