Original Correspondence.

public so readily pay much larger sums for entering reserved enclosures , the brethren of the Craft need not mind being called upon to pay five shillings each . Indeed , I almost wonder at any objection being raised to such a course , when the expenses else would fall upon non-masonic bodies , —Y ' ours fraternally .

WILLIAM J . HUGHAN , P . G . D . [ As Bro . Hughan will see elsewhere , the charge is , as he says , " Institutional , " not "Masonic" at all , and this is a fact which was not realized by the words of the "Addendum . "—ED . F . M . ]

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I very much regretted to see the letter on this subject which appeared in your last number , and it is plain that the writer quite misapprehends the real state of affairs . The charge is not made by the Masonic authorities , who

have nothing in the world to do with it . It is the nominal fee charged by the committee of the York Institute of Art , & c , for the purpose of covering the expense of the accomdation they are providing for the Freemasons . So great has been the cost of the temporary building that has been erected , as well as of its decorations , that the expense of

each Mason ' s accommodation will amount to between four and five shillings . If , therefore , there had been no charge made , the Institute would actually lose money by the transaction . To say that it is creating a fresh precedent is incorrect , since at the Truro ceremony a charge of five shillings per

head was made for every Masonic ticket . Originally the Institute committee placed the Masonic tickets at ios . 6 d ., but in consequence of our representations the charge was reduced . We , who have had the anxiety of the arrangements , to say nothing of the time and trouble expended , have all purchased tickets of admission , and never dreamed of any objection being taken

to so paltry a sum , nor do I believe that any brother who was asked to pay would really wish to inquire the progress of the York Institute by attending as a " Dead Head . " It was never intended to charge actual or acting Grand Officers . The Province of North and East Y ' orkshire pays for their tickets , considering that , being the woiking Masons of the day , they should not be put to any such expense , however small . —I am , yours fraternally , T . B . WHYlEHiAD , Chairman Prov . Committee .

To the Editor of the Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am altogether at a loss to understand what possible ground of complaint a " Past Grand Officer " can have on being called upon to pay 5 s . for his ticket . As to his summons ^ 1—as a member of Grand Lodge—was equally

summoned as himself , although only (?) a P . M . and P . P . G . Officer . In York , brethren had to find room ior Grand Lodge and for two Provincial Grand Lodges , and if , in addition to this , they were to find room for I ' ast Officers of Grand Lodge , they must then have found room for the Past Officers of the two Provincial Grand Lodges .

I do not think it shows consideration for others , a Past G . O . asking to be provided tor gratis , and 1 cannot help suggesting that the right to don the " Garter-blue " bears witn it not only privileges but also duties . I consider the complaint " intra dig " and unmasonic . —Faithfully and fraternally yours , NOBLESSE OBLIGE .

" THE SAME USAGES AND CUSTOMS . " To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me to reply to Bro . James Stevens's query . What is meant by the " same usages and customs " in the Book of Constitutions is not , I apprehend , difficult to

realize . Such words would import that the same usages and customs " " generaliter , " that is to say , in . essential points and in the main the same , shall be maintained in our lodges . The Grand Lodge wisely abstains from definition , and from any interference with the harmless and rational liberty of minute deviation in matters which are not " of

necessity . " To enforce arbitrarily one stereotyped form of ceremonial and verbiage would compass an infinity of harm , Would pave the way to grave abuses , and would be opposed to that spirit of wise toleration which , since the Union , has most properly characterized the action of Grand Lodge in such matters .

It is quite clear that up to 1 S 13 there was no one recognised system of ceremonial . If that ceremonial was arranged after the 1717 Revival , in 1731 , as it has been asserted , by Desaguliers and Payne , it was again apparently altered by Clai e , so it is said , and was again manipulated by Preston . During the last century , and up to 1 S 13 , there

were practically the York , the Modern , the Ancient , and the Prestonian systems ot working , the difference almost entirel y consisting in a slight variation of forms and points of usage , and mostly ot more expanded or condensed verbiage . The ancient working was probably more Johannite than the Modern , but in the only professed copy of ¦ t I have seen , of date 1 S 01 , there is but slight substantial

difference , if any . No doubt some changes were made in ' 72 o , or thereabouts , for special reasons , to which in the mam we still adhere ; though , as others know , a good deal ° f uncertainly rests upon this subject , from the fact that very few MS . copies of ceremonial , if any , before 1750 are known to be extant . The earliest I have seen is one Professedl y of 1780 .

Original Correspondence.

In 1 S 13 , when the Union came about , the Lodge of Reconciliation was formed out of the Antients and Moderns and a common ceremonial approved of in Grand Lodge . But this very revision has two sides . The work of Hemming , which was first in time , and is still worked in the Stability Lodge of Instruction under

"Old Mug , " was superseded by order of the Duke of Sussex by a later revision by Bro . Williams , Prov . G . M . for Dorsetshire , and which is now worked by the Lodge of Emulation . Hence at this moment as some contend we have six systems at work , the remains of the Old York ( if it exists ) , the Ancient , the Old Modern , the Prestonian ,

Hemmings ' s , and Williams ' s , and these mainly keep to the " same usages and customs , " though with some very innocent deviations alike in " manner and matter . " When Bro . H . Warren , the last Prestonian lecturer , delivered the Prestonian lecture in Yorkshire some years back it was found that what had been considered the " Old Y ' ork" was

in truth Prestonian . When Bro . Barton Wilson saw this working he at once said " Prestonian ' . " I am not aware of any known copy of the Old Y ' ork system existing , and the Second and Third Degrees of Preston are still as he left tnem in cypher undeciphered . Hence I think Bro . Stevens will see the great difficulty and

intricacy of the subject , and how it is just one of those matters of which it is best and wisest to say , "Leave well alone . " I feel pretty sure that if our provincial brethren once realize that those harmless and cherished varieties of difference which they have practised , and their fathers before them forlongyears , are to be sweptarvayby a "fad "

or fancy , for a childish , a bald , an arbitrary uniformity , they will pronounce their opinion in Grand Lodge in a way which will settle the subject for many years to come . I , for one , entirely approve of the present verbiage of the Bookof Constitutionsonthcsubject , and I thankthe Board of General Purposes for taking away from us the pretext of any interference with theliberty of lodgesand the harmless

divergencies of our lodge ceremonial . What an interesting lecture might be made for expert Masons on these little archa : ological peculiarities and differences , which often tell of high antiquity , and mark the inevitable "outcome" of carelully preserved oral traditions , identical in the main but with variations , most certainly allowable , both of locality and language , mannerism and symbolism , usages and customs . —Yours obediently , MASONIC STUDENT .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

205 ] CHARLES SACKVILLE . ' Ihe perusal of an illustrated copy of "Spencer's Anecdotes , " recently sold by Mr . Stibbs , 32 , Museumstreet , convinces me more than ever of the grave doubts affecting the Florence medal . Spencer , with Lord Middlesex , was at Florence in 1732 , and among others wasa Mr . Smyth , son of the Bishop of Limerick . Lord Middlesex writes

to him , in 173 s . about his ( Lord Middlesex ' s ) alleged participation in the "Calves' Head Club , & c , " January 30 th , which he denies , but he gives no hint and " makes no sign " of Freemasonry . His friend , Frederick Prince of Wales , was initiated , as is well-known , in 1737 , November 5 th , and . subsequently made a M . M . at an "occasional lodge , " which assembled then under Dr . Desaguliers as

W . M ., and it seems impossible to believe that if Lord Middlesex was YV . M . of a lodge in 1732-33 he should have been then absent . I believe 1 am correct in saying there is no trace of his ever recognising the Masonic Order in England ; and Spence , so far as is known , does not allude to it . When he writes to his mother from Turin in 1739 ,

about the " Adepts , " he does not allude in any way to the Freemasons , though he would naturally have done so had he known of the Horentine Lodge , and when he is in correspondence with the Rev . Mr . Ridley on the mysteries , there is no trace of any knowledge of Masonic initiations . It seems to me that the words "AbOrigine" on the Florentine medal are fatal both as to genuineness and its authenticitv . DRYASDUST .

206 ] OCCASIONAL LODGES . Have we not in this early use of unwarranted lodges the explanation of many seemingly inexplicable little matters ? This is a subject which in my humble opinion deserves more attention tnan it has hitherto received . MASONIC STUDENT .

207 ] A MASONIC TOKEN . A tradesman in Lancaster , and also a member of the Craft , has recently come into possession of what is evidently a Masonic token . On one side is a coat of arms , supported by what appears to be two beavers , the crest being a bird sianding on a ball . In a ribbon beneath is the motto"Amor , honor , tt justitia . " Around the outer edge is the

following : " Prince of Wales , elected G . M ., 24 th Nov . 1790 . " On the reverse is a triangle , with the word " Wisdom " upon one side of it , " Strength " on the other , and "beauty" across the bottom . Within the triangle at the apex is the all-seeing eye , and below it the letter " G . " Beneath this is what appears to be a Cupid , the right hand pointing upwards to the letter : the left

resting on what appears to oe an anchor . In the left hand corner at the basement is a book , and in the right the square and compasses . Around the outer edge are the words— "Sil lux . . . [ indistinct ] . . . Euit " the rest being undecipherable . The token is about the size of a

half-penny , and on the rim are the words— " Payable in Lancaster , London , or Bristol . " Perhaps , Mr . Editor , you , or some of your numerous readers who take an interest in Masonic lore may be able to explain under what circumstances the token above described was struck and put into circulation . PAST MASTER , 2 S 1 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

20 S ] SOLOMON'S SEAL . Many mistakes are still perpetuated by writers as regards this mystic emblem . It is not the Pentalpha , as we have often said , but the Hexapla . And so Air . William Piatt , writing ^ to Notes and Queries respecting Solomon's seal , says : the legend of Solomon ' s seal ( Khatim Sulimani ) is connected with the superstitions and religious belief of the Mahometans . This signet ring is said to have come oown from heaven to Solomon , the son of David , and on it

was engraved * the most great name' ( ism-i-azam ) of God . it was partly composed of brass and partly of iron . With the brass Solomon stamped his written commands to the good genu , with the iron those to the evil genii or devils , of which metal they were supposed to have great dread . Over both these orders , by virtue of this talisman , he had absolute power , as well as over the winds , the birds , and even wild beasts . Hexagonal in shape and resembling a sixpointed star , it was formed by two equilateral triangles intersecting each other . " MASONIC STUDENT

The Grand Chapter Of Quebec And The Grand Mark Lodge Of England.

THE GRAND CHAPTER OF QUEBEC AND THE GRAND MARK LODGE OF ENGLAND .

We print by request the following correspondence : — Richmond , Province of Quebec , Dominion of Canada ^ June 23 rd , 1 SS 3 . Rt . Hon . Lord Henniker , M . W . Grand Master of the Grand Lod ge of Mark Master Masons of England and YVates , & c , M . W . Sir , —

Itbecomes my duty to communicate the following to you , and to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons over which you preside : On December 12 , 1 S 7 G , the M . E . the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the Province of Ouebec was regularly formed by the union and co-operatiolrc of all the chapters of Royal Arch Masons in our province ( with the exception of the St . Paul ' s Chapter , E . R ., in Montreal ) and

claiming to have , and to exercise , within our said province , exclusive soverei gn jurisdiction over all chapters of Royal Arch Masons , including ( as said constituent chapters always did include ) a'l lodges of Mark Master , Past Master , and Most Excellent iYIaster Masons : and , as such , our Grand Chapter of Ouebec has been duly recognised by , and has interchanged Grand Representatives with , nearly all Grand Chapters of Royal Arch

Chapters throughout the world . , / i September 25 , iS 7 S ,-as Grand Z ., —1 addressed our M . E . Grand Chapter of Quebec , in Annual Convocation , as follows : — " I beg to recommend this Grand Chapter to consider the propriety of recognising , and establishing fraternal correspondence with the M . W . the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales , as ' duly entitled to exercise supreme authority over all lodVes of

that Degree in England and Wales , and in all the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown , wherein no o her Grand Body exists ( or of ri ght may be formed ) claiming jurisdiction over that Degree , and that said recognition be duly communicated , together with our hearty ijood wishes , to that Grand Lodge . " This recommendation was , by resolution , unanimously adopted by our Grand Chapter , and an authenticated copy thereof forwarded to the Grand

. Secretary of your Grand Lodge . At an early subsequent communication of your Grand Lodge , the above recognition , accorded to it by the Grand Chapter of Quebec , was accepted by your Grand Body , with expressions of marked fraternal satisfaction , and the following announcement appeared shortly thereafter in

your printed proceedings , viv .: " Representatives / z-owt the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , & c , M . E . Comp . John H . Graham , M . A ., LCD ., Grand First Principal Z ., to the Sup . G . R . A . Chapter of Ouebec ; and from the Supreme Grand Royal Arch " Chapter of Quebec , M . W . Bro . Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A ., P . G . M ., to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons . & c . "

On September 23 , 1 S 79 , it was announced by me to the Grand Chapter of Quebec , in annual convocation , as follows : " I have great pleasure in announcing to you that V 2 , „ reco R mtlon accorded by this Grand Chapter to the MlW' the Grand Lod ge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales , and of the Colonies and Dependencies 01 tne Dntisn

thrown , nas been fraternally accepted by that Grand Body ; that Grand Representatives to and from our respective Grand Bodies have been appointed , and that therewith fraternal correspondence has been established under the most happy auspices ; and based on the great principle of our respective soverei gn jurisdictional supremacy , embodied in our fraternal resolution of recognition .

ate . Uur Grand Chapter unanimously adopted the reports of the Committees on the address of the Grand Z „ and on Foreign Correspondence , as follows : That "they join the Grand Z . in welcoming the establishment of fraternal relations with the Grand Mark Masters Lodge ot England and Wales , and heartily congratulate him on his annninr .

ment as Grand Representative of the Grand Matk Lodoe , with the rank of Honorary Past Grand Warden of the English Grand Body . " The appointment of M . W . Bro . the ftev . G . R . Portal , MA P . G . M ., as our Grand Representative near your Grand Lodge , was unanimously confirmed , and M ? l 7 ' n . } ssT order ? < ° he immediatel y forwarded to that M . W . Brother , —which was done .

Upwards of three years have now elapsed since the last preceding date , and copies of our respective published proceedings have hitherto been exchanged , but no letters of enquiry , or other official communications of any kind , or upon any subject , have been received by me from your Urand Lodge or from our Grand Representative near your Urand Body , nor by our Grand Scribe E . from your Grand Secretary , and hence it was thought by us that Ihe int-rjunsdictional relations , so happily and firmly established as

^ supposed , were being fraternally maintained , and the obligations of Masonic international comity were being strictly observed by you ; but it now appears from what , as below , has but recently come to our knowledge , that for upwards of a year past your Grand Bod y has been acting towards us in utter disregard of your covenant obligations , and as if you consider that . the Freemasons of Quebec and of the Dominion of Canada have no Masonic rights which you are in any way bound to respect .

About the end of April last , a then seemingly incredible rumour reached me to the effect that a lodge of Mark Master Masons had been established in the city of Montreal by your Grand Body , and 1 addressed a letter of