Red Cross Knights.

the Red Cross . We have it on the hi g h authority of Bro . Little , as represented by " No Cross , no Crown , " that the Order in America is only conferred on Past Eminent Commanders of Knights Templars . This 'shows the connection between the two , aud that > none but Knights Templars can be Knights of the

Red Cross , further illustrated hy the presence of the Duke of Sussex , P . E . C , and other known Templars , in the list given in your journal . This was the chief reason why we see H . R . H . as the head of the Order ¦ of Red Cross ; but it also suggests that the Red Cross can never have exercised a jurisdiction over its

parent Order of the Templars , but rather must be dependent on it . Many of the Red Cross members recorded lately in your pages are Templars ; but is iheM . E . G . M ., Bro . Stuart , a member , or G . M . of the Red Cross ? or is , as asked by < Jc , the Red Cross at all recognised by the G . M . Stuart , or the Grand

• Conclave of Knights Templars ? Yours fraternally , A TEMPLAE , D .

The Grand Orient.

THE GRAND ORIENT .

~ - TO TUB EDITOR ON THK FRKEMAS 0 H 3 ' MAOAzlNS AND M 130 XIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —Your correspondent "B . S . " commences his letter by reference to the mixing up of Masonry with politics in Erauce , but coolly ignores the fact that 1 have already expressed the strongest censure of such practices . I am

content to put down this conduct to ignorance rather than want of candour ; but if"R . N . " has omitted to make himself acquainted with what has recently appeared in your pages , it is scarcely to be expected that his knowled ge of more distant matters will be very profound .

The contests in the Grand Orient which have resulted in the establishment of the necessity for belief in God aud the immortality of the soul onthe part of its members have been noticed b y me , and " 11 . N . " has thrown no new light on the subject . But with regard to the infidelity of many members of the Supreme Conseil , it is a fact that it has assumed phases unknown among the free-thinkine miuoritv of

the Grand Orient . I have the best authority for stating that there are men in the Supreme Conseil who are not ashamed to express admiration for the nobility and heroism of suicides , eulogising those who have "the courage to break the tyranny of life . " This is vouched for b y unimpeachable testimony ,

and has reached me from a source totally unconnected with the Grand Orient , and therefore not open to " R . N . ' s " sneer on that head .-Not having the Bulletin du Grand Orient to which "R . N . " refers before me , 1 cannot verify his quotations at present , but accepting them as correct for

argument ' s sake , it is then evident that "R . N . " has got hold of a subject beyond his grasp , ' ' or he would have added that the end ofthe SuprSme Conseil is approaching . That this is the case 1 have learnt from persons who are behind the scenes both in the Grand Orient and the Supreme Conseil ; and let me reiterate my previous remark that an end to Masonic strife in Eranee is devoutly to be wished by all true

Craftsmen . The unworthy sneers of "R . N . " are sufficient proof of his connection with the Supreme Conseil

The Grand Orient.

for in that body such expressions are highly appreciated . The " partisans of the Grand Orient , " against whom " R . N . "is so exasperated , have , I trust , taught me a more truly Masonic spirit . Yours fraternally , THE WE ITEE OF THE AETICLES ON TIIE G . 0 . April 2 Sth , 1868 .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC KI 2 H 0 B . ' Dear Sir and Brother , —Allow me to trouble you with a few lines in corroboration of the statement of ' ' J . A . H . " in your issue of the 11 th ult . respecting the lodges under the Supreme Conseil having become

" hot-beds of infidelity—all belief in God being considered as ' retrograde' by many of the eminent ' philosophers ' who meet under the cegis of the Conseil . " The only lodge in the place where I reside held under the Supreme Conseil is mainly composed of the " philosophers " above spoken of , who make

the sacred name of God a subject of filthy jest . And the chief organ of the Conseil , Le Monde Magonnique , is a strenuous advocate for " le morale independante , " a system which altogether disconnects morality from reli gion . I may also mention that another organ of that school , La Chaine d' Union , has , to my certain

knowledge , constituted itself the apologist of suicide . The above generalised facts have come under my own personal observation , so that I can vouch for the above statement of your correspondent , all disclaimers notwithstanding . Yours fraternally , A MASTEE MASON . April 27 , 1 S 6 S .

Notes And Queries.

NOTES AND QUERIES .

TO THK EDITOR OF T __ Kj . FRB-. _ -ASONSiMAGJlZtHH _ ANDilUlONIC . UIR . ROtt . Dear Sir and Brother , —In No . 457 of your Magazine I perceived a letter by "A Mason" relative to " Notes and Queries , " aud in which the writer states that his object was to induce the brethren who felt so disposed to contribute any information or curious fact concerning Masonry .

Although at the time these occurrences took place I had not the honour conferred on me of being admitted a member of the Craft , still they struck me as being so peculiar that on my initiation I at once recollected them , and was struck by the coincidence . They were as follows : —

Being one of a party of travellers into the interior of Australia in the year 1862 , we came across a small tribe of abori gines , who fled on our approach ; but being reassured by our leader , and convinced of our peaceable intentions , they drew near and conversed with our guides by well-known signs . Our time

being limited , we were unable to inquire further into the matter . Later , however , another occurrence brought the matter more forcibly to my notice . It was on the occasion of the meeting of the rival Peruvian generals , when they advanced and gave the usual signsthe armies then withdrewand the

van-, , quished general escaped to Eranee . As I had an opportunity of being an eye-witness of these , I can vouch for their correctness . Yours fraternally , APBONED .