A Masonic School In Bombay.

There are many orphans of Masons noAV iu the Bombay Presidency Avho would find a home in the proposed School , where they will receive an education adapted to their situation in life , be trained up in the knowledge and love of virtue , and such habits of industry as are necessary to

then * condition , and of impressing on their minds a due sense of subordination , true humility , and the principles and practice of social , moral , and reli gious duty . At the last meeting of Lodge Concord , Bro . Dr . T . Diverthe Mastergave notice of a motion

, , he intended to mo \ e at the next meeting , for the establishment of a Masonic School in Bombay Avith the objects above detailed . It is proposed that at startina * the number of children be

limited to the funds raised for its support ; the institution to be under the patronage of the English aud Scotch Provincial Grand Lodges ; children to be admitted by the votes of the governors and subscribers ; the number of Azotes to be regulated according to the amount of individual

subscriptions . A Provisional Committee will be immediatel y formed , of which the Provincial Grand Masters , their Deputies and Wardens , and the Master of every lodge , are im-ited to become members , when further arrangements -will be made .

We little thought Avhilst advocating in our last the cause of the Avidow and orphan , that it would be our privilege so soon to record its good effects , though in a different channel . We hope yet to see the accomplishment of the first-named project . God-speed say Ave to both—one will subserve the

other . Masonic Charity is like the Avork of a good wife , AA' hich is never at an end ; it will always seek out work , and the establishment of one charitable institution will give an impetus foi another and another . We Avill anxiousl y look forAA'ard for the speedy consummation of the good Avork UOAV taken in hand . —Masonic Record of Western India .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

FREEMASONRY AND THE GUILDS . What guild is the one from Avhicli Freemasonry is derived?—A YORKSIIIREMAN . —[ None . The mere assertion ought to show to any one of common sense that , by according to the Craft a guild parentage , its antiquity is seriousl y impaired . The earliest guildi . e ., an incorporated trade mystery—dates about 1370

to 1400 . NOAV , if Freemasonry is the daughter oi such a guild , Avhat becomes of all the pre-Christian legends of the Order , those of Solomon ' s temple , and various other topics which will naturally , occur to you ? ^ Those AVIIO advocate such a doctrine must be very illogical iu their ideasand those who take

, such assertions as facts upon the mere ipsa dixit of any one—great light or otherwise as you term them—must be very easily led away from history or common sense . We do not know who your country ' s

great light m Masonry" is , all we know of " great lights" we learned iu a lodge and that there are three such . There is a design running throughout the whole of the 2 U'oduction , but it is not one which is founded on catholic Freemasonry , it merely seeks to inculcate the doctrine , " I have said so , you must not thiuk otherwise . " ]

BDTCKTES ON TEMPLARY . [ Iu an ansAver to a correspondent in these columns we gave the title of Sir Knt . Binckes ' s Sketch of the History and Persecution of the Knights Templars , and omitted to say ifc was " a paper" read by that worthy knight . Some idea having gone abroad , through our inadvertencethat the book is an oriinal

, g essay by Sir Knt . Binekes we feel ifc our duty to correct that impression by stating ifc to be exactly as he describes it "A paper read , " and as we all know such papers are , iu the majority of instances , more valuable than original essays , because they presuppose a condensation of Avhnt has been done beforeaud

, some show an authoritative statement , where an original essay might be auy and everything an imagiuative person chose to make ifc . We have much pleasure in setting this matter right , because Ave pride ourselves iu never advancing a theory without data , and Sir Knt . Binekes has the literary honestto make

y his quotations and cite his authorities , a course so different to some Avould-be teachers , AVIIO indulge in random statements aud perverted facts , that we are the more inclined to notice it Avhen carried out as all such inquiries should be . ]

THE MULE ASB THE UNIVERSALITY 01- MASONRY . The Committee on Foreign Correspondence present a very interesting report , iu which they A ery courteously review the proceedings of our oAvn , among the other Grand Lodges . The committee are not in favour of the "new test , " and yet yield to none in

their reverence for the Bible . They regard it as the " reflex of the Divine mind , a light radiating from the Eternal Throne . " They seem to he terribly harassed with the idea that the universality of Masonry Avill be destroyed , if the candidate for initiation into our mysteries be required to avow his belief iu

the divine authenticity of the Holy Scriptures ; Brother Turkey , and Persia , and old ' father Zoroaster , cannot be embraced as Masons ! And then , still further , they look away down the history of future years , to the time Avhen further aggressions shall be made upon our institutionand Masons may be

re-, quired to believe " in the divinity of the Messiah , " " the mode of administering the Sacraments , " " the order of Priesthood , " and , as a climax to the Avhole , they see the utter overthrow of Masonry . It strikes us that our brethren alloAv their fears to overcome their seuse of propriety , and reduce their own

argument to an absurdity ; for they declare ' * the Bible to be a reflex of the Divine mind , " and yet would not have the initiate required to acknowledge it , even as such . They teach us that the Bible is "justly cherished a 3 the great light in Masonry , " aud yet he who disbelieves ifcis just as eligible to the mysteries

, of the fraternity , as he who founds his faith upon it . We can hardly believe our brethren would themselves willingl y follow their own argument to its legitimate conclusion ; and yet the vein of scepticism Avhich runs through their remarks upon the Bible , leads us