Masonic Notes And Queries.

that have been communicated orally by their authors to many thousands of ladies in every section of the Union , is most fraternally inscribed . " Ifc treats of the following matters , amongst others : — Forming a Constellation : A Subordinate Constellation ; The Cost of the Business ; The Supreme Constellation ; The Landmarks of the Order ; Instructions to Officers of

Constellations ; Love and Light ; Miss Barber of Georgia ; Dirge of the Mason ' s Daughter ; Adoptive Masonry Definition ; The Mason ' s Wife ; A Grateful Heart ; Dinna Forget , Ladies ; The Adoptive Claim ; History of Erench Adoptive Masonry ; An Honoured Place ; The Privileges of Women ; Female Exclusion ; Adoptive Miscellany of Facts ; Losing a , Lover ; The Dead Wife ; Consider This ; The

Membership Board ; Female Mysteries ; High Approval ; Masonic Degrees for Females ; the Knights Templars ; Neatness in Lodges ; The Ladies Excluded ; This is Masonry ; Mrs . Bolton ; Advantages of the Adoptive System . ]

THE MYSTERIES OE THE ASIATIC BROTHERS . Frederick the II . of Prussia is said to have been consecrated in the mysteries of the Asiatic Brothers about 1786 . What order do these Asiatic Brothers belong to ?—A EUROPEAN BTOTHER .

MASONRY IN AMERICA . Masonry in America is , at the present time , virtually defunct ; yet it is but a short time since the following was pretty widely circulated . Having a spare copy by me I send it you thinking if read , in connection with the present state of that people , it may afford some mental food to reflecting brethren . —H . N .

To the credit of our institution it may with perfect truth be averred , that it requires nolhng of its members that in the least degree conflicts with the duty they owe to themselves , to their families , to society , to their country , or to their God ; to its praise ifc may he said that its teachings inculcate and enforce the practice of all these duties , most clearly and impressively . ' Nothing less than this should be expected of an institution which claims an antiquity at least reaching to the days of Solomonancl a

uni-, versality coextensive with the lowest degree of civilization ; which asserts that so guileless has been her course , that in no country , and from no quarter , when a conscientious and enlightened performance of these duties was the ruling principle ancl honestly desired , has Masonry been persecuted or seriously opposed , except from the stupidly ignorant , the designedly wicked , or such as could not enter , or hacl been excluded from her pale . In proportion , and

wherever mankind have been enlightened and felt the power of moral truth , has Masonry spread and flourished ; silently as comes down the clews of Heaven diffused throughout society a healthful influence .

Many pages of the world ' s history would sustain these positions . Plenary proof of which , however , may be found in this age and in this country , conceded to be the freest , most enlightened , and christian on the globe , In this favoured land there are now over 200 , 000 Masons ; at least equal in talent ancl influence to any other like number of men in tbe Union—all more or less familiar with the symbolic teachings of our order , calculated to impress and improve both the mind and the heart . The simple announcement

of this fact , properly appreciated , should rejoice the heart of every true lover of our country as it is , ancl in a great measure dispel the growing forebodings of such as fear a rupture or dissolution of our Union , ancl a consequent end to many of the blessings ancl immunities we now enjoy , For we assert , and are prepared to prove , that Masonry ever has exerted an inlluence in favour of freedom , patriotism—man ' s highest and best temporal good . That in all

ages and countries , and especially in this age and land , the truest patriots and best citizens , the bravest among the brave , and the noblest among the noble , have been , and are , brethren of the mystic tie . Fully to sustain this we need not touch upon forbidden ground , or in the least draw aside the veil which hides from those without the things to be seen ancl heard only by those who are admitted within . The teachings and influence of Masonry are

emphatically conservative . Before the candidate is admitted , is first his petition , he promises " conformity to the Ancient Usages and established customs of the Order . " That these "Ancient Usages" are unchangeable , never to be abrogated , altered , or impunged , is a principle of the Order . In the first degree he is charged thafc , "in fche State a Mason is to behave as a peaceful and dutiful subject , conforming cheerfully to the government under ivhich he lives . " He afterwards promises "obedience

to the constitution , and conformity to the laws , rules , and regulations of the Craffc , not subversive to the Ancient Landmarks—to be a peaceable citizen , ancl cheerfully to conform to the laws of the country in which he resides ; not to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against Government , but patiently to submit to the decisions of the Supreme Legislature . " These promises and admonitions , thus renewed , strengthened and enlarged at every step in the ladderbecome to a greater or less

, degree the ruling principles . If a mason at heart he is therefore a conservative , law abiding , and obedient citizen ; and such , we aver , has been the character , in an eminent degree , of the members of our fraternity in every age so far as their history can be traced . Masonry as exemplified in the acts and doings of her sons is eminently patriotic as well as conservative . To sustain this position in connection with our present we shall only

purpose , refer to a few ot the more iirominent Masonic worthies of our own land and country . It is conceded that a majority ( some say nearly all ) of the signers of the Declaration of our National Independence were Freemasons . Among these was Benjamin Franklin , the first Grand Master of Pennsylvania . Nearly every officer of our revolutionary army , with Washington , Warren , and Lafayette , hacl been pledgee ! at the altar of Masonry , ancl there learned lessons of

self-denial , prudence , fortitude , ancl patriotism . Several of the members of the Convention which framed our National Constitution , were brothers of Washington , its president ; ancl among its ablest exponents and defenders , both dead and living , may be ranken a Marshall , Livingston , Clinton , Jackson , Baldwin , Clay , Cass , Buchanan , ancl many others , lights of our Order , and statesmen whose memory shall be cherished , wherever among men ' s hearts shall be found that beat to the blessings and emotions of

patriotism ancl liberty . Masonry though diffused and spread all over our union , with its lodges in every section of our country , has no sectional divisions or schisms . It is one and the same everywhere . Unlike the churches and parties' which have been rent asunder , it has no "Mason ' s and Dixon ' s linei" dividing the north from the south . All are members of the same fold , learning the same lessons of peace ancl order from the same symbolic teachings . All are brothers of Washington

and citizens of Washington's country . They revere his memory and are largely contributing to the erection of his monument in our nation's capital . The demon of political faction or disunion can never obtrude upon and disturb the confidence and harmony of the lodge room . Could such a spirit having entered into one iu name a brother , cross our threshold , the cry would come up , " what have we to do with thee . " " Suffer us to go away into the herd of swine . " The Mason of the North can never cease to regard and

receive as a brother the Mason of the south ; or for one moment give countenance to any act that shall look to a separation , such as would array the one against the other as enemies . Demagogues may rant , fanaticism may rage , the waves of party spirit may roar and foam , while Masonry in its purity prevails ; and Masons , practising without the lessons they learn within the lodge , exert the influence which as citizens they possess , as they have hitherto so nobly and effectually donethe Union can never be dissolved . They have the power

, to hush the tempest , to calm the storm , ancl chase away any clouds which from that quarter may darken our horizon . They can ( as on the 4 th of July , 177 G , did our fathers ) speak with a voice which shall be heard in every part of our land , by true men in all ranks and conditions , occupations and professions , parties ancl creeds , both North ancl South , saying : " The Union , it must ancl shall bo preserved . So mote it be .

PATRIARCH 03 ? THE CRUSADES . Is there such a degree as Patriarch of the Crusades ?—G . E . M— [ Yes . It is the 29 ° of the Ancient ancl Accepted Bite , better known as the Grand Scotch Knight of St . Andrew . ] BRO . HENRY O ' BRIEN . On the publication of his work on the Round TowersI

, asked Henry O'Brien whether he was a Freemason ( I was not myself at the time ) , his reply was , " yes , or how should I know anything about it . " - —J . How . CHAPTER 0 P HARODUM . Does not'Spes' mean Chapter of Harodim ? Ilerodom , you are awareis the Eose Croix , of which there are many

, members . The Chapter of Harodim died out with Bro . Preston , unless tho nine worthies or Excellent Masters that met at the Crown Tavern , Clerkenwell Green , between thirty and forfcy years ago , was a continuation of it . I believe one of those brethren is alive . —J . How . —[ There is no such thing as Herodom , it should be Heredom . ]