Masonic Notes And Queries.

EOSA CETTCIS . The following are the replies of Rosa Crucis to his several correspondents : — MASONS BY EIGHT . I never questioned the right of Jews and

Mahommedans to be Freemason because they are not Christians , but I denied then , and do still , that Jews , Deists , and Mahommedans are Masons by right ; and I challenge Bro . Circle to prove it by the Book of Constitutions . If any such claim did exist it would , however , be that of our Hebrew brethren to whom

we owe the Book of the Divine Law , and those glorious Hebrew poems which Tate and Brady did all they could to spoil ; and it was from a pure virgin of that ancient race that the Saviour of Mankind was born ; and , as to antiquity of descent , our oldest nohility are mere mushrooms when compared with the grand old princes of the House of Judah .

COEINTHIAN OBDEE . If Bro . Pictus will look into Josephus , he will find that Solomon built his house supported by " quadrangular pillars , " but "the roof was according to the Corinthian Order . "

OEEICE OE MASTEE MASON . The name of Master Mason appears frequently in the old rolls ; but it seems to me to mean a contractor rather than what we commonly understand by that appellation .

IMMOBTALITY OE THE SOTO . The Jews were divided upon this subject , but the Sadducees said there was no resurrection , and neither angel or spirit ; but the Pharisees confessed both , and Job says , "And though after my skin worms destroy this body , yet in my flesh shall I see God . "

EOYAL AECH DEGEEE . I have long been of opinion with the Masonic Student that the H . R . A . is only the latter portion of the M . M . Degree , separated by Grand Lodge for the purpose of creating additional Grand Officers , extra fees , and putting money into the pockets of Masonic jewellers .

LAW OE MIEACLES . A miracle "is an effect above human nature , a power performed in attestation of some truth " ( Bentley ) " effected by power more than natural " ( Herbert ) ,- wben our Saviour turned water into wine , teetotalism was not the fashion the ancient Jews

among and when he raised Lazarus and the widow ' s son to life , he performed a miracle . When Bro . Cooper or N . C . F . can do the same , they may be able to lay down the law of Miracles , but not till then . —From a bundle of Masonic Memoranda . —ROSA CRUCIS .

JEWISH CHAEITY , CHRISTIAN CHAEITY , IN EEEEMASONBY . A statement has been forwarded to Chateau . . . . In this statement a comparison is drawn between Jewish charity and Christian charity in Freemasonry which my experience entirely contradicts . In my province of Kent—1853-1860—the charitable

donations of the Jewish brothers were , in proportion to their numbers , fully as large as those of the Christian brothers . —From Bro . PUETON COOPEE ' Masonic Memorandum Book , April , 1867 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

A HINT -FOR GRAND LODGE . The Bulletin of the Grand Orient of France , in recording the labours of the Council of the Order , or , as we should call it , Board of General Purposes , has a heading which shows that all plans of new lodge buildings are submitted to the Council ancl by them to a Select Committee . Thus we find the report on

the new buildings or rooms for a lodge at Compiogue and one at Carpentras . They are reported as strictly Masonic , and as presenting improvements on the previous accommodation afforded . They are consequently recommended to be authorized . Would it not be a good thing if lans of lodge rooms were

p submitted for approbation in England ? Would it be a good thing if they were submitted to the same authorities as those who in the Grand Lodge buildings have supplied us with rooms that are not Masonic ?—N .

BRO . VIENNET AND THE GRAND ORIENT OE PRANCE . The Bulletin of the Grand' Orient records that the death of M . 111 . Bro . Viennet , M . P . S . G . C . of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , was announced to the Council of the Grand Orient by their President at their sitting . Bro . S . Jean , D . G . M ., presiding , observed : " Brethren—You all know the mournful

, loss which Freemasonry has sustained . The M . III . Bro . Viennet , M . P . S . G . C , of the Supreme Council of France , is just dead , and his funeral takes place tomorrow , Tuesday , at the Church of the Madeleine . I propose that the Council be represented by a deputationand invite all the members who can to be

pre-, sent . We owe this example to our brethren of all rites , we owe this hommage to the qualities and virtues of the deceased . " A deputation was unanimously named and it attended ,- and , as a compliment to the deceased , a distinguished literary man was placed in the deputation . —N .

ORIGIN OE THE MASTEE S DEGEEE . My answer to the inquiry of a correspondent is that amongst my papers is a very recent memorandum to the effect that , according to Bro . Findel , the origin of the Master ' s Degree may have been some years before 1680 . —C . P . COOPEE .

ENGLISH FREEMASONRY AND CHRISTIANITY . Brother * * * , there may be Freemasonry without Christianity . But such Freemasonry would not be English Freemasonry . ... " Christianity is the essence of English Freemasonry . " This line , you say , occurs in my last letter . Now , if you take away the essence of a thing the thing droops anil expires .

. . . . I adhere to the words used in my communication , " Christianity and English Freemasonry , " Freemasons' Magazine , vol . 14 , page 301 . " English Freemasonry , from its nature , cannot exist if separated from Christianity . Divide English Froomasonry and Christiauity , and the former necessarilj and immediately perishes . Its principle of vitality is gone . " * —From . Bro . BURTON COOPEE ' Masonic Letter-Book , June , 1866 .