as the great centre of Tree and Serpent worship of the present day. The faith of the kingdom of Dahomey, on the Gold Coast, is essentially the adoration of Trees and Serpents, accompanied by ancestral worship and human sacrifices, and female soldiers. In fact, Africa preserves in full vigour and perfection at the present day all those characteristics which we see only dimly reflected in the myths of other nations.

In the new world, too, the worship of the Serpent-apparently there connected with that of the sun-certainly prevailed extensively before that continent was discovered by Columbus; and with forms so like many of those found in Asia that frequent attempts have been made to prove that what we find there is a form of Buddhism. This cannot, however, be sustained; but it certainly appears to be a form of that primæval faith on which Buddhism was based, and out of which it arose in India.

In conclusion, the speaker pointed to certain forms of Dolmens, stone circles, menhirs, and such like rude stone monuments, found in India, identical in form and purpose with those found in Africa, in Britanny, and nearly all over the world wherever a Turanian people can be traced. These are not necessarily old, though some of them may be of any age: others were certainly erected in India within the limits of this century and are undistinguishable from the older examples; showing how persistent certain forms of faith are when once adopted by certain races of mankind. Among these the Turanians are certainly the most instinctive and least progressive of any.

It is the last fact which gives unity while it adds interest to the whole subject. In Tree and Serpent worship we have the oldest known form of faith and belonging to the most ancient people of whose existence we have any knowledge. It is now found generally in a nearly fossil state uuderlying the Semitic and Ayran strata which have been superimposed upon it. Occasionally, however, it crops up in out-of-the-way corners of the world, fresh and vigorous, and tells a strange tale of the persistent unchangeableness of certain races of mankind and still more strange irradicability of certain forms of superstitious

faith.

THE subject of Mr. Tennyson's new poem is the old German legend of the "Guest of the Holy Grail."

OPINION OF FREEMASONRY EXPRESSED BY THE EARL OF DERBY.

The motives of the ancient and honourable Order of Freemasons have often been regarded with suspicion by those who do not belong to it, and who have no knowledge of its affairs. It might be supposed, indeed, that the rules and principles of Freemasons were so far known, that the public mind should be inclined to regard them with respect, and the character of the members of the Order is generally such as to command respect in all circles of society. All this, however, does not prevent a feeling of doubt and sus picion on the part of some, who can give no reason for it, but who are perhaps ready to entertain such a feeling as to everything beyond the sphere of their once immediate observation. There are many, however, who do not belong to the Masonic Order, who judge more justly, and a strong testimony in favour of its high and estimable character was recently bore by the Earl of Derby, in a speech made by him in the House of Lords on the 7th June 1869. Referring to the Order of Freemasons, he said: "I am not a member of that body, but I believe that a more loyal, peaceable, charitable, and benevolent body does not exist."* Higher commendation could hardly be given, nor could it be given by one whose opinion is more worthy of respect. Such a testimony borne by Lord Derby cannot but be very gratifying to the members of the Craft, and ought to have some effect on the minds of those who do not belong to it. Freemasons, themselves, indeed, are well aware of the high and noble principles on which their ancient Order is founded and of the excellence of the rules by which it is governed, of the landmarks in constant adherence to which its true uobility is maintained. These ancient landmarks have not often been overlooked and can never be broken down. Whilst they subsist and are kept clearly in view by Freemasons themselves, the character of the Order must appear in the eyes of the world, such as Lord Derby has declared it to be. Loyalty is, indeed, one of the essential principles of Freemasonry, and a Freemason is bound by the most solemn obligations to live as a good member of society, observing the laws of God and of his country. Peaceable he therefore must be, whilst these obligations are remembered. As to charity and

* The noble Earl however, has one son if not two, members of the Order.

benevolence, we need hardly say that Freemasons are distinguished by their readiness to aid any brother in circumstances of want or distress; and instances could easily be adduced, in very great number, of the relief of the poor by the Masonic lodges both of this and other countries. Let a brother from any part of the world come to England or Scotland, and make himself known, he will find himself amongst brethren, and the money requisite for his relief will be forthcoming, even to a good amount. There have been many instances of distressed foreigners, sufferers from the political troubles of their native countries, or from other causes, being not only rescued from destitution here, but provided with the means of proceeding home again, when circumstances became such as to permit it, by contributions from Masonic lodges. Nor are the lodges in other parts of the world less attentive to this great law and duty of charity.

THE PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND. The second number of the quarterly statement of the Palestine Exploration Fund is just published. It contains, besides the usual packet from Bro. Lieut. Warren, papers from Capt. Wilson, Mr. Deutsch, and others, which it is hoped will not only prove interesting, but will advance our knowledge of the Holy Land.

The main features of interest in the work of the last two months are the excavation at the "Golden Gateway" and "Barclay's Gateway" at Jerusalem, the discovery in the dome of the rock ("Mosque of Omar "), and Mr. Deutsch's report on the marks found at the south-east angle of the great wall of the Haram es-Shereef. It is not the province of the committee to draw deductions from facts. These are laid before their supporters as found, leaving it for others to make inferences from them. They cannot however, avoid calling attention to the conclusions arrived at by the eminent Semitic scholar just named from the marks in question, which he examined on the spot, and on which he has favoured the committee with a letter The stones appear to be in situ, some of the marks which they exhibit are similar to those on "absolutely undoubted antique Phoenician structures in Syria," while "fantasias," "identical" with others of the marks, are observed in abundance on the "old Phoenician stones" of the ruined citadel above Saida. It is greatly to be hoped that more marks

will be found, and some nearer approximation to date arrived at. Bro. Lieut. Warren's tracings of those on which Mr. Deutsch has commented may be seen at the office of the society.

The shaft at the Golden Gateway has been abandoned, owing to the danger of continuing the work. One of the chief obstacles, indeed, to the pursuance of the galleries is the way in which the shingle sometimes pours into them-not in small quantities, but in a continuous shower, which will last sometimes for days, choking up the narrow galleries, and forcing Bro. Warren to abandon the work, or to continue it at the risk of life.

The work which has to be done is still very great. It is hoped that permission may be obtained to pursue the tantalising discovery below the surface accidentally made by Bro. Warren at the northern edge of the platform of the dome of the rock within the Haram Area in December last, and to explore elsewhere within that sacred enclosure; failing this, reference to the report of the last executive committee will show some of the work which yet remains on the hands of the society.

At the meeting of the general committee, held on May 4th, at the Jerusalem Chamber, the executive committee resigned and a new executive committee were elected for the ensuing year.

Their report was read and adopted, the thanks of the committee were passed to Bro. Lieut. Warren, to Mr. G. J. Eldridge, Dr. Chaplin, and Mr. Walter Morrison, M.P., and it was resolved that an annual meeting should be held.

It has long been the desire of the committee to open a Palestine Museum. They are now enabled, by the arrival of several large cases from Bro. Warren, to carry this desire into effect for a short period. At the Dudley Gallery, Egyptian Hall, will be found all the objects of interest discovered by Bro. Warren in his shafts, including lamps, pottery, glass, coins, weapons, tesselated pavement, sculpture, sarcophagi, and geological specimens. The tracings also of his work, and those of Capt. Wilson, may also be seen there; with objects lent by Mr. MacGregor and other gentlemen. To these will shortly be added, it is hoped, the new collection of photographs and antiquities from Sinai, by the kindness of Col. Sir Henry James, Director-General of the Ordnance Survey. The exhibition will

be closed on August the 31st. Should it prove so far successful as to warrant the repetition, it is hoped to reopen it on a future occasion.

The receipts of the months April and May, with the first half of June, amount in all to £1,084, 6s. 2d., including a donation of £250 from the Marquis of Bute; one of £100 from " Anoymous"; and remittances from the local societies of Clifton, Bath, Tunbridge Wells, Falmouth, Nottingham, Plymouth, and Newcastle. The receipts for the first five months of the year amount, from all sources, and including the balance at the end of 1868, to about £2,150. The committee beg their readers not to let the work fail for want of funds. In providing them, at considerable expense, with this quarterly publication, the committee invite them to use it in order to make their cause known. In all parts of the world interest is now aroused in the work, nor is it possible that England, were the work more widely known, would allow it to stop. But in their efforts to make the Fund national the committee rely on the co-operation of their friends. If for a few years only these will lend their aid to raise each a small sum, no difficulty will be experienced. Meantime the shafts have to be closed for want of money to buy fresh wood, the workmen have to be reduced in numbers, and Lieut. Warren is obliged to content himself with one or two excavations at a time. Some of the most interesting explorations-e.g., that of the canals at Bir Eyub, have to be suspended; and this at a time when the most important results are being obtained, and we are apparently on the eve of solving the most interesting problems. The experience of four years has proved that to collect the small sum necessary for this work requires nothing but leaders, and that amount of activity requisite to start a local movement. Moreover, while the donations hitherto received have been chiefly of large amounts, it should not be forgotten that a good deal has been done, and that a great deal more might be done, by enlisting the interest of those who can give but little. And for these as well as for the larger subscribers, the quarterly reports are printed.

THE Order of the Knights Templar in the United States had a procession and other services in Philadelphia, on June 15, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of one of the oldest commanderies in the country, "St. John's Commandery," formed in Boston in 1819. There are about 10,000 Knights Templar in the United States, a large proportion of whom took part in the celebration.

ANCIENT LODGES.

4 New and Correct List of all the English Regular Lodges in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, according to their seniority and constitution. By order of the Grand Master. Brought down to April 19th, 1765.

(Continued from page 8.)

199 Ship and Castle, Penzance, in Cornwall, first and third Wednesday, June 24, 1755.

200 Bricklayer's Arms, Duke-street, Grosvenor-square, first and third Tuesday, June 17, 1755.

201 Shoulder of Mutton, St. Augustin's Parish, City of Norwich, first and third Monday, June 17, 1755. 202 The Lodge of Charity, at Amsterdam, June 24, 1755.

203 Black Raven, Cow-lane, Chester, last Monday, June 24, 1755.

204 Lion, Beccles, in Suffolk, July 14, 1755. 205 Swan Tavern, in York Town, Virginia, first and third Wednesday, Aug. 1, 1755.

206 The Flower in Hand, Parish of St. Mary, Norwich, first and third Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1755.

207 Sunderland, near the Sea, in the County of Dur ham, first Friday, Oct. 7, 1755.

208 The Grand Lodge Frederick, at Hanover, Nov. 25, 1755.

209 Plume of Feathers, Bridges-street, Chester, Dec. 2, 1755.

210 Princess of Wale's Arms, upper end of Cranbonealley, Leicester-fields, first and third Monday, Jan. 20, 1756.

211 A Lodge in Captain Bell's Troop in the Right Hon. Lord Ancram's Regiment of Dragoons, Feb. 7, 1756.

212 The Sun and 13 Cantons in Great Poultney-street, Golden-square, second and fourth Thursday, Feb. 26, 1755.

213 A Lodge of Wilmington, on Cape Fear River, in the Province of North Carolina, March 1755.

214 White Lion, Water-street, Liverpool, April 15, 1755.

215 The Lodge of Peace, at Amsterdam, Sept. 23, 1756.

216 Hoop and Bunch of Grapes, St. Martin's-lane, first and third Tuesday, April 30, 1756.

217 White Horse, Corner of New Burlington-street, first and third Thursday, Dec. 2, 1756.

218 At the Marquis of Carnarvon's at Sunderland, near the Sea, first and third Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1757. 219 In the Parish of St. Mary in the Island of Jamaica, Feb. 17, 1757.

220 Blakeney's Head at Bristol, second and fourth Thursday, Feb. 17, 1757.

221 At Parliament Coffee-house, in Parliament-street, second and fourth Tuesday, Feb. 14, 1757.

222 Sun in the Strand, fourth Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1757.

223 Dove and Branch in the Parish of St. Lawrence,

Norwich, second Wednesday, March 23, 1757.

224 Sancta Croix, a Danish Island, in the West Indies, 1757.

225 Cock, the Head of the Side, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Oct. 13, 1757

226 White Lion, Oxford-road, third Monday, May 4, 1757.

227 Sun at Shadwell, first and third Monday, Oct. 31, 1757.

228 The Lodge of Regularity, at Amsterdam, Nov. 21, 1757.

229 Queen's Head, Duke's-court, Bow-street, Coventgarden, first and third Wednesday, Dec. 20, 1757.

Dutchy of Mecklenburg, May 15, 1754. 230 St. Michael's Lodge, in the City of Severn, in the

231 Cock, in the Parish of St. Mary, Norwich, Feb. 18, 1758.

232 White Hart, Old Town, Plymouth, second and fourth Monday, March 1, 1758.

233 Bell, Broad-street, Bristol, second and fourth Monday, March 8, 1758.

234 Lodge at Bombay, in East Indies, March 24, 1758

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES

MASONIC MSS. IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

235 Green Man, Berwick-street, St. James's, first and third Friday, Aug. 6, 1758.

Lodge, Jan. 1, 1759.

237 Three Crowns at Plymouth, the second division of Marines, Jan. 2, 1759.

238 St. James's Lodge at Barbadoes, May 20, 1758. 239 New Inn at Exeter, first and third Wednesday.

240 Sun at Newton Abbot, Devonshire, first and third Thursday, March 1759.

241 Mildmay's Wine Vaults, in the west town of Drediton, Devon, first Monday, April 21, 1759.

242 Royal Oak, Portsmouth-common, second and fourth Friday, April 24, 1759.

243 Compass and Square, Bernard Castle, Durham, first Monday, April 21, 1759.

244 Mermaid, at Windsor, third Thursday, June 6, 1759.

245 Temple Lodge at Bristol, first and third Monday, July 2, 1759.

246 Vine, King's Arms Passage, Poultry, London, third Wednesday, Aug. 24, 1759.

247 Prince George Lodge, in George Town Wingan, South Carolina, once a Month, 1743.

248 Union Lodge, Charles Town, South Carolina, second and fourth Thursday, May 3, 1755.

249 A Master's Lodge, Charles Town, South Carolina, first Monday, March 22, 1756.

250 Port Royal, at Beaufort, Port Royal Carolina, every other Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1756.

251 Solomon's Lodge, in Charles Town, South Carolina, first and third Thursday. 1735.

252 Cock at Hull, Yorkshire, second and last Thursday, Aug. 20, 1759.

253 King's Head, Canterbury, first and third Wednes. day, Jan. 14, 1760.

254 A Lodge on board the Vanguard, Jan. 10, 1760. 255 St. Andrew's Cross, near the Hermitage, first and third Friday.

256 Three Crowns at Guernsey.

257 Globe, Hatton-garden, first and third Friday, Nov. 27, 1760.

258 Talbot, Leeds, Yorkshire, second and fourth Wednesday, a Master's Lodge, Jan. 8, 1761.

259 Punch Bowl, Stonegate, York, first and third Monday, Jan. 12, 1761.

260 Feathers, Cheapside, London, first and third Thursday, March 9, 1761.

261 Square and Compass, Whitehaven, Cumberland, second Monday, May 4, 1761,

262 Lord Granby's Head, Dover, first and third Friday, May 8, 1761.

263 Sun, at Darlington, Yorkshire.

264 Spread Eagle, Wisbeach, in the Isle of Ely, first and third Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1761.

265 Three Coughs, Portsmouth Common, first and third Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1761.

266 Union Lodge, Crow-lane, Barbadoes, first Wednesday, Sept. 17, 1761.

267 A Lodge at Kingston-upon-Hull, second and fourth Thursday, Oct. 27, 1761.

268 All Saints Lodge, at Wooler, Northumberland, Jan. 1. 1762.

269 St. George's Lodge, at the Half Moon, Exeter, first and third Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1762.

270 Green Man, Ipswich, Suffolk, Jan. 21, 1762. 271 Royal Frederick, at Rotterdam, Jan. 25, 1762. (To be Continued.)

he said, yes, and very kindly gave me a letter of introduction to Mr. Bond, the keeper of the MSS. in the British Museum; and I am very happy to be able to state that Mr. Bond in the most courteous manner

responded to my inquiries, and I believe that I cannot do better than give his answer exactly as I received it :

"British Museum, 8th June, 1869. "Dear Sir, I am happy to be able to assist you in your doubts as to the antiquity of some of the MSS. on the Society of the Masons-as far as those are concerned of which you have given me the numtation as to the general period of their date :bers in our collection, I can speak without any hesi

"Bibl. Reg. 17 a. I. is of the middle of the 15th century.

"Harl. 2,054, is probably of the middle of the 17th century.

"Harl. 1912, is of the beginning of the 17th century.

"Sloane 3,848, f. 213 (179 present pagination) is dated 1646.

"Sloane 3,323, f. 195, is of the latter part of the 17th century.

"Sloane 3329, f. 102, is probably of the beginning the 18th century.

"Lansdown 98, art. 48, is of about the year 1600. 'Sloane 3023 is not a Masonic MS.

66

"I have confined myself simply to the consideration of the dates of the MSS., and trust the object of your inquiry will be served by the answers I have been able to give you.

"Believe me,

"Very faithfully yours, "EDWD. A. BOND."

"W. P. Buchan, Esq."

There is also another MS., published recently by Matthew Cooke, entitled-" Add MS., No. 23, 198," whose age Mr. Bond kindly informs me is "of the middle or latter part of the 15th century.'

The Bibl. Reg. 17 A. I. ff 32; which is published by Mr. Halliwell in "History of Freemasonry in England," seems, therefore, not to be so old as the 14th century, upon reading it over carefully, before I wrote Mr. Bond, I judged from certain passages in it that it seemed to me "written not later than the latter part of the 14th century," was surely a mistake, und I said so.

In reference to Harl 1942, or Lansdown 98, Art. 48, I consider we are fairly entitled to ask the gentleman who was Editor of the Magazine in July 16th, 1859, for an explanation of the assertions which he then made at page 28 of that date, when he affirmed that," the MS. in question, so far from being of the year 1600, is not more than 130 years old ? "

Regarding Sloane 3,329, f. 102, which Bro. Findel places in the 17th century, it seems to belong to the 18th.

Sloane 3,848 and 3,323, also Harl 2,054, Bro.

Hughan informs me have never yet been published. I trust that that Masonic reproach will soon be wiped off, and, verbatim et literatim, copies set before us in the pages of the Freemasons' Magazine. The past state of our Masonic literature is a disgrace to Freemasonry, and it is Freemasons themselves who are to blame on account of their hitherto in general almost total indifference to the real diffusion or re

ception of that " light" about which they talk so much. I trust that now, however, when the Magazine is reduced to half its former price, it will be encouraged and its readers instructed.

Sloane 3023 is one of those alluded to by "A Masonic Student," at page 290, April 10th. At same place he also states that the Masonic MSS. "are all easily found in the British Museum." True, perhaps, for those brethren who live in London; but what about the readers of this Magazine who live hundreds, yea thousands of miles therefrom? and who, many of them at least, may perhaps never even expect to see London! for them, they might about as well almost be non est, until at least some kind friend or brother presents us with verbatim et literatim copies of them. I trust that some of our London brethren will see after this, and, whatever they give us, let it be an exact copy-verbatim et literatim—of the original.

66

I put so much stress upon this verbatim et literatim "point," because e.g. I received a copy" of "the New Articles," in Harl 1942, from Bro. Hughan, but upon reading them over I judged that, had they been written in the beginning of the 17th century, they would not have been written exactly as I received them; so, to settle the point, I forwarded the copy to Mr. Bond, when he very courteously wrote me back, it agrees with the original " only partially-the copyist having overlooked peculiarities in many instances." I therefore suppose that Bro. Hughan had not taken his copy personally, but got it from some other copy. However, I expect that Bro. Hughan's new work, referred to at page 471, June 12th, will contain some very interesting and important information regarding our Masonic MSS. as well as upon Freemasonry in general.

Regarding Sloane 3,329 f. 102-a copy of which is given at Appendix C," page 691, of Findel's history-I would like to know if, as Findel gives it, it be an exact copy? If not, I would hope to see some contributor to the Magazine favouring us with a verbatim et literatim copy soon; more especially as it is short. Further, if there be, as I hope there will, a great influx of new readers soon, they will naturally say what's the use of speaking about Harl No. this or Sloane No. that? Tell us what these Harl and Sloane documents, to which you refer, say, and then we will be able to take an interest in the matter, and, knowing exactly what you are writing about, we will be able to judge of it.

I consider the subject of Masonic MSS. and old lodge

minutes written before A.D. 1720, to be one of the most interesting and valuable in connexion with the rise of Freemasonry in England at the beginning of last century. And, if they wish to play a due part in the elucidation of these, our London brethren will have to pull up or they will be overtopped by the provincials; further, said provincials, too, in great measure hailing from over the border;" for, to my astonishment, when telling Bro. Hughan that, being

Solomon's Temple, about 105 feet long (including the porch) and 30 feet broad.

A, the Porch; C, the Holy Place; D, the Holy of Holies, or Oracle.

Josephus, Book 8, chap. 3, says:- "Its front was to the East. And he set five of the lavers on the left side of the temple, which was that side towards the north wind, and as many on the right side towards the south." Then, 1st Kings, chap. 7, verse 21:-" And he set up the right pillar and called pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz." the name thereof Jachin; and he set up the left

Book of Kings was compiled, were probably written The Book of Kings, or the records from which the by some official of the Temple; hence, speaking of the right and left of the Temple, he speaks of it as one would who, standing within it, looks out from it; not as a spectator would speak, who was looking at hence he says, Jachin is on the right (i.e., on the south) and Boaz on the left (i.e., on the north). According to Josephus, therefore, the front of Solomon's Temple looked to the east, whereas the front of our cathedrals look towards the west, and their principal entrance is in the west end.

it ;

As to the area and exact position of the site of Solomon's Temple, it will be most interesting to see the plans and explanations of Lieutenant Warren, R.E., by-and-bye; but we are sorry to find that he receives so little encouragement in his researches either from Christian churches or Masonic lodges; it is a shame for any of said churches or lodges to know that as yet they have given nothing! The faith and doctrines of the one and the rituals, &c., of the other are so intimately associated with Jerusalem that they ought to feel proud to have an opportunity of assisting such an interesting and important object. Some lodges have done their duty in this respectthe more reason, therefore, for the general body to follow their example.-W. P. BUCHAN.

ROSE CROIX DEGREE.

After your valuable dissertation on this degree, it will be useful to ask for information as to the first inventor of the Christian character of the Rose Croix degree, and whether the ritual is the same in all countries.-J.W.M.