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© tiucattonaL HIGH-CLASS PRIVATE SCHOOL THEOBALD'S PARK , WALTHAM CROSS , LONDON , N . PRINCIPAL : Rev . J . OSWALD JACKSON , Assisted by Five Masters . Limited number of Gentlemen ' s Sons ; motherly care for delicate pupils ; individual teaching for backward ones ; p layground of six acres . First Class Honours gained at last Cambridge Local Examinations , with Distinction in Mathematics . References kindly permitted to Rev . Dr . Reynolds , Principal of Cheshunt College , Herts . Rev . Charles E . Mayo , M . A ., Nottingham . Sir Thomas Chambers , M . P ., Recorder of London . Richard Toller , Esq ., Solicitor , Leicester . George Kenning , Esq ., Little Britain .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

The following reports , Sic ., stand over for want of space : C RAFT LODGES : —Tuscan , 14 ; Perseverance , 213 ; Loyalty , 243 ; Harmony , 935 ; Walton , 10 S 6 ; Emblematic , 1321 ; Henry , 17 SS . INSTRUCTION : —Wanderers 1 G 14 . Liverpool Masonic Hall .

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . «• Court Circular , " " Lc Moniteur de la Chance Universelle , " •¦ English Illustrated Magazine , " " New York Dispatch , " " Procedimicntos de la Gran Logia de la Kepuhlica del Perti , " " Victorian Freemason , " " Freemason " ( Toronto ) , " Lifeboat Journal , " " Allen ' s Indian Mail , " " East Anglian Handbook , " "Whitby Times , " " Freemason " ( Detroit ) , "Jewish C hronicle , " "Citizen , " " Die Bauhiitte , " " Sunday Timesj" " Broad Arrow , " " London and Provincial Music Trades Review , " " Hull Packet , " " Public Ledger , " " Masonic Home Journal , " " La Revista Masonica , " " Masonic Chronicle . "

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Mr ^ St ^ Sic ^ y ^ ? ?^^ v' » ' ^ ,, g ^ . ^^_^^^^^^| SATURDAY , J ANUARY 31 , 1885 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

( AVedo not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving ot the opinionsexpressed by ourcorrespondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion , !

BRO . CAMA AND THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I was not at all surprised to read in the Freemason . oE the 24 th inst ., that you had heard upon what appeared good authority that our worthy Bro . Cama had withdrawn from the contest for the Grand Treasurership . I had heard for some time past that brethren were canvassing votes in

the interest of one of the other candidates , and reporting that Bro . Cama had withdrawn his name . Let me assure you , Sir , _ that these reports are unfounded , but are calculated to induce brethren to pledge themselves to vote for the other candidates , who , but for this unbrotherly conduct , would perhaps have recorded their vote in favour of Bro . Cama , who is , I think , worthy of the honour the Craft has an opportunity of conferring upon him . But , having given

the denial to the reports , I must leave the matter in the hands of the brethren , as wc shall not appoint Committees or form deputations to canvass voles . But , as the country brethren are posting to the Masters of lodges an extract from the Freemason of December 27 th , showing the good deeds of Bro . Woodall , may I refer them to your issue of December 6 th , 1 SS 4 , where they will see that , whilst one of the candidates is Life Governor of the th ree Institutions

and the other Vice-President of them , our Bro . Cama is Patron of all three Institutions ? He is also one of the three Vice-Patrons of the Mark Benevolent Institution , and Mrs . Cama has the honour of being the only Patroness of the same Institution , and who will during the approaching Festivals be also a Patroness of the three other Institutions in the Craft Degree , of which the Secretaries were aware before the candidates for the Grand Treasurership were announced .

Our Bro . Cama is thus following in the steps of Bro . Cama , sen ., whose large and charitable gifts are so well known . —I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , THOS . CLARK , W . M . 117 S . January 26 th .

To the Editor of " The Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The paragraph in the Freemason of the 24 th inst ., announcing the withdrawal of Bro . Cama ' s name from the list of nominees for the Grand Treasurership , is likely , unless immediatel y contradicted , to cause a widely-spread belief that such is the fact . We , the undersigned , present Masters of a few of the lodges in the West of London , all

of us feeling interested in the candidature of Bro . Cama , have obtained his authorisation to the statement that he has no intention of withdrawing his name , and has never entertained a thought of so doing . Though we should be the last in the world to assert that a brother should be admitted to any office simply because he has contributed largely to the Charities , still we cannot but think that the fact of his being a Patron of all three of

our Institutions , as our Bto . Cama is , deserves a ceitain amount of consideration . In conclusion , we should be glad if you would allow us to express our opinion that the election of Bro . Cama as Jjrand Treasurer of English Freemasons would be a graceful act of courtesy from the Craft at home to our Indian brethren , than whom , it will be rrenerallv admitted , a mnre

loyal class of men and Masons does not exist . —Yotirs faithfull y and fraternally , F . ERNEST POCOCK , M . D ., W . M . St . Ambrose Lodge , 1 S 91 . A ? , \ , JARTLK ' - Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , 1642 . JOHN N . FRYE , W . M . Imperial Lodge , 1694 . JOB GiLLINGHAM . VV . M . Gooch Lodge , 123 S . FREDK . ROBT . HAYES , W . M . Kensington Lodge , 1767 .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I think the letter that appeared in j-our columns of last week , signed " Quantum Valeat , " demands the most serious attention of the Craft . It appears that Si widows have been accepted by the Committee as worthy recipients

of the benefits of the Institution , but owing to want of funds they must wait until another year has passed . This , I maintain , is a cruel mockery , and a blot on our fair fame . Where is the benevolence of our Order , rich and numerous too ? Let us bc up and doing . As a first step 1 would suggest that our indefatigable and influential brothers come forward in large numbers as Stewards at the forthcoming Festival , so that the widows' hearts may be made glad , and the reproach above referred to may not attach to us . STEWARD .

THE LATE BRO . WHICHCORD . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear . Sir and Brother , — I bad not the pleasure of being personally acquainted with Bro . Whichcord , but think that a few additional particulars of his busy life may be interesting to your readers . Bro . Whichcord was born at Maidstone , where his fathe

practised as an architect . When a young man he spent a a long time in travelling on the Continent , and eventually went into Turkey , where he grew accustomed to Mohammedan customs , and learnt Arabic ; he was thus able to accept an offer made to him to go with a friend from Constantinople to Damascus , and thence with a party of Arabs right away to the Desert , where these young men for 13

months were beyond any communication with the outside world . During this most interesting adventure , Bro . Whichcord kept a diary , and made many notes and sketches ; but the book containing them has most unfortunately been lost . When Bro . Whichcord returned to England , and settled down to business , he met with great success . He was appointed District Surveyor of Deptford , was frequently

engaged in arbitrations and compensations , while his numerous buildings testify to his ability as an architect , the more important being the offices of the National Safe Deposit Company , the St . Stephen's Club House , and the immense block of offices known as Mansion House Chambers . He was at one time a very active Volunteer Officer in connection with our esteemed Bro . Sir John Monckton ,

P . G . W ., while his many years of continual service in the Royal Institute of British Architects , of which he became President , were acknowledged at a meeting of that body on the igth inst ., and the facts whicli I have given briefly were fully described . Apologising for taking so much of your valuable space , I remain , fraternally yours , 26 , Budge-row , E . C . HENRY LOVEGROVE .

THE OLDEST FREEMASON IN EUROPE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Reference is made in your issue of to-day to the death of Mr . William Eliot , who was initiated about seventy years ago . A brother here named George Stirtan , of the patriarchal age of one hundred and three years

now residing at Mount-pleasant , Coupar Angus , has been seventy-seven years a Mason ! He is recorded in the books of the Grand Lodge of Scotland as an initiate of the Lodgeof St . John , Coupar Angus , undefrdate December , 1 S 0 S . —Yours faternally , D . MURRAY LYON , Grand Secretary . Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , January 24 th , 1 SS 5 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

III ! HI' M ' HIJM—M ^—492 ] JOHN MACLEAN . It is quite clear that if John Maclean was initiated only in 1740 he could not have been the Maclean whom a French account mentions—as the " Handbuch " records—as having

been Grand Master long before 173 6 . The "Handbuch , " I see on looking back to it , for I had written from memory , terms him James Hector Maclean , and a Knight , probably then Sir James Hector Maclean . Can he be identified ? I am much obliged to Bro . Sadler for his note . MASONIC STUDENT .

493 J 1 hope that Bro . Sadler ' s interesting communication ( No . 4 Sp ) will lead to more facts relating to Bro . Maclean being discovered . He was one of the chief promoters of the Royal Arch Degree in connection with the " Moderns , " and was a most zealous brother . I do not think that he is the brother " Masonic Student" is in quest of , but believe , with Bro . Sadler , that he is the brother who joined the " Old Concord Lodge ( then 228 , & c ) , in 1771 ; initiated in 1740 , but where , we should like to know .

W . J . HUGHAN . 494 ] As Bro . Sadler ' s John Maclean was made a Mason in 1740 , at the age of 21 , he cannot be the John Maclean who is said to have preceded Lord Derwentwater , who is supposed to have been G . M . of France in 1725 . This would make Maclean about six years old at the time ! The legend of Maclean arises as follows : In 1744 there was published at

Frankfort and Leipsic a collection of 10 essays and a short sketch of Freemasonry , under the title ( in German ) of " The Self-defending Freemason " ( Klosz , biblio No . 2 S 5 ) . The sketch states , in relation to France : "That in 1736 more than 60 members assembled in Paris , and chose Derwentwater for G . Master , to succeed James Hector Madeane , who had filled the office for years previously . Klosz opines that the name has been since erroneously changed to

Madeane ( query ) , and that the individual probably alluded to is a Br . Madden , one of the founders of the Grand Lodge at London . ( KI ° > France , p . 27 . ) Klosz is , of course , wrong ; whatever value the assertion may have , it is very evident that Madeane is a misprint for Maclean . The date given of 1736 for Derwentwater's accession does not agree with Lalande , who gives the same date for his demission . But it is well to recollect that the sketch was printed in

Masonic Notes And Queries.

1744 , and Lalamlc ' s History in 1773 . I myself am particu larly anxious for a solution of this puzzle at tlie present moment , and was glad to see thc notes of Bros . " Masonic Student" and Sadler . G . VV . SPETH .

495 ] RAMSAY . It seems very donbtful who was the first writer who attributed the famous " Discours " to Ramsay personally . But it may be discovered . It will be curious if it turns out to be a German idea . Kloss seems to have no doubt of the fact . Perhaps Bro . Speth can light upon an early attribution of the " Discours" to Ramsay . If Kloss be correct , it appeared first in 1740 , three years before his death , and

four years after its probable delivery . Someone writer , but I have mislaid the reference , French or German , says the address was delivered at the Iodge in the Rue des Bouchcries . But 1 apprehend all such authorities are quite late ; what we want is an early authority for attributing the address to Ramsay . It is clear from his letter to Cardinal Fleury , quoted by Dainty , that he had prepared an address to be delivered at an assembly next day , 1736-37-ls this the same address' A . F . A . W .

496 J ORDER OF THE EAST . I do not know where Bro . Yarker finds any reference to seven Degrees , or where the Adonhiiamite ritual is to be found in the " Manuel des Chevalier du Temple . " It is before me as I write and I find in a highly rhapsodical and nonsensical "notice generate " that our Saviour " conferred the evangelical initiation on the Apostles and

his Disciples , and that he divided them into several Orders , as it was practised among the Egyptian and Hebrew priests , " and placed them under the authority of John , the beloved disciple whom he had " constituted Pontiff and Patriarch . " They are also called " Freres d'Orient , " and it is said in the " Manuel " that the Order of the Temple is divided into two great classes—the

Order of the East and the Order of the Temple ; and that the Order ofthe Temple took its rise from the " Order of the East . " But so much doubt rests upon this Order of the Temple in everything that I am a little astonished . Bro . Yarker quotes this " notice generaky * ' for it certainly is of no authority . Indeed , what it propounds is absolute nonsense , not to say profanity , and may fairly

be dismissed with contempt by all Masonic students and critical writers . Bro . Yarker is no doubt attracted by the mention of " Egypt , " but such allusion seems no better founded or realistic than that which seeks to connect the Rite of Mizraim or Memphis with the old Egyptian Hermetic system , lt is , in truth , only an improper adoption and adaptation of a familiar name . MASONIC STUDENT .

497 ] THE COUNTRY STEWARDS LODGE . I am pleased to note in No . 490 that Bro . Hawkins has come to the same conclusion as I came to ( on the publication of the excellent calendar for the Province of Gloucester by Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith ) , that the present lodge No . 270 , Berkeley , is using the same warrant as was issued in 17 S 9 to the " Country Stewards Lodge , " No . 540 , London .

In fact it is the same lodge . Bro . Vassar-Smith states that it was " originally founded at the Guildhall Coffee House , London , 25 th July , 17 S 9 , under thc name of the " Country Stewards Lodge "; removed to F . M . T . in 1790 ; removed to Berkeley in 1 S 02 . " I find it occurs as the G . Stewards Lodge down to the G . L . Calcndarfor 1 S 02 , on the following Year ( published in 1 S 02 ) being transferred to Berkeley , and

its name altered as Bro . Hawkins states . I notice in the calendar for 17 S 5 the following announcement : — "The Annual Country Feast will be held this year on Tuesday , the 5 th July . Stewards : Bros . Harris , Clarke , Nield , and Barker ; of whom tickets may be had . " May not the

Iodge in question be an outcome of an " annual feast " indulged in by country brethren , and which attained such prominence or dimensions that Stewards were annually appointed in imitation of the " Grand Stewards " ? If so , then the reason for the constitution of the lodge is discovered , but to decide this point we still want more evidence . W . J . HUGHAN .

498 ] DE LA LANDE . The first attempt at a history of French Freemasonry was by the above celebrated astronomer in 1773 . Itwas published and re-printed as follows : I . —Encyclopedic Yverdon , 1773 , 4 . Vol . 20 , p . 530-4 , s . v . Franche—Maconnerie . II . —Memoire sur I'historie de la Franche-Maconnerie par Jos . Jer . Fr . de la Lande , 4 ° . 1774 . III . —Etat du Grande Orient de France , T . 1 , pt . II , p . S 6-103 , 1777 .

IV . —Abrege de Phistoire de la F . M . & c ., London and Lausanne , 8 " . p . 272 , 1779 . V . —2 nd Ed . 12 . London and Lausanne 17 S 3 . VI , —Encyclopedic Methodique , Histoire , Paris and Liege , 4 . 17 SG , Vol . II . s . v . Franc-Maconnerie . A few extracts may be found in Klosz and other writers , in fact every one has made use of it , having practically

nothing else to go upon ; but I don't want extracts which may perhaps be inexact . I want to see any one of the above copies iu extenso . Can any brother help me and lend me one of the above works ? I believe the Ency . Metho . is in the Reading Room , British Museum , but I cannot afford time to run up to London and copy the article at present . G . W . SPETH .

500 J STEPHEN MORIN . —SCOTS MASONS . My thanks are due to Bros . Woodford ( 4 S 6 ) , and Yarker ( 491 ) . And first , as to the Chev . d'Orient , I see with satisfaction that Bro . Yarker agrees with me that Van Lennep ' s degrees are a version of the Knights of the East . So far good . Further , I am willing to admit that as the said correspondence dates from 1 S 41 , it is too late to

connect these degrees with our "Scots Masons . " I am disappointed in those dates , I had hoped they were earlier . Nevertheless , the term may have come to us from France , where it was certainly known as early as | 1743 . But why do Bros . Woodlord and Yarker both fix the rise of the Knights at 1762 ? This rite was first controlled by Colleges , the chief of which was the C . de Valois . It existed in ' 755- The College dc Valois was deposed in 1762 , and

Pirlet formed a new grand body , a Sov . Counc . of Kni ghts of the East , but this was only a second phase , not the origin of the rite . Two years afterwards Pirlet had deserted to the Emperors . VVe have the statutes of the Chev . d'Orient in 15 Arts ., dated and signed Petersburg , 15 th January , 175 S , Baron de Tschoud y ; and declared to be fac-simile of those in the hands of Bro . de Valois , Sovereign Knight , and Grand Keeper of the Seals of the Paris Lodge . This is absolute proof of their existence