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sity drove them to become really a secret society , to have secret signs and passwords to initiate with care and doubt anyone for the first time into their system of belief , and to use all those measures which we Masons now use to prevent an unworthy person from obtaining knowledge of our secrets . They

met before daylight or at night in private places ; they had guards placed ; they made use of tokens and had modes of recognition known to themselves only , by which they might prevent imposition and discover and detect impostors . The catacombs under Rome still speak of these secret places of

meeting , and make plain the various means employed in time of persecution to conceal these assemblies . ¦ They were surrounded by spies , and the necessity of life caused them to adopt measures for self-defence and means of recognition when a stranger professing the faith came among them for protection .

When it was as much as a man s life was worth to say that he was one of this sect , everywhere spoken against and persecuted by the men in office , because under the ban of the empire , some plan was necessary by which they might escape persecution and death . Meeting in secret , a price on the

head of every one , large rewards offered for the discovery of their places and time of assembly , active enemies abroad and spies everywhere , they had need of vigilance and precaution to preserve life . Moreover , they were bound by their tenure to help each other , and a Christian flying from persecution

claimed and received the aid of his brethren in other cities . Yet how were impostors to be detected and spies to be prevented from learning the haunts and reporting the persons present in a Christian assembly ? One escaping for life suddenly could scarcely carry with him credentials ; time was

not allowed to obtain them , and it was perilous to carry them , both to those who gave and to those who bore them . It was dangerous to introduce such a one among the brethren , and yet it was necessary ; he needed help and concealment . They had ways of making themselves known . A mere

profession of belief was not enough ; their formulas were contained in their sacred books and their enemies possessed those . Moreover , this might be feigned , and might be a garment of falsehood in which a spy would clothe himself to deceive the unwary and betray his benefactors .

One of their most common symbols was the word Ichtheos , a fish . It was used thus : An unknown stranger applies to one believed to be a Christian and states that he is one of themselves , fleeing from persecution . He is examined and found to be well versed in his belief , and speaks as

though knowing well the chief Christians from the place from which he came . Still he may be an impostor or a spy . He is asked if he has any further proof , and he produces the figure of a fish carved in wood , metal , or bone , or makes a drawing of a fish and presents it . He is asked the meaning , and

replies ( no matter what his native language may be ) by giving thc Greek word Ichtheos . Yet this is not enough ; he may know that such a symbol is used among the Christians , that their sacred books are written in the Greek language , and , therefore , that the symbol must be known by its Greek name .

AA hat docs it signify ? This : That the first two letters ( I and Ch ) stand for Jesus Christ , and that the last part is the Greek word Theos—God . The word , therefore signifies Jesus Christ , God ; thus it was at once a sign and a confirmation of faith , and the new comer would be at once received

into the community of the faithful . It was a universal password and sign all over the Christian world , and its use and meaning was so well kept as never to be discovered by their enemies . This symbol is still used on churches , steeples , & c , as a sign of thc Christian creeds .

A MODERN MARK MASTER . Dr . John Dove , Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of A ^ irginia for more than fifty years , has described in a lecture delivered in Richmond , in 1854 , an instructive use of the mark that is very interesting : —

" M . E . Samuel Jones , First Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Virginia , before he became a Mason , was the architect employed to construct a bridge over James river . ' In so large an undertaking , ' said he , ' I found myself surrounded by many and perplexing difficulties , involving my

character for competency and honesty . The timbers were fitted and prepared in the forests of Chesterfield , some miles off ; the stones squared and fitted at the quarries of James river , some distance from the bridge ; from thence they were brought on wagons to the shore , and thence on floats to the piers for thc columns of the bridge . I

had a large body of men , white and black , in my employ , with whom I was unacquainted , and who were anxious , as might be expected , to make the most by their work . I had bearers of burden and hewers of wood , squarers of wood and stone , and workers of metal . These I classed according to their capacity , and paid them in proportion ; but

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I was continually liable to imposition from unskilful workmen sending up work unfit for use , and from unworthy workmen claiming wages for work not performed . To obviate these difficulties I required each man to select a mark of some kind to be placed on his work , and to send a copy of it to be

iccorded by my chief clerk . The general price or wages of competent workmen per task or day - work was known and fixed ; but there were many not skilful workmen , with whom I had agreed on a stipulated price . I would not offend the self-pride of these by exposing the amount of their wages .

I , therefore , to overcome all these difficulties , required them to appear on the sixth day of the week ( Saturday ) at my clerk's office , where I had a private wicket door made , into which one man was admitted at a time , and required to present his mark . On the clerk's book was a column for

inspected and rejected work where this mark appeared , and opposite a column of amount due . This enabled me to settle squarely with each , silently and in good feeling , and at the same time do justice to my patron and principal , and keep in my possession proof of both transactions . And when the bridge was completed we celebrated it

with a feast , and this record was exhibited . ' " When I entered the Mark Lodge , then working under a charter from the Grand Lodge in 1816 , I found R . AV . Samuel Jones , Master , and taking peculiar pleasure in working out the degree of Mark Master . " ( To de continued ) .

Canada.

CANADA .

GRAND CHAPTER OF CANADA . The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons again assembled at thc Masonic Hall , and elected the following officers for the ensuing year : M . E . Comp . T . D . Harington , of Ottawa , re-elected Grand Z . R . E . Comp . H . J . Pratten , of Quebec , Grand H . ( 2 nd Principal ) . R . E . Comp . L . II . Henderson , of Belleville , Grand J .

( 3 rd Principal ) . R . E . Comp . T . B . Harris , of Hamilton , re-elected Grand Scribe . E . E . Comp . Daniel Spry , of Toronto , Grand Scribe N . E . Comp . D . McLellan , of Toronto , Grand Principal Sojourner . E . Comp . John V . Noel , of Kingston , Grand Treasurer . E . Comp . S . C . Channell , of Stanstead , Grand

Registrar . Comp . AV . AV . Somers , of Hamilton , Janitor . The Grand District Superintendents elected were : T . F . McMullen , for London . C . L . Beard , for AVilson . G . II . Patterson , for Huron . E . Goodman , for Hamilton .

Thomas Sargent , for Toronto . H . AA . Day , for Prince Edward's . Rev . C . Forest , for Central District . J . Dunbar , for Quebec . F . M . Sowdon , for Montreal . Edson Kemp , for Eastern Townships . D . K . Munro , for New Brunswick Districts .

Among thc companions elected by Grand Chapter to serve as members of the Executive Committee were . * R . E . Comps . John S . Bowen , of Quebec , and C . D . Macdonnell , of Kingston . Comp . Macdonnell was subsequently elected Chairman of

the Committee . Most of these officers being present , were installed and invested by the presiding officer , M . E . Comp . Harington . Thc Grand Chapter adjourned at noon , and will hold its next ( the fourteenth ) annual convocation at Hamilton . — Quebec Mercury .

THE GRAND PRIORY . The Grand Priory of Canada met on the same day as the Grand Chapter . The address of the Grand Prior , an extract from which was published in a recent number of THE FREEMASON , was listened to with marked attention , and all thc fratres were glad to welcome once more to their midst

Colonel AV . J . B . McLeod Moore , whose illness last year cast a gloom over their proceedings . AVe might mention that the question of fees was introduced , and a committee appointed to investigate the subject , and draw up a series of resolutions to be forwarded to England , relative to thc various

points that appeared to them of sufficient importance to demand reform or alteration . Doubtless the Grand Conclave of England , rather than force us into independence , will sec the advisability of granting the just demands of the Grand Prior and Grand Priory of Canada . —The Gavd

RED CROSS OF ROME & CONSTANTINE

111 . Sir Knt . Henderson was installed , at Quebec , by 111 . Sir Knt . C . D . Macdonnell , assisted by 111 . Sir Knt . R . Ramsay , Sovereign of Ontario Conclave , Belleville . 111 . Sir Knt . Day was also installed , on the same day , as Sovereign for the new conclave about to be opened inhis section of country . —Gavel .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

The following Circular may be interesting to many of our readers : —

GLASGOAV MASONIC CHOIR . At a meeting called by advertisement in the newspapers , and held at 19 , Croy-place , on the evening of Thursday , Sth September , 1870 , the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to , viz .: — I . That this meeting , having the interests of Freemasonry in view , is of opinion that in order to further

these interests it is very desirable that a choir , vocal and instrumental , should be formed by the brethren of this province for the practice and promotion of such music as may be suitable and appropriate for the working of the various degrees in Freemasonry , and resolves accordingly 2 . That this meeting resolve itself into a Provisional Committee , with power to add to its number , in order to

carry out the provisions of the foregoing resolution . 3 . That Bro . J . D . Porteous , R . W . M . Lodge 3 60 , be appointed Convener , and Brother James Crabb , 1 st Principal of R . A . Chapter 50 , Secretary of the Provisional Committee .

4 . That the foregoing resolutions be embodied in a circular , to be printed and distributed among the various lodges iu the province , with a request that intending members should send in their names to the Provisional Committee without delay . J . D . PORTEOUS , Chairman .

THE CRAFT . GLASGOW . — Lodge of Glasgow St . John , No . 3 bis . — The meeting of this flourishing lodge was held on the 20 th ult ., Bro . John Baird , R . AV . M ., in the chair , Bro . Kyle , S . A \ ., Bro . Thomas Fletcher , J . \\ ., and a large number of brethren present . Five brethren were passed into the second degree by Bro . J . B . AA ' alUer , P . M ., in his usual

able and impressive manner , Bro . D . Walker ably presiding at thc harmonium . Thereafter the minutes were read and approved of . The R . AA' . M . intimated that three large photographic views of Dunkeld Cathedral were to be forwarded to her Grace the Duchess of Athole , as a reminiscence of thc late visit of the lodge to that locality , and in token of the high appreciation by the brethren of

her Grace ' s kindness . The sum of twenty pounds was also contributed towards the fund for the French and German wounded—two guineas being voted from thc lodge funds , and the remainder subscribed by tlie brethren . Several brethren also subscribed the : r names as members of the proposed "Glasgow Masonic Choir . " The lodge was afterwards called to refreshment , and the usual toasts

given and responded to . Bvo . GilhUan , the newly-elected Deacon of the Glasgow Incorporation of Masons , was present , and exhibited the gold medal worn by the Deacon of that body . This medal bears the date 1051 , which date , or that of 1057 , since 1 S 06 has been generally supposed to be the era of the origin of this Incorporation Bro . Glenfillan also submitted to the brethren a view in

relievo of Glasgow cathedral as it stood at the beginning of the present century , before the " restorers" demolished its two western towers . The R . AA' . M referred to an old Glasgow newspaper of 1813 , which contained an account of the origin of this old operative lodge , of its being chartered by Malcolm the third King of Scots , and therefore of its priority to the Lodge of Edinburgh Mary ' s Chapel , & c . ! The lodge was afterwards duly closed .

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY . A meeting of the St . Johnstoun Royal Arch Cliapccr , No . 134 , was lately held in the Royal George Hotel , for the purpose of conferring thc Royal Arch Degree of Freemasonry on Bro . thc Right Hon . Lord Glenorchy nnd four other candidates who hail offered themselves for

exaltation . Most Excellent Comp . Savage ( St . George's Chapter , No . 21 , Aberdeen ) , acted as R . AA' . M ., and Comps . Dawson and Stephen , as S . AA . and J . AA \ The candidates were then in due order , and with proper ceremony , advanced to the Mark , Past , and Excellent Degrees . Thc lodge was closed in the Excellent Degree , and the Companions and brethren adjourned to meet

again on the following evening . —On Tuesday , Ihe Companions met at 5 p . m ., when three more candidates received the three initiatory degrees ; and , everything being prepared , a Royal Arch Chapter was opened , Comp . Savage acting as Most Excellent Y . Z ., Dr . M'Gowan , ( Supreme Chapter ) , as II ., and Berry ( Union No . 6 , Dundee ) , as J . Thc candidates being admitted , thc most

solemn ritual of thc Holy Royal Arch Degree was proceeded with , and was gone through in a manner fitted to make a lasting impression on all who heard it . By special dispensation from the Supreme Grand Chapter , the eleclion of office-bearers was then proceeded with , when the thc following Companions were unanimously elected : — Comps . Lord Glcnorchv , Most Excellent V . 7 .. ; Stephen ,

II . j II . Thomson , J . ; A . J . Menzies , Scribe E . ; J . Robertson , Scribe N . ; F . P . Carnegie , Treas . ; J . M'Rac , First Soj . ; Paton , Second Soj . ; Lees , Third Soj . ; Robertson , Tyler . Comps . Savage , Y . ' A ., Berry , P . Z ., and Dr . M'Gown , P . Z ., were then unanimously elected Honorary Members of the St . Johnstown R . A . Chapter . Thc Chapter having been closed in the usual solemn manner , the Companions proceeded to celebrate the

autumnal equinox . Lord Glenorchy filled thc chair 111 a very happy and Masonic manner . Hearty cheers were given for thc "Success of the St . Johnstoun Royal Arch Chapter , " for " The newly elected Office-bearers of the Chapter , " ( to which Lord Glenorchy replied ) , and to " The Visiting Companions , " especially to Comp . Savage , who had come far and worked so as to obtain universal admiration . Supper was laid in Bro . Kennedy ' s usual excellent style .