Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

now HIE CIRCULATION OI- THE TEEEHASONS MAGAZINE MAX BE INCltEASED . That this Magazine is not as extensively known and supported h y the Craft as it deserves to he , as the sole organ that advocates the claims and principles of Freemasonry in the United Kingdomis

, unfortunately but too true . Tbe following suggestions , which are offered most disinterestedly , have occurred to me as likely , if energetically and perseveringly carried out , to he useful . 1 . Let each subscriber embrace every suitable

opportunity . of mentioning the Magazine . I have followed this course myself , and was greatly surprised to learn that the very existence of such a Magazine was unknown to a great many . 2 . Let brethren be urged to join in subscribing . If three or four were to combine in every localithow

y , insignificant would be the sum required from each . There are doubtless some who could not afford to take the Magazine except in this way . 3 . Let energetic agents bo appointed iu each important town throughout the United Kingdom and the Colonies , who would canvass for subscribers .

Surely there are many whose love of the Order is sufficiently strong to urge them to volunteer their services in so good a cause . I , for one , am ready to do so . 4 . Small leaflets setting forth the object , claims , & c , of the Magazine , might be supplied to those willing to assist . These leaflets might be slipped into our letters , and would thus serve to make known our periodical to both initiated and uninitiated .

Other suggestions will occur to the brethren , and will , I doubt not , be acceptable to both the proprietor and the editor , both of whom certainly deserve to be supported and encouraged in the arduous duties and responsibilities which they have incurred in the good cause of Masonic literature . —Jons KINGSTON , P . Prov . G-. C . for Dorset , late Hector of Cattistock , & c .

V . I ) . S . A . What is the meaning of v . v . s . A . on the head of the statutes of the Order ofthe Temple ? - —A . THE WHITI , EAND , OE SEVEN STEPS OT PEIESTHOOD . In the Magazine of date Nov . 26 th 1864 I gave

, , a copy of by-laws in connection with the priestly Order , as wrought hy certain encampments of "Early Grand" Knights Templar . I now present copy of the " Charges" to which brethren of the " White Band" were periodically called upon to assent . —D . MUEEAX LXON .

" 1 . Beloved , will thou , by the grace of God , strictly observe and constantly obey all those laws and regulations of this sacred Order , so far as they correspond with the written word of God ? " 2 . Brethren , is it your earnest desire to unite your souls with mine in the Lord's oath to be always in

brotherly love , in a spiritual bond of peace , and in holy friendship to unite our spirits and hands in true brotherly love , never to be dissolved or broken by kni ght ' s offences ? " 3 . As Royal Arch Knight Templars , will you be true to the lives and interests of your brethren , true

to your Lord and Christ ? In their interests may you remain all the days of your life . " 4 . Will love as much as in thy power lies —avoid all disputes among the members of this society as becometh the disciples of the blessed Jesus ? " 5 . Are you willing to keep and faithfully

conceal such honest secrets as shall be committed by the brethren of the priesthood of Royal Arch Knight Templars ? " 6 . Beloved brethren , as Knight Templar Priests , will you resolve , as it is in the strength of our gracious Emanuel , diligently to contend , firmly to embrace ,

and patiently to hold fast , the true saving faith of the Everlasting Gospel of Peace ? " Will you faithfully embrace Christ's true religion of holy love ; and as Christians sincerely form yourselves by the same blessed doctrines taught by the ancient patriarchs and prophets of GodChristand his apostles

, , , without adding to , or diminishing from , it , but willingly , as the true witnesses of Christ , spend , ancl he spent , in the preservation of the belief of the Divine Trinity ? " 7 . And will you diligently watch with a single eye to God in every motion of your heartswith a

, single intention of promoting the Gospel of God and the glory of the Brotherhood ? " 8 . Will you , as a faithful soldier under the banner of our glorious Emanuel ' s Cross , wear on your breast the cross , star , or sun , in token to declare yourselves not ashamed to confess Jesus Christ as

your Prophet , Priest , and King , to own his holy Gospel , or to bear his hallowed Cross , knowing that to be the power of God to salvation to all those that believer "

HAEE-XEAELX ELECTION'S . Was it ever the practice , in England , to elect and appoint lodge officers for six months ?—P . A . —[ It was . The old minute books of the Globe Lodge are full of such appointments . ]

PBATEES ALBATI , OE WHITE BEETHEEN . I beg to inform Bro . M . Cooke that the Fratres Albati , or Bianchi ( Ital . ) have been considered hy all Church Historians as an offshoot of the Flaggelants of the 14 th Century , and he will find a reference to the literature of these enthusiasts , of whom St .

Tincent Ferrerius appeared to have been the leader , in Gieseler ' s Ecclesiastical History , pp . 227 , 232 ; Vol . iv . of English Translations in Clarke ' s ( P . ) " Theological Library ; " also in Kurt's History of the Christian Church , pp . 461 , 462 , vol . i . of English Translations in the same series . —R . J . F . THOMAS .

DE . DODD . I find , from a note I made some years since ( from whence I don't remember ) that in 1777 the Chevalier Ruspini was Master of the Lodge of Muses ; that W . Blackstone ( son ofthe judge ) S . W . ; and Dr . Dodd , J . W . ; and on the installation , Cipriani and

Bartolozzi were present . 1777 appears to he the year of the forgery . The article from Once a Week mentions the day of the execution was showery ; that I can corroborate , hy the testimony of my late father , who told me he was haymaking that day on his father ' s farm , near where I reside ; and to save the hay , and protect himself , from wet , he wore a great coat , the day being very cold . At a hairdresser ' s in