Masonic Literary Societies.

the so-called Degrees of Freemasonry . Briefly , the conclusion to which Bro . SPETH hacl come , and to which he endeavoured by most interesting and exhaustive evidence to bring Yorkshire Masons to consent was—that in Masonry , both Operative and

Speculative , there were originally but two Degrees , and that what we now designate the Third Degree is an innovation , and sprang no one knows how , from a selection , judicious or otherwise , made from the E . A . and F . Degrees , by somebody or

other about the year 1725 . We are not going on this occasion to argue the question with Bro . SPETH , no doubt , as he himself admits , his assertions may be contested with some show

( perhaps more than show ) of success , but with that at present we have no concern ; the fact we emphasise is that the desire for Masonic knowledge and instruction is so

strong , that not content with the study of the Artes Quatuor Coronatorum , to which many are subscribers , nothing less than a direct and personal communication with some distinguished member of the Ouatuor Coronati Lodge would suffice the

brethren in Yorkshire . Hence Bro . SPETH ' S visit . It is not necessary to say that Bro . SPETH performed his task with ability and success . From reports which have reached us , there can be no doubt that the lecturer met with full and intelligent

appreciation that his modest yet confident tone , combined with his genuine fraternal feeling , have won their way with our hardheaded Yorkshire brethren , and that Bro . SPETH'S name will be well known and long remembered amongst them . We

congratulate him upon the way in which he performed a somewhat delicate task , and we heartily commend the literary brethren in Yorkshire , and in Wakefield particularly ( to whose initiative , we believe , the movement is due ) for their zeal in organising so

successful a tour . We have no doubt other efforts in a similar direction will be made , and can only add that our sympathy shall ever be given to societies so ably managed and so genuinely supported .

The Scottish Craft In India.

THE SCOTTISH CRAFT IN INDIA .

The proceedings which took place at the Annual Communication , at Freemasons' Hall , Bombay , on the nth December last , of the Grand Lodge of all Scottish Freemasonry in India , when

H . R . H . the Duke of C ONNAUGHT , District Grand Master of Bombay under the Grand Lodge of England , accompanied by several of his District Grand Officers , was received , ancl hacl

conferred upon him the rank of Honorary Past Grand Master , are already familiar to our readers . It is not necessary , therefore , that we should say much as to the printed account thereof , with which we have recently been favoured . The enthusiastic

greeting which his Royal Highness experienced on this memorable occasion , and the compliments which were interchanged between the more prominent members of the two Constitutions , must be still fresh in the minds of all who read the ample report we

published a few weeks since . But sundry remarks made by Grand Master Sir HENRY MORLAND , who presided , with reference to what he had been able to accomplish while on a recent

visit to this country , are more clearly set forth in this printed account than they were in our report , and we are , therefore , now in a better position to judge of the value of the important services he was then able to render . From this we learn

that Bro . Sir HENRY MORLAND , when in England , took a prominent part in the preliminary steps for healing the schism which had for a long time existed between the Supreme Councils , Ancient and Accepted Rite , of England ancl Scotland . The

termination of this schism was referred to by us at the time of its occurrence , but it is to the credit of Bro . Sir H . MORLAND that he assisted in the task of restoring , harmonious relations between the two Councils , ancl that though the Ancient and

Accepted Rite forms no part of ancient Craft Freemasonry , he should have taken the opportunity afforded him by the Annual Communication of his Grand Lodge of nominating the distinguished brethren by whom the reconci iation was effected— -Bros .

Captain N . G . PHILIPS , Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , HUGH D . SANDEMAN , and LINDSAY MACKERSV—as honorary members of the body that he has presided over for many years with so much distinction . The Ancient and Accepted system may , as we have

said , have nothing to clo with the Craft , but the reconciliation of two outside branches of Masonry is a distinct gain to the whole Body , and for the assistance Bro . Sir H . MORLAND rendered in bringing this about , he well deserves this slight recognition we are able to offer .

The Craft In South Africa.

THE CRAFT IN SOUTH AFRICA .

To judge from the very interesting record of the proceedings at the Communication of the District Grand Lodge of South Africa , Eastern Division , at East London in June last , the Craft there must be in a highly prosperous condition . The

business transacted is too long to discuss in detail , but the statements of account give a sufficient insight as to the manner in which our lodges in these remote parts perform their duties . The District Grand Lodge Fund for the years 1888-89 opened

with a balance of £ 126 and closed with one of £ 85 , the Receipts being £ 18 7 and the Disbursements , including , £ 4 8 to Educational Fund , ancl £ 44 to Reserve Fund , in Saving ' s Bank for the two years £ 212 , while the Reserve Fund amounted

to - £ 133 . The Educational Fund shows Receipts , including balance of over £ 303 , amounting to £ 616 , while the Expenditure , which consists almost entirely of payments to various Schools , was £ 172 , the Balance remaining to the credit of the Fund

amounting to £ 444 ; the Endowment Fund showing a total of £ 320 in Savings Bank on the 31 st May , 1889 . These figures show that the lodges in this Colony are not so overburdened with expenditure as to be unable to accumulate a substantial

reserve , and that , though , they may be called to remit a certain small amount for fees to the Grand Lodge at home , such remittance does not prevent them from looking well after the educational needs of the children of their poor or distressed brethren .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday next : The Minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 16 th October , 188 9 , to the 14 th January , 18 90 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows _

To Balance , Grand Chapter , { . ' 150 S 4 By Disbursements during- the „ „ Unappropriated j Quarter i . 299 16 10 Account ... 190 18 1 „ Balance 239 12 0 „ Subsequent Receipts ... 3 S 6 14 o „ „ Unappropriated Account ... iSS 11 7 ¦ 1 £ 72 S 0 5 I £ y 2 S o s

which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : ist . From Comps . Harry James Sparks , as Z . ; William Smith , as H . ; John Upchurch Martin , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Sondes Lodge , No . 99 6 , East Dereham , to be called the Harry Sparks Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , East Dereham , in the county of Suffolk .

2 nd . I ' rom Comps . Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., D . L ., Grand Superintendent for Durham , as Z . ; Robert Shadforth , as H . ; George Washington Bain , as J . ; and nine others for a chapter to be attached to the Williamson Lodge , No . 949 , Monkwearmouth , to be called the Williamson Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , No . 6 , North Bridge-street , Monkwearmouth , in the county of Durham .

3 rd . From Comps . Thomas Preston , as Z . ; Henry Croasdale , as H . ; George Handel Openshaw , and 11 others for a chapter to be attached to the Fidelity Lodge , No . 26 9 , Blackburn , to be called the Fidelity Chapter , and to meet at the Old Bull Hotel , Blackburn , in the Eastern Division of Lancashire . 4 th . From Comps . Carl Theodor Fleck , as Z . ; Charles Meierhoff , as H . ; James Cooper , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Old Concord Lodge , No . 172 , London , to be called the Old Concord Chapter , and to meet at the Holborn Restaurant , High Holborn , London .

5 th . From Comps . Adolphns Clark , as Z . ; James John WooUey , as H . ; Herbert Charles Lambert , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Anglo-American Lodge , No . 2191 , to be called the Anglo-American Chapter , and to meet at the Holborn Restaurant , High Holborn , London . The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectivel y granted .

The Committee have likewise to report that they have received a Memorial from the Grand Chapter of New South Wales , reporting that they vvere regularl y established on the 30 th September , 188 9 , and asking recognition b y the Grand Chapter of England , and that fraternal communication maybe established between the two Grand Chapters .

The Committee recommend that inasmuch as the Grand Lodge of New South Wales has been duly acknowledged by the Grand Lodge of England , the Grand Chapter of New South Wales be also recognised . The Committee have received memorials , with extracts of minutes , on the removal of the following chapters : — The Alexandra Chapter , No . 993 , from the Midway Hotel , Levenshulme , to the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester .

The Grand Master ' s Chapter , No . 1 , from Willis ' s Rooms , St . James ' s , to the Hotel Victoria , Northumberland-avenue , Charing Cross . The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of these requests , recommend that the removals of the above-named chapters be sanctioned .

( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 15 th January 1890 .

Miss Cissy Grahame will commence her season at Terry ' s Theatre on Saturday evening , the Sth inst ., with a newthree-act play by Jerome K . Jerome , entitled " New Lamps for Old , " in which Messrs . W . S ; Penley , VV . Lestocq , F . Kerr , and Bernard Gould ; Mesdames Gertrude Kingston , Houston , and Cissy Grahame will appear . On the same evening will be produced a new one-act rustic comedy by Fred . Bowyer and VV . Edwardes-Sprange , which _ will be played by Mesdames M . A . Giffard , and Helen Leyton , and Messrs . Yorke Stephens and Oscar Adye .