Masonic Notes And Queries.

TOPE PIAJS IX . A MASKS . ' We had expected that the evidences Avhich were made public during the difficulties between the Bishop of Buenos Ayres and the Masonic fraternity in that country a few years since—clearly proving that the present head of the Church of Rome , Pius IX ., was a Freemason , having been initiated at Monte Video in 1816—would have made the clergy subordinate to him more chary of their anathemas against the Craft . —New York Courier . —Ex , Ex .

STKASOOUEG CATHEDKAL AND TEE EREE . ATASONS . Apropos to certain documents which have lately appeored in the MAGAZINE , the folloAving is taken-from Clavel , who writes thus : — _ " The Abbe Grandidier says— 'This edifice , one of the masterpieces of Gothic architecture , was commenced in 1277 , under the direction of Hervein of Steinbacb , and was not completed till 1439 . The Masons who took part in the erection of this

building consisted of Masters , Fellow Crafts , and Apprentices . The place where they assembled was called Hufcfce ( Lodge ) , which has the same meaning as the Latin word Maceria . They made an emblematic use of the utensils of their profession , and carried them on their standards . The principal of these were the square , the compasses , and the level . They recognised each other bprivate si and they called the sibwhich they

y gns , gn y knew each other , by word , das toortzeiclien , aud the salute der gruss . The Apprenticee , the Craftsmen , and Masons , were received with ceremonies which were kept secret . They admitted as affiliated brethren persons who did not belong to the trade of Masons , and they used the famous Masonic symbol , the square and compasses , with the letter G inscribed in the centre . — Ex . Ex .

MOUNT SINAI . The name Sinai is referred by a late distinguished traveller to the Avord Seneh , which is the Acacia of the Holy Land , the plant so famous in the legends of the Royal Craft . The mountain is known formerly to have abounded with acacia . It is the tree of the Burning Bush of the Arch

Royal , the Shittimwood of the Tabernacle . Its ^ botanic name is Mimosa ISTilotica ; its trivial name Sont and Sayal . Though the chief growth of the desert it is rare in Palestine . Abel-Shittim , " the meadows of Acacias , " was about six miles from the Jordan . The acacia is never found on the mountains . —Sinai and Palestine . —Ex . Ex .

A MASON AT TCETTINGEN . At the battle of Dettingen , in 1743 , one of the French Guards , having had his horse killed under him , became so entangled by the limbs of the animal and his own accoutrements , as to be utterly unable to extricate himself . While he was in this helpless condition , an English dragoon gallopped , and with uplifted sabre Avas about to slay him . The French soldier , not without

extreme difficulty , made the Masonic appeal , Avhich was at once recognized by his assailant , who not only spared his life , but released him from his dangerous position . He took him prisonei-, however , as was his duty ; for Freemasonry , while inculcating brotherly love , forbids its being exercised at the expense of patriotism , or any other higher duties . —Boston Freemason ' s Magazine . — Ex . Ex .

EHECErroMEs . ' ¦ 'Yorkshire , Wetherby . —This manor was anciently a possession of the Knight Templars , but on the abolition of their Order in the reign of Edward II ., it was given by the Pope to the Knights Hospitallers of St . John , and the grant was confirmed by Parliament , in 1324 . " Temple Keivsam . —Iu the doomsday survey this place

is called Newhusum , and a settlement of Kni ghts Templars here , as early as 1131 , gave it the additional name of Temple . Temple ! Newsam is connected Avith several important historical events : —The Order of Knights Templar was established in the eavlv part of the 12 th century , by Baldwin II ., King of Jerusalem , for the defence of the Holy Sepulchre , and the protection of Christian pilgrims . Their

name was derived from the vicinity of their house to the Temple , and for some time they were strict in their religious observances , and exemplary in their moral conduct . After the ruin of Jerusalem , they spread themselves over Europe , and acquired by their valour and their fame immense riches , Among other benefactions conferred upon them , William de Villers presented to the

English Knights Templar , the Manor . of rlewhusiun , where they soon after formed a Preceptory . Riches begat luxury—luxury vice—and vice infamy . They sunk in public estimation ; their privileges , which were numerous , were withdrawn from them ; and the members of their Order were subjected to the most terrible circumstances of infamy and severity . In 1311 the Order was

suppressed by the Council of "V ienne , and their dispersion followed soon after . Their revenues were in general bestowed upon other orders , and the rival fraternity , the Knights of St . John of Jerusalem , became in general the inheritors of their revenues , as well as of their former fame . Temple rjewsham , however , never fell into the hands of the Hospitallers , but was granted by Edward

III ., to Sir John Darcy . In this line it descended to Thomas Lord Darcy , who it the reign of Henry VIIL , was beheaded , and his estates forfeited to the crown for joining the northern insurgents , denominated the Pilgrims of Grace , in their unsuccessful attempt to compel Henry to restore the dissolved monasteries . A most striking proof of the degradation into which these defenders of the Holy Sepulchre had sunk , cannot well be found than in a species of defence offered for them by Dr . Whittaker . About a century ago , an ancient cup ,

belongmg to the Templars , was found at Temple Newsham bearing a licentious inscription , which the Doctor very justly observes , ' serves to vindicate the Knights of this house from the most odious part of the charge preferred against them . ' '" ' Ferriby Horth . —Here was a priory of the Knights Templars , of the foundation of Lord Eustace Vercy

which survived that Order , and was occupied by the Canons of St . Augustine , till the suppression , when the site was granted to Thomas Culpepper . " Welton . —The church contains an effigy of a Knight Templar , which carries its antiquity beyond 1327 , when that Order was dissolved . " Pontefract . —The chief religious house was the Priory

of St . John , of which nothing now remains to convey an idea of- the extent or magnificence of the structure . " Westmoreland . —Temple Sowerby till lately was the seat and property of the Dalston family , who obtained a grant of it from Henry VIIL , in 1545 , previous to Avhich it had been possessed by the Knights Templar , who came into England in 1135 , and were dissolved in 1312 , and

their numerous estates , & c , Avere given to the Knights Hospitallers , who in their turn were dissolved in 1545 . The lord and tenants of this manor still claim and exercise several privileges granted to the Knights Templar , the most important of which is the exemption from " toll throughout England . " Cumberland—Skirroth Abbey . —This is a modern built mansion , near the site of a small religious house , Avhich it is supposed Avas founded by the Knight Templar . —Edward Baines .- —A

JOPPA . This place , which plays an important part in Mosaic traditions , is now styled Jaffa . The Avord ( Joppa ) signifies beautifid . Joppa is traditionally the most ancient seaport in the world . It Avas to the tribe of Dan to Avhich , iu the allotment of Canaan , Joppa fell . Joppa , like the other ancient Philistine cities , is remarkable for the extreme beautyand profusion of the gardens Avhich

, surround it , the scarlet blossoms of the pomegranates , and the enormous oranges which gild the green foliage of its famous groves .. Well might Joppa , the beautiful , he so called . Joppa received the rafts Avhich floated down the coasts from Tyre . —Ex . Ex .