Correspondence.

THE PHILADELPHIA MOTHER QUESTION ONCE MORE .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The Philadelphia assumption was started by Bro . MacCalla in 1874 , and the Dublin Pocket Companion of 1735 waa unfortunately discovered by Bro . Hughan in 1875 . I opposed the Philadelphia assumption from the very start , and I havo repeatedly stated that the 1735 Dublin Pocket Companion was but one

of the thousands of the Masonic blunders which are so plentifully dif . fused in our so-called " Masonic literature . " Well , after a long fight of about nine years , I at last convince Bro . Hughan that Lodge No . 79 of 1730 or 1731 used to meet at the " Castle in Highgute . " But , says Bro . H ., another No . 79 was previously sent to Philadelphia , which Lodge must have appeared on a Lodge list , from which list

the Dublin reprinter of the Pocket Companion of 1735 copied the No . 79 Philadelphia Lodge . And at the close , or nearly the close of hia letter ( F . C . 5 th Jan . ) Bro . Hughan says , " This is my last ou the snbjeot until more evidence is procurable . " This winding up is tantamount to saying , " You must believe the moon is made of green cheese , until more evidence is procurable . " But , my dear Bro . Hughan

however highly I think of you , I will not let you off so easily . I want yon at least to confess , fairly and squarely , that neither the evidence furnished by the editor of the Philadelphia Keyst one , nor the evidence derived from the Dublin Pocket Companion of 1735 is sufficient to prove the legality of the Philadelphia Masonry of 1732 . When my most esteemed Bro . Hnghan has frankly confessed as above , then he

may wait as long as he pleases for his expected new evidence . In tbe private letter enclosed with the paper mailed last Tuesday , I stated that the article was written in haste , and as I am anxious to convince my good Bro . Hughan that he is still in error , I muse , therefore , beg sufficient space in yonr paper for submitting two more suggestions .

First . Bro . William Eeid was appointed G . Seo . 27 th December 1727 , and remained in the office until 30 th March 1734 . Bro . Held must , therefore , have written the Charter for the Castle in Highgate Lodge , No . 79 . The same Bro . Eeid must have sent orders in 1731 to all the Masters of Lodges to send him in lists of the names ot * the members of their respective Lodges , which lists he inscribed iu the

record I saw in Freemasons' Hall . The same Bro . Eeid must have informed Dr . Eawlinson in 1733 that Lodge No . 79 was erased from the Register , and Dr . Eawlinson , therefore , left No . 79 on his list vacant . Now , if the same Bro . Eeid bad sent another Lodge charter , No . 79 , to Philadelphia , just previous to the charter he wrote for the Castle in Highgate , No . 79 , and if the Philadelphia No . 79

bad already appeared on a Lodge list—say before 17 * 43 ( as Bro . Hnghan assumes)—from which Lodge list the Dublin reprinter of Smith ' s Lodge list in 1735 copied " The Hoop , Water-street , Philadelphia , " as a No . 79 Lodge ; surely , suoh a Lodge list must have been known to Bro . Eeid . And here comes the question . Why did not Bro . Eeid tell Dr . Eawlinson in 1733 to follow the example of the ( supposed ) previous Lodge list compiler , and place the Philadelphia

Lodge , No . 79 , where the extinct " Castle in Highgate , " No . 79 , used to be ? And , Second . If the Philadelphia Lodge and Grand Lodge had been legally constituted in 1732 , or before , either by a charter and deputation sent direct from England , or derived from Daniel Coxe's Deputation of 1730 . Does Bro . Hughan really believe , if such had been the case , that Benjamin Franklin would have contented himself with playing second fiddle to Price in 1734 , and to Oxnard in 1749 F

Fraternally and respectfully yours , JACOB NORTON Boston , 25 th Janury 1884 .

HISTORICAL CHAIRS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —Will yon kindly enable me to ask , through the columns of your journal , for descriptive particulars , with engravings , drawings , or photographs of celebrated chairs in family residences of the nobility and gentry ; with information also of notable chairs in cathedrals ,

churches , colleges , town halls , in Freemasons' Lodges , and public institutions at home and abroad . I am preparing an illustrated account of historical chairs from available literary sources , but knowing that there are many interesting ones which have escaped my search , as well as some others in private possession bnt little known ,

and wishing to make the proposed work as copious as possible , I thus beg your esteemed assistance on that behalf , with my best thanks for such valuable favour . Letters to be addressed to C B . STRUTT , 34 East-street , Eed Lion-square , London , W . C .

[ We readily insert our correspondent ' s letter , in the hope that some of our readers may find leisure to supply particulars that may assist Bro . Strutt in the undertaking he has embarked in . —ED . F . C ]

DEACONS INVENTED IN IRELAND .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I do not refer to Church Deacons , nor to the Deacons of the Scotch Operative Lodges , but I mean the officers known in our Lodges as " Senior and Junior Deacons . " Some years ago , I was surprised to learn from one of Dr . Oliver ' s books thnf , the office of Deacon in Lodges was not an ancient landmark , and also that Deacons were first introduced by the Ancients , from whom the

Correspondence.

Moderns subsequently borrowed the custom . As soon as I had an opportunity , I examined all the Constitutions of fche Moderns of the last century , and found no provision made in either of them for the office of Deacon . Bro . Woodford , in " Kenniug ' s Cyclopaedia " says , " The Grand Lodge of England had no Deacons before the Union in 1813 , and the Grand Lodge of Scotland were without

Deacons till 183 G , ' and I thought that for once at least Dr . Oliver was right iu ascribing the origin of Deacons to the Ancients . I am now , however , inclined to believe that the Grand Lodge of Ireland originated the office of Deacon . The Irish Constitution of 1730 makes no mention of Deacons , but in the fourth section of " The Charges of a

Freemason , " in the 1773 Irish Constitutions , reprinted by Bro . Spencer in 1871 , page 31 , I found the following improvement upon Anderson ' s 1723 " Charges , " viz ., " No brother oau be Master , Warden , or Deacon of a Lodge , " & o . Hence , the first Masouio Deacon must have been an Irishman , and as Dermott was also an Irishman , we can readily account for the adoption of Deacons by the Anoients . Fraternally yours , JACOB NORTON .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

. V . WINDSOR CASTLE CHAPTER , No . 771 . A EEGULAE convocation of this Chapter was held afc the Masonio Hall , Windsor , on Thursday , the 21 st February . Ex . Comp . G . H . Powell P . P . G . N ., in the absence of Ex . Comp . W . 0 . Cox

P . P . G . D . C . ( Mayor of Maidenhead ) presided as M . EZ ., and was supported by Ex . Comps . E . G . Burton P . P . G . Sword Bearer H ., L . Bryett P . G . Standard Bearer J ., E . Eoberts P . P . G . P . S . I . P . Z ., W . S . Cantrell P . P . S . B . P . Z . acting Scribe E ., G . W . Dixon P . G . N . P . Z .

acting Scribe N ., James Stevens P . Z ., H . H . Hodges P . P . G . E . P . Z ., and Companions J . Ashby P . S ., E . Nicholson 1 st Asst . S ., C . W . Seymour 2 nd Asst . S ., A . H . Kennedy Steward , W . Morris M . C , J . Eutland Org . There were also present Companions the Eev . H . F . Oliver , W . H . Harrison , A . Turner , T . Page , H . J . Stollery , J . Goddard , H . D . Marshall , and others . The "Visitors were Excellent

Companions N . B . Headon M . E . Z . 145 , and L . Poulter M . E . Z . 591 , and C . Nowell P . P . G . J . Janitor . Tbe Chapter having been opened by Principals and Past Principals present , the Companions below the chairs were admitted , and the minutes of the previous convocation were confirmed . Bros . E . W . Mann , of the Hersohel Lodge 1894 , and F . W . Plant Martin of the Trinity College Lodge 1765 , being in

attendance , were balloted for , and on approval dnly exalted into the Supreme Degree in most efficient style ; the ceremony being accompanied with appropriate music . The addresses from the chairs of Z ., H ., and J . respectively , were admirably given by their several occupants . Propositions of candidates for exaltation at next convocation were received . Companion James Stevens , senior P . Z .,

offered to represent the Chapter as Steward at the ensuing Festival of the Girls' School , and in the course of the evening was promised support by several Companions . Chapter was then closed with solemn prayer , and subsequently the Companions dined together afc the Castle Hotel . Companion Powell being unfortunately prevented by the state of his health from presiding , Companion Eoberts most

ably supplied his place at table . After dinner short speeches and harmony prevailed . Amongst the special toasts were those of the M . E . Z . ( in his absence ) and his locum tenens in Chapter , for both of whom Companion Eoberts returned thanks ; the Exaltees , to whioh the newly-exalted Companions E . W . Mann and Plant Martin spoke with much earnestness , and an evident feeling of

gratification with their introduction into Eoyal Arch Masonry , and the Visiting Companions , for whom Companion Headon responded , expressing the great pleasure his visit had afforded him . He said he had been frequently invited , but hitherto circumstances had prevented his attendance . The good repute of the Chapter , and the fame of the Splendour of the Temple , wherein its ceremonies were performed , had

often reached him , and at last he had been able to assure himself that neither had been exaggerated . Having broken the ice , the Companions might be assured ho would now plunge into the pleasant depths before him , and undoubtedly accept all future opportunities for witnessing a repetition of the admirable exposition of the beautiful ritual of the Eoyal Arch he had that evening been permitted to

attend . Companion Headon ' s kindly remarks were received with much satisfaction . With the toast of the Past First Principals the name of Companion James Stevens ( senior P . Z . ) was coupled , with expressions of hearty congratulation on his recovery from his late severe accident . Special reference was made to each of the Companions who had occupied the chair of M . E . Z ., and particularly those

who had so materially assisted in the resuscitation of the Chapter in 1872 , and its progress since that date . Companion Stevens , in returning thanks for his colleagues and himself , congratulated the members generally on the proud position of the Chapter , which was quite as much due to the individual interest evinced by them as to any labours of himself and other P . Z . ' s in the pasfc . He trnsted the present prosperity would continue , and thafc for many years yefc he

might be spared to witness its progress . No better or more acceptable recognition of Pasfc Principals could-be given there or in any other Chapter than an earnest desire " all round "to uphold the principles of the Order , and make the work of the Chapter satisfnc tory in every respect . A pleasant evening having been spent in thorough harmony , the Companions separated at the usual closing hour , as it struck from the Old Curfew Tower of the Eoyal Castle .

CARNARVON CHAPTER , No . 804 r PHE installation meeting of this Chapter was held on Tuesday , the J- 19 th ultimo , when there were present Comps . Francis Z ., Dart H . " , Elverston J ., Arlidge P . S ., H . M . Green 1 st A . S ., Street 2 nd