Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

THE ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES . Please direct me to some easily accessible Avork which will inform me what were the Eleusinian Mysteries of which we hear so much ?—No SCHOLAE . — [ The best for you , that is supposing you are desirous of get-ting a general outline of themis contained in

, a paper entitled " A Glimpse at the Eleusinian Mysteries" which appeared in BlacJcwoocVs Magazine « f . February , 1853 . Blackwood can he met with in most libraries in town or country . ]

MASONIC LEGENDS . "What is a Masonic legend ?—P . M . —[ The foundation upon which a degree is founded—the story or plot upon which the superstructure rests . Many of the traditions of Preemasonry are legendary because it is impossible to trace , historically , the events they refer to ____ any history , sacred or profane . The Craft degrees are overflowing with such legends . ]

THE FIVE SEXSES . In Mackey's Lexicon , under the title of " Senses , " he says : — " The five human senses are seeing , hearing , feeling , smelling , and tasting ; of which the first three are , for certain well-known reasons , held in great estimation among Masons . " With every respect for

so high an authority , I venture to inquire if the tivo latter are not even held in higher estimation by the majority of Masons ? graduates , solely , in the—POUETH DEGREE .

" THE ENGLISH OE THE CE .. 7 . T . " " Eight you are ! " for I possess what I believe to he the original draft of the E . A . charge , with phrases scored through and new words substituted for those struck out , the latter being retained in the published charge , «& c . I mean to show it to you , or Bro . M . Cooke , some day when I am in toAvn ! shall I ?—P . Prov . G . O ., P . M ., P . J ., & c .

SUPPOSED MA SONET . I send you the following extract from " Explorations in Australia , " by our Bro . Jno . McDouall Stuart : — " About an hour before sundown , one of the first that had come ( tAvo natives had visited the camp early in the afternoon ) returnedbringing ivith him

, three others , tAvo of whom were young , tall , powerful , lvell-made , and good-looking , and as fine specimens of the native as I have yet seen . . On their heads they had a neatly-fitting hat or helmet close to the brow , and rising straight up to a rounded peak , three or four inches above the headand graduall

, y becoming narrower towards the back part . The outside Avas net-work ; the inside AA'as composed of feathers very tightly hound together ivith cord until it was as hard as a piece of AVOOC ! ; it may be used as a protection from the sun , or as armour for the battlefield . One of them had a great many scars upon him

, and seemed to be a leading man . Only two had helmets on , the others hacl pieces of netting bound round their foreheads . One was an old man , aud seemed to be the father of these two young men . He was very talkative , but I could make nothing of him . I have endeavoured by signs to get information from him as to where the next water is , but we cannot

understand each other . After some time , and having conferred with his two sons , he turned round , and surprised me hy giving me one of the Masonic signs . I looked at him steadily ; he repeated it , and so did his tAvo sons . I then returned it , which seemed to please them much , the old man patting me on the

shoulder and stroking down my beard . They then took their departure , making friendly signs until they were out of sight . " I fear this is only one of a numerous class of chance coincidences . Last year we initiated a DerA'ish at Constantinople with a view to test the supposed connections between Dervishism

and Masonry . The result of the investigations you had in a very learned paper by W . Bro . J . Porter Brown , P . S . G . W . Turkey , W . M . Buiwer Lodge , Constantinople . The conclusion is , there is no connection . This year a Mollah has been initiated at Constantinople . Some of our brethren among the Turks

are as strong in the belief of this universal Masonry as our officers are in India . The Turks believe , the A . rabs , ancl most have Masonic signs , but I consider this is only a popular faith like that which attributes to them magical power . —HXDE CLAEKE , Smyrna , Turkey .

" TIIE WHITE BAND . " Overhauling lately our Masonic cabinet , we fell upon the MS . of a code of by-laws , a copy of which ive now send for insertion in THE MAGAZINE . The degree to ivhieh they refer is wrought , we believe , in some of the encampments of the "Early Grand " body . —D . MEBEAY LYON .

" 1 . Every member in the priestly Order of Royal Arch Knights Templars shall bring with him the Old and I \ eiv Testament , and meet together in some convenient place , as the members from time to time shall think proper—once a month , quarter , or year , as may be agreed upon , if within one English mile of each other—to instruct and edifone

y another , ancl build each other up in faith and holiness . " 2 . No member shall carry on , or know to be carried on , any secret plot , or plots , against the brotherhood , or country , of our king , so long as he or his male heirs shall abide by them coronation oath , but shall freely give noticeif in their power .

, " 8 . Any one member of this Order , if in case of necessity , shall make and admit one man into this degree , provided him , ou them , be proven true and faithful brethren of Knights Templars . " 4 . Brethren shall not make merchandise , of this Order , but as loyal Christian Masons let us receive

with open arms of love ei'ery faithful Knight Templar of good report among us , being freeborn , without blemish , and who will conform to the laws and rules of this sacred Order . Such shall be admitted a pillar in our Tabernacle , ancl a priest in our Temple . " 5 . A Eoyal Arch Templar Priest must assent to

all the real principles of true religion , which is agreeable to the Holy Scriptures and Knight Season , and believe in all the articles of religion which God hath revealed to us by his Son . All those who have the honour to belong to this Order must live according to the principles of the reformed Churches , and never separate themselves therefrom to the last end .

" 6 . If a brother of this sacred Order is obliged , by his honest employment , or in a lawful lodge , to converse with any wrangling , lewd , or drunken companion , let him be upon his guard , despatch his