Masonic Notes And Queries.

singing brethren on preferable terms , so that the small salary or allowances soon repay the initiation fees , and in this way a good musical staff is kept up for ordinary and extraordinary occasions , ancl Avho feel a pride in the dignity ancl well-being of the lodge in which they have been initiated , and from which they hail , and they receive special attention and are never u-nthanked . —C . K .

BESOTTED BRETHREN . A late untoward event put me in mind how much our Craft has suffered through the misconduct of selfish and weak-minded men , AVIIO , unaffected hy the principles of morality inculcated on them , and uninfluenced by any regard for their own character , and

that of their brethren , indulge their passion for drink , more frequently communicating intoxication after the close of the hanquet , and going drunk from the place of meeting to be registered as drunken Masons . How long Are have suffered from these disgraceful intruders into our Order , may be judged from

Hogarth ' s picture of " Ni ght , " Avhere one of the chief figures , blind drunk , is a man with a collar bearing a square , and having a large apron . The late inauspicious occurrence has not been without defenders , by whom it is represented as not unusual on such occasions . Is drunkenness an essential of Masonry ?—E . N .

SIGNATURES TO ARTICLES . The LIAV propounded by Bro . Haye is a new one ; and the remarks of ^ 18 ° are pertinent . Has it occurred to Bro . Haye that a writer , unless it is necessary to authenticate his statements , is not always desirous to see his name in print , lest it be thought

that he is over anxious to parade it . There are many Masons who are willing to contribute to the Freemasons' Magazine and to other publications , for the simple purpose of doing good to a paper and a cause , who would feel their offering was lessened in estimation by au attempt at advertising ; they prefer a

disinterested co-operation to the appearance of gaining a . reward in notoriety and applause . To many AA 1 IO ¦ sign their articles from a sentiment of duty , the necessity is not always acceptable , and many are restrained from contributing under such circumstances . A Avriter who has some title to be considered an

author , will prefer leaving his opinions to he judged without reference to authority . A signature goes for t-rery little where statements are made at second-hand from a Avork which is itself no authority , or which is only a translation . A writer may be quite contented to refer to a literary authoritwithout parading his

y name . On the other hand , a writer AVIIO had brought forward a new fact may be desirous of signing , as a controversy may arise either as to substance or priority . —18 ^ 12 .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed , by Correspondents . THE GRAND SECRETARY AND THE NEW EDITION OF THE "BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS . " 10 THE EDITOR Or THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AUD MASOXIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A new edition of the •" Book of Constitutions" is about to be published .

Correspondence.

May I suggest to the V . W . Grand Secretary that a certain number of copies he interleaved with blank leaves for the insertion of notes , & c . An additional charge of Gch ' per copy for the books so bound would , I believe , cover the expense , and would , I am sure , be ladlpaid by officers of the lodges and others

g y many AVIIO may wish tp post up the books with all the alterations that may be made from time to time by Grand Lodge . Tours fraternally , W . S . L .

THE "WOULD-BE ORACLE . TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am a diligent reader of the correspondence in your pages , and , with the exception of the effusion of " The Humble P . M . of Jersey" have seldom seen anything more amusing ,

, from its pretention and absurdity , than the letter of Rosa Crucis on " Masonic Literature . " (?) Rosa Crucis deplores that our brethren have departed from their ancient working , and tells us that all the symbolism of the Craft degrees is derived from the Templars . As the latter is only an assertion , and as most

intelligent Masons are well acquainted with the reasons on which it is founded , and all the circumstances of the death of Jacques de Molay , I shall not take the trouble to assert that the Craft symbolism is not so derived . Rosa Crucis bavins ; then informed us of the pilgrimage of an American brother to York Minster , " Avhose expenses and trouble was * thrown away , " says that " the brethren of the Rosy Cross did not want to betray the alp habet of the Order to Bro .

Haye" ( "What on earth does he mean ? What awful mystery lies concealed ? " ) even if he knew the pass-word , Avhich he did not . " On what occasion did our brother display such ignorance ? Surely Bro . Haye has not been attempting to gain admission into a R . C . Chapter without being properly qualified ? Rosa Crucis then speaks of Bro . Haye as a " shallow

Mason , " which , hy those who have read his works , may be taken for Avhat it is Avorth , and doubts " if he understands the esoteric teaching of the Craft degrees . " JYOAV , Bro . Haye may be a young Mason , and , as such , apt to be rather too severe in his criticisms , and arrive at too sweeping conclusions , but ,

in consideration for outsiders like myself , let me beg of Rosa Crucis , though he should be a little out of temper , not to attempt again to write in riddles , and , at least , to weigh his articles with a little more of that ballast too often neglected , called " common sense . " Yours fraternally , SIMPLEX .

A MASONIC SENTENCE . TO THE EDITOR OF HIE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE A > 'D MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —Bro . the Treasurer of Lodge Avas fined five pounds for having on a certain evening locked up the Treasurer's book in the lod and thereby depriving the lodge of its use .

ge , Bro . , Secretary of the same lodge , was fined fifty shillings for having , on the evening referred to , carried away the minute 'book of the lodge , ancl thereby preventing the lodge from using it . Being