Masonic Notes And Queries.

Never indulge in practices which may bring reproach on the Institution . Never forget you are a Freemason—a link in the chain of universal brotherhood . Never be absent from the meetings of your lodge if you can help ifc . Never forget a Freemason is brotherand

your , treat him accordingly . Never fail to admonish a brother if you see him going astray . Never repel the approach of a brother because he is poor . A Mason must be a " peaceable subject to the civil

power where he resides or works . " He must never be concerned iu plots or conspiracies against the peace aud welfare of the nation . He must he cautious iu his words and carriage . He must act as become a moral aud wise man . He must consult his health by not continuing too

long from home after lodge hours . _ He must avoid gluttony and drunkenness , so that his family be not neglected or injured , nor be disabled from working . " IT He must relieve a brother , if he can , when he is in want . He is to avoid all wrangling and quarrelling ; all back-biting and slander . —American Mirror .

EXTRA VERSE OE ENTERED APPRENTICE . " How great was my maze when I first saw the blaze When struck with mystical occasion , What knowledge I gained , when the lodge , was explained Of a free and accepted Mason . " The above is not printed in the copy of the Entered Apprentice ' s song attached to our

Pocketbooks , and yet a country brother tells me ib was common iu his lodge when a young man . Is it a discarded verse of the old soug?— -BBISTOLIENSIS . — ¦[ It is spurious—unmeaning . How can a person be - " struck with mystical occasion ? " Totally devoid of rhythm , and was not written by Bro . M . Birkhead . ]

THE STEWARD ' S JEWEL . In some old lodges the jewel worn by the brother who acts as Wine Steward is a fish . Is this emblematical of drinking?—4 . ITTRIPLETS . The head of a Masonic document has the following letters thus disposed . TTT . - . P P P . - . T T T . - . E E E . - . et T T T . - . III . - . F F F . - . dots and all . What does it mean ?—V

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

"The " Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed hy Correspondents . FREEMASONRY IN CHINA . TO THE nDlTOll Or Till . FREE _ r . _ SOX 5 ' 31 AGAZ 1 XE A ^ D JSfASO-flC . lfliinOK . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have perused with much pleasure the interesting articles in your

numbers of 25 th February and llth March , entitled "Freemasonry in China , " as they contain a very truthful account of the jwsition in which the Freemasons of Shanghai are placed , by being so far distant from the seat of provincial government . I can bear personal testimony to the inconvenience to

Correspondence.

which the Shanghai brethren are often subjected in consequence . In your article of llth March , you state the Zetland Lodge as the first working in China under the warrant of the Grand Lodge of England . On referring to the " Freemasons' Calendar , " you will find this lodge was not formed until 1846—the first

lodge in China being the Eoyal Sussex , established in Canton in 1844 . When the foreign settlement at this port was destroyed in 1856 , the brethren became dispersed ; and it was towards the latter part of 1862 , or early in 1863 , that some zealous Masons prayed the P . G . Master to grant that the warrant of the

Eoyal Sussex Lodge , which had so long remained in abeyauce , might be transferred to Shanghai ; and no sooner was it transplanted to that port , than this lodge once more become prosperous : and why ? Simply because the Masons in Shanghai had become so numerousowing to the careful and earnest

, manuer in which the principal tenets of our Order were disseminated by the officers and brethren of the Northern Lodge of China ( No . 570 ) , that although lodges of emergency were continually being held , the work became almost overwhelming , and so made it a matter of necessity for the establishment of a second

lodge in Shanghai . This induced our esteemed and zealous P . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Eawson , to recommend the P . G . M ., Bro . Mercer , to grant the removal of the Eoyal Sussex Lodge . Shanghai has now become the home of the lodge , for which the first warrant for China was granted . Last year a warrant was obtained for the Tuscan Lodge ( No . 1027 ) , and owing to the exertions of the P . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Eawson , a

chapter and encampment have been formed under English constitutions . Our Scotch and American , brethren have worked with us until the past year , when finding their Masonic body daily becoming enlarged , they have obtained warrants , and formed lodges under their respective constitutions , and now most harmoniously carry on their labours . It will

thus be seen that Freemasonry in Shanghai flourishes in an eminent degree , aud its influence has been felt iu Yokohama , Japan . The brethren of that port , anxious for a lodge , have asked the assistance of their Shanghai brethren , by recommending the petition to the Grand Lodge of England for a warrant . Yet

, with all this , Shanghai is not privileged to possess a Provincial Grand Lodge , whilst Hong Kong , which from 1856 to 1864 boasted of onl y one lodge under English constitutions , retains the Provincial Grand Lodge of China . The Victoria Lodge ( No . 1026 ) was established at that port towards the end of last

year , so that ifc now has two lodges , whilst Shanghai boasts of three lodges under English rule . I would not ask that Hong Kong lose its Provincial Grand Lodge ; but I think you will agree with me that the time has now arrived for our M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Zetlandto take the claims of the Masons

, in Japan and the northern ports of China into his most favourable consideration , by grantiug them a warrant for a District Provincial Grand Lodge , to be held at Shanghai , to enable them to advance more fully the interests of the Fraternity , and , at the same time , encourage them to contiuue with energy the

work they have so long and zealously carried on . Yours fraternally , C . THOKNE , P . M . NO . 570 .