The Degrees Of Masonry.

The last assumption was , indeed , tho most visionary of all . It admits of no doubt that tho meaning of a great part of our Masonic symbolism has been forgotten , and , as I shall presently show , there ate good grounds for believing that this partial obliteration of its import must have taken lace before the era of Grand Lodges .

p It is nnlik'jly—not to e .- > y impossible—that any man of intellectual attainments , who joined the Craft nnder the Grand LocVe of England , during iho first decade of its

existence , would havo introduced any symbolism of which they did not understand tho meaning , and it can be easily shown from the ceremonial of thafc period , thafc it must have been quite as obscure and unintelligible in many parts in those days , as it is in our own .

To recapitulate : Ifc was assumed by the disbelievers in the great antiquity of Masonic symbolism—Firstly , that one ceremony only was worked in Masonic Lodges down to 1717 ; and secondly , that two others wero added before 1723 .

In the fourth half-volume of my "History of Freemasonry , " published in 1885 , I showed that two degrees , and not three , were referred to by Dr . Anderson , as existing in 1723 , and that the then ritual of the Craffc was in harmony with this arrangement has been proved to demonstration by Bro . Speth .

During fche continuance of ancient Masonry , or , to vary the expression , prior to the era of Grand Lodges , there were two classes of Masons . In England there wero Apprentices and Masters ( or Fellows ) , and in Scotland

Entered Apprentices and Masters ( or Fellow-Crafts ) . The English Master ( or Fellow ) and the Scottish Master ( or Fellow-Craft ) was in each instance a " passed " Apprentice or Master in his trade .

In 1723 , as more than once mentioned , there was published the first Book of Constitutions , the task of codifying the Old Regulations of Masonry , having been confided by the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge to Dr . Anderson .

Anderson was a Scotchman , and his nationality peeps out in O . R . XIII ., to which I have so often referred : — " Apprentices must be admitted Masters and Fellow Craft only here ( i . e ., in the Grand Lodge ) unless by a dispensation . "

" Masters and Fellow Craft " may bo here read " Masters or Fellow Craffc , " as the terms had a similar meaning , aud wore borrowed by Anderson from tho operative vocabulary of the Northern kingdom . In the same way he brought in the compound word " Entered-Apprcnticc , " which he

substituted for the shorter title previously used by the English Masons . Let me now ask the reader to cast a backward glance at the extract already quoted from my review of Brother

Barlow ' s address , and the point I shall then submit for his consideration will be—whether " the cogitations of Masonic writers , with regard to degrees , and which were expressed ( down to the year 1885 ) , have become obsolete and misleading ?"

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 49.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 49 .

BY BRO . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D ., 295 , 1214 , 2417 ( E . G . ) , 24 , 761 ( S . C . ) —* . o : — To BRO . STOCKS HAMMOND , Mas . Doc .

ON THE OCCASION OF THE FAREWELL BANQUET ON HIS LEAVING BRADFORD FOR AMERICA , 5 th MAY 1893 . To night we meet , ' raid jovial feast and cheer , To hononr ono who leaves Old England ' s shore ; And tho' a host his parting grieves sincere ,

None more than we his absence will deplore . In his new home , in that far western sphere , We wish him well , we wish him happiness ; VVe tell him still to onward persevere ,

Until he grasps the goal of sweet snccess . What matters it if some , with narrow mind , Wonld from his brow the well-earned lanrels tear ? AVe know him best , and scatter to the wind

The vengeful slurs that would his fame impair ; And , until Time to Bradford gives him back , We bid him God . speed on his upward track . Winder House , Bradford . 5 th May 1893 .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

•v- — OUAFT .

— : o : — ST . MARTIN'S LODGE . No . 98 .

A MEETING was held on Thursday , the 20 th nit ., at the Town XX Hull , Burslem . Present : —Bros . Srarratt W . M ., Bonhon S . W ., Beech J . W ., Danbeney Chaplain , Dain P . n . J . W . Treasurer , Pedley P . P . Snpt . Works Secretary , Saunders S . D ., Owen J . D ., Weston P . P . G . S . B . Director of Ceremonies , Emery I . G ., Gill and Critchlow Stewards , Davis Org ., Boardman Tyler , Mason I . P . M ., Pierpoint P . M . P . P . G . S ., Garner P . M ., Pearson P . M ., Godwin P . M . P . P . G . S . B .,

Mason , Bettany , Kellern , Wilkinson , Minshull , Gratton , Hewitt , Darlinir , Cronshaw , Norriss , aud others . Visile's—Bros . Jones S . W . 418 , Hancock W . M . 451 , Stevenson P . M . 1942 P . P . G . S . B ., Dain 2064 , Wain 2064 , Adams 2064 , Tooth P . M . 2214 P . P . G . S . B ., and others . The Lodge having been opened , the minntes of tbe hint meeting were read and confirmed , after which Mr . John Kearton was initiated in

a very able manner by the Worshipful Master ( Bro . John Scarratt ) , who then vacated the ohair in favour of Bro . Dain P . M . P . G . S . W . who , by special permission of the Worshipful Master , raised Brother Hewitt in an impressive manner . Before closing the Lodge a presentation was made to Brother Mason , as a recognition of his services in promoting the success of the ball recently held on behalf

of the Masonic Charities in tho Town Hall , Burslem , nnder the banner of tho St . Martin's Lodge , No . 98 . The testimonial took the shape of an illuminated address , beautifully executed , and framed in gilt with Masonic emblems . The presentation was made by the Worshipfui Master ( Bro . Scarratt ) in very felicitous terms . Brother Mason , in reply , said he was not sure whether he deserved all the

kind words that had been said . However , in accepting the address , he certainly thanked them all from tho bottom of his heiirfc for the kind things that had beeu said respecting him , and also for the beautiful and kindly-expressed address presented to him . He said during his year in the chair all the brethren of No . 98 had given him their moat loyal sympathy , support , and friendship . The success

of the ball recently held was due to the great assistance and support he had received from the brethren of thafc and other Lodges . He had also done his best to promote good and kindly feeling between tho members of that and other Lodges in thafc district . He hoped the great proof they had given him of their affection might continue as long as he lived . He would ever bear in mind the kind

expressions of their feelings towards him , and , while gratefully accepting the acknowledgment of his services , which had always been a labour of love , he assured the brethren that it wonld but act as an incentive for further efforts on his part for fche furtherance of Freemasonry and to fche helping of brethren so far as in his power lied . He wonld look npon that address as one of the greatest treasures he had . It wonld out-last him , and he trusted that some of his family

might come after him , and try to do as mneh good for Freemasonry as they could ; and , in conclusion , he again asked the brethren one and all to accept bis most grateful thanks for the most handsome address they had presented him with . After the nsual greetings from the visitors fche Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Leopard Hotel for refreshment , when the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . Bros . Critchlow and Darling contributed songs to fche harmony of the meeting .

LODGE OF INTEGRITY , No . 163 . THE regular meeting of this Lodge was held afc the Freemasons ' Hall , Manchester , on Wednesday , the 26 th ult . Brother Thomas Hy . Soholfield W . M . There were also present : —Brothers T . G . Sparkes I . P . M ., J . M . H . Blarney S . W ., K . Alfred Hepworfch J . W ., J . M . Sinclair P . M . Treasurer P . G . J . D ., Samuel Gaskill Secretary , John W . Sparkes S . D ., Frank "W . Mee J . D ., Dr . Thomas Carr I . G ., the following Pasfc Masters : —Joseph Wildgoose P . P . G . J . D .,

John Studd P . G . D . C , H . H . Warbnrton P . P . G . S . D ., William D . Waddeil , E . Simister , Ed . Eoberts , ( FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE ) ; Bros . J . G . Mead , A . Neild , Fred Walmsley , G . Taylor , Edward G . Hiller , A . Dunn , F . Neild , Joseph Clemmey , James Mitchell , F . W . Broster , 0 . Slee , G . H . Chorley , W . Stott , J . Bolton , Charles Eiley , Arthnr Soholfield . Visitor : —Brother G . Bell S . D . 1588 . After the

confirmation of minutes , Brother Joseph Grime , being desirous of taking a further step in ancient Freemasonry , was subjected fco the usual interrogatories , which he answered satisfactorily , and was duly passed to the degree of a F . C . by Brother Wildgoose P . M ., he being assisted by Brother Simister P . M ., who presented the working tools . Of Brother Wildgoose it is only necessary to say to those who have

seen his working that on this occasion he was fully up to his usual standard , and performed the ceremony in an admirable manner , he having a splendid coadjutor in Brother Simister , whose method of explaining the working tools met with universal approbation . The circular had announced threo candidates for fche sublime degree , but only two ceremonies were taken , Brothers A . B . Soholfield , and

Charles Eiley being raised to the position of Master Mason . The Worshipful Master undertook the duty of raising Brother Soholfield , while Brother Sparkes I . P . M . performed a like duty with regard to Bro . Eiley , both Officers being very highly commended for the manner in which they acquitted themselves . Ifc is a pleasure to know that Officers can be found whose assiduity has made them so

perfect in ceremonial work as to establish for themselves an assured reputation in this direction , which will tempt brethren to travel long distances ( as was done in this instance ) to witness their performance . The usual festive board followed , at which Loyal and Masonio toasts were submitted , these being pleasantly relieved by songs , 4 c , from various brethren , a very enjoyable evening being passed in this manner ,