Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair piay to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

THE ANCIENT AND PRIMITIVE RFTE . Dear Bro . Kenning , — Bro . Mackenzie mentions me in his letter , but he makes a mistake , which , I confess , from so well-informed and clear a writer I am astonished to note . He alludes to Cernau . The Ancient and Accepted Rite has nothing to do with Cernau .

I adhere to all I said about Cernau in the " Cyclopaedia , but , as I cannot understand how he has fallen into so great an error , I can only refer him to the " Freemasons' Quarterly " for 1846 and 1847 , to Bro . Mackay's " Cyclopaedia , " and to Bro . Yarker ' s note in the last Freemason , who

naturally goes back to " Gourgas , " the loyal opponent of Cernau . I need not allude to any other points in your able correspondent's letter , as 1 am in no wise wishful to proong the controversy . I am , yours fraternally , THE EDITOR OF YOUR " CYCLOP / EDIA . "

THE STATUS OF GRAND OFFICERS . To the Editor of die "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I see " Lex Scripta's " letter , but , with all respect , I cannot see what his "illustrations " have to do with the question . We have no concern with Irish or Scottish laws . How do they affect us ? The simple question

for us is , what do our Constitutions say ? I contend , ( firstly ) , that none of the combatants have disproved this fact , —that the usage of Grand Lodge has been continuous since 1815 , over two generations ; and , secondly , that none have proved that the word " Grand Officers , " in the section

relating to the presidency of Grand Lodge , does not cover Prov . Grand Masters . Until they do this all other discussions are vain . I am amused at " Lex Scripta" trying , as Moliere says , J" Dorer la pilule , " gilding the pill for the Prov . Grand Masters . But , in my opinion , they are all " too old birds to be caught with chaff . " Have we not had enough of this discussion ? Yours fraternally , NOT INFALLIBLE .

SWEDENBORGIAN RITE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I think you will not be unwilling to make known to the Craft at large that a serious misconception has been floated about by some one in reference to the Swedenborgian Rite , calculated to do that Rite serious temporary

harm , while it can confer no commensurate advantage upon the floaters of the report . I allude _ to the fact that a confusion has been made between the Primitive and Original Rite of Freemasonry , otherwise known as the Swedenborgian Rite , and the Ancient and Primitive Rite ; and many worthy members of the Craft who have been , and still are , desirous of making themselves acquainted with

the Three Degrees of the Swedenborgian Rite , have thus been deterred from the attainment of these Degrees . Permit me , therefore , to state , officially , in your columns , that the Swedenborgian Rite in no way resembles , either in ritual , in history , or in instruction , any one of the Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Rite or of the Ancient and Primitive Rite , nor does the Swedenborgian Rite in any

way pretend to take the place of either of the High Degree systems . At the present time , members of both these Kites belong to the Swedenborgian Rite , and some hold high office or rank in one or other of them as well as in the Swedenborgian Supreme Grand Lodge . As a cardinal fact , I should point out that the Swedenborgian Rite is so constituted in all its ceremonies that nothing can be taken

from it and that nothing can be added , in which particular it resembles Craft Masonry—with which it is essentially and irrevocably bound up . Its ordinary designation of Swedenborgian Rite is rather retained on account of the unchangeable character of the ceremonies and _ history than on account of any regard to Swedenborgian ideas , with which , as a religious sect , it has nothing to do .

It would appear plain , however , that certain influences have been used to depreciate a valuable and interesting Rite , yet it is very probable that if you will insert this letter justas it is written , it may tend to remove a dangerous impression . I regret the controversy now going on between other Rites , but lhave at presentonly to ask that the

Swedenborgian Rite be fairly cleared from any participation in disputes with which it has not , and is sufficiently secured from having , anything to do . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours sincerely and fraternally , KENNETH R . H . MACKENZIE , IX " , Supreme Grand Secretary , Swedenborgian Rite . Clyde House , Hounslow , November 27 th .

HIGH GRADE MASONRY . . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I , in common with others who aspire to High Grade Masonry , would like a terse and reliable statement from those in authority as to the history , ceremonies , degrees conferred , and system of government of the conflicting- A .

ana . and A . and P . Rites , on which to base an indepenaent opinion as to their respective merits . H ! ° says tnat onc source ° f the apparent antagonism is the disparity of advancement fees and other expenses . Yours & c , B . B . [ Though not members of the A . and A . Rite , wearebound f , v ™ - t onc ? tnat such a rurnour has no foundation , in „ A Wc tmnk the " idea " our worthy correspondent a ffood onu per se . —ED . F . M .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — oM _ - ?• Thl I 'ST" " Highrodiam" sometimes applied in oiaen times to Masons of a high rank or degree is , I bein * fn ^! a corr / u P tior > of the word Harodim . Accordwire th » 1 0 I i _ L J „ Constitutions , 1738 ) the Harodim Th ? 1 „ ' - ° P e Masons who built Solomon ' s Temple . Rufer _ ° » ;' fi" ;?„ ^ « w » an ( 1 si & nifies "Princes or - thin !' if • . Harodlm were the "Prince Masons . " forro £ f KL t ' « lJ ? ss , b ^ t ! 1 , " Domaskin" ^ another » orm oE the term " Domatic" applied formerly , especially

by Scotch Freemasons , to brethren who were operative as well as speculative Masons . May be that " Forin " is nothing but Foreign writ small . A guess will sometimes lead in the right direction . Perhaps Bro . Whitfield can tell us whether " Forin " is applied to persons or things , and in what way . Yours faithfully and fraternally , Llanllwch Vicarage , J . MARSDEN . November 29 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

ENDYMION . By the Author of " Lothair . " Longmans , Green , and Co ., London . A new novel by so distinguished a statesman as Lord Beaconsfield was sure to attract readers and command attention . It has now appeared , and has been duly commented upon by the public press at great length and with some diversity of criticism . It is impossible for us in the

Freemason to review it in detail ; even did our space allow it , our well known principles forbid any discussion of theological or political questions , and " Endymion " deals from first to last with political controversies , of which , as Freemasons , we must know nothing . " Endymion " is , however , a very remarkable work in itself and is pretty certain to be widely read in Great Britain and America . It is

impossible not to be struck with the eloquence of the language , the neatness of the epigrams , the grace of the antithesis , the latent humour , and the obvious sarcasm , the " coruscation" of brilliant imaginings which appear on almost every page , and forcibly enthral your attention to the last touching-lines . The book is written with consummate knowledge of his art , andis at the same time true tohuman nature

to reality , and to truth itself . It has been said that it does not come up to " Lothair , " but that is only , we venture to think , because we remember that " unique" work in the startling effect it produced on all its readers . It is perhaps possible that we who can recall the " airy nothings of ' Lothair , '" in which certain -. questions were disposed of with a sentence , or an apothegm , may find fault with some

of the "disquisitions" of "Endymion" as a little too long . But yet , let us rest assured , all these passages deserve to be read and to be thought over . The characters of "Endymion" and his sister " Myra , " "Lord and Lady Montfort , " " Zenobia , " " Mrs . Rodney , " " Imogene , " "St . Barbe , " "Lord Roehampton / ' "Sidney Wilton , " and " Bertie Tremaine " are all drawn with a pre-Raphaelite minuteness of touch and a brilliancy of colouring

which at times deeply charm the reader . Word painting can hardly be carried higher , either in its quaintness or its skilfulness , its fulness or its power . On tne whole , as we have remarked above , we have been deeply struck with " Endymion , " and as an effort of high culture , brilliant thoughts , eloquent language , and startling grouping , it can claim , most undoubtedly , the admiration of the intelligent , and will appeal to the sympathies of the educated .

CHRISTMAS BOOKS . T . Nelson and Sons , Paternoster-row , have sent us a first instalment of Christmas books , admirable in the " outcome , " most interesting and pleasant in themselves . We can recommend them cordially as school prizes and home gifts , being especially suited for the tastes and capacities of our young people .

the hrst is "California , and its Wonders , " by the Kev . John Todd ; a most interesting little book , which takes us in the spirit to that strange land , and tells us of its condition , its progress , and its wonders . The next is " Frank Powderham , "—a book for boys—a very effective story , landing us in Patagonia , and in some

respects a good warning to too adventurous youth . " Frank Powderham ' s " story is , however , quite exciting , and very good reading . The third is "The Eastern Archipelago ; " a very remarkable book , and which can be read with profit by those of mature age , as well as those for whom it is mainly designed . We beg to call the attention of our readers to this striking and useful Christmas literature .

MISCELEANEA . B y Wm . ANDREWES , F . R . H . S . C . H . Barnwell , 9 , Savile-street , Hull . This is a " book of poetry and prose , " and is published in connection with the "Baker-street Saturday Evenings for the People . " It gives a good history of an interesting movement . It has a striking photograph of Evan Fraser , M . R . C . S . We have read it with much pleasure , and recommend it to the notice of our many friends .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

ANCIENT AND PRIMITIVE RITE . I see Bro . Yarker's " note , " but I do not observe much that requires a prolonged reply . 1 . As to Stephen Morin—I do not exactly see how the extract he quotes affects the question , or what the Grande Loge Francaise had to do with the A . and A S . Rite . Stephen Morin's patent did not come from the " Grande Loge , " but from the Council of the Emperors , & c , and

though it may be true that in 1771 , if I remember rightly , the _ High Grades came under the Grand Lodge of France , which had never previously recognized them , yet it is a well-known axiom of the law that previous legal enactments and patents , & c ., cannot be upset by " ex post facto legislation . " It is clear to me , as far as I know French authorities , that no such possible power of supersession or control over the High Grades existed in 1766 in the Grande Loge of France , and before I could pay any attention to

such a statement " per se" as a historical fact , I should like to see the minutes of that date . It is quite new to me , and is certainly not known to " Ragon and other French authorities . To my mind Stephen Morin ' s patent is perfectl y good ; certainly not revocable behind his back while _ he is far away , and without any charge except a certain statement . If the resolution was passed it is to my mind inherently bad , "without jurisdiction , " and "ultra vires . "

2 . I am amused to note the difference between my friend Bro . Mackenzie and Bro . Yarker—one takes us back to "Cernau , " the other to "Gourgas . " In respect of Bro . "Gourgas , " I only stated my authority , the "Freemasons' Quarterly . " As regards the Cernau Council refusing Gourgas and the Northern Juris-

Masonic Notes And Queries.

diction as spurious looks like "Satan reproving sin . " I . s really too ridiculous . As regards Cernau , Bro . Mac-t 'kenzie quotes the statement of "Kenning ' s Masonic Cyclopa ; dia , " which is exactly to the point as regards the real status , and " metier , " as the French say , of Cernau . Here I stop . I wrote as a " Masonic Student" only , as I have been always careful to say , and from the result of my own independen t studies . I am almost sorry now I took

the trouble to write at all , as I did not pen my " note for controversy , but simply as a Masonic contribution to the Freemason . I , for one , am quite contented to leave the A . and A . Rite to fight its own battle on its own historic grounds , and I think that it will be greatly strengthened in the opinion of all who look into such matters by the discussion which has taken place . Practically it dates fairly from 1764 , a very respectable antiquity .

MASONIC STUDENT

It seems that my words on some recent remarks have been interpreted as meaning that I considered the Ancient and Accepted Rite had jurisdiction over all High Grades . I said nothing so stupid , and , of course , never meant anything of the kind . All I really said was that , historically

and legally as I saw it , the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite in this country had jurisdiction over all bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , and this was , I should have thought , " a priori , " a reasonable and harmless statement .

M . S

LIST OF LODGES . I gladly avail of " Masonic Student ' s " offer to lend me , for quiet perusal , the 176 S edition of " Solomon in all his Glory . " The list of lodges it contains is of some value ; the engraved list for 176 S being missing . Two lists for 176 9 are bound up together in one of the volumes of these relics in the Grand Lodge collection , and on the title page of

each 1768 " is indicated as the year of issue . In investigating the early history of the "Old Concord Lodge" — present No . 172—No . 324 on the 1756-69 numeration , I was much baffled by no list of 1768 being available for reference . My note taken at the time records : " Two lists , with 1768 on the title page , printed together in G . L . books , but both the same , and really 1769—one of them ,

the last , is so marked in pencil . " Of the fifty-six lists forming the engraved series ( 1723-78 ) twenty-one are missing , viz .: those for 1724 , 1726-28 , 1730-33 , 1735 . 1737 . * 1742-43 , 1746-49 , 1751 , 1759 , 1768 , 1771 , and _ 1774 . Copies , however , of certain of these lists are available for reference . For example , in Prichard ' s " Masonry Dissected , " 1 st and 7 th edition , and in the edition published in 1774 , are shown respectively copies of the

lists of lodges originally published in the engraved series for 1730 , 1737 , and 1759 . The list in Picart ' s " Religions of the World" gives us a reproduction of the official list for 1735 . A similar preservation of the engraved list for 1733 , has resulted from the labours of Dr . Rawlinson , and I doubt not that the appendix to "Solomon in all his Glory , " exhibits an accurate register of the lodges existing in 1768 .

I trust that in time all our missing lists ( or their contents ) will be recovered , and to this end would invite the co-operation of all readers of this column . If brethren , whenever they meet with a lodge list appended to an old Masonic book or pamphlet , would note the number and description of the last lodge , and communicate with the Freemason ( or with Bro . Hughan or myself ) , I feel quite sure that

many puzzles would be solved , which must remain " mysteries "until certain missing lists are recovered . I desire to draw the especial attention of my brother students to the editions of Prichard ' s "Masonry Dissected , " published between 1730 and 1737 ( the 2 nd to the 6 th inclusive ) , as I am convinced that their discovery would cast much light on the subject of early American Freemauiny—¦ oexaia tne merits ot wnicn remai

_ a . quwsno , n very much " as they were , " notwithstanding many friendly disputations I scarcely suppose that the "Old Concord " —present 172—more than any other London lodge , takes the faintest interest in its own history ; but the loss of four years ' seniority which it sustained at the change of numbers in 1770 , from the singularity of the attendant circumstances , invites the passing attention of the Masonic archaeologist . R . F . GOULD .

ROYAL ARCH LAWS . I am sorry to disturb the picture that the " Masonic Student" has drawn , wherein we are both " made ri g ht . " According to my copy of the laws , one of us only is right , not the both , The title page has V , not M , before the D , and reads VDCCLXXXVI , i . e . A . L . 5786 or A . D . 1782 , as

it is stated in another part . To agree with the regular Craft chronology it should have been VDCCLXXXII . T ^ ow Bro . " Masonic Student , " look again at your copy , and report as to the prefix V or M . W . J . HUGHAN . [ "Masonic Student" had previously done what Bro . Hughan suggests . Can Masonic amiability or foresight any further go ?—ED . F . M . ]

Since I wrote to you last having occasion to look over the "Abstract of Laws , & c , " I find that by careless transcription I have not given the actual figures , & c . They are : " London : — A . L . V . D . C . C , L . X . X . X . V . I ., " Bro . Hughan is correct as to the A . L ., being imperfectly given 17 S 6 , as the year was 1782 , A . D .

M . S

SPURIOUS GRAND LODGE OF THE PHILADELPHES . In reference to the circular printed at p . 526 , 1 am anxious to obtain some information before the circumstances are lost as a matter of history . The certificate appended is dated at London . 1 , Did a Grand Lodge of this spurious Order exist at London ? 2 , What Degrees did such Grand

Lodge recognise ? 3 . Whence did they derive their authority , such as it was , as a Grand Lodge ? 4 , Does the spurious body still exist ? 5 . What is known with certainty about the rite ? On the face of what appears I should suppose that it was simply a Craft body working only the three first Degrees , according to the system adopted by the old Rite of Memphis , which claimed the Primitive Philadelphes of last century as the basis of their system . The A . and

* An edition of the list for 1737 was until recently in the . possession of Bro . J . Hogg .