Masonic Notes And Queries.

JIASOXi ' . Y IX HOLLAND . If I" have correctly observed , the general form of Dutch Masonry was rather English till the middle of the last century , afterwards rather French . Our Masonry , however , never partook of that wild and political tendency ivhich the French Craft was , I think , unreasonably accused of by ecclesiastical writers . At page 879 of i-our same volume , the information about our

high degrees is not iu all parts correct . Holland is only two provinces ofthe Netherlands . The Grool Oosten ( Grand Orient ) of the Netherlands directs only the blue degrees . Dutch hi gh degrees , indeed seven , were entirely identical with the Rite , francais moderne , working under the ( Mind Orient de France . The Iloofil Kapiltel ( head Chapter ) assembles annually at the Hague the day before or after the Grool . Oosten , a week after Pentecost . Some years ago there wns passed a resolution , which I prefer fo speak of fo brethren only who possess those

uegrees . Every Dutch Chapter bears the name of the Lodge to which it was connected . At the Cape of Good Hope ive have still Lodges , but no longer Chapters , I think . Qui- Grand Master stands at the head of those degrees , but doth not often meet with them . He appoints liis substitute for presiding ancl affairs .

Besides , our Grand Master , Prince Frederik of the Netherlands , somewhat , previous to 1820 , introduced the Dutch degrees of Elected and Upper Elected Masters , Uitcerlcoren en Opper Uitrerloren Mceslers , which are called divisions of Master degree . To some Lodges belong chambers of those degrees . The chamber of administration assembles at the Hague the day before or after the Grooi Oosten . Often the Grand Master himself presides . Those

degrees are not- introduced abroad , nor have they been substituted for the high degrees . I imagine those Master divisions are partl y philosophical , and in some particulars universally theological . Perhaps the making up of them was somewhat connected with the discovery ofthe Cologne charter ol'lo-Jo , of which the authenticity is questioned , especially abroad . Some years ago at Amsterdam , a congregation , Post nubila lux . dissatisfied with Dutch

Freemasonry , and not obtaining from the Groo [ Oosten the arbitrary innovations it desired , established itself as a Lodge , but without any constitution either at home or from abroad . I think the establishes ivere not entitled to communicate what they conditionally had received . —Your true and hailwishing Brother , T . " W . VAX MAHLE , Presiding Master of the . Lodge Le Prejuge Yciincn at Dcvcnter ; . Representative of the Grand Eclectic Lod ge at Frankfort O . M . to the Grand Orient of the Netherlands .

Orient of Dec enter , Netherlands , August . 17 th , 185 ( 1 . HIGH M-XiltEKS . Some ambition for being more than a Master Mason cannot be annihilated . Hi gh degrees , I think , can be very useful if thev procure an experienced aristocracy who take their peculiarities as forms and means for recognizing and assembling , for studying and

promoting true Masonry , for critically segregating the " genuine symbols and proprieties from what fancy and history may have intruded . The amendment of all profane systems for the benefit of society and future times , must be preceded by every brother ' s reasonably interpreting the royal art ; and this interpretation must lie preceded by a right comprehension of the matter . I think the parallelism is the very analogy and inexhaustible

allegory between both lines , the operative and the speculative—T . "IV . "Tv ., MAI : J - . I'l'OAC ' . HED 'I'll IJI'XAJ .. What is "broached thitrnal ? " Should it be in mediieval Latin . lurndla brucella—a little tower , covered with a spire , whose raindrop , as in primitive gothic . falls directl to the ground ? Was it

y a little ornamental tower , for some purpose in the interior of churches ? But how could a brother thereupon learn to work , or thereupon try the justness of his tools ? Is it metamorphosed ' by the French into a pointed cube?—T . AV . VAN MAKLE .

A lU . ASONiC Ol . ' . V't'OUIO . Several editions of the Ahiman , Rc ; : on give , at the end , it ( not quite correct ) copy of the elegant oratorio Salomon's Temple , performed m Dublin prior to 1709 , to winch the music ivas composed by . Mr . Richard Broadway , organist of St . Patrick's cathedral . Uierciipon occurs a mention in . your . September part , 1858 . page oib . 1 Ins music must be curious and interesting . Is it still existing . \ , here and how is it to be found and to be had , were it only in unison?—T . AY ' •' VMU-IF

AVhen an English Lodge goes to church , is it a similar case with a French jury's going to mass ? There , Protestants and Jews are not allowed to partake of that preparation . Is , in England , that custom only practised by Lodges whoso members all belong to that church ? And how , when those members , or part of them , arc inscribed to that church , bnt privately differ from it in opinion ? Is the service on such occasion public and ordinary ? Is the

preaching clergyman ever a Freemason ? Is the service onl y opened to the Lodge and its visitors ? Do the brethren ever attend in full Masonic costume ?— -T . AY . V .-usr MAIILE . —[ AVhen it is thought proper that an English Lodge or Provincial Grand Lodge should go to church , brethren of all religious denominations arc in the habit of attending , without regard to difference : ; in beliefand we have often seen brethren of the Hebrew

per-, suasion present . The service is public , though certainly notordinary ; except in the sense that the ordinary liturgy of the church is employed . The clergyman who preaches is almost always a brother ofthe Order , and usuall y selects a Masonic topic , for illustration . The public are invariably admitted to these services , and the brethren wear the insignia of the Craft . ]

THE USE OF TRADITIONS . Is venturing on risking metaphysical fictions excusable , as being unavoidable in a transition from pretended civilization to the real lig ht of Masonry?—T . AV . VAN MAT . LE . OKIGIN OF TRAVELLING MASONS . In Germany , and may be in Denmark , the fellows of a handicraft ( I-Iandiverhsbmschtn ) still use to travel { u-amler " ) for getting employment and for learning under several Masters in several places . AA ' as a similar custom prevailing in England and Scotland when the custom of initiating arose ?—T . W . YAN MATSLE ,

STEPHEN JONES . In reply to the queries in your last number , I am able to inform your correspondent that this worthy brother was what Goldsmith terms " a bookseller ' s hack ; " at any rate such was his vocation for the last ten years of his life , during which period I was personally acquainted with him . He was the intimate friend of Bro , Preston , and one of his executors , being also a P . M . of Preston's Lodge

( Antiquity , then No . 1 ) . Preston ' s mantle descended on him . and I think it may be affirmed has never been worn since . Bro , Jones was the compiler of the well known school dictionary , entitled . Sheridan ' s English Dictionary Abridged . He also compiled a biographical and a geographical dictionary , besides other useful works . I avail myself of this opportunity to mention that there exists a copy of the " Prestonian Lecture , " complete , the

whole of the three degrees , in cipher , ivhich ivas given to a worthy brother by the late Bro . Lawrence Thompson , who for many years held the appointment of Prestonian lecturer , which was . ! " believe previously and first held by Bro . Jones . Having seen the MS ., and being acquainted with his penmanship , . ' / venture to assert that it is iu Jones's handwriting . Being the manager of the publishing department of the house that chieflv employcd him in reading proof ' s , I had many opportunities of seeing him during his last years ; and . as well as I can remember , I took him—he being too ill to leave the house—a few pounds for

reading the proofs of an edition of Jones ' s Sheridan , a few days before liis death , either the day , or close upon it , that the Duke of Sussex laid the first stone of the Caledonian Asylum , in 1 , 827 . Bro . Jones wrote for the European Magazine , edited and published by Bro . James Asperne , and I think he contributed to tin * EncyclopieiUa Londincnsis . He produced a small volume entitled Masonic Miscellanies in Poetry find Prose : comprising two hundred

Masonic songs , odes , anthems , & c ., and several essays b y himself and others . This volume is dedicated to his friend , Bro . " A \ illiam Preston , to whom he acknowledges ho is indebted for any insig ht he may have acquired into the true nature and design of alasonry . The last edition of this work is 1811 . After Preston's decease , he ivas the editor ofthe Illustrations of Masonry . At the time of my being acquainted with liro . Jones , I knew nothing of

Masonry , but on the occasion of my last visit , I expressed my regret at the miserable appearance of his lod ging , in an obscure street iu Peutonvillc , and his evident want of comfort . He said he had no one to do anything for him ; the room was the extreme of wretchedness , there was a single worn out chair , a small deal table , anil a dirty floor without carpet or covering of any kind . At no period of life was I ever more struck bthe contrast man

my y finds , " when pain and anguish wring the brow , " in the presence and absence of "the ministering angel , ' woman . Bro . Jones had neither wife , sister or child about him . ST . ALBAN ' S 1 . 0 IK 1 E . BHIMIXiaiAM . "II . II , " writes— "In your recent article ou the Craft in War-