Masonic Notes And Queries.

preservation of the faith once delivered to the saints , the Cup was the Hussite ensign of battle ; but the Cup itself also , with the bread and the wine , was carried into the field , and before the battle the minister rode through the ranks and administered the sacrament in both kinds to every soldier— ' a table prepared

in the presence of their enemies . ' In an old battlefield , where the Bohemians fought and died two hundred years before our Covenanters , they dug up , a few years ago , nine feet below the surface , the silver spurs of a soldier of rank , and beside them a silver cup , with the fragments of a glass flask for the

sacramental wine . The Cup in Bohemia is for ever associated with John Huss , whose name fills a larger place in the heart of that country than the name of John Knox does in Scotland . " John Huss , or Hus , was born in 1369 , or , as some sayin 1373 at Husineein Bohemia ; he studied

, , , theology , etc ., at the University of Prague ; he was one of the Pioneers of the Reformation , and was burnt at the stake for his opinions in 1415 . His memory is dear to the Bohemians ; the name of Huss acts like a spark of electricity upon them , they almost idolize him .

Although the Cup is such a favourite emblem with them , yet they do not use or view it with aught of superstitious feelings ; it is merely a remembrancer , or memento , of the love of Christ . Just as we treasure the lock of hair , the ring , or , mayhap , the tiny slipper of our loved one—who is not lost , but gone before!—PICTUS .

THE ROYAL ORDER . Bro . J . A . H . has woven a net about himself in regard to the pretended antiquity of Freemasonry and Masonic Orders which I have no intention of cutting for him—who would be free himself must strike the blow—so he must just free himself . I have

private information regarding the antiquity of the Royal Order , which 1 cannot give at present , any further than that it goes to show that said Royal Order was in existence about the middle of last century , but not in the reign of George I ., 1714 to 1727 . However , a brother I know intends to tell us

something about it shortly but I can hold out no hope of it being so much as a century and a half old , whatever less ; yet I am quite open to be convinced by Bro . J . A . H ., or any other party , that it is older whenever they produce the necessary data . Like the Malcolm Canmoritesthe Royal Orderites talk

, may in a pompous and self-satisfied manner about their pretended antiquity ; but we believe it none the more upon that account ¦ in fact there is a suspicious look about such conduct which is not in conformity with real honesty or the doctrine of the square . —PICTUS .

Mr . MURRAY has in the press a volume of essays , to be entitled The Church ancl the Age , under the editorship of the Eev . W . D . Maclagan and the Eev . Archibald Weir . Ill the list of writers appear the names of the Bishop of Gloucester , the Dean of Chichester , Sir Bavtle Frere , Dr . Barry , Dr . Irons , Eev . Charles Pritchard , FESProfessor Burrowaand others the sub

..., , . Among - jects occnr the following : — " The Progress and Direction of Modern Thought , " "Science and Faith . " "Liturgies and Kitual , " " Tho Place of the Laity in Church Government , " " The Church and Education . "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents

ARBITRARY CONDUCT OF THOSE IN POWER .

10 THE EDITOR OE THE FREEMASON S MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRBOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —I read the remarks of " Justitia " at p . 273 , the remark that " it was not necessary to give any reason , " shows a spirit of arrogance altogether opposed to the Order . The brethren of the Isle of Wight ought to draw out a respectful

petition to the Grand Master stating their position , & c , and get it signed by all the brethren of the province ; a copy of this requisition should also be published in the Magazine . Let said requisition be presented to the Grand Master , and it will , it is to be hopedrender any further proceedings unnecessary .

, Possibly the M . W . G . M . is unaware of the facts of the case . Yours fraternally , PICTUS .

J . A . H . TO TH" ! EDITOR OP THE ^ SSBMiSONS ' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBBOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —I have read with interest most of J . A . H . ' s articles in your valuable Magazine , and had not a little faith in the general accuracy of his statements . Butupon reading his assertion at

, the foot of page 249 , confidence is now considerably shaken . He says , — " In Scotland a profane is ordinarily put through the three degrees , and turned into a full-fledged Master Mason in one evening !" Although I have been a Mason for several years ^ regularly attended lodge meetings , occupied

successively the J . W . and S . W . chairs , and now that of K . S ., I never yet witnessed ( except in cases of emergency ) any candidate put through more than two degrees , but usually one degree on one evening ; and , although I have visited several Scotch lodges , I never saw what J . A . H . designates " the ordinary plan " worked ; but

I have heard of Englishmen sometimes getting their eyes opened and occasionally seeing double after crossing the Tweed . There are other things , such as swearing a profane , to exclude from the Order lame men , & o . ; but , as-I have not yet visited the Glasgow St . Clair , I cannot dispute it at present . Yours fraternally , R . W . M .

BRO . HUGHAN AND FREEMASONRY . TO THE EDITOR 01 ? TEE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AMD MASONIC MIRBOB , Dear Sir and Brother , —I suppose we must expectto be misunderstood sometimes , and of late my remarks have been , very much so , by several brethren . From my premises have been deduced statements alike

unwarrantable and unhistorical . My writings are before the Fraternity , and have been more or less for some seven years , none of which favour the absurd notion that there was no speculative Masonry before 1717 , but , on the contrary , they have often specially alluded to the fact of gentlemen having been initiated , and

held office in operative Masonic lodges some centuries ago .