Masonic Notes And Queries.

heroine , erected a statue of a lioness Avithout a tongue , in honour of her , and at the bottom of it Avas Avritten , in largo characters 'Virtue triumph'd o ' er the sex . '" - —A PAST MASTEE . SUAXL LADY AIASOXS A"SD SIASO ^ AC SOCIETIES . Iii the edition of Amsterdam 1745 , of L'Ordre des

Francs Macons Trahi , there are many particulars as to sham Masonic societies that admitted ladies . One of these ( p . 1 ) is L' Ordre de la liberte , admitting men and Avomen , aud of Avhich Moses was alleged to be the founder . The members wore in their button holes a chain with a jewel representing the two tables of the law , but , instead ofthe ten commandments , having tAvo wings , to

signify freedom , Avith the motto " Virtus dirigit alas . " On fche other side , he says , was an M for Moses and the date 6743 . The author doubts the motto , for he believes " Thou shalt not commit adultery " was omitted purposely . The order of Medusa was established at Toulon by M . de Vibray ; that of La Trappe at Aries by M . de Damas de Cravaison ; that of the Trancardins by M . L'AineS

, celebrated for his songs ; L' Ordre de la Boisson in Low Lanquedoc in 1703 by M . de Posquieres , its Grand Master . None of these societies admitted women , and the latter tAvo were toping societies , and the last to such an extent as to be called the " Strict Observance . " This Avas partly a benevolent society , and if the date is

correct , it is curious , as taken in connection Avith the crop of burlesque societies then prevalent in England . At p . 12 in the same book , ifc may be observed , are given three remarkable examples of Masonic relief , aid which are worth translating . It is a curious thing likeAvise that the author maintains the loyalty even of the French . Masons , their homage to the Creator , their respect for

constituted authorities , and their avoidance of political and religious topics . It would have been Avell if French Masons had ahvays adhered to these landmarks . In France in 1745 ( p . 20 ) the lodges Avere designated by the names of their VY . M . He affirms ( p . 20 ) , thafc the Wardens ahvays presided in the absence of the W . M . At banquets ( p . 23 ) , initiates had the place of honour ,

but he says right and left of the W . M . The Wardens were appointed by tho W . M . The collars were blue . To return to the main subject , the supplement to the work is entitled , as is Avell known , Le Secret des Mopses Bevele , and gives a whole system of adoptive Masonry . The author says this order Avas established by German Catholics after the excommunication of Masonry by Pope Clement XII . in 1736 , as a means of evading the Bull . — HYDE CIAEKE , D . PEOA ' . G . M . TUEKEY .

THE ADOrTIA'E DEGREE "EASTERN STAE . " Will some one versed in Adoptive degrees kindly inform me if Masons ( men ) understand the signs of the adoptive degrees?—B . . . s . — - [ Take the , folloAving as an ansAver .

Degrees Of Freemasonry.—Continued From Page 367 (Notes And Queries.)

DEGREES OF FREEMASONRY . —Continued from Page 367 ( Notes and Queries . )

Name of Eite , Order , & c . TroAvel , Company of the , True Masons , Order of ,....-.- ; -

Xerophagists , York Eite ,

Ziimencloif , rite of ,

AVhcre Practised . Florence France Italy

( "Formerly in Eng- " ) - ? land , now in Amc- >¦ ( . rica and elsewhere . J . Avignon , in France . ... I

Under what Authority . Eoileau ,

Count Zinnendorf

General Remarks . C Instituted about 1512 , consisting of lirerati C and nobility , vide Clavel . SAn offshoot of the Hermetic rite , q . v , supra , established in 1778 . fTlie Soman Catholic brethren n Italy upon

J the issue of the bull of Pope Clement XII 1 met under this title . They Avere total absti-V . nence brethren . fThis is the mother of all rites and English Freemasonry . It Avas practised in the crypt of Yovkmiiistci- so late as the end of the last century . Vide Higgins' Anacalypsis , cj-e . ( "A modification of several rites such as those < of the Illnminati , Swodcubors , Scotch , ( . German , Swedish , and Knights Templar .

The several degrees practised nuclei' each of the above-named Eites , Orders , aud Authorities Avill he commenced in a future number , after they have been prepared in alphabetical arrangement .

The Eastern Star.

THE EASTERN STAR .

ST BEO . SAAI . WHITING . 'T \ vas on a wild December night , Loud roar'c ! the fierce and wintry blast , AVhile every star was veiled from , sight , And snow-drifts gather'd thick and fast—Through many a drear , deserted street , My homeward path I strove to find ,

For darkness , lvind , ancl chilling sleet , Together , almost made me blind . While thus I plodded on , methought I heard a woman ' s sighs of grief , And for a Avhile , in vain , I sought , To find AA'ho thus implored Relief . A female soon before me stood ,

In loose and scanty robes array'd , Who begg'd for shelter and for food , And " in God's name , " petition made . I toolc ' the friendless outcast in , I fed her , clothed her , ask'd her name , And Avhat had been the deadly sin Which brought , upon her grief and shame . " Oh , do not deem me Passion's slave . "

She saicl , " nor me from pity bar "Then , Avith a Avinning grace , she gave The signet of the " EASTERN STAE , " " I see by tokens , " then she cried , " That you are of the ' mystic tie , ' Which my dear father , ere he died , Taught me AA'as noble , good , and high .

Hear , then , my story , sad , but brief—In happier days I Avedded one Who left me soon to care and grief , Young Avife , young mother , and undone . " Night after night the damning hoAvl Sent him a raving madman home ; Thenthen the iron pierced my soul

, , But deeper woe Avas yet to come ; For soon my darling baby died—My husband fill'd a felon's grave , While I , adrift on life ' s dark tide , Coulcl see no beacon light to save

"Tins night , but for your gentle care , I shonld have slept my long , last sleep ; Oh , Avhen I think , I but despair , Strive not to soothe—oh let me Aveep . " ^ S ^&^^ . g : * Rest ruddied soon the cheeks so pale—The childless widoiv Avas restored .

While in my loelge her moving tale Into " attentive ears " was poured . Joy came and IIOAV a brother ' s ivife—More lov'd than ever , UOAV , hy far The rescued one devotes her life To praises of the " Eartern Star . "l