Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

REAL AIM . " It is said that the real aim and design of Preemasonry is to unite all nations , creeds and sects b y a covenant of brotherl y love , relief and truth ; and thus to form the whole human race into one great

brotherhood , firmly united . by mutual love . eonfidency and esteem . But this great end never can or will be attained , if Masonry is allowed to assume the form ¦ of a Religious Institution . " A brother cites this passage , which he finds somewhere in our periodicaland subjoins that our

foun-, ders nevertheless allowed our Masonry not only to assume , but they actually imposed upon it , the form of a Ileli gious Institution ; first A . D . 1717 , and secondly A . D . 1723 . —CIIABI . ES PUBTOX COOP . EE .

AVHEUE TO TALK ABOUT CHRISTIAN FREEMASONRY IS NOT A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS . Brother , —You belong to the Christian Sect , whose distinguishing tenet is the Unity , as opposed to the Trinity , of the Godbead ; and , it seems that according to a famous contributor , although it is a

contradiction in terms for Trinitarian Christians to talk of Christian Freemasonry , yet it is not a contradiction in terms for Unitarian Christians to talk of Christian Free ma son rv . All Unitarian Christian Masons , and they are many , should receive our warm congratulations . See a communication signed " W . P . B . " " Freemasons' Magazine , " vol . 24 , page 428 . — CHABLES PUBTOJS * COOPEB .

A ROTABLE DISCOVERY NOT YET MADE . A North Country Mason inquires xvhy the "Religious system of tiie Grand Lodge of the Three Globes , Berlin , includes the English Charges of 1723 , but excludes those of 1738 ? My answer is , that a North Country Mason Avould not ask the question had be been , as lie announces ,

a , diligent reader of the " Freemasons' Magazine , " during the last three years . The lieli gious System of the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes includes the Charges of 1723 and excludes those of 1738 , because the eldest and most illustrious daughter of our famous 1717 Masonry has not yet made the notable discovery , that to talk of Christian Freemasonry is a contradiction in terms . "CHARLES PUB __ O _ . COOPEE .

IN AVHAT SENSE FREEMASONRY IS NOT A RELIGION . Preemasonry is not a religion in the sense in Avhich the word is generally understood in our days . He AVIIO should attempt to convert it into a creed , in the common acceptation of the term , Avould falsify and pervert it . It opens wide the portals of its temple

as well to the Christian as to the Jew ; to the Mahommedan as to the Parsee , with these significant words , " you are all Brethren ; love each other , and enlighten each other , and instruct each other—Love , Light , Charity—he AVIIO should succeed iu his search for you will find true happiness . "—Prom a bundle of Masonic Excerpts . —CIIAELES PUETO-N" COOPER .

Freemasonry And Its Detractors.

FREEMASONRY AND ITS DETRACTORS .

Where union and harmony constitute the essence of Preemasonry , and charity'is its manifest work , the petty sneers of the ignorant are idle to deter good men from seeking the knowledge Avhich Preemasonry bestows . And those Avho censure what they cannot comprehenddo little more than degrade themselves . In

, the dark ages of antiquity , when literature and science were very little known , the influence of Masonry Avas felt . The abbeys , churches , and other noble structures now in ruins , Avhich are scattered plentifully over the country , and Avhich Avere alone the abode of learning and the arts Avhen Ireland Avas eminentlto be called

y the Island of Saints , attests the cunning hand of the Freemason . Notably so the most beautiful piece of ancient architecture in Ireland—namely , Holy Cross Abbey , erected in the time of King Donald of Limerick , bears the impress of Masonic hands . The legend of the Tomb of the Good Woman ' s Son ,

inscrutable to the uninitiated , is easily explainable by the Alason . There are very few antiquarians who have not heard of the great Irish architect , the Goban Saor , familiar in the traditions of the peasantry , and there is no doubt that he was a Mason . In England , even anterior to the days of Alfred the Great , we find traces ofthe xA . rt . Kins Alfred himself was a liberal

patron of the craft . Edward succeeded him on the throne , the care of the fraternity being entrusted to his brother Ethelward , founder of Cambridge University . Edwiu , brother of the next monarch , Athelstane , Avas in like manner patron ofthe Masons-This prince obtained from Athelstane a charter empowering them to meet annually at Yorkwhere the

, first Grand Lodge of England was founded , A . D . 92 G , he himself presiding as Grand Master . Masonry continued to flourish under the fostering care of several of the succeeding monarchs . The next fact Ave would note as contrasting with the way in whicli Masonry is regarded at the present day is that when

Henry YIII . mounted the throne in 1509 , he appointed Cardinal "Wolsey Grand Master . Prom that time we find the principal of the English nobility oceupying the post of Grand Master as they do now . It will , no doubt , be interesting to state that King William tiie Third was privately initiated into Masonry in 1 GD 5 , Several members of the I _ ov . il Pamilv

ti-oiii time to time became brethren of the mystic tie . His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales was installed Grand Master in 1722 . The chronicler of that event says : — "His Eoyal Highness performed the duties of his ollice in a style superior to most of his predecessors . His observations Avere clear , acute , and distinct ; his expression was fluentmanlyand pertinent ; and

, , his eulogiuin on his deceased uncle , the last Grand Master , pathetic , graceful , and elegant . " With so many illustrious predecessors , members of his owu family , occupying the highest positions in the Order , it is little wonder that his lloyal Highness the Prince of Wales should desire to preside over its interests .

Despite the evil machinations of a certain class , Ave have no doubt that the step will be productive of good results in strengthening the fealty of the fraternity , AVIIO haA e ever proved themselves loyal to their Sovereign and their Conutry . —Dublin Morninc / Mail .