Masonic Jottings.—No. 7.

MASONIC JOTTINGS . —No . 7 .

BY A PAST PROVINCIAL GEAND MASTEE . GRAND LODGES * . —GERMANY , SWITZERLAND . —FIFTEENTH CENTURY . In the middle of the fifteenth century the Grand Lodges of Germany were Strasburg , Vienna , and

Cologne . The Grand Lodge of Switzerland was JBerne . THE GRANDIDIER THEORY . The Grandidier theory—A correspondent remarks that it will not be easy to reconcile all with it certain theories respecting which of late so much has been said .

MASTER'S DEGREE . Dr . Oliver says it has been thought that at the period of Ashmole ' s election into Freemasonry , there was no Master ' s Degree , and that there are some grounds for the conjecture ; because if such

a degree had been in existence , Ashmole would certainly have known it , which it is pretty clear he did not . A brother at Oxford thinks that old family letters will one day show that the Master's degree

was invented by Ashmole and his literary friends , and was first conferred in a lodge held in a room over Wadham College gateway , famous for the early meetings of the Royal Society . Brother Findel thinks it probable that the three

grades in the profession were ( 1650-1700 ) incorporated into the Fraternity as the three degrees . Brother Hughan says one thing is now clearthat no part of the third degree , as such , can possibly be more than 150 years old .

" A Masonic Student" writes that Deputy Grand Master Manning-ham ' s letter enables us to dispose of the recent theory that the third degree is not earlier than the Revival .

A ROYAL WORK . It was a Royal work in ancient times—the building of a Temple or of a Palace . Famous kings were presidents of the assemblies of scientific men and handicraftsmen , whom the royal work had

brought together , and they thought their greatness and glory enhanced . —Old MS . THE ACACIA . In a little tract upon our science , recently printed at Paris , it is stated that in modern

Masonic Jottings.—No. 7.

Masonry—that is to say the Masonry of King Solomon—the acacia has taken the place of the palm of Indian Masonry ; the willow , of Chaldsen Masonry ; the lotus , of Egyptian Masonry ; the myrtle of Greek Masonry ; and the misletoe , of

Druidical Masonry . ENGLAND . German writers allege ( 1866 ) that since Preston wrote nothing has been done in England towards the investigation of the history of Freemasonry .

THEOSOPHY AND ALCHEMY . About the end of the seventeenth century the Theosophy and Alchemy of the Rosicrucians are said to have been a favourite study of the nonoperative Masons , members of our old operative

lodges . MASONRY NOT MYSTICISM . Masonry is not mysticism . Nevertheless , Masonry enjoins frequent meditation on the Great Architect of the Universe .

The Masons' Square In Gloucester Cathedral.

THE MASONS' SQUARE IN GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL .

The following correspondence lately appeared in the Gloucester Chronicle . Considering it possesses special interest to Freemasons , we transfer it to our pages : — Sir , —I have been written to by a stranger north

of the Trent , but a brother of the Craft , for information respecting the very singular , if not unique , Mason ' s Square , which forms a bracket against the east wall of the south transept on the right-hand side as you descend into the crypt , I have jotted down some particulars respecting it , and my attention

having been now particularly drawn to it , I am induced to send these few notices respecting it , with the hope of obtaining further information , and consequent enlightenment . It is formed of a single stone , projecting horizontally 3 ft . 2 iu ., and being 2 ft . 2 in . in its widest part . It has a long arm and a short arm , like a blacksmith's square of

the present day . The whole of it underneath is made to represent groining , and H has a battleniented edge all round . At the base , where it springs from the wall , is an old man acting the part of a Caryatides ; he wears an apron , and has some implement stuck into his belt ; above him on the groined rib-work is a man in a smockfrock

young , clinging , as it were , in desperation to the ceiling . This bracket has evidently supported the image of some patron saint ; the iron dowls that held the effigy still remain ; whilst a battlemented moulding above shows how far the head of the effigy extended , and forms a finished margin to the work . The legend ia

, that the Master Mason , who built the upper part of the tower from the springing of the four great arches , found that the apprentice , during his absence , had exceeded his commission , and hacl done his work so well that in a fit of jealousy he killed him on the spot .