The Freemason.

tcneatisamici . " We really cannot smile ; we feel much for any poor mortal in such a condition of mind .

THE proposal made by the Committee of General Purposes of Grand Chapter , to give / 300 to each of the Masonic Charities , will be heartily approved of bv Roval Arch Masons .

* * MANY of our readers who are interested in thc army in Affg hanistan , and have " near and clear

ones " at thc front , will read with much anxiety the telegraphic reports of the disaster ' which has fallen on Major-General BURROWS' brigade . Let us hope for better accounts .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ Wc do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

THE LORD MAYOR'S STATE VISIT . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Is '' One Who Was Present " quite correct in his " ologies" in respect of his criticism of Sir J . B .

Monckton s speech at the Alliance Lodge meeting ? The visit of Bro . David Stone , when Lord Mayor , was hardly , though a visit , a visit in State—was it ? Had Bro . Stone a " guard of honour , " & c ? And , therefore , terminologically and historically , I , for one , think Bro . Sir J . B . Monckton correct in his description of the visit of Sir F . Truscott .

Yours fraternally , HISTORICUS

SILLY SPEECHES AT MASONIC DINNERS . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " L . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have often thought , 1 fancy with many more like myself , how much it \ vere to be wished , in the interest both of our patience and digestions , to say nothing of our tempers and our intellects , if something could be done bv any

true Masonic reformer to restrain the exuberance of diction of certain g . aod brethren of ours within certain reasonable limits . There has been a motion to limit speeches to seven minutes in the House of Commons , can we not have some similar law , inter r . os ? There are certain worthy Masons who will speak , who must speak , who do speak , on every possible occasion , and whom we have " perforce " to

listen to , though they too often favour us with little or anything but " ineffable nonsense . " Sometimes , as all of us know , at large public gatherings where , as our old Latin grammar taught us , to say nothing of pleasant \ "irjgil , years upon years ago , implentur veteris Bacchi , pinguisque ferime , people are " chartered libertines" in speech , indulge themselves and us in hazy

flights of fancy , or still more painful rhapsodies . We make allowances for such scenes and offenders in the large law of human kindness and consideration , which , recognizing our own weakness , makes allowance for the patent infirmities of others . But what are wc to say of that dreadful bore and nuisance , the silly , or the spiteful , or the personal speaker , who , greedily seizing an opportunity which ought

not really to be his , eagerl y proceeds to treat his hapless and helpless listeners to a mingled yarn of egotistical pomposityjor malicious personality ? 1 wish , as I pen these words to-day , they fell from an idle pen , so to say ; but , alas ' . 1 have suffered , in common with many fellow victims , over and over again , from such remorseless inflictions and afriictions , and , therefore , it is , dear Sir and Brother , 1 need

your aid and use your pages to-day , to ask your readers , ( especially as wc are in the dog days ) , if any of them are called upon to speak , to " cut it short . " I venture to add that if any speaker would make his point and sit down , he would , indeed , do enough and well ; but as it is , how often have we to suffer the peine forte et dure of listening to the man who will speak when he has nothing upon earth to spy ,

when al ! his sentences are "leather and punclla , " stuffing , and padding , and nothing , nothing more . How often do speakers fall at once into the category of those awful bores who talk merely for talking's sake , those remorseless wind-bags , who , whether from their very "idiosyncrasies" or peculiar temper of mind and taste , become

either "dreadful Dryasdusts" or "bombastic egotists , " " childishly silly , " or " spitefully personal . " Pity , dear Sir and Brother , any such suffering brothers and readers of yours who have to " sit" under such orators and orations , and extend your warm-hearted sympathy especially to

A SUFFERING VICTIM OF TWADDLE

BRO . JOHN HERVEY , P . G . D ., LATE G . S . To the Editor ofthe " . Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am truly obliged to our Bro . R . R . Davis , P . M . Lodge of Unions , No . 25 G , for the carefully extracted and copious notes he furnishes us with in reference to my late uncle ' s connection with that lodge . As it is my

intention ^ as my uncle's nearest Masonic representative and relation , lo publish , as soon as it can reasonably be expected , something in the form of a memoir of a more permanent and useful nature than the hastv notes 1 was ablt to throw together in a recent number , may I ask , through your columns , for supplementary facts and incidents of a character analagous to those furnished bv Bro . Davis ? It

would not be pleasing to the survivors of the family of our lost chief to find his Masonic life in any way misrepresented ; and , therefore , no biography , without our sanction , could carry with it the stamp of authenticity . But in the relation which 1 hold to him and his memory . lf shall be only too glad to suitably incorporate , with due acknowledgment , what I receive

may from the many brethren who knew him . Knowing my uncle as I did he would have been the last person to admit of an unauthorised biography , nor would he have allowed it to be turned into a source of individual profit . I may , therefore , at once state that the memoir I am preparing may be regarded as the official one , and that

Original Correspondence.

the profits ensuing upon its publication will be devoted to the development of education , and the purposes of the Masonic Charities . 1 shall gladly receive and thankfully recognise all items of information sent to me , either through Bro . Kenning , or directl y to myself at my residence at Hounslow . 1 remain , dear Sir and Brother , ever sincerely and

fraternally , KENNETH R . H . MACKENZIE . Hounslow , luly 24 th .

A MODEST LODGE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I was much amused on reading the report of a meeting of a Middlesex lodge in your last issue to notice that no ' less than three members were to be brought under the notice of the R . W . Prov . G . M . for honours—to be exact , one for honours , one for promotion , and another for

Stewardship . Now , as there are thirty lodges in Middlesex and only seventeen appointments , ( including Stewards , who are usually promoted the next year ) , it follows that with eleven " purple" officers rather more than one every three years is the average for each lodge , so that one lodge obtaining three appointments would . be ^ fgetting a good share of favours . Yours truly , OBSERVER .

ASHMOLE'S HOUSE , SOUTH LAMBETH . " This historical house in the South Lambeth-road is about to be pulled down , though the officers ofthe Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings have not been wanting to stay the demolition . It was once the residence of

thc 1 radescants , distinguished naturalists , whose collection formed the foundation of the Ashmolcan Museum at Oxford . At the death of Mr . Tradescant , in 1653 , the house came into possession of the Ashmole family . In a short time it will be a thing of the past , and known onlv in history . " — Thc Builder . " T . F .

Reviews.

Reviews .

THE MONDE MACONNIQUE FOR JULY . Paris . This is a number solely interesting for French readers . It contains , " inter alia , " an animated oration by Frere Biot at Fecamp , and a characteristic communication of Professor Littre .

WHO ARE THE SCOTCH ? By J AMES BORWICK , F . R . G . S . David Bogue . This little "brochure" really almost takes away one's breath . It is enough to startle the most placid and prosaic . If the writer is correct the Scotch arc Irish , sons of Finn , and , indeed , the whole nationality of Scotland seems to depend on no less than twelve distinct and different

families or tribes of men . Thc book is very well written , and is clearly worth perusal and thought , but , to say the truth , these various " ologies" of one kind or another make one almost sigh for days of less " deep research , " and "profound investigation , " when a "fellar" did to a great extent know and master the things a " fellar " ought to knov , which we will defy him to do now . Hence , we

fear , arises that intense amount of "smattering " -and " part knowledge , " the "disjecta membra" of "cram " which render conversation for the most part at this moment so vapid , uninteresting , and unintcllectual . But we have been led away from our subject , and return to it only to say that we have read the little book ourselves , and recommend our readers to do the same .

THE ROYAL NAVY LIST . Withcrby and Co . This useful work has reached its eleventh issue . It contains the dates of all commissions , and a statement of the war and meritorious services , medals , decorations , and honours of the officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines on the active and retired lists . Mr . Warren , R . N ., and Lieutenant-Colonel F . Lean , the editors , are to

be congratulated on the completeness of their work . A special feature in the book is the long and lull list of war and meritorious services of active and retired naval officers , which occupies nearly 100 pages . The type , though necessarily small , is remarkably clear , and we arc not surprised to learn that the Admiralty have ordered a number of copies for issue to the libraries of the ships of the fleet .

ADVICE TO SINGERS . Warne and Co . This little book , by a " Singer , " ought to be in the hands of all singers . LITTLE FOLKS . Cassel , Petter , and Co . This fresh volume will be much welcomed by our young . THE WAIF . By FRANCIS COPPSE . Translated by

T . L . OXLEY . Kerby and Endean , igo , Oxford-street . This poem , which was recited by the well known "Mounct Sully , of the Theatre Francais , before the Society for Saving the Shipwrecked , May 19 , iStio , has been translated by Mr . T . h . Oxley , well and ably . It is well worth perusal and deserves the patronage of our readers .

THE REGENERATION OF ROUMANIA . T . Louis OXLEY . Kerby and Endean . This undoubtedly lucid and forcible translation is beyond the reviewing power of the Freemason , inasmuch as it lands us on that " debateable land " of political discussion which is " forbidden country" to Freemasons .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

MASONS' COMPANY . "Masonic Student" scarcely indicates with sufficient precision the " oft-quoted passage " in Stow , which he cannot find . The numerous editions of this work differ very much from one another and in the earliest 1 have examined [ 159 S]—the original or black-letter edition—many

entries appear which are omitted in those of later years . If my surmise as to the identity of the " oft-quoted passage " be correct , I think it will be found in more than one of the copies of "Stow ' s Survey , " which are available for reference in the British Museum library . In Strype's edition of 1720 , Book v ., at p . 215 there appears : — "The

Masonic Notes And Queries.

company of Masons , being otherwise termed Freemasons

of ancient standing and good reckoning , by means of affable and kind meetings divers times , and as a loving brotherhood should use to do , did frequent this mutual assembly in the time of King Henry IV ., in the 12 th year of his most gracious reign . " Consulting this work for its allusions-to the " Masons , " and the absorption by the company bearing that name of the " Freemasons , " I discovered

that the " Marblers " had experienced a similar fate . The "Arms , " "Mottoes , " & c , of many subsisting companies present a close analogy to those of the " Masons , " and I have often wondered whether the " Masons , " " Blacksmiths , " and " Carpenters , " who figure as Grand Wardens in the early records of Grand Lodge , were actual handicraftsmen , or members of the City Companies bearing those titles ? Perhaps some reader of this note maybe

more fortunate in eliciting a reply from the clerks of these companies than I have been myself ? The inquiry is worth prosecuting , and it could be easily ascertained whether Joshua Timson , blacksmith , and William Hawkins , mason , 1722 ; Jacob Lamball , carpenter , and John Cordwell , City carpenter , 1717-1 S , were or were not members of the "Blacksmiths , " "Masons , " and "Carpenters '" Companies respectively ?

R . F . GOULD

LONG LIVERS . It has just occurred to me—could Desaguliers be the writer , and an F . R . S ., because , if so , I need hardly point out what a new field of Masonic Archreology must beoperied out to us . 1 am trying to find out by whom the ' * Treatise on the Plague " was written . ED . M . M .

J . AND B . By the great kindness of an unknown brother , to whom I return my very sincere thanks , I have been put in possession of an edition of 1765—the . sixth edition . In the second preface allusion is made to a former edition , but no other

date is given . This fact is , I think , conclusive as to the unreliability of title pages , and rather confirms Bro . Walter Spencer's suggestion of the possibility of spurious editions . The 1705 edition is notable for this other special fact—that it bears witness even then to the antiquity of the actual ceremonial ofthe installation ceremonial of a VV . M .

EDITOR F . M

By a little perversity of type 17 G 2 was printed for 1760 , in respect of the edition seen by Bro . Walter Spencer . 1 am still hoping to hear of some researches for early copies of J . and B . being successful . ED . F . M .

THE FIND IN THF . GUILDHALL LIBRARY . " A's " find at the Guildhall Library is a find , and I •¦ congratulate him sincerely thereanent . There are several " points" in his statement alike interesting and curious . The connection with the " Operative Guilds '' still adverted to in 1730 , is in itself somewhat startling , while the allusions to the Third Desxee , and the peculiar use of the

technical word " passing " all carry us back to the " fens etorigo" of all Masonic history , the combination of the operative and speculative system . VVe have here another proof of the use of terminology upon which , 1 think , too much stress is often laid by some of us to-day , and V , for one , think I can clearly trace therein fair , legal , historical evidence of the existence of a pre 1717 Masonry , entirely

akin to our present system . The theory of the very late developement of the " Degrees , " ( however modern the Degree itself may be ) , is utterly untenable , on theface of this and other documents which could be mentioned . I repeat , 1 heartily congratulate " A" on his find , and hope he will persevere in his researches ; he may stumble across something else .

MASONIC STUDEN I

AN INTERESTING FIND , & c , & c . The discovery by Bro . " A . " in the Guildhall library is certainly interesting , and worth chronicling . May it prove the herald of many others . The sheet , however , of 1 730 is not unique , as I remember seeing one owned by a friend of mine a few years since . It is one of the rarest of the 1730 "Exposures . " As the editor says , it is mainly

Pochard , and partakes somewhat of the Grand Mystery . " Both the latter and the 1730 of Prichard have been reproduced by Bro . E . T . Carson , of Cincinnati , U . S . A . Respecting the "Jachin and Boaz" discussion 1 merely used the word "original "as synonymous with first edition . M y friend Bro . Spencer ' s remarks on this subject are to the point , and very correct . The term " original" would riot

be on first edition ; neither is it as a matter of fact on the edition of 17 C 2 , which 1 claim to be the FIRST . I have the title page in full , and have carefully examined the edition of 1762 ( claimed to be the first by Bros . Carson , Bower , and myself ) , so that I really speak from actual' knowledge of the work itself . I find that four editions of "The

Freemasons' Accusation and Defence " were issued in the first year of its publication , viz ., 1726 , so that the fifth edition of J . and B . in 17 CM , and the sixth in 1767 , is no evidence that the first was not issued in 17 G 2 , sccning that four editions of another work , not so popular , were published in 1726 . VV . J . HUGHAN .

OUR EARLIEST CRAFT LODGES . I have received from our indefatigable Bro . the Rev W . C . Lukis , P . M ., F . S . A ., some more jottings from his investigations of the Stukeley papers , and this time they are of unusual interest . They are extracts from Dr . Stukt . ley ' s diary , and are valuable as being very early reference ; to Masonic work in London . The question of where thi Doctor was made a Mason is settled by the first entry a ; follows :

"Jan . tith , 1721 . I was made a Freemason at the Salu ation Tavern , Tavistock-street ( London ) , with Mr . Collin ; and Capt . Rowe , who made the famous diving engine . " [ 1 was the first person made a Freemason in London lor many years . VVe had great difficulty to find members enough to perform the ceremony .

Immediately upon that it took a run , and ran itself out of breath thro' the folly of the members . ]" It would have been interesting if the writer had told us how many members were required in those days to perform the ceremony , lt is evident that a strict form was observed "June 24 th , 1721 . The Masons had a dinner at Station