Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

NAME OS JESUS DISAPPEASS EEOM OUR CEAPT PRAYERS . A Correspondent will , upon proper research , as I believe , find that it was after some revision of our ceremonies and formulas , by Bro . Preston , author of the " Illustrations of Masonry" that the name of

, Holy Jesus disappeared from our Craft prayers . ( See a passage of Dr . Oliver's " Revelations of a Square , " cited Freemasons' Magazine , vol . xviii ., p . 21 . —CHAS . PURTON COOPEE .

FISH . "We find in the St . Louis Freemason for June an article of the deepest research and highest interest on the subject of Chapter "Work , by Comp . Little , Grand High Priest of Virginia . In treating of the subject of masks , he discourses at length on the use employed by the early Christians of the fish as a symbol , both

secret and universal . He says : — " One of their most common symbols was the word Ichtheos , a fish . It was used thus : —An unknown stranger applies to one believed to be a Christian , and states that he is one of themselves , fleeing from persecution . He is examined , and found to be well versed

in his belief , and speaks as though knowing well the chief Christians in the place from which he came . Still , he may be an impostor or a spy . He is asked if he has any further proof , and he produces the figure of a fish , carved in wood , metal , or bone , or makes a drawing of a fish , and presents it . He is asked its

meaning , and replies ( no matter what his native language ) by giving the Greek word Ietheos . Yet this is not enough ; he may know that such a symbol is used among the Christians—that their sacred books are written in the Greek language , and therefore that the symbol must be known by the Greek name . " What does it signify ? This : That the first three letters ( I and Qli ) stand for Jesus Christ , and that the latter

part is the Greek word Theos , God . The word therefore signifies Jesus Christ , God . Thus it was at once a sign and a confirmation of faith , and the newcomer would be at once received into the community of the faithful . It was a universal password and sign all over the Christian world , and its use and meaning

were so well kept as never to fce discovered by their enemies . This symbol is still used on church steeples , & c , as a sign of the Christian creeds . ' ' All of which , except the etymology , is true . The Saying of Christ , " I will make you fishers of men , " doubtless gave rise to the use of the symbolas well

, as the fact that , on several occasions , be employed fish as humble tools in his miracles . The sermon of St . Anthony to the fishes , which is admirably translated by Addison , in his "Travels in Italy in l 704 , " and other legends , have all , doubtless , a similar origin . But the distinguished writer is at fault in his Greek .

The word for in that language is ICHTUUS , not Ichtheos . The acrostic , then , should be read thus : I ( iota ) , Ch ( old ) , Th ( ihcla ) , U ( upsilon ) , S ( sigma ) , Jesus Chrislos , Theos , 'Uios , Soler— "Jesus Christ , the Son of God , the Saviour . " This is the legend , as recognised by the Church of England , and as explained by such church architects as Pergusson aud Parker , when alluding to the peculiar oval windows of the early Christian churches .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

EOSICEUCIANS AND ENGLISH MASONS , 17 TH CENTURY . A Correspondent will , if I mistake not , find that Bro . Findel and Bro . Yarker state—the former , somewhere in his History , the latter somewhere in his communications to the Freemason ' s Magazine—that

in the 17 th century the Rosicrucians were connected with the English Masons . —CHAS . PURTON COOPEE . CATHEDRAL 01 ? STEASEURG-.

The following passage is taken from the famous Grandidier Letter : — " The Cathedral of Strasburg , and , above all , its tower , begun in 1277 by the architect Ervin , of Steinbach , is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture . This edifice , as a whole and in detp . il , is a perfect workand worthy of admiration—it has

, not its equal in the world . Its foundation has been so solidly planned that , notwithstanding the fragile appearance of its open work , it has resisted , even to the present day , storms and earthquakes . This prodigious work spread far and wide the reputation of the Masons of Strasburg . —A PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND

MASTEE . ARCHITECTURAL MATTEE—QUESTION . If an architectural matter said by Germans do not surprise , why , if propounded by an Englishma " should it astonish ? In literature , the Germans gen rally are as laborious and accurate as the English '

There are , indeed , those amongst us whose reputafcio for knowledge and judgment is not inconsiderable ' who in this case scruple not to assign a higher place to the former than to the latter , their countrymen . —A P . PEOV . G . M .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responnihle for the opinions expressed by Corre & panJejitr . ST . PAHL'S CATHEDEAL .

TO THE EDITOR CI ? TEE T ? REEM 1 S 0 XS' ItAGAZIXE AXD HASO ^ IC itIRROK . Dear Sir and Brother , —I ventured to address you a month ago upon the subject of the completion of this noble fabric , and the substantial aid which the Freemasons might give to so worthy an object ; and "Another P . M ., " in replying to my communication ,

took occasion to remark , in a tone of noble generosity worthy of a member of Grand Lodge ( the words will bear repeating , that the utter absence of bigotry maybe noted by the brotherhood ) , that " when its proper custodians take some pains to keep the building in decent order , and conduct its services with

reverence and decorum , they may perhaps expect pecuniary assistance from the laity . St . Paul's has long been a disgrace to the nation , owing to the mercenary greed and total indifference to public opinion displayed by its rulers . " "Another P . M . " concludes by saying that " that the funds of Grand Lodge cannot be

devoted to the assistance of lazy sinecurisls , who only look lo their own interests . " Well , sir , what have the lazy sinecurists done for St . Paul ' s ? The Dean has subscribed £ 500 , Canons Melvill , Gregory , and Liddon give £ 500 each , Minor Canons Povah , Millman , and Simpson give £ 100 each , one Prebendary gives £ 500 , the Precentor gives £ 350 , other Prebendaries give £ 100 , or £ 50 each . Smaller