Masonic Notes And Queries.

CONSTANTINIAN ORDER . As you have inserted a long historical article , by Bro . John Yarker , jun ., it is to be hoped this will be allowed to be discussed . One simple question to be asked of Bro . Yarker is this : How can the marriage of Theodora Palffiologina

to Demetrius Rhodocanakis convey the succession of titular Emperor of Constantinople , &< .., to the descendants of the latter ? Another is this : How can Rhodokanakis make Ehodos Anax ? Another question is : Where can the history or

authorities for the history of the Emperors of Rhodes be found ? The solution of these questious is essential for comprehending the connexion of the historical statements . —HlSTORICUS .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsillc for the opinions expressed hy Correspondents MASONIC AGONY . 10 ME IDITOB OP THE TIIE ____ ASO _ . S' MAGAZINE AHD MASONIC MlEIlOIl . Dear Sir and Brother—What can be the matter

, with your correspondents , "J . A . H . " and " J . B ., " at page 369 ? I recommend , for a perfect cure , they should try a course of " speculative Masonic proofs , ' ' a la A . D . 1700 , applied as follows : — 1 st . Catch them * ( perchance a little bird will whisper where they are to be got ) .

2 nd . Call their friends and brethren together to rejoice with them , and , airing the proofs , their doubts will depart . Yours fraternally , POINTED .

BRO . MANNING-HAM'S LETTER ( p . 391 ) . 10 IHE EDITOE Or TEE EltEEHASOHS' MAGAZIKE ASD HASO-tIC immOU , Dear Sir and Brother , —I must admit haviug overlooked Bro . Manningham's pretended letter , given at p . 133 , August 15 , 1 SGS , and have therefore to thank " A Past Provincial Grand Master " for calling

my attention to it . Eor several reasons—unless it could be otherwise backed up—I place no reliance whatever upon the " old brother of 90 " having seen our present ceremonies before 1717 , and that is even supposing the letter to be genuine . Howeverthis wonderfulllong

, y letter has somehow a suspicious something about it , and it would be well to know its history , also that it be seen by au English expert . Further , the words , " My own father has been a Mason these 50 years , t and has been at lodges in Holland , France , and England" do not at all with ideas

, square my . Possibly the Masonic scribe was nob so well posted up as he should have beeu . Yours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN .

UNIFORMITY OF RITUAL . TO THE EDITOE OE THE EEEE 3 IAS 0 NS' J-AGAZIlfE AlfD STASOOTO JHEEOB . Dear sir and Brother , —With your permission I am about to make what I fear many worthy Masons will consider a most heterodox suggestion , viz ., that Grand Lodgeonce having adopted a Ritualshould print it

, , , omitting , of course , all such portions as it would manifestly be improper to publish . The Grand Lodge of Sweden and the Grand Orient of France have already done so ; much can he urged in favour of , but little against such a course . Surely it is better for a Master who is unableor ( as is unfortunatel

, y too often the case ) too indolent , to acquire the Ritual orally , to read it rather than to spoil the effect it should produce by his blundering ? It does not necessarily follow that it should always be read . Again , owing to the wonderful spread of Freemasonry , " it is the only practicable way of securing

anything like uniformity . In the hope that this may attract the notice of abler Masons than myself , and at all events produce discussion , I am , Sir , Yours fraternally , A PROVINCIAL GRAND OJTEICEE 15 th November , 1869 .

MASONIC RESEARCH . TO THE EDITOE OE THE EEEE-IASOira' MAGAZINE AHD KASOHTC HIBBOB , Dear Sir and Brother , —As an attentive reader , I observe that the Masonic luminaries , whose lucubrations have for many weeks occupied your columns , still continue their efforts to enlihten each other

g , and the Masonic world generally , on the origin , history , and antiquity of Masonry , hut with a signal loant of success . I give them , each aud all , credit as earnest , painstaking , laborious students , imbued with a conscientious desire to arrive at the truth . But " what is Truth ? " That which is accepted as such bone

y school , is denounced as flagrant error by another , and the antagonistic forces continue their disputations too often with a spirit of rancorous hostility and an absence of courtesy , until , in the war of words , calm and simple-minded on-lookers are so perplexed and puzzled that they seek refuge in the negation of the

existence of any such thing as Truth , or in the belief that , if she does exist , she is hid away somewhere in the bottom of a well , " deeper than ever did plummet sound , " utterly out of reach and beyond power of attainment . Very similar is the ease with reference to the subject under discussion . Take the various

theories propounded by the learned brethren alluded to . Each supported by powerful argument , by documentary evidence , by quotations from old writers , by authentic charters and records , by received traditions , In turn , each is exposed to the scathing criticism of opponentsthe arguments are treated , as worthless

, , the evidence as unreliable , the quotations as garbled or perverted , the charters as forgeries , the records as possessing no authenticity whatever , the traditions as vain fables . Then are added the shafts of ridicule and sarcasm , and

occasionally" Ruder words rush in To spread the breach that words begin . " And the end is anything but conducive to the preservation of that love and harmony which should at