Masonic Notes And Queries.

have the number of the points even . These marks were generally of straight lines , being easier made ; but sometimes there are also circles or half circles , and sometimes letters of the Greek alphabet , or the initial of the workman ' s name ; in the latter case they may be intended to have that meaning ; but there is

nothing further secret about them as marks ; as others seem to have adopted a triangle , a square , or an irregular bunch of lines , just as struck their fancy , without there being any secret meaning intendedthe craftsman , most probably , knowing far less about the properties of his triangle or square than a modern

school-boy—only we might expect that no two men working at the same building would be allowed to use the same mark . We must , therefore , consider that the style of the old Mason ' s marks was of an odd or even number of points , just as fancy led the workman , the fgreat meaning , or " secret , " about it—intended hy its use—being , that the owner of a certain mark worked or passed the stone on which that particular mark was found . —W . P . B .

BTJRGH RECORDS . From Extracts from the Council Eegister of the Burgh of Aberdeen . —Spalding Club : — 27 th June , 1483 . " The xxvii . dai of June , yer lxxxiii , it was rehersit be Dauid Menzes , master of the Kirk Warkthat it

, was appoyntit , decretit in lentern last by past , the tym _ of the aldermannis being in Edinburgh , at the Parliament , betuix the masownys of the luge ; that is to say , Richard Ancram , Andro Murray , James of Barry , Jobne Eussal , Johne of Knydrum , and Matho Wrycht , efter that thai war frendit and

accordit vpon certane debate and controuersy betuix tbaime , that gif ony tym tocum thairefter ony of thaim offendit til vther , that war fundin in a faute , for the first faute , he suld gif xx s . to Sanct Nicholace wark vnforgiven , and for the second faute , gif thai fautyt aganexl s . ; andif thai fautit the thrid t

, , g ym , to beexcludit out of the luge as a common forfautor . The quhilk ordinance , ye masownis forsaides has ratifiit and approvit this samyn day , before ye aldermen and consel , and newlingis oblist thame til observe the same be the faith of tliare bodiis . "

4 th May , 1484 . "The iiij day of May , anno Ixxxiiij ' - Maistre Johne Gray , mason , was resaint be the alderman , baillies , counsale , and communite of the burgh of Aberdene , in maistre of wark , to the bigging of Sanct Necolace Wark , quhilk has taken upon him to be

continuale labourand and diligent for the vpbringing of the said wark , and to do al car concerning the said wark that accordis til a maister of work , baith in labouring of his cnmjn personn , devysing , be seyng and ourseyng of vtiieris masons and warkmen that sal be vnder him , for al the dais of his lif , to the finale

completing and ending of the said wark , at al his possibilite and power , the best wyse that he can . For ye quhilkis thingis to be done he has , in the presence of the baillies , counsale , and communite forsaidis , gevin the gret bodely aith , to be lele and trew to the said wark for al the dais of his life vnto the

, completing and ending of the same . And the said maister of wark sal labour him self , and ger vtheris masons and warkmen vnder him labour daily and continually , efter the act of Parliament made thairupon . For the '

Masonic Notes And Queries.

quhilkis lahouris and seruice , to be done be the said maister of wark , the saidis alderman , baillies , counsale , and communite , has promittit to gif yerly to the said maister of wark , for his fil , twenty pundis and fyve inerkis , til a propyne in al costage endur and al the dais that he has to lif , quhil the said wark be complete .

And the day of his entra to the said wark the day of this present write . And this said some of xx iij lib . xvi s viij d yerly , to be pait til him at four terrnes in the yere , propareionaly , as thai and he sal accord best thairuponn . "—W . P . B .

P.M.'S And The Working Brethren Of Lodges.

P . M . 'S AND THE WORKING BRETHREN OF LODGES .

COEEESPONBENCE .

The Editor in not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondent **

10 THE EDITOR OP THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AWD MASOMTC MIBROH . Dear Sir and Brother , —Allow me space for a fewremarks on the letter in your number of this day from my friend the D . P . G . M . for Leicestershire ,, who , it appears to me , does not quite appreciate the position I have taken , fancying that I claim a precedencewhereas all I ask is permission to preside

, over a lodge of which I am a member , under certain circumstances of request and assent . Certainly he is right in supposing that I had no desire to misrepresent him , for I imagine that there is scarcely a difference between us . I have carefully perused his letter , and consider that I am justified in repeating

my words in your number of April 3 rd , that " custom and practice sanction a liberal interpretation of the law in the li ght which I regard it ; " for every one whom I have consulted seems to admit that , when a . W . M . asks a member of the lodge , being a P . M ., wherever he may have served as suchto act as his

, locum tenons and discharge all his duties , provided the P . M . ' s and Wardens of that lodge do not object , the P . M . may by courtesy properly assume the position without infringing the law . This was the original question , for exactly in such circumstances

was I placed . No complaint was made by anyone , and yet , in the absence of such complaint , I was informed by superior authority that I " could not properly preside on such an occasion , " that is , under any disability and importunity on the part of the W . M . and any amount of sanction on the part of the P . M . ' s and Wardens . I believe that if this

restriction be enforced upon me , I shall be the only P . M . in the country placed under such disability , for in one view which Bro . Kelly advances , he says that u brotherly courtesy " would admit the propriety of allowing a P . M . not of , but in , the lodge to preside when requested so to do . Tour other correspondent

, > h B * b , very properly asks what is to be done " in the c se of a loclge in the first year of its existence , where , of course , there is no I . P . M ., nor are there any P . M . ' s , assuming the W . M . to be unavoidably absent . " Another brother has suggested also the instance of a lodge in which there is no brother

capable of working the ceremony of installation , a very common one . I have often been called upon to take the chair for that purpose in lodges to which I did not belong , but , under present circumstances , it