Masonic Notes And Queries.

* ise to the Mastership over a poorer , although profi'Cient . "Why , in an Edinburgh lodge not 60 years -ago , a gallant Master never thought of the Eitual at ¦ all , and would not have read it , even although he had possessed it in print . He used to have the candidate brought before himswore himsometimes at him

, , , gave him the tokens , and then pithily remarked , "D the Test . Let on the drink . " English brethren must come to Scotland to understand the spirit of Freemasonry , although I hear the present Grand Master does not look with any favour upon our Ritualism . — A SCOTS P . M .

SCOTS AJTD SCOTTISH VCt'SllS SCOTCH . I am glad to find Bro . Haye ranged on the Scots and Scottish side . Had it depended solely on my judgment , I could hardly have managed to weather the " Scotch " storm that has been raised ; but , knowing there are also good Scottish scholars now living

who not only ignore the Avord "Scotch , " * but also consider its use a mistake , I can only stand by the Scottish and Scots idea . However ( as applied to what pertains to Scotland and the Scots ) , let us consider firstly , what is " Scotch" derived from ? and we may then

understand the subject better . " Scotch '' I consider to be merely a corruption or an abbreviation of the adjective Scottish—e . g ., " the Scotch Parliament" instead of " the Scottish Parliament . " So the proper name Williarn is abbreviated into Will , Bill , or countrified Wull . But , although these abbreviations are so

constantly used , it does not alter the fact that the true rendering in both cases is Scottish and William . The Latin of our old charters is " Eex Scottorum " ( never Bex Scotchortim ) . "King of the Scots , " as , e . g ., Robert Bruce at his coronation was crowned " Robert , King of the Scots , " not " King of the Scotch , " for

" Scotch , " being only an abbreviation of an adjective , still leaves the noun awanting , so that , to make the sentence complete , it would be " King of the Scotch people" ( or nation ) , or , correctly , "King of the Scottish nation . " Yet how much better it is Avhen given as it ought to be , " King of the Scots , " which gives the true meaning intended in as few words as possible .

"Scotch , " as a noun , when applied to signify the natives of Scotland , is simply a mistake . " Scotch , " being an abbreviation of "Scottish , " is also an adjective , and " Scottish " might as well be called a noun as "'Scotch . " The true word is "Scots , " which being of one syllable , and also shorter by one letter than

" Scotch , " leaves no excuse for the use of " Scotch " as a noun . I have now done , and only find fault with my poor ability in advocating our " Scottish" cause , Avhich cause being true and just is therefore likely to triumph iu the end as present experience and the remark of Bro . Haye at page 31 , in reference to Bro . Bonar , tend to show . Point out the error to a real Scot , and ten to one he is sure to " scotch " it . —W . P . B ,

MTTIIEAIO MYSTERIES . The report of the Asiatic Society of Paris reports an important work by F . Lajard , in French , " Re-

Masonic Notes And Queries.

searches in the Public Worship and Mysteries of Mithra in the East and the West . " The plates have been long since published , and M . Lajard began hig labours in 1 S 23 . The work is said not to be up to the level of our present knowledge of comparative philology and comparative mythology , but to be a

most valuable repertory of texts , inscriptions , and monuments , and indispensable for studying the religions of Asia . The chapters relating to the degrees of initiation are reported to be the newest and most interesting . I thought this note , from a source not generally accessible , may be useful to Masonic students . HYDE CLAEKE .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents , BRO . HATE UPON "THE MYSTIC NUMBERS . "

TO THE EDITOR 0 ¥ TIE EEEEHASOXS' iti . Gi . ZIKE iSD JIASOXIC MIBEOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —Bro . Haye promised us , many numbers of the Magazine ago , some account of these . Might I , as a very young brother , request him at his convenience to afford , not only myself , but your readers , an early account . Such brethren as Bros .

Haye , Hughan , Lyon , Hyde Clarke , C . P . Cooper , Buchan , Pictus , R . Y ., and other Avriters , Avould confer an inestimable boon upon young Masonic Students by instructing them how to acquire the knowledge they themselves possess . This io a bold request , but one which will , I trust , appeal to all learned brothers ' hearts on behalf of the class to which belongs—Yours fraternally , A SIMPLE M . M .

WHAT IS FREEMASONRY ? TO THE EDIIOIt OF TIIE " HlEEMMSOIfs' MAGAZI . VE AXD MASONIC 1 TIHB 0 B ; Dear Sir and Brother , —I read in your jiaper of last Aveek , with A ery great pleasure , the truly Masonic aud practical address by Bro . Henry ThompsonP . M .

, , headed " What is Freemasonry ? " I feel convinced that all true and energetic members of the Craft who may read it will congratulate and thank Bro . Thompson for thus , in so simple yet eloquent a manner , shovfing to the outer world , not initiated into our mysteriesthe exalted principles of our Ancient

Institu-, tion , and silencing by his complete answer to the question those who , from the absence of those principles in their own breasts , undervalue or malign the privileges and principles of our Order . Also , I must add that every W . M . or P . M . who reads this condensed yet powerful address cannot fail to receive from it

instruction and support in his Masonic duties , and that every one of that class of our brethren who do not pay much attention to the working of our lodges will and must be stimulated by it to further progress and a more persevering study of our mystic art . Trusting such an excellent address may accomplish all the good that it so duly merits . I remain—Yours fraternally , A P . M .