Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

THE ASHTON DISTRICT MARK LODGE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , There is much in Bro . Foreman's letter upon which , with your per mission , I may be able to throw additional light .

I was made a Mark Master in this Travelling Lodge , " or "Cheshire Mark Lodge , " as it was then designated , on Sunday , 15 July , 1855 , at the meeting place , and under the warrant of the Lodge of Loyalty , No . 402 , Mottram , this form of meeting , there is no doubt , being a survival of the older custom of the Craft lodges conferring various other Degrees under their warrants . At this time there was a small subscription , constituting an optional membership , which went to form a Sick and Burial Fund for its members . A tea was also provided for those who chose to attend .

My Masonic instructor in the lectures of the Craft was one of the older Past Masters of this Mark Lodge , and he informed me that its founder was a noncommissioned officer who had served in India , who had received the Degree or Degrees—for it went originally under the designation of Mark , Link , and Arkand settling in Ashton , had combined with other members in developing the system then in vogue some 35 or 40 years previously . Hence , the lodge has an

uninterrupted and prosperous career of some So to 85 years . I am not aware that in these years the participation of the Craft lodge amounted to more than this , that the members allowed the use of their rooms and furniture , a permission with which , I take it , Grand Lodge has no right to interfere . As to the desirability of Sunday meetings , it is a matter of opinion , on which the less that is said the better .

When I was advanced to the Degree by Bro . Edward Bell , of Dukinfield , the ceremony differed very little from that of Lord Leigh ' s Grand Lodge , which had not then adopted the formal Overseer ' s ceremony . At a revision a short time previously to 1855 the Ark had been dispensed with , but was afterwards given to a few of us by an older Past Master .

In 1858 I arranged with half a dozen other members to join me in the establishment of a lodge , Fidelity , 31 , under Lord Leigh ' s Grand Lodge . My certificate was sent up to Bro . Alex . Ridgway and never returned , but a new one was granted , in similar terms to that which Bro . Foreman prints in your pages . With the exception of myself , who had not joined , all the seven original members continued subscribing members of the older body , which had a very numerous membership .

The officers of Fidelity , No . 31 , were installed by the Craft Instructor and old Past Master of the Mark lodge , to whom I have more than once alluded , on the Sth September , 185 S . I cannot be supposed to have any particularly grateful feeling for the old body , inasmuch as I could produce the names of some score of members who were proposed for the new body , at various times , and " nobbled " by the older one . Spiteful remarks were sometimes reported such as this , that the members we were receiving would sometime be glad of their benefit fund .

I often advocated , at this time , that the older body should split up into district lodges , as branches of . Lord Leigh ' s Grand Lodge , whilst continuing their benefit fund under a committee . Had this been done , both Cheshire and Lancashire would have developed Mark Masonry very rapidly . I have , however , said enough to show , with Bro . Foreman , that the

designation of " spurious and clandestine , " as applied to this old Mark lodge , is altogether uncalled for ; as a lodge it is as regular as any lodge under thc London Constitution . But as a Grand Lodge , or even as a Provincial Grand Lodge , it must be held to come under the opprobius designation . As a first step to conciliation I would suggest to Bro . Foreman that he shoold advocate the discontinuance of the high sounding title and return to the ancient style .

Whilst writing on this subject , there is a matter I should like to advertise the loss of in your pages . The attendance book , and Mark book of Fidelity , 31 , are missing , and probably in the hands of some brother or his family at Hyde . I should be glad to hear that they had been restored to the lodge , which now meets at Birkenhead . —Fraternally yours , JOHN YARKER , P . M , 31 , and Honorary Member .

THE TYLER . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Your article upon the subject of " Tylers " is one of thc most interesting I have read , as it so clearly sets forth the true position of that indispensable olliccr . It was brought forcibly home to me when visiting a lodge a short time since , for , arriving late , I had to spend a quarter of an hour outside the portals with the Tyler .

He was a man between 50 and 60 years of age , quiet , gentle , but firm withal , in his demeanour . He was a P . M ., and I think , by the jewel he wore on his collar , a Past Principal in " R . A . " My conversation with him clearly told me he was a gentleman , and had seen better days . I need not say my good impressions of this lodge were considerably augmented by the personality of this Tyler .

Every brother had a pat on the back and a kindly word as he passed . Your letter has brought all this to my mind , and I do hope that the result of it will be that only brethren who are Past Masters and have passed the meridian , and can show a record of good Masonic work , will in future be appointed to the office of Tyler . R . S ., 240 S .

THE TERM "COWAN . " To tne Editor ot the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In an article in your issue of 2 C : h August last is given . 1 definition of a " Cowan . " He is described as " an eavesdropper , a person who surreptitiously tries to gain information to which he is not entitled , in other words , a secret intruder , as contrasted with the open intruder , who can be repelled by a drawn sword . "

Letting that pass , thc writer goes on : " The word has been derived from thc Greek KUtoi ' , and with more probability from Clioitnii , a term used to describe a cutiin class of rebel during the first empire . " Many opinions have been expressed as to the derivation of the word " Cowan" but the suggestion lhat it comes from tie French Chniinii is just a litt ! e startling .

The Chouans , moreovir , were no rebels , but true men , who stood by monarchy in France , and fought to the death against the sansculottes in the cruel war of La Vendee . These indomitable Bretons , led in the first instance by a peasant named Jean Cottereau , who was slain in 1794 , were known as " Chouans , "

Correspondence.

from the fact th at their signal cry in this bitter guerilla conflict was that of the screech owl— " Cliatlitiant . " The " probability " of there being any connection or association between the terms " Cowan " and " Chouan " is not , therefore , too evident . It may also be worthy of remark that the war of La Vendue commenced in 1792 , was terminated by General Hoche in 1 796 , and that up to that time there was not even a Consulate , not to name an Empire . —I am , faithfully yours ,

JOSEPH MATTHEWMAN Leeds , September Sth .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1139 ] — ASHTON DISTRICT MARK LODGE . I have been much interested in reading the communication from Bro . T . D . Foreman relating to the " Ashton District Mark Lodge and the Grand Lodge of M . M . M . of England , " and can assure him that nothing but the union of the former with the latter Body , will secure permanent peace and prosperity for the old Mark Lodge which has so long kept alive the customs and traditions of Mark Masonry . I do not consider that the words " spurious and clandestine" rightly

express the relationship of the Ashton Lodge to the Mark Grand Lodge . It is really irregular in not having a warrant from the Mark Grand Lodge , but its right to work the Degree in a separate and independent form , so long as it keeps from any improper use of Craft Charters , or other such documents of an ollicial character cannot be questioned . But Bro . Foreman sees , as many else do , undoubtedly , that the prosperity of the Mark Degree locally is much interfered with , and considerably lessened by

' . he present unhappy difference and opposition . Surely the brethren have had plenty of time to make up their minds , and I earnestly hope they will soon petition for a warrant , and thus end the difficulty . In the heat of controversy words are used that are not quite Masonic in character , and the monopoly otsuch is not confined to any one side . However , pass these by , my brethren , and unite with us for the good of the Craft locally and generally ! You will not complain of any lack of warmth in the welcome accorded by the R . W . Bros . Loveland and Matier , and wc will all rejoice together . W . J . HUGHAN ( P . G . W . of England ) .

Reviews.

Reviews .

THE CATHEDRAL BUILDERS . The Story of a Great Masonic Guild . By Leader Scott . { London , Sampson Low , Marston and Co ., Ltd . )—This is a most interesting volume , lavishly illustrated , and , undoubtedly , ably written by one completely fascinated by the subject , ln many respects the author has triumphed over considerable difficulties , and with linguistical attainments numerous works relating to the Magislri Comtieini , have been consulted , which else would be sealed books . The result is a really fine volume of considerably over 400 pages , printed in a perfect manner by Richard Clay and Sons , with more than So marvellous plates , and published by the

eminent firm aforesaid at one guinea per copy , lt is not an easy work to thoroughly digest , as there are many startling statements , which , to a Freemason , are sometimes novel , occasionally incorrect , but always suggestive and original in character . In the Proem the scope of the book is clearly described , being no less a task than to bridge over some seven centuries , i . e ., the hiatus between the fifth and that early use of ART in the 12 th which led to the Renaissance . This " Leader Scott" does in a most graceful and convincing manner by quoting from traditions , records , and other evidence of the Comacinc Masters , " who form a firm , perfect , and consistent link between

the old and the new , filling completely that ugly gap in thc History of Art . " "Leader Scott" (<; nom deplume ) maintains that the different Italian styles " are nothing more than the differing developments in differing climates and ages of the art of one powerful guild of Sculptor-Builders , who nursed the seed of Roman Art on the borderland of the falling Roman Empire , and spread the growth in far off countries . Wc shall see that all that was architecturally good in Italy during the dark centuries , 500 and 1200 A . D ., was due to the Comacine Masters , or to their influence . " The author also states that through these Masons , architecture and sculpture were carried into

foreign lands , France , Spain , Germany , and England , and there developed into new and varied styles according to the exigencies of the climate and the tone of the people . Looking at the matter practically , we find that "the Hat roofs , horizontal architraves and low arches of the Romanesque , which suited a warm climate , gradually changed as they went northward into the pointed arches and sharp gables of the Gothic ; the steep sloping lines being a necessity in a land where snow and rain were frequent . " We read that it was " the brethren of the Libcri Mttratori , who , from their headquarters at Como , were sent by Gregory the Great to England with Saint Augustine , to

build churches for his converts . " How and why such a powerful and influential Guild sprang from a little island in Lake Como , and bow their world-wide reputation was obtained , is entertainingly narrated in the artistic volume . The subject his been overlooked to a great extent in this country , though Bro . R . F . Gould , in his great "History of Freemasonry , " alludes to it several times , and quite at length occasionally . The author was led to examine into the matter through a perusal of the •' two ponderous tomes on the Maestri Cuiinieini by [ the late ] Professor Merzario " ( Milan , 1 S 93 ) , and deplores the neglect of these celebrated Alasters by Art Historians generally .

The work , however , admirably supplies what has Ion ? been lacking in this respect . It isa great pity that the author failed to become acquainted with the History of Freemasonry by Bro . Gould , and such works as have recently been published relating to the Craft , especially Bro . Conder ' s history of the Masons' Company , London , for surely , if light on this subject had been desiied , the author might have done much better than have faith in a useless book published at Venice in 17 SS . Even had Findil ' s history been studied , it should have prevented anyone from leaking down on modern Freemasonry with such disdain , for its title deeds to antiquity , resting on veritable documents

dating from the fifteenth century , or earlier , are njt evidences to bs lightly trexted or ignored . Leader Scott does not appear to be at all familiar with the liter tture of the Steiiimel : e / i , and their preserved Regulations of 145 ) , i 4 <" 2 , and 1563 , which in many respects so resemble ( and yet are quite independent of ) the " Old Charges ol British Freemasons" from the 15 th century . This volume should be so soon exhausted that a second edition will likely be in preparation ere long , and we much err if the author would not considerably soften several remarksastotheMasonicfraternity , if the works indicated were duly consulted . The book is divided into four sections ; I . Romano-Lombard

Architects ; II . First Foreign Emigrations of the Comicines ; 111 . Romanesque Architects ; IV . Italian-Gothic and Renaissance Architects ; these aeain being composed of four to six chapterseach . The inform ttion as to the Siena and Orvieto Lodges , the Florentine , Milan , and Roman Lodges , is both curious and valuable , and the Epilogue is written in quite a jubilant strain , as the results have been greater than wis foreseen , " the chiin of Art History takes a new and changed aspect , and instead of several bose strands ,

with here and there detached links , it bscoinvs one continuous whole , from early Christian Rome to the Rome of Raphael and Michael Angelo . " The " authorities consulted " make an imposing ILt , though there is not on ; of our reliable British Masonic works included ; but , apart from this evident slight to Craft literature , Leader Scott has don ; yeoman service even on behalf of our o . vn Fraternity . It is , undoubtedly , a remarkable work—textually , artisticilly , and typographically .

THE PASSMORE EDWARDS HOME for the Orphans of Teachers at West Hil'i Sydenham , S . E ., will be opened on Saturday , the 22 nd instant , the ceremony beig performed by Bro . J . Passmoie Edwards himself , who will be accompanied on tie occasion bv Mrs . Passmore Edwards .