Masonic Archæological Institute.

not want many members to begin , m so far we are not dependent on numbers , hut the ultimate benefit to individuals Avill of course depend on their being such a body of supporters as will give a fair volume of transactions . Under all circumstances , the members will , as in all such institutions , receive a very good return for their small subscriptions .

Tours fraternally , HYDE CLARKE . 32 , St . George ' s-square , S . W ., Feb . 2-1 . TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR .

Dear Sir and Brother ,- —It Avill interest many members interested in Masonry to know whether the proposed Masonic Archaeological Institute will confine its operations and organisation to English Craft Masonry ; Scotch , Irish , Xork , Ancient and Accepted , and foreign degrees , so far as they can be legitimately dealt with Avill afford a fund of illustrative matter . Xours fraternally , I . P . M .

Royal Arch And Some Other Degrees.

ROYAL ARCH AND SOME OTHER DEGREES .

TO THE EDITOR OF TnE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —I beg to note two misprints in my letter at p . 152 . Cornelius de Bruges should be Cornelius de Bruvn . The Avork is found in Netherlandish aud in French " " Nothing depends on the mission of Pritchard , " should read on the omission of Pritchard . Xours fraternall y , R . X .

Glasgow Charter.

GLASGOW CHARTER .

TO THE IDITOB OF THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MI 3 E 0 R . Dear Sir and Brother , —Bro . W . P . Buchan , writing in your last number , at p . 150 , is under a mistake . He suggests that I should add my name to my next communication , so as to make it more Avorthy of attention under the circumstances . It is not for

me to add my name , as my observations are simple comments , matters of opinion . Avhile it is ri ght he should give his name , as he asserts matters as facts derived from his own observation . I am so far within the due limits of the anonymous ; but there is something more . I may be an obscure manand

, my statements may meet Avith little notice on my obscure name being appended to them , or I may ' be a man having authority , and my authorit y may overbear Bro . Buchan . The readers of the Freemasons ' Magazine are , however , quite competent to judge on this controversy .

_ Bro . Buchan ' s postscripts fully justify my observations . _ The charter , according to his own account , is in Latin . The English translation is incorrect ; it contains an interpolation ; there are words in the charter not in the translation ; there is no No . 3 after Malcolm ' s name ; and he does not knoAv -whether

Malcolm is III . or IV . So far cadit qucestio ; the question falls to the ground . The English translation presented to your readers as an ori ginal charter is a forgery , as I said . The Latin charter , which

Glasgow Charter.

Bro . Buchan has now seen , we have to learn something more about before Ave can clear it from the same charge . Bro . Buchan ' s reference to King David ' s charter about qiiadraginta solidos and decern librae only suggests his own incompetency to deal Avith the question . We knew there were librce and solidi in King David ' s time ; but that has nothing to

do Avith the modern term of pounds Scots in King Malcolm ' s time As to Bro . Buchan ' s opinion about the antiquated look of the charter , I place little reliance upon that ,, for I fear from his observations Bro . Buchan has not been brought up in the Ecole des Chartes or devoted

himself to palaeography . He is no expert , or he expresses himself ill . The charter may be old and doctored , the parchment may be old , and the writing a palimpsest ; or the parchment may be neAV , and thewritingnew , and smoked up to the required age . For the present Ave shall be contented Avith the internal

evidence , which is the main thing . King Malcolm ' s charter Avould be interesting if true ; but interesting documents are not necessarily true . Those interesting Avorks , Richard of Cirencester , and the Chronicle of Ingulph , have been unluckily relegated to the limbo of forgeries , and it

ismuch to be feared that the charter of King Malcolm Avill follow thither the Dialogue with King Henry the-Vllth and other interesting Masonic documents of the last century . Meanwhile Bro . Buchan can give us further information ; and we , having discarded the

Englishtranslation and all the comments upon it , will suspend our judgments a 3 readers of the Freemasons ' Magazine as to the date of the bodily or partial forgeries in the Latin parchment . Xours fraternally , R . X .

An Earnest Proposition Forthe Further Propagation Of Tomfool Ery Among Masons.

AN EARNEST PROPOSITION FORTHE FURTHER PROPAGATION OF TOMFOOL ERY AMONG MASONS .

TO THE IDITOB OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBEOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —I notice with great regret that although such extension has been given to the chivalrous orders , Christian Masonry and Masonic-Knighthood , one grand opportunity has been lost . It is a reflection on Masonry in its present state that

no-Mason can make himself or be made a Kni ght of the Garter . I should not like to say what he can makehimself , for the list Avould be very long , and I should most likely omit something ; but this I am quite sure of , there is no Sir Knight of the Garter . Can the Masonic circle be said to be complete under such

circumstances ? Echo answers " No . " I say ' Ditto , " and propose to supply the deficiency . The Order shall be held in the usual places of Masonic resort . The number of members in each Chapter shall be limited to tAventy-four Sir Knights , or such further number as the Chapter may chose

toadmit from time to time . A preference shall be given to such houses as have a room for the performance of the imposing ceremonies , containing small boxes or compartments , which may represent the stalls of the Sir Knights , and having access to the bar parlour . Each Sir Knight