General Architectural Intelligence.

in width , with a raised desk in the _ centre . There are numerous ornamented windows on all sides of the building . Tho Central National Schools , Colchester , erected at a cost of £ 3500 , have been opened . Tho structure is in the Gothic style , composed of red brick , with Caen stone windows , copings and weatherings ; and comprises three school rooms and four class rooms , besides the porches . The central room is for the boys of the Blue Coat School ; the other rooms are , —one to be used for girls , and tho other for smaller girls .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

AXSWEU 1 ; IATE HOURS . No wife need be kept up " expecting her husband long after midnight" if brethren will act as husbands . The lodge to which the writer belongs meets at 7 o ' clock , closes lodge business at 9 ( and if there is more work than can be got through in that time , a lodge of emergency is held prior to the next regular lodge meeting ) then adjourn to the

refresh-, ment room , and often retire home by 10 . 30 ; but should they not leave at this hour , at eleven all instantly retire . No wife is kept up until after midnight . Tho brethren would feci thoroughly ashamed to have it thought that their pleasure (?) was another ' s pain . —P . M .

FREEMASONRY FOR LADIES . Seeing you so properly condemn the introduction of Adoptive Masonry into Scotland ( at page 396 ) , and hope it may not be taken up in England , I am induced to send the following note , which is the preface of a scarce book , Freemasonry for the Ladies , dedicated to Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Tori ; and published about 1790 .

" That Masonry has been cultivated during the present century with uncommon success in Great P . ritain is an axiom generally known , and that the female sex has been hitherto excluded from participating in its benevolent concerns , is a circumstance not favourable to the gallantry of Britons . In most other countries where the Craft has flourished , the ladies have been introduced , and by that means prejudices which exist only in this country

( and which have certainly contributed to prevent the general satisfaction of the good opinion of every one ) , have been kept alive , and occasioned discord in those hreasts in which domestic felicity should ever dwell . To trace the origin of females being excluded from the rites of Masonry will ultimately end in a mere conjecture , as the reason of their being so is one of the valuable secrets in possession of the Fraternity . That no secret is safe in the breast of a woman is an opinion

commonly current , but the propriety of it may well he questioned . Has not every age produced examples of both sex , as being equal in point of mental excellence ? Examine every century from the creation of the world , whose annals we are in possession of , and instances to coroborate the idea present themselves . The continent has set the example to Masons of every region , of admitting , at proper seasons , ladies into their lodges ; and Prance

can boast even of a princess of the blood royal , patronising and assisting at their assemblies . The adopting this trait of an enlightened period in Englandis withheld , and will be easily accounted for when the general manners of the sex of both countries are considered . The levity of the French restrains not their admission into a promiscuous company ; but the reserve of the British fair , actuate them to a dilferent lino of conductthe advantages

; resulting from the introduction of the first , are , that they are convinced that nothing immoral , or impure , is to be met with in a Mason's Lodge , while the latter , from want of occular demonstration to the contrary , harbour suspicions in their breasts , which are as unfounded as thev arc illiberal .

A recent institution ( a ) which was no sooner undertook , but was generously and generally supported , has at length opened the door for the benevolence of the fair advocates of Masonry , for till

this moment their deeds were not solicited , and when the object of that iastit-ation , the protection of female infants is considered , it will lead to unravel the general design of Masonry , and carry conviction even among the prejudiced . The good word of every created being is in requisition , which belongs only to the practice of virtue , and it is desirable by all who ; 3 actions are equal to their professions . That the fair sex might be- occasion-ally introduced into lodge is a point which

does not merit an elucidation , hut that they should not he generally present is equally evident ; and even the ladies themselves will join hi tiie conclusion , times and seasons will occur when their presence will be- dispensed with there and iu other places ; and in return they must recollect the many moments of female conversation which they exclusively enjoy from the interruption of the eye and ear of men ; they hold these meetings at their toilettetheir tea tables ,

, & c , for these are meetings peculiar to their own sex ; and will not parity of reason admit that men should have similar institutions . In the time of the Roman republic a festival was held , which , upon comparison , will justify the total neglect of females in Masonry ; but an admired writer says , that " comparisons are odious , " and his opinion we shall subscribe to . It was customary for the Roman ladies annually to celebrate in

the house , either of the Consul or Prsitor , rites and ceremonies in . honour of a certain goddess ; in what the adoration consisted , as no man was ever permitted to be present , or even acquainted with the nature or tendency of it , it is impossible to say ; at the time the vestals came , and so cautious were they of concealment that the house was carefully searched , all male animals were turned out of doors , and even their statues and pictures were covered with a thick veil .

These precautions for securing the secrecy of the ceremony prevented all possibility of a discovery by impertinent curiosity , or by presumptive intrusion , so that to this day the secret remains impenetrable ( h ) . Iu a country where the women were less regarded than at Home , and where less confidence was reposed in their probity and honour , tho men would probably have supposed that ceremonies so carefully concealed from their knowledge , were either

inimical to virtue or to the State ; but that no such suspicions were entertained , Cicero , in speaking of these mysteries says —• " "What sacrifice is there so ancient as that which has been handed down to us from our first kings , and is coeval with Eome herself ? " What sacrifice is there so private and secret as that which is concealed , not only from tho eyes of the curious and inquisitive ,, but from the sight of all men , and where neither the most profligate wickedness nor impudence ever yet presumed to enter ? This