Masonic Notes And Queries.

to advance a knowledge of our previous history . It would now appear , after all , that these regulations were , perhaps , not adopted in 1663 , but previously , and the text of what now appears , convey a different meaning to Bro . Preston ' s version . What then is meant by " the said society , company , and fraternity of Preemasons being regulated by one Master aud assembly P" Does it not signify

that the operative society and the speculative fraternity were to be governed by the Master of the London company or guild ? As these three branches were undoubtedly in existence , perhaps " Ebor , " who has copies of the originals , will kindly inform us whether the context will be in this version . Again , does not the Master or Warden of that limit or division refer to the Master or Warden of

a guild ?—with another ( brother ) of the trade ( or society ) of Preemasonry , and three members of the speculative or accepted fraternity . Coupled with Ashmole ' s opinion and the later London claims , there now appears sufficient to warrant us in believing that the foreign builders , who are said to have come to England in the 13 th century , were really of one or a similar fraternity , though I

cannot admit that it is yet proven , and that their rites and those of the York brothers were identically one and the same . The question has been put to me how we justify our seizure of the " Stonemasons' arms , " a London company ? I would here explain that I had no knowledge of either Bros . Drs . Bell or Oliver's theory as to the Master ' s degreeand that my opinion was founded entirely on the

, reputed London manner of conferring the degree , and my knowledge of the ancient ceremony , and the absence of allusion to any of its rites in the original operative constitutions , & c . I think I understand the allusion to the Sloane MS ., but may not these particular passages have been inserted from thence in 1717 ?—A

BRO . DESAGULIEES . In No-195 of your esteemed Magazine I find a question as to the place of burial of Dr . Desaguliers , which I take the liberty of answering , being the great great grandson of that talented physician and celebrated Preemason . " John Theophilus Desaguliers , LL . D ., died on the 29 th Pebruary , 1744 , [ 1743 ] at the Bedford Coffee House , Covent Garden ,

and was buried in the adjacent ground , belonging to the Savoy . " - —Edward P . Eimbault valllustrated London Hews , November 17 , 1853 . As I am collecting notes illustrative of the three English generations of the Desaguliers family , I shall feel obliged for the communication of any data whatever . One question I will put now . What became of the Doctor ' s second son , Jean Theophilus , born 1718 , and who , with General Desaguliers , were the only two of the Doctor's seven children who survived him ?—E . J . S ., Berne , Switzerland .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed hy Correspondents , OPPICTAL RUDENESS . TO THE EDITOR OP THE EHEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEEOE . DEAR SIR AXn BROTHER , —Several documents of the most important character have been , during the past

three months , transmitted from the west of Scotland to the Supreme Committee and Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland , per the Grand Scribe E ., Comp . Lindsay Mackersay . Would you believe it , that not one of the said officially transmitted documents have been acknowledged , nor have the forwarders had the slightest idea accorded

them of how they have been disposed of , and although repeatedly enquired after by lettei * , direct refusal has been the reply . To day I have just heard of a most glaring direliction of duty on the part of the said paid

Correspondence.

official . A document of a most important character was entrusted to the care of Comp . Donald Campbell , late Prov . G . M . Depute for the Province of Glasgow , and . editor of the British and Golonial Masonic Calendar , to deliver to the Supreme Committee of Scotland . To ensure its safe delivery a- special messenger was despatched from Glasgow to Edinburgh , to obtain a

receipt for it . On presenting a letter with the 'document , the letter was read , and the envelope containing the important document rudely and impertinently thrown back , open and unsealed , to the messenger . Such is the conduct of a paid official , whose annual services are valued at . £ 32 per annum , and whose letters and official correspondence emanates from what he terms

the " Grand Scribe E . ' s chambers , " but which said chambers consist of a single back ground apartment , where the light of day barely ever enters . I have just heard that the document has now been transmitted to the Grand Principal Z ., J . Whyte Melville , of Mount Melville , where it will no doubt be received with the courtesv which the document merited , and duly replied to . " EZRA .

Re-Numbering Lodges And Chapters.

RE-NUMBERING LODGES AND CHAPTERS .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE EEEEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBEOH . . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —With your kind permission I crave space to address a suggestion to the Calendar Committee through your columns . It is well known that our lodges are to be re-numbered , owing to the independence of the Canadas , and the absence of returns from many English lodges .

Necessary as the change is , many of the brethren have a sort of attachment to the number under which they have been made , joined , or held office ; and , for a time , the alteration must produce considerable confusion all through the country . Yet , as the fiat has gone , or is about to go forth , I think the matter may be less open to objection and regret if the present number of each

lodge and chapter is retained , in the next and following two issues of the Calendar , within brackets , in a different type , as in the following instances . The new numbers , affixed to both lodges and chapters , as I have placed them , are purely imaginary , but adopted to explain my . meaning .

L ODGES . 22 . [ 23 ] Globe Lodge , Freemasons' Tavern , & c , as at present .. 920 . [ 1207 ] De Grey and Ripon Lodge , & c . 922 . [ 1209 ] Royal Albert Lodge , & c . ClTAPIEBS . 180 . [ 211 ] St . James ' s Union , & c . 410 . [ 536 ] Royal Union , & c . 590 . [ 778 ] Polish National , & c . 700 &

. [ 955 J Canoubury Chapter , c . By this means , or any similar plan , brethren all over the country and abroad will be enabled to distinguish any lodge by either its new or present number ; and if the plan is continued for three years , they will become so habituated to the new number , that the old numbers may thenif thought desirablebe withdrawnand the new

, , , register only retained . If such a system had been formerly adopted , the tracing of a lodge through its various numerical wanderings would have been rendered easy , for it could have been indicated thus , each change being marked by a star , and a general foot-note appended- stating in what years the re-numbering took place : —

23 [ 27 * . 32 ** . 25 *** . ] Globe Lodge , & c . the last number remaining without a star . Hoping that some plan may be devised to meet this want , feeling that the above suggestion is of importance to prevent confusion and economise space , and that something ought to be done by the Calendar Committee to lessen the confusion that must for a time ensue , I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally , MATTHEW COOKE , Sec . 23 , 1207 , & 1209 ; E . 211 , 536 , 778 & 955 .