English Gilds. *

political era has begun in England—whether they were barons who wrung from King John the Magna Charta Libertatum , or the middle-classes who in the seventeenth century obtained here first the dominion in the state—so the era of the

working-classes comes first to developement on English soil . And as in the earlier Middle Ages from the days of Charlemagne the Frith-Gilds , and in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the Craft-Gilds , so now the Trade-Unions will be the

great engines for obtaining the sway . Already since 1824 they have enjoyed a kind of recognition ; and already they have fought contests quite as fierce as , if not fiercer than , those of the

old craftsmen against the patricians . The history of their sufferings since the end of the eighteenth century , and of the privations endured for their independence , is a real record of heroism . It is only to be hoped that now , when they are free

from all legal restrictions , they may use onlyinstead of the arms of violence , which belong to former times—the legal means which belong to our days , and which are thrown open to them by the franchise . May the English working-men ,

like the English barons and middle-classes in former times , be a bright example in the attainment of freedom to their brethren on the Continent .

Masonic Jottings.—No. 39.

MASONIC JOTTINGS . —No . 39 .

BY A PAST PEOVINCTAL GEAND MASTEE .

ENGLISH 18 th CENTURY MASONS , GERMAN 15 th CENTURY MASONS . Brother 0 . L . M ., you concede that the Masons from whom Speculative Masons have acquired their Speculative Masonry must themselves have

been Speculative Masons . Now , according to the renowned Grandidier Theory , the English 18 tb century Masonsacquired their Speculative Masonry from the German 15 th century Masons . It follows that these last were Speculative Masons .

CHAMTY OP ENGLISH FKEEMASONRY AND BUDDHISM . Brother E . G . C—The columns of the " Freemasons' Magazine " will show you that the charity of English Freemasonry is not greater than the

charity of Buddhism ; and yet the religion of English Freemasonry as a particular Freemasonry is Christianity , Avhilst Buddhism is Atheism .

Masonic Jottings.—No. 39.

EICHTE . This celebrated philosopher was a Freemason . It is recorded of him that he Avas ardently devotee ! to our Order . THE ARCHITECTURAL COLLEGES OP THE ROMANS ' .

In the Appendix which will be inserted at the end of these Jottings , a metropolitan correspondent will possibly find as much as he desires to learn respecting the Architectural Colleges of the Romans .

CHEOPS . Cheops , the builder of the great pyramid , belonged to the fourth Dynasty of Egyptian Kings ^ which it is said , began 3 , 427 years before the Christian Era .

TURKS AND JEWS IN OUR LODGES , 1737 . The admission of Turks and Jews in our lodges in 1737 , is thought to be sufficiently shown by the articleh " Freemasonry a dangerous society , " Avhich appeared in the " Gentlemen's i . agazine for the month of April in that year . BROTHER ROB , M 0 KR 1 S , AND THE CHAHGES

OE 1723 . Bro . Bob . Morris , has , it is said , assigned a meaning to the charge , " Respecting God and Religion , " which upon close examination Avill be found by no means correct . *

SPREAD IN GERMANY OP THE ENGLISH 18 TH CENTURY MASONRY . A correspondent borroAving some words of Bro , Findel's Histoiy , ascribes the rapid spread in Germany of the English 18 th . Century Masonry , to its fulfilling the desires of all those in Gut-many .,

Avho were longing for the uniting of all right minded people to prove Avhat was right , and to carry out the ideal of earthly perfection . "

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

THE BIBLE . The ensuing passage is taken from the " St . John ' s Day Circular" of the Berlin Grand Lodge , " The Three Globes , ' 1858 . — " Let us faithfully and steadily persevere upon our old ground in our old limits , within our time-honoured circle , This ground , be-