Masonic Notes And Queries.

REAL MASTERS VERSUS NONENTITIES . It would be interesting to know what proportion the real Masters bear to the nonentity fraternity . Who knows ? As the assumption of the insignia of a real Master by the nonentity is evidently a mistake ought not the distinguishing jewel of the latter to he a plain disc stamped with the letter " N ? "BEE VERSUS DRONE .

POPERY AND ROMAN CATHOLICS . A distinction must be drawn between Popery as an institution and many Roman Catholics as individuals ; for , while I consider that Popery has gradually grown up to be one of the most gigantic systems of imposition that ever existed , I yet believe

there are good men in , or nominally in , its ranks . They are in it , but they are not of it , they are like grains of gold in a lump of clay , which somehow cannot come out ; may we not , however , pray the Great Architect of the Universe that , as a little leaven leveneth the whole lump , so may these menby His

, blessing , he the instruments of its renovation ; may they soon cast down those great twin pillars , Bigotry and Ignorance , and in their stead set up those goodly columns Love and Truth . —PICTUS .

THE PRINCE OP WALES . It is satisfactory to know that the mind of " A ! New Member " is " much relieved , " though one is puzzled to know what caused the peculiar mental state which required "relief . " The idea of making H . R . H . a Past Grand Master was not my " proposition , " hut

apparently emanated from Lord Zetland himself . It does not matter much what precise title the Prince of Wales receives , but certainly that of " Grand Patron " is the most objectionable . Masonry wants brotherly help , not patronage . On the whole , we might adopt the Swedish plan with advantage , making the Prince Supreme Grand Master , and retaining Lord Zetland as G . M . —J . A . H .

LABOUR . AND REFRESHMENT . It is strange "Crux" does not know that this ancient practice can be seen in a London lodge . There is very sufficient reason for using the titles of officers at a banquet , because , whether the lodge he formally opened or notit is a distinct Masonic

cere-, mony , carried on according to practices which are landmarks in general Masonry and observed throughout the world . Consequently , in many countries such a celebration is considered as a Lodge of Festivity . It is a separation of part of a ceremony like a funeral .

The presence of strangers , or of the public , does not in all cases cause the titles of officers to he suppressed . The laying of a foundation stone , for instance , is one in point . The presentation of an address to the Sovereign is another . There is no reason generally why it should not be known that the

chief officer of a lodge of Ereemasons is the same as that of the chief officer of a city company of Masons . There is an independendent reason in the opening , that an intruder shall not know the technical form . of proceeding . —D . D . G . M .

MARQUIS OP SALISBURY . The Masonic paraphernalia of E . ¥ . Bro . the late Marquis of Salisbury were given by him to Bro . J . R . Dagg , of the Watford Lodge—546 .

MELANCTHON ON GERMANY AND SCOTLAND . " There is a letter of Melanethon , still extant , addressed to John Eidelis at Erancfort , 1556 , in which he introduces to him a Scotsman , named Linns or Lyne , as a man of learning and true piety , and in which , after reminding him that it is the will of God that we should show hospitality to such guestshe

, remarks , ' Eor my part , I think we Germans owe a special debt of gratitude to the Scottish nation ; because in former times we received from them both Christianity and letters , when the churches of Germany had been overrun and ruined by the Heneti and the Huns . '" *

INTERNATIONAL PELLOWSHIP . The article anent " The Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Masonic Body of Prance , " in the Freemasons'' Magazine for July 24 th , is one of much importance , and merits the attention of the authorities . The present neglect is to be much deplored , and the sooner a representative is appointed the better .

Masonry is not a dead letter , and has now , like in the past , a power for good , and much international benefit may be accomplished by her aid . To the Grand Lodge of England we say , use it , and hold out the rig ht hand of fellowship to our Erenoh brethren . —RES NON YERBA .

OLD LODGES . Bro . Hughan , so far from having contested my observations , has confirmed them . Such lodges as have designations have public-house names . The lodges he refers to have no names at all , but are described as lodges meeting in private rooms . The practice of iving Masonic names to lodges appears

g to have originated on the continent , and it is worthy of the antiquarian research of Bro . Hughan to give us the results of his observations . The earliest Paris lodges were treated as " public-house " lodges until one was named after a G . M . The practice of meeting in laces other than taverns has nothing to

p do with the point in question . The praiseworthy movement for holding lodge meetings at Masonic hallsj . and dinners in taverns appears of late years to have slackened . —JSTOTA .

JOINING BRETHREN AND INITIATIONS . No person can be initiated , neither can any joining members be admitted , on the same day that a new lodge is opened and consecrated . I am extremely anxious to know , however , if this rule extends to receiving propositions for joining brethren and

initiations , made after the consecration and installation ceremonies , and immediately before the lodge is closed ? Any information your readers can give me on this point will be thankfully received . —• $ < B < $ <

MxVRQUIS OP DALHOUSIE LODGE . In your Magazine is an account of the presentation of an address to Bro . Sir James Eergusson , Bart ., Governor of South Australia . At the last meeting of tho Marquis of Dalhousie Lodge , a P . M . ' s jewel was voted to him for services as first W . M . of that lodge . —J . C .