Masonic Notes And Queries.

ORIGIN OF FREEMASONRY . The origin of the modern form of Masonry cannot be attributed to Sir Christopher Wren , because the evidence of the present century shows that it had already taken the organisation of a Craft of Masons , and that the assemblies Avere held at Masons' Hall , in the City of London .

The Masons Company of London has its Master and Wardens , and is one of the prototypes ofthe modern organisation , though not , perhaps , the only one . This is a subject Avhich has not been sufficiently studied , and Avell deserves inquiry . I have had an idea that at York there AA as very probably a Masons '

Company , Avhich exercised a direct influence ; and so did very probably the Masons' Companies or guilds of other places . It is very desirable to have a list and particulars of these companies , and there we shall find evidences , I doubt notconnecting the present system with the

, medieval form published by Bro . Matthew Cooke , and Avhich would SIIOAV us our Masters , Senior and Junior Wardens , Deacons , Fellow Crafts , Apprentices , Tylers , Craft , and much of our constitutions and traditions .

There , too , we might find illustrations as to the constitutional practice of a Warden ruling the lodge , which is certainly in conformity Avith Craft practice of companies , some of Avhich have no Master , only a Senior Warden . We have taken more than the armorial bearings from the Masons CompanyAvhose records are yet to

, be searched . There are , to my mind , tAvo Masonic sites of antiquity to be restored to the practice of the Craft—Warrington and Masons' Hall ; and had I remained in London I had proposed to petition for a lodge in the latter locality . —HYDE CLARKE , Smyrna , Feb . 8 , 1865 .

THE HONOURABLE MISS ST . LEGER . Where can I find any account of the lady Mason —the Honourable Miss St . Leger ?—P . Q ,. —[ In our number for October the 22 nd , 1859 , page 305 . ] TRIANGULAR OR CUBIC PEDESTAL . Should the pedestals in use in lodges be of

triangular or cubic form , and Avhy ?—RIGHT ANGLE . THE PRESTONIAN LECTURE . Will there ever be another Prestonian lecture , or will the funds , appropriated for the same , quietly evaporate ?—STUDENS . THE HOLY EMPIRE .

Where can I obtain some knoAA'ledge of the Holy Empire?—S . P . E . S . —[ The Arnold Prize Essay for 1863 , by JAMES BRYCE , B . A ., is on the subject , and entitled The Holy JRoman Empire . Ifc is published hy Shrimpton , of Oxford . ] EARLY MASONIC POETRY .

What is the earliest collection of Masonic poetry extant?—W . P . —[ Sir Thomas Phillips , of Middlehill , has a . very old MS . of Masonic poetry , but , at present , it is not available to general students . ] THE CHEVALIER RAMSAY . Who are the lineal or collateral descendants of the Chevalier Ramsay ?—C . OF EDINBURGH .

DEFORMED BRETHREN . I pen this in no spirit of detraction . A deformed man may have , and often has , a larger mind than one more correctly made . Still , I always was given to understand no deformed person could be admitted a Mason . Am I right or Avrong ?—[ It was one of the old regulations that no one born halt or blind

should be made a Freemason . Now the case seems to be different . Who altered it , nobody knows and nobody cares . The old landmarks—nobody knows what they comprise or omit—are of no earthly authority , because everything is a landmark when an opponent desires to silence you , but nothing is a

landmark that stands in his way . We quite agree Avith you that deformed bodies are often the receptacles of the most pure and elevated minds , and we go even further , and think it is true Freemasonry to take to our bosoms , and fondly cherish , those in Avhom it has pleased the Almighty to allow His image to be imperfectly developed , and against Avhom the Avorld often points the finger of scorn because they are not as other men are . ]

MASONIC TIME . Has any one compiled a list of the various Masonic times which govern the different degrees ?—Ex . Ex . THE ARK . Past Masters and brethren having the privilege of attending Grand Lodge have said that it contains a

something Avhich they call the ark . IN ow , if it is not inconsistent with the duties of our rulers in the Craft , would some one be obliging enough to describe the same to one—NOT A MEMBER OF GRAND LODGE .

MUD HUTS . What were the mud huts like that Ave recently hear of in the lectures ?—AN ABORIGINE . —[ See any table of synonymes . You may call them wigAvams if you p lease . They are not quite as ancient as you may suppose , for the York lectures and those promulgated by the Lodge of Reconciliationnever mention them at

, all . It is only as we depart , daily , more and more from true Freemasonry that AA e find such interpolations countenanced . The mud hut order of architecture is entirely unknoAvn amongst classical , gothic , Elizabethan , composite , debased , or any other school of architects , past or present . Those who advocate

that new style should apply Martial ' s epigram ( Lib . v ., Ep . 56 )—" Avfces discere vulfc pecuniosas ? Fao , discat , eithai-cedus , nut clioraules ; Si dnri puer ingeni videtm-, Pi-aiconein facias , vel arcliitectuni . " ]

THE TAU AND CRUX AUSATA . What is the specific point of resemblance between the tau and crux ausata ? Do they indicate one and the same theories of faith , or are they merely modifications , the one of the other ?—STUDENS . —[ We must decline to answer the above . If we were to admit replies to such a boundless field of

investigation , fact , surmise , and theological heart-burning , we should be opening our columns to an endless controversy , displeasing to all and satisfactory to none . Of course we have our opinion on the question , and will be happy to mention our sources of information to " Studens" if he Avill again send us his address ; his former card we have mislaid . ]