Architecture And Archæloogy.

rooms on each side of it , and possessing separate entrances from thence into the large hall . These front offices are only proposed to be one story in height , ivith a lead flat roof and stone parapet , so that windows are obtained in the hall aboi * e them . There ivill be tAvo news-rooms , one circular , 26 ft . in diameter , lighted by three stone windoivs , and communicating

through sliding doors with another room , 20 ft . by 17 ft . The dimensions of the large hall are 110 ft . by 55 ft . The committee decided upon adopting designs recommended by Mr . AVilson , for the interior , at an increased cost of upwards of £ 300 . This ivill now form a concert-room , as well as a room for the Corn Exchange , and other purposes , there being in this case a double instead of a single roof , a ceiling divided

into compartments , which are again sub-divided into domes , the flat surface at the top being filled ivith glass , and the sides covered ancl divided into ornamental panels , starting from a moulded plaster soffit , which is supported hy ornamented plaster corbels sprung from the sides of the hall . The gallery runs up the tivo sides parrallel Avith the Avails , but the end opposite the orchastra is semi-circular , and it is capable of seating about 400 persons . The exterior ivill be erected with bricks and stone dressings , in the Italian style of architecture .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

RELIGIOUS BEGEBEXHEITEX . On reading "H . B . s" query it immediately struck me that these tivo Avords Avere a mis-print for "Religions Begebenheiten , " '' ivhich would be pure German if used as the heading of a column in a daily or Aveekly journal , or as thc title of a magazine , and ivould then mean " occurrences connected ivith reliion" a heading eminentl )'

g , aiipropriate and expressive for a journal professing not to favour either of thc three forms of religion prevalent in Germany , viz ., the Romish , the Lutheran , and the Calvinist , but ivhich ivished to chronicle passing ei * ents in each ancl all . I baA * e since seen a copy of Robinson ' s " Proofs of a Conspiracy , " third edition , London , 1798 , and find my surmise correct . " Religions Begebenheiten" is quoted as being

a periodical of which he obtained a good many back numbers of the years 1779 , 1785 and 1786 . It would be very difficult , I should think , to obtain any copy of such a Avork out of Germany , but have no doubt it is to be found in many German public libraries . It ivould seem , from Avhat Robinson says , to contain " Moms . " and matter of intense interest to the craft , and I should be equally obliged with "H . B . " to any one who could tell us where it is to be fotmd . —Cr . W . W . INM-A-IT .

AIWIED ERETHEEX ' . Does not the injunction to appear "unarmed'' allude to the sword Avorn as part of a court dress ? In tho Lodges holding under one of the Constitutions existing in Germany , M . M . ' s all wear swords , and address one another as "Bitter Bruder" ( Brother Knight ) . I think itis the ' 'Eclectic" constitution , but am not sure ; would thc Baultiitte enlighten mo on the subject ? Members of Masonic Orders of ' Knighthood wear swords in England and elsewhere . — G . AA " . AY . IXGIU - .

THE . DRUSES . I copy the folloiving from dec a IVccJ :.- — " Whenever -a Druse dies in Syria they believe that his soul is immediately born again in China , in which country they believe are numberless Druses , who one day or other will issue forth , conquer the whole world , re-establish the true faith throughout the ivorldand punish all unbelievers . . . . But a still more

extra-, ordinary belief exists among the Druses of the Moniit-. im—namelv , that there are many Akkals ( initiated ) of their creed in the hills of Scotland , who , on account of the dominant religion , are obliged to profess Christianity outwardly , but ivho amongst themselves ' . ire as pure Druses of the initiated ' class as any that exist in Lebanon . After learning that 1 was a . Scotchman , Druses have often questioned re . e as to whether I was aware that members of their creed existed in

that country ; this tradition appears to have been handed down to the present generation from the davs of the Crusaders , and to have got mixed " up with the fact that the Templars existed formerly in certain parts of Europe for certain ceremonies , which

Masonic Notes And Queries.

the Syrian Druses say are practised hy their Scottish brethren , hear a close resemblance to those of the old Knights Templars . But it is more likely still—and this is probably one of the reasons of their supposed affinity with the Chinese , that amongst the Druses , as among other semi-civilised nations , certain affiliations , signs of Freemasonry have crept in , and they have formed the idea that wherever traces ofthe same society exist the people hold the same

religious creed . "—il . L . MEASOJ * . This tradition , of course , applies to the Preemasons . Is there any grounds to beliei'e such a tradition exists , of the antiquity assigned , A * iz ., the time of the crusades ? Secondly , is any thing known as to whether the inner rites and ceremonies of this singular people at all resemble Ereemasonry P —they ivould seem to think so . And , lastly , is there any proofs that the Druses existed as a tribe and practised theirmysteries before the time of the Ishniaelians or assassins ?

Literature.

Literature .

REVIEWS , The Booh of Vagabonds and Beggars . With a Vocabulary of their Language . Edited by MABTIN LUTIIEU in the year I 1528 . Now first translated into English , with Introduction and JSTotes . By Jons" CAAIDEX HOTTER . London : J " . C

Hotten . We plead guilty to a love of antiquarian literature . But when antiquity is joined to a curious subject , and special , feature , ' we must confess to a strong prediliction in its favour . The Liber Vagatorum- is a curious book , hoivever little known to the generality of readers ; but when that work was edited by the great German Reformer an increased interest is

attached to it . The ori ginal is not only a curious , but a rare work , and is seldom to be found on the shelves of private individuals boasting large libraries , it is rather to be seen amongst the curiosities ivhich hook-worms , who revel in early editions , out of the way volumes , and are fond of collecting specimens of mediarval typograpb } ' , The public then are doubly indebted to Mr . J " . Camden Hotten for this

work , because he has , in the first place , disinterred a scarce , quaint , and original work by Martin Luther , and secondl y he lias done it good seiwi . ee by presenting the same in a translation . This book goes far to prove the old adage of their being " nothing new under the sun , " for we find in its pages that the vagabond population of Central Europein

, the _ pre-reformation period , and at thc present time are , in their habits , mode of life , and the deceits they practice , almost identical . In tho exceedingly A * aluable , and very interesting introduction to the work , Mr . Hotten points out that "it is remarkable that many of the tricks and manoeuvres to obtain money from the unthinking but

benevolent people of Luther ' s time should have been practised in this country at an early date , and that they should still be found amongst tho arts to deceive thoughtless persons adopted by rogues and tramps at the present day . " As in Luther ' s time , so in the present day , wc find thc conjurors , ring-droppers , card-sharpcrs , the impoverished gentleman , begging-letter writers , sellers of various wares

( mendicants under a trading cover ) , the shivering Jimmies , thc child borrowers ivho arc apt to enlist the sympathy of the good natured by the ' ' clean dodge " and a host of juveniles hired at so much _ p < s > - day . All these , and many more , are depicted here . They certainly clo not figure under the same designation , but they pursue thc same line of business , even to thc gentry wc sec falling into sham fitsand foaming at

, thc mouth , through thc same agency of p . secreted piece of " soap . The preface is brief , quaint , and expressive , and Mr . " Hotten thus translates Luther ' s words : — ' ¦ ' This little hook about the knaveries ofl-egg-Ms v . ~ . is first y > viivteil by one ivho called himself Ll . vperlus in Tnfhfthat is , a fellow right expert in roguery—which the work well even though

, very proves , he had not given himself such r . name . " lint I have thought it a good thing that such a hook should net only be printed , but that it should become known everywhere , in order that men may see and understand how mightily the devil rules in this world ; and I have also thought how such a hook may