Freemasoney During The Late War In America.

gathered all over the land , but had burst forth in a storm of carnage—Avhen there was no more hope of peace until the discordant passions of men should be diluted with the flow of blood , —the Grand Master of South Carolina , Avhose heart , strongly beating with Union sympathies , has long since been quelled in

death , addressed an encyclical letter to his brethren , iu which he charged , in the name of our Supreme and Universal Master , "to suffer not the disputes and broils of men to impair the harmony which has existed , and will exist , throughout the fraternity . Let us not , " he saicl in his emphatic language , " let

us not hear amongst us that there is war ; that strife aud dissension prevail . As Masons , it concerns us not . "

Ancl I rejoice in my heart that these teachings were . not unheeded . If there Avas war Avithout , there was always peace within our lodges . Will you not bear with me while I say of my native jurisdiction , where I think I have had some Masonic influence , that in South Carolina , reproached , as I fear

she justly is , as being the cradle of the rebellion , if not indeed its birth-place , the benignant princi ples of Freemasonry were never for a moment forgotten . In its capital city , the only i flace , I fear , on the whole continent where the same deed of love was enacted , prisoners of war who Avere Masons were relieved on

their parole by tho officer of the guard , himself a Mason , and carried from the prison to the lodge-room , to relieve , the weariness of the captivity by witnessing and participating in the secret services of the Order . And I can solemnly aver that I never approached a Mason , or a Loclge in Charleston , with a petition for

the relief of a destitute , suffering prisoner of war , without receiving the kindest response and the most liberal donation .

Throughout the length and breadth of our land , at the north and south , the east and west , wherever there was the sin of strife , there too was the atoning peace of Masonry . It ivent into the prison and gave comfort to the captive . It Avent into the hospital and gave balm to the wounded . It went into the

battle-field and gave rescue of life to the conquered . Let none henceforth speak Avith scorn of its unknown mysteries , or swear at its pretended merits . Let its adA'ersaries be silent before the magnitude of its . achievements , and when the history of this unnatural war is Avritten , AA'hile all honour is bestowed

upon the hero and patriot , let it not be forgotten , but let it rather be inscribed in charaters of living light , for ever indestructable , that Avhen war was beginning to whet its beak—Avhile all other associations were indifferent and dumb , while the Churches themselves gave no sign of Christian life—Masonry alone sought to avert the impending evil ; and when tho full tide of conflict had rolled in upon our shores , and Uood

Freemasoney During The Late War In America.

was soaking into the ground , Masonry again came forth , a ministering angel , to clothe in some measure the stain of our nation ' s fratricidal contest with a tent of cheering light , and to give the black cloud of war a silver lining .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

ELECTION OE WOESHIPETTL MASTEB . The manner of proceeding to the election of W . M . varies in different lodges . In some lodges a nomination of one or more brethren for the office is made prior to the ballot being taken . In others the brethren at once proceed to the ballot without any open announcement , but with a private understanding

amongst themselves as to the brother to be elected to office . Which is the more usual cause ? The " Book of Constitutions" says only that " Every lodge shall annually elect its master and treasurer by ballot . " The former mode of proceeding appears to possess greater advantages than the latter in bringing those eligible for the office more openly before the lodge . — P . M .

ELECTION OE PEOVINCIAL & EAND TBEASUEEE . Is it essential that the election of the P . G . Treasurer should take place by ballot , or is a show of hands sufficient ? As regards the Treasurer of a private lodge , it is clear that a ballot is necessary —( see ' ' Book of Const , ed . 1858 , p . 59)—but as regards the

P . G . Treasurer , it is only provided that " the Provincial Grand Lodge shall elect a treasurer annually , " ( Hid , p . 53 ) , the word "ballot" not being mentioned as in the former case . Now , as the proceedings of provincial grand lodges are to be regulated by the practice in Grand Lodgein

, the absence of any express rules to the contrary , and , as I believe , the Grand Treasurer is elected by a shoAV of hands , and not by ballot , it is to be presumed that the P . G . Treasurer is to be also elected in like manner . Am I right in this conclusion?—A P . G . OITICEE .

THE CHAEITT JEWEL . No mention of this honorary distinction is to be found in the " Book of Constitutions . " When was it instituted ? What are the qualifications of the brethren entitled to wear it ? And by whom is it conferred ?—IK - QUIREE .

AIIAB AXU EEN-HADAD . A brother directs our attention to a certain passage of the Scriptures , I . Kings , xx . 30 and sgcp , recording what took place , after the defeat and annihilation of the army of Ben-hadacl , King of Syria , by Ahab , King of Israel : —

And Ben-hadad fled , and came into tlie City , into an inner chamber . And his servants saicl unto him , Behold now , we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful Icings ; let us , I pray thee , put sack-cloth on our loins , and ropes upon our heads , and go out to the king of Israel ; peraclventure he will save thy life . So they girded sackcloth on their loins , and put ropes on their heads , ancl came to the king of Israel , and . said , Thy servant , Ben-hadad , saith , I pray thee ,

let me live . And he saicl , Is lie yet alive ? he is my brother . In the symbols of sackcloth and ropes , as well as the reply of King Ahab , the inquirer scents a Masonic