Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

ARTICLES OP THE GRAND LODGES OF GERMANX , It is very interesting to compare the articles or constitutions of the various Grand Lodges , and as a contribution towards that end I send the following , cut from a Masonic periodical now discontinued . —Ex . Ex .

"Some of the articles of the Grand National Lodge of the Freemasons of Germany , may be cited in an abridged form They are eleven in number , but the first five are common , more or less , to every lodge . The sixth declares that the most excellent duties of a Mason are as follows : — 'A tender love towards all mankind , especially towards a brother , even be he the remotest stranger ; a spotless and honest behaviour ; a determined warfare against the enemies of virtue ; the

conscientious endeavour to build up a spiritual Solomon's temple , through the times three ; and , the unreserved maintenance of the asserts— -Unity is surest tie of the Order , and its throne is huilt laws , customs , and usages of the Order , for ever . The seventh on uprightness . A Mason's word and assertion must be held more than holy among us , and hitherto they never have been broken . Hence a Mason ' s word and promise is prized more hilif that be possiblethan the word and promise of a honest

gy , , man . ' The eight article ought to be assuring to all rulers : —¦ ' When a Mason is aware that the evil intentions are harboured towards authorities , it is his duty , as soon as he has proof of the same , to advertise it to the master of his lodge , who will acquaint the Grand Master of the country with all the facts , so that lie may communicate with the government of the country . ' We should highly object to this article , were we not

assured ' that a Mason's prudence is equal to his patriotism and honor . ' The ninth article , again , would place the power of doing great political and domestic mischief in the hands of all but a prudent and honest man— ' When the brother cannot communicate with the Grand Master of his Lodge , he must communicate directly with the government , and afterwards inform his Grand Master by words or in writing what he has done . ' The tenth article prescribes ; 'That Master , Brethren , and

Apprentices when they have the opportunity of being alone with their Masters and brethren , must always occupy themselves with the work brought before them , and so become acquainted with it ; it is thus imposed upon them to be prudent and never taken by

surprise . The spirit of the eleventh article is , that an apprentice ought to be well instructed before he takes upon himself to meddle in high matters . We come now to The Grand Lodge 'Royal York , ' whose first and highest aim is declared to be to quicken , to nourish , and to extend , remote from all political and confessional tendencies , according to the fundamental rule 3 of Christianity , and through the means of Masonry , pure religion noble and hih sentimentsinternal

rectitudepatriotismveng , , , eration , obedience and love towards rulers , confidence , brotherly love , and every other virtue . The maintenance and spread of Freemasonry is its second objecct . The Saxony Lodges bind themselves to labor , through common endeavour , for the good of Freemasonry . Hence they make themselves independent of the one-sidedness of systems , as well of all influence of foreign Lodges ; put forward , as the guide of Freemasonry , useful truths and

regulations , for common acceptation , and advocate one Lodge policy , and one Grand Lodge , The league ordains , by statutes , the greatest possible freedom of opinion , as well to individual brothers as to individual lodges . Entire Freemasonry , m the Saxon league , is limited to three degrees of the Craft , Apprentices , Fellows , and Masters . It recognises no higher degrees as essential or necessary ; but it permits them .

According to original agreement of the Grand Mother Lodge of the Freemasons ' of the Sun , ' the active principle is made to depend on the confidence of brothers in one another ; but the laws determine the rights of individual members , as well as those of the whole society . The Grand Lodge , in order to carry out its "beneficent objects , requires certain means , hut care is ta ^ en against favoritism and profane of the The

use means . Masonic League of ' Concord' recognises as an irrevocable principle , ' the laboring for the elevation of its members , and the happiness of all mankind , remote from every political or concessional tendency , and according to the principles of Christianit y , and particularly of Christian morals . " Such are the Pr !?«? andaims of tne German Grand Lodges , differing now ana then in the letter , but according in spirit and intention , and

Masonic Notes And Queries.

embodying nothing , certainly , which a Mason should hesitate to acknowledge , or which a government should fear to find as the spring of action of any section of its subjects . We are not here making ourselves tho apologists of continental brethren , they are strong enough and sagacious enough to take their own part ; but the same time it is well that English brethren should be aware of their aims and principles . "

NEW COSTUME OP AMERICAS' KNIGHTS TEMPLAR . Having beside me a description of the new costume adopted by the American Knights Templars , I have much pleasure in forwarding you a copy of the same , in response to a brother ' s query , contained in the FREEMASON ' MAGAZINE of April 19 th . —D . MURRAXIIXON . Templar's Uniform . —A white surcoat or tunicmade without

, sleeves , worn over a hlack coat , and reaching to the knees ; made full and fastened around the waist with a red leather belt , two inches wide , buckled at the right side . The red passion cross four inches high on the left breast . Scarf . —Five inches wide in the whole , of white , bordered with black , one inch on either side ; a strip of navy lace , onefourth of an inch wide at the inner edge of the black . On the

front centre of the scarf , a metal star of nine points , in allusion to the nine founders of the Temple Order , enclosing the passion cross , surrounded by the Latin motto , "In hoc Signo Vinces ;" the star to he three and three quarter inches in diameter . The scarf to be worn from the right shoulder to the left hip , with the ends extending six inches below the point of intersection . Cloak . — -Of white merino , worn on the left shoulder , so as to

leave the sword arm free , and reaching down to the lower edge of the tunic behind ; bordered with black velvet , one inch in width , and having on the left breast a templar cross of scarlet velvet six inches in width .

Gauntlets . —Of stiff leather , the flap to extend four inches upwards from the wrist , and to have the appropriate cross of red velvet , two inches in length . Sword . —Thirty-four to forty inches , inclusive of scabbard , helmet head , cross handles , and metal scabbard . Chapeau . —The military chapeau , trimmed with black binding , and with black or white plumes .

Distinctions . —The Sir Knights will wear white metal wherever metal appears ; Commanders and past Commanders , Grand and past Grand Officers , gold . Crosses . —Sir Knights , Commanders , and Past Commanders , will wear the passion cross , Grand and Past Grand Officers of " States , the templar cross ; Grand and Past Grand Officers of the United Statesthe patriarchal cross ; the M . E . Grand

, Master and Past Grand Masters of the United States , the cross of Salem ; which is the patriarchal cross with an additional bar in the centre . The various crosses , as designated , to be worn on the side of the chapeau , and on the sheath of the sword . Those on chapeau to be three inches in height , on fhe sword one inch .

Eatigue . —Black frock coat , the white scarf and sword , red belt and a hlack cloth navy cap , having the appropriate cross in front . Spurs . —Will be of the appropriate colours as above provided . Hangings for Jeivels . —Tho hangings of state Grand Bodies and Subordinates may remain as at present . Grand Standard . —Is of white woolen stuff , six feet in height and five feet in width , made tripartite at the bottom , fastened

at the top to the cross bar by a ring , in the centre of the field a blood-red passion cross , over which is the motto " In hoc Signo Vinces , " and under " Non nobis Domine ? non nobis , sed Nomini tuo da Gloriam ? " The cross to be four feet high , and the upright and bar to be seven inches wide ; on the top of the staff a gilded globe or ball , four inches in diameter , surmounted by the patriarchal cross , twelve inches in height . The cross to be crimson , edged with gold .

Beauseant . —Of woollen or silk stuff , same form and dimensions as the Grand Standard , and suspended in the same manner . The upper half of the standard is hlack , the lower half white . Prelates Rohes . —A full white linen or muslin robe , opened behind , reaching down to within six inches of the feet , fastened around the neck below the cravat , which should be white ; and having flowing sleeves Teaching to the middle of the hand . A white woollen cloak , lined with white , fastened around the neck ,