Masonic Notes And Queries.

In What year did the Freemasons first assemble , was it 1715 , or 1716 , or 1717 ? And how many lodges were represented or congregated ? And when we remember that we are new dealing . vitb . the principal date of our speculative organization , it only serves to show how

important is accuracy in small details as in larger matters , and how careful we should always be to give ourselves , or hand on to others , a perfectly correct and reliable account of transactions in which we take a part , or of matters in which we . feel a personal interest . And this

little' difficulty at so late a period , as regards a point of Masonic History serves also to convince us how many are the difficulties attendant on the annals and chronology of earlier periods , and how much allowance we should always make for unavoidable errata and inevitable discrepancies . A MASONIC STUDENT . February 25 th , 1873

THE ST . CLAIR CHARTERS . The Freemason of June 8 , 1872 , contains a communication by Bro . Chalmers I . Paton , in which he professes to give copies of the St . Glair Charters "from Hay ' s MSS . in the

Advocates' Library . " These copies , minus the copyist ' s or printer ' s errors which they contain , appeared to me at the to be a literal transcript of the copies from the orig inals made by myself for the "History of the Lodge of Edinburgh

•( Mary ' s Chapel ) " and published in The Freemason of August 27 , 1870 . I have since examined the Hay MSS ., and am confirmed in that opinion . The document given b y Bro . . Patonis . not a copy made from the Hay MSS . It

differs considerably from it in orthography , in abbreviations , and in the arrangement and rendering of some of the signatures—and is simply a copy . of . my transcript of the originals published two years ago . I had previously , through The

Freemason , informed Bro . Paton of the existence of , the original Charters—a fact of which he was ignorant . If Bro . Paton was unable to decipher the orignal Hay MSS ., he should not have palmed

off my transcription of the orignal charters as copies of them , nor should he have appropriated my work in any case without the courtesy of acknowledgment . —D . MURRAY LYON .

JACOll NORTON . The Trowel , Springfield , Illionis , which ( as well as some other journals ) has spoken severely of Jacob Norton , publishes a letter from a friend of his , objecting to the criticisms . We will add

our testimony to that of the letter writer . While we think Bro . Norton frequently speaks too harshly , and imputes wrong motives to his brethren , whom he detects or thinks he detects in error , we have the highest respect for his motives

and the hig hest appreciation of his Masonic labours , and when he occasionally drops in upon us we enjoy his visit , and can assure Bro . Reynolds that he will find him a genial and pleasant acquaintance , if be ever meets him . We

think it safe to lay down as a general rule that when a Mason is sufficiently interested in Masonry to discuss it , he does so because he loves

the Craft , and any man who loves the Craft should be criticised with loving kindness . — Masonic Token , U . S . A .

FREK . MA . SONS' MONTHLY MAGAZINE . Can any American brother kindly procure for me a copy of the " Freemasons' Monthly Magazine , " Boston , April , 186 . 3 . Ifsenttothe care of Bro . G . Kenning , 198 , Fleet-street , it would reach me . —A MASONIC STI ' . NT .

. sr . n . vlifcNT . —The only guaranteed one lor Toothache . — I his extraordinary application , marvcllun-. in it .-, cllccls , gires immediate Tcliel " , without injuring lhc tooth , nnd'torin ,, a temporary Mopping , rs . i _ d .: po-a Irec is , 3 d . The I ok . vi . n 1 ; Tnom l ' . \> ri :, lor ilcanVinj ; aud improving thc teeth , impair . 1 natural tcdnc-s lo the . 1 . 11111-. , and gives brilliancy ro lhc enamel . l- * iice is . ( id . The Knv . u Dl . MlFldch , prepared from a recipe a-. n * . cd by her Malc ^ tv , gives thc teeth a pearl-like whiteness , and imparts a * delicious ' fragrance , to the breath , l- 'ricc Is . lid . Sold In all rlicnii-. ls and peilnmera and by the proprietors , . Mi . s .-it-. . ( i . wiitiM ., thu old-ca-tablishcd ( ) cntists , 72 , L > i ( li ; ate-hill , and £ ' * , ll . irlcystrccl , ( avciidish-sipiare , London .

Old Masonic Books.

OLD MASONIC BOOKS .

Whatever may be the actual value of the pamphlet Bro . Jacob Norton , dilates upon in The Freemason of the 15 th , we must all feel obliged to him for his interesting communication . Bro . W . J . Hughan , is quite right in saying , that Bro . Dr . Oliver , alludes to "the Grand

Mystery , " published in 1 / 24 , folio , of which 1 have a copy , and not to Briscoe ' s publication . But Bro . Hughan , seems to overlook the fact that Bro . Dr . Oliver , does mention Briscoe ' s pamphlet at page 31 , in the edition of the " Revelation of a Square" in 1855 , where he

gives the date at 1725 . It is quite clear , however , that Bro . Jacob Norton is in error , when he states that he has discovered " that our Bro . Dr . Oliver , describes Briscoe ' s pamphlet" in the beginning ofthe fourth

chapter of the " Revelation of a Square ; " all he says , is that the pamphlet itself was published in that year ? Dr . Oliver alludes to Briscoe ' s pamphlet , undoubtedly , but his observations mainly refer to " The Grand Mystery "—published in 1724 .

Neither does Dr . Oliver mention the 2 nd edition of Briscoe ' s pamphlet in 1725 ; all he says is , that the pamphlet itself , or the work itself , was published in r 725 . That a 2 nd edition of Briscoe ' s pamphlet was published in 1725 is true , as there are two copies of the 2 nd edition in the

British Museum , and one of the first edition undated , or with the date cut off by the binder . In all probability Briscoe ' s pamphlet was issued after " The Grand Alystery , " in 172 a , and very little anterior to the 2 nd edition in 1725 .

I confess , that , my studies have not led me to attach much value to such works as Briscoe ' s pamphlet , which , sensational in themselves , are utterly unreliable as to data . Many of the explanations they give are absurd in themselves , and mam * of the observances

purely imaginary , meant , in fact , as a " skit" upon the order—resembling Dean Swift ' s more humorous but equally idle attack on Freemasonry . This is especially the case as regards a portion of Briscoe ' s pamphlet .

One cannot accept such works as authority on any moot questions which rest almost entirely on the " mala fides" of the publisher . The writer of Briscoe ' s pamphlet may hnve seen the Harleian 205433 Bro . Hughan thinks , but with all deference to him I should be inclined to think

that he is more likely to have seen Roberts ' , reprint of J 7 33 > or 'he original ofthe one printed for Mrs . Dodd , 1739 . It is quite clear that if the writer of Briscoe ' s pamphlet saw 20 54 he has completely altered its verbiage , modernised its archaisms , and departed from it in numberless instances , in some points very remarkably so .

The conclusion no way resembles the Harleian 2054 , and we may have in Briscoe ' s pamphlet the transcript of another Constitution , varying from all the others in several interesting particulars . I confess 1 cannot believe that Briscoe

copied Harleian 2054 , though the M . S . he saw had much in common with Harleian 2054 . Interesting as Briscoe ' s pamphlet is in one respect , I attach little value to its contents for an ) purposes of Masonic History or Archceology . A M \ SONIC STUDENT . March 25 th , 187 , 3 .

Funeral Of A Royal Brother.

FUNERAL OF A ROYAL BROTHER .

The Honolulu Commercial \ Advertiser gives the following account of the funeral of his late Majesty Kameliameha V ., on the nth of January : — " A little before noon the order was given to start . The cavalry under the command of Captain judd , led oil ' , numbering some 40

rank and file . Following them was the fire department , headed by Acting Chief Engineer Waller , numbering about 75 strong . The Mechanics' Benefit Union came next , then the Good Templars , numbering 30 ; Knights ot

Pythias , 16 ; Oddfellows , 7 ; Masons , 24 ; Koyal Arch , 17 . A long line of natives in black , the Konohikis of the Crown lands and King ' s private lands followed , and then came the Governor of Oahu rmd his staff . The Hawaiian military band followed , playing a

Funeral Of A Royal Brother.

splendid funeral march , after which came the military—viz ., the Artillery , Captain Brown commanding , numbering 46 all told ; ' Honolulu Rifles , Captain Gulick commanding , 3 •;; Marine Corps of the United States shi p B . enicia , Lieutenant Ellsworth commanding , 26 ; and the

household troops , Major Moehonue commanding , 40 . Then followed the late king ' s purveyor and servants , and then the clergy . The various insignia of rank belonging to the late king were borne immediately in front of the hearse . This was composed of a substantial platform on

wheels , drawn by four fine horses , with heavy black housings and with running footmen at their bridles ; at each corner of the platform was a pillar upholding a canopy surmounted by the crown . The large and heavy case containing

the remains of the late king was firmly secured beyond the possibility of displacement while on the way to the , mausoleum , extraordinary pains having been taken with every detail on account of the great weight—something over a ton—of the coffin . Around the hearse were borne the

large and * small Kahilis , -the many coloured feathers of which they are composed , together with their size and beauty , attracting much attention . Immediately following the hearse came the carriage , drawn b y four horses , containing his Majesty and her Excellency Ruth

Keelikolani , and the Hon . Airs . Bishop . In the second carriage were Queen Emma and the Hon . Mrs . Naca . Next came mourning carriages containing the Chancellor , members of the Cabinet of the late King , foreign representatives , the captain and officers of the Benicia , Judges ,

Privy Council , Legislative Assembly , Governors of the Islands , Consular Bod y , clerks , Postmaster and Collector General , Marshal and Sheriff , members of the bar , & c . Upon the arrival of the head of the long line at the mausoleum grounds , the hearse was backed up

to the platform built out over the steps , and the coffin , covered with a black velvet pall and the Royal feather cloak , was moved out on rollers . The chief mourners , together with , the officiating clergy , Bishop Willis and his attendants , entered the mausoleum , and the coffin being

moved into its place , the burial service was read , after which the Masonic ritual was performed . Upon the . conclusion of these ceremonies a Royal salute was fired by the troops , and a re ' - quiem march played by the band ' . While the

services were being gone through at the tomb a drizzling mist and rain made it uncomfortable for those who were without umbrellas . Upon the conclusion of the ceremonies , the procession escorted the King back to the palace , amid loud cheers for Lunalilo the King . " ¦

Consecration Of The Campbell Lodge, No. 1415.

CONSECRATION OF THE CAMPBELL LODGE , No . 1415 .

The fifteenth lodge in the Province of Middlesex was consecrated at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court , on Saturday the 8 th inst ., under very favourable auspices . The name of the lodge is derived from its worthy first Master , Sir Gilbert

Edward Campbell , Bart ., and its inauguration was attended by a goodly number of brethren , many of whom arc distinguished members of the Craft . Colonel Burdett , the ever genial and popular Provincial Grand Master was

unfortunately unable to be present , but he was represented as Consecrating Master by Brother Robt , Wentworth Little , Provincial Grand Secretary , whose impressive working elicited the warmest encomiums from the brethren .

At four p . m . the procession entered the lodge , when the chair was taken by Bro . Little , who appointed the following officers , pro . tem . r—Bros . John Hervey , Grand Secretary of England , S . W . ; Sigismund Rosenthal , Prov . S . G . W ., J . W . ; T .

W . White , W . M . 21 , D . C . ; J . Lewis Thomas , P . M . 142 , I . P . M . ; W . Mann , P . M . 144 , 186 , eSrc ., I . G . The ceremony of consecration was then performed with the accustomed chants and anthems which were admirably rendered b y thc musical brethren .

At the conclusion of this ceremony , Bro . Little proceeded with the installation of the W . M . Designate , who was placed in the chair of K . S . in the presence of some twenty installed masters . The officers appointed or elected were—Bros ,