Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC MEMORIAL . Whilst wandering about in the Peak of Derbyshire , last summer , in search of the pre-historic remains which abound in that picturesque district , I stumbled upon an old tumble-down house at Birchover , built of stone , as all the houses thereabouts are , and bearing over the entrance a roughly-carved tablet , of which I send a faithful sketch . The bouse has never

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been inhabited within the recollection of auy of the Birchover people ; hut there is a vague tradition that the man who built it had sold himself to the Archenemy , and that his unquiet spirit still haunts the spot . This may be a remnant of the superstition which formerly attributed to our brethren a perfect

understanding of the " black art , " for it is evident , from the symbols of speculative , as well as operative , Freemasonry upon the tablet , that the builder was one of the Craft . I may add that the Eootor Rocks and llobin Hood ' s stride , those gigantic Druidieal cairnsare in close proximitto this Masonic

frag-, y ment . —A . W ., 253 . COSTA AND coirsros . A history of the sufferings of one Costa , or Coustos , for being a Freemason , is often alluded to . Which of the two was it ?—P . M . —[ Both . John Coustos printed

a book entitled , The Sufferings of John Coustos for Freemasonry , and for refusing to turn Roman Catholic in the Inquisition at Lisbon ; when he was sentenced during Four TearstotleGalleys , andqfterwards Released from thence ly the generous Interposition of his present Majesty , King George II . To which is annexed the

Ori gin of the Inquisition , fyc . 8 vo . London , 450 pages , with plates , 174 G . The other work is Costa ' s ( Pereira Purtado D'Mendeca Hyppolyto Joseph ) A Narrative of the Persecution of the Author , a Native of Colonia de Sacramento , on the River Plate , Imprisoned and Tried at Lisbon for the Pretended Crime of

Freemasonry . 2 vols . Svo . London , 1811 . ] FREEMASON . Which is correct , Freemason or Free-Mason?—P .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents , " KILLING- NO MURDER . " TO THE EDITOl ! 01 ? THE E 11 EE 5 CAS 0 SS' MAGAZINE AHD MASONIC KIKKOR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In the report of the last Quarterly Communicationjust issuedthe

Build-, , ing Committee take credit for having altered , by the Grand Superintendent of Works , the staircase in the Tavern . If I mistake not , they will soon take something more than credit for this performance . Not content with placing the banister beyond the edge of the stairsand thus

render-, ing it of less service than usual , the architect has thought proper to avoid a repetition of the square landing flag on the flight of stairs between the first and second floors , and has narrowed , to the smallest minimum of space , the turn of the stairway in its most dangerous part . Everyone who knows how customary it is

for several brethren to come down together after alodge is closed , will at once perceive the danger that threatens ; those who are so descending will be entirely taken off their guard by the sweep of the

handrail , and it will not surprise me if , before the end of this new year , several brethren do not meet their death , and many be disabled for life , exactly at this part of the staircase . 1 am told a waiter has already fallen , and been injured ; and that an old gentleman has pitched over the railing of the banister on the lower flight . If this is to be the style

in which our lives and bodies are to be jeopardised bv the Grand Superintendent of Works and the Building Committee , it will be necessary to open a Masonic Accidental Death and Damages Company ( Limited ) at the Tavern , so that , by taking tickets before attending lodge meetingswe may make some

, provision for our wives and families in case of that death which must inevitably come to some of us before many months elapse , owing to the absurd narrowness and steepness of the stairs at the point spoken of , and the utter uselessness of the hand-rail .

I am , dear Sir and Brother , ONE UNINSURED AGAINST MASONIC PERIL P . S . —Who would be responsible for the damages in an action on the death of a brother through this cause ? Would it he the master of the Tavern , the Building Committee , or the Architect ?

The Calendar

THE CALENDAR

TO THE EDITOR 01 ' THE imEEMASOXS' 3 IAGAZINK AXO MASONIC 1 II 3 H 0 H . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —You have kindly inserted iu your number of this day a letter from me relative to an error in the " Freemasons' Pocketbook , " after two intimations of it to the brother who is designated as the officer appointed to receive them . In the course of compilation of a local Masonic

almanac for the Channel Isles , I have this week discovered several other important errors , for which I cannot account . In the list of lodges in the " Freemasons' Pocket-book , " the date of the warrant of No . 84 is inserted as 1753 ; that of No . 168 as 1767 ; that of No . 243 as 1780 . I have seen the warrants , and find the date in No . 84 to be 1807 ; that in No . 1 GS to be 17 S 4 ; that in No . 243 to be 1810 .