Our Trestle Board

OUR TRESTLE BOARD

" For the Master to lay lines and draw designs upon . "

Brethren , kindly send in your renewals ! It takes money to print a newspaper when lodges are called off in summer , as well as during the rush of labour when the different bodies are at work . We want all the assistance our friends in the craft can give us , as well by introductions and subscriptions as by contributions of general

interest to the fraternity . Advertisers who are Freemasons , should also give us what aid they can . "It is the hope of reward that sweetens labour , " and we shall not be forgetful of our programme and promises if such reward is meted out to us liberally , as amongst such a community as constitute our order it ought to be , if our paper is not altogether worthless .

Our " questions and answers , " we are .. pleased to note , attract the attention of several of our foreign exchanges , notably that of the South African Freemason , which quotes at length . We appreciate the compliment , and greatly esteem the acknowledgement of the source of information .

There is great advantage to be obtained in most instances by " taking time by the fore-lock , " and the recently appointed Grand Secretary of Mark Masons of England , & c . appears to understand the value of early preparation in connection with the Mark Benevolent Fimd , for we learn that even within the short period which has elapsed since the festival of the 24 th ult ., some important

arrangements have been made for that which is appointed to be held on Wednesday , the 23 rd July , 1890 . At this date there are already forty-two accepted stewardships , and amongst the brethren whose names have been forwarded , are those of some of the most distinguished noblemen and gentlemen connected with the order . It is also interesting to learn that several ladies of high degree , whose interest has been greatly excited by companionship with the

brethren at former festivals , will aid the fund by association with the stewards' lists , and we may be sure that the result of their persuasive canvass amongst relatives and friends , will have no unimportant effect in swelling the amount of the general contributions . We trust that many of our fair sisters will follow the example set them , and share in our ' grand design of being happy , and communicating happiness . "

We stated in our last issue that a site had been secured at Deptford Bridge , S . E ., for the purpose of erecting thereupon a Masonic Hall , for the convenience of the numerous members of the Craft residing in that district ; and we are now informed that a meeting is to be held in furtherance of the project at New Cross Hall , near the station , on the Sonth Eastern Railway , at 8 o ' clock

to-morrow ( Friday ) evening , when Bros . Roberts and Wall will submit a sketch plan of the proposed building , with an estimate of the probable cost thereof . The assistance and advice of brethren connected with the several lodges in the neighbourhood is invited , and communications from those who may desire to be present will be 'esteemed by the secretary , pro tern ., Bro . N . Brokenshire , of 86 , Lewisham High Road , New Cross , S . E .

A new Masonic Hall is also about to be built at St . Ives , Cornwall , for the Tregenna Lodge , No . 1272 . Operations were commenced by the contractor ( Kro . Robert Toy ) , last week . The lodge will have a magnificent suite of rooms , and from the healthy state of Freemasonry in Cornwall , we trust other lodges in that province may be enabled to follow the example of the Tregenna Lodge in their respective towns .

The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Provincial Grand Master of Freemasons of Cornwall , has fixed Tuesday , the 27 th August , for the holding of the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge . It will he held at Liskeard , under the banner of Lodge ' St . Martin " ( 570 ) , the brethren of which met on Wednesday evening , the 31 st ult .,

and appointed various committees to carry out all the arrangements necessary to give to the Right Worshipful Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Lodge a thoroughly cordial welcome . The Grand Lodge meeting will be held in the Town Hall , and at the conclusion of the business the brethren will dine together in the Market House . The usual service will be held in the parish church .

LANCASHIRE . —WESTERN DIVISION—GARSTON . —LODGE OF HARMONY , NO . 220 . The annual summer meeting of this Lodge was held on the 29 th . ult . when a picnic party was arranged for a visit to Llangollen . The train started from Lime Street . Liverpool , at 7 . 40 , calling at Allerton to pick up the bulk of the party , and arrived at Llangollen at 10 . The first place visited was Plas-Newydd with its quaint surroundingsafter which dinner was

, provided at the Royal , the chair being occupied by Brother Lawton . W . M ., who was supported by the I . P . M .. Brothers T . F . Hill , P . G . S . B . ; W . S . Vine , D . C . and P . G . D . C , IT . Hatch , P . M ., William Olver , P . M . The Vice-chairmen were Brothers Fisher , S . W ., and Billingsley , J . W . The party were afterwards photographed on the lawn of

the hotel . They then drove in wagonettes to Corwen , a drive which all thoroughly enjoyed . On returning tea was served , after which several ladies and gentlemen ascended to Castle Dinas Bran , whilst others visited Berwyn and Valle Crucis Abbey . The return journey was commenced at 9 . 20 , and on arriving at Allerton omnibuses were waiting to convey the party to their respective destinations , all having spent a very pleasant day .

Questions And Answers.

Questions and Answers .

* * * Querists trill please note that we decline to pay attention to enquiries made anonym mi sly , or otherwise forwarded than in closed envelopes . In some instances it may be found impolitic to publish replies , but answers may be assured by the enclosure of a stamped and , addressed cover .

Q . — H hy are objections raised to the wearing of Mark Master Masons' Jewels by visitors to Craft Lodges , seeing that IJ . Ll . JI . the J'rince of Wales is Grand Mark Master as we ' ll as M . W . Grand Master of United Grand Lodge in Craft Masonry ' . ' —M . M . M . and R . A . A . —Only such jewels as are appropriate to " pure and ancient " Masonry , which consists of the respective degrees of E . A ., F . C ..

and M . M ., including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch , can be legally worn in Craft Lodges . The Mark degree , important and valuable though it is , and the proper complement of the F . C , as the R . A . is that of M . M ., is not " recognised" by the United Grand Lodge of England , although a large number of the most distinguished members of the latter , are also connected with the

former . To permit the introduction of the Mark Masters' jewel into a Craft Lodge would open the door to the admission of similar decorations belonging generally to what are termed " side " degrees ; and the W . M . is bound to take notice , if his attention is called thereto , of any infringement of section 289 of the Book of Constitutions , and to require strict obedience therewith . —ED . M . S .

Review.

REVIEW .

Con sti tut tones Art-is Gemetrire Seeundem Fuc / ydem : a fac-simile of the Early Poem on Freemasonry , from the original MS . presented by King George II . to the English Nation in 1757 , now in the British Museum ( Bibl . Reg . 17 , A 1 ) . London : Spencer & Co ., Great Queen Street ; Boston , U . S . A .: Clarke & Carruth , 340 , Washington Street—1889 . ( See advertisement

for description and price . ) THE HALLIWELL MS . —There has been recently published , the exact size of the original , and fae simile in type and binding , the admittedly oldest genuine record in connection with the literature of the Craft , and to which attention was in the first instance drawn by the late Mr . J . O . Halliwell-Phillips . The MS . which is known

amongst the literati as ' Constitutions Artis Gemetrie Seeundem Euclidem , a poem of Moral Duties , " formerly belonged to Charles Theyer , a collector of the seventeenth century , and is No . 17 A 1 in the Bibl . Reg . British Museum . The poem , which is supposed to have been written about 1390 , or earlier , is extremely interesting throughout , and quoting the excellent preface to the reproduction

by Bro . H . J . Whymper , CLE ., P . D . D . G . M ., Punjab , ¦ ' commences by stating that ancient books relate how lords and ladies of high position were once in difficulties as to choosing a profession for their children , and employed learned men to educate them , so that they might be able to secure an honest livelihood . 'Gemetry' or Masonry was most in repute ; it was ' the moste oneste craft of

alle . The greatest teacher or clerk was Euclid . ' Hys name hyst spradde f til wondur wyde . ' He inculcated the principle of mutual instruction , and taught that a brotherly love should govern the actions of his scholars . The most worshipped should be called Master ; but amongst the craft generally no other name than fellow should be used , even if one excelled another in ability . He enjoined

this from the social equality of all . ' For cause they come of ladyes burthe . ' This appears to convey the very earliest indication as to why i'Wmason was adopted later on . The poem then recites the history of the introduction of masonry into England in the time of ' good King Adelston , ' * * * * and many quaint and curious allusions to customs and proverbs now current will be found in the articles and points , or in the divisions of the duties of the

craftsman . " The study of this valuable work , which is reproduced in the original writing of the 14 th century , with a transcript in language of lesser antiquity , is facilitated by a glossary which forms the third portion of the entire volume . We commend it to the earnest consideration of all members of our ancient Craft desirous of tracing back our ritual and observances to the remotest period which appears to connect operative with speculative Freemasonry .

"White For—Black Against."

" WHITE FOR—BLACK AGAINST . "

{ Continued from page 309 . ) Having said this much of ourselves as Voters , I purpose , in order to prevent myself from rambling discursiveness , to consider the effect of our votes . 1 st—With regard to the Candidate . 2 nd—Upon his supporters . 3 rd—Upon the Lodge in General .

1 st—WITH REGARD TO THE CANDIDATE . Although the Candidate is not a brother amongst us , and has not the claims of the Craft upon us , yet he has the broad claims of right—his application to join us does not confer upon us any moral right to go outside or beyond the first principles of equity—rather as members of a Craft "Founded upon the purest principles of

Virtue ; " and we ought to approach the consideration of his application with the exactness of Truth , the dignity of Honour , and the excellence of Virtue . Let us never forget that we are deciding the petition of an absent man , powerless to defend himself , a * solutely helpless in the matter , and unable to seek anv reparation if we ,

intentionally or unintentionally , injure him ; if an unworthy act is done he knows no one person in the matter , he can onl > regard it as a wrong done by the Craft in general , and our Lodge in particular . By his proposer and seconder he has made known his desire to become one of us , and there his individual action has to cease , he cannot plead or argue with us , nor can he demand admission .