The Masonic Windows In Worcester Cathedral.

THE MASONIC WINDOWS IN WORCESTER CATHEDRAL .

10 THE EDITOE OE THE TEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBEOK . Dear Sir and Brother , —In sending you my report of the recent ceremony for inaugurating one of these windows , I regret to find that I omitted a portion of the report which has particular reference to the window under consideration ; so that the report appears

( p . 156 , 2 nd col . ) to refer to the one erected by the two Worcester lodges , in 1862 , to the memory of the late Bro . J . Bennett . This is not the case ; the Avork recently inaugurated is a more important specimen of art , and fills the great window of the north transept of our venerable Cathedral . The following is the missing

sheet of my report , for which I hope you may he able to find place : — - " The Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire , at its annual assembl y last year , whilst testifying its admiration of the important restorations which are so honourable to the Dean and Chapterresolved to

, contribute to this excellent work by presenting the glass for the north transept window . The aid of Messrs . Lavers , Barraud , and Westlake , of Endellstreet , Bloomsbury , was again invoked , and the afternoon of Tuesday , the 10 th of August , A . D . 1869 , saw the successful completion of a very noble specimen

of art . Eor the adornment of an edifice consecrated for the use of Christian worship no subject could be more appropriate for the window than the represents tion of personages of the Jewish and Christian faiths . At the base of the Avindow Ave have those Jewish Masons who were remarkable above all for their

connexion with the building of the first and second Temples—Solomon , Hiram King of Tyre , Hiram Abiff , Zerubbabel , Ezra , and Nehemiah . In the upper and main portion are represented the twelve Apostles who were chosen by our Lord to construct that temple built without hands , the Christian Church . Iu the tracery of the window are the svmbols of Craft

Masonry , tlie armorials of the Order , and those of the Right Worshi pful Bro . Royds , Provincial Grand Master . The work is executed in the Early Decorated style ; it is rich in effect , the drawing is sufficiently archaic to harmonise with the other details of the venerable fabric , and we have no doubt that this fine production will take rank with the best windows of

our modern period . A brass slab placed below the window bears the following inscription : — " To the glory of God , and for the adornment of this Cathedral the north transept window is erected by the Ereemasons of Worcester . —Albert Hudson Royds ( High Sheriff of the County ) , Provincial Grand Master , 1866 . " Yours fraternall y , LUPUS .

Masonic Discipline.

MASONIC DISCIPLINE .

TO THE EDITOE OE THE EBEEMASONs' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEEOE . Dear Sir and Brother , —I claim a small space in your columns allotted to correspondents to reply to the letter of H . C ., who complains that I disregard " the history and practices of the Craft at home and abroad . " So far as the history of the Craft is concerned , I care nothing about it in connexion with my present articles , which relate solely to the actual existing

state of the practice of " Masonry " in our English lodges . Respecting the " practices of the Craft " abroad , they do not agree with those observed by ourselves , and any consideration of them is beside the question . Your correspondent is not happy in the selection

of his phrases when he observes " he evolves his conclusions from his own imagination . " I do not think that there is much "imagination" in my articles . On the contrary ; they are probably displeasing to some , on account of their being so matter of fact and so truthful . I advance nothing , I suppose nothing , I

simply take the ritual as it stands and judge of it by the light of a fair , honest , and earnest criticism . Nay , more , I assert nothing , or , if I do , it is founded upon a basis so palpable and incontrovertible that the assertion cannot be considered as mine , but merely a conclusion deduced , not from " imagination , " but from

premises that are undeniable . I will tell H . C . where he will find an " assertion . " It is to be found in his letter , when he says , " ' The answer as to assistant officers , which he impugnes , is ancient and correct . " That is to say , H . C . asserts it is ancient and correct . I am quite certain he

believes it to be both , but his belief will not establish the statement . As to it being ancient , I reply to him , in the words of our incomparable " charge , " —• " Ancient , no doubt it is , having existed from time immemorial . " But I dissent from the other dictum of his , which evidently proves that he considers it correct , because it is ancient . Here we altogether disagree . In my former articles on "Masonic

Discipline " I have given numerous instances where the defence set up for grammatical blunders , manifest absurdities , and obvious inconsistencies has been , — "It is so ; it has always been so . " It is not necessary for me to recapitulate that , while there are certain portions of our ritual and our rites ,

which admit of no other reason for their being as they are , and which require no further explanation , there are also others , for Avhich the same answer is simply an admission of ignorance and weakness on the part of those employing it . When writing the last article I anticipatedalthough

, I did not refer to it , that the objection might be raised that the position and duties of the assistant officers were investigated before those of the principal ones . As H . C . justly observes , there is a " scale . " Now , a little reflection will show that , but for the unfortunate interpolation of the O . G . in the

ordinary answer , there Avould also be a " scale " in the answers respecting the number of the principal and assistant officers . But the introduction of the "besides the O . G . or T ., " completely spoils the scale or order . There is , moreover , a manifest Masonic correctness and fitness in . the alteration of the answer ,

which did not strike me until now . It is this . By p lacing the O . G . or T . in his proper order , the " scale " is regularly descending in the answers relating to the number of officers , and regularly ascending in those where their position and duties are rehearsed . H . C . will have no difficulty in calling to remembrance other

parts of the ritual where the order or " scale" in which any particular circumstances are alluded to , is also inverted in a similar manner . Eor Bro . H . C . to simply assert that such and such