Architecture And Archæology.

Church text , the letters being raised on the surface of the scrolls , The east window is filled with stained glass by Messrs . Powell ancl Sons . In a medallion , in the centre light of the window , the subject of " Christ healing the Blind " is introduced . In the tracery are emblems . Two neiv oak stalls are placed on each side of the chancel , having open tracery fronts , ancl carved poppy-heads as

terminations to the ends . The communion-rail , which is also of oak , is of decorated character . The whole of the chancel floor , including the portion within the communion-rail , is paved with ornamental tiles . The cost of the whole of the works is £ 1 , 250 , £ 450 of ivhich have been defrayed by the Church Charity Trustees , without the assistance of a rate , or foreign aid , and the remaining £ 800 by the rector .

The parish church of Debtling has been re-opened , after undergoing extensive alterations and repairs . The alterations include the taking down of the old wooden belt-towerand re-building it in stone , with a new shingled spire . The interior of the church has been entirely re-paved and refloored ; the large pier between the nave and aisles has been reduced ; and a new arch has been erected . There is also a new stone arch between the north aisle in the chancel ,

and a stone reredos has been fixed over the communiontable . The pewingis of yellow deal , stained and varnished ; and the old oak pulpit , some little time since removed from All Saints' Church , Maidstone , has now replaced the one formerly used at this church . The old church at Ripple , near Dover , having become greatly dilapidated , a new structure has been raised on the

same site , and which has been opened for divine service . The building is capable of seating about 100 persons . The marble tablets of the old church , many of them of considerable antiquity , have been preserved , and refixed in the new building . The baptismal font is also one of the relics of tbe former edifice , bearing date 1663 . The architecture is in the Norman style . Tbe capitals to the columns are all

enriched , and the chancel arch carved and supported by sigzag columns . The old church is of great antiquity , and known to bave existed long before the date inscribed on the baptismal font , from the fact that , in pulling down the old structure , stairs were discovered in the wall leading to the rood-loft . The entire cost of the structure is £ 1009 . The building has been enriched by several stained windows , and other gifts from influential residents of the neighbourhood .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

TE 3 IELAB JEWELS . As there is to be a revision of the statutes , can any brother give us , through your paper , suggestions for a tasteful and appropriate set of jewels ?—A . TEMPLAK BASSE * .. Should the banner of arms be charged , in the case of a Commander , with the Cross Patee , or the Patriarchal Cross ?

Our statutes are altogether silent on banners . —A . THE ASCIEST AND ACCEPTED KITE . The following remarks upon a subject of deep interest appeared in the New York Saturday Evening Courier ol November 16 th , and may appropriately be made a note of in these columns . Like the editor of the paper from which it is takenwe do not hold ourselves responsible for any

, of tbe statements contained in it . " We present our readers , especially those of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , AA'ith the following communication from our correspondent Kadosh , but do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed therein . The statements contained in it , Ave lave no doubt , will be deemed of sufficient importance to elicit a reply , ivliich Ave shall be happy to give space to , if calmly and

temperately Avritten : "Masonic Ed . Saturday Evening Courier : " R . W . Brother : —Having been of late almost daily interrogated as to my opinions concerning the establishing of the degrees of the Ancient , and Accepted Scottish Rite in this city , I thought it would "be most satisfactory to the numerous inquirers—with your perpermission — to state a feiv of my opinions and reasons in the columns of your valuable paper , AA-hich 1 believe is HOAA * the only publication in this city that circulates among Masons seeking light jm Masonic history .

" I have been , R . W . Sir , a member of the Ancient and Accepted Rite since 1848 . Previous to , and immediately after , my admission , 1 made as thorough an examination into the authority by which this Rite ivas here established as could be done at that time , and the opinions I then formed subsequent investigations have confirmed . Believing that the authority for establishing the same in jurisdictions where no bodof the Rite existed wasand still is

y , . vested m those possessing the degrees , together with letters patent thereunto belonging , the question as to priority of occupation became at once of controlling importance . I found , in the course of my investigations , evidences other than those found in the records of the existence of the body established by Joseph Cerneau as early as 1807 , at which time the names of many of our most distinguished citizensstatesmen and Masons as officers

, , appear . Some of them were found actively engaged in the said body as late as 182-4 , at which time most of those Avhose names appeared on the earty records were removed by death or otherwise , ancl their place supplied by others . " Thus the body has maintained its organisation up to the present date .

" I also found that the degrees , or a portion of them , had been conferred upon . a gentleman named J . J . J . Gourgas , about the year 1811-12 , hy a Dr . de La Motta , representing himself to be a member of the Supreme Council established at Charleston , South Carolina , in 1801 . Prom information since received , I presume his acts in this city were ratified by that body in 1815 , or some eight years after the said Rite Avas established by Joseph Cerneau . " I Avas told bMrGourgas himself that Drde la Motta

cony . . ferred these degrees upon him as a token of respect , as well as in remuneration for certain services rendered the Doctor by Mr . Gourgas as private secretary . " This admission AA-as made by him in consequence of my remarking that his diplomas appeared to have been Avritten by one person , having but a single signature attached . Mr . Gourgas informed methat lie had Avritten them .

" Who composed the Council to which Mr . Gourgas ivas attached , at the time he claims to have received a Charter from Charleston ( 1815 ) I do not recollect , as the only record of such a body , prior to 1849 , is within the body itself ; and I am not aAvare that they published any transactions until after that date . I believe thereis one communication from Sir . Gourgas to the Supreme Council at Charleston , dated 1823 , which is about the only evidence of its vitality from its organisation to that time .

" From its first advent to 1823 , it seems to have been forgotten in Charleston and elseAvhere , except by Mr . Gourgas . Indeed , from 1823 to 1849 , a period of twenty-six years , it seemed but the type of our mythical friend , Rip A an Winkle , exhibiting only an occasional spasm of life , as evidenced by overtures to some body of the York Rite , in the form of an " Ordo ab Chao" the power of which , those practising the latter Rite kneiv as little of as they did of the

individual originating them . " The action of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut , at its Annual Communication in 1850 , will serve as an illustration of the effect produced by one of these periodical spasmodic efforts . " The Grand Master of Connecticut , Avery C . Babcock , told me at the time ( 1850 ) that a document headed " Ordo ab Chao , " and signed bJ . J . J . GourgasAvas directed to and received by that

y , Grand Dodge , in AA'hich he stated his high prerogative , ancl claimed jurisdiction over all the degrees of Masonry in the ^ Northern and Eastern States ; but , OAA-ing to its present organization , he AA-aived his right over the first three . The action of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut , scorning sueli claims , can be found on page 157 of ' Part IV . of the republished proceedings by its Grand Secretary in 1861 , as folloivs :

'Resolved , That this Grand Lodge will not , as freemen ancl Preemasons , submit to be governed or controlled by any self-constituted body , without their consent first had and obtained , " Thus that attempt at resuscitation failed . " Similar Communications seem to have "been sent by Mr . Gourgas ,. occasionally , to different parts of the world . Prom some he received an acknOAvledgement of his communication , but from many , he informed mehe never heard .

, " The state of things continued , until about 1849 , when Mr . Gourgas , somehoAV , learned that Bro . Giles Ponda Tales had discovered some old manuscripts ot the Ancient and Accepted Rite iu or near Albany , ancl , without any other authority , established a Lodge of Perfection at that place . Again Mr . Gourgas Avrote to Charleston for counsel , and I Avas informed by a member oftlie Southren Councilthat they advised him to unite with Mr . Yates and fill up

, a Council . "Accordingly a copartnership , was formed betiveen these two dignitaries . " About this period , or perhaps a little latter , certainly before these two 111 . brethren had filled up the vacant offices in their Council , some brethren , AA-IIO had been rejected as applicants in the Rose