Bro. Bain's Masonic Library.

BRO . BAIN'S MASONIC LIBRARY .

Bro . G . W . Bain , of Sunderland , has compiled and published a catalogue of his " Masonic Books , Engravings , Medals , Jewels , Curios , and Certificates , " and I hope the example thus set will soon be followed by other brethren in this country . The cost is heavy to produce such a handsome looking pamphlet of some 40 pages , but there is no need for other collectors to present all the copies to friends and Masonic students , as Bro . Bain has

so generously done . Two hundred copies would soon be subscribed for if the compilation were at all equal to the one under consideration , and the increase of such publications would go far to interest many , who at present have not been drawn into the excitement of fraternal contests for rarities , as well as inform us all as to the locality and character of other Masonic Libraries in England .

About 1000 different articles are enumerated in this carefully prepared catalogue , the collection being select rather than numerous , but of considerable value and importance . Mere numbers do not indicate the real value of a library , and it has evidently been Bro . Bain's desire to acquire works of utility , rarity , and beauty ( the condition generally being exceptionally fine ) , in preference to amassing an omnium gatherum , that would have

nothing to recommend it but the number of tomes and the size of the collection . In future years my friend speaks of attempting a catalogue of a more ambitious character , and meanwhile asks for forbearance in respect to the " many defects" of the present compilation . As to the former , we shall all be glad to know there are still greater pleasures in store for us , but meanwhile we have nothing but praise for the present effort , and fail to recognise the defects about which the preface speaks . The descriptions are

brief , and necessarily so , but I feel assured that all competent judges will agree with me in stating that Bro . Bain has realised their most sanguine expectations in the preparation of this interesting catalogue , and his success has been such as to justify him ere long in publishing a comprehensive bibliography of his valuable collection . He has done wonders in the five years he has been a Masonic collector , and though there are still many books lacking , those he has obtained are of considerable importance , and not a few of excessive rarity .

To make a selection from so many works of value is not an easy task . A few , however , of the sets stand out prominently , and almost speak for themselves . The Books of Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England are virtually complete from 1723 to 1888 , the only apparent break being the 1738 or second edition , but that is substantially represented by the 1 746 issue , which is precisely the same , save having a new title , and , of course ,

there is also the facsimile reproduction brought out by the Quatuor Coronati Lodge . There are two of 1723 , one being an old lodge copy ; three of 1767 , one having the very rare appendix of 1776 j two of 1784 , one having the cancelled leaf , as well as the corrected leaves ( two ) ; 22 editions in all , besides the unrecognised octavo issue of 1769 , which was once the property of an old Scottish lodge . Our dear and lamented Bro . Whyiriper , CLE .,

rejoiced in a complete set , so does Bros . William Watson , John E . Le Feuvre , and a few other Craftsmen . " Ahiman Rezons , " or the Laws of the " Ancient" Grand Lodge , are all present , but the scarce edition of 1787 , which ( as Bro . William Watson states in the excellent catalogue of his remarkable library , where it is domiciled ) is " exceedingly rare , existence even doubted . " The Irish

Constitutions are also well represented , beginning with the first edition of 1730 , and then comes Bro . Spratt's of 175 1 , with several "Ahiman Rezons " of later date , but rarely met with . Scotland has not been lost sight of , the first and second separate issues being in the collection , as well as the magnificent "large paper " edition of the 1848 , of which only 250 were printed , being one of the most elegant volumes ever brought out in connection with the

Craft . The French reprint of 1736 , the 1798 issue of Massachusetts , and some valuable editions of New York , Rhode Island , & c , being also noteworthy purchases . One of the chief attractions is the sumptuous copy of Cole ' s engraved " Constitutions " of A . D . 1728-9 . The second edition is also by its side , and the third of 1751 . Only the 1762 is lacking to complete the quartette , which can be seen in the Worcestershire Masonic Library , so ably built up

by Bro . George Taylor , of Kidderminster . Another grand quartette is Bro . Bain's series of the " Blue Blanket . " All are known to me , but the one of 1756 , which has generally been overlooked from the fact that the actual third edition of J 780 is termed the " second . " The collection is weak in calendars , but exceedingly strong in lodge histories , catalogues of Masonic works , and pocket companions . The latter is quite a feature of the library , and one rarely equalled .

There are 14 editions of " Jachin and Boaz , " and a wonderful lot of Rosicrucian and Occult works , which must have been very expensive to procure , unless the owner knows of some p lan of procedure to which the rest of us mortals are strangers . Royal Arch Regulations are well cared for as respects this century , or rather since the " Union , " but those previously are absent . The Knights Templars have many lines to include all their

productions preserved , and modem authors are fairly looked after and duly catalogued . Many will have to be added of late issues , but that can be done with little difficulty . The engravings are of a choice description , but I dare not stop to particularise , and so also the jewels , those of the "Argyle" Lodge , No . 76 , Glasgow , in a case , complete , over a century old , being the most valuable . There are 35 medals ( mostly in Bro . Marvin ' s work ) , several of the

pieces being of excessive rarity , and well worthy of being described . The " Bric-a-Brac " cannot fail to be specially considered in a more extended notice , particularly the furniture ( in part ) , clothing , and warrant of the extinct Scottish lodge already mentioned , and the York curios . The certificates make one of Bro . Bain ' s strongholds , and as he has fortunately secured the aid of Bro . J . Ramsden Riley ( one of the best

authorities on that subject ) , who has ably described these scarce and important documents , no more need be said on that point . The lew notes of mine in the catalogue were simple memos , sent to my friend as I returned proof sheets . As a matter of fact , it is but fair to state that the compilation is his own from beginning to end , as respects arrangement , titles , and descriptions , the credit being his only , and the thanks , therefore , should be bestowed wholely and solely on Bro . Bain . W . J . HUGHAN .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall when there was a very much larger attendance of the companions than usual . In the absence of the Prince of Wales , the Earl of Lathom , the

Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , and Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., the three Principals' chairs were occupied by Comps . the Rev . H . Adair Pickard , M . A . Grand Supt . of Oxford ; the Earl of Euston , Grand Supt . Northants and Hunts ; and Col . Noel Money , C . B ., Grand Supt . Surrey .

Grand Chapter having been formally opened , Comp . LETCHWORTH G . S . E ., read the minutes of the February convocation , which were duly put and confirmed . The ACTING GRAND Z . said it was now his pleasing duty to announce

to the companions that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , by virtue of his office as M . W . G . M . was the Grand First Principal of this Grand Chapter and he had appointed the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom as Pro Grand Z ., the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , G . H ., and Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., G . J . The appointments would , therefore , be as follows :

Comp . the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B . ... ... Pro G . Z . ,, the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ... ... G . H . „ W . W . B . Beach , M . P . ... ... G . J . ,, Edward Letchworth ... ... ... G . S . E . „ Rt . Hon . A . Akers Douglas , M . P . ... G . S . N . „ Robert Grey ... ... ... Pres . C . G . P . ,, S . Cochrane ... ... ... G . Treas . „ F . A . Philbrick , Q . C . ... ... G . Reg . „ L . G . Gordon Robbins ... ... Dep . G . Reg . „ Rev . F . W . Macdonald ... ... P . G . S . „ W . E . Brymer , M . P .... ... ... ist A . G . S . „ R . V . Vassar-Smith ... ... ... 2 nd A . G . S . „ Clement Godson , M . D . ... ... G . S . B . „ Philip H . Waterlow ... ... ... Deputy G . S . B . „ S . G . Kirchhoffer ... ... ... ist G . Std . Br . „ Major G . C . Davie ... ... ... 2 nd G . Std . Br . „ Hugh Mackintosh , M . D . ... ... 3 rd G . Std . Br . „ J . Lloyd Griffith ... ... ... 4 th G . Std . Br . „ W . H . Marsden ... ... ... 5 th G . Std . Br . „ Horatio Ward ... ... ... 6 th G . Std . Br . „ Frank Richardson , P . A . G . Soj .... ... G . D . C . „ A . C . Spaull ... ... ... D . G . D . C . „ Robert Willoughby ... ... ... 1 st A . G . D . C . „ C . A . Cottebrune ... ... ... 2 nd A . G . D . C . „ Samuel Vallentine ... ... ... 3 rd A . G . D . C . „ Samuel V . Abraham ... ... ... 4 th A . G . D . C . „ John Read ... ... ... G . Org . „ A . A . Pendlebury ... ... ... A . G . S . E . ,, H . Sadler ... ... ... G . Janitor .

After the above companions had been invested , The ACTING GRAND Z . said the M . E . the First Principal had appointed on the Committee of General Purposes the Grand Principals and Comps . Robert Grey , President ; F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Reg . ; and Sir George D . Harris . Comps . T . C . Walls , J . S . Cumberland , Hy . Garrod ,

W . A . Scurrah , Lennox Browne , George E . Fairchild , and M . Slaughter were then nominated for election as the other members , but as only six were to be elected Comp . Lennox Browne said to save an election he would withdraw as the seventh nominated candidate , and thereupon the Acting M . E . Z . declared the other nominees duly elected .

The following report of the Committee of General Purposes was then taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes , on the motion of Comp . Sir G . D . HARRIS , seconded by Comp . FRANK RICHARDSON .

THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 18 th January , to the 18 th April , 1893 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows ;

To Balance , Grand Chapter £ 237 16 By Disbursements during the „ „ Unappropriated Quarter £ 300 8 S Account 212 17 4 „ Balance 472 11 0 „ Subsequent Receipts .. 491 16 8 ,, ,, Unappropriated Account 1 S 8 IS 10

£ 9 61 15 6 £ 9 61 15 6 which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : ist . From Comps . Thomas Aitken , as Z . ; John Joseph Black , as H . ;

Thomas B . B . Baverstock , as J . ; and 15 others for a chapter to be attached to the Royal Alfred Lodge , No . 777 , Guildtord , to be called the Royal Alfred Chapter , and to meet at the Angel Hotel , Guildford , in the county of Surrey . 2 nd . From Comps . the Right Hon . Charles Spencer Canning Viscount

Dungarvan , Prov . Grand Master for Somersetshire , as Z . j A . Duckett , Past Prov . Grand Scribe N ., as H . ; Alfred George Hayman , as J . ; and 10 others for a chapter to be attached to the Royal Somerset Lodge , No . 973 , Frome , to be called the Dungarvan Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Frome , Somersetshire .

3 rd . From Comps . Williams Cocks , as Z . ; John William Dewsnap , as H . ; Philip George Philps , as J . ; and eight others for a chapter to be attached to the Rye Lodge , No . 2272 , Peckham , to be called the lty e Chapter , and to meet at the Peckham Public Hall , Rye-lane , Peckhaiiii near London .

4 th . From Comps . George William Dixon , as Z . ; George Cook Burry , as H . ; Kenneth Ronald Montgomery , as J . ; and seven others forachapter to be attached to the Lome Lodge , No . 1347 , Sutton , to be called the Lorne

Chapter , and to meet at the Greyhound Hotel , Sutton , in the county o Surrey . .. , 5 th . From Comps . Joseph Pollard , as Z . ; Henry Robert Rose , as * ' * - ' Joseph William Young Harrison Lavies , as J . ; and six others for a PvL to be attached to the Earl of Mornington Lodge , No . 2000 , London , to D