The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

" ad nauseam , " and Ave in Ireland are not , by any means , as ignorant of the matter as Ave Avere some short time since . Briefly stated , it Avould appear that some time towards the middle of" last century various

brethren , not satisfied with the simplicity of Ancient Craft Masonry , invented and arranged certain orders ofa Christian character , and attached them to lodges and other bodies then , in existence . The Order of

Knights Templar appears to have been , or to have become , the governing body of certain of those degrees , notably of the Rose Croix and Kadosh , and under the

Templar Avarrants those rites Avere Avorked and those degrees conferred . There Avould appear to have been some connection between the Rose Croix and Kadosh and

the lemplar degree , analogous to that Avhich practically exists between the Mark ( as Avorked here ) , the Past Master ' s , and the third degree of Blue Masonry ; for , as the Mark Degree is conferred as a matter of

course on all Master Masons of good standing and reputation , and thc Past Master ' s Degree accompanies election to the chair of a lodge , so all High Knights Templar of good report seem to have been entitled to

the Rose Croix on application and recommendation , and the Kadosh seems to have constituted Avhat may be considered a Past Eminent Commander ' s Degree . Formerly , any three Templars in possession of the Rose

Croix Degree had poAverto confer . it , and the oldest Prince Masons' chapter in Dublin , of which Ave ha \ -e proper information , namely , the " Kilwinning , " acted on this principle , not holding or requiring any warrant .

About tlie year 1800 , the A-arious rites and degrees appear to have been systematized by certain brethren in Charleston , America , and a Rite of thirty-three degrees Avas concocted , and called the "Ancient and

Accepted Scottish Rite , " the thirty-three degrees being boldly put forward as having been instituted by Frederick thc Great , for the purpose of continuing the ruling poAvcr previously invested in him as an individual .

The work referred to by Bro . Hughan , in the article on Fredk . Dalcho ( No . 141 oi THE FREEMASON' ) is a very curious one , and throws a good deal of light on the probable origin of the thirty-three degrees

of the A . and A . Rite , of which he may be considered the " apostle . " According to Dalcho ' s theory , as embodied in his " orations , " thc three degrees of symbolic Masonry are preparatory only , and instituted

" as thc test of thc character ancl capacity of the initiated , before they should be admitted to the knowledge of the more important mysteries . " His theory supposes that the " sublime degrees" contain tlie

real secrets and mysteries of Ancient 1 * rcemasonry , a proposition so plainly opposed to historical facts that it is quite unnecessary to waste time by stopping lo refute it . Tlie request to Bro . Dalcho " for fifty

copies of his most excellent ovations , " or for "his permission to reprint the same , " is in the form of a communication , bearing date Sept . 6 , i 8 c 6 , "from thc original chapter of Prince Masons " to " the

members of the Illustrious College of Hcrcdou , Knights of K . H . of Ireland , assembled in ample form , " when said request was unanimously approved of . The orations Avere

accordingly reprinted , bearing as a motto , " Magna est Veritas , et proA'ulcbit , " a . ••election somewhat " cool" when their tendency and object is taken into consideration .

Lo go no further than this " authorised " document , it is indisputable , on the lace ot it , that a Prince Masons' chapter and a college of Knights K , H , were in full work-

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

ing order in Dublin before the present century , and as the warrant of constitution Reestablishing a Supreme Council of the 33 ° for Ireland Avas ' obtained from Charleston only iii 1 S 24 , that chapter and college must have held from some source

antecedent to the ' invention of the thirtythree'degrees . EA'en supposing , "for argument sake , " that the statement of the original institution of the thirty-theec degrees Avas historically

correct , it is plain that the existence of a pOAver in Masonry Avliich claims authority over all thc degrees , the members of Avhich " call up" their friends Avhen vacancies occur , and are irresponsible to those AA'hom

they profess to govern , and from Avhom they receive large fees and contributions , is opposed to the spirit of the Order and inimical to its Avelfare and prosperity . The theory of Dalcho naturally assumes the

right of government of all the degrees to the governing body of the " sublime " degrees , which idea is , in addition , fully set out in a note at page 55 , where he states : " Although the sublime Masons have not , in this

country , initiated any into the blue degrees , yet their counsels possess thc indefeasible right of granting Avarrants for that purpose . It is common on thc continent of Europe , and may be the case here , should circumstances

render thc exercise of this poAvcrnecessary . ' Taking this claim in connection with the allusion at page 59 , to certain " secret constitutions , " it may be questioned Avhcthcr the existence of such a degree is consistent

with thc dignity and independence of Grand Lodge . There seems to ha \ 'e been a considerable capability of " yielding to the pressure of circumstances " in the constitution of thc high grades , ancl that , even at

the early date in their history at which the Dalcho reprint Avas issued , they Avere antagonistic to the Irish system , is shoAvn at page 84 , where , after a number of asterisks ,

Ave learn that , " thc passages of the original which follow , have been omitted in this edition , not being conformable to thc Masonic Constitution , as established in Ireland . "

The glaring inconsistency in thc adoption in the Irish system of thc thirty-three degrees of the A . and A . Rite , in connection Avith thc older Avorking which required Templar qualifications in candidates for the

"high" degrees , is still further illustrated by the fact that not one of the degrees of thc A . and A . Rite , inferior to thc Rose Croix , which forms the 18 of that Rite , is practised in this country , thc degree of

" Knight of the Kast ancl West , " or if , being hardly an exception , although a degree so named is conferred under Templar warrants ; ancl of tlie degrees superior to thc

Rose Croix , the 28 ° ( Knight of the Sun ) , 30 ° ( Knights KM . ) , 31 ° ( Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander ) , 32 ( Princes of thc Royal Secret ) , ancl 35 ( Sovereign Grand Inspector General ) , are alone Avorked .

JOSEP . T II . V . OODAVORTII , P . M . Commercial Lodge 245 . Dublin , 22 nd Nov ., 1 S 71 .

HOLLOWAY ' ? 1 LLS . —Pnlpitntion of the Heart is frequently , not only felt , hut heard , prevents sleep , and he-jcts ihe utmost dread nf impending suffocation . 'I hese Tills arc pariicularly recommended for removing this affection , because thev strengthen the nervous and the debilitated , who arc much more liahle to this malady than other piT .-ons . Holloway ' s I'ills so improve the diction .

increase ihe actum of the liver , and give activity to the bowels , that giddiness , headache , and nau-ea depart as the palpitation diminishes and the sufferer at once cxpeiiepci-i the 1110 I iiidcf-rribablc relief from anxiety . Holloway ' s I'ills form liie lie- ' :. ! u . rathe and aperient in all ca .-cs ' ¦! convalescence liom fc . eis , inflamiii . 'iiiiins , i ' . eiiraljiia , ami all chronic disc . i .-. i > which have inipo *> eriihcd the Wood anil brain . — [ Advt . l

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

The Annual General Communication Avas held at Loughborough , on Friday , 24 th November , under the auspices of the Howe and Charriwood Lodge , No . 1007 , and was attended by about eighty brethren of the several lodges in the province .

The Craft lodge Avas opened at the Town Hall at 12 . 45 P *™ -, and after the confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting , the R . W . P . G . M ., Bro . W . Kelly

and the Prov . Grand Lodge was received in the customary manner . The P . G . M . having been saluted Avith grand honours , proceeded to open the Grand Lodge in due form .

Amongst those present Avere : Bros , the Rev . W . Langley , P . P . S . G . W ., as D . P . G . M * W . G . Palmer , S . G . W . ; J . H . Johnston ' P . P . G . W . Cumb ., as J . G . W . ; Revds . Dr . Haycroft and John Halford , G . Chaps . ; W .

13 . Smith , G . Treas . ; S . S . Partridge , G . Reg . ; G . Toller , jun ., G . Sec . ; R . W . Widdowson , F . J . Baines , and W . G . Palmer ( jun . ) , G . Stewards ; H . Deane and C .

Stretton , P . P . G . Rcg . ' s ; S . Love , W . Wearc A . M . Duff , and T . H . Buzzard , P . P . G . D . ' s * J . J . Fast , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; T . Thorpe , P . P . G . Dir . of Cers . ; E . Gosling , P . P . G . Purs . ; T . Cox . P . G . Treas . Derbyshire ; J .

M . Moore , P . P . G . Steward Derbyshire ; F . Binckes , P . G . Steward of England , Sec . R . M . I . Boys ; S . W . Cloves , M . P ., 484 ; Captains P . P ; Goodchild and R . H . Burnaby , 279 ; J . C . Duncomb , P . G . A . Dir . of

Cers . Norths , and Hunts . ; Revds . P . H . Phelp , 50 , and J . Freeman , 1007 \ Albert Pell , M . P . ; J . H . Douglas , Sec . 1330 ; and many others . Rcprcsentath r es from every lodge in thc province answered to the rollcall .

Several letters of apology for absence having been noticed , thc minutes of the previous meeting AVC re read and confirmed .

Thc Rev . W . Langley , Acting D . P . G . M ., in referring to the loss sustained by thc death of Bro . W . Pettifor , P . P . S . G . W . —whose name had occurred on the minutes—then

moved a resolution expressive of thc sympathy of the lodge Avitli thc widow in her bereavement , Avhich Avas seconded by Bro . A . M . Duff , P . P . G . D . The P . G . M ., in putting thc resolution , spoke in very high terms of the deceased , and of the estimation

in which he Avas held by thc brethren of the province . ( Carried unanimously . ) A letter was read from thc Dowager Countess Howe , in reply to a resolution of the P . G . Lodge on the death of her husband ,

the late esteemed P . G . M ., thanking the lodge for the sympathy expressed in thc resolution , and expressing approval of the proposal to place a stained-glass window in the memorial church about to be erected

to the memory of the late Karl . On the motion of the Rev . W . Langley , Acting D . P . G . M ., seconded by the Rev . John Halford , P . G . Chap ., the letter Avas ordered to b- entered on thc minutes .

The patent of appointment of thc Rig ht Hon . the Earl Ferrers , as D . P . G . M ., was read , but his lordship was prevented from attending for installation by sudden and severe indisposition .

Thc report of the Committee of General Purposes Avas read , congratulating the lodge on the favourable state of thc G . Treasurer ' s

account , and also on the steady and gratifying progress of Masonry throughout the province , and especially of the junior lodge , X o . 1330 , Market I larboro ' , consecrated at the hist meeting of the P . G . Lodge , and which now numbers thirty-three subscribing