The English Masonic Charities.

old age—let us remember the moral claim enforced at our initiation ; and as all these aged people can doubtless present a wellsifted tale of misfortune , let us cheerfully

extend to them a liberal hand , and not deny to them the material advantages which are so freely and generously

bestowed upon the children of , perhaps , equally poor , but not more deserving members of the Craft .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

—»—Can a black man be made a Mason in England ? J . YAXLEY . [ Yes •Freemasonry in this country knows no distinction of race , colour or creed , provided the applicant for its privileges be found worthy . — ED . F . ]

MARK MASONRY . Bro . E . M . Shaw has collected , I am told , a great number of Masons' Marks for publication ,

has the work ever appeared ? ALPA , [ We believe it has , but we are not quite certainperhaps some brother will kindly inform us . — ED . F ]

THE ARK MARINERS' DEGREE . I have just received a copy ofthe semi-annual report of the Mark Grand Lodge , in which the proceedings of that body at an emergency meeting on the 2 nd of August last , with reference to

the above degree are recorded at length , and I note with some surprise that the Ancient or Mother Ark Lodge of England now held in

connection with St . Mark ' s Lodge of Mark Masters , No . i , is inconsiderately and utterly ignored by the Mark authorities , although it is notorious that but for the exertions of some

few members of that lodge , the little that is now known of the " Ark , Link and Chain " degrees ( not the absurd Jacob ' s " Wrestle ) " would have been infinitely less . I can only add , that when the proper time arrives , the members of this , the

oldest Ark Lodge in the world , will be prepared to assert their rights , ancl to demand without fear that recognition whichis now apparently conceded to others , who have thrust themselves forward as representatives of the degree . There is also ,

I observe in the report of the Mark General Board , a singular but pardonable error , which arises doubtless from want of historical li ght on the subject , viz ., a statement that the degree of " Most Excellent Master" has not been practised

in England since 1813 . A similarity of titles has unquestionably led the Board to imagine that the old English degrees of" Excellent" and " Super-Excellent , " are identical with the " Most Excellent Master ' s" degree , originated and solely

conferred in America •but I can assure them that there is not the slightest affinity between them . For gcist and homogeneity , the American grade is unsurpassed by any of its Masonic compeers •but I hope the Mark Grand Lodge will

not commit the fatal mistake of attempting to work it without authority from the proper quarters . I have had the honour of being consulted upon the whole question of the annexation of those degrees to the Mark system by a brother

high in position , and for whom I entertain the greatest respect •it is , therefore , rather discouraging to find after all , that the views of the merest tyros in Masonry—men who have never

studied it either in principle or practice—are to all appearance accepted without reference or inquiry by those who should be " patterns of good order and regularity to all Mark Master Masons . " P . M ., 1 .

PALESTINE . The excavations which are slowly but steadily carried on in the vicinity of the Hol y City , have

recentl y led to the discovery of a basin filled with a compact mass of earth , and sunk to a depth quite unexpected . After a careful removal of the earth , the splendid structure and

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

the great size of the excavation were the admiration of all present . But of far greater interest is the fact of two canals debouching into this basin from two opposite directions . In these canals streamlets of the freshest water were discovered ,

and their origin is said to have been traced to several springs from which the sweet liquid element never ceases to flow , and its supply would

be capable to do incalculable good m such a time of drought as was last summer experienced by the whole population of Jerusalem . — -Jewish Record .

THE RECENT INSTALLATION OF H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES . It is to be supposed that those at the head of the Masonic Order invested with power , will naturally have attained to the degrees which are

regularly worked and recognised under the jurisdiction of that supreme body to which they belong . The Grand Lodge of Scotland , since its formation , have wisely resolved to recognise nothing but what is known as St . John ' s Masonry .

A few years ago , when the question of the exact degrees arose , it was resolved in Grand Lodge assembled , that in all future time the degrees to be recognised as St . John's Masonry would be , Entered Apprentice , Fellow Craft with the adjunct

of Mark , and Master Mason . It is well-known to the initiated that the Mark is worked both in Scotland and England as a separate degree ; but in Scotland , under the Laws and Constitutions of the Grand Lodge it has now virtually become

one degree . It is therefore to be expected that the Scottish Craft will see it their duty towards their Royal brother , who is in a somewhat manner to rule , guide ,. and govern the body in general , that he should have the necessary

knowledge to fit him to decide or , discuss any matter which might come up in future in connection with this part of the ceremonial , and that instructions in the Mark Mason , which is the recognised adjunct , or concluding portion appertaining to

the Fellow Craft degree , be conferred upon him . This , no doubt , could easily be conferred upon him by the Mother Kilwinning Lodge , No . o , with whom our Royal brother might have been expected to affiliate into , or any of the

Metropolitan Lodges who work the Mark , under sanction , jurisdiction , and charter ofthe Grand Lodge of Scotland . Possibly the Grand Master might have exercised his prerogative by conferring this part of the degree at sight . CHALMERS I . PATON .

MARYS CHAPEL RECORDS . In giving an account of the affiliation of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales into the Lodge of Edinburgh , Mary ' s Chapel . Thc Scotsman says , " Among other nam-: s singled out for

special notice were those of the first Speculative Mason of whom there is any authentic record , namely , Thomas Boswell of Auchinleck , who was a member of the lodge in 1600 . " Now , I challenge that statement , for , firstly , I deny that

Boswell was a " Speculative Mason , " and secondly , I am not aware of his being " a member " of the lodge in 1600 ? However , give a verbatim ct literatum copy of the 1600 minutes , and if I be wrong I shall admit it . —XV . P . B .

THE APRON—THE BADGE OK OUR ORDEH . May I ask what proof exists of the apron being used and worn as " the distinguishing badge of our Order" before A . D . 1717 ? I know of none , and consider that it was only then so introduced . AY . P . B .

J . —The Jews , for five hundred years after their delivery from Egypt , have left not a single Masonic tradition beyond that recorded in the fust degree , and as the second degree treats upon the arts and sciences , it certainly came from a different source than the first , for the ten commandments , and more especially the Talmudic explanation of the same , were a bar to the higher studies of the Jews . Nothing sculptured , or otherwise made

with hands , whereby the Deity orcteinity was represented , was permitted ; and the Rabbinical law , saying that the sciences were not necessary , operated so powerfully upon the conscientious part of that people that they followed the humble employment of a pastoral life . This accounts for the scanty documents wc have of the Isiaclitish Freemasonry . —Uuwibcth .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

a . The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . PROV . G . L . OF WEST LANCASHIRE . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your correspondent "M . M . " says in his letter : " Now , sir , in my innocence , I fully believed that offices like these ( i . e . Provincial Grand offices ) were conferred on brethren according to merit and ability , and that

time and patience would enable every worthy brother to share in the honours of Masonry . " Really , sir , "M . M . " must be "innocence" itself if he ever either believed or expected that any amount of either time or patience would enable " every worthy brother " in the province to attain

provincial honours . The number of worthy Masons in West Lancabhire is far too great to admit of such a possibility , even if the provincial officers were changed every year . As regards the present Prov . G . L . Officers for West Lancashire , many of them right worthily

deserve all the honours they either now , or can hereafter have , for their long and valuable services , none more so than the two worthy brethren he alludes to—the Prov . G . Sec . and the Prov . G . Reg . But I will do " M . M . " the credit to assume that he does not consider any of the present Provincial Grand Officers unqualified for , or unworthy of , their

honours ; but that there are other brethren also well qualified and equally worthy of the coveted distinction . If this be his opinion , let him at the next Prov . G . L . meeting propose such a one for the office of Prov . G . Treasurer , as the present most worthy Prov . G . Treasurer has intimated his intention of retiring at the close of his present year of office . Yours fraternally , P . M .

( To the Editor of Thc Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —For the information of your correspondent " M . M . " and others interested , and to show that the Prov . G . M . is aware of the dissatisfaction existing in this province as to the Prov . G . L . appointments , permit me to state

that some months ago I wrote to the Prov . G . M . pointing out that a strong feeling prevailed amongst the brethren that the G . L . officers were not changed so frequently as appeared consistent with the extent and prosperity of the province , and as it was believed on his appointment would have been the

case ; that the present officers were not only reappointed year after year , but that several of them having been in office many years confirmed the general report that they were appointed for life ; that these re-appointments were far from complimentary to thc numerous P . M . ' s who at the outset

of their Masonic career had foolishly imagined that the highest ranks were open to them ; that many large and influential lodges were not and had never been represented at all , whilst from others several members had been chosen ; that among thc present officers there was known to be a feeling against

retiring , and thus allowing others to hold the same rank as themselves , that it " would in fact make these honours too cheap if shared by others ; that there was evidently no chance for any brother to advance beyond the Principal chair of his lodge or chapter unless he was one of the intimate of a select few

denominated by some of our brethren a " clique ;" that as , a consequence , all P . M . ' s and P . Z . ' s ( for the same objection is made to the P . G . Chapter so far as it has existed ) feel that their services were no longer required or appreciated , and ceased to take an active interest in our worl-im * -..-ind institution at

a time when their guidance nnd practical knowledge would be most useful to us . I concluded by stating that by thus addressing thc P . G . M . I was quite aware that I might thereby incur the displeasure of those officers who appeared to have thc direction of the matters referred to , but being too

well known in the Craft to be affected very much by their influence , and having received all the honours lodges or chapters could bestow , I could afford to accept the position in the hope that my communication would bring about a more satisfactory state of tinners , urging him to give

thc subject his earnest consideration . My letter has never yet been acknowledged , and recent appointments speak volumes as to its not being considered worthy of attention . I wrote ( in order to avoid an unpleasant discussion in Prov . G . L ., where sooner or later the matter was certain to be introduced ) at the instance of many brethren , and

as a a P . M . taking an active interest in Freemasonry long before our worthy Prov . G . M . was enrolled in our ranks , and it that capacity I now respectfully invite him , "for the good of Masonry in general , " to discuss thc matter in your columns . Yours truly and fraternally . P . M . Liverpool , October 13 th , 1870 .