Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

MASONIC HONORS IN FOREIGN LODGES . In a curious hook belonging to the library of the late Bro . Comte de Falkenberg , 33 ° , and which is the regulations of the ancient Lodge of the Freres Reunis , at Toumay , is the whole system of Masonic honours according to tbe French and A . and A .

systems . A detail may be interesting . G-. M . —Deputations of 9 br . with lights , ! and preceded by two D . C , who introduce the G-. M . under the arch of steel to the foot of the pedestal , gavels sounding , all the brethren standing , sword in hand , and to order . Tbe W . M . comes forwardpresents

, the gavel , and conducts tbe G-. M . to the throne , amidst a salute . Deputies of the G-. L . —The same . If the deputation cousists of three members , three gavels are offered to them .

D . G . M . and Special Representatives of tbe G . M . — The same , but seven deputies . Other G . Officers . —The same , but a deputation of five . The gavels will only be offered to G-. Officers of superior rank . G . M . and Deputations of Foreign G . L . —The same , but without gavel .

A W . M . of Lodge and Deputations . —The same . W . M . of the Lodge itself ( unless he declines to accept honours ) . —Deputation of seven , two D . O ., arch of steel , gavels sounding , brethren standing to order . .

The P . M . —Deputation of three , one D . C ., arch of steel , gavels sounding , brethren standing to order . The Wardens , introduced by the D . G ( two ) . Brethren standiug to order till they take their seats . Brethren possessing the higher degrees to be received according to their rank , but the gavel only to be offered to a Bro . visitor .

Eose Croix , 18 th Degree . —A D . C . with a deputation of three brethren with lights , and to be introduced under the arch of steel , gavels sounding , and placed in the east , all the brethren standing and to order .

Knight of the East and West , 17 th Degree , or Ecossais , 9 th Degree . —A D . C . and a Bro . with a light . At his entrance two brethren will form the arch of steel , all the brethren standing and to order , except those who possess higher degrees . Elect , 7 th Degree . —The same , but no arch of steel . Members of the 18 th or superior degrees will take

their seats in the east , members of the lower degrees at the head of their respective columns . Visitor holding only Craft degrees to be introduced hy a D . C , all the brethren of the same or lower degrees standing to order . —B . Y .

INTERVALS OI ? DEGKEES . In the Lodge des Freres Eeunis of Tournay the regulation was , until dispensations were granted b y thc lodge for passing , attendance at five ordinary meetings , and to be twenty-three years old ; for raising attendance at seven more ordinary meetings , being twenty-five years old . A ballot took place ou each application . —B . Y .

BRITISH MUSEIM __ . > I > FREEMASONRY . A list of the various MSS . and works relating to the Craft in tbe British Musenm is much wanted by

several brethren , and on behalf of such and myself I write to ask our friends in London to induce one or two , out of the many , who are capable of granting our desire , to present us with an authoritative list of all the manuscripts and books on Freemasonry in that great and valuable library .

It strikes me that the Editor of the ^ Freemasons ' Magazine would be at home in this work , as no doubt he is a " reader " at the British Museum . At all events , whoever makes it his duty and pleasure to do so , cannot fail to receive the thanks oi " the Craft universal , and he will confer an inestimable boon on Masonic writers especially—W . J . HUGHAN .

OUE MYTHS AND TEALITIONS . It is , I believe , true , as an East Kent correspondent remarks , that as yet there is no printed record of my opinion respecting our myths and traditions . Nevertheless , my Masonic letter and memorandum books show that such opinion has

very frequently been expressed both in writing and by word of mouth . I would on no account separate from our Freemasonry its myths and traditions . Moral and religious tales are not tbe less edifying because the events related have not actually occurred .. No one who reads the Freemasons' Magazineand who

, thinks , can fail to notice the excellent use made of our myths and traditions at important meetings of the Craft by zealous aud eloquent brothers . All wholisten to those brothers ought surely to go awaybetter Masons , and therefore better members of society . —C . P . COOPER .

MIRACLES . Is not the denial by a brother professing Theism of the possibility of miracles inconsistent with his own creed ? __ s a Theist he must believe that what we call matter , spirit , and their properties , were created by the will of the Great Architect of the Universe .

Surely , what the will of the Great Architect of the Universe has created , that same will can change and modify , in such manner , and at such time , as it pleases . Sir Isaac Newton ' s words , "Nisi ubi aliter agere bonum est , " were not cited by me at the ' meeting , Eue ¦ , because I did not consider them strictly applicable , the great philosopher being a . Christian , and not a Theist simply . —C P . COOPER .

REVELLERS . Biother W ., you liken our English Masons admitting Atheists into the lodge to revellers mixing bad wine ivith good . Eather liken them to revellers mixing poison with their wine . —C P . COOPER .

THE KOSICB . tJCI ___ KS OE SCCXLi . NI ) . A considerable number of letters have reached mewithin the last two weeks . The English brethren are requested to communicate with Bro . J . W . Little , of the English branch . The Scots brethren will be answered in course . —S . M . llos . Soe .

IK C'OMPEEHEN SIB ILI IT . Monsieur D ., your argument against the existenceof the Great Architect of the Universe is founded on incomprehensibility . Now , you avow yourself a . disciple of Epicurus ; 1 pray you tell me is there noincomprehensibility in the atomism of your Athenian philosopher P—C . P . COOPER .