Reviews

different months of the year , save that of July , such a compilation is especially useful . The " Centenary Jewel Warrants" are duly entered for 48 , Gateshead ( 1867 ) , 97 , Sunderland ( 1864 ) , 111 , Darlington ( i 860 , 12 4 , Durham ( 1 S 63 ) , and 240 , Shields ( 18 S 0 ) . Bro . Hudson has overlooked the Centenary Jewel Warrant of the "Concord " R . A . Chapter , No . 124 , Durham , whose History has been

so ably written by Bro . W . Logan , of that city . It was granted in 1887 , and as only nine other chapters in England have so far obtained the coveted distinction , the honourable position is well worthy of being chronicled . The " Vigilance" Chapter , No . m , Darlington , chartered on March 2 nd , 17 S 8 , apparently has its centenary due this year . As our Comp . Dr . Drury is the Scribe E ., that matter is not likely to be neglected , if the evidence of continuity is

preserved . Another of last century is No . 97 , Sunderland , dating from 1797 . The Province of Northumberland and Durham , for the Mark , is under the genial rule of the Rev . Canon Tristram , who has for his Deputy , the zealous and efficient Craftsman , Bro . T . Y . Strachan , of Newcastle , and Bro . J . S . Wilson is the Prov . G . Sec . We should like to refer to the Educational Fund for the Province , and other matters , but we have arrived " at the end of our tether , " and reluctantly let our pen dry .

Masonic Notes And Queries':

Masonic Notes and Queries' :

771 ] "ATHOLL" GRAND LODGE SEALS . I am exceedingly pleased to find that the several contributions by Bro . J . Ramsden Riley and myself , relative to the seals of the "Ancient" Grand Lodge , have been followed by the able and instructive article by Bro . Henry Sadler in last week's Freemason . The plate in " Masonic Facts aud Fictions " is of use in many ways , and especially in relaiion to the "Antient , " or "Atholl , " Masons . A great deal more is involved in the enquiry as to the exact

period of oiigin of the seal , with the regular arms , than appears on the surface . If , as Bro . Sadler supposes , that the only seal used by the "Ancients" prior to Kirk ' s of 1775 was my No . 1 ( 768 , Notes and Queries ' ) , it is very singular , to say the leaft . The regular " arms of ye most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons" are duly inserted in the "Ahiman Rezon" for

1764 , so that the old seal ( square and compasses , flaming sword and legends " Virtue and Silence , " & c ) , if continued to 1775 , must have been used even during the period of the " arms " being well known to that body . I am surprised to hear that the seal as given in the " History of No . 63 , London , " is incorrect , for , had it been accurate and of the year 1757 , my anticipations as to the arms being

officially used on a seal prior to 1775 would have been veiified . As it is now , that fancy is dispelled after Bro . Sadler's careful examination . There is , however , one other seal—of 1759—attached to the charter of the Grand Master ' s Lodge , No . 1 , which has the arms depicted with legend , & c , either as my No . 3 or No . 4 possibly . Will Bro . Sadler kindly obtain a sight of this valuable

document , and report as to the seal itself , and period of its fixture ? li post 1775 its interest is but slight compared to what it would be if used before that year . Bro . Riley has seen very many " Atholl" certificates , and yet not one of the legends on the seals ended with the word " Institutions , " but all have " Institution . " On the other hand , Bro . Sadler refers to " at least half a dozen " with the

word "Institutions , " so that Bro . Riley ' s challenge is disposed of . I am unable to accept the explanation offered by the latter brother as to the use and meaning of these two words , for clearly such an interpretaticn is foreign to the evident intentions of the " Ancients , " and the seals with either of these words appears to have been indifferently employed on Craft certificates and warrants .

"Institutions" is to be found on the seal attached ( in tin case ) to the warrant of No . 246 , Cheltenham ( of 1813 ) , and we know that the originalseal—thus usedso near the "Union " was by Kirk in A . D . 1775 . Bro . Sadler mentions that 13 "Ancient" warrants out of 21 which he examined had "Institutions" as the final word of the legend , the majority being those of Kirk ' s . Of 46 Craft certificates ,

however , he only reports six as bearing the Kirk seal , the others having " Institution " for the completion of legend . Only one , be it noted , was earlier than 1798 , so that the large number of the other kind may be due to the employment of the new seal of 1792 , and to the possibility of the Kirk die being kept for the presentation medal referred to in the "Ancients" records .

Bro . Riley ' s view that the seal of 1775 was mainly used for Royal Arch certificates may certainly apply to the last decade of the 18 th century on to the blessed union . In favour of this belief may be cited the fact , noted by Bro . Sadler , that only one out of 14 Royal Arch certificates was sealed by other than the one alluded to , Kirk's , of ' 775 j mine of 1799 making another ( See No . 3 ) in favour

of the large majority . Moreover , out of 50 Craft certificates seen by Bro . Riley , not one has the word "Institutions " on the seals . It was but natural , therefore , for our friend to consider that the word in the singular denoted the lodge , & c , thc plural form signifying the chapter . It is proved now , however , that such was not really the case , whatever the evidence in that direction had indicated , as

traced by Bro . Riley . I am still somewhat disinclined to give up the notion that a seal , having the arms of the "Ancients , " was used prior to 1775 , but the fancy has been well nigh dispelled through the destructive criticism of the plate in history of the St . Mary ' s Lodge , No . 63 , London . If Bro . Sadler is able to say no more for the seal on the warrant of No . 1 , London , my anticipations will

have received their quietus , though the feeling of wonderment will still remain ; the original seal being such an undignified official instrument of the "Ancient" Grand Lodge , which long before 1775 had assumed the character of an energetic and prosperous rival to the regular Grand Lodge . Brethren interested should kindl y examine any old "Atholl" warrants , or certificates , and report their date

and particulars as to the seals , say in the "Notes and Queries" department ( which some of us wish was more patronized ) thus adding to our increasing store of facts and enabling us to be assured of the true condition of matters . I am not aware that the " Atholl " Grand Chapter ever issued a separate Royal Arch warrant to work that Degree , at all events , not in this country •but there is TO

Masonic Notes And Queries':

lack of Royal Arch certificates , mostly , however , of comparatively recent date . It is curious to note the difference in the first portion of the legends on the two seals referred to by Bros . Riley and Sadler , as also by myself . Kirk ' s has ¦ ' Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , " whereas the other ( say of 1792 ) reads " Grand Lodge in London of Free and Accepted Masons . "

, W . J . HUGHAN , 772 J J BRO . SADLER AND ATHOLL GRAND LODGE

SEALS . Bro . Sadler ' s article in the Freemason of the 21 st inst ., like others of his which preceded it on kindred subjects , is most valuable ; not for any special erudition he displays on seals , but for the evidence published from Grand Lodge archives . The impartial spirit in which he has from time to time responded ( and in this case without being asked ) , to the demand for "light" on the latter , merits the warm

appreciation of every true Masonic student . Not long ago " darkness reigned supreme " with regard to the records in Grand Lodge ; even in a superficial degree only a few attained any knowledge of them , and that knowledge had to be acquired under great difficulties—the expenditure of time , labour , often some irritability , and , when long journeys had to be taken , money also . To Bro . Sadler we owe

already the advantage of having had a strong light thrown on the Grand Lodge minutes , both of the " Moderns " and " Ancients , " and I have no doubt we may safely credit him with the removal of many a cobweb at Freemasons' Hall . To do this , great personal sacrifices must have been made by him ; and it is no less certain now than when he made those sacrifices , that their recognition could only be

expected from a comparatively small community . I feel it my duty to mention these facts , because the certainty I refer to is very rarely sufficient to keep up the interest Bro . Sadler has manifested , and which I , as a Masonic student , am proud to acknowledge . Bro . Sadler judges of Masonic students no doubt fairly as he has found them , and so far as his knowledge and experience enables him , which is

surely all that can be expected . I know from personal experience how ready he is to assist them ; but his evident abhorrence of "fictions" calls forth my admiration . Such a brother has no risk to run in making statements from Grand Lodge records , and it can only be by entering upon less clearly-defined ground that he is likely to be misled or mislead . But even gross errors may be

pardoned in one actuated by so resolute a determination to unveil the "facts" and put down "fictions . " It is the confidence which this character inspires that gives real value to Bro . Sadler ' s articles . He says he differs from me on minor details concerning Atholl seals ; but 1 can thank him for that difference , because I appreciate his his candour and his zeal . I do not see how the plate of

seals in " Facts and Fictions " can be regarded by any one as " a collection of seals in general ; " but wish Bro . Sadler to clearly understand I had not even an idea that Bro . Hughan ' s article was written for the purpose he mentions , or the point Institution v . Institutions would not have been raised by me on any part of it . The statement regarding St . Mary ' s Lodge warrant seemed strange to me ,

and 1 merely sought information . Moreover , I expressly desired my valued friend , Bro . Hughan , to avoid reference to any author's work , as being quite outside the simple question at issue . That question has been settled by Bro . Sadler , who , after personal examination , confirms the opinion I expressed ( Notes and Queries 709 ) that the seal of St . Mary ' s warrant would be found not to be as stated

by Bro . Hughan . This , therefore , being the root of the controversy , 1 might very well say no more ; however , like Bro . Sadler , I , too , am interested in the " mutual instruction " by which , as he truly states , " we are enabled to save those who follow us much valuable time and labour . " Although we find it necessary , for many and various purposes ( seals among the rest ) , to go to Grand Lodge for

occasional information , yet it cannot furnish the means of acquiring the best experience of seals . Neither can it be the depository of an extraordinary number of certificates and warrants for obvious reasons ; the principal one being that ( speaking generally ) only those returned are in its custody . These form an insignificant proportion ol those issued , and , unfortunately , even of such as perhaps

ought to have been returned , comparatively few are there . No doubt to many this little controversy will have the appearance of " much ado about nothing . " To me it is the final settlement of an opinion I have maintained at least seven years . 1 repeat , after 17 years' study and experience of Masonic seals , that I have never seen an Atholl Craft certificate bearing Kirk ' s seal ( a ) i . e ., mth the legend

" Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons according to the Old Institutions . " I have met with it on Arch certificates only . The difference "in London" is sufficient to establish which of the two seals with similar " Arms " is not Kirk ' s—the legion round the other ( b ) being " Grand Lodge in London of Free and Accepted Masons according to the Old Institution . " And although the lower part oi

a seal may not be sufficiently clear to make it indisputable as regards "Institution" or "Institutions , " there is no difficulty in recognising either by the legend alone , because the two extra words in one of them , ( b ) within the same space , necessarily crowd it . " Kirk F " sometimes decides for the other , but , being just below the centre , is in most cases obliterated , along with the lower portion of the

"Arms , " by pressure or friction . It is a common experience to find the legend quite distinct , and all within it much defaced . Bro . Sadler confirms my experience , admitting that a " much larger number" bear the seal I contend for ( b ) as the true Craft seal ; and agrees also that it was originally intended for Atholl Craft certificates . I never stated that 1 had seen it on Arch certificates , and

never did . I state ( N . and O . 7 6 9 ) that I haveseen Kirk ' s seal on Arch certificates . There is a typographical error in said Notes and Queries which may have caused Bro . Sadler's misapprehension—in the sixth line from the bottom read " Institution . " Bearing in mind what I have already pointed out as to the small proportion of the issued certificates in Grand Lodge custody ( there are , however , more

Atholl certificates than I thought ) I note Bro . Sadler states that 40 out of 46 Craft certificates bear "Institution , " and the remaining six have Kirk ' s seal with " Institutions . " Also , out of 14 Arch certificates , 13 have Kirk ' s seal ( same precisely as he declares is on six of the

Craft certificates ) , and one has the Grand Chapter seal , which latter is , of course , a distinct seal , and outside the present question . Now , it requires no skill in "old seals and documents" to see that this evidence establishes my claim , which is just what Bro . Hughan has d . < rae . He vuites to -me confidently on the

Masonic Notes And Queries':

30 th March that he can " entirely clear up lnsn tutions , " and that he "has a Seal on Certificate min ' 'Institutions . '" The latter I asked for , and , with his usual kindness , received in due course both a Craft and an Arch Certificate ; that is to say , certificates bearing both the seals referred to . They are probably among the m 0-f valuable Atholl certificates in existence , being those of R

Plummer , whose signature appears on so many cei tificates ' of later date ; but both prove my statements ! Is it ljke | v that so well-qualified an Atholl Mason as Plummer would fail to observe whether the seals on his certificates were right or wrong ? This Craft certificate bears the legend " Grand Lodge in London of Free and Accepted Masons according to the Old Institution" ( b ) , and his Arch

Certificate has Kirk's seal , with " in London" left out and "Institutions" ( a ) , both agreeing with my own ex ! perience as stated . The seal No . 2 named by Bro . Huo-ha-i never existed , and his No . 5 I long since dubbed ' * Jack's variety . " I trust a better-qualified brother will take up the other points of Bro . Sadler ' s article , as I really have not time to devote to it just now . Besides a very heavy Masonic correspondence to attend to , all the spare

moments I have at liberty are devoted to the re-arranging of a collection of seals for presentation to our West Ridimj Museum and Library . Masonic seals are an interesting study ; but whether it continues to be neglected or not I should like our province to possess the finest collection ' in the world . I shall not rest satisfied until I have inspected the six certificates referred to by Bro . Sadler . I accept nobody's ipsc-dixit in these matters . J . RAMSDEN RILEY .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft JEaganrg ,

STOCKWELL LODGE ( No . 1339 ) . —The in . stallation meeting of this lodge was held at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , on Tuesday , 17 th inst ., when Bro , A . G . Boswell , who had been unanimously elected , was installed into the chair of K . S ., Bro . H . E . Frances , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . Surrey , being the Installing Officer . This fact being stated , it is unnecessary to add that the ceremony was

performed with the effective precision which is characteristic of all Masonic work performed by Bro . Frances . It is sufficient , therefore , to say that the lodge was opened bj tbe outgoing Worshipful Master , Bro . H . J . Pain , who confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting , received the report of the Audit Committee , and

transacted other ordinary Iodge business . He then vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Frances , who proceeded with the installation . ceremony , and , after concluding it , delivered the three well-known addresses to the Master , the Wardens , and the other brethren of the lodge . Bro , Boswell , the new Master , then invested Bro . Pain with the

collar of I . P . M ., and also the officers , elected or appointed , who are to assist him during the ensuing 12 months , the list being as follows * . Bros . 5 . Myers , S . W . i R . J . Cullen , J . W . ; H . E . Frances , P . M ., P . S . G . D ,, Sec ; R . R . Templeman , P . M ., D . C ; H . Tyrer , S . D . ; J . Pollard , J . D . ; and A . Bowers , I . G . Bro . James Pain , P . M ., re-elected Treasurer of the lodge , was not invested ,

as , in consequence of business abroad , he was unable to be present . Bro . Parkinson , re-elected Tyler of the lodge , was also invested . Bro . Boswell then , in the name of the lodge , presented Bro . Pain with a handsome P . M . 's jewel , which he said all would agree Bro . Pain well deserved , for though he had

been unavoidably absent from some of their meetings , when he was present he had done his work admirably and had proved himself a thoroughly good Mason . Bro . Painin thanking the lodge for this mark of their appreciation , said that during the remainder of his life , and connection with the lodge , his services should always be at their

disposal . A grant of five guineas from the lodge fund was then made in favour of the Boys' School , to be added to the list of their Steward , Bro . Frances , at the next Festival . The lodge was then closed , and subsequently the members of the lodge and their guests dined' together m another room in the same building . Among the visitors

present were Bros . H . Humfress , P . M . 733 ; J . C . Conway , I . G . 1891 ; A . le Claire , 1003 ; R . J . Pugh , 2 i 47 > W . W . Westley , W . M . 18 G ; P . Scarr , S . W . 1 S 91 ; CG . Scott , W . M . 452 ; E . Storr , P . M . 167 ; J . Youlden-P . M . 1891 ; J . Stephens , P . M . 1425 ; R . C . Jones , S . W 1686 ; C . Colman , A . D . C . U 2 <; : I . 1 . Thomas , S . VV *

753 ; T . Coltman , W . M . 1265 ; W . J . Mason , J . W-2246 ; W . Chappell , 1425 ; G . R . Newman , 1590 ; ( JMinns , J . D . 1892 ; W . G . Cannon , P . M . 1539 . - "' Morgan , P . M . 211 ; and E . C . Massey . , At the conclusion of the repast the usual list of . loyal ana Masonic toasts was dealt with , commencing with >¦ ** Queen and the Craft" and including the health of tne

, M . W . the Grand Master , a comprehensive toast to the M . W . the Pro Grand Master , the R . W . the Deputy Grana Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present an " Past ; all of which were appropriately proposed by t " W . M . and cordially received by thc brethren present . Bro . Pain , I . P . M ., in nroposine "The Health of the new

W . M ., " said that he was sure the Stockwell Lodge «« = very fortunate in having such a Master as Bro . Boswell , a that it was a great thing for the lodge that the sons or v Past Masters were coming forward so well , and in , J turn succeeding to the Master ' s chair . Bro . Boswel in passed through every office in the lodge , and had pertorrn the duties of each position with credit to himself and to ,

satisfaction of the members of the lodge , who were deugi to congratulate him on having reached the hig hest hon the lodge , could bestow on any of its members . I ? % , that the initiates would be very numerous during , j Boswell ' s reign , and that the funds of the lodge w > increase in proportion . He was sure that in drml <; B „ Master ' s health they would join with him in wishing

Boswell a happy and prosperous year of office . fl 1 Bro . Boswell said he returned Bro . Pain and the : »^ bers of the lodge his most sincere thanks for the very ^ manner in which his health had been proposed by tn ed and for the hearty manner in which it had been rec ^ by all present . He was initiated eight years ago , » ci as had been said , passed through every office and perio ^ every kind oi Masonic duty in the lodge ; and it was