Progress Of The Arch Degree.

PROGRESS OF THE ARCH DEGREE .

IT will be fresh in the memory of English Freemasons—or , at least , of that section who are members of the Eoyal Arch , or take an interest in its working—that a few months

since Grand Chapter decided to reduce the probationary period necessary ere a Master Mason could be admitted to the Supreme Degree , the new rule requiring one month to elapse , in place of the twelve months interval previously enforced .

The alteration did not meet with univeral approval , but it seemed to be generally recognised that something must be done to improve the status of the Arch Degree in this country , and this amendment was adopted as the most likely method

for bringing about the desired result , although , as we said at the time , we had no faith in the result of the efforts that were made , believing rather they would have no appreciable effect on the Degree , so far as popularising it in this country

was concerned . If we mistake not , our surmise has proved substantially correct , the eighteen months that has elapsed since the alteration was confirmed having produced no appreciable increase in membership or popularity for the Eoyal

Arch . It is true we have no general official statement on which to base this opinion , but we think the remarks of Companion Philbrick Provincial Grand Superintendent of Essex ,

whose high position among the Officers of the Grand Chapter of England give him special facilities for forming a reliable judgment , seem to imply that the alteration has fallen flat .

At the annual meeting of his Provincial Grand Chapter , reported elsewhere in this issue , Comp . Philbrick , in reviewing the present position of his Province , said the effect of the alteration in , the Constitutions had hardly yet been felt , and

although he was then perhaps confining his remarks more particularly to Essex , he may be taken as implying England generally , else he would have pointed out that his Province was an exception . We may therefore assume that the

amendment has not had the effect that was intended , for it is pretty certain that any improvement likely to result from the change would have shown itself within the eighteen months

that has elapsed ; in fact , at the time , it was anticipated by many who thought they could estimate the possibilities of the future , that there would be an immediate rush for the Supreme Degree .

That those who counted on improvement have been disappointed we think is generally recognised , and the question now seems to present itself—what is to be done to bring about the improvement that was deemed necessary nearly two years

since , and which has not followed from the steps thafc were then taken in the hope of securing it ? No doubt many will say , leave things as they are , and probably the Eoyal Arch will continue to attract its body of followers in the future if that

is done , but it is doubtful if it will make any rapid progress Hnder such conditions , and for anything to stand still in the present age is regarded as almost tantamount to failure .

Progress Of The Arch Degree.

Looking back to the period when this subject was before the governing body of the Arch Degree we have no difficulty in discovering the cause of the opinion existing in regard to it in this country—it is not so attractive as the Mark Degree ,

or is less zealously pushed by its adherents , with the result that the Mark progresses in a satisfactory manner , while the Arch makes little or no advance , and even bears the impression of being likely to fall into decay , unless some change takes

place in the near future . That this would be matter for regret few will doubt , but that ifc is a possible , nay even probable contingency is equally certain , and the question may

ere long be again submitted to the Companions of England : What shall be done to uphold and extend fche Holy Boyal Arch Degree in this country ?

To satisfactorily answer this question will doubless prove a difficult undertaking , but it seems pretty clear that the attempt made at the November meeting of Grand Chapter in 1893 was not successful , and if something was absolutely

necessary then how much more so is it now , when a remedy has been tried and found to be useless ? There are some who consider the Eoyal Arch should be discontinued as a separate body , and merged into the Craft—will ifc ever come to fchat ?

Scholarships For The Boys School.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE BOYS SCHOOL .

npHE report of the meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter - * - of Essex , already referred to , supplies us another subject for consideration afc the present moment—the raising of a Fund to found a Scholarship in connection with the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , for which project a grant of two guineas was made from the funds of the Province .

The announcement made by Bro . Hebb , Head Master of the School , on fche occasion of the annual distribution of prizes in July last , was the first intimation many of us received that anything of the sort had gone beyond the initial

stage of being among the things hoped for . Then we were gratified with the announcement that the necessary sum of one thousand guineas had been all bufc raised by the Committee Dinner Club , which naturally includes most of fche

more active workers on behalf of this Institution , but the action of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Essex in voting a sum for this purpose would seem to imply that the good work is not wholly completed , and leads to the conclusion that

outside help will be acceptable . We believe there are many Brethren sufficiently interested in the future of the pupils of the Boys School to induce them to lend a hand in this matter , and in the hope of bringing it under

the notice of some such we have referred more fully to it here . We are not in a position to say how far matters have progressed in connection with this first Scholarship Fund , but imagine when it has been fairly launched others will endeavour to extend the good work by establishing further Scholarships .