Masonic Notes And Queries.

seems strange that we have no scholarships by which our Lewises can receive assistance in a university career . Cannot the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Grand Mastership of the " Earl of Zetland be celebrated by a Zetland scholarship ?—A UNIVERSITY MAN .

Extremely probable that Ramsay was concerned iu the fabrication of the English degree , because it still embodies some of the details of Bis Eoyal Arch , the whole of which , I am inclined to think , in the earliest arrangement of the English degree , formed one of the preliminary ceremonies . ... I make

' this statement because the earliest copy of this degree in my possession , dated 17 SS , commences with a long explanation of the ceremonies of Ramsay's Royal Arch as preparatory to tho English degree . —J ) r . Oliver ' s " Boyal Arch , "' page 33 . N . B . This seems a very likely occurrence , and , as ideas "

Ramsay's were rejected by the Grand Lodge of England , no doubt ' the disappointed innovator proceeded to the seceders , who possibly enough received him with open arms , and saw that , by the introduction of a new degree , their success was morally certain . Ramsay visited England in 1740

, and stayed more than a year . —AV . J . I-IuTriiAS " . "The difference between the ancient and modem systems consisted solely in the mutilation and extension of the third degree ; and it is actually referred

to m the proceedings of the modern Grand Lod ^ e in 1755 . —Page 39 . On this point there cannot be a reasonable doubt , as the lectures in use about this period , drawn up by the various chiefs of tlie Craft belonging to the regular Grand Lod declared that the Masters '

ge , word " which was lost is now found , " M ,, as Br . Oliver states , found in the latter ceremonies of the third degree , when it was delivered to the newlyraised Master in due form , and , therefore , the Eoyal Arch would have thrown no new light on the subject toa constitutional Master Mason . Surelthis

_ y evidence is conclusive , and establishes the fact that , before the " schism , " or about 17-10 , the " ancients " so-called ( but in reality modern ) , fabricated the degree termed the Holy Eoyal Arch , which , though first of all rejected and ignored subsequentl

, was y adopted by the United Grand Lodge of England as pure and ancient Ereemasonry . AVe feel sure the ventilation of this subject will clo good , and lead us all to value still more the three Craft degrees . — YV . J . HUGIIAK - .

TUB ESSENIAXS , —PYTHAGORAS . And so , my good brother , you have found the means of connecting the Essenians with the Masons employed ¦ in building King Solomon's Temple ; ancl the Essenians , you say , were rather philosophers than architects , and in this respect " they approached still to

nearer the character of modern speculative Masonry . " Then you have found further that " from the Essenians Pythagoras derived much , if not all , of the knowled ge and the ceremonies with which he clothed the esoteric school of his philosophy / ' Eeceivegood brother congratulations the

, , my on result of your labours in Craft literature . Our friend , however , continues as incredulous as before . Still , lie awaits with much impatience and curiosity the statement of the authorities upon which

you rely . Forward it , then , without delay . —C . P . COOPER . MASOXRY AITOS-GST THE EGLIS ' TOH'S AND BUCHAJS S OE OLD . Thanks , dear friend , for your letter upon this matter . It is in one of Bro . Murray Lyons' important

and interesting papers , bearing the venerable title "Mother Kilwinning , " that you will find mention made of an ancient manuscript which states that the most distinguished sons of the noble families of Eglinton ancl of Buchan were , for many generations , members of that renowned lodge . —C . P . COOPEE .

A MODEL LODGE . I have not authority to publish the number or name of the lodge sending the letter of which the principal part is subjoined . I call it , therefore , "A Model Lodge . ' ' ... It may interest you to learn a few prominent features of our system .

Much as w e may wish for the prosperity of the several royal Masonic charities , we look upon them as the last resource to which the unfortunate should be driven . The primary claim is upon the lodge of which the brother either is , or has been , a member . Let his lodge extend relief in the hour of need ; if

too poor , then let the Provincial lodge ; failing that , then the London Charities . In this spirit we are building up your funds : —1 , Boys' Education Fund ; 2 , Girls' Education Fund ; 3 , Indigent and Decayed Freemasons' Fund ; 4 , AVidows of Indigent and Decayed Freemasons' Fund . Yet the Royal Charities ai'fi Hhfii ' . lllv snnnnrfipil W mil- lnrlew Tr 1 ms lippn

our happy lot to have been able thus far to meet every case from our own lodge . Then we hold that , wherever a Freemasons' lodge is planted , good should pass from it to the immediate neighbourhood . There must , therefore , be subscriptions to local charities . . . . For these results Ave have taxed

our resources to the utmost , and an attempt to form a ^ Masonic library , after spending £ 50 , proved an abortive attempt . Yet we rejoice to say the feeling ancl determination to have a Masonic library is yet strong and gaining strength , aud we now see , in a year at the longest , the period when it will be

launched ou a sure basis . The great curse of Freemasonry , ' ' ¦ the banquet , " plays with us an insignificant part . AVe have very briefly touched upon the leading features of our loelge ; and , should you have a leisure hour , and your strength permit , we need hardly assure you how pleased we shall be to hear anv suggestion from you . . . . August 19 th , 18 C 7 . "—C . P . COOPER .

ROSICRUCIAU" SOCIETY . Among the recent important accessions to this literary and philosophical association we may mention the names of the accomplished Bro . AVilliam J . Hughan , of Truro , ( who has since been unanimously elected by the Ancients as Deputy Master-General ) , Irwin

Captain P . G . , of Bristol , a well-known and highly distinguished Mason ; A incent Bird , of Devonport , an equally zealous brother ; Dr . Alexander M . MacDougal F . B . G . S-, of Paris , the learned editor of a standard medical work on the " Nervous System ;" Dr . Sidney E . Clark , of Mortlake , and other eminent brethren . The winter session of the society will commence in October , under the presidency of Bro . Eobert AVentworth Little , the Master-General , who