Masonic Notes And Queries.

A GRAND LODGE . A Grand Lodge is a lodge which is self-constituted and independent , and which constitutes and controls subordinate lodges . —From , one of Bro . PURTON COOPER ' S Note Books .

ANTIQUITY OP THE THIRD DEGREE . Bro . David M . Lyon ' s contributions of late to the Magazine have been of more than usual interest and importance ; and hence I would fain hope that their nature and objects have not been merely curiously glanced athut received that due amount of attention

, and consideration which they richly deserve . One thing now is clear as respects the antiquity of the third degree , that neither in England nor in Scotland are there to be found any records mentioning the Master Mason ' s degree before the revival of A . D . 1717 . It therefore follows that as modern

Freemasonry ( whether in lodges or Grand Lodges , in any part of the world ) sprang from , or can be traced up to , the revival of A . D . 1717 , no part of the third degree , as such , can possibly be more than some hundred and fifty years old . My friend Bro . Lyon , in his interesting ' ¦ Wheat Ears , " speaks of Fellow Crafts

being made representatives in the Grand Lodge of Scotland before A . D . 1740 . In England we have records of deputations consisting of Fellow Craft as late as A . D . 1751 . We trust that Bro . Lyon will soon issue his famous History of Mother Kilwinning in a hook form , as in that way much good will be done to render the records of the oldest fable in the world accessible to all . —WILLIAM J . HUGHAN .

SPECULATIVE MASONRY . Speculative Masonry , rightly understood , is the acquisition of religious and ethical ideas by reflection upon ourselves and the universe . —From one of Bro . PUETON COOPER ' S Memorandum Books . ANTIQUITY OE THE THIRD DEGREE .

Cannot our learned Bro . Murray Lyon see that the Grand Lodge of Scotland referred to is nothing but an imitation of the London Grand Lodge , and that Fellow Crafts could be Wardens ancl members of Grand Lodge P—E . T .

THE WISE MAN . F In all things , not incompatible with Natural Ethics , the wise man observes the religion of his country . — From Bro . PURTON COOPER ' Note Book . ZEAL—KNOWLEDGE . Not unseldomwhere zeal is excessiveknowled

, , ge is defective . —From the papers of a deceased Mason in Bro . PURTON COOPER ' S collections . ENGLISH MASONIC PERIODICAL . Religion , ethics , charity , antiquities , legends , history , ceremonies , symbolism , festivals , banquets , lodge

meetings—all must have places in the English Masonic periodical . The editor , of course , does what he can to assign fitting space to each . His task , however , is not an easy one , unless he can ascertain the tastes and wishes of a considerable majority of subscribers and readers . —From a manuscript in Bro . PURTON COOPER ' S possession , entitled " Freemasons ' Table Talk . "

Masonic Notes And Queries.

THE GROWTH OE SPURIOUS LEGENDS . THE THREE BLACK CROWS . Of this we have a striking example at p . 90 . The learned and distinguished brother , with reference to an absurd legend about Robert Bruce and the imaginary Grand Lodge of Kilwinning , wrote : The ancient Grand Lodge of Kilwinning is said . "

Another zealous brother , Murray Lyon , then writes " It is confidently asserted , ' '— " confidently asserted : " confidently asserted by whom ? Not by our learned brother , Purton Cooper ; he has not fallen into the trap . Far from it ; his words were : "It is said . " Now , by whom can such a thing have been confidently asserted , aud what is the value of the confident assertion of a modern upou unrecorded aud imaginary ancient history . —R . T .

EPIGENESIS—EVOLUTION . See my communication " Primordial Germs , p . 50 of the present volume . Iu answer to a second letter , signed " Naturalist , " I say that of the two theories —Epigenesis and Evolution—the former appears to me far more satisfactory than the latter . —C . P . COOPER .

PROGRESS . Brother " N . B . E ., " it is Avhen the Great Architect-of the Universe sends into the world men endued with some particular talents and abilities that there is progress . —C . P . COOPER .

THE FREEMASONS ( p . 90 ) . Bro . W . P . Buchan gives us his opinion that the meaning of Freemasons adopted by archcoologists is erroneous , and goes further to lay down a fanciful opinion that Freemason may mean something else . Were Bro . Buchau the greatest authority in England

on such subjects , his opinion would have very little weight , for this happens to be a matter as to which there are facts , and it must be decided by facts , I invite him , therefore , to apply his new solution about church and king , & c , to the Free and Liberi of other mysteries aud guilds in this aud other countries , other than Freemasons . —R- T .

PRAYER , NATURAL THEISM . On the subject of Prayer , a brother who has laid aside " Christian Theism , " and adopted " Natural Theism , " may very well begin by reading the Dialogue attributed to Plato , called tho " Second A . lcibiades , " and then proceed to the tenth Satire of Juvenal . —C . P . COOPER .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinion , expressed by Correspondents . THE GRAND SECRETARYSHIP .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE MSEHJISOXS 3 IAG-AZIi : S AXD ^ lACO' ^ O 2111111017 , Dear Sir and Brother , —Repeatedly have I brought before the notice of your readers one or two matters in reference to the management of the Craft at Head Quarters - . —1 st . The absence of any restriction as to