Masonic Notes And Queries.

• £ PHE BASSES PIG-TEEE , OE SCOTTISH iFBEEMASONEY . Scottish Freemasonry may be said to exist ( so does . -a torpid bat ) , but , as to signs of active life , where -are they ? What good does it do ? The barren figtree existed , but for what end , when it produced no fruit ? If we are to believe the writers in the

Freemasons' Magadne lately , Scottish Freemasonry , however , does produce something— -apples of Sodom—• lazy professional Masonic beggars . * Where are our Scottish Masonic benevolent institutions for worthy aged Masons and their widows ? Where are our Scottish Masonic schools ?

Where are our Scottish Masonic Charities , worthy of the name ? Where is there a Scottish Masonic Hall , worthy of ihe name ? f

Where are there signs of true Masonic life and work iu Scotland ? To all these echo answers , "Where—wherewhere ? " So far as the production of good fruit shows us ¦ signs of life , Scottish Freemasonry may be said to he

in a state of suspended animation . Should it be cut down therefore ? No ; spare it for a time yet . 'Give it a chance ; there are some faint signs of life about it yet . Some seem to he determined to dig about it ; and with sunshine and rain it may perhaps throw off its lethargy and produce fruit ;

hut what keeps it or has hitherto kept it from doing so ? Is it the do-nothingness at high quarters that is trampling down the soil hard around the roots , or what is it that keeps it back ? Whatever it is that obstructs the nutriment from feeding the roots and thus nourishing the tree ought to be thrown aside .

'Those who ought to be the leaders and supporters of 4 rue Scottish Masonic life should be reall y so . Whenever they are not so they become mere dead weight , -an encumbrance , and a hindrance . Wherever there is neglect of duty with those who ought to be -examples , it tends to crush out all active life . Were

• there fewer leaves there might , perhaps , be more fruit—certainly we can dispense with leaves if we get 'the fruit . For the honour of our country we trust ¦ there is hope yet for Scottish Masonry .

Wha'll for Scotland ' 3 honour dear , True Masonic structures rear , That will mak' its worth appear , Forward let him stand 1 ExCEESIOE . EED CEOSS . I notice that the Irish Supreme Council have joined

i ; he Red Cross and put themselves under its banner ; hut I do not remember to have seen the announcement of the accession of the English Supreme Council , which I suppose took place before . Although it has been inquired about , no one has answered what rank ¦ the members of the 33 rd degree hold in the popular body of the Red Cross . —3 .

THE THEEE OEDEES ( page 391 ) . Will Bro . Hyde Clarke kindly say what is the number and date of the Building News in which hig paper was contained ? so that any who desire may get it . —PICTUS .

MASONIC CHAETEES . As I do not exactly gather from Bro . Buchan ' s remarks where the " 1190 Charter from William the Lion " is to be seen , perhaps that esteemed brother would kindly inform us if the Charter is accessible to students . —A MASONIC STUDENT .

PEINCE MASONS . As I have taken several orders and degrees , and do not mind taking more , I am inquisitive about the new orders of Prince Masons , and shall feel obliged if anyone will tell me which is the most select and expensive and which is the cheapest , so that I may suit myself according to circumstances . —W . S .

ATHEISTS AMONG- MASONS . It is a notorious fact that among Masons in England are some atheists , and notably one leading member of the atheistic propaganda . How such a person came to be initiated is unfortunatel y easily solved . The laxity of principle of some brethren in seeking

candidates among good fellows has indulged us with initiates who want the primary religious qualifications of Masons . There is one comfort that they are not much disposed to contiuue in an atmosphere of bigotry and superstition , but it is very desirable such persons should not be invited as visiting brethren . —R . T .

CIIEVALIEE EUSPINI . The Chevalier Ruspini , so well known as the founder of our charity systems , is enrolled in the warrant of the Lodge of Nine Muses ( No . 235 ) established 1777 . This lodge has , among other notable things , the jewels of its officerswhich are medallions skilfully

, painted in miniature with figures of Apollo and the Muses , bearing each the emblem of some office . It is said H . RH . the Duke of Sussex borrowed one and never returned it . —HXDE CIAEKE .

BOYS' SCHOOL . Although some of the boys belong to a grade in society inferior to the others , it is worthy of inquiry what should be the standard of culture adopted . Shall the boys generally be brought down to the lower standard , or shall the lower boys be raised to

the higher standard ? This is material in after life . Perhaps , though it may cost a little more for feeding and clothing the bojs , it may not be a bad thing that when a boy or young man states that he was educated in the Freemasons' Boys' School , it should be accepted as a testimonial of character and social responsibility , and not smack of the workhouse . —CHABITAS .

THE BOOK OE JOB , OB THE EENANIU PTTEE AT PAGE 351 . Who wrote the Book of Job ? I answer , in the words of A . B . Davidson , — " Regarding the authorship and era of the book of Job nothing positively can he known ; regarding p lace of composition about as little . " "An American Freemason" says , — "All critics