Masonic Notes And Queries.

part of the Roman Empire , long before the Holy AVars , aud tho times of tho expeditions of tho above mentioned knights in Palestine . " That from various monuments of approved authenticity , the fact is to us quite notorious , that this our association took its origin from tho time when first , on account of the various sects of tho Christian world , a few adepts , distinguished by their life , their moral doctrine , aud their sacred interpretation of the Arcanic truths , withdrew themselves from the multitude ; for the learned and enlightened men who lived iu those

times , ( the true Christians who were least infected with the errors of Paganism ) , wheu they considered that through a corrupt religion , schisms , and uot peace , and neither toleration nor charity , but atrocious wars were promulgated , bound themselves by a most solemn oath , in order more effectually to preserve unoontaminated the moral principles of this religion , which , are implanted in the mind of man , that to these they would devote themselves ; that tho true light , arising gradually out of darknessmiht proceed to the subduing of superstitionsby the

, g , cultivation of every human virtue , and to the establishment of peace and comfort among men . That under these benign auspices the masters of this community are called brethren dedicated to John , following the example and invitation of John the Baptist , precursor of tho rising light —first among the martyr stars of the morning . " That these doctors and scribes , who were also according to the custom of those times called Masters , did , from tho most experienced and best of the disciples , collect and choose fellow labourers , whence

arose the name of Socius . AA hen others wore elected , but not chosen , they were designed , after tho manner of the Hebrew , Greek , and lloinan philosophers , by tho appellation of disciple . " ( IS . ) That our association now , as formerly , consists of the three degrees of Disciple , Fellow , and Master . The last , or Masters , admitting of Elect Masters and Superior Elect Masters . But that all associations or fraternities so called , who admit of more or other denominations or subdivisionsand who ascribe to themselves another originand

inter-, , meddling with political and ecclesiastical affairs , make promises aud protestations—under whatever titles they may assume , of Freemasons and brethren attached to the solemnities of John , or others which belong not to our Order—are to be expelled Ironi it as schismatics . " (!' . ) That among tho doctors , Masters of this Order , cultivating the

sciences of mathematics , astronomy , and other studies , a mutual interchange of doctrine and light was maintained , which led to the practice of electing , out of those which were already Elect Masters , one in particular who , as excelling the rest , should be venerated as supreme Elect Master or Patriarch . Beiug known . only to the Elect Masters , ho was regarded both as the visible and invisible head and chief of our whole association ; so that , according to this ordinance , the Supremo Master and Patriarch , though known to very few , yet still exists . The premises

beiug compiled from the mass of parchments and charter of the order itself , committed , by authority of our patrons , with the sacred documents , in future to the charge of our Preses and his successors ; and being herewith diligently compared by AV . E . Santona , by authority of the same illustrious patriarch , ordain and command as follows : — - " ( A . ) The government of our society , the mode aud rule according to which the flaming light may be imparted and diffused among the illuminated brethren , as well as the profane world , rest entirely with the

highest Elect Masters . To them belongs the charge of watching and taking care , lest the members , of whatever rank or order , should attempt any thing contrary to the true principles of our society . Upon tho same chiefs of the society are incumbent the defence of the order , the preservation and safeguard of its welfare , which , should occasion require , they are to protect at tho expense of their fortunes and the risk of their lives against all who attack our institution , whatsoever and wheresoever this may be done . " ( E . ) To us it is by no means clear , that this association of brethren ,

prior to the year one thousand four hundred and forty , were known by any other denomination than that of Joaimite brethren ; but at that time we are informed that the fraternity , especially in Valence in Flauders , began to be called by the name of Freemasons , from which period , in some parts of Hanover , hospitals began to be built by the aid aud pecuniary assistance of the brethren , for those who laboured under the sacred fire , called ' St . Anthony ' s evil . ' " ( X . ) Although in works of benevolence we pay no regard . " to religion

or country , we however consider it safe and necessary hitherto to receive none into our Order but those who , in the society of the profane and unenlightened , are professedly Christians . In conducting this inquisition and trial of those who apply for the initiation of the first degree , which is that of disciple , no bodily tortures arc employed , but only those trials which tend to develop the nature , inclinations , and dispositions of the candidates . " ( 11 . ) To those duties which are commanded and undertaken by a solemn

oath , are added those of fidelity and obedience to the secular rulers , lawfully placed over us . " ( H . ) The principle on which wc act , and all these our efforts , to whatever purpose and direction they may tend , are expressed in these two precepts— 'Love and regard all men as brethren and relations , ' and , ' Render to God what is God ' s , and to Csosar what is Ctcsar ' s . ' " ( I . ) The secrets and mysteries which veil our undertakings conduce to this end—that without ostentation we may do good , and without disunion of action , prosecute our designs to the uttermost . " . ( K _ . ) AVe celebrate annually the memory of St , John , the forerunner of Christ , and patron of our community .

" ( A . ) Those , and the rest of the corresponding ceremonies of the institution , though conducted in tho meetings of the brethren by signs or speech , or otherwise , do nevertheless differ totally from the rites of the churches . " ( M . ) The above is considered a brother of the Joaimite society , or a Freemason , who , in a lawful manner , by the help , and under the direction of some Elect Master , with the assistance of at least seven brethren , is initiated into our mysteries , and who is ready to prove bis adoption

by the signs and tokens which , are used by other brethren ; but iu which signs and words are included those which are in use iu the Edinburgh Lodge or tabernacle , and its affiliated Lodges ; as also in Hamburgh , Rotterdam , and Aliddlcburgh tabernacles , and iu that which is found erected at Venice , whose ministrations and labours , though they be ordained after the maimer of tho Scots , differ uot from those which are used by us , in so far as they respect the origin , design , and institution . " ( N . ) This , our society , being superintended by one general prince ,

while the different governments of which it consists are ruled by various superior masters , adapteiJUto various regions aud kingdoms , as need requires , nothing is more necessary than a certain conformity among all those who arc dispersed throughout the world , as members of one aggregate body ; and likewise au intercourse of missionaries and correspondence harmonising with them , and with their doctrines in all places . AVherofore those present letters , testifying the nature aud spirit of our societyshall be sent to all and sundry colleges of our ovder as yet

, existing . For these reasons above mentioned , nineteen uniform duplicates of letters composed iu"this form , exactly of tho same tenor , confirmed and corroborated by our subscriptions and signatures , are given at Cologne on the Rhine , in the year one thousand five hundred aud thirty-five , on the twenty-fourth day of the mouth of June , according to the era designated Christian . "Hermanns + CarltonJoBruceFrVUpnaCornelius Banning ;

; . ; . . ; De Colligny ; Virieux ; Johani Schroder ; Kofman , 1535 ; Jacobus Praepositus ; A . Nobel ; Ignatius tie la . Terre ; Dona Jacob Uttenhove ; Falk Nacotus ; VaNoot ; Phillippus Jlelanethoii ; Hugssen ; AVonner Abel . " Certified in form to tho printed exemplar , deposed into tho Archives oftbeGr . and Sublime Chap . o £ the Temples interior , sitting iu the East of Narnur . " The Gr . Chancellor of that chief Chap . —DE M AIICIIOT . "

What I should like to know is the amount of reliance that may be attached to the above , and how it comes into a modern English dress , if written at Cologne in 1535?—AMBUOST-I . —[ We have no doubt it was unknown to "Ambrose , " as well as to a majority of our readers , that the above document has already appeared in print in Barnes's Sketch of the History of the . Knig hts Templars , 8 vo . Edin . 18-10 and the our correspondent has taken the

, copy trouble to furnish is , we believe , a transcript from the one inserted in the appendix of the above work . For the trouble taken by Ambrose we can do no less than offer him our thanks , and in reply to his question we will quote Bro . Burncs , at page 07 of his work , which we hope will carry stronger weig ht than our own opinion . Speakiim of other matters , Bro . Bumes adds : —

" The chevaliers also of the Rosy Cross of Kilwinning m France , own no alliance with Masonic Templary , which they consider a comparatively modern invention ; nor do there exist , so far as wo know , tiny authentic records anterior to the Reformation , to prove a connection between the Knights Templars and Freemasons in any part of the world , though we must not omit to mention that a formal document in the Latin language is said to be deposited in a Lodge at Namuv on the Meusc , purporting to be a proclamation , by the Freemasons of Europe

' of tho venerable society sacred to John , ' assembled by representatives from London , Edinburgh , Vienna , Amsterdam , Paris , Madrid , Venice , Brussels , and almost every other capital city , tit Cologne on the Rhine , in 1535 ; and signed , amongst others , by tho famous Melancthon , in which , after declaring that 'to be more effectually vilified [& c . as above ] , they solemnly affirm that ; the Freemasons of St . John derive uot their origin from the Templars' [& c . as above ] , all of which would implthat some sort of connection was understood iu those days to

y , exist between certain of the Masonic fraternities and the Knights Ter . iplars . A . copy of this document was sent to Edinburgh in 182 G , by M . do Marehot , au advocate at Wivcllos , and a translation of it has been inserted under the attestation of a notary public in the records of the Ancient Lodge of " Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ); but we have little faith iu German documents ou Free Masomy , unless supported by other testimony ; and as no historian of the Craft makes the slig htest allusion to the Great Convocation of the brethren at Cologne in the sixteenth took lace

century , rather than ask the reader to believe it over p , we shall presume that M . de Marehot may have been deceived . " [ A note here informs the reader that a copy of the translation referred to is inserted in the Appendix , as before alluded to by us , and which is the exact counterpart of the document sent us by "Ambrose . " ] UliO . RICHARD DALE . In one of the panels projecting in the front of the Old Town , Nantwicb , is the following inscription—" Richard Dale , Freemason , was the master carpenter in makingc this buyldinge , Anno