Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAGE THE RITE OF MISRAIM 211 POETRYLines on the Death of an Old Lady 211 FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND 212 & 213

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS ... 214 THE CRAFTMetropolitan ... ... ... 21 4 Provincial ... ... 214 & 215 ROYAL

ARCHConsecration of the Royal Middlesex Chapter , No . 1194 215 Prov . Grand R . < A . Chapter of East Lancashire 215 MASONIC ORPHAN BOYS' SCHOOL , DUBLIN ... 215 BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS 216 RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO MASONIC LITERATURE 216

MULTUM IN PARVO ' 2 l 6 & 217 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCEQualifications for Mastership of a Mark Lodge 217 Our Ancient Brethren 217 & 218

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BENGAL ... 21 S & 219 MARK MASONRYConsecration of the Percy Lodge at Stockton 219 Consecration ofa New Lodge at Sunderland 219 ROYAL ARK MASONRY 220

RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE 220 INSTRUCTION 220 MASONIC FESTIVITIESDownshire Lodge of Instruction , No . 594 , Liverpool .. ... ... 220 Caledonian Lodge , No . 4 S 9 , Haskcim , Constantinople ... ... 220

SCOTLANDThe Grand Lodge of Scotland and thc St . John ' s Lodge Memorial 220 & 221 Glasgow ... 221 Wishaw ... ... 221 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT AVEEK 222 THE UNITED PILGRIMS' LODGE OF INSTRUCTION 222 ADVERTISEMENTS ... 209 , 210 , 222 , 223 , & 224

The Rite Of Misraim.

THE RITE OF MISRAIM .

BY A CONSERVATOR-GENERAL 90 ° . " Speech is silvern , but silence is golden , " said the sage , and it Avould have been as Avell if the Sovereign Grand Inspectors-General 33 , who sit enthroned on high

stools at 33 , Golden-square , had borne the maxim in mind before they published in the columns of your contemporary the record of their impertinent interference with the establishment of the Rite of Misraim

in _ England . However , as their blind animosity could be no longer restrained from open expression , the propitious moment has arrived for revealing the Avhole scope and character of the

Machiavellian policy by which the acts of this soi-disant Masonic body arc evidently dictated . To effect this object little more

than a plain statement of facts is required , and the Masonic Avorld can then judge upon Avhich side arc to be found truth , justice , and honour .

About the beginning of last December the " Sovereign Grands , " finding that the Mark Grand Lodge had determined to absorb the " Ark " and other analogous degrees , deemed it a fitting opportunity to

increase their own stock of Avares by annexing thc Rite of Misraim to thc Ancient and Accepted Rite . They accordingly commissioned a trusty henchman to attend a meeting of the Grand Metropolitan

Chapter Rose Croix , and then ancl there to begin business . Faithful , however , to their traditional policy , which regards £ s . d . as the sununum bonum of Masonry , the first qualification for candidates Avas to be

the deposit of a five-pound note , to cover the expense of certain rituals and plates which had come into their possession . Nor Avas any movement to be made until at

least twelve victims at £$ each , representing a total of £ 60 , Avere found willing to undergo the transformation process . But the best-laid schemes of men and mice are , jii this troublesome Avorld , subject at times

The Rite Of Misraim.

to unforeseen and unexpected collapse . The laudable (?) intentions of the 33 ° oozed out , and became knoAvn to certain bi et ' i '; ren , one of Avhom Avas then the only man in England competent and legally entitled to

confer the degrees of the Rite of Misraim . As an apposite comment upon the above , it may be remarked , en passant , that the S . G . C . in Colden-square actually purposed Avorking the Misraimitic degrees without

any authority whatever , except that derivable from the possession of the rituals and plates before-mentioned ! Finding , therefore , that such Avas their resolve , a meeting of brethren desirous of establishing

the Rite upon a legal basis Avas held , and this meeting Avas attended by a pupil of Marc Bcdarride , the " Premier Grand Conservateur" of the Order , and Avho had received its degrees thirty-seven years

previously from the great chief himself . This distinguished brother assented to the Rite being reorganised under his auspices , and Avithout his presence and leadership not a single step Avould have been taken in the

matter by thepresent Conservators-General . It is quite true that , for reasons easily understood by those Avho are acquainted Avith the inquisitorial system pursued by the S . G . C . 33 , the illustrious brother

alluded to thought it expedient to keep his name out of sight until the Rite Avas firmly consolidated , and it is equally true that he sought co-operation and aid from 111 Bro . Cremieux , 33 ° , of France , AVIIO Avas

then in London . It is further beyond question that Bro . Cremieux Avould have attended the inaugural meeting of the " Bective Sanctuary " had he not been unavoidably prevented by urgent business .

Bro . Cremieux , hoAvever . as a proof of his Avillingness to assist , sent to the meeting his diploma as a member of the French Grand College of Rites , and this diploma Avas placed upon the table during the

proceedings , and Avas examined by several out of the hundred Masons present . It Avas also understood that Bro . Cremieux ' s diploma invested him Avith power to found rites or orders recognised by the Grand

Orient of 1 * ranee ( the Rite of Misraim being one ) in all countries Avhere no such rites existed , and this statement was accepted as confirming and endorsing the previous action of the prime mover , Marc Bedarride ' s

friend and pupil . The communication ( published by your contemporary ) from Bro . Thevenot , Chef du Secretariat of the Grand Orient , denies , however , that Bro . Cremieux had any sucli authority , and he

doubtless knows best ; but in reality it is a matter of indifference , inasmuch as the organization of thc Rite in England rests upon another and a surer foundation—its title being derived , as already stated , from

the great Bedarride himself , and not from any foreign jurisdiction however " ancient and accepted . " The only subject for regret is that thc illustrious brother under Avhose a * gis the present Council General of the 90 °

Avas formed , should , from motives of expediency , have conceived thc idea of remaining incognito throughout the transaction , and that the name of Bro . Cremieux should have been introduced at all . The result ,

hoAvever , proves that thc policy of concealment was in a great measure justifiable and necessary , as the Supreme Grand Council 33 have now foolishly expended their gasbag of indignation upon the

"Avrong man ' s" head , and they Avill henceforth find all their subtle and secret machinery of no avail should they attempt to effect thc strangulation of the infant Hercules , he being now somewhat endowed Avith thews and muscles , and perfectly

The Rite Of Misraim.

able to defend himself against their imbecile attacks . It may appear an enigma to the Craft generally why the Golden-square people should trouble their heads about the Rite

of Misraim , when they possess such ah El Dorado of their own ; but in reality this is the root of the Avhole matter . Note well the contrast . The S . G . C . 33 ° wanted to add to their coffers five pounds from every

brother admitted to the Rite of Misraim , Avhile the present Conservators General do not make any charge wltatcver to members of the Red Cross Order , nor to others , except a small sum to defray the cost of

paraphernalia . Bearing this fact steadily m VICAV , the disappointed rage of the "Inspectors General" can be readily understood . Just as the golden cup Avas at their lips , and an endless vista of five-pound notes spread out

before them , the ghost of Marc Bedarride inspiredhisdiscipleto dash the goblet aside , and the unreal vision of profit , like a mirage on the ocean , quite melted aAvay . It Avould be tedious , if not irrelevant to the subject

to recount here the various causes of offence Avhich have rendered the 33 Council obnoxious , and , it may almost be said , odious to their own quondam adherents . A section of self-elected oligarchs at the

best , they are in no sense entitled to pass judgment upon others , and they may rest assured that unless they refrain from " meddling and muddling " in affairs beyond

their jurisdiction , they will aAvaken such a storm of opposition as Avill shake doAvn their card-board edifice of obstructiveness , and scatter their transcendental pretensions to the Avinds .

Poetry.

Poetry .

LINES ON THE DEATH OF AN OLD LADY . AVritten by one of her dearest friends , BRO . C . I . PATON . " Her children arise and call her blessed ; her husband also , and he praiseth her . " Another pass'd away—a friend From childhood's dawn beloved , revered ! The pleasant converse is at end

By which , till now , life ' s path was cheered . Well was she worthy of the love AVhich was her portion here below ; Only the better home above Can love more pure and constant know .

Her ' s was a long and happy life , Though not without its painful days : As girl , woman , daughter , wife , She walked in virtue ' s peaceful Avays . She lived in piety and faith , Pursuing still the heavenward road ; Always in readiness for death , For always waiting upon God .

Her children rose to call her bless'd , Her husband gave her willing praise ; And all thc neighbouring poor confess'd Her liberal hand and gentle ways . AVith age her spirit ' s beauty grew , And , till away from earth she pass'd , Shone with a radiance ever new , Bright ' ning and mellowing to the last .

AVe now shall sec her face no more , Nor hear her voice , until we stand AVith her on Jordan's farther shore , Inheriting the promis'd land . But still the remembrance will abide Of her example bright and fair , To rouse our slumb ' rotts souls , and guide Our footsteps till we meet her there .

BREAKFAST . — EPPS ' S COCOA . — Grateful and Comfortine ; . — The very nr-recnb ! e character of this preparation ha « rendered it a general favourite . The Civil Service Gazette remarki : - " U y . 1 thorough knowledge nf the natural laws which j-ovcrn the operations of dij-cstion and nutrition , and by a careful application o ! the fine properties of well-selected cocoa , . Mr . Epps has provided our bivakfasl ui-L's with a delicately flavoured beverage which may save ns many heavy doctors * hills . " Each packet is labelled— J AMKS KITS AND CO ., Homn * opat ! iic Chemists , London . A ! s' -, makers of Lpps ' j C ' .-rcaoine , a very lijjU , tliia , evening Devcraje . —[•\ dvt . J