Masonic Notes.

At the recent annual meeting , at Freemasons' Hall , Dunedin , of the District Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland , E . G ., Bro . Thos . S . Graham , Dist . G . M ., presented Bro . Sydney James , Dist . Grand Secretary , on behalf of the District Grand Officers , with a

handsome silver mug , to be given to his first grandson , the mug bearing the following inscription : " To Arthur Harry Aylmer Vivian , by the D . M . and officers of the G . Lodge of Otago and Southland , E . C , May 23 ,

1889 . " The gift was suitably acknowledged by Bro . James , who also thanked them for the rank of Past D . Dist . G . M . ' , conferred upon him by the Dist . G . M ., and confirmed by the Grand Lodge of England .

* * * The Report on Correspondence appended to the Report of the Annual Convocation of the Grand Chapter of Canada , on the 19 th July last , contained a brief , but

sufficient , digest of Reports of Proceedings of other Grand Chapters , and from these it is possible to obtain a pretty fair notion of what is passing in Royal Arch Masonry in North America .

Here and there , however , we come across remarks which strike us as being rather absurd . Thus the Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of California is quoted as having spoken in terms of hi gh commendation of the course pursued by the Grand Chapter of

Canada , firstly , in having issued warrants for the establishment of Chapters in Melbourne , and secondly , in having refused to cancel such warrants when remonstrated with by the Grand Chapter of England . Had the Grand Chapter of Canada done something really

meritorious , there might be some reason for this seltcomplacency . But the heroic conduct on which it prides itself , to what , after all , does it amount ?

It sanctioned the formation of three R . A . Chapters in a colony with which it has nothing to do , and which already had as many chapters of English Constitution as it wanted . This is brave even to audacity .

And Canada is delighted to find that its daring meets with commendation from Comp . T . H . Caswell , Grand Secretary of California , who lays it down that the Grand Chapters of Canada , Quebec , New Brunswick , and Nova Scotia , although located on British territory ,

are , in every respect , the peers of the Grand Chapter of England ; sovereign and supreme within their own jurisdiction , and with every right to establish bodies of their obedience in unoccupied territory abroad that the Grand Chapter of England or any other Grand Chapter

possesses . " Translate this tall language into plain English , and it means—so far as it has any meaning at all—that the Grand Chapters of Canada , Quebec , New Brunswick , and Nova Scotia are entitled t o constitute them as general nuisances on British territory .

When we learn that Comp T . H . Caswell , G . Secretary of the G . Chapter of California , is recognised as an authority on International Masonic Law , we shall pay attention to his utterances . For the present ,

however , we are content with requesting him to explain how that can possibly be " unoccupied territory abroad " which , as he very frankly admits , is already in the possesion of the " Grand Chapter of England or any other Grand Chapter . "

The fund for the relief of the Johnstown sufferers b y the recent floods in Pennsylvania reached about the close of last month to upwards of ! J 4 S , ooo , and on the 27 th and 29 th July Bro . Clifford P . MacCalla , M . W . G . M ., visited Johnstown for the purpose of conferring

with the local brethren as to the proper distribution of this sum among those entitled to share in it . After some discussion it was settled that Bro . MacCalla should be assisted in his task by two Past Masters from each of the two lodges in Johnstown , it being

previously stipulated that these P . M . s should be elected by their respective lodges—Bros . W . A . Donaldson , P . M ., and B . F . Watkins , P . M ., by the Cambria Lodge , No . 27 8 , and Bros . J . P . Linton , P . M ., and Joseph G . Brown , P . M ., by the Johnstown Lodge , No . 53 8 .

The Committee then set about their difficult , but grateful task , the circumstances which governed them in making their awards being ( 1 ) the financial loss of each brother ; ( 2 ) his savings from the wreck ; and ( 3 )

the number of members of his family dependent on him . Better conditions could not have been arranged , and the Philadelphia Keystone is able to state that the awards , which ranged in amount from $ 6 7 to $ 467 ,

have met with the general approval of the Craft . We learn , however , however , from the same authority , that more money is urgently needed , and happily , also , that contributions are being still received .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF THOMAS DUNCKERLEY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I am collating materials , with a view of pujlishingthe Life and Letters of Thomas Dunckerley , who in the latter part of last century was Provincial Grand

Master for Bristol , Dorset , Essex , Gloucestershire , Hampshire , Isle of Wi ght , Herefordshire , Somerset , and Wiltshire . Should any of your readers be in possession of letters or other documents written by , or relative to , this very celebrated personage , or can furnish any information having reference to his career , Masonic or otherwise , I should be greatly obliged if they would communicate with—Yours fraternally , HENRY SADLER . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 28 th August .

Reviews

REVIEWS

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR DEGREES , 4 ° TO 32 , AND LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE A . AND A . RITE , CORRECTED TO J 30 , 1889 . This welcome annual is now before us , and is abl y edited , as usual , by the indefatigable Secretary-General ,

the R . W . Bro . Hugh D . Sandeman , P . D . G . M . of Bengal . Known as the " Red Book , " it is indispensable to all brethren from the Rose Croix to the highest Degrees of the Rite , and being sold at the nominal price , merely , of one shilling , it should have , and doubtless

has , an extended circulation wherever the chapters are held , even to China , India , New Zealand , Africa , Jamaica , and South Australia . The information is not onl y varied , but exceedingly interesting , but after our elaborate review of the former edition in the Freemason for August 25 th , 1888 , we

must rest content this time with a rapid sketch of its more important features . The laws practically remain as before , the only addition we detect being attached to Rule 24 , to the effect that certificates of service as M . W . S . of a chapter can be obtained from the G . Sec-General for

half-a-guinea . In the roll of Supreme Councils , 33 ° , in amity with the S . C , 33 ° , of England and Wales , the Dominican Republic occurs for the first time , but we regret to note that Scotland is still out in the cold , owing to matters we need notallude to here , but about which our Supreme Council remains firm and decided .

Two additions are made to the Supreme Council , owing to the regretted decease of General Brownrigg , C . B . ( Prov . G . M . Surrey ) , and Colonel Adair ( P . Prov . G . M . Somerset ) , viz ., Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie ( Prov . G . M . East Lancashire ) , and Bro . Frank Richardson ( P . G . D . ) , who has laboured so assiduously on

behalf of this popular Rite . The accounts , an audited statement of which is presented , exhibit an increase , as customary , and prove how carefully and well the resources are husbanded . The capital now amounts to nearly ^ 18 , 000 , with a balance from Revenue and Expenditure account of over

£ 500 . The Chanty donations for the year were £ 254 in value , making the total considerably over £ 3000 during the last 30 years ! In the Unattached 33 list , the name of Bro . E . T . Leith , who died since last report , has been removed . He was well known and respected as Dist . G . M . of Bombay .

Two fresh names appear under this heading , viz ., Lieut .-Col . G . H . J . Haldane , P . G . S . B ., and Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand Registrar . Three new 32 ° members are Bros . Captain Garnett , Baron de Ferrieres , and Dr . Ralph Gooding . There are six additions to the 31 at home , and two for abroad , also several to 0

the 30 roll . Five new chapters have been added at Newark , Cambridge , and abroad , and one has succumbed , leaving IOI on the roll , being the maximum yet reached . Nothing could be better than the management generally of this important Rite .

THE BIBLES OF ENGLAND : By the REV . ANDREW EDGAR , D . D . Alexander Gardner , Publisher to her Majesty the Queen , Paternosterrow , London . This fine volume is professedl y written as " A plain account for plain people of the principal Versions of

the Bible in English , '' and beyond question abundantl y conforms to the standard thus laid down . Advanced students , however , will find no lack of information in the numerous comparisons instituted between the various important versions of the Scriptures , especiall y those of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries . We have literally been astonished to find the number of

texts thus collated and compared by the painstaking author , whose industry and zeal in this matter are beyond praise . For exegetical purposes , as well as for a careful study of the precise meaning of not a few passages of doubtful import , Dr . Edgar ' s voluminous citations cannot but prove most acceptable , especiall y as he simply introduces the facts to his readers , and leaves them to intelligently form their own conclusions

Reviews

as to the comparative value of the various texts , u scrupulously refrains from dogmatism or aught f sectarianism on the one hand , and is likewise spicuously fair to certain translations against whi t , " he might reasonably have been supposed to h biased . In fact the aim of the author througho ?

the work , has been to furnish all the facts of •. „ probable or even possible interest to his readerso as to put them in possession of ample materhl ' to enable them to judge of the comparative inin tance and critical value of each of the / re-1 translations and revisions during the past five ce l

tunes . The classification adopted , as well as the title . to most of the families or groups , are the author ' s own and are as suggestive as they are appropriate . Theso embrace , 1 , The Lollards' Bible , 1380-8 ( comrnonlv called Wyclif ' s ) , 2 , The Reformers' Bibles ( T yndale ' s 1526 , & c , Coverdale ' s , 1535 , Matthew ' s , 1537 , Traver !

ner ' s , 1539 , and the " Great , " or " Cromwell ' s , " u ™ 41 ) , 3 , The Puritans' and People ' s Bible ( Genev-i IS 57-6 o ) , 4 , The Bibles of the Churches ( Church of England , 1568—the " Bishop ' s "—and Catholic Church 1582 , 1609-10—the " Douay " ) , 5 , The National Bible ( King ' s Translation , or "Authorized , " 1611 ) , and 6

Tne Inter-National Bible ( Revised , 1881-5 ) . All these are described in a most interesting and exhaustive man ner by an enthusiastic scholar , who does his utmost to induce his readers to ri ghtly estimate and appreciate the characteristics of each version , their peculiarities of phraseology , their admitted faults and omissions

and more particularly the many points they have in common , the latter being a special feature of the work The sources of Dr . Edgar ' s information are dul y acknowledged , so that by such means we have practically the benefit of the many scholarly books that have been written on this fruitful topic , as well as numerous

citations from the several versions , which , by reason of their scarcity or value , or both combined , are not gen . erally accessible to the ordinary student . In its own department we know of no work to compare with this excellent volume of Dr . Edgar ' s , and united with Bro .

Dore ' s most useful book on " Old Bibles , " all who desire comprehensive and trusty guides to the stud y of the English versions of the " Volume of the Sacred Law , " cannot but be well supplied . We trust that "The Bibles of England" will have a large circulation , for both author and publisher have done their best to deserve success .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

854 ] YORK MASONRY IN 1773 . The following letter may possibly be of interest to Masonic students as giving a reason for the poaching of the Grand Lodge in London on the preserves of the Grand Lodge at York . H . SADLER . " Mr . Morris " York June 8 th 1773 "Sir " I take the Liberty of troubling you with this to beg you will be so obli ging as to Apply to Mr . Heseltine who is Secretary to the Grand Lodge of Free Masons in London & inform him that a Sett of

Gentlemen in York who are at present Members of the Grand Lodge at York are desirous of having a Constitution from the Grand Lodge in London & as they are a very respectable Sett of Men cou'd wish that their Master shou'd be Appointed Provincial Grand Master of Yorkshire , if they can be indulged in this :

request shall ever think themselves greatly obliged to the Grand Lodge in London . " Beg Mr . Heseltine to let us know whether he thinks our request will be granted or not , the proper method , of Applying for a Constitution & the Expence attend- : ing it , Knowing you to be a Mason did not know any- , ;

one I Cou'd so properly make Application to . " Beg you will see Mr . Heseltine as soon as Convenient , ; as our Next Meeting is fixed for the 20 th of this Month ; before which time I hope to be favoured with you i Answer . j "At any time when it is in my power to return "j I Obligation shall think myself Extremely Happy to 0 ° )

" M y Best respects to Mrs . Morris & all your goo ; Family , & am Sir your most obed ' " Humble Servant "RICHARD G ARLAND i

The following note is appended to the letter : "London June 12 th 1773-" Mr Berkeley " Dr Sir "The foregoing letter is adress'd to " * , by a young Gentleman of genteel fortune , he wl ,

many others equaly respectable are Warm in Cause Masonry ; as I am an entire stranger to Mr . ^ / , or Where he lives , shall Esteem it a Particular w ^ if you can Promote , or Accomplish the desir'd Objt * ' I will be Accountable for the Expence of a Ccmsn

tion if it can be Obtain'd ; I am with Comp ts to Berkeley "DrSir " Your most humb . Servant " C . MoRK" > -

" * i-i I ari » i Bro . H . C . Richards is paying a visit to the Beauchamp , at Madresfield Court , Great Malvern . ;