Masonic Notes And Queries.

of the Order . Meanwhile , the small residue , consisting of the Italian , and portions of the German and Bavarian Languages , accepted the supremacy of a succession of chiefs nominated by the Pope , under the title of Lieutenants of the Grand Master .

No one of these branches could in any way claim supremacy over the other . The position they relatively occupied was one of perfect equality . It was the result of a dissolution of the original federation of a number of distinct nationalities , each deriving its legitimacy from a common source ; and in that dissolution each branch carried the legitimacy of its title Avith it . It is

impossible , therefore , to assume that the small fraction which liolds its rule at Rome has more claim to the supremacy of the Order than the Spanish or Portuguese Languages , or the union of the three French Languages so long as they continued to exist . Tho chapter of the French Languages felt the force of this position so strongly that they declined to obey the decrees of suppression fulminated by the Romish branch , and continued their session until the close of the Bourbon dynasty once more crushed the institution in France .

In tho absence , therefore , of any possible union of the whole Order under one government , the acts of a clear majority of the dissevered portions of the Order carry with them a legitimacy and a validity Avhich could not be claimed for those of a single isolated fragment , such as that under the so-called Lieutenant Grand Master ai

Borne . It was under the authority , and with the sanction , of five out of the eight languages of the Order , that the revival of the English branch Avas established , and that decrees—the act of a decided majority of the then existing Order—gave a perfectly legitimate title to the revived Langue , and one in as near an accordance with the

principles of the ancient Statutes as the altered circumstances of the times would permit ; far more so indeed than the papal nomination of a Lieutenant Grand Master to the Italian branch , for Avhich " Historicus " would claim so undoubted a supremacy . And IIOAV , in my turn , let me ask , why , since the English Langue has been revived for a period of upwards of

thirty years , have Ave heard nothing of any protest against its validity prior to that quoted by Sir George Bowyer , and which is dated in 1859 ? I may , perhaps , be enabled to let in a little light on this matter for the information of such of our readers of " N . and Q . " as take an interest

m the question . When the Langue Avas first revived in England , the Roman authorities , though prudently forbearing from an open recognition of it , were disposed to look upon it with a favourable eye . Several English Roman Catholicsone of whom at least had been originally received into the Roman branch of the Order , joined the Langue , and

hopes were entertained that the revived English branch might be easily converted into an engine of papal propagandism in England . Latterly , hoAvever , as the Langue became more fully developed , and when the accession of a large number of influential members , whose attachment to their national church could not be questioned , had rescued it from any possibility of becoming a Roman

Catholic fraternity , the enmity of that party has been most virulent and venomously directed against it . Several of the Romanists in its ranks have resigned their posts , and the word has evidently gone forth from headquarters to endeavour to stifle the revived , but heretical Langue , by impeaching its validity . The authorities at Rome are bno means prepared tamelto Avitness the

y y establishment of a second Protestant branch similar to that of Bradenburg , which they strove- so long , to resist . Sine illce lachrymce . " Historicus ' " would Avish to bring forward as a proof that the English Langue considers the Roman branch the head of the Order the fact that it has been in treaty with them for recognition . The English Langue has

never denied the claim of the Roman branch to be considered an integral portion of the Order ; and as it Avas the only section [ that had not assented formally to the establishment of the new Lange , it was natural that an alliance ( though unaccompanied by any acknowledgement of supremacy ) should be sought with it . That the Roman authorities did not at that time consider the

English Langue an imposture , and that they did hope to make it a papist fraternity , is clear from the fact that they annexed as the only condition to their recognition the establishment by the Langue of a Roman Catholic priory . I need hardly add that this condition was at once and peremptorily rejected , and so the negociations ceased . and attacks

In spite , however , of Romish opposition ,, the English Langue will flourish and increase long after the King of Italy has placed his heel upon the last relics of the few fragments which still cling together at Rome ; , and the Order of St . John will most probably eventually OAve its rescue from utter annihilation and oblivion to that Protestant English Langue , upon Avhich such a bitter attack is now being made .

In conclusion I will only add , that in the absence of any duly authorized Federal head ( to which , if its x-estoration were possible , the English Langue ivould yield a cheerful obedience ) that branch assumes sovereign authority in all matters affecting its own internal policy by means of a Chapter-General , assembling annually on the 24 th June ( St . John ' s Day ) . This Chapter-General , of the

delegates its authority during the remainder year to a Capitular Commission , composed of some of its most influential members , and presided over by the Grand Prior of England , tho Duke of Manchester at present holding that dignity . This commission is responsible tothe Chapter-General for the ratification of its acts . Theadmission of members into the Langne is decreed by it ,

and the fees payable on the occasion , as also the annual oblations payable by all members , on a scale rising according to their rank in the Order , from a fund Avhich is exclusively devoted to charitable purposes ; thus fulfilling the ' original rbjects of an institution founded for the furtherance of charitable objects , and which during a period of upwards of seven centuries and a half , has never failed in the performance of those duties . —WIIITAVOUTH PORTER .

KSIGUTS 01 ? MALTA . The proper designation of the Masonic degree of which "F . C . H . " inquires is , "Knights of Malta . " If " F . C . H . " will become a Mason , and rise to that degree , he will then learn that it has nothing Avhatever to do with the Knights-Hospitallers of St . John of Jerusalem , and at the same time be enlihtened as to the reason of their assuming

g , like that famous chivalric and religious Order , the title of "Knights of Malta . " For very obvious reasons , there is no other mode by Avhich "F . C . H . " can gain the knowledge he seeks . —AUDI , VIDE , TACE .

HIE JlYSTEMES OE ELEUSIS . Where can some account of the mysteries of Eleusis be found?—E . D . — [ Read Virgil ' s JEnid . Bishop Warburton interprets the descent of iEueas into Tartarus and Elysium as an allegorical description of the sacred mysteries of Eleusis . ]

POEE CLEilEXT XIII . A TREEAIASOX . Pope Clement XII . Avho , in 1739 issued the first bull thatAvas launched agednst the Freemasons , says , "In order to shut the door against their evil doings , and prevent them from sinning with impunity ; and for other just and reasonable motives known to ourselvesafter the most certain conviction and mature

deliberation , Ave condemn and prohibit their meetings and councils . " From these Avords italicised , and popular report , we are led to believe that the first Pope who condemned our society was himself a Freemason . — GABBIELLE .