Random Notes On Freemasonry.

Royal Arch , having but little genius in it , and Still less good taste , was fabricated from a confused medley of passages from the Bible , drawn from the Old Testament , from history , and fable ,

from religious dogmas , and Masonic tradition . The unprejudiced observer cannot here discover the true princi p les of Freemasonry , either in

their primitive purity , or comprehensive fulness , nor is their any improvement in the outward form or ceremonial , but only a falling oil" from

the substantial groundwork ot Masonry as it once stood . " So much for Bro . Finders opinion ; many of us who believe in the dignity , beauty , and antiquity of the Royal Arch will not attach

much importance to his opinions , —and will think , that an author , who in attacking the Masonic Knights Templar , brings up again

those base calumnies against the old order , which have long ago been answered by writers outside Masonry , is not altogether a trustworthy authority , or one whose ilisc diiil is to be taken on all

occasions . Nevertheless , it must be admitted , his book is a valuable addition to the History ol Freemasonry . Kloss says , the Royal Arch was

introduced into England in 1 744 , and is ol opinion that wc lirst became acquainted with it iliiriny thc Austrian War of Succession .

Bro . Hughan mentions 172 S as the year when it first appeared . It was known in Ireland . D'Assignv says , before 1 744 , and yet curiousl y enough , in 17 ( 1 ( 1 Ihe Grand Secretary ol ihe

Grand Podge of England , in a letter addressed to the Grand Podge of Frankfort , calls the Royal Arch , " A Society which we do not acknowledge , and which we regard as an invention

designed for the purpose of introducing innovations amongst the brotherhood , and diviTlini ! them from the fundamental rules which 0111 ancestors laid down for us . However , Findel

says , it appe . rs to have made Us- way into the Grand Lodge of England between 1 77 :: and 1 774 , partl y in consequence of the election of a Grand Master , the . Duke of Athol , from the noblitv ,

by the so styled Ancient . Masons in 1772 , this Royal Arch being regarded as a counterbalance against their power , a means of retaining their own brethren , and of attracting others to join :

and partly in consequence of the inthicnce exercised b y the members who had left the Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons . When the union of the iwo ( . rand Podges took place in tSt ; the

Ori g inal ( irand Lodge made the concession to the other , recognising tlie Royal Arch degree . Since then it has belonged to the system of the United Grand Lodge , yet in Mich a way that all

Royal Arch Chapters work tinder a Grand Chapter separate from the Grand Lodge . It is -aid the degree was known in Scotland hclcre il ic as practised in England , ihat it w : i- worked in

Ire . and in 1 y "i 1 . tilul lir ^ l \ mcnc . i ill 1 7 ' , S . and in Gcrmam lor a short time onlv in 1 7 Mo . Ina pamphlet , entitled " Abstract of the Paws of the Society of Royal Arch Freemasonry , "

published about 1787 , it was decreed that a full chapter must consist of three Principals , who in assembled chapter are !• . lie all three regarded , ls its head , two Secretaries , two Soiijoiinn 1 s , and

seventy-two members ol ihe Council . The Order of Asiatic brethren is likewise regulated bv a Sanhedrim o | .-v-enf' ,-t"'o initiated . both O lder .- , are isJid lo be very similar lji ti ; eir Ca-

Random Notes On Freemasonry.

dency . It was also stated , that none shall be admitted into this degree but men of superior minds and hi ghly cultivated , sincere , generous , noble minded , and true friends of mankind , and

who have passed through the three probationary degrees of Masonry , having presided at some lodge . Thc Royal Arch Masons claim to have been in existence in the reign of King Athelstane ,

and arc believers in the Charter oi Prince Edwin , hi this Chapter . 1 know , Companions , you have borne this in mind--the admission of none but good men and true—but unhappily for Masonry ,

this excellent rule has not always been observed . As you know , the ceremony of passing the V . has now been discontinued , and it is no longer necessary that thc candidate shall be a Past

Master to be qiialiiied for ihe Royal Arch , any Master Mason of over twelve ( calendar ) months standing being eli g ible for this beautiful degree . In 1782 the Supreme Royal Chapter of

Jerusalem announced itself in London by an address , wherein , asd ' esslcr remarks , " thcrearccv ervwhere indications of the Cabbalistic , theosopliical wisdom of the brethren and Knights initiated from

Asia , together with the . scicntilic Icauiiri's dis p layed b y the Philalelhcs . " Whilst on the sub jeetofthe Royal Arch 1 cannot dobctter thandraw your attention to an article , on the sacred name

( roni Mackay , which I am sure will interest you . As lo the Royal Arch ritual , a writer in thc Kingston Annual states that liro . How admits that ihe one now in use was arranged bv the Rev .

Hro . Adam ( irown , at the instance of I I . R . I I . the Duke of Sussex . He adds , " it completes , certainl y in idea , ( lie degree of Master Mason . Findel says , the (' rail ritual was modified in

181 . ; , and the word 111 thc lirst and second di give iranspuboii . ( To be 1 Olllillllell . )

Consecration Of Red Cross On Clape At Literpool.

CONSECRATION OF RED CROSS ON CLAPE AT LITERPOOL .

'Ihe Skclmer .-dalc Conclave , No . 77 , of the Masonic Order of Kni ghts of Rome and of the Red Cross of ('( Histamine is the most recent iddition to thc already influential roll of the

chivalric Order : and the eclat which marked ils consecration , on Monday , the 3 rd inst ., clearly proves dial the Order is likely to make greater progress in th- future even than that which has marked it in ihe past . This is shown bv ihe

( act that this is thc second conclave which has been consecrated in Liverpool during the last twelvemonth , and it is not improbable a third may before long be added lo the two now in existence .

There was a large and hig hly imposing array of the representatives of the Order , amongst whom may be named , 111 . Sir Knt . G . 'Punier , Int . Gen . for West Lancashire ; Sir Knts . T . Ashmore ; R . Washington , H . P . -, - ; H .

Nelson : L . Hughes : 11 . M . Molyiieux , S . G . / , ; , : J . T- Callow : I- ' . |) av ; S . Havocs : M . Mnvvson : J . Vv . Roln-n-on ' : | . banning : J . Wood : J . Si-. cal . ( Ire . ,, : J . J . Rose : S . | ( illll-. t . 11 . " , : E . Friend , kenlis Conclave Xo . - 'O , ami ol liars .

The splendid "Red Cross " flag which was exhibited at Kcnning ' s Masonic Depot , Moiuiineiil-place , during the recent Royal visit , and which was the o . nlrc of adiniraiioii ainongsi the profuse display of bum ing all over ihe low n , was hungup in the eonelave chamber during the

evening , and added greatly to the striking died of ihe interior . Alter the K nights Companions had assembled in the aiilo-roniii lo th , . ' conclave chamber , proper P .. uuit-d and clo'hi-d , ill' - -- nun lied in pjecespjou into ami Jiotnid the ciwuiber , when ; the

Consecration Of Red Cross On Clape At Literpool.

111 . Int . Gen . for West Lancashire , as presiding officer , took his seat on the throne , and opened the . conclave in ancient form . After the presiding officer had suitabl y addressed the Kni ghts on the nature of the meeting , and a . blessinsr invoked by the PI . P ., the R . read the

petition and charter , and the assembled Kni ghts signified their approval of the nominated officers of the new conclave . After an anthem , the Sov . Designate was presented and conducted lo his scat on the left of the . throne , the Generals took command of their respective divisions , and

the ceremony ol consecration proceeded , and concluded with all the solemnity and iinpressiveness which ri g htl y belong to the kni g htly order . The ceremony was admirabl y conducted b y III . Sir Knt . 'Punier , who received valuable assistance from Sir Knts . Molvneux , R . Washington ,

and J . Skcaf , ( members of the Liverpool Conclave No . 35 : ) K . Friend , and J . W . Robertson . After the hi g hl y imposing ceremonial had been concluded , the presiding officers enthroned Em . Sir Knt . 'I ' . Ashmore as M . P . S . : Sir Knt . II . Nelson was dtih installed in the chair of PL E .

as \ iccroy , and the following knights acre properl y invested :- -Sir Knights PL Hughes , S . G . ; Janies T . Callow , | . G . ; " j . Banning ' , H . P . ; W . Cotlrell , Rce . ; J . j . Rose , Prefect ; M . Mawson , S . I ! . ; II . [ aek ' son , Orator ; F . Day , Herald ;

J . Skcaf , Almoner-, and P . Ball , Sentinel ; Bros , laekson , W . PiKidshaw , J . Atkinson , S . R . Wilde , and W . PL Geliott , were subsequentl y dulv installed Knights of the Chivalric . Order by ' ill . Sir Knl . T . Ashmore , M . P . S .

A Iter the transact ion ofsome formal business , the conclave was closed in peace and harmony . An exec ! lent repast was subsequently provided for the knights in the refectory , the M . P . S . presiding . The usual loyal and chivalric ( oasts were

proposed in happy terms and responded to with much eloquence . I larmony was contributed b y several knights , and alter a highl y p leasant evening the first meeting of ( he hi g hly promising j Skchnersdale Conclave was brought 10 a Icr-! initiation .

Original Correspondence.

Original correspondence .

CANVASSING IN GRAND LODGE . ( 7 ( i Ihe Editor ( f the . I ' reeiiiasiiii . ) DI : \ K . SIR VXD BUOTUKK , —

HOARD Ol' Ci MX" KRAI . PI RI'OSCS , GRAND LODGE , ph June , 1 . S 72 . ) on on rci / itesied to role for / he foli ' mriiig Lis / .- ' — Such was the headinsi of a list of names

placed in my hands on entering Freemasons flail , on Wednesday , the ph ins ! ., and copies ot whieh were laid about on tables and scats . Thc list comprised the names of good men and true , many very well-known , and some

tolerably well-known Masons , and for ihe most pari members of Grand Podge , whom I should have thought above lhe pelly device of bidding for support , alter that fashion . " Is this thc correct thing " ¦ " said I to a brother standing

beside me , and in reply , lie expressed bis surprise that it should be permitted . We entered Or-md Lodge , where , presently , another brother handed meanothcr list , with similar heading , but dilierent names . " What ' s this , " said I . More canvassing ?

Surely , tins is not usual ! "It was done last year , " said tlie distributor , " and the plan succeeded , now its red against blue . '' " What , ' I replied . " Antagonism in Grand Lodge , parties , sections , cliques , div isions ! "

11 so happened ihat at mv request , some week or two bed ore , Uro . lireit hail nominated me as a candidate for the Hoard , and had told niche had done so . I thought canvassing for votes not onlv infra ' / ' \' ., but positively forbidden , and

many brethren 111 Grand Lodge were actually in possession of their voting papers before I was assured that my name was among the candidates . To no one ol my many friends in Masonry had I said more than that I thought my name was put

forward . Now , thanking my friends who did vole for me unasked , and otherwise uninfluenced by me , I propound the question , which I should hive u .-h . 'd as J do no ;; . even leal I not bi-uieon-. erned iu the ek-aiou . " | s canvassing Jur