Masonry Among The Indians.

MASONRY AMONG THE INDIANS .

Among the Oherokees , Choctaws , Chickasaws , Creeks , Seminoles , and other American Indian tribes there has existed from time immemorial a secret fraternity of sworn friends , having signs , tokens , and words known only to themselves and confined to the male population . The form of initiation is said to be

simple , but their obligations to each ' other are held to be of the most solemn and binding nature through life . If one of the fraternity is in danger or trouble , his claim for protection or aid of his brethren is not to be disregarded ; and if at any time flight from enemies becomes necessary , he is at liberty to mount

the horse of a brother and flee from his persecutors . Indian Freemasons say that there is enough in the ceremonies and obligations of this fraternity to justify the conclusion that it had a genuine Masonic origin , though at what period it is impossible to determine . An instance is related bJudge Field of the

Cheroy kee nation , wherein a party of United States Commissioners sent to treat with the Seminoles in ' Florida early in the present century when surrounded by enraged savages and about to be put to death , were saved by a half-breed attached to the commission , who gave the mystic sign of the fraternity ,

which in a moment turned the fury of the savages into the warmest demonstrations of friendship . Another peculiar and striking feature of this Indian fraternity is found in the fact that in starting out upon the hunt or war-path , the Indians form in groups of throefiveancl sevenwho on such occasions

, , , adhere to one another , even to death . The mystic numbers—three , five , and seven—are traditional numbers , ancl are adhered to with the most scrupulous fidelity .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

MASONIC CHAETEES . Can Bro . Buehan give any proof that the Charter of William the Lion was to Masons , ancl not to certain clerics to he sent to collect funds for the building ? In fact , that this charter was neither more nor less than a royal advertisement for getting money

for the Glasgow monks . Upon carefully studying the charter , this is my opinion . The purpose for which the charter is granted is the collecting not expending funds , and nothing is said as to the builders . —A . O . HAYE . THE coKiNxniAN OEDEE ( page 300 ) .

Bro . Anthony Oneal Haye differs with me in every view I have expressed in regard to architecture . Well , suppose he does , that does not prove that I am wrong . The words "in every view , " I am afraid , show that there is something wrong with the spectacles—the glasses require a little rubbing . I

am afraid that Bro . Haye is not so well posted up as he might he in the history of the "origin " of the three Orders , or he would not differ with every view contained in the remarks at page 251 . However , I will look over carefully what has been said in the Magazine , pro and con , ancl give my verdict about Corinthian Order , or the "Three Grand Pillars , " next week if possible . —PICTUS .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

" SCOTCH . " We cannot agree with " W . P . B . " in concluding that to apply " Scotch " ancl " Scotchmen " to natives of Scotland is " both vulgar ancl incorrect . " The fact ; that in the English language there is the verb " scotch " does not affect the proper use of the

adjective " Scotch , " any more than the existence of another English word , " scot" ( a payment ) , can interfere with "Scot" being applied to indicate the nationality of a man born in Scotland . In support of his dictum , " W . P . B . " quotes . —

" Scots , wlia hae wi '( Wallace bled ; " but , as an impartial critic , he ought to have gone farther , and drawn from the same source proofs of the bard's incorrectness of expression ancl vulgarity in his use of the adjective " Scotch . " These will be found in " The Author ' s Earnest Cry and Prayer to the ScotcJi Representatives in the House of Commons ; " in his lines " On a Scotch Bard , gone to the West Indies ; " " On Scotch Drink : "—

" 0 thou , my Muse ! giud auld Scotch Drink : ' and in "Tarn o' Shanter ""AA e think na on the lang Scotch miles . " Nor did Burns hesitate to ring the changes on " Scotch " and " Scots . "

"I'll pledge my aitli in guid braid Scotch . " occurs in his "Earnest Cry ; " while in " The Brigs o' Ayr '' a line runs thus : —• "In plain braid Scots hold forth a plain braid story . " In his Dedication , addressed to fche members of the Caledonian Hunthe styles himself a Scottish Bare !;

, and the adjective here used occurs frequently throughout his writings . " Scot " and " Scotchman " are synonymous ; the former may be more in favour with writers than the latter , but both are , we think , proper to be used , ancl that in the sense objected to \ -r by " W . P . B . " —D . MUEBAY LYOIT .

, MASONIC OUAETJEES . If Bro . " W . P . Buehan will look more closely , he ancl his learned authority will see that my remarks had no reference to the question of Scotch Charters , being written in Anglo-Saxon or in Norman-French ; but to the question Avhether any alleged charters oi a guild could have any example or exemplar other

than the two sources of Anglo-Saxon formulas in the early period , or of Norman ( that is French or confcinental ) in a later period . This his learned chartologist will not , I think , deny ; ancl , this being so , we must seek for internal evidence as to the anthentieitv

ot any alleged guild charter fco contemporary English . French , and Flemish documents , with any aid wo can get from Italian . It is to be apprehended thai , ai . bjected to such a test , the alleged charters Aviii break down , even , if the Avritingand parchment be apparently authentic . In fact , the real question is practically so answered by Bro . Buehan and liis authority . —IL'Y .

SCOTCH . Surely Bro . Buehan must know that Scotsmen go about in kilts incessantly tapping mulls ami whisky casks . Every one must know bettor than tho inhabitants how to spell the popular name . There never Avas such a work as "The Scots Magazine . " They must be very ignorant in Glasgow- Is Glasgow hi England ? and is Scotland the capital of Edinburgh ? —A . 0 . HAYE .