Masonic Notes And Queries.

liable to be disowned by the Society of Friends . Again , in the present volume , ( p . 25 ) , a P . M . of the Jerusalem Lodge tells us IIOAV he varied the oath to admit a Quaker when he ivas AV . M . Whatever may be the custom at present , in 1726 the W . M . ofthe Cork Lodge ivas no less a person than Springes Femi , sou of William Peim , the founder of Pennsylvania , as is shcivn in the following extract from the Lodge books , and he was a member of

the Society of Friends : "December ye — , 172 ( 1 . i ; Iu a meeting of this Lodge , this day , afc Mr . Herbert I'liaires , ifc ivas unanimously agreed that Mr . Thomas Holland , a poor In-other , bo every Lodge night a constant attendant of this Lodge , and that every night he so attends a British croAA'n be allowed him for yc relief of his distressed family . "Smxors PEXS . P . Master .

"THOMAS COUPON , I "THOSIAS Kreo . s , r » -i'aen » . " The above named Thomas Holland misbehaving himself , afc the Grand Lodge held on Sfc . John ' s Day , the 27 th of December , 172 ( 5 , ordered that the above order continue no longer in force . "SPRTNOES PEXX . D . G . Aiaster . "

L . Y . E . THE MUTATIONS OI' THE no VAT , AKCII DEOICEE . When was the Boyal Arch degree first worked in England ?—¦ SCUIUE Jf . —[ Wc first hear of it amongst those who call themselves the Ancient Masons , about the year 1740 . It ivas taken up by the modern Masons , under the late F > ro . T . Dnnkerley , in 1782 , and rearranged , in the manner AVO noiv use it , by the Rev . Adam Brown , chaplain to II . E . fl . the Duke of Sussex , in 18 . 15 ] .

THE FREEMASONS' MELODY IN T 7 SE AT BU 11 Y . In the above song book there is averse , and note to it , so curious that I cannot resist sending to you to ask a question on it . The verse is' ¦ ' In the deluge , where mortals lost their lives , God sav'd four worthy Masons and their wives ; And in the ark great Noah a Lodge did hold , Shem and Japheth his AVardens Ave are told ; Ancl Ham , as Tyler , AA'as oi-dei- 'd to secure . I'rom all their wives , the secret door . " *

The note , at the asterisk , says" Aud so soon as ever clay began to break , Noah stood up toiA'ard-s the body of Adam ; aud before the Lord he and his sous , Shem , Hani , and Japheth , and Xoah , prayed , & e ., and the Avomeu ausAverel , from another part of the ark , ' 'Amen , Lord . ' Vide Cateu . Arab . c . xxi-,, fol . » 6 , b . " JXOW for my question—where is this to be found ?—E . C . L . 13 .

MASONIC CLOCK . Where can I obtain a description of a Masonic clock which was exhibited in the country some years since ?—F . A . W . ( Watchmaker ) . —[ ATc suppose you allude to that of the late Prov . Grand Master of Dorset , Bro . AAilliam Tucker , an account of Avhich appeared in the Somerset County Herald , of September 17 th , 1 S 53 , and which we transcribe for general information . Tlie dial ii'as

designed by the Prov . Grand Master , and his , T . 'YV . Bro . AV . Hancock , of Weymouth , ancl was executed at AVeymouth bj' the latter skilful artist , by whom also the case ivas designed and produced . The works of the clock , ivhich is an eight day one , striking the hours and quarters , were supplied by Bro . Vincent , jeweller , of Weymouth , and are of excellent and substantial workmanship . The back ground of the dial represents a cloudy

canopy , on which is emblazoned in gold the eagle of the 33 ° , the triple-cross of Salem , with an inscription— " AVilliam Tucker , Sovereign Inspector General" —and the Pelican of the 18 ° . On each side are pillars surmounted with the celestial and terrestial globes , and at the bottom are seven stars , as ivell as the Prov . Grand Master ' s and Mark jeivels . The dial is composed of four different circles , the first or outer circle being black , on which

the minutes are shown by white equilateral triangles , and the hours by rhomboids . The next circle is purple ivith the hours in old English letters , of gold . The third circle is vermilion , ivith the working tools of the first three degrees , corresponding to the figures in the hour circle . There is also a representation of the first grand offering at the bottom , and the cross of the 18 ° at the top . " The fourth circle is azure , with the signs ofthe zodiac

emblazoned in gold . In the middle of the dial is the Mosaic pavement in black and white , with its border and tassels at the four corners , and a gilt blazing star in the centre . On one side is a ladder consisting of three steps , on the other a circle and parallel lines . At the top , resting on a pavement , is placed the ark of the covenant , ivith the All-seeing eye , and at the bottom a figure of time , ivith the motto "Tempos Fugit . " Outside these last , mentioned emblems is a continuation of the cloudy canopy . A cable surrounds the whole and forms a fifth circle inside the

Masonic Notes And Queries.

others . The hour hand represents a sprig of Acacia , and the minute band an ear of corn . The general design of the case is after the Doric order ; iu the base is a panel containing the E . A . tracing board elaborately carved in relief , surrounded by an indented border , with the emblems of the four cardinal virtues at the corners . The frieze is ornamented with various Provincial Officers' jewels . Between the triglyphs , and resting on the

cornice , are the bible , square , and compasses . The feet of the case are representations of pomegranates . At the back of the case is placed a-Mark Masters jewel with the crest- of th . e Prov . Grand Master in the centre . ]

Literature.

Literature .

EEVIEWS . A lexicon of Freemasonry ; containing a Definition of all its C ' ammunicable Terms , JS ' olices of its History , Traditions , and Antiquities , and an / Iccouiif of all the Rites and Mysteries of the . Anticnf World . By Ai . r . Eirr ' G . MACKEY , M . D . First English . Edition , reprinted from the Fifth American Edition . . Revised by DONALD

CAMVIVETX , S . P . R . S . 32 ° , Compiler of " The Scottish Masonic Calendar . " London and Glasgow" : Pdchard Griffin and Co . Svo . 11-4 pp . 1800 . IN this age of dictionaries and encyclopaedias no surprise will be felt by the inquiring Mason , that the rites , ceremonies , and peculiar symbols ofthe Craft have been several times explained in the forms of dictionaries , lexicons , & c . The first uc knoiv of is b y

Lemiing , entitled Encyclopadie der Friemancrer , printed in three volumes , at Leipsic , in 1 S 22 ; next comes the first edition of the work of Dr . Mackey , as above , published in 1815 ; and the last , i . e ., a separate book , and not a neiv edition , was Dr . Oliver ' s Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry , including the I ' oyid . Arch Degree , AA'hich appeared in 1852 . The preface is so shortthat AVO shall insert it here . The

, editor says : — i ; The title page explains the object and intention i > £ the original compiler . It ivas intended to furnish a ready and convenient access to the meaning of many of the terms and symbols peculiar to our Order , and also a sketch both of the ancient mysteries and "C those degrees of more modern date , for which there ivas a , morbid craving ou the continent during the latter part of last century .

"In the department of Masonry proper , the work was based on the American system , which , in many of its working details , is very different from that practised in this country . To remedy this defect , as far as possible , Avithout rewriting the articles , AIMS the object of the reviser , acceding to the wishes of the publishers ; and he trusts to the well knoAvn fraternal indulgence of fche Craft for the imperfections which mav be detected . —D . C . "

Confessing ourselves somewhat disarmed by the above preface , we yet know the Lexicon will meet with a good deal of opposition ; for it ivill he felt that there is so much that is objectionable in its revelations , that the only wonder is IIOAV such an experienced brother should have undertaken to stand as its literary sponsor . In common with all English Masons , ive cannot but deplore the equivocal taste of the majority of American writers on

Freemasonry , who appear to us to try IIOAV near they can touch upon saying all that should not be said without actually compromising themselves ; and this is not " . ess apparent in Dr . Mnckey's Lexicon than the other Monitors and Charts which ive have seen . On the other hand it will be said , and with some shoiv of reason , that it is American Masonry that is so laid open ; but it must he borne in mind that though practices differ in various places , yet the

fundamentals are immoveable ; and although the majority of entries refer to the York rite , yet that is the fountain from which our present system has been drawn . AVe think it an unfortunate matter that the publishers tied Bro . Campbell down in the way be expresses , for , had he rewritten many of the articles , we feel confident much that is censurable ivould have been expunged . In taking up the work , of course we expected to find the most recent

information , but such is rarely the case . Under the head of "Relief , " ivhen treating of the Masonic charities , the following remarkable passages occur . The Girls School , it is saicl , " was instituted in 1788 , and the present building erected at an expense of more than three thousand pounds , in the year 171 ) 3 . " Surel y Bro . Campbell coulcl never have read this article , as he must have knoivn that tbe Girls School was removedin 1851 to another site

, , altogether , anel the new erection cost upwards of fifteen thousand pounds . A feiv lines further we reacl , the " Asylum for worth y aged and decayed Freemasons , in the same city , " " & c . Now , Bro . Campbell cannot be so ignorant of English topography , nor is it so difficult to find an English Gazetteer in Scotland , but that he