A Retrospect Of The Past, By One Of The Craft.

Effingham ; George , Earl of Huntingdon ; Inigo Jones , the Earl Pembroke ; Henry Danvers , Earl of Danby ; Thomas Howard , Earl of Arundel ; F . Russell , Earl of Bedford ( one of the successors of the nobleman already mentioned ); Henry

Jermyn , Earl of St . Albans ; Sir Johu Denham , and Sir Christopher Wren . The maul Avith Avhich Charles II . laid the corner stone of St . Paul's was preserved by Sir Christopher in the sub-lodge , which he ruled , at the Goose and Gridiron , and IIOAV

forms part of the paraphernalia of the Lodge of Antiquity . In 1813 the present Grand Lodge Avas constituted by the union of the two bodies , viz ., the

York , or Ancient Freemasons , and the Athol Freemasons , into which the order had split in the previous century , the Duke of Kent and the Prince Regent , Avho had been previously elected to the head of the different lodges , having resigned

in favour of the Duke of Sussex , who Avas elected as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge , which position he held until the time of his death in 1843 , a few days before the time appointed for the Grand Festival . Under these circumstances ,

the duties of the office of Grand Master were performed until the next regular period of election in 1844 by the Earl of Zetland , Pro-Grand Master .

Masonic Jottings.—No. 21.

MASONIC JOTTINGS . —No . 21 .

BY A PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER . EARLIEST CIA 1 LISED SOCIETY . In the earliest Civilised Society there Avere Religion and Morals and Science , and they sought a place where they might dwell together ; and

they could find none until the Masons' Lodge arose . THE LODGE . The Lodge was a step necessary and natural in young Civilisation ' s advance . —Papers of a deceased

Mason . AN IDEA THAT PILLS THE BRAINS OF SOME MASONS . A Correspondent is Avrong . Brother Findel says that the idea of finding the elements of

Freemasonry in the mysteries of the Indians and Egyptians still fills the brains of some Masons in England and America , in France and Germany . CHRISTIANITY . —MASONRY . Christianity should not be confounded with the Ceremonies of Christianity ; and Masonry should not be confonnded Avith the Cermonies of Masonry ,

Masonic Jottings.—No. 21.

CASTES OP INDIA . The principles upon Avhich the Castes of India are formed , are Masonic . Most of the existing Castes of India , it is said , partake of the nature of associatious for mutual support or familiar

intercourse . PAGODA . —TEMPLE . -PYRAMID . When the Pagoda , the Temple , the Pyramid was complete , the Indian , Chaldam , and Egyptian Lodgec commonly broke up . —Old MS .

OUR HISTORICAL SCIENCE . Brother Doctor C . Van Dalen , iu the Preface to his translation of Brother Findel ' s book , says " it must be confessed that for the last thirty or forty years Historical Science has been somewhat

neglected by our English brethren . " ANTIQUITY OP MASON ' RY . Many brothers assert the great antiquity of Masonry , who hesitate to admit that there is historical evidence that our Freemasonry comes to us

from the Architectural Colleges of the Romans . GERM OP SPECULATIVE MASONRY . Our early Building Fraternities , supposing them not to have been a direct continuation of the Roman Architectural Colleges , nevertheless , when established , contained at once the germ of Speculative Masonry . — Old MS .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

TAVO QUESTIONS : —THE 1717 THEORY AND THE EARTH ' S ROTUNDITY . A somewhat facetious Metropolitan Correspondent , after comparing the notable question raised by the affirmation of the 1717 theory with the not more notable question raised by the negation of the earth ' s

rotundity [ the italics are my correspondent's ] , inquires whether , by the adoption of a like device , the former question may not be solved by the Masons , as the latter question has just been solved by the Physicists . —CHARLES PURTON COOPER . KNIGHTS 03 ? MALTA .

The presence of the Maltese Knights amongst the Templars is thus accounted for in the 32 ° , being , as the 25 ° , an Order older than 17 G 2 . " Where the Knights of Malta are to be placed Avho have been admitted to our mysteries , and have proved themselves faithful guardians . They are to be joined Avith the

Knights of Kadosh , or Grand Elected Knights Templar . "—JOHN YARJCER . A COUNCIL OI ? RITES ( page 405 ) . 1 would suggest that " Progress" should , if he has any money to give aAvay , send it to some of the Charities of the Craft , and not waste both it and his time upon these " high grades . " As Craft Masonry contains all the necessary scope for knoAving and practising the true principles of Freemasonry . —PICTUS .