Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC MEMORABILIA . "Valuable manuscripts burnt by scrupulous brethren , 1720 . " How would it do to read it , — 1 Valuable manuscripts burnt by unscrupulous brethren , 1720 " and add , "many destroyed since ? "

, In all likelihood these manuscri pts ( or old lodge minutes , perhaps ) , might have given us some help in getting at the proper understanding of what happened to Freemasonry in the first quarter of last century . —W . P . B .

ANTEDILUVIAN BUEEALOES . I beg to call the attention of your readers to the following from "JN otes and Queries , " 4 th S . Jan . 30 , 1869 , p . 106 -. — " During the past week the Grand Surrey Lodge No . 1 ( the mother lodge of England ) held its usual

weekly meeting at St . George ' s Tavern , Lambethroad , host Primo Brooks , sen . The principal business of the evening was the installation of Primo Albert Thomas Harris , of the Equestrian Tavern , Blackfriars-road , a Knight of the Order . The ceremony was performed by Primo Arthur Hamiltonand

, the handsome silver Maltese cross presented in the presence of 70 brothers , seven of whom were Knights of the Order . After the presentation Sir Albert Thomas Harris returned thanks in a very neat and appropriate speech , thanking the brothers for the honour they had conferred on him . Several provincial

brothers were present , who expressed themselves highly pleased with the manner in which the business of the lodge was conducted . This lodge still holds its supremacy in every point , and no doubt will continue as long as it is governed by the present officers . " As the Order of the Red Cross of Constantino is

very likely to include among its many numerous decorations those of the Antediluvian Buffaloes , I shall be obliged to any Sir Knight , or Primo Albert , or Sir Albert for information calculated to enli ghten Mr . Westbrook or myself?—W . B .

IREEMASON—DERIVATION OE THE AVORD . At page 219 it says , — " The Masons of our corporations . " I should have said , — "The Masonic incorporation often included all the different trades necessary in house building . "—W . P . BUCHAN .

EHI-EBTA-KAITA SOCIETY . I beg to call the attention of your readers to the following from "Notes and Queries , ' ' ' No . 3 , Jau . 30 , 1 S 69 , p . 108—W . B . " X . Y . ' A . appears desirous of knowing something about the . "Phi-Beta Kappa Society . " Whether it

was of American ori gin , or an importation , is difficult to determine . In America it found a home and flourished greatly , but of late has almost become extinct . Report says that President Jefferson was its originator in the United States , and was first established b y him in William and Mary College in

Virginia , taken up at Tale College , and afterwards adopted by several other American colleges and universities . X . Y . Z . " supposes" it was something Masonic . It boasted of an assimilation to the principles of the Iliuminati , and had its obligations , signs , and a distinctive jewel , in imitation of Freemasonry . For soma years the injunction to secrecy which bound its members has been removed , and it is now

Masonic Notes And Queries.

understood to be a purely philosophical association , exclusively confined to members of colleges ; and in those , only such as have distinguished themselves in ther academical course are admitted to its ranks . The jewel is usually worn as a charm , attached to a watchand bears on the obverse six stars * , and a

, , hand ; on its reverse , " S . P . December 5 , 1776 . " The stars show the number of colleges in which the society exists . The hand points to the first letters of the legend , Bid , Beta , Kappa—from whence it takes its name . The S . P . stands for " Societas Philosophic ; " and the date is the record of its institution ,

or introduction , to the United States . —MATTHBAV COOKE . " " To the query of X . T . Z . respecting this society , I reply that it was of foreign origin , and confined to colleges and universities . It professed philosophy for its foundationonly another word for infidelity .

, The members wore a gold or silver medal , suspended by a blue and pink ribbon , and had their signs , grips , and words , like all secret societies . Their motto was , < 5 iAo < ro < f > ia B . ' OU KuOepc-i ' iTiis— "Philosophy is the Governess of Life ; " and the three initials of these words formed the name of the

societyPhi-Beta-, Kappa . This society is said , however , to have removed the obligation of secrecy from its membersprobably from its mysteries having been revealed in certain publications . —F . C . H . "

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents MASONIC PERSECUTION .

TD TIIE EDITOB OF THE ET . EE 1 IASOXS ALIGAZINE AXD IIASO ^ IC MlEEOll . Dear Sir ' and Brother , —¦ " It need not be wondered at , " says a short article in the Magazine of the 13 th inst ., page 207 , "that the Church of Rome and Freemasonry disagree . The mere fact of Freemasonry being free is sufficient , in the eyes of Rome ,

to show cause why it should be condemned , and the secret lies in this , viz ., —the spirit of Freemasonry and the spirit of Rome are diametrically opposed , & o . " It is , indeed , altogether wrong to suppose that the Romish Church persecutes Freemasonry because it is free . Protestantism is free , yet the Romish Church

does not now persecute Protestantism . The Romish Church still fulminates , at intervals , its bulls against Freemasonry , hut not against Protestantism . The cause of such persecution is to be found elsewhere . It is to be found in that period of ecclesiastical history when the Romish Church sprang or

branched off from Freemasonry , and thenceforth so perverted the secret mysteries of Freemasonry as to exalt the Church and clothe it with supreme spiritual , and even temporal , power over kingdoms and nations . Here , then , lies the true cause why the Romish Church anathematizes Freemasonry to an extent , in

words at least , sufficient to disestablish it for ever , lest at any time the truth mig ht be brought to light to the utter discomfiture and overthrow of Romanism . Is it , then , to be wondered at that the secret mysteries , supposed to bo lost , should continue to be a source of apprehension to the Romish Church ; and