Masonic Notes And Queries.

have never , until now , been translated into English . F . C . H ., a brother Mason of many years standing , and one well known for his research , made a translation , expressly for our contemporary , "Notes and Queries ; " aud as there are some passages of the same applicable to these columns , they have been reprinted here .

" Moses is represented as talking with God , and asks' " This burning bush , this sign , what can it mean ? What monster this , ivhich none will think I ' ve seen ? The bush was suddenly suifused with flame ; Yet though on fire , all green it stands the same . Why is it so ? I'll go and view it near , This wonder none will credit when they hear . ' " Then God answers

him"' Moses ! no nearer dare to come , but stay , Put off thy shoes , ere thou may ' st tread this way ; The place beneath thy feet is holy ground . ' Then from tbe bush came words of solemn sound ' Take courage , son ; hear in this awful place My words ; no eye of man could bear my face , But thou art privileged to hear my voice , Thoufavoured manthe object of my choice .

, , I am the God thy honoured sires adored , Of Abraham , Isaac , Jacob—God and Lord ; . And mindful of my ancient mercies , now I come , myself the parent to avow , And the avenger of the Hebrew race , Whose wrongs cry out for vengeance to iny face . '

" Then they converse concerning the rod and other prodigies : — " ' Say what is that thou boldest in thy hand ? A rod , o ' er flocks and men a potent wand . Cast it upon the ground , but quickly fly , _? or a huge serpent shall its place supply . ' It is cast down ; ' 0 , save me , thou , I pray ,

How frightful is this monster in my way ; Help , I entreat thee , for I sorely fear . ' * Fear not the serpent , confident draw near , And seize its tail , all danger will be o ' er , It shall become the rod it was before . Into thy bosom put thy hand , and lo ! Dost thou not bring it forth as white as snow ? Place there thy hand again ; it shall be seen , When taken out , as it hath ever been . ' "

PETEE JANSEN ' S ARK . " Peter Jansen , a Dutch merchant , about 200 years ago , caused a ship to be built , answering in its respective proportions to those of Noah's Ark , the length of it being 120 ft ., the breadth 20 ft ., and the depth 12 ft . During its progress he was the sport of

all seamen , who called him a fanatic ; but it afterwards proved that ships built on such scales held a third more cargo than others , without increasing the number of the crew , and proved better sailers than any built before . " The foregoing is extracted from a deceased

brother's "Masonic Common-place Book . " What can Peter Jansen ' s Ark have to do with Masonry?—SPES . —[ It is an example adduced to show God ' s wisdom , and is used in a degree , now almost obsolete , called the Ark Mariners . ]

THE GEOEGIUM SIDUS . In the same " Masonic Common-place Book " referred to before are these words— " the last of all the planets in our solar system is the Georgium Sidus , so called in honour of his present Majesty , by Dr . Herschel , who discovered it at Bath , in the year

Masonic Notes And Queries.

1781 . " How does such an entry touch upon Masonry?—SPES . —[ As part of the 2 nd section of the second degree in the old Craft lectures . ] SIR PETER PARKER , BART . During what years was Sir Peter Parker , Bart ., Grand Master of what were known as the Modern

Masons ?—A READER . VALIANT PRINCES . Who are Valiant Princes among Masons ?—THIRD DEGREE . THE SECOND TEMPLE . How Jews returned with Zerubbabel to

remany build the Temple?—3 RD CHAIR . —[ 42 , 360 , with 7 , 337 servants or slaves . ] DR . DODD . Dr . Dodd was a member of the Lodge of the Nine Muses , and I think , when Master , Bartollozi and Cipriani ( the noted artists ) were Wardens . —J . H .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is nob responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents .-. THE NEW TEMPLAR CLOTHING . 10 T _ tE EDITOK 03 ? THE _?_! EE _ XASO _ fS' _ JAC _ AZIi- __ AND ____ . S 02 . IC Hll-IiO-l . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —There appears to be some misapprehension as to the effect of the

resolution passed by Grand Conclave in respect to the Templar costume . My distinct impression of the intention of Grand Conclave in passing that resolution was , to permit the wearing either of the old apron or more recent tunic , hut to insist upon neither . Grand Conclave decided

that " a cloak , sword , baldrick , collar of office , and the star of the Order , is henceforth the statutable costume , " as you correctly state ; but when you go on to remark that "any other decorations are unstatutable and unnecessary , " I fear that such a statement , though literally and strictly true , is

calculated to convey an erroneous impression , especially when coupled with your previous observation that " there is no permissive clause of any kind . " Most undoubtedly will every Sir Knight who chooses to wear it be admitted with either apron or tunic ; but he willif not so inclinedbe

equallad-, , y mitted without either . Iu fact , the resolution was passed for the purpose of pleasing all parties ; those who wish to discard the apron and tunic , and those who wish to retain one or both of them . It was stated to Grand Conclave by the Vice-ChancellorSir Knight Shuttleworththat a

, , new edition of the statutes would be put immediately to press . May I suggest that a foot-note be appended to the regulation about clothing something to the following effect : — " This regulation does not forbid any Sir Knight from wearing either the apron or tunic , or jewels of

the several orders of Masonry , in addition to the . clothing above named . " I believe that such an explanatory note would both convey the intention of Grand Conclave , and remove such misapprehensions as are conveyed in the queries of your correspondents "P . E . C . " and "H . " Tours fraternally , K . T .