Original Correspondence.

perhaps , ' unthinkingly , lent their names to the new move ment will inquire the views of the existing Committee : before proceeding further . Obediently yours , March 12 th . P . M .

BRO . WILSON AND THE BOYS' SCHOOL . To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As a member of the same profession as Bro Stephen Barton Wilson , and a Mason , I greatly regret the difference that has arisen between him and the House

Committee of th , e Boys' School with respect to bis account and have taken the trouble to call on the solicitor to see the account in question , and have no hesitation in saying that it is not a detailed account , such as the Committee , a ; men of business , have the right to require ; it is simply a statement setting forth at some length that Bro . Wilson

had instructions for this or that matter , and that he had made certain plans and estimates , and had carried out certain works—for all of which he charges one lump sum . Now , I do not for one moment mean to suppose or insinuate that Bro . Wilson has charged one penny more than he is fairly entitled to , and , therefore , cannot understand I 1 I

his objection to sh-jw the Committee how he arrives at the amount of his claims . He must have made it up in some sort of way for his own guidance . I cannot suppose that be jumped at it , then why does he not give tbe Committee the same details for their guidance ? There is a scale of charges recognised by the Ro \ 'al 1 [

Institute of British Architects , comprehensive enough for all purposes , on which any architect can take his stand . It is in no way unprofessional for an architect to make out an account in detail on the basis of this or any other scale he may choose to adopt , and every client has a right to know how and at what rate he is paying for the architect's ; : > i

services . It is , however , most certainly unprofessional , as , I believe , is the practice of some , for nn architect to take out the quantities of the work on which he is engaged , arid to be paid for the same by the builder who has to work under him—unknown to his client . '

Surely it would be better for Bro . Wilson to send in a fresh account , in accordance with the wishes of the Committee , showing the proper charges for the different items thereof , than to keep on airing an imaginary grievance for then there would be a reasonable probability that the matter would be speedily and amicably settled . F . R . I . B . A . ' '

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . To Hie Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — What is the custom as regards the opening of new Lodges of Instruction ? Is there any ceremonial proper for the occasion ? F r

A YOUNG ENQUIRER . [ None as far as we know , and we should greatly doubl the propriety of it . A lodge of instruction only exists undei resolution of a warranted lodge . The lodge of instruction is generally opened with the appointment of officers and the rehearsal of a portion of the ceremonies . All the work of the lodge of instruction is purely preparatory . —En . ] t 1

THE APRIL ELECTIONS . Dear Bro . Kenning , — 1 am much obliged by the promises and voting papers , and will only add that 1 shall hope yet to receive many more similar kind tokens of fraternal good will . .

A . F . A . WOODFORD . 25 a , Norfolk-crescent , Hyde Park , W . March 13 th , 1880 .

UNIFORMITY OF RITUAL . INSTALLATION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Thc lodges and chapters of instruction which are beginning to be held in our railway carriages are waxing

warm on the subject of uniformity , and much of "Old Mancuniuni " is somewhat jubilant—such is human infirmity—upon thc way in which thc proposed Committee of ritualistic uniformity has been " sat upon " in your pages , as well as in the more sacred precinct of Grand Lodge . Personally , fora long number of years , 1 have considered

" unilormity " a very desirable thing , but I could never define where the operation was to begin , fcr as a matter of archaeological interest the style of the Scottish and Irish ritual seems superior to our own ; and the " uniformity " of English ritual a very trivial matter until it has settled the question of ritualistic precedence with the other two

Masonic kingdoms . However , as a twenty-five years' student of the two systems of instruction alluded to by " Bcs Albus , " I may be able to throw some little light upon the discussion which is proceeding , and becoming somewhat h-. ated . At the period mentioned all the Manchester installations

were conducted by thc aged Bro . P . M . Wm . Pitt , who had been sent by our mother lodge ( Integrity , 163 , 1 S 9 ) , in 1813 to the Lodgeof Reconciliation . There was , hence , in bis hands a general uniform work . But there was in the country districts a " much older form of working , which 1 may explain was identical with an ancient Degree of Past Master , which was required as

brevet rank by tbe " Ancient" Masor . s before a candidate was received into the veils of the arch , and which was so worked in Lancashire within my recollection . Thcs-: . country Masons declined to follow the dictum of thc " Emulation , " and , considering that there was a deal of value in what bad been rejected for brevity ' s sake , continued to work the old system to which they were attached , and so it spread back again gradually to Manchester . Precisely

Original Correspondence.

- the same thing exists in the Royal Arch installations in s Manchester . I now see where the shoe of uniformity was to pinch the toes of " Mancuniensis , " and realise that the judicious tolerance of Grand Lodge has stayed strife . The Uniformity Committee , it seems , was to have been a dictatorial cabal to coerce Emulative dissenters . Truly and fraternally yours .

, , JOHN YARKER , P . M ., P . Z ., _ . - _ ., Past Senior Grand Warden oE Greece . I [ This discussion , we think , had better now close , as it is clearly unadvisabk to continue it . We have had even to ' " excise " a passage from our correspondent ' s letter . —En . ]

3 THE ROYAL ARCH DEGREE . 1 To the Editor 0 / the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — You will be rather surprised to learn that in . answer to my suggestion that a Royal Arch Chapter should be formed to perpetuate the name of Comp . John ¦ Boyd only two names were sent in .

Should any lodge in Middlesex wish to take the matter up , I shall be glad to receive communications addressed as before to " Royal Arch , " care of C . Young , Esq ., 2 , Dowgate-hill , E . C . Nothing so stops the progress of the Royal Arch Degree ; as the absurd regulation of the Grand Chapter , that new lodges cannot have a chapter attached until after the

expiration of three years . During the second and third years ¦ of the existence of a lodge most of the members take the . Arch Degree in another chapter , and when in due course a chapter is formed , others , not members cf the lodge , are brought into it , and the bond of unity between lodge and chapter is broken , Yo'irs , etc , SCRIBE .

THE " KNIFE AND FORK " DEGREE . ' To the Editor itj thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am not one of those who object to a banquet after the conclusion of the business of the lodge , but I am convinced that great injury is done to the Craft by excessive indulgence in the pleasures of the table .

, Most of the older lodges have subscriptions sufficiently : high to cover any expenses of banquets , but many of the younger London lodges have many banquets and very low subscriptions . Now , to meet the expenses , initiates are introduced without much enquiry into character or position , and if four or five can be found for such meeting so much the better for the funds and so much the worse for

Freemasonry . In these lodges too the initiation fee is absurdly low , generally five or seven guineas . The result is that the new lodge soon rapidly increases in numbers , but there are many who never pay a second subscription , and so cease to be of any use or credit to the Craft , It is possible that the time has arrived to put a limit to r the number of new lodges formed in a given time . Several lodges and chapters in the London district have

; adopted a system of keeping the lodge fundsand the cost of : banquets quite distinct , charging a certain amount as subscription , and making each member attending thc banquet pay a certain fixed charge for sarre . This appears to be a sensible method unless the subscriptions are large , and it would interest many of your readers if some brethren would give information as to thc working of the system . Yours truly and fraternally , W . M .

TRURO CATHEDRAL . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am sure Bro . Emra Holmes will excuse my putting him right respecting the mallet he refers to in the ietter published in this day ' s Freemason , bearing his name . Thc mallet referred to was used by the Earl of Zetland ,

G . M ., on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of thc Royal Albert Asylum , at Lancaster , June 17 th , 1868 , also by Earl de Grey and Ripon , G . M ., on laying that of St . James ' s Church , Thornton ( near here ) , 26 th September , 1870 . I was present on both occasions . On a silver plate affixed to _ the mallet is the following inscription : —

" By order of thc M . W . the Grand Master , His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , & c , and W . M . of thc Lodge of Antiquity , and with thc concurrence of tbe brethren of this lodge , this plate has been engraven and affixed to this mallet , A . .. 5 83 / , A . D . 1827 , to commemorate that this being the same mallet with which His Majesty King Charles II . levelled the foundation stone of St . Paul ' s Cathedral' , A . F .. ; 667 , A . n . 1673 , was presented to the late

Lodge of St . Paul , now the Lodge of Antiquity , acting by immemorial constitution , by Bro . Christopher Wren , R . W . D . G . M . and Worshipful Master of this . lodge , and architect of that edifice . " I am , dear Sir and Brother , truly and fraternally yours , J . RAMSDEN RILEY , P . M . and Z . 387 . Heath House , Bradford , 13 th March , 1880 .

QUERIES . To Ihe Editor of the" Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly inform me in your next edition if it is Masonic etiquette for a W . M . to wear his collar when visiting other lodges , either within or outside his province ?

Fraternally yours , W . M . [ There are two views on the subject . Some think the collar ought not to be worn in lodge , P . G . Lodge , or G . Lodge , others that it ought to be worn on such occasions and on all Boards of Installed Masters . There is no law , and we have no authoritative decision on the subject . We ourselves incline to the latter view . —ED . ]

Original Correspondence.

To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — At the meeting of tbe Lodge of Faith , No . 4 S 4 , Ashton-in-Makerfield , held in November last , the W . M . proposed that a Past Grand jewel be presented to a Past Grand Officer , to the value of £ 8 . It was not put on the circular with the other business calling the meeting that

this would be done , and no notice whatever of the motion had been given . The members were taken by surprise , and the vote was taken quickly , but not without a protest being made as to thc illegality of the vote from a P . M . At the meeting in January the vote was declared to be illegal , and a vote passed that the money be refunded . At the meeting in February the question was again

discussed , and a vote passed that it remain as passed at the November meeting . And as it is to come on again at the meeting on Tuesday next , would you kindly say in your next issue what your views are as to the legality and wisdom of the proceedings ? The argument on the one side is that there is nothing in the Book of Constitutions or rules of the lodge against

such a vote , and the lodge can spend its funds as it likes , and the other side says , even if this be the case , custom makes it illegal , taking the practice of the House of Commons and all other public bodies as an example throughout tbe land , where no money votes can be taken without notice of motion . Besides , if this thing be allowed a few members could meet at any time and vote the lodge funds away for any illegal purpose .

Yours fraternally , JOHN ADAMS . [ ft must all depend upon the bye-laws of the lodge ; if notice is required by those bye-laws for thc payment of money , the original proceedings were clearly illegal . The only proper way to test the question is to give fresh notice , and have the matter fully discussed as we understand now to be the case . There is nothing to prevent .. lodge voting such a sum of money unless forbidden by thc bye-laws . — ED . ]

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN AND THE FREEMASONS . Bro . Emra Holmes' assertions in regard to Wren ' s connection with the Craft will be found difficult to prove . The only real evidence we possess as to the architect of St . Paul ' s l-eing a Freemason at . all is to be found in the writings of John Aubrey , F . R . S . ( 1601 ) , and James

Anderson , D . D . ( 173 8 ) . Aubrey ' s allusion to Wren ' s adoption . was , however , only published in 1844 ( second eilitioii Halliwell ' s Masonic Poem ) , and consequently exercised no influence whatever in shaping or fashioning the common belief previously held in Wren ' s membership of the Craft . To Dr . James "Anderson belongs the distinction of first notifying that Wren was a Freemason , which he did in the

Constitution of 1738 , the English Grand Lodge having desired that he would ascertain what great people had presided over the fraternity , a commission in the txecution of which his zeal outran his discretion , since in the Constitution Book of 173 8 everij considerable personage of ancient or modern times is stated to have been Grand Master . It is noteworthy , however , that in thc earlier Constitution

Book of 1723 , likewise edited hi / Anderson , though he takes particular care to cite as Masons most of the celebrities named therein , Wren is only styled " that excellent architect Sir Christopher Wren . " Up to , and inclusive of , 173 6 , as may be confirmed by examining tbe Pocket Companion of that year , Wren ' s association with the Craft remained unknown . The author of " Multa Paucis" ( 176 3 )

copied from Anderson , and Preston improved on both . The " Candlesticks , " and all the rest of it , which are now supposed to identify Wren with the Lodge of Antiquity , represent the growth of Preston ' s imagination , as successive editions of his famous work saw the light . * As regards Aubrey ' s statement ( 1 ( 191 ) , it must be recollected that he places on record a prediction , not a . fact , viz .: — " This day

Sir Christopher is to l-c ( not teas ) adopted a Mason . " Aubrey ' s memorandum was first penned in 1 ( 191 , and interpolated in his " Natural History of Wiltshire " ( Oxford copy ) , which he some years afterwards fair copied and deposited the MS . in the library of the Royal Society . I have carefully examined the Aubrey MS ., in the Bodleian and Royal Society ' s libraries

respectively , and , having regard to the general features of the case , am of opinion that there is not a particle of historical evidence to support the theory of Wr « i having been at any time a member of the society . It is impossible to discuss this question within the limits of " Masonic Notes and Queries , " but as Bro . Hughan has reminded me that some time ago I announced a

forthcoming pamphlet , to be entitled " Was Sir Christopher Wren a Freemason ? " I take the opportunity of stating that I shall deal with the subject in some form shortly , and will then cite the various authorities bearing upon the inquiry , which , occupying much labour in investigating ,

will , 1 trust , be found useful , even though my own conclusions should fail to meet with acceptance . According to my view , if Wren had been but a humble Entered Apprentice ( to say nothing of being Grand Master ) , his membership of the society ivoiild . assuredly hare hen noticed , in the Constitution . Hook of 1723 , whereas be is only alluded to

Ar00804

* Bro . Emra Holmes omits to mention which of the seventeen editions of Preston he quotes from ? The author of the " Illustrations of Masonry " in the third and fourth editions ( 1781 and 1788 ) , states : — "The mallet with which the foundation stone ( of St . Paul ' s ) was laid is now

in the possession of the Lodge of Antiquity , and preserved there as a great curiosity . " In thc 179 6 edition , however , he says : — "The mallet , & c , teas delivered iy Sir Christopher IVren Id Ihe old . Lodge of Si . Paul , vow Ihe Lodge qf Antiquity , " & c .