Masonic Notes And Queries.

Kilwinning is no more the mother of Scottish Masonry from the 12 th to the I 3 th centuries than I am . Kilwinning became a Masonic mother in the 17 th century , and this partly or principally for or through political objects or motives and for its own ends .

The transactions of the Kilwinning Lodge in the 17 th century would be considered by the Glasgow and Edinburgh lodges , & e ., as great innovations , and contrary to true Masonic law and usage . While saying so , I have no desire to detract from Mother Kilwinning ' s deserts for what she has done during the last two hundred years for the good of Masonry . —W . P . BUCHAK .

UNION OE JTJEISDICTIONS . As a preparatory step to that union of jurisdictions in England in the hands of Lord Zetland which has been so much advocated , I would recommend the -union of the Templars and Bed Gross Knights by the election of one of the G . M . ' s at sole G . M . Lord

'Kenlis , as the younger , may give place to Sir Knight Stuart with" the right of succession , or under a joint agreement that both shall yield to Lord Zetland whenever he is ready to assume the throne of office over one or the other Order . —K . T .

THE EOSIOEUCIAN SOCIETY . I must still hold my ground against Frater Hughan , although I am only an amateur Prater and Rosicrucian , occupying myself with the books , and having no laboratory now . I maintain that the acquisition of suitable hoots on Rosicrucianism is very expensive .

This Erater Hughan must know that books on Rosicrucianism are much dearer thon those on astrology , and far dearer than some of the printed books on either branch of magic . The reasons are simple—because printed books are rare and of little value , and the MSS . books are necessarily illuminatedand therefore

, costly . It is next to impossible to get on with uncoloured diagrams . The English branch of the Rosicrucian Society is , as I well know , limited , not taking in more than the -mystic number of 144 of the most learned students of England ; but I must confess I never heard of its costing- more than £ 100 to

become a member . Consequentl y , I say again that Rosicrucianism can he got at in a cheap and compendious form under learned expositors , in the persons of Fratres Hughan and Rawley ; for the books and laboratory , as any practical man knows , will cost a great deal more ; and a man may , like Dr .

Leeson , spend a lifetime in the study of the books and yet feel unsatisfied . I say nothing about the cost of chemicals , which is considerable . I consider it my duty to recommend the Rosicrucian Society in opposition to what Frater Hughan may say . I can only confirm , from my own unfortunate experience ,

that what the Society really is or was is known but to few indeed , and may be considered as great a mystery to them as to the outer world . If I have time , I shall have great pleasure in publishing some of the interesting ceremonies , though I shall be glad to give place to Erater Hughan . —E . H .

BED CEOSS OP EOME AND CONSTANTINE . I am much obliged for the valuable and courteous communication of Bro . Hughan . I had hoped he would hare been able to solve the question I put , as

he had so many others . He only goes so far as to limit the antiquity of the Red Cross to a period after 1770 . He tells us , however , that Bro . Little , the historian of the Bed Cross , has laid it down that the Premier Conclave was in working order before 1770 . Anything coming from the distinguished Grand

Becorder , Bro . Little , being authentic , and vouched by documents , it will be a great advantage if he or Bro . Hughan will point out in wh ° ch of Bro . Little ' s histories this statement is to be found . It will be very important in the question of the priority of the Orders . Bro . Hughan speaks conclusively as to the

modern origin of the Masonic Templars , but is rather reserved as to the Bed Cross . "If the Bed Cross has the great antiquity Bro . Little has laid down for it , is it not the natural conclusion that Knight Temp larism is later , and very probably an imitation of a sublimer degree?—J . CHABTERS .

BELIEF . Does our Board of Benevolence answer to its purposes in administering effective relief in cases of real distress ? Who can tell us of a decayed brother who has ever received such aid as to set him up in life againor has got anything but a pauper ' s dole or a

, Grand Lodge grant made when his home was broken up and insolvency had befallen him ? Let the worthy receive effective relief , and let us have more independence and less pauperism . — -PHILANTHBOPOS .

BEO . DE . W . BIED HEEAPATH . I was very much interested with your account of a brother of European reputation in science , and on whom many honours had been conferred . You said little as to his Masonic career ; but brethren would be gratified to know that one who was a distinction

to the Craft had been marked out for honour by the M . W . G . M ., and that Masonry , which professes to encourage science , had paid its tribute to a distinguished teacher . Can you inform us in what year Bro . Hevapath received his Grand Deaconship or other office ?—M . D . & M . M .

BEO . HAEEIS . Tour editorial note throwing a doubt on the earnestness of Bro . Harris has naturally excited some surprise . Bro . Harris must be as much in earnest as others who are successfully carrying out the same kiud of institutions . Opinions may differ as to the

utility of these , but they are too prominently before the public to be treated as nonsensities . Bro . Harris , if a man of limited education , is a representative man . —A CEAET MASON .

THE BEVIVAl 03 ? HASONET . I have seen , not without some pain , the jealousy that is exhibited towards Bros . Little , Harris , Hughan , and others who are engaged in enlarging the sphere of Freemasonry . These jealous expressions emanate , in my opinion , less from the Craft

pure and simple than from the members of the Ancient and Accepted Bite , and this is beyond my comprehension . Those who adhere to the Craft in its simplicity may look with contempt on what they consider the idle vanity of sham decorations and mock cere - monies , but those of the A . & A . Rite can have no legitimate ground for hostility on principle or practise .