Masonic Notes And Queries.

in the next place , will show them to have been manufactured since the beginning of the last century . —A . PAST PBOVIXCIAL GRAND MASTEE . A PASSAGE IN THE " FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , " JULY , 1870 . The ensuing passage appeared in our periodical

about twelve months ago ; it is , I believe , from the pen -of the contributor , and seems to ' afford such a specimen of his writing , both as to style and matter , as a London Brother desires . " Freemasonry is not a religion . More , it is not the Christian religionand never can be .

Conse-, quently , those who are striving to Christianize Freemasonry are only inserting the thin edge of the wedge for the overthrow of the latter . Further , they are going dead against the objects and intentions of the Founders of our system of Speculative Masonry . " —A PAST PROYIXCIAI GBAND MASTEK .

A METHOD 01 ? INQUIRY . "What a contributor calls his method of inquiry , is no more than an assertion that a thing is , what he has first of all resolved that it ought to be . —A PAST PEOVIXCTAI GEAND MASTEE .

MASONIC LAW . I strongly disapprove of the practice referred to at page 19 S , where it is stated that " An Entered Apprentice , having lost a leg , cannot be passed to the degree of Fellow Craft . " Such a custom is extremely hard-hearted , and in my opinion is utterly at variance with the real

principles of our Speculative Masonry . To look at a man ' s head , heart , or character , is something sensible , but to put a premium upon legs , the sine qua non of a dancing master , is simply absurd , and I am glad to say it does not accord with the ruling of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . For my

part I would advance a good man , supposing he had neither arms nor legs . — "W " . P . BUCHAX . THE MANNINGHAM LETTER , P . P . 1 GG AND 1 S 3 . Allowing this document to be authentic , and to have been really written in 1757 , it does not follow that the '' statements" in it are therefore true . I think nothing so far of allowing its ago to be 1757 , but I refuse to credit certain parts of the contents . — "W . P . BncHAX .

SUPPOSED DISCOVERY OP LETTERS , PAGE 183 . Although letters , purporting to be written by certain Masonic officials in the second quarter of last century , were discovered in the archives of the Grand Lodge of England , it does not necessarily follow that we are to believe all that is said in tlieni , more especially when the writer is making certain statements

merely from hearsay . If we have reason to consider that the writer is at fault , it is our duty to say so , more especially if the contents disagree with other known and authentic data . Further we find that writers of the above period disagree in their accounts of matters , consequently whatever is said is subject

to examination . —W . P . B . OUR FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION , PAGE 183 . Seeing " Our Freemasonry" never existed in the 17 th century—at least no proof of such supposed existence has ever yet been given—it is rather a difficult matter to ascertain the character of its religion then . —W . P . BTJOHAX .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

WORKING IN THE LATIN LANGUAGE . In the " Scots Magazine , " published in Edinburgh , Scotland , January 1795 , I find the following interesting fact , which speaks volumes for the literary attainment of the Masonic Craft of that city : At a meeting of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons

in Scotland , held in Edinburgh , on Monday , February 7 , the Eight Hon . and Most Worshipful Lord Haddo in the chair , a petition was moved and read in the name of several respectable Master Masons of the city , praying for a charter to constitute and erect a lodge thereby the name of the Eoman Eagleand

, , the business of it to be conducted in the latin language . After some little altercation , it was unanimously agreed to grant the charter , and it was granted accordingly . The lodge met for the first time on Thursday , February 17 . " Bro . Oreih asks us" Is there such another

ing , stance on record ? " Who will answer ?—Pomcroy ' s Democrat . FRENCH MASONRY ' .

Our good brethren in France did not fail after the explosions of the Commune to denounce the celebrations and interferences with its glorious processions of Masonic banners , & c , as uuauthorised by the Grand Orient , and and as got up by outsiders in defianee-In one sense we are glad of she protestbut we

, conceal from our readers that the numbers of the Bulletin and Grand Orrient renewed since the seize-Certain the inaugural address of the S . M ., who , it will be remembered , was elected at a political patisan , as an ultra republican . In this address the Masons of France are called openly to form their constitutions

and practice on the principles of 1789 , and for the day when all Europe will be constituted as a democracy . Every true Mason in England and the United States holds to the contrary principle , that Masonry is political , and that is is no more republican than it is royalists , no more royalist than it is repnb

lican . George Washington was a Mason as very many kings and shoemakers have been , but George Wathington knew nothing of tho principles of 17 S 9 . The principles of Masonry were estblished on a sounder basis before French undertook to confer freedom on other nations , which were also free while France was enslaved . The bombast about 1789 , is much out of place in Masonry .

Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

MASONIC SAYINGS AND DOINGS ABROAD .

A practice —to call it by its mildest name—has found its way amongst us . I allude to the bartering and trading upon Masonic reputation . This practice , pernicious in every way , cannot wholly have escaped your observation . It spreads , like every other evil , and in the West seems to have passed unrebuked . I

desire to point to it as unmasonic , and brand it as infamous . What would we not he justified in saying of that man who , to obtain special favour or credit , or to sell his merchandise , pledges his sacred honour as a man and a Mason , but when his end is attained , or his business accomplished , scruples not to bid