Masonic Notes And Queries.

THE ANTIQUITX OF FEEEMASONBX , In replying to Bro . Sanderson , our valued friend , Bro . Hughan , says that in 1641 the "Hon . " Eohert Moray joined St . Mary ' s Chapel , Lodge , Edinburgh . This being so , I cannot make out why the existence of " speculative" Masonry at the date in question

should be denied . The "Hon . " gentleman could scarcely have been an " operative " brother . I hold that "speculative" and '"' operative " Masonry were man and wife long before their divorce , and with all respect to Bro . Hughan , I think it very probable that "speculative" Masonry

existed long before Grand Lodges and Grand Oflicers . Further , if the three degrees existed in 1 . 717 as they exist now , I maintain that they hear internal evidence of having been gradually elaborated , and that from the nature of things they coulcl not have been wholly concocted in 1717 .

It is quite possible to reiterate a statement until it becomes generally accepted ; and I fear we are now in danger of making our Order too " modem " —while formerly it was considered to he more ancient than it deserved—simply because Bros . Hughan arid Buchan keep insisting on their pet date . —J . A . H .

QUALIFICATIONS ( p . 189 ) . It is proper to impose fitting restrictions on candidates , but said restrictions should be in accordance with common sense and the principles , objects , and spirit of the Institution which the candidate desires to join . —PLUHB-EE .

BEFOBMATION THEORY OI ? THE ORIGIN OF FEEEMASOKRX . When penning my late remarks upon this point ( p . 165 et ante ) , I was unaware of direct mention havirf g been made of " the Eeformation in Britain " in the old 1723 Constitutions or Charges ; however

, having just received Bro . Hughan ' s valuable reprint —with its scarcel y less valuable preface—I am glad to see my ideas , derived from other sources , so far borne out , as shown by the following quotation from Head VI ., clause 2 : — " This Charge has been always strictl y enjoin'd and ohserv'd ; but especially ever

since the JReformation in Britain , or the Dissent and Secession of these Nations from the Communion of Some . " Therefore , since honour should be given to whom it is due , I am inclined to consider that the Eeformation had something to do with the spirit and doctrines of speculate Freemasonry , just as operative Masonry had to do with its nomenclature . —TV " . P . BUCHAN .

FEEE : MASONRX ABOUT lo 2 XEAES OLD . In July 17 th , et ante , is given a list of 3-10 English lodges in existence up to 1765 . Some assert that so many could not have arisen between 1717 and 1765 . I consider this idea a mistake , for Avithin even the last ten years alone the Grand Lodge of England has added about 450 to her roll . —W . P . B .

ONE-AKHED HEROES . One-armed Tomo , the swarthy vagabond of the western forests , is only remembered as a hearty fellow —prince of hunters and doctor of all woodcraftwhose single arm was worth more than most men ' s two , and without whose help the map of Vancouver

would have been but a sorry blank yet , and the first exploring expedition a forgotten affair . — Cassell's " Illustrated Travels , " FEEEMASONEX ( pp . 173 , 189 ) . Bro . Buclian ' s suggestion is probably right . Many of the guilds and fraternities of the middle ages were

simply benefit societies , of which we haA'e some very old rules , and the practice is kept up in the Eomau Catholic Church . It is easy to conceive that in a South American town now , the number of Masons increasing , would , on the celebration of John the Baptist , meet in the Church , form themselves into a

confraternity of St . John the Baptist , raising subscri p tions to have a yearly mass on that saint ' s day , to provide for the funerals of members , and for the performance of masses for their souls . Some of the trade guilds of England were such fraternities , chartered or unchartered , and there are companies now existing which date from such ancient origin . —H . C

MASONIC PEOBLE 3 I . Bro . W-P . B . —usually so correct in his views—can hardly be so in his assumption that the admission of a Pree Mason , a Free Tailor , or a Pree Carpenter was just the same . The evidence as to Masons is clear that the Masons in various parts of Europe did have a ceremony of their own aud a system of signs . The

independent evidence of Germany is very valuable on this head . There is every reason for supposing that other crafts and guilds had systems and ceremonies not so tenaciously adhered to , aud the evidence on this head should be collected . At all events , so far as the

city companies or guilds of London are concerned , many relics remain of old ceremonies . These are particularly well known in the ceremonies of the investiture and installation of the Worshipful Master and Wardens . In some cases this is by drinking with the loving-cup ( as the Cloth-Workers ) , in one case by im estiture with a Cap of Maintenance ( the Skinners' Company ) . A few notes ou these matters may draw forth many illustrations . —H . O .

THE THIED DEGREE ( p . 190 ) . It is of course very difficult to obtain absolute evidence as to the real antiquity of the third degree . Internal evidence goes for very little , but it is deserving of investigation . The legend of this degree is peculiar , and it is distinctive as compared with the

first and second . It also differs in its treatment from the other legendary degrees , except so far as other legendary degrees are developments of the third . The question is , what is the origin of the legend of the third degree . Was it a pure invention of the last century , or is it the working up of an old legend .

It has not the look of the invented degrees , and it is desirable to know Avhether any germs of this legend are to be found before the eighteenth century in books or MSS . The likely place for search is in apocryphal and spurious scriptures of the eastern churches and in rabbinical legends . —H . C .

BRO . ELIAS ASH-AIOLE . It appears that Elias Ashmole was a contributor to the Middle Temple Library . It will be worth while to enquire there for MSS . Of course we know the bulk of his MSS . are in his own collections at Oxford . — EEADEE .