Masonic Notes And Queries.

Doran ' s authority or Mr . Douce ' s . Templar millinery is totally beneath your notice . Go as a gentlemen , and adopt the saluteable costume . ] IT CAN ' T BE HELPED . " The novice cried' It cant be helpedit can't be

, , helped ! ' He had become one of many who , in their unwitting gaiety , had committed himself to certain vows , oaths , and promises he found it hard to fulfil . The brethren urged him to proceed on his way , but he held back and repeated , ' I've seen enough ; it can't be helpedit can't be helped !'" What does

, this allude to ?—P . P . —[ We should imagine to some rhapsody which , when written , was so foolish that if no one knew what it meant it does not matter . " It can't be helped . " ]

MESMERISM AND EEEEMASONBY . Has mesmerism , or clairvoyance , ever had any connection with Ereemasonry ? — A READER OE BULWEE ' S Strange Star // . —[ Read the novel again carefully , and form your own opinion . Mesmerism was largely discussed by Freemasons in the latter

portion of the last century . We know of an entire volume of letters from all parts of the globe , to an eminent Freemason , in which mesmerism , Swedeuborgianisni , and Freemasonry are the all-pervading subjects . Iu this correspondence all three are identified the one with the other ; and there are other

occult sciences brought to bear ou the Order . We dare not publish any such extracts as you recommend , because we should raise such an outcry that our time would be swallowed up in a never-ending controversy . There are more thi » gs on earth than is dreamed of in many systems of hilosophand what you mention

p y , is one of them . Ask for a private letter at your post-office , iu your own name , " left till called for . " In it you will find the address of a brother you may correspond with in the North . ]

" MASONEY THE HANDMAID OP EELIGION . " I want to trace the ori gin of the pert saying so often made use of by brethren , not the best informed , that "Freemasonry is the handmaid to reli gion . " Who ¦ will help an ENQUIRES ?

BEO . SPENCEE ' S MASONIC LIBEARY . Is it a fact that Bro . Spencer is about to dispose of a valuable library of Masonic books out of the Craft ? —STUDENS . —[ AVo believe Bro . Spencer is in treaty to sell the library you refer to to the authorities in Bedford-row . A century hencewhen Grand Lod

, ge may , it is to" be hoped , be a little more intellectual , the memory of those who failed to secure them will not be cherished quite as warmly as all connected with its management might wish . Time works wonders , and Grand Officers are no more infallible in their reputation than simple folk . ]

GEAND SHOCKS . How many kind of Grand shocks do Masons recognise?—W . —[ You shock us hy expecting a categorical reply . ] AVEEN ' S " PAEENTALIA . " Does Christopher Wren ' s Parentalia give many Masonic incidents in Sir Christopher ' s life?—STUDENS . —[ No . ]

ABRAHAM LINCOLN . Is Abraham Lincoln , President of the United States , a brother Mason ?—C . B . —[ We believe , but are not sure , that he has been initiated yet . We hope not ; and can hardly believe any . Mason would delight in slaughter as he has done . ]

THE YORK SECTIONS . How many sections are there in the Old York Lectures ?—A . Y . —[ Six in part one , three iu part two , seven in part three . ] AVHAT ARE TIIE LANDMARKS ? We are all told to preserve the landmarks of the

Order . In my lodge , in a provincial town , they reckon some things landmarks which several London brethren say are not laudmarks . ' Will you , or some of your correspondents , define what are landmarks ? and thus set at rest tbe doubts of—A NEAV BEOTHEE .

ROSIC'RUCIANISM . I should like to see what likeness there is between-Rosicrucianism , as popularly understood , and Freemasonry . How is this to be done ?—¦ * . —[ Read Dogme et Ritual de la Haute Magic ; and La Magie el VAstrologie . " ]

THE CHAPTEE OE AEEAS . Did the Chapter of Arras , mentioned by Gavel ,. Thory , & c , ever grant documentary ' diplomas ?—A . -j-. " . ¦ —[ It did . We have seen one . ] POETEAIT Or 3 E 0 . DP- CEUCEEIX .

Is there a portrait engraved , or painted , of the late Brother Dr . Crueefix . and where can it be seen ?—LODGE BANNERS . E . W . Would be much obliged by descriptions of lodge banners—not coats of arms—used in the various lodges both metropolitan ancl provincial .

CIIEISTIANITY OE THE MAEK DEGEEE . When I was in America I saw several candidates ^ advanced as Mark Masters . I took a note of the passages of Scripture used , which were Psalm cxviii .,. 22 , Matt . xxi . 42 , Marie xii . 10 , and Luke xx . 17 . These texts are all essentially Christian , and explain

the tendency to Christianity in the Mark degree . — MALLET AND CHISEL . —[ The texts prove nothing .. If the Mark degree has a Christian tendency , what can the legend of the degree have to do with the completion of Solomon ' s Temple and Hiram Abiff ? If it is Christian , then it is an anachronism . If Jewish ,,

then the texts are sadly misapplied . Seeiug the entire ritual is not more than eighteen years old , and differs in England , Ireland , Scotland , and America , this is not to be wondered at . The Masons in the north of England still stick to their old Mark degree ,, at hangman ' s priceand on the Continent it is scarcel

, y known . In America , there are very many extraordinary degrees practised , and the Anglicised-American working , lately introduced in certain quarters , is not for the better .

To a human heart , after the apoplectic ci-ush ' mgs of a downpressed youth , the most violent pulses of joy are heavier thanthe movements of pensive sadness .