Ars Quatuor Coronatorum (Vi. Part 2).

dent in the Mexican capital—thafc the obligations in tho Lodges under fche Grand Dieta are taken on honour only , that women aro admitted to the threo degrees , that tho use of the Bible is dispensed with , and that politics are freely discussed in tbe Lodges .

So far I have gleaned from the article in Ars , —Freemasonry in Mexico ( written by myself ) , but in the July-August number of the Square and Compass , Denver ,

Colorado , there is the following : — " The pamphlet of Bro . Chism has called forth a reply from General Agramonte , which is entitled , The True View of Mexican Masonry . "

" He denies that women are admitted . Regarding the non-existence of tbe Bible , he states the reverse of Bro . Chism . As to politics he claims no relevancy whatever . " It is , perhaps , needness to add that the General considers the Charter of Toltec Lodge should be revoked .

Still more recently , however , I have received so > ral written and printed communications from Bro . C i .-sm , some of which being in the Spanish language , I regret to say that I cannot read with the samo facility as when I was

W . M . of the Inhabitant ' s Lodge , Gibraltar , in 1858 . Bufc on the whole , I can master their contents quite well enough to see thafc Bro . Chism advances new arguments in support of the positions he formerly maintained ; also , and it is a

point of no littlo importance , that the admission of the fair sex to a participation in Masonic fellowship by tbe Mexican Lodges , is stoutly re-asserted—Genl . Agramonte ' s statement of his ( Bro . Chisra ' s ) recantation of this particular allegation notwithstanding .

The reviews in the current number comprise notices of "Bain ' s Masonic catalogue , " of "Leighfcon ' s History of Temple Lodge and Chapter , No . 51 , Belfast , " and of the 2 nd edition of " Ferry ' s History of the Lodge of Prosperity , No .

65 . The reviewer in all three cases being Bro . Speth , it goes without saying that no point of real importance escapes his viligant scrutiny , and that the weight and value of his remarks reach tho highest standard thafc the booklets embraced in his criticism will admit of .

The reviews are followed by an excellent portrait of Dr . Robert Plot , tbe famous author of the " Natural Histories of Oxfordshire ( 1677 ) , aud Staffordshire ( 1686 ) , with descriptive letter-press—the opening portion dealing

with the career of the Antiquary , aud the final one ( from the pen of Dr . Begemami ) , dissecting his well-known account of the Freemasons ¦ f Staffordshire ( 1686 ) , and indicating the printed and ii- ' -nuscript literature where

collateral evidence relating to many of Plot ' s statements and conclusions is afforded . The second and last paper read before fcho Lodge , during the period covered b y the Transactions under review ,

forms the fifth in the series of " Masonic Celebrities , " contributed by myself , and is a literary portrait of the Rev . William Stukeley , M . D . The subject of my sketch , who was born in 1687 , became a Medical practitioner in the

firsts instance , and afterwards a clergyman , dying in 1765 . He was a Fellow of the Royal Society , and of the Society of Antiquaries , a learned Antiquary , and rather a voluminous writer .

Among the manuscript collections left behind at his decease , were his Autobiography , Diary , and Commonplace Book . The Autobiography is headed , " Abstract of my Life , for M" Masters , of Bennefc

College , May , 1720 . " " 1720 . Admitted a fellow [ of the College of Physicians ] . This year he published an account of Arthur ' s Oon , & the Roman vallum in Scotland ,

m 4 t 0 * His curiosity led him to be initiated into the myslerys of Masonry , suspecting it to be the remains of the mysterys of the antients , when with difficulty

a number sufficient was to be found in all London . After this it became a public fashion not only spred over Brittain and Ireland , but all Europe . "

The Diary contains the following , "Jan . 6 . 1721 . I was made a Freemason afc the Salutation Tav ., Tavistock Street , with M * Collins , Capt . Rowe , who made the famous diving Engine

" June 24 [ 1721 ] . The Masons bad a dinner at Stationers Hall , present , Duke of Montague , L' ** Herbert , L * Stanhope , S * And . Fountain , & c . D Desaguliers prououue'd au oration . The

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum (Vi. Part 2).

G M ... . Paia prodac . an o ] d MSj of thc Cou . stitutions which he got in the West of England , 500 years old . He read over a new Sett of Articles to be observ'd . The Duke of Montague cboso d

G - M" * next year . D * Beal , Deputy . " 27 th Dee . We met at the Fountain Tav , Strand & by consent of Grand M * present , D * Beal constituted a new Lodge thero , where I was chose M" *

" 1722 . May 25 . Met Duke of Queensboro , Lord Dunbarton , Hinehinbroke , & c , at Fount . Tav . Lodg , to consider of Feast on St . Johns . " Noy . 3 . The Duke of Wharton and L * Dalkeith visited our Lodge at the Fountain .

" Nov . 7 . Order of tho Book instituted . " Dec . 28 . I din'd with L . Hertford introdue'd by L . Winchelsea . I made them both Members of the Order of tho Book or Roman Knighthood .

" 1723 . Oct . 4 . I read my discourse of the Dorchest . Amphitheat . at the Lodg . & deliver'd to every Bro . a copy . " The next repository upon which I shall draw is headed ,

Common-Place Boole . W . Stukeley , 1720 . " In the year 1717 I came to London . " I was tlie first person made a freemason in London for

many years . We had great difficulty to find members enough to perform the ceremony . Immediately after that it tooli a run , §•ran itself out of breath thro' the folly of the members .

"June , 1726 , being sadly plagu'd with the gout , I retired to Grantham , thinking by country exercise to get the better of it . Here I set up a lodg of freemasons , wh . lasted all the time I lived there . "

Stukeley s testimony extends over a period of nine years ( 1721-30 ) , and it will be convenient if we examine it at three stages or intervals , viz ., under the years 1721-22 , 1723-26 , and 1726-30 .

1 st Period . —1721-22 . The doctor tells us in two places , that there were very few Freemasons in London when he became a member of tho Society , and in one—thafc " his

curiosity led him to be initiated into the mysterys of Masonry , suspecting it to bo tho remains of the mysterys of the antients . "

This event occurred nearly six mouths before Grand Master Payne " read over a now sett of articles to be observ'd , " so the admission of Stukeley may bo regarded as having taken place while the old ( or original ) laws of the Society remained in force . ( To be continued ) .

MASONIO SONNETS . —No . 72 . BY BRO . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D . ON THE INSTALLATION OV BROTHER THE RIGHT HON . W . L . JACKSON , M . P ., F . R . S ., AS PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF WEST YORKSHIRE , IN THE ALBERT HALL , LEEDS , 27 TH SEPTEMBER 1893 .

lrom far and wide the Craftsmen gathered here—The Albert Hall was crowded ia each part , And rang and echoed with fall many a cheer Which came with deep emotion from the heart . By many tongues our Art was praised aud lauded—LORD LATHOM did his task surpassing well ; Whilst we , his Masons , shouted and applauded ,

For none oar PRO GRAND MASTER can excel . May tbe new Ruler of this Province vaefc Know much of joy throughout tho coming yearn , May no doll cloud his firmament o'erensfc , May Truth and Justice be hia pioneers . May Wisdom guide—Hope , Faith and Lovo hold away , And Fortitude and Prudence be his stay . Winder House , Bradford , 28 th September 1893 .

Afc a recent meeting of the Newcastle Town Improvo-Committee plans were submitted by thc Central Masonic Hall Company for new Masonic buildings fronting Pilgrim Street , Shakespeare Street , and High Bridge . The plans , which showed that the company intend to erect a fine block of buildings , wore passed .