The English Rite Of Freemasonry.

Grand Master ascribed tho matter to " inadvertency , " it was " rosolved that the ' laws be strictly put into execution against all such brethren as shall for the future

countenance , connive or assist at any such irregular makings . ' " The same or similar complaints were made in later years , but Brother Hughan is " at a loss to find any justification for the statement that the innovations "—from time to

time complained of— " at that time consisted in a different mode of working the Third Degree , " the minutes of Grand " Lodge not specifying any changes in the ritual , " but only " irregularities in the constitution of tho Lodges , as also the insnffie ' ency of the fees . The correctness of the

ceremonies , though irregular in their surroundings , is virtually admitted by the means taken to prevent such persons visiting the legitimate Lodges . " After referring briefly to the alterations stated by Findel to have been made by Grand Lodge iu 1747 , " in the outward forms , " which led to the

" publication of the ' Thinlcer upon Freemasonry , ' and other controversial treatises , in 1752 , " and to Bro . Northouck ' s note in the 1784 " Book of Constitutions " on the year 1739 , which , in Bro . Hnghan ' s opinion , " confuses more than it tends to throw light upon the subject , " he goes on to

say , " We suppose it must be conceded that a change was made by the regular Masons , but precisely of what character and at what time it is not easy to indicate with any certainty , besides which tho whole inquiry is beset with many and peculiar difficulties . An alteration in the

' established forms ' might as well refer to the method by which visitors were to gain access to Lodges as to an actual alteration in either of the words or signs of any of the degrees . Preston ' s view is that the innovation ' seemed to authorise an omission of and a variation in

certain antient ceremonies . ' That more stringent regulations were passed respecting the admission of visitors we have already seen ; and it is equally certain that , added to these , any slight departure from the ordinary customs in 1751-2 , by the regular berethren , would be made the most of by their unscrupulous rivals . "

The rest of the Chapter is devoted to an examination of the question as to there having been other " degrees than the first three in existence on the publication of the Regulations in 1723 , " Bro . Hnghan ' s particular references being to the Preface to Robert Samber ' s work on " Long

Livers , " an alleged edition of the Constitutions said to have been " issued at Brussels in 1722 , " and the Rawlinson MSS . in the Bodleian at Oxford . As regards the first of these , we need only quote the following passage : " Dr . Mackay asks ' why is it that neither Anderson , nor Desaguliers , nor

any of the writers of that day , nor any of the early rituals make any allusions to the higher aud more illuminated system ? " The answer is not far to seek in our opinion , because the fact is , there was then no such system to write about ; the allusions and delusions of Samber being

magnified and distorted by credulous microscopic writers to mean what evidently the author of ' Long Livers ' neither knew of , nor ever intended . " As to the alleged Brussels edition of the Constitutions of 1722 , one of the clauses of which is said to enumerate a variety of degrees other than

those belonging to pure Craft Masonry , Bro . Hughan points out that " if these regulations be authentic and genuine , no further proof is needed of the existence of additional degrees to the first three , one year oefore the premier Booh of Constitution 1 ; was puUished , but there is

not a particle of evidence that they are either the one or the other . Those who maintain otherwise have only to produce a copy of this work of 1722 , to obtain from us a most ample retraction . " The reference to a letter among

the Rawlinson MSS . to a "fifth Order " - in Masonry and the resultant theory as to the existence of Hoyal Arch Masonry in 1725 is dismissed with equal enrtness as being of no value whatever in the elucidation of the main question .

We have now completed our summary of this Chapter , and the reader will no doubt see for himself that though Bro . Hughan has done his work of collation admirably , he has not , for the reason already assigned , been able to carry us much , if at all , beyond the point already established . Our further remarks must be held » over till next week . ( To be continued . )

The Beviaed Book of Constitutions ; Critically Considered and Compared -with the Old Edition . London : Simpkin , Marshall & Co ., 4 Stationers' Hall Court , E . C . Sent on receipt of stamps . One Shilling , by W . W . Morgan , Freemason ' s Chronicle Office , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville .

Royal Arch Chapters.

ROYAL ARCH CHAPTERS .

HPHERE is no degree in Craft Masonry that may be A approached with as much elevation of feeling and sublime pleasuro as tho Royal Arch . Its interesting history , which tells of a people returning from a captive life—a life of sorrow and humiliation where Israel ' s daughters hung their harps on the trees and wept—returning

not only with their liberty restored , and with the approval of a mighty prince who had released them from their bondage , but returning also to that dear land they loved with a high and noblo object occupying their thoughts , an object which filled their souls with comfort and an

exceeding great joy—the rebuilding of that wonderf nl Temple dedicated to tho worship of the Great Jehovah , the King of Kings , and Lord of Lords . The attainment of this object meant for them not only a return to the worship of their fathers , with all its ancient ceremonials being per .

formed on the spot which to them was holy ground , but it also meant a return to national life , to a life that should again raise them to a position of respect and esteem among surrounding nations . Thus reverential emotion was mingled with a deep feeling of patriotism , and love of

country , and when they once again stood within the ruined walls of their ancient Temple their hearts would be laden with a deep gratitude to the Giver of all good . This flood of recollection will necessarily come over the intelligent craftsman while working in this degree , and we seem again

to remotely experience through our sympathy with its history some of that elevation of feeling , as also some of that joy and gladness which in the minds of the ancient Hebrews marked that event . The elaborate ceremonial ,

the imposing surroundings , and the Eastern richness of colour in which the working is set , all tend to the same feeling , and we may naturally expect that a degree in which there is so much to appreciate and admire would be much sought after .

We regret to say that in this colony this condition of things does not exist , but rather the contrary , and when we know this to be the state of affairs we should endeavour

to find out the reason for it . Masonic authority tells us that the ultimatum of Craft Masonry is not reached until we find it in the Royal Arch , and thus a majority of the fraternity in the colony halt midway iu their course , and would be , we venture to say , astonished to find that

although they have taken the third degree , they are not perfect Master Masons ; they possess only that which was substituted ; they have not yet found that which was lost , and never can until they enter the portals of a Royal Arch Chapter . This fact is never kept sufficiently iu view by

those mostly interested in it . The fashion of looking on Chapter Masonry as something extraneous to the Craft degrees instead of forming its apex is too much indulged in , not only by young Masons , but by old and experienced members of the Craft . Who ever hears the Royal Arch

referred to m a Blue Lodge r JNo one ; or if they do , it is but seldom . Why should not the Masonic aspirant , after being " raised , " have the importance of this degree , and the desirability in due time of his seeking to be elevated thereto impressed upon him by the W . M . of the Lodge . There is not sufficient fusion of the Masonic interest in this

respect . The lack of this is most noticeable in English Masonry , because every Chapter under that Administration must be attached to a Lodge , and assume the same number if not entirely the same name . In fact , English Chanters are

the greatest losers by reason of this want of continuity of interest . Scotch Chapters work two more degrees than the English , viz ., the Mark and Excellent Master , and in most cases charge as little , if not less than the Eng lish Chapter . This would not matter so much perhaps but for

the rapidly increasing popularity of the Mark Degree ; but when brethren find they can obtain three degrees for the same fees or for a small amount extra to those charged for the one degree ( and one of those three is much talked of ) , they , in the majority of cases , seek exaltation in a

Scotch Chapter . The Union Chapter , E . C , of Welling ton , is suffering from this cause , aud we would advise the Companions to endeavour to get an English Mark Lodge established , and to enter into friendly ( not official )

relations with it without delay . But Chapters , whether Scotch or English , all over the colony suffer from a want of attendance , and of interest taken in the proceedings , and there are undoubtedly several reasons to be assigned for it .