Masonic Notes And Queries.

thorn-arils ofthe Marl- degree ; bufc as it has undoubtedly , existed for a great number of years , it would doubtless find little difficulty in obtaining admission on the terms stated in thafc resolution , on application to the Grand Sec , afc tho office of the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , 40 , Leicester-square , London , and l-0 engaging to work according to its " Constitutions . "—A .

. UIEKICAX PARAI'IIKASE 01 ' THE 133 HD PSAEJt . The 133 rd Psalm is usually sung at lodge consecrations , There arc several versions of it , but the following , sung by the choir , at the dedication of the Masonic Hall , Philadelphia , June 24 , 1811 , may be new to some of your readers -.

—" Lo ! what an entertaining sight Are brethren that agree —• Brethren whose cheerful hears unite In bonds of piety ! " 'Tis like the oil divinely sweet , On Aaron's reverend head—The trickling drops perfumed his feet Ancl o'er his garments spread .

" 'Tis pleasant as the morning clews , That falls on Zion ' s hill , Where God his mildest glory shows , And makes his grace distill . " E . C . GliEEN . LODGE PLATE . I don't know whether the account I am about to ive of n

g snuff-box , belonging to Lodge No . 689 , can answer j-onr correspondent's wishes , who inquires for notices of lodge plate , bufc presuming " plate" to be valuables of some sort , as ivell as loud fide plate , I forward the description . Bro . Lord Leigh presented a snuff-box to the fodge . It is made in the shape of an equilateral triangle , ancl the wood is from an oak that grew in Stoneleih Abbey Park . Its

g lining is gold . On the top is a circular plato of gold with this inscription : — "To the members of tho Lodgo of Light , Birmingham , from their Bro . Lord Leigh , Prov . G-. M . " On the edges of the lid is the text " Love the Brotherhood , Fear Gfod , Honour the Queen . " Below this , on tho sides , are , in raised letters , "A . L . 5854 , " "July , 1854 , " and "Stoneleigh . "—C . C . OoopEii .

EOYAL ARCH EAKLY IIISTOKY , Is there any book which will give an early account of the chief incidents in Eoyal Arch Masonry?—0 . A . V . —[ There is . Consult Godwyn ' s JWbses and Aaron , Aito . London , 1607 . ] IKIS 1 I MEEMASONllY . Can . any of your correspondents direct mc to a history of Irish Freemasonry ?—0 . C . E .

THE QUEEN 01 ' S 1 IE 11 A . Ill a leading article in the . Daily Telegraph , lately , it was implied thafc this celebrated Queen was ' of a sable hue . 1 have seen ancient paintings representing her visit to the all wise and glorious king , but in those sbe was represented as " fair , fat , and forty . "—Can any of our brethren refer mo to any record on this question—was she a black woman ? ' — E . E . X .

MASOXIC MCXITIES . The following may bo the correct style of addressing all Masonic dignitaries : —Tho M . AV . the G . M . is addressed as M . AV . ; G-. W . s , P . G . W . s , and Prov . G . M . s , E . AV . ; G . Chaplain , P . G . Chaplains , G . Regs ., P . G . R . s , G . Sees ., and P . G . Sees ., V . AA . ; the Asst . G . Sec , G . Deacons , P . G . D . s . and ah other subordinate officers of G . L ., past and present ; Masters and P . M . s of private lodges , metropolitan and provincial , VV . —It . E . A ..

MASOXIC TOKEX . With regard to the Masonic Token mentioned in the last MAGAZIXE , I beg to state , for the information of "Denarius , " that I am possessed of a like token , which I have had for better than thirty years , viz ; : —In an equilateral triangle , fche apex of which contains the eye of Providence , and the letter G surmounted by a glory . Underneath is the figure of Cupid , ivith one hand resting- on a plumb-rulewhile tho other

, points above ; at his feet are the square and compass , trowel , and mallet , and on the opposite corner lies the sacred volume . The exterior of the three lines have the words , " Wisdom , Strength , and Beaut } ' , " displayed on the three sides of the figure . On the outer part near the rim arc the

Masonic Notes And Queries.

words , "Sit L ' . t , v . ex- Lice Fait . " On the other side of the token are the ancient arms of tho Grand Lodge , viz : —A shield with the three castles , and the afc top a bird upon a ball ; the shield has two beavers for supporters , the motto "Amor Honor Et Iristitia . " Sound the rim arc the words . " Prince of AA ales , elected G . M . 24 th November , 1790 . " Tbe exterior of tho rim or edge of fcho token bears the date 1794 ,

with the words " Masonic halfpenny token . " A friend of mine , a Bro . Mason , has one in a still better stato of preservation . —WILLIAM LLOYD , Sulto , L'inuin-yha-m . LODGE AI / MOXEB . The Eoyal Alfred Lodge ( No . 1079 ) , Guildford , appoints an officer to act as their Almoner , and a good deed of this lodge is worthy of record . Boring the late severe winter , the

brethren subscribed the handsome sum of twenty-five pounds in aid of the distressed poor of Guildford . Bros . Bovill , M . P , and Onslow , MP ., the members for theborougli , each contributed a like sum . —M . M . " YOUBS I'liATEIitfASOMCALLY . " Can 3 ou , or any of your correspondents , kindly inform me whether the expression "Prateriuasonically , " noticed b y you in your last , has ever been made use of before ? If so , was ifc by a brother celebrated for erudition and elegantdiction ?—DiAGORAS .

Literature.

Literature .

REVIEWS . Tlie Economy of Steam Po-wer oil Common Roads , in relation to Agriculturists , Hallway Companies , Mine and Coal Oiciiers , Quarry Proprietors , Contractors , § 'c .,- ivith Us History and Practice -in Great Britain . By CHARLES PitEDEHic T . YOUNG , G . E ., Mem . Soc . Engineers , & c . London : Atchley & Co ., Great Russell-street . -

AVhat constitutes a public improvement ? is a question one would think not very difficult in the abstract to answer in the nineteenth century . When some thoughtful , ingenious schemer propounds a new system in arts , manufactures , or science , which is to revolutionise tho existing order of things , and substitute for " the ancient ways " new methods of progress , when he avplains his plans in lucid and

practical terms , surely our boasted intelligence and civilisation ought to help us to decide whether he is merely the author of a mischievous innovation , or the originator of a permanent benefit to his fellow men . Bufc if he goes farther still , and shows his invention in practical working order ; . and , besides , demonstrates with all the power of Cocker ,, that our breeches' pockets must inevitablbecome full

y of sovereigns by adopting Ids plans , ifc ivould seem thab not only common sense , but also the desire for accumulating wealth , and the appreciation of increased comfort , would combine to induce us to hold out the ri ght hand of welcome to the inventor , and introduce him at once to our confidence ,, our contractors , and our bankers . Yet prejudice and shortsighted selfishness have often proved far stronger than

even those truly English characteristics to . which we have just alluded : the greatest boons ivhich science has conferred upon our time havo had to struggle into operation under the cold shade of rancour , env } -, and the opposition of mere stupidity . What would he the magnificence of London by night without gas ; yet AVinsor was treated as a lunatic , and indeed nearly driven mad in sad earnest , before his

great discovery could be brought before the public . Railways have perhaps done more to develops tho intelligence and to increase the wealth of this country than any invention since the art of printing ; j-ofc Stephenson was laughed at as a fool , or sneered at as an impostor ; while Thomas Gray ,, who may be fairly styled the father of the system and the prophet- of its resultsdied " stooped in povertya victim to

, , national ingratitude . " The project of ocean steam transport , which has proved so grandly successful , and has drawn England and the American States so closely together in the bonds of mutual respect and friendship , was scouted as an impossibility ; tho dictum of tho scientific Dr . Lardncr being to fche effect that a steamship would as soon succeed II a voyage to the moon as to America . Fortunately