"Eradication Of Error."

predominated , existed before the beginning of the eighteenth century . " AVe deny the statement emphatically , because we have evidence of what Ave are b y him said not to have . In our "Early History ot British Freemasonry , " written for the Voice of Masonry , March 1873 will be

, , found a list of the members of the lodge at Aberdeen , A . D . 1670 . There Avere forty-nine in all , but only some twelve were operatives , the remainder being non-operative ( or , as correctly termed , speculative ) , Masons ! There Avere three noblementwo

, or three ministers , several Avrights ( or carpenters ) , a schoolmaster ( who was the Master of the lodge , A . D . 1070 ) , an advocate , glaziers , hair-dressers , surgeons , etc ., etc ., on the list , and the records are still to be seen in Aberdeen . AVe have had the

pages Avith the signatures of these operatives and speculative Masons of A . D . 1670 , photographed by Bro . Garey , by consent of the lodge , and our clear friend , Bro . Chas . Eugene Meyer has copies of the same , as Ave are as anxious for the new country

to participate in the results of our researches as the old . The " successors" were as follows : A mason nf 1 G 85 , a slater of 1687 , a merchant of 1688 , a merchant iu London of 1688 , and a carpenter of 16 S 8 , etc ., etc . It washoweveran operative

, , lodge for all that , as the minutes prove , and yet the major portion of the members , A . D . 1670 , Avere not operative Masons , but speculative !

As to non-operative ( or speculative ) lodges prior to the last century , or " before the revival of 1717 , " we are bound to confess that but little evidence exists , but Avhat little there is points to the reverse of Bro . Norton ' s statement . The lodge at HaughfootScotland ( whose minutes have

, , been made known by Bro . Sanderson , Provincial Grand Secretary , of Peebles and Selkirk , ) Avas a non-operative ( or speculative ) lodge from the earliest date . Its meetings have so far been traced back to 1702 . AVe consider this a most important

fact , and all interested will find particulars afforded by us iu the Voice of Masonry For August , 1872 . Dr . Plot , in his History of Staffordshire , A . D . 1686 , says of the Freemasons : " Persons of the most eminent quality did not disdain to be of this fellowshi p " . . . . " the admission of them , Avhich chiefly consists in the communication of certain

secret signs , whereby they are known to one another all o \ 'er the nation . " This is a valuable statement from a foe to the Masonic society , occurring , as it does , in a printed work of the seventeenth century , and beyond doubt of any kind . We our good

friendBroNorpresume , . ton , will no longer ' ¦ doubt very much whether Bro . Hughan can with certainty prove that either speculative Masons or speculative Masonry , in our acceptation of the term , was known before Anderson and Desuguliers Avere initiated , " for the records

submitted of 1070 certainly date before the initiation of either of these Avell-knoAvn craftsmen , as they were not born until some years after that period ! In conclusion , let us say Ave have no desire to be " pat upon the back , " but only to discover the truth . We recognize the

right of Bro . Norton or any other Mason to challenge our statements , Avhich appear from time to time in print , and are ahvays pleased to make known our sources of information at any time . Brothers AVoodford , Lyon and ourselves have been amused sometimes at our discoveries being

plagiarized , but such conduct never causes any deeper feelings . AVe have at all times to gratefully recognize the hearty support afforded us by the Masonic press , particularly in England and the United States , and Ave have had no more earnest and

faithful friends than those Avho like Bro . Norton , freely criticize our Avritings and acknowledge the importance of facts brought to the light . We may fairly , howeA-er , ask that our articles and Avorks may be carefully read before being called upon to furnish the proof Avhich has alreadv been submitted .

Uncertainty.

UNCERTAINTY .

REV . HENRY Q . PERRY . Uncertainty is written high And low on Nature ' s scroll ; Yet e ' er sublime Philosophy Decrees unto the soul

, Thy bourne is far above the sky , Where nameless glories roll ; Blessed heir of all eternity—The end is no uncertainty "lis the celestial goal !