Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC RHYMES . Parts of the ceremonies in the last century were delivered in very peculiar and original rhymes , of which the following are examples : — Q . What do you come here to do ? A . Not to do my own proper will , Bnt to subdue tny passion still ; The rules of Masonry in hand to take , And daily progress therein make .

Q . Can you repeat the letter G , ? A . I'll do my endeavour . ¦ In the midst of Solomon's temple there stands a G . A letter fair for all to read and see , But few there be that understand What means that letter G . Q . My friend , if you pretend to he

Of this fraternity , - You can forthwith and rightly tell What means that letter G . A . By sciences are brought to light Bodies of various kind , Which do appear to perfect sight ; But none but males shall know my mind . Q . The riht

shallg A . If worshipful—Q . Both right and worshipful I am , To hail you I command That you do forthwith let me know , What you thus understand . A . By letters four and science five This G . aright doth stand

In a due art and proportion ; You have your answer , friend 1 Q . My friend , you answer well , If right and free principles yon discover , I'll change your name from friend And henceforth call you brother . A . The sciences are well compos'd Of noble structure ' s verse , A point , a lino , and an outside ; Bnt a solid is the last . # * * * %

Q . An Enter'd 'prentice I presume you ' ve been . A and I have seen ; A Master Mason I was made most rare , With diamond ashlar and the square . Q . If a Master Mason you would he You rightly understand the rule of three ? And .... shall make you free

, So what you want in Masonry Shall in this lodge he shown to thee . A . Good Masonry 1 understand ; The keys of all lodges are at my command . —Ex . Ex . THE PILLARS OE STONE AND BRICK . In the first edition of the Booh of Constitutions it is

stated thus : — " For by some vestiges of antiquity we find one of 'em , godly Enoch ( who dy'd not , but was translated alive to Heaven ) , prophesying of the final conflagration at the day of judgment ( as St . Jude tells us ) , and likewise of the general deluge for the punishment of the world ; upon which he erected his two large pillars though some ascribe them to Seth ) , the one of stone and

the other of brick , whereon were engraven the liberal sciences , & c . ; and that the stone pillar remained in Syria until the days of Yespasian the Emperor . " Where does this tradition derive its origin ? I have searched the Book of Enoch without finding it . —M . AIHE CONSTITUTIONS TO BE HEAD BY CANDIDATES BEFORE INITIATION .

When did that good and wholesome rule become abrogated which declared that the Constitutions should be read when the Master shall think fit , " and which the new brethren should peruse before they are made ?"Ex . Ex .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

SCOTTISH TEMPLARY . The contributions of your correspondent " D . M . L . " on this subject have been very interesting ; would he inform us of the degrees of which their novitiate is supposed to consist . In England and France the whole system included seven degrees ; not including the classes of priests

and serving brothers . —AST . JOHN THE EVANGELIST . Both St . John ' s are recognised in the French Order of the Temple . Tbe investiture of G . M . takes place "in the name of tho most holy Masters , our father St . John the Apostle , and St . John the Baptist . " The 1705 Statutes , and the system taught at the same time at York , are so

similar that it is not unlikely there was some understanding between them . In one case , however , Masonry was the prominent object , in the other it was concealed . —AHOSPITALLER OR . MALTESE , AND TEMPLAR , BANNERS . Hospiioller . — " The banner of the order bore a white cross on a red field ; and it was solemnly declared that any

knight who should abandon it , or otherwise dishonour himself , should be publicly stripped ofthe snored symbol , and habit of the fraternity . "—Beeton , also Vertot . Templars . — "Their banner was of cloth of black and white stripes , called beauceant , an old French word for a black and white or piebald horse . This word becametheir war cry , and ever struck terror into the hearts of

the enemy . The banner bore on it the red cross of the Order , and also the pious and humble inscription , ' Non nobis Domine , non nobis , sed Nomini tua da gloriawi . '" —Beeton , 8 fc . It will be noticed that the war banner was the beauceant , and that our Scottish brethren are therefore wrong in terming the standard bearer the beaucennifer , that term being apjilicable to the bearer ofthe vexillum belli only . —A .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The " Editor is not : responsible for tlie opinions expressed by Correspondejits } ANTIQUITY OF MASOKIC DEGREES . tl TO THE EDITOR 01 ? THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIKEOIt . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Throughout the discussionwith " Ebor " I have endeavoured to avoid personalities , aud I have never sneered at either Speculative , or

Operative Masonry ; I flatter myself I have more respect for either than your correspondent , who , if allowed his own way , would very soon , with reasoning men , destroy the whole system . For the information of those , who are gulled by similar writers , I forward the following from Preston , who asserts that the accounts of the period have been compiled with great care , from anccient MSS . and

the books of the Operative Lodge of St . Paul ' s . " The Earl of Arlington dying this year ( 1684 ) the lodges met in communication , arid elected Sir Christopher Wren Grand Master , who appointed Gabriel Gibber , and Mr . Edward Strong his Wardens . Both these gentlemen were members of the old Lodge of St . Paul ' s , with Sir Christopher Wren , and bore a principal share in all

the improvements which took place after the fire of London ; the latter in particular displayed his abilities in the Cathedral of St . Paul . " Now we all well know that Sir C . Wren , was not made an Accepted Mason until 1691 ; what then becomes of " Ebor ' s " boasted agreement between Operative and Accepted Masonry ?

Halliwell was not so ignorant of the true theory of Masonry . Else why the quotation , "in his hand he bore that singular abacus . "— -Ivanhoe . I remain , fraternally yours , A-