Masonic Notes And Queries.

pally because they had sworn to each other to be as brothers . " * Saga of Sigurd the Crusader , 1103—30 . —There is a ceremonial connected with Masonry which the following remark shows the origin of : — " AVhen you rose up out of Jordanafter bathing in the same

, waters as God himself , with palm leaves in your hands and the cross upon your breast , it was something else you promised , sire , than to eat flesh meat on a Eridav . "—A

WII . HAH THE EIOX S CHAUTEE . Malcolm ' s Charter has been consigned to the tomb of all the Capulets—Bequicscat in iwce—and , after going the pace so heavily , we may sorrowfully surmise that after " life ' s fitful fever , it sleeps well ! " We come now to a more serious document , the Charter from William the Lion . This document being genuine , the question for discussion is the import of its contents .

I may premise that whatever qualms of conscience our good friend , Bro . Buchau , entertains for his share iu the slaughtering of the Innocent Malcolm Charter , they will be more than compensated for in the additional respect which his indomitable p luck , perseverance , and love of truth , compel the brethren of all

opinions to entertain for him . With regard to Mother Kilwinning aud the Canongage Kilwinning , he will find me a willing coadjutor in stri pping them of any false plumes they may be possessed of . I do not think any reader of the Magazine , whether an antagonist or not , will doubt that in all the

discussions which have taken place in which I have shared , but that I have been actuated b y the sole desire of benefitting our beloved Order , by ' getting rid as much as possible of the fuugus quackery which has overgrown capital aud base . I may also be permitted to say that the reign of William the Liou is one with

which I am intimately acquainted , because I discard much to the chagrin of my family , the beautiful fiction of the rise of the Hayes at the Battle of Luucarty , and maintain that the true homo prcepositus of the

house is William de la Haya , principal cupbearer to Malcolm the Fourth and William the Lion , and witness ^ to many of their charters . If , then , as a relative told me , I " have no respect for the ashes of my fathers , " it is not likely that predilections will lead me to bolster up a lie on the part of my mothers .

Aud , aftar this piece of famil y bunkum , let us consider the Glasgow Charter of William the Lion . I am prepared in the first place to accept Bro . Buehan ' s translation of the charter as given in 4 < 73 of the Magazine as correct , having compared it with the original Latin . I have several objections to the

construction put upon it by Bro . Buchan . 1 st . It is not a charter ^ of confirmation iu the exact aud strict terms of the word , as it confirms no previous charter , document , or gift appearing in writing . 2 ud . It is not a charter at all , but a simple letter of safe conduct . Eor the sake of classificationit have

, may been endorsed " carta ;' ' but a " carta " means a very different form of document from the present . 3 rd . It was granted to the Bishop , aud as he might see fit , for his use alone . 4 th . The Fraternity , properly

Sodality , was not one of builders ; and , 5 th . The document was of a provisional character , and not granted in perpetuity . Every student of history knows that the reign of William the Lion was anything but peaceful ; the nobles were fierce aud turbulent , aud the northern

clans distracted by deadly feuds . Neither was the south in a better condition , where the Scots and English Borderers were driving daily forays into each other's territories . The scene as displayed by the charter opens thus . The Glasgow Cathedral has been destroyed by fire , the King is applied to for assistance

in rebuilding it , and his influence solicited with other good men to procure the requisite sum . Glasgow Cathedral ' s revenues , we are told , were not in the most flourishing condition prior to the fire , and it is easy to assume that the fire did not improve them . The King sympathises with the prayer of the petition , and grants a letter of safeguard to the Bishop for those who mig ht be sent forth to collect subscriptions . So far there is no cavil as to the details .

Now we find a fraternity has been authorised by the Bishop and his suffragan Court , to collect the money , aud the King devoutly receives and encourages with the support of his royal protection , its members . Bro . Buchan says that this fraternity was composed of builders . Is this a likely case ? The builders had to

rear the Cathedral , aud to be paid for so doing ; the . Bishop had to find the sinews of war . Bro . Buchan would have us believe that , not only did the builders rear the Cathedral , but they reared it at their own cost , by money obtained by begging . How was the money principally raised ? I should say by preaching

at celebrated and wealthy monasteries and shrines , where the faithful most " congregated . This could only have been done by monks , by those who , having no longer a roof to shelter them , went in search of the means wherewith to pay the builders , then busy in rearing a new one . The Masons could not at the

same time be both builders aud beggars . It was therefore a safeconduct to his monks which was granted by the King to the Bishop , and this is all the more evident froai the provisional character of the documeut , which bears that the King ' s protection

is granted " until the completion of the building itself' ' When the Cathedral was finished , the documeut then became so much waste parchment for any good it could serve . The fraternity , iu my opiniou , consisted of monks , or , in some cases , notorious sinners , who , to win pardon and be relieved from the ban of

excommunication , helped in the good work ; and there might also have been devotees , who to win grace and favour in the eyes of God , assisted iu obtaining money for the erection of a temple to His name . The fraternity is not said to be composed of builders , and it is impossible to put such a construction upon it .

But , as I have formerly said , there is no proof that the builders of Glasgow Cathedral were the predecessors of 3 ' - ' , aud even if it could be proved that the charter was granted for tbe protection of builders , 3- must proved its descent . In the consideration of all these circumstances , it is clear to my

mind that the Lodge of Gfasgow cannot found upon the charter of William the Lion . William the Lion , in 1190 , converted Glasgow into a burgh , but for a century and a half after it was an insignificant town of not more than 1 , 500 inhabitants . —A . ONEAL HATE .