Chapter Xii.

to Allah for its destruction . Many in their insanity fell victims to the ' flames , while the vig ilant eye of Gerard de Eidefort , perceiving their incaution , seized the opportunity and sending out repeated bodies of Templars , numbers of the

infidel were cut down and killed during the confusion . Full of rage , and finding the castle so ably defended , Saladin drew off his forces and left the valiant Templars in possession of the charred and smoking ruins of Tortosa . ( To be continued . )

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

BROTHER ICHETTER-HOHTTM GANGOOEY . In answer to the question contained in the letter of an American . brother on the subject of the admission of emancipated negroes into Freemasonry , I say . that , so late an September , 1863 . Bro . Khetter-Mohum Gangooly was the only Hindoo who had

been admitted into English Freemasonry . See Freemasons' Magazine , vol . ix ., page 469 . In one of my communications to the Freemasons' Magazine , vol . xv ., page 348 , it is stated "the number of Hindoos in the Bengal lodges is , I believe , as yet extremely small . "—C . P . COOPER .

THE " CHURCH NEWS" ( Dec . llth , IS 67 , ) AND FREEMASONRY . In No . 40 of this paper a letter appears from Bro . the Rev . W . N . Truss , referring to a previous number ( Sept . llth ) , in which the "horrible rite performed iu several lodges in Paris" & cis

espe-, , cially mentioned by M . de Segur . Bro . Truss says truly that " it is very easy to slander a very influential and Jarge body of men by propagating such a horrible libel upon the Freemasons . . . . As a . Freemason , and a priest of the English Church , I beg to state that I do not for one moment believe

that such horrible and blasphemous ceremonies are permitted in any Masonic lodge throughout the world . " We quite agree with the writer of this letter , and hope , with him , that some brother will take the matter up , although I do not , after all , think any one would believe so foul a libel on Masonry but the ignorant and credulous . The editor of the

Church ibTeivs , however , appends to the well-written letter the following - . — " One leading objection to Freemasonry of all kinds is that apart from baptism it sets up a theory of union which is plainly antagonistic to Christianity . " One thing is clear—the editor is not a Mason , or

he would not so write ; and hence I would recommend to his attention the various works on the Craft by several learned Masonic divines , and advise him in the future to be a little more guarded in so sweepingly denouncing a society which was founded , continued , and now rests upon the principles revealed in the volume of the Sacved Law . Probably the mentioning of the above may lead one ( out of the many distintmguished clergymen whom we are proud to acknow-

Masonic Notes And Queries.

ledge as members of the Masonic Fraternity ) to afford us the benefit of his views on Freemasonry , its Christian origin , and character . FIRST PART OF BROTHER HUGHAN ' " ANALYSIS 03 ? ANCIENT AND MODERN FREEMASONRY . "

Allow me to renew my recommendation that you should commence your Masonic lucubrations hy the perusal ofthe first part of Bro . Hughan ' s "Analysis of Ancient and Modern Freemasonry . " Tou will find it in J \ OS . 432 , 434 , 436 , 430 , 440 , and 442 ofthe Freemasons Magazine ... In compliance with

the desire expressed by you at our last conversation , I subjoin a copy of my memorandum of the contents of Bro . H . 's little tract . ... I purposely forbear to state the opinion that I have formed on any subject in this memorandum , being desirous chat your judgment should not be influenced hy- the previous

knowledge of the conclusions at which a Past Grand Master of an English province has arrived . 1 . It is probable that the present system of the Craft has in no sense , beyond the second degree , been in operation before the ISfcli century . 2 . It has heen demonstrated over and over again that but two separate

degrees , or grades ( or , at the most , no more than three ) , were acknowledged by the ancient Fraternity . 3 . Few , if any , of the sublime imposing rituals of Freemasonry , either in whole or in part , were known , or even could have been worked , or understood by the Masons of old 4 . It is the general belief of the

Fraternity that Masonry was brought into Scotland by the operatives who built Kilwinning . Abbey . 5 . Bro . H . confesses his inability to discover to whom England is indebted for the introduction of Masonry .

6 . Bro . Fiudel rightly considers it is now placed beyond doubt that the modern society of Freemasons is the direct descendant and successor , in au unbroken line , of the operative Fraternity of Freemasons of the Middle Ages . 7 . Masons materially assisted in the spread of Christianity , the increase of pietyand the promotion of virtue throughout the

, land . 8 . In the Middle Ages , as now , when the ancient Constitutions are followed , a thorough Mason was another name for a good Christian . 9 . There is abundance of evidence to prove the great age of the lodge Mother Kilwinning , and also to confirm a belief in its being one of the earliest

operative lodges in the world . 10 . It is the opinion of Bro . Murray Lyon , and also of Bro . II ., that the Mother Kilwinning Lodge was never more nor less than a society , of architects and artizans , incorporated for the regulation of the business of the building trade , and the relief of indigent brethren , until the

development , early iu the 18 th century , of the Speculative Masonry . 11 . Bro . Ii . thinks that the character ascribed to the Kilwinning Lodge will describe every other lodge that existed before 1717 . 1 ' 2 . Early in the IStli century different fees were charged in the Kilwinning Lodge for operative and for speculative Freemasonry . 13 . The gentlemen who joined

the Aberdeen lodge ( it existed at least as early as the beginning of the lGth century ) were termed " geomatic , " and the operatives "domatb'' Masons . 14 . The geomatic members had the distinction of having the Master , aud Depute Master appointed from their number . 15 . Gentlemen were admitted as members of the ancient Scotch lodges just as they