The Albert Pike Question.

with nine other 33 rds , eight of whom at least had decided French names . "The M . P . S . G . Commander then informed the 111 . B . B . present [ ' B . B . ' means Brothers among high degreers ]

that by virtue of the authority vested in tho Deputies of this Supremo Council for the State of Louisiana , they held a meeting of the 7 th ' Sebat' instant , and selected the following" to be made thirty-thirds , and at the head

of the list was the name of Albert Pike . The remaining names on the list did not indicate French origin , a number of them were absent , and amongst them was Albert Pike . Eleven , however , were

thirtythirded on that day . Brother Samory was then invited to deliver an address in the French language , and Bro . Mackey was invited to repeat tho same address in English . After which the 111 . B . Laffon de Ladebat

informed the Council that he had received a balustre from 111 . Bro . Pike 32 nd degree , now at Washington , that he would not be enabled to be at New Orleans before next March , and moved that the S . C . be authorised to confer the 33 rd degree on Brother Pike . And now for the second

: — " Sunday , 21 st ' Sebat' A . M . 5617 . 15 th February 1857 . "

Mackey ' s name here again heads the list , though it was on Sunday . Samory , however , opened the Proceedings . The body then marched in procession to the Hall wherein the Grand Lodge used to meet , where Bro . Samory

delivered the address in French , and Bro . Mackey repeated it in English—the address covers nineteen closely-printed octavo pages . The Orator demonstrated , doubtless to his own satisfaction , that Frederick the Great first consecrated

Berlin as the "Grand East" ( meaning , I suppose , the Jerusalem ) for the " Rite of Perfection , consisting of twenty-five degrees ( in whieh year this took place is not stated ) . That be appointed Chaillou de Jotirville as his Deputy in France

( no date is given for that either ) , how Stephen Morin was sent from France to the Western Hemisphere , and how the Rite of Perfection found its way into Charleston

South Carolina , and how at last , in 1786 , Frederick the Great sent a new Constitution to Charleston ( bear in mind that he sent the Constitution to Charleston only ) , in which he changed the name of the concern from " Rite

of Perfection " to " Ancient and Accepted Rite , " together with eight additional degrees to bo clapped on the top of the original twenty-five . And how Bro . De Grasse Tilly received the new Rite in Charleston , and how he carried it

to France , where it was adopted as all right . Hence , it is clear that Charleston , the original " Grand East" in America , was the " Valley" wherein "the Mother Supreme Council of the World " was consecrated ; and that

all the Supreme Councils of the A . and A . Riters over the world are her children or grandchildren . After the address was finished , the Council went to work and

denounced in high degree fashion the other Council held " in this Valley , of which J . Lamarre is Secretary , and Jos . Lisbony is said to be the presiding officer . " " Tuesday , 23 rd ' Sebat , ' 5617 .

17 th February 1877 . " At this Session several Knights were thirty-thirded . after which it was adjourned . And now for Bro . Pike ' s elevation . " Saturday , < Year ' 1 st , W . M . 5617 .

25 th April 1857 . " At this meeting Bro . Pike was not only thirty-thirded in duo form , but the Grand Commander read a balustre from 111 . Bro . Laffon do Ladebat , 33 rd , " tendering

his resignation as Deputy of the Supreme Council , for the purpose of enabling the S . C . to appoint 111 . Bro . Piko , whoso election was better calculated to promote the

prosperity ot the Order m America , ancl Bro . Pike was accordingly elected Deputy , and the Council adjourned sine die .

And now , all I have to say is this , viz ., If the divinelyinspired Saint Frederick the Great actually sent the muchtalked-of Constitution to the "valley" of Charleston . South Carolina in 1786 , then tho New Orleans printed

Proceedings of 1857 prove conclusively that Bro . Pike is a legal 33 rd degreor , that the " Mother Supreme Council of the world " is the perfection of purity , and that all her children and grandchildren Supreme Councils in creation are , without exception , O . K . BOSTON , U . S ., 27 th October 1885 .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

STATISTICS OF ROYAL ARCH MASONRY , JH . DRUMMOND , of Maine , furnishes the following statistics of Royal Arch Masonry in North America , co-npiled up the year 1885 : — Grand Chapters . Membprs . Exaltations . Alabama 609 34

Arkansas 1 , 383 77 California 3 , 911 243 Canada 3 , 734 324 Colorado 1 , 049 142 Connecticut 4 , 244 168

Dakota 638 — Delaware 270 15 District of Columbia 1 , 185 85 Florida 212 12 Georgia 880 100

Illinois 11 , 967 839 Indiana 4 , 880 368 Iowa 6 , 189 524 Kansas 2 , 579 235 Kentucky 2 , 535 182

Louisiana 725 17 Maine 4 , 301 215 Maryland 1 , 160 61 Massachusetts 9 , 543 461 Michigan 8 , 414 673

Mtnnesota 2 , 627 214 Mississippi 1 , 340 54 Missouri 4 , 791 375 Nebraska 2 , 323 145 Nevada 390 43

New Hampshire 2 , 395 189 New Jersey 2 , 704 157 New York 15 , 435 915 North Carolina 903 39 Nova Scotia 469 27

Ohio 10 . 555 809 Oregon 771 73 Pennsylvania 10 , 908 824 Quebpc 475 51 Rhode Island 1 . 640 58

South Carolina 30 ( 3 15 Tennessee 1 , 949 101 Texas 3 , 582 316 Vermont 2 , 025 82

Virgtnia 1 , 274 70 Washinfcon 150 12 Wesfc Virginia 519 32 Wisconsin 3 , 941 203 Total 140 , 960 9 , 469

GLOUCESTER CHAPTER , No . . 130 . A T the Convocation of this Chapter , held at the Masonic Hall , ii . Southampton , on Thursday evening , the 5 th insfc ,, M . E . Comps . T . Lashmore , JJ . Emanuel , and H . Lashmore were installed in the chairs of the three Principals , the ceremony as regarded Z . and J .

being conducted by M . EZ . Emanuel . The following Officers were invested by the M . E . Z . . —J . R . Wetton S . E ., R . S . Peirce Treasurer , H . Webb S . N ., Waters D . C , Aslett P . S ., C . Bemister and M . Smith A . S ., Harrington and Vare Janitors .

METROPOLITAN CHAPTER , No . 1507 .

ON Thursday evening , 5 fch insfc ., the members of this Chapter held a most pleasant gathering afc Anderton ' s Hotel . There vvas a large number of Companions present , including many visitors . E . Comp . W . Side was installed M . E . Z . in succession to E . Comp . Willing , who is oue of the Founders of fche Chapter , and was its first M . E . Z . E . Comp . S . B . Fullwood was installed in the H . chair , and

E . Comp . T . Minstrell in fche J . chair . Comp . W . M . Stiles vvas reappointed Scribe E ., and Comp . T . C . Edmonds Scribe N . Tho office of Treasurer was unanimously conferred on Comp . J . Willing I . L ' . Z . Comp . J . C . Smith was invested as Principal Soj ., and he appointed as his Assistants Comp . Knighfc as 1 st . Assist . Soj ., and Comp . H .

Dickey as 2 nd Assist . Soj . Comp . R . \ Y . Fraser was nppointed D . C , and Comps . F . W . Dimsdale I . G ., Mordey as Steward . The Installn j Officer vvas Comp . Terry , who has ou so many occasions performed a similar service for this Chapter . In tho course of fche evening an unanimous vote of thanks was rassed fco him , and the most hearty

sympathy was expressed towards him on account of the indisposition which would prevent his joining the Companions at the festive board . The M . E . Z . then presented his predecrsor , Comp , J . Willing , wifc ' i a handsome P . Z . 's jewel , and stated the groat indebtedness which tho

Comps . felt at the many valuable servtces whtcn Comp . Willing had rendered tho Chapter , both in the Charities and as Treasurer . Comp . J . Willing suitably replied , and was unanimously chosen to represent she Chapter as Steward for the forthcoming Benevolent Institution Festival . Tho Chapter was closed , and fhe Compnnions adi'iurriod to

r , he banquetting ball . Amongst those . present wero the three Principals—E . Comps . Side M . E Z , l <\ . lhvood H ., Minstrell J- Comps . W . J . Ferguson , W . M . Stiles ' , T . C Edmonds , A . tlolls , F . W . Dinsdale , G . H . Deller , J . C Smith , H . Dickey , E . J . Day , W . H . Scurrab ,