THE LIBRAR[Y] [B]AM YOUNG UNIVERSIT[Y] PROVO, UTAH

[Illustration: Photogravure portrait of F. W. Golby. Photogravure by Annan, Glasgow. From a Photograph by Stephen Shore F.R.P.S. London. Facsimile signature: F.W. Golby]

366 105 An71 V 50

→✠ Ars ✠←

Quatuor Coronatorum

BEING THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE

QUATUOR CORONATI LODGE NO. 2076, LONDON.

[Illustration: Woodcut from the Isabella Missal — British Museum Add. MSS., 18,851 Circa 1500 A.D. — depicting three robed figures under Gothic arches]

EDITED FOR THE COMMITTEE BY COLONEL F. M. RICKARD, P.G.S.B.

VOLUME L.

W. J. Parrett, Ltd., Printers, Margate. 1940.

THE LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY PROVO, UTAH

LODGE PROCEEDINGS.

	PAGE
Friday, 1st January, 1937	1
Friday, 5th March, 1937	30
Friday, 7th May, 1937	92
Summer Outing: East Warwickshire, Thursday, 17th June, to Sunday, 20th June, 1937	133
Thursday, 24th June, 1937	143
Friday, 1st October, 1937	187
Monday, 8th November, 1937	211

NOTES AND QUERIES.

	PAGE
Lelande-Locke MS.	128

OBITUARY.

Name	Page
Achard, W. C.	129
Baird, H.	129
Baldwyn, F. J.	129
Bent, T.	129
Bishop, J. H.	129
Blackmore, T. H.	129
Boutell, F. H.	129
Braine, C. W.	129
Brooke-Pechell, Sir A. A.	227
Browse, H. W. J.	129
Caldwell, J.	227
Cass, A.	129
Chapman, J.	129
Childe, Rev. Canon C. V.	129
Collins, G. L.	130
Cook, J.	130
Crump, Dr. C. H.	227
de Lafontaine, H. T. C.	227
Earle, Dr. J. H.	227
Emery, G. E.	130
Ensor, A. J.	130
Evans, T.	227
Findlay, M. F.	130
Fishel, J.	130
Gilliland, W. E.	227
Gilmour, P. G.	130
Gordon, A. T.	227
Gould, J. G.	130
Graham, J.	130
Haden-Crawford, F.	227
Hansel, J. P.	227
Hartley, W. C.	130
Hills, G. P. G.	187, 227
Hinman, E. E.	130
Howlett, A. G.	130
Infeld, M.	130
Inglis, J.	228
Kean, O. S.	130
King-Baker, S. J.	228

OBITUARY.—Continued.

Name	PAGE
L'Amie, W. J.	228
Lipscomb, W. G.	130
MacLachlan, Maj.-Gen. J. D.	228
McWilliam, A.	131
Mirrlees, Rev. C. B.	228
Nuell, F. H.	228
Oakley, D.	131
Parsons, H. D.	228
Pepper, Sir F. H.	131
Pieterson, J. F. G.	228
Plenderleath, Capt. C. W. M.	131
Plowman, P.	131
Rhodes, C. H.	131
Ridley, F. R.	228
Robertson, Lt.-Col. J. G.	131
Roehrich, W. G.	131
Roynon, J. R. J.	228
Santhagens, R. V. E.	228
Sharp, F. B.	131
Sharratt, A.	131
Shillam, W. H.	228
Shipton, Comdr. F. H. E.	131
Silberbauer, C. F.	228
Slaughter, M.	228
Smith, E. E.	229
Stevens, E. P.	131
Sutton, G. W.	131
Thomas, E. L.	229
Thomas, E. W.	132
Travissick, W. J.	132
Valk, P.	229
Vass, E. J.	229
Walker, C. H.	132
Wood, F.	132
Wyatt, Rev. V. P.	229

PAPERS AND ESSAYS.

The Graham Manuscript. By H. Poole ... ... ... 5

The importance of this, the latest discovery, 5; The probable date, earlier than the apparent date, as given, 1726, 5; Relationship to the Whole Institution and Grand Mystery of 1726, 6; All three probably derived from a common original, 7; Links with Dumfries and other texts, 8; Peculiarities of this text, 9; The especial feature of the Noah legend, 10; Comparison with the Hiramic legend as given by Prichard, 1730, 11; The difficulties of the problem, 12; References by Anderson and others to Noachidae and to Antediluvian Masonry, 12; The passwords that are indicated, 14; Conclusion, 14. Appendices—Full text of the Whole Institution and the Grand Mystery, 15.

The Romances of Robison and Barruel. By W. K. Firminger ... 31

Characteristics of the two authors,—Robison, 31; Barruel, 37; Erroneous descriptions of the Lodges,—Neuf Soeurs, 42; Contrat Social, 45; Amis Réunis, 53; Sources of information, 32; False identifications of prominent revolutionaries, — Fouchet, 44; d'Esprémenil, 51; and others; The writers' accounts of their own initiations, — Robison, 31; Barruel, 38; The general inaccuracies and prejudices of both writers, 64.

PAPERS AND ESSAYS.—Continued.

James Sketchley, of Birmingham, Auctioneer, Printer, Publisher and Freemason. By S. J. Fenton ... ... ... 94

Birmingham in Sketchley's days, 94; The Birmingham Directory of 1763; Similar Directories at Bristol and Sheffield, 95; The Bee, a weekly paper at Bristol, 97; The Birmingham Register, 99; Early Freemasonry in Warwickshire, 101; Portraits of Sketchley, 102; His membership of No. 71, 'Ancients', 104; The new Lodge No. 124 founded in 1763, 105; He constitutes a 'Modern' Lodge, 107; Absence from Birmingham from 1774 to 1784, 109; Activities of St. Paul's Lodge, 109; The Lodge at Henley-in-Arden, 113; Provincial Grand Lodge founded; Sketchley as Provincial Grand Secretary, 114; Later activities, 115; His death in 1801, 118. Appendices, 118.

Notes on some Eighteenth Century Masonic Handbooks. By C. C. Adams 145

Printed versions of the Old Charges, 146; Multa Paucis, 148; Some English Handbooks, 153; Some Scottish and Irish Handbooks, 157; Wellins Calcott, A Candid Disquisition, 160; William Hutchinson, The Spirit of Masonry, 162; William Preston, Illustrations of Masonry, 163; The Illustrations as a model for other works, 169; Robert Trewman, The Principles of Freemasonry delineated, 172; The Principles as a model for other works, 174; Conclusion, 175.

The Sixteenth Century Mason. By Douglas Knoop and G. P. Jones ... 191

Introductory, 191; Changes in the organisation of building operations, 192; Changes in the administration of building operations, 193; The growing importance of plans and designs, 193; The increase in the number of officials, 195; The decline in the status of the Master Mason, 196; Changes in employers, 197; Changes in Masons' working conditions, 198; Terms employed, 198; Wages, 200; Holidays, 203; Overtime, 205; Impressment, 205; Lodges, 207; Tools, 207; Changes in the organisation among masons, 208; The decay of the Assembly, 208; The Old Charges and their provisions now obsolete so far as the actual trade is concerned, 208.

Lodges in Guernsey—Precedence. By G. S. Knocker ... ... 70

Early Freemasonry in Chester. By R. R. G. Smallwood ... ... 77

Royal Freemasons. By Lionel Vibert ... ... ... 139

Inaugural Address. By F. W. Golby ... ... ... 213

The Toast of the W.M. By G. Elkington ... ... ... 218

William Schaw. By J. W. Saunders ... ... ... 220

REVIEWS.

Title	Reviewer	Page
History of Freemasonry in New Jersey. By David McGregor, 1937	J. Heron Lepper	127
Masonic Symbolism. By Charles Clyde Hunt, 1939	J. Heron Lepper	127

Entry	PAGE
Ahiman Rezon	149
Alcester, visit to	134
Antediluvian Masonry	12, 23
Antient Constitutions, Book of, —Cole	147
Bath, Sketchley at	97
Bee, The	97
Birmingham in 18th Century	94
Birmingham Directory	95, 100
Book of the Prov.G.M. of W. Chester	84
Bookmakers of Old Birmingham —Hill	94
Bristol, Sketchley at	98, 100, 109
Building operations, organisation of 16th Century	192
Candid Disquisition, A—Calcott	152, 160
Cheshire, Prov. G. Lodge of	80
Chester	77
Clermont Constitution	51
Conditions, Working, of Masons, 16th Century	198

Constitutions:—

1723	23
1738	11, 145
Kearsley	153
Northouck	168
Pennell	26
Spratt	151

Constitutions, MS.:—

Chetwode Crawley	25
Cooke	21
Dodd	148
Dumfries, No. 4	8
Edinburgh Register House	11
Leland-Locke	128, 159, 160, 163
Sloane	11
Trinity College, Dublin	11

Entry	PAGE
Dedication in Book of Prov. G. Master, W. Chester	85
Defence of Freemasonry—Brice	172
Discourse upon Masonry—Minty	157, 158
Donations by Sketchley	111
Edgehill, visit to	136
Elements of Freemasonry delineated	174
Elements of Freemasonry delineated—Ray	175
Employers in 16th Century	197
Encyclopedia of Freemasonry—Mackey	167
Evesham, visit to	136

Exhibits:—

Aprons:—

• Green edged ... 30
• G. Orient France, E.A. ... 30
• G. Lodge Hamburg ... 190
• Linen, home-made ... 190

Apron and Collar—green ... 212

Exhibits (continued):—

Ballads, Collection of, 1723 ... 4

Certificates:—

• Craft, Irish ... 93
• Craft, Lodge on 'Van-guard' ... 4
• K.T. ... 93
• Mark ... 93
• R.A. ... 93
• W.M. ... 93

Charbonniers, engraving showing a Chantier ... 190

Collar—green ... 30 —Master's ... 30

Common-place Book—Burrell ... 190

Constitutions — Huddleston MS., photographs of ... 93

Hindu Deities, bronze figures ... 190

Jewels:—

• 'Antients', Lodge No. 310 ... 4
• 'Antients', R.A. ... 4
• Battersea enamel ... 190
• Founder's, Lodge No. 3404 ... 93
• Locket shaped, 1783 ... 144
• Lodge No. 3404 ... 93
• Pierced, silver, circular ... 3
• Portuguese, pierced ... 144
• P.M. 1866 ... 144
• P.M. Lodge St. George ... 93
• Scotch. Eskdale Kilwinning, circular ... 93
• Silver, with emblems ... 4
• W.M. Lodge No. 3404 ... 93

Portrait Group, John Freeth and his circle ... 93

Publications:—

• Ahiman Rezon, 1764 ... 144
• Candid Disquisition, Calcott ... 144
• Contitutions, Kearsley, 1769 ... 144
• "Finch" ... 93
• Freemasons' Repository, Birmingham ... 144
• History of Guy's Lodge ... 143
• Illustrations, Preston (with Meeson) ... 144
• Multa Paucis ... 144
• Principles, Trewman ... 144
• Reception d'un Frey-Maçon ... 144
• Sufferings of John Coustos—Sketchley ... 93

Regalia—P.G.D. England, 1826 ... 190

Sampler, Masonic, framed ... 93 Staffordshire ware, plates ... 143

Tea-caddy ... 144

Warrant, Lodge, G.L. Massachusetts—blank ... 93 Watch, 'turnip' ... 144

Exhibits:—

Entry	PAGE
Working tools, used at laying foundation stone of St. Peter's, Murrum-beene, 1924	212
France, Grand Lodge of	47
Fraternal Melody—Riley	159
Freemason's Companion—Angus	154
Freemason's Pocket Companion	175
Freemason's Repository— Sketchley	170, 183
Graham MS.	16
Graham MS., date of	5
Grand Lodge of France	47
Grand Mistress of Female Freemasons	18
Grand Mystery laid open	6, 16
Grand Orient of France	47
Handbooks, English	153
— Irish	157
— Scottish	157
Harodim, Grand Chapter of	169
Histoire des Chargé pendant la Révolution—Barruel	38
History of Freemasonry—Gould	166
History of Freemasonry—Johnson	155
History of Freemasonry in Staffordshire—Graham	114
History of Inverkeithing—Stephen	221
History of Lodge of Edinburgh —Murray Lyon	27
Holidays in 16th Century	203
Illuminati of Bavaria	41, 49, 58
Illustrations of Masonry— Preston	160, 163
Impressions in 16th Century	205
Industrial Organisation in 16th Century	191
Institutes of Freemasonry— Turnough	173
Integration of Management in 16th Century	191
Introduction to Freemasonry— Meeson	154
Kenilworth, visit to	138
King's Master Masons—R. S. Mylne	220
L.D.P.	56
La Conjuration d'Orléans— Montjoye	37
Le Tombeau de Jacques Molay— de Grassicourt	41
Leamington, visit to	133
Les Helvetiennes—Barruel	37
Les Masques Arrachés—Suer	48, 49
Lodges in 16th Century	207

Lodges referred to:—

Lodge	PAGE
Alloa	225
Amis Reunis	36, 43, 53
Apollo, Alcester	102, 114, 134
Antiquity, No. 2	166
Barnard Castle	162
Bunch of Grapes, Chatham	150
Candeur	43
Castle and Faulkon, Chester	81
Contrat Social	43, 45
de la Fidelité	32
de Saint Lazare	45
d'Ecosse de Vertu Persecuteé des Chevaliers Bienfaisants, Paris	45
des Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Saint Cité Lyons	32
des Philalèthes	32
Doyle's of Friendship, No. 615	70, 73
Harmony No. 612	70
King's Arms No. 116	165
La Parfait Intelligence	31
Loyalty No. 623	70, 74
Ludge of Dundic	27
Mariner's No. 611	70
Mère Loge Ecossais	45
Neuf Soeurs	42
No. 43 'Antients'	102
No. 71 'Antients'	102, 104
No. 124 'Antients'	105
Old Kilwinning of Inverness	26
Orange No. 610	70
Palladian, Hereford	161
Perfect Friendship No. 308	161
Punch Bowl, York	155
Réunion des Etrangers	44
Rock, Gibraltar	150
Rose and Crown, Coventry	107
Salopian, Shrewsbury	114
Shakespeare, Stratford-on-Avon	102, 114
Spread Eagle, Chester	81
St. Albans, Birmingham	102
St. Bartholomew's, Tamworth	114
St. James, Tarbolton	168
St. John's, Henley-in-Arden	102, 113
St. Paul's, Birmingham	102, 110
Sunn, Chester	80
Tendre Acceuil	46
Trinity, Coventry	102
Trois Globes	42
Union No. 372	161
Unity No. 613	70

Maconnerie Adonhiramique devoilée ... 32

Martinists ... 58, 61

Masonic Institutes—Oliver ... 155 Masonic Miscellanies—Jones ... 156, 171 Masonic Records—Lane ... 150, 162 Masonry Dissected ... 9, 44 Mason's Confession ... 9, 27

Master Mason, decline in status in 16th Century ... 196

Mémoires—Barruel ... 33 Mémoires Secrètes—Bachaumont ... 37 Memoirs—Bissett ... 102 Multa Paucis ... 148, 178

New Jersey, History of Freemasonry in—McGregor ... 127 Nomenclature of Employers in 16th Century ... 198

Old Constitutions—Roberts ... 146 Overtime in 16th Century ... 205

Persons referred to:—

Person	PAGE
Anderson, Dr. J.	11, 23, 32, 78, 91, 140, 145, 153
Angus, T.	154
Autun, Bishop of	30
Bain, G. W.	24
Barruel, Abbé	37

Persons referred to:—

Person	PAGE
Bartolio, Abbé	36, 53
Beaufort, Duke of	160
Birkenhead, Matthew	140
Bisset, J.	119
Blunt, J.	119
Bode, J. J. C.	42, 47, 61, 62
Bonneville, N.	44
Bradshaw, L.	194
Brice, A.	172
Briscoe, S.	146
Brissot	43
Brockwell, Rev. C.	159, 172
Bruckfield, S.	107
Bruneteau, L. P.	46
Buonaparte, Napoléon	38, 42
Burns, Robert	168
Byron, Lord	150
Cagliostro	41, 51, 56
Calcott, W.	152, 160, 184
Callendar, J.	157
Carter, T. M.	113
Chalmers, Rev. H.	161
Chapman, T.	169
Chartres, Duc de	32
Child, J.	104
Chubb, J.	172
Codrington, J.	173
Coke, Humphrey	194
Cole, B.	147, 148
Cole, J.	156
Collard, J.	119
Collumbine, H.	88
Columbine, Lt.-Col. B.	88
Columbine, E.	89
Columbine, Col. Sir F.	77, 79, 80
Columbine, G.	89
Columbine, J.	89
Columbine, T.	89
Columbine, V.	89
Columbine, B.-Gen. V.	87
Condorcet	32, 36, 43
Conti, Prince de	37
Coulthurst, S. L.	78
Coustos, J.	170
Cowper, Justice S.	79
Crawley, Dr. Chetwode	85
Cumberland, Duke of	149
Daudet, A.	38
d'Aiguillon	36
d'Esprémenil, J. J. D.	36, 51
de la Henrière	36
de la Salle, Marquis	36
de Langes, Savalette	36
de Robineau, A. L. B.	50
de Rohan, Cardinal	58
de Spoule, J.	196
Deleutre	51
Dermott, Laurence	105, 149, 178
Desaguliers, Dr. T.	32
Diderot	32
Dietrich, Baron F. de	57
Dixwell, J.	160
Donaldson, A.	157
Donovan, J.	159
Doyle, Sir J.	71, 72
Drake, Dr. F.	147
Dudley and Ward, Lord	108
Dunckerley, T.	67, 161
Dyconson	196
Eckstein	119
Entick, Rev. J.	78
Evans, T.	105
Fanchet, Abbé	44
Fearon, J.	119
Ferrers, Earl	150
Freeth, J.	103, 108, 118
French, T.	161
Gaudry, J. S.	161
Girtaner, Dr.	50
Golby, F. W.	218
Gooch, T.	115
Gould, R. F.	12, 26, 155
Graham, Bellingham	28
Graham, H.	114
Grant, J.	115
Grombard, W.	195
Hadley, H.	115
Hancox, W.	195
Hart, Rev. J.	162
Hawthorne, H.	194
Heaton, W. E.	157
Higden, R.	77
Hill, J.	94
Hoffman, L. A.	42
Holme, Randle	78
Hughan, W. J.	25, 26
Hutchinson, W.	160, 162
Inchiquin, Lord	79
Isdell, Rev. C.	72
Johnson, T.	155
Jones, Inigo	166
Jones, S.	156
Kearsley, G.	153
Kingston, Lord	147
Knigge, Baron A.	42, 61
La Fayette, Marquis de	36
La Rochefoucauld, Duc de	43, 49, 53
Lane, J.	150, 162
Larkin, P.	149, 178
Lawson, P. H.	78
Lefranc, Abbé F.	38
Leslie, C.	163
Leveaux, C. T.	58
Lyon, D. Murray	27, 220
Mackenzie, Sir G.	221
Mackey, A. G.	167
Martel, Charles	139
Martin, J. A.	36
Maury, Archbishop	50
Meeson, W.	153, 184
Miles, J.	119
Minet, Bishop	36
Minty, G.	157
Mirabeau, Marquis de	19, 32, 36, 61, 63
Mitchell, H.	195
Moreau, M. L. E.	52
Mouton, A. J.	170
Murray, J.	119
Mylne, R. S.	220
Nedham, J.	194
Oakley, E.	147
Oliver, Dr. G.	155
Orleans, Duc d'	36
Paton, G.	157
Payne, G.	78
Perigord, Abbé	36

Persons referred to:—

Person	PAGE
Petre, Lord	162, 164
Prescot, J.	110
Preston, W.	160, 163
Prichard, S.	9, 10, 145
Rawlinson, Dr. R.	87
Redman, H.	194
Riley	159
Roberts, J.	146
Robespierre	58
Robinet	32
Robinson, Rev. H. L.	6
Robinson, N. E.	72
Robison, J.	31
Rogers, Dr. J.	159
Ruston, E.	105, 108
Sadler, H.	10
Schaw, Alexander	223
Schaw, James	222
Schaw, John	223
Schaw, William	220
Schmeltau, Comte	43
Seagar, S.	115
Shedden, A.	161
Shrewsbury, Countess of	201
Sketchley, J.	94, 95, 101, 116, 121, 170
Sketchley, J. D.	115
Sketchley, S.	108
Smith, Capt. G.	44, 164, 169
Smith, S.	89
Smith, W.	161
Smythe, J.	194
Southwell, Rt. Hon. T.	157
Speth, G. W.	25, 26
Starck, J. A.	42
St. Martin	58
Swedenborg, E.	55
Swift, Dr. J.	25
Symons, R.	195
Talleyrand	42
Thompson, T.	110
Thory	47
Timmins, J.	111
Toloda, Comte de	171
Toy, S.	119
Tresham, Sir T.	195
Trewman, R.	172
Tuckett, J. E. S.	53
Turnough, J.	173
Vaux, J.	119
Vertue, W.	194
Voltaire	43
Walter of Hereford	196
Warburton, Capt. H.	90, 91
Warburton, T.	79
Ward, R.	194
Warde, T.	206
Webster, R.	119
Weishaupt, J. A.	42, 57
Whitmarsh, J.	161
Wigge, G.	195
Wilkes, J.	119
Wilkie, J.	162, 165
Wilkinon, T.	153, 159
Willermoz, J. B.	35
William of Wykeham	196
Williams, J.	164
Wilmot, W.	6, 26
Wolfe, General	31
Wren, Sir C.	168
Wynford, W.	196

Entry	PAGE
Pillars	23
Plans and designs, importance of, in the 16th Century	193
Pocket Companion—Donaldson	157
— Scott	149
— W. Smith	161
Pocket Companions	145
Pocket Manual—Preston	169
Polychronicon—Higden	77
Portrait of Sketchley	102
Poughkeepsie Journal	116
Principles of Freemasonry delineated—Trewman	172
Principles and Practice of Freemasonry	161
Proofs of a Conspiracy—Robison	33
Provincial Grand Officers, Chester	89
Regimental Record Book of 10th Regiment	86
Rite philosophique	46
Secret History of the Freemasons —Briscoe	24, 146
Sheffield, Sketchley at	98
Solomon's Temple	161
Songs, A collection of—Callendar	157
Songs, A select collection of— Trewman	172
Spirit of Masonry—Hutchinson	160, 162
Strict Observance	58
Sublime Friendship delineated— Donovan	159
Summer Outings	213
Sur les vraies causes de la Révolution actuelle—Barruel	38
Symbolism, Masonic—Hunt	127
Systèmes de la Nature—Diderot	32
Thoughts, Moral and Divine— Calcott	160
Three Distinct Knocks	18
Three Immemorial Lodges—Gould	27
Tokens, Sketchley Masonic	117
Tools in 16th Century	207
Use and Abuse of Freemasonry —Smith	44
Vindication of Masonry—Leslie	163, 165
Wages of Masons in 16th Century	200, 202
Warwick, visit to	133
Warwickshire, Province of	102, 110
Whole Institiutions of Freemasons opened	6, 15
Wootton Wawen, visit to	134

CONTRIBUTORS.

Name	PAGE
Adams, Maj. C. C.	145
Elkington, G.	218
Fenton, S. J.	94
Firminger, Rev. W. K.	31
Golby, F. W.	213
Haydon, N. W. J.	128
Knocker, G. S.	70
Knoop, Douglas	191
Lepper, J. Heron	127
Poole, Rev. H.	5
Saunders, J. W.	220
Smallwood, R. H. G.	77
Vibert, Lionel	139

---

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Entry	PAGE
Book of Pr.G.M., Chester—Title-page	85
Bookplate of Sir F. Columbine, large	83
Bookplate of Sir F. Columbine, small	83
Dedication, end of, in Book of Pr.G.M., Chester	85
Freeth, John, and his circle	118
Portrait: Lt.-Gen. Sir Francis Columbine	83
F. W. Golby	Frontispiece
Regimental Book, 10th Regiment	85

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum,

BEING THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE

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

No. 2076.

VOLUME L.

---

FRIDAY, 1st JANUARY, 1937.

THE Lodge met at Freemasons' Hall at 5 p.m. Present:— Bros. George Elkington, P.G.D., W.M.; Douglas Knoop, M.A., I.P.M.; S. J. Fenton, P.Pr.G.W., Warwicks., as S.W.; W. J. Williams, P.M., as J.W.; Rev. Canon W. W. Covey-Crump, M.A., P.A.G.Ch., Chap.; W. J. Songhurst, P.G.D., P.M.; Lionel Vibert, P.A.G.D.C., P.M., Secretary; Major C. C. Adams, M.C., P.G.D., J.D.; Lewis Edwards, M.A., P.A.G.Reg.; and Rev. H. Poole, B.A., P.A.G.Ch., P.M.

Also the following members of the Correspondence Circle:—Bros. J. C. Innes; C. A. Everitt; Col. F. M. Rickard, P.G.Swd.B.; H. Bladon, P.A.G.D.C.; R. A. L. Harland; E. W. Marson; G. D. Elvidge; H. Love; J. Mc.Dade; W. Morgan Day; Commdr. S. N. Smith; R. C. Lowndes; T. E. Rees; Oswald Adamson; J. H. Greenwood; R. M. Strickland; Wm. Smalley; R. J. Sadlier, P.A.G.St.B.; J. C. da Costa; Wm. Lewis; Geo. C. Williams; H. W. Martin; Arthur Saywell, P.A.G.St.B.; F. Lace, P.A.G.D.C.; A. F. Cross; F. Morfee Walsh; T. W. Marsh; G. W. South; Rev. G. Freeman Irwin, D.D., P.G.Ch.; Fred. Underwood, P.A.G.D.C.; J. F. H. Gilbard; F. T. Cramphorn; J. H. Smith; F. M. Shaw; C. S. D. Cole; H. Douglas Elkington; F. G. Carruthers; A. H. Goddard; Capt. A. F. G. Warrington; Rev. B. W. Harvey, P.A.G.Ch.

Also the following Visitors:—Bros. A. Johnson, Vigilance Lodge No. 3859; W. M. Martin, P.Dis.G.D., Bombay; J. E. N. Walker, S.W., Dorking Lodge No. 1149; Geo. W. Baker, I.P.M., Old Chelmsfordian Lodge No. 5499; R. W. Fryer (Jr.), Granite Lodge No. 1328; C. J. Law, P.M., Pilgrims' Lodge No. 5008.

Letters of apology for non-attendance were reported from Bros. B. Telepneff; R. H. Baxter, P.A.G.D.C., P.M.; Cecil Powell, P.G.D., P.M.; G. P. G. Hills, P.A.G.Sup.W., P.M., D.C.; Dr. G. Norman, P.G.D., P.M.; H. C. de Lafontaine, P.G.D., P.M.; Ivor Grantham, M.A., LL.B., P.Pr.G.W., Sussex, S.W.; W. Jenkinson; J. Heron Lepper, B.A., B.L., P.G.D., Ireland; Rev. W. K. Firminger, D.D., P.G.Ch., P.M.; and F. W. Golby, P.A.G.D.C., J.W.

Five Lodges, Two Lodges of Instruction and Twenty Brethren were admitted to membership of the Correspondence Circle.

The Report of the Audit Committee, as follows, was received, adopted, and ordered to be entered upon the Minutes:—

PERMANENT AND AUDIT COMMITTEE.

The Committee met at the Offices, No. 27, Great Queen Street, London, on Friday, January 1st, 1937.

Present:—Bro. G. Elkington, W.M., in the Chair, with Bros. W. J. Williams, W. J. Songhurst, S. J. Fenton, W. W. Covey-Crump, Douglas Knoop, L. Edwards, C. C. Adams, H. Poole, Lionel Vibert, Secretary, and R. H. McLeod, 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 1936.

BRETHREN,

The total membership of the Lodge remains at 24, the same figure as last year.

We have once more to report a reduction in the membership of the Correspondence Circle. On the 30th November, 1935, we had a total of 3,127. Sixty-six were removed from the list for non-payment of subscription, 110 resigned, and we lost 71 by death. On the other hand, the number added during the year was only 192, on balance a loss of 55, bringing the total to carry forward 3,072. We can only repeat what we said last year as to the very difficult position in which we are placed by this continual shrinkage.

During the year Part iii. of Vol. xlv. and Part i. of Vol. xlvi. were issued. The latter part contains the Transactions of three meetings instead of two, and the Volume will be completed in a second Part which is now well advanced. In the accounts now presented to the Lodge approximately £1,100 has been reserved for each of Vols. xlvii., xlviii. and xlix. Subscriptions amounting to £540 9s. 11d. are still owing; but, as in last year, a considerable proportion of this amount is held at our credit in Australasia and cannot be remitted home at the present rate of exchange without serious loss.

Our various proposals for further publication of Pamphlets and Leaflets are still held up for want of the necessary funds. But a brief statement of the activities of the Lodge during the year has again been drawn up and circulated to all members; this includes a complete list of Local Secretaries.

We desire to convey the thanks of the Lodge to these Brethren who continue to do much good work. In New South Wales, Bro. E. G. Moon, Librarian to the Grand Lodge, has now replaced the late Bro. Rowbotham. We welcome the following Brethren who have all taken charge of districts where we were hitherto unrepresented:—Bros. P. J. Crawley in Shropshire, F. R. Radice in Bedfordshire, F. E. Gould in Devon West, E. E. Klatscher in Czechoslovakia, and N. B. Hickox in Indiana. Durham has been divided into North and South; and Bro. Herdman Rae has taken over the Northern area, Bro. Selby continuing in charge in the South. In Egypt, Bro. Ivor Grantham,

who was doing valuable work for us, has unfortunately had to come home for reasons of health, and Bro. R. R. Brewis has replaced him. We regret to have to report that we have lost by death our Local Secretary for many years in Manitoba, Bro. Dr. R. S. Thornton, and that the following have resigned:—Bro. B. F. Porter in Nova Scotia, whose place has been taken by Bro. A. R. Prince; the Rev. W. S. Hildesley in Notts.; Bro. J. H. Chalmers in Malta; and Bro. B. W. Hartigan in Texas. These latter districts, as well as several others as shown in the printed list, are for the present without any representative.

For the Committee,

GEORGE ELKINGTON,

in the Chair.

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

for the year ending 30th November, 1936.

Receipts	£	s.	d.		Expenditure	£	s.	d.
To Cash in Hand	59	4	2	By	Lodge	42	9	0
,, Lodge	45	3	0	,,	Salaries, Rent, Rates, and Taxes	604	3	8
,, Joining Fees	100	5	6	,,	Lighting, Heating, Cleaning, Telephone, Insurance, Carriage, and Sundries	97	1	8
,, Subscriptions: 1936	1101	7	5	,,	Printing, Stationery, etc.	847	18	10
,, do. 1935	156	16	1	,,	Medals	26	13	9
,, do. 1934	41	14	10	,,	Binding	28	15	3
,, do. 1933	8	18	6	,,	Sundry Publications	57	9	6
,, do. 1932	2	12	6	,,	Library	13	11	7
,, do. 1931	10	6		,,	Postages	181	17	7
,, Cash for Subscriptions in advance and unappropriated	97	9	11	,,	Local Expenses	5	8	9
,, Medals	29	9	4	,,	Furniture	2	12	6
,, Binding	48	10	2	,,	Cash in Bank	67	8	11
,, Sundry Publications	185	13	8
,, Interest and Discounts	39	9	3
,, Publication Fund	58	6	2
Total	£1975	11	0		Total	£1975	11	0

The SECRETARY drew attention to the following

EXHIBITS:—

By Bro. Rev. H. POOLE.

Jewels, formerly the property of David Moncrieff.

Pierced, silver, circular, with red collar ribbon. Various craft emblems; on Ob. Initials D.M. No other inscription except a central G inside the five pointed star.

Pear-shaped, silver, with green collar ribbon. "The Freemason form'd out of the materials of his Lodge. The Mysteries that here are shown are only to a mason known". This inscribed round the figure as in the Cole engraving. Above: No. 310 Ancient. Rv., Emblems arranged very much after the fashion of the John Cole designs of 1801. A.Q.C., xxix., 281. No. 310 was consecrated at Blackburn in 1797 and is now Benevolence No. 226.

Silver, circular, green collar ribbon. Obv. craft emblems. "We live on the Sqare". Round Margin "Sola Concordia fratrum". Rv. Antients R.A. and pillars "Sit lux et lux fuit". Below the altar, H Z J; no pentagram or hexagram.

Silver, oval, green collar ribbon. "Sit lux et Lux fuit". Emblems which include arch with a keystone, ark, bridge, coffin with scythe, heart and dagger, and what looks like a figure 8, with a small vertical line above, balanced by another inside a square frame. Obv. Broken arch and altar, V.S.L., hand holding a flower spray, and others not clear. No inscriptions.

By Bro. MILBOURN, Montreal.

Photograph of certificate of entering, passing and raising of Bro. Edward Gray, in the Lodge held on board the Vanguard. Signed by Dunckerley, October, 1760, as Master. Presented to the Lodge.

By Bro. W. J. WILLIAMS.

A collection of Ballads. Printed for J. Roberts [etc.] 1723.

The preface contains the passage

The Ballad Makers are a more ancient, more numerous and more noble Society than the boasted Freemasons; and Duke upon Duke will witness that People of considerable fashion have thought it no disgrace to enroll themselves in this Worshipful Society.

No other masonic reference in the work.

A cordial vote of thanks was passed to those Brethren who had kindly lent objects for Exhibition and made presentations to the Lodge.

Bro. Rev. H. POOLE then read the text of the recently discovered Manuscript, and the following paper:—

THE GRAHAM MANUSCRIPT.

BY BRO. THE REV. H. POOLE.

THE Manuscript, which it is my privilege to introduce to you this evening, is in my opinion the most important document which we possess among the material surviving for the student of Masonry from the 'ritual' point of view.

It was exhibited, at his initiation during the middle of last year, by the Rev. H. I. Robinson, Rector of Londesborough, near York; and to Bro. Brian Shaw, Librarian of Eboracum Lodge, York, to whom it soon afterwards found its way, belongs the credit for recognising it as of more than ordinary importance and interest, and for sending it up to us for a diagnosis.

That diagnosis is by no means easy to give. The document is so revolutionary in the way in which it cuts across so many firmly established notions, that it may be a very long time before we are able to form any adequate judgment as to its real position and, one may fairly say, the truth about certain matters which have, so far, never been called in question. And I am putting it before you now, without anything approaching a real estimate of the results which its evidence is likely to effect upon our Masonic knowledge, because I consider that its publication is bound to stimulate some very hard thinking, and in order that more students may have the opportunity of getting to work on its problems.

The document consists of two sheets, each 16½ inches by 13 inches, folded in two along the greater length, making four 'sides', each 16½ in. by 6½ in. The text is written across the front side only of the pages so formed, the first two written pages being on one sheet, and the third written page on the second; one line only, due to a false start for the third page, is found on the inner page of the second sheet.

The date is actually stated near the conclusion of the text; but unfortunately it is written in a somewhat ambiguous form as

      2    1 7 6

We might reasonably accept this as 1726, were it not that the authorities at both the British Museum and the Public Record Office, to whom the MS. was shown, were with only one exception (and that afterwards withdrawn) inclined to date the handwriting as of considerably earlier—by perhaps as much as 50 years. The re-arrangement of the figures as 1672 would, in fact, give a result in closer agreement with the handwriting. Such a proceeding would, however, be an unpardonable liberty, unless some justification were found; and I can only suggest the analogy of a date carved on a stone in front of an old house in the form

[Diagram of date arrangement:]

     2   1    6      7

Information as to any such inscription would be welcome; and, if it indicated a local convention, might even help to fix the source of the document. It is hardly relevant, but is worth mentioning, as it is a bona fide Masonic occurrence, that a German medal commemorating a visit of Swedish Brethren to Stralsund in 1763 shows the date in the form

     3 5  —  7      6

Meantime, although we may well bear in mind the possibility of an earlier date, we may certainly not, at present, draw any conclusion on any basis but that of 1726; but I hasten to add that, even with the latter date, the revolutionary character of the MS. is hardly diminished. I should add, also, that both paper and watermark are quite consistent with either date, 1672 or 1726; and that the authorities consulted expressed complete confidence as to the genuineness of the document.

Little is to be discovered as to the place of origin. Bro. Robinson ¹ found the MS. among papers which had belonged to his father, also a Mason; but beyond the facts that his great-grandfather and the latter's brother, both Scotsmen and Masons, lived their active lives in the neighbourhoods of Annan, Dumfriesshire and Blackburn, Lancs., respectively, while his father's ministry was mainly in Northumberland, we have no further information as to possible sources.

Before referring to the peculiarities of the contents, it will be as well to say something of the textual relationships of the document. First, then, it is very closely related to a broadsheet of 1725, entitled The Whole INSTITUTIONS of FREE-MASONS OPENED, which bears the imprint of "William Wilmot on the Blind-Key 1725". All that this conveys can be gathered from the following extract from Plomer's Dictionary of Printers and Booksellers:—

Wilmot (William), printer in Dublin, 1724-7. He printed in 1724 two books, two pamphlets against Wood's halfpence, an almanac, and other pieces, and in 1727 Whalley's Advice from the stars, &c. He died intestate in this year. He may be the ——— Wilmot whom Negus mentions as printing in London in 1724.

This print, in its turn, has several points of contact with yet another, the Grand Mystery Laid Open, of 1726, locality unknown. This print at first sight appears to be a pure 'freak', with nonsensical names for anything and everything; but it contains enough that agrees with other sources to prove its fundamentally genuine Masonic character, and its evidence will in due course be brought to bear on the problems relating to the Graham MS.

---

¹ "Masonic Ancestry" of the Rev. H. I. Robinson. Rev. Wm. Hardie Moncrieff:—Minister of Annan. b. 1761, d. 1824. First Principal Royal Caledonian Chapter, 1796. David Moncrieff:—b. 1771, d. 1834 at Hawick. Red Cross Lodge, No. 201, Ancient. Sir Knight Templar, 1807. Geo. David Rome:—d. 1854. First J.W. of Lodge Caledonian, 1811. Rev. Geo. Robinson:—b. 1846. Initiated 1877, Albert Edward Lodge, No. 1557, Hexham.

Very roughly one-eighth of the text of the Graham MS. is to be found very exactly in the printed Whole Institutions. So exactly, indeed, that one is at first tempted to suspect that the latest possible date (1726) for the former must be the correct one, and that Thomas Graham had a copy of the broadsheet beside him. Two considerations, however, seem to rule this out. In the first place, the Graham MS. is certainly a copy of another document, but that document was equally certainly not itself a copy of the Whole Institutions. The principal evidence for copying is to be found on the fourth page, the single line on which reads:—

"on Every so all this contenued darke and obscure while the following days of his"

It is not difficult to reconstruct, more or less completely, what happened at the conclusion of page 2. This page ended with the words "gultie of blood wars being", and accordingly the writer started the next page with "on Every . . ." The dipping of the pen caused him to omit the concluding word "side"; and he started the next sentence quite correctly with "so all"; but, in turning to his source, he inadvertently picked up the words "so all" about five or six lines back, and went on writing "so all this contenued darke and obscure while the . . .". At his next reference to the original, he hit the right "while the . . .", a few lines below the other; copied "Sollomon" as "following", and reproduced "days of Sollomon his . . ." as "following days of his . . ."; then, realising his mistake, he started a fresh page with the correct "So all refered . . ."; and finally, observing that he had now omitted the closing "on every side" of the previous sentence, he entered it at the foot of page 2. I think there can be no reasonable doubt that this was substantially what happened; and, besides the inference that his original may well have been appreciably earlier in date, we can fairly assume that he had a complete text beside him to copy, and that no copy of the printed Whole Institutions was used by him.

At least one other indication of copying appears, in the passage relating to King Solomon's trouble with the labourers. Here we read:—

"for to call me all and to make all things easie . . ."

The original reading was fairly obviously 'to calme all'; and the variation which we find is, at any rate, most easily explained as an example of mis-copying.

The other reason which prevents our supposing that the writer had a copy of the print beside him, and used it to work up his own text, lies in the very different structures of the two, and the way in which the printed material, though in places identical, is embedded in the MS. in what one might almost call a casual way, in a different order, and sometimes even in a different context. The two documents, indeed, supplement one another in a rather remarkable manner; for the print, as might be expected, evidently sets out to reveal little more than the secrets; while the MS., though doubtless intended only for private use, is very careful to omit them. I need hardly point out, in the first few lines, the initials I (or J, for the writer does not distinguish between them) and B, which are evidently intended to conceal something; while the "name as is known to free masonry to this day" is very discreetly withheld; and a very tantalising series of blanks deprives us of the thirteen words at the end.

The precise relationship between MS. and print must, I think, for the present, be left to conjecture; but I think it is probably safe to say that each is a fairly near descendant from a single original which was more complete in some respects than either, though it may not have contained all the matter found in the Graham MS.

Of this matter, some appears here only; but there are several cases where parallels are to be found in other extant documents. One of these is the Dumfries No. 4 MS. The phrase:—

"nether siting standing goeing runing rideing hinging nor flying naked nor cloathed shode nor bairfoot"

is echoed in the Dumfries:—

"neither sitting nor standing nor running nor going but on my left knee",

and we have no other early parallels. Again, the only other early allusion, which we know, to the 'sign' which was to distinguish Mason from labourer at the pay-desk at the building of King Solomon's Temple occurs in the Dumfries MS. Here we have:—

"Q which way came ye W first about A it was given to King david by report qn he was hewing ye stones in ye mount to know ye workmen from ye labourers . . ."

Another source in which we find an allusion otherwise unknown and somewhat parallel to matter in the Graham MS. is the Mason's Confession, printed in 1755, but professing with reasonable plausibility to relate to an admission in 1727. Here we have:—

"Q. How many levels are there in your Lodge? A. Three. Q. What are these three? A. The sun, and the sea and the level. —N.B. I can give no reason why the sun and the sea are called two of their levels, but so they will have it".

A phrase in the Graham MS.—"to obey God and all true squares made or sent from a brother"—is more fully dealt with in the Confession:—

"if one were in a company, and to send for another mason, he does it by sending a piece of paper, with a square point folded in at the corner, and suppose he squeeze it all in his hand, when it is opened out, the mark where the square point was folded in, is the thing that's noticed".

We have, however, an earlier, though not really more lucid, reference to the usage, whatever it was, in the Trinity College, Dublin MS., of 1711:—

"To send for a brother the signes are these ⌐ □ △ ";

while the Sloane 3329 MS., possibly a little earlier, says:—

"Anothʳ. signe is by lending you a crooked pin or a bit of papʳ. cut in the forme of a Square on receipt of wᶜʰ. you must come from wˢ. place or company soever you are in by virtue of your oath. . . ."

A rather later reference, though still previous to 1726, is to be found in a printed source, in a satire entitled "The Freemason", of 1723 ¹:—

"A mason when he needs must drink Sends letters without pen and ink Unto some brother who's at hand And does the message understand: The paper's of the shape that's square, Thrice folded with the utmost care".

---

¹ Misc. Lat., xvi., 56, from which I quote, and where the folding is fully explained.

I may add, parenthetically, that I have quoted these extracts in order to emphasise the remarkable way in which almost all our early sources, both MS. and printed, are linked by close resemblances in detail: the inference being that all are of a genuine Masonic character, although they also indicate wide differences in practice.

Most of the other details in the Graham MS. which are found in other early sources are common to too many to be worth mentioning in detail. It will be sufficient to point out that the explicit reference to "od numbers" is paralleled only in the Grand Mystery, printed in 1724; while "craveing your name" occurs elsewhere only in Prichard's Masonry Dissected, of 1730. On the other hand, we have here the earliest appearances of two phrases which are often found later; one is the combination of "entered, passed and raised", and the other a reference to the "heart that conceals and the tongue that never reveals".

It will have been noticed that the only two sources which have parallels which are in any way peculiar are the Dumfries No. 4 MS. and the Mason's Confession; the latter, by the way, professing to be an account of doings at "D-----". There are several features of the latter document which fairly strongly suggest a connection with the former; and it would not be unreasonable to hazard a guess that Dumfries was the place indicated. And, bearing in mind the localities suggested by the Masonic antecedents of the present owner of the Graham MS., I am inclined to suspect that it was in the neighbourhood of Annan that it had its origin. It might be added that in no source besides the Dumfries MS. do we find anything at all resembling what I may perhaps be allowed to call the 'biblical background' of the Graham MS.; although the 'covering letter', printed with the Confession in 1755, speaks in no measured terms of "nonsense (and that with this aggravation, of profaning the sacred scriptures, by intermixing them therewith)" as practised in several places in the East of Scotland at a rather later date.

But, that our problem may not be too easy, it must be borne in mind that irregular working, such as the Highrodiam and Forin degrees of Gateshead, of 1746, must have flourished very early in Northumberland; while the close relation between the Graham MS. and the Dublin print points rather to Lancashire among the three more probable sources.

So far, all has been fairly plain sailing: we now come to some very problematical matters concerning the contents of the document. These relate on the one hand to the biblical incidents referred to, and on the other to the 'secrets', though the two are not independent.

As to the first, it is worth mentioning, as of possible significance, that of the three principal incidents—those concerned with Noah, Bezaleel and Solomon—two bear no relation whatever to those occurring in the historical section of the Old Charges.

With regard to Bezaleel, there is little to say, save that we have here the earliest known reference (Masonic, at any rate) to a tradition which, so far as I know, now survives only in a more or less casual item in the ritual of what is probably the senior of the 'outside degrees', that he was "so Called of God before conceived in the womb".

It is when we turn back to the incident of the three sons of Noah that we are confronted with the greatest problem of all. And here, before going into detail, may I be allowed to recall the fact that, previous to the publication of Prichard's Masonry Dissected in 1730, we meet with such a complete absence of reference to the Hiram story, which he there prints in full detail, that many

students have seriously maintained that it was not invented until about that date, and then perhaps even by Prichard himself. One solitary reference, from a newspaper cutting, was quoted by Bro. Sadler in his Inaugural Address in 1910.¹ This was a 'skit' on Masonry, and referred, among many other things, to "the Widow's Son killed by the Blow of a Beetle, afterwards found three Foot East, three Foot West, and three Foot perpendicular", as well as to "cassia, and mossy Graves". The date attached to this fragment is 1726; but unfortunately there seems to be no chance of verifying it, as we do not know from what newspaper it was taken. All we can say is that if that date was correct, the Hiram story must have been fully developed at least four years before Prichard printed it.

Here is Prichard's version of the relevant portion of the story:—

"Fifteen Loving brothers, by order of King Solomon, went out of the west door of the temple, and divided themselves from right to left within call of each other; and they greed that if they did not find the word in him or about him, the first word should be the master's word; one of the brothers being more weary than the rest, sat down to rest himself, and taking hold of a shrub, which came down easily enough, and perceiving the Ground to have been broken, he hailed his brethren, and pursuing their search found him decently buried in a handsome grave six foot east, six west, and six foot perpendicular, and his covering was green moss and turf, which surprised them; whereupon they replied, Muscus Domus Dei Gratia, which, according to Masonry, is, Thanks be to God, our master has got a mossy house. So they covered him closely, and as a further ornament placed a sprig of Cassia at the Head of his grave, and went and acquainted King Solomon.

What did King Solomon say to all this? He ordered him to be taken up and decently buried, and that fifteen Fellow-crafts with white gloves and aprons should attend his Funeral (which ought amongst Masons to be performed to this Day). How was Hiram raised? As all other Masons are, when they receive the Master's Word. How is that? By the five points in Fellowship. What are they? Hand to hand 1, Foot to foot 2, Cheek to cheek 3, Knee to knee 4, and hand in Back 5. N. B. When Hiram was taken up, they took him by the Fore-fingers, and the Skin came off, which is called the Slip; the spreading the Right Hand and placing the middle Finger to the Wrist, clasping the Fore-finger, and the Fourth to the Sides of the Wrist; is called the Gripe, and the Sign is placing the Right Hand to the Left Breast extending the Fingers".

Now here, in the Graham MS., which cannot be later than 1726, we have substantially the same story told in connection with an entirely different occasion. Actually it is more complete, as the 'master's word' is revealed, though it is far from obvious. Let me quote from the passage:—

"Now these 3 men had allready agreed that if they did not find the very thing it self that the first thing that they found was to be to them as a Secret . . .

---

¹ A.Q.C., xxiii., 325.

So one said here is yet marow in this bone and the second said but a dry bone and the third said it stinketh so they agreed for to give it a name as is known to free masonry to this day".

It was not until I compared the document with the Whole Institutions, and found, among the explanations of the secrets

"magboe and Boe signifies Marrow in the Bone"

that I realised that we had here the secret itself as well as the explanation of how it came about.

We have here, in fact, at a date perhaps identical with, but possibly considerably earlier than, that of our earliest positive reference to the Hiram story, a full-blown variant of the same story. And if we take into account the strong probabilities that Thomas Graham himself was copying from a document already written, and that both this and the printed Whole Institutions were derived from at least one still earlier, it seems difficult to date that original back to much later than, say, 1720.

Moreover, the close association with both stories of what the Graham MS. calls the "five points of free Masons fellowshipe" tends, I consider, to emphasise (what some students have refused to admit) the probability that that close association existed all the time, and that the story is at least as old as the 'points'. And these 'points', though in a form perhaps already corrupt, for 'ear to ear' is among them, are known to us in a document of as early as 1696, in the Edinburgh Register House MS.; while variants of the word 'Marrow-Bone' or whatever the exact original was, occur in both the Sloane 3329 MS., of early eighteenth century, and the Trinity College, Dublin, MS., of 1711.

But what are we to make of the Noah story itself? It is almost impossible to believe that this document could have been merely a 'skit', though at first sight the printed Whole Institutions might be suspect, as, indeed, must any printed matter of the kind, as having been through profane hands; it can hardly have been a deliberately misleading 'exposure', as we have no trace of a complete print of it, and, moreover, the secrets are carefully withheld.

Were there already schisms among Masons? The full extract from the print on the subject of the secret suggests that there may have been:—

"Magboe and Boe signifies Marrow in the Bone, so is our Secret to be Concealed.—Tho' there is different opinions of this, but I prove this the truest Construction".

In this connection, we must not overlook a passage in the Graham MS. which occurs in the preamble to the Noah episode:—

"for I hop all will allow that all things needfull for the new world was in the ark with noah"

This is nothing less than a flat contradiction of the statement of the Old Charges, which had the authority of the Chroniclers behind it, that the knowledge of the Arts and Sciences was preserved only by its being carved on two pillars, one of which was discovered after the Flood. There is thus a definite heresy, and therefore possibly a schism, indicated in the Graham MS.

Is it possible that we have here an earlier version of the story, which was later (say, during the seventeenth century) transferred to Hiram? It may perhaps be relevant that Anderson, in the second edition (1738) of the Book of Constitutions, states that Noachidae, or Sons of Noah, was "The first Name of

Masons, according to some old Traditions".¹ He also introduces the term into the first of the Old Charges ²:—

"A MASON is obliged by his Tenure to observe the Moral Law, as a true Noachida";

and later in the same Charge refers to "the 3 great Articles of NOAH". The name is again used in Brother Euclid's Letter, printed at the end of the book ³; and the only other reference I can find is of some 16 years later, in Slade's Free Mason Examin'd (perhaps an 'inspired publication'?), where Anderson's statement is repeated. It may also be of significance that the newspaper cutting which I have already quoted bears the heading "ANTEDILUVIAN MASONRY" suggesting that it may have been inspired by a rival body deriving itself from immediately after the Flood; such a body might well have adopted the Noah story. It is very tempting to suppose that this story is the earlier of the two; and that survivals had come to Anderson's notice between 1723 and 1738.⁴ But, considering the very wide distribution of Masonry, it is difficult to believe that such a change-over would have been possible.

Was the whole thing an ignorant attempt to reconstruct from the vaguest recollections of detail? Or a deliberate hoax? If the locality was Dumfriesshire, it is worth recalling that we know of some irregular goings-on of about twenty years later, which were the occasion of correspondence with the Grand Lodge of Scotland. But, though the writer of the letter from Dumfries seems to have pointed out that "they knew nothing of the true aire and spirit of masonry",⁵ he does not suggest that the impostors, who were working clandestine degrees in the neighbourhood, were not using the orthodox 'ritual'.

I cannot answer these questions. The answer, if ever to be forthcoming, will require more than mere hard thinking; it will involve the focussing upon this new problem of every possible scrap of our decidedly meagre evidence, unless some fresh find is made which throws direct light upon it. One thing seems to me to be settled beyond any reasonable doubt—that the Hiram story, and perhaps the Noah variant too, was known in the Craft in its amplest form at least 21 years before the formation of the Grand Lodge of England. And if so, then, as Bro. R. F. Gould has said on the same subject,⁶ "there is practically no limit whatever of age that can be assigned to it".

I pass now to the last series of problems, those presented by the 'words'. Actually only one such secret, if it was one, is revealed in the Graham MS.; but we may, I might fairly say must, consider the printed Whole Institutions at the same time.

The one secret revealed here is what the writer calls the "foundation words", where the agreement with the print is curiously exact:—

"o come Let us and you shall have".

I can make nothing of this, unless possibly they are merely an abbreviation for the prayer which is given in fuller form a few lines further on:—

"O come, let us (build true, high and square) And you shall have (the praise)".

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¹ B. of C. (1728), p. 4 ² ib., p. 143. ³ ib., p. 227. ⁴ Bro. Lewis Edwards, in his paper on Anderson's Book of Constitutions (A.Q.C., xlvi.), quotes and has some interesting comments on the earliest known reference to the term "Noachidae" in Masonic circles, which perhaps indicates a very different source for Anderson's statement. ⁵ A.Q.C., xxxv., 51. ⁶ Concise Hist. (Revised Ed.), p. 222.