Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

[ T JIKI-SE can be no better time to address to our readers a leiv observations upon the aim of this department of the Freemasons ' Maga .-iiie , than upon the occasion ofthe commencement of a new scries . ft appears that the principle of our valuable cotemporary , Notes and Queries is not thoroughly understood by our brethren , and as AVC have only taken up so much of that idea as is

applicable to Masonry , it may not he out of p lace here to give some little insight into ivhat wc wish to accomplish , and to ask those ivho contribute to these columns to do so on one uniform method , whereby our labours will be greatly simplified , and the utmost information elicited , on every subject under inquiry . The i \ o / c « of this chapter arc such as would occur to any brother

in the course of his reading , and as no answer is required in the event of a fact or quotation stated , such communications will be ranged first as simple Nol . es . Queries are of two kinds , those Avhich we can reply to , and those which ive cannot . In man ) ' instances AVC shall be enabled to afford the necessary information , and such answer ivill , to mark it as a reply , appear enclosed within brackets . To those questions Avhich haA'e no ansAvcr attached , we hope to be understood as wanting the necessary references or explanation , it being

impossible for any person to solve such inquiries without patient search and investigation . 'The arrangement for the future ivill be : —Queries Avithout answers first ; and those ivith replies last . We hope our readers AV ' III not wait to see if wc can add the information sought ; but at once send an elucidation if they can .

and where tivo or more arc sent , they will both , or all , appear , unless they happen to coincide . We would also urge the propriety of each Querist , signing his name , vom de phone , initials , or some mark by which lie maj * be distinguished , giving us , under cover , his real name , not lor the purpose of publication , but only to insure good faith ou the part of

the large circle ivho arc- noiv gathering around us ; ancl ive ivould especially recommend some definite signature in preference to "P . Ms . " and "P . Zs .. " and others of that kind , as they arc likel y to cause confusion . In making the above remarks , ive disclaim any intcrfcreiice Avith the other departments : of the Freemasons' Maga :. ineour

, department-being confined to Notes anil Queries ou antiquarian , historical , and literary matters connected Avith the Craft , and , where possible , verified by quotations from the ivorks consulted all of Avhich should be done briefly , and not in the form of letters those properly coming under the general heading of the " Correspondence" department of the Mctanzine .

Brethren making inquiries respecting purely personal matters , interesting only to themselves , and not of general interest , ivill still be answered by the editor in tlieir proper place , under "Notices to Correspondents "j . THE AXTEDILUVIA . X IIASOXIC 1 'IIXAKS . Permit me to add a note to the R . W . Bro . Kell y ' s

communication in No . 2 of the present series , where reference is made to a MS . Avhich states the sciences of geometry and Masonry AVCI-C perpetuated after the flood , hy means of two jiillars set up by Enoch . In Josephus , ( lib . i , cap . 2 ) , the author affirms that the stone pillar ivas extant in Syria in his time , but he omits to say where . —PIIIT . O-JL *» . I-: U . S . I ' * . G . M . FOR cor . XA \* Ar . i ,, ix 1793 .

John St . Aubyn ivas Prov . G . M . for Cornwall in the aboA'e year , and as such , in connection ivith the Prov . G . Sec , Francis Mirkins , signed an address to the Prince of Wales on behalf of the Grand Locl ge assembled on the 7 th of January , 1793 . rr . KKMASOXRY IX R"UVI ! XA . At a time ivhen the Grand Secretary has had to call the

attention of Craftsmen to the spurious nature ofthe body ztvling itself the Grand Lodge of Smyrna , the following extract may " be acceptable as giving some account ol the introduction of J'Yeemnsonry therc .

Alexander Drumniond , ivho was British Consul at Aleppo iu . 1715 , visited Smyrna in that year , and states , "At this carnival season they have an assembly here , to ivhich Mr . Consul Crawley did me the honour to introduce mc , and , as I had formed a Loclge of Freemasons in the place , the ladies had concciA'cd a strange notion of my character ; for I had been represented to them by some priest , as a conjurer of the first magnitude , AVIIO hacl flic

dcAJl at my command , and raised the dead by my diabolical incantations . These terrible prepossessions , instead of frightening them , had only seiwed to raise their curiosity , and when 1 entered the room they surveyed me ivith truly female attention : after they bad satisfied their eyes with a most minute examination , they seemed to think I did not differ much from the other children of Adam , ancl became so familiar to my appearance , that one of the

number ivas hardy enough to desire me to dance Avith her -, aucl , as she escaped Avithout clanger , I ivas afterwards challenged by a pretty little blooming creature with whom I waltzed seven minuets during the course of the evening . "As I have mentioned the Lodge of Free Masons . I cannot help congratulating myself upon the opportunity I had of making so many worthbrethren in this placeand of forming tbe onl

y , y Lodge that is in the 'Levant . " Our AA'orthy brother closes these remarks by a song , one verse of which is quoted—¦ ' Hut noiv liritamiia ' s gciiYous sons A glorious Lodge hai'c rais'd ,

| ouai" the faind banks lvhere Melcs runs , And . Homer's cattle graz'd . " From Alexander Druiumond's Travels , fob , London , 1754 . Till-: IXA'ASIOX Ol" KN'Gl . AXI ) . Extract of a circular letter from the Grand Master of the Peligious and Military Order of Knight Templars in England , to the Chapters of that confraternity .

" Dear Brother and Knight Companion , —As the nation is preparing to guard against an invasion from our enemies , if they should haA-e tlie temerity to make an attempt , it is become mv duty , at this important crisis , to request and require that such of yon as can , without prejudice to your families , do hold yourselves iu readiness ( as Knights Templar ) to unite -with , and be under the command of the officers of the military corps stationed in your

respective counties , as maybe most convenient , taking the name of 'Prince . Edward ' s Eoyal Volunteers . ' AVhen the important moment arrives . I . shall offer my service in the navy or army ; and whcncA'cr I have the honour to be received , shall inform you of my address ; and although wc are jircvented , by adverse ' circumstances , from assembling together lvhere I mi ght have had the honour and happiness of commanding in personyet our

, hearts ivill be united in the glorious cause , in conformity to the sacred obligations AVC arc under . Let our prayers be addressed to the Throne of Grace ; that as Christ ' s faithful soldiers and servants we may be enabled to defend the Christian reli gion , onr gracious sovereign , our laws , liberties , and properties against a rapacious enemy . Let the word ofthe day be , the " will of God : ' ' and let us remember , that a day , au hour of A'irtuous liberty , is

Avorth a Avhole eternity of bondage . " The Knights Companions arc required to ivear the uniform of the corps in ivhich they serve as volunteers , with the Cross of the Order of the Kni ghts Templar on a black riband between two button holes on the breast of the waistcoat " Your faithful Brother and Kni ght Companion . " April llth . " THIVUAS DVXOKKISI . KV , G . M . "A . D . 1794 . A .. 0 . C 70 . "

Thinking the foregoing may be an incentive to the Kni ghts Templar in these days of rifle clubs , so that ive may have some champions of the higher grades amongst us , should occasion require . I ivas induced to send you the above . —P . M . A . MASOXIC LVIXC 5- IX STAT . K . Iii an account of the life of Bro . Brice , of Exeter , long renowned as the oldest and most enthusiastic Mason of Devonshire at the

end ofthe last century , AVC read that on his death in 177 : 1 , "his corpse lay in Masoni ' e state at the Apollo fun at Exeter ; and every person paid a shilling to be admitted , the amount of Avhich amply defrayed the expenses of his funeral , AA'hich AVUS performed agreeable to the exact and solemn form long established among Masons , more than three hundred of whom , together with as many inhabitants of the city , attended the remains to the grave

in ( jartliolomew churchyard , au anthem composed ou purpose being sung ou the occasion . " Can any brother add other instances of Masons being exhibited in state after death ? Also , ivas it usual to charge a fee for ad-