Masonic Notes And Queries.

exist , and tell to the initiated that the black monks who once chanted in the choir were deeply read in occult science . We are not , therefore , surprised to find it treated of in Dr . Carl Grrabner ' s " Bilder der Wunderkunst und desAberglaubene , " Svo ., Weimar , 1837 , p . 86 , or that Geothe should have made Faust avail himself of its influence : —

" Fur solche halbe Hollenbraf , Ist Salomonis Schlussel gut ;" but it would scarcely be expected tbat a belief in its influence should be gravely avowed in a work published at the commencement of the nineteenth

century . "It is always necessary to have this Pentacle in readiness to bind with in case the spirits should refuse to be obedient , as they can have no power over the Exorcists while provided with and fortified by the Pentacle , the virtue of the holy names therein written presiding with wonderful

influence over the spirits . It should be made in the day and hour of Mercury , upon parchment made of a kid ' s skin , or virgin , or pure , clean , white paper , and the figures and fetters wrote in pure gold , and ought to he consecrated and sprinkled ( as before often spoken ) with holy water . "—Barret ' s "Magnus , " book 2 , part

iii , ( 109 ) . Similar to this , and by many confounded with it , is the " Seal of Solomon , " which consists of a sixpointed star , formed of two triangles interlaced , and which was sometimes held to be even more than the Pentalpha . Passing down a street one day , the writer noticed one of tbe figures , made of tin

holding in its centre the representation of a beer , glass , and doing duty as the sign of a beer-shop . It " attracted his eye ' s sad devotion , " and he could not help wondering to what chain of circumstances it owed its situation . Subsequent study taught him that in Germany , and especially in Bavaria , this figure was deemed a sovereign defence against evil

spirits . This sign was , therefore , used as a charm to protect against storms , and especially against fires ( being thus a cheap land of insurance ) . Breweries being particularly exposed to fire , were so ofteu protected by this that it became , in time , the sign of a brewery , and so of a beershop ! And thus the

mighty spell with which Solomon of old compelled the genii , and piled up " tbat splendid model of excellence which immortalised his name , " in these degenerate times , having crossed the sea , had sunk to the ignoble position of a pot-house sign . Many a good man has fallen equally low by keeping unworthy company .- —JEvernreen .

THE MANNIXGHAM LETTER—A CONTRIBUTOR . A critic who knows that this letter has been accepted by the Masonic writers of Germany , and by " A Masonic Student , " will but laugh at one who tells him that it is not accepted by a Contributor . —A PAST PEOVIJI ' CIAI GEAND MASTEE .

THE FOUR OLD LONDON LODGES . A Member of Grand Lodge will find his view of the pait taken by the Four Old London Lodges in the Revival Proceedings , fully confirmed by Preston in his "Illustrations . " See pages 157 to 160 , "Dr . Oliver ' s Edition . "— CHABLES PUETOS COOPIH ,

Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

MASONIC SAYINGS AND DOINGS ABROAD .

W . Grand Master , William D . Blocker , of Arkansas , in his address , says , in relation to St . John ' s College : — "It affords me great pleasure to announce tbat this protege of the Grand Lodge has a brighter prospect now than at any time since tbe close of our late civil war . A great many Grand bodies having previously

made the attempt to establish a similar seat of learning in their respective jurisdictions and failed , tbey bave been almost unanimous in predicting a similar result for our College . Without stopping to inquire the causes for these failures , I think I express tbe unanimous verdict of this Grand body when I assert that St . John's Collegeis on a firm foundation . "

The State of California has been divided into fourteen Masonic Districts , and an " Inspector aud Deputy Grand Lecturer " appointed for each District . The following resolutions were adopted at the last Annual Grand Communication . " Whereas , A custom has prevailed in this Grand

Lodgeto expend no inconsiderable amounts of money in the purchase of testimonials for Past Grand Masters ; and whereas the use of the funds of the Grand Lodge for such purposes is contrary to the aims and objects of Masonry ; therefore " Besolved That no appropriation of tbe funds of this Grand Lodge shall be made for similar purposes hereafter . "

At the last Annual Grand Communication of the Grand Chapter , Grand Council , and Grand Commandery of California , the following Brethren were elected , viz Grand Chapter : Comp . James L . English , of Sacramento , G . H . Priest ; Comp . Charles L . Wiggin . of San Francisco , Grand Secretary . Grand Council : Ills . Comp . Stephen T . Wing , M . P G . Master ; Ills . Comp . Charles L . Wiggin , Grand Recorder .

Grand Commandery : Em . Sir Frederick Ferdinand Barss , of Placerville , Grand Commander ; Em . Sir Charles L . Wiggin , of San Francisco , Grand Recorder . Referring to the recommendation of Grand Master Murray , of Maine , to dispense with the office of D . D .. Grand Masterand tbe Grand Master a

salaryre-, pay , quiring him to devote his entire time to the interests ' of thc Grand Lodge and its subordinates , Bro- 0 . 0 . Gray , of the Foreign Correspondence Committe , of Arkansas , says : " Wo are of opinion that tbe practice of paying salaries to any other Masonic officers than our hard working Secretaries , would result in evil , and that continually .

Let the office of Grand Master be desirable for the amount of money there may be made out of it , and you at once create a host of Masonic politicians , who wilt ' log-roll' for the position of Grand Master . " That ' s our doctrine—no more moneyed offices in Masonry . We don't want any brothers to join us for the loaves and fishes of office . We want tbe craft always to seek tbe best man for the Grand East " , and not the man the office . All candidature for position is unmasonic . —Keystone .