Masonic Notes And Queries.

Though tbe design of Ancient Craft Masonry and its modes of recognition are the same in every country , yet having no central governing power to control tbe Order and to preserve uniformity incur rituals , as soon as men begun to study scientifically our symbolism , there being no scientific treatises on Masonry , they would naturally , from their peculiar habits of thought , differ concerning the interpretation to be given to certain emblems and traditions .

During the last century , the obligation not to divulge the secrets of Freemasonry was construed more strictly than it is now in this ¦ enli ghtened age . Many things which are now in print ivould then , only , have been communicated within the tyled precincts of the lodge . The learned Mason of the last century , to instruct his brethren in his peculiar views concerning the true interpretation of the symbols of the three degrees , would compose degrees ; the learned Mason of to-day , for the same purposewrites books .

, Several of these degrees combined together constitute a rite . Everything beyond the Royal Arch , which is undoubtedly the completion of tbe third degree , should , therefore , be regarded as extraneous . The Royal Arch Mason , or he who bas found that which was lost , is alone tbe true Master Mason .- for , at this stage only , is his education completed . The superior degrees , being explanatory of the three inferior degrees and the Royal Arch , are merely

superstructures reared thereon . A rite , therefore , philosophically considered , is merely the peculiar system of lectures adopted by the Masons of a country . If this be the true theory of the origin of the numerous Masonic rites now in existence , let us unite the Templars , who are at the head of each rite , and it will be an easy matter to unite the brethren of the inferior grades , not under one Grand Master ( we doubt whether this woulcl be desirable ) but into one rite or systemwhich shall be practised throughout tbe

civi-, lized globe as the true system of Masonry . Then would brethren from every clime be able to visit our temples , and to participate in our mysteries , in all the degrees , without being first formally healed . There is one serious error in " I ' s " note .- he states the serving brethren to have " worn the dress of Augustinian monks ( by whose rules ; the Templars were guided ) . " This is incorrect . St . Bernard , Abbot of Clairvaux ,

-drew up their rule , and when the Grand Master , Hugh de Payens , appeared before the Council of Troyes on the last day of January , A . D . 1128 , the Council , with the Pope ' s legate at its head , approved the new Order , gave them a new rule , containing their own previous regulations , and some additional spiritual matters , from the Benedictine laws . This rule was confirmed both by the Pope Honorius , ¦ and the Patriarch of Jerusalem . —M . C . G . O . > h .

Perhaps the following extracts from Secret Societies of ihe Middle Ages , may interest H . H . "W . H . M ., J . J . J ., and other readers . The work is written with great care ; though how Tar the author ' s account of the ceremonies of a Secret Society is to be relied upon , the reader must be left co judge . —A . The election of a Master of the Temple was as follows : —

When the Master was dead , an event which always occurred in tbe East , as be wasbound to reside there , if it took place in tbe kingdom of Jerusalem , the Marshal of the Order was on the spot ; be took upon him the exercise of the vacant dignity till , with the aid ofthe chapter and of all the bailiffs on this side of the sea { i . e ., iu the East ) , he had appointed a Great Prior to represent the Master . But this election did not take place till after the funeral . Should the death of the Master have occurred in the province of Tripolis

¦ o : that of Antioch , the Prior of the province took the direction of the Order till the Great Prior was appointed . Owing to tbe constant state of war which prevailed in the East , and to other causes , a considerable space of time occasionally intervened between the death of . one Master and the appointment of bis successor . During tbe interregnum , the society was directed bthe Great Priorwho bore the seal of the Master .

y , When tbe day appointed for the election was arrived , the Great Officers of the Order , ancl ail the bailiffs who were invited to be present , assembled in the place selected for holding the electiongenerally the chapel of the Order . The Great Prior , taking several ofthe knights aside , consulted with them ; and they then made two ¦ or three or more of the knights who were most , highly esteemed retire . The Great Prior took the voices of those present on the

merits of the absent knights , and he who hacl most in his favour was declared the Electing Prior . The knights were then called in , and tbe choice of the assembly notified to them . A knight possessing tbe same virtues of piety , love of peace , ancl impartiality with himself , was then assigned for an assistant to the Electing Prior , and the whole assembly withdrew , leaving the two alone in the chapel , where they passed the rest of the night In prayer . Early next morning , after performing their usual devotion , and

hearing the Mass of tbe Holy Ghost , the chapter re-assembled . The Great Prior then exhorted the two electing brethren to perform their duty truly and honestly . These , then retiring , chose two other brethren ; these four chose two more , ancl so on , till the number amounted to twelve , in honour of the Apostles . The twelve then chose a brother Chaplain to represent tbe person of Jesus Christand maintain peace and concord . It was necessary that

, these thirteen should be of different provinces—eight of the knights , four serving brethren , and one priest . The thirteen electors then returned to the chapter , and the Electing Prior besought all present to pray for thsni , as a great task hacl been laid on them . All then fell on their knees and prayed , and the Great Prior solemnly reminded the electors of their duty , ancl conjured them to perform it truly and uprightly . Having again implored tbe prayers of the

assembly , tbe Electing Prior and his companions retired to the place appointed for their deliberations . If the electors , or the majority of them , declared for any knight on this or the other side of the sea , he was appointed ; if they were divided into parties , the electing Prior came with one of the knights , and , informing the assembly of the cirumstance , asked their prayers . All fell on their knees , ancl the two electors returned to their companions ; if they now agreed , the person whom they chose was declared Master .

Should the object of their choice be , as was not unfrequently the case , actually present in the chapter , the thirteen came in . Aud the Electing Prior , speaking in tbeir name , said -. " Beloved Sirs , give praise and thanks to our Lorcl Jesus Christ , and to our dear Lady , ancl to all the Saints , that we are agreed , and have , according to your command , chosen , in the name of God , a Master of the Temple . Are ye content with what we have done ? " All then replied"In the name of God . " "Do ye promise to yield him

, obedience as long as he lives ? " " Yea , with the help of God . " The Electing Prior then returned to the Great Prior , ancl said : ' ' Prior , if God and we have chosen thee for the Master , wilt thou , promise to obey the chapter as long as thou live , and to maintam the good morals and good usages of the Order ? " And he answered , "Yea , with the aid of God . " The same question was then put to some of the most distinguished knights , and if the

person elected was present , the Electing- Prior went up to him , and said : " In the name of the Father , the Son , and the Holy Ghost , we have chosen you brother , " E 35 ., for Master , ancl do choose 3 ou . " He then said -. " Beloved Sirs and Brethren , give thanks unto Gocl ;

behold our Master . " The Chaplains then chanted aloud the Te Deum Laudam-us ,- the brethren arose , and with the utmost reverence and joy , taking the new Master in their arms , carried him into the chapel , ancl placed him before the altar , where he continued kneeling while the brethren prayed ; the Chaplains repeating Eyrie Eleison , Pater Noster , and other devotional forms . The election of the Master of the Temple required no Papal confirmation : the choice of the chapter was conclusive . Two

knights were assigned to him as bis companions . The following account of the reception of a knight is highly interesting : — Whoever presented himself to be received as a Knight of the Order must solemnly aver that be was sprung from a knightly family , and that his father was , or might have been , a knight . He was further to prove , that be was born in lawful wedlock ; for , like

the church in general , the Templars excluded bastards from thensociety . It was necessary that tbe candidate for admission among the Knights of tbe Temple should already be a knight ; for as knighthood was a secular honour , the Order would have regarded it as derogatory from its dignity if any of its members ivere to receive it . The Hospitallers mid Teutonic Knights thought differently . With them the aspirant was knighted on his admission . If the

candidate Templar , therefore , had not been knighted , he was obliged to receive knighthood , in the usual manner , from a secular knight , or a bishop , previous to taking bis vows . A noviciate forms an essential and reasonable part of the course of admission into the spiritual orders in general ; for it is but right that a person should become in some measure acquainted with the rules and duties of a society before he enters it . But , though tbe oriinal rules of the Templars enjoined a noviciateit

g , was totally neglected in practice ; a matter which was afterwards made one of tbe charges against tbe Order . The reception of a knight took place in one of the assembled Chapters of the Order , in the presence of the assembled Chapter . It was secret , not even the relatives of the candidate being allowed to be present . The ceremony commenced by the Master or prior who presided , saying , "Beloved brethren , ye see that the majority are agreed to receive this man as a brother . If there be

any among you who knows anything of him , an account of which be cannot lawfully become a brother , let him say it , for it is better that this should be signified beforehand than after he is brought before us . "