Masonic Notes And Queries.

• did a certain act at York , or that King Athelstane did this , ought to admit of authentication . Such act interests the whole community . "With regard to Queen Elizabeth , if not found in any of the chronicles , it ought to be found in the copious materials of the Record Office . All alleged Masonic charters and

documents must be subject to the same tests as all other muniments . It does not , however , follow that every internal fact in relation to Masonry should be found in black and white—this cannot be required . On the other hand , implicit faith cannot be demanded for such traditions , and they are still liable to examination b

y comparative evidence , internal and external . Internal evidence may in some cases be as decisive as the evidence of a chronicle or a record . There is no call on Masons of the present day to believe anything merely because it has been put in print or in writing by some one of the past or present generation , any than

more there is to believe in fabricated Anglo-Saxon charters of the monies , or in the description of Britain by Richard of Cirencester , now known to be an ingenious forgery of one Bertram in the last century . We may have much good matter left , and better assured after getting rid of fabrications , the continuance of which can only make us ridiculous . —J . TJ .

SECEETO EECEPTIO ( p . 420 ) . A Masonic Student must excuse me for saying that there is no justification for assuming , without evidence , that the Templars could not derive a secret reception , except from the Craft arrangements of operative Masous . Surely he is forgetful of the whole

history of the secret receptions of the ancients , it may be said , of all times . Trials of courage and constancy were common experiences of chivalry . As to our worthy brother who wrote in "Notes and Queries " that none but a Freemason could understand the archives of the Knihts of StJohn at Malta

g . , very little consideration is required to show that his enthusiasm for Masonry was greater than his learning and his judgment . Vague assertions of persons not proved to be experts are of no real value . —HISTOEICUS .

COEMAGONS AND GEEGOEIANS . In "Notes and Queries" of November 20 th is a special article by Sir . Pinkerton on Gormagans and Gregorians .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor t « mtrespmnible for- the opinion * expressed t , y Correspondent ! INITIATION OF DEACON YORK . TO THE EDITOR OF THE TKEElCASOIfS' MAGAZINE AJTD HASOK-IC MIHHOH . Dear Sir and Brother , —At page 442 I speak of

Deacon York being " initiated" in St . John ' s Lodge in 1842 . It would seem , however , that the word "initiated" there means affiliated , as we understand it ; consequently , Bro . York was Deacon without being a member of St . John's Lodge . And when he and others became suchthen they mustas we would

, , think , have thereby have thrown off their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , as St . John ' s did not join the Grand Lodge till 1850 . However , the above shows the value of having , verbatim et literatim , copies of minutes , so that should any mistake in mean-

Correspondence.

ing , or otherwise , ever inadvertently take place , it may be at once detected . My footnote on page 463 partly referred to this . Yours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM . TO THE 33 D 1 TOU OF THE EltEEjrASO * fS' MAGAZINE AKD MASONIC MIEBOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —I am a reader of your valuable Magazine , but as I only get it in monthly parts , you must pardon me for troubling you with a few remarks on your report of our Provincial Grand Lodge

meeting so long after that report appeared in your weekly issue . This report appears in the Magazine for November G ; and at the close of that report you dejjarfc from your usual custom and comment upon the time of the year in which our Provincial Grand Lodge meeting is usually held , in a manner that would convey to our brethren in other provinces the idea that the Freemasons of Durham were dissatisfied with the

arrangements made for our annual gathering by the esteemed brother who has so long and so ably ruled over this province . At the same time you do not treat the province of Northumberland , which bounds us on the north , and may be expected to experience weather fully as boisterous as we do , to a similar homily , and you have apparentlforgotten that the annual

meety ing of the province immediately adjoining us on the south was held at the same inclement (?) season . Your correspondent cannot possibly be a genuine Northeountryman , or he would hardly shudder so at the thought of a breath of cold wind . July , August , and September are generally unfit months in which to

hold these meetings , so many brethren being then from home in search of renewed health but we know that in October they have all returned to their usual dwelling places , and in this month our couutry magnates are generally amongst us , as we usually see a large muster of them at the different October Quarter Sessions , and for some years past the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham has , with one exception ( and on that occasion we all thoroughly know the very special

reason which caused the departure from the usual custom ) been held on the Tuesday immediately following the County Michaelmas Sessions . October is with us very far from being an ungenial month , and it very generally bears a slight resemblance to that charming Indian summer we read so much of in the glowing descritions of the New World . The

p sun is not ashamed to shine upon us in all its brightness , and if we are also treated to an east or a northeast wind , it only serves to enhance our enjoyments , and gives a zest and activity to our movements that you could not expect under a broiling midsummer sun . The meeting in question was in every way a success ,

and although held in the extreme north of the province there was a large attendance of brethren from all parts . We like that part of the year , I can assure you , and are not afraid to travel from one end of the province to the other , even if the weather should be ever so unfavourableto welcome our respected Provincial

, Grand Master , and rally under our respective banners in Provincial Grand Lodge . Yours fraternally , Sunderland , Dec , 1869 . J . H . C .