Masonic Notes And Queries.

says : — " When we desire to confine our words , we commonly say , they are spoken ' under the rose ;' which expression is commendable , if the rose , from any natural property , be the symbol of silence , as Nazianzene seems to imply when he says : — Utque latet Rosa Verna suo putamine clausa

Sic os vincla ferat , validisque arctetur habenis , Indieatque suis prolixa Silentia labris . ' And is also tolerable if , hy desiring a secrecy to words spoke under the rose , we only mean in society and compotation from the ancient custom in Symposiack meetings , to wear chaplets of roses about their heads ;_ and so we condemn not the Germane customewhich

, over the table describeth a rose in the ceiling ; but more considerable it is if the original were such as Leinnius and others have recorded—that the rose was the floAver of Venus , which Cupid consecrated to Harpocrates , the God of Silence , and was therefore an emblem thereof , as is declared iu this

translation : — * The rose is Venus' pride—the archer hoy Gave to Harpocrates his mother's flower , AVhat time fond lovers told their tender joy—To guard with sacred secrecy the hour . Hence , o ' er his festive board the host uphung Love ' s flower of silence , to remind each guest , AA hen wine to amorous sallies loosed the tongne , Under the rose what pass'd , must never he express'd . ' And amongst other quotations we may include Mrs .

Spencer s lines : — ' In the mirror of truth , prithee say , is it shown ? Or is it but guess'd by your fancy alone , That pleasure , true pleasure , can only be known , Sub-Eosa ?'" Some have asserted that , with reference to this attribute of secrecythe rose was adoptednot onl

, , y as a part of the blazon on the arms , but likewise as a cognominal designation of the fraternity of the Eosycruciaus—a sect of philosophers which appeared in Germany about 1614 , aud presently spread themselves through most of the countries of Europe , aud out of which has sprung the present system of Ereemasonry .

The opinion that the rose was assumed as the symbol of secrecy , and the cross to represent the solemnity of the oath hy Avhich the vow of secrecy was ratified , is defended by a writer of great authority on the subject . The latter says , " the Masters of the Order hold out the rose ( the secret ) as a remote prize ; but

they impose the cross ( the labour ) on those who are entering . " There are many other incidents connected with Ereemasonry and the rose , which , for obvious reasons , must remain untold here . ]

BROTHER JONATHAN . "We often call the Americans Brothers Jonathan , hut few knoAV that it Avas of Masonic origin , and arose thus : — " George Washington , Commander-in-Chief of the American army in the Revolution , ivas a Masonas well as nearly all his Generals . On one

, occasion , Avhen the army had met with some serious reverses , General Washington called his Brother officers together to consult in Avhat manner their effects could be best counteracted . Differing as they did in opinion , the Commander-in-Chief postponed uny action upon the subjectby remarking' Let us

, , consult Brother Jonathan , ' referring to Jonathan Trumbull , who Avas a well-known Mason , and particularly distinguished for his sound judgment , . strict morals , and having the tongue of good report . " —Ex , Ex .

MASONIC PRIVATEERING . ( From the Limerick Chronicle of Nov . 28 th , 1812 . ) Arrived , the schooner United Sisters , of Poole , Webb , master , from Poole , bound to Bristol with pipe-clay , was boarded and plundered about four miles of the Start Point , by Le Furet , French

privateer of 18 guns , 140 men . Captain Webb was detained on board said privateer for two hours , during which time an Irish sloop , Three Friends , Bro . Captain Campbell , master , hove in sight , which was taken possession of also by the enemy ; but both vessels and their crews were liberated on the masters signing the following article in the English ancl French languages : —

" CARTE D ' ECHANQE . " Le Corsair Le Furet , de Saint Malo , Armateaw in Fotier 8 { Flareniberl , Captaine Louis Marencourt . "lb is hereby certified io whom it may concern , that I , Louis Marencourt , Captain of the French privateer Le Furctcaptured on the 6 th November ,

, 1812 , in the latitude of Start Point ( owner , Thomas Hammond ) , Captain Joseph Webb , aud that he , Joseph Webb , and crew of said vessel , have been provided with safe conveyance for England , and been released by me from the ship under my command , in which he was detained a prisoner of waron the

, folioAving conditions : — "' That I , Joseph Webb , above-mentioned , have hereby engaged my word and honour , and upon my oath , that immediately after my arrival in England I shall make every application in my poAver to exchange against me and my ship ' s company Bro .

J . Gantier , taken on the 16 th February , 1812 , on board the French schooner The Confiance , and detained on board the prison ship Croion Prince , and now prisoner in Chatham ; and that if I cannot succeed in liberating the aforesaid Bro . Joseph Gantier two months after the date of the present engagementI shall repair to France to be a prisoner

, of war , as I should have been , had not Captain Louis Marencourt granted me my liberty . I engage myself , besides , not to bear arms , either by sea or land , against France or her allies , before the execution of the above-mentioned conditions , made loillingly and triple at sea , on board the Le Furet , on the 6 th

November , 1812 . "' JOSEPH WEBB , " ' Captain of United Sisters , of Liverpool . "' JAMES CAMPBEM , , "' Captain of Three Friends , of Toughal ( M . M . No . 13 ) .

"' Louis MARENCOURT , Captain Le Furet . '" Copy of a Letter iu the Limerick Chronicle , 17 th February , 1813 , from Captain Crawford , of his Majesty's ship Modeste , to John Wilson Croker , Esq ., dated at Spithead , the 7 th February , 1813 .

. " SIR , —I have to acquaint you , for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty , that , on Saturday morning last , offScilly , a French schooner privateer was forced to leeward on the Modeste , by being chased by his Majesty ' s sloop Wasp , and I am glad to say the Modeste captured her . The privateer , so confident of her superior sailing , would not bring to , until her rigging and sails were much damaged