Masonic Notes And Queries-

REHABILITATION . You Avrite , Bro . "J . P ., " that an English Freemason at the time of his initiation was a Christian ; that a few years afterwards he became a disciple of Monsieur * * * and a Pantheist , and very

properly withdrew from English Freemasonry ; but that now , having recently thrown off Pantheism , and having again become a Christian , he desires to be readmitted to his lodge . This is plainly a case for Rehabilitation ; allow the sheep that , after having gone astray , returns , at once to re-enter the fold . —C . P . COOPER .

AV . S . I have been a little puzzled of late with the initials of W . S . attached 10 the names of officials , and as the personages Avere P . M . ' s , I supposed they might designate some higher degree . I was not aware they were connected with the 4 th degree , and

meant Wine Steward , an office for which a P . M . should have fitting experience if he have any taste . But this I note , that while the W . S . is a P . M ., the D . C . seldom is , but the youngest of the brethren , knowing nothing of the duties . Now I would urge that one P . M . should be spared for the responsible office of D . C . before dinner , leaving one for the agreeable after-dinner duties . —P . M .

THE ROYAL ARCH DEGREE . Allow me to take this opportunity to again recommend the able and exhaustive Avork on the ' ' Origin of the Eoyal Arch , " by the late Eev . Bro . Dr . George Oliver . It is published by Bro . E . SpencerGreat

Queen-, street , London , and is an invaluable history of the degree , and to Masonic students will prove most interesting . The same Avell-known publisher having reprinted Halliwell ' s "Ancient MS ., " affords an excellent chance for the brethren Avho want copies of that

curious manuscript . Whilst on the subject of Masonic works , I have been much gratified to receive the two volumes of the " British and Irish Masonic Calendar , '' from 1 S 59 to 1 S 6 S inclusive , nicely bound , for the sum of ten shillings . As there are only a few such volumes to be hadI

, hope such brethren who are forming Masonic libraries will not be SIOAV in availing themselves of so useful a publication , embracing as it does a series of ten years , which have been a most eventful period in the annals of Freemasonrv . —W . J . HUGHAN .

ATHEISTIC CHRISTIANS . My answer to the inquiry of a brother who writes from a distinguished' college at Cambridge , is that Atheistic Christians follow the ethical teachings of the Holy Jesus ; but ascribing to Nature all the phenomena of the universe , they admit not the

existence of God . Atheistic Christians are , I am told , very numerous in certain foreign lodges . A learned correspondent calls them disciples of Strato , the physicist , a degenerate Peripatetic , and he cites the following passage from the " Dictionnaire des Sciences Philosophiques " : — "Straton ne reconnait d' autre Dieu que la nature , a qui il ote l ' mteuigenee , pour en faire une force aveuglement et necessairement productrice et motrice . "—C . P . COOPER .

LODGE MUSIC AND " R . Y . Although I am as anxious as " R . X . " that the musical part of our lodge ceremonies should be duly attended to , and that organists should be attached to every lodge , I cannot agree Avith his suggestion that " a by-law should be made in each lodge that the

Organist , like the Secretary , should be exempt from subscription , " as such a course Avould be contrary to the Book of Constitutions , Avkieh does not permit of any officer being exempt from subscription but the Secretary ; and as no brother could be appointed to office unless he Avere a member , it is clear that tho

Organist must pay his subscription . I am not aware , however , of any laAV to prevent a lodge from retaining the services of a professional brother (\\ dio is a member ) as Organist , at such fee as the brethren may decide on . —W . J . HUGHAN , W . M . 131 , & c .

A DECEASED BROTHER . In Freemasonry there are two rules in relation to a deceased brother . The one enjoins us to remember his virtues . The other enjoins us to forget his faults . —From a bundle of Masonic memoranda in Bro . Purton Cooper ' s manuscript collections .

¦ THE SCAFFOLDING . —THE HOUSE . Dear Bro . " N . M . " In the case you put , it will , I think , be somewhat more correct to call our ceremonies the scaffolding , and our doctrines the house . — C . P . COOPER . A SOC 2 ATIC SCHOOL . —AN ELEATIC SCHOOL ,

Bro . " W . M ., " by the addtion of certain ceremonies a Socratic school might have been converted into a Freemasons' lodge . Not so , an Eleatic school . —C . P . COOPER .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

^ The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . MASONIC LIFEBOAT .

TO THE EDITOE Or THE FEEEXASOXS' 3 TAGAZIXE A ? fD AtASOi'IC itlREOR . Dear Sir and Brother , —Although our subscription goes on , and receives some good additions , I see with some regret that the members of Lloyd ' s have presented £ 500 to the National Committee for a lifeboat . We must go on faster . Xours fraternally

, VIATOR . [ We hope the appeal made to our readers in the Freemasons' Magazine of Feb . 15 , and the publication of the various letters received from correspondents , will spur the members of the order to greater activity . —ED . F . If ]

Masonic Archæological Institute.

MASONIC ARCH ? OLOGICAL INSTITUTE .

TO TEE EDITOK OF THE FEEEilASOIfs' HAGAZIXE ASD MASONIC 1 IIKEOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —In consequence of the appeal inserted in the Free-masons '' Magazine , I have received several promises of support , and I believe there is little doubt of a successful issue . We do