Masonic Notes And Queries.

equal it . Beautifully dotted on his left arm , in red and blue ink , which time could not efface , appeared all the emblems of the Entered Apprenticeship . There were the Holy Bible , the square and compass , the twenty-four inch gauge and common gavel . There was also the Masonic pavementrepresenting the

, ground floor of King Solomon ' s Temple , , the indented tessel which surrounds it , and the blazing star in the centre . On his right arm , and artistically executed in the same indelible liquid , were the emblems pertaining to the Fellow Craft degree , viz ., the square , level , and the plumb . There were also the five orders

of architecture—the Tuscan , Doric , Ionic , Corinthian , and Composite . In removing the garments from his body the trowel presented itself , with all the other tools of operative Masonry . Over the heart was the pot of incense . On the other parts of his body were the bee-hive , the " Book of Constitutions , " guarded by the Tyler ' s sword , the sword pointing to a naked

heart , the All-seeing eye , the anchor and ark , the hour-glass , the scythe , the 47 th problem of Euclid , the sun , moon , stars , and comets , the three steps emblematical of youth , manhood , and age . Admirably executed was the weeping virgin , reclining upon a broken column , upon which lay the ' Book of

Constitutions . ' In her left hand she held a pot of incense , the Masonic emblem of the immortality of the soul . Immediately behind her stood winged Time , with his scythe by his side , which cuts the brittle thread of life , and the hour-glass at his feet , which is ever reminding us that our lives are withering

away . The withered and attenuated fingers of the Destroyer were placed amid the long and gracefully flowing ringlets of the disconsolate mourner . Thus were the striking emblems of mortality beautifully blended in one pictorial representation . It was a spectacle such as Masons never saw before , and , in all probability , such as the fraternity will never witness again . The brother ' s name was never known . "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspond e ? its

CELESTIAL MYSTERIES .

TO THE EDITOR OE TnE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND 1 TASONIC MIIH 10 E . Dear Sir and Brother , —Bro . Evans , of Hobart Town , remarks that the Book of Constitutions of the Grand Lodge does not allude to the origin of Freemasonry ; that either the order really possesses a history or it does not ; that , if it does , then

unquestionably historical landmarks must exist somewhere by which its pretensions to antiquity can be established . The name of the original rulers and patrons of the Order should be known , and there should be an original plan and structure , & c . When an aspirant is initiated he promises not to

write or print anything directly or indirectly relating to Masonry . The words required of him are remarkably vigorous , and mean what they imply ; or , if they do not , why are they allowed to be continued . When Masons ruled the world the oath was strictly enforced , and it was almost impossible for a brother to publish anything that was forbidden , and , even if he did so , it was of no avail , for the higher orders

were compelled to destroy all records that related to Masonry unless written or printed in the celestial language , a language perfectly unintelligible to the uninitiated . There are thousands of these celestially written works preserved in libraries , all of which can be read and understood by masters of the science .

From what can be gathered from these records , Masonry flourished prior to the 10 th century ; that during the 17 th it dwindled and became interwoven with astrology . The sciences confounded , seem to have remained passive for a time , when about the 18 th century operative Masonry broke forth into

existence . Modern Masonry has certainly nothing to do with astrology , but it assuredly has some connexion with astronomy , that is if the Grand Registrar ' s certificate is any authority . Thus Masonry is derived from the heavens , or the heavenly figures have been made to correspond with the

Masonic ritual- —one or the other ! The celestial figures are said to be the invention of Ptolemy , and he died some years before Anno Domini commenced ; so Masons must decide for themselves about antiquity . In 1751 there was an evident endeavour to reestablish ancient Masonry . According to the old

style—that , is of the dark ages—Easter Day was dependent on the full moon at the vernal equinox , or the 21 st of March . Easter Day in 1751 was still dependent on the full moon of the 21 st March , as the prayer-books will prove ; but the equinox , instead of being on the 21 st Marchhadowing to

preces-, , sional motion , been driven back to the 10 th of March . So no correct celestial atlas could be constructed , and consequently complex calculations were required to elucidate Masonic combinations . In 1752 the Act of Parliament introduced what is called

the new style , but which in reality was re-mtroducing the very old style , as the Act itself explains . It sets forth that at the Convocation of iMice the vernal equinox was on the 21 st March , and for reasons given it was desirable it should be as it was at the time of the Convocation . The law then ordains that the Calendar for the future shall be so

regulated as to perpetuate the 21 st of March as the day of the equinox . Atlases , therefore , properly constructed for the iNlcean period ( A . D . 325 ) , for the year 1752 , and for subsequent years must be all alike , and with them the celestial Masonic mysteries can be easily interpreted .

How could the Grand Lodge print and jniblisJi- the history of Masonry when it would have been death for any one to have written the history . The officers of the Grand Lodge individually know nothing more of Masonry than do W . M . ' s generally . The Grand Lodis merelthe executive of the Ordernot the

ge y , initiative , for there is no initiative , as Masons are beginning to find out . It was the duty of the executive rulers , whether they were called Cardinals , or Knights of Malta , or convocations of W . M . ' s , to enforce the obligations and to punish those who evaded the provisions , and not to teach the

knowledge to the brethren . As to the original rulers of Masonry , what more can Bro . Evans require than to be reminded that the original rulers were Sol in Onion at the Convocation of JNfice , and the celestial hosts were the landmarks , and " Remove not the ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set , " for cursed be he that removeth his