Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

THE REVIVAL 0 ? 1717 . The subjoined account of the Revival is taken from Brother William Preston ' s illustrations , edited by Brother Doctor Oliver , who has nowhere expressed the slightest doubt of its accuracy . The account has therefore for its author and its editor—two Masons than whom the Craft throughout the worldnever

, held any in higher esteem . The Revival , nevertheless , as there related , has been assailed by a contributor to the "Freemasons' Magazine , "in some lines * which I purposely refrain from , characterising in this place , except by saying that their nature is such that they must give pain even to

the individual who could come to the conclusion that all that is narrated has its source in some strange inexplicable error of a bygone age . This communication is made to the " Freemason ' s Magaaine " in compliance with the pressing request of several distinguished brethrenone of them a

, member of the Grand Lodge of England . The account above referred to is as follows : — " On the accession of George I . the Masons in London and its environs , finding themselves deprived of Sir Christopher Wren , and their annual meetings discontinuedresolved to cement themselves under a new

, Grand Master , aud to revive the communications and annual festivals of the Society . With this view the Lodges at the Goose and Gridiron in St . Paul's Churchyard ; The Crown , in Parker ' s Lane ; The Apple-Tree Tavern , in Charles Street , Oovenfc Garden ; and the

Rummer and Grapes Tavern , in Channel Row , Westminster ( the only four Lodges in being in the South of England at that time ) , with some other old brethren , met at the Apple-Tree Tavern , above-mentioned , in February , 1717 ; and haviug voted the oldest Master Mason then present into the chair , constituted themselves a Grand IuodgQpro temporein due form .

, , At this meeting it was resolved to revive the Quarterly Communications of the Fraternity , and to hold the next annual assembly and feast on the 24 th of June ; at the Goose and Gridiron , in St . Paul's Churchyard , in compliment to the oldest Lodge , which then met there , for the purpose of electing a

Grand Master among themselves till they should have the honour of a noble brother at their head . Accordingly on St . John the Baptist ' s Day , 1717 , in the third year of the reign of King George I ., the assembly aud feast were held at th & said house , when the oldest Master Mason , being the Master of a

Lodge , having taken the chair , a list of proper candidates for the office of Grand Master was produced ; and the names being separately proposed , the brethren , by a great majority of hands , elected Mr . Anthony Saver , Grand Master of Masons for the ensuing yearwho was forthwith invested bthe said

, y oldest Master , installed by the Master of the oldest Lodge , and duly congratulated by the assembly , who paid him homage . The Grand Master then entered on the duties of his office , appointed his Wardens , and commanded the brethren of the four Lodges to meet him and his Wardens quarterly in

communication , enjoining them , at the same time , to recommeni to all the Fraternity a punctual attendance on the next annual assembly and feast . — ¦ C IIAEI . ES PUETOH COOPEB . AN OLD MANUSCRIPT . In PJpsalain Swedenthere is a curious and

re-, , nowned old manuscript , commonly known as Silvei Handwriting . It is a translation of the Bible into the original Gothic , and the best authorities claim that it was written towards the end of tho fifth or commencement of the sixth century . It was discovered in the sixteenth century at Verclenon the Bihrand

, , its authenticity was at once established . It wa 3 taken to Prague , but the Swedes took it away in 1618 , aud carried it to Stockholm ; thence it was taken into Holland , and was bought back for S . veclen by the Chancellor de la Gat-die for four hundred dollars . He had it magnificently bound in a solid si'var cover , and

in 1869 presented it to the University of TJpaala . It is written in 3 ilver on crimson parch : iient . The heading and a few principal passages are in gold . It is rich in Byzantine tracery of symbolic devices . It numbers three hundred and thirty leaver , with twenty lines to each page . Only two punctuation marks are used throughout—the period and colon .

HUMAN LIFE AS A JOURNEY . Every Freemason , when he is initiated into the Craft , is taught to consider human life as a journey . He would faint with fatigue , lose himself in unknown roads , or fall over high precipices , if ha was not supportedfaithfully conducted , and fraternally warned .

, By these means he arrives in safety at the end of his journey , and is permitted to receive light himself , that he may be able to support , lead and wnvn . others when travelling iu the same road . —GhtdicJce .

IIALLAII'S OPINION OP FREEMASONRY . The curious subject of Freemasonry has unfortu nately been treated only by panegyrists or calumniators both equally mendacious . I do not wish to pry into the mysteries of the Craft , but it would be interesting- to know more of their history during the

period when they were literally architects . They are charged by an Act of Parliament ( 3 Eonry YI . 1 ) , with fixing- the price of their labour in tlie ' ir annual chapters , contrary to the statutes of labour , and such chapters ) are consequently prohibited . This ia their first prosecution ; they have since undergone others , and are perhaps reserved for still mors . It is remarkable that Masons were never legally incorporated ; their bond of union being stronger tivn rnv charter . "

THE LOCATION OF SOLOMON'S TRIPLE . There is a beautiful tradition in regard to the location of Solomon ' s Temple . The spo :: was owned by two brothers , of whom one had a ? r-..: v ' , y , and the other none . Tho ground waa sow id with wheat . One evening in harvest time , when the wheat was

bound in bundles and laid in two heaps , tho elder brother said to his wife : "My youu ^ c brother is notable to bear the burden and heat of the day ; I will arise and take my sheaves , ant ! , without his knowing it , lay them beside his . " The younger brother , moved by the same benevolent impulse , said within himself : " My elder brother has a family , but I have not . I will contribute to