Original Correspondence.

ance on thc part of this Institution , justice was not done to his kind services . Yours truly and frrternally , J AMES TERRY , Secretary .

EASTER HOLIDAYS . To the Edilo } ' of thc Times . Sir , —Wilh reference to your remark this morning as to there being a gradual improvement in thc way in which the Bank holidays are being spent , will you permit me to say that , deducting re-admissions , there were some 86 , 000 persons at the Crystal Palace on Good Friday and Easter

Monday , and that the police have reported that there was not a single police charge on either day . I may add that I did not see a drunker , person on either day in the Palace or gardens . The population of Nottingham and Preston is about 86 , 000 . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , S . FLOOD PAGE , Secretary and Manager . Crystal Palace , April 2 *; .

ROVAL ARCH . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I suppose it is hypercritical to quarrel with the grammar of Grand Scribe E . or his representative , but I venture to think his reading of the Constitutions relativeto the election of the Third Principal in a private chapter is a

new one , and as an old Craftsman 1 should like to be assured on your authority , which I take to be the highest in England , whether it is correct . Comp . Buss says that thc Assistant Sojourners , as well as the Principal Sojourner , together with the Scribes E . and N ., are eligible forthe chair of J . 1 venture to demur to this , because Regulation 51 states that all officers except the

Assistant Sojourners ( who are tn be appointed by the Principal Sojourner ) are elected annually , and further , that no companion shall bc elected to either of the Principal chairs until he shall have served the office of Scribe or Sojourner —; iot Assistant Sojourner—of a private chapter for a year The mere fact that tlie Assistant Sojourners are not elected , but appointed , and that they do ncxt to nothing to qualify

them for higher office , seems in my humble judgment to preclude the possibility of their being eligible for the J . chair , until they have actually served the chapter in the responsible offices of P . S . or Scribe . Yours fraternally , Al , P . Z . P . S . —Are Prov . Grand Officers allowed to wear thc jewel of their office attached to a tricoloured ribbon , or are

they not ? Regulation 91 would seem to confine it to officers of the Grand Chapter only . [ We think that Comp . Buss is quite right , as all candidates for J . ' s chair must bc ^ installed W . M . ' s . We think that Provincial Officers out of their * pro \>' n \ ce cannot wear the jewel of their office attached to a ribbon round their neck . —ED . ]

Consecration Of The Eclectic Chapter, No. 1201.

CONSECRATION OF THE ECLECTIC CHAPTER , No . 1201 .

This new chapter was consecrated on Monday last at Freemasons' Hall , by Comp . Thomas Kenn , Past Grand Sword Bearer , who took thc chair cf M . E . Z . He was assisted in the performance of his duties by Comp . John Hervey , G . S . E ., who took the chair of II ., and Comp . the

Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C , who took the chair of J ., Comp . H . G . Buss , Assistant Grand Secretary , performed the duties of D . C . ; Comp . John Mason , those of S . E . ; and Comp C . B . Payne , G . J ., those of Janitor . The other companions present were Comps . J . Glashier , Magnus Ohren , Henry Thompson , James Stevens , James Terry , A . H . Tattershall , John Boyd , Rev . P . M . Holden , E . J .

Harty , . lames Mander , , ] . H . Watts , R . E . Williams , Arthur E . Taylor , George Kelly , P . Robinson , George Brooke , VV . Ackland , T . Taylor , and II . Massey ( Freemason . ) Tlie musical arrangements weic under the direction of Comp . Edwin Payne , M . D ., who was assisted by Comps , Then . Distin , G . T . Carter , Marcellus Higgs , and G . Large .

After the chapter had been formally opened , Comp . T . Fenn , addressing the companions , said -. —We are assembled here this evening to constitute and consecrate a new chapter . Such an oration must be gratifying to all who view with interest the progress of Royal Arch Masonry . But this is an occasion of peculiar interest to myself , because I had the pleasure of consecrating thc

loelge to which this chapter is attached . It is to that circumstance that I owe the honour of being selected to preside over you to-night . Had it been otherwise it would still have given mc unbounded pleasure had our hi ghly respected and esteemed Scribe E ., Comp . I Iervey , taken my place , because I feel sure that thc ceremony would have been far more efficiently and more fittingly performed by

him . Our Comp . Hervey , had he occupied this chair , would no doubt , at this preliminary stage of the proceeeli » gs have given you , as is his usual custom on such occasions , some excellent advice as to the future conduct of your chapter , and advice coming from our Comp . Hervey , emanating as it does from his vast , and I may almost say , unexampled experience , anil suggested as those wotils of

advice are , and we must all feel they are by the most earnest desire for the good and the progress of the Craft , I feel quite sure that those words would have been listened to by you with the profoundest attention and respect . But Companions I know there are so many among those who are to become members of this chapter who have distinguished

themselves in Craft Masonry , and not only in Craft Masonry , but who have shown themselves proficient in the mysteries of Royal Arch Masonry that I feel it would be quite unbecoming in me to presume to instruct them in those duties with which they must he so well acquainted I shall , therefore , delegate my Comp . Woodford , who has

Consecration Of The Eclectic Chapter, No. 1201.

so kindly consented to address you and say j what is necessary on this occasion . The Rev . Comp . Woodford then offered up tile prayer , customary nt this point of the proceedings , and afterwards delivered the following admirable sketch of thc ltoyal Arch Degree in the form of an oration : — I have been requested to deliver the customary oration

at the consecration of thc Eclectic Chapter , and gladly respond to the invitation of my friend and companion E . Harty , and your command , M . E . Presiding and Consecrating Officer . It appears to me , ane ! I hope the companions present will agree with mc , that it is advisable if possible on such an opportunity as the present to avoid a too familiar repetition of wonted addresses , and though ,

perhaps , I shall not equal the eloquence and appropriateness which mark the customary orations of some of the Masters of the Royal Art , like our friends Comps . Boyd , or Terry , and last but 11 > t least , our respected and talented G . S . E ., yet 1 trust , that at the close of my short address , you will agree that it is not altogether unworthy the occasion , or the organisation of this new and promising

chapter . Let us take then a historical retrospect of the grade or Order of the Royal Arch . Interesting as it is , beautiful as it is , striking as it is , and as it appears to mc always to bc admired , and much to be desired as it is , I think that every lodge should have a chapter attached to it , ( cheers ) in which , if found fitting , all Master Masons should be exalted , after thc proper interval , yet , this simple but

Sublime Degree has been hastily depreciated and vehemently attacked . It has been said to be modern , the production of Ramsay and Dermott of the Antients . It has been declared on the authority of no less a person than Bro . Dr . Oliver to be probably of foreign growth , while writers like Findel in Germany , and Ragon in France , cum multis aliis have inveighed against it in unmeasured terms . But the

truth is that they are all , in my opinion , wrong ; and , on tlie contrary , I believe the Royal Arch to be a very ancient and regular portion of our timc-honoutcd ritual , though no doubt in 1817 it received material mollifications and alterations , as some of us know . What then is its true history ? Its name first appears in 1744 , in Fifield D'Assigny ' s pamphlet , of which Bro . Hughan so far possesses an

unique copy , and under the name Royal Arch it was not known to the Grand Lodge in 1717 . But still this grade existed , and about that time it was undoubtedly practised iu this country as a separate grade , as in the minutes of the Lodge of Industry , 1749 , the " Highrodians , " in all probability members of this High Order , are mentioned . Still our Grand Lodge knew nothing of it as a separate

grade as late as 1756 , repudiated the name Royal Arch . Dr . Oliver mentions 1743 as its earliest dale in England , mainly on the evidence of an old "Floor cloth" ot a lodge or chapter at Chester . Comp . Hughan , with whom I have been so long associated in Masonic archaiological researches , and whose authority is A 1 , states that the first mention of the Roval Arch in Great Britain and

Ireland is to be found in tlie records of the Ancient Grand Lodge , now at Freemasons' Hall , namely , March 4 th , 1752 . The first parlial connection of the Royal Arch with thc Grand Lodge of 1717 is , according to thc same sure authoiity , June 12 , 1765 , when the meeting of a private chapter is recorded , which seems to have had , however , a previous existence , and which private chapter

merged into a Grand Chapter . The earliest known Royal Arch warrant , under this body dates in 1769 , and 17 66 seems to be recognised as the creation of the Grand Chapter . Still , though in existence this body was never officially recognised by Grand Lodge until 1813 , when at the Union , the Royal Arch Grade by name was for the first time formally mentioned , and the ceremonial was

officially acknowledged and mollified in thc Chapter of Reconciliation of 1817 . The first charter of this body dates from July 12 , 1769 . Dunckerley , as it is known , took an active part in the setting up of this first chapter and Grand Chapter , anel Dr . Oliver gives us as the names of thc orginators of Royal Arch Masonry , in friendly though not official

connection with the Grand Lodge of 1717 , James Galloway , Thomas Dunckerley , John Brooks , James Resell , John Allen , Bartholomew Ruspini , Francis Coust , and Sir Herbert Mackworth , Bart . And here then conies another question . How did wc gel the name Royal Arch ? There was nodoubt an "Arche Royalc , " connected with Ramsay ' s system , and I think it is probable that Dermott , anxious

to strengthen his schismatic body as against the legal claims of the one true Grand Lodge , adopted this new and taking name to attract acolytes . For the ceremonial was practically the same in both systems , though not termed by the same name . In our own Grand Lodge thc Master ' s ceremonial had then two portions , and Dermott gave to the second part the distinctive name of Royal Arch ,

declaring that it was the real name of true ancient Masonry for that grade or section , hut had been forgotten by tbe Modern Grand Lodge . If any of us remember his line of argument , it is not that the Modern Grand Lodge hail it not , but that they had it partially , though incorrectly , while Dermott had recovered it from abroad , and that he was , therefore , more correct and arxient

than the Modern Grand Loelge . It is also , I think , evielent that Dermott , in order to makesome sort of separation , marked as between the two systems , borrowed from the rite of Ramsay , or foreign source , much of his ornate nomenclature and ceremonial . The older usages of the Arches and thc passing of the veils all are no doubt foreign in their origin , and are

not traceable ( at least , I cannot find them ) to purely English sources or tradition , lt is very remarkable how , in some of the earlier minutes , as at Sheffield ( thanks to Comp . Ellis ) , the three Principals are said to bc tlie three Kings , and some Masonic archaeologists have fancied that in this earlier use a remnant of the legend of the Three Kings of Cologne , Caspar , Melchoir , and Balthazar . Let us , therefore , note our position . The grade , as wc have

Consecration Of The Eclectic Chapter, No. 1201.

it , is essentially English , ( for its counterpart can be found iu no foreign grade ) , though its name as originally used by Dermott , is probably of French derivation . At thc same time , this even is not quite clear , as the legend of the Arch is much anterior to Ramsay ' s time , and it is just possible that thc idea may have been taken from the original second part of the Masters Grade , was worked out

either by Ramsay , ( a very clever man ) , or by Dei mitt , into a new and striking appellation for the purpose of lending lustre and interest to thc rival system in England . I am myself not at all satisfied that Royal Arch is not an English term translated irit *) French , and not a French term translated into English . You will note thc great difference . Another fact is patent , that Dunckerley ' s ceremonial is

entirely distinct from our present ceremonial , though there is nothing strange in that , following normal law of elevelopement and improvement , but still thc difference is most marked . I am inclined to think that Dunckerly sought to combine two systems , then existing , though some have hastily contended that he only revised Dermott ' s system , anel it is just possible that as he did not receive much

encouragement from his own Grand Lodge , he only used a portion of the second part . For this must strike you , as it does mc—if it were not so , if in iS 1 3 thc whole of the Royal Arch grade was unknown altogether to the rulers of the Modern Grand Lodge , they could not have acquiesced in the statement of the Union , that the Royal Arch was part of pure and ancient Masonry , unless they then

for the first time accepting the name officially , made official use of the ceremonial , well known to them also , though under a different appellation . I for one do not believe that in 18 73 the Duke of Sussex and Grand Lodge foisted a grade of tlie ancients into old Craft Masonry . For , as 1 have sought to point out , both systems had thc same ceremonial essentially , though under different names , and

under different conditions . Such then , M . E . Presiding Officer and Companions , is a short historical sketcli of this Sublime Degree , though necessarily imperfect , whose antiquity is I believe incontcstible , whose merits are many and great . I for one have always admired alike its historical , its didactical , and its mystical lectures , and 1 have always founel the greatest pleasure , like many

now present , in these abodes of true friendship and loyal companionship , the kindly chapters cf our Oreler , whose rapid increase everywhere is a source of unqualified gratification and approval to all who like myself arc quite content to abide by the great English system of pure and ancient Masonry . ( Cheers . ) May the Royal Arch Grade flourish and increase amongst us , and may all of

prosperity , union , and happiness attend the new Eclectic Chapter . May its companions ever bear in mind that in this rough and trying , and often dark and treacheious world of ours , that as , there is no greater gift to man from God than true and unselfish friendship , so wc as companions of this admirable grade , are bound ever to prove ourselves true and elevoted friends to our

companions , alike in prosperity and adversity , alike iu mournful lays and sunny hours . In this harmonious abode of kindly sympathy ane ! refined seiciality let no baneful passions , no jarring interests intrude , but let all bc love , Charity , and brotherly goodwill , in all of glory to thc Triune Jehovah , in all of active sympathy and affection for those whom we hail by the sacred name , " Companions

eif thc Royal Arch . " I thank you , M . E . and companions , for the kind attention you have given , to what I fear is a somewhat dry oration , and trust that you will accept in thc spirit with which it was offered , the bumble address I have been privileged to deliver . ( Applause . ) The chapter was aftewards duly consecrated , and thc following companions were installed and invested as

oflicers of the chapter : —Comps . James Maneler , Z . ; Edward James Harty , H . ; John Henry Watts , J . ; John Mason , S . E . ; Taylor , S . N . ; anil Edwin Payne , M . D ., Organist . Comp . S . E . afterwards read a long list of brethren desiring to be exalted to the R . A . Degree in this chapter . On the motion of thc S . N ., secondeel by Comp . Harty ,

H ., a vote of thanks was passed to the Consecrating Officers , Comps . Fenn , Hervey , Woodford , and Buss , and the same companions were elected honorary members of the chapter . Comp . Fenn thanked the companions on behalf of himself and the other Consecrating Officers , and the chapter was closed .

Tlie companions afterwarels dined together at the Holborn Restauraut . After banquet , the toasts were proposed , and the M . E . Z . in giving the toast of "The Grand Z ., the Prince of Wales , " said that all the members of the Craft who took an interest in the Order viewed with the greatest satisfaction the

fact of I I . K . I i . presiding in Grand Lodge on the previous Wednesday , and more especially with the way in which the Grar . d Master performed liis Masonic duties on that occasion . Referring to H . Il . H . 'a declaration , that he hoped to be more frequently among the brethren in future , the M . E . Z . said that this must be peculiarly gratifying to

Freemasons . Comp . Hervey in replying to the toast of the " Pro Grand Z ., & c , " said that whether at the consecration of a new chapter or ' many other work in Freemasonry the Grand Officers were always ready and desirous to do that which might render them useful to the Craft generally . On the present occasion it had given him and Comps . Fenn and

Woodford great pleasure to consecrate the Electic Chapter . He might say thc same of Comp . Glaishcr , anel all these companions would be much dclighteel to see the success of the chapter , which he hoped would make its mark in the Royal Arch Degree .

Comp . K-nn replied for " 'I he Consecrating Oflicers , " and said that the principal part of these brethren ' s duties fell to the J ., and he was very sorry that Cnmp . Woodford , who most eloquently and fluently performed that part of the ceremony was obliged to be absent from the banquet through illness . Comp . Fenn afterwards proposed " . The