Masonic Notes And Queries.

well on in the ISth century , I cannot by any means fancy what a real Knight Templar could have had to do with our Freemasonry , which did not exist till 1717 . -W . P . B .

H" 0 N-31 AS 0 S " IC WOEDS AND GEIPS . If it be true that Numa established nine collegia of artisans , viz . — " musicians , goldsmiths , carpenters , dyers , shoemakers , tanners , smitbs , potters , and another composed of artisans not enumerated in the above "how comes it that the stonemasons are not mentioned ? More especially when , if we are to believe Masonic

legends , they were everywhere and everything . I perceive the " dyers" mentioned above . Now , I spoke to a dyer a few days ago , who tells me that he got a word and grip when he was young , and he believes if I had access to their books I would find evidence of the custom ; however , that is a question of time and opportunity , and it is only my spare hocus that I can fairly devote to Masonic research . —W . P . B .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed ly Correspondent ! THE EEA OE THE DELUGE .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE EI _ EE __ ASO _ : S' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIIHIO . . . Dear Sir and Brother , —Having been reading Egyptian history occasionall y for some time past , I could not manage to satisfy my mind regarding certain facts evolved from the study of the Egyptian monuments and the period said to have elapsed since the Flood

, According to the hitherto generally promulgated idea the date of the Deluge is given at about 2300 years E . G ., and the Call of Abraham at 1921 B . C . The period however , thus left between these two dates appeared rather short for the state of many things in Abraham ' s time . It appears , however , that the Hebrews

systematically falsified certain dates in their manuscripts for their own purposes , and instead of 2300 , the Deluge happened about 3000 years E . G . This latter date affords time for the growth , not only of those many nations or clans we read of iu Abraham ' s time , but also for the various varieties of the human race depicted upon the Egyptian monuments , and also

for the growth of E gypt itself . Noah had three sons ; these sons had wives . Now , if we allow that these sons may have married into other clans , we have at once varieties in their children . Even Noah ' s own wile might have been of another branch than he was himself , then with a difference of climate and several

hundred years of time , we have room for those ethnological appearances we find depicted upon the old monuments ; and although at first a certain change of expression took place , it would be to a certain extent according to the circumstances of the case ; accordingly , JM oah might have viewed considerable variety

amongst his descendants even in his own time . The period before the Flood , also , instead of being about 1656 years is now given at about 2262 years , and the whole period from the creation of man to the time of Christ , instead of being 4004 years , is given at 5478 , or thereabouts . As to the falsifying of the dates in the Bible above referred to , we need not be surprised at that , when we consider the many Masonic forgeries

Correspondence.

that have been executed within the last century and a half ; and how long these have existed before they were satisfactorily exposed , yea , even after they have been exposed , such is the innate love some brethren have for truth , that they cannot desist from continuing to promulgate their silly impositions !

I pen the above remarks after a glance at certain remarks b y Dr . Alexander Mackay , F . B . G .. S ., in his " Facts and Dates . At every new discovery in science which appears not to coincide with the Bible , many people are ever ready to hold the greatest of the three great lihts of Masonry up to ridicule ; but as ithaS

g happened before , and is happening still , when things are properly investigated , the Bible passes through the fire—tried gold again . Yours fraternally , W . P . BtfCHAN .

Royal Arch Masonry.

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EREEHASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC HIBBOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —Is not uniformity in the ritual of the Eoyal Arch equally as desirable as _ in Craft Masonry , and should not both , when speaking of matters of history , render them correctly ? Tbe writer attends a chapter of instructionwhich

, he believes to be the longest established of any now meeting in London , and where two of the most estimable and popular Eoyal Arch preceptors of great ability and kindness deviate from each other , which has caused many of the oldest and most accomplished members to discontinue their attendance ; and I feel

sure it must be a matter of regret to every well disposed Mason , and form a good argument for uniformity in tbe ritual . And as the entire ritual of Masonry is founded on Biblical history , I humbly submit the task is by no means difficult , if we only bring unprejudiced minds and a little logic to our aidand refer

, to tbe Bible for ourselves . For instance , if we are told the first , or Holy Lodge , was holden A . I . 2515 , two years after the exodus of the children of Israel from their Egyptian bondage , and we find—Exodus , xii . 3 , that they left on the 15 th

day of the first month , . I ,. 2513 *; and Exodus xl . 17 , the tabernacle was consecrated iu the 1 st day in the 1 st month , A . E . 2514—then it must be fourteen days less than twelve months , and not two years after the exodus ; and Bishop Patrick in his Commentary holds this view , and he is held to be correct by other commentators .

Again , oue preceptor says the ribbon worn by the companions is composed of the principal colours , " with which the vails of the Temple and Tabernacle were interwoveu , and another says they were composed of two of tbe principal colours . Ancl we find—Exodus , xxxvi ., 35 And he made a vail of blue and purple and

, scarlet ; 2 Chron . iii ., 15 , He made a vail of blue and purple and crimson . So it appears correct to say they were composed of two of the principal colours . We invest our Principals in blue , and purple , and scarlet , and the jewel of office worn by the Principals and officers and also Past Principals is suspended to

a crimson collar . It would not be much trouble to read the last verse-2 Book of Chron . to enable us to render " the Proclamation of Cyrus , King of Persia , " correctly .