Masonic Legends.

of his soldiers ; and so early as the commencement of the fourth century the standard of Rome wholly gave place to the Labarum , or banner of the Cross . " As a

continuation of the legend we find the following : "When St . Helena had discovered the true cross , she permitted various fragments to be taken from it , which were

encased , some in gold and some in gems , and conveyed to Europe ; leaving the principal or main part of the wood in the charge of the Bishop of Jerusalem , who

exhibited it annually at Easter , until Cosroes , King of Persia , plundered Jerusalem in the reign of the Emperor Phocas , and took away this holy relic . Heraclius , the

Roman emperor , about the year 615 , giving Cosroes battle and a complete overthrow , recovered the cross by subsequent treaty with Cosroes' son ; and transported with

zeal , resolved himself to carry back to Mount Calvary the much-venerated wood . He accordingly dressed himself in his imperial robes , and summoned the

attendance of his numerous and splendid train to grace the solemnity of the occasion ; but vain were all the efforts of the sturdy emperor ; the sacred wood remained

immoveable , defying his utmost exertions even to raise it from the ground , when lo . ' a voice from heaven explained the mystery Christ himself had entered Jerusalem

mounted on an ass , lowly and meek ; while the emperor had sought to defile the hallowed cross on which the Saviour had suffered dressed in the gaudy trappings of

worldly grandeur . Shame for a while overwhelmed the splendid retinue ; but roused by the sacred explanatory admonition , Heraclius instantly cast off his royal

garments , and then with ease lifted on his shoulder and conveyed to the destined spot that cross which before he could not with his utmost efforts cause to move . By this

miraculous intervention the identity of the cross was ascertained beyond every possibility of doubt , and it was subsequently solemnly deposited in the great Church of the Twelve Apostles at Constantinople . "

Of the other legends connected with the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre we cannot now speak at length , but may probably revert to the subject at some future time .

Enough , however , has been said to prove the correctness of our premises , that " the Masonic system abounds in legendary lore , " and that it offers to thc diligent student

abundant food for thought . Thc apparent chaos of its rites and principles can be reduced to order and regularity when wc possess the key to the inner mysteries , and

are enabled to distinguish the beauty and grandeur of the whole Masonic cosmogony in thc faultless mirror of truth . To accomplish this magnificent task should be thc

unceasing aim of all brethren who desire to be something more than Masons in name ; and wc can promise them the utmost

satisfaction and delight when they attain thc utmost round of the Masonic ladder , and are really enrolled as priests in the temple of light .

Multum In Parbo,Or Masonic Notes And Queries .

Multum in parbo , or Masonic notes and Queries .

—«—THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE . In his kind efforts to assist me , "A Voice from the West" has alluded to a

fact which , in the interests of Masonry , I had wished to conceal , preferring , as I did , to allow the question to rest on the abstract historical merits of the rite , and not on the

personal character of its members ; many of whom are ignorant and deceived men . Nevertheless , I assure you that Charles James Banister , ably seconded by three of

his supporters , insulted , accused , and judged me . To him it was , as the Summoner of the Sovereign Tribunal , that my letters printed last week were addressed . He ,

probably , presided over the meeting , as he received the thanks of the so-called thirtythird degree in a copy of one of their printed circulars , which came to my hands ,

and may afford grounds for an action for libel ; prior to which , I wish some of the London brethren to inform me how I can have the question heard by Grand Lodge .

I was expected to apologise to those from whom I demanded an apology ! All this is the justice of the so-called Supreme

Council . " Whom the gods wish to destroy they first drive mad . " J YARKER .

P . S . —I have just received reliable evidence that Sir Patrick Colquhoun , Grand Chancellor of ICT . ' s ( and also a 32 under this Council ) , has furnished them with

copies of some of my letters addressed to him on the subject of the Templar Kadosh . It is pointed out to me that owing to the position in the Craft of the nine members

ofthe 33 , I stand no chance of success in a contest with them . But legal proceedings or Grand Lodge proceedings are open

to me , and I should be glad if any London brother would aid me in bringing my case before the Grand Lodge Committee . They might write to me . J . Y .

It appears that a very illustrious brother has taken up the cudgels in real earnest , and is not to be trodden under foot by the Golden-square clique ; and there is no

doubt that he will be well supported in all he has said , as it is well known that there are many others who are quite ready to join him , and suppress such ill-judged

proceedings as have lately emanated from three or four who choose to denominate themselves the S . G . C . of the 33 . _ There is a very strong feeling abroad in this matter ,

and very few of those self-styled S . G . C . ' s are known as labourers in the world of Masonry . Perhaps it is that they cannot descend to so low a sphere , but at all events ,

at present , they arc standing on a very insecure foundation , and it is only from the sufferance of thc brethren that they are not surplanted and superceded . XEMESIS .

ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS . Under this title , at page 26 , appears a personal attack upon me , and my recent contributions to your columns , by

Multum In Parbo,Or Masonic Notes And Queries .

" An . American Freemason . " As I have no intention to take further part in the discussion of a theory in support of which nothiughas been yet adduced beyond very positive assertion : I decline a controversy

into which this brother seeks to import a personal element , and which , therefore , must become of a very unsatisfactory

nature ; at the same time , I think it due to your other correspondents that I should notice the ( distorted ) points upon which he thinks it right to found his communication .

1 . At the time I used the term " small discussion , " with reference to the glovesand apron , it was a literal fact ; the discussion having then extended only three or four brief communications .

2 . I adduced the proof of the word " speculative" because a brother who has taken a large part in the discussion asserted that the word could not be shown to have been used in connection with Masonry

before a very modern date . That the word occurs in the MS . published by Bro . Cooke is clear , and that it is used in another than an operative sense is equally plain . The

American brother appears to prefer Preston to a fourteenth or fifteenth century MS ., but he will find it difficult to persuade your readers to a like conclusion .

3 . It is true that Bro . Buchan has not said that " operative Masons only knew how to hew stones and spread mortar "; but he has said in effect that there was no more in the Masonic guild than in that of

the tailors ; and I repeat that the language of these MSS . is inapplicable to a brotherhood that held no higher place in the world of art than the " designing " of a doublet .

4 . It is inconvenient for the American brother that at page 25 Bro . Buchan tell us that the authority ( Quarterly Review ) for the quotation as to gloves and aprons is correct .

5 . Here the American brother attempts to blind your readers by a confused passage , which permits them to infer that a copy in the Gentleman's Magazine of the same MS . as that published by Bro . Cooke , contains an entirely

different version of the passage quoted by me . This is not a fact . I am well acquainted with the copy in the Gentleman ' s Magazine , which is to be found at page 489 of the volume for 1815 . It is an entirely different MS .,

communicated by one James Dowland , who says of it : " It is written on a long roll of parchment , in a very clear hand , apparently very early in the 17 th century . " In support of the 1717 theory , it has been asserted in your columns that the

word " speculative" could not be proved to exist in connection with Masonry before ( say ) 1717 ; ancl that no Act of Parliament relating fo the Masonic guild alone could be produced before 1 S 00 . I have called attention to the

word " speculative " in a 15 th century Masonic MS ., and have produced a statute of 1425 . Let us have an answer to these two facts , instead of an attack upon a contributor , who , at all events , tries to be- honourable and honest as a

controversial opponent . 6 . I am here patronised , and kindly recommended to read Findel for an hour . I have read Findel , and probably as many other Masonic historians as the American brother ,

excepting , perhaps , some of the astounding publications of his own land . I speak with much respect of Findel , and little of Preston ( as a writer ); but I say that if the American brother

prefers either , or both , of these to earlier documentary evidence , he knows very little indeed of Masonic investigations ; and if of MSS . his experience is confined to the Gentleman ' s Magazine , of these he knows still less ,

Lastly . In return for this brother s patronising advice to myself , let me recommend him to give your readers a few proofs in favour of the 1717 theory , which he supports , and of which he is in great need , instead of exhibiting his skill by