Masonic Notes And Queries.

SILENCE . Silence and secrecy are cardinal virtues in a Freemason . In silence and secret we Avork ont all our great problems for the good of our race . The following stanzas , therefore , from a volume of poems lately

published , by Thomas T . Lynch , are appropriate to the subject : — In silence mighty tilings are wrought ; Silently builded , thought on thought , Truth ' s temple greet's the sky ; Anil like a citadel with towers

, The soul , with her subservient powers Is strengthened silently . Soundless as chariots on the snow , The saplings of the forest grow To trees of mighty girth ; Ilaeh nightly star in silence burns ,

Anil every day in silence turns The axle of the earth . The silent frost , with mighty hand , letters the rivers ami the laud AVith universal chain ; And smitten , by the silent sun , Tlie chain is loosed , the rivers run , Tlie lands are free again . —A . Q . R ,

BROTHERLY LOA E . In a communication from the Grand Lodge of " Ancient" Masons , held at the Crown and A . nchor Tavern , Strand , December 27 th , 1794 , is the folloAving letter from a North American Lodge , Avhich will be read Avith interest at the present time : —¦

^ " West Jersey , Highlands , July 23 , 1779 . "Brethren , — -When the ambition of monarchs , or jarring interests of contending States , call forth their subjects to Avar , as Masons AVO are disarmed of that resentment which stimulates to undistinguished desolation , and , however our political sentiments may

impel us iu the publick dispute , Ave are still brethren , and ( our professional duty apart ) ought to promote the happiness and advance the Aveal of each other . Accept , therefore , at the hands of a brother , the constitution of the Lodge Unity ( No . 18 ) , to be held in the 17 th British Regiment , which your late misfortunes have put in my power to restore to you .

I am , your brother and obedient servant , " SAMUEL II . PARSONS . "W . DAVIDSON , Sec . " To Master and Wardens of Lodge Unity ( No . 18 ) , on tho Registry of England . " —A . W . THE TROWEL .

In The Frecmasonsl library , by Samuel Cole , P . M ., published ' at Baltimore , U . S ., in 1826 , the following remarks occur Avith reference to the working tools of a M . M . -. — " Mr . Preston says the working tools of a Master Mason are all the implements of Masonry indiscriminately , but more especially the trowel , and

our indefatigable Brother Webb , thus elucidates its spiritual use . ' The troAvel is an instrument made use of by operative masons , to spread the cement which unites the building into one common mass , but we , as free and accepted Masons , are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection —that cement which unites us into one sacred band

Masonic Notes And Queries.

or society of friends and brothers , among Avhom no contention should ever exist , but that noble contention , or rather emulation , of who best can work , or best agree !'" In some observations upon the degree of " Select Master" —a degree AA'hich the Avriter styles "the key to the IT . R . A . "—the troAvel is thus

mentioned , " The officers of this degree represent K . S ., H . K . T ., and H . A . B ., the Conductor of the Works , tho Captain of K . S's Guard , and his Grand Steward . The working tool is a troAvel . " - —A . W .

MASONIC EMBLEMS . The American work before alluded to ( Cole's Freemasons' library ) contains a series of illustrations of the various Masonic emblems . These are the Pot of Incense ; the Bee-hive ; the " Book of Constitutions" guarded by the Tyler ' s Sword ; the Sivord

, pointed to a Naked Heart ; the All-seeing Eye ; the Anchor and Ark ; the Eorty-seventh . Problem of Euclid ; the Ilonr-glnss , the Scythe , and the Three Steps . I shall be glad to furnish the illustrations , should they be deemed sufficientl y interesting to the readers of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . The book

from AA'hich I quote is rarely to be met with in this country . —A W . —[ Our brother is thanked , hut Ave haA'e many such illustrations . ]

THE BEAUTIFUL . Beauty is one of the symbolic columns AA'hich suppart the edifice of Ereemasonry . And why is it so ? Let him Avho asks , read these lines , Avhich show us , with a poet ' s eloquence , how the beautiful should be scattered abroad over all God ' s earth , and interweave itself with all that is wise , and holy , and grand .

Scatter the germs of the beautiful ! By tbe wayside let them full , That the rose may spring by tlie cottage gate , And the vine on the garden wall ; Cover the rough and the rude of earth AVItli a veil of leaves and flowers , And mark with the opening hud ancl cup The march of summer hours .

Scatter tlie germs of the beautiful In the holy shrine of home ; Let the pure , ancl the fair , ancl the graceful there In the loveliest lustre come . Leave not a trace of deformity In tlie temple of the heart , But gather about its earth the gems Of nature ancl of art .

Scatter the germs of the beautiful In the temples of our God—The God who starred th' uplifted sky And flowered tlie trampled sod ; Wlieii lie built a temple for Himself , And a home for His priestly race , He reared each arch in symmetry , And curved each line in grace .

Scatter the germs of the beautiful In the depths of the human soul ; They shall bud and blossom , and bear the fruit While the endless ages roll . Plant with the flowers of charity The portals of the tomb , And the fair and the pure about thy path In Paradise shall bloom . —A . Q . R .

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ADVEHSITY overcome" is the highest glory ; and , willingly undergone , the greatest virtue . Sufferings are but the trial o gallant spirits .