Masonic Notes And Queries.

THE HATJGHEOOT LODGE . I intend to respond to Bro . Sanderson's invitation [ p . 403 ] shortly by forwarding a few comments upon the subject . I expected some of the other brethren would have said something . —W . P . B

A MASONIC STUDENT . In answer to Bro . Buchan ' s truly fraternal remarks , I may , perhaps , be permitted to say , that I have unfortunately not quite so much leisure time as Bro Buchan apparently possesses . Other duties and other occupations demand my first attention , and I have only my spare time to devote to Masonry . But

I have in preparation now , some papers entitled " Illustrations of the History of tha Craft , " which , I hope , with the new year , to publish in continuous numbers of the Magazine . —A MASONIC STUDENT .

IEISH DIPLOMA . Bro . James Wallace , Prov . S . G . D ., Glasgow , has just favoured me with a look at his father ' s diploma , which is dated 1813 . It is somewhat plain , and has the checkered floor , upon which rest three columns , viz ., the Ionic in centre , and left and right the

Corinthian and Composite . They represent the Master between his two Wardens , but there must have been giants in those days ; for notwithstanding the Ionic being depicted as in the background , it towers , large and massy , high above the others . Above the centre column an eye is depicted . The diploma is 13 in . b

y lOJin . It is signed bv Bobert Handcock , G . Sec ,, and by the D . G . See . " it says : "We , chiefs of the Enlightened Men of the most Antieut and Bight Worshipful Lodge of St . John , do hereby certify that Brother James Wallis , of Lodge 1 , 002 , has been initiated in all the Degrees of our Mysteries , and

has performed all his Works amongst us to the entire satisfaction of all the Brethren . Therefore , We de sire all the Eight Worshipful Lodges of the Universe and all True Accepted Masons to recognise and admit him as such . In Testimony whereof , " & c . The above is written upon the one side and to a

similar effect in Latin upon the right side of the Ionic column . The " seal , " which is impressed upon a separate piece of parchment , is attached in rather a clumsy and inefficient manner with wax , and requires the aid of a pin to keep it from running away . — W . P . B . ° '

THE 1717 THEOEY AND ITS OPPONENTS . I respectfully call the attention of my opponents of the 1717 theory to a Masonic "tit-bit" contained in Notes and Queries for Nov . 20 th and 27 th . In that publication they will find some remarks by Wm . Pinkerton , Esq ., which it will be useful for all Masonic students to read ; and as "S . E . " observes at page 449 , there is more to follow . —W . P . BUCHAN .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed ly Correapondenti PROFESSOR INNES AND BE © ' . BUCHAN . TO THE EBITOK 01 THE riiEElSASOHs' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC limnOH . Dear Sir and Brother , —I had half intended to have allowed the remarks of " J . B ., " at page 370 , to have passed unnoticed ; yet in case my silence should be taken for consent regarding the foolish assertion

that Bro . Buchan was " the mouthpiece of Professor Innes , " I beg to contradict the idea most emphatically . More—for me to allow the onus of my remarks to be thrown upon the shoulders of Professor Innes would be dishonest upon my part . I have therefore to state that I alone am responsible for what is contained in any communications sent by me

to the MAGAZINE , or elsewhere , and if any mistakes occur in the said communications , the fault lies at my door . However , in a few special cases Professor Innes has very courteously condescended to give his opinion upon certain points ; and if in quoting that opinion in the MAGAZINE for the benefit of its readers I have thereby incurred the title of "

mouthpiece , '' I must just accept it as one of those compliments which writers who go in for truth in opposition to popular notions are in the habit of receiving . Another point is that I have neither the honour nor privilege of the intimate acquaintance of Professor Innesand since May last I am quite unaware where

, he is , and have had no communication from him since . Only in common with others who possess copies of his printed works , I have had the pleasure of perusing and studying his interesting and valuable contributions to historical literature .

Allow me also to correct the expression used by "J . B . " at page 369 , " an old charter , " for the document in question is neither ¦* old , " nor is it a " charter ; " it is simply a forgery , executed , according to Professor Innes , within the last 200 years , while Bro . Buchan , upon his own responsibility , asserts it to be partly copied from one of the documents given by

McUre in his "History of Glasgow , " and copied , A . D . 1806 , just before the foundation stone of Nelson ' s monument was laid at Glasgow . This " old charter , " therefore , as " J . B . " calls it , is just about 63 years old ; and if it can be shown to be a little older , prove it ; further , owing to a little patience and perseverance in the matter I could , perhaps , give the name of the man who wrote it .

In conclusion , allow me to remark that when treating upon Masonic history , & c , my only object is to elucidate the truth , consequently I have endeavoured to bring the best possible light to bear upon whatever subject was in hand . One individual may be the best authority upon this—another , the best , upon that—and soon . Therefore if I be able to get the

best possible extant opinion upon any point , and quote that opinion to the readers of the MAGAZINE , 1 hardly deserve to he "black-balled" for doing so ; however , pitch into me as much as you please , and take what you get in return , only do not again be so silly as even to imagine that a gentleman in the

position of Professor Innes would condescend to make me his " mouthpiece , " or that 1 have so little pluck or self-reliance as to be such , either to him or anyone else . No ¦ I take the liberty of differing occasionally from the best if I see cause .

Yours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN . P . S . —As to finding proof of the existence of our Speculative Preeinasonry before 1717 , I beg to confess my inability to do so , the search on my part being fruitless ; however , if there be any others who think they have been more [ successful , by all means let us see the result—let them land their fish , and thereby prove it isn't a bunch of seaweed . —W . P . B .