Royal Arch And Some Other Questions.

The misfortune is , we have collected very little evidence , either positive or comparative , as to the history of Freemasonry and the rival societies in the beginning of the last century . These , it is known , were most numerous ; but , unfortunately , very little has been published upon them . Their few records are to

be found in newspapers , broadsides , pamphlets , and private letters . It will take a great deal of hunting in the British Museum to make known to us what may be findable there . Indeed , until we have a library of our own , we shall hardly be able to compass this subjectand yet we look for a

continu-; may ous succession of societies , like the Society of the Trowel , described at page 131 , becoming more and more numerous towards the beginning of the last century . Some of these societies were rivals of Freemasonry ; from some it is to be believed degrees were introduced into Masonry .

The whole history of the Italian and other societies like that of the Trowel has to be collected . There is a curious account of a Society of Artists , at Eome , described by Cornelius de Bruges in his travels . As yet our only collections refer to the guilds , and have yielded valuable illustrations ; but

the convivial societies and mystic societies are much more likely to furnish material . ^ I cannot see why Bro . Findel should expect to find tne E . A . degree transplanted into France , Germany , Ireland , or Scotland . France had its own crop of degrees . Nothing depends on the mission of

Pritchard . It has been pointed out in your columns that Pritchard ' s account of the three degrees is open to the impression that he was not a Mason ; and if he got hold of a mutilated account of the three degrees , it does not follow that he would obtain others . The chief revelationists have been non-Masons , who have profited by the carelessness of note-making brethren .

_ There is no justification for Bro . Findel ' s assumption that all high degrees or deviations from the Craft originated in France after 1740 , for there was previous to that a mania in England for strange degrees and mystic rites . The Eoyal Arch has always been a favourite

-. Eng lish degree , and has not been a favourite elsewhere . We want time and study for the decision of these questions . Yours fraternally , E . Y .

H.R.H. Prince Skanderbeg.

H . R . H . PRINCE SKANDERBEG .

TO TEE EDITOE OF THE FEEE 3 IAS 0 NS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MI 3 E 0 R . Dear Sir and Brother , —I have noticed for a long time a Masonic advertisement in your columns , which describes the advertisers as watchmakers , jewellers , and medallists to H . R . H . Prince Skanderbeg . So far as I knowyour ' s is the onljournal in

, y Europe in which the name of Prince Skanderbeg has appeared for some years , and I therefore wish to ask these brethren who is H . E . H . Prince Skanderbeg ? To the best of my knowledge and belief there is no Prince of that name , nor has there been for the last four hundred years , and assuredly no one en-

H.R.H. Prince Skanderbeg.

titled to the designation of H . E . H . There is no such person as Prince Skanderbeg known to historians , heralds , or genealogists in any country of Europe at this time . Who Skander Beg was we very well know . When an eminent firm takes a leading position in

the confidential occupation of supplying Masonicparaphernalia , it is very desirable to know the ground on which they put forward such a novel appeal to the patronage of the Craft as the patronage of H . R . H , Prince Skanderberg . I may observe that the address of H . R . H . is much

desired by a brother who has not seen him for some years . Yours fraternally , A MASOS " .

Impostors.

IMPOSTORS .

TO THE EDIT 03 OE THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC SIlllOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —I see in the Magazine of Saturday last that a brother wishes to know the best method of testing an impostor . If he will ask the travelling brother to have his carte de visite taken , he would then soon see if the beggar was genuine or

not . We at Carlisle once had one of that stamp , and fortunately he never made his appearance again . Yours fraternally , A . WOODHOTTSE .

WHY THE SQUARE IS USED AS OJTE OI ? THE LIGHTS n * MASOSnY . —To explain our ideas on this matter we will only repeat the words of a celebrated author ; treating of the rise and progress oftlie sciences , he says , " We find nothing in ancient authors to direct us to the exact order in which the fundamental principles of measuring surfaces which terminated by right lines , and amongst these with the most simple . It is hard , indeed , to determine which of those surfaceswhich are terminated by a

, small number of right lines , are the most simple . If we were to judge by the number of sides , the triangles has , indisputably , the advantage . Yet I am inclined to think that the square was the figure which first engaged the attention of geometricians . It was not till some time after this that they began to examine equilateral triangles , which are the most regular of all triangular figures . It is to be presumed that they understood the rectilinear

figure first to which they afterwards compared the areas of other polygons , as they discovered them . It was by that means the square became the common measures of all surfaces ; for in all ages , and amongst all nations of which we have any knowledge , the square has always been that in planimetry , which the unit is in arithmetic ; for though in measuring rectilinear figures we are obliged to resolve them into triangles , yet the areas of these

figures are always given in the square . Thence we are led to determine that the square was the first and original figure in geometry , and as such was introduced into our Lodges . " The square was the figure under which the Israelites formed their encampments in the wilderness , and under which they fortified or defended the holy Tabernacle , sanctioned with the immediate presence of the Divinity . —Masonic Tidings . Music i >* LODGES is not only a practice sanctioned by time

, but one which is highly recommended for various reasons , Every brother who has been accustomed to it in a lodge feels its absence in a remarkable degree . Its omission detracts vastly from the impressiveness of the various ceremonies , and steps should be taken where it is wanting to supply its place as soon as the funds of the lodge will admit . More attention has been paid to this desideratum latterly than formerly , and

we hope to see the subject still more engage the consideration of the Fraternity . We all know how an ecclesiastical service is enriched by an organ and the vocal faculty , and why should not onr " services " be ?