Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Note And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Note and Queries .

THE ST . CLAIR CHARTERS ( PAGE 2 lS ) . I feel it necessary to reply to the statements made by Bro . D . M . Lyon in page 21 S of The Freemason , concerning the copies of the St . Clair Charters which T sent nearly a year ago , and appeared in The Freemason of June 8 th ,

1872 . He says , that " minus the copyists' or printers' errors which they contain" they appeared to him at the time , to be " a literal transcript of the copies from the originals" made by himself and published by him tsvo years ago , and he seems to think this good ground of a grave

charge against me , in making which he certainl y uses very strong lanuage ; for he says , I should not " has'e appropriated ' his' work" in any case , without the courtesy' of acknosvledgement . When Bro . D . M . Lyon makes any real

contribution to our knosvledge of Masonic antiquities , I shall be prompt to acknosvledge it , and to give him all due credit for it ; but I am not aware of anything of this kind which he has yet done . Certainl y in the present case he has done nothing to boast of . He does not seem to be asvare that

any copies of these charters were ever published before his transcript of what he calls " the originals" in the possession of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , which he published tsvo years ago . " But the fact is , that , copies of them were published so long ago as 18 . 35 , " ¦ a work entitled

" Genealogies of the Saint Clairs of Rosslyn " by Father Richard Augustin Hay . This work was published in Edinburgh , by Stevenson , the well known antiquarian bookseller and publisher . Bro . D . M . Lyon will find the Charters there at pp . 159 to 16 . 3 , in good plain type . They will

be found also in pp . 435 to 440 of "The History of Freemasonry , and the Grand Lodge of Scotland " , by the late Bro . William Laurie , Secretary to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , a work with which I can hardly suppose Bro . D . M . Lyon to be unacquainted , although it may be that amidst

all his researches , Father Hay ' s " Genealogies of the St . Clairs of Rosslyn" may have escaped his observation . Being well acquainted with both these books , I saw no need of acknowledging Bro . Lyon ' s transcription of " the originals" as any service done to the brotherhood .

Bro . D . M . Lyon takes it upon him to assert that I was ignorant of "the existance of the original charters " till he informed me of the fact through the Freemason . He ought to be a little more cautious in his assertions . It is not very safe for a man who desires always to say what is

true , and nothing but what is true , to assert in the most unqualified manner what he does not know , and cannot knosv , to be true . Nor is it right , and in the present ease what Bro . Lyon asserts is the very opposite of the truth . Of the existence of what he calls the original charters ,

in the possession of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , I was well aware before he es'er published any thing about them in the Freemason , or othersvise , and I suppose long before he ever saw or heard of them . Many years ago they were shosvn to me by a brother Mason who had borrosved them

from the late Bro . Professor Aytoun lor the purpose of having a lithographed fac-simile of them made , of which he thought to endeavour to get each of the lodges holding of the Grand Lodge of Scotland to purchase a copy . I said to him that I did not believe them to be the principal

charters , as these would most probably be written on parchment , but merely drafts from which these would aftersvards be extended ; and in consequence of this he gave up the idea of having them lithographed . I am still of the same opinion . The charters in possession of the Grand

Lodge of Scotland , which are written on paper , are no doubt genuine . They may even be called , in a certain sense , the originals ; as from them the charters intended for preservation and reference would be extended ; but if these could be found they would be of higher authority . It would be interesting to compare them with each other , anil

perhaps , this may yet be possible . 1 would not be nmensurprised if the charters fairly engrossed on parchment , or vellum , svere yet to be found in the Earl of Rosslyn ' s charter chest . Meanwhile , the copies in the Hay MSS ., in the Advocates' Library , may probably be assumed as representing the charters in their perfect and

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Note And Queries.

final form . The differences between them and the drafts—as I take them to be—in possession of the Grand Lodge , would thus be easily accounted for , excepting , perhaps , in the matter of abreviations , which Father Flay may readily be supposed to have made for himself in transcribing .

The greater the discrepancy between his MSS . and the Grand Lodge charters , the greater would the probability appear to be that he did not copy from them , but from the charters as finally extended for preservation , and to which in preparing his Genealogy cf the Saint Clairs of RossLn , he

may be very probably supposed "to have access . That the Grand Lodge Charters are drafts , I think very certain . All who are acquainted svith the subject of deeds , whether contract or charter , where the interests of tsvo parties are concerned , knosv that these documents are not prepared

easily , or , at once , as it were " off the reel . " A certain procedure is necessary : first , one of the parties drafts the deed , and sends it to the other for revision . Perhaps several revisions , and by both parties , take place , till both are satisfied svith the terms . This draft , thus iinally

determined upon , is signed by both parties , and is sent to be engrossed . Having been engrossed , the principal , in contradistinction to to the draft deed , is signed svith the usual formalities which constitute it de facto the deed . Important documents , such as sasines and the like , arc always extended

on vellum or parchment ; but in former years every deed which required to be presented svas written on the same substance . However , in absence , or in the loss of the principal deed , the draft takes its place ; and oven in questions

raised concerning the terms used in the principal , reference is made to the draft for their 1 lucidation . It would be very improbable , even in a charter of recent elate , that a copy OVA paper was the principal one—the charter properl y so-called ; but much more so as to a charter of the seventeenth

century . I hope to have the opportunity ere long of carefully comparing the Hay MS . copies with the Grand Lodge Charters , and if anything of real interest is thus brought to view I will not be long in communicating it to the readers of the Freemason if place can be found for it in its columns .

I shall not imitate Bro . D . M . Lyon in the use of reproachful language , nor bring against him railing accusations of ignorance , or any other thing such as he has ventured to bring against me . I leave the readers of the Freemason , and I lea \ -e himself to judge whether his

conduct in so doing is Masonic and becoming . In sending copies of the St . Clair Charters to the Freemason for publication , thinking them svell worthy of being laid before its readers , in the historical sketch which I gave of the Saint Clairs of Rosslyn , I preferred to send printed copies

rather than to take trouble of transcribing them , and I do not hesitate to say 1 cut them out of the Freemason , instead of cutting them , as I might have done , out of a valuable book . If , therefore , there svere in them errors of the copyist ns he hints , he will knosv whose errors they

svere . It is thirty-eight years since the St . Clair Charters were published , consequently there can be nothing nesv presented to the Brotherhood b y D . M . Lyon . CHALMERS I . PATON .

HEREDITARY GRAND MASTER OF SCOTLAND . We omitted to state that this interesting article by Bro . W . J . Huglian , P . M ., on the above- subject , was reprinted from the " Mas-snie yews " published in Glasgosv .

I'UOV . G . I . OIIGK OF CORNSVALL . I thank Bro . H . for his well-meant criticism of the last meeting of the above Prov . G . L ., and feel glad he has called attention to it in a most fraternal and able manner . I am bound to admit the correctness of most of his statements ,

and trust that his letters will lead to au authoritative decision on the subject . The points which ate open to consideration , and explanation , appear to mc to be the validity of the Patent held by the De |> . Prov . G . M . and secondly as the

Pros' . G . M . designate , did not attend the Prov . G . L ., his Lordshi p cannot be said to have held it . I have every respect for our nesv Prov . ' .. G . M ., but , like Bro . IL , am anxious to have tlic matter in dispute finally settled , and feel cer-

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Note And Queries.

—^^ re ic ^ a the matter in dispute finall y settled , and feel certain that his Lordship will b ¦ one of the first to desire the fullest enquiry . —W . J . HUGHAN .

Consecration Of The Dykes Conclave, Red Cross Of Constantine.

CONSECRATION OF THE DYKES CONCLAVE , RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE .

On Tuesday , the 1 , 5 th inst ., this conclave was inaugurated af * the Masonic Rooms . Cockermouth , under the auspices of the Intendant General of the Division , 111 . Sir Knt . Edward Busher , P . G . S . G ., who svas assisted by III . Sir Knts . J . Whitwell , jll . l ' .. G . Chamberlain ;

R . Wontworth Little , G . Tn as . ; H . C . Levantler M . A ., G . H . A . ; Jesse Banning , H . P ., 77 ; IL Rauthmell , 20 ; [ ohn Peaison , Richard Robinson , Dr . William ( ones , William Taylor , md Thomas F . Taylor . The ceremony of

inauguration svas perlormetl with great effect , Sir Knt . Dr . Jones officiating as Grand Organist . The following brethren were then installed as Kni ghts of the Order , John R . Tickle , P . M ., 371 ; Wm . Armstrong , P . M ., 371 ; John Lawson , W . M . 371 ; W . H . Tickle . S . W . 37 !;

James Gardiner , J . W . 371 ; George M . Tickle , Sec . . 371 ; Thos . Moore , S . D . 371 ; Quintin Moore , ] . D . 371 ; Robert Urown , D . C 371 ; Thos . Manele , " P . S . W . 571 ; David Tillington , Joseph Abbott , David Bell , Joseph Carter , Henry II . Melmore , and loi-auhan R . Banks , of

. 371 ; Jas . Porter Prov . P . G . I > ., P . M . . 327 ; Geo . Shannon , W . M . 527 ; George Carrick , J . W . , 327 ; Edward , Fearon l' . M . no ; Crowthe : ' Morton , P . M . S 72 ; Edward Ablett , S . D . 872 ; Dr . Emmerson Ilonrv , | ohn L . Pint-am , Isaac Harkncss , [ ohn Mills , ' l . W . 1 . 390 ; I ohn Wood , P . M .

1073 ; Wm . F . Lamonhy , LU . 1002 ; Henry MoncrielK 1002 : Dr . Henry Dodgson , P . M 1002 ; Rev II . L . Puxley , Pros * . G . C . P . M 1002 ; Robert Bailey P . G . W . 1002 ; lid ward Tyson , and Win . Potts . The srrade of Eusebius svas conferred on Sir

Knts . Henry Rauthmell , 20 ; Jesse Banning , H . P ., 77 ; Thomas F . Taylor . John Wood , Rev . Ii . L . Puxley , C . Morton , IE Dodgson , J . R . Tickell , J . Porter , and G . Carrick ; and that of Sovereign upon Sir Knts . R . Robinson , Rauthmell , Wood , Taylor , Puxley , C . Morton ,

Dodgson , lickell , and Porter . Sir Knt . R . Robinson was duly enthroned as the first M . P . S . of the conclave , vice Iredale , whose health would not admit of his holding the ollice ; and Sir Knt . Pearson was inducted into the chair of E . The appointment of officers was

deferred until the next assembly , and the conclave was then closed , the knig hts having to attend a meeting of the Prosincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland and Westmoreland , at the Town Hall , shortly after the conclave .

It svas intimated that Sir Knt . Col . Whitsvell , M . P ., the Deputy Provincial Grand Master would accept the post of Intendant General for Cumberland , and Westmoreland , in the room of Sir Knt . Busher , ssho desires to retire in his favour .

The furniture and appointments of the nesv conclave were very splendid , and the whole arrangements reflected great oedit upon all concerned .

STANDARD OF CHARITY . —Men mensuretheir charities by a peculiar standard . A man who has but a dollar in his pocket would give a penny for almost anv purpose . If ho had a hundred dollars he might give one . Carry it higher and there conns a fallimr oil ' . One hundred would

be considered too large a sum for him who has ton thousand , svhile a present of one thousand would he deemed miraculous from a man worth one hundred thousand , yet the proposition is the same throughout , and theptur man ' s penny , the svidow ' s mite , is more than the rich man ' s highsounding and widely-trumpeted benefaction .

SaauDre . T . —Th' - mil ; . - gii .-iraiitei'i ! IIIIV tOi' 'I noiliiielie . —This ex traniiliiiai ' i app ' . i . . ai'iii , ma . vi- ]! , in ; i-i : ¦ - iiierls ) : ivus iinniL'ili . ite ri'lirl , ilillinul in ; triil ^ Cir liinlli . . ni , l I 'iw ; . 1 I . "I ' uiari -. ! , i [ i ; iinn . 1-. I el . : ) ii ) . t li' i- I -. ' , ' 1 . i ll ' .- ' i >; i . \ ' I : - IIIIIM I l " . l ' S , ' li > v . lean — , 11 ! . ili . l im , i . i .-hl , tin- ieelll ail , .. ic . . ' . T . C . I ' ¦ •>¦ - ¦ - ¦ ' in tl ..- . Jillll-i , anl . a . - > i'iii'i . iii . ; , C' ei- in . i . i-i . i' .. - ' i ¦ ' -I- I In- KUYAI . I ) I . \ iiiiii' v ., j , ii im re 1 liii-n ; i if i ! -, ' 1 , -, a t ' . i ! l | o . Maii- ^ ly , . eaves Jin- lecll . a pc'ai'Mike w hiii'iR '^ , .-nut i : i , j , ie > . 1 Oi'lieiim-. lrai ( i jure , tn the breath : l- ' -, i , ci- ; .-li , l . --niil In a . l i-iiniiKt-i ri in 1 | n . 'ifnm «« . 111 * 1 hi llii : I'nijuielor-, Mr . s < ii » . O . e . Kire ., llie nlil-eslabli-lieil Mcntistu , 72 , Liulgati ' -liill , rinti 56 , 1 lailey-btrect , Cavciidisli . ft'itiarc l ^ ondon ,