Masonic Notes And Queries.

1723 constitutions , which I may tell him are the great foundation of our Freemasonry , not Solomon ' s little Temple , that he magnifies so much . As a Freemason , aud standing upon the 1723 constitutions , I can hold out the right hand of fellowship to the Hindoo or

Mohammedan alike , and claim each as a friend ancl brother , for our Freemasoury is alike common to all ; but as for my religion , that is a different matter ; it is my wife , which I keep to myself . I do wish our Indian brethren would show by their actions , if they can , the

superiority of their Christianity , and stop this nonsense as to the only genine Freemasonry being their Freemasonry . —W . P . B .

ART CONCEPTION VERSUS ART REPRODUCTION . " The sixteenth century may be regarded as the crisis in art history . It was the turning point from art conception to art reproduction . It was not a , return to the spirit , but to the mere letter of classic

art , & c . Ecclesiastical gothic architecture terminated in England with Henry VII . ' s reign , aud his own chapel bears evidences of the renaissance of classical features and principles . Throughout the Eenaissance period the process of art design was

reversed . Under the Gothic , and in all preceding systems of art , principles of general structural design preceded or formed the basis of the details . Not so under the Eenaissance . The general principles of late Gothic were retained , but the details

were borrowed . Classic forms and least essential details were first introduced , and ascended into the more structural aud larger features . This process gradually went on till the whole system of the revival became a complete sham or disguise under the Anglo or pseudo-Greek age of the last century . " *

It was upon this latter period that our speculative Freemasonry fell , hence , instead of bearing the stamp of the Mediaeval period , it carries the welldefined mark of its own age . —W . P . BUCHAN . VALUE OF THE STUDY OF MOULDINGS . "In conjunction with the forms of buildings they

are the surest evidence for architectural history—a great comparative anatomist can deduce the form of an animal from a single bone ; by a proper use of the study of mouldings , a building may be dated with confidence within four or five years . "—W . P . B .

EOYAL ALLIANCES . — The law of the Byzantine empire required equal alliances in the princely houses , just as the Eoyal Marriage Act of England renders illegal the marriage of a prince of tne blood royal with a subject .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

Tho Editor is not responsible for tlie opinions expressed by Correspondents-AN IMPOSTOE . £ lO THE EDITOE OP THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR .

Dear Sir and Bro ., —Permit mo to thank sincerely Bro . P . M . 57 for his communication in last week ' s Magazine , ancl to state that I am sorry to say we in our lodge were beguiled by the eloquence and apparant sincerity of the said " Geo . Fred . Goold . '

He visited our lodge on the 18 th August , and on the 25 tk turns up at Hull , when , according to his statement , he ought to have been at sea when he was visiting us . I enclose his letter , which I trust yon will publish

for the protection ef other lodges . I am sorry to say that we relieved him , and gave him a good supper . Such men as these deserve to be exposed far and wide , as they do great injury to the deserving indigent brethren .

How on earth he could be at Preston on the 18 th and yet only arrive at Hull on the 20 th by sea puzzles my comprehension . Yours gratefully ,

JAMES POETEE , W . M . 343 . 30 , Chaddock Street , Preston , Sept . 15 th .

" Preston , August 18 th , 1370 . " THE W . MASTER , LODGE COXCOED NO . 343 . " Worshipful Sir , —I beg most respectfully to solicit the brethren now in open lodge to aid me in getting to Dublin , my native city . I have walked most of the way from Hull , where I arrived on last

Sunday in the brig Isabella , she having picked us ( the crew and passengers ) up from the barque Bonanza , which , was water-logged . I am a Master Mason over fifteen years , and during which time I have visted masonic lodges in various parts of the

world . I have met with some very serious family misfortunes this year , which I will explain to any brother you may depute to enquire into my case . It is too painful to recite oven in open lodge . Trusting ,

W . Sir , you and the brethren will extend the hand of fellowship towards me , " I am , W . Sir , " Respectfully and fraternally yours , "GEO . F . GOOLD . " 102 , St . Mark's , Glasgow . "