Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

A VINETABB . Dear Monsieur . . . Preemasonry without -the Great Architect of the Universe will no more produce good Avorks , than your vineyard , without the . sun ' s rays , will produce its famous grapes . —C . P . ¦ C OOPEE .

OEIGIX AND NATURE OF EAELT ENGLISH PEEEMAS 0 NET . Brother , whoever undertakes to write upon "the origin and nature of early English Ereemasonry , should begin by collecting as materials for his work everything to bo found in our old chronicles , annals , and histories , and in our rolls and records , civil ancl ecclesiastical , respecting the men who built our first stone cathedrals and castles . — CHAELES PUETON

UOOPEE . CHAEITV OE OUR LODGES . My answer to a letter containing remarks upon my communication "A Suggestion , " Freemasons ' Magazine , vol . xvi ., page 426 , and " Our Lodges—A Question . " page 49 of the present volumeis that

, details appear to me quite unnecessary . All that need be disclosed is the total amount . As regards our four great Charities , the names of the lodges subscribing , and the extent to Avhich they subscribe are , apprehend , already sufficiently public . — -CHARLES PUETON COOPEE .

EOSE CEOIX . Dear Brother , the ensuing extract shows that -there is not in the recently-published " Dietionnaire-Hacyclope'die" the mistake you suppose . Sous le Bom de Rose-croix , ou de Prores de la Eose-crok , on designe une seete d'illumines qui se revela au

commencement du 17 ° siccle . Aujourd ' -hui , letermede Rose-croix est encore usite dans la franc-inaconnerie ; est le litre du grade qui est au-dessus de ' celui cle maitre . —CHARLES PUETON COOPEE .

IIENEY S . JMELA IELE . Is H . S . Melville , AVIIO has written in " Notes and Queries " a long article on Mary Queen of Scots , a Mason , or is he not ? If he is , Avliat right has he to talk of using the Royal Arch Masonic kevs on celestial planispheres to Spica and Andromeda ?

W hat sense is there in this , and what propriety in insulting Royal Arch principles in a lay journal ? Apart from the question of impropriety , anything better calculated to bring Masonry into ridicule than this display of sham learning , cannot be conceived . What right has this person to state that the

hourglass modern Masonry has converted into the twentyfour inch gauge "Norma nil otica ? "—A STUDENT . At p . 202 of "Notes and Queries" is a long Masonic article bearing the strange title of " Mary -Queen of Scots , " by Henry S . Melville .

A MASONIC IMPOSTOR . We draw the attention of Almoners of lodges and -offcher brethren to some particulars respecting a Masonic impostor Avho is travelling about the country , -and obtaining relief as a Hungarian Mason in distress—as Avill be found in a report of proceedings at a recent meeting of the John of Gaunt Lodge , Leicester , in another part of our impression—in the hope that ^ fche brethren may be on their guard against him .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed hy Correspondents . SUPERINTENDENCE OP LODGES .. TO THE XmTOR OF TEE FSEEXASOXS' MAGAZIXE ANS 31 AS 0 XXC HIZS 0 J 1 . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , — Allow me through your columns to thank Pro . White for his notice of

my remarks on the superintendence of lodges , and for his suggestions thereupon , the more so , as he appears to be the only one Avho thinks the subject of any importance , if Ave may judge by the silence of all others . I am often surprised at the apathy exhibited Avhen points are started for discussion in your pages ,,

and passed by Avithout any expressions of opinion ,, though many must be interested in them . In part I fear Ave must attribute it to the limited circulation of tlie Magazine , for the extension of which some individual efforts have recently been made , and not Avithout effect , especially in one case , recorded in the

report of the Truro lodge , page 234 of last week ' s Magazine , and it is to be hoped that the example of the W . M . there will be generally followed . With reference to Bro . White ' s suggestion , in default of a better arrangement , the plan he proposes may be advanced with considerable advantage , but

Avill not accomplish all that is desirable ; for the working varies so much in different parts of the country , even among those who are deemed good local authorities , that under it general uniformity

would still be unattainable . It is Avell known that London itself is divided into two distinct portions , east and Avest , widely differing in the form of ritual . The case is analogous to that of some Avidely-spread evil , to Avhich a remedy is applied only by a few 2 Jarishes or municipal corporations , whereas it ought

to be a matter for imperial legislation . The plan I have proposed supposes a decisionary Grand Loclge as to the form to be adopted , a very desirable course , for , though by many the Emulation Lodge of Instruction in London is considered the best standard , there are other important lodges of

instruction where a different verbiage is taught , and where the forms and usages also vary much in detail , each of Avhich has its advocates . Thus , there can be nothing complete and quite satisfactory without such a preliminary stop . This done , a direct training of inspectors Avould be required , and , Avhen the

foundation has thus been laid , the persons so qualified and commissioned were iu some way responsible , at least for their oivn correctness and their reports on that of others . I imagine that there are few Avho would undertake this necessary labour and responsibility without a prospect of remuneration beyond mere travelling expenses . Under present circumstances , many of us who have leisure are at all times willing-