Masonic Notes And Queries.

Advancing against Jerusalem , 1192 . —King Eichard advised to consult the Templars and Hospitallers , who were better acquainted with the nature of the country than they were . A council of twenty , composed of live Templars , five Hospitallers , as many French , and as many Syrian barons , was then chosen and sworn , ancl it was resolved that all the pilgrims should abide by their decision .

BED OKOSS OI ? CONSTANTINE . —HEEEDOM-llOSY-CBOSS 01 ? SCOTLAND . — -HEEED 01 I KADISH Of YORK . Pending some reply to my queries on this subject , permit me to no notice tho following in connexion with the Order of the Thistle . I believe it is generally considered that it was this Ancient Order Bruce connected with the Templars ; and is identical with the-present

Eoyal Order of Scotland , which is known to have been connected with Symbolic Masonry , and to be the parent of the Scottish rite of 33 ° . Apparently , the following legend is only another version of the vision of Constantino ; and as the Templars wei * e a military Order of Speculative Masons , and connected with the Order of Constantino , tho coincidence cannot be accidental . Was

Masonry , therefore , practised in York , as is generally supposed , previously to the settlement thereof , the dispossessed Templars in 1313 ? The mother of Constantino the Great , whose reputed discoveries at Jerusalem procured her canonisation , was the daughter of a British king , and Constantino , the father-, died at York . This might in later times give rise to such a theory ; on the other hand , Masonry might exist there previously under Athelstan and his predecessors , and have been taken up

by the nine founders of the Templar Order , who are stated to have been Europeans . Every degree had a military cast , until gradually rooted out by the operative theory ofthe Master Masons ( Dermott ) of 1716 . Perhaps your "Scottish Correspondent" may find something in the subjoined extract to account for the adoption of St . Andrew , as the patron Saint of the Scottish Grand Lod

ge Considerable resemblance may also yet be traced between the jewels ofthe Thistle and St . George of Italy . —A . " OEDEK OP THE THISTLE . —As to the original of this ancient Order , John Lesly , Bishop of Boss , in his History of Scotland says , it took its beginning from abright cross in heaven , inform like that whereon St . Andrew , the Apostle , suffered martyrdom , which appeared to Achius , King of Scots , ancl Hungas , King of

the Picts , the night before the battle was fought betwixt them and Athelstane , King of England , as they were on their knees at prayer , when St . Andrew , their tutelai-y saint , is said also to have appeared , aud promised to these kings they should always be victorious when that sign appeared [ I . H . S . V . ]; and the next day , these kings prevailing over King Athelstane in battle , they went in solemn procession , barefooted , to the Kirk of St . Andrew , to return thanks to God and his apostle for their victory , vowing that they and their posterity would ever bear the figure of that cross in their ensigns and banners . " —Hugh Clark .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . ANTIQUITY OF MASONIC DEGREES . 10 TBE EBITOE OS THE FBEEJTASOi'S' MAGAZINE AIf » MASONIC MIKKOB . DEAB SIB AND BROIHEB , —Confident in your tried impartiality , I take the liberty of soliciting the insertion

ofthe following , as a defence against the most unbrotherly attack of which I have been the object , in number 179 of your MAGAZINE . First of all I wish to state that I have already declared in your paper that , as my object in writing is only to serve the Masonic bond , any personal offence is far from my intention , and that my want of knowledge of the English language must atone for such expressions as might be improper or

offending in the articles that flow from my own pen . Nothwithstanding that brother ROSES Crucis has used against me the most injurious terms , attributing to raj words an offensive character , which they have not . By perusing the short article I allude to , it will be easily seen , that it is not against the English brethren , but against the E . O . degree , I used the expression Bro . Rosae Crucis has been so much scandalised -at . If this

be a wrong , the fault only lies in the form ; as to the thing itself I have on my side the authentic statements of the Grand Lodge of England and Scotland , declaring repeatedly that pure ancient Masonry consists only of the three degrees of apprentice , fellow and Master , which appreciation coincides with the results of all

modern historical researches . Bro . Rosas Crucis , however , has thought it more convenient to insult a brother by means of an anonymous letter , than to give him authentic proofs , for the supposed antiquity of the high degrees . Another brother also protests against my assertions , but in such terms at least that induce me to

thank him for having expressed his opinion in a genteel and brotherly manner . It is to him , therefore , I take the liberty of addressing the following emeries . 1 . What is the reason that in the period from 1740-60 , the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland are explicitly declared to have been entirely unacquainted with the high degrees , and that the Royal Arch has been introduc ed by the schismatic Grand Lodge of the so-called ancient Masons .

2 . "Wh y do the works of Prichard , Masonry Dissected , Jachin and Boaz , the Masterhmj , as well as other similar writings of French authors only speak of the rites of the three degrees ? Does not our dear brother know that about the middle of the last century there existed , in France , in Holland , and in England real factories of rites and degrees , established on purpose to

falsify and to an tidate constitutions anddocuments of Freemasonry . Is it not more than probable that L . Dermott , the oracle of the ancient Masons , was the author of the so-named Examination of Heresy , a decidedly falsified document . As a proof for my assertions I enclosed an authentic declaration of the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes at Berlin , refuting the statement of the order

( Erdnubluyn ) , of the Scottish rite , an important historical document , which ought to be read by all unprejudiced brethren . In truth little service is done to the Craft by the propagation of old legends and stories , and by thus extinguishing the light kindled by the exertions of conscientious and serious Masonic authors . In all times the high degrees have been the source of discord , of

quarrels and confusion , and they still are the severing elements of the brotherhood . The three oldest and primitive degrees only may be said to entwine around all Masons a general tie of brotherly love , and to form the ground work of a future union spreading over all the earth . I close this with the words of Saint Hierond : " If

an offence is to be given by truth , it is better the offence be given than the truth be hidden . " I am dear Sir and Brother , "vours devotedly , J . G . FINDEL . Liepsig , Dec . 30 , 1862 . THE SruEioirsNEss or THE SO-CALLED CONSTITUTIONS & C

, , OP 1786 , ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN GRANTED BY FllEDE- ' HICK II ., PBOVEN . The Grand Master of the " Grand Lodge of the Three Globes , " at Berlin , stated that W . Bro . Merydorff , of Oldenburg , the highly esteemed honorary member of