Masonic Notes And Queries.

is not Masonic , but is derived from tbe mullet in the arms of Washington , whilst the stripes are taken from the bars on the shield . Perhaps even the eagle may be derived from the crest , which , however , is more correctly , a falcon rising . Mrs . Ross seems to have known what she was about . A description of the arms Plea for

of George Washington is found in " A Heraldry in the New ^ World , " by J . H . L . A . ( Archer , 1860 ) . Also by the same writer , in Notes and Queries , it will be seen that the shield contained two fivepointed stars or mullets white ( argent ) on a blue ground ( ) Beneath the azure field a band of white (

arazure . gent ) alternated with red ( gules ) . Then another bar of white and a second bar red . On the original American flag there were red and white stripes alternately , and in the upper corner white stars on a blue ground . —A . L . A .

MASONS MEDALS . In many of our cathedrals the masons , as is well known , have cut their initials or some other figure , in the hope , doubtless , of obtaining that immortality of fame which charms so many of us poor " creatures of a day . " In Switzerland the hewers of stone adopted

another method to obtain the same end . They cast in rude moulds leaden medals bearing their names or initials , with a rough sketch of the building on which they had been employed , ancl placed them below the foundation stone . One of these leads is in my possessionOn the obverse are seen the outlines of a

. church , placed between the letters B . and P ., the initials of the builder ; ancl the reverse bears what would seem a representation of an oriel window , surrounded , garter fashion , by the date , partly defaced . May I ask whether such leaden medals are ever found in our own country ?—Onus in Notes and Queries .

OLE LODGE BECOBDS . In reply to " Progress , '' I may state that " the commission to five for intrants" has no connection with the number of intrants admitted , but Avith the brethren admitting them , and originated in the Haughfoot Lodge in 170-1 ( see page 222 of tbe Magazine , vol . xxi . ) , and which commission was continued yearly . —R . S .

EBEEilASONBX AND QUEEN ELIZABETH ( page 70 ) . Our contemporary is going rather fast in this matter . Pirst prove that a " Grand Lodge" existed in 1566 . If none such existed , the idea of Queen Elizabeth breaking it up is of course a mere idle dream . And as to a lodge or " lodges" in 1429 " holden under

the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury , " any such were operative lodges , composed of free-masons , who were real masons free of their guild , and who carried on their Avork of building in stone and lime — not speculative '' Preemasons , " such as Ave now are . So far as real Masonry is concernedthey were the

, real thing— -we are only the name . Purther , these old operative masons knew nothing of our speculatiue Preemasonry , which did not exist until long after their day . Other trades had Masters , Pellows , and Apprentices , & c , as well as the Masons . —W . P . B .

I' THE Mayor of Bradford on Wednesday morning laid the foundation-stone of the new Town Hull in that borough . The building is to cost £ 43 , 000 , in addition to the site , valued at £ 3 , 000 . The style of architecture is mediieval .

An Appeal For The Blind.

AN APPEAL FOR THE BLIND .

COREESPONDENCE . Trie Editor ii not responsible for the opinions expressed by CarresponAenU

TO THE EDITOR OE TIIE PHEE 3 IASOJ * S' MAGAZINE AND MASOHIC SIIEROE . Dear Sir , —Will you kindly allow me space in your influential journal in order to plead with the public on behalf of the blind—a class of whom it may be most truly said , that they need the help of a friendly hand to enable them to rise out of their present

deplorable condition . Deplorable , indeed ! sightless and poor , they for the most part spend their lives either in street begging or in the workhouse ; and this , be remembered , not voluntarily , but because no opportunity is afforded them of doing otherwise . Speaking from experience , I can say with confidence that the

blind will most joyfully grasp a helping hand if held out to them , since their earnest desire is to be rescued from the state which I have described . My experience is derived from many years' acquaintance with the Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind 210 Oxford-streetW . and 127

Euston-, , , , road , 1 > LW ., the objects of which , to quote from the printed rules , are" To afford employment to those blind persons who , for want of work , have been compelled to solicit alms , or who may be likely to be tempted to do so ; to cause those unacquainted with a trade to be instructed

in some industrial art ; and to introduce trades hitherto unpractised by the blind ; also to support a circulating library , consisting of books in various systems of relief print , which shall be free to the blind poor ; to collect and disseminate information relative to the physical , mental , moral , and religious condition of the blind , and to promote among individuals and

institutions seeking to ameliorate the condition of the blind a friendly interchange of information , calculated to advance the common cause . " The Committee , at whose request I venture , sir , to trouble you with this letter , have carried out these objects as far as the means at their disposal would

permit . 110 blind men and women are at present regularly employed ; others have work occasionally . Classes for instruction in tangible reading are held in different districts of London , at which the teacher , a sighted person , also reads aloud . These classes are attended by many persons . Someagainare engaged in selling

, , goods as agents for the Association in question ; and others , who are unable to work , receive pensions : in all 176 blind persons are benefited by this society . During the year 1869 , the Association paid about £ 2 , 500 in wages and pensions to the blind ; but by far the greater part of this sum consisted of wages for

work done by sightless persons . As there are more than 250 applicants , the Committee are most anxious to hold an election during the present year ; but not only will this be impossible unless increased funds be forthcoming , but the good now being done must be lessened if the public do not speedily aid the

undertaking . Much has been said of late of the evil effects of indiscriminate almsgiving , and of the necessity of organising charitable relief . Probably much good may be hoped from . any such Avell-directed efforts ; but may I suggest that any institution of which the special aim is to diminish the amount of pauperism in any parti-