Correspondence.

their nation . This Treatise on Architecture by the most correct designer and architect , Sabastion Le Clerc , that has yet appeared in the world , whose rules and propositions well followed may advance , yet further , is most humbly dedicated by yonr Worship ' s Obedient Servant , John Sfcnrt . " Whether the said Masons' euild was chartered in 1410 , nnd

whether tho English Masons excelled all the Masons in tho world in numbers and in art , Bro . Gonld will havo to decide . But one thing astonished me greatly , viz ., ever since 1764 , when the second edition of the Ahiman Re / on was printed with the Masons' Arms facing the title page , Masons took it for granted that the said Masons' Crest was genuine , but on comparing the Masons' Arms or Crests in the

work before mo with the ono in the Ahiman Kezon , I found they differ . The question is , did Dermott alter the Masons' Crest ? or have the Masons' Company itself altered their Arms between 1732 and 1764 ? Having disposed of the Masons' Arms , I must now come to the " & c , " which astonished me even more than the former . I always

supposed thafc America , and America alone , was blessed with a Mackey who conld illuminate all the Masonio symbols in creation , who knew every thing about all the gods and goddesses of antiquity , aud especially about the significances of the Tau and Triple Tau of the R . A . degree ; but on looking over the 12 th volume of The Republican , by Richard Carlile , London , in the September number ,

1825 , pa « e 403 , 1 found a letter by J . A . Mackey , of Norwich , England , full of sublime interpretations of the Tau , Triple Tan , Egyptian gods , & c , & c . Nay more , he claims to have discovered a key to all the Masonic mysteries , and iu the said letter he refers to his former work . Now , can any Masonic student inform me about the said Mackey and his wonderful works ?

Respectfully and fraternally yours , JACOB NORTON . Boston , U . S ., 13 th July 1882 .

MASONIC MENDICANCY

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —When , in the case quoted by " A Cos . STANT READER , " of a worthy as well as -wayworn brother who , after application for help to the members of a Lodge , was sent empty away , I spoke of the price of " glasses round , " I did not wish it to be thought that that , in my opinion , was the extent to which they should

have relieved him . I was merely anxious to point out by how slight a self-sacrifice from each of those present the poor fellow's appeal might have been temporarily met . He was in , sore straits , and the few shillings thus contributed would have satisfied his immediate needs . Then the almoner could have stepped in , and more materially assisted him . I allow that the professional Masonic

mendicant deserves , and should have no sympathy , but even to him , I presume , the casual ward of the poor-house is open . In this case we are assured the brother was worthy , and , in his better days , bad supported his Lodge freely . Therefore , I argue , he should not have been left to the alternative of the poor-house or nothing . He was a brother in distress , and should have been tested , not sent away abruptly .

It is in Masonry , as in ordinary life , very easy to condemn indiscriminate relief , but there is this much to be said in connection with the case in question : Masons profess to relievo brethren in distress if they can do so with justice to themselves . Then why the refusal indicated by " CONSTANT HEADER ? " I think even a vagabond brother should not bo left without food aud with no better shelter than an empty outhouse . Fraternally yours , " LONDONER . "

SOME OE THE USES OE FREEMASONRY

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The remarks in your article bearing the above title , though severe , are not unjustly so , nor are they , I think , uncalled for . The failure of the arrangements brought no inconvenience or disappointment to me personally . I am not a member of any Kentish Lodgo , nor was I going to Swanlev , either as a visitor

or spectator . I am nofc qualified to offer an opinion as to tho justice of the excuse telegraphed to tho Princo and Princess of Wales , but , as regards tho Provincial Grand Master of Kent , Lord Holmesdale , and his Grand Officers , ifc must be obvious thafc , assuming your statement to be correct , his Lordship ancl they were treated with scant courtesy , and the executive who bad charge of the proceedings

deserve the castigation you have administered . This is not the first time tbe services of the Craft have been invoked by the local authority and then those brethren who attended cavaliei-ly treated . Afc p 42 Vol . VIII . FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE is an account of the formal inauguration with Masonic honours of tin Masonic Lifeboat Albert Edward afc Clacton-on-sea by the Enrl of

Lafchom—fchon Lord Skelmersdale—Deputy Grand Master . Then the brethren assembled from all parts of E ? sex , and having mot in Provincial Grand Lodgo took part in the Ceremonial . When that was ended , we are told in your report " Provincial Grand Lodgo w ; is closed , and the brethren separated . A luncheon was afterwards served , afc which Lord Skelmersdale presided . " Following tin ' s

statement are some very mild yet significant comments by yonr reporter , which read as follows : — " VVe are not aware whether the arrangements of the day were conducted by the Lifeboat Association or not ; for the credit of tlie Institution , we hope otherwise . Bufc whoever may have had Die appointment of the Committee can scarcely be congratulated ou their selection , either for the ability or courtesy displayed by that

Correspondence.

body , especially with regard to the Masonic Visitors . For ourselves , we attended but to report the proceedings ; still , we cannot under , stand why Provincial Grand Officers , who travelled many miles in order to officiate on the occasion , should be made use of , and after - wards , so to speak , ignoied . Such was the treatment accorded those who represented the donors . "

There is , of course , a difference between the two cases . The Clacton-on-sea ceremonial came off ns arranged , the Swanley did nofc . In both , however , the brethren were invited to lend lustre to the occasion . This is no more than might have been expected at Clacton , where ono of the Masonic Memorial Lifeboats was Masonically in . augurated ; yefc the ceremony over , the Prov . G . officials and members

of Essex Lodges were sent to the right about most unceremoniousl y . Afc Swanley , tbe Prov . Grand Officers and brethren of Kent were , it seems , put to tbe trouble and expense of journeying thither only to discover the whole thing to be a complete fiasco . Jupiter Pluvius , I know , is a " demn'd unpleasant" personage , but ifc rarely happens thafc he deters Englishmen from carrying out their arrangements . Faithfully and fraternally , " Q . E . D . "

Summer Festival Of The New Concord Lodge.

SUMMER FESTIVAL OF THE NEW CONCORD LODGE .

WE are not of those who think it beneath the dignity of man to visit what is known as a cockney watering place . People who belong to the school of aesthetic—muffs , to use the least objectionable epithet , or who fancy they are members of the fashionable world , may question the possibility of spending even a portion of a happy day in Gravesend and its vicinity . Yet Gravesend and the surrounding

country form one of the prettiest and mosfc interesting parts of Kent . There is , for instance , the Thames , with its constant traffic , and none will gainsay the statement that here ifc is a noble stream , of which any Englishman may well be proud . Tilbury , on the Essex side of the river , calls up associations connected with grand old Queen Bess , thr Earl of Leicester , her favourite , and the days of the Spanish

Armada . Hard by , and , indeed , forming as it were a precinct of Gravesend itself , is Milton , renowned for its shrimps , while within easy reach by rail are Rochester with its cathedral and grand old ruin of a castle , and Chrtbam , one of our busiest and most notable garrison towns . Inland are Meopham , and Wrotham , and Cobham , where is Lord Darnley's seat . Nor mnsfc the claims of Northfleet , with its

fine old church , and Springhead , dear to all lovers of " watercresses , " be overlooked in the survey . In facfc , we know of no better place within a radius of thirty miles of London that is better worth a visit than Gravesend , and , under these circumstances , we take it upon ourselves to congratulate the Worshipful Master , the Stewards and the brethren generally on their selection of this well - known

watering-place as the scene of their Summer Festival . Not only , to use a common mode of expression , might they have gone further and fared worse , bufc we doubt mnch if , had they gone elsewhere , they would have fared so well . Our own personal experience is , that having regard to the hospitality of the Lodge , the pleasant company fcbafc was assembled , the weather , and the unusual excellence of tbe entertainment

provided , we have never enjoyed ourselves more thoroughly on any similar occasion . Our business , however , is to record what took place , and bow the Lodge and its gnests fared . As a matter of course , Bro . Lewis C . Haslip W . Master waa the presiding genius of the day , though we regret to say he was by no means in the best condition as regards health . Among those present were the following brethren : —

Bro . W . Pierpoint I . P . M . and Mrs . Pierpoint , Bro . R . R . Harper P . M and Secretary and Mrs . Harper , Bros . W . Stead and S . George P . M . 's , Bro . H . T . Tiddiman S . W . and Mrs . Tiddiman , Bro . J . W . Stillwell J . W . and Mrs . Stillwell , Bro . Boulton Steward , Bro . August and Mrs . Perl , Bro . F . and Mrs . Peel , Bros . Hubbard , Rose , Tidman . Visitors-Bros . Baker P . M . 834 and 1828 , L . Licbfcwitz 1642 and St .

Ambrose , Moss 907 , Davis 1309 , Meed 382 , Jas . Kift , W . W- Morgan Secretary 211 . Of those some found their way to the rendezvous by boat , aud some by rail from Fenchnrch-streefc or the termini of the South Eastern Railway Company . Bnt by what means soever they may have reached their destination , which was the well-known Rosherville Hotel , there they found and availed themselves of

the many and varied opportunities of enjoymenfc placed at their disposal by the kind and courteous manager , Bro . W . T . Warren . We are using no mere stereotyped expression when we say that fche banquet was truly excellent , more excellent of its kind , indeed , than many that aro served at more ambitious and moro aristocratic hosfcelries . As may well may be imagined , the fish , of which there were

eight varieties—and some of them dressed in different wayswas the principal feature of the dinner . But the whole entertainment was so genuinely good , and so admirably served , and was , moreover , supplemented by wines of such excellent quality , that we are persuaded no words of ours can do it the justice it deserves . The dessert too that followed included a choice selection

of fruits , and Bro . Warren , the aforesaid manager , deserves the hig hest possible commendation for his successful efforts in catering for bis gnests . A short , but well-chosen programme of music followed , m which Miss Lizzie Evans , Bro . A . Hubbard , and Bro . James Kift ( took part , and each and everyof the three materially contributed , by their happy selection of songs , and the artistic manner in which they sang them , to the pleasure of the gathering . But the satisfaction of the - _ j - _ j- ___ _ a _ . CJ _

inner man and a short , though select , after-dinner concert , were not the only available means afc hand by which to spend a happy day-As a preparation for fche important function of dinner , the aid of tha local flymen was invoked , and an hour or two was spent perambulating some of the beautiful country in the neighbourhood . Then Lodge and its guests were photographed by Bro . August Perl , who , though nofc a professional photographic artist , is a capable representative of his art , aud the photograph he took—measuring fifteen