Masonic Notes And Queries.

French statutes , though not Masonic , have an evident derivation that way . ( For copy of the charter , see Bro . Woof's work ) . 2 . By means of old members , the Masonic Templar Order has been traced in England and Scotland to about 1740 . I see no reason to throw discredit on

this assertion of Dr . Burnes and others . 3 . We have the statement of Dr . Leeson of the existence in 1722 of the Eoyal Arch , Kadosh , and other principal degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Kite . I have examined this statement critically , and find no impossibility , hut should certainly prefer full particulars from the pen of the learned Dr . himself . I notice the 1670 tobacco box has the motto of the

Eoyal Order of Scotland , and that its evident owner married in 1670 , Avent abroad with James II . in 1688 , and , remaining in France , was attainted . 4 . In A . D . 1769 , Bro . Morin was at Kingston ( Jamaica ) , and in January of that year , in a Grand Consistory of Princes of the Eoyal Secretinformed

, the Prince Masons that from investigations made in Paris to learn whether the Masons styled " Kadosh " were not in reality the Kni ghts Templar , it had been determined that the degree should for the future , be styled " Knights of the Black and White Eagle , " and that the jewel should he a black eagle , and the

degree is so styled in the regulations of 1762 . This undoubtedly authentic extract proves two things—firstly , that at this date the connection of Templary with Masonry was of some antiquity ; and , secondly , that the Order of Templars was then considered a higher grade than the Eose Croix , thus confirming the

London working of a century ago , evidenced by a diagram in the possession of Bro . ij . W . Little , and the lecture of G . M . Dunckerley—both alluded to at p . 22 of my little hook . Our Craft brethren may rest assured that the Temlars are not likelon the bare i dixit assertions of

p y , pse their opponents , to undervalue their traditions ' , nor do I myself consider it necessary that we should go out of our Avay to answer the carping of those whom nothing seems able to satisfy , and whose lucubrations are in some cases a burning disgrace to the cause they profess to serve . —t j Jous TAEEEE .

A COUNCIL or EITES ( page 205 ) . " Faith without Avorks is dead ; " therefore if , in such a case as this , Bro . Yarker can produce no Avorks to prove his faith , the said faith is dead . As for " those Freemasons who ( now ) believe in the transmission of our traditions from the clays of Solomon" ! they will

helieA'e anything . The foundations for the assertion that the present ceremonial of our Freemasonry existed " prior tol 7 l 7 , " as given by Bro . Yarker , are of very little value indeed , for the said foundations vanish into mist Avhen you vieAV them closely .

That Eoyal Arch Masonry is older than 1717 is purely imaginary . I have no doubt the last century Grand Templars or Holy Wisdom companions had as good a reason for using the date 16 S 6 as the members of the St . John ' s Lodge , Glasgow , had for adopting their 1057 date . Pretension , no doubt , had a hand in both , and if the foundation of the 1 GS 6 date be no better than that of the 1057 imposition it is not much worth .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

I should like to hear Bro . Hughan ' s opinion as to what the Eosicrueian Society is , or was , found " . ' ! upon . Through the courtesy of Bro . Yarker I have a copy of his " Notes on the Orders of the Temple and St . John , " yet the said -work contains no proof-wtiaicv-cr :: i

there ever having been any " Ancient Grand Lodgo of all England held at York . " Such an idea is a mistake , and I trust Bro . Yarker will excuse me saying so . Therefore if the said Ancient Grand Lodge never existed , the idea of its revival is , of course , absurd , and the whole fabric built upon such a foundation at

one falls to the ground . More— - ( and I speak as a true friend of the Order )—if Freemasonry is to obtain , and keep the esteem and respect of the Avorthy , it will Jceep itself by itself , for the less it has to do with these so-called higher Orders , the better for it . la factthe energy Avhich brethren ought to devote to

, further the carrying into practice the noble principles of Craft Masonry is altogether Avasted upon these useless high degrees , which are of no benefit to anyone except it be to Masonic jewellers , or others similarly interested ; they take up time Avhich might be far better and far- more usefully employed . Even many

of those who have got these high degrees run theui down : they say , "They are all humbug—money and time Avasted—Craft Masonry being all-sufficient . " I . could g ive a good deal of evidence to support this . both from the Magazine itself , as well as from my private repertoire . There is , no later than February 12 th ( page 132 ) a member of the 33 rd degreeunder

, , the signature of "Fiat Lux / ' describing these high degrees as being " doubtless the invention cf the arc '' enemies of our Order , " and I side with him there for many reasons ; therefore , to sum up , I trust that our " beautiful three-step Masonry , " as Bro . Hughan , at page 153 styles itwill be ever kept sacred and

invio-, lable . It is complete within itself , and HOAV that A has , in its present state of ritual and forms , stood f _ -i a century and a htvf with its Grand Master at J . S head , it needs no innovation upon this now tin ; ¦ ¦ honoured and good working custom , in the , to sny the least of it , rather curious notion of a " Most Brain ..- ; ' . ' ;

and Supreme Grand Master of a Supreme Grain Council of Eites . " These Eites and High Degree are the parasites of our Freemasonry , which suck it ; blood . Unless cut down , they Avould ultimately go Unto kill the tree . These are the sincere opinions of W . P . BCCHAN .

THE BED CEOSS OP EOME AND CONSTANTINE V . ' iiliO . MATIEB , 30 ° , ETC . I Avould much like to know in what respect iiu ; term " absurd Masonic Order '" '' applies to thoabo-, . - - degree more than to the other chivalric dt-g . ,, ec ; i v connection with Freemasonrye .. Knihts of Male ,

, g , g Knights of the Eagle and Pelican , or Eoss Grot : ; , ai . _ . others . Mark , I do not say either is absurd ; thj phrase is iiro . Matier ' s , not mine . With all respect for his Masonic zeal and abilities , I think the term t . mismomer . — W . J . HUCIKAN . BltO . ONEAL 1 IAXE AND PEEEMASONBY .

An Entered Apprentice will find the ensuing passage in ono of Bro . Oneal Haye ' s contributions to th '; : Freemason ' s Magazine , which is entitled "Frcema-