Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

CHHECH OP ENGLAND—BIBLE HISTOEIES . My answer to the letter of a brother in the neighbourhood of Carlisle is that , according to au entry in one of my note hooks , the judgment respecting which he inquires was that " the law of the Church of England does not require of a clergyman the belief , as literally true , of all histories related in the Bible , which are incorporated from it into her formularies . " 'C . PURTON COOPEE .

JIB , HOLTNEUX AND THE FREEMASONS . The letter of the fiev . J . "W . H . Molyneux to the Ber . _ B . I . Loclcwood , in which he declined to allow the use of his church at the recent opening of a lodge in Sudbury , has been published . In it Mr . Molyneux says : —

"Notwithstanding all their loud boastful professions of universal philanfchrophy , I never even heard of one useful work , public or private , done hy the society of Freemasons outside of its own body . All it has done in the Masonic or any other line is to build up a monstrous fabric of pretensionself-deceit

, , and affectation , fitly symbolised by a 'Mason' with kid gloves , a silk apron , and silver trowel . I respect real hard-AVorking masons , with hard hands and clothes ¦ covered with stone-dust , who pave our streets and carve atone for our buildings ; but shams I have no respect for . Those who lore real work never can

tolerate shams , least of all such as come before us with grand pretensions . As to the pretensions of this society it must speak for itself . No one can see an advertisement of any of its proceedings without being startled and dazzled by the way iu which it positively bristles and sparkles with imposing titles .

' Grand , Ancient , Free , Accepted , Honourable , Worshipful , Right Worshipful / & c . It nearly takes away one ' s breath ! " As to the moral influence of Freemasons , he says the society "becomes practically a convivial club , " and the members are not unfrequentlled into " great

y expenses and lamentable excesses , " and " their moral well-being'' is "terribly impaired . " As to the Christian or anti-Christian principles of Freemasonry , Mr . Molyneux " affirms them to be absolutely anti'Christian , " and says "if there be any mystery in iFreemasonry , it is a part of the mystery of iniquity . "

HASTEBS' DEGREE . —PROPOSITION . —COUNTEEPROPOSITION . Proposition—The Masters' degree is not more ancient than the year 1717 . Counter-proposition , — The Master ' s degree is not less ' ancient than the loth century . —From Bro . BURTON COOPEE ' S Memorandum Book .

EIVE ORDERS OE ARCHITECTURE . If Pictus were followed as a purist in getting rid of the five orders of architecture ( p . 168 ) , an anomaly would be got rid of , but at the expense of historic truth ; He would get nearer to the Temple of Solomonbut he would betray a landmark of true

, history , that series of legends , medieval and new , which show how Masonry has been built up . Thus in seeking an imaginary truth he would banish the real truth . "Wo have had too much of this filing away as it is . —E . N .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

HOW A CANDIDATE WHO HAS BEEN A PAGAN SHOULD BE " OBLIGATED . " Bro . Haye wrote some months ago that he would swear a Chinese upon the works of Confucius , and a Hindoo upon the Vedas ; and Bro . Hughan has just written that a candidate is permitted to take

whatever obligation may be considered binding and suitable to him ; and a Most Worshipful , now deceased , has said that , previously to swearing a man to [ Masonic ] secresy , it is necessary to ascertain what religion he professes , in order to " obligate" him in the most formal and solemn manner possible ; and a Right

Worshipful has more recently said , supposing that Hindoo candidates may satisfy us concerning a true belief in the Almighty Architect of the Universe , and a future state of responsibility and reward and punishment , upon what are we to " obligate " them ? The Vedas , the Puranas , or their commentaries ? Neither Bro . Haye , nor Bro . Hughan , nor the Most

Worshipful was , in niy humble judgment , right . * * * A Right Worshipful expresses doubts respecting suggested modes , wben neither of such modes was the proper mode . * * * The candidate who has been what , dear Bro . " J . G . F ., " you designate a Pagan , and who is now neither Christian , Jew , Parsee , nor Mahommedanis necessarily a Natural Theistand should

, , he " obligated " in the way in ivhich you would swear him'in the Court of Queen ' s Bench . * * * A portion of the " Transcript" mentioned in my communication " On Masonic Oaths , " FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , vol . 18 , page 3 S 7 , shall be seut to that periodical as soon as there is probability of tbe editor being able to find

space for it ; you will then be better able to appreciate the reasons upon which my opinion rests . * * * Letters upon this grave and momentous matter have been sent to me from Calcutta , Bombay , aud Madras . —From BRO . PUETON COOPEE ' S Masonic Letter Book , 6 th July , 1868 .

TUB CHARACTER 0 _? A TRUE JUS OS To be an upright man is to add still greater lustre to the Mason's character ; to do justice and to have charity are excellent steps in human life , but to act uprightly gives a superlative degree of excellence , for in that situation we should become examples in

religious , civil , and moral conduct ; it is not enough that we are neither enthusiasts nor persecutors in religion ; neither bending towards innovation , nor infidelity . In civil matters we should submit to the laws of the ' country we may reside in . In morality it is required of us not only that we should not err by

injuring or deceiving , but to do good iu every capacity of that station in life wherein Providence has placed us . By such means can the Mason be proved and testify that his emblematical jewels are ensigns ouly of the inward man ; so he will stand approved before Heaven and before men with honour to his profession and felicity to himself as a professor of Masonry . — L . M . H .

HIGH DEGREES IN EEANCE . The number of degrees conferred by the Grand Orient in France in 1 S 67-8 was , for the 18 th degree and under , 218 ; for the 30 th , 32 ; for the 33 rd , 3 . The Grand Orient degrees above the ISth were not recognised by tbe Supreme Council of France , nor by legitimate Supreme Councils . —N .