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—on the 6 th December , 1752—in vvhich the following passage from which the minute relating to manuscripts is quoted by Bro . Sadler at his p . 87 . " It was further said that many Manuscripts vvere lost amongst the lodges lately modernised , where a vestige of the Ancient Craft was not suffered to be revived or practized , and that it vvas for this reason so many of them withdrew from lodges ( under

the Modern Sanction ) to support the true Ancient System . " It is not necessary , however , that we should lay great stress on the point . It may have been adopted as a convenient contrast from the expression " Antient and Modern , " used by Anderson in his 173 S Constitutions as mentioned at pp . 139-140 * or it may have come into use imperceptibly in the first instance , and been retained afterwards as a necessity

in order to justify the superior claims of the so called "Ancients" to be the true representatives of Ancient Masonry . The point , we repeat , is not very material , especially in these days when it is only the tyro in Masonry who does not comprehend why the younger organisation should have applied to itself the more venerable title . With refeience to the Royal Arch Degree , a

consideration of which is necessarily included in this review of the comparative merits of the " Ancient" and " Modern " Masons , vve are inclined to think the former were not quite so inactive in their pursuit after this Degree as Bro . Sadler seems to think . The first mention of it is , as he says , in the minutes of 2 nd September , 1752 , and the next in those of 2 nd March , 1757—not 1754 ,

as no doubt by a printer's error it is stated at p . 166 . But though we do not light upon another direct reference till December 1771 , it is hardly just to assume that the Degree had in the meantime been neglected . ln the "Ancient" Grand Lodge minutes of tne 4 th September , 1771 , occurs the following passage : "The Grand Secretary having obtained an audience , Moved that the following

Question should be put to the Grand Lodge : ' Is His Grace the Duke of Atholl Grand Master of Masons in every respect ? ' this being put by the D . G . M ., it vvas unanimously answer'd in the affirmative . TheSecretary return'd thanks and then inform'd them that he was happy to have it confirmed by the Grand Lodge , as he had several times heard it advanced that the Grand Master had not a right to

inspect into the proceedings of the Royal Arch—further , that he , the Secretary , had vvith regret perceiv'd many flagrant abuses of this most sacred part of Masonry , and therefore proposed that the Masters and Past Masters of warranted lodges be conven'd as soon as possible , in order to put this part of Masonry on a solid basis . Resolved , That a Meeting of Masters and Past Masters

of Warranted Lodges shall be held on the 2 nd of October next , at 7 o ' clock in the evening , on the aforemention'd Business . " In the G . L minutes of the 4 th December following , we read as follows : " The Rt . Worship ! . D . G . Master informed the Grand Lodge of the proceedings of the Royal Arch meetings , viz ., on the 2 nd October and 6 th of November last , and expatiated a long time

on the scandalous method pursued by most | of the lodges ( on St . ' John ' s days ) in passing a number of brethren through the chair on purpose to obtain the sacred mysterys of the Royal Arch , And proved in a concise manner that these proceedings were unjustifiable . Therefore moved a Regulation to be made in order to suppress them for the future . —The Deputy was answer'd

by several brethren that there weie many Members of Lodges vvho have their Proffessions in life ( the Sea for example ) , that could never regulary attain that part of Masonry , tho' very able deserving men , and humbly moved that might be consider'd in the new regulation . The Grand Lodge in General thought such a Clause necessary , and therefore the Question being put for the

Regulation , it vvas Unanimously Resolved That no person for the future shall be made a Royal Arch Mason , but the legal representative of the Lodge , except a Brother ( who is going abroad ) , vvho hath been 12 months a Register'd Mason , and must have the Unanimous Voice of his Lodge to receive such Qualification , and in order to render this Regulation more Expediate , it is further Order'd that ali

Certificates gianted to Brethren from their respective Lodges , shall have inscribed the Day the Brother or Brethren Joined and vvas made in said Lodge—and that this regulation takes place on St . John ' s Day , the 27 th December , 1771 . The D . G . Master return'd thanks for this new Regulation which would certainly redound honour on thc

brethren present—and then informed them that there vvas several Brethren of Different Lodges that had been Admitted amongst the Roval Arch Masons Illegaly , and that it would be necessary to take their Case into Consideration , but as it vvas concerning the Royal Arch , presumed they would leave it to the next Grand Chapter , and they might depend that everything should be pursued for the

real honor of the Fraternity . The Grand Lodge having duly weighed the foregoing proposition , ar . d considering that several of the members of the Grand Lodge vvere not Royal Arch Masons , it was agreed by the majority that the R . A . Chapter vvere the properest persons to adjust and determine this matter , And , therefore , it was agreed that the case should be referred to the Royal Arch Chapter vvith

full authority to . hear , determine , and finally adjust the same . " Again on the 27 th December , 1771 , it is minuted as follows : " The Grand Secretary , by order , read part of the Minutes of las-t Grand Lodge relative to the new Regulation for the Royal Arch , which the D . G . M . gave the Brethren ( present ) to understand that it vvas to be strictly

observed in llieir respective Lodges— and that a Grand Chapter vvas to be held on the first Wednesday in January next to finally settle that part of the minute referred by the Grand Lodge to said Chapter . " It is evident from the first of these extracts—from the minutes of the 4 th September , 1771—that the brethren

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generally must have known that the Royal Arch vvas a part of the "Ancient" system of Masonry , or G . Secretary Dickey would not have appealed to Grand Lodge to set at rest the doubts he had "several times " heard raised as to the 3 rd Duke of Atholl being Grand Master " in every respect , " on the ground that he " had not a right to inspect into the proceedings of the Royal

Arch ; and it is also clear from D . G . M . Dermctt s statement , and the rest of the extract from the minutes of the following 4 th December , together with the fact of inquiries having been instituted in the meantime—on the 2 nd October and 6 th November—by the G . L . Committee of Masters and Past Masters , that the practice of passing brethren through the Chair irregularly in order that they

might obtain the Royal Arch was a very common one , and consequently that the number of R . A . Masons among the " Ancients , " even though they may not have had or needed any special organisation into chapters , must have been very considerable . Otherwise , why all this hubbub raised first by Secretary Dickey , and then by Deputy Dermott ? Nor is it necessary to assume that this practice

had only become objectionably frequent , just about the close of 1771 or even during the two or three years immediately preceding . We learn from the minutes of the Grand Lodge meeting held on the 4 th September , 1765 , Bro . James Gibson , S . G . W ., in the chair , that it vvas " Proposed That Every Past Master shall be a Member of , and have a Vote in all Grand Lodges during his continuance a Member of

any Lodge under the Antient Constitutions . " We are told however , that "this proposalOccasion'dlongand various debates , several of the Masters and Wardens argued strenuously against the Motion , while the presiding officer and three Masters vvere the only persons who spoke in favourof it . " At length , however , "an Amendment vvas proposed and agreed , and then Grand Warden Gibson the

president put the question in this form , viz ., "That Regular Past Masters , while members of private Lodges under the sanction of this Grand Lodge shall be members hereof , And have Votes in all cases except in making new Laws . " On a division this motion was carried by 48 votes for the Past Masters , to 26 votes against them , and it was ordered that the rule

should take effect " from and after the 3 rd day of December , One thousand seven hundred sixty and five . " Here the distinction is manifestly intended to be drawn between the " Regular Past Master , " that is , the brother who had been installed W . Master and completed his term in the chair of his lodge , and the brother who had become a Past Master , without service as Master , by being

merely passed through the chair , and it is hardly to be supposed that anyone would care so to be passed except as a preparation for obtaining the R . A . Degree . Nothing of the kind is hinted at in the minutes of this date , but it is evidently intended that in September , 1765 , there vvere Past Masters vvho vvere " regular , " and Past Masters vvho were not , so that vve

may infer that the practice complained of by Dickey and Dermott in 1771 , had been in vogue in 1765 and earlier . Thus , there may have been much activity in the Royal Arch among the "Ancients , " without our being able to discover much evidence of it in their minutes , especially as their lodge warrants , as Bro . Sadler points out at p . 1 * 16 ,

' virtually included from the first , tho Royal Arch . " We may also reasonably assume that when the "Moderns " took so kindly to the R . A . about 1765 , " the Ancients " would pay at least an equal degree ol attention to a Degree they had included in their system from the very beginning of their existence as an organised body .

( To be concluded . ) THE ISIAC TABLET OF BEMBO , by Dr . W . WYNN WESTCOTT , Hon . Magus Soe . Ros . in Ang . Published by R . Fryar . Bath . The Mensa Isiaca , or Tabula Bembina , has always been a mystery . Our modern scientific authorities , as well as the medkeval Latin scholars have been alike baffled in their

attempt at explaining this gem of ancient art . Our Bro . Dr . Wynn Westcott supplies us in this volume with a beautiful photogravure of a drawing of the tablet , executed by himself . The original tablet , much mutilated , is still preserved in the Museum at Turin , the present picture is a copy of an engraving made by / Eneas Vico de Parma , in r 559 > ' 't was still almost perfect . The tablet consists

ot three horizontal divisions , each crowded vvith Egyptian figures , animals , ornaments , and hieroglyphics ; these designs have relation to things and ideals , both celestial and terrestrial : the upper row appears to be zodiacal , the lowest possibly refer to the months , the central array are deemed dieties and planetary in thir allegory . There are also two curiously contrasted designs typical of the Nile in

its natural low state , and when in a state of inundation , shown by female figures , vvith virginal characters , and contrasted with others having tumid bosoms ; close to these figures are the sacred bulls , types of masculine energy . The Supreme nature Deity is sealed in the middle of the tablet , and forms a theology in herself . In the treatise accompanying this splendid plate our author gives a history

of the tablet from its first exoteric discovery down to our own time , a long and accurate description from the Latin of the famous Jesuit , Athanasius Kircher , follows , and also a summary of the views of Jablonski , Caylus , VVarburton , and many others , the author ' s own views are then clearly and learnedly explained , and the volume concludes vvith an essay on the Tarot of Eliphaz Levi , which is shown to be

intimately connected with the lsiac tablet and vvith the Sepher Yetzirah , and the inference is drawn that these three ancient designs are the source of much of the occult and mystical lore which underlies our modern Freemasonry . This work cannot fail to enhance still further

the reputation vvhich our brother , Dr . Wynn Westcott has already won , as a scholar , and as a Masonic author , the Rosicrucian Society may well be proud of their Secretary General ; the book is also a credit to its publisher , the plates being well executed , and the type and binding excellent .

Spiers and Pond ( Limited ) have been appointed refreshment caterers to the Royal Aquarium for a term of seven years , at a rent of 20 per cent , on their gross receipts , with a minimum of £ 7000 per annum . This speaks highly for the improved position this place of entertainment has attained to , and the new caterers vvill do well to increase its popularity by giving the public thoroughly good value .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft Jtaonrg * FAITH LODGE ( No . 141 ) . —A meeting of this old lodge vvas held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , E . C ., on Tmsday , 29 th ult ., when there vvere present Bros . G . C . Hudson , VV . M . ; W . J . Hakim , S . W . ; A . Steng , J . W . ; C . Wetzlar , S . D . ; W . Langdale , J . D . ; W . Carter , Treas . ; VV . Stuart , Sec . ; E . Bye , LG . ; E . Cursons , Stwd . ; G .

Coop , I . P . M . ; T . C . Walls , P . M . ; C . Dairy , P . M . ; C . Fromholz , P . M . ; E . Hopwood , P . M . ; Lange , Jones , Marchant , Mold , Shepherd , and others . The lodgewas opened , and the minutes of the installation meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . Trott was

passed to the Second Degree . Several motions relating to grants to the Masonic Institutions having been postponed , the Secretary read a communication he had received from Bro . Brown , Sec . 65 , vvhich vvas ordered to be answered by Bro . Stuart in the name of the lodge , and then the lodge was closed .

KILBURN LODGE ( No . i 6 o 8 ) . ~ -On Monday evening , Bro . Seager Hunt , M . P ., and Bro . J . Aird , M . P ., honoured this lodge vvith a visit upon the invitation of Bro . T . H . P . Hartley . The lodge meets at the Queen ' s Arms Hotel , Kilburn , of vvhich Bro . Hartley is the respected and exceedingly popular proprietor . There was a very large number of visitors and members of the lodge

present to give the two honourable Members of Parliament a most hearty and enthusiastic reception , including Bros . Stephens , P . M . 1425 ; C . Walker , P . M . 1305 ; T . Minstrell , P . M . 87 and 192 S ; Lock , P . M . 151 ; Humfress , W . M . 733 ; D . Chester , P . M . 1 S 0 ; Sanson , P . M . 1494 ; Foreman , P . M . ; Bailey , Lidington , Bennett , J . H . Johnson , S . Brooks , Sec ; Hixon , Dickenson , J . H .

Hartley , H . Hartley , F . Price , F . Whitlock , J . G . Brewer , H . Lyons , VV . Truman , A . S . Ginger , A . Price , Towers , Chappel , G . Price , Mostyn , Page , Piatt , Higgins , H . Phillips , E . R . Terry , R . Groome , and Hanley Smith . Bro . Bennett , Prov . S . G . W . Lancashire , was elected W . M . of the lodge for the year ensuing , and a valuable P . M . 's jewel was unanimously voted to Bro . F . B . Fletcher ,

the W . M ., for his admirable services in the chair during the past year . 'Ihe brethren subsequently sat down to an excellent repast , vvhich was served under the personal direction of Bro . Hartley in a manner which deservedly obtained for him the warmest approbations of all who were present . The usual loyal and Craft toasts vvere given by the W . M ., Bro .

Fletcher , and heartily drunk . " 'i he Health of the Worshipful Master " vvas then given by the Immediate Past Master , who paid a well-merited compliment to the services of that brother in the chair during the year . The Worshipful Master , replying , regretted that the visitors had not had an opportunity ot seeing the working

of the excellent staff ot officers by whom he had been assisted , ln proposing "The Health of the Visitors , " he congratulated the lodge upon having been honoured vvith the presence of Bros . Seager Hunt , M . P ., and J . Aird , M . P . Unfortunately the labours of membersof Parliament at the present time vvere unduly hard . But a few years ago Parliament rarely sat after three o ' clock in the morning ,

but now it adjourned at all kinds of unconscionable hours . He vvas quite certain tbat men who vvere prepared under such circumstances to sacrifice their time and their health for the benefit of their fellow men and for the improvement of the laws of the country ought to be doubly honoured . Bro . Seager Hunt , vvho was loudly cheered , responding , thanked the members of the lodge for the hospitable

reception which had been accorded to the visitors . On behalf of the visitors vvho had received such a cordial welcome , and vvho had been able to enjoy themselves so agreeably , he could only hope that the lodge would continue to prosper in the future as it had done in the past . Not only did they hope that , but they also desired that Masonry would continue to grow in the affections of thc English

people , lt had been said that they were a secret Society , and that their constitution prevented them telling to the outside world what went on in the lodge , but when they came to look back through the countless ages through which Masonry had existed , and see that age after age it went on increasing in the number of those who belonged to it , this should be a warning to all outside their Craft , as

well as to those within it , that it must exist upon principles which it attempts to inculcate—principles which go to make good citizens throughout the world , and particularly in the Empire in which they lived and thrived . Bro . Aird , vvho also was enthusiastically received , remarked that he most cordially agreed with the sentiments which had been expressed by Bro . Seager Hunt , lt was a

great pleasure to him to be present at lodge meetings of Freemasons , which did so much good to those around them , and which , no doubt , by the charitable efforts vvhich were made by the members , set an example vvhich was followed by many other institutions . In charitable works , however , Masonry had ever maintained the lead . It vvas at such gatherings that they met many friends who otherwise oerhaps they would not have the opportunity of

meeting . Amongst those who it had been a pleesure to meet on that occasion were Bros . Kilmark , Weltord , Stephens , C . Walker , and , not least , their good friend , Bro . Hartley , vvho had paid him the very great compliment of asking him to come and dine vvith the lodge . The pleasure which he had anticipated had been fully borne out , and he thanked the W . M . and the brethren Ior the hearty welcome they had accorded himself and the other visitors .

"The Healthof the Worshipful Master Elect" vvas next proposed , and other toasts followed . A most agreeable evening , vvhich vvas enlivened vvith songs and recitations , was passed .

FARRINGDON WITHOUT LODGE ( No . 1 745 ) . —This civic lodge met at the Viaduct Hotel , Hc ) born , on the 28 th ult . Among those present vvere Bros . JLister , W . M . ; J . Young , P . M ., acting S . W . ; Schultz , J . W . ; H . J . Lardner , P . P . G . O . Surrey , P . M ., Treas . ;