Original Correspondence.

was not written by a disinterested person , but it would have been less open to suspicion had no particluar firm been mentioned . [ VVe do not quite understand what our worthy correspondent means bv the word "declamation . "—En . F " . M . \

To the Editor of the " Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Your correspondent , " A Traveller , " should read Professor Frankland ' s letter in the Times of April 2 SU 1 , if he did his faith in Animal Charcoal Filters would be rudely shaken .

Filters placed inside cisterns , which he so strongly recommends , are mechanically wrong , it being impossible to get at them to clean or repair without first emptying the cistern , and the cistern itself cannot be cleaned out properly so long as the filters remain inside it . On the other hand , filters which are fixed on the main

supply pipe , or under the cistern , can always be got at easily for cleansing or repairs , and that without climbing out on the roofs or getting into the cistern . I have a Silicated Carbon Filter fixed on the main which filters all the water used for drinking and culinary purposes , and which is cleaned out dailv . This is as it should be .

A small and handy pocket filter of the same make has accompanied me over the greater portion of the continent , and I am looking forward to the . end of the month to once more test its powers . I am , dear sir , yours fraternally , A WANDERER .

A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The error in my last review , of " The Mysteries , " whether it arises from bad copy or worse reading on my own part , seems to call for a notice from me . Probably

some of your readers will have " spotted " the typographical blunder , where Bro . Warburton is put for Bishop Warburton ; but I think it well , at any rate , to correct the erratum now . The ingenious typist was probably so full of " Bros ., " had so much Freemasonry on the brain , that he came to the conculsion " Bp . " meant " Bro . " Yours fraternally , THE WRITER OF THE REVIEW . rsi ^^ rtA ^^^^ £ l

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

THE MAGAZINES . The magazines are again before us with much attractiveness and effect . They have almost become a necessity of modern civilization , for , inasmuch as everybody must have a smattering of something , and the " Small-Torcks " rule amongst us in society and out of it just now , that superficial knowledge of men and things , which is acquired by careful serial reading , is not only much in vogue , but

requires constant aliment and sustenance . It was Arnold , if we remember rightly , who called attention to the discursive paths and shallow studies to which magazine reading must pave the way , and we fear that the result has justified his apprehension , the outcome has realized his anticipations . VVe talk about a great deal , sincerely and satisfactorily , of which we know very little , as the French say , " au fond , " and the effect has been sometimes to bring out in vivid and

startling contrast the ignorance of the passing hour and the deeply-rooted knowledge of dead and buried generations . But let us pass on . Magazines arc all but a necessity of the situation , and as they are before us , let us deal with them . "The Century" ( Scribner ' s ) is all but unapproachable among magazines . Whether we have regard to matter or manners , letter-press or illustrations , readability of type , and artistic excellencies , it certainly may be fairly dubbed

Ai . " Among the Thlinkits in Alaska ; " " The Evolution of the American Yacht , " " The Bee Pastures of California , " "The Horse in Motion , " are all most interesting and readable articles . If we do not like , as who can ? " Carlyle in Ireland , "—indeed all this aftermath of Carlyle , unlike to Longfellow , is most unfavourable to him , —we are delighted with "Christmas Wedding Dress , " and " Damming the Sacramento . " The portraits of R . W . Emerson , and H . D . Thoreau are very striking indeed . " Brie a Brae " is very

amusing . " All the Year Round has a new tale by Anthony 'Trollope , which begins sensationally . The monthly part contains , as usual , some most admirable reading , though we think we detect a little falling off from its wonted higher level . We can specially commend " A Speculative Spirit , " " Four Bad Moments" and" Popular Astronomy . " " 'Temple Bar " has a good deal of interest and force this

month . "A Ball Room Repentance" seems hastening to a satisfactory denouement after all . " Wild Jack " seems to portend the weird and startling , but it may all work round . Wagner is a remarkable article , " De omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis , " and with the slightest "soupcon " of Wagner himself possible . " The Masonic Monthl y " is an old friend in a new dress , and is , wc venture to think , very much improved by the

metamorphosis . It contains some interesting articles by Bros . Hughan , Gould , Rylands , Speth , Sanderson , and the Editor , and will repay patronage and reward perusal . Here in these columns we cannot well say more about it than simply call attention to the fact . " Le Monde Maconnique for June . " This is a very able

number of a well-edited French Masonic magazine , but though much which its pages contain we cannot , of course , conscientiously agree with , we fully recognize the ability and conscientiousness of our esteemed confrere , A Grimaux . "Thc Antiquary" has some readable and valuable articles , though we do not profess to agree with Mr . Lewis as to parochial registers , on many grounds .

Reviews.

" The Bibligrapher" contains a very lucid and interesting account of the Bechford Library , and we can especially praise the communications anent " Martin Lister ' s Edition of Apicius , " " Ballad Illustrations , " and the " Woodcutters of the Netherlands . " VVe confess we feel no interest whatever in the '" Sham Book Door" communications . VVitty the names , may be , but utterly umesthcticand unreal is any such arrangement .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

19 ] MAGISTER DE LAPIDIBUS VIVIS . This is a new name which Batissier , in his most valuable " Elements d'Archeologie , " Paris , 1 S 43 , tells us was given in the Middle Ages to the chief or principal artist of aeonfraternity , master of "living stones , " " pierres vivantes . " Batissier also tells its that the same person was simply termed " Magister Lapidum , " and refers on both these points to some statutes of the Corporation of Sculptors in

the twelfth century quoted by a certain " 1-ather Delia Valle , " who is probably the same person who wrote , in 1791 , "Storiadel Duomo d'Orvieto , " published at Rome . Can any one help me to this reference , which is said to be found in the " Lettere Sanese " of Father Della Valle ? Is it possible that our words " free stone " correspond to the " pierres vivantes , " the "lapidibus vivis" of these ancient operative corporations , or what is living stone ? MASONIC STUDENT .

20 ] THE MASONS' COMPANY . Some proceedings before the law courts in respect of this company must interest all Masonic students . In the arguments before the judges , it as averred that the charter was first granted by King Charles the Second on petition . This statement is , I apprehend , altogether erroneous . The incorporation of the company must have been far earlier , as

it is recognized among the minor companies according to the records of the City of London , at a very much earlier date , and the grant of the coat of arms , made by Hawkeslowe , confirmed by Benolt , and re-confirmed by St . George in King Charles H . ' s reign , would point to much earlier incorporation , as , I apprehend , the Herald ' s College would grant no coat of arms to a company unless

incorporated by Royal Charter . Thc granting of coats of arms to companies was basedon the Royal Charter , as the original grantof arms was only made either to those who bore arms from descent , who obtained them from a manor , or who had been placed in the position of " generosus nobilis" by Royal favour , and for public and distinguished services . The Masons' Company seems almost to have fallen into

desuetude , and possesses " ut dicitur few documents or records . It has been always assumed that many of the archives were destroyed in the Fireof London , and Hawkestowe ' s original grant of arms isamong the Additional MSS . in the British Museum , as it appeared in the " Masonic Magazine " some time back . 1 should like to know , if it were possible , what documents , if any , the Masons' Company possesses . ANTKJUARIUS .

21 ] A CURIOUS PAMPHLET . 1 may call atttention to a pamphlet , published by B . Lintot and E . Curl ! , in 1714 , which deals with the Rosicrucians , in the " Diverting History of the Count de

Gabalis , " and which is a translation from a French work , by an Abbe de Villars , in 17 G 0 , which was written to ridicule the Fraternity of the Rose Croix and the German Fraters . Space is limited here , and I propose that a fuller account of this pamphlet shall appear in the " Masonic Monthly " for August . MASONIC BOOKWORM .

22 j THE FREEMASONS' ARMS , & c . Respecting No . iS , "Notes and Queries , " my reason for speaking of the " supporters" ( Heavers ) of the Arms of the Operative Masons of "thc last century , " was because the only authority I know of to favour that statement is Bro . Dermott , to whom Bro . VV . H . Rylands alludes . It is well worth while to test his assertion , for as a

matter of fact he is not a sure guide to follow ; only one would fancy he had some data to guide him in furnishing such arms , with " supporters . " 1 am not aware of any " supporters , " ( "Beavers" or aught else ) , before 17 G 4 , in any work . Of late years , the arms of the Grand Lodge

of Scotland have as " supporters , " two Unicorns . The curious point is that in their own authorised Calendars of 1 S 52 and 1 S 53 they were a Unicorn and a Heaver . The " Moderns " had two Beavers as'ive know , and they are so to he found in the frontispiece to some of tbe Books of Constitutions after 1750 . W . J . HUGHAN .

23 ] MASONIC MEDALS . Is there any truth in the statement that there exists a medal or token of the fifteenth or sixteenth century , which proves that the " Third Degree " was worked at York at that period . What does " Masonic Student" say to this . Is it really a fact , or only a fancy ? MASONIC INVESTIGATOR .

Visit Of Liverpool Gentlemen To America.

VISIT OF LIVERPOOL GENTLEMEN TO AMERICA .

More than usual interest attached to the sailing of the White Star steamer Britannic for New York , owing to the fact that amongst the passengers were several gentlemen who occupy prominent positions in Liverpool . These included Bro . Edward -Saker , lessee of the Royal Alexandra 'Theatre ; Bro . Dennis Grannell , proprietor of the Rotunda

lheatre ; Mr . I ' . W . Wyndham , an actor who bears a good name ; Bro . Dr . j . Kellett Smith , Mr . T . VV . Oakshott , and Mr . J . A . Sinnott . At the Janding-stage there was a large gathering of personal friends to bid good-bye to the voyagers , and the last tender conveyed many of these to the Britannic , which lay at anchor off New

Brighton , lhe Britannic , which left the river in the course of the evening , commanded by Captain Perry , carries about 1 G 0 saloon and upwards of 500 steerage passengers . During their tour the Liverpool gentlemen will visit Niagara and Saratoga , and will return to Liverpool by the same steamer , which is due on the 24 th inst .

Especial Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

ESPECIAL PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

LAYING THE CORNER-STONE OF A NEW HOSPITAL . Last Saturday afternoon , there was a great gathering of Freemasons at Birkenhead , for the purpose of assisting Bro . the Right Hon . Lord de Tabley , R . W . P . G . M . Cheshire , in laying the corner-stone of the VVirral Children's Infirmary . His Lordship was invited some time since to perform the corner stone layinsreeremonv : and with that

willingness and good feeling which have always characterised his lordship , masonically and socially , a ready consent was given to the request . As the head of a province which has done much in the direction of charity , Bro . Lord de Tabley directed that the ceremony should be performed with Masonic honours ; and accordingly , by his command , an especial Provincial Grand Lodsre was summoned to meet on Saturday afternoon at the Music HallClaughton-road

, , Birkenhead . The popularity of his lordship has long been well established , but on this occasion he was greeted with even more than ordinary enthusiasm , and by a larger number of brethren than on any previous similar occasion , there being also a large contingent of representatives from West Lancashire , over which Bro . the Earl of Lathom , Dep . Grar . d Master of England , holds Masonic sway as Prov . Grand Master .

lhe arrangements for Saturday's "Especial , " whicli were of . an eminently complete and highly satisfactory nature , were carried out with most admirable tact by Bro . Herbert Finch , the indefatigable P . G . D . of C . Shortly before three o'clock , the R . W . P . G . M . ( Bro . Lord de Tabley ) entered the large room of the Music Hall , where he was greeted with much cordiality by a gathering which numbered about 400 brethren , many of whom were Present

or Past Oflicers of Grand Lodge and Prov . Grand Lodge . His lordship ' s chief supporters were Bros , the Right Hon . Wilbraham Egerton , M . P ., R . W . P . G . M . ; H . S . Alpass , J . P ., G . Std . Br ., P . G . Sec . W . Lane ; R . VVood , P . P ! u . J . W . ; H . Finch , P . G . D . C ; J . Hibbert , P . G . R . ; T . Clark , P . G . S . of W . VV . Lane . ; R . Washington , P . G . S . D . VV . Lane ; J . Banning , P . G . O . Cumberland and Westmorland ; J . Siddeley , P . G . A . D . C . ; H . A . Tobias .

F . G . S . of W . VV . Lane ; Rev . } . Cuming Macdonna , P . P . G . C ; Rev . R . Hodgson , P . G . C ; C Dutton , P . P ! G . S . W . ; T . Chesworth , P . P . G . D . C . ; J . Bratton P . P . G . S . ofW . ; H . Collier , P . G . O . ; J . Beech , P . P . G . P . ; H . Holbrook , P . P . G . S . of XV . ; J . K . Digges , P . P . G . A . D . C ; J . VVood , P . P . G . W . ; H . Bulley , KG . S . B . Eng . ; T . Simcock , P . P . G . S . B . ; . J . Hordem , P . G . S . ; I . Sillitoe , P . P . G . J . D . ; T . E . Tomlinson , P . P . G . S . of VV . ; E .

H . Grifliths , P . G . Sec . ; VV . Horner , P . P . G . S . W . ; VV . S . Sutton , P . P . G . O . ; F . fackson , P . G . Treas . ; T . Lockett , P . G . S . D . ; A . Cockayne , P . P . G . S . B . ; 1 . P . Piatt , P . P . G . J . W . ; W . Nicholls , P . P . G . P . ; T . M . Lockwood , P . P . G . S . of VV . ; E . Friend , P . P . G . J . D . ; E . Pierrepoint , P . P . G . D . ; H . Crosby , P . G . D . VV . Lane ; and H . Jackson , P . P . G . P . Among the chief representatives of lodges present were Bros . H . Firth , P . M . 667 ; XV .

Booth , W . M . 104 ; F . Preston , J . W . 104 ; G . Balfe , Treas . 104 ; W . Marquis , I . P . M . 537 ; A . E . Coveney , LP . AL 605 ; H . Matthews , P . M . 1276 ; W . Bayliss , W . M . 10 SS ; S . Wylde , VV . M . 1403 VV . Lane ; Thomas Shaw , P . M . 477 ; VV . C . Fleming , VV . M . 322 ; C . S . Dean , S . VV . 12 S 9 ; W . E . Clayton , 1576 ; J . Jones , P . M . 1576 ; C . J . Clover , 537 ; VV . Jones , P . P . G . S . ; S . hikins , P . M . 1570 VV . Lane ; W . Price , P . M . 1276 ; T .

H . Kirk , P . P . G . O . ; S . Marwood , J . VV . 7 S S ; T . G . Parker , I . P . M . 1276 ; John Atkinson , W . M . 1609 VV . Lane ; Joseph VVood , 477 ; and others . After the especial Prov . Grand Lodge had been opened in due form , the rolls of Prov . G . Officers and lodges were read by the Prov . G . Sec . ( Bro . E . H . Grifliths ) . A very large proportion of lodges on the roll were represented on the occasion , several of those in the neighbourhood having

as many as twenty and thirty officers and members present . Bro . W . C . Fleming , VV . M . of the Lodge of Peace , Stockport , was invested as the hon . Prov . G . Tyler . The P . G . M . said it gave him extreme pleasure to be present that day for the purpose of laying the cornerstone of the VVirral Children ' s Hospital . VVhen he received the invitation to attend , he accepted the invitation most readily , and he must express his sincere thanks for

the very large and influential attendance that day , which showed that the brethren of that province had the true principles of Masonry at heart . His lordship concluded by detailing thc order of the day's proceedings . A procession was then formed under the direction of Bro . H . Finch , P . G . D . C , and its progress from the musichall along Oxton-road to the scene of the ceremony was witnessed by crowds of the public who lined the route .

VVhen the head of the procession arrived at the site of the intended structure , the brethren divided to the right and left , facing inwards , forming an avenue through which the Prov . G . M . passed , preceded by thc Heralds , the Standard Bearer , and the Prov . G . Sword Bearer , and followed by a P . M . bearing the Ionic Light . The Grand Oflicers of England , the D . P . G . M ., and the Prov . G . Officers and brethren followed in succession from the rear , so

as to invert the order of procession . The arrival of the Prov . G . M . at the site was announced by a flourish of trumpets , and the officiating brethren took up the position in the east , west , north , and south assigned to them by the Prov . G . D . of C and his Assistant , and deposited thc vessels , & c , borne in the procession on pedestals placed for their reception . The interesting and impressive ceremony attracted a

crowded concourse to the site of the hospital in Woodchurchroad . A brilliant assemblage of ladies and gentlemen watched the proceedings from a commodious grand stand which had been erected for their accommodation , and ample facilities for viewing the ceremonial were afforded to the general public . The Prov . G . M . took his position , with his principal officers , on a raised dais at the east end of the enclosure , the officers and brethren forming in a square . A line body of the ist Cheshire Engineers , under the comof

mand of Lieut .-Col . Walker , was drawn up as a guard honour . Amongst those within the enclosure , besides thc members of the Grand Lodge , were the Mayor of Birkenhead ( Mr . William Laird ) , Alderman Roper , Alderman Crowe , Alderman Mills , the Rev . Canon Kobson , the Rev . Canon Saumarez Smith , the Rev . R . F . Smithwick ( vicar of Seaforth and chaplain to Lord de Tabley ) , the Rev . VV . Binns , thc Rev . P . R . Robin , Dr . Braidwood , Councillor Williams , Messrs . T . IT . Ismay , James Bcazley , John Laird , E . Bevan , A . Bleakley , T . G . Carver , . } . K . Shaw ,