"Ars Quatuor Coronatorum."

it is but fair to state that I agree generally with his treatment of the subject , believing as he does that these grand old documents are " essentially English , " and are , as they profess to be , old , reflecting alike the ignorance and the actual circumstances of the time of their origin . His claim that they are of " secular

origin" does not appear to me proved or probable , though possible , but that the " Athelstan-Edwin legend is a fairly correct statement of the . fact that English Masonry was re-organised in the reign of King Athelstan at a meeting held at York " may be taken as virtually established .

It is also clear to my mind that Bro . Howard is fully justified in believing and maintaining that the original copies ( now lost , unfortunately ) , were made within a reasonable time of " Athelstan ' s " patronage , the prototypes of those rolls preserved being doubtless much briefer than their successors . " The building

operations carried on so actively from the tenth to the thirteenth centuries would afford such facilities for the extension of the Craft and for the transmission of its ancient traditions , that numerous copies of the Old Charges would soon be required , " as Bro . Howard states , " these copies being probably the

immediate precursors of those we now possess . " 1 should like to have Dr . Begemann ' s opinion of the ingenious suggestion of the author , that in process of time , by various moulding circumstances , " the two legends of S . Alban , the convert of S . Adhabelle and S . Alban , the King's foreman of works and first great

organiser of Masonry , " were gradually shaped about A . D . 926 from the original names or readings of St . yEthelbert or Ethelbert ( the famous King of East Anglia , murdered in Offa ' s palace A . D . 792 ) , and St . Alban ' s , the first fruits of Offa ' s active

Christianity . No doubt the point will be well considered by Bros . Gould , Speth , Macbean , and others who have a predilection for unearthing ancient worthies and making them live again in the light of present research and theory .

My esteemed friend , Dr . Begemann , in his " Remarks on the William Watson MS , " has furnished abundant evidence in proof of my contention that this document is of great interest and importance . Indeed , our diligent German brother goes still

further , for his opinion is that "the William Watson MS . is more valuable even than the Regius MS . as regards its important character , in explaining a good deal of the historical development of Masonic traditions , and that the real value of the Cooke MS . has only been revealed by the manuscript in question . "

The learned doctor long ago felt convinced that the " Cooke MS . " had served as a prototype for the ordinary versions of the old Constitutions which came down to us from the sixteenth and

seventeenth centuries , " and agrees with our indefatigable Secretary that the celebrated " Cooke MS . " ( reproduced in facsimile in Vol . 2 of our reprints , with Bro . Speth ' s invaluable " Commentary , " ) may now take a higher place than formerly .

It delig hts me much to find these old documents receiving more attention of late years than hitherto , for prior to the publication of my " Old Charges of British Freemasons " in 18 72 , and even for some years subsequently , few paid any regard to them , save dear Bro . Woodford and myself . Since Bro .

Gould ' s History , however , and the well-directed researches of Bros . Begemann , Speth , and other students , we are now well on the road towards understanding their true position in relation to the history of the Craft , and their great value during a period when else little but darkness remains .

The boldness of Dr . Begemann ' s criticism is quite refreshing , as well as its conspicuous originality , for he constructs some nine copies of the " Cooke" and "Plot" families out of the sparse

material available , making the two fragments of what I considered belonged to the same scroll into Crane MSS ., Nos . 1 and 2 ; for reasons which appear to be satisfactory , but which did not occur to me when the "William Watson MS . " was unknown .

The capital paper by Bro . William Dixon on "The Old Lodge at Lincoln " is just the sort of thing we much need in our Transactions , and will prove a boon to brethren anxious to study the oldest lodge minutes preserved in England from 1701 , these commencing in the year 1732 . Dr . Oliver referred to them in

1847 , but was in error in connecting this lodge of 1732 with one formed in 1792 . In my "Origin of the English Rite" will be found particulars on the same subject , transcripts of several of the earlier minutes having been kindly supplied me bv Bro .

Watson , of Lincoln . Bro . Lane has also noted their character in his " Masters' Lodges * , " but not until now have these records been printed continuously and verbatim et literatim , thus enabling us all to do just as well as if we had the ori ginal volume before us .

These extracts are valuable for many reasons , especially in relation to the " Third Degree , " first referred to in what may be called a lodge record , A . D . 1724-5 ( then possibly of the age of some seven years ) , and for the identification of Martin Clare ,

"Ars Quatuor Coronatorum."

D . G . M ., as the author of the extremely able "Defence" of 1730-8 , referred to by Bros . Gould and Sadler . Bro . Dr . Barrett ' s " Masonic Musicians " is a most readable and pleasant article , which cannot fail to interest a large number

of brethren , and fully merited the vote of thanks so cordiall y passed at the lodge held in May last . It is to be hoped that his desires may " soon be realised , and that "the rulers of the Craft

may think the matter sufficientl y worthy of their attention and support , " so that we may advance in the direction of Bro . Mozart , by providing suitable music during portions of our

ceremonies . There are other papers that should be noted , but how can that be done in this article when several require two or three columns to do them justice ! Take the " Masonic Built City , "

by Bro . S . Russell Forbes ( with all its suggestive theories ) ; "The Legend of Sethos , " by Dr . B . W . Richardson , F . R . S . ( which led to such an interesting discussion , because of the respected Doctor ' s original theory ) ; the numerous

" Notes and Queries ( with many really valuable hints and suggestions from Bro . John Yarker , which ought to bear fruit ); the timely and ably written review of Bro . H . Sadler ' s " Life of Thomas Dunckerley , " which is

having a large circulation at home and abroad , and is one of the most important and valuable Masonic . works in our library ( from the pen of Bro . Gould ); and Colonel Pratt ' s "Note on the Svastica , " to properly digest and explain which would qualify

me for the distinction of a "knight of the moon ( or the : pen ) referred to by Dr . Barrett in his " List of London Clubs , " for assuredly with so much else in hand it would have to be night

work to accomplish it all ; and finally the friendly review of the transactions of the "Newcastle College of Rosicrucians" by Bro . Speth , which have made such an excellent start , and appear in such imposing surroundings .

Bro . Gould s portrait is well done , and will be gladly preserved in our Transactions by all the members of our ever enlarging " Circle . " Another artistic feature is the reproduction

of the " Curious Hand-painted Masonic Apron" submitted by Bro , J . E . Green , who considers it to be " a very interesting and instructive memento of the eighteenth century , " but does not state his opinion more definitely .

Bro . Vaillant ' s "Freemasonry in Holland" is opportune and accurate , my only regret being its provoking brevity . The distinguished Grand . Secretary supports my friend Crowe ' s

article on the same subject , and does not accept Bro . Dieperink's corrections in relation to the Society in that truly Masonic country . I can only conclude this notice of the magnificent number by resolutely determining to write Finis . W . J . HUGHAN .

Burns And The Poet Laureateship Of Canongate Kilwinning.

BURNS AND THE POET LAUREATESHIP OF CANONGATE KILWINNING .

I observed in a notice which recently appeared in the Scotsman that it was there again stated that Robert Burns was Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning in 17 87 . This is a statement that has been repeatedly made and

contradicted , and the question has quite recently been exhaustively discussed in the columns of the Freemason in a correspondence between the historian of the lodge , Bro . Allan Mackenzie , and Bro . William Officer , S . S . C ., and in which correspondence it has been conclusively shown that Burns never held such an office .

The Poet's connection with Canongate Kilwinning lay in his having been " assumed a member " while on his visit to Edinburg h in 1787 . His admission is thus referred to in the minute of the lodge dated ist February , 17 8 7 , and is attested by the Master ,

Alexander Fergusson ; the Depute Master , Charles Mbir ; and the Junior Warden , John Millar ; " . . . . The Right Worship ful Master having observed that Brother Burns was at present in the lodge , who is well known as a great poetic writer , and for a

late publication of his works , which have been universally commended , and submitted that he should be assumed a member or this lodge , which was unanimously agreed to , and he was assumed accordingly . "

Beyond this , Burns had no connection with Canongate Kilwinning . The statement that he was Poet Laureate was first made in 1815 , 19 years after his death . The beautiful story or

his inauguration appears to have been concocted in T 845-4 t 0 supply Mr . Stewart Watson ( a well known Edinburg h artist ) , a member of the lodge , with a subject for a beautiful picture . Mr . Stewart Watson also , it may be here remarked , execute