Masonic Notes And Queries.

" CHABTEE OF SCOTCH KINGS" ( page 188 ) . The remarks of Bro . W . Harps may he a little satirical , yet there is something iu ' hem . Scotch Kings , " in the year 1100 , " were not " busy giving charters to Scotch Lodges of Freemasons . " The king at that time was Edgar ( 1097 to 1107 ) who

, was succeeded by his brother , Alexander I . ( 1107 to 1124 ) , who was succeeded hy his vounger brother , David I . ( H 2-1 to 1153 ) . It was in this ( David ' s ) reign that the great revolution took place in Scotland , in the supplanting of the Cuhlcr . by the Roman Catholics , when so many new monasteries , < fcc , were

founded , and old ones , which had ( alien into decay , restored . Scotland , in the beginning of the twelfth century , was just beginning to recover from " an age of anarchy , " aud when David I . ( our Scottish Charlemagne , or Alfred ) got the reins of government in his hands , he had to begin the work of setting things in order ; aud , although he did so , he does not seem to have granted charters even to burgh towns ,

much less to " lodges of Freemasons . " * Neither did his grandson , Malcolm IV ., who succeeded him ( 1153 to 1165 ) do so ; this was reserved for Malcolm ' s brother , William the Lion ( 1165 to 1214 ) , who was the first to grant charters to burghs , as well as the first to grant anything like a Royal charter to anything like a lodge of Freemasons

, which Masonic charter of his was granted at secondhand ( if I may so express it ) , being a confirmation of what his frieud Bishop Joceline had done , the Fraternity being mentioned in it along with other matters , and this , granted in 1190 , is the oldest genuine document bearing auy resemblance or

connection to a Masonic charter we really know of in Scotland . As to the word Fraternitas in it , meaning a company of operative Masons , Professor Innes ( in a letter to me dated 20 th May , 1 S 6 S ) observes , "ifyou find other such fraternities about that time over Europe , and I think there were some ; "t which observation of Professor Innes I consider to he an

encouragement to look for them . Our talented Masonic historian , Bro . Findel , at page 54 of his History of Freemasonry , alludes to the Company appointed by Bishop Lucy to build his cathedral in 1202 . Was it chartered ?

There is a difference between Scotland and England in regard to the building fraternities . They may have grown up in England or been introduced there with the J \ ormaus in 1066 ; they would then exist in England as a matter of course , which may prove a difficulty in the way of finding many English Royal charters . There may , however , be bishop ' s charters .

But these are merely suggestions of my own . In Scotland agais , previous to the latter half of the twelfth century , the churches built would probably be principally of wood . Scotchmen then were good carpenters . If the churches founded in David ' s time had been of stone , where have they all gone to ? Speaking of the Cathedral of Glasgow , founded in 1123 and dedicated in 1136 , Professor Innes observes

Masonic Notes And Queries.

in " Registrum Episeopatus Glasguensis , " page 24 . " The original Church of Bishop John , built perhaps chiefly of wood , had been recently destroyed by fire . ' ' While David introduced a new religion , it stands to reason that the new religionists would have to feel their way a little before they were able to put up the magnificent stone structures that were afterwards

erected . But as the Scottish carpenters would hardly be able to build stone churches to the satisfaction of their employers . Masons had to be imported into Scotland to do so , who would naturally be looked upon by the Scottish Craftsmen with a jealous eye as intruders , which necessitated the granting of charters

of protection to the Masons , many interests being disturbed iu the introduction of stone versus wood ; opposition being , however , useless , the new-comers would gradually incorporate with themselves the native Craftsmen , aud perhaps the fact that , " until the end of the 16 th century , the Wrights aud moat of the other Crafts * jof the city ( of Glasgow ) were incorporated with the Masons , " ia a relic of these

amalgamations or customs . The great age of Church building iu Scotland was after the treaty ( A . D . 1189 ) between William the Lion aud Richard of England . In Scotland , therefore , we need not look for any charters being granted to building fraternities before the time of William the Lion ; andas if to rivet

, this , Professor Innes says , if you can get a photograph of the entry of the William the Lion charter , " no more ancient or honourable title could be put into your handsome charter chest , ''t While , however , we have no Masonic Scotch charters before the end of the twelfth century , there may have been such

iu England long before that time , and may be got if looked for . The " Masonic Archaeological Institute" has undoubtedly plenty of work before it , and deserves the cordial support of all brethren who desire a true and thorough knowledge of Freemasonry . I wish every success to the search for ancient English charters . —W . P . BUCHAN .

SUPBEME COUNCIL As an old Mason , initiated in England 50 years ago , having resided in tbe South American States for nearly 30 years , and a member of a foreign Supreme Council ( a 33 ° ) , I hope I may be excused for inquiring—first , where your English Council exists or

holds out ? secondly , of whom is it composed , and where can I see their names and addresses , and know something about their social status , & c . ? thirdly , by what other Supreme Council is your English Council recognized ? fourthly , how long has it been establishedand by whom was it founded or generated ?

, fifthly , are there any meetings of chapters or other bodies held under the English Council , and if so , where ? sixthly , is there any Masonic directory in which auy information—beyond that very imperfectly conveyed by the English Craft Calendar , or Masonic Pocket Book—can be obtainedparticularly relating

, to the high grades as I see they are called here . As I leave Europe shortly , I shall be glad of replies in your next . —A 33 ° ( and of the few now living of 25 years standing . )