Ars Quatuor Coronatorum (Vi. Part 2).

indeed , there is nothing else in the Masonic history of the period that seems to me in any way calculated to provoke such a criticism upon it , as wo find recorded in the Common-Place Book of the Doctor . Masons of the present day take so little interest in the

past history of tho Society , that tho attitude of certain Grand Lodges by whom the obliteration of the first and principal Charge of tho Ancient Masons has never been acquiesced in , is simply viewed as a very ordinary example

of Continental perversity . Bat oar German brethren , who point to the original Mason ' s Creed as a Landmark , assert ( and it is easier to ridicule than to confute them ) , that in so regarding it , they aro the trne Freemasons , and ourselves the dissenter ? .

The second Innovation was triumphantly swept away by a Resolution of Grand Lodge on 27 th November 1725 : —• " A Motion being made that such part of the 13 th Article of the Gen 11 , Regulations relating to the making of Mi -

only at a Quarterly Court maybe repealed , and th i the Ma "'* of Each Lodge , with the consent of his Wardens and the Majority of the Brethren , being Ma st % may make Ma - at , their discretion . Agreed , Nem . Con . "

The effect of the third Innovation has been considered

at some length in a previous volume of our Transactions ( i . 176 ) , and it will therefore be sufficient to mention in this place , as indicative of the general discontent , that whereas 64 Lodges aro shown on the Engraved List of 1725 , only 54 appear in the edition for 1729 .

Third period , 1726-30 . —In June , 1726 , Stukeley " retired to' Grantham , " at which place he tells us , " I set up a Lodg of freemasons , wh lasted all the time I lived there . " This waa until February 1730 , when he removed to Stamford .

' The Lodge of Grantham never appeared on the roll of the Grand Lodge , which it would have done , I think , had the proceedings of this body been viewed with favour by the doctor . Under the circumstances , therefore , it seems to point ont , firstly that independent Lodges continued to

organize themselves for many years after tho formation of a Grand Lodge ( of which there is ample corroboration ) ; and secondly , that however discontented Stukeley may have latterly been , as a London Mason , his zeal revived on his

removal into the Provinces , where for three years and a half , and until at the age of 42 he had exchanged physic for divinity , and settled in a new town , his interest in tho Craft never abated .

The Mr . Collins initiated at the same time with Stukeley , would seem to have been B . Collins the painter . Captain Rowe I have failed to trace , as I also have any explanation whatever of the entries relating to the " Order of the Book . " A copy of the first and last page of the " old MS .

of the Constitutions , " noticed in the Diary under 24 th June 1721 , is still preserved in one of Stukeley ' s volumes of Drawings . These extracts have been examined by Bro . G . W . Speth , and a . " note" about them will be found in our Transactions ( iv ., 171 ) . The " evidential value" of the

entries in the several manuscript repositories , could only be appraised by a careful scrutiny of the originals , which I have not seen . Hence I am merely able to offer the conjecture , that apparently in the Autobiography and

Oommon-place Bopk , the reflections of latter years were occasionally set down after entries of earlier date , owing , it may reasonably be supposed , to there being blank spaces on which they could be recorded .

With the memoir of Dr . Stukeley it had been my wish to incorporate an essay or article On the Medical profession in connection with Freemasonry . Freemasonry " rose at a single bound into notice and esteem " on the Dnke of Montague accepting the Grand

Mastership in 1721 . The Duke was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians ( as also was fche fourth "Noble Grand Master , " the Duke of Richmond ) . The first Deputy Grand Master was Dr . Beale . The first Initiate , after a Masonic torpor of some duration ( as we learn from a

writing under his own hand ) , was Dr . Stukeley . With these names I must for the present conclude , though they would only serve as thejbeginning of a long series , did not space forbid such an amplification of the paper I am

noticing in the CHRONICLE . One final observation Avill be permissible , and it is , that I shall be glad to receive particulars of any medical brethren , home , foreign , or colonial , in the present or past , who are or Avere eminent as Masons , or practitioners , or in any other way Avhatsoever ? Notes and Queries aro supplied by the Editor , and

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum (Vi. Part 2).

Bros . Andrew Hope , J . Jerman , W . F . Lamonby , M . 0 . Peck , J . H . Clendinning , Francis E . Clarke , Thos . Francis , W . H . Jacob , William Simpson P . M ., William Hammond , and John Yarkor . The last named again brings np the

puzzle of Naymus Graecus , and cites the opinion of Major Robert H . Murdoch , R . A ., that this mysterious and patriarchal Craftsman was no other than Marcus Graecus , from whose MS ., Friar Roger . Bacon obtained the secret of

gunpowder ? I shall venture to throw out a hint ,, whioh if taken by Bro . Murdoch , might enable us to form a better judgment in the matter—it is , that ho should read us a paper , or write an article embodying his views , to be published in Ars Quatuor Ooronaiorum ?

Current events are summed up as usual by Bro . Speth in the Chroiicle—not be confused in the present instance with the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE , Avhich is serving at this

moment as the vehicle of my remarks . Under Germany , he alludes to the formation by Bro . Settegast of a . fourth Grand Lodge in Berlin , " Tbe Grand Lodge Kaiser Frederick of Masonic Fidelity . "

"Doubt was expreseed as to its legality from a police point of view , arising from tho construction to be placed on the decree of 1798 .

"The establishment of the Grand Lodge Frederick brought the whole matter before the Oborwaltungsgericht at Berlin . * , which has decided that the edict of 1798 is now practically inoperative , and that all Lodges in

Prussia stand nnder the general laws regulating clubs and other societies . There is therefore nothing now to prevent any Grand Lodge in Germany from establishing daughter

Lodges in Berlin or other Prussian dominions , in like manner as the three hitherto favoured Grand Lodges have done in other States of the Empire .

" To our Colonial brethren , who object to the three British Grand Lodges exercising concurrent jurisdiction , aud still more to our American brethren , Avho stand aghast at anything short of solo jurisdiction , this spectacle of nine

Grand Lodges all holding away in every part of Germany , and erecting Lodges side by side in thc samo town , must bo heartrending ; but tho probability is thnt German

Masons will not find it such a terrible task to live together in peace , onco the present excited feelings have calmed down . "

There is only one further feature of the sonar under review , to which I must refer . Tho illustrations aro alike interesting and profuse , and my observations will now bo

brought to a close , by an expression of sincere wonder at the number of good things set before us by our indefatig able Secretary ancl Editor in tho latest instalment of what , in truth and justice , may bo termed his " life ' s work . "

Masonic Sonnets.—No.73

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 73

BY BRO . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D . — : ' o : — THE PENCIL .

The Pencil is far mightier than the sword—Whole worlds have trembled 'neath its wondrous sway , Whole realms have owned its power with one accord , Whole nations to its strength have fallen prey . For guidance and direction of his men The Skilfal Artist draws some magic plan :

The Masons Labour for a time , and then We praise the work of each apt artisan , Bnt we—Accepted—Speculative—Free—The Pencil to our Moral Use apply ; Knowing that nought of our Philosophy Gan hide onr Actions from the Ono Most Hiiro .

For He Observos and Eecords all onr deeds , Yet all our prayers for Mercy ever heeds . Winder House , Bradford , 2 nd October 1893 .

How io SOLVE IDE HsBMrtoiEB PCZZIB has occupied the attention o £ our shrewdest philantrophists for many years , but it is still as far off being solved as ever it was . It would be impossible for any Government to establish a permanent system of relief works to give remunerative employment to every one requiring it . On the other hand there is great room for improvement in the help given through ths casual wards . Deserving workers should be given an opportunity to retrieve the ground they have lost . No matter , however , what defects there may bo in our social laws there is no flaw in the method by which Holloway ' s Pills and Ointment cleanse the system aucl enable it to withstand thc attacks } of disease .