Masonic Notes And Qujeries.

This was the first meeting of Grand Lodge after the union , and more than 200 Masters of lodges were ou this occasion introduced to the G . M . Some contributions to the library were made from time to time , but the place assigned being iu almost total darkness at mid-day , it became useless . —J . How .

THE FKEEMAS 03 VET WHICH EXCLUDES » 0 MAS OX ACCOUNT OE HIS CREED . The letter of a brother Avritiug from Auteuil discusses a matter respecting Avhicii I entertain no doubt . In my communication , " Toleration in Freemasonry , " Freemasons' Magazine , vol . xiv . j > - 466 , it is

said by me that in true Freemasonry there can be no toleration of opinions inconsistent , in any material degree , with its great and essential doctrines concerning God , man ' s duty , and a Future State . " NOAV in the Freemasonry which excludes no man on account of his creed , there must necessarily be toleration of opinions of this nature , and I therefore hold such Freemasonry not to be true Freemasonry . —CHARLES PHETOX COORER .

EIEED LODGES . Replying to the query put by "Jonathan " in the last number of the " Freemasons' Magazine , " Field Lodges have also been defined as Military or Army Lodges , being Masonic bodies organised in armies which move with them . They are eminently useful

in relieving the monotony of the soldiers' life , and mitigating the horrors of war . Iu the war of the American Revolution they AA'ere formed in both of the belligerent armies , and also in the Civil War of 1815 . During the Bouapartean wars they sustained and illustrated tbe principles of Freemasonry in tbe Allied and French armies . There are also now regiments in the British army having military lodges . —A-

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . MASONIC ARCHAEOLOGY . 2-0 THE EDITOE OH THE rHKEir . lSO . VS' 2 IAGA . ZIXE AND ATASONIC 3 IIEEOE . DEAR SIB AXD BROTHER , —At page 19 , No . 392 , of your Magazine , are these Avords" 80 . 9 th

anniver-, sary of the Lodge of Glasgow , St . John ( No . 3 " ) . " A little lower doAvn , J also read , " it having been erected b y charter from King Malcom in 1057 . " Now as there are few charges which have been , and still are , more frequently brought against our Order , than that we advance claims lvlrich we cannot

substantiate , and make use of dates which we cannot verify , I am anxious to ask the Avriter of that notice , or some other skilled Scottish brother , aud many such exist . — -What is tbe authority of such a statement ? What is the historical evidence ou Avhich it rests ? IE I remember rightly , Bro . Laurie , in his

valuable Avork , does not apparently set much store b y the alleged charter of King Malcolm . May I then inquire further Avhere it is now , and whether it can still be seen or examined by an im'estigating brother ? If anyone is anxious to learn by personal experiencehow utterly useless are prejudices and

, prepossessions , how futile are inaccurate and unsupported assertions , Avhen we have to analyse evidence and sift traditions ; let such a one , give himself up for a time to the study of Masonic archaeology . He will then find , as I have found , how hard a task

Correspondence.

it is to reconcile such irreconcilable authorities , as we still hear quoted in Masonic literature ; how much more difficult to reduce to historical accuracy the " disjecta membra , " of old traditions . ' PZZZ Masonic archa 3 o ! ogy , is at the present a standingreproach to our Order , and we seem to grow no-Aviser bthe lapse of timebut parrot-like to repeat

y , those time-honoured , if mythic , claims to antiquity Avhich are valueless , ancl worse than valueless , if not based on historical evidence ! Some of my Scottish brethren may perhaps aid me in this matter . Yours fraternally , HISTOBICUS .

Bye Laws. Bye-Laws. By-Laws.

BYE LAWS . BYE-LAWS . BY-LAWS .

TO THE EDITOE OP THE PEEE 31 ASON 5 MAGAZINE AND HASONIC JIIEEOK . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I haA'e often been struck with the variety of ways iu Avhich a very important Masonic expression or word is used . On many of the railway platforms the traveller will observe a board with the Bye Laics of the Company . In , Masonic documents will be found numberless

instancesof Bye-Laws of certain lodges , & c , aud I am under the impression that Grand Lodge itself is not exempt from the error . There is no such word as either-Bye Laws or Bye-Laws iu the English language . I have looked through a baker ' s dozen of dictionaries ,, aud find the word Bye iu only three of them . 1 st ,.

Ash , edition 1775 , he states "Bye ( s . obsolete ) , a . dwelling . " 2 nd , Barclay , Avho admits it thus , "By , Bye , " but when conjoined with another word ashy-road , by-law , by-way , & c , there is no e in thetwofold Avord . 3 rd , Maunder , Avho gives "Bye , adwelling , " the same as Ash , but he does not say it

isobsolete . In Johnson ' s 4 to . edition , 1785 , which fallow before , me , tbe word ^ bye" is not once named .. On the word " by" he says , " iu composition it implies something out of the direct Avay , and consequently some obscurity as a by-road ; something irregular , as a by-end ; or something collateral , as aby-concemmenfc ; or private as a by-law . " It should be observed that in no instance does the

obsoleteword '' bye" appear , and it is to be regretted that it is so often used b y legal gentlemen , and those high in office in our own fraternity . Let us hope that by ventilating the subject the practice of mis-spelling will in time be discontinued . It should be observed that tlie first method is pefectly inadmissible , thehyphen - or note of conjunction is indispensable . I

hope these remarks will be reeeeived by your readersin a fraternal spirit ; they are made solely for the benefit of the Craft . I am , dear Sir ancl Brother , Yours fraternally , W . M . 1101 .

Masonic Song.

MASONIC SONG .

TO THE EDITOE OP THE FIIEEJIASONs' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBEOB . DEAR SIB AXD BROTHER , — -A few days ago I heari a Masonic soug , ending Avith the chorus" AVe meet upon the level , We part upon the square ; What words of precious meaning Those worils Masonic are . "

"Where can it be got or found ? An answer in the " Magazine " Avill oblige Yours fraternall y , ~ W . B .