Masonic Notes And Queries.

THEKE S A AV 0 RLD AVHERE ALL ARE EQUAL . Who is the author of the following song , and has it been set to music ?—T . G . P . " There ' s a world where all are equal , We are hurrying toward it fast ; We shall meet upon the level there , When the gates of death are past .

We shall stand before the Orient , ~ . ' And our Master will be there—To try the blocks we offer By His own unerring square . ' -. " Let us meet upon the level , _ £ hen , While labouring patient here ;

Let us meet , and let us labour , ' : Though the labour be severe . . Already in the Avestern sky The signs bid us prepare To gather up our working tools , ; And part upon the square . "Hands round , ye faithful Masons ,

For the bright fraternal chain ; We part upon the square beknv , To meet in Heaven again ; What Avords of precious meaning , Those Avords Masonic are : We meet upon the level , And we part upon , the square . " [ We believe the author is Bob . Morris . About the music Ave know nothing . ]

XEIIEMUH . This book takes up the history of the Jews about twelve years after the close of Ezra , and extends it about thirty-six years further ; Avith it closes the old Testament history . Nehemiah was an officer in tho palace of King Artaxerxes , but forsook his office , Avith its emoluments and honours , to go and aid his suffering countrymen at Jerusalem . His spirit of prayer is truly remarkable . —Y . M .

MASONIC DEGREES . Being , as every brother should be , watchful over the interests of the Craft , and anxious for its Avelfare , I am induced to come forward not only in defence of Avhat Ave usually style ancient Masonry , but also of those degrees whose history is probably not so clearly traceable , and , from numerous reasons , Avhoselandmarks avenot so Avell defined , 7

yet which possess beauties and allegoriesnot inanyA \ ayinferior to those of our more ancient Orders . I am not aAvare that these higher degrees , viz ., the 33 rd , and even the 30 th , are conferred anyAvhere in this pi'OAmice , and it is with the hope that at no great future day Ave may find Canada , like her sister lodges in the Union , possessed of a supreme council , thus advancing our science to its

highest state of perfection , and rendering those Avho aro partakers into its mysteries the better prepared for reception into the Holy of Holies . As one Avho has taken a number of these higher degrees , I can vouch for them being built upon the only true foundation—wisdom , strength , and beauty , Avith a full confidence in our Supremo Architect ; norindeedcan they be reached

, , without passing through " the valley of the shadow of death , " and ascending those steps by AA'mch we hope to reach the Grand Lodge above . While they are firm in their exclusion of the Atheist , the libertine , the liar , the traitor , the thief , the disturber of the public peace—in short , all persons who are stained Avith vice or crime of any description Avhatsoeverthe door is nevertheless

, open to all free-men of mature years , AVIIO possess an ablo bod y and sound mind ; Avho believe in an Almight }' being , ^ the Creator and Governor of the Universe ; AA'ho can give satisfactory evidence that they respect and obey the laws of their country , and the rules laid doAvn in Scripture , for the regulation of their conduct , and who

are willing to make a solemn declaration that their sole object in seeking admission into our ranks , is a desire to obtain knowledge , and to be of greater service to their fellow men ; and that , Avhen admitted , they will conform to its laws and established practices . The degrees to which I refer carry out in greater detail the landmarks of our Order , and are equally entitled to bo ranked as

part of that beautiful " system of morality veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols ; " Avhile they may justly be considered as the scientific application , and the religions consecration of the rules and principles—the language , the implements , and materials of operative-Masonry , to the veneration of God , the purification of the heart , and the inculcation of the dogmas of a religious

philosophy . These , then , deal Avith the most sublime speculations , the most momentous truths , and the most useful general principles ; while the Ayhole has been elaborated by the Avisdom and skill of ancient craftsmen , and handed doAvn to us in the most systematic order . "While I have thus spoken of the higher degrees in Masonry , you Avill readily understand that the same

governing- laws with regard to their communication are here equally applicable as in any of their predecessors ; and though in these , as in all others , wo are scoffed at by the world for having secrets , Ave can only refer to our text-book , the Bible , to find our Saviour and His Apostles holding meetings Avith locked doors ; ivhile our Grand MasterKing Solomon "He Avho discovers secrets

, , says , is a traitor ; he AVIAO refraineth his tongue is wise , and he Avho keepeth his tongue keepeth his soul . " Among the most sublime and beautiful of the higher degrees , I can refer to none more so than that of the Eose Croix .

or the 18 th degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch rite : for a more full explanation of Avhich I would refer yon to the works of Oliver , Preston , Mackey ,, and others . It is dated by some of our best authorities as far back as 1314 , Avhile by others its introduction into England is considered as co-eval Avith Christianity ; as Dr . Mackey very properly states , "no matter where precisely it

received its origin , nor who has the honour of having been its inventor , it is at least certain that the degree of Eose Croix is to be placed among the most ancient of the higher degrees of Masonry ; and that this antiquity in connection Avith the importance of its design , and the solemnity of its ritual , has given to it an universality in the Masonic Avorld , inferior only to the degree of

ancient Craft Masonry . " In the jewels of this degree are included some important symbols , and some Avhich have a direct allusion to our Blessed Lord himself . In tho Scriptures wo find a distinct reference made to the eagle , where Moses representing Jehovah as in allusion to the belief that this bird assists its feeble young in their flight , by bearing them upon its own pinions ( see Exodus xix . 4 ) . Hence

the eagle is a very appropriate symbol of Christ in His divino character , bearing the children of His adoption upon His Avings , teaching them with unequalled love and tenderness to poise their unfledged wings and soar from the dull corruptions of earth to a higher and holier sphere . Tho same allusion to Christ , but still more significantly , is found in the pelicau feeding her young .

As this bird was formerly supposed to wound its ownbreast that it might Avith its blood feed its young , so it has beeu adopted as an emblem of our Saviour , Avho shed His blood for His children ' s salvation . The pelican , therefore , on this jewel is a fitting symbol of Christ in His mediatorial character . The cross , ono of the emblems in this degree , it is scai'cefy necessary to speak of , since ,

although an ancient symbol of eternal life , and is to be found iu use among the Egyptians , Avhich signification it had long before the days of Moses , yet it has been peculiarly adopted , as an emblem of Him Avho suffered on it and for us . In conclusion I may add that the rose , also an emblem in this degree , is an eminently figurative appellation of Christ , Avhero in the Book of Canticles he is called the " Eose of Sharon . "