Multum In Darbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Darbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

—*—A very learned Jewish Mason states that the Deacon in the second degree represents either Aaron or Ilur . —C OSMOS . If the R . A ritual , referred to by Antiquarius

in THE FREEMASON of last week , be genuine , it would throw considerable light upon a dubious point in the history of Masonic degrees , viz ., tho substitution of the traditions related in the English Royal Arch degree for thoso now given in connection with the A . and A . Kite—30 ° .

It may nofc be generally known that the Sword of State , which is borne before the Grand Master of England , was "thc old trusty sword of Gustavus Adolphus , King of Sweden , afterwards worn by his sucessor in war , the bravo Bernard , Duke of

Saxe-Weunar , with both their names on the blade , and further enriched with the arms of Norfolk in silver on the scabbard . " This invaluable relic was presented to the Grand Lodge by Thomas Howard , Duke of Norfolk , Past Grand Master , on thc 29 th January , 1731—ASTIQUAIUUS .

The Ancient and Accepted Rite . — - "Rose Croix' ' is , no doubt , well acquainted with the method of reasoning by which it has been established that Celtic , Sanskrit , Persian , Sclavonic , Teutonic , and Greek are derived from the central "Aryan" language of our ancient civilised ancestors who emerged from the banks

of the Oxus as early , perhaps , as the time of Abraham . A like , process may convince him of the correctness of our Templar traditions . Written proof must not be sought in Lancashire , but at York , London , and Bristol—perhaps Stirling and Edinburgh , though I imagine the latter branch , into which Prince Charles

Edward Stuart was received in 1745 , was non-Masonic , and on Stirling it rests to prove whether we received the Masonic branch from Scotland or that country from England . Of tho various branches , the British is the only one that has never put forward any exlrava - gant claims . It held its meetings ancientl y in the

body of an Arch Chapter which took a military obligation , the ceremonial being very different to that now in use , and claimed , prior to 1851 , to represent the united orders of St . John and the Temple . After its connection with Freemasonry ( which in England certainly had a Grand Master before the revival and

ceremonial revision of 1717 ) it established the Order of Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests , as claimed on its certificates in 10 S 0 , and having , as before stated , points in common with the present 17 th degree A . and A . R . ; and then tho Roso Croix followed as a chivalric version of tho Master Mason . When the

Stuarts wero expelled from the British throne they seem to have kept up a connection with English freemasonry , which had continued from the time of James I ., and a chapter was established at Arras , in France , which included chivalric Masonry . That this was established soon sifter 1700 is proved by tho

following * . — 1 . Thc excommunication of thc Stuart Templars by the Ordrc-du-Teuiple . Their charter of transmission must be a forgery , and cannot well be Inter then 1705 , because the signatures of the Duke du Darns and Philip of Orleans have been pronounced genuine . _ . Dr . Leeson has stated that ho had in his

possession a Bvlgian Craft Constitution , printed in 1722 , which mentions several Scotch high degrees , though these cannot well be all identified under the names given . Js the Stuart Hose-Croix charter ol 1721 kept back through its Templar connection ' I 3 . Baron llunde ' s theory was , that the Templar Order

was amalgamated with rreemasonry m l-cotland in 131-1 , so that such connection was , in his time , so old that dillerent theories could be broached about it , or our brother the Baron was no bel tor than a knave and an impostor . 1 . The Chevalier Kamsay taught in the Ancient and Accepted Rite : —First , that the Stuart

( James I . ) connection with Freemasonry in a degree which mi ght have been subr . tituted fin * the Templar in tho Arras rite through tho excommunication ; of which Order Ramsay ' s instructor , Fenelon , was a member * and , secondly , the Templar origin of the Arch ami general t-omii't-tion of the Templar Order with

Freemasonry . So that in 172 ( 3 there wero colourable grounds ) for his theory , or l ' amsay was as great an impostor as Uarcn Ilimde . 5 . There are some attacks , iv-c , on Freemasonry alluding to Templars so early as 1700 , but , passing oyer these , the Ancient Masons , who invariably avoided extravagant statements ,

claimed to represent the nre-revivaiists of 1717 , and included the Arch aud Temiilsir as equally genuine with the other degrees . —There must havo been authority for all these views , and England and the Stuarts must have heon tho central authority . Surely our brother is sulliciently acquainted with English to

history see a dillieulty , apart from Masonic set-rosy , in expecting to find written proof of an Order of which the exiled Stuarts wero tho chiefs ! Why , in my own poor famil y connections two individuals , whoso arms wo quarter , lost their lands and one his head . Iho degrees representing the crosses amalgamated with St . John and the Temple , I tako to bo very

Multum In Darbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

modern . These are Knig ht of the White Cross ( St . John ) , Knight of Malta , and Knight of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , though this latter may possibly have been orig inally introduced under competent authority , as it has beon a good deal trafficked in as a public Order . I am now in correspondence

with an excellently well-informed brother , and also with the Grand Master , representative of the Ancient Imperial House of Constantinople , on tho Order ; but my impression is , at present , that the claims of the present revivalists aro wholly groundless . — JOHN

YAUKEU , Manchester . ——[ We happen to know that our learned brother ' s views upon the subject of the Red Cross Order , though shared by many , are based unon insufficient data . The full explanation will bo forthcoming soon . ]—ED . F .

Notes By A Novice.

NOTES BY A NOVICE .

GuAliDIAN ANGELS . " Iii the Name of the Lord God of Israel , having on my right MICHAEL , and on my left G UIKIKL ; before me , AIIIKI ., and behind me , RAPHAEL ; aad above my head the refulgent glory of Almighty God . "

Tho authors of the Hebrew Liturgy , in composing the prayers to be recited by every religious and pious Hebrew before retiring to rest , directed that the foregoing verse should be repeated by every one professing the faith of an Israelite ; that even the infant should lisp it , in order that by early impressions being made upon

the child of \< ivc beneficial results mi ght ensue to tho man of Fifty . It is a curious fact that tho idea of a Guardian Angel has been cherished by all Nations , and may be tracer ! more or less in various systems of religion , and biblical students entertain the belief that the idea ori

ginated from the construction placed upon the following text , when the Lord said to his beloved and faithful servant Moses , " Behold , I send an Angel before thee to keep thee in the way , and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared . " ( Exodus xxiii . 20 . ) A critical examination of the words prefixed to this

article will lead to inquiry as to tho necessity of an intermediate Being , when we are told that the children of Israel were under the immediate guidance and protection of the Deity Himself . That an apparent contradiction exists fow will deny , although the obvious meaning was to impress upon tho minds of

erring mortals how essentially requisite it is nt all times to keep in view the immeasurable greatness and power of Jehovah , and tlius bo convinced that we are none of us sufficiently pure in heart and spirit to approach , unaided , His heavenly seat of glory . A closer analysis of the prayer or verso will , however ,

demonstrate that the Rabbins did not intend to convey the notion that the intercession of angels was necessary to man . and the following commentary on tho abbreviations of the first letter of the names of the four angels above-cited clearly illustrates tho doctrine they propounded : — "The oral law , which teaches us to find out all the beauties of the written law , so that man

may be enabled to fulfil the precepts of the Lord , is justly entitled to the appellation of the Guardian ol Israel , and hence the name Gemara ; the Gimel being the first letter of Gabriel , the Mem of Michael , the TJtwli r \{ ' Rm-ili . K . l fliwl fl . rt A l « .-. l . « r A ..:.. ! A ... 1 . 1 *) J t \ i niv 411 1 ui fxiii ILIlil LUll 5

.. > ... .. .., y . m ., „ u _ . V-IJI . _ . . upon him who bears in mind such studies , the Angel of the Lord sheds his grace , and shields him from all harm and from all evil . " ( To be continued . )

New Metropolitan Lodges.

NEW METROPOLITAN LODGES .

I he M . W . Grand Master has been pleased lo grant warrants for the following new lodges in the London District : — No . 1259 , The ¦ ' Dnke of Edinburgh ; ' to be held as the New Globe Tavern , Bow-road . Bro . John Wri ght to be the first W . M ., and Bros . Jex and Lusty the Wardens .

No . 1260 , The "Ilervey , " ( so named after the esteemed ^ Grand Secretary ) , to meet at the George Hotel , Walham Green , with Bro . George King , jun ., as the W . M ., and Bros . G . King , sen ., and P . II . Jones

as S . and J . W . respectively . No . 1201 , The "Golden Huh , " at the Great Western IIoU-1 , Craven-road , Bayswater , of which Bro . J . Eglese will be the first . Master , assisted by Bros . J . Smiley and A . (« . Sharpens Wardens .

It will interest many of our readers to learn that during his sojourn at Cairo , the Prince of Wales visited the Bulwer Lodge , No . 1008 , of which Bro . Reade , the English Consul-General is llioprescnt W . Master .

II . U . II . Prince Arthur left London , on Sunday , in order to visit Ireland , where it is understood that lie will stay for a month . He left Holyhead at ei ght iu the morning , and landed at Kingstown at twelve . A great variety of festivities will

mark the Royal visit ; amongst which , the Masonic Ball , on tho i ) th inst ., is expected to be one of the gayest . The Pope having excommunicated all Freemasons , the fair daughters of Erin who acknowledge the sovereignty of his Holiness will be placed in an awkward position—Standard .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . ]

PAST MASTERS AS PRECEPTORS . ( To the Editor of the Freemason . ) DisAit SIR AND BROTHER , —Tho favourable notice taken by Bro . Hughan and yourself of my letter under the above heading , published in No . 3 of THE FREEMASON , embolden me further to pursue the subject ,

and to entertain a decided attempt to bring under the consideration of our supreme authority the whole question of uniformity of ritual . For this purpose the suggestion thrown out by you in your leader as to " the presentation of a respectful memorial to the M . W . Grand Master , " is most

valuable , as there can be no doubt that upon a full and fair representation of existing differences throughout Craft working , our Masonic Sovereign would cause such measures to be taken as would entirely set aside the present deterrent influences against earnest study of the Masonic Art .

The views I have already expressed being entertained by very many Brethren of my acquaintance , and notably so by those at present associated with me in the "Macdonald" Lodge , No . 1210 , the W . M . of which lodge will cheerfully assist me in endeavouring to carry out the suggestion vou make , I shall append

to this letter my name and address , in order that direct communications may be made if desired by those whose opinions accord with ours , and I bog most earnestly of such Past Masters and others who agree that " something should bo done , and that quickly , " to join us in an early conference on the subject , that

we may set forth a full and impartial memorial , so strongly supported as to justify the hope and expectation of that earnest consideration which the M . W . Grand Master would surely give to it before arriving at his decision . I sincerely trust that thc proposed movement will

have the sympathy and assistance of highly respected and influential members of the Craft . Without desiring to ape a humility I do not feel , or to detract from my right to advance and support opinions respecting Masonic jurisprudence , I yet fear that my position is not quite equal to tho importance of the subject ,

and that the probabilities of success may be impaired through that cause . It would therefore be most gratifying if others would assume the leadership , and as my object is entirely the " good of Freemasonry in general , " and not self-interest or self-advancement in particular , a cheerful subordinate assistance would

more than content me whilst watching the progress of the work . During this month therefore I propose to receive from those who desire to help forward tho proposal for a memorial , their letters on tho subject , and some time during May to appoint a place and date for

holding a Conference , when such arrangements may be made as in the opinion of those present will best conduce to secure the end in viow . If , meanwhile , either yourself or correspondents could aid the movement by further expressions of opinion , many valuable suggestions and hints may be made for the consideration of those who will take an active part in

promoting the establishment of the "Lodge of Pre ccptors . " I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours truly and fraternally , JAMES STEVENS , P . M ., P . Z ., & c . Senior Warden , No . 1210 Claphaiu-coinuion , April 5 th , 1809 .

Operative Lodges.

OPERATIVE LODGES .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DKAII Sin AND BuoTHKit , —1 have to thank Bro . John Yarker lor his kind reference to some papers of mine on Operative Masonic Lodges . Liko that able brother , no doubt , I find it much easier to ask questions than to answer them ; from the fact , that whereas

the former may be done with ease in a few words , the latter frequently requires much time and careful examination . So far as possible I will tako his remarks seriatim , and do my host , in the short space of time at my disposal , to afford him the reasons why I do not accept

his views : — ( a ) Up to this time , none of the records of Operative Masonry in England before the 18 th century , or anterior to tho revival of 1717 , have boon produced by- auy authority whatever to show any important difference between the working in this country and iu

Scotland . On the contrary ( excepting the hereditary Grand Mastership of Scotland ) , the two countries contain many proofs of the similar character of operative Masonry everywhere ; for instance , Kilwinning and York often read on their minutes as one body .

So also Banff , Aberdeen , and others , with this difference , however , that "Mother Kilwinning" has not only before tho " Revival , " but also since , kept exclusively to Craft Masonry . ( 6 ) I am not aware of any Grand Master in any part of the world being appointed before 1717 , and there-