Masonic Notes And Queries.

travel over all Europe to erect chapels , was ill-founded , such a bull there was , and those architects were Masons ; but this bull , in the opinion of the learned Mr . Ashmole , was confirmative only , and did not by any means create our fraternity , or ever establish them in this country . But as to the time and manner of that establishment , something I shall relate from the same collections . St .

Alban , the Proto-Martyr of England , established Masonry here , and from his time it flourished more or less , according as the world went , down to the days of King Athelstane , who , for the sake of his brother Edwin granted the Masons a charter . Under our Norman Princes , they frequently received extraordinary marks of royal favour . There is no doubt to be made that the

skill of Masons , which was always transcendent , even in the most barbarous times , their wonderful kindness and attachment to each other , how different soever in condition , and their inviolable fidelity in keeping religiously their secrets , must expose them in ignorant , troublesome , and suspicious times , to a variety of adventures , according to the different fate of parties and other

alterations iu Government . By the way , I shall note , thafc the Masons were always loyal , which exposed them to great severities , when power wore the trappings of justice , and those who committed

treason punished true men as traitors . Thus in the third year of the reign of Henry VI ., an act of Parliament passed to abolished the society of Masons ' , and to hinder under grevious penalties , the holding chapters , lodges , or other regular assemblies . Yet this act was afterwards repealed , and even before that , King Henry VI ., and several of the principal lords of his court , became fellows

of the Craffc . I shall add to this letter , as a proof of its author being exactly right as to Mr . Ashmole , a small note from his diary , which shews his attention to this society , long after his admission , when he had time to weigh , examine , and know the value of the Masons ' secret . 1682 , Mar . 10 . About 5 Hor . post Merid ., I received a summons to appear at a lodge to be held the next

day at Masons' Hall , in London , 11 th , according I went , and about noon , were admitted into the fellowship of Freemasons by Sir William Wilson , Knight ; Captain Eichard Borthwick , Mr . William Woodman , Mr . William Grey , Mr . Samuel Taylour , aud Mr . William Wise . I was the senior fellow among them ( it being thirty-five years since I was admitted ); there were present besides myselfthe

, fellows affcernamed : Mr . Thomas Wise , Master of the Masons' Company , this present year ; Mr . Thomas Shorthose , & c . We all dined at the Half Moon Tavern , in Cheapside , at a noble dinner prepared at the charge of the new accepted Masons . " ] "

SHEM . - In what degree does Shem play a part ?—HAM . —[ Ark and Mark Mariners . ] II . P . A . Who is H . P . A . ?—HAM . —[ An officer iu the 5 th series of the Eite of Mizraim . ] MASONIC LITERARY EXCHANGE . What a pity it is that we have nothing like an

exchange for Masonic literature in England , at New Tork they mange better , one of their advertisements states thafc ¦ " J . B . T . is prepared to furnish Masonic books published in any part of the world at the lowest rates ; also such old books as are to be obtained , though out of print , afc reasonable prices . He is also ready to purchase any old Masonic documents , or exchange the same for others . Persons having duplicates can obtain an equivalent by sending to the Bureau . " —Ex . Ex .

The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Dorset , J . J . Hammond , Esq ., will hold a special Provincial Grand Lodge on the 17 th day of December , 1862 , at the Hotel de Ville , for the purpose of laying the Foundation Stone of the Masonic Temple , with Masonic forms . The Provincial Grand Lodge will assemble at 11 * 30 a . m . ; and the entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts at noon , in a separate room .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . PEOVINCE OF DEVONSHIEE . TO THE EDITOU . 01 ? THE EREEltASOXS * MAGAZINE AND 3 IASONIC JIlBKOIi . Sir and Brother , —In the daily press of Devonshire ;

the " corrupt practices" of the electors of Totnes is boldly printed out at the present moment . With that , as Masons , we have nothing to do ; but a great scandal has been caused to Masonry during the past week b y making a Masonic display , in the form of a lodge entertainment , in favour of one of the candidates for the

borough during a contested election , and offering for initiation a gentleman who is the reputed candidate at the next vacancy , the borough sending two representatives to Parliament . Believing this to be a " corrupt practice " of an intense order , I hesitate not to send to you to expose it . December Sth , 1862 . Z .

The Distress In Lancashire.

THE DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE .

10 THE EDITOU OE THE EREEITASOXS * ITAGAZISfE AED MASONIC 3 IIKROK . Dear Sir and Brother , —In your report of the last Quarterly Communication , I am stated to have suggested a general subscription among our lodges , in aid of the distress in the Cotton Districts , instead of a grant from the funds raised for Masonic purposes , without any other motive being named but the illegality of the proposed

grant . Your own observations , while alluding to me as though I had been the sole dissentient ( which is inconsistent with your report ) , gives undue prominence to the same objection . Far from urging such an objection , I most distinctly stated that I thought in so good a cause the question of

legality might fairly be waived , if the grant of our Masonic funds could be made without injustice to " poor and distressed Masons ; " but I called the attention of Grand Lodge to the fact thafc , afc the last elections for our Charities , while 82 candidates in all were successful ,

there was a total of 66 unsuccessful candidates , of whom 14 were from the distressed districts ; and I urged that we must expect increased calls upon our own Charities from the distress of the North , while we might reasonably fear that the contributions to meet these calls would be less , directly or indirectly , through that very distress . On these grounds I submitted that we should make

our contributions to the great and good cause , by calling for special subscript-ions from lodges and Masons , rather than trench upon our Masonic funds , which oughfc , in the first instance ( if necessary ) , to be applied to the poor connected with our own Order . Seeing thafc I did not carry the feelings of Grand Lodwifch meI did nofc hold hand against the

ge , up my grant ; but I should be sorry that my motives in speaking should be misunderstood by those of your readers who may know me . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Tours faithfully aud fraternally ,

CHAELES HUTTON GEEGOEY , P . G . D . December 10 th , 1862 . [ We never intended to say that Bro . Gregory was fche only dissentient ; and as regards the claims which may come upon our funds through the Lancashire distress , they are distinctly alluded to in an article on the proceedings of Grand Lodge . ]