Masonic Notes And Queries.

Worth-Western Confederacy . The organisation engaged in this conspiracy is known as the " Order of American Knights , " and its real object is to embarrass the Government in the conduct of the war , and overthrow the Government , if necessary , for the supremacy of the order . Its professions and purposes are different in different states—proclaiming a war policy

in New York , Pennsylvania , New Jersey , and other Eastern States , while in the West it is for peace . The order is of Southern origin , being erected on the ruin of the Knights of the Golden Circle . The rebel General Sterling Price is Supreme Commander . Yah * - landigham , while in Richmond , was made the Supreme

Commander of the Northern section , aud a conspiracy was entered into between him and the rebel authorities to divide the East and West , and thus to aid the Southern rebellion . Vallandi gham ' s time in Canada was principally spent in furthering this scheme . He had a conference with some of the leading spirits in the North soon after his arrival in

Canada , and arranged for the establishment of the ¦ Order throughout the loyal States . The names of all who visited him at the Clifton House are known to the Government , among whom are Wm . B . Reed , of Philadel phia ; Pendleton and Pugh , of Ohio ; Kribben , of St . Louis ; and Story and Merrick , of Chicago . The result of this conference was known

to the Government . About the 1 st of January , Mr . Vallandigham issued an address to the lodges in the United States , in which lie calls upon the members to renew their vows . He says the time is fast approaching which will test their sincerity . He declares that the prosecution of the war is a violation of the rights

of the States , and that President Lincoln is a tyrant and usurper . A meeting of the Grand Commanders of the different States was held in the city of New York on the 22 nd day of February , for the purpose of organising an outbreak on the 10 th March , the day fixed for the draft to take place , but no definite plan was agreed upon . The names of these conspirators are also known . The commander had a conference

with the Supreme Commander at Windsor , Canada , early in April , for general consultation . Among those in attendance at this conference were the Grand Commander in New York , Charles L . Hunt , of St . Louis , and Lafayette Dealin , of Indiana . The programme adopted at this meeting was that Mr . Vallaudigham should represent his district in Ohio in the National Democratic Convention to be held in the

Cit y of Chicago . Mr . Vallandigham , in the National Democratic Convention , was to proclaim the doctrines of the order of the American Knights , namely , pronounce the existing administration of the Government a power usurped , which the people had a right to expel by force , if necessary—in fact , to inaugurate a

rebellion in the North , in which he was to be supported h y the Order . Each Grand Commander was to have , fully armed and equipped , a body guard at the National Convention in Chicago , for the defence of Mr . Vallandi gham . This , it was thought , would preci pitate the le of the free States into armed

peop an conflict , which was to be the signal for the Knights of the American Order to unite against the lawful authorities , and kill or capture the civil and military authorities . The kni ghts were then to seize the arsenate ^ arms , and public property of all kinds , and proclaim the Government overthrown . There is most

convincing evidence of the truthfulness of this statement . The reason of Mr . Vallandigham ' s sudden return to Ohio was the fear of being defeated as a delegate to the National Democratic Convention to be held at Chicago , and it was only by his presence in the State that his election as a delegate was secured . The numerical strength of the Knights of the American Order is over half a million . One hundred and

fifty thousand of this number are armed and organised . The Order in New York numbers over two hundred thousand men , who are organised into minute men . The Grand Commander in Missouri is Charles L . Hunt , a nephew of James H . Lucas , and for many years the Belgian Consul . The Deputy Grand Commander in this city is Charles E . Dunn . An officer

in St . Louis has a long list of the names of the members of the order , together with full information concerning the whole scheme . The whole affair has been thoroughly brought to light , and the proof of it is in the hands of the authorities at Washington , and will be given to the public at the proper time . — Ex . Ex .

MASONIC BUNKUM . I see the Christian Masonic procession as it marches through this to the upper world . Thousands upon thousands , millions upon millions . Here the crusades come again , that they direct all their hopes to the east and travel towards the Holy Land ; see , they will go back the way of Moriah and Calvary ;

and yet the procession goes onward still , and rises higher than the pinnacle of the earth . I see them come—the Master , and the Craftsman , the Apprentices ; then come the vast army of martyrs , the true Templars of the Cross , the pioneers of redemption , having on them the marks of fire and violence , red

their blood , and then a vast multitude of every nation , kindred , tongue , and people . What a procession ! The loud song of cymbal and harp , the harmony of celestial choirs ring in my ears , the wind of their banners fans my heated brow . They have washed their robesand made them white in the

, blood of the Lamb . I Look higher ; far beyond Calvary I see the everlasting doors of the upper Temple open . Let there he light , speaks the great sweet voice of the great Graud Master of eternity . An exceeding brightness burns upon the head of the vast procession . Bannerand plumeand crossare

, , , bathed in the pure white that rolls down its ocean gulf of living purity . I see them no more . —Maffitfs Oration . 9 i

MASONIC LITERATURE . The literature of Masonry preseuta a theme for consideration which claims the interest of every intelligent Craftsman . It should be estimated according to its importance hy every member of the Order . There is no doubt that we have made great advances in this department of our study within the past few

years . It is clearly evident that there are , proportionahly , more readers and students of Masonic works now than there ever were at any former period of our history . The evidence of this fact is found in the increased and increasing demand for Masonic publications . It were well that this good work should go on , and that the desire for reading and instruction should be encouraged and increased everywhere . One of the surest methods of elevating the