Fraternity.

it , when it has become a kind of necessity to a comrade's heart . To impart life is not an obligation , but having imparted it , with the various affection which it embodies , it would be cruel and wicked to take it aAvay . To grant our

intimacy is not necessarily an obligation , but having granted it , and allowed the affections of another to entwine themselves , from many causes , around us , we have g iven them a claim to be treated with tenderness and respect . When we cease

to take pleasure in companionship with a friend , it becomes a hardship to give much time to his society , yet it is callous to deprive him otherwise than very gently of it , when he continues to take pleasure in companionship with us . A

living being is not a chattel to be taken up or thrown aside at will , but an organism comprising desires and aspirations , which we have no rig ht to encourage without endeavouring to fulfil .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

INITIATIONS AT CONSECKATIONS . One question is this : Is the W . M . Designate sufficiently of a W . M . under the G . M . warrant to authorize the calling of an emergency meeting , according to the Book of Constitutions , to ballot for , and , if approved , to initiate , Mr . A . B . ?

I am one of those who opine that he is . Undoubtedly a joining member cannot he elected , nor a candidate initiated in the ordinary course . — 0 . 0 .

PALESTINE EXPLORATION . It is perhaps not known that M . de Saulcy , mentioned at p . 142 , as the predecessor of Bro . Lieut . Warren in discoveries in the Haram , is not only a member of the French Institute hut a distinguished Mason , being one of the grand dignitaries of the

Grand Orient of France . —H . C . THE EED CROSS OF HOME AND CONSTANTINE . A recent correspondent , " R ., " inquires what is the authority of the Grand Council of the Masonic degree which claims to represent in this country the oriinal

g Order of similar name ; and he states that H . I . H . the Prince Rhodocanakis , who is at present residing at Higher Broughton , near Manchester , is the Hereditary Grand Master of the venerable public Order of Constantino ( Constantinian Order of St . George . I am not about to revive the recent discussion on

this subject , in which I took part , but will refer your correspondent to the articles , pro and con , which commenced in your issue of the 16 th January last , and concluded in that of the 27 th February . From these he -will gather the little which is to be said for the claims of the new Masonic degree .

As regards the grand mastery of the ancient and distinguished Order which has been thus imitated , probably your correspondent will be glad to have accurate information ; and this I cannot better give than by the following note , which I extract from Bro . Yarker ' s interesting book on the Jerusalem Encampment , Lancashire , deservedly published a few weeks since by the Grand Conclave of that province : —

" The Hereditary Grand Master of the original Order of Constantine the Great is His Imperial Highness Prince Joannes Rhodocanakis ( B . 1812 , M . 1840 ) , of the Castle of that name , in the Island of Ohio , head of the Royal and Imperial House of Rhodocanaki , and Titular Emperor ( Joannes X . ) of the Byzantine Empire . His paternal

great-greatgrandfather , the Emperor Panteleon I . ( B . 1633 , D . 1689 , also Hereditary Grand Master of the Order ) , had an only younger brother—Constantine ( B . 1635 , D . 16 S 9 ) , a distinguished alchemist , at the Court of His Majesty King Charles II ., of Englandto whom he was honorary physician until

, the King ' s death in 1685—leaving London for Paris in 168 S , and thence for Amsterdam , where he died on the 13 th- of August tho following year . We may remark that H . I . H . Prince Constantine Rhodocanakis was , by right of descent and by creation , a Grand Cross of the before-named Supreme Constantinian

Order of the Knights of St . George . The Ex-Duke of Parma and the Ex-King of Naples are the Grand Masters of the revival of Charles V ., Emperor of Germany ; and His Majesty the late King Ferdinand IL , of Naples , opened negotiations just before his death to amalgamate his Order with of H . I . H . Prince Joannes Rhodocanakis , which proposal was at once declined . "

The Prince Demetrius Rhodocanakis , Knight Grand Cross of the Constantinian Order of Knights of St . George , who , as before stated , is at present residing at Higher Broughton , is the son of the Prince Joaiues , the Grand Master of the Order , and I have the personal authority of the Prince Demetrius for saying that the note which I have quoted from Bro . Yarker ' s book is perfectly correct . —LUPUS .

TAST MASTERS . Bro . E . A . " does not want to do the work of a W . M ., " he " only wants the rank of a P . M . " I dare say he does I Let me , as an old P . M ., inform him that wages are only given in reward for labour , that the rank and privileges of a P . M . are a reward for the services he has rendered the Graft . Certain secrets are communicated to a brother

when installed in the chair as regular W . M . of a lodge . These secrets should never be communicated to any one not so elected and installed , nor , under the English Constitution , are they allowed to be given otherwise . Other Constitutions have been in the habit of giving them , but it was doubtless an abuse , and is , I believe , now forbidden . In my opinion , any brother thus attempting to

obtain the secrets of the chair , violates the injunction to fidelity as explained in the charge of the 1 st degree , "Never attempting to extort , or othenvise unduly obtain , the secrets of a superior degree . " Further , if he thus gets made a sham P . M . he will gain nothing , as he may not wear the P . M . ' s jewel , nor may he be present at the installation of a "VV . M . in an English lodge , nor would he obtain admission to the Grand Loda ; e of England . Let him work his way up like a man from E . A . to P . M . — Labor omnia vincit . —C . A . Gr .