Masonic Notes And Queries.

OKDEE OF CHARLES XIII . 01 " SAVED EH " . Paragraphs have recently appeared in numerous papers to the effect that "tlie Prince of Wales has been made a Kni ght of the Freemasons of Charles XIIL" aud many doubts have been expressed as to

, what descri ption of Masonry is comprised in this title ; but iu no instance have I seen any explanation offered , although the solution of the question is ready to tlie hands , certainly of many of the writers of the paragraphs iu question . It is well known that in Sweden the Masonic Order isand long has beenin

, , high esteem . Findel , writing of the revival , in 1780 , of the Grand Lodge of Sweden , says : — " More than 400 brethren , with the King at their head , assembled in the Hall ofthe Exchange , at Stockholm . The King assured the Grand Lodge , and all lodges

acknowledging its jurisdiction , of his protection , confirmed to them by a diploma legally prepared , and in full conclave invested the Grand Master with an ermine mantle . From this time forward Freemasonry in Sweden lias met with marked consideration . " Then we learnfrom the excellent "Universal

Ma-, sonic Calendar , " that King Charles XV . is the present "Master of the Order" of Freemasons , aud that the Prince Oscar fills the post of "Grand Master . "

Mackey tells us that the Order of Charles XIIL , is an Order of Kni ghthood instituted in 1 S 11 by Charles IvIIL , King of Sweden , and which was to be conferred only on the principal dignitaries of the Masonic institution iu his dominions . In the manifesto establishing the Order the King says : — 'To

give to this society ( tho Masonic ) a proof of our gracious sentiments toward it , we will and ordain that its first dignitaries , to the number which we may deteimice , shall in future be decorated with the mos ' t intimate proof of our confidence , and which shall be for them a distinctive mark of the highest dignit '

y . The number of Knights are 27 , all Masons , and the King of Sweden is the perpetual Grand Master . '' ^ It would thus appear that the Order of Charles . XIIL is not an Order , or degree , in Masonry , but a public Order of Kni ghthood of the Kingdom of Sweden , instituted iu honour of the Masonic

fra-. 'iermty , and conferred in recognition of hi gh Masonic worth . The Order appears amongst the public decorations of honour in Sir Bernard Burke ' s " Book of Orders of Knighthood , " and is there stated to have ¦ been founded by the King , whose name it bears , on the 17 th May , IS 11 , as a budge of honour for the Swedish Freemasons of the hiher degreesIt has

g . only one claas . The King , the presumptive heir to the throne , and the Princes of the Eoyal family can never divest themselves of the insignia " . " The decoration , which is worn round the neck from a crimson ribbon , consists of a gold cross of the puttee form , enamelled red , and having a small circular

¦ centre bearing ou the obverse the number XIIL between two C ' s iu monogram , and on the reverse a G within a triangle ; the cross is surmounted by a gold imperial crown . A cross paltee of red cloth , or enamel , is also worn upon the breast . The Daily JS ews says : — "That the Prince of Wales should have been made a Freemason at Stockholm is possible , but , if he has , Ave can promise His Eoyal Hi ghness that no decoration pertaining to his

Masonic Notes And Queries.

possible knig hthood will be allowed to be worn in the lodges of his native land . " This paragraph raises , in a happy manner , a doubt , I may say a difficulty , I have often felt as to the construction ofthe Constitutions , and of the Regulations of the Eoyal Arch , upon this subject . Does the prohibition of any

jewels other than those appertaining to pure and ancient Masonry mean " Masonic " jewels ? Or can it mean that the wearing of a war medal , the " Victoria Cross , the Bath , the Legion of Honour , Charles XIIL , or any other public decoration , or the medal of any qualified society , is forbidden ? This is a question which very Avell-iuformed brethren appear unable to answer , but which it vrould be desirable to have officially interpreted . LUPUS .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . THE PRINCE OP WALES A EEEEMA . SON . TO inn EDITOH OF THE rnsEir . isoNs' ITIGAZI . N'E AUD irisosic jiiitnon . Dear Sir and Brother—In reference to the

Maya-, sine of last week , referring to the Prince of Wales becoming a Mason , perhaps you will allow me to append Dr . Mackey ' s note on the degree referred to for the information of the brethren who are

unacquainted with the hig her degrees in Masonry : — " Order of Charles XII . ( not XIIL)—An Order of Knighthood instituted in 1811 by Charles XII ., King of Sweden , and which Avas to be conferred only ou the principal dignitaries of the Masonic Institution in his dominions , In the manifesto establishing the Order , tire King says : —

" ' To give to this Society ( the Masonic ) a proof of our gracious sentiments toward it , we will and ordain that its first dignitaries , to thc number which we mag determine , shall in future he dseorated ivith the most intimate proof of our confidence , and which shall be for them a distinctive mark of the hi g hest dignity . ' "The number of knights are twenty-seven , all Masons , and the King of Sweden is the perpetual Grand Master . "

" J . A . 1 L , " in one of his recent articles in the Freemasons' Magazine , likened this Order of Chivalry to the Order of Constantino , but your readers will probably fail to see the points of resemblance . The only Masonic ltoyal Order in existence besides that under noticeisI believethe Eoyal Order of

Scot-, , , land , founded by Robert the Bruce in 1314 , after the Battle of Bannoekbnrn , of which the King of Scotland , if a Mason , is hereditary Grand Master . Prince Charles Edward , the Touug Pretender , believiug himself to be the hereditary head of the Order , as the rightful heir to the Throne of Scotland , granted

several Charters to brethren in France and Spain , and the lodges of H . R M . of Kilwinning and E . S . T . C . S ., then founded , are now , I believe , in active existence . There are now , as I gather from the Universal Masonic Calendar , Provincial Grand Lodges established in Prance , Spain , the Netherlands , India , Sweden and Norway ( of which King Charles is Prov . Grand Master ) , New Brunswick , and China ; aud now that the Prince of Wales has become a