Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

EOYAL AECH CHAPTEE . When _ was the term " chapter" first applied to a convocation of Royal Arch Masons ?—P . Z . BEO . J . JOHXS 0 X . Who was Bro . J . Johnson , the editor of the song book known as The Masonic Minstrel ?—F . BEO . SIATTHEW GABXAXD ' s SOXGS .

Are the Masonic Songs of Bro . Matthew Garland in print?—A . COSTUME OP KNTS . TEMPLAE . Any hints as to the A'arious costumes adopted by the Knights Templar of different countries would be acceptable to J . B . —[ On the occasion of laying the foundation stone of a Masonic Temple , on Sfc . John ' s Day 1860 , at San Francisco we are told : —

" The Knights Templar presented a Grand and brilliant appearance , being all in full regalia and mounted on black horses . They numbered forty-five . The main body of tbe procession Avas on foot to tlie number of 635 , making a total of 680 . 'Throughout its progress the long and handsome line , containing a large number of our most prominent citizens , AVIIO Avas tlie cynosuure of all eyes . The streets Avere thronged Avith spectators Avho failed not to their leasure at the display

express p , and at the laying of the corner stone even the tops of the houses in the vicinity , affording a AIBAV of the scene , Avere ci'OAA-ded Avith lady occupants AA-IIO appeared deeply interested . Wo are inclined to think Kni ghts Templar on horseback are the exception to the rule . ' ] THE BALDWYX SCHISM .

The Bakkvyn Templars certainly very largely promulgated their schismatical existence and sent circulars all over the world , one of Avhich , cut from an American journal , will shoAv fche extent to Avhich they went . The document is as follows : —

TEMriAEisH , & c . ix EXSIAXD . —We' have received a " CircularjLetter of the Supreme Grand and Eoyal Encampment of the Masonic Knights Templars , & c . H . R . D . M ., K . D . S . H ., from time immemorial , of England and AVales , " announcing the revival and re-establishment of the above styled body , and the reasons for the same . Its seat is at Bristol . The origin of the BaldAvyn Encampment of Masonic Knights Templar of Bristol is unknownifc having been in existence

, from a very remote period . Among its records is to he found evidence that in 1780 the then existing encampments Avere , and had been previously , under the authority of a Supreme Grand and Royal Encampment . In its archives is a document engrossed on parchment , andbearingthe seals ofthe orders of Knights Templar , Knights of Sfc . John of Jerusalem , and Knightsof Malta , of the Knights Rosa : Crucis , and of the Grand Elected Kni ghts of Kadosh

, dated from " our Castle at Bristol , on 20 tli day of December , 17 S 0 , " Avliieh refers to a previously existing document , called therein a Charter of Compact . This document contains twenty Clauses or articles for the government of the said SupremeJGrand and Eoyal Encampment , and its subordinates . Under this Supreme head , the Encampment of Baklwyn , at Bristoland of Antiquitat Bathcontinued for

, y , , many years . It is knoAvn thafc Encampments of Masonic Kni ghts Templar , styling themselves , like those at Bristol and Bath , " From Time Immemorial , " existed also afc London , York , and Salisbury . The Encampment at London at one time st yled itself a Grand Encampment , but afterwards , as early certainly as 1809 , adopted the title of Grand Conclave of Masonic Knights Templar , and made an effort to assume an authority over the other

Encampments . The Encampments at Bristol and Bath always refused to acknowledge this claim . In fche year 1812 , H . E . H ., the Duke of Sussex AA-as elected Grand Master b y the Grand Conclave at London . At a later period-Baldwyn Encampment proposed to II . JR . H . to acknowledge him as their Grand Master , upon which he alloAved himself fco be proposed as as a member of the

Baldwyn Encampment , and he became by election , its Grand Master , ' and Avas during his lifetime acknowledged as such . The order of Masonic Knights Templar was nofc favored by H . E . H ., the late Duke of Sussex , and from the year 1820 to 18-44 ( 24 years ) , no com-

Masonic Notes And Queries.

rminication of any kind took place betAveen the Grand Conclave of London and the Baldwyn Encampment at Bristol , the former being during the AA-IIOIC of that time in a state of abeyance . During the same period no communication Avas received by the Bristol Encampment from the Grand Master , nor Avas any act of authority exercised hy him , and the authority and privileges of the supreme Grand and Eoyal Encampment , neglected by the Grand Master , gradually merged in tho individual Encampment of BaldAA-yn , which during- the AA-hole of that period acteel independently , under the control of Grand Commanders and . Superintendents elected from its O \ AT . bodv .

On fche death of the Dulce of Sussex in 1813 , the Grancl Mastership of the Grand and Eoyal Encampment became vacant . The Grand Conclave at London , AA-hicb . had been lost sight of for 2-i years , assumed the title of the Grand Conclave of the Masonic Knights Templar of England and AVales , and elected Col . Tyivte their Grand Master in 18-14 . In this election , the Encampment afc Bath took no part , and thafc afc Bristol refused to concur . These Encampments having received large

accessions of members , and being in active and prosperous existence , AA-ere desirous of uniting in fraternal union Avith the other Encampmei'ts in England , holding under the London Grand Conclave , and Avith this vieAv in the early part of 1857 made overtures for a reconciliation and Union Avith that hotly . The Grand ConclaA-e required that tho Encampments afc Bristol and Bath should appear before them as humble petitioners for recognition aud admission to their ranksivhich the latter

in-, dignantly refused to do , and have IAOAV revived the Ancient Supreme Grand and Royal Encampment . Ifc has under its jurisdiction six subordinate Encampments . Tho orders conferred in them are Knights Templar , Knights of St . John of Jerusalem , Knights of Palestine , ( Eed > J «) Knights of Rhodes , Knights of Malta , and Knights of Rose Croix of Heredom . In the supreme body is conferred the degree of Grand Elected Knights

of Kadosh . The officers are D . W . Sash , Supreme Grand Master S . E . Taylor , Dep . Grand Master ; J . A . Page , Broad St ., Bristol , Vice Chancellor and Recorder .

THE QUAKEE - JIASOX . Ifc is contrary to the discipline of the society of Friends to alloAV any of their members to join the Masonic Fraternity . Nevertheless , not a few of that persuasion , have at different times and places entered the Order . Among others , there Avas once a Quaker preacher in the State of Rhode Island , who h & d six sons , alZ of whom

were Freemasons . By some means , Levi , for that was his name , finally found his Avay into our mystic pale . The friends found it out , and sent a committee of two , Abraham and Joseph , to express their concern to the erring brother , and secure from him an assurance of fidelity to the articles of discipline . Abraham called Avith his associate on Levi , when , as ifc is

reportedsome-, thing like the following dialogue took place : " Abraham , the spokesman , after having stated that they had come as a committee from the friends , said , " Levi , Ave understand that thou art a Freemason . " " I have had that reputation for twenty years . " " Bufc AA-ilt thou tell us , Levi , AA-hether thou art a Mason ? " NoAbrahamI will not tell thee AA-hether I am or not . "

, , " Shall Ave tell the meeting , Levi , that thou dost renounce Ereemasonry ?" " JJATO , Abraham , I Avill nofc . I will see thee condemned first . " The committee left him and reported to the meeting ; bufc LeA'i continued to prench and ivas no more molested after thafc .

SAIIOES LOA ' E FOB TUB LAND . —The ship neared gradually , and , when almost close to the reef , a boat Avas lowered . This , pulled by four stout oarsmen , entered the narrow opening in the reef , and IIOAV moved SAA-iffcly across tho smooth lake that always lies between the reefs aud the firm land . 'The sailors , AA-IIO had for so long been cheAving salt meat and hard biscuit aboard , and had seen nothing hut the wide , wide sea , turned their heads longingly over their shoulders to refresh the eye

once again . Avith the bright verdure of fche trees—once again to behold women and children , and hear the rustling and whispering of the AA-ind in the foliage . —F . Gerstdlcer , in the Bog's Oum Magazine .