Masonic Notes And Queries.

brethren were appointed to subject it to a careful examination , so as to settle these doubts . " What was the result , or report , of these examiners , who can tell?—STUDENS . IMITATIVE SOCIETIES . In the early part of the last century there was

scarcely a year in which we do not find some society , imitative of Freemasonry , sjiringing up , blustering about for a while in aprons and collars , putting on all the appearance of the real Simon Pure , and then , after a brief life , dying off , to give place to some other simulative absurdity . The old Newspapers and Magazines are full of accounts of these " mock

turtle" societies , which people , outside of the Order , were very often apt to suppose form a part of Freemasonry , which Institution they however resembled only in ; the secresy of their meetings . One amongst them is noticed in a paragraph in " The Gentleman ' s Magazine , " for January , 1732 , in the following

words : — " An account was given in the papers of a society who call themselves "Free Sawyers , " and claim priority to the Freemasons , Gormogons , or Ancient Hums , as dating their standing before the Tower of Babel , alleging they cut the stones for those mad builders , the Freemasons . At their meetings they have a silver saw laid on their table with this motto . - ' ¦ ' Let it Work . "—G . C .

BEO . J . J . J . GOUEGAS , S . G . I . G . 33 ° . According to a late number of the FEEEMASONS ' MAGAZINE the late Bro . J . J . J . Gourgas , 33 ° , is dead . He was a great authority on the higher degrees , and I should very much like to know where a good biography of him has appeared ?—K H .

GRAND LODGE PAPEES . "W anted , for a special object , to consult a collection of the various Quarterly Communication papers issued hy order of Grand Lodge . Where can a perfect set be found , and who will oblige a brother by letting him see them ?—AVA .

IS IT MASONIC ? In a shop window in Holborn is a beautifullypainted enamel—about the size of a cheese-plate , but oblong—with a figure of the Deity , crowned , holding a sword , the hilt surmounted with a seven-pointed starand above the . head of the person represented

, a rainbow , in the midst ot which an eye . The execution of this picture is admirable , but it is sadly disfigured by being set in a filagree five-pointed star , profusely studded with what appeared to be bits of " various shaped glass , for the presumed purpose of imitating diamonds . Is it a Masonic jewel ?—ED : C .

IEISH CULDEES . In the 12 th century one Con of the poor was the founder of a community of religious laymeu at Clonmacnoise . What is known of their princi ples as a secret society?—F . C . —[ See the work so well known to Irish Antiquaries , called the Annals of the Four Masters ^]

THERE cannot be a pleasant smile upon the lips of the hopeless . The blow which crushes the life will shatter the smile .

Masonic Mems.

MASONIC MEMS .

THE MASONIC MXEROR .

The Lodge of Harmony ( No . 600 ) has just undertaken to furnish ono of the four wards of the new Bedford Bye and Ear Infirmary , the other 'three wards having been provided from other benevolent sources . There is still , liowever , a debt of £ 2 , 000 on the building to be met . Major C . E . TEOENTON of the Vale , near Lancaster , formerly

Staff Officer of Pensioners , Derby , has , we understand , had his services in the cause of Royal Arch Masonry in India rewarded by an appointment as one of the grand office-bearers in tbe Supreme Grand Eoyal Arch Chapter of Scotland . The gallant major is the immediate Past First Principal of the Chapter Kilwinning ( No . SO ) , Ayr , and is also a Past Principal J . of St . Andrew in the East , Poona , India ( Scottish Con . ) .

The Boys' School.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

The election of twelve boys into this school takes place on . the 17 th ; and we take the liberty again to remind tbe brethren that we are seeking for support for two boys who have already gone to poll seven times without success , evidently from the want of some brother taking up their cause . The following are the cases as extracted from the balloting paper issue'd

at the last election : — CRABTREE , BENJAMIN TOWNSHEND . Born _ 6 tli March , 1853 . His mother , Mrs . Alice Crabtree , is the widow of the late Samuel Crabtree , who met with his death , 3 rd Jan ., 1861 , from an accident , while following his occupation of a builder , at the Victoria Itailway Station , PimlicS , leaving five children , three of whom are entirely dependent upon the widow

for support . WILSON , ROBERT CHRISTOPHER . Born 5 th October , 1852 . His father , Bro . Joseph Wilson , aged 58 , was formerly a chemist and druggist , of Kenda ! , but is now in poor circumstances , suffering from a diseased knee joint of 32 years' standing , accompanied with popliteal aneurism . Has a wife and six children , three of whom depend upon him for support .

In the seven ballots already taken , Crabtree has polled 143 votes , and Wilson 72 , whilst something more than 500 each -will be required to ensure success . We , therefore , urgently call upon the brethren who have not pledged their votes to any particular candidates to forward us their balloting papers } and we remind them that the balloting papers for any of our charities

will be acceptable , as they can all be used to ensure the return of these friendless boys . We have to acknowledge the receipt of thirteen boys and nine girls proxies through Bro . George Molesworth , of Chichester , for which we tender him our grateful thanks . AU communications should be addressed to Bro . H . G . Warren .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

LODGE or PEOSPEEITY ( NO . 65 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge took place on Thursday , 23 rd March , at Mason ' s Hall , Basinghall-street , under the presidency of Bro . James McLean , W . M ., assisted by Bro . H . J . W . Thompson , S . W . and W . M . elect , Bros . G . Leach , J . W ., Goddard , S . D ., Sims , acting I . G ., and about fifty other brethren . Amongst a goodly number of visitors we noticed—Bros . John Savage , P . J . G . D . ; W . FarnfieldA . G . Sec ; EmmensA . G . Purst ; H .

, , , , J . Thompson , P . M . 869 , and P . S . G . W . Herts ; Harris , P . M ., 73 ; J . Bond , P . M . 861 ; C . Swan , P . M . 869 , P . J . G . D . Herts ; Walterhein 901 ; Thomas Sabine 73 ; R . Mitchell 869 ; and others whose names we did not ascertain . The amount of business on the summons was very large , consisting of one raising ,