Masonic Notes And Queries.

• - nrofessional capacity , as also in the Constitutions of '" a and 173 ° ( Dublin ) , and in Smith ' s Pocket Com-£ „ for 1735 and 173 6 . The Junior Warden of tbe r " and Lodge of York ( Drake ) , in his discursive address , ,-26 , docs not mention his name . If , as predicted , by 0 , ' ' wren was adopted a brother in 1691 , we are con-< nted ' by the following facts : —1 . No record whatever of ,, markablc an occurrence as the initiation or affiliation

F the" King ' s Architect" is to be found in the newspapers f that year . 2 . All recollection of the circumstance had j- ( 1 out amongst the mcml-crs of a strict Iy architectural rirtil within the short space of twenty-six years ( 1691-' *"" V , i . Desaguliers , Martin Folkes , Martin Clare , and rr hard Ravvlinson , all of them enthusiastic Masons , were if ' llows of the Royal Society , and , as I contend , could not

f il to have been acquainted with the Aubrey Mb . in the Vhrarv of that institution . 4 . Joseph Ames , F . R . S ., upon " horn devolved the 'ask of preparing " Parestalia" fot the ^ ress would certainly have quoted Aubrey ha . il he credited ' his statement respecting Wren , ft is tolerably clear that the foundation stone of Sr . Paul ' s was laid by Wren , ' . honour has been claimed for Edward Strong ,

the master mason ( or superintendent of work ) , as well as for King Charles If . Two of our leading newspapers { The Times nd Pall Mall Gazette ) in the course of 1879 , whilst mildly ridiculing the pretensions of the Freemasons , -jetted that at all events they were fully entitled to

claim Sir Christopher Wren as Grand Master . They thus reircted the Andersonian tradition of Moses . Solomon , and Nebuchadnezzar having filled this high station , whilst , however , blindly accepting the equally intenable theory of Wren having been " Grand Master" many years before firand Lodges or Grand Masters were invented . R . F . GOULD .

MASONIC HISTORY . Bro . Findcl has admittedly given us the best and most comprehensive work on Freemasonry . I propose , however , to demonstrate that this excellent Masonic historian has ' been a little " at sea " as regards the proper construction to be placed upon our early English statutes . It has been the habit of all writers alike tn regard many

of these venerable and now , happily , obsolete enactments as the basis and foundation of British Masonic history . A careful examination of the statute book will , however , clearly show that no entry whatever on the rolls of Parliament , prior to the reign of George the Third , contains any allusion which by the greatest latitude of interpretation can be twisted or converted into a reference or recognition

of the society of Freemasons . With the terms of the famous statute , 3 Henry VI ., cap . 1 ( styled by Preston " An Act to abolish the Society ol Masons " ) , most brethren are conversant , and it will be sufficient in this place to remark that the familiar superstition of a " Grand Lodge" or governing body of the entire fraternity in the middle ages , originally put forward

by Dr . James Anderson in the Constitutions of 1723 , has been blindly accepted by the critical as well as by the imaginative interpreters of Masonic history . 1 have elsewhere treated this subject at length , * and may hereafter ( if permitted so to do ) recur to it in the Freemason ; meanwhile , to revert to my text , " Masonic History " ( as propounded by Bro . Findel ) , I will now essay

a brief examination of two statutes , altogether misunderstood by that worthy brother , who has been followed , or copied from , almost word for word , by Bro . G . F . Fort , author of" The Early History and Antiquities of Freemasonry , " according to the Philadelphia " Keystone , " " best history of the Craft ever published . " In his " History of Freemasonry , " Bro . Findcl says : —

"As in the case of the German stonemasons , so did thc English Masons at ah early period form Fraternities , or Associations , the members of which recognised each other by secret signs and tokens" ( p . 78 ) . " In 1495 all artisans and workmen were again forbidden to use ' liveries , signs , and tokens . ' In 1548 all the building crafts were permitted freely to practise their art in all the kingdom ; but this licence was again revoked in

tbe following year , except so far as concerned the city of London" ( p . 80 ) . Bro . Fort in his " Antiquities of Freemasonry " ( at p . 130 ) reproduces the foregoing in almost identical terms . The first statute cited by Bro . Findel ( that of 1495 ) " ¦ as passed in the eleventh year of King Henry the Seventh ( 11 Hen . VII ., cap . 3 . ) , and is entitled " An Acte agaynst unlawfull Assemblages and other offences contrary to former Statutes . "

Acts of Parliament against giving liveries begin in thc feign of Richard II ., and enactments o a similar nature were passed in the reigns of Henry IV ., Henry VI ., and Edward IV . During the reign of Henry the Seventh no less than three statutes were enacted to further cope with this growing evil . Of the Tudor policy against liveries , tokens , retainers ,

* ' c -i Mr . L . O . Pike observes : f "Nothing indicated more clearl y that the elements of society were about to be thrown into new combinations than the perseverance with which previous statutes against giving liveries and tokens were enforced , and with which their deficiencies were made good by new enactments . All the considerable landholders

Jbll regarded themselves as chiettaiiis . All their 'nfcriors in their neighbourhood were their retainers , to whom they gave liveries and tokens , and who , in other Words , wore their uniform , and rallied to their standard . A common gift from chief to retainer seems to have been a badge [ sign * ] to be worn in the

Masonic Notes And Queries.

cap . Thus one of thc Stanleys was in the habit of giving to his followers ' the eagle ' s foot , ' and one of the Darcies ' the buck ' s bead . ' These tokens were sometimes of silver and sometimes gilt , and were , no doubt , highly prized by those who received them . " The law of 1 , 548 ( 2 and 3 Edward VI ., C 3 p . xv . ) , next referred to by Bro . Findel , lias been similarly misinterpreted by him ,

ihe meaning and effect of this statute being precisely the opposite of the construction placed upon it by Bros , Hndcl antl Fort . Instead ol " permitting the building crafts to freely practise their art , " & c ., the enactment was a renewed attempt to check the Craft guilds in their restraint of skilled labour fro . n a free participation in the privileges incident to the mechanical trades . Both historians go on to sav "that the licence accorded to the building crafts was

revoked in the following year , except so far as concerned the City of London , " thc fact , however , being that the statute of 1549 ( 3 and 4 Etlw . VI ., cap . xx . ) simply restored to the oaft of builders the monopoly of which the previous enactment had deprived them , and was in effect a removal from trade or craft guilds in nil cities , boroughs , or towns corporate , of the restrictions imposed upon them by the legislation of 1548 . R . F . GOULD .

Ar00901

* " The Four Old Lodges , " pp . 23-26 . + t " History of Crime in England . " Vol . 1 , p . 7 . + The " statutes of the realm " prior to the accession of enry VIII . were drawn up in Norman-French or Latin , which no English translation appeared until the early

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . HENRY WILLIAM LINDUS . Bro . Henry William Lindus , who died on the 31 st of January last , at the age of 52 , was the founder , in 1869 , of thc Stanhope Lodge , No . 1269 , and at the time of his decease he was one of the most esteemed Past Masters and also the Secretary of that lodge . Bro . Lindus was also the founder of the Stanhope Chapter . In 187 ; he

was M . E . Z . of that chapter , and from 1876 to the time of his death he was Scribe E . Bro . Lindus was also one of the Past Masters of Lodge La Tole ' rance , No . 53 8 , and P . Z . of the Vane Chapter , and up to the period of his lamented decease he zealously performed his Masonic duties both in lodge and chapter . Recently the Lodge La

1 olerance presented to his bereaved family a most cordially fraternal address of condolence , which is highly prized by them , and has been gratefully acknowledged . Bro . Lindus was a solicitor , carrying on his profession at 156 , Cheapside , and at Penge , but we are informed that his 1 almost sudden death has made the realisation of his estate

one of considerable difficulty , and wc therefore call our readers' attention to an advertisement which appears in another column of the Freemason . Bro . Henry Windybank , of the Burgoyne Lodge , No . 902 , is the solicitor for the executrix , and in his hands the utmost will be done to successfully administer the estate of Bro . Lindus for the

benefit of his family , and any information from members cf the Craft as to the property of our deceased brother , or the debts due to him , will be , we are certain , thankfully received and duly acknowledged by Bro . Wjndybunk . We feel sure that the numerous brethr-n who knew and esteemed Bro . Lindus will , for the sake of his family , give every information in their power in response to the advertisement to which we have referred .

BRO . LIEUT .-COL . ARTHUR F . PICKARD , C . B ., V . C ., R . A . We regret to announce tbe death of Bro . Lieut .-Col . Arthur F . Pickard , C . B ., V . C ., R . A ., which took place at Cannes , on Monday , the ist ., inst . Our deceased brother was initiated in tbe Friends in Council Lodge , No . 1383 , on the 27 th July , 1872 , but he was not appointed to any

office in the lodge . He remained a member till his death . He always took a deep interest in the Craft , though unable , from his constant attendance on H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , P . G . W ., and afterwards on Her Majesty the Queen , to take an active part in Freemasonry . He was , however , present at thc installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as Grand Master , in 1875 , being one of the few who

were admitted though not members of Grand Lodge . Born in 1841 , the son of an officer in the Royal Artillery , he passed through Carshalton and Woolwich with distinction , and obtained his commission in the Royal Artillery in 1858 . After serving for some little time in Ireland and elsewhere , L'eutenant Pickard went out in i 860 with his battery to New Zealand , anil at Rangariri , in 1863 ,

behaved most gallantly in twice crossing a deadly fire from thc natives in their pah while he fetched water for thc wounded , when none of the men could be induced to perform that service , * and also in assisting Surgeon Temple to carry Captain Mercer , R . A ., when wounded , out of reach of the enemy ' s fire . For this " golden ( Iced " he was recommended for the Victoria Cross , which he received in

1864 . In 1867 he had the honour of being appointed to attend upon H . R . H . Prince Arthur during his studies at the Academy at Woolwich , and remained with the Prince until about two years ago , when , on the death of Sir Thomas Biddulph , Major Pickard became Assistant Keeper of the Privy Purse , and Assistant Secretary to the Queen , and was also made Groom in Waiting . His health , however , had become so extremely delicate that he was obliged

part of tbe sixteenth century { circa 1519 ) . According to the Englished version of the law of / 408 ( 8 Edw . IV ., c . ii . ) previous statutes and ordinances against the giving or receiving of liveries or badges are confirmed , and it is further enacted " That no person , of what estate , degree , or condition that he be , by himself , or any other for him , from the Feast of St . John Baptist shall give ami such liverii or

iadge , " & c . The passage just cited is , however , thus given in Hie Norman-French of the actual statute : — " Et outre ceo qe null persone de quell estate , degre , ou condition qil soit par soy mesme ou aseun autre purluy a le fest del Seint Johan Baptist done aseun tiel liverc oil signe , " & c . In the numerous statutes bearing 011 this subject the French term " signe " is always used in the sense of " badge . " * See London Gazelle , September 22 nd , 1864 .

Obituary.

to pass the winters of 1878-9 and 1879-80 at Cannes , from the climate of which delightful place he seemed 11 derive great benefit ; but on the 12 th February an attack o hemorrhage came on and congestion of the lungs followed rapidly , so that in little more than a fortnight he fell asleep . His funeral on the 4 th inst . was attended by many friends , 10 whom he had endeared himself during

his sojourn at Cannes , the Vicc-Consul representing the Her Majesty tbe Queen and H . R . H . the Duke of Cambridge . In other carriages were Sir John McNeill , G . C . B ., Sir Fcnwick Williams , Mr . Bonham-Carter , Sir David Russell , Lord Raglan , Lord Sudeley , Sir Walter Fanuhar , Gen . Sir Edward Ward , Col . Farqubarson , Col . Vyse , Mr . Sandars , and the immediate relatives of the

deceased . The coffin was covered with wreaths and bouquets—H . M . the Queen sent one to which an inscription was attached , " A mark of high esteem , gratitude , and friendship from Queen Victoria . " H . R . H . Prince Leopold , H . R . H . Princess Beatrice , H . R . H . the Dukeof Connaught , and H . R . H . the Duchess of Connaught also sent wreaths . Lady Emma McNeill contributed one composed wholly of bays , well befitting a hero ' s tomb . The service was read by

the Hev . W . Brookes , Chaplain of Holy Trinity Church . The deep interest and sympathy felt by a large circle of friends for the mourners was increased , if possible , by the knowledge that the day of the funeral had been the Jday fixed for our deceased brother's marriage . We cannot close this brief notice without an expression of sympathy and condolence with his only surviving brother tbe Hev . H . Adair Pickard , P . G . Chaplain , in which we feel sure large numbers of the Craft will join .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

We understand our old and well conducted contemporary the Liverpool Journal of Commerce , one of the most influential provincial shipping and commercial newspapers , has recently changed hands , and that Mr . Charles Birchall has become the new proprietor . Mr . Birchall

has had great experience in journalistic matters , having for nearly a quarter of a centary had the management of the advertising department of thc well-known advertising agent , Mr . Greenwood , of Liverpool . Under the new proprietorship we expect great things from the Journal of Commerce for the future .

Truth says that Bro . Colonel BuIIer has been seriously ill of imflammation of the lungs , and instead of going to Scotland on duty has gone to recruit at Downes . He originally caught cold in Crediton Church , which is well known as one of the coldest and most draughty in the county .

Ihe cost of the Great Eastern Railway Company's new station at Bishopsgate is set down at over £ 250 , 000 . In the presence of a large number of City gentlemen , Mr . Deputy H . Lowman Taylor , Chairman of he General Markets' Sub-Committee of the Corporation of London , laid the foundation stone of the new London Central Fruit and Vegetable Market on Wednesday last .

Bro . J . D . Allcroft , M . P ., will preside at the annual dinner of the Royal Hospital for Incurables , to be held at Willis ' s Rooms on Friday , April 23 rd . Bro . the Ri ght Hon . the Lord Mayor and Bro . Horace Jones ( architect to the Corporation ) submitted , for the Prince of Wales ' s inspection , at Marlborough House on Friday last , the model of a memorial which it is proposed to erect on the site of old Temple Bar .

We have much pleasure in stating that the Queen has graciously announced her intention of conferring the honour of knighthood upon Bro . J . B . Monckton ( Town Clerk ) , President Board of General Purposes , and W . M . Lodge 1827 , and Mr . W . T . Charley ( Common Serjeant ) . The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the

Folly Theatre on Wednesday evening last to witness Bio . J . L . Toole in " Bardell v . Pickwick " and " Our Clerks . " A testimonial to Bro . Frank Toole , the wellknown City toastmaster , and brother to Mr . J . L . Toole , the comedian , is being well supported by many of the City merchants . ' The testimonial is to be in recognition of Bro . Toole ' s long and honourable connection with the

East and West India Duck Company , a connection extending over a period of forty-five years . As a member of the omnipresent fraternity of Freemasons he has become widely known , and can always depend upon receiving not only the conventional grip of brotherhood , but also the hearty assurance of true friendship . The Toole

Testimonial Committee-rooms are at the Bridge House Hotel . —Citizen . The Messrs . Roberts , of the St . James ' s Hall Restaurant , Regent-street , being about to enter upon their third year of tenancy , a dinner will be held in celebration of the occasion on Friday , April 2 nd , when Mr . H . D . Rawlings will take the chair . —City Press .

The Fifteen Sections will be worked at the Constitutional Lodge of Instruction , No . 33 , held at the Bedford Hotel , Southampton Buildings , Holborn , on Tuesday , the 23 rd inst . Bros . John Soper , 55 , W . M . ; H . G . Gush , I . G . 1541 , S . W . ; J . S . Brown , J . W . 862 ,

J . W . ; John Soper , Honorary Secretary . The lodge will be opened at six p . m . We hear that Bro . Wellsman , No . 8 , P . M . 8 5 8 and 158 9 , and Z . 1589 , the well-known editor of " The Newspaper Press Directory , " has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature .

Mr . Alderman Lawrence has become a freeman and liveryman of the Loriners' Company , on the nomination of the Master , Bro . J . Walford , C . C ., seconded by Mr . Alderman Fowler .