Reviews.

and of itself enough to hand down to posterity the name of Walter Besant as an able historian as well as a most successful novelist . The illustrations are a special feature of this beautiful volume for though so many as to absorb some five pages in their enu-neration , they are all good , and not a few are of the choicest character , the typographical facsimiles being veritable gems . Copies may be had from any booksellers at iSs . each , or from the publishers , Messrs . Chatto and Windus .

HOOKS , & o , Kl-XEIVliD . Voice of Masonry ; Australasian Keystone ; Indian l ' reeinason ; Round the World with ( ien . John C . Smith , iSry-S ; Sunday Times : Clasgow Herald : City Press : Oiiatnnr Corcmatoruni Antigraphy , Volume VI . ; History of Krccniasonrv on the Coast of Coromamlcl ( Rev . C . H . Maiden ) : The Craftsman ; Philadelphia Keystone "; Masonic Tidings : and The Pacilic Mason .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1077 J OLD MASONIC MSS . I shall be very pleased to correspond with any brother , or dealer , who has or knows of any copies of the " Old Charges " of the Freemasons similar to the one reproduced in this year ' s Christmas Freemason . It is most important that we should have all these documents carefully collated and described , as well as reproduced , when possible , for the information of Masonic students . I shall be happy to offer any information thereon , as well as to purchase or copy any such rolls or scrolls .

, 078 ] W . J . HUGHAN . A correspondent informs us that at a recent meeting , which was not entirely composed of Masons , and at which a Roman Catholic priest was present , a brother unmindful of his obligation about holing , spoke somewhat too freely of the Ars Quatuor Coronatorum as supplying light to the Craftsmen which was unknown to the profane . The Roman Catholic priest at once ridiculed the Masonic light and

described it as " benighted ignorance . " Our informant , therefore , invites us to administer advice to brethren about the necessity for being cautious , and also to furnish a few hints which may enable brethren to repel any future attack on our justly celebrated Quatuor Coronati Lodge . As to the necessity for exercising caution at all times and in all places , but more especially in mixed assemblies , there can be no doubt , and if there wervi any , the difficulty in which the careless brother referred to landed himself is in itself reason sufficient . As to the

hints , we have consulted one of the founders of the lodge and he has very kindly placed at our disposal the following statement in reply : " The title ' Quatuor Coronati ' for our distinguished literary lodge is not quite satisfactory from a Masonic point of view . It was the late Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford's suggestion . The fact is , according to the most reliable information on the subject , there were four officers of Rome and five sculptors , or Masons , martyred for their faith in Diocletian ' s reign . The names of one set having been lost sight of , the

whole of the nine were included in the Four Martyrs , " and though subsequently their names were traced , they have been practically thus combined down to the present time . The matter is exhaustively treated by Bro . Gould in his " History of Freemasonry , " Chapter X „ and in publications of the " Q uatuor Coronati Lodge . " We trust this answer , and the reference it contains , to the fuller explanation to be found in Bro . Gould ' s history , will enable our correspondent to defend successfully the Quatuor Coronati Lodge from the attacks of its vilifiers .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Robert Grey , President , presided . Bro . David Dixon Mercer , P . G . P ., took his scit as S .-nior Vice-President for the first time . Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President , was in his official seat . Bros . Edward Letchworth , G . Sec . ; W . Lake , Asst . G . Sec . ; W . Djdd , W . H . Lee , F . Palmer , and H . Sadler , G . Tyler , represented the Grand Secretary's Department . The other brethren present

were—Bros . Charles J . R . Tijou , W . Fisher , George Graveley , William Vincent , T . W , Whitmarsh , S . Vallentine , Henry Garrod , George B . Chapman , Charles Dairy , S . H . Goldschmidt , J . Newton , James Bunker , Richard Eve , George R . Langley , W . M . Stiles , Walter Hopekirk , Walter Martin , S . V . Abraham , William A . Anson , M . I . Emanuel , J . R . Bottomley , E . W . Smith , W . M . 1816 ; A . H . Lilley , lames Boulton , G . Powell , Bromlev G . Allen , 945 ; Thomas Lewin , F . L ,

Chandler , Alex . B . P . Collins , George Willson , John E . Peters , George Abbott , H . Massey , George Wale , E . Apelt , G . E . W . Tucker , Lieut .-Col . E . W . Blunt , F . Mecey , Edmond J . Turnbull , C . Vandylin , Charles H . A . S . Harris , Frederick Thomas , Edwin Evans , Henry Ball , Walter Merritt , W . A . Scurrah , J . T . Rowe , M . Siegenberg , John K . Groom , T . H . Barker , W . H . Wellsman , D . A . Laligdon , Charles Henry Stone , G . Booker , E . Salomons , E . W . Nightingale , George P . Gillard , and Edward Wavell .

Recommendations made to the Grand Master of grants at the November meeting , to the amount of £ 3 60 , were confirmed . There were 47 petitioners for assistance on the new list , who were qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Deal , Sittingbourne , Barrow-in-Furness , Chiswick , Farnham , Malvern , Ramsgate , Tottenham , Carmarthen , Winchester , Appleby , Leeds , Jersey , Folkestone , Teddington , Todmorden , Woolwich ,

Oxford , Abingdon , Maidenhead , and South Shields . Ihe consideration of these cases occupied the Board four hours and a quarter , during which time four of the petitions were deferred , a fewer number than is ordinarily the case . There was another exception to the general rule—not a single case was dismissed . The total sum voted was ^ 925 , or £ 20 more than at the November meeting , and , £ 120 more than at the October meeting . Two

cases were recommended to Grand Lodge for £ 50 each , three to the Grand Master for £ 40 each , five for £ 30 each , and two for £ 25 each . Fifteen immediate grants were made ot £ 20 each , one of £ 15 , and 14 of £ 10 each . The P RESIDENT , before the brethren separated , wished them a very , very merry Christmas ar . d happy New Year , and hoped they might be as happy that nig ht 12 months as they were that night .

Interesting Presentation To Bro. Jones.

INTERESTING PRESENTATION TO BRO . JONES .

Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather , there was a full muster of the members of the Minerva Lodge at the Masonic Chambers , Hamilton-street , Birkenhead on Friday evening , the 13 th inst ., under the presidency of the W . M ., R Wm F . Robinson . It seems that during the Mastership of Bro . Sam . Jones , P M P P I G D ., which closed a few weeks ago , a domestic event of rare occurrence took place ' at his residence , 13 , Elm-grove , Birkenhead , being that of the hirth of a son on the last day of his year of office . A unanimous feeling was expressed among the members of the lodge that this was a suitable time to mark their appreciation of Bro . Jones as a man and a

Interesting Presentation To Bro. Jones.

Mason , by presenting him with such a token as befitted the occasion , viz ., a silver cradle . After mature consideration on the part of the Executive , it was decided the presentation should take the form of a very handsome silver loving cup , suitably inscribed and embellished , with appropriate Masonic emblems . It is finished in plain burnished silver , with fluted side handles , and fl ited bind round the centre . On one side is engraved the bust of Minerva , copied from the antique model ,

and the following inscription : "Presented to W . Bro . Sam . Jones , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., by brethren of Minerva Lodge , No . 2433 , as a token of esteem and to commemorate the birth of a son during his year as W . M . October 3 rd , 1895 . " On the other side is engraved the volume of the Sacred Law , the square and com > asses , and a Past Master's jewel . The loving cup stands on a solid ebony pedestal , bearing in silver a model of a cradle , being the emblem of the event .

Bro . ROBINSON- , W . M ., in making the presentation , dwelt at length on the great services rendered by Bro . Jones to the Craft , laying special stress on his profound knowledge of the ritual and the mysteries of Masonry , and expressing the warmest wishes of himself and members for the continued happiness of himself and family .

Bro . JoN'iis , who was evidently surprised at the magnificence of the presentation , and was suffering from suppressed emotion , suitably replied , thanking the members for their handsome gift and hearty good wishes , and assuring those present that in the future , as in the past , his best services would be placed at the disposal of the Craft .

At an earlier stage of the proceedings an able paper was read by Bro . Capt . J . MACNAH , P . P . J . G . W . West Lancashire , on " The Origin and Perpetuation of Masonic Symbolism . " The visiting brethren present included Bros . J . Macnab , P . P . J . G . W . West Lancashire ; J . Fletcher , P . P . J . G . D . West Lancashire ; R . Robinson , P . M . 477 ; R . Parry , P . M . 1276 ; G . S . Browne , W . M . 786 ; C . Birchall , 1547 ; H . J . Cooper , S 63 Port Elizabeth ; Rigmaiden , S . D . 2406 ; and others .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

St . George's Lodge , No . 242 . A meeting was held in the Masonic Rooms , Djncaster , on Friday evening , the 6 th inst ., when there were present Bros . J . H . Pawson , W . M . ; C . H . Woodhouse , I . P . M . ; F . Bridge , S . W . ; F . H . Buckland , J . W . ; P . Jenner , acting Chap . ; F . Rani , Treas . ; H . C . White , Sec . ; G . Smith , S . D . ; W . W . Peacock , J . D . ; F . Webb , D . of C . j S . Lester , I . G . ; F . Duff , Org . ; S . Castle and H . Foster . Stewards ; J . Mason and C . Richardson , Tylers ; W . Blake , S . W . S . Taylor . T . Bletcher , J . W .

Turner , ; W . C . Wright , W . Goodair , I .. F . Hanson , C . Hopkinson , H . Gunby , W . Stiles , and T . Anelay . Visitors : Hros . J . Constable , Secretary , T . Barber , S . W ., and H . A . Fenton , J . W ., of 2259 ; and S . T . Oates , 364 . Messrs . Christopher Porrett and E . E . Shires were duly initiated by the W . M ., Bro . Buckland giving the working tools , and Bro . Bridge the charge . A candidate for initiation having been proposed , the lodge was closed . The brethren afterwards retired to the ante-room , when a pleasant hour was passed in toast and harmony .

Unity Lodge , No . 613 . The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Monday , the 9 th instant , at the Masonic Buildings , Lord-street , Southport . The lodjfe was opened by Bro . R . W . T . Hatch , W . M ., supported by his officers . The minutes of the previous nuetingwere read and confirmed . The W . M . installed his successor with great skill and ability . He appointed as his Installing Officers Bros . Richard Sharrock , P . P . D . G . D . of C , as S . W . ; G . S . Smith , P . P . G . Org . East and West Lanes , as J . W . ; and I . Lees ,

P . G . U ., as l . U Bro . James O . Piatt , S . W ., W . M . elect , was presented to the Installing Master by Bros . T . Adams , P . P . G . D . C , and John Hatch , P . P . G . D ., who was duly installed into the chair of K . S . with great dignity , and saluted by 26 Past Masters present . After the usual formula , the brethren were admitted , and Bro . J . O . Piatt , W . M ., was proclaimed Master , and due honour was done him under the direction of Bro . Max Boyd , P . M ., who also presented the working tools and gave the addresses to the W . M ., Wardens , and brethren respectively . We were pleased to see our old friend .

Bro . baml . Kershaw , P . M ., in his usual grand form , who invested and explained the jewels to each officer . The service was fully choral , under the direction of Bro . Walter Wilkinson , Organist . During the evening a Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . Wm . Hatch , I . P . M ., for his valuable services during the past yiar , and a m jst charming jewel was presented to Bro . T . Adams , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . ; it was of pare geld and of exquisite design , the workmanship being a combination of Past Muter and Treasurer . It was presented on behalf of the brethren of the loi / e by Bro . Gor ^ e

; Duxfield in most elaborate and flowing praise of Bro . T . Adam ' s sterling- worth . Bro . Adams responded . The lodge did not forget the Charities—15 guineas was voted to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , Bro . R . W . T . Hatch , I . P . M ., acting as Steward , and also five guineas each to the local Institutions , viz .: West Lin : ashire Masonic Educational Institution , West Lancashire Hamer Benevolent Institution , aid Wist

Lancashire Alpass Benevolent Institution . The following were investsd as offi-ers for the ensuing year : Bros . J . O . Piatt , W . M . ; R . W . T . Hatch , l . P . M . ; S . Bramwell , S . W . j J . J . Broome , J . W . ; the Rev . J . S . Gardner , M . A ., P . M ., P . P . G . Chap ., Chap . ; G . Duxfield , P . M ., Treas . ; John T . Gale , P . M ., Sec ; A . A . W . Phillipps S . D . ; B . Purser , J . D . j M . H . Boyd , D . C ; W . Wilkinson , Org . ; W . Derry , I . G . N . Shaw , A . S . Robson , R . Brittain , and John Hough , Stwds . ; G . Rockli / Te , Tyler ; and S . Kershaw , P . M ., Almoner .

The following brethren were present : Bros . R . W . T . Hatch , W . M . ; Georee Horsford , P . M . ; John Hatch , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; Max H . Boyd , P . M . ; E . BrarJshaw , P . M . ; Thos . Havward , P . M . ; James O . Piatt , S . W . ; Sydney Bram . veil . J . W . ; Geo . Duxfield , P . M . ; T . Adams , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., Treas . ; John W . Gale , P . M ., Sec ; J . J . Broome , J . D . ; Walter Wilkinson , Org . ; Alexander P . iillipj , D . W . Derry , Arthur Robson , and A . Shaw , Stwds . ; G . W . Rockliffs , Tyler ; Richard Brittain , J . W . Munro , W . Crankshaw , P . M ., T . W . Child , J . Hough , A . E . Connard jiiiiuiuicnurdic udicn 1 Dennettinos

I ' . vv . OIIIILU , . . , vv . , j . . , . oeuuon , n . V . Rooke , T . E . Williams , P . M . ; S . Kershaw , P . M . ; Jos . Fortune , and Fred . Walmsley . Visitors : Bros . W . J . Brittain , P . M . ; D . Galloway , P . M . ; P . Rawsthorne , W . M . 2325 ; S . Thorpe , P . M . ; James Iddon ; Richd . Snarro ; k , P . P . D . G . D . C ; Robert Horsfall ; G . S . Smith , P . P . G . Org . East and West Lanes ; R . Smit ; Joseph L » es P . G . D . ; Wm . Morecroft , W . M . 1313 ; T . J . Dewhurst ; R . Hayes ; loseph ' b \ Roberts , P . P . G . D . C ; S . Boycc , P . M . ; W . J . Worden , P . D . G . Reg . ; J . E . Fisher and J . Rhodes . " '

Hemming Lodge , No . 1512 . A meeting of this lodge was held at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court , on the 21 st ult . Among those present were Bros . E . II . Trotter , W . M . ; U 1 . Tarfrr I VV J . C Jessett , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Treas . ; Capt . T . C . Walls , P . M ., P . G . S . B ., Sec ' P . Cronin , S . D . ; C . Wheatley , J . D . ; G . Ransford , P . M ., P . S . G . W . Middx D C ' H . Wheatley , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , H . Webster , and W . Hill , Stwds .: ' W Ockenden , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; W . Spearing , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . ; W . Fisher PM ' P . P . G . Treas . ; and J . W . Clarke , P . M . ' '

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . F [ M . Edwards was passed to the Second Djgree . Bro . G . J . Tagg , | . W ., was ' u . iani mously elected W . M . ; Bro . J . C . Jessett , P . M ., Treas . ; and Iiro . John Gilbert Tyler . A Past Master ' s jewel and collar were voted to the VV . M . for his conduct in the chair . The sum of 10 guineas was voted to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Trotter Steward for the Festival

per Bro . E . H . as , 1 S 96 . The Secretary announced that "The Room Testimonial" would close on the 31 st instant . A petition to the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in favour of a <« in nf the late Bro . R . Eales , P . M . 1512 , and P . P . G . R ., was signed . The lodge was then closed , and a banquet followed , at which the usual toas v s w -re given , and a most agreeable evening was spent .