Masonic Notes And Queries.

These rabid acts of political partisans disgrace Masonry , and afford weapons to its enemies . Masonry claims to be a religious institution , and to have religious men for its members , and to respect all religious men . —Z . UNITED STATES .

The general Grand Chapter of the Holy R . A . for the United States Avas obliged to adjourn its triennial convocation intended to be held at the City of" Memphis , in Tennessee , in 1864 , and now profits by the return of peace to hold its convocation on Thursday . the 7 th of Sept ., 1865 at Columbusin the State of

_ , , Ohio , for which purpose summonses have been issued hy Comp . Albert G . Mackay , the G . S . H . P ., to members of the G . S . Chapter . The " Book of Constitutions " has at the same time been reissued . —Z . HEALING .

According to the York rite the degree of R . A . must be preceded by the Mark , Past Master's , and M . E . degrees . NOAV the English R . A . Comp . does not possess these degrees , and is not , therefore , held by chapters of the other rite to be a perfect R . A . Comp .

He is , however , admitted to the proceedings of a R . A . Chapter , but he cannot be a legal member until he has obtained the other degrees . This process is called healing , making him whole or complete , and is one of those processes of regularisation which has passed out of practice in England , but Avhich we find in so many other places as our old and subsisting institutions of Masonry . —P . IT . P .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

Tlie Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . ORIGIN" OP EREEMASONRY . ( Continuation of Illustration of JE . A . JP . ) TO THE EDITOIt OF THE TltEEMASOSS * MAGAZINE JLSD MASOJfIC MIEnOB . The whole of this degree is indeed typical of the

entry into this life in a state of innocence and childhood of the second Adam , our Lord , the son of Mary the Blessed Virgin and Immaculate Mother of God . "Behold , a Virgin shall be with child , and shall bring forth a Son , and they shall call His name

Emanuel , Avhich , being interpreted , is God ivith us " ( Matt . i . 23 ) . "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel , for He hath visited and redeemed His people , and hath raised up a mighty salvation for us in the house of His servant David " ' ( Benedictus Luke i . 6—

8 ) . "The Word Avas made flesh and chvelfc among us" ( 1 John i . 14 ) . "And the angel came in unto her , and said , Hail thou that art highly favoured , the Lord is with thee . Blessed art thou among women . And it came to pass that Avhen Elizabeth heard the

salutation of Mary , the babe leaped in her womb , and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost , and said , Blessed art thou among women " ( Luke i . 28 , 41 , 42 ) . "And poor and penniless , for she brought forth her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes ,

and laid him in a manger , because there was no room for them in the inn at Bethlehem , already occupied by the wealthy Jews , who had all come up to be taxed , everyone unto his own city" - ( Lnke ii . 3 , 4 , 7 ) . Gentle star of ocean

, Portal of the sky , Ever Virgin Mother Of the Lord Aiost High . Show thyself a mother , Offer Him our sighs , AVho for us incarnate Did not thee despise .

Still as on we journey , Help our weak endeavour , Till with thee and Jesus We , rejoice for ever . "And His raiment became shining , exceeding white as snow , so as no fuller on earth can white them "

( Markix . 3 ) . "And as He prayed , the fashion of His countenance was altered , and His raiment was white and glistening" ( Luke ix . 29 ) . "White clothing has , indeed , in all ages been the emblem of purity . The Templars adopted itwith the distinctive mark

, of the Cross on their mantles ; still earlier the Christian neophytes ; and , following their example , the Masons adopted it as " the badge of innocence and bond of friendship . " We also read , " And He went doAvn with them and came to Nazareth , and

Avas subject unto them , and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature , and iu favour with God and man " ( Lukeii . 51 , 52 ) .

Mild He lays His glory by , Born that man no more may die , Born to raise the sons of earth . Born to give them second birth . He whom the choir of angels praise , At whose command they fly , His earthly parents now obeys , And lays His glory by .

In stature grows the heavenly Child , AA'ith death before His eyes , A Lamb unblemished , meek , and mild , Prepared for sacrifice .

Such , my brother , is the example the most lowly Jesus , the Son of Mary , the Incarnate Deity , set to his followers . Cherish , my brother , in your heart of hearts fche morals and precepts wrapped up in the allegorical language of our glorious Craft ; read and ponder upon tbe works of Moses and the prophets ,

for , said Jesus to the Jews , "If you hear not Moses and the prophets , neither will you be persuaded if one rose from the dead . " The Masonic Apprentice has now passed through tho stage of infancy and pupilage , and ascended the three first steps of the " mysterious

ladder whieh leads from darkness to the mansions of glory and perfection , " but he has many more steps to climb before he can become a free brother of his guild , or a E . G . Preemason . Yours fraternally , ROSA CKAJCIS .