Masonic Notes And Queries.

substituted records of Freemasonry , like tbe " Examination of Kino- Henry , and other documents , made towards the end" of the 18 th century to promote tbe so-called Hi ° -h Grades , or the interests of Jesuitism . The Charter of Cologne is proved as falsified by Bro . Kloss ( Zeitschr f . FrmrfAltenburg , 1839 ) , by Bro . Bobriok ( Zurich , 1840 ) , and BroDrGSchwetschke ( Halle ) . Tbe name of

Me-. . . lancthon is not in his OATO handivriting . You shall find more about this document in the second volume of my History of Freemasonry from the Earliest Times ( H . Luppe , Leipzig ) , which will be published early in Juno . —Bro . J . G . FINDEL , Editor of the Bauhiitte , at Leipzig .

THE LATOMIA SOCIETY OE THE ATLANTIC LODGE AT NEW YORK . Some time ago a brother Avished to know something about this society . The " Latomia , " or Masonic Historical Society of Atlantic Lodge ( No . 178 ) , was founded by a few members of that lodgo in October , 1858 , for the purpose of encouraging and promoting the study of

Freemasonry by a free discussion and investigation of its origin , history , ancl principles , and by tbe collection of a Masonic library . The experiment proved successful , and the society now numbers some thirty members . The society is established on the basis of the Masonic Historical Societies of Germany , which have been in existence for more than fifty years , and to whom is mainly owing

that true appreciation ancl practice of genuine Masonry which is UOAV being manifested throughout Germany . Bro . Steinbremer is the President of the Society at New York . —Bro . J . G . FINDEL , Leipzig .

VALUABLE MASONIC LIBRARY . It would be of much use and interest to knoiv Avho is now tbe owner of the valuable Masonic library sold by Bro . Spencer . I beg Bro . Warren to announce in the MAGAZINE tbe address of the brother who has bought it . — Bro . J . G . FINDEL . [ Perhaps Bro . Spencer Avill ansAver the question . ]

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE . As it seems there are historical lies and frauds , not ¦ alone tbe basis of this Bite , but also essential elements of it . The assertion that Frederick IL , King of Prussia , has signed the Constitutions of 1786 ( 1801 ) , and created the thirty-three degrees is a lie . They were fabricated in America ( 1801 ) , and have no legitimate basis . And

what nonsense it is , tbe records of the Grand Lodge of England to borrow from a work printed at Brussels , nominal 1722—indeed 1762 or 1782 ? ( MAGAZINE p . 78 : — The authentic source for Grand Lodge Eecords is the Booh of Constitutions ( 1723 ) . Before 1740 nowhere was knoAvn any degree Avithout the three Craft degrees . The Bose Croix is from tbe 1760 the Order of

year ; Herodom from 1760-63 ; tbe Ancient and Accepted Bite from 1801-1804 . When will historical truth be recognised in tbe lodges of Freemasons ?—Bro . J . G . FINDEL , Author of the History of Freemasonry , 2 vols .

CERTAIN BOOKS ON MASONRY SAID TO HAA'E BEEN PRINTED . Looking over a foreign work on tbe Craft , I found the following books mentioned : —A Short Analysis of the " Unchanged Bites and Ceremonies of the Freemasons , 8 vo . London , printed for Stephen Dilly , 1676 . Tbe above seems to be a very circumstantial title , but neither in Watt , Lowndes , or any other other work on Bibliography , is such book bookseller

a or to be traced . Next I Avas startled with a reference to The Constitutions of the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , where editions of the years 1689 and 1701 are spoken of . But as misfortunes never come alone , so wonders never seem to eome singly , for in the same list there is a work entitled Observations and Inquiries Eclating to the Brotherhood

. of the Freemasons , by Simeon Townshend , 8 vo . London , 1712 . All these seem to be works which have been published , but no one that I can bear of has ever seen tbem . As far as the name of such an author as Simeon

Townsbend is concerned , I am forced to declare him a mythno such name occurs in any catalogue that I have seen , and I bave devoted four days to bunting after Townsbends , or Townsends . It is not easily to be reconciled that the entire impressions of all three of these books Avere bought up , accidentally destroyed , or consigned to the trunk makers , and I am therefore justified in enquiring , who has ever seen the whole three ? Avho has ever seen either one of tbem ? and lastly , where can I see the same ?—MATTHEW COOKE .

THE PENCIL . Amongst our working tools the pencil has its defined use , and as Masonry took its rise at tbe building of Solomon ' s Temple , were pencils in use then ?—LANGTON . [ Yes , in one sense ; no , in another . Pencils do not mean exclusively the article known in our time as a black-lead pencil , for even now tbe artist using a camel-hair brush terms it

a pencil . A stylus was also properly termed a pencil , so was a piece of plumbago , both well known to tbe ancients . If Langton is so literal in all bis conceptions of what be hears and sees be must five a life of hourly torment . Don't send sucb a foolish question again , read if you can , if not , enquire of some one who has a grain or two of ordinary sense . ]

INITIATION EEES . A very interesting note migbt be made shewing tbe fees for initiation in various countries , - ancl printing tbe same in tbe currency of each state , Avitb tbe sterling value in another parallel column . —L . S . D . —[ It is all very well to suggest such a table , and it migbt have its usesbut we are inclined to think L . S . D . Avould have

, been more readily assisted in his enquiry if he had sent us one or two quotations from various kingdoms , and then he migbt have expected others to help Mm . We hope to bear from him again when he has some few of these facts to communicate , so as to set the ball rolling . ]

AVHAT IS A GOOD MASON ? What is a good Mason ? I often hear it said of any one proficient in the ceremonies , & c . " Ah ! is a good Mason . " Is tbat the only test of goodness?—O . J . —[ No , Take , for example , Bro . B . B . Cabbell as tbe model of a good Mason , one rich in good Avorks , and yet we doubt if he be so good a Mason as many Ave could

name Avho , in the other sense , are literally Masonic text books . We are not admirers of Yankee talk , but tbe Americans have a very expressive phrase , about which there can be no confusion of ideas , and they term what we call a good Avorking brother " a " bright" Mason . Hence it is to be hoped there are everywhere thousands of good and bright Masons . ]

HAIL OR HELE ? Hail , or bele , which is right ?—C . 0 . —[ Hele , although it is Anglo-Saxon . It means to preseve or conceal . Hail has nothing to do with it . We use the latter in another sense—a bailing sign—something by Avhich attention is called , or as a word implying homage . The two are as distinct in significance as any two words in the language . ]

THE PAST MASTER ' S PROBLEM . As so many of the brethren are entitled to wear the 47 th problem of tbe first book of Euclid , I presume there Avill be no difficulty in arriving at its solution . —A . B . C . BR . O . G . V . ASTON . The following notice relating to Bro . G . P . Aston , who was initiated at the Lodge of Honor ( No . 769 )

Wolverhampton on tbe 10 th ult ., appeared in the London Gazette of the 28 th : — "Whitehall , January 27 , 1862 . —The Queen has heen pleased to grant unto George Puclsey Aston , of Seisclon , in the county of Stafford , Esquire , in the commission of the Peace for the said county , eldest son and heir of George Peach Aston , late of Newton , in the parish of Stottesdon , in the county of Salop , Esquire , deceased , her royal license and authority that he and his issue may , in compliance Avith a direction contained in the