History Of Freemasonry.

HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY .

( Continued from page 85 ) .

BROTHER GOULD , before proceeding to deal with the main subject of the present volume , alludes to the case of Wren . Until fresh light is thrown on the matter it would be a waste of time to discuss whether Sir Christopher Wren was or was not a Freemason . The

author contends that it was not possible for Wren to have been Grand Master , for the office was not in existence during the life of the architect , and he discredits the idea that Wren could have been a Mason at all . Bro . Gould ,

on one page of his work , admits that the question must remain an open one ; on another he argues upon the assumption that Wren could not have been at any time at the head of the society . In support of the open theory

the author goes so far as to say that Wren ' s dying declaration , even were it extant , would not establish a negative proposition . The case of the great Duke of Wellington is cited . It is recorded that he was initiated at the

close of the last century in Lodge No . 494 on the Registry of Ireland . Lord Combermere , speaking of the Duke at Macclesfield in 1852 , said— " Often , when in Spain , where Masonry was prohibited , he [ Wellington ] regretted . . . .

that his military duties had prevented him taking the active part his feelings dictated . " There is also a record in which the Duke declined to sanction the naming of a Lodtje after him , " inasmuch as he never was inside any

Lodge since the clay he was made ; " yet shortly before he died he lost all recollection of ever having been initiated at all . Wellington was a remarkable man , but there is nothing in his case that might not happen to any one . It

is true the rite of initiation into Freemasonry is a very solemn ceremony , and calculatfd to strike the mind with great force . That the Duke felt the solemnity of the occasion there can be no doubt ; that be subsequently desired a

better acquaintance with the Craft is equally true . Admitting this , it is ' not impossible to understand that first impressions gained in an experience , it may be of balf-anhour , might in the lapse of years entirely vanish from the

mmd . Cases of the kind have been known , but we fail to see how the one in question affects the identity of Wren . Bro . Gould lingers over this matter as if be doubted his doubts . He still stands by the opinion that the evidence at present

forthcoming does not prove the assumption that Wren was a Freemason , and he concludes that it is immaterial whether be was or not . After the laboured efforts that have been made on both sides this seems a lame and impotent conclusion . Bro . Gould " closes the book" on that

subject , but he is not quite so ready to part with that branch of it which relates to Wren ' s alleged Grand Mastership . Here he seems to have found firmer ground and a stronger faith . At any rate he confidently assumes that

the era of Grand Lodges did not exist in 16 G 3 , and therefore the assertions of Anderson in the first two editions of the Constitutions with regard to Wren are false . As the result of confidence in the statements of Anderson he

quotes the inaccuracies of Kloss and the mistake of Sir James Hall . He admits that the former collected his materials with diligence and judgment , but he relied upon expressed belief and not upon determined facts . Sir James

Hall built up a theory about Wren and Gothic architecture upon the same unsubstantial grounds . Bro . Gould contends that much mischief has been caused in consequence . To enter upon the matter at all would be to open up the whole

question , which we are not inclined to do . So far as Sir Christophen Wren , as au individual , is concerned , it is not a matter of supreme moment what , if any , connection he had with Freemasonry . But if it could be demonstrated

beyond doubt that he was a member of the Craft , light might be thrown upon the condition of the Order at the time in which he lived . It might convert a wide-spread belief into a certainty , and show that Freemasonry had a

broader existence in England than Bro . Gould is willing to accept . His object , in reverting to the Wren controversy , is again to traverse the use of tradition in historical inquiry , and to reaffirm the position he has defended in a

former volume . We have already dealt with the subject of tradition , and need not repeat our arguments . We are told by Brother Gould , in the

present volume , that " we are about to pass from one period of darkuess and uncertainty to another of almost equal obscurity , and which presents even greater difficulties than we have yet encountered . " He is anxious , there-

History Of Freemasonry.

fore , that the plan upon which he works should be under , stood . A writer has a right to choose his own method and it is to the credit of Bro . Gould that he takes his readers into his confidence . If we cannot always follow

him , if we think ho is too sensitive to criticism , and too sceptical about the force and usefulness of tradition , we can at least believe in his sincerity and rely upon bis love of truth . We do not propose to dwell further upon the

subjects that have hitherto engaged our attention , and as Bro . Gould enters upon a new phase of his theme in the pages with which we have still to deal , we sha ]] accompany him , but prefer to begin the fresh journey next week , rather than resume it now . ( To be continued ) .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

A QUARTERLY Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland was hold in Freemasons' Hall , George-street , Edinburgh , on the Oth inst . The Moat Worshipful Grand Master , Colonel Sir Archibald C . Campbell , of Blythswood , Bart ., occupied the throne-Bro . S . C . Barke Prov . Grand Master of Jamaica acted as Depute Grand Master ; Bro . James T . S . Elliot iun ., of Wolfelee , as Senior

Warden ; Bro . G . Fisher as Junior Warden . The other Grand Officers were Bros . D . Murray Lyon Secretary , David Kinuear Cashier , A . W . Rennie W . M . of Lodge Journeyman , No . 8 , actino Senior Deacon , W . Officer acting Junior Deacon , Dr . Rowand Anderson Architect , Alex . Hay Past Grand Jeweller , David Home

acting Bible Bearer , Provost Brand Director of Cercmonios , Dr . James Cranstoun Bard , John Wilson acting Sword Bearer , W , Harrison Director of Music , R . Davison Organist , A . M . Potter noting Inner Guard . Apologies for absence were intimated from

Bros , the Earl or Haddington Master Depute , the Earl ot Kintora Substitute Master , W . Mann S . S . C ., John Graham C . A ., James Crichton , J . Dalrymple Duncan , Glasgow ; James Berry , Dundee , & c . The Grand Master introduced the followintr Visitors to Grand

Lodge : —Bros . Darashaw R . Chichgur , Bombay , honorary Substitute Grand Master of Scottish Masonry in India ; S . C . Burke Provincial Grand Muster of Jamaica ; and K . J . Spicer Depute Prov . Grand Master of Jamaica ; and these brethren were welcomed to a seat on the dais , anil in acknowledging the compliment , referred in short

addresses to the condition of Masonry in their respective districts . Bro . R . Douglas Clark , of the English Constitution , Pietermaritzbnrg , was also received as a visitor . Bro . J . Wilson , Past Master of Lodge Caledonian , No . 3 U 2 , presented his commission as representative of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina , and was welcomed from the

throne to a place on the dai ' s . A vidimus by the Grand Cashier of the- income and expenditure for the quarter ending 25 th July showed that the income had been £ 806 , and the expenditure £ GG 0 , an excess af income to the extent of £ 146 . During that period there had been 682 entrants to the Order registered in Grand Lodge .

From the Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence the grants by the Committee during the quarter had amounted to £ 172 . It was re ported from Grand Committee that a Committee had boen appointed to communicate with the brethren who had issued a circular in regard to a publication , and to endeavour in a friendly spirit to bring the

matter in dispute to a determination . Grand Secretary reported that the Grand Master had accepted invitations to lay , with Masonic honours , the foundation-stone of a new public hall at Kirriemuir ou the ISth of September , and to plant the memorial-stone of the new parish church of Langside on the 3 rd of October , the ceremonials

being under the auspices of the Provincial Grand Lodges of Forfarshire and Renfrewshire East respectively . It was resolved that the Grand Master be supported on each of these occasions by a deputation from the Grand Lodge . The Grand Master stated that ho was in communication with the Past Graud Master ( the Earl of Mar

and Kellie ) in order to present to him the bust given by the Grand Lodge , and also to instal him as Provincial Grand Master of Stirlingshire ; and that as soon as a date was found that would exactly suit his Lordship ' s convenience and that of Grand Lodge , his services would , ho need not say , be at their disposal . The Grand

Master drew attention to presents from other Grand Lodges , - cluding a photogrnph of the Office Bearers of the District Grand Lodge of New South Wales _ under the Scottish Constitution , and also a photograph of the painting of Grand Lodge at the inauguration of Burns as Poet Laureate of the Lodge Canonto

gate Kilwinning , No . 2 , by Bro . R . S . Brown , and it was resolved receive these with thanks . The sub-committee appointed to consider the rearrangement of the Border Provinces submitted a report on this subject , which detailed the arrangements in 1 S 02 , 1827 , and 1836 , and that by the arrangement now existing seveu Lodges were aut

within the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Peebles Selkirk , five within that of Berwick and Roxburgh , and five withm that of East Lothian . They proposed that the existing three Provinces should be formed into two : —Haddington and Berwic composed of the following eight Lodges : —Dans , St . John Kilwinmngi Luke

Haddington ; Sfc Abbs , Eyemouth ; Dunbar Castle , Dunbar ; St . . Lauder ; St . John , Coldstream ; St . Baldred , North Berwick ; " ^ Tyneside , East Linton . Roxburgh and Selkirk , consisting also ° eight Lodges , viz . : —Kelso , St , John , Selkirk ; St . John , Jedburg h ; HawickSt . JamesHawick ; St , JohnGalishiels ; and St . J ° _

, , , Stow . They left ont Peebles in this arrangement from a convictio that in the circumstances the placing of the Peebles Kilwiuurng tho metropolitan Province was necessary to its existence . ? , submitted that the arrangement of the Border Lodges into

^ Provinces was desirable , and the allocation of the hn < £ was such as on tho whole would be the most conveuie for the Lodges themselves . They had been guided ,