Masonic Notes And Queries.

cords prior to 17 S 0 , but as it was a conservative body revived I look upon it as probable that the Degrees existed there before that Grand Lodge fell into abeyance . There is mention of the Arch Degree as being practised at York in 1 743 in D'Assigny's work , and though the mention cannot be taken as conclusive proof of the actual existence of the Arch Degree at York in 1743 , yet I think we may accept the position for want of better proof , and that hence

the Templar andTemplar Priest or Knight of the Tabernacle existed there also at the same time ; for I hold to the position that they were established together , but f admit that we cannot prove this by absolute documentary evidence , and have only tradition ( which is worth something ) to fall back upon . Nor is it probable that the four higher Degrees were established at York , the probability lies with London , but York accepted the Degrees . This tradition was

embodied on old Templar Priest certificates ( an old Degree in Ireland ) as the " year of revival or 16 S 6 . " This tradition is proved to my satisfaction by the language of 1721 in " Long Livers , " , which you ' republished some years ago in the " Masonic Magazine . " It is idle to talk about the existence of an Hermetic Degree as Alchemical connected with English Masonr . y in 1721 ; there was nothing of the kind , f embodied the result of several years' study of the Rosicrucian books

in my "Speculative h reemasonry , and to my mind the language of 1721 admits only of one explanation , namely , that the alchemical jargon was there employed to describe the three existing higher Degrees of 16 S 6 , and that the writer , perhaps Dr . Mead , well understood the mode in which his Rosicrucian predecessors had used that jargon to describe religious and theosophical subjects . Moreover , as one who has pored over old rituals , i can well understand

that language as applied to thc Arch , Templar , and Templar Priest , the most ancient of English High Grades , and it can be interpreted in no other manner . Hence " Masonic Student" will see that he has merely misunderstood my language , and is arguing against misconception . Now as to- the Continental Rites , it seems to me that as " Masonic Student" is raising difficulties which he cannot solve himself , he cannot expect me to do it , off hand . The

connection of the old . 'Rite of Memphis with the Primitive Philadelphis and Philalethes , and its first establishment at Montauban in 1 S 14 , rests on the statement of Jacques Etienne Marconis , who states that he held the Archives of the 1 S 14 Lodge , and I see no reason whatever to disbelieve his statement . He died in 1 S 6 S at the age of seventy-four years , hence he was born in 1794 ; there is , therefore , nothing impossible in his having been a member of the

Montauban Body in 1 S 14 and 1 S 16 , or in his having revived them , as he asserts he did , in 1 S 38 at Paris . 1 " have translated nearly the whole of his works for my own gratification , and have received more advantage from them than I should like to admit in your pages . Um certain that he is a truthful man , and he obligated all Masonic candidates to respect the truth in all things ; but I must also admit that his mind was mystical and imaginative , and perhaps too dogmatic in his assertion that all Masonry is derived from

the mysteries of the Egyptians , and this fault I have toned down where I could do so without altering the essentials of his rite . This was a fault which he was ' unable to correct because of his Oriental blood , for the minds of all Orientals arc intuitively mystical , their nerves arc more sensitive to impressions , hence I hey have certain faculties of perception which we duller Westerns do not possess , and they arc , moreover , often right in matters where we are metaphysicall y wrong because of the more acute nervous organization of their minds . JOHN YARKER .

ROYAL ARCH LAWS . The "Masonic Student" opened the "ball , " hy referring to the laws of the Royal Arch A . n . 17 S 2 , and Bro . j , H . Neilson ( the Masonic Student ol Ireland ) followed , b y furnishing a transcript of the title of an original copy in his library . Bro . T . B . Whytehead , our able Northern Masonic luminary , has completed the trio by giving the title of another edition published in 177 S ( A . L . 17 S 2 ) . The

last mentioned is the first edition , A . D . 17 S 2 is the second , and these were the only two issued prior to the Union of the two Grand Chapters under H . R . H . tho Duke of Sussex as Grand Z . Those of 177 S and 17 S 2 were for the Grand Chapter of the "Moderns , " and are scarce and valuable publications . Bro . R . F . Gould , S . G . D ., has proved that this Grand Chapter was formed in 176- ; . beintr a vear earlier

than I had thought . Though never officially recognised by the "Moderns , " it was virtually so , as many of the chief members of the Craft were connected with it , from the Grand Masters downwards . It was doubtless started as a rival to the "Ancients , " and so to enable the brethren of the •' Moderns" to have a Royal Arch of their own . W . J . HUGHAN .

LAURENCE DERMOTT . Bro . Whytehead will lind a brief outline of Dermott ' s career at p . 4 of my "Atholl Lodges . " The dates cited were obtained from official records , and 1 subjoin one of my authorities for the statement that the Grand Secretary of the " Seceders" was born in 1720 : —G . L . Miuutes

Ancients , June , 24 th , 1761— "The D . G . M . proposed that the G . S . shall be toasted with the number of his years . Unanimousl y agreed that Laurence Dermott , Esq ., Grand Secretary , shall be Drank in form with 39 , being now in the 39 th year of his Age—Which was accordingly done . " In a footnote , in the handwriting of Laurence Dermott , appears : — " The Secretary was in the 41 st year of hisa ^ c . " K . F . GOULD .

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Red Cross of Constantine .

ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GENERAL GRAND CONCLAVE . The annual assembly was holden on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult ., at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Oueen-street I resent : Colonel . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart " Most Illustrious ^ Grand Sovereign , on the ' throne ; Very Illustrious Sir Knights H . C . LevanderM . A . Grand Treasas

, , ., Grand Viceroy ; Cuthbert E . Peek , Int . Gen . for Cambndgeshire , as Grand Sen . Gen . ; W . Roebuck , Grand Orator , as Grand Junior Gen . ; Rev . P . M . Holden , Grand High Prelate ; John Mason , Grand High Chancel or ; W . R . Woodman , M . D ., Grand Recorder ; Thos . Cubitt , Grand High Almoner ; J . Lewis Thomas , Grand Historiographer ; Very Eminent Sir Knights . II . A .

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Dubois , Grand Prefect ; C . F . Hogard , Grand Assistant Recorder ; E . H . Thiellay , Grand Standard Bearer ; A . R . Robinson , Grand Herald ; Most Eminent Sir Knight Captain Charles Hunter , Grand Viceroy of Scotland , who was received with the honours of his rank ; Illustrious Sir Knight C . F . Matier , Int . General ; also Sir Knight Major S . W . Taylor , R . A ., Hydaspes , No . 53 , India ; Sir Knights

R . Rintoul , P . S ., No . 1 , Scotland ; H . Blake , No . 1 ; Thos . Massa , No . 1 ; M . Sigismund , No . 2 ; William Stephens , No . 2 . \; A . Haynes , Prov . G . Reg . ( West Lancashire ); John Gilbert , Grand Janitor ; and other Sir Knights . The lines having been formed the Most Illustrious Grand Sovereign , attended hy the Grand Officers , entered

the Grand Conclave , which was then opened in imperial form , and ' with solemn prayer to the Omnipotent Ruler of the Universe . The GRAND RECORDER then read the following report of the Executive Committee : Since the last General Assembly of Grand Conclave four new conclaves have been formed : the Pretorium , No . 139 , Dinapore , Bengal , E . Indies ; the Burdett , No . 140 ,

Dunedin , N . /" ealand ; the Wignacourt , No . 141 , Malta ; and the St . Louis and St . Cyprian , No . 142 , Tunis—the three last during the past six months . Several conclaves which had ceased working have resumed , and are making such returns as bid fair for future success . In consequence of the severance of America and Scotland , alluded to at our last assembly , the Order has not made those rapid strides which it has been our pleasure on previous occasions to

announce . Since our last General Assembly it has been our painful d « ty to record the heavy loss the Order has sustained in the lamented death of the Very Illustrious Grand Treasurer and acting Grand Recorder , Sir Knight Robert Wentworth Little , and the Most Illustrious Immediate Past Grand Sovereign , Sir Frederick Martin Williams ,

Bart . We also have to regret the death of two most devoted and zealous members of the Order , Illustrious Sir Knight John Boyd , Grand High Almoner , and Illustrious Sir Knight Edward Amphlett , Intendant General for Cambridgeshire . The Grand Recorder undertook the entire duties of his office on the ist of June , at which date he issued a circular to all the conclaves ; one only o' these was returned

through the post , and that was from the Rose of Sharon , Birmingham , No . 19 ( no returns since 1 S 74 ) . The statutes of the Order , which are being enquired for , require revision , and a new edition should be published under the auspices of the Executive Committee . Since June ist there have been issued Red Cross certificates 135 ; K . H . S . certificates 40 . We have one conclave

in the U . S . of America , the Chicago , No . Si , Chicago , Illinois , U . S . of A ., which is recognised in due form by the Grand Council of England . Our Most Illustrious Grand Sovereign , Colonel Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., has been appointed Representative of the Grand Council of the United States of America at or near the Grand Council of England .

'I he Executive CoupciJ have great pleasure in announcing that the Most lllustrirTus Grand Sovereign has most graciously consented to remain in oflicc at their urgent request , he having the wellbeing of the Order far more at heart than his own personal convenience . Wc rejoice to have this opportunity of congratulating our Grand Sovereign on his recent accession to the

ancestrial honours of his ancient house , and greet him accordingly as a Baronet of the United Kingdom . ( Signed ) W . R . WOODMAN , Grand Recorder . December 22 nd , 1 SS 0 . This ; report was put to the meeting and duly confirmed . The Grand Sovereign was then duly nominated , & c , and re-elected by acclamation , and the Grand Recorder , standing at the foot of the throne , proclaimed the Grand Sovereign b y his style and titles , and he was duly saluted in imperial form .

After thanking the Grand Conclave most cordially for the confidence reposed in him , and expressing his devotion to the Order , the election of thc Most Eminent Grand Viceroy was proceeded with , and the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , Grand Senior General , was unanimously elected to fill that important oflice . Sir Kni ght H . C . Levander was then unanimously

elected as Illustrious Grand Treasurer , after which he informed Grand Conclave that he had a balance in hand to the account of the General Fund of £ 70 15 s . 6 d ., and of the Grand Almoner ' s Fund 4107 15 s . od . The outstanding liabilities were under £ 10 . The G . and Council were Ihen re-appointed , Sir Kni ght J . \ V . Ellison Macartney , M . P ., to take the vacant place

thereon , and eight Grand Senators . The above were appointed by the Grand Sovereign , and then ten other Grand Senators , who had been duly nominated for the office , were put to the meeting hy the Grand Sovereign . Their names were read aloud by the Grand Recorder , and , there being the exact number required , they were all elected , making eighteen in all , and their names are as follows :

Eight for appointment b y the Grand Sovereign : — 1 . C . H . Rogers-Harrison . 2 . G . Powell . ¦ 3 . H . A . Dubois . 4 . Rev . Ambrose W . Hall . 5 . Rev . Canon Hartford . i * 3 . George Kenning .

7 . Lieut .-Col . Peters . 8 . C . F . Hogard . Ten for nomination and election by Grand Conclave : — 9 . Charles Hammerton . 10 . E . H . Thiellay . 11 . Herbert Dicketts . 12 . A . A . Pendlebury .

13 . A . R . Robinson . 14 . G . A . Rooks . 15 . 1 . T . Moss . 16 . D . M . Dewar . 17 . T . J . Walls . iS . George Parker Brockbank .

Sir Kts . I-I . A . Dubois and C . F . Hogard were then elected to fill the vacancies on the Executive Committee and Sir Knt . Hogard to fill the vacancy on the G . H . Almoner ' s Fund Committee . Sir Kt . J MASON , G . II . Ch ., proposed that a sum of twenty guineas bc given to the Royal Alasonic Benevolent Institution , on thc ground that all former grants had been made in favour of the Girls' School . Before this was

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seconded , it was proposed that a sum of thirty guineas should be given to the Masonic Charities ; this was seconded and carried unanimously . Letters were received from Sir Kt . the Honourable W . l . Urde-Powlett , G . Sen . Gen ., ( expressing his regret at not being able to be present , owing to severe illness in his family , and from Sir Kt . the Hon . Richard W . H . Giddv

incena . uen . tor bouth Africa , who was prevented from attending from severe indisposition . Letters of apology for non-attendance were also received from Jersey ( Capt . de ieeleur , and others ) , Leicester , York , ( Sir Kts . Whytehead and Cumberland ) , Bristol , Gloucester ( Sir Kt . Capt . " ™ r 'nt . Gen . ) , Southampton , Portsmouth , Liverpool ( Major iurnerlnt . Gen . for West Lancashire } . Weston .

and many other places . Also from Colonel E . C . Malet de Carteret , Int . Gen . for Jersey , Sir Kts . D . M . Dewar , Int . Gen . ; C . H . Rogers-Harrison , F . R . C . S ., G . Preceptor , ^ S £ ? T S"' Kt G ^ orge Toller , jun ., P . G . S . B . England , D . P . G . Master Leicestershire , G . Chamberlain , who reports the conclave at Leicester working regularly and well attended , and their financial position satisfactory , and that

they have contributed twenty five-guineas to the Charities , whilst local claims have not been neglected , and wi th a balance left m the hands of the Treasurer . The Grand Conclave was then closed in imperial form , and the meeting was then adjourned to march in the ensuing ™

year . The banquet was presided over by the G . Sovereign , the U Treas . taking the vice-chair . The honour of proposing the toast of the evening fell to the G . Recorder , the G . Sovereign receiving an ovation for his universal kindness and urbanity , and the zeal and ability with which he had so long ruled the Order .

TUNIS . —St . Louis and St . Cyprian Conclave ( No . 142 ) . —This conclave was opened at Tunis , in North Africa , on the 17 th ult ., by E . Sir K . A . M . Broadley , D . I . General of T unis and Malta . Several candidates having been received , the M . P . S . consecrated Sir K . Capt . R . A . Johnstone as Viceroy E ., and appointed Sir Kts . Thomas

£ * ¦ c . »? V P'M- lo 6 S > P-D . D . G . M . Egypt , S . G . ; Achiles Perini , M . D ., P . M . 1717 , J . G . ; CommanderW . M . Bridger , R . N H . P .- P . Q . Puliga , LL . D ., Recorder ; andS . Sessing , Prefect . The conclave was then duly closed , and it was announced that the St . Augustine Sanctuary , H . S ., and Commandery of St . John would be worked at an early date .

Scotland.

Scotland .

At a meeting of the St . John ' s Lodge , No . in , held on Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., the following brethren were elected as office-bearers for the ensuing year , and duly installed by P * * , Br ° ; - L > - Turnbull : Bros . William Caldwell , S ;^ ' - * J- ' - , G '^' Cam l- bell D- M * Kobert Hunter , S . M . ; W . P . Fisher , S . W . ; James Sharp , J . W . ; R . Burns , Sec * ; A . S . Lawson , Ireas . ; Rev . John Thomson , Chap . ; Dr . Brydon , M . D . ; Robert Hunter , Bard ; C . Williamson ,

? , V ., - ? ° . t- ' - 'ot . J . D . ; John Fairley , I . D . G . ; William \ Valdie , Tyler ; D . Lawrie and A . Grieve , Stewards ; lames Rutherford , B . D . ; and R . Rodgers , S . B . A great number of the brethren assembled in full Masonic costume at the lodge room , for the purpose of celebrating St . John ' s Festival , and , having been formed into order , had a torchli ght procession through the principal streets of thc town , headed by the volunteer band , after

which tlicy went to St . John ' s Church . Thc imposing array was witnessed , as usual , by a great number of thc public , the streets being lined on both sides by both young and old . Bro . 'Rev . J . THOMSON , Chaplain of the lodge , addressed the assembly from the text , John iii ., iS : " My little children , let us not love in word , neither in tongue , but in deed and in truth . " After referrine to his travels in the 1 ** W

and speaking of his visit to E phesus , to the Church of St . John , the grave of Mary , mother of Jesus , and to Diana and the Great Temple of Ephesus , he said love was the best and . noblcst law ; in fact , they might truly say all law " ^ v * up in one 'vord— " love . " In the Bible the Freemasons and all Christians found a perfect ' eode of duty ; not a single duty was omitted . From Genesis to Revelations the law for true worshippers was complete . Bv Moses

the whole duty was reduced to Ten Commandments . These ten were reduced to two by the Great Teacher . The question , " Master , which is the great commandment of the law ? ' was well answered by the following words , " 'Thou shalt love the Lord th y God with all thy heart , with all thy soul , with all th y mind . ' That was the first and great Commandment , and the second was like unto it— 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . ' On these two

Commandments hung all thc law and the prophets . " 'I'hey had two objects , but one law , viz . —love . LOVQ , to God and love to man . One law for both , ' . imply love . Love was the fulfilling of the law . That was the great want of the world , the great want of each home , the great want of each heart —simply love , pure holy love . Well did Pollock sin" --

—Hail I hol y love , that word that sums all bliss , gives and receives all bliss , fullest when most thou givest ; springhead of all felicity ;" and Carlyle say—There is a comfort in the strength of love , 'Twill make a thing endurable .

What else would overset the brain or break the heart ; and Tennyson—I hold it true whate ' er befall , I feel it when I sorrow most , 'Tis better to have loved and lost , Than never to have loved at all ; and Byron—Love is old , Old as eternity , but not outworn

With each new being born or to bc born ; and Cowper— Affection lights a brighter flame Than ever blazed by ait ; and Sir Walter Scott—True love ' s the gift which God hath given To man alone beneath the heaven ; and

Lamb—Man while he loves is never quite depraved , And women ' s triumph is alover saved . These quotations might be multiplied a thousand times , but