The Craft And The High Grades

ments of a Knight Templar—we have seen it stated , iu the gorgeous regalia of a S . G . I . G . of the 33 ° , but the point is immaterial—in addition to his provincial clothing . Therefore tho mention of Knights Templar in this case and that cited by Bro . Whytehead are the more noteworthy .

The first occasion was a Provincial Grand Lodge held at Chelmsford on 16 th August 1793 , for the purpose of celebrating the anniversary of the birth of the Grand Master H . R . H . George Prince of Wales , to regulate the Masonic business of the countv , and to constitute the Lodge of

Good Fellowship at the Saracen ' s Head . Bro . Thomas Dnnckerley , P . G . M ., presided . The Lodge having been opened " in ample form "—we are quoting from the

Freemasons' Magazine or General and complete Library— the P . G . M . appointed his officers for the Provinco . A procession took place to the church . In it and following the Craft Lodges we find the list thus continued :

A Janitor . Eoyal Arch Masons with Sashes and Medals , two and two . An Equerry , K . T . Tho Grand Begister (? Registrar ) of the Order in nniform , with black silk sashes , with a silver star of five points , a cross

of gold , and an appendage of white satin . The Grand Lodge of Essex , in the following order , Grand Tyler . Past Grand Officers , two and two . Grand Stewards .

Grand Chaplain , and Grand Architect . Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer . The Two Grand Wardens . The Grand Master , preceded by the Grand Sword Bearer , and Supported on the right by the Provincial Deputy

Grami Master , and on the left by Capt . Sir W . Hiinnam , Acting Grand Master for England of K . T .

In the report of the Constitution of the new Lodge there is no evidence that the Royal Arch and Knights Templar Masons took any part as such , but the fact of their joining in a Craft procession fully bears out Bro . Whytehend ' s

statement in his letter , which appeared a fortnight since in these columns , to the effect that " in those days , there was no desire on the part of any of those bodies ( i . e ., the ' High Grades' ) or Craft Masons , to separate or hold aloof from one another . "

The second case is recorded in the same magazine for February 1795 , as having occurred " at the consecration of the Lodge of Unanimity , No . 136 , at Coltishall , Norfolk , " on the 14 th October 1793 . In the brief account of this event , we read that after the new Lodpe had been

consecrated " in ample form , " "the P . G . M . Sir Ed ward Astley , the Most Excellent Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons , the Hon . Henry Hohart , attended by their respective Grand and Excellent Officers , together with the Masters , Wardens and brethren of several visiting Lodges , the Masters

Wardens and brethren of the Coltishall Lodge , & c , went in grand procession from the Lodge-room to church , preceded by a band of music . " In the procession we find that after the Craftsmen of the various Lodges followed " Jam ' , tor—three Principals of Royal Arch Chapter—Royal Arch

Masons , two and two , " and then the Grand Tyler , & c , & c . This is less remarkable than the previous case , or that quoted by Bro . Whytehead , but we have thought it sufficientl y interesting to introduce it in the course of these few observations .

Odds And Ends.

ODDS AND ENDS .

By WALTER SPENCER , P . E . G . S ., & o

THE first permanent Chinese Legation established in Europe is naturally a source of considerable interest . The biographies of the Ambassador and of the Attache Lieu , which appeared in the Illustrated London Neius , are rather inaccurate . There are , I believe , bnt four men of

rank m the Legation , viz . —H . E . — Kuoh ; Lieu , the attache ; Feb , the secretary ; and Fung , the interpreter , beside Dr . Macartney and his assistant . But they are accompanied by a horde of retainers and domestics . It is

the third visit to Europe of the Chinese Interpreter and Secretary , Messieurs Fung and Teh , gentlemen of much polish and acquaintance with Western manners . The Consular officers mentioned in some newspapers is not attached to the Legation , bnt acts as interpreter for Lord

Odds And Ends.

Derby . London is naturally not the pleasantest place of residence which would havo been selected by the strangers , but they will , it is hoped , gradually feel more at home . Dr . Macartney , who accompanies them , is an old resident

in China , a perfect master of the Chinese language and etiquette . Shortly after the capture of Soochow from the rebels , I was his guest in the house where the threshold was yet wet with the blood of the Mo-Wang . He founded iu Soochow the first Arsenal established upon

European principles ; all was in disorder , and motley materials were being hurriedly assembled for commencement of the undertaking . When ho ushered me to rest on

the first night spent in his hospitable yamen , I remember his pointing in a jocular way to a receptacle in the room with the remark , " Take care of your light , that's fulminate of mercury . "

When the Arsenal was fairly started , of course great excitement arose amongst the Celestials . Troops of them came from towns in tbo surrounding country to adore respectfully the steam-engines and blazing furnaces , and pilgrims eager in the worship of Fttng-Shui were ,

later on , attracted from afar . Macartney ranked as a Taon-tai , or Prefect of a town , and administered justice amongst his numerous retainers upon patriarchal principles . His name was paraphrased into Ma-Ka-Lee , and , in accordance with Chinese custom , he was supposed to

belong to the great family of Ma ; for , amongst Chinese , the surname goes first . Thus , the names of the Interpreter and Secretary to the present Legation are Fung-Yee and Teh-Ming , but it would be impolite to style them otherwise than as Mr . Fung and Mr . Teh . They regret not having

brought hither sedan chairs , which , borne by four coolies ( four others following as relay ) , with red visiting cards , well displayed , suspended from a loop at its side , would , they think , be so much more convenient and comfortable than the dangerous and jerky conveyances in which the English enjoy locomotion .

I remember Macartney ' s giving an official dinner at Soochow , at which the guests gravely pocketed and retained their dinner napkins , deeming them graceful presents of the host to commemorate the occasion . One of them

explained to him the reasons why European manners were so barbarous , and showing his own inoffensive chop-sticks , remarked , in mild remonstrance , that Europeans could not

even sit down to eat without having a sword and spear beside them—i . e ., knife and fork , dangerous instruments of the sort being an abomination to quiet family life in the " Flowery Land . "

Certain Chinese officers , who are serving for instruction with the Prussian army , having seut in a complaint to His Excellency , as to the treatment they receive , Mr . TeMi is gone over to Berlin to investigate the circumstances and to report .

The Fifteen Sections were worked on Thursday , 8 th March , at the Fidelity Lodge of Instruction No . 3 , Yorkshire Grey Tavern , Charlotte-street . Fitzroy-sqnare . Bros . Koester P . M . and Preceptor as W . M ., W . Mard S . W .,

Buche J . W ., Blakemore S . D ., A . Cooper I . G ., 0 . W , Davis I . P . M ., and a numerous assemblage of brethren . The following are the brethren who worked the various sections : —

FIKST LECTURE . 1 st Section ..... Bro . Blakemore 2 nd „ „ Davis W . M . 382 3 rd .... .. „ Busche 4 th „ .....„ Cook Secretary

5 th „ „ Zahrenbach P . M . 6 th „ „ Koester P . M . 7 th „ „ Long

SECOND LECTUEE . 1 st Section Bro . Maillard 2 nd „ ...-. „ Long 3 rd „ „ Koester P . M . 4 th „ .... . „ Conlton P . M . 5 th „ „ Sedgewick P . M .

THIBD LECTUEE . 1 st Section ..... Bro . T . Brown 2 nd . ..... „ Sedgewick P . M . 3 rd „ • « • „ OonltoaP . M .