Masonic Notes And Queries.

EUO . WE 1 MNS CAIC 0 TT . In a paragraph of Notes and Queries for July 4 th , p . 9 , is an enquiry and note from W . E . A . Axon , of Joynson-street , Strangeways , respecting "Wellins Calcott , author of " Moral Thoughts , " which went through four editions in five from 1756 to

years , 1761 . This note you should reprint . In 1769 Calcott published a book on Freemasonry . He was a native of Shropshire , and burgess of Shrewsbury , and therefore very likely a member of a Shrewsbury lodge . Calcott was in narrow circumstances , and published " Moral Thoughts " during wanderings in

Birmingham , where he must have been in 1758 , in Coventry in 1759 , and in Manchester in 1761 . The first and fourth editions , and possibly the others , eontain lists of subscribers , which may throw some light on Calcott ' s connections and career . "With the view of heling Mr . Axon ' s inquiriesI suggest to

p , brethren to examine the records of Shrewsbury , Birmingham , Coventry and Manchester . Was Earl Powis , to whom " Moral Thoughts " is dedicated , P . G . M . of Shropshire ?—R . T .

CHRISTIANITY IN ENGIAND AT THE PRESENT DAY . A brother at Oxford , who spends his vacation < Easter , 1868 ) in college , writes and likens Christianity in England at the present day , to a saccharine fluid undergoing some kind of fermentation hitherto unknown to science ; and , pursuing the simile , he suggests that from this unusual process we may look for a new and purer beverage . —C . P . COOPER .

ARGUMENTS . Fair arguments become foul when clothed in ribald words . Commonly their only effect is dishonour to him who uses them . From a MS . in Bro . Purton Cooper ' s possession , entitled "Freemasons' Table Talk . "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

2 V > 8 Editor it not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . NEW MASONIC ORDER .

30 THE BDITOB OP THE MEBJTASOJfS' STAGAZIIfS AHD MASONIC UIEKOK . Tour valuable Magazine of the 4 th of July contains the notice of an important Masonic event , which is rather obscurely stated , and on which many of your readers would like to have further information , as it is the restoration or recreation of a Masonic

Order , an event which is seldom chronicled in these dull times of the three respectable , but ancient Craft degrees . It is interesting to watch the early ¦ and successful growth of a new institution , particularly in Masonry . The restoration , or as it may be more correctly stated , the recreation , of the K . H . S . is

passed over in a few lines at p . 539 , and put under another _ head . According to old Masonic works K . H . S . is Knight of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem , of which an account may be found . Tour journal states that the K . H . Order is now strictly limited to 99 membersand that there is solemn and in

, a - teresting ceremonial . The old Masonic works only give the old ceremonial , and do not state what the Order is now ; and a further account is very much wanted , because , while one part of your statement

Correspondence.

informs your readers that the Order is only a " reorganisation , " another part describes it as " this noble Order , " and again "that distinguished Order . " This is not fully explained . Eighteen of the 99 limited members were present , and thirteen of them , who are officershave " pledged themselves to fulfil their

, duties with zeal and fidelity , so as to do justice to its magnificent ritual . " All this excites an interest and curiosity which your Magazine does not yet satisfy , and in which more information is wanted , as many leading Masons and Grand Officers wish to share in the proceedingsand

, the number of members is strictly limited , so that early applicants may be unduly favoured . Tou state that the utmost satisfaction was expressed by the new K . H . S . at being permitted to take part in the reorganisation of this noble order ; and well it may be sofor it is rare to have the

oppor-, tunity of being enrolled as the founder of a new Masonic body . It is therefore much to be wished that no unfairness should be exercised in choosing the early members , and excluding candidates who would offer . It is as well to remark that such candidates must be R . A . companions .

It is disclosing no great secret of the Sanctuary to inform the Masonic world outside the circle of K . H . S . that the magnificence of the ritual does not depend on the rooms , or their size , or their furniture , or the

number of the members , but on the splendid dresses of the members and candidates . This may be one of the reasons why there was no banquet . It must not be supposed that the eighteen K . H . S . then present were all of the 99 to be filled up , as there are other members already admitted , but yet leaving no great number of vacancies .

At present the meetings will be more frequent , but when the whole 99 are elected , there will not be death vacancies , when the occasions will be rare of learning what is disclosed on such opportunities alone in the traditional orations , and this only in the first pointrevealing the way in which the H . R . A . is

con-, nected with the K . H . S ., a tradition which is communicated to no R . A . chapter . As the R . A . supplements or completes the Craft degrees , so does the K . H . S . complete the R . A . degree . One excuse for taking up your valuable space is that down to the last few weeks no opportunity has

been afforded to R . A . Masons of attaining this knowledge for half a centurj r . The R . A . degree is supposed by some sceptical authorities not to be older than the middle of the last century , but this must be erroneous , as the connection with the K . H . S . must have taken place many centuries ago . Tours fraternally , K . H . R .

St. John's Masonry And The High Degrees.

ST . JOHN'S MASONRY AND THE HIGH DEGREES .

TO THE IBBI 10 B OF THE FBEEJUSONS' MAGAZIHE AKD MASONIC MIBKOS . Dear Sir and Brother , —It long has been , and still is , held by the Craft in Scotland , that the so-called higher degrees form no part of the structure of Preemasonry , which is complete and perfect in the third . The reasons for this conclusion are—that in the first , that through symbols and the tracing board the