Craft Doings In India And China.

CRAFT DOINGS IN INDIA AND CHINA .

The reports we receive from time to time of ( lie proceedings of the different presiding Masonic bodies established in different parts of our Indian Empire , and in China , Japan , and the Straits Settlements almost invariably contain some evidence more or less satisfactory of the strong position occupied by Freemason ^ ' in those countries ; the regularity

and ability with which the duties of the various lodges and chapters are discharged ; and the beneficial influence which the Society exercises on the communities in which it lives and moves and has its being . Here at home our lodges are so numerous , their meetings so frequent , and the facilities for communication between members of different lodges so great , that the

work devolving on them is done with almost machme-hke regularity . Moreover , whenever we attempt anything of unusual importance , be it in connection with the laying of a foundation or memorial stone or a Festival in behalf of one of our Masonic Institutions , the success which has invariably attended such gatherings mav be looked

upon as assured beforehand , the solitary question we set ourselves to consider being the degree or measure of success which will attend each particular meeting . In India and China , Freemasonry , as we have said , is firmly established , and its progress from year to year most gratifying . The lodges , too , as we note them in our Masonic calendars and pocketbooks ,

make quite a brave show in respect of numbers , so that wc are apt to run away with the idea that everything goes as smoothly in our possessions abroad as it does at home . But the lodges in Bengal or thc Punjab , in Bombay or Madras , though they are formidable enough in appearance ii'hcn grouped together on paper , are scattered over an enormous extent of

country , while the members of those which are located in outlying stations nre constantly on the move . There is not , therefore , the same degree of certainty that a meeting , when summoned , will be held : or that if held , it will be possible to can } ' out thc business set forth in the summons . But

notwithstanding thc difficulties thus arising , and others which might be enumerated , the work of Freemasonry is carried out very successfully , the District Grand Lodge meetings are in point of numbers fairly well attended , while the Charitable Institutions which have been established in most , if

not all , of the Districts are well supported and domg excellent work , ' thus on the 28 th of December last the District Grand Lodge of Bengal met in Ouarterly Communication at Freemasons' Hall , Bcntinck-street , Calcutta , under the presidency of Bro . the Hon . H . T . PRINSEP , D . G . M ., who but

the other day was on a visit to this country and occupied his place in Grand Lodge . There was a large attendance of Present and Past Grand Officers , of the representatives of lodges , and of visiting brethren , and thc District Grand Master in the address he delivered found himself in a position , in

reviewing the events of thc previous year , to speak in terms of almost "iiqualificcl praise of what had happened . One case of indiscipline on the part of a Past Master and Past District Grand Officer had occurred 'hiring his absence on a visit to this country , and on the matter being brought to his notice on his return by his worthy Deputy District

Grand Master , he had unfortunately found it necessary lo inflict a somewhat se \' ire punishment on thc brother in question ; but with this solitary exception ( here appears to have becn nothing lo evoke any expression of his displeasure . On thc contrary , Bro . PRINSKP had the gratification of stating "Wt during the year which had elapsed " our affairs have becn most

prosperous , that our lodges are in an excellent condition , and are working in unbroken harmony . We can , " he added , " fairly congratulate ourselves upon a considerable progress in the extension of our Order . Thc impetus 10 ''reemasonry in this city has never been more conspicuous than it has l ) e en in the past year . There has bcen a considerable accession lo our

"Umbers , and of members whose zeal and desire to promote the Craft is full 01 promise for the future , and the attention paid to the management of the ¦ •" "'" us lod ges , and thc manner in which our riles and ceremonies arc inducted is highly creditable to the officers . " We must congratulate l 0 - I ' RIXSEI * and the lodges' in his jurisdiction on his finding himself in a

P ° siiioii to speak in terms so laudatory of thc proceedings in his District "' " ¦ ' ¦; . the year 1891 . ' \ ol many days after thc meeting at which Bro . PRINSEP thus expressed "" self , t ) lc brel | lt . j „ t | ic District Grand Lodge of Northern China held n r ' egular Quarterly Communication in thc Masonic 1 lall , Shanghai , and r , n "" . l vyu . U l _ l IV V _ lMlllllllllll . tlllUll III llll : i > l . l ^ V )! 111 _ I 1 . 111 , . J 11 , I 11 ^ ll < 11 , < ll I U

•'•'•' •MILLKR , District Grand Master , who presided , felt himself \ i ' . ln s P e-ddng in similar terms of eulogy of the manner in which the ' -on : c duties of the preceding year had been fulfilled . The District 0 . " ch Bro . MILLER presides is more compact , but of more recent ' " ion and possessing fewer lodges ; but the year 1891 seems to have

Craft Doings In India And China.

becn a most successful one both here and in thc Bengal Presidency . " We congratulate ourselves , " says Bro . MILLER , " upon the progress made since the previous meeting of the District Grand Lodge ; " while later on he adds , " everything has been going on in a satisfactory manner in our District , " the fact that since the establishment of District Grand Lod ge in 1877 , the

District Board of General Purposes should have been only once called upon to adjudicate on any question being rightly adduced by him as evidence that " we are blessed with peace , harmonj' , and brotherly love . " Then , after giving details of some of his visits to the lodges , and after cautioning the new principal ofiicers of lodges that , though " it is highly gratifying to

increase our numbers , it is still more desirable that worthy men , and worthy men alone , should be allowed to enter the Craft , " Bro . MILLER went on to speak in terms of well-merited praise of the two Institutions they have established in their District —( 1 ) the Masonic School , of which , he says , " every Mason may feel justly proud ; it is growing , and daily attracting

more attention , under the care and guidance of our Brother the District Grand Registrar ; " and ( 2 ) our "Masonic Charity Fund , " the report of which was in course of publication at the time , and which was also in a state of increasing prosperity . Thus , as regards Northern China and Bengal , the reports from head-quarters leave nothing to be desired . The

Craft itself and the Institutions which it has established are in a flourishing position , and though , as we have said , it must not be imagined that the duties of Freemasonry are as easily fulfilled as they are here , it is very clear that what is lacking in the way of numbers and facility of communication , is made good by the unwonted zeal and enthusiasm of the brethren .

The " Red Cross " Degree (England).

THE " RED CROSS " DEGREE ( ENGLAND ) .

There are several very interesting souvenirs of the " Red Cross of Rome and Constantine " which came into thc hands of that body through the Grand Secretaries , William Henry White and John Hervey ( of blessed memory ) , both of whom were members of the organisation . The chief of

these arc . l / iMiito from 180 S to 1813 ; a Cash Book Worn iSoSto 1814 ( " tvater murk" in paper of the year 1805 ); Regulations in MS . uf ear ) } 'this century ; Ceremony in MS . ( a portion only ) , the " water mark" bearing date 1806 ; a Certificate of 1810 of thc " Holy Red Cross and of the Priestly Order , " and several letters and other valuable papers .

The certificate ( dated 5 th February , 1 S 10 ) , is imperfect , but appears to have been granted by an " Encampment " of Knights Templars said to be working under the warrant of the "Ancient Lodge , No . 318 , which was usual in those days . The seal refers to thc K . T . and bears the number stated as docs thc certificate . No . 318 was issued by thc " Athol ! " Grand Lodge in 1799 , and was held at Brompton , Kent .

A curious paper , preserved , refers to the " Ark ' Degree , and evidently is a copy of a letter sent to some nobleman desiring his acceptance of the office ol " Grand Commander , " vice Lord Rancliffe , deceased . It is undated , but the " water mark " is oi the year 1 S 01 . From whom Major Charles Sherrilf , of Whitcchurch , Salop , obtained his

authority has not transpired , but that enthusiastic brother , 111 1788 , so the lamented Bro . R . W . Little states , admitted Bros . John Allen , Prov . G . M . Lancashire ; James Heseltine , Grand Treasurer ; William While , Grand Secretary ; and James Galloway , P . J . G . W ., to the " Red Cross . " Bro . H . Sadler gives some curious particulars about the Major in his valuable work entitled "Masonic Facts and Fictons . "

Bro . Little considered it probable that the Abbe Giuistiniani , who was long attached to the Venetian Embassy in London , may be credited with the existence of the Order in England , but in thc absence of evidence it is quite impossible to offer any opinion on thc subject . Lord Ranclffe , as the head of thc English Templars and thc Red Cross , was a well-known brother

of late last century , and was Prov . G . M . of two or three provinces , taking also a most active interest and high rank in the Royal Arch Grand Chapter . Bro . Waller Rodwell Wright ( subsequently Judge and Prov . G . M . of the Ionian Islands ) succeeded Lord Rancliffe as Grand Master of the Knights , and was a most energetic ruler from the year 1804 . The earliest

minute book preserved , however , begins with the 4 th May , 1808 , and reads like a revival of the Order . The members then in oflice from thai date were Richard Jebb , GrantI Chancellor ( Grand Superintendent of Hereford and

Prov . Grand Master Madras , later on ) ; J , C . Burckliardt , Grand . Vitrsltitl ( S . G . D . 1816 ); the Rev . G . A . Browne was one of the Lieutenants ( Grand Superintendent Cambridge and Surrey ) ; Bro . F . Perkins , Grand Chamberlain , was J . G . D . 1819 ; and other officers were also appointed . I note