LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1S02. arrangements—whether hy tbe proprietors of the tavern, tbe Stewards, or tbe Secretary—being all that could be desired. The meeting, too, was most orderly, .AND THE THE MASONIC SEASON excepting towards the close, and tlie little confusion CHABITIES. that then ensued may be easily obviated in the future With the Girls' School Eestival of "Wednesday last by alloAving tbe Secretary's report of subscriptions to the London Masonic season (excepting* so far as be divided into two or three, with a toast or tAvo and regards the approaching Grand Loclge) may be said song between, thereby avoiding the tedium caused by to liave closed, and we can now count tip the gains . three-quarters of an hour's reading of fi gures at one or losses which the various Charities may have made, period, hoAvever gratifying may be the general result. as compared with the preceding year ; and on the If, however, tbe labours of tbe London Masons have whole it cannot be regarded as unsatisfactory, though closed, those of tbe country brethren AA'ill shortly be the full gain, and something more, lias been obtained in full activity in connection with their Prov. Grand by the Boys' School, whilst the Girls' School lias Lodges. That for Lincolnsbiz-e has just been held maintained its ground, the subscriptions for the latter rather earlier than would probably liave been the case, being as nearly as possible the same this year as last. bad it not been with tbe view of installing a very In 1861 the subscriptions at tbe Eestival for tbe promising- young Mason, tbe Duke of St. Albans, as Eoyal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and Prov. Grand Master, in succession to the late lamented their Widows amounted, in round numbers, to £3000, Earl Yarborough, and we trust his Grace may bave a extraordinary exertions having been used to promote prosperous and bappy reign. Here however we its interest, whilst this year the subscriptions were would direct tbe attention of his Grace and of tlie only about £2200, a very fair and handsome amount Lincolnshire brethren to tbe fact that tbe Proy. Grand when compared with previous years. Lodge, was held within tbe Witbain Lodge, This year special exertions have been made to a custom UOAY almost wholly exploded, it being increase tbe funds of tbe Boys' School and most suc- admitted on all bands that the superior lodge cessfully, tbe subscriptions being £3600 against £1600 cannot meet within the inferior. last year - whilst the Girls' School winds up the season, There might be no objection to opening tbe Witbam as it did last year, with a collection amounting to Lodge in order to receive the Grand Master, and his £2500, the total for the three Charities being £8300 ollicers, Avitb becoming honour, though even that we in 1862 against £7100 in 1861, showing bow rapidly hold to be unnecessary—but, having been so opened, tbe Charities are growing in favour with the Craft, immediately on the reception of the Grand Officers it though tbe amounts subscribed to either, will oc- should have been closed ; ancl the Prov. Grand Lodge casionally vary, from a variety of circumstances, from opened—that being the ruling body of the day. year to year. Whilst we direct the attention of his Grace the The chair was occupied on "Wednesday last by Duke of St. Albans to the anomaly that was com- tbe M. W". Grand Master, who we regretted to see mitted of holding the greater body within the lesser— was still labouring under traces of his late indisposi- the governing within the governed—we do not do so tion, which compelled him to depart at a comparatively with any other feeling than that of pointing out to a early period of tbe evening, and leave tbe remainder young and zealous Mason what is now the custom in of tbe business in the bands of tbe S.G-. Warden, the various provinces, with perhaps two or three Sir Hedworth Williamson, who made Ms maiden bow exceptions, throughout the kingdom. At the same - before the London brethren on this occasion. We time we can scarcely understand how, two such Masonic were certainly gratified to bear Sir Hedworth admit authorities as Dr. Oliver and Bro. Hall, the Prov. that no brother should accept office, who is not pre- Grand Master for Cambridgeshire, could sanction, hy pared to discbarge its duties ; it being a most striking their presence, the holding of a Grand Lodge within and novel doctrine to emanate from a Grand Warden, the subordinate lodge, unless indeed they were not and indeed in some years, we have been disposed to made aware of the fact, and forgot to inquire as to doubt whether tbe Grand Wardens were more than whether or not the Witham Lodge had been opened. ornamental appendages of Grand Lodge—without As the Prov. Grand Lodges are held we shall any duties to perform. We have, however, had some occasionally remark on the proceedings, with the vieAv excellent exceptions Avithin tbe last tliree years, and of pointing the attention of others to any practice or are delighted to find that this year we have two results we may deem worthy of imitation ; whilst, Wardens, upon whom AA*e may rely for a performance in any thing we deem objectionable, we shall he doing of their duties. but simple justice to the brethren themselves to call Tbe Eestival was one of the best we have their attention to it, in order that it may be amended attended, it not being too crowded, and all tbe in the future. MASONIC EACTS 213. The foundation stone of New College, Oxfor d, (Continued from page Z 7%) ivas laid on the 5fch March, 1380, at 8 o'clock in the morning, by William of Wykeham, in presence of his 205. 1358.—Johanni Hendachet, sementaris oper- scholars and others. The buildings were finished in ant! super dictum murum per iiij dies et dimidium about 6 years ; the Wardens and Eellows, made their cap' die iiijd=xviijd.—Fabric Boll of Works at the solemn entrance into them, on the 14th April, 1386, JNew Castle on Tyne. at 9 A.M., marching in procession, chanting litanies, 206. The following are entries in the Eabrie Eoll of and with the cross borne before them.—Loioth's Life, Durham Abbey Kitchen, A.D. 1368, (see 180) :— of Wylceliam. " In operacione xxx petrarum ferri in xxiij secures 214. Copy of a Mason's receipt, Cowling Castle, cementariorum, xxv ponsones cum chisills, iiij hakkis, Kent, 29th Sept., 1385.—" Noverint universi per ij pikkis, et xix weggis, petra ad iiijd, xs. Et in presentes me Thomam Crompe, Masoun, recepisse die operacione iiij petrarum et dimidia* in calibem, pro confeccionis presencium, de domino Johanne de dictis securibus, ponsones, cbissils, pikkis, et kevellis Cobeham, domino de Cobebam, sex libras tres decim faciendis , reparandis et emendandis ad eeiam pro iiij solidos et quator denarios sterlingorum in partem petris operatis in uno gavelok ijs. solucionis operis mei apud Castrum de Coulyng de Etin acuacione MDCCC securium cementariorum quibus vero sex libris tresdecem solidis et quator per diversas vices, ad xjd xvjs vjd. denariis, in partem solucionis, ut premittitur michi Et in una serara pro hostio domus eementarii ijd. solutis, fateor meo solutum prefatumqtie dominum de Erom the above it appears that in 1368, the charge Cobeham, heredes et executores, inde esse quietos per for working 30 stones of iron into 23 masons' axes, 25 presentes sigillo meo signatos. Datum in festo saneti ponsones with cbissils, 4 hakkis, 2 pikkis, and 19 weg- Michaelis anno regni Eegis Anglie Eicardi secundi gis was 10s., or at the rate of 4<i per stone. Eor post conquestum nono. — Rev. L. JB. Larlcing, working 4J stones into steel (in calibem), for making Surrenden Collection. ikkis and repairing the said axes, ponsones, cbissils, p , 215. The foundation-stone of St. Marie's College, and kevellis, and for making 4 stones into a gavelock, onl 2s. Eor sharpening 1800 masons' Winchester, laid on March 26th, 1387, at 9 A.M. ; it the charge was y took six years in building, and the Warden and the axes at lid. per 100, 16*. 6<r/. A lock for the mason's 2d. —Hist. Lunelon,, ]}. 132. Society made their solemn entrance into it, chanting house cost in procession at 9 o'clock in the morning on March 207. It appears from the Eabrie Eolls of Exeter 28th, 1393.—Bishop' s Loioth's Life of Wyheham, Cathedral, for 1396-97, that the plumbers, carpenters, p. 190. and tylers, had 5d. a day, and the " Ereemasons " Qd. a day. 216. William de Croyland was Master of the Works The names of William Eoundyng aucl William at Croyland Abbey from 1392 to 142V' .—Biblioilieca Gervys, " Ereemasons " often occur, the former had a Topograpliica, vol. hi., p. 51. salary of 26s. 8d. During Croyland's time the two transepts, the one rennyng ban- for the door of the nave, and its aisles, the south aisle of the cloister, In 1405-6, " refectory were completed. logge, 5d. the Abbot's Hall, and the In 1412-13 , John Tilney, Mason, was paid 12c?. for 217. In 14 Eicbard 2nd (1390) Geoffrey Chaucer examining the ruins of the Chapter House,—" ad was appointed by the King, Clerk of the Works, at videndum ruinam in dormo capitulari." Bishop Lacy St. George's, Windsor. Chaucer was empowered to -completed the upper part of the Chapter House. "impress carpenters , stone-cutters, and other work- In 1427, John Wolston and John Harry, " Eree- men for the necessary operations of the said chapel, masons," were sent to Bere to provide stone.