Browne's Master Key.

BROWNE'S MASTER KEY .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I beg to thank Bro . J . Ramsden Riley for his reply to my inquiry upon this matter , and am sorry I did not make myself explicit in putting my question . When I

wrote that "I wanted to turn it to some account , " I did not mean by way of sale , but wished some member of the Craft to oblige me ( privately through you ) with the Key to this volume , so that I may be enabled to read it . Perhaps Bro . Riley can favour me with this information too . With fraternal regards , X . Y . Z .

Ti ? the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In reply to the query of " X . Y . '/ .., " and also for the information of our learned Brother J . Ramsden

Riley , I have to state that a copy of the first edition ( 179 S ) of this work , in fine condition , was given by me , from my own collection , several years ago to the Leicester Masonic Hall Library , which also contains a number of other rare Masonic works . —Yours fraternally , WILLIAM KELLY , P . P . G . M . Leicester , October 22 nd .

WILFUL MIS-STATEMENT versus FACT . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , You will acquit me of a desire to rush into print unnecessarily ; and with this apology I ask to be allowed , on behalf of those whom it may concern , to make a statement otherwise of trivial importance . When my " Yorkshire Lodges " first appeared , a report

was industriously circulated that the plates were all duplicates of those in Bro . Gould ' s work then publishing , with what object need not be suggested . I imagined this statement required no contradiction , and it did not disturb me . However , twice very recently I have felt it necessary to correct the impression personally ; and although , supposing the allegation to be true , I fail to see how the work could be any the worse for such illustrations , provided they were

appropriate , yet the publisher's interest , besides my own , may possibly be affected by such opinions as " the plates are all exact copies of 'Jack ' s History of Freemasonry , ' by Gould , " and on this ground permit me to state the facts . 1 . —There is not a seal or arms on any plate in " Yorkshire Lodges " that I did not draw myself , although , eventually , many of these drawings were not required , as we decided the originals were better to work from . ' *

2 . —Some of them ( both drawings and originals ) , when shown to Bro . Jack in Bradford , were identified by him as similar ( he thought ) to what he was then engraving for the "History of Freemasonry , " and then gave me permission to make use of any in that work . To show what these were , I was supplied with the sheets as produced . The generous offer 1 declined ; but , at Bro . Jack ' s suggestion ,

I afterwards agreed that he might adopt five , as to reengrave them from mine must have been a perfectly useless expense ; a sixth is slightly different ; and the latter , and four more ( Plate III . ) , had already been supplied to Bro . Jack in original impressions from my own collection . I find of the five plates in " Yorkshire Lodges , " three of them

do not contain a single engraving that can be found in Bro . Gould ' s great work . Out of 36 engravings , 26 are totally different ; the other 10 are similar , but could hardly be otherwise , without showing much carelessness , as many sources of copy are not to be found . —Yours fraternally , Bradford , Yorkshire . J . RAMSDEN RILEY . iSth Oct .

uniform . I can quite understand that if Grand Officers , or Provincial outside one ' s own lodge , are present , those toasts should be given ; but 1 fail to see why they need be proposed at every meeting in the absence of such . —Yours fraternally , S . W . 889 , 1638 .

EARLY EVIDENCE OF THE ROYAL ARCH . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , On searching the records and minute books of Probity Lodge , No . 61 , of which I am writing the history , I have recently come across some interesting facts relating to the Royal Arch Degree , which 1 have now the pleasure of bringing before the Masonic world , and which I have no

doubt some of my more advanced brethren , who have specially interested themselves in Masonic research , will find somewhat interesting . In the Craft minutes dated January gth , 1765 , I find the following : "Ordered That the 1 st Proposition for establishing a Royal Arch Lodge be adopted ( vide ) The Memorial . "

This minute would indicate that it was the intention of the brethren to form a Royal Arch chapter ; but to whom the memorial was sent became a question , to which I have as yet been unable to find an answer , or whether a Royal Arch chapter was formed in reply to the memorial . I communicated with my friend , Bro . H . Sadler , Grand Tyler—who , by the way , is ever ready to render any

assistance to a Masonic student—but he was unable to find any record relating to my enquiry . The Grand Lodge books of that date contain no mention of any such memorial , and I find , by consulting Bro . Hughan's " Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry , " that the Grand Royal Arch chapter was not constituted in London until some two years later

than the date named . I had almost given up any hope of ever being able to prove that the Royal Arch Degree was worked in ansvyer to the memorial until a few weeks ago I was searching amongst some old Royal Arch papers connected with the Sincerity Chapter , when I came across some old minute books , where I found the actual minutes ot a Royal Arch

lodge , held at the Rose and Crown , January 30 th , 1765 Seven brethren attended , one , who wasstyled Mr . ( Master ?) , and two Dy . Mr . ' s ( Deputy Masters ?) . At this meeting three brethren were made " Royal Archs . " The minutes are continued , and meetings were held monthly until October 30 th , 1765 , there is then a break until July 30 th , 1766 , and from this latter date there is no

further record of meetings . Some of the later meetings were held at the Old Cock , to which place the lodge had removed . From this evidence it is clearly substantiated that the Royal Arch Degree was worked in connection with the Lodge of Probity , then No . 97 , and is hence the second chapter on the roll , the one at York being first . From some

of the information in the minutes , I think it may be possible also to prove that other chapters were constituted in the immediate vicinity , as brethren from some of the neighbouring towns attended in numbers and were raised to the 1 R . A . Degree . lt would be still interesting yet , to know what became of the memorial mentioned , and to whom or what body it was

addressed ; I can now only surmise that it must have been addressed to York , and perhaps our learned and distinguished Brother Todd , of York , who is always so obliging in furthering research in all matters concerning the Ancient Grand Lodge of that City , can say what share , if any , that body had in the formation of the Halifax Chapter .

I shall anxiously await Bro . Todd ' s reply , and , perhaps , Bro . Hughan , out of his immense store , will be able to add some information which will throw some light on the subject . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours , faithfully and fiaternally , HERBERT CROSSLEY . Freemasons' Hall , St . John ' s-place , Halifax , October 26 .

AN OLD CERTIFICATE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , It may interest Bro . G . B . Abbott and Bro . Hughan to know that 1 have in my possession a Masonic Certificate belonging to Bro . Ledsam , of the King Solomon's Lodge , No . 7 , of the Province of New York . It is sealed and dated "New York , this ninth day of

July , in the year -of Masonry , 5767 , and of Salvation , 1767 . " 1 he signatures are—Henry Van den Ham ( Master ) . E . J . Pryor ( Senr . Warden ) . John Bessonet ( Junr . Warden ) . John King ( Treasurer ) John Ledsam ( Secretary ) . Yours faithfully and fraternally , ALEX . HIGERTY . 14 , Garrick-street , Covent Garden , October 24 th .

ATTENDANCE BOOKS AT PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Can any of our brethren suggest an effectual way of having the attendance book at Provincial Grand Lodge properly signed ? If anything at all rests upon signing the

book , the value of it is altogether lost if all the brethren present do not sign . Here in Hampshire we have a , book about three-quarters of a foot square , and this is the only system of recording the attendance , and you may fancy what a recording it is when several hundred brethren are struggling towards it ; and if fortunate enough to obtain the goal , they may consider themselves more fortunate if

they can struggle away without having * their " clothing " torn off them . At our recent Provincial Grand Lodge at Portsmouth attention was called to the matter by Bro . Mursell , P . M ., P . G . D ., and some amendment was promised ; but at the "Jubilee" meeting at Southampton , I should think at least half the brethren did not ,

because they could not , sign ; and others did not attempt to do so at all , having had previous experience of the hopelessness of the task . 1 shall be glad if some Grand Secretaries will state the methods in operation in their respective provinces . —Yours fraternally , HENRY LASHMORE , P . M . 394 , P . P . S . G . D . Hants and the Isle of Wight .

THE MASONIC CHARITIES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , My attention has been directed to two letters , signed " Zeta , " which have appeared in your editions of the Sth and 22 nd instant respectively , and I doubt not , from the description given , the Province of Lincolnshire is the one referred to by the writer . I took considerable

trouble in April of last year to reply to statements made by "P . M . 1607 , " which were very similar to those now made by "Zeta , " and to which "P . M . 1607 " replied , commencing his letter as follows : " lam always open to correction , and to acknowledge any errors that I may have inadvertently committed in endeavouring to advance the interests of our Institutions . " Further on , after

acknowledging one serious error , he quotes his figures as taken from the Annual Reports of the Festivals , and I am afraid this is what "Zeta" has done , and so , having insufficient data , makes accusations which are not well founded . His assertion is " that for the past four years nothing has been given to the Girls' School , 60 guineas to the Boys ' School , and £ 100 to the Benevolent Institution . "

I will not trouble to extract the figures for the past four years , as showing what this province has sent , but I will content myself by saying that in my letter , in 1 SS 6 , I showed that during the seven preceding years £ 496 had been sent to the Boys' School ; £ 196 7 s . to the Girls '; and £ 300 to the Benevolent Institution ; and I may say that since November , 1 SS 5 , to the present , I have sent

amounts from time to time , on behalf of the province , as follows : Boys ' , £ 86 ; Girls' £ 42 ; Benevolent , £ 93 . It is true these latter are not large sums , but they are enough to prove conclusively the statement of "Zeta" to be incorrect if this is the province referred to , and I trust he will withdraw the same .

It is not necessary for me to attempt to justify this province for not being represented lately at the Festivals . I assure "Zeta" it understands its own business quite well , while the fact of money being constantly sent is an evidence that it has neither forgotten nor lost its interest in the Central Charities . That it has done a fair share in

THE GIVING OF TOASTS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , May I ask if there is a hard and fast line laid down that at all ordinary meetings of lodges the list of toasts as given at an installation meeting should be gone through ? I find in my visits about that the practice is not

Browne's Master Key.

the past is evidenced by the fact of the province having sufficient votes at its command to secure the election of as many candidates as are now enjoying the benefits of the Charities . That it will not fail in its duty in the future I feel sure , for although 2000 guineas have been raised during the last few years for Provincial Charities , so

relieving the pressure on the Central Institutions , yet it has never failed annually to send something towards the Boys ' and Girls' Schools and Benevolent Institution . —Yours fraternally , B . VICKERS , P . G . Sec . Lincolnshire . Lincoln , Oct . 26 .

Reports Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS MASONIC MEETINGS .

( Craft Jteonrg * ROBERT BURNS LODGE ( No . 25 ) . —A meeting was held ' on Monday , the 3 rd inst ., at Freemasons ' Hall , when there were present Bros . J . T . Ford , W . M . ; W . Wingham , S . W . ; J . W . Harvey , P . M ., J . VV . ; J . Lindner , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Dyte , P . M ., Sec ; E . J . Wall , S . D . ; T . J . Robins , P . M ., D . C ; Dr . Jacquet , I . G . ; Walkley , Tyler ; T . Hawkins , P . M . ; G . J . Moorcroft , P . M . ; F . Deaton , F . G . Baker , G . F . Smith , F .

Briggs , and others . Visitors : Bros . W . F . Hughes , P . M . 179 ; A . Hughes , S . W . 179 ; J . Hattersley , J . D . 1607 ; J . Wells , 1597 ; and R . C . Richards , 2146 . " Lodge opened in due form , and , after a protracted discussion on the revision of by-laws , Mr . B . E . Barnes was

balloted for , accepted , and regularly initiated into ancient Freemasonry . Alter other Masonic business , the brethren adjourned to refreshment , during which a very select programme of vocal and instrumental music was given , under the able direction of the Organist , Bro . Smith , the principal singer being the justly-admired Mdme . Lizzie Wynne .

LEWIS LODGE ( No . 1185 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held at the King ' s Arms Hotel , Wood Green , on Saturday , the 15 th inst ., the W . M ., Bro . VV . G . Hildreth , in the chair . After the usual business was transacted , a most interesting presentation was made to Bro . A . Durrant , P . M ., of a Treasurer ' s jewel , voted from the funds of the lodge .

Bro . G . J . Row , P . M ., who made the presentation , alluded in feeling terms to the long connection of Bro . Durrant , P . M ., with the lodge—he passed the chair after filling all the offices , and had served the office of Treasurer for upwards of 10 years—and to the fact that he ( the speaker ) was initiated with him in the lodge . Bro . Durrant replied , and assured the brethren that as he

had long worked for the lodge in the past , so in the future the welfare of the same and the brethren would always hold a high place in his thoughts , and he heartily thanked the brethren for the honour they had conferred upon him . The jewel was designed and manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , and gave the greatest satisfaction to the recipient and the brethren .

The VV . M ., Bro . Hildreth , then installed Bro . T . B . Goodfellow as W . M . for the ensuing year , and he appointed his officers as follows : Bros . W . G . Hildreth , I . P . M . ; Thos . Richards , S . W . ; T . Usherwood , J . W . j Geo . J . Row , P . M ., Treas . ; Chas . E . Lloyd , P . M ., Sec ; Rev . R .

Morris , M . A ., LL . D ., Chap . ; J . Prentice , S . D . ; E . Chatterton , J . D . ; H . W . Carter , " l . G . ; VV . Sayer , P . M ., D . C . ; G . M . Smith , Asst . D . C . ; W . F . Keddell , Org . 3 J . C . Osterstock , Stwd . ; W . J . Hewett , Asst . Stwd . ; and G . W . Rowe , Tyler . A banquet afterwards took place , presided over by the VV . M .

The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were gone through , and the enjoyment of the brethren was much enhanced by the charming rendering of two songs by Miss Goodfellow , daughter of theW . M .

Stwd . ; J . Jacobs , P . M . ; S . Jacobs , P . M . ; M . Pagani , G . H . Foan , W . Unwin , F . Wilhelms , A . W . Temple , A . Trow , R . M . Potter , J . Potter , J . Woodward , J . Mayo , J . Pullen , W . J . Green , J . W . Belcham , and W . W . Cousins . Visitors : Bros . VV . C . Smith , W . M . 15 * 33 ; H . Randall , 1319 ; D . Caithness , 299 ( S . C ); A . Lefeber , Treas . 1950 , W . Briley , jun ,, 879 ; and F . Noakes , 214 S .

COVENT GARDEN LODGE ( No . 1614 ) . — The first meeting of the season of this popular lodge was held on Tuesday , the nth inst ., at the Criterion , Piccadilly , when there were present Bros . T . A . Dickson , W . M , ; Bowers Solomon , S . VV . ; S . Hewett , J . VV . ; VV . Bourne , P . M ., Sec ; C . Ralph , S . D . ; A . Bullen , J . D . ; G . Stacey , Org . ; Fawne , I . G . ; G . H . Reynolds , 21 9 ,

The lodge having been formally opened , the minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Mario Pagani was raised to the Degree of M . M . in a clear and impressive manner , and Bro . Arthur Trow was passed to the Second Degree . A ballot was then taken for Messrs . James Bursey and William Carlisle , which proved unanimous in their favour ; the former was initiated into the

mysteries of ancient Freemasonry , the latter being unavoidably absent . Other formal business having been transacted , the lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , served under the personal supervision cf Bro . Bertini , at the conclusion of which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and received in a manner for which this lodge

is famous . In rising ^ to propose "The Health of the W . M ., " Bro . Coleman , S . W ., said they would all regret the absence of their I . P . M . and senior P . M . through illness , to the former of whom would have fallen the duty of-proposing * this important toast . They all knew how very painstaking their VV . M . was , and the time he had taken to work up to his present position . The brethren would all agree with him

that he had greatly improved since he had been in the chair , and , by the graceful and thorough way in which he fulfilled the duties ot that position , he would merit the vote of thanks and jewel which he had no doubt would be accorded him at the termination of his year of oflice . He had a number of candidates , all of whom he would conduct through the Three Degrees , and he trusted that those who followed him would do their work in the same fashion . He asked them to drink his health in a bumper .