Masonic Notes And Queries.

prentice . Altogether the notion of the old , preeighteenth century , operative Masons working our three " degrees " is utterly unsupported and purely imaginary . —W . P . B . FRENCH BUILDING EBATEE ^ ITIES . Seeing the pointed Gothic was introduced into

Germany by French workmen , ( see p . 385 , Nov ., 13 th , 1869 ) , it would be well to know how much of French customs the Germans then borrowed . Ergo —what was the Constitution , & c , of the French building fraternities aud operative Crafts in the 13 th century?—W . P . B .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents * THE MASONS' SQUARE EST GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL .

10 THE EDITOR OF TIIE FKEEJIASONS' MAGAZIHE AUD MASOJTIC MIREOH . Dear Sir and Brother , —The legend of the Master Mason who killed his apprentice in a fit of jealousy ( alluded to in your extract from the Gloucester Chronicle , referring to the Mason ' s Square in the Cathedral ) , seems to be found everywhere . All who have

visited Rouen are well acquainted with the beautiful window in the northern transept of St . Ouen , and of which the " five-pointed star" forms so distinguished an ornament . The legend is thus related in Murray . — "The Master Mason under and by whom this noble church was reared , is buried in St . Agnes' Chapel , the

second on the left in the north choir aisle . His name was Alexander Benieval , and , according to tradition , he murdered his apprentice through envy , because the youth had surpassed , in the execution of the rose window in the north transept , into the tracery of which thepentalpha is introducedthat which his master had

, constructed in the south transept . Though the mas-on paid the penalty of his crime , the monks , out of gratitude for his skill , interred his body within the church which he had contributed so much to ornament . " Whether architects adopted the " five-pointed star " because it was a Masonic emblem , or Freemasons the

" pentalpha'' because it was an ancient symbol , I leave to be determined by the eminent antiquaries who are now debating in your columns the antiquity of Masonry . Tours fraternally , JOHN SYMONDS .

"MASONIC REFORM" BY "FIAT LUX . " TO TUB EPITOK CF TEE FKEIUUSONs' MAGAZINE AND 1 IAS 0 NIC llIIUiOK . Dear Sir and Brother , —I have again perused a letter from "Fiat Lux" respecting Masonic Reform , and whilst disagreeing entirely with many of his remarks

, I at the same time admit that there is much truth in his statement that "AVB have now Companions , Sublime Princes , Sovereigns , " & a ., but frequently " A Mason is but too often measured by the number of jewels he wears , and the amount of money he possesses ; and while the wealth of the wealthy is wasted

in tinsel and man-millinery , the veal jewels of charity ancl brotherl y love are neglected or forgotten . " It is no uncommon sight to find a Mason of twelve

THE 1717 THEORY . TO THE EBIT 0 E OF THE FEEEILASONS' MAGAZINE AMD JIASONIO ItlBEOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —According to a memorandum made by me when reading the Freemasons * Magazine , the 1717 theory was thus described in its columns about four years ago : — "The existence of

Freemasonry can he reckoned only from the period when it assumed its modern character ; and thus , as Pallas sprang , clad and armed , out of the very head of Jupiter —or , to use a more modern simile , as the science of political economy was created by Adam Smith—thus Freemasonry must have been oriinated by the heads

g of the English school , Anderson , Desaguliers , and others . " Yours fraternally , CBABLES PURTON COOPEK .

to eighteen months standing in possession of no end of degrees , and at Masonic meetings his breast is seen covered with medals , and quite dazzling . Now all this is perfectly true ; and , so far , I agree with " Fiat Lux , " and consider that what we want now is " to realise the lofty , impressive simplicity of our beautiful three-step

Masonry . " Yet I cannot agree with his strong opposition to Royal Arch Masonry in the present state of the Craft . With respect to " Res non Verba , " I have nothing to say , excepting that it surely rests with " Fiat Lux " to prove the truth of the sweeping assertions he has

made . Yours fraternally , Wra . tA . it JAMBS HUGHAN . Truro , Cornwall , Feb . 12 , 1870 .

RED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTLY . TO THE ED 1 T 0 E OF THE TEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AUD HASONIC MIEEOE . Dear Sir and Brother , —I trust " Alpha ' s" letter , in your last impression will not be allowed to be quietly shelved . It is high time the Grand Lodge exercised a little judicious authority over the paid officials of

the Craft , who could surely find some better employment than than that of manufacturing and foisting a spurious degree on the Masonic public . Such absurd and ridiculous nonsense ought to have been nipped in the bud , but it will be "batter late than never . " Yours fraternally , BETA .

CURIOUS OLD DOCUMENT . TO THE EDITOll OF TIIE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MllOlOIt . Sir , —I enclose a copy of a curious old document which has just fallen into my hands , the original of which ( printed in 178 G , where and by whom obliterated ) was sent b grandfather ( then Vicar of

, y my Deddington ) , iu tho year 1 S 21 , to a brother Mason at Oxford . If you think it would be interesting to your numerous readers , you can publish it in your columns with this authority for its genuineness . Yours fraternally ,

C . DUFFELL F . VULICNEE , P . Prov . J . G . D . Oxon ; de la Loge Espurance et Cordialite a l'Or . ' . de Lausanne , Suisse ; No , 599 , and J . W . No . 1037 . £ For Document see next page . ]