Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic standard we must first find the standard to go by . No doubt it is neither complimentary or gentlemanly , but it might be true , and truth is a Masonic virtue , although it is better not to be so very virtuous as to be always uttering unpleasant truths . There is a great deal of false sentiment talked about Masonic and un-Masonie language . If we intend to deal

strictly , we should never glose over words , but use the plain English which such affairs demand . The only alternative is , audit is one much preferable to plain speaking . If you know anything that is not creditable to another , be charitable to his faults and be silent . ]

MS . MASONIC DIARY . [ The brother who writes to us from Yorkshire stating that he has a manuscript Masonic Diary of what has been said and done in that county for the last thirty years , is assured that we know of no London brother willing to purchase his volumes . If the several Yorkshire brethren to whom he has

offered it for sale won't buy , how can he expect us to help him to a customer here ? Generally speaking brethren don't read books , and the few that do don't want after-dinner speeches . We must also decline to print any portion of it , the extracts sent being " fair specimens . " ]

THE PUEPEE . No doubt you , as well as many of us , have often heard of " the purple " having been offered to Bro . Thing-um-bob or "What ' s-his-name . I protest against the expression . Grand Officers wear blue not purple . "Women , usually , call deep blue purple , so , it appears , do the majority of the Masons , but blue is not purple

any the more for such authorities . Purple is a mixture of red and blue , and is symbolical of regal dignity and power . Now it cannot , by any stretch of the imagination , be conceded that Bro . Higheldy-piggeldy has an iota of dignity , power , or regal presence . Then why should he be said to wear the purple , seeing that his apron and collar are about as blue as his nose , and his carriage and deportment generally as impressive as that of a lame duck?—PRISM .

ILLUMINATI Or GERMANY—ADAM WEISHATOTEEEEMASONBY . The four secret societies mentioned in my communication , p . 205 , of the present volume of the FEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE are called , in English historical literature , the Illuminati , and not the

Illuminate . Probably the omission of a dot to the i misled the compositor . It is stated in that communication that numerous Freemasons became connected with the German Illuminati , and that Adam Weishaupt ( "W eissNauptis amisprint ) was the originatorof the Order . "Weishaupt was an enthusiastic admirer

of _ Freemasonry , and incorporated it in his system , a brief account of which has recently come in my way . His system has three divisions , of which the second is Masonic . I subjoin the words , as not unlikely to be acceptable to some members of the Craft : — "Deuxieme la Franc-maconneriesavoir :

franc-, maconnerie symbolique , rituel des apprentis , des compagnons , et des maitres , livre de la constitution ; franc-maconnerie Ecossaise , illumine , major ou novice Ecossais , illumine dirigeant ou Chevalier Ecossais . " In my early visits to the Continent I remember to have met several distinguished Bavarians who had

suffered persecution as followers of "Weishaupt . Much that he proposed was chimerical , but in England it would hardly have been considered mischievous . — CHAELES PHETON COOPEE .

THE RECEPTION OE THE M . P . SOT . G . COM ., GENERAL GARIBALDI , 33 ? . The following is worth making- a note of . The reporter of the Daily News—who gave the General the Masonic grip—gives the following description of the hero of the day , and the welcome given him : — "' The general is in his cabin' says a steward ; and

, in a moment that cabin is full . The Duke of Sutherland , General Eber , and Mr . Seely are the first to greet him . Mr . Dolmage considerately stands at the door to prevent any undue crowding ; and the rest of us stand as near to it as we conveniently can , anxiously waiting our turns for introduction . I hear a

full-toned but sweet voice saying , ' Better , better , I thank yon much , ' in reply to inquiries as to his foot , some minutes before that voice ' s owner is visible to me . The natural eagerness of those yet outside is so far unallayed , when hy a change of positions I obtain my first limpse of the General . He is seated

g on his couch , with sling cigar-case and courier ' s bag hung up over his head , is shaking hands warmly with " Friend Joseph Cowen , " is asking after the town of Newcastle , and gracefully acknowledging to all around

the many kindnesses he has received . Leaning on his walking-stick , and limping slightly , he proceeds , accompanied by all of us , to the cushioned seat at the end of the saloon . In truth a kingly-looking man , some five feet eight inches in height , he is broadly built , and bis presence is pre-eminently commanding ; he has a broad and loftbrowsoft and gentle

y , eyes , which spai-kle with humour and playfulness , a fullsize well-shaped nose , a massive jaw indicative of power , and a smile which a women might envy . He wore light and thin trowsers , smartly made , patent leather boots , a silver grey gabardine with a scarlet lining or hoodand an embroidered

smoking-, cap , which looked as if it had been worked by some fair admirer . A black silk hankerchief round the neckof course no collar—and a light crimson bandana thrown loosely over the shoulders , completed a costume which , for picturesqueness , it would be difficult to equal . He understands English perfectl but

y , speaks it with a slightly foreign accent , and it may interest some readers to know that on my shaking hands with him we reciprocated right heartily the peculiar grip only known to " brethren of the mystic tie . " —PRUSSIAN EAGLE .

ANCIENT AND MODEEN FREEMASONRY . In what does Ancient and Modern Freemasonry differ ? * * * * * * * * * * B . B . — [ In everything . Ancient Freemasonry was a shield and safeguard to all oppressed by religious or political tyranny . It was the fore-runner of the

Reformation , and the enemy of the Papacy . Emperors and kings were its protectors , and many of them were skilled adepts in its mysteries . The "Wherwolf of Germany ; the Tartaviai of Switzerland ; the Hussites of Bohemia ; the Lollards of England ; the Albigenses , and many more , were all Freemasons . " We used to think , with you , the Charter of Cologne , a spurious document ; but as we have " lifted up our