Masonic Notes And Queries.

fore , from the _ foregoing that , if there were no constellations depicted upon the ensigns , tbe castles-inthe-air built upon that supposition all vanish into nothing . _ Then , as to the "bey upon the fhould er , " that is simply an emblem of and dignitlaced where

power y p it could be seen , just as e . g . a soldier ' s epaulets , they have a meaning , yet nothing mysterious , I trow * Then , as to the two globes on the Irish diploma ( which I have not , however , yet seen ) , are they not simply the terrestrial and celestial globes ? However , to concludeafter examining these pretended "

Ma-, sonic Mysteries" with the Biblical references appended , I must say that the two are not at all iu keeping . The simple attempt to astrologise the Bible at present being made reminds me of a wise man carrying water with a woollen stocking . —W . P . I . T . CHAN .

MASONIC REPORTING ( page 282 ) . In reply to Pictus , by " an unqualified brother , " in connexion with the office of Master , I mean a brother who does not possess the qualification required by the regulations of the constitution to which he belongs . Under the English Constitution the

necessary qualification is one year ' s service as Warden . Of his fitness in other respects the members of his lodge must decide for themselves . To Observer ( p . 307 ) I would say : we agree to differ . I consider our ceremonies allegorical , and that much truth maybe found " veiled" in these "

allegories" by those who will patiently strive to penetrate the veil , instead of rushing headlong like mad bulls at what they do not understand . I am sure the Craft at large do not consider our beautiful ceremonies " mushroom , traditionary , pseudo-Masonic , " & c . —CRESCENT .

MASONIC PROBLEM . _ Seeing how difficult it is even now , with all the aids to help and oft-recurring meetings , to get officebearers and brethren to work our ceremonies properly , how did the old lodges get ou before 1717 who only met once a year ? Or , how elaborate must the ceremony have been when one man could make another ! Or , where could brethren learn our present system , had such been iu use before 1717 ?—W . P . B .

SPECULATIVE MASONRY . It seems to me that the remarks of Historians , at page 389 , do not quite coincide with his former remarks at page 370 , for "toleration and universality " are the soul of speculative Masonry : take away these and you leave but the husk . The three

degrees are in great measure the shell made lo contain the former , ancl said shell—or the three degrees—¦ was manufactured last century . Gentlemen joining before then , to encourage a friendly society , or to assist at a convivial meeting , merely re ' eeived a word , with a very simple ceremony , for formerly lodge meetings were only held once a year at the yearly festivals , and other trades had similar admissions always before a " spree , " or ball , & c , no men being

admitted but such as were " brothered . " Other trades had their priests as well as Masons . —W . P . BUCHAN . MASONIC PROBLEMS . Question . "When did freemasonry first arise ns the

exponent of the doctrines ancl ideas of speculative Masonry ?—Ans . About A . D . 1717 ; ancl as yet we have not seen the shadow of a substantial proof to show its existence before then . Ques . When did our system of three degrees , each with its separate and distinct ceremony aud secrets

, first arise in Freemasonry , in contradistinction to the old operative system of three classes , with ceremony aud secrets common to all?—Ans . About A . n . 1717 5 but , if a little earlier , we shall he happy to believe it whenever proof is forth cominc /

fi-Ques . What proof is there that Elias Ashmole ( obt . 1692 ) exercised any personal influence upon speculative Masonry ? I know not of any . And bow comes it that Dr . Anderson in 1730 . in his "Defence of Masonry , " neither alludes to him nor to tbe doings of any other 17 th century members cf he operative Masons' societies ? Had these things

. ¦ reall y happened ( which we now see stated ) before his time , De . Anderson , -who was taking such au active pni't in writing on speculative Masonry about and after 17 . 17 , would only have been too glad to have referred to them , and had they existed he could not , under the circumstancesnot have known of it .

, Could my esteemed friend Bro . Ha ^ haa see his way to re-publish " Masonry Dissected , " 1780 , and Dr . Anderson's " Defence of Masonry , " also 1 . 730 , both together at a cheap rate , he would contribute largely to a proper understanding of the rise of speculative Masonry about 1717 . —W . P . Bin . EAN .

RAPID PROMOTION IN SCOTCH MASONED . Tour correspondent who wrote to inquire in what part of Scotland the three degrees are usually conferred ou oue night had better read the account of Prince Rhodocanak . is ' s advancement . —J . A . H .

TREEMASONRY AMONG- THE RED INDIANS . Bro . Capt . Dods , Adjutant of the Norfolk M . 'Utio , informs me that a brother officer was initiated in a lodge wholly composed of Keel Indians some years p . o-o . To . haps Bro . Buchan csn explain how the Bed Indians became possessed of Freemasonry ?—J . A . H .

UNIFORMITY 03 ? RITUAL ( p . 390 ) . B .-o . Boiiban presents his compliments to "A Scotch M ' osou , " and begs to inform him that he does take , aud has taken , a great interest in our rituals , ; but- be ' o :-e any number of Masons could , at present , draw up any Standard Ritual , tbey would require to do of the rise and

know more than they at present progress of said rituals . " To "improve tbe present position of the Craft , " we must begin by telvng the ( milt ; coosequenbly , those brethren who are not " guessing" but ez ' aaiiniug the extant documentary evidence , ° are doing a good work by which the Craft at large will ultimately he benefitted . —W . P . B .