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Cuntentg . — PAGE . FBEEMASOI-S' MAGAZINE : — Masonic Curiosities , No . 1 481 Notes on American Freemasonry 482 Filial Duty , or Parents' Claims and Children's Liabilities 484 Masonic Sayings and Doings Abroad 486

Masonic Jottings—No . 48 487 Masonic Notes aud Queries 488 MASONIC MIEROE : — Masonic Mems 489 CRAPT LODGE MEETINGS .- — Metropolitan „ 490 Provincial 491

Scotland 496 Roval Arch 497 Knights Templar 497 Ancient and Accepted Right 498 Obituary 499 Poetry 499 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 500

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LONDON , SATURDAY , DJ 8 CE 2 IBJSB 17 , 1870 ,

Masonic Curiosities, No. 1.

MASONIC CURIOSITIES , No . 1 .

BY A MASONIC INQTJIKEE . Amongst a collection of curious old books and pamphlets , which have come in my way recently , some are upon Masonic subjects . One , of date 1726 ,

is peculiaily interesting , as it may help to elucidate the doubt as to the antiquity of Freemasonry , at at present existing amongst several correspondents of the Freemasons' Magazine . It is entitled

"A Speech delivered to the "Worshi pful aud Ancient Society of Free and Accepted Masons , at a Grand Lodge , held at Merchant's Hall , in the City of York , on St . John ' s Day , December the 27 th , 1726 , The Eight Worshipful Charles

Bathurst Esq ., Grand Master , by the Junior Grand Warden . York : Printed by Thomas Gent , for the Benefit ofthe Lodge . " It commences : —

Eight Worshipful Grand Master and Brethren : — You Sir and all of you know , that I have had the Honour to bear the Office of one ofthe Grand-Wardens to this Society for the last Year ; and that by that Office I arn not only particularly

obliged to take Care that , during my Administration , neither the Revenues , nor the Arcana of the Lodge , be either embezzled or expos'd to vulgar Eyes ; but I do think it also my Duty , before I resign My Place at least Sir , since I have Your

Commands for it to remind you of some things , relating to Human Society in general , as well as to this our most Antient LODGE in

particular-How unequal a Task I have taken upon myself , will , I am afraid , but too evidently appear by the Sequel . A . young Brother pretending to dictate on Two such sublime Subjects , to older and wiser Heads than his own , can admit of no

Excuse , but that I have just now mentioned . I wou'd not in this be thought to derogate from the Dignity of mj Office which as the learned Yerstegan observes , is a Tithe of Trust and Power ; Warden and Guardian being Synonimons Terms ;

yet as you are no Strangers to Public Assemblies , and cannot but observe the Awe they often strike ou such as are oblig'd to exert any Talent before them , this First Essay , howsoever wrote or deliver'd , I hope will neither discredit my Season , nor my Office . It has been said by one that knew it well , that one wou'd think there was some

kind of Fascination in the Eyes of a large Circle of People darting all together on one Person , which has made many a brave Fellow , who has put his Enemy to Flight in the Field , tremble , in the delivering of a Speech before a Body of his Friends

at Home . Whatever will bo the event of this , I hope the good Design I do it with shall , by the Candour of my Brethren , be admitted for an Excuse , and in some measure compensate for the Loss of Time , which I doubt not might be much

better employ'd on this import-ant Occasion . Human Society , Gentlemen , taken in general Terms is one of the greatest Blessings of Life . Language was given us , which does so sublimel y distinguish us above the rest ot" the Works of the

Creation . The different Empires Kingdoms and Commonwealths in the Universe , are only so many greater or Lesser Communities , or Societies of Mankind , collected together ; and , for the most part , have invented the Laws and Language they

now speak , and are govern '' ci by . Society has Harmony in the very Sound of ihe Word ; but much more in the application of it , For ' tis to it we owe all Arts and Sciences whatsoever . To this end , all Schools Ssminnries rind Collep-es were erected under our wise Progenitors ; not to mention those numberless Noble Edifices set

apart for Congregated Societies in Divine Worship . How useful this of onr own has been in these remarkable particulars I . shall have sufficient reason to speak of in the Sequel , Ft adda lot Fgregias TJrbes opcrmnque laborer , ! , Tot conjesta maim Pro . ruptisnppida Same . —Tirg . But when we come to view Society , and its