Masonic Notes And Queries.

first turning down Bread-Street from Cheapside used to be called Black Spread Eagle-court , in all probability from the Milton ensign . " Mr . Hunter has pointed out that the charge iu question is borne , with certain differences , by families of the name of Milton settled in Shropshire , Staffordshire , & c . Burke , too , in his " General Armoury , " gives this coat and crest as belonging to the Oxfordshire familof Milton lton the is in

y or My , as name - differently spelt ; and it is reported that a grant by Segar is in existence , giving to the poet and his family an assignment of . these arms . "—Illustrated Times , Jan . 31 sC 1863 .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for -the opinions expressed by Correspondents ,. ANTIQUITY OF MASONIC DEGREES . " Great is truth , and mighty above all things . " 10 IHE EDITOE OB THE EBEEMAS 0 H 3 ' MA & AZIHE AltB MAS 03 II 0 MIEEOB . DEAE SIR AND BEOTHEE , —In my rough letters and memoranda I have endeavoured to show what mustindeed

, , be evident to any impartial reader , that Speculative Masonic ceremonies , though equivalent to , were yet distinct , separate and entirely different from those of the Operative Freemasons ; and that the Mark Masters are the legitimate representatives of the latter . As bearing very considerably on this discussion , could you find space for the following extractwhich I

, find I had copied into an old pocket book , from the Daily News , of August , 1856 . " The Mahommedan sect of Beklashi Dervishes , -recognise each other by exactly the same signs and practice the rites of the European Freemasons . They are the most enlightened and civilised of all the Mahommedan sectssome of the most influential men in Turkey

, belong to it ; it is not , however , recognised by the Turkish Government , and its property has been confiscated . There are about nine lodges , and the present Grand Master of the Order is named Tzani Ismael Tochoch Mohomed Saide , he resides at Belgrade , and has just set out to the Sultan , to obtain the recognition of the sect , under the recent charter , which sanctions

all reli g ious sects , and , if successful , he will apply for the restitution of the confiscated property . It may be stated , that they eschewpolygamy , and only recognise one wife , whom they permit to appear at the lodge banquets

unveiled . At these banquets wine is drunk , toasts are proposed , and the Masons are acquainted with the ' Kentish fire , ' though under another and more barbarous appellation . In addition to a brown shawl , or handkerchief , worked with certain Masonic Symbols , and worn round the neck , the Turkish Freemasons wear , in open lodge , also round their neck , as insignia of the order , a

flat white marble polished slab of twelve sides , and two inches in diameter ; on these are a number of reddish brown spots , to represent blood , and indicate that the founder of the order in Turkey , Ali Effendi , suffered martyrdom , rather than reveal the secrets of the fraternity . The Convent of Serkedgi Tecker is the largest establishment belonging to the Order in Constantinople

. In Persia , also , Freemasonry , is widely distributed the brethren being estimated at 50 , 000 . Iu Arabia there are about 20 , 000 Freemasons . " I had added to the foregoing at-the time by way of note , " This sect appears to be a mendicant order , and was founded A . D . 1357 , year of Hegira 759 , by Haji Bektash Khorasani , who died atKir-sheba . "

As another remarkable fact , in connection with the foregoing account , it may be stated that the military order of Janizaries , were founded by the Grand Master of this fraternity ; and a few short remarks respecting their resemblance to , the Templars will be found at page 47 of your last volume , the writer having forgot this account at the time they were made . Mahommedan Writers say that Bektash , when dying , cut off one of the

sleeves of his gown , and put it upon the head of a brother , so that one of tho ends hung down upon his shoulder . While performing this act he said , " Ye shall be henceforth Janizaries , or a new soldiery . " There can be very little doubt that the Ishmaelites , Assasins , Druses , Ainsareeh , Bektasbites , & c ., are derived from the house of wisdom , alluded to in my

previous letters , and which we are specially informed by Arabian historians , was founded by a magician , or Masonic Jew , who , there is no doubt , derived his knowledge from the Essenian association of his own . country , and hence the resemblance to our own mysteries . As tending to shew the antiquity of some customs of

our Templar reception , as distinct from strictly Masonic degrees ; which , with the ancient York Masons , extended to H . R . D . M . ( now so much altered in our own conclaves that none but a Rose > $ < can understand our symbols , ) and were given to every brother previous to his reception as a knight of the Temple , * as proved by general testimonythe working of our old northern

-, encamp ments , and the ladder of seven steps of the rite , as formerly used on our tracing boards were : — O S I S . E . | ML E J H || S . A . G . B . T . || Age 3 | B J 7 9 \ 27 l \ Si SI | Permit me to cite a portion of a long account in Hone ' s Ancient Mysteries , 1828 , of " The brethren of the Holy

Trinity without Aldersgate . " The charge of worshipping the head of Janus , here mentioned , was brought against the Templars . " This fraternity of the Holy Trinity was founded in the 48 th year of Edward III , 1373 , in honour of the body of Christ , and to maintain thirteen wax lights , burning about the sepulchre in time of Easter in the said church ,

and to find a Chaplain . Their chief day of solemnity was on Trinity-day , to hear mass in honour of the body of Christ , and to make their offerings . " So far this is Stow ' s account , to which maybe added that in Catholic worship thirteen candles are an allegory of Christ and the twelve apostles ; and that in one of its ceremonies the twelve candles denoting the twelve

apostles are extinguished at intervals , during successive parts of the service , until one only is left , which represents Christ deserted by the disciples , and in the end that one is put out to signify his death . " Here follows a copy of the statutes , & c ., of the guild , concluding with the following , aud a triangular cut of

" a Trinity argent on a field azure , " as figured in Mr . Taylor ' s Index Monastieus , 1821 . "No portion of Scripture was ever possessed by this fraternity . To be sure there was their ' rolle of velom with the pageante of the Holy Trinity paynted and lemenyed with gold , ' and the annual charge for making the branch and lighting it up ; but whatever 'Holy

Trinity' was lemenyed on this pageant , it is impossible to suppose that such a display should suggest an idea of him who is a spirit . There is however a figure , which may have been that upon their pageant . It frequently occurs . ' They in their churches and masse book doe paint the Trinifcie with thz-ee faces : for our mother the holie church did learn that at Rome , where they were

wont to paint or carve Janus with two faces . And then further there is written in John that there are three in heaven ivhich beare witnesse , the Father , the Worde , and the Holie Ghost , and these three are one , & c ; then of necessitie they must be painted with three heads , or three faces upon one necke , ' " —Beehive of the Romish Church , London , 1579 ; Svo . p . 191 . I remain , fraternally yours , — - ' A