Ars Quatuor Coronatorum.

ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM .

BY BRO . R . P . GOULD . THE Transactions of the Qaatnor Coronati Lodge , No . 207 G , have reached a Fourth Volume , of which the opcuiug number , or Part I ., has just been issued to the members and subscribers .

The papers read before t ! m Lodge at its stated meetings are two in number , one being entitled , " The Druses of Syria and their Belation to Freemasonry , " and the other , " Masonic Landmarks among the Hindus . " Among the remaining literary contributions are articles or essays , on

Masonry in Austria , Hungary , and Holland , the Svastika , the Character of the Roman Villa at Morton , Martin Clare , and Unidentified or Missing MSS . " Masonically speaking , " as Bro . Hughan has elsewhere expressed himself , " the present number is not a strong one , " and the skill

and resource of the brethren who are regular attendants at the meetings , seem to have been rather expended in destructive criticism , than in any serious examination of the somewhat fanciful conjectures which were submitted to tho Lodge .

The historical notes on Austrian and Hungarian Masonry , by Bro , de Malczovich , and those relating to Holland , from the pen of Dr . Dieperink , will be found both interesting and instructive .

A lady-contribator , Mrs . J . C . Murray-Aynsley , furnishes a carefully written article on the Svastika—though among the things that aro left unsaid , is the manner in which this emblem has any connection with Freemasonry .

Bro . S . T . Klein supplies a further criticism on the paper read last year by Colonel Crease , and supports the suggestion of tho Secretary , Bro . Speth , that room XII . in the Roman Villa at Morton , I . W ., was used or intended for Mithraic rites .

The notes aud queries are of the usual stamp , and there remain for examination two contributions only , one by myself , being a literary portrait of Martin Clare , A . M . and F . R . S ., and the other , by Bro . Hughan , on the " Unidentified or Missin g MSS . " of the Craft .

Of my own essay , I shall merely say that it deals with a much disputed point , and was written with the view of establishing the claim of Martin Clare to be considered the author of an anonymous publication , called A Defence of Masonry , occasion ed by a Vamplilct , calVd Masonry Dissected , which appeared in 1730 .

With regard , however , to Bro . Hughan ' s article , this I should wish to dilate upon at some length , and will , at all events , deliver myself of a few remarks . The Symbolism and the Written Traditions of the Freemasons are their choicest possessions . They came down to them from

remote antiquity , and too much pains cannot be bestowed on any attempts that aro made to investigate their origin and antiquity . Yet , as a rule , noither the one or the other presents the slightest attraction to the Masonic Student . In this particular , indeed , Bro . Hughan is honourably

distinguished from tho great mass of our historians , as dating almost from his initiation , the Written Traditions of the Craft have possessed for him a singular fascination . I was , therefore , glad to perceive in what groove his thoughts had run , while preparing an article for the current number

of our Transactions . Some day it will dawn on many minds that an accurate study of our MSS . Constitutions 13 what should be chiefly aimed at by those who are really desirous of lifting the veil which overhangs the past of Freemasonry . Meanwhile , the limited number of students

tor whom alone at the present moment such an inquiry presents any attraction , can only work—like our Brother Hughan—in the right direction , without any immediate hope of their labours being extensively shared ,

"at witn a strong conviction nevertheless , that in the path they are themselves pursuing , they will be eventually tollowed by all who are capable of taking an intelligent interest in Freemasonry .

•XS ! i * and amce 1886 has been Lord Steward , He is 2 S I ? ? 111 " Devonshire , where his family seat , Mount Mgcumbe , s perhaps , the most beautiful of the show places in the « eit Country , —Western Daily Press .

Lord Mount Edgoumbe , the New deputy Grand Master , is a man of nearly 60 , and has in his time played many parte . When mucn younger he represented Plymouth in Parliament , and has been uort Lieutenant of Cornwall . He had filled the r 6 U nf r , nrH

Royal Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

rnHE annual meeting of tho subscribers to this Institu-JL tion was held yesterday , in the largo hall of Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . J . A . Farnfield P . Grand Assistant Director of Ceremonies , Treasurer of the Institution , in the chair . On the motion of Capt . S . G . Homfray , the report of

the Auditors was received and adopted . Bro . W . B . Barnett ( Monmouth ) asked whether it was not customary to give a fuller account of tho expenditure , and the Chairman informed him that a printed copy would bo sent to each Life Governor . Brother W . B . Barnett thought

such a copy should be sent out before the meeting , and then asked tho permission of the Chairman to say something on the balanco sheet of last year . The Chairman gave permission , although he said it was rather out of date , because the accounts had been passed

by tho auditors , who had been elected by the general body of subscribers as the subscribers' representatives . Bro . Barnett then criticised several itoms , such as Collector ' s Commission , petty expenses , and postages , Stewards ' Entertainment , & c , and pointed out that some of these

items should be separated , so that every one might see tho precise expenditure for each particular head . He insisted that some of the expenditure was too large ; and that , if reduced , several annuitants might bo placed on the list . The Chairman explained that with regard to the Collector ' s

commission , the Collector received no commission on any sums paid to the office up to settling day , which was fixed for a fortnight , or some date about that time , after the annual festival . There were a large number of 5 s subscriptions paid , which the collector had to hunt

up , and these he received commission on . Bro . Barnett , who was seconded by Bro . Flandors , also of Monmouth , concluded by moving the adjournment of the meeting and election for a fortnight , but the amendment was lost . The annual report was then read , and on the

motion of Captain Homfray , seconded by Past Grand Treasurer Richard Eve , adopted . Brother John A . Farnfield was unanimously re-elected Treasurer , and Bros . Douglas , Stean and Fisher were elected on tho

Committee of Management . Bro , C . E . Keyser was elected Trustee of tho Male Fund , Bro . Henry Smith , Deputy Prov . G . Master West Yorkshire , Trustee of the Female Fund , and the Earl of Mount Edgoumbe was nominated Trustee of the Sustentation Fund . The

Chairman informed the meeting that five men and four widows had died ; f urthor , one male annuitant had had his annuity suspended , since the proxy papers were issued , and there would be 20 men and 16 widows to be elected , 17 of tho former and 13 of the latter for immediate annuities , and 3 of each deferred . The scrutineers for the election were then appointed , and the election proceeded .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution held their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday . Bro . J . A . Farnfield , Treasurer of the Institution , was in the chair , and there

wore present Bros . E . Smith P . G . D . D . P . G . M . West Yorkshire , C . E . Keyser , A . H . Tattershall , James Brett P . G . P ., G . Bolton , T . B . Daniell , J . Newton , J . P . Fitzgerald , W . M . Rice , C . A . Cottebrune P . G . P ., C . F . Hogard P . G . Stand . Br ., H . J . Strong , Jabez Hogg P . G . D ., S , C . Haalip , Chas . Kempton , George E . Fairchild , R . P .

Stevens , John Barnett jun ., Henry Garrod , Charles G . Hill , Henry Cox , Louis Stean , W . H . Hubbert , W . Hollis , Charles Lacey , W . H , Making , Hugh Cotter , C . U . Carrell , W . Klingenstein , Chas . Daniel , E . M , Money , Thomas

Cnbitt P . G . P ., H , M , Hobbs , Alex . Ridgway , and James

Terry P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , the Secretary reported the death of five annuitants ( three men and two widows ) . The report of the Sub-Committee appointed to prepare for tho arrangements for the forthcoming Jubilee

Festival was submitted and agreed to , and the requisition calling a Special General Meeting for the purpose of altering certain laws on Wednesday next , the 20 th inst ., at the hour of noon , was signed . The Warden ' s report for the past month was also read . The draft annual report was

submitted and approved , subject to certain verbal amendments , and the applications from the widows of two recently deceased annuitants for half their late husband ' s

annuities were acceded to . The name of an accepted widow candidate was withdrawn from the list . The proceedings terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman .