Masonic Notes And Queries.

munications to the Freemasons' Magazine . Other matter for my communications , however , so quickly and constantly arose—matter thought at the time to have greater interest—that I ivas effectively prevented from making any use of such entries . —C . P . COOPEE .

EQTTESTEIAN OEDEES AND EQTJUS . With the present spread of science and improvement even in gastronomy , I wish to know whether the Freemasons' Tavern is prepared to supply equine banquets to the Craft , Knight Templars , & e . The latter Knights might serve up their horses when no longer serviceable . Is a ho ( a ) rse laugh permissible at a horseflesh regale ? Which lodge will begin first ?—EQUES .

EDINBURGH . There is a theory according to which Edinburgh is the spot whence Freemasonry was first disseminated over the British Isles . It is the theory which ascribes to Molay , Grand Master of the Templars , the creation of four European mother lodges . One of those lodges was established at Edinburgh . —From Bro . P . Cooper ' s Masonic Memorandum Book .

CONSTANTINOPLE . Some time in the second half of the last century there was , as I have read in some French Masonic work , a lodge of Freemasons at Constantinople . If I rightly remember , it underwent some kind of persecution . I cannot answer my correspondent , "IS . P . E . ' s , " questions respecting our Institution in Turkey . Brother Hyde Clarke probably can . —0 . P . COOPEE .

THE ANGLO-SAXON EACE . Doubt not , Bro . " S . & ., " there are two things which will be found in every corner of the globe Avhere the Anglo-Saxon race may come—Religion and its companion , true Freemasonry . — C . P . COOPEE .

GEAND LODGE OE ANCIENT MASONS IN GEEilANY . It is said to be clearly ascertained that the Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons in Germany was not formed until so late as the year 1452 .- —From a bundle of Literary and Masonic Notes in Bro . P . Cooper's possession .

HIGH GEADES . Want of antiquity would be a very silly reason for the suppression of the high grades . —From a manuscript volume in Bro . P . Cooper ' s collection , entitled " Freemason's Table Talk . "

AECIIEISUOP CHICELE . As to the lodge of Freemasons said to have been held at Canterbury , in 1429 , under the patronage of Archbishop Chicele , a correspondent should consider Avhat Mr . Wyatt Papworth has written . See Freemasons' Magazine , vol . 7 , page 167 . —C . P . COOPEE .

WOEDS OP DE . OLIVEE . ' ¦ It is my firm and unshaken conviction that Freemasonry is a Christian institution , established by Christian men , and embracing Christian principles . My faith in that respect commenced at my initiation , when I was only eighteen years of age , and has remained unshaken through a long and eventful life :

Masonic Notes And Queries.

ancl I rejoice in the opportunity of publicly professing the same faith at the age of eighty-five years . " A Masonic ball , one day in the month of January , of which a correspondent in the neighbourhood of Sheffield makes mention , must have prevented him from looking at the Magazine , or he would not be altogether

ignorant of the foregoing words . They are the words of the late Dr . Oliver , and occur in the preface to his last work , and have just been incorporated by a pious Mason in an interesting communication made by him to our periodical . See " Freemasonry and Christianity , " by Bro . H . B . White , page 21 of the present volume . —C . P . COOPEE .

A LETTEE , JULX , 1866 . " S . P ., Brightelmstone , " may read the substance of the letter written by me to his nephew on the eve of his departure for Hamburgh , July , 1866 , in my communication , " German ancl French Lodges , " Freemasons' MagazineWo . 406 April 13 th 1867 . The

, , , pseudonyme mentioned by " S . P . " was iu the communication , hut the editor , for some reason , drew his pen through it , and through a few other introductory words . This is the communication upon whose contents a foreign journal has raised an argument for the toleration of Atheism in our Freemasonry—Pantheism .

, Spinozism , Hegelianism , Idealism , Dualism , Materialism , Sensualism , Fmpirisme , Naturalism , Ideology ,. Fatalism , Positivism , Atheism , and Scepticism" S . P . ' s " nephew found all these , as had been announced . —C . P . COOPEE .

THE CULDEES . A fanciful correspondent , whose letter has the signature " N . Z ., " calls the Culdees Freemasons , and Iona their lodge ; and observes that the Culdees forbade their wives to set foot in their celebrated isle , in like manner as the Freemasons forbid their wives to enter the lodge . —C . P . COOPEE .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents .-MASONIC CREDULITY .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PJIEEiEASOXS MAGAZINE AST ) ITASOIflC AriREOE . Dear Sir and Brother , —I have not the least intention of doubting the good faith of Bro . Buchan ,. whom I suppose believes , as well as many others , in the charter of Kiug Malcolm III ., at page 71 of the Freemasons' Magazine , but I do beg that , for the

credit of Masonry , such things may not be put forth without a disclaimer . However much such clumsy forgeries and impostures may delude illiterate Masons , yet their promulgation only tends to reflect discredit on a body of men Avho claim to he the teachers of the world , and

yet have not discrimination enough to deal with thehistory of their country . Bro . Buchan does not state whether this charter is in Latin or Anglo-Saxon ; . but he does state boldly that the Court of Session recognised it . The date is given " at our Court at Forfar , 1057 , '' ancl yet the King talks of twenty pounds Scots , of the operative Masons of the City of Glasgow , of erecting lodges contrary to the rules