Masonic Notes And Queries.

the nature of their Masonic obligations , and the duties which they , as Masons , owe to their brethren , the members of the mystic tie , as well as to their fellow-citizens at large . It certainly is not the province of Masonry to countenance agitation which will cause a conflict between man and man , and consequently the Freemason who does aid in any way to

keep up a strife or produce antagonistic or hostile feelings between the members of our common confederacy , violates his obligations as a Mason , and inflicts serious injury upon the Institution . Harmony is the basis of our Order ; that harmony Avhich results from obedience to the law contained in the

first great light , which commands us to 'love our neighbour as ourselves . ' If Ave , as Masons , contribute in . any way , by word , thought , or deed , to stimulate passions already aroused , —to encourage by offensive or defensive controversy the hostile feelings alreadovermuch excitedwe act in direct opposition

y , to the teachings of Ereemasonry , and give the lie diz'ect to the statement made in our application , as to the motives which influenced us to desire to be initiated into the mysteries of the Order . It is not necessary for us to prompt the true and intelligent Freemason what his duties are

as a man , a citizen , and a member of our fraternity , under the peculiar circumstances of the agitated mind of the people of this favoured Union . It is , however , certain that as we pretend that the members of the Order compose the moral and the intelligent men in every community , that as Masons they can and ought to exert an influence among the people in the communities where they live , that will tend to

peace , and discourage the elements of strife . If Freemasonry has no influence in opposing discordno influence in preventing antagonism between the several branches of the same family—no influence in counteracting sentiments of a hostile nature between man and man—no influence to promote kindly and genial feelings—no influence to stem the current of

violent and passionate controversy—no influence to allay strife , thenweshow ourselves in false colours to the world , our obligations are all in vain ; the teachings of the Order are adeceit , andwearenotonlydeceivedourselves , but we perpetuate the deceit in deceiving others . If Freemasonry , extending throughout eA ery

ramification of the country , is powerless in preventing the members of the same family from the agitation of questions opposed to the peace and welfare of the whole country ; questions producing feuds , strife , bitterness , and hate , then we misrepresent its principles and teachings , and the institution should no longer

exist . And if its members , instead of assisting to subdue and allay the excitement , the strife , and antagonism occasioned' by the agitation of questions detrimental to the peace and welfare of the nation , engage themselves in the controversy , assist in producing and keeping up the excitement to fever heat , their

obligations have been taken in vain , their actions are inconsistent with Masonic teachings and principles , and they most surely misrepresent the Masonic character . The mission of Masonry is to unite members into one fraternal brotherhood , and it permits no controversies among them , only to excel in well doings . . Controversies of strife are not permitted . If Freemasons will , in obedience to the laws of the institution , living as a loving brotherhood should , and

Masonic Notes And Queries.

eschew altogether questions tending to discord and strife , they cannot fail to exert an influence wide and powerful throughout the whole country , promotive of good will , of peace , concord , and harmony . As-Ereemasons , Ave ought not to recognise any geographical differences—no North , no South , no East , no-West . " —Ex . Ex .

A MASONIC SIGNS' UNHAPPILT NOT BECOGKISED . ANECDOTE OF THE EEIG 3 T Ol TEBEOB . The anecdote to which , under the foregoing title , a correspondent refers , forms one of the notes in the appendix to the Catalogue of portions of my library , sold by Messrs . Sotheby and "Wilkinson , in the spring of 1853 . Some large paper copies of that

catalogue were printed and given to libraries of institutions , generally open for literary inquiries . The note in question is , according to a fragmentary paper in my hands , at page 194 . It contains , however , that part only of the anecdote which is not Masonic , as will be seen bthe following linestaken from the same

y , paper , and which are , Ibelieve , averbatim copy : —In the summer of 1794 ( itwas somewhat late in the day )' two travellers stopped at a chateau in a south-eastern department of Erance . One of them having a slight acquaintance with the owner of the chateau , who had the misfortune to belong to the ancient noblesse of

the country , both were invited to partake of the family dinner . A dinner , which in those circumstances might be considered sumptuous , Avas served up ; and the conversation , as generally happens on such occasions , became more than usually gay . When , however , the dessert Avas placed on the table , the conversation was suddenly interrupted by one of the travellers

drawing from his pocket a document constituting himself and his companion Commissioners of the Convention , and authorising them to seize the chateau and its contents , and forthwith to guillotine the " aristocrat , " its proprietor . The reading of this document was immediately followed by an intimation that a guillotine with the accustomed assistants hadduring

, dinner , arrived in the court-yard of the chateau . The repast Avas discontinued for a few minutes , whilst the two guests hurried their host to the court-yard ofhis chateau , and I saw him guillotined . It was then resumed . A few words will suffice to tell the Masonic part of the anecdote . The owner of the chateau had

been recently initiated into Ereemasonry in the Besencon Lodge . One of the revolutionary commissioners was a Ereemason , a zealous member of a lodge at Strasburg , and a rumour of the initiation of the owner of the chateau having reached him , he resolved , could he ascertain that it had actually taken

place , to contrive some means of saving his life . "With that view he more than once during dinner made a Masonic sign , but , unhappily , from some cause which could never be explained , it was not recognised . The commissioner in consequence concluded that the rumour of the initiation was without any foundation in reality . — CIIAELES PUETON COOEEE .

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FREEMASOJXS' TA . VEB . 5- COMPANY . —Amongst other new arrangements of the Freemasons' Tavern Company , provincial brethren should rememtier that spacious coffee and reading rooms will be provided for their use , thus affording them all the convenience of a club in the centre of the metropolis .