Archæologic Items From Rome.

organized , its vice-presidents ( Lord Talbot de Malahide being president ) aro the Hon . Henry Walpole , the Rev . Dr . Smith ( a Benedictine priest and professor of Hebreiv ) , Mr . Severn ( H . B . M . Consul ) , Mr . G . N . Parker , and Mr . C . D . Fortnum ; and a committee of six members , —

Messrs . J . Lecky , Christie Miller , Charles Perkins , C . J . Hemans , Francis Samwell , Charles Wilshire , — meet , as occasion requires , at the house of the secretary , Mr . Shakspere Wood . After the last lecture , AA'hich gave general satisfaction and elicited a vote of thanks to Dr .

Wollaston , the committee met to bring to a close the proceeding's of the season , in the intent of resuming- operations , Avith ampler means and larger projects it may be hoped , in the ensuing autumn . On an average about fift y ladies and gentlemen have been the number of visitors hitherto at the

several reunions , to AA'hich admission is b y ticket or invitatiou , the party Avho reads on , or othei-Avise explains the archaeologic subject of the day beingentitled to invite six strangers : occasional hearers admissible by tickets at one scido .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

THE PHILOSOPHER ' S STONE . Had the philosopher ' s stone anything to do with Freemasonry ?—X . —[ The philosophical stone plays a conspicuous part iu various foreign rites , but the philosopher ' s stone is a very different affajr—if you mean that Avhich was the crux of the Rosicrucians and Alchemists . There is another philosopher ' s stone of AA'hich you may gather some hints in Buhner ' s Zanoni . That AYHS—or rather is—Masonic ]

BUDDHISM AND EEEEMASONRY . "In what points cousists the similarity between Buddhism and Freemasonry ? " A correspondent first suggests that such similarity consists in the acknowledgment of a"Great Architect of tho Universe . lie next suggests that it consists iu the inculcation of the practice of world-wide charity . The former

suggestion is Avrong , as shall be slio-vn on a future day . The latter suggestion is right . A question , analogous to the foregoing , ivas asked by some brother tivo years ago ; see my communication to the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , vol . viii ., p . 430 . In that communication there is a slight error of the press . The word " Avildes't" should be read " Avidest . " —CHAELES BURTON COOPEE .

COLOURED -BANNERS . Whose business is it to bear the Avhite , scarlet , purple , and blue banners in the Royal Arch ?—AN OLD COMPANION . —[ They are no longer used , but were home by the guards at the veils . The veils are discarded , and the Eoyal Arch degree is a jumble . ]

OLD DOCUMENTS , SUMMONSES , & C . Some little time ago I asked , in these columns , foi any old summonses , hy-laivs , impressions of seals , etc . which brethren might have by them hut consider useless . I hai'e received several such packages . One from Sir Knt . Icwiu , another from Bro , Evans , of

Constantinople , others from 13 . S ., J . E . A ., Ex . Ex , ancl tivo anonymously . Some of them contain much curious and interesting matter , and a code of by-laws received from B . S ., dated 1801 , is so A'ery quaint and explains such curious customs , long obsolete in the Craft , that I have made a selection of several -worth y of being read .- —MATTHEW COOKE . The lodge is not specified , for particular reasons , but the clauses are as follows : —

Article II . —Every member shall behave himself in the lodge Avith due decorum , and appear therein iu decent apparel , and proper clothing . He shall not curse , swear , offer to lay Avages , use any leivd or unbecoming language , in derogation of God ' s name aud corruption of good manners ; nor behave himself ludicrouslnor jestinglwhile thc lodge is engaged

y , y , iu anything serious and solemn ; neither is he to introduce or support any controversy or dispute about religion or politics . He must never appear at the lodge disguised iu liquor ; he shall not hold any private committee in the lodge , nor go out of it during , lodge hourswithout the Master ' s leave ; he shall

, behave himself , out of the lodge , on all occasions , as an honest man , and avoid carefully every action that may bring an odium upon his reputation , ancl a reflection upon the fraternity . III . —At home , and in his neig hbourhood , he is tobehave as a ivise and moral mini . He is never

tocommunicate to his neighbours , friends , or acquaintance , the private transactions of our assemblies ; but upon every occasion , to consult his OAV * honour , and the reputation of the society at large . IV . —At the third stroke ' of the Master ' s hammer ( ahvays to be repeated by the Senior Warden ) there shall be a general silencewhichon no pretenceshall

, , , be broken by any one , without leave from the chair . No one shall speak more than once to the same affair , unless to explain himself , or ivhen called upon by the chair to speak ; the speaker shall ahvays rise , and continue standing , addressing himself in a proper maimer to the chairnor shall any one presume to

, interrupt him , unless the Master , finding him wander from the point , shall think fit to enjoin him to order . The speaker , having been set right , may proceed again , if he pleases . V . —Any member offending in one or more of tho particular clauses of the foregoing articles , shall

besubject to a fins not exceeding one shilling , nor less than sixpence for each offence , to be levied according to the nature of it , at the discretion of the Master ; but if admonition and fines are found insufficient to reduce any member to order , after the minutes have been three times taken by the Secretary , the Master shall demandon the stated lodge nightAvhere there

, , shall be present at least two-thirds of tho members ,. Avhether the said member shall stand a ballot for his exclusion or not , and if . a majority of hands determines it iu the affirmative , on the stated lodge night immediately following , he shall stand such ballot , and that determination shall be final .

Authority of Officers . I . —The Master for the timebeing has a right and power to summon Lodges of Emergency , or , iu his absence , the Senior Warden ; , he has likeivise poAver to levy the fines set forth in the foregoing articles , as ivell upon Lodges of Emergency as stated lodge nights , but , herein , impartiality and candourare l-eeommended .