Masonic Notes And Queries.

THE SACRED NUMBERS . Dr . Dalcho , at the end of his manifestos , says we " saluteyon by the sacred numbers . " What is the literal meaning of this figurative expression ? If it really alludes to certain numbers will some one be good enough to point them out and explain why they are sacred ?—NUMBER ONE .

THE OLDEST MASONIC CHARITY . Which is the oldest Masonic charity ?—E . G . — [ That of the Apostle which tells us tiiat " Though I speak with tlie tongues of men aud of angels ancl have not charity , I am become as sounding brass , or a tinkling cymbal . And though I-have the gift of

prophecy , and understand all mysteries , and all knowledge ; and though I have all faith , so that I could remove mountains , and have not charity , I am nothing . And though I bestow all 1113- goods to feed tho poor , aud though I give my body to be burned , and have not charity , it proffereth me nothing .

Charity sufFcrefch long , aud is kind ; charity envieth not ; charity vaunteth not itself , is not puffed up ,-Doth not behave itself unseemly , aeeketli not her own , is not easily provoked , tliinkcth no evil ; Eejoiceth not in im ' qnity , but re / oiceth iu the truth ; Beareth all things , belicvcth ad things , hopefch all

things , ciidureth all things . Charity never faileth ; * * "' ¦ ' And now abidcth , faith , hope , charity , these three ; but the greatest of these is charily . " 1 Corinth , xiii . The oldest Masonic charitable institution—quite a different form of charity from that indicated above—whichwith Freemasons " covers a

, , multitude of pins , " is alms deeds and is an Orphan home established by the lodges , at Stockholm in 1753 . The oldest in England is the Girls' school founded , in 1788 , by Bro . the Chevalier Euspini . ]

DR . WOLIT AND EREEMASONRY . Seeing your remarks on the above subject in your MAGAZINE of last week , I have bean induced , for the benefit of the seven inquiring brethren in particular , ancl for the members of tho Craft in general , to copy the following extracts from a work published bDr .

y Wolff only a short time before his death , and which I think will bo found interesting to } r our readers . 1 would just observe that Dr . Wolff almost invariably ' speaks of himself in thc third person singular . He was singular in many tilings , and iu nothing more than his avoidance of the authoritative , editorial , and

high-sounding "We . " Tbe extracts are taken from ( " Travels and Adventures of Dr . Wolff , " published in I 860 . —G . B ., D . — " Caviglia was a Genoese captain of a merchant vessel . He went to Egypt , and spent the greater part of his days in thc Pyramids , and found most mighty monuments of ancient timewhich

, he sent to the British Museum . His great study was the Bible , especially the OJd Testament . He compared the contents of it with the existing monuments iu the Pyramids and with the ancient history of that country ; and came to the conclusion that thc Pyramids of Egypt had not been the sepulchres of ancient

kings , but colleges in which Freemasomy was taught aud practised—in fact , that they had been lodges for Freemasons and ancient mysteries . With respect to science and theology lie said that the system of reserve must he used . Tlie deacon is not allowed to speak as much ou religion as the priest , and the priest

Masonic Notes And Queries.

not so much as the bishop , and the bishop not so much as the archbishop , ancl the archbishop not so much as the Pope . AVhen Wolff asked him the reason of all this , his reply was simply ( after looking first around him as if he was watched by an unseen spirit ) 'In the temple of Solomon were two pillars —the name of the

one was Jachin , and Boaz was the name of the other . ' When Wolff asked him to explain he merely replied , ' Piu non vi posso dire' ( more I cannot tell you ) . Wolff , at that time , thought that all this was absurdity , and told Caviglia so . But now Wolff understands tlie whole reason for this mystical answerand

, Caviglia was quite right not to tell it . And though Wolff knows now what prevented Caviglia from speaking : -. re plain !} - , he can himself only repeat to the reader the same words , 'Piu non vi posso dire . ' Once Wolff asked his friend how old he was . Caviglia replied , 'Four times fifteen . ' When Wolff asked him

why he replied in this way , lie answered , ' Piu non , ' & c . And so Wolff must again say to the reader , although he knows thc reason of that reply . Caviglia also oue day asked Wolff where he came from , and whither he was going ? Wolff said lie came from England and was going to Jerusalem . Cavi glia said it was

not the answer he expected . Wolff asked what answer , then , he must give ? Caviglia replied that he must find out ; and ho has since found out the expected answer , but cannot tell it toothers . " * * * * "Suliman Pacha said Freemasonry is to be found in chap . iv . of Eevelalions . Wolff distinctly knows to whicli verse lie alluded , which every good Free and Accepted Mason will immediately find out . "

THE ORDINANCES OE STRASBOURG . It is reported that Erwin of Steinbaeh , when commencing the Cathedral of Strasbourg , founded in that city a lodge , which was the centre and model of other lodges in Europe . The heads of the lodges , established after the plan set them , assembled at Eatisbon

on the 25 th of April , 1-1-59 , and drew up an act of incorporation , which instituted in perpetuity the Lodge of Strasbourg as tho chief lodge , and its president the Grand Master of Freemasons in Germau } r . Tins ivas formally sanctioned by the Emperor Maximilian in the year 1-1-98 and was afterwards ratified

, by the Emperor Charles the T . und Ferdinand the I . These Ordinances , renewed and revised , were printed iu the year loki ' -f Will some brother kindly communicate the ori ginals or a translation?—STUDENS .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is nol responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . A WOED OE TWO IN FAYOUE OF "THE POLITE LETTEE WBITEB . "

TO -jri : rmTOK OF THK nii-: _ :.-. _ so _ .- : r _[ . _ GIZIXI _ AXD M _ . _ .-IC iimnos . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It was with much surprise , not unmingled with regret , that I read in last week ' s number a letter signed " A Lover of Plain English , " iu which the writer says that , although not a Steward at tlie forthcoming anniversary of the

Freemasons' Girls' School , he received three separate packets of circulars relating to that Festival ; and in tho fulness of his wrath he proceeds to criticise the