Masonic Notes And Queries.

r > ongs and Entertaining Anecdotes , for t / ie Use of all the Lodges . By GAVIN AVILSON , Poet Laureate to the Lodge of St . David , 8 vo . Edinburgh . 1788 . Prefixed is a portrait of as singular i looking an individual as it has been our fate to encounter , Underneath is a cubic stone on which are delineated a pair ol compasses , a level , square , and plumb-rule , with the letters I . T . M . B ., the inscription telling us that the above is intended foi " Gavin Wilson , Edinr . Leg , Arm , and Boot Maker . Inventor of Hardned & Polished Leather . " ]

CONTRIBUTION TO LODGE HISTORY . From an old newspaper cutting I send the following note : — "AYoolwieh , Nov . 10 , 1796 . —This day was constituted , at the Horse and Star , in this town , a new Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , by William Perfect , Esq ., Provincial Grand Master , the Provincial Grand Chaplain , and other officers of tiis Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent . On this festive occasion , whi-.-h amply displayed the characteristic urbanitj- of the Provincial Gr .-md Master , whose Masonic talents never

shone with brighter lustre , the highest enjoyment of th ? brethren prevailed , aud every countenance exhibited the traits of hilarity and satisfaction . After an elegant entertainment provided for that purpose , the usual ceremonies were performed , and the afternoon was spent with all that harmony and decorum which the freedom , fervency , and zeal of tire society at all times inspire . The warm and grateful estimation in which the new-made brethren held their amiable founder , could not be better evinced than bthe reiterations of heart-felt cheei-s he received

y at parting . " K . B . In honour of the Provincial Grand Master the new Lodge was named ' The Perfect Lodge . ' " What has become of this Lodge ? I cannot trace it in the Calendar . AVas it too perfect when founded , and so left no room for improvement , or what became cf it ?—II . C . ^ Y .

OTILIPPIAN MASONRY . We hear of all sorts of Masonry . What is Phillppiau Masonry ? —ANTI-HUMBUG . —[ A Masonic rite which was practised under Frederick the Great of Prussia , and for which ho wrote the following song . " From Macedonia ' s confines haste , To Philippi repair ;

Your trials then will all be past , rfo doubt they were severe ; But at our Philippi you'll find A sweet reception , good and kind . "If any mean , ignoble knight Our fortress should assail , AAV 11 straight deprive him of his sight , His hearing too shall fail ; For sure in this we all agree , That cowans should not hear or see .

" The great St . Paul shall be our guide , Under our Master Grand ; In Timothy we will confide AA'ith Paphroditns stand .

" he ne phis ultra of all good AAVve gained at last with loss of blood . " In friendship , then , let us unite Our hearts aud hands around , Each man ' s a most exalted knight , Who stands on holy ground . , May no misfortunes e'er depress

Our friendship or our happiness . " AVe have replied as fully as possible to our inquirer ; but would suggest to him that it is bad taste to use such a signature , because , if we do not belong to certain rites , that is no reason why they or their component parts must be humbug . It is too much " the fashion amongst blue Masons here to affect a contempt for the higher grades of Masonry , to which many of them are inadmissible

] SVNONYMES FOR FREEMASON . What arc the eastern terms for Freemason , or Freemasonry ?—I'L A . —[ The Turkish word is " Farmahsoon , " which , in reality , is a corruption of the French "Francmacon . " FRIENDLY BROTHERS . _ What are the Friendl y Brothers ? "knots" of whom are to be found in

Ireland and England , and who have secret signs of recognition . The subscription to these " knots" is high , being as much as four guineas per annum . Ireland seems to be their head quarters . One of the bodies have a house in Dublin . —HYDE CLARKE . FIRST LODGE OF INSTRUCTION " . In 1798 , a periodical tells us that—These lectures still continue to be honoured with the support of many skilful and intelligent members whose time and place of assembfv

Masonic Notes And Queries.

we understand to be eight o ' clock every Sunday evening , at Mr . Fox s , the Hercules Pillars , opposite Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , Liucoln's-inn Fields . AA ' c conceive this institution highly deserving of the encouragement of every zealous and curious Mason ; its principal desigu being to investigate and discuss the principles of the Masonic lectures for the instruction of all the brethren who are desirous and have the opportunity of attending . Observing amongst its principal directors the worthy author of The Illustrations of Masonry , we

apprehend it would be paying a poor compliment either to the institution or our readers , to attempt , -i further recommendation of this society to the attention of tho brethren desirous of information or improvement . " A . F .

[ Wc wish our corre .-pondent would state in what periodical this occurs . ] A MASONIC GUIDE . Except what there is in the Pocket Booh , and Greatrcx ' s Masonic Album , is there anything to bo found in the nature of a guide book for London Masons , giving , besides the gift of the Lodges , Chapters & csome account of Freemasons'Hall ; the various

metro-, , politan Masonic places of meeting , such as the London Tavern , London Coffee-house , Anderton ' s , Western Masonic Hall , Sec , & c , as well as Masonic jewellers , booksellers , Encampments , Chapters of the high grades , and all such information as would be useful to a London Mason , or visiting brother ?—AN INQUIRING BROTnER .

CONSISTORIES OF THE 32 ° . Pray inform mo what Consistories of the 32 ° , or S . P . R . S ., are there in the British Empire ?— -j- **** y . —[ There is one in London , holding under the Supreme Grand Council of England and Wales ; one in Edinburgh , under the same authority for Scotland ; one in Dublin , under the Grand Lodge of Ireland ; and one in the Mauritius , under the Grand Orient of France . ]

MASONIC PORTRAITS . As a further query on this subject , I would inquire what Masonic portraits belong to London Lodges , who were the painters , and if any list of them has ever appeared ? Photography now being so clearly within the reach of all , every Lodge will or ought to have likenesses of its best members . —T . A . T . — [ We shall be very glad to receive replies to the above query , as wc hold it- to be important to know where to find representations of our eminent brethren . ]

MASONIC LIBRARY AT SOUTHAMPTON . Are the Southampton Masons iu possession of a Masonic library attached to their hall , and if so , how many volumes does it number?—LISTER . —[ Perhaps our Bro . Stebbing , or some other zealous brother at Southampton , will reply to the above . ]

FURNITURE OF TUB RANK OF ENRLANB LODGE . Ill reply to a former querist on this subject , I . have reason to believe that the columns worked in marble mosaic were executed iu England , as much was done in that style in the daj'S of the Adelphi Adam , in chimney-pieces , & c . There is a good chimneypiece of corresponding style in Messrs . Hills ' , Throgmorton-strcet . —HYDE CLARKE .

CENTENARY MEDALS , Can you give us a list of the Lodges who have been allowed to have a centenary jewel , or will some brethren , having such medals , describe them for us , and state to what Lodge the } ' applj' , and when sanctioned?—LECLS .

SLAVE-MASONS . Is a negro , born in slavery , eli gible to be made a Mason ?—C . A . F . —[ A \ c should say not , but shall be obliged to any brother who can tell us if it is tiic contrary in the free states of America , or if in the black republic of Liberia there is a Lodge ?]

ALMONER . OF LODOES . On the continent , among the High Grades , and in England also , there are instances of the appointment of an Almoner to dispense the Lodge bounty , and the office is considered one of very high honour and great utility . In this land of-philanthropy does any Lodge boast such an officer ?—GRAND-ORIENT .

THE EMPEROR DOM PEDRO . Is the Emperor Dom Pedro , of the Brazils , a Mason ? —PETER B —[ Wc do not know . His father , the late Emperor , of the same name , was a brother of our Order , and worked both in Europe and America . The late Duke of Palmelln , formerl y prime minister of Portugal , and the Duke of Saldanha , his successor , were both Masons , and contemporaries with the Emperor Dom Pedro . l