Masonic Notes And Queries.

Matthew Paris , Abbe Pluquet , Squarciafico , Boceacio , Dante , Petrarch , Tiraboschi , Lenoir , Lully , Cornelius Agrippa , Fludd , Ashmole , Nich . Maier , and hosts of others . ] SYMBOLISM . Wantedthe symbolism of the five and seven

, pointed stars . —P . L . STATISTICS OE THE HIGH-GEADES . What number of brethren may be supposed to be members of the high-grades in England ?—STATIST ^ —[ Mere numbers is not sought . The hi gh-grades

are exclusive , and admit only brethren of rank , fortune , birth , fame , or Masonic merit and usefulness . With the retired members there are probably about 2 , 500 in England and Wales , Scotland and Ireland not being included , as having independent Councils of their own . The list of the present subscribing members , here , includes about 800 names . ]

XAWXEE EBEEMASONS . What eminent lawyers , more particularly judges , have been , or are , Freemasons?—A LIMB OE THE LAAV . GAME AND NIGHTCAPS . Two lodge summonsesdifferentare before me ;

, , one has printed the single mysterious word " game " upon it ; in the other is a request for " brethren to bring their nightcaps . " What do these odd announcements signify ?—No JOKEE . —[ We cannot be supposed to be quite as learned as the book , UOAV so widely placardedFnquire within upon Fveri / thing

, , but advise our serious friend to apply to the respective Secretaries of the lodges referred to , and , if they do not satisfy him , try the above book . We Eshould like to see the summonses . ]

p . I . Ii . E . Do the letters P . I . L . E . refer to any Masonic degree ? I have just seen them on a silver star of five points . —E . C . L . B . —[ We do not know if they may be used in any foreign rite or no . Certainly they are not English . ]

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . MASONIC TAXATION . XO THB BDITOE OF TUB rBEESTlSO ^ S' MAGAZIXB ASED MASONIC XIRI 10 R . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —The persistence of a P . M . in advocating a system of Masonic taxation as a

source of income for those very excellent adjuncts of Freemasonry , the Masonic Charities , will inevitably lead to good results , although not , perhaps , in the direction he anticipates . _ The P . M . appears quite satisfied that the proposition he UOAV makes , although it is no novelty , having

been unsuccessfully suggested by a brother of great influence years ago , ought to become laAV for the sole reason that it would , according to his estimate , screw £ 12 , 500 a year out of the pockets of his brethren . He dilates , in the coolest possible manner , on the good that could be effected with such an amount , quite regardless that what he sees is obvious to every one else , and requires no very wonderful knowledge

of political economy to realise as a fact . He likewise Avaxes sentimental on our fraternal duties to each other , and appears to be struck , for the first time in his Masonic career , at his laxity hitherto , and , in atonement , furnishes you with tAvo such characteristic epistles that Sheridan ' s couplet , in Olio ' s Frolest , is most applicable ; that author

saying"lou write wifcli ease , to show your breeding , But easy writing ' s d cl hard reading . " Leaving the P . M . to his newly-awakened twinges of conscience , the examination of the gist of his communications is not exactly time wasted . The first inquiry which naturally arises is , What

does the P . M . mean by putting forth such manifest feelers ? He says , " He has no connection with the Charities , except a zeal for their welfare ; " but he does not add whether or no he is in the position of the gentleman who declared " he Avas not musical himself , but had a friend that was ; " and although

the P . M . may neither be personally , nor collaterally , interested in our useful and valuable charitable institutions , I take leave to think the plan he advocates would be the most disastrous and suicidal to the objects of it that could possibly be imagined . Supposing , for mere argument's sake , the P . M . ' s

proposition to be adopted , would it benefit the Charities , or increase the interest manifested for them by their benevolent and ardent supporters ? Let us see . Twenty-five thousand brethren are to be taxed nolens volens . The very decree itself would cause a contraction of the purse-stringsas no one ever pays

, a fraction more than he is rated at , and so £ 12 , 500 would be the maximum until the law was repealed , to say nothing of those who systematically shirk all payment of taxes to State , Church , or any other governing power . Taxation is hateful to them , and they would generously double the amount as a

voluntary offering , if not enforced as a . legal demand . Has the P . M . considered the results which would folloAv on his plan coming into operation ? Taxpayers and rate-payers usually exercise a somewhat stringent control over the disposition of their payments , and it has yet to be proved that Masonic taxees would be exceptions to the ruleor such lovers

, of their kind , that they would take rank as new phenomena in nature . Leave the brethren alone and they will give freely , generously , and regularly—tax them , and the result will soon show for itself . With every appreciation of the value of the Masonic Charitiesit becomes absolutely necessary to

, ask , Why are we to be taxed to support them ? Are either one of them the inheritance , right , or common resource to which any Freemason , his wife , widow , children , or orphans , have a claim by virtue of any interest , supposed or implied , in the time of poverty , sickness , old age , or want of education ? No ; no

Freemason has a tittle of a claim on them . He , nor his , have no right to knock at their portals for relief . Those who enjoy the bounty of their brethren iu such institutions have petitioned , canvassed , begged , and implored it , and at last gained their point by the will and pleasure of the subscriberswho buy votes

, and elect whom they choose . If this were not so , there would be no begging , borroAving , or exchanging votes ; no appeals for " my case , " and promises of support for " your case . " If , then , the Charities are institutions kept up by Freemasons to assist such