Masonic Notes And Queries.

national parties of Mexico , distinguishing themselves by the names of Ecossais and York , taken from the different initials of Freemasonry ? And may I also inquire further , if these rites have formed any other political rall ying cry ?—A YORK MASON . MASONRY AND THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS . " As Masons , " the song says : —

" Christians , and Jews , and Turks , and Pagans stand , One blended throng , one undistinguished band . " Are there amongst us any members of the Society of Friends ? I am induced to ask this question as the well known repugnance of that sect to take an oath makes it seem improbable that any of them are ranged under our banners ; and if so it is a curious circumstance that there is one sect , and one alone , who are not partakers of our mysteries . —A . B . C .

GERMAN OPERATIVE MASONRY . A friend , not a Mason , but an architect of some notoriety , has informed me that the operative German Masons have , in common with " other handicraft trades , a peculiar sign and token , whether similar to that of the Freemasons he does not offer an opinion , but states that they are divided into two classes , Wort Maurers , and Schrift Maurers , i . e . Word Masons and Writ Masons . The Word

Masons have no proof to give of their having been regularl y apprenticed but by words and signs , while the " Writ Masons are those who have not only the words ancl signs , but regular legal indentures . As an eminent master builder has lately stated , in a letter to the Times , respecting the supply of workmen in consequence of the strike , that his firm intends importing skilled labourers from Germanysome of the masters of workwho are

, , members of our society , should keep this in mind and , when occasion presents itself , ascertain if these Word Masons hold anything in common with the Craft , for if they do the information is of immense importance as a connecting link between the operative guildsman of the dark ages and the speculative Mason of the present clay . —EKOOC .

KNIGHTS TEMPLARS' FIRST MEETING IN AMERICA , When did the first meeting of Kni ghts Templar take place in America ?—JACQUES . [ According to Cross's Masonic Templars' Chart , p . 94 , it is stated to have been on the 12 th of May , 1797 , at Philadelphia ] . IS MR . SICKLES A MASON ? Being in company with an American brother latel

y , among many names well known to us on this side the Atlantic , he mentioned Mr . Sickles , the hero of a late scandal in New York ; can it be true that he is a Mason ?—J . C . [ We cannot positively take upon ourselves to say , but refer " J . C . " to p . 950 of the Freemasons' Magazine for December 1857 , where he will find "D . Sickles , Min . of State , " attached to the minutes ofthe Supreme Grand Council , 33 ° , New York ] ,

REFERENCE TO QUOTATION WANTED . Where do the lines occur ?—' ' God hath made mankind one mighty brotherhood , Himself the Master , and the world their Lodge . " P . G . S . D . THE THREE T ' S , OR TRIPLE TAU .

Strolling the other day into the court of the Lords Justices , in Lincoln's-inn , I was struck by an escutcheon above the dais bearing three T's , disposed thus , T T . To what can it allude ? Perhaps some legal brother , or companion , can solve the mystery . —AN R . A . COMP . THE RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE .

Inquiry was made by one of the correspondents of Masonic Notes and Queries about this degree . It is essentially Christian , and the incidents on which it is founded are said to have occurred in the reign of Darius , king of Persia . The habit of the order is a white robe , or tunic , ivith a cross fleury on the left side made of red velvet , having a letter X ivith a P rising from it , embroidered on the centreand the letters Q upon one arm of the crossand A

, , upon the other . The style of the Grand Commander is , "Illustrious Grand Master . "—ROSY CROSS . BRITISH LODGES OF ILLUMINATI . In Bro . McConochie's Short Defence of British Freemasonry the following passage occurs : — " With respect to the Illiiminati , i rofessor Weishaupt , the founder of the order , is still alive , to vindicate

, if he can , his own character and cause ; and should he continue silent , when both have been so forcibly attacked , it will certainl y be no inconsiderable argument of the truth of Professor

Robison ' s assertions . But , admitting the whole to be true , we can trace no kind of connection between British Freemasonry and the tenets of the Illiiminati , unless , as the Professor seems to insinuate , we are in the plot , though we do not know it . I am , however , firmly convinced , that before Professor Robison ' s publication appeared in the world , more than three fourths of the Freemasons of Great Britain never heard of the existence of the

order ; aud I cannot help thinking the Professor deals unfairly by his quondam brethren , and still more unfairly by his country , in not naming the places where the ten lodges of llluminati in Britain are held-, in order that we mig ht be on our guard against 'those wolves in sheep ' s clothing , ' whose sentiments and views are so dissimilar from our own . " The writer would like to know if the words he has underlined

above , —" where the ^ ten lodges of llluminati in Britain are held , " —ever has received a satisfactory elucidation , as they must have become known in time—and of whom they were composed . This is one of those questions that old members of the Craft can the more readily answer , an ' d it is important in an historical point of view , that these difficulties should be cleared up . There can be no fear of wounding the feelings of any living brethren by disclosing what is known of the-association in question , and those who could enlig hten ns are but few in number , and ought not to let the secret die ivith them . —HENRY J . B

Poetry.

Poetry .

SELECTIONS EROM POETRY OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY . AN ANTIENT SONG . LET Nell in smiles he ever seen , And kind as when our loves begun ; And be my pastures ever green ,

And new crops spring when harvest's done , My cattle thrive ancl still be fat , | And I my wish shall find in that . Oh let rny table furnished be With good fat beef and bacon too , And nappy ale be ever free To strangers that do come ancl go . My yards with poultry and with swine

Well stored , and eko my ponds with fish , My barns well crammed with hay and grain , And I shall have in this my wish . Let rne in peace and quiet live Free from all discontent and strife ; And know from whom I all receive , And lead a homely harmless life . Be neat , in homespun clothing clad _ And still to add to all my bliss , My children train in fear of God , And all on earth I wish is this .

The Christian Philosopher.

THE CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHER .

BY SIR . WILLIAM DAVEXAXT . THE good in graves , as heavenly seed , are sown , And at the saint ' s first spring , the general doom , Will rise—not by degrees , but fully blown—When all their angels to their harvest come . Cannot Almighty Heaven ( since flowers which pass Thawed through a still , ancl there commingle too ,

Are raised distinct in a poor ehymist ' s glass ) Do more in graves than their alembioks do ? God bred the arts , to make us more believe ( By seeking Nature ' s covert mysteries ) His darker works , that faith may thence conceive , He can do more than what our reason sees . Oh coward faith—reliion ' s trembling guide !

g Whom even the dim-eyed arts must lead , to sea What Nature only from our sloth does hide Causes remote , which Faith ' s dark dangers he . Religion , era imposed , should first be taught—Not seem to dull obedience ready laid , Then swallow'cl straight for ease ; but long be sought — And be by reason counselled , though not swayed ,

God has enough to humankind disclosed ; Our fleshly garments He a while receiv'd , And walked as if the Godhead were deposed , Yet was he then but by a few believed