Masonic Celestial Mysteries.

nearly naked lewd Venus popularia as she is , and whose brilliant mirach lias no more discretion than Menlcar , the jewel in the swine's snout , both offending the celestial laws . Her mother , Cassiopeia , always looks as if she had been crying , and

saving that she is sitting down with a mystic branch in her hand , she has no other semblance to Britannia . There is only one more female pictured in the heavens , and that is Virgo , the Egyptian Isis , and the similitude between her

and hei Britannic ' majesty is remarkable . Both are grave-looking persons , always respectably though not fashionably dressed ; true , some old plates represent Virgo as enviente , but that is nothing as regards a celestial virgin , as stated by

Cruden . In Virgo ' s right hand , and in the right hand of Britannia , are similar mystic branches . Britt . carries occasionally a pair of scales , and the scales , the libra , are invariably in the possession of Virgo . Without mystery , Opica of Virgo is

the bright , occidental star , which , according to law , sets with the lamb at the sacrifice , when " the sun in his strength , " rises opposite . Closing- one sign or 80 degrees , cliemali of Libz-a is with , say Opica . Opica is the denoting brilliant , but it is the little ( crimson flower "h" under the ecliptic , from whence the astronomical points are reckoned .

Fig . 2 . Here is the Budhist Virgo , plate 12 , ancl , as Upham describes , with the crimson flower . At times Britannia is made to represent Pallas , and for that purpose is furnished with the helmet ,

breast plate , and shield of Mars , and the spear of Bootes . Did any one ever see Britannia with a sword ? No ! because Virgo with the scales and the sword is no longer Britannia , but Themis , whose parents are known as Ccelus and Terra , Neptune Aquarius had a trident , and the stars

Masonic Celestial Mysteries.

G H I indicate the teeth . * Mercury , the celestia Tiler , must have stolen the trident and given it to Britannia . Britt . has occasionally a bale of wool , which she came by honestly , for Opica being bylaw at 106 with Oapella and David , she obtains

the wool from the shepherd . The most glorious symbol of Britannia is a ship ruling the waves , and when with David she is on board Argo Navis . The Budhists represent Virgo in a line of battle ship—a three decker—with her ports open .-j *

rig . 3 . Montfaucon gives a coin or medal of Britannia reclining , with the superscription Hispania . J What insolence of the Spaniard ; but as the medal is au antique , perhaps it was minted while Britannia was a province of France . ( To le confimied . )

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

TRADE SECK : ETS ( p . 348 ) . For some time back , in the Magazine , Bro . Buehau has been asserting that other trades had grips and words several centuries ago ; consequently , he has not been " doubting about trade signs and grips in the middle ages . " Perhaps it is a misprint for some

other name . There is more in speculative Masonry , however , than a bit of " apron-washing , " with its word and grip . 'Will " Observer " kindl y remember this?—W . P . BUOHAN . EBEE ASD EEEE-BOEM ' . " Note , " page 286 , calls attention to Act XV . of

the Leges Bui-gorura , page 270 . Now this law is as old as the time of William the Conqueror , consequently , it is a pretty venerable " landmark , " and , according to it , our "free-bom " idea is wrong ; it should be simply " free , " and in Scotland what iscalled the j 1 of free-horn should be j 1 of freedom . I respectfully suggest to my American brethren , botb white men and black freed-men , to note this . —W . P . BUOHAN .