Masonic Notes And Queries.

I should like to know where the possessions of the Order were situated in Eranee , as lvell as from what source its revenue was derived , and from which of the different states of Europe it was collected?—Ex . Ex . THE GENEROUS FREEMASON . Who was the author of The Generous Freemason ; or

Constant Lady ? The dedication reads thus : — " To the Eight Worshipful the Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , Grand "Wardens , and the rest of the Brethren of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Eree and Accepted Masons , This -Opera is humbly inscribed by your most obedient and ¦ devoted servant , The Author . A Freemason . "—M . B .

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR 12 * SCOTLAND . As some discvission has been going on respecting the ¦ officers of Knights Templar it may be as well to offer the following list under the Scottish rule . The assembly is entitled the " Chapter General of the Eeligious and Military Order of the Temple . " Its officers are a Grand Master , Seneschal , PreceptorConstable and MarshallAdmiralHospitaller

, , , and Almoner , Chancellor , Treasurer , Eegistrar , Provost or Governor General , Baucennifer , or Bearer of Grand-Standard , Bearer of the Yexillum Belli , Chamberlain , SteAvard and Aide-de-Camp . It has under its constitution the following 3 ? roA * incial divisions : Grand Priories of Grenada , the Netherlands , Nova Scotia , Western India , and Eastern India . The Grand Priory of Scotland is divided into the Priories of the

Lothians , Glasgoiv , Ayr , and St . John ' s NeAV BrunsAvick . Each of these have a Prior and Sub-Prior as their chief officers . Under the Grand Priory of the Netherlands is the Priory of Amstersdam ; under Novia Scotia , the Priory of Halifax sunder Western India , Bombay ; and Eastern India , Calcutta . —AN OriicEB . ou GRAND CONCLAVE .

EOSE CKOIX CHRONOLOGr . When did the degree of Eose Croix take its rise ?—G . MASTER , MASON JEAVELS . A brother wears what he calls a jewel of the 3 ° , and states that every Master Mason may do so if he likes . This I doubt ; but the more immediate subject of my query is ,

when did such jewels first appear , and under what authority are they worn ?—M . M . [ The square and compasses ivere generally so worn , and under authority , by Master Masons in Scotland . ]

TAYLOR THE PLATONIST . Was Taylor , better known as Taylor the Platonist , a member of the Craft ?—ESQUES . GEOMETRICAL SYMBOLISM . Is there any peculiar geometrical Symbolism in the form of opening and closing a lodge , and if so , what is it ?—5 . V . A . —[ There is , but very feAV know it . We will explain it when we meet . ]

BRO . SPENCERS CATALOGUE . Bro . Spencer has issued a Catalogue of a Valuable Collection of Boohs on Freemasonry which are to be disposed of entire . Would not the purchase of the same by Grand Lodge be a Avorthy commencement of the formation of a library such as every brother admits Ave ought to have , but , at present , do not possess . Is there no brother sufficiently literary iu taste to bring the subject under the notice of Grand Lodge at its next meeting ? Such opportunities should not be let slip by . —Ex . Ex .

THE AVRENS AND AVRAXALL ABBEY . Wraxall Abbey , Salop , the property of our former G . M . Sir Christopher Wren , has just been purchased from the descendants of that great architect ; so say the newspapers . Was it known , generally , that the Wren family was not extinct , or will any one versed in family history be good enough to state who are the representatives of the Wren ' s ,

and where they may be found?—S . A . THE MOIRA APRON . [ Tour query has been forestalled by the E . W . Bro . Kelly , D . Prov . G . M ., of Leicester . See his communication on the subject in " Masonic Notes and Queries , " at page 386 , vol i ., new series of THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , dated Nov . 19 th ,

THE LATE NO . 49 . The Lodge of Concord ( No . 49 ) being erased , what has become of its books ? Surely in such cases there ought to be a poiver , vested in some one , to compel ail such books ancl memoranda to be brought hi to the Grand Secretary ' s office , and there j > reserved for future reference . —Ex . Ex . CONTINENTAL MASONIC PORTRAITS . Are there any collections of Masonic portraits of eminent Continental brethren?—BRO . MAHL-STICK .

BRO . GEORGE WASHINGTON . M . Guizot , in the fourth volume of his Memoirs just published , gives the following character of our truly illustrious brother , George Washington : — "Another fact in the foundation of the "United States of America powerfully attracted ancl interested me , —the individual who had directed the movement in war and in peace , AA ashington ; a great

man by compulsion , as we may say , and against his own choice ; who found himself equal to all situations and tasks , without seeking or desiring any ; who felt no natural or ardent necessity to undertake the great deeds he was capable of and has accomplished ; and who might have lived on , a small proprietor , agriculturist , and unambitious hunter , had not necessity and duty transformed him into the general of an army , and the founder of a nation . " Ancl again ( I quote the translation bMr . J . W . Cole ) : — -

y " Two features predominate in the character of Washington : a profound attachment to the cause ho had adopted , ancl a firm independence of judgment ancl conduct in the service of his country . He was a genuine Anglo-American planter , strongly imbued with English traditions and American manners , sympathising perfectly with the general sentiment ancl desire of his fellow-countrymen , but whose mind , imperturably sound , rejected all public passions , prejudicesand caprices ; juding them with equal freedom ancl

, g calmness whenever they presented themselves before him ; never quarreling with them abrujitfy , -but ever resolved to resist when they compromised the policy which , in his strong conviction , the public interest called on him to maintain . AAliile possessing the instinct and natural gift of authority , he was eminently . prudent and scrupulous in the exercise of government ; full of respect-for men in general , and for the common rights of all , but without any democratic biasand dignified iu manneron all occasionsalmost

, , , to severity . An admirable compound of lofty intelligence and tempered judgment , as of pride without ambition , which commanded , at the same time , respect ancl confidence , and raised him to the undisputed leadership of a people who saw in him their most disinterested , their safest , ablest , and worthiest servant . " —GEORGE MARKHAM TWEDDELL .

ANCIENT APRON . I have recently had my attention called to a very interesting old Masonic apron , the property of Bro . William Deazley , of the Lodge of Unity ( No . 154 ) , Eingwood , to whom it was presented by an uncle , in 1819 . The tradition then Avas that it had been for 200 years in the family , most of whose members wero Masons ; but I can scarcely believe

it to be of so early a date . The apron is of kid , about the size now in use , but with a simple semicircular flap , on which " Charity " is represented in the person of a female tending infants . In the centre is an open bible ( surrounded by the usual Masonic emblems ) , on Avhich are the square and compasses ; both points of the latter are hid , suggesting the probability of its being an E . A . apron ; on each side are

figures of " Hope " and " Eaith , " the left arm of the former terminating at the hand in a half-moon . Whatever its age , this is unquestionably a rare ancl interesting Masonic relic , and my object in bringing it under the notice of the readers of the EREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , is to elicit a better history of this style of dress than I am able to give , ancl to promote ( with the sanction of tho editor ) discussion on matters such as

these , which are becoming historical . I should add that the massive silver bullion lace which formerly ornamented this apron Avas taken off some years since by the wife of a brother at Coventry , to whom it was lent for an occasion . Bro . Deazley , the oivner , is an old and good Mason , admitted in April , 1819 , in the Lodge 366 , under the Grand Lodge of Ireland . He in due course became P . M . and

Knt . Templar . Since his residence hiEngland , he has been recognised by the certificate of Grand Lodge , and has been W . M . of the Lodge of Unity ( No . 154 ) , Eingwood , which ( with many others interested ) he has lately been instrumental in reinstating . —G . TUCKEK , S . P . E . » J <