Masonic Notes And Queries.

TIIE PIECE OF STRING . The paper called " A Translation from a Foreign Tongue " lately sent to me , respecting Avhich a subscriber to the Eoyal Literary lumd inquires , is not an anecdote of a piece of string , but the sequel of the

anecdote of the piece of string . The Baron , to whom it relates , was , I am told , an eminent Freemason . This , however , does not appear from the paper , a verbatim copy of which is here subjoined : —¦ " The sequel of the anecdote of the piece of string . — After the day of , 1 SGG , the late Baron

ceased to tie the piece of string round the leg of his library table , and to predict what would happen before the time for untying it should arrive . lie did not deny that on that day his extraordinary faculty of prescience had signally failed . lie affected , however , to wonder icliy it had failed , and , even as his end

drew nigh , he often exclaimed IIOAV was it that he did not foresee the breaking-out of the war between his country and Austria , and the deaths of his three nephews on a field of battle ( Sadoiva ) . " In the " Biographic ITniverselle" there is something like this recorded of a German litterateur and philosopher of

the last century . His custom was to tie the string round some part of his bedstead on the four great feasts of the year . His name has escaped my old recollection . —0 . P . COOPER .

SPECIAL PROVIDENCE . What a brother has heard is , in substance , correct . About thirty years ago I kneiv three devout men , true Freemasons , members of the same German lodge , Theists , and not Christianswho believed in

, a special Providence . They thus believed because circumstances had occurred in their own lives for which they could not satisfactorily account on any other supposition . They communicated the circumstances to me , and I made a Avritten memoradum of them at the timeivhich is still iu existence . But it

, would not be right to relate the circumstances in this place , for Avhen I kneAv those devout men they were all young , and they are probably now living , and are possibly readers oi" tbe 1 ' REEMASONS' JMAGAZIXE , and greater publicity might be displeasing- to them . —0 . P . COOPER ,

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not rezpomilla for Vic o / w ';; . o . ^ .. expressed l-j Corrtr : c > : i . ie ? ifs . AN D 1 P 0 ST 0 R . TO xnr union OT IHE j .-iij . _ .:. r . iso _ f 3 ' MAGAZINE A : ; S MASO : ; IC Vinson . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , — Several brethren of tho lodge of which I am a member have been

victimised by a woman professing to be the widow of a jMason . Her husband , she states , was a subscribing member to a Birmingham lodge . His death took place about ten months ago , since ivhich time she has been left Avithout any visible means of support . The name she gives is Caroline Ilencirie , age about forty , dressed in deep mourning , aud of middle hei ght . She appears to find out the names of those who ^ are Masons , and then , by her pitiful tale , fleeces them

Correspondence.

more or less . On investigation of her case , she proves to he nothing but an impostor ; and it would be advisable that lodges and brethren iu the provinces should be upon their guard . Yours fraternally , I . G-. Old Globe Lodge ( No . 200 ) .

PETESTLT PEHSECCTIOK - OP FREEMASONS . —A correspondent writing from Havana , on Saturday tbe 19 th ult ., gives an account ofthe promulgation of an order which is aimed at the Freemasons of Cuba . Tha correspondent says -. —The Inquisition stands a . fiiir chance oi' again assuming its ancient and powerful sway iu the dominions where modern civilisation and advanced ideas of progress have not yet been able to separate things spiritual from those that belong only to the government and temporal welfare

of nations . The events of the past twenty-five years have undoubtedly diminished the influence and power of the priesthood in Spain , but nevertheless have been insufficient to destroy their meddlesome character , so as to coniino them merely to the task of attending to the care of way ward souls . No matter how badl y they might be defeated on certain occasions , they patiently persist in tiie course they have laid ont , and , hydra-like , again present

themselves in an attitude either to attack their opponents or defend the object they have in vietv . Among the many institntutions and measures ivhich for a long time have been a thorn in the side of fanatics and bigots that of Freemasonry occupies the front rank ; and in no country has the society and its members found such bitter opponents as in Spain and its dependencies . Enlightenment is not compatible with the ideas of bigots . The Masonic fraternity , although denounced by bishops and priests , and prohibited by the laws of the realm , has assumed respectable proportions both in Spain and its colonies . Four lodges were

known to be in existence here and tolerated by the powers that be , tbe members being the elite of Spaniards and Cubans , some of them well known in tho republic of letters and sciences , while others are equally distinguished for their probity and fair fame . Lodges were also organised in other cities of the interior , and until the Masons had the unheard-of audacity of acknowledging themselves as such openly , by appearing with their regalia in the streets of C ienfuugos on the occasion of paying the last obsequies

to a deceased brother member , no one belonging to the Government had openly interfered with them . This action capped the climax , and a i'en- days ago an order by tho acting captain-general was promulgated prohibiting all meetings or re-unions of any secret society . I can hardly believe that this action of the captain-general was caused by the mere fact of a few men appearing in the streets in a peculiar costume , and am compelled

to ascribe it to the machinations and influence of the priesthood , who still exercise such a powerful sway . Some extenuation may also he found in the reported fact that a certain physician , occupying a high rank in the Fraternity , has tried to undermine aud stain the laudable purpose of the Order by attempting to use his influence in the order for other views , said to be of a polltical nature ; and , if this really is the case , no blame can attach to the Count of I . almareda , but he deserves all praise for protec-tingthe important trust confided to his care . — Glasaow lieraid .

LILY . — fins newer was full of meaning among the ancients , and occurs all over the East . Egypt , Persia , Palestine , and India , presented it everywhere over their architecture , in the hands and on the heads nf their sculptured figures , whether in basrelief or statue . Yve also find it iu the sacred vestments and architecture of the tabernacle and temple of the Israelites , and see it mentioned by our Savior as an image of peculiar beauty aud glory , when comparing tho works of nature with the

decorations of art . It is also represented in all pictures of tho salutation of Gabriel to the Virgin Mary , and in fact has been held in mysterious veneration by tho people of all nations and times . It is the symbol of divinity , of purity , and abundance , and of a . love most complete in affection , charity , and benediction ; as in holy Scripture , that mirror of pnvity , Susannah , is defined Susa , which signifies the flower of the lil y , a name given to the chief

city of the Persians , for its excellency . The three leaves of the lily in the arms of France mean pietv , justice , and charity .