Masonic Notes And Queries.

white edged with pink ; No . SI , light blue and yellow ; No . 30 , Stuart tartan , white and blue ; No . 40 , scarlet ; No . Go , orange and blue ; No . 00 , blue and orange ; No . 66 , green and red ; No . 73 , red and yellow ; No . 79 , green and pink ; No . 91 , red , blue , and gold ; No . 92 , crimson , with black edge round fall ; No . 114 , crimson , with blue fringe ; No . 117 , crimson and yellow trimmings ; A o . 178 , black , with red and blue trimmings .

The above are a few of the most conspicuous , and it would be a matter worth knowing , if some of our Scottish brethren would kindly explain the reason of this diversity of colour in the aprons of the Scottish Lod ges . Lest I may be mistaken , I beg to add that all the above appear to be Craft Lodges , and not to be Lodges or Chapters of the hi gh grades . —TRUE BLUE . —[ They " arc ' all-Craft Lodges , it being a custom in Scotland for each Lodge to have a distinctive clothing . That of No . 50 , Glasgow , to which we have the honour to belong , is the same as that worn in our Grand Stewards' Lodge , to which wc also belong . —En . ]

THE MUKOER OF WILLIAM . MORGAN , IN AMERICA . The profane world frcquentlv hurl in the face of Masons a charge , to the effect , that one William Morgan , an American Mason , was murdered by several Roval Arch Companions , because he printed the ritual of Masonry . The subscriber has been told this many times , and now begs * to inquire of his brethren what li ght they can throw on the subject?—A LOVER OF TRUTH

. —[ We are anxious that our correspondents , should answer the above , and as soon as we can lay our hands on the notes we once made on this absurd report , we will place our ' opinions before our readers . ]

VALUABLE MASONIC GIFT . Tn the Scottish Calendar are the two entries following : — "Valuable Masonic library of the late Bro . Dr . Charles Morrison , of Greenfield , Physician to the Forces , consisting of upwards of 3 . 000 volumes , presented b y his widow to the Grand Lodge . August 24 th ,

The library of Dr . Morrison opened for reference . Nov . 5 th , 1 S ; IO . " As Bro . Donald Campbell is the editor of the Scottish Calendar , perhaps he will be good enough to inform us if a catalogue of the honks lias been printed ? or , if not , how wc miglit become acquainted with its contents ? When will the G-rnJid Lodge of England boast such a- noble collection ? . Let us hope the day will come shortl when some brethren will deem it their duty to enrich

y our stores in a similar manner . If report is to be believed , our late Grand Secretary is in possession of most of H . R . ir . the Duke of Sussex ' s important papers , which ought , at some future time , to find their way into their legitimate resting place—the Grand Lodge library . —LITERAIUUS .

THE HOSPITALLERS . —Some citizens of Amnlfi , in Italy , who traded to the east , had , with the permission of the Egyptian Khaleetch , built a convent near the Church of the Resurrection , which was dedicated to tin ? Virgin and named Santa Marin de Latinn , whose abbot and monks were to receive and entertain pilgrims from the west . A nunnery was afterwards added ; and , as the confluence of pilgrims increased , a new hnspitiitm , was erected , dedicated to St . John Kfeemon ( compassionate ) , a former patriarch of Alexandria ; or , as is asserted with perhaps more to StJohn the

probability , . Baptist . This hospital was supported by the bounty of the Abbot of Stu . Maria and the alms of the faithful , and the sick and poor of the pilgrims here met with attention and kindness . At the time of the taking of Jerusalem , Gerhard , a native of Provence , presided over the hospital , and the care taken by him and his brethren of the sick and wounded of the Crusaders won them universal favour . Godfrey bestowed on them his domain of Monbovie . in Brabant . His example was followed by othersand the brethren of the

, hospital soon found themselves rich enough to separate from the monastery . They adopted the rule of the Augustine canons , and assumed for their habit , a black mantle , with a white cross of eight points on the left breast . Many knights who had come to Asia to combat the infidels , now laid aside their swords , and . as brethren of the hospital , devoted themselves to the tending of the sick and relieving of the poor . Among these was a knight of Daiiphinc , named Ramond Dupuy , who , on the death of Gerhardwas chosen to be his successor in office . Ramondin

, , the year 1 ] 1 S , gave the Order its first regular organization . NTo person was to be admitted under the age of thirteen , or who was not bora of Christian parents and in lawful wedlock . It was further necessary that lie should be a freeman , unmarried , and in no other Order . He was to make the usual vows of chastity , obedience , and poverty , and to promise the fulfilment of all his duties with mildness and cheerfulness , without any strife or enmity . There was as yet nothing whatever of a military character in the Order . The title * by which the head of the

society was distinguished was that of Muster of the Hospital . The members were called brethren of the hospital , or simply Hospitallers . Comrnanderies was the name given to their establishments in Europe aod thoso who presided over them were named Commander . ? . —Kiightleii ,

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

, ^ . [ T HE EDITOR does not hold himself ' responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ] MARK MASON'S" CERTIFICATE . TO THE KDtTOK 01 ? TUT . Flil-EMASOXS' MAGAZINE AND MASOXIC HIlinOR .

DEAR Sir , AXD W . Lr . O'niF . i : , —I enclose a , far simile of the monogram on the certificate given with the Mark degree in this part of the country , and , as I have always understood , reads thus : — "Hiram , King of Tyre , sent to King Solomon , Hiram Abiff , the widow ' s son ; " and being very similar , indeed identical with the one given with your note on ttro . , 1 . Mnckie ' s letter , in j-our M ~ aga ~ ine , perhaps it may not bo uninteresting to yoii to

know its import . I have therefore taken the liberty of sending you that which I have always understood it to bear . I am , dear Sir and W . lirother . fraternally yours , OltUam , April 17 / 7 i . ISfiO , ' J . " GATTSKFLL .

The Mark Master's Degree.

THE MARK MASTER'S DEGREE .

TO THE EPITOU OP THE FHKEMASOSS' MAOAZINT . AND li . lSOXK ! MlREOR . PEA a Sin AXr > RROTIIKR , —Those in search of Masonic lore frequently find the difficulty of obtaining an unbiassed solution to Masonic problems , even from those of the Craft with whom they arc on terms of much intimacy , and to whom , from their great Masonic experience , they appeal as to an authority ; and hence your pages arc the source for working . Masons to glean

information . Thus it is , however , now ; and the subject on this occasion is the validity or legality of the Mark degree—what it is not , and why—whether its exercise should be encouraged , and why it is not recognized as a part of pure and antient Masonry . These questions have arisen from the scruples of many who have kept aloof from the portals of a Mark Masters' Lodge—too courteous to condemntoo diffident to adopt—not comprehending

, its nature—inclined to maintain and uphold the antient landmarks strictly but without severity . It will he iu your . recollection that at the fIrani ! Lodge held in March . ISofi , it ' was resolved and carried , "that the Mark degree was to be considered as a graceful addition to the degree of Fellow Craft , " and at the Grand Lodge in June following , that portion of the minutes was rescinded . ' The first question that may fairl y

be put is , Whether legally there be . any such degree ? and , if there be , how long has it " been exercised , ' by whom , and under what authority ? Doubtless many of your readers can give , through your pages , its history in this country . On joining the Bon ' Accord Lodge of Mark Musters . T was surprised ' to find so many on the roll , eminent in Craft and esoteric Masonry , some of whom have informed mc of the long established custom of conferring that degree in Craft Lodges before the

institution of a separate Grand Lodge in this country for its particular encouragement . Since that period , I have bad reason to suppose that what now composes this degree , is simply that portion of the Fellow Craft degree which in former times has been omitted by lazy Masters to shorten the ceremony , remodelled in its presentform to suit some particular purpose , the point of severance being at what may properl y be considered as the traditional mid

most beautiful portion of the Fellow Craft degree . Thus arises another important question—whether installed Masters of Lodges would be authorized to reunite that severed portion to the Fellow Craft degree , as now worked , and by whom such authority could be given ? There is a Grand Mark Master , from whom warrants arc increasinglissued for opening new Lod and Provincial Grand

y ges , Masters arc also appointed for promulgating the degree in their several provinces , there being under the English Constitution alone nearly fifty Lodges in England ; and all these proceedings are carried ' on by brethren eminent , in the Craft Grand Lodge . The roll of Mark Masters is constantly augmenting its numbers , and the degree is becoming more eagerly desired than formerly : ere long the subject must lie brought again to the consideration of

Grand Lodge . At present , the M . W . Grand Master doubtlessly abides by the second clause of the agreement of 1813 ( although it provides for the continuance of any of the degrees of the order of chivalry ) not to recognize the Mark degree as a separate degree—but if . as has been supposed , that is the omitted portion of the F . C . degree , it is submitted that the proper portion , as now practised , might be restored to its former position , supporting clause 4 of the agreement . If it be not really such omitted portion , and if