Masonic Notes And Queries.

white marble with reddish broivn spots , symbolical of the death of Ali , the founder of their order , who was put to death by the Sultan for refusing to disclose the secrets to him . " Is this the fact?—J . S . —[ No . See a' series of articles on the subject in our MAGAZINE for 1 S 5 L ] QUOTATION .

Where clo the folloiving lines come from ?—P . P . A tower of SIRE - TO-TH on Zion's mystic hills , Girt round with llEAtTir of sweet Sharon's lines , "Model of WISDOJI , drawn from sacred rills , All gift Divine , reserved for richest use : — Celestial Power , him in thy care embrace ! Keep him for many out-guide and friend !

years Endue him plenteously with heavenly grace , Yes and with joy inspire him to the end ! [ They form an acrostic on the name of Bro . Dr . Albert Maekey = A . G . Mackey . l

TO ALL BRETHREN AVHOM IT MAY CONCERN . In a certain lodge there has been an amount of coolness which it Avould be well to rectify . An author , who shall be nameless , has written very appositely on good nature . Put it iu ' ¦ ' Masonic JNTotes and Queries , " ivhere all those brethren lvhom it may concern are sure to see itfor they often read that

, part of the MAGAZINE in open lodge . —A WELLWISHER TO ALL AVHOM IT MAY CONCERN . — " Good nature is not usually reckoned among the christian virtues , but it is the nurse of them all . Sunshine is neither a fruit nor a fioAA'er , but it is the parent of both . What is good nature but benevolence ? It

bears the same relation to religious benevolence Avhich common sense does to genius . Genius is common sense in a sublime form applied to higher pursuits . Good nature—a happy smiling , cheerful state of mind , Avhich will not be offended , and will not offend , borne about in daillifeand pervading common

y , , homely , and minute affairs—is a true benevolence , though the specialities of it may seem small ancl unimportant . Very few of us need the courage Avhich would face death aud carry us to martyrdom . We need a thousand times more those christian virtues

which Avill keep us from being snappish before breakfast ; AA'hich Avill make us patient when some one treads upon a com ; which will quell pride upon petty provocations ; that will make us attentive to the feelings of the poor and humble ; which will arm us Avith fortitude against the little frets aud bickers of domestic life ; or make us kind and forbearing ivith

men that seem harsh and unfair in their dealings with us . " Indeed , if Ave choose to think so , daily life is a martyrdom , and cares aud annoyances are the slivers aud faggots heaped about us for torment . Weariness , discouragement , irritations , disputes ,

misunderstandings , mean pride , aud meaner vanity—these are the rabble rout that gather about the victim to help to immolate him . . "Iu our day , Avithout doubt , it requires more grace for some men to be good natured—simply and evenly good natured—than it required in some old martyrs to

be burnt at the stake . There are coals hotter than any which come from wood . There is smoke AA'hich is more suffocating than any Avhich faggots can make . " He that is slow to auger is better than the mi ghty ; and he that ruleth his spirit , than he that taketh a city . "—Prov . xyi ., 82 . But it is Avorth whatever it may

Masonic Notes And Queries.

cost . It will repay a man in his own spirit . It will make life golden . It is the philosopher's stone , that changes dull metals to gold . It will give men power . It is not an ambitious grace , but it is a grace of signal powerfulness . jSfo man has such advantage over others , as he whom no man can provoke . "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondent * , FKEEMASOKRY AND ODD-FELLOWSHIP . TO THE EDITOK OF TIIE EUEEaiASOJf . ' MAGAZINE AXD 3 IASOXIC 3 EIlutOIt . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your Magazine of the 20 th iust . I find an inquiry of one of the members

of our honourable fraternity , " ' Ex . Ex ., " Avhether the Odd Fellows , at their meetings , are in the habit of appropriating or imitating Masonic usages in conductm * . the business of their Order . I am not aivare

AA'hat may be done iu the Imperial and Universal Order of Odd Fellows in America , or the various local Orders of Odd Fellows of the Manchester Unity , AA'hich is by far the largest Order in existence , numbering ( on January 1 , ; 1865 , ) ' 378 , 509 members meeting iu 3 , 58-1 lodges . I haA'e held a prominent situationin the district to which I am attachedfor

, , twenty-one years , but have neA'or seen any attempt to mimic Masonry . Our initiation consists of a charge , in which the duties to God , our country , and to one another are enforced . Our lectures or degrees consist of moral instructions to pursue the paths of virtuesecresy , and honourand are contained iu four

, , lectures , named White , Blue , Scarlet , ancl Gold . To each of these degrees are attached signs and passwords , together AA'ith hailing signs , grips , ancl means of communicating the knoivledge of good aud evil . There are also signs and passivords attached to the Order , to be conferred on past officers AVIIO are declared

worthy by the lodge ; and the Purple Lecture conferred on the presiding officers of the lodge , given in a Lodge of Past Grands , presided over by the Provincial Grand Master of the district . We wear aprons of lambskin , to put us iu miud of the Great

Atonement , and the blue sash as the emblem of the universal brotherhood of mankind . Your correspondent must be airare that there is neither Masonic working nor Masonic teachings in this Order . He , however , hints that the society cannot be requiredthat Masonry is quite sufficient for all objects of this kind . Ihowever , quite differ from him there ;

Ma-, sonry is exclusive in regard to its members , and animus may put in the fatal ball at the ballot . Contributions are demanded of the members to pay expenses of meeting , and the residue expended in the Avorks ot charity ; but no member , unless in indigent circumstanceshas any claim ou the fundsand then

, , only by petition , and Avhat he receiA'es he takes as charity . Odd Fellowship is only exclusive to persons who bear bad characters , or AVIIO follow any disreputable mode of obtaining a livelihood ; they are admitted by ballot , but accepted if a majority of those present vote for his admission . He pays au entrance

fee on admission , aud a contribution graduated according to his age and consequent liability , and if sick he receives from the fund he has contributed to . If death removes him , the expense attendant on his decent interment is borne by the Order ; aud after