Masonic Notes And Queries.

Kenlis , derive their powers of constitution and government ? The hereditary Grand Master of the Ancient Order of Chivalry bearing this title is His Imperial Highness the Prince Eodocanakis , the descendant of the Byzantine Emperors . He resides at Manchester , and is , I believe , not a Freemason . Howeverhe disclaims

know-, any ledge of the so-called body in England . Bow , although the Bed Cross " of Borne and Consfcantine is undoubtedly an Ancient Order of Knighthood , aud possesses an " undoubted status in the annals of chivalry , " I am at a loss to see the connexion between this ancient Order and the modern Grand Conclave , and 1 should very much like to know who installed the first

Knights when the so-called revival took place some few years ago . I have no doubt that the degree in itself is exceedingly pretty , and possesses an eqvAal right to drag Constantine and Eusebius into its Eituals as the Craft does to use the names of Solomon and Hiram ; but they have as much riht to the title of Bed Cross of B > omo and Constantine

g as they have to that of the Golden Fleece or the Black Eagle . An intimate friend of mine , a " canny" Scot , says , " Its a grand thing for the jewellers . "—B .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

Th & 'Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents

DECAPITATION OP KING CHARLES I .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE FREEMASONS' 3 UGAZINE ~ AND 3 IASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —I presume it is not contrary to the spirit of Modern Masonry for an injured brother to wish to clear himself from most disgraceful imputations . A writer , screening himself anonymously in your last numberin reference to

, my remarks about the decollation of Charles , says : — " It is first necessary to protest against his statement that he has seen a prayer-book of 1642 , which contains a calendar of 1642 , with the entry of K CHAR MARTYR on the 30 th Jan . This is a most

monstrous misrepresentation of a well known historical fact . " I never said I had seen such a hook , but I did say there is in the British Museum a prayer-book of 1642 in which there is a calendar with the entry of K Char Martyr on the 30 th Jan . I gave the titlepage and the imprint and the mark of the

press library , so that anyone interested mi ght examine the work . In what consists the monstrous misrepresentation ? The writer says , " There is no astrological history of Charles I ., but there were many dealings of astrologers with the political events of the day . " I

thought Charles' eventful life was almost all political . I am now prepared to prove that Charles' history is astrologically written . As to my remarks about the mutilation of Bibles resting on similar assumptions of ignorance , not representing the true state of the facts , I beg leave

to amend my former statement by an extract : — "Prom the Mazarene Bible to the year 1514 there are about SO Latin Bibles catalogued in the British Museum , by far the greater number are without title-pages . They are mostly large and expensive productions , suited for churches or Masonic lodges . The Polyglott Bibles commence in the catalogue in

Correspondence.

1514 , these have title-pages , and the Greek Bibles , commencing in 1518 , have also all of them titlepages , & c "* The dictatorial assertions of the writer are then , to use his own elegant expression , all "trash and " rigmarole . " The writer is celebrated for his chaste

phraseology . Yours fraternally , HENRY MELVILLE .

The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRBOR . Dear Sir and Brother , —Having , as a subscriber to your Magazine , read many excellent articles therein , and sincerely hoping that a journal so truly Masonic and useful to our Order , will meet with well-merited encouragement , I have ventured to request you to insert the following .

Seeing an advertisement in your Magazine that a sermon would be preached on the 25 th ult . by the Rev . John Edmund Cox , P . G . Chaplain , in the Church of St . Helen ' s , in aid of the funds of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ( a verbatim report of which appeared in yours of the 31 st ult ) , I attended ,

and have great pleasure in giving my testimony to the fact that our reverend brother proved himself to be able , eloquent , and in his cause a successful preacher , and all the brethren who are interested in this charitable institution , which provides for the sons of Freemasons , must feel that he ably and successfully advocated its claims .

And , Sir , as your journal is received and read in most parts of the habitable globe where -the great light of Preemasonry , the name of the Great Architect of the Universe , is preached , it is the only means the brethren have of appreciating the herculean labours of our reverend brethren , those worthy " labourers in the vineyard" who are so zealously

and so charitably diffusing the light of our noble Order and preaching the greatest of all theological virtues—Charity . Charity , the foundation and keystone of the whole Masonic structure ; thus proving to the world at large that there is more in Preemasonry than the mere name . Bro . the Rev . J . E . Cox informed us in his sermon

that there were £ 12 , 000 collected in March last in aid of the above-named School , and £ 9 , 000 still remains to free this institution from its present liabilities , and to allow of the full number of the sons of Preemasons being admitted , clothed , and educated . There are at present in the School 110 boys , and there are also 54 applicants seeking admission , but

for the want of funds only six can be admitted . If this £ 9 , 000 be collected , and I have every reason to believe it will be so , not only will these 54 boys be admitted , but others , making up the number to 200 . To prove , Sir , that this noble charity is deserving the claim it has on the fraternity at large , I will call the attention of the brethren to a portion of the address delivered by Bro . Dr . Goodwin at the last examination of the boys of this School , and reported in your Maga-