Ars Quatuor Coronatorum.

and the ceremonies antecedent to their inauguration . Whilst some of us increase in our confidence as to there being but one simple ceremony of an esoteric character before ( say 1717 ) ; others have changed to the belief that there ware two , and others , that there were three " Degrees . " 1 ' A remarkable paper—another by the same gifted brother—by the W . M . of . 20-26 , E . C . ( C . C . Howard ) , on the "Regius , Cooke and W . Watson

MSS ., " and their " evidential value , " is , to my mind , the article of this Part , and exhibits much research , orig inality , and ability . He contends that "the William Watson MS . is , after all , our truest guide to the old traditions , " and I am personally much pleased that my appreciation of this valuable text , or version , at first sig ht has been found to be confirmed by subsequent examination by other experts . It is impossible to deal with Bro . Howard's paper in this brief notice , but I trust it will receive all the

attention it deserves . A brief one also follows from Bro . J . Yarker on " Ihe Nismesian Theory and French Legend , " and is both interesting and suggestive . It is quite clear we are but on the threshold of the enquiry as to the proper place of these MSS . of the " Old Charges " in relation to Masonic history . All students of late are happily supporting those of us who , many years ago , claimed for them the position they are now attaining , thus justifying the Lodge 2076 in publishing so many reproductions of their several

texts . Bro . John Lane ' s transcript of the " Dumfries Kilwinning MS ., No . 4 , " is also given , and is a most welcome sig ht to those of us who wanted , and now have , all four of these MSS . in print . There are several other papers in this Part , but time forbids ' my referring

to them . The " Notes and Queries " department is very full this time , and a real pleasure to peruse , Bro . M . C Peck's Masonic Statuette calling for special mention . The plate g ives a good idea of the style and value of this wonderful find . The " Reviews " are chiefly by Bro . Gould , and right ably has he discharged that duty . His references cannot fail to interest , and lead many to obtain copies of the works he so appreciatively and ably describes .

Bro . Speth's capital summary , or " Chronicle , " of the past quarter forms a fitting conclusion to this excellent number of the " Ars Quatuor Coronatorum . " W . J . HUGHAN .

Consecration Of The La France Mark Lodge, No. 459.

CONSECRATION OF THE LA FRANCE MARK LODGE , No . 459 .

The consecration of this new Mark lodge took place at the Cafe Royal , on the nth irist . The whole proceedings were carried out with the usual eclat , when the following Grand Officers gathered together to help the Dep . Grand Master , Bro . Lord Euston , to dohonourto the French brethren * Bros . Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , Prov . G . M . Bucks ; C F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec ; Thos . Fenn , P . G . W . ; F . Richardson , P . G . W ., G . Ree ; . ; R . Berridge , P . G . W ., G . D . C ; Chas . Belton , P . G . M . O . ; C H . Driver

P . G . M . O ., G . S . of W . ; Jabez Church , P . G . O . ; R . H . Thrupp , P . G . O . ; Dr . R . Gooding , P . G . O . ; R . Clowes , P . G . O . ; E . Letchworth , P . G . Treas . ; Gordon Miller , P . G . Treas . ; Loveland Loveland , Pres . Gen . Bd . ; Chas . Hammerton , P . D . G . M . Middx . and Surrey ; H . J . Lardner , P . G . D . ; W . Vincent , A . G . D . C . ; fames Terry , P . A . G . D . C . ; C . A . Cottebrtme , P . G . S . B . ; T . C . Walls , P . G . S . B .: C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Mason , P . G . Std . Br . ; A . R . Carter , P . G . Std . Br . ; Dr . E . M . Lott , P . G . Org . ; Dr . Alf . King , P . G . Org . ; and F . Mead , P . G . S ., G . Treas . elect .

In addition , there were also present , Bros . E . M . Money , P . G . S . ; Wm . Lake , P . G . S ., P . P . G . Reg . Cornwall ; V . P . Freeman , P . P . G . W . Sussex ; J . C . Buckwell , P . P . G . W . Sussex ; J . Barnett , P . P . G . Org . Surrey ; W . Wright , Prov . G . Sec . Sussex ; Dr . Stewart Brown , Prov . G . D . Herts ; Hy . Pritchard , W . M ,

13 ; W . Glazier , W . M . 251 ; W . Collins , P . M . 8 ; H . H . Wells , P . M . 144 ; F . C . Frye , M . P ., P . M . 211 ; J . N . Frye , P . M . 211 ; Rushton , Verdier , Tickle , Hopkinson , R . P . Clowes , Lovett , Sampson , Gardiner , Peter de Lande Long , Balliston , W . J . Ebbetts , Gordon Smith , Sir Wm . Abdy , Bart ., and E . J . Mills , Grand Tyler .

The founders present were Bros . E . Monteuuis , G . S ., W . M . designate ; E . St . Clair , S . W . designate ; C . Chauffourier , P . P . G . O . Surrey , J . W . designate ; P . Saillard , L . Mantell , G . S . ; E . Valeriani , E . Belhomme , F . Boners , and A . Lamette , G . S . The Deputy Grand Master requested Bro . Thos . Fenn to take the S . W . ' s chair ; Bro . Frank Richardson the J . W . ' s chair ; Bro . the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg acting as Chap . ; Bro . R . Berridge as D . C ; Bro . A . R . Carter , as I . G . ; and Bro . Dr . Lott as Ortr .

The lodge , being opened , the DEPUTY GRAND MASTER expressed his great p leasure at having the opportunity to consecrate this special lodge , and said that hc did not doubt that thc French brethren would continue in the Mark , the good work already accomplished by them in the Craft and the Royal Arch . The ceremony of consecration was then gone through in a most impressive and admirable manner , the CHAPLAIN delivering an oration as follows * .

From time immemorial Frenchmen have come to settle and live in England , and Englishmen have gone to settle and live in France . I should like to ask you to note one special feature which has always characterised our reception of those who have come to us from across the Channel , and one feature also of the manner in which they have repaid our reception . The causes which have led Frenchmen to come and sojourn amongst us have been various , but difficulties in politics ,

difficulties in religion have probably been the reasons which in most cases have mainl y influenced them . The principles of Magna Charter still secure to England a measure of political and religious freedom greater than is enjoyed by any other country of the universe . The liberties we have won for ourselves—God grant we may not abuse them—we have been ever willing to extend the French who came to live amongst us . When any one seeks refuge under our flag we ask not

whether his politics are monarchical , imperial , or republican . We ask not whether he gets his faith from Rome or Geneva , from Constantinople or Canterbury ; _ but we do ask whether he will be an honest , loyal , and industrious citizen . This is practically the question which we ask every foreigner who comes to live amongst us , and we have ever found that the answer given by the conduct of our French brethren has been such that we have not regretted the permission we have given them to sojourn amongst us . And so 1 come to my second part . How

have you repaid our reception ? The answer is plain . You have not abused our hospitality . Content to be allowed freedom in matters of faith and politics , you have not attacked our institutions , whether religious or civil . We did not ask you to conform to anything except to the laws of our Realm , which we were the first to recognise as being necessary for good order , and you have aided us in preserving those laws by setting Englishmen a good example of obedience . Many of you have , without forgetting your nationality , been drawn into very close connection with us . You have ceased to be strangers , and have

Consecration Of The La France Mark Lodge, No. 459.

become our fellow countrymen . You have married English women , and almost every one of our old English families has in it a share of Gallic blood . We have been brethren in arms for the defence of a common Empire . Wherever English armies have gone , or English fleets have sailed , the Frenchman and the Englishman have fought side by side , and have together shed lustre on the English flag . Huguenots helped us to reconquer Ireland ,, when very shortly after their arrival

the integrity of the Empire was threatened . In short , our interests have become yours . Our honour you have made your own . In England ' s hour of need you have never stood aside mindful of your own welfare , and we have been proud to share with you our sorrrows and our joys . And further you have been very useful to us in other matters . Englishmen are said to be a nation of shopkeepers . I am proud as an Englishman to be so designated , because to excel in trade implies the giving the best possible value

for money received . That Englishmen have been able to do this , is due in no small degree to French skill and enterprise . You have always brought us some trades , though skilled workmen , we , as a matter of fact , do not produce at home , and I believe the undisputed fact that England stands easily first in the goldsmiths' and the weavers' art is largely due to what our French brethren have taught us . Rightly then do I say that Frenchmen and Englishmen meet here to-night not merely as brother Masons , but as fellow citizens of the first Empire of the world .

The Deputy Grand Master then requested Bro . C F . Matier to take the chair , and before a Board of 45 Installed Masters ( which must be very near a record in the Mark , so far as a private lodge is concerned ) , Bro . E . Monteuuis was installed W . M . of the lodge , all the brethren present appreciating the splendid work of the Installing Master . The W . M . requested

Bro . P . Saillard to act as l . P . M . during the first year of the lodge , and then invested his officers as follows : Bros . E . St . Clair , S . W . ; C Chauffourier , J . W . ; M . Mantell , M . O . ; F . Bohers , S . O . ; E . Belhomme , J . O . ; E . Valeriani , Sec . ; and A . Lamette , S . D . Bro . P . Saillard was elected Treasurer , but the other offices were left vacant until the next

meeting . The Installing Master having given the three charges in his usual perfect style , Bro . MONTEUUIS rose and declared that henceforth all the work in this lodge would be conducted in French , and proposed that Bro . Lord Euston and his assistant officers be elected honorary members . This having been seconded by Bro . ST . CLAIR , S . W ., the proposition was carried by acclamation .

The DEP . GRAND MASTER returned thanks for the compliment , and promised the brethren that he should come as often as possible to see the work . Bro . ST . CLAIR then proposed that Bro . P . Saillard should represent the lodge as Steward for the next Mark Benevolent Fund . This having been seconded and carried ,

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER said that he felt great pleasure in starting the list with a donation of 10 guineas , not in his own name , but in that of the new lodge , which will thus have well begun its useful career . We may here mention that Bro . Saillard's list attained the respectable total of over / 80 before the evening had ended .

The SECRETARY then read a large number of letters of apology for nonattendance , amongst others from Bros . W . W . Beach , P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight ; Col . A . B . Cook , P . G . M . Middx . ; Lord Yarborough , , P . G . M . Lincoln ; Lord Radnor , P . G . M . Wilts ; Baron de Fcrrieres ,

P . P . G . M . Gloucester ; Lord Dungarvan , P . G . W . ; Sir Reginald Hanson , P . G . W . ; Sir Augustus Harris , G . Treas . ; Robt . Grey , P . G . M . O . ; Ralph Chitton , P . G . O . ; J . H . Matthews , J . G . O . ; Col . Malet de Carteret , Lord Ampthill , and others . The SECRETARY then read the names of 12 candidates for advancement

and three for joining . A Committee , composed of the W . M ., the two Wardens , the Treasurer , and the Secretary , was formed for framing the by-laws , and a most successful meeting was brought to a close . The brethren then adjourned to the large banqueting hall of the Cafii Royal , where a most recherche menu was awaiting them , and it was served

in a manner which impressed the guests that Bro . Delacoste had surpassed himself forthe sake of his friends and compatriots . Grace having been said , the list of toasts was gone through , the places of honour being naturally given to "La Reine & la Maconnerie de Marque , " and to " La France et son Representant , Mr . le President Carnot , " both toasts being enthusiastically received , and followed respectively by " God save the Oueen " and " La Marseillaise . "

The W . M . then gave " Le Grand Maitre de l'Ordre , S . A . R . le Prince de Galles , " which toast , needless to say , was also most heartily and respectfully honoured . Bro . ST . CLAIR , S . W ., then proposed "The Healths of le Pro Grand Maitre , le Marquis d' Hertford ; le Dep . Grand Maitre , le Comtc de Euston , & les autres Grands Officiers . " This was responded to by Bro . Lord E USTON , D . G . M ., who , although apologising for his inexperience in French speech-making , proved himself a very efficient French scholar when replying .

Immediately afterwards the D . G . M . proposed " The Health of Bro . Monteuuis , the first Venerable Maitre of La France Mark Lodge , " to which the W . M . replied in feeling terms . Bro . CHAUFFOURIER , J . W ., then gave the toast of " Les Invites , " which was responded to by Bros . BUCKWELL , P . PG . W . Sussex ; BARNETT , P . PG . O . Surrey ; and Sir WM . ABDY , Bart ., all three testifying to the admirable manner in which everything had been conducted , both in lodge and at the banquet .

Thc WORSHIPFUL MASTER then gave " The Health of Le Maitre Installateur , " to which Bro . C F . MATIER , Grand Sec , briefly replied . " The Health of Les Officers de la Loge" was next proposed by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , who alluded more particularly to the great assistance he had received from Bro . St . Clair , who had practically seen to everything connected with the foundation of the lodge .

The Officers having been duly honoured , the Tyler ' s toast ended the evening ' s proceedings . We regret that the fact that thc speeches were made in French , prevents us from giving them in extenso , nevertheless we could not help noticing th at the utmost cordiality prevailed and we offer our hearty congratulations to

Bro . Monteuuis and his brother founders , on the unqualified success wm' - has rewarded their efforts . We also wish to add a special word of pra for Bro . E . St . Clair , who , we understand , has not only helped Bro . Monteuuis in thc translation of the ritual , but has also carried out personally the whole of the preliminary arrangements which have ensured tne succes of the meeting .