Freemasonry And Christianity.

peculiar opinion of doctrine and sect , provided he does not connect their truth or fallacy Avith the truths of Masonry , or attempt their introduction into the Order . The Christian is therefore free to rejoice within

himself that Masonry presents to him a system of morality peculiarly adapted to his religion ; but he will break the spirit of the solemn obligation by which he vows to observe the constitutions of the

Order , if he ever attempts to connect Freemasonry with his own or any other creed beneath the sun . Freemasonry as a pure Theism , will be received Avith open hearts by thousands of those to whom the sublime mysteries of Christianity are now a

by-word of scorn and derision ; and in due time its benign influence will soften their hearts , purify their morals , and enlighten their minds , which are now swayed solely by their passions . Thus Freemasonry will become a powerful agent of

civilisation and its attendant blessings in countries where as a Christian institution it would be rejected with ridicule , and contempt . Those brethren who , from mistaken zeal in the cause of the Cross , are so eager to connect

Freemasonry and Christianity , will do well to reflect on this , lest they should defeat their own ends ; they should also remember the fatal consequences that have followed the breach , in 1848 , of the universal canon of Masonry , which forbids sectarianism or politics .

We close this sketch of the tenets of Masonry with ¦ the hope that its temple Avill ever be thronged with brethren , aiming Avith one heart and one mind to carry out the true principles of the Order , and to preserve the Masonic edifice

free from the pollution of sectarianism or politics , as the temple of Solomon from the sound of a metal tool .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

DERIVATION OE EREEKASON . I am glad to see that Bro . Buchan accepts the derivation of the compound words Free-masou that I have long contended for—that it means a Mason , free ¦ of his guild or sodality . But I cannot accept Bro . Buchan ' s derivation of magon from mason , and mason from

maison . Magon and maison are both derivations of mansio , and the old French verb maisonner . or maiaoner , to build a house , is as clearly derived from mansionnre in low Latin . The word Mason is of much later use than Magon . We have traces of the use of the latter as early as 1238 , we have so far no earlier use of Mason than the 14 th century . The

Masonic Notes And Queries.

theory of Bro . Buchan that Magon comes from Mason , and Mason from maison is utterly untenable . —A . MASONIC STUDENT . Errata . —In my last communication for Wallbrace read " Wallbran ; " chartalaries , " chartularies ; " modern , " wooden ; " and for Benefc , Abbot of Turral , read " Bennet , Abbot of Wirral . "

2 REEMAS 0 NRY TAVO HUNDRED YEARS AGO . In my last communication I alluded to the remarks of " Pictus " in respect of " Historical Freemasonry , " and proceed to day to consider his note on " Freemasonry two hundred years ago , " I pass over , however , all those remarks about " pure childish wilful ignorant credulity , " as utterly derogatory to himself , and as tending to those foolish and hateful personalities which have rendered all Masonic discussion

hopeless and usel ess . Considering how many very able writers have held and still hold the views Pictus thus seeks to stigmatize in such ill-judged terms , let me suggest to him , when he writes again , " to amend his vocabulary , " as a great statesman once said to his opponent . I have already stated that I believe the true history

of Freemasonry is to be sought for , and is to be found , in the mediaeval and early operative guilds . This is no new theory , nor one , let me say , confined to Masonic writers . It may be seen in Dallaway and Hope , in Laurie and Mackay , in Rajou and in Schloss , in the earlier works of Anderson and Preston , in the

writings of Dr . Plot , and in a MS . essay in the British Museum . And no one , I think , can endeavour to trace out the history of our Order without being forcibly struck with its entire operative basis , and without recognising its perpetual dependance upon and connexion with the " guilds'" and " assemblies " of

earlier generations . The argument of Pictus that the old operative Masons could not have kept alive an elaborate ritual is worth very little when we come to realize the education of the Master Masons of those days , the emoluments they actually received , and the position

they socially filled . Pictus altogether overlooks , moreover , the connexion of these operative bodies with speculative patrons from very early times , especially the monastic orders . The writer of the MS . poem declares himself to be a monk or priest , and he alludes , as early as the latter part ot the 14 th century ,

to other records which he had seen . We have now plenty of evidence to show that there was attached to every great monastery , a " loge latomorum , " a body of skilled workmen , who had the monopoly in tho building of all great edifices , whether civil or religious .

"Pictus" alludes to the lodge dinners of these early fraternities ; where he has discovered them I know not , the more so , as it appears to me , though I may be wrong , that he has not as yet studied much of the evidence existing in respect of'the customs and usages of the Masons of the middle ages . The

statement of " Pictus " that the Master Mason ' s degree is a new creation about the beginning of the last century , is so incorrect that I am astonished he should so dogmatically assert it . If there is any part of our ritual which bears on it traces of high antiquity to the real student , it is the third degree . There is plenty of incontestable evidence , as it appears to me , to prove