Address

ADDRESS

Delivered at the Consecration of the Royal Airh Chapter , No . 101 !) , WohgiM , ' BY COMPANION REV . "W . C . Ltnns , U . K ., F . S . A ., P . S . Marquas of Ripon Chapter , 837 , Rijwu . M . E . % . A . VD COMPANIONS , —Ifc would tako np too much of your time , and would bo out of placo on this occasion , if I wero to enter upon

tho vexed question of the Origin of tho Holy Iloyal Arch . This point is , no doubt , as interesting to tho Masonic student as auy antiquarian snbjoct , which is veiled in obscurity , is to an Archaeological inquirer . Whether its origin bo cooval with that of tho Third Degree , or was an extension of ifc ; whether it had any existence in a traditional form in England before the year 1710 ; who fabricated it , and whonce ifc

was derived ; who wore oligiblo for it , whether Past Masters only oi otherwise ; why ifc shonld have been formally recognised in 1 S 13 as a part of Specnlativo Masonry , while tho Mark , which was , from tho first , an essential constituent of Oporativo Masonry , was by tho same Authority excluded from , or rather not included in , tho Symbolical teachin g of the Craft : —these aro matters of interest to which I have

no right to demand your attention here . Ifc is sufficient for my present purpose to remark that , whatever may havo been tho origin of the Order , thero can bo no question that its bright and cheerful Ceremonial is replete with significant and improssivo sconc 3 , that its Ritual inspires the most exalted ideas of the Presence of tho Eternal

and Unchangeable God , and leads to profound reverential awo of the Sacred Name , and to tho exercise of the most pure aud sublime piety . Such being its speciality and influence , we can estimate at its true value the wisdom of those Brethren who wero instrumental in

obtaining its recognition as a part of Craft Masonry by the Grand Lodge . To these general remarks I think you will all give your assent . May I hope that what I shall now add may obtain yonr approval also , or , at all events , your reasonable indulgence , if I should be in error ?

lt seems to me that a Royal Arch Chapter should be founded wherever a Croft Lodgo exists , —that no Craft Lodgo shonld bo considered complete without the adjunct of that which has been described by a well-known , if not infallible , authority ( Dr . Oliver ) as " the summit and perfection of ancient Masonry . " It seems to mo that a full aud intelligent perception of the doctrines of Speculative

Masonry , and of tho signification of its Ceremonials , cannot bo realised without it . Ifc is not unusual to bear Masons speak of Craft Masonry and Royal Arch Masonry as though tlio latter were a distinct Degree , more or less outside tho former , which may bo entered , or not , at ovary Master Mason ' s pleasure Bnt am I taking a strained view of the

question when I say that , when , by the Solemn Act of Union in 1813 , ifc was declared that " pure and anciont Masonry consisted of Three Degrees , viz ., Entered Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason , including the Supreme Order of tho Holy Royal Arch , " the very words imply that it is as much tho bounden duty and privilege of every Master Mason to proceed iu due time to the Supreme Order ,

as it is of tho Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft to graduall y perfect himself by taking a higher Degree ? Tho terms " Craft" and " Arch" ought not , I imagine , to be employed in tho hearing of those who do not belong to tho latter as though they were different and distinct Degrees , or a false impression will be created . The order of the Royal Arch is not , under tho English system , a Fourth Degree ,

but is essentially tho perfection of the Third ; and ifc seems to mo very desirable that every Master Mason should be given to understand , and made to feel , that his Masonic education will be incomplete , —that ho cannot avrivo at the full stature of a perfect Mason , until he has been called to this exalted vocation . I may add , further , that , so viewing the question , no Worshipful

Master of a Lodgo can possibly comprehend the language and aim of tho Third Degree , and that he can scarcely bo considered to bo dnly qualified to occupy that lofty position , unless he has been instructed how what was lost was recovered . Without this knowledge au impenetrable veil conceals from his eyes , as from tho eyes of tho Brother whom he is Raising , that Light which is so essential to his

understanding . Every Brother , without exception , should consequently , at onco on being Raised , bo made acquainted with tho Test questions peculiar to tho Third Degree , because they make known to him tho fact that ho has not yet arrived at tho summit of Masonry , and will havo to be instructed for it .

If my position be a sound one , then I cannot agree with thoso Brethren who consider ifc as a specios ' of " touting , " of an nnmasonic character , when Brethren are invited , aye and moro , when they are openly recommended , not to stop short in thoir Masouic career as Master Masons . Nor can I see any force in tho opinion which I havo heard expressed that such a recommendation and invitation is

inconsistent with the question which is put to tho candidate for Exaltation whether he freely and voluntarily presents himself . As it is not an improper thing to urge tho Entered Apprentice to proceed onwards , neither is it an unjustifiable act to express a recommendation for Exaltation in terms stronger aud more definite than a mcro hint .

Ifc may possibly cross the mind of somo Companion present that exception might be taken to tho view I havo expressed , on the gronnd that Royal Arch Chapters aro under the Supreme Government of tho Grand Chapter and not under that of the Grand Lodge . But virtually this is not so . The terms of its recognition in the Decree of 1813 imply a control over it , and as a matter of fact the control of tho Grand Lodge is evidenced in the Established General Regulations for tho Government of the Order ; for not only is the Order bound by

Address

tlio Constitutions of tho Grand Lodgo in all cases not provided for in tho L ;' . ws and U ' . igulauoiis of the Grand Chapior , but it is specially declared th . ifc the Grand Master of England , tlio Pro Grand Master when tho Grand Master is a Royal Parsonage , and tho Dopnfcy Grand Master , aro ipso facto tho Principals of the Grand Chapter , if ' they are Royal Arch Masons ; and similarly , and by virtuo of the samo

qualification , tho Grand Secretary , Grand Treasurer , and Grand Registrar of tho Craft hold tho corresponding offices in tlio Grand Chapter . I havo attempted , in a very brief avid I fear inadequate manner , in what I havo said , to show tho trno nnd distinguished position which Royal Arch Masonry holds as a recognised part and parcel of Craft Masonry , and havo desired to point out , without any approach to

dogmatic assertion , tho duty which naturally devolves npon Master Masons . With this view , which I trust is sharod by the Companions , wo must hail with extreme satisfaction tho Consocvation of Sincerity Chapter , and entertain a hope that onr lvspectcd Provincial Grand Superintendent and his Officers will bo further gratified by other additions to tho Roll in tho com-3 o of this year . At the elo « o of 1878 thero wero ( id Craft Lodges and only 28 Chapters in this Province . May that number bo largely augmented .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertalce to return rejected communications . 'W . Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

¦ "WHIOH IS CORRECT ?"

To tlie Editor of THE FUKEJIASON ' S Cn . KONici . T 5 . DKAH SIR AND BHOTIIKK , —I havo boon greatly interested in the correspondence which has been published by you under tho abovo heading , and am ono of those who consider tho snbjoct of uniformity and correctness to bo of general importance to the members of our Order . Ifc is to bo hoped that our worthy Bro . Stevens is likely to

bo successful in securing tho assistance he solicits , by subscriptions , to his proposed work , which I gather from his letters aud notices will contain , inter alia , tho whole of tho correspondence on this subject during mauy past years . But I should not at all bo snrprised to hoar that such assistance is but partially accorded , and that lack of sympathy may dishearten him in his efforts . In tho minds of

somo his endeavours aro doubtless looked upon as Quixotic , and his tilfc against tho windmill of projudico aud error as likely to result ouly in difficulty and disappointment to himself . But the many do not , I venture to hope , share in that opinion , and it may bo consolatory to him to know that hia attempt , is applauded in many influential quarters , and will certainly , even if he does not fully gain his object ,

redound to his credit . Ho has put his hand to tho plough in good earnest , and I trust will not look back or fall away from his expressed intentions . I havo no personal knowledge of our Brother , not being n , resident in the metropolis , but should say , from the tenor of his writings , that ho is siuignino almost to a fault . Still it is by tho confident and self-reliant men that most of tho good dono in this

world is effected , and it is surely better to look on tho bright sido of things than to bo nervous and dependent in any attempt to promota good works . A Tiiombor of my Lodge , who is conversant with Bro . Stovons ' suggestion of some ton years ago , tolls mo that the principal idea was ( ho formation of a Lodge of Preceptors , under the authoritv of

and I behove connected with , Grand Lodgo . May I suggest that either through your pages now , or iu tho work ho states lie is preparing , he should mako known the particulars of tho " schemo " ho then had in view . So much will depend upon tho practicability of forming aud utilising such a body that unloss tho arrangomont thereof i .-i fully understood , it is almost certain tho proposition will not moot with that general approval which is sought for .

I address this letter to you in preference to writing direct to Bro Stevens , in tho hopo that my views ou the subject may be endorsed by other correspondents , as I think that it behoves all thoso who earnestl y seek tlie requisite amendments in our ceremonies and ritual should strongly cnoourngo tho effort he is making . Bo good enough to placo my name * ou the subscribers' list for half a dozen copies of tho proposed work , and believe mo to be ,

Dear Sir and Brother , Yours truly and fraternally , A PROVINCIAL GRAND OI-TICEB . Plymouth , 23 rd Juno 1879 . * Private address enclosed .

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