Masonic Notes And Queries.

thirdly , it may be requisite to inquire whether a Prov . G . Commander should take rank as such until he has been duly inaugurated . A bishop cannot discharge the functions of his see until he has taken the requisite oaths . I now forward you the names of the Prov . G . Commanders in order , and according to date of inauguration , as far as I can discover , leaving those Prov . G . Commanders whose dates of

installation are omitted , to make the necessary correction to you , if they ever have been- duly inducted into the chair of the province : — 'Inauguvatfitl . "William Stewart Herts March 1 , 1847 . Rev . J . Huyshe Devon October 6 , 1848 . H . J . Hinxman , M . D Kent May 19 , 1856 . Capt . Hugh S . Burney .... Essex June 9 , 1857 .

Benj . A . Kent , M . D Australia June 9 , 1857 . Henry J . Vernon Worcester June 10 , 1857 . Hugh-D . Sandeman Bengal July 15 , 1 S 57 . So that , as far as the above list goes , until we are further informed , only seven Prov . G . Commanders are entitled to take their seats in GrandConclave as such , or otherwise to exercise the office . Much might be written on this subjectreferring

, also to the subordinate officers of Grand Conclave ; but , as new blood is now to be infused into the command of the Order , and we feel every confidence in our S . G . M . elect , ! shall refrain from troubling you further at the present . Upon a future occasion I may again intrude . Until then I subscribe myself , K . T .

MASONRY IS IIERCULANEUM . Your inquirer in Notes and Queries should read Laurie ' s History of Mtwh Masonry . He would there find that that ancient 1 order comprised originally the Mcnaizchin , who , according to the tradition of the Craft , " were the overseers and comforters of the people in working , that ivere expert Master Masons , " at the building of Solomon ' s Temple . The

Marks were of three kinds , viz -. —Irregular or blind marks , used by the Apprentices ; regular marks , used by the Fellow Crafts or Marksmen ; and official marks and numbers , used by the Foremen or Mark Masters . Travellers inform us that they have observed these marks on ruined buildings in Herculaueurn , Egypt , Greece , and on the banks of the Zab , a tributary of the Tigris ; also on the ancient buildings 0 f India , Prance , and Germany . —E . M . HAYLEY .

EOMAN CATHOLIC CLERGY . Could you oblige , in one of your next numbers , with a list of the names of Koinan Catholic priests , prelates , bishops , archbishops , cardinals , & c , who may have belonged , or do now belong , to our Masonic institution , as well as the time at which our Order may have been acknowledged by the authorities ofthe Eoman estates , if it have ever been so . Such an insertion will do much good , and will assist me , to diffuse Masonic light here with facility . — S . AZNAVOUR , P . M ., Constantinople , 17 th March , 1861 .

GRAND SECRETARY IN GRAND LODGE . What is the proper position of the Grand Secretary ' s seat in Grand Lodge , and how does it come into its present position F—F . BRO . HENRY COPPENDALE . I have some fragments of Masonic speeches endorsed Bro . Henry Coppendale ; who was he ?— -PETER P .

VERIFICATION OF A QUOTATION WANTED . Where do the following lines come from ?—H . A . In uniform each knight is clrest , Distinguish' !! all by black , red , blue ; The Cross and Star , upon the breast , Adorn the heart that ' s just ancl true .

[ From an old song , " At the bright Temple ' s awful dome , " sung in old times by the Knights " of Malta . ] LODGE BOOKS . Believing our " Lodge Books " show all that " L . S . D . " requires , if he thinks it worth his while to privately communicate with me ( for ivhich purpose I give you my address ) , I will explain our system , when , if he approve thereof , any respectable stationer can easily furnish him with a set of books . —TREASURER .

KING SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA . All those who have written on King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba appear to have entirely overlooked Solomon ' s Temple , an Oratorio , words by James Eyre Weeks , music by Eichard Broadway , Organist of St . Patrick ' s Cathedral . Dublin , in ivhich the second Act is almost exclusively devoted , to King Solomon and Queen Sheba . It is as follows : —

ACT II . MESSENGER , ( Recit . ) Behold , attended by a num ' rous train , Queen of tbe South , fair Sheba , greets thy reign In admiration of thy wisdom , she Comes to present the bended knee . SOLOMON TO HIRAM ( Recit . )

, Receive her with a fair salute ; Such as with majesty may suit . HIRAM . ( Air . ) When allegiance bids obey , We with pleasure own its sway . ( Enter Sheba ivith attendants ) . Obedient to superior greatness , see

Our sceptre bails thy mightier majesty . SHEBA . ( Air . ) Thus Phcebe , queen of shade and night , Owning the sun's superior rays ; With feebler glory , lesser light , Attends the triumph of his blaze ; Ob , all-excelling prince , receive The tribute clue to such a king . K " ot the gift , but will , believe ; Take the heart , not what we brinar .

SOLOMON . ( Recit . ) Let measures softly sweet Illustrious Sbeba's presence greet . ( Air . ) Tune the lute and string the lyre , Equal to the fair we sing ; Who can see and not admire Shebaconsort for a king- !

, Enliv'ning wit ancl beauty join Melting sense and graceful air ; Here united powers combine To make her brightest of the fair . SOLOMON . ( Recit . ) Hiram , our brother and our friend , Do thou the Queen with me attend .

SCENE II . —A View of'the Temple . HIGH PRIEST . ( Recit . ) Sacred to Heaven , behold tbe dome appears ' . Lo ! what august solemnity it wears ! Angels themselves have deign'd to deck the fane , And beauteous Sheba shall report its fame . ( Air . )

When the Queen ofthe South shall return To the climes which acknowledge her sway , Where the sun ' s warmer beams fiercely burn , The princess , with transport , shall say , —¦ Well worthy my journey , I've seen A monarch both graceful and wise ; Deserving the love of a queen , And a temple well worthy the skies .

CHORUS . Open , ye gates—receive a queen who shares , With equal sense , your happiness and cares . HIRAM . ( Recit . ) Of riches much , but more of wisdom , see Proportion'd workmanship , and Masonry . ( Air . )

Ob , charming Sheba ! there behold What massy stores of bui-nish'd gold ! Y * et richer is our art . riot all the orient gems that shine , Nor treasures of rich Ophir's mine , Excel the Mason ' s heart . True to the fair , he honours more Than glitt'ring gems or brightest ore ,

Tbe plighted pledge of love . To every tie of honour bound , In love and friendship constant found , And favour'd from above .