Masonic Notes And Queries.

earliest ages of the world , scattered over every land and being confined at last but to a few in Europe , took root again with the ** ' poor soldiers , " iu their intercourse with the natives of the East , and they grafted on the old stock their Christian profession , and became a revived order at the time ofthe Crusades . To imagine that the Knihts Templar were banded together

g to preserve the Temple of Solomon , every stone of Avhich had , according to our Lord's prophecy , been cast down , is simply ridiculous . Nor is it one whit more probable that Christian knights should assume the badge of the Temple , i . e ., the name of ^ the sacred edifice of the Jews' —a people held in horror by the

most enlightened Christians of those days . The ori gin of Kni ghts Templar—known as such by title —long before the common era generally assigned to them is patent to all who inquire for themselves . The mystery attached to their revival , their sudden suppressiontheir perpetuation in our own day in different

, lands under different names , all point to one common ori gin , and the very acts of accusation against them betray that the mystery Avas known , bufc was cunningly secreted from popular gaze , by the Pope and his myrmidons . Kni ght Templary is not thoroughly understood by us , but a day will come when it will be

cleared up , aud Ave shall see how futile have been the objects of those Avho have written on it when they have endeavoured to trace a mystery of Avhich they knew nothing or Avere interested in suppressing . This is a subject which we caunot enter into further here , but when we meet " Miletes , " we can offer him what the Kni ght Templars of old were so careful of , moz * e light . ]

THE T 1 V 0 PAKALLEI . LINES . How is ifc that Moses and Solomon are the two parallel lines , and what makes them so ?—BIHKENHEAD . — [ Neither Moses or King Solomon' ever set themselves up for such distinction . The only two parallel lines in Freemasoniy Avere the two Saints Johnand they were displaced by the Masonic Pope

, , of 1813 , Dr . Hemming , whose absurdities have done more to weaken the traditions of Freemasonry than all the errors that had crept into it from its origin . Preston knew better , but Preston is too sensible for the modern , would-be , Masonic lights , and so we are taught nonsense because it pleases some people , and

gratifies others Avho know no better . ] GEOMETEIC MASTEE MASONS . A brother tells me he is a Geometric Master Mason . ' "What does he mean?—C . K . —[ Encircle him ; square him ; reduce him to ri ght anglesif you

, can ; make a proposition to him that he shall tell you , if he will ; and you Avill easily solve the problem . " ] NUMP . EE OE MASONS TO EOEM A GEAND LODGE . HOAV many Freemasons is required to form a Grand Lodge ?— ENTJMEEATOB . —[ Fifteen . Five Masters

and the ten Wardens of five lodges . ] LAAVEUL ADMISSION TEST . An acknowledgment of the existence of God , as the moral Governor of the universe , is the profession b y the candidate for Masonry . An unequivocal assent , aud professed belief therein , is the only condition by which any person can lawfully and regularly gain admission . —Bev . Salem Town .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

B . I . C . E . Wanted the key to the enigma B . I . C . E . by—W . T . H . —[ Beatrice , or the female male ; J . 0 . ; Henry ; Light ; Philosophy the daughter of the Universe . ] KNIGHTS OE THE EED CEOSS . Have the Red Cross Knights any song peculiar to their degree ?—R . C . K . —[ Yes ; one beginning , "The King was on his Throne . " ]

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed & y Correspondents . THE MEDINA LODGE .

TO THE EDIIOB OF THE HTEEJIASOXS' JIACUZlIfE ASD JIASOXIO MI 11 KOC . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —I cannot allow the letter of "Proposer" and "Seconder" to pass unnoticed , therefore I have again to ask you the favour of inserting my reply . In the first place , I must most distinctly affirm that my letter is a plain matter of fact Avhich cannot be deniedalthough attempted by

, a garbled statement to refute that which is patent to most of the fraternity here . With regard to the animus of the writer , which is well knoivn here , & c , I again most emphatically deny such an assertion . I opposed the jewel being paid for from reasons stated in my last , and it did not show an animus when I

guaranteed £ 10 10 s ., part for a jewel , and the remainder for charitable purposes . I shall not certainly enter into personalities , as " Proposer" and "Seconder " have done , but I will say this , that I leave itentirely in the hands of the brethren of my mother lodge , withI must say , a very few exceptions—so fewthat

, , they are numbered ; therefore , I have little to say on the matter , only that these exceptions are MASONS of two or three years old , AVJIO finding themselves placed in a position little expected by them , are quite amazed ; and we knoAV that when persons unused to

beingplaced m such a position , are apt to assume . I am quite aAvare of the state of the lodge some years since , and at present having been a subscribing member for fifteen years , can therefore speak on the matter ( although accused of being a deserter ) ; bufc it is really too bad to find that those who speak so largel y

on the point , are but newly-fledged birds ? What have they done for the lodge I would respectfully enquire?—anything for its benefit or Masonry ? Had it not been for much older brothers , the " Proposer " and "Seconder" would not have had the pleasure of being initiated in our lodge . And lastly , as

" Proposer" and " Seconder" justly state , the lodge is composed of over fifty members , let them be canvassed on the point of this said jewel , and see how many dissentients . I venture to state two-thirds are opposed to ifc , and consider that the worthy aud distinguished brother is wearing a jeAvel paid for out of their funds ,

and against their consent ; when , had it been carried by subscription , as proposed at the meeting where I certainly did not see double , as there were two dissentients , both P . M . ' s , one of whom was much interrupted by the "Proposer , " everything would nave passed off harmoniously . I remain , dear Sir , Tours very fraternally , 1 st April , 1 SG 4 . ANTI TOADY .