Masonic Notes And Queries.

I'llEEMASONRA . Ms'D BfDMIISM . A brother asks Avhat is the resemblance between Fi'eemasonry and Buddhism ? The answer is " the spirit of universal charity Avhich Buddhism , in its commencement , breathed . " In the Avords of Professor MacMuller , there Avas in Buddhism , as first preached , " a sense of duty extending from the narrow limits of the house , the villageand the country , to the wildest circle of

man-, kind—a feeling of sympathy and brotherhood towards all men . "—CHARLES PKRTON COOPEB . FltEEBOllN . In Laurie ' s History of Freemasonry Ave find the folloAVing : — " The Lodge Caledonia , Grenada , having inquired Avhether emancipated slaves could be admitted to the privileges of Freemasonrythe Grand Lodge of Scotland ,

, after due consideration of the . question , decreed , at the Quarterly Communication on the 13 th JNovember , 1837 , ' That by the term Freehom is meant a person free at the time of his application for admission into a lodge , being then his own master , and capable of governing his own time and actions . '"—D . M . L .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

A soiree musicale is announced to take place at the Hanoversquare Rooms ou . Tune 2 nd , the object of which is to raise a fund to be presented to the National Hospital for paralysis and epilepsy . Miss Berrington , a lady well kr own in amateur musical circles , will be worthily assisted by about fifty other ladies and gentlemen , all of whorn will take part in the performance . The concert has obtained the especial patronage of the Duchess of Cambridge , the Princess Mary , the Duchess of

Sutherland , and many of the highest members of the aristocracy . The Eoyal Colosseum , Regent's Park , having changed hands , has been re-decorated , restored , and opened under an entirely new management on Monday . Several novelties are promised , among the most desirable being a full orchestra . But there is no rose without a thorn . This is to be the last season of the celebrated ictures of '' London by Day " and " Paris by Night "

p , and the ingenious moving picture of "The Earthquake of Lisbon . " Everybody ( says the Queen ) will regret to learn that the gifted conductor of the Vocal Association , M . Jules Benedict , has been labouring under severe illness , from which lie is slowly recovering . A thoroughly good and kind-hearted man , as well as a first-rate professor , put thus liors de corneal in the thick of

the season , is a matter of deep regret in the musical circles . One of the Paris theatres , the Chatelet , announced a new piece , founded on the novel of Lady Andley ' s Secret , and entitled Le Secret de Miss Aiirore . The veteran actor Frederick

iiemaitre is to sustain one of the characters . iuadlle . liivry , the eminent dunsense , is fast recovering from the injuries she sustained by her dress catching fire . The Emperor had placed at her disposal an apartment in the Palace at Coinpiegiie , that she may hasten her recovery by inhaling fresh country air . The arrangements for the " meeting of the three choirs , " —in other wordsthe Worcester Musical Festival of this year—are

, nearly completed . The principal singers engaged are Mdlle . Titiftns , MtVmcs . Lemmens-Slverrington and Sainton-Dolby , Miss Banks , Mips Palmer , Mr . Sims Reeves , Mr . Wilbye Cooper , Mr . Weiss , and Sir . Snutley— a great army of vocal talent . The festival will be held during tiie second week of September . A French paper notices , with some surpiise , that Mdlle . Carlotta Patti never sings at concerts for less than a hundred

guineas . This appears to be the fact ( says the Header ) ; but is it true that her voice reaches the la suraign ? In the three songs which she has repeated so often , the P has , we believe , been the highest note ; but , from the facility with which she holds this , she might possibly go a third higher . The " ottavisouo " is the name of a new . instrument of the viol familysaid bRossiniin a complimentary letter to the

, y , inventor , M . Padorani , to " unite the vigour of the tenor to the brilliancy of the violin . " It is described by M . de Beriot as having " six strings coupled two and two , and tuned in octaves , and revealing its particular character dans les ohanlb larges el me'lancolinues . "

With All The Heart's High Masonry.

WITH ALL THE HEART'S HIGH MASONRY .

A Royal ' Epilhalaminm : commemorative of the Marriage of their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Denmark , March 10 , 1 S 63 . All joy to the heir of the Realm , Now may England rejoice ; And all joy to the Royal Princess , The happy bride of his choice .

Lo ! in greatness there is goodness , To be a nation ' s pride , And Heaven ' s ruling Majesty Crowns the bridegroom and the bride . God save our noble Prince ; God save his lovely bride ; And in wisdom and grace , And in glory and peace ,

May he live to reign over us . Ever great and victorious , God save the Prince . With all the heart ' s high Masonry . Of love , devotion , praise , A palace wrought in loyalty , To royalty we raise . So may the future be when God

Has blessed the throne with one . Whence the glory of a mighty reign , Is the glory of a son . God save our noble Prince ; God save his lovely bride ; And in wisdom and grace , And in glory and peace , May lie live to reign over us , Ever great and victorious , God save the Prince .

Hope.

HOPE .

BT SCniKLEIt . Wc speak with the lip , and we dream in the soul , Of some better and fairer day ; And our days the meanwhile , to that golden goal Are gilding and sliding away . Now the world became old , now again it is young , But " the better" 'u for ever the word on the tongue .

At the threshold of life , Hope leads us in—Hope plays round the mirthful boy , Tho' the best of its charms with youth begin , Yet for age it reserves its toy . When we sink at the grave , why the grave lias scope , And over the coffin man planteth—HOPE . And is it not a dream of a fancy proud

, With a fool for its dull begetter ; There's a voice at the heart that proclaims aloud" We are born for something better !" And that voice of the heart , oh ! ye may believe , "Will never the hope of the soul deceive .

The International Dog Show.

THE INTERNATIONAL DOG SHOW .

This week has been a carnival at tho Agricultural Hall , Islington . On Monday , the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the show , and expressed themselves highly gratified by the sight . They also took great interest iu the fish-hatching process , exhibited by the proprietors of The Field , and explained by P . Buckland , Esq . It would he absurd to try to make any remarks upon the merits of tho animals exhibited by one who is not a competent

judge , but the large number of dogs brought together , their superior condition , and the very excellent arrangements which have been made by the Company for their cleanliness ami comfort during their temporary captivity , elicited the warmest encomiums . The animals compviscd sporting , fancy , and useful dogs , and the lovers of the canine " friends of man " must Lave had no small amount of gratification in overlookeing such an

assemblage , where every taste or fancy has been so well represented . Of the urbanity and kindness of the officials , we cannot speak in terms too warmly . The show has been a great success , and will , no doubt , increase in popularity year by year .