Masonic Notes And Queries.

Grand Master ' s crown , worn from a red and white ribbon . The members of the Ordre du Temple con sidered this to be an unfair usurpation of their badge , and they made protests against it , but without avail . In 1853 the Statutes of the English Templars were remodelled , the combination which had before existed

with the Masonic Order of Malta was expunged , the institution became in the new Statutes " Masonic Knights Templars" only , and the present redenamelled jewels were adopted . In 1862 the Masonic Maltese Order was revived , but in a separate form and with a preposterous ceremony , the . cross of the

Ordre du Temple was again pressed into the service for the use of Priors , thereby allotting it to the wrong Order , and thus stands the "jumble " in the year of grace 1869 . I shall be glad to learn how and when the jewel of the Scottish Templars was originatedand whether it

, is clear that it was at one time common to both countries , or , if not , whether the Baldwin , or what other cross was in general use in England . Some of our older brethren may be able to give us actual evidence of this . —LUPUS .

EEEEATASON—DEEIVATION OE THE WO ED . I am not aware of the definition of the ori gin of the word as adopted by arehasologists , so I merely give the following as the notion I had regarding the meaning and origin of the term "Freemason , " reserving to myself the power either to hold by it or to

give or accept a corrected or better definition again . Free-mason is an English compound word made up of the noun " mason , " prefixed by the adjective "free . " "Mason ' means the man who builds a house—now at least , par excellence , a stone house—¦ simply a house-builder ; the French word for house

is maison , which being applied to their buildings by the Normans ( after the conquest I am specially alluding to ) was turned by the genius ot" the English anguage into mason , the man who builds the house . Macjon I consider is taken from mason ; not mason from macron . Thenas to the English word

Free-, mason , Frenchified into Frank-mason , that is a mere French adoption of an English term . The adjective free was prefixed to mason either on account of the Masons ( members of the building fraternities ) who built our cathedrals , & c , having had granted to them certain privileges which the common

operatives of the country did not possess or , afterwards , because they were freemen masons , i . e ., free of their guild or corporation . The " Masons " of our corporations often included all the different trades necessary in house-building , such as wrights , & e . I reject both the " free-stone mason" idea ancl the "hee-iorn mason" idea . —W . P . BTJCHA -

niSTOEICAL EKEE 3 IASOET . I have been prevented from sending the following remarks on a communication from "Pictus " with this heading by very pressing business , and I observe that there is a similar article , entitled " Freemasonry About Two Hundred Tears A ' ' in the Mar / azine

go , of to-day . As my views are diametricall y opposite to those of " Pictus , " I propose to-day to consider his previous communication , " Historical Freemasonry , " and , with your kind permission , will forward some further remarks next week on " Freemasonry Two Hundred Tears Ago . "

I quite agree with "Pictus , "after a long and careful study of our Masonic evidences , that we never can be too careful in the statements we make and the claims we put forth . One of the greatest difficulties in the way of a Masonic Student like myself has been the reckless assertions of someand the ex-parte

state-, ments of others . But I confess that , in respect of the Masonic history to which he referred , I do not see that it at all merited the animadversions he was pleased to make upon it . The writer of thafc short account of the meeting of the "West Yorkshire Provincial Lodge evidently knows what he is writing

about , and does but put in a popular form the very ancient traditions of our Fraternity . He alludes first of all to the Charter of Edwin , which plays such a conspicuous part in all the histories and constitutions and traditions of Freemasonry . Now , whatever may be the exact truth as regards

this alleged Charter of Edwin , certain it is that , 70 years ago , a document purporting to be this charter was in existence in York . It passed into the hands of a brother now deceased , with many other of the

lodge papers , and has never since then been seen or heard of . Bub that it did exist , and had been seen by trustworthy persons , I know , on the authority of Mr . Wallbrace , the eminent editor of the " Chartalaries of Fountain ' s Abbey . " That it was what it professed to be , I do not say , but if ever it turns up

again , we shall soon he able to discover what it really is . I admit at once that it is very difficult historically to see what could be the connexion between the operative Masons and "Edwin the Atheling , " who was drowned at sea , according to the Anglo-Saxon

Chronicle . The connexion of Athelstan with the operative body is not difficult to understand , as he was the donor of many charters to operative guilds , and , therefore , the Masonic tradition of his connexion with our Order is probably quite true . Many years agowhen Mr . Wallbrace was assisting

, me in my earlier Masonic studies , it occurred to both of us that by an error not uncommon in traditions , by an anachronism , the connexion of operative Masonry with an older Edwin had been transferred to Edwin the brother of Athelstan .

Edwin , King of Northumbria , was baptized at York by Paulinus , Easter Day , 627 , in a modern church - , bufc by the assistance of Roman Masons , according to the old chroniclers , he caused the first stone church to be built there . He lived at Auldly , near York , which in Preston , according to an old tradition , is said to have been the residence of Edwin the brother of Athelstan . That such a mistake and

misnomer might occur , we have proof in the case of " Benet , Abbot of Nirral , " -who was evidently . Benedict Biscop" the famous builder and Abbot of " Weremouth . No doubt in our traditions many such errors may be traced ; but on the whole , subject to the necessary

drawbacks of oral traditions , our history is , I contend , wonderfully accurate , and can easily be read by the careful student . " Pictus " asks , where is the proof that the Masonic tradition is 500 years old ? Is " Pictus " unacquainted with the fact that the old Masonic MS . poem among the Boyal MSS ., British Museum , is fixed by all competent authorities at a date not later certainly than the latter part of the