[Illustration: Decorative border with Masonic symbols; central illustration from the Isabella Missal, British Museum Add. MSS. 18,851, Circa 1500 A.D., showing three robed figures]

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum

BEING THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE

QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE NO. 2076, LONDON.

FROM THE ISABELLA MISSAL. BRITISH MUSEUM, ADD. MSS. 18,851 CIRCA, 1500 A.D.

EDITED FOR THE COMMITTEE BY W. H. RYLANDS, F.S.A., P.A.G.D.C.

VOLUME XX. PART 1.

CONTENTS.

	PAGE		PAGE
Proceedings, 11th January	1	Proceedings against the Templars in France and England for Heresy, etc., A.D. 1307-11	47
Audit Committee	2	A Belgian Daughter of the Grand Lodge of Scotland	71
Exhibits	4, 26	Notes and Queries	82
John Cole	6	Reviews	87
On Masonic History.—Let us seek Truth	15	Obituary	91
Some Old London Taverns and Masonry	28
Proceedings, 1st March	26

H. KEBLE, PRINTER, MARGATE. 1907.

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THE QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE No. 2076, LONDON, was warranted on the 28th November, 1884, in order

1.—To provide a centre and bond of union for Masonic Students. 2.—To attract intelligent Masons to its meetings, in order to imbue them with a love for Masonic research. 3.—To submit the discoveries or conclusions of students to the judgment and criticism of their fellows by means of papers read in Lodge. 4.—To submit these communications and the discussions arising thereon to the general body of the Craft by publishing, at proper intervals, the Transactions of the Lodge in their entirety. 5.—To tabulate concisely, in the printed Transactions of the Lodge, the progress of the Craft throughout the World. 6.—To make the English-speaking Craft acquainted with the progress of Masonic study abroad, by translations (in whole or part) of foreign works. 7.—To reprint scarce and valuable works on Freemasonry, and to publish Manuscripts, &c. 8.—To form a Masonic Library and Museum. 9.—To acquire permanent London premises, and open a reading-room for the members.

The membership is limited to forty, in order to prevent the Lodge becoming unwieldy. No members are admitted without a high literary, artistic, or scientific qualification. The annual subscription is one guinea, and the fees for initiation and joining are twenty guineas and five guineas respectively.

The funds are wholly devoted to Lodge and literary purposes, and no portion is spent in refreshment. The members usually dine together after the meetings, but at their own individual cost. Visitors, who are cordially welcome, enjoy the option of partaking—on the same terms—of a table at the cost.

The meetings are the first Friday in January, March, May, and October, St. John's Day (in Harvest), and the 8th November, (Feast of the Quatuor Coronati).

At every meeting an original paper is read which is followed by a discussion.

The Transactions of the Lodge, Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, are published towards the end of April, July, and December in each year. They contain a summary of the business of the Lodge, the full text of the papers read in Lodge together with the discussions, many essays communicated by the brethren but for which no time can be found at the meetings, biographies, historical notes, reviews of Masonic publications, notes and queries, obituary, and other matter. They are profusely illustrated and handsomely printed.

The Antiquarian Reprints of the Lodge, Quatuor Coronatorum Antigrapha, appear at undefined intervals, and consist of facsimiles of documents of Masonic interest with commentaries or introductions by brothers well informed on the subjects treated of.

The St. John's Card is a symbolic plate, conveying a greeting to the members, and is issued on or about the 27th December of each year. It forms the frontispiece to a list of the members of the Lodge and of the Correspondence Circle with their Masonic rank and addresses, and is of uniform size with the Transactions with which it is usually bound up as an appendix.

The Library has now been arranged in the new offices at No. 61, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, where Members of both Circles may consult the books on application to the Assistant Secretary and Librarian.

To the Lodge is attached an outer or

CORRESPONDENCE CIRCLE.

This was inaugurated in January, 1887, and now numbers over 2900 members, comprising many of the most distinguished brethren of the Craft, such as Masonic Students and Writers, Grand Masters, Grand Secretaries, and more than 300 Grand Lodges, Supreme Councils, Provincial Grand Lodges, Libraries and other corporate bodies.

The members of our Correspondence Circle are placed on the following footing:— 1.—The summonses convoking the meetings are posted to them regularly. They are entitled to attend all the meetings of the Lodge whenever convenient to themselves, but, unlike the members of the Inner Circle, their attendance is not even morally obligatory. When present they are entitled to take part in the discussions on the papers read before the Lodge, and to introduce their personal friends, but they are not members of our Lodge meetings, but rather associates of the Lodge. 2.—The printed Transactions of the Lodge are posted to them as issued. 3.—The St. John's Card is sent to them annually. 4.—They are, equally with the full members, entitled to subscribe for the other publications of the Lodge, such as those mentioned under No. 7 above. 5.—Papers from Correspondence Members are gratefully accepted, and as far as possible, recorded in the Transactions. 6.—They are accorded free admittance to our Library and Reading Rooms.

A Candidate for Membership in the Correspondence Circle is subject to no qualification, literary, artistic, or scientific. His election takes place at the Lodge-meeting following the receipt of his application.

He is subject to no joining fee at present, but it is proposed to institute such a fee after the end of the current (1907) financial year.

The annual subscription is only half-a-guinea (10s. 6d.), and is renewable each December for the year next following. Brethren joining us late in the year will suffer no disadvantage, as they will receive all the Transactions previously issued in the same year.

It will thus be seen that, without the payment of any joining fee and for only half the annual subscription, the members of the Correspondence Circle enjoy all the advantages of the full members, except the right of voting in lodge matters and holding office.

Members of both Circles are requested to favour the Secretary with communications to be read in Lodge and subsequently printed. Members of foreign jurisdictions will, we trust, keep us posted from time to time in the current Masonic history of their districts. Foreign Members abroad can greatly assist us by furnishing us at intervals with the names of Masonic works published abroad, together with any printed reviews of such publications. Communications may be addressed to the Secretary in English, German or French.

Members should also bear in mind that every additional member increases our power of doing good by publishing matter of interest to them. Those therefore, who have already experienced the advantage of association with us, are urged to advocate our cause to their personal friends, and to induce them to join us. Were each member annually to send us one new member, we should soon be in a position to offer them many more advantages than we already provide. Those who can help us in no other way, can do so in this.

Every Mason in good standing throughout the Universe, and all Lodges, Chapters, and Libraries or other corporate bodies are eligible as Members of the Correspondence Circle.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP.—By the payment in one sum of Twelve years Subscription in advance, i.e., six guineas, individual Brethren may qualify as Life Members of the Correspondence Circle. Corporate Bodies may qualify as Life Members by a similar payment of Twenty-five years' Subscription. Expulsion from the Craft will naturally entail a forfeiture of Membership in the Correspondence Circle, and the Lodge also reserves to itself the full power of excluding any Correspondence Member whom it may deem to be Masonically (or otherwise) unworthy of continued membership.

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Ars Quatuor Coronatorum,

BEING THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE

Quatuor Coronati Lodge of A.F. & A.M., London,

No. 2076.

VOLUME XX.

FRIDAY, 11th JANUARY, 1907,

THE Lodge met at Freemasons' Hall, at 5 pm. Present:—Bros. Hamon le Strange, Prov.G.M., Norfolk, W.M.; W. M. Bywater, P.G.S.B., D.C., as I.P.M.; E. Armitage, P.D.G.D.C., S.W.; J. P. Simpson, as J.W.; W. H. Rylands, P.A.G.D.C., Treasurer; W. John Songhurst, Secretary; Canon J. W. Horsley, Grand Chaplain; G. Greiner, P.A.G.D.C., as I.G.; W. Wynn Westcott, P.G.D., P.M.; S. T. Klein, P.M.; E. H. Dring and E. L. Hawkins.¹

Also the following members of the Correspondence Circle:—Bros. W. Howard Flanders, Thomas Cohu, P.G.St.B., W. H. S. Humphries, Walter Lawrance, Asst.G.Sup.W., A. J. Solomon, H. C. Price, Cecil Powell, W. H. Harris, M. P. Percival, Arthur W. Chapman, Harry Guy, C. W. Holingbery, F. Inskipp, H. H. Montague Smith, W. B. Hextall, Rev. W. E. Scott-Hall, W. E. Soltau, F. J. Burgoyne, C. Letch Mason, F. W. Levander, E. J. W. Hider, C. T. Morgan, Will Barton, P. J. Dadgeon, George Robson, W. Wonnacott, G. H. Luetchford, Sir John E. Bingham, Chas. H. Bestow, H. Hyde, W. C. P. Tapper, Robert A. Gowan, M. Thomson, J. Johnson, Percy T. Goodman, F. Mella, W. R. A. Smith, Frank E. Lemon, S. Walshe Owen, Major John Rose, Leonard Danielsson, W. E. Phelps, D. Bock, H. P. White, Chas. F. Sach, G. Vogeler, W. H. Fox, H. A. James, R. J. Harrison, Hugh James, W. S. Lincoln, and Herbert Burrows.

Also the following visitors:— Bros. Charles A. Kennett, Hiram Lodge No. 2416; Edward Phillips, P.M., Amity Lodge No. 161; J. C. Kersey, J.W., Citadel Lodge No. 1897; J. H. Guyton, P.M., Great City Lodge No. 1426; Roland Y. Mayell, All Soul's Lodge No. 170; and John M. Lanacher, Sir James Ferguson Lodge No. 566.

Letters of apology for non-attendance were received from Bros. Sir Charles Warren, P.Dist.G.M., E.Arch.; R. F. Gould, P.G.D.; J. P. Rylands; Col. S. C. Pratt; W. J. Hughan, P.G.D.; T. B. Whytehead, P.G.S.B.; Dr. W. J. Chetwode Crawley, G.Treas., Ireland; F. H. Goldney, P.G.D.; Sir A. H. Markham, P.Dist.G.M., Malta; L. A. de Malczovich; E. Conder, jun.; G. L. Shackles; F. J. W. Crowe, P.G.O.; J. T. Thorp, P.A.G.D.C.; H. Sadler, Grand Tyler; R. Hovenden, P.G.Steward; W. Watson; and E. J. Castle, P.Dep.G.Reg.

Four Lodges and sixty-nine Brethren were admitted to the membership of the Correspondence Circle.

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¹ By an unfortunate accident no reference to Bro. E. L. Hawkins was made in the Report of the Meeting held 8th November, 1906, when he was unanimously re-elected a joining member of the Lodge. Our apologies are due to Bro. Hawkins for this omission.

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The W.M. then alluded to the fact that Bro. W. M. Bywater had recently completed his sixtieth year of Masonic life, and that it had been the intention of Bro. G. L. Shackles to move a resolution expressing the congratulations and good wishes of the members of the Lodge. In the unavoidable absence of Bro. Shackles he had the greatest possible pleasure in moving the following resolution:—

"That the Members of this Lodge having heard that Worshipful Brother Witham Matthew Bywater, P.M., Past Grand Standard Bearer, has recently attained the 60th anniversary of his Masonic life, desire to offer him their most sincere congratulations on his attaining such an exceptional event, and trust that he may be spared many years to attend the Meetings of the Lodge of which he was one of the earliest joining members."

The proposition was seconded by the S.W., and carried with acclamation, and it was further resolved:—

"That this resolution be suitably illuminated and duly presented to Bro. Bywater."

The document having been signed by the W.M. and officers, was then presented to Bro. Bywater, who thanked the Brethren for their kind wishes.

The Report of the Audit Committee as follows was approved and ordered to be entered upon the Minutes.

PERMANENT AND AUDIT COMMITTEE.

The Committee met at the Holborn Restaurant, on Monday, the 7th day of January, 1907, at 5.30 p.m.

Present:—Bros. W. H. Rylands, in the Chair, G. Greiner, P.M., J. P. Simpson, W. J. Songhurst, Secretary, and A. S. Gedge, Auditor.

The Secretary produced his books and the Treasurer's accounts and vouchers, which had been examined by the Auditor, and certified as being correct.

The Committee agreed upon the following

REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1906.

BRETHREN,

In presenting our Annual Report, we must again congratulate you upon the work done during the past year.

We have had to deplore the loss by death of Brother E. A. T. Breed, a member of the Lodge: on the other hand, four members have been admitted, bringing the total number to 35. In the Correspondence Circle, death has also removed a number of valued members, prominent among whom may be mentioned Bro. Dr. Robert Smailes, of Leeds, Bro. G. P. Rupp, of Philadelphia, and Bro. W. H. Upton, of Walla Walla, who had done most excellent work as Local Secretaries of their respective districts. No new appointments have yet been made in the districts of Pennsylvania and Washington, but in the large province of West Yorkshire, Bro. J. Banks Fearnley will have the co-operation of Bro. John Pyrah, of Huddersfield, and Bro. R. H. Lindsay, of Bradford, in addition to Bros. J. Blakey, at Sheffield, and C. Greenwood, at Halifax.

Four hundred and thirty-seven new names have been added to the Correspondence Circle, making the total at the end of the year 3116, the largest number ever on the Roll.

As foreshadowed in our last report the office at Bromley has now been entirely closed, and additional accommodation secured at 61, Lincoln's Inn Fields, for the increased clerical staff. This important change has necessarily caused a considerable expenditure, and, added to the fact that there are now over £700 arrears of subscriptions still owing, renders the accounts not so satisfactory as they should be.

We must, therefore, again urge upon all members the desirability of paying their subscriptions promptly. It will be noticed that £378 9s. 9d. is still outstanding on last year's account alone, and in order to continue the work of the Lodge, it is absolutely essential that the brethren should bear in

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mind their obligation in this respect. A number of members have kindly facilitated the task of collection by giving instructions to their bankers to pay their subscriptions annually as they become due, others have commuted their payments and appear in the list as life members, while others again remit for two years in advance at one time, and so obviate the necessity of making small payments.

It has been suggested that the subscription of 10s. 6d. might with advantage be increased, but we are of opinion that such a course is not at present advisable. We would, however, recommend the Permanent Committee to take into their consideration the desirability of instituting a joining fee of, say £1 1s., for all members admitted to the Correspondence Circle after the end of 1907.

The Assets comprised in the Accounts given below, as in former years, do not include the stock of Transactions, of Antiquarian Reprints, of facsimiles of various copies of the Old Constitutions, nor the Library and Museum, upon which alone nearly a thousand pounds has been expended.

We desire to call the special attention of members to the large stock of the publications of the Lodge, of which full particulars are given on the covers of the Transactions. The sale of these books would thus establish a fund which would enable the Lodge to greatly extend its operations.

For the Committee, W. H. RYLANDS, in the Chair.

BALANCE SHEET.—30th November, 1906.

Liabilities	£ s. d.	£ s. d.	Assets	£ s. d.	£ s. d.
To Life Members' Fund (143 Members)	936 6 0		By Cash at London and County Banking Co., Oxford Street		58 16 3
„ Whymper Fund	105 15 1		„ £1300 Consols at 89 per cent.		1157 0 0
		1042 1 1	„ Sundry Debtors for Subscriptions in arrear—
„ Payments received in advance		100 11 9	1906	378 9 9
„ Correspondence Circle for 1906:			1905 ditto	162 6 11
Balance in hand		307 16 3	1904 ditto	105 14 6
„ Outstanding Subscriptions as per contra		711 15 2	1903 ditto	51 9 0
„ Summer Outing—Balance		18 16 0	1902 ditto	10 12 0
„ Sundry Creditors		11 5 8	1901 ditto	3 3 0
„ Sundry Publications		18 0 3			711 15 2
„ Lodge Account—			„ Sundry Debtors for Publications		26 17 9
Receipts	50 8 0		„ Sundry Publications		124 17 5
Payments	28 6 0		„ Profit and Loss, Deficiency		163 18 8
	22 2 0
Add Credit Balance, 1905	10 17 1
		32 19 1
		£2243 5 3			£2243 5 3

This Balance Sheet does not include the value of the Library and Museum, Stock of Transactions and Office Furniture, and is subject to the realization of Assets.

I have examined the above Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss with the Books and Vouchers of the Lodge, and certify the same to be correct and in accordance therewith.

ALFRED S. GEDGE, Chartered Accountant, 3, Great James Street, 3rd January, 1907. Bedford Row, W.C.

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PROFIT AND LOSS.—For the year ending 30th November, 1906.

Dr.	£ s. d.	£ s. d.	Cr.	£ s. d.	£ s. d.
To Salaries	307 0 0		By Balance brought forward from last year		33 18 4
„ Rent	174 6 6		„ 1906 Correspondence Circle	500 0 0
„ Gas and Firing	16 19 7		„ 1905 ditto	98 9 0
„ Stationery	77 13 3		„ 1904 ditto	38 6 6
„ Postages	262 15 10		„ 1903 ditto	18 18 0
„ Office Cleaning and Sundries	45 16 2		„ 1902 ditto	5 14 6
„ Insurance	9 10 6		„ 1901 ditto	4 14 6
„ Furniture	27 8 9		„ 1900 ditto	1 11 6
„ Moving and Repairs	10 7 8		Back Subscriptions	1 11 6
„ Library	42 17 2		Sundry Publications	26 12 10
		974 15 5	Life Members	36 15 0
			Interest on Consols	30 17 8
			Discounts	13 7 5
					776 18 5
			Balance carried to Balance Sheet		163 18 8
		£974 15 5			£974 15 5

The W.M. referred to the recommendation of the Committee that a joining fee should be instituted for all members elected to the Correspondence Circle after the end of the current financial year, and several Brethren having spoken on the subject, it was decided that an announcement of the proposal should be made to all Members of both Circles with the view of obtaining their opinion thereon.

EXHIBITS.

By Bro. T. A. Withey, Leeds.

Silver Collar Jewel, in the form of two interlaced triangles, made by E. Loewenstark, 37, Leicester Square, London, in 1863-4. The centre emblems are unfortunately missing, but it is probable that this was a jewel of the Ancient and Primitive Rite. Presented to the Lodge.

Collar Jewel, square and compasses, set in paste, evidently French manufacture and probably made for an Irish Lodge. The centre emblem is missing.

R.A. Breast Jewel, (obsolete pattern) set in paste.

By Bro. A. S. Gedge, London.

Wine-Glass, engraved with Masonic emblems.

Certificate, issued to Bro. John Denny, on 19th June, 1802, by the Grand Lodge of England. W. White, Grand Secretary.

Certificate, issued to John Denny, on the 15th June, 1802, by Lodge of Harmony No. 384 (now No. 255), held at the Toy Inn, Hampton Court, signed by Thos. Haverfield, R.W.M., Wm. Walton, Act.M., G. Peach, S.W., pro tem., Thos. Chammey, J.W., pro tem., Richard Benham, Secretary.

Certificate, issued to Bro. Johnson Gedge, on 6th January, 1823, by the Grand Lodge of England.

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[Illustration: Line drawing of a Soapstone Tobacco-Pipe with Masonic square and compasses symbol engraved on it]

Tobacco-Pipe, Exhibited by Bro. J. H. Williams.

[Illustration: Photograph of an ornate cast lead Tobacco-Box with Masonic symbols, dating from circa 1790]

Tobacco-Box, exhibited by Bro. W. H. Toye.

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By Bro. J. C. Brookhouse, London.

Carved Bone Snuff-Box. Presented to the Lodge.

By the Lodge.

China Tray (Sunderland ware).

Jewel, worn by members of the Lodge working in "King Solomon's quarries."

By Bro. Frank Latham, Penzance.

Ashlar, made from a piece of stone from the walls of Canterbury Cathedral while fixing scaffolding preparatory to restoring the great Tower. On one side is a small piece of stone from the quarries at Jerusalem set in a Keystone-shape frame. Presented to the Lodge.

Three Sheets of Masons' Marks at Canterbury Cathedral. Presented to the Lodge.

By Bro. B. Loewy, New York.

Set of Four Medals (silver, bronze, copper, aluminium) commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Adelphic Council No. 7 Royal and Select Masters, New York. Only twenty-five copies were struck in silver, and twenty in copper. Presented to the Lodge.

By Bro. J. H. Williams, Ludlow.

Soapstone Tobacco-pipe, found in 1847 in an ancient Indian Camp in Northern Canada by the father of the present owner. It was stated that the Camp had been used for summer hunting by a tribe then long extinct, but it seems probable that the Sioux Indians who accompanied the finder "planted" the pipe where it was found, as there is no doubt that it is of fairly modern make. It is not possible to determine exactly the nature of the stone from which it is cut, as it is much stained by tobacco.

By Bro. W. H. Toye, London.

Tobacco Box, cast lead, dating probably from 1790. It must have been very handsome when first made, as there are still traces of colouring and gilding.

R.A. Breast Jewel, made 1791, for John Burges, by Holder, Bartholomew Close.

By Bro. Sydney R. Clarke, London.

Portrait of the Earl of Zetland ("Vanity Fair" cartoon, December 4th, 1869).

Portrait of the Duke of Sussex, published June 24th, 1813, for C. Rosenberg and Son, by Colnaghi and Co., London.

Portrait (unidentified) of a Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of England, "painted and drawn on stone by R. R. Scanlan."

The Secretary read the following paper:—

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JOHN COLE.

BY BRO. W. JOHN SONGHURST, Secretary.

THE little engraving which I now exhibit seems to call for some explanation, not because it has reference to a disturbance among the dignitaries of the City of London, for that, although of general interest by reason of its happily infrequent occurrence, would hardly form a subject for enquiry from a Masonic standpoint. But the "Citizen and Liveryman" is represented as wearing a Masonic collar and jewels, and it is therefore reasonable that we should seek to know something more about the Brother, and the indignities to which he was subjected at the hands of a "person without legal authority."

The print brings to mind another portrait forming the frontispiece of a little book published in 1801, and a comparison of this with the engraving now before us makes it quite clear that here we have once more our old friend, "A Past Master."

But what a change in the face! No doubt, many will be inclined to suggest that this is attributable to his connection with his Company of the Leathersellers, and to the many good dinners of which he must have partaken at their Hall, but in justice to the man, as well as to the Guild, it must be stated that he was a Liveryman in 1788, thirteen years before the first portrait was published, and we must therefore conclude that his apoplectic appearance is due to the disturbance in the Common Hall, which is commemorated by the later print.

As Leathersellers' Hall was used on several occasions as a meeting place for Grand Lodge, I may perhaps mention that it is situated on the east side of Bishopsgate Street Within, on land originally belonging to a Priory which existed as early as 1180, and was dedicated to the mother of the Emperor Constantine. About 1210 this was transformed into a Priory of Benedictine nuns, whose Hall formed the Common Hall of the Leathersellers' Company from the time they purchased the property, shortly after the dissolution, down to 1799. In that year the buildings were demolished in order to form St. Helen's Place, the present Hall being erected on the old crypts.

The first meeting of Grand Lodge in Leathersellers' Hall appears to have been the "Assembly and Feast," on 3rd April, 1753, under the presidency of Lord Carysfort, Grand Master; others were held on 10th May, 1756, and 18th May, 1757, with the Marquis of Carnarvon in the Chair; the last meeting being on 1st May, 1775, when, after laying the foundation stone of Freemasons' Hall, the Brethren, with Lord Petre at their head, repaired to the City in order to partake of dinner and transact other business usual on the occasion of the Annual Festival.

The book to which I have referred is entitled:—

"Illustrations of Masonry selected by Brother John Cole, Past Master "of Lodges No. 466, 249, 113, and 195, to which is prefixed, The Funeral "Service and a variety of other Masonic information. London: published "at the Masonic Printing Office, No. 18, Fore Street, Cripplegate; sold "also by H. D. Symonds, Paternoster Row; Crosby and Letterman, "Stationers' Court; Barry, 106, Minories; And by all Booksellers in the "United Kingdom of England and Ireland. 1801."

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[Illustration: Engraved portrait in oval frame]

PORTRAIT OF A CITIZEN & LIVERYMAN, OF THE COMPANY OF LEATHERSELLERS, Who was Seiźd by the Collar at the Common Hall April 1st 1809, by a person without legal Authority, in consequence of R. capreft his Disapprobation to A Dignified Character who was Censur'd in the Common Hall by — Upwards of 1000 Persons.

J. G. Walker, Sculpt.

Part of the Profits arising from the Sale of this Portrait will be given to the Honest & Upright Officer who refusd to take M.C. into Custody

Pub. Apr. 7 1809 at No. 37 Old Bethlem

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It runs to 131 pages, and is dedicated to H.R.H. George, Prince of Wales, Right Worshipful Grand Master. The first twelve pages are devoted to the "Funeral Service," and then follow some "Monitorial" Notes, selected for the most part from Preston and Hutchinson. On page 57 we have an "Account of the Freemasons' Charity School" for Girls, which six years previously had been transferred from Somers Town to St. George's Fields.¹ Pages 69 to 78 give us an address presented to the King on his escape from death at the hands of James Hadfield. Then we have a list of Grand Officers, etc., for 1801, and on page 80 commences an account of the "Masonic Benefit Society" for indigent Masons, followed by the inevitable collection of songs,² the remainder of the book being taken up with particulars of the Boys' Charity. In the list of subscribers to this Charity of £5 5s., and upwards, we find the name of John Cole, and additional evidence of the fact that he was a charitably disposed man is afforded by the inscription under the frontispiece, which states that part of the profits arising from the publication of the book were "to go towards the fund of the Masonic Charity, for sons of Indigent Free Masons." In the list of subscribers of one Guinea we find the names of James Cole, of Tench Street, St. George's; and Thomas and David Cole, whose addresses are not given.

The book appears to have been issued in several forms. One has the portrait printed in colours, and also contains engravings of three tracing boards, as well as of the well-known "Freemason formed out of the materials of his Lodge," while another has only the portrait (printed in black) with the additional information engraved at the foot, "Sold at No. 18, Fore Street. Price 3s. 6d. neatly bound." It also appeared with twelve double pages of engraved songs and music bound up at the end, and with these and the other four plates was sold for five shillings.

We can get some information about John Cole from the book itself and the advertisements it contains. We find that he was the son of William Cole, Printer and Engraver, of Newgate Street, who in 1766 was appointed by Grand Lodge to print the "Lists of Lodges." We find also that for some time in addition to his "Pencil Warehouse" in Fore Street, he had a place at 12, Plumber's Street, City Road, and that eventually he moved to St. Agnes Circus, Old Street Road.³ From this last address "A new selection" of his Illustrations was advertised, but I have not found that it was actually issued. It was to have been published on "Saturday May 1," a combination which fixes the year as 1802. This is surprisingly close to the date of the first edition but the next possible year, 1813, is quite out of the question. He appears to have remained in St. Agnes Circus until 1807 when he returned to 18, Fore Street.

William Cole continued to publish the Engraved Lists of Lodges until 1778 when they were superseded by the printed Calendars. From 1745 to 1766 the work had been entrusted to Benjamin Cole and although in the latter year his work as Official Engraver came to an end, he issued several unofficial lists in 1766 and 1767. Benjamin had been engaged on Masonic work as early as 1728 when he engraved and dedicated to the Earl of Kingston a copy of one of the "Old Charges." He put out a second issue in 1731 erasing Lord Kingston's name from the plate and substituting that of Lord Lovel, the

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¹ It will interest some Brethren to know that twenty-five Chairs presented by the Caledonian Lodge on the removal of the School to St. George's Fields, in 1795, are still in use at the present Institution at Battersea.

² "It has been the practice of almost every Author or Compiler of Publications on Masonry to affix to their books a larger or smaller collection of Masonic Poetry." (Stephen Jones. Preface to Masonic Miscellanies. 1797.)

³ This address is variously given in the records of the Leathersellers' Company as "No. 9, Circus, Old Street Road," and "No. 9, Agnes Circus, Old Street Green."

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then Grand Master. Two other editions appeared in 1751 and 1762 but they were printed from type. He was also the engraver of the frontispiece of the 1756 edition of the Book of Constitutions.

I am greatly indebted to Mr. W. Arnold Hepburn, Clerk to the Leathersellers' Company, for information in regard to the members of the Cole family whose names are recorded in his books. I have already mentioned that John's name first appears in 1788. He was made free by patrimony on the 19th February of that year, and admitted to the Livery three months later, being described as of Pye Corner, West Smithfield, the Fore Street address appearing for the first time in 1792 when he succeeded his father as Printer to the Company. During the year 1807 he served as Livery Warden, but in 1808 financial difficulties overtook him and he obtained a return of his Livery fine. He was however employed as the Company's printer for one more year, having then an office in Newgate Street. The London Directory makes no mention of this further change of address but keeps him at 18, Fore Street until 1810, and after this his name disappears altogether.

It is probable that his failure as a Copper-plate Printer was due to the introduction of Lithography, although there seems some ground for supposing that for a time he retired altogether from the business and was forced to return in consequence of the incompetency or bad luck of those whom he left in charge. He tried to retrieve his fortune by taking up an entirely new line, that of "Dealer in Piano-Fortes and Music in General," but was not able to avert bankruptcy.

A very fine engraved bill-head is preserved in the Grand Lodge Library. It is particularly interesting as giving an indication that John Cole numbered members of the Order of Bucks among his customers. It does not bear the name of the designer or engraver, but the style and arrangement of the Masonic portion shew that it was copied or adapted from some of his father's work.

I have not found anything actually engraved by John, but the business card he used at St. Agnes Circus is stated to have been designed by him. It was engraved by Harper. On the early stipple portrait we find the name of Adolphe as engraver,¹ the "Common Hall" portrait being the work of J. G. Walker, while the Tracing boards are by F. Curtis.

Benjamin was not at any time connected with the Leathersellers' Company, and I am still in the dark as to his relationship with William and John. William however was made free of the Company in 1754 as an apprentice of James Cole (1744) and admitted to the Livery three years later, serving as Master in 1786-7. He seems to have remained in Newgate Street down to about 1792, when he is described as of "Printing Office, Bank." In 1802 he was living at No. 15 Brayne's Row, Spa Fields, and he died before 6th April 1803,² when another son was admitted as a Freeman and Liveryman. This son, also named William, was described as a "Copper-Plate printer, Little Saffron Hill," but his connection with the Company was of short duration as four years later (2nd September 1807) his Livery fine was returned to him, he having "been very unfortunate in the choice of his residence." This period indeed seems to have been a disastrous one for the Cole family, as a few months later assistance was granted to a

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¹ A proof before letters of the stipple engraving was recently brought to me as a portrait of the Duke of Kent!

² His Will was proved 4th February, 1803. John Cole benefited to the extent of £3,000, other legatees being his son William, a daughter Sarah, and a nephew William. I have not found any record of John's Will, but curiously enough there is one of another John proved 27th February, 1809. He had resided in Baker's Buildings, Old Bethlem, and he left all he possessed (household furniture) to his wife Susannah.

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[Illustration: Elaborate engraved bill-head with Masonic symbols, decorative scrollwork, tools, and figures]

PRINTING OFFICE Nº 18 FORE STREET CRIPPLEGATE From Nº 109 Newgate Street

John Cole Engraver AND PRINTER IN GENERAL Son & Successor to Mr. Wm. Cole. Engraves and Prints All manner of Copper Plates in HISTORY and WRITING: Executes all manner of Notes Draughts, Bills of Exchange, Sign Bills, Bills of Parcels, &c. in the neatest and most Expeditious manner and on Reasonable Terms.

Also PRINTS and SELLS Provisions, in the Neatest manner for pressing Duty matter [several lines partially legible]

STATIONARY WHOLESALE & RETAIL.

Bill-Head of John Cole. From the Original in the Library of Grand Lodge.

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[Illustration: Ornate engraved business card with decorative floral border, beehive at top, and two female allegorical figures flanking a central cartouche]

J. Cole, Engraver & Printer, St. Agnes Circus, near the City Road.

Designed by J. Cole Harper, Sculpt. Printed at Nº 9. St. Agnes Circus, Old St.

Business Card of John Cole. From the Original in the Library of Grand Lodge.

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Mrs. Holt,¹ daughter of Thomas Cole, formerly a member of the Court. There had been two members bearing the name Thomas, one made free in 1732 by patrimony as the son of Robert (free 6th June, 1710) and the other made free by apprenticeship in 1733. There was also a Joseph Cole in 1750, another James in 1717; and in 1718 we even find a Susanna.

It would be well-nigh impossible to trace the relationship which probably existed between these individuals. Bro. Rylands has kindly given me some notes on other members of the family, who seem to have settled in London at an early date, many of them taking up engraving as a profession. Thus we have:—

Humphrey Cole, Goldsmith, 1592. Perhaps a brother of Peter Cole, Painter. Engraved Maps, etc.

Peter Cole, 1663, etc. Engraved Portraits. (On 4th December, 1665, Peter Cole, bookseller and printer in Cornhill, hanged himself in his warehouse in Leadenhall).

John Cole, of Holborn. Flourished about 1720. Engraver of Portraits and Book-plates: among them is a head of Thomas Puckle, prefixed to his dialogue called "The Club." Died 15th June, 1783, aged 86.

John Cole, engraver. He was much employed by Booksellers on works of a low class, which he produced entirely with the graver. He etched 136 plates for a "History of Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey," published in 1727. (Redgrave's Dict. of Artists).

Benjamin Cole, engraver. First part of eighteenth century. Chiefly portraits, e.g. Lords Kilmarnock, Cromarty, Balmarino, and Frazer of Lovat.

James Cole, of Titchfield Street, died 1773.

George Cole, engraver, of Great Kirby Street, Hatton Garden. Died January 1795, aged 72.

We can get a few more names from the Grand Lodge lists, but no information which helps us in any way in the task of identification. The 1725 list gives us Mr. Cole, Member of the Red Lion at Richmond; while in the 1730 list we find—Mr. Cole, Master of the Vine Tavern, Holborn; Mr. Benjamin Cole, Member of the Lodge at the King's Arms in St. Paul's Church Yard (evidently the Lodge of Antiquity); Mr. Benjamin Cole, member of the Queen's Arms in Newgate Street; and Mr. Charles Cole, S.W. of the Castle and Legg in Holborn. A Lawford Cole and a Theophilus Cole are also mentioned, but it seems probable that they did not belong to the same family.

In fact, James Cole of Tench Street, St. George's, is the only one of whom anything can be said. I have no doubt that he was the Brother James Cole who acted as Secretary of the Girls' School from 1806 to 1812. He was a candidate for the post in 1804, on the death of Bro. Christopher Cuppage, but declined to submit to a ballot. Four years later, however, on the resignation of Bro. W. Dignam² he had a walk-over. He was the last to hold the combined offices of Secretary and Writing Master. He suddenly threw up the position in 1812, and the members of the House Committee were naturally much annoyed that he thus left them in the lurch. He had been admitted a member of the Chapter of St. James on 10th January, 1811, coming apparently from the Shakespear Lodge, and, although his name does not appear in the

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¹ A Mr. Andrew Holt was living at No. 8, Plumber's Row, City Road in 1805-06. ² This brother was not a Mason at the time he applied for the post, but signified his intention, if elected, of being initiated "forthwith."

list of members as given by Bro. Ebblewhite in his History of that Lodge, the Minutes of 28th June, 1804, which he quotes, shew that on that day James Cole was appointed Assistant Secretary, at a salary of Twenty Guineas per annum. He is described as "M.M. and Master of the Saint Peter's Lodge No. 249," and as "a very deserving and industrious man with a wife and small family," but as he also was unfortunately in low water at this time we must suppose that he had resigned from the St. Peter's Lodge before he applied for admission to the Chapter of St. James, and considered the Assistant Secretaryship of the Shakespear was a sufficient qualification. A link with John Cole is found in the fact that he also was a Past Master of the St. Peter's Lodge.¹

The Lodges of which John Cole was a member are stated to be Nos. 466, 249, 113 and 195. The first of these was the "Friendly Lodge," warranted as No. 557 in 1790, which met at the Queen's Arms Tavern, Newgate Street, 1798-1810, and lapsed about 1815, the number having been altered to 521 at the Union. No. 249 was the "St. Peter's Lodge" already referred to, meeting 1793-1805 at the King's Head, Walworth Road. At a later date it seems to have been in the hands of the notorious Finch, and met at his rooms in the New Cut. It made no returns after 1814, and was erased in 1838. It is probable that James Asperne was a member of this Lodge at the same time as Cole. In 1795 Asperne was in business as a bookseller in Walworth, while from 1803, to his death in 1820, he published the European Magazine at the Bible, Crown and Constitution, in Cornhill. One of the songs in Cole's little work is stated to have been "sung by Brother J.A., P.M. of St. Peter's Lodge," and his name appears in full as the writer of an introduction to the address presented to the King. No. 113 (the "Gloucester Lodge") dated back to 1755, and met at various places in London until 1800, when it removed to the Ship, High Road, Tottenham, returning, however, to London in 1805, where it languished for a few years, finally lapsing in 1808. It was while acting as Master of this Lodge that John Cole wrote two of the Masonic songs which appear in his book.

All the above Lodges were warranted under the Grand Lodge of the "Moderns" but the last one on the list, No. 195, was an "Atholl" creation, meeting from 1800 at the "Hole in the Wall," Fleet Street. Although it lapsed in 1805 its warrant was revived by endorsement in the following year in favour of what is now the "Lodge of Prudent Brethren."

A later impression of the portrait given in the "Illustrations" has had the lettering entirely altered. At the top now appears "Brother John Cole," and at the foot "Past Master, of the St. Peter's Lodge No. 249, the Friendly Lodge No. 466, the British Social Lodge No. 183, and the Gloucester Lodge No. 113. Seventh Time elected." He was evidently a favourite in the "Gloucester." The "British Social" was warranted in 1775. It became No. 222 at the Union and in 1821 united with the "Castle" Lodge, erased in 1854.

The "Common Hall" portrait was re-engraved (or perhaps was itself a re-engraving), but strange to say without the collar and jewels. It gives us, however, the name of one more Lodge of which John Cole was not only a member but Master, namely "The Old Tuscan" No. 184, a "Modern" creation of 1765. It was erased in 1775 and reinstated in 1777; erased again in February, 1800, and again reinstated two months

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¹ Bro. Ebblewhite also mentions a Thomas Cole who was a member of the Shakespear Lodge from 1774 to 1776.

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later. It made no returns after 1814, and its third erasure in 1830 was final. It had been re-named the "Lusitanian" in 1811, and was one of the Lodges owning a Freemasons' Hall Medal.¹

It may be noted that John Cole advertises for sale engraved Summonses and Certificates, "an apron prepared of fine leather, or satin, printed from an excellent Masonic design, of Faith, Hope and Charity" (an example was exhibited at this Lodge on 12th January, 1906), and portraits of William Preston and F. C. Daniel. This last was probably an earlier portrait than that facing page 66 of A.Q.C., vol. xviii. He was also a joint publisher in 1797 of the first edition of Stephen Jones's Masonic Miscellanies, as well as in 1799 of the Masonic Museum, which is stated to be "A select Collection of the Most Celebrated Songs, sung in all the Respectable Lodges." To this collection is added a list of Lodges of Instruction meeting under the "Regular" and "Atholl" Constitutions. A portrait of the Prince of Wales (to whom the book is dedicated) forms the frontispiece, while the engraved title-page gives a view of the "Royal Cumberland Freemasons' School for Female Orphans."

I first met with the statement that John Cole was connected with the publication of the 1797 edition of Masonic Miscellanies, in Bro. Lane's Handy Book to the Lists of Lodges (p. 107), but I had some difficulty in verifying it. The book is not particularly rare, but the copies which I was able to inspect bore only the names of Vernon and Hood. After considerable search I discovered in the Grand Lodge Library with Bro. Sadler's kind help a copy from which in all probability Bro. Lane got his information. It was formerly in the Irvine library and it gives John Cole's name on the title-page in addition to Vernon and Hood. It is evidently an early issue of the book (not a different edition), as there is no doubt that if Cole had been publishing it in 1801 he would have advertised the fact in his "Illustrations." I have since ascertained that a copy is also in the possession of Bro. P. R. Finnis, of Dover, and I have no doubt that others will be brought to light now that attention has been directed to the point.

And now with regard to our print. The "row" which took place on All Fool's Day, 1809, was in connection with an incident, not Masonic and not particularly savoury, one moreover on which much has already been written. Perhaps the most concise account of the circumstances which led up to it is to be found in Dr. Reginald Sharpe's "London and the Kingdom,"² and from vol. iii., p. 270 of that work, I extract the following:—

"Early in the spring of 1809 the Duke of York, Commander-in-chief, was charged by a militia colonel named Wardle, member for Okehampton, with having allowed his mistress, Mrs. Clarke, to dispose of commissions, and having himself participated in the proceeds of this nefarious traffic. The scandal was aggravated by a public investigation before the entire House of Commons, and, although the Duke was eventually acquitted of personal corruption, he felt compelled to resign his post. His acquittal disgusted the Common Council, who desired to place on record their belief that it was greatly due to that 'preponderating influence,' of which they had formerly complained. On the other hand they voted Wardle the freedom of the City in a gold box (6 April). In the course of

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¹ John was proposed as a joining member of the Chapter of St. James on 14th September, 1797. ² "London and the Kingdom." A History derived mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the custody of the Corporation of the City of London, by Reginald R. Sharpe, D.C.L., Records Clerk in the Office of the Town Clerk of the City of London; Editor of "Calendar of Wills enrolled in the Court of Husting," etc. In three volumes. Printed by order of the Corporation under the direction of the Library Committee. London: Longmans, Green and Co.; and New York, 15 East Sixteenth Street, 1895.

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a few months Wardle was himself sued by a tradesman for the price of goods with which he had furnished a house for Mrs. Clarke. This put a new aspect on the charges Wardle had brought, and greatly diminished the feeling against the Duke, who was soon afterwards restored to office. The City, however, still upheld Wardle, and not only refused to rescind their vote of the 6 April, but placed on record an elaborate statement showing how by his means, and in the face of unexampled threats and difficulties, a system of 'scandalous abuse and corruption not only in the Army, but in the various departments of the State' had been brought to light. This statement they ordered to be published in the morning and evening papers."

The more one tries to get at the real meaning of the inscription on the engraving by the aid of this and other printed accounts of the proceedings, the greater are the difficulties which arise.

There seems no doubt that it was purposely made obscure, and perhaps some allowance must also be made for the evident hurry to get the print published, the date at foot showing that this was effected in six days.

I have not found any reference whatever to John Cole in the records, but perhaps this is not surprising, as the occurrence must have been to the reporter merely an incident at a meeting in which general uproar seems to have been the prominent feature.

The "dignified character" is, no doubt, intended for the Lord Mayor (Sir Charles Flower), who was at first howled down and then compelled to put to the meeting a vote of censure upon himself "for disregarding the wishes of the Livery and for being unworthy of his fellow-citizens' confidence." This vote was carried by an enormous majority, only four hands being held up against it. The Lord Mayor was certainly much averse to the proposed resolutions against the Duke, and appears to have declined at first to act upon a requisition from the Liverymen for convening a meeting. It is possible that it was on this question that he fell foul of John Cole, though how the "person without legal authority" could have had the temerity to seize our friend by the collar in the presence of so many who were of his way of thinking is far from clear. But we must also bear in mind that Cole was scarcely correct in describing himself as a "Citizen and Liveryman" in 1809, as his name had been removed from the list in February of the previous year, and it may have been a refusal to admit him to the Guildhall which led to the assault. The point, however, is not of importance, although one would like to know something more about the "honest and upright officer," who, it may be hoped, received a good round sum as his share of the profits arising from the sale of the Portrait.

With regard to the Collar jewel worn by John Cole, this was apparently the proper jewel of the period for a Past Master under the "Ancients." I say apparently, because, as I have already mentioned, John Cole was a Past Master of Lodges under both Constitutions. The Master's jewel of the "Ancients" was similar to that which he wears, but had the sun between the legs of the compasses. It may be, therefore, that the alteration marks a difference between the practice of the two Grand Lodges, or that the sun was raised above the compasses for a Brother who had passed the Chair. At an earlier date the jewel of the Past Master under the "Moderns" was of an entirely different form and pattern, as will be seen from the illustration given by Bro. Sadler in his recently published History of the Emulation Lodge, but as time went on there seems to have been a mutual appropriation of jewels by members of the rival bodies.

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Thus the "Emulation," when it followed the example of the "Ancients" and appointed Deacons, took also their "Mercury" collar jewels, while on the other hand the St. Thomas' Lodge, originally warranted by the "Ancients," still invests its Past Master with a jewel similar to that referred to above as belonging to the "Moderns."

In this connection it is interesting to compare the portrait of William Preston, engraved by Thomson, in 1794. He is there described as a Past Master of the Lodge of Antiquity, and he wears a Collar jewel similar in design to that of John Cole. But when we examine other engravings of about the same period we find a singular lack of uniformity. In the well-known print, by Bartolozzi, shewing the procession of Girls in Freemasons' Hall, the Prince of Wales and Ruspini both have compasses hanging from their collars, while William Forssteen has a square. In the portrait of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master, engraved in the same year (1802), by Edmund Scott, he is shewn with the Compasses and segment of a circle, and in the portrait of Ruspini, "Painted and engraved by I. Jenner, M.M.," we see a square with a sword on one limb. The sword probably indicates his rank as Grand Sword Bearer, an office which he held from 1791 to his death in 1813. It is impossible to say definitely what is on the other limb, as it is almost covered by his Star of the Order of the Golden Spur. We may also note that the portrait of James Asperne represents him as wearing a square suspended from a chain. This Brother was a Past Master of two Lodges under the "Moderns," but had probably resigned from both before the portrait was painted, as the numbers given are those of pre-Union times, while he wears his Apron of Grand Steward, an office which he held in 1814.

One other portrait I should like to mention is that of the Earl of Moira as Acting Grand Master, engraved by C. Turner, after James Ramsey, in 1811. In this we have the Compasses again, but, instead of the segment, a crescent. It is so clearly drawn that I do not think it can be a mistake on the part of the painter or engraver, especially as the earlier portrait (1804), by Bartolozzi, engraved by H. Landseer, shews the compasses and segment most distinctly. Is it possible that the jewel may be intended to indicate some position in the Royal Arch? At first sight the suggestion does not seem reasonable, but it will be remembered that the seal of the "Grand Royal Arch Chapter, York," of 1780, had a crescent in combination with a rainbow and a triangle. It is evident, therefore, that the emblem had some significance in connection with the degree at York, and I would like to make a further suggestion, viz., that the crescent was not intended to represent a half-moon, but an Ark, of the same shape as that depicted on the counter-seal of the Grand Lodge at York (circa. 1776-1779). In the latter there is no doubt whatever that it is a representation of the Ark of the Covenant. The addition of staves and Cherubim makes this quite clear, and I cannot help thinking that in the Grand Chapter seal the device is meant to indicate Noah's Ark, an emblem much more appropriate than a half-moon when taken in conjunction with the rainbow.

I must add a few words in regard to the place of publication of the print. "Old Bethlem" immediately suggests the Bethlehem Hospital for the Insane in St. George's Fields, Lambeth, commonly known as Bedlam, and although the suggestion is to a certain extent correct, we must look to the North of the City and not to the South for the place of abode of our publisher. In the year 1246 a Priory of the Star of Bethlehem was founded on the east side of Moor Fields, in the parish of St. Botolph Without. In 1330 the religious house became known as a general hospital, and the City authorities took it under their protection, subsequently purchasing the whole of the property belonging to the establishment. Henry VIII. transferred to the care of the citizens of

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London the inmates of an asylum for lunatics which had been established almost under his nose at Charing Cross, and in a fit of extreme generosity gave to the City the entire property it had already purchased. By 1675 the buildings had become so dilapidated that it was found necessary to erect a new hospital a little to the west but on the south side of Moor Fields, just without the City Wall. This became known as "New Bedlam," and is so marked on "a new map of London, revised by John Senex"¹ in 1720. At the beginning of the nineteenth century these buildings also were found to be in a state of decay, and in 1812-15 the institution was transferred to the new site at the junction of Lambeth Road and St. George's Road. It would seem that at the demolition of the original building a range of old tenements was allowed to remain with the name of "Old Bethlem" and it was here undoubtedly that the print was published. For the most part the houses were inhabited by vendors of "decayed upholstery," and enjoyed as evil a reputation as in our day was held by another street in the same neighbourhood. Shakespeare may be correct in his oft-quoted opinion about the unalterable qualities of the rose, but his remark would appear to lose its force when applied to the nomenclature of London Streets. Petticoat Lane is certainly much sweeter under its new name of Middlesex Street, and the present dwellers in Liverpool Street must surely be conscious of an air of dignity and respectability which was evidently lacking when, less than a hundred years ago, the locality was known as "Old Bethlem."

Bro. Wm. Watson writes:—

I have perused an advance copy of Bro. Songhurst's Paper with great interest. Although the name of Cole is a household word with every Masonic student and bibliographer, yet no serious attempt has hitherto been made, that I am aware of, to bring together the materials for, and compile a comprehensive account of this remarkable family.

There is very little on which to hang criticism, the Paper being mainly the relation of ascertained facts—(and we may take it that anything Bro. Songhurst gives as fact has been well authenticated by him as such)—but there is much to admire in the great perseverance and assiduity of the author in running to earth and recording everything of utility within practicable reach. The subject of the Cole family, until now, almost terra incognita to most of us, has been explored, and the result is not only a valuable and reliable work of reference but adds a greatly enhanced interest to the many artistic achievements of the Coles, still extant.

I much regret that I cannot be present to join in that warm and hearty vote of thanks to our talented Secretary, which all present will agree to be so well merited by him. Indeed, his present paper is one illustration out of a great many of how he throws himself with dead earnest and determination into everything he undertakes.

On the proposition of Bro. Canon Horsley, seconded by Bro. W. H. Rylands, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Bro. Songhurst. Bro. Horsley referred to the coincidence of a Lodge named "St. Peter" existing at Walworth at so early a date, as his church dedicated to St. Peter was not erected until much later. The explanation was probably to be found in the fact that the Lodge had previously (1791) met at a tavern known as the "Cross Keys," Shad Thames, and had retained the name of "St. Peter" on its removal to Walworth two years later.

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¹ John Senex will be remembered as the joint publisher of the first "Book of Constitutions" in 1723. He also published scientific works for Dr. Desaguliers, and held the office of J.G. Warden in the year 1723-4.

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ON MASONIC HISTORY.—LET US SEEK TRUTH.

BY BRO. JOHN YARKER.

DURING some little time a series of articles has appeared in the French journal, L'Initiation, under the cabalistically devised pseudonym of "Teder." These articles are well worthy of consideration by all who desire the truth in history.

The view which "Teder" takes in these papers, and he is no contemptible authority on the matter, is that "Ancient" Masonry is the Masonry of the Romanists and the Stuarts, which entered France with the Irish and Scottish followers of James II. in 1688. Faithful to the old Constitutional Charges they held the necessity of being faithful to the King (that is "the King over the water") and Holy Church (i.e. the Roman Catholic Church).

On the other hand "Modern" Masonry was the system of the new Grand Lodge of 1717, Protestant and Hanoverian, in which all the binding articles in their original import, as to the King and Holy Church, were abrogated by the new Constitutions of Dr. James Anderson, on behalf of the new dynasty. I have myself put the question in your pages, to this effect. If Scottish Masonry was the rubbish that some able Masons both in England and America suppose that it was, what induced so many men of position, and so many military men, say between 1660 and 1700, to join the Scottish Lodges? What was their aim and object? Of many of these we can trace their after career, and they were loyal followers of the exiled Stuarts in France. "Teder" opens his first paper in the following words:—

"In 1675 King Charles of England, a Catholic and Freemason, influenced by able men, had obliged the Duke of York, also a Freemason and Catholic, to give his daughter, Mary, in marriage to the Protestant William, Prince of Orange. Already, at this period, a political division existed, the visible manifestation of a secret discord reigning in the Lodges from the first disputes of the Reformation, and we see an English party and a Scottish party. But the first of these was so powerful that they sought to reject the Duke of York from the succession, and, in March, 1679, Charles II. went so far as to exile his brother.

"Notwithstanding this, in 1681, he was re-called and received the Governorship of the Scotch, in succession to his pseudo-nephew, the Duke of Monmouth, with whom the English party had plotted. In the hope of being one day King, the Duke of York naturally took great care to create secret friends in the Scotch Army, by drawing to himself the greater and the lesser nobility, the merchants and the workmen, whether Protestant or Catholic, by means of a crowd of societies allied to the Masonry to which he belonged, and to the Order of Knights of St. Andrew, which became a sort of fourth degree of the Masonic Order with its own particular usages." (The authority for this statement is the "MS. of Bro. The Prince of Hesse.")

"We may object perhaps that the composition of the Masonic organization, which admits indifferently men of all religious beliefs and of all political parties, is little suited to aid the enterprises of a Party. But this objection is of little value, in face of the certain fact that Masonry of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, was not at

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all what we understand as Masonry of the present day, and was also practically divided upon religious and dynastic questions; and, moreover, what human society can be said to be exempt from intestine disputes, and fratricidal quarrels? Is it not now, at this moment even, upon a question of religious principle, that the Grand Orient of France finds itself separated from the Grand Lodge of England, which, hardly six months ago renewed, in an official circular, the order for non-admission of such French Masons to English Lodges?

"It is credible that, even in London, the partisans of Bro. the Duke of York enjoyed a certain influence, for on the 11th May, 1682, a grand Masonic banquet, in which he took part, was given in his honour in Masons Hall, at which Bro. Elias Ashmole assisted, who, with other things, makes allusion to this in his Diary, and observes that he had been a Mason for thirty-five years.

"Charles II. having died in 1685, was succeeded by Bro. the Duke of York, without apparent opposition, under the title of James II., but the English Party continued its subterranean work, and the new monarch, whose catholicity bore a tinge of the world, was dethroned in 1688, to the profit of his kinsman, the usurping protestant foreigner. We now see a more open agitation, two factions opposing each other in the Lodges, to wit; says Bro. the Prince of Hesse, the Scotch Party, who were for the restoration of James II., and the English Party, who laboured for the advantage of William, Prince of Orange, who was initiated the year following into the Masonry of the English Party, forgetful of the obligations of the old Masonic Constitutions, which exacted the oath of fidelity to the King and Holy Church, or the established religion.

"During this time, James II. demanded the assistance of his ally Louis XIV., entered Ireland against his kinsman, and penetrated into Scotland, but in spite of the support of the French arms, he was vanquished; then returned to France, preceded and followed by a crowd of greater and lesser nobility, English, Irish and Scottish, all magnificently received at the Court of Louis XIV., and who set themselves to 'labour under the veil of Scottish Masonry, not only for the restoration of the deposed King, but also to re-establish the Catholic heirarchy in England.' (MS. of the Prince of Hesse.) Some 'scrupulous brethren' had a fire in 1720, and gave to the flames a quantity of Masonic documents which revealed too much; the Royal Family has had possession of 500,000 documents, comprising the papers of James II., of his son, and of his grandson, which they have kept in vain under lock at Edinburgh, precious documents in print and in manuscript. This has not hindered the truth from being pointed out by Henri Martin, who possessed solid material with which to compile his celebrated Histoire de France, enabling him to say that these 'were the vanquished adherents of the ultramontane catholicism, and of absolute Monarchy which propagated Masonry' (evidently that of the Stuarts) 'in France.' (Vol. xv., p. 399.)

"Immediately on his arrival in Paris, James II. installed himself in the Jesuit College of Clermont, at St. Germain-en-Laye, where he established a sort of Government with Ministers and Ambassadors, and where, if we rely upon Bro. Ragon, in alluding to the labours of P. Bonani, were issued 'the first Masonic Templar Statutes.'

"In these times, that is to say a little after 1690, there were already some Grades at the Court of Louis XIV. filled with noble partisans of the Stuarts. Bro. Robison, Secretary of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, expresses himself thus upon the subject, of the period of 1696: 'It was in a Lodge held at St. Germain-en-Laye that the Grade of Chevalier Maçon Ecossaise was added to the three symbolic degrees of English Masonry. The rank of Chevalier Ecossaise was called the first degree of Parfait Maçon' (1798 ed., p. 28). The Bro. Clavel adds: 'The initiation was given to some highly

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placed persons whom they had gained over to the cause' (that of the Stuarts and ultramontane Catholics) 'and of whom they wished to utilise the credit to induce the Government of Louis XIV. to intervene, arms in hand, in favor of the decayed dynasty. These refugees included members of several grades, such as Maitre Irlandais; le Parfait Maitre Irlandais, and others that were intended to serve to stimulate the zeal of the adepts, to prove them, and to separate them from the crowd.' (Hist. Pitt. de la Franc-Maçonnerie, p. 164-5.)

"On the death of James II., his son, who had been reared with James of Derwentwater, and had the Duke of Perth as governor, was recognised King of England under the title of James III., and by the mistaken treaty of Ryswick, by Louis XIV., also dear to Madame de Maintenon. The same recognition was made by Spain, by the Pope, and the Duke of Savoy, but the death of William III. supervened the next year, when the Princess Anne Stuart, wife of George of Denmark, and second child of James II., took possession of the British throne.

"In 1708, a first tentative descent upon England took place in favour of the young Pretender, surnamed the Chevalier St. George, upon a plan conceived by the Scottish Simon Frazer, a revoked English Officer and the future Lord Lovat. (See Howell's State trials.) After the death of Queen Anne, and following a conspiracy of 1713, woven by the Duke d'Aumont, French Ambassador in London and friend of Mme. de Maintenon, a new attempt was made in 1715, but in consequence of the death of Louis XIV. and the inaction of the Regent, which had been purchased by the English government, this attempt foundered, occasioning the death, on the field of battle and on the scaffolds erected by the usurping dynasty, of a crowd of Chevaliers of St. Andrew, or Chevaliers Ecossaises, amongst the number of which, it is convenient to cite a great friend of James III., the Bro. James Ratcliffe, Earl of Derwentwater (born 28th June, 1689), who was beheaded in London in 1716. His brother Charles escaped from the prison of Newgate and became afterwards the first Grand Master of Masonry in France.

"The London conspiracy had its impulse from Louis XIV. at Commercy from September 1712, that is to say, a little before the Treaty of Utrecht concluded in April, 1713. The Duke of Ormond took part in this conspiracy, as well as the famous Bolingbroke, a man who was much the friend of Voltaire. The correspondence between England, Scotland, the Court of France and the Pretender was carried on by the intermediary of the Abbé Butler, a Scot established at Cambrai, and a friend of Ramsay, of Fenelon, etc. (See Howell's State Trials). Observe that the Duke of Ormond had been a friend of James II., and that his name was given later to a lodge founded at the Rue de Bussy at Paris.

"Following the want of success of James III. in Scotland, which obliged him, owing to the trafficking of the Regent and the Abbé Dubois, his Minister and former tutor, the Pretender had to quit France definitely; in 1718 he was at Rome, hoping for the support of Charles XII. and the Czar of Russia, thence he departed for Spain, where Cardinal Alberoni prepared for him an expedition in which Charles Ratcliffe, who had assumed the forfeited title of Earl of Derwentwater took part. The grade of Chevalier de St. Andrew was now reorganized; 'it is certain,' says Bro. Robison, 'that the degree of Chevalier Ecossaise, and yet other higher degrees were much in vogue in 1716 at the Court of France.' That is to say, at the period when they prepared the Treaty of the Triple Alliance, which was concluded 4th January, 1717, and in which we can see the price which King George I. paid for the purchase of the Duke

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of Orleans; the date also when four old Lodges of Masonry, under the conduct of the followers (or successors) of Ashmole, withdrew from the old tutelage and formed a Grand Lodge called 'of London' (a continuation of the amateur English Party of a foreign Protestant dynasty), creating, in February 1717, that which Bro. Ragon calls, with much reason, 'another Masonry.' This other Masonry is comprehended the better when we remember that its principal founder was the Rev. Dr. J. T. Desaguliers, a Protestant, born in France, at la Rochelle 12th March, 1683 (died 29th February, 1744). He was a member of the Royal Society, Chaplain to the Duke of Chandos, afterwards to the Prince of Wales, and the future George II., and was moreover a personal friend of George I. of Hanover, who, although he knew neither the language nor the customs of England, had been called in 1714 to replace Queen Anne on the throne of the Stuarts."

All the foregoing matter is of so much interest, even to the ordinary English reader, that I have not had the heart to abridge the translation. But "Teder" now goes into particulars of A. M. Ramsay, Chevalier of St. Andrew, with whose general career Bro. R. F. Gould has made Freemasons well acquainted. There is this exception, that "Teder" makes no hesitation in expressing his view that Ramsay was not a faithful friend of the Stuarts. A friend of Fenelon, a Member of the French Ordre du Temple, he is inclined to think that the Chapter of Clermont, existing before 1741, owed its Templar proclivities to that source; and there is no doubt that the views, heretofore expressed as those of the Prince of Hesse, were those of the well informed Ramsay, and deserve a respectful hearing.

"Initiated by Archbishop Fenelon himself into the Secret of a 'Templar revenge,' well suited to the fallen Stuarts, to the Jesuits banished from the British realm, and to the Roman Catholics persecuted by the State, Bro. Ramsay—who before 1715 had been in contact with Derwentwater, the Duke of Perth, with Hamilton, the Duke de Bouillon, James III., and other great Jacobite personages, more or less allied with Fenelon, founded the Mont d'Heredom of St. Germain-en-Laye in 1721, and which is the date of the Dunkerque Lodge Amitié et Fraternité, for before this there was no other English Lodge in France. It yet exists and flatters itself that Ramsay was its founder. . . . . Wherefore it is necessary to conclude that Bro. Ramsay, friend of the Regent, and Tutor of the son of the Duke de Bouillon, was the basis of the power of the Grand Lodge of London, and this is very singular when we consider the Catholicism of Ramsay and the anti-Roman Masonry of Desaguliers. However this be, the choice of Dunkerque for the 'Premier Lodge' in France is all the more worthy of note, as Bro. Ramsay was certainly not ignorant that in the Treaty of 24th January, 1717, preceding by some weeks the foundation of the 'New Masonry' of Desaguliers, the Regent had accepted the demolition of the military fort of that place. After this, the Regent and the Cardinal Dubois being dead, a new French policy under Louis XV. had birth. Ramsay repaired to Rome in 1724, ostensibly as tutor of the son of James III., but in reality (for Charles Edward, born 31st December, 1720, was but 3½ years old) to receive there a complete initiation by means of the particular instruction of the pretender and his Council, of which the principal members were Colonel John Hay, Earl of Inverness; his brother Lord Kinnoul, and his brother-in-law James Murray, surnamed Earl of Dunbar. It is very singular that, in 1724, the Earl and Countess of Inverness were chosen by James III. to be the tutors of his son. This choice, with other things, caused an embroilment between James III. and his wife. Another plot on behalf of the Pretender, who had dwelt at Rome since 1718, took place in England in 1722, in which Bro. the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Orrery, the Duke of

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Ormond, General Dillon, etc., were concerned; and the Anglican Bishop Atterbury, from his arrival at Rome, was a member of the Council of the Pretender.

"Viscount Bolingbroke, who had espoused Mdᵉ. de Vilette, niece of Mᵐᵉ. de Maintenon and parent of Voltaire, returned to London, and with the money which he had collected from the entourage of the Regent, of the Duke d'Antin, sought to secure, by a monthly payment, the services of Mᵐᵉ. Von Schulenberg, Duchess of Kendal and mistress of George I., the friend and protector of Bro. Desaguliers.

"At this period, the son of the Marquis of Wharton, the young Philip, was in Paris at the end of 1716 and was created Duke of Northumberland by the Pretender, and by George I. in January, 1718, Duke of Wharton, and had recently [in 1722] been Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of London. He suddenly recalled to mind that his grandparents, fifty years before, had been friendly to the better Masonry of Ashmole, left his country definitely, became Catholic, and went to Rome to be near James III. When in Paris, in 1716, he had been very assiduous with Lord Stair, the British Ambassador, had access to the widow of James II., who lent him 50,000 francs, and on his return to London soon became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge."

Now follows a long dissertation on the Gormogons, which "Teder" considers had degrees above those of the Craft (probably the Harodim), but as Bro. Gould has already given your readers the result of his examination, it need not be repeated here.

"An Ancient Mason was something like the Duke of Wharton; a Modern Mason was something like his successor, the Earl of Dalkeith. The first went to Rome; the second remained in London, because he was grandson of the Duke of Monmouth who was beheaded by order of his uncle James II., father of the Pretender. After a year had passed at the Court of James III., who was, I do not say, Grand Chief of the Illustrious Order of Gormogons, but a Templar as was the Jesuit father Bonani who knew him well, and Hereditary Grand Master of Harodim Rosy Cross, termed the Royal Order of Scotland. Bro. Ramsay, in 1725, with Colonel Hay, Earl of Inverness, and several other personages of importance, quitted Rome, and repaired to Paris, where, immediately, some Lodges were founded by Bro. Charles, Earl of Derwentwater, who ten years previously had been condemned to death in England, and by certain other persons, attached like himself to Catholicism and the fortunes of the Pretender, under favour of a new Pope—Benoit XII.—elected 29th May, 1724. Bro. Gould asks who was a certain Heguetty, who was at this time the founder of a Lodge? We scarcely comprehend why he failed to discover in the name a Hay of Dalgetty, near Aberdeen. At this period there were not many Irishmen in Paris; the greater part of those who fought in 1708 and 1715, in Ireland, had emigrated to America, where, later, their grandchildren united themselves with the Chevaliers Ecossaises, and failed not to discuss the affairs of the Colony in rebellion against the Metropolis, with many brothers living in France.

"We now come to the year 1727. Bro. Ramsay published his Travels of Cyrus, a work full of transparent allusions, which he dedicated to the Duc de Sully, to whom, some years before, the famous Law had offered 1,700,000 francs for the Marquisate of Rosay; then, in England, George I. died, and was succeeded by his son George II., the old pupil of Bro. Desaguliers."

Some amount of matter is added here in regard to the grades attributed, erroneously, to Ramsay, and to those of the Chapter of Clermont (in existence before 1741), but "Teder" is of opinion that these became in the later Rite of Perfection of 25°; Ecossaise 13°; Novice 14°; Chevalier of the Temple 24°. I have expressed my views before on this, and see no reason to alter them. "Teder" denies the assertion that Charles Earl

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of Derwentwater was ever a member of London Masonry; or that d' Harnouester ever existed, but that all the writers who allude to him have been mystified by Lalande's article on Masonry. In my opinion d' Harnouester is a misreading for Derwentwater, and I expressed this opinion some years ago in the Transactions of the Newcastle College of Rosicrucians. He denies, on apparently good grounds, the authenticity of the Stuart Charter to Arras in 1747, but it must be observed that we have no authentic copy of it. Equally he demands proof that the Grand Lodge of France, under, it may be observed, Sir Hector McLean, the Earl of Derwentwater, etc., was known as the Grand Lodge Anglaise before 1743. The Chevalier Bonneville, who gave prominence to the Chapter of Clermont, in 1754, is equally unknown in France, and is taken from Lalande's article. He expresses an opinion, respecting which I have written recently in our pages, that the ancient Chevalier Templar, of the Clermont Chapter, became "a part of Kadosh"; whilst the later fourth degree, of Illustrious Knight, afterwards became the Prince of the Royal Secret. If such a person as Bonneville ever existed, it seems to me that it was he who extended the Clermont System, by taking in the six additional degrees of Knights of the East, which were but a renaming of those of the Toulouse System of the Vieille Bru, established about 1747. With regard to the 1745, or 1747, Charter of Arras, I defer, with regret, to the opinion of so able a critic as "Teder," for the text of that document contains an historical statement which agrees with the Oration of 1737 attributed to Ramsay, and with other facts in England which we know, namely, that the Rites of the so-called Harodim, or Rulers, were those of the Masters' Fraternity of true and ancient Masonry, out of which sprang, by 1741, the three degrees of the Chapter of Clermont. That Arras document distinctly states that the Rites of Christian Mastership were originally known as Harodim, that the name of Chevalier of the Eagle and Pelican succeeded (i.e., after King James invaded England in 1715, with the standard of a Pelican feeding its young with its blood), and "since our misfortunes" (of 1745) as Rose Croix.

"It is very certain that at this epoch, and for a long time previously, two Masonic systems, absolutely distinct from each other, existed in Europe; the one 'Scotch,' which assumed superiority, and which was favourable to the ancient Stuart dynasty, in which 'Roman Architecture' was preferred, the other 'English,' rifling the ancient Rituals, which Bro. Findel has termed 'the old remains of Romanism,' and rejecting all hierarchy above the symbolic degrees; precisely as they rejected all connected with the Papal hierarchy, and favourable only, under cover of fidelity to the King, and neutrality in religious matters—a fidelity and neutrality very misty—to the protestant King brought from abroad into England. This religious neutrality was tardily an effect beginning in 1672, under Bro. Charles II.; and in 1687-8, under Bro. James II.; edicts of toleration assured entire liberty for all creeds, having no worse adversaries than those who, after showing their lack of fidelity to the Stuart dynasty, brought in a foreign one—aimed thus at imposing on all, fidelity to the protestant usurpation, and neutrality in religious matters. There is no doubt that Masonry—as says Henri Martin—built exclusively the Churches of the middle ages and that down to 1717 it had not ceased for a moment, in spite of the troubles of the Reformation, to be Christian. The Christian character of all the old Masonic MSS.—following Bro. Gould himself—indicates in all ways an undeniable fact."

"Teder" now devotes several pages, taken from a variety of our ancient MSS., proving that the Initiate was sworn to fidelity to the King and to the doctrines of the Holy Catholic Church. As we already have these Charges, in print by Bro. W. J. Hughan and others, and in facsimile by the Quatuor Coronati Lodge, we already know

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these things by heart and need not repeat them here. One suggestive remark on the Melrose MS. I give: "In 1533-4 Henry VIII., who was an able politician, detached himself from Roman architecture, and, to blind small people, drew to Lutheran architecture, from which he had chased others; decreeing an English Architecture in his realm, this was the cause of the divisions which surged in English Masonry." Again, we read after numerous quotations from the Old Charges:—

"The nature of the service exacted from Masons of this period differed little from those exacted in Romanist times from the Archbishops, Bishops, and Members of the lesser Anglican Clergy; in effect the ancient formula of the oath which these last were held to take, was similar to the ancient formula of the oath of the high and the lesser Gallican Clergy, thus: 'I . . . swear by the very high and Sacred Name of God; and promise to your Majesty that, so long as I live, I will be your faithful servant; that I will not assist at any Council, or Assembly, which is founded against your service; and that if anything to your prejudice comes to my knowledge I will advertise your Majesty.' By article 6 of the Concordat a similar Oath is still exacted in France:—'If in my diocese, or elsewhere, it appears that something is framed to the prejudice of the State, I will make it known to the government.' Masons and Priests were then in accord, to swear fidelity to Holy Church; to defend the King; and to use the same hidden means in order to prevent all treason and all plots."

"Teder" observes that there is but one Church which claims to be the Holy Church; and then goes on to examine the changes which arose in 'Modern' Masonry by the manipulations of the Constitutions of 1723. But he admits, after all, that in order to secure the safety of the new dynasty, the engineers of Modern Masonry organised "a sort of universal Theosophy," and were the true innovators. The following will be new to our readers:—

"I see that in 1558, an Archbishop of Dublin—George Bronswell—wrote:—'There is a fraternity, founded for a short time . . . which is seducing many into it. The members, for the most part, live after the manner of the Scribes and Pharisees, and seek to abolish virtue. They have had some success, because this sort of persons turn themselves into divers forms; with pagans they will be pagans; with atheists they will be atheists; with the Jews they will be Jews; with the Reformers they will be Reformers':—and I observe that this fraternity—notwithstanding that they are true disciples of St. Paul,—have then a policy different to that of Masons, because we see by the ancient Masonic Charges these last swore faith to the King and the Holy Church, notwithstanding that the members of the Fraternity, of which Archbishop Bronswell speaks, all belong to the 'Holy Church,' spreading themselves to accommodate religion, as says the P. de Rhodes, to the taste of the nations which they visited, and, as history proves, always remaining faithful to the King."

So "Teder" goes on to argue that "Ancient" Masonry was the application of the ancient rule of our Charges to the Stuart dynasty and the Romish faith, whilst "Modern" Masonry, following the Constitutions of Bro. Anderson, was the emasculation of these to support the foreign dynasty; it seems true enough, unpalatable though it be. He then continues as follows, and there is possibility in it:

"In 1690 and 1721 the 'Ancient' Masonry continued by the Stuart faction had assuredly established Lodges in France. The dossiers of the Grand Orient, relative to Military Lodges, say that a Lodge Parfaite Egalité, existed in 1690 in the Irish Regiment of Walshe, in the service of Louis XIV. Afterwards other Lodges were founded, although according to Bro. Robison (ed. 1798, p. 28) there were Masonic

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graduates at the Court of France in 1716, and when, further, the Irish and Scotch continued to serve the French governments. From 1725, when Bro. Ch. Derwentwater appears, we see the birth of other Lodges, 'of which we know no more than the names to-day,' and which certain English historians term irregular; as it was very necessary to support the innovations of Bro. Desaguliers to imply that he was a regular Mason; as if a regular Masonry had not existed before the colossal irregularity committed in 1716 by the partisans of the Royal Art in the service of George I. On the 7th May, 1729, a Lodge Louis d'Argent, of which a Bro. le Breton (no doubt of Great Britain) was Vénérable was founded; in 1732 a Lodge at the house of the traitor Landelle was established in the Rue de Bussy, which could be called together at any moment. The Duke d'Aumont was initiated herein, and hence it assumed his name. All this is deceptive. It is manifest that it was sought to spread confusion around the first half of the eighteenth century in order to deceive the curious, and it may be said of Masonic history what Bro. Frederick II., in his Memoirs, says of other histories: that they are compilations of deceit mixed with some truths. Who knows whether it is not for this reason that Bro. Gould, citing a profane author, adds: 'He was not a Freemason, and this augments the value of his testimony.' (vol. iii., p. 80.) For the rest we seize, with advantage, the intention of such forged imbroglios; after what we have said we read: 'In 1735 a deputation of the Lodges of Paris, of which Derwentwater formed part, demanded from the Grand Lodge of England authority to form a Provincial Grand Lodge.' Clavel says that this authority was refused, because the Parisian Lodges had a very marked political tendency. If this political tendency had been in accord with the Treaty of the Triple Alliance of Brother George II., and if the Rituals of Ancient Masonry continued by the partisans of the Stuarts had not been those of the Parisian Lodges, we can easily comprehend that the Masonic deputation of Paris would have been received with enthusiasm in London; but Bro. the Earl of Derwentwater, as well as Bro. Ramsay, held that Roman Architecture was defined in the Ancient Masonic Constitutions of England, and consequently the Lodges founded by these two Catholics were of the kind which, in spite of the pretended tolerance displayed in the Constitutions of Anderson, could not be tolerated by the Modern Masonry of Anderson and Desaguliers."

Here "Teder" quotes the St. James' Evening Post, of 7th September, 1734, stating that a Lodge had been held at the home of the Duke of Richmond, assisted by another noble Englishman of distinction, the President Montesquieu, Brigadier Churchill, Ed. Young and Walter Strickland. Also in the same journal of 20th September, 1735, it is said that Desaguliers was present with the Duke of Richmond at the Hotel du Bussy under authority of the Grand Master of England. All this "Teder" disputes by innuendo.

"Ah! well, history, which is not grounded on fiction, tells us that Louise Penhoët, termed of Kerouaille, and Duchess of Portsmouth, had been a good woman of police (i.e., a spy) in the service of Louis XIV., and that she became the mistress of Bro. Charles II. of England. From this free union in 1672 was born a boy, who was baptized under the name of Charles, and who was, in 1675, created Duke of Lennox in Scotland, and Duke of Richmond in England, and Duc d'Aubigny in France. This triple Duke was a Roman Catholic, was Master of a Lodge in 1697 under the Anglican Bro. William III., and by his oath to the ancient Constitutions was perforce obedient and faithful to the legitimate King and to Holy Church. He died 1723, and it is his son, a Romanist like his father, born in 1701, died 1750, who in April, 1732, and in September, 1734, finds himself in the Lodge held at the house of his grandmother, the Duchess of Portsmouth, in the Hotel de Bussy. The Duchess died the 14th November

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following. Certain French historians place this death in 1725, but it is an error or a deception. She died in 1734 at the Hotel de Bussy in her 82nd year. She entered France in 1685, and had at once conferred upon her a pension of 12,000 livres for services rendered to Charles II.; this pension was increased to 20,000 livres, then to 24,000 livres; and 28th October, 1721, she had a grant of 600,000 livres in various properties. Thus Bro. Charles Earl of Derwentwater, Bro. Charles Duke of Richmond, were grandsons of Charles II. and cousins, after the British mode, of James III., son of James II. We also see figuring in this same Lodge, No. 90, James first Earl of Waldegrave, an old Roman Catholic, easily there as an English Catholic; his father Henry had espoused a natural daughter of Bro. James II. by Arabella Churchill, and he died in France faithful to his Masonic oath, the duties of Chevalier Ecossaise in the entourage of his proscribed sovereign. . . . From this it follows that Bro. the Earl of Waldegrave was grandson by his mother, of James II. and nephew of Bro. the Duke of Berwick, who also was born of the clandestine amours of James II. and Arabella Churchill: equally cousin of Bro. the Earl of Derwentwater, of Bro. the Duke of Richmond and the Bro. James III. We see him entered under the name of Lord Waldegrave (à Compiègne) in a "List of Agents of the Pretender," given in the Free Britain, No. 131, of the 1st June, 1732: as well as the Irish Abbé Dun; General Dillon; Arbuthnot, the Scotch Banker in London; Dr. Wogan, an Irishman in Paris; Lord Dunbar (Murray), etc. See also a Bro. Lord Chewton; this Mason is simply the eldest son of the Earl of Waldegrave.

"In truth the members of the Lodge, No. 90, of the Rue de Bussy, though visited by the Rev. Bro. Desaguliers, the friend of George II., were no strangers to the family of the Pretender, and the choice of the Hotel of the Duchess of Portsmouth, ex-policier of the French government, attracted the attention of the Count de St. Florentin, Member of that Lodge and Secretary of State, who had special charge of the clergy from 1726, and was a cruel enemy of the Protestants, Lutherans and Calvinists, tracking them out in France where they had not the same freedom as in England, or as enjoyed by Bro. Desaguliers. History says of this Count—otherwise well spoken of in the Mémoires sécrèts de la Cour de Perse: 'No minister has signed so many letters de cachet, no one having, at this period, displayed so much intolerance against the Protestants, upon whom he calls incessantly for a more rigorous prosecution.' There is a higher question in regard to Bro. Lord Darsley. This peer sojourned often at the Chateau d'Aubigny, where Bro. the Duke of Richmond established, with other persons, in 1735, a Lodge No. 133; he was no other than Bro. James Berkeley, officer of the English Marine, and grandson of George Berkeley, who was created an Earl in 1679 by Bro. Charles II., and had, at the commencement of 1695, been entrusted with the assassination of William III., son-in-law of the Catholic Bro. James II., whose throne he occupied. This project was conceived in the French Court, and being prevented in time, William III. himself denounced the affair in Parliament, and Berkeley was arrested. The grandson, Lord Dursley, died 17th August, 1736. We see also a Duke of Kingston, honouring with his presence the Lodge No. 90, and we know that Ramsay was connected with the family of Kingston.

"I say nothing of Bro. Baron Montesquieu, whose works are well known, and I will only add that Bro. Walter Strickland, of whom mention has been made, was of the family of the Strickland who in 1745, under the baptismal name of Francis, accompanied Bro. Prince Charles Edward into Scotland. Walter Strickland was a son of Thomas who was of the Privy Council of Charles II. and James II. and whose death is recorded on the 8th January, 1694, in the entourage of the last dethroned King; his widow

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was femme de chambre to the ex-Queen of England at St. Germain, and abstracted from the pocket of her mistress the letters that her husband had written to Louis XIV. and Mᵐᵉ. de Maintenon. Copies of these letters were made by that good lady, and sent by her to the English Government. A certain Abbé Strickland followed the same principles, but in an inverse sense, and by that he failed to become a Cardinal, but became Bishop of Namur and died in 1740; he was brother to the beforementioned Walter and Francis Strickland, and a descendant of Walter became the Comte della Catena (in 1745) at Malta, the home of the Chevaliers of the Order.

"Before these facts, against the exactitude of which no serious objection is possible, are we not justified in the belief that there was much Romanism, and Romish Architecture, among the Jacobite Brothers visited, in 1735, by the Bro. Desaguliers, Catholic English Priest, in the Lodge held at the house of His Grace the Duke of Richmond, grandson of the august Bro. Charles II., and heir of Louise Penhoët? Even Bro. Gould (vol. iii., p. 138) is obliged to avow that the Lodge, No. 90, of the Rue de Bussy and that of Derwentwater, were but one and the same Lodge.

"In his Essay upon the letters of Horace Walpole and Sir Horace Mann, Lord Macaulay shows us that the greater part of the adversaries of the Anglican Bro. Walpole, first Minister of Bro. George II., were in direct relations with the Pretender, and when we search the Masonic records of these persons, we inevitably find them always in the presence of Scottish Masonry.

"On the subject of York Masonry three examples will suffice: Bathurst who had been Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of All England at York in 1726; Edward Thompson who had the office in 1729; and Dr. John Johnston who had it in 1733, were three men who remained attached to the Ancient Constitutions and were also the inveterate adversaries of Bro. Walpole, a Mason of the English Party, dependent upon the Modern System of Bros. Desaguliers and Anderson.

"Amongst the Scotch Party we may mention Bro. the Earl of Marchmont (Patrick Hume) a member of the Lodge of Edinburgh. He became a traitor to the cause of the Stuarts, and Lockhart accused him of betraying his friends for money. There was also Bro. Wm. Gower (Earl of Sutherland) who had married the eldest daughter of Bro. David Wemyss, called Lord Elcho, who was in the affair of 1745, and whose father James Earl of Wemyss, was G.M. of Scotland in 1743; Bro. the Duke of Montrose; Bro. Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, of the Horn Lodge, London, a friend of Pope, of Ramsay, and of Montesquieu; being Ambassador at La Haye in 1731 he had induced Francis Duke of Lorraine, and afterwards Duke of Tuscany and father of Marie Antoinette, to accept Initiation. An occasional Lodge was called at La Haye for the purpose, and the Anglican Catholic Priest, Bro. Desaguliers went there to preside, accompanied by several delegates from London. The year following, the Duke François, Roman Catholic, received complete initiation with Bro. Walpole in presence of Major-General Churchill, and of the Rev. Thomas Johnson. (Gould ii. p. 282-3 and 388). We may add to these Bro. Alexander Pope, and Bro. Jonathan Swift, both of them friends of Ramsay, and the latter of Bolingbroke, etc. We saw that since 1734 a new conspiracy had begun in favour of James III., corresponding with the new disputes which were raised up in the Grand Lodge of London termed of England. But George II. followed a good occult policy in ignoring all the acts of the adversaries of his private architecture, and he was too crafty to show the arts of triumph. Means, so often put in practice by able politicians, were simple. The King raised a quarrel with his son Frederick Prince of Wales, and all the enemies of George II.—Scotch brethren, of York; Jacobites; soldiers of the Stuarts; and Roman