Seventh Decade Of Masonic Precepts.

the former maybe greater than that in the latter ; or tho obligation in the latter may be greater than that in the former . LXVII . —MASOXIC OBLIGATION . FAMILY OBLIGATION . Brother , in general the Masonic obligation is less than

the family obligation . LXVIII . —A MASOXIC LAW . Brother , a Masonic Law not reconcilable with Natural Religion is a void law . LXIX . —A MASOXIC CUSTOM .

Brother , a Masonic custom incompatible with Natural Religion , thou need ' st not observe . LXX . —CONTENTMENT . Brother , thou art possest of a cottage , garden , paddock , a few well-selected hooks , and means such as enable thee

to afford meet succour to thy indigent fellow-creatures . Pr ' ythee , learn contentment . Be satisfied . Thou maj-s't , if thou will ' st , be happier with these than if thou wert owner of Chalsworth and its domains , and Sir Thomas Bodley ' s library .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

BRO . AVASHIlsGim- AS A MASOH ' . Some controversy took place in the original "Notes ancl Queries" on the allegation that Washington was an infidel , ancl died so . The eminent Mason W , W ., of Malta , in the last number records , under the title of " "Washington at Church " — "In 1 / 72 ,

Washington was a prominent vestryman of Polrick Church , in Truro parish , Virginia , ancl the Eev . Lee Masse )* , the rector at that time , has thus written : 'I never knew so constant an attendant ; no company ever kept him from church . ' Washington" afterwards joined Cluistchurch , and remained a member until his death . "—PEREC HINTS .

3 I 0 ST WEALTHY , MOST AVORTIIY . —A > ERROR OF THE MESS . See my communication entitled " Freemasons' Magazine , " page 2 G of the present volume . The attempt to conceal the name of my " excellent young friend " hy using a lineand of the town of Avhich he is an

, inhabitant by using asterisks , has signally failed . A brother , well acquainted with my young friend ancl Avith the town , has written , heaping reproaches upon me for having made the most wealthy the most worthy . These reproaches would be most justly deserved had my communication really made the most

wealthy the most worthy . But the context , aided by some small amount of critical acumen , plainly shows that the reproaches have been produced altogether by au error of the press , as my good correspondent will see at once , if . instead of tiie words " the reputation of being- the most worthy" lie reads the words "the

, reputation of being tho most wealthy . " It is my young friend ' s reputation of being the most wealth y , and not of being the most worthy , amongst all the inhabitants of which is the foundation of my

Masonic Notes And Queries.

recommendation that he should buy the four copies of the Freemasons' 3 Io . fjazino , three copies for certain lodges , and the fourth copy for his own library . It is my young friend's wealth , ancl not his worthiness , upon which I rely , when observing that this recommendation is no violation of the duty , befitting my many yearsof enjoining proper economy , in order

, that the means of doing good may be increased . The worthiness of the Freemason ought to be in proportion to his Masonic age ; and my young friend , excellent as I believe him to be , not having yet attained physically twenty-three years , and , therefore ,, not having yet attained Masonically two years , can

have no pretention to bo the worthiest Mason in a town where my brothers , some of them members of our Institution for half a century , are numerous . There are some other errors of the press in theabove-mentioned communication , which I will take this opportunity of pointing out : —Page 26 , line 10 ,

for " which among the Masonic pursuits and studies " " read " which concerns the Masonic pursuits . and studies ; " line 28 , for "look" read "look for ; " line-33 , for " sente " read " seule ; " line 40 , for " Idealogy " ' read " Ideology ; ' line 43 , for " The legion " read "Religion ; " page 27 , line 3 , for "Ritualists '' read " Nihilists ; " line 45 , for " The form " read " Reform . " ' —C . P . COOPER .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents ^ SCOTCH MASONRY .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AXD JtfASOXIC 3 IIKROR . " Stands Scotland where it did ? Alas , poor country ! " —Shakspere .. DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Shakspere furnishesapt quotations for every subject , ancl writes on almost every theme , but there is nothing

in his works about Freemasonry . What a pity ! His giant mind would , in feAV p ith y ¦ words , have settled the question of its uses , that is if he had been a member of the Order ,, for Shakspere lived in an age so fast , that even Scotch Masonry Avould scarce have given

external hel p to distinguish one class of toper from another . Charles Kni ght has done much to prove that Shakspere Avas in Scotland ; if so , the Scotch Masonic doings had failed to attract his attention . So , alas , we will not have the aid of the great- master to settle tho morale of our

institutions . Our , I say , for I am a dul y initiated brother , that is if our English friends will allow that Ave can , in a country so rude , " dul y initiate , " so all the hel p we can expect from Shakspere is in apt quotations . Dear sir and brother , don't elevate your nose , * is not my heading an apt

quotation . No doubt you remember the story about a Macduff in the time of James I ., '' tis a London story by the Avay . Well , the Macduff came to these same lines , "' stands Scotland Avhere it did ? " when one of the gods promptly replied