Provincial Grand Chapter Of East Lancashire.

over the province , always combining strict discipline with the greatest courtesy , affability and kindness . The toast was received with prolonged applause . Col . STARKIE , who on rising to reply was loudly applauded , expressed his thanks to Comp . Brockbank for the very kind way in which he had

spoken of Viim , as well as to the companions for the cordial reception they had accorded to the toast . Whenever he ( Col . Starkie ) fixed upon Bolton as a place of meeting he always felt sure of having everything carried out in the best manner possible . He referred to the recent visit of the Grand

Officers to that town , and spoke ot the great delight they had experienced from that visit , especially in being present at such an unique ceremony as the celebration of the 150 th anniversary of the Anchor and Hope Lodge , who had proved beyond all dispute their title to be regarded as the senior lodge in England .

Comp . E . ASHWORTH , P . P . G . S . N ., proposed the toast of " The P . G . H ., Comp . Royds ; the P . G . J ., Comp . Sillitoe ; and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He regrstted that Comp . Royds had been

compelled to leave them to catch a train ; but they had Comp . Sillitoe with them , as well as several other esteemed officers . Comp . Ashworth spoke in high terms of the work done by Comp . Sillitoe , and coupled his name with the toast , to which the latter companion suitably replied .

The next toast on the list was " Success to the Bolton Chapters ; but before proposing it the M . E . G . SUPERINTENDENT asked those present to drink in solemn silence to the memory of one who had for many years laboured in Bolton in the cause of Masonry , and who at his death was M . E . Z . of the

senior chapter there , No . 37 ( which office he had before filled on several occasions ) . He referred to the great loss the whole province had sustained by the lamented death of their excellent and highly esteemed Comp . Thos . Entwislc , P . P . G . S . N .

The companions , with evident feelings of sorrow , complied with the wish of the M . E . Grand Superintendent , after which the toast list was completed as follows : " The Masonic Charities " and " To all Poor and Distressed Royal Arch Masons . "

During the evening a glee party under the direction of Comp . Dr . J . M . Bentley sung some glees and songs , which were so admirably rendered as to cause a special vote of thanks to be given to the worthy doctor and his able assistants .

Review.

REVIEW .

THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY , Vol . II . Bro . R . F . GOULD , P . G . D . First Nolice . The anticipations of those who had the privilege of reading the firs * volume of this very remarkable work have not been disappointed . If Bro . Gould raised the admiration and earned thegratitude of all Masonic students

everywhere , of all lands , in all jurisdictions , by his carefully prepared and scientifically executed first volume , this second volume will neither detract from his reputation , nor belie the prognostications of his many readers and admirers . As a contribution towards Masonic History , real , valuable , and lasting , we believe it to be without its like in the history of similar literature

or the " output of the historians of our Order . Whether we agree or not with all Bro . Gould's conclusions , ( though with most we probably shall agree ) , matters nothing ; we must all alike be impressed with the clearness and force of an unpretentious style of writing , by the extent of his researches

the admirable marshalling of his authorities , and above all by the evident truth , honesty , and fairness which characterize equally his zealous endeavours to ascertain thc facts of the case , his mode of stating them when ascertained , and above all the tone of critical and historic impartiality which seems to set a seal , so to say , on his work from the first to the last page .

In this second volume Bro . Gould treats upon the following important subjects in six chapters , " Mcdkeva ! Operative Masonry , " "The Statutes relating to the Freemasons , " " Early British Freemasonry , Scotland , " " Masons Marks , " "The Quatuor Coronati , " "Apocryphal Manuscripts , " all most important items in a Masonic history . It is said that all

writers have their favourite works , their pet chapters , which do not always commend themselves to the same taste of the critic , or the idea of the reader . We do not know on which of these chapters Bro . Gould has expended the most time , thought , and labour , or in respect of which he is the most contended with himself . But according to my view of the

subject , the two chapters on the "Statutes relating to the Freemasons , " and the "Quatuor Coronati " are two of the most remarkable and lucid chapters in a Masonic work which I have ever perused . Not that the remaining four chapters are without their great merit or relative importance , far from it ; but

the two chapters which have just been mentioned seem to trie to stand out from among the others , as deserving alike the most careful perusal and the most grateful acknowledgement from Masonic students everywhere . Bro . Gould in the chapter ancnt the statutes has explained what was dubious , and made clearer what was clear .

He has at last given us an authentic narrative of what hasty writers and ideologists have confused and blurred over , by mistaken induction , or incorrect explanation . One point stands out clear and convincing from the known and overlooked statutes which Bro . Gould so forcibly comments upon and elucidates , namely , thc secret organization

of the Freemasons in inedheval times , and the existence of a system alike to our own to-day , which bound its members by obligatory and hidden ties . What , however , was the exacl relationship of these old " congregations " and "chapiters " to our Speculative Freemasons I do not prctent to say , but that there was some , I venture to think there is little reason to doubt . That the Speculative English Freemasonry of the seventeenth and

Review.

eighteenth centuries took a " new departure , " invented a new terminology , adapted an old symbolism to novel and modern requirements I do not affect to question or deny , but the truth of Masonic history , and the reality of Masonic continuation demand the admission of this sterner fact , unpalatable as I know it is to some , that we must look for the earlier beginning in one channel at any rate of our later Masonic developements in the rude forefathers of our Operative and yet mystic Craft . I do not ,

and never have agreed with Mr . Papworth ' s derivation of Freemason from " Free Stone , " " Fraunche Pierre , " & c ' ., whether in a mechanical or geological sense , and am glad to note that Bro . Gould will no doubt apparently later on give us a more correct derivation of Freemason , alike from a Craft and philological point of view . The use of " Frank-Mason " in 1 444 requires notice and attention . I cannot quite agree , however , with Bro . Gould in his theory that "chapter " answers in any way to or corresponds with the expression " conventicle . "

"Chapiter" comes as clearly as words can tell us from " chapitre , " N . F ., and " conventicle" from " conventiculum , " or " conventicula , " a word apparently of ecclesiastical use originally alone . The idea of the two words appear to me not to be the same , for one represented the legal , if select old chapitral body , as the chapter of a convent or a gild ; the other the surreptitious association of an illicit body , though equally based ,

curiously enough , on an illustration of Convent existence . Even in the enactment , quoted by Bro . Gould , in Henry VIII . 's time the word , I think , refers to a religious meeting . But on all these and other points we still must , it appears to me , speak hesitatingly . When the remaining gild returns of Richard II . and the " Pipe Rolls " are carefully edited we shall know , and not until then , what was the real bearing of gild life on free bodies , like

those of Masonic " chapitres , " and congregations and assemblies , and how far , in accordance with the glimpses in the York Fabric Rolls , the " lodges ' of Freemasons attached to Convents and the like had customs , franchises , secrets , and symbolical teachings of their own . The chapter on the " Quatuor Coronati" is a most remarkable one , and for the first time Freemasons are

able to realize the bearing of this very ancient and wonderful legend on the history of Masonic life and the mystical teaching of the Craft . Bro . Gould settles " inter alia" one or two points in his exhaustive treatment of the legend . He disposes for ever of the Germanic theory , which , as I have often ventured to point out , the Sarum Missal by itself does , and proves to be untenable .

He brings out the intense antiquity of the legend itself , as well as its early use in Masonic evidences . Curiously enough the legend , as Bro . Gould has said , is only found in the " Masonic Poem , " and is not alluded to in any of the later Constitutions , a fact deserving both thought and notice , explain it as you will . We invite the attention ol our readers , one and all , to this specific chapter as opening out a mine of thought and study to the Masonic student and expert , as well as to the whole volume . And here

reluctantly we stop to day . We shall ere long revert to this most valuable work , and will only add that it deserves the support and perusal of every educated and enlightened Anglo-Saxon Freemason , as an honourable and commendable effort , to apply the unfailing " canons" of truth and experience , of science and criticism , to that medley of hopeless anachronisms , unreliable asserlions , and confused ideas , which is too often accepted by some as the "beau ideal " of Masonic History . MASONIC STUDENT .

The Crown Prince Of Germany And Freemasonry.

THE CROWN PRINCE OF GERMANY AND FREEMASONRY .

At the inauguration of the new building of the Royal York of Friendship Lodge in Berlin , on the 20 th of January , the German Crown Prince made two speeches , the authentic text of which has now been published . H . R . and Imperial HIGHNESS , proposing "The Health of the Emperor , " said My brethren , our glass is devoted to the most august Protector . It is with

deep emotion that I see myself to-day surrounded not only by the Grand Masters of all the German lodges , but also by brethren who , from all races and all the countries of Germany , have come hither to be present at the consecration of this house . It is truly sublime to be reminded in the festive assembly thus composed of the illustrious Emperor whose care we were

wont to see watch over Freemasonry for many decades . What our Craft owes to him is recorded in the history of Masonry ; what he gives Germany and the united Fatherland gives to him that has been engraven upon the iron tablets of the history of the world . Then it behoves us to remember the shout of joy of the poet which was raised 10 years ago :

" Hail ' . all hail ' , that is the flap of the eagle ' s wing ot the KyfthvVvsser ; That is the thunder of victory . The Emperor has arisen ! " To-day , however , we look upon a future of rest and peace , which he has given us , and which God may vouchsafe also to grant henceforth to the world and Freemasonry .

Grand Master HERRING having proposed "The Health of the Crown Prince " in a speech of great eloquence , and the toast having been received with enthusiasm by the assembled Masons , the Crown Prince replied : " I thank you my brethren , for the manner in which you have to-day received me and I gladly repeat here once more my high satisfaction to

have been with you as witness of this glorious solemnity of the consecration of this house . You know that I devote my strength readily to the noble aims of Freemasonry and that I shall not waver in this so long as the Craft remains true to its principles . Within the now more than 21 years however , which have elapsed since I entered your ranks as one unskilled in Masonry ,

I have come to the conviction that while the time in which we live demands light and enlightment , Freemasonry should not debar itself against such aspirations . Masons dare not rest . in researches and examinations . We must not adhere to tradition , even if it has become dear to us , because we have received it as tradition , because ; wc have from habit become one with it .

With us also thc motto is ' no standing still , " but progress In the con . fident hope that such fresh Freemasonic life is in store for our epoch , I to-day came among you . Let us unite ever closer and closer for its furtherance , and let us join hands to uphold the beautiful union . In this spirit I drink to the health of the Lodge * Royal York , called of Friendship . '"