Masonic Notes And Queries.

the founder of a very philosophical system of Masonry . In a work published by him in 1751 , entitled " The Philosophical Principles of Natural and Revealed Religion , Unfolded in a Geometrical Order , " he has briefly hut distinctly advanced this theory , and we give it here to our readers—first , because the work is scarce in this countryhut principally because it

, contains the most succinct and satisfactory history of the origin and progress of the science of Freemasonry . The Chevalier , writing a work for general perusal , has said nothing in it of Masonry by name ; but , as the course of his studies aud the labours of his life identified him with the Orderit is apparent thatunder

, , the name of an ancient religion , he was thinking of his favourite science . The reader has only to substitute iu the paragraphs we are about to quote the word " Masonry" for " Religion , " and in a few lines he will be put in possession of the whole theory on the subject , as it has been more elaborately worked out

by Hutchinson , Oliver , and other Masonic writers . Ramsay propounds his theory as follows : —1 . Adam , Noah , and all the antediluvian and postdiluvian patriarchs knew the great principles of natural and revealed religion , and , therefore , could and should have taken all measures possible to transmit this saving

knowledge to their posterity . 2 . It would have been unbecoming the prudence and saneiity of these holy patriarchs not to have chosen some surer method for transmiting these sacred truths than by oral tradition , which is much more subject to falsification than written tradition . 3 . The most ancient , the most expressive , and the most palpable way of writiug was not by arbitrary names and alphabetical letters , but

by symbolical gravings , which represented intellectual ideas by corporeal images ; and this way of writiug was particularly consecrated to the use and transmission of Divine things to posterity , as the word hieroglyphic [ sacred writing ] indicates . 4 . According as the world increased , and was peopled after the delugethe sons aud grand-children of Noah copied

, and carried those sacred symbols of religion [ or Primitive Freemasonry ] to the different places of the earth which they went to inhabit with their families ; thus these symbolical characters were transported from country to country , over all the face of our terrestrial globe ; aud for this reason is it that the symbols

, images , idols , statues , representations , traditions , fables , and mythologies about the gods , goddesses , and religion are much the same in all nations . 5 . By succession of time , the true original sense of the sacred symbols and hieroglyphics was forgot . [ Thatis , the Primitive Freemasonry became corrupted . ' ] Men

attached themselves to the letter aud to signs without understanding the spirit aud thing signified , and thus fell by degrees into the grossest idolatry and wildest superstition . They explained the sacred symbols according to their fancy , aud so turned all the ancient traditions into fables , fictions , and mythologies , where ,

though the circumstances were different , yet the fund was the same . G . Notwithstanding these degradations , adulterations , and misrepresentations of the original symbols and traditions , there still remain some hints , rays , aud vestiges of Divine truths in the mythologies and religions of all nations , from east to west , from north to south , in Asia , Europe , Africa , and America . [ And these vestiges constituted the Spurious Freemasonry of Antiquity . ]

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

TIte Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents ^ CAN A WARDEN INITIATE , & c . ro THE EDirort or run rsusiiisoss' aucuznrn AJTD MASONIC _ II * I _ OB . DEAR . SIR AND BROTHER , —In all the arguments

and references that have appeared in your capital MAGAZINE on the above subject , no allusion has been , made to the source from which all our powersemanate . On the initiation of a candidate , he is informed that the W . M . is acting by virtue of the powers

contained in the warrant granted by the M . W . G . M ., the result of a petition signed by seven regularly registered Masons , no quality , so far as position goes , being required , and if there be three Master Masonsto occupy the positions of the three principal officers , the remaining four may be E . A's .

On reference to several warrants , I find them granted to A ., B ., C , D ., F ., G ., ancl others , aud as the words run , "Do hereby constitute the said brethren into a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the title or denomination of the Lodge , the said lodge to meet , & c , empowering them , iu the

said lodge , when duly congregated , to make , pass , and raise Freemasons according to the ancient custom , & c . " Now , Mr . Editor , a deed , a grant , a conveyance , any thing issued by a body corporate , under their seal , is binding on the granters in a full legal sense .

A will or personal direction from a body sole , not within the description above mentioned , must be , and properly so , construed according to the assumed intention of the testator . Viewing then the warrant of the M . W . G . M . in the same light as that of a grant from a body corporate ,

it must be dealt with in its full legal sense and bearing ; and as the same is often granted to brethren who have never served the office of Warden , much less than of au Installed Master , and others who have never held any office , and as the power to initiate ,, pass , and raise is given to them , any of them , even the

E . A ' s ., if they could , may perform those ceremonies although they have never held the office of Warden ; how much more so are the Wardens then to do those acts which W . M's . generally perforin ? In my opinion there is not the slightest doubt of their being properly aud fully empowered to do so ;

aud entertaining that opinion years ago , I did perform all the ceremonies , but never in the presence of the W . M . or P . M . of the lodge ( which , I find , has been permitted , very improperly , by a W . M . of a lodge in the provinces , and to whom our Bro .

Blackburn is paying his respectful compliments ) . I am , dear Sir , yours fraternally , R . E . X .