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is taken as sufficient to debar him from that honour . He must wait till the Prince Masons see fit to select him for the degree , and " call him up " to share their dignity ; and he is supposed to be in utter ignorance on the subject till his admission has been finally decided , when

he has the privilege of either declining the honour or of paying the usual fees and of being initiated . AVhen to this fact is added another , that the candidate , after having passed the ballot in the chapter in which he has been proposed , has to

be again balloted for in the Council of Rites , it is easily seen that it is practically impossible finally one not considered eligible , from the S . G . C . point of view , to gain admission to Rose Croix Masonry in Ireland . It is pretty well understood that , no matter how deserving a brother may be , no matter how

desirous a private Rose Croix Chapter may be to admit him , he is sure to be excluded by the final ballot , unless he belongs to a particular " set , " or that his social position , worldly means , or aristocratic connections entitle him to a place among the "higher orders" of our "Ancient and Honourable" Fraternity .

As a consequence , the " higher degrees in Ireland are , Masonically , almost worthless . Of course to outsiders a " Sovereign Prince , " when he makes his appearance at one of our public

displays in all the gorgeous array of his rank , is a very imposing personage , and they may come to the conclusion that it is owing to his services to the Craft , and his Masonic attainments , he owes the position which he holds . But the initiated know better . AVhen time after time

we find the ranks of the " high degrees recruited by the accesssion of brethren who may be , and indeed frequently are , possessed of good social qualities ancl personal worth , but who have never given much time or attention to Masonry , and would find it perhaps difficult to fulfil with propriety many of its duties—while

others equally suitable as Masons , and far superior as working Masons , are kept " out in the cold "—we can come to no other conclusion than that the " aristocratic" element , so foreign in its spirit to the first principles of Masonry , has full sway over the " high degrees , " and that their possession is not by any means to be accepted as a guage of true Masonic worth .

I do not , of course , pretend to be quite conversant with what I may call the " politics " of English Masonry , but I have given the subject some little attention , ancl it seems to me that a crisis lias come , when either submission to the " Golden-square Council of the 33 , " or secession

from the recognised governing body of the Templars , is inevitable . By tlie compact with the S . G . C ., as given in last Saturday ' s FREEMASON , the claim of the S . G . C . is admitted and recognised by the Grand Conclave of Templars " as the sole supreme

authority in' the A . and A . Rite of 33 ° , from and exclusive of the M . M . and R . A . degrees , up to and including 33 ° " Now it is a proved fact that the lied Cross , K . H ., ancl other degrees belong to the Templar Order , and that tlie control assumed over them by the S . G . C . is simply

and plainly an unwarranted act of usurpation . Several encampments have , I believe , retained and exercised their right of giving those degrees , and at least one , "The Baldwyn , " has never recognised the authority of the S . G . C . But those encampments are , I presume , under the

jurisdiction of the Grand Conclave , and must now elect whether they will tamely surrender their ancient rights and privileges at the bidding of the S . G . C . 33 , or run the almost certain risk of suspension by the Grand Conclave for noncompliance with the recent compact . It may

be that certain privileges may be conferred on such encampments to induce their adherence but we have a recent case in the "Antiquity , " of Bath , where such retention of privileges has not saved them from suspension—if their statement

be true , ancl we have yet to see it contradictedwithout any formal charge being brought against them , and without any opportunity being afforded them of defence or disproof . It docs seem to me that such encampments as are resolved to maintain their ancient rights ,

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must now do so at the risk of being cut off by the Grand Conclave , and thus forced to form a separate and independent body , not recognising its authority and not recognised by it ; and whether it is desirable that such encampments

should at once rally round some one body of high standing ( such as the " Baldwyn " ) , or " take their chance " as " independent nuclei , " is , of course , a matter on which I can hardly give an opinion .

Our English brethren have this advantage over us , that they can meet as individual societies . Here , we are liable , unless protected by the warrant of the " legitimate" authorities of Masonry , to have the police sent in on a Masonic

meeting , a proceeding threatened , I am told , by some of the " high grades " in connection with some side degrees that did not meet their approval . I have to apologise for the- length of this

communication , but the subject is an interesting one ; and we in Ireland are anxious to see how matters will eventuate , as ' we are pretty well tired of the existing state of affairs here , and would be sorry to see a similar incubus imposed on our English brethren .

AN IRISH H . K . T . Dublin , 12 th Tune . 1 S 71 .

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex was held at the Masonic Hall , Maldon , on Thursday , June Sth , under the presidency of the R . AV . Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Robert John Bagshaw , who was attended on the occasion by the- Deputy Prov . Grand

Master ( Bro . Andrew Meggy ) , the AV . M . of the Richmond Lodge , the Past Grand Chaplain ( Bro . the Rev . Charles J . Martyn ) , and other Grand Officers . Every lodge in the province ( with one exception ) was represented either by its Master or by two or more of its members .

Immediately after the opening of the lodge , the Grand Secretary of the province , Bro . John AVright Carr , read the minutes of the last meeting , and presented the reports , financial statements , Szc . The following appointments of Provincial

Grand Officers were then made : Bros . Andrew Meggy , D . P . G . Master ( re-appointed ); G . P . J ay , S . AV . ; Joseph Bell , J . AV . ; Joseph Burton , Treas . ( seventh time ); John AVri ght Carr , Sec . ( fourth time ); Charles R . Tatham , Reg . ; Rev .

Eustace H . Crate , Chap . ; Daniel B . Grout , S . D . ; C . S . Tovell , J . D . ; Robert Grout , Supt . of AVorks ; Peter Matthews , Dir . of Cer . ; Joseph Francis , Sword-bearer ; Henry Barton , Org . ; Thomas Aldam , Purs . ; and S . Sarel , Tyler .

The brethren then quitted the lodge , and walked to All Saints' Church to attend Divine Service . Prayers were read by the Alcar ( Bro . the Rev . E . Horwood ) , the first lesson by Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , the second lesson by Bro . the Rev . E . H . Crate , and the sermon preached

by Bro . the Rev . J . F . AV . Bullock , Radwinter . There was no collection , but upon tlie return of the brethren to the lodge to resume duties , the Treasurer was authorised to hand to the vicar , who was present , tlie sum of ten guineas , as a contribution towards the funds of the Maldon National Schools .

After the lodge had been closed . about seventy of the brethren partook of a banquet , served in excellent style by Bro . and Mrs . Hickford , of the Blue Boar Hotel . The following is a list of those who took part in the proceedings of the lodge : —

Bros . Robert J . Bagshaw , R . AV . P . G . M . ; Andrew Meggy , D . P . G . M . ; Rev . F . B . Shepherd , P . S . G . AV ., P . M . 276 , P . G . C . ; Joseph Burton , P . M . 276 and 1024 , Past S . G . AV ., P . G . Treas . j John AVright Carr , W . M . 160 , 27 6 , 1 343 , P . G . Sec ; Jos . Tanner , G . S . D . ; George Cooper , G . Supt . of Works ; John Glass ,

G . Sword-bearer ; Thomas S . Sarel , Tyler ; AVm . Humphreys , P . M . 276 and 1024 , P . P . G . J . AV . ; F . G . Green , P . M . 276 and 1024 , P . P . G . W . ; j . T . Bott , P . M . 276 , P . P . G . S . W . ; Thomas Aldam , P . M . 1024 ; Samuel H . AVymark , P . M . 650 , P . P . G . S . D . ; James

Durrant , P . M . 650 , P . P . G . J . D . ; Charles Samuel Tovell , W . M . 650 ; AV . II . L . Pattisson , 27 6 ; F . A . Jones , 276 ; James L . Brown , 276 ; Geo . Bannister , 486 ; Albert Carr , 650 ; Joseph Bell , P . M . 1280 ; James Cantor , W . M . 1000 ; H . AV . Moffat , 72 ;

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Essex.

Frederick AVood , P . M . 1000 , P . P . G . S . W . ; William Bright , 1024 ; D . B . Grout , P . M . 160 ; Robert Grout , 160 ; William Calthorpe , AV . M . 6 97 ; J . T . Gale , P . M . 1024 , P . P . G . J . W . ; W . G . Small , 1024 ; J . Maskall , 1024 ; J . B . Taylor , 1024 ; Robert J . Francis , 1024 ; Alfred Day , 453 ; C . R . Tatham ,

W . M . 453 5 Thomas Rix , S . W . 697 ; John F . Kemp , 1024 ; Joseph Francis , P . M . 432 ; Thomas Eustace , J . W . 6 97 ; William Giles , P . M . 453 ; Thomas B . Harrington , 51 ; T . Carter Wijrg , 1024 ; J . W . Jolly , 433 : John Coppin , P . M . 51 , P . P . G . J . W . ; Samuel Ratcliff , 1024 ; W . F . Francis , 1024 ; G . G . Gardner ,

P . M . 453 ; John E . AViseman , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C ; James Self , P . M . 214 ; Edward Kemp , 1024 ; Rev . E . H . Crate , Chap . 51 ; John James Hawkins , J . AV . 1024 ; A . C . Veley , J . W . 276 ; F . Whitmore , 81 and 276 ; James Nicholls , S . W . 276 ; Thomas Smee , S . D . 276 ; W . Hickford , 51 and 1024 ; C . Clarke , 1024 ; C . Cobb , 51 ; G . Motion , 453 ; R .

W . Motion , 453 ; J . F . T . AViseman , P . M ., P . P . G . Sword-bearer ; 'Rev . E . R . Horwood , P . M . ; Samuel Cox , S . W . 1000 ; H . Rowley , P . M . 1000 , P . P . G . S . D . ; J . English , 1000 ; Samuel Chaplain , 51 ; G . P . Jay , W . M . 1024 ; Edward J . Sands , 51 ; Frederick A . Cole , J . W . 51 ; Rev . Chas . J . Martyn , P . G . Chap . ; AV . P . Lewis , AV . M . 51 ; Henry Barton , 1000 ; and others .

A painful occurrence took place whilst the brethren were on their way to church . One of their number , Bro . AV . Hickford , of the Blue Boar Hotel , Maldon , was seized with a fit , and

had to be carried into the Com Exchange . Fortunately , medical and other assistance was at hand , and the necessary restoratives having been administered , he was soon removed home , but he remains in a very weak state .

The Royal Arch Chapter Of Improvement.

THE ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT .

The first season of this new chapter of instruction was brought to a close on Thursday , the ist inst ., by a "Public Night" at Freemasons' Hall , and the programme of work was so attractive that a large number of companions attended , amongst whom were Comps . John Hervey , G . S . E . ; E . H .

Finney , E . H . Finney , jun ., Thomas AV . AVhite , AV . Mann , J . Self , A . A . Richards , F . Adlard , G . Darcy , AV . Carpenter , AV . AV . Smith , G . Cooper , J . Boyd , J . G . Sharpe , C . Coote , S . Francis , J . AV . Barrett , T . A . Tippett , AV . C . Barlow , J . Slack , F . Avrillon , J . R . Nash , J . G . Manby , AV . H . Green ,

E . J . Barron , J . Griffin , S . Carey , T . N . Edmands , G . A . Ibbetson , R . S . AVarrington , T . Cubitt , J . R . Foulger , G . A . Smith , J . L . Thomas , R . AVentworth Little , and E . H . Thiellay . Visitors : Comps . H . H . Pearse ( No . 214 ) , C . Godfrey ( 214 ) ,

G . Jeffery ( 214 ) , S . S . P . Blight ( 112 ) , AV . Scott ( 22 ) , Stanton Jones ( 1 S 8 ) , H . Thorn ( S ) , G . Kenning ( 14 ) , AV . Goodyear ( 25 ) , G . R . Shervill ( 382 ) , P . Hennell ( 145 ) , G . Pymm ( 749 ) 1 J- Smith ( 749 ) . C . I . Paton , C . Stahr ( 169 ) , F . Hockley ( 8 ) , B . H . Swallow ( 19 ) , C . G . Hill ( 177 ) , G . Nicholls ( 214 ) , E . Babcr ( 1260 ) , E . Lewis ( 382 ) , R . AVebb ( 177 ) , J . G . Webb ( 177 ) ,

and E . C . Cockcraft ( 211 ) . The chapter having been opened , the companions were addressed by Comp . Jas . Brett , P . Z ., G . D . C , who then worked the first section , assisted in the first clause by Comp . J . Selfc , M . D ., in the second clause by Comp . AV . AVest Smith , and in the third

clause by Comp . AV . H . Green . Comp . J . L . Thomas then delivered the historical oration , and Comp . Geo . J . Sharpe the symbolical portion , after which Comp . Brett gave the illustration of the banners and ensigns . Comp . John Boyd , P . Z . . followed with the mystical portions , and Comp .

Brett then illustrated and explained the R . A . jewel and the Platonic bodies . The whole of the work was performed in a superb manner , and elicited loud cheering in nearly every instance . Comp . AVarrington , P . Z ., then moved , Comp . Cubitt seconded , and it was unanimously resolved , " That the best thanks of the Chapter of

Improvement be given to Excellent Comp . James Brett for his great interest in its welfare , as it is entirely through his constant attendance and uniform kindness that the chapter has been enabled to attain its present high position . " The following companions were then elected members , after which the chapter was closed : — G . K . Lemann ( 79 ) , D . C . Nichols ( 214 ) , C . G . Hill ( 177 ) , R . AVebb ( 177 ) , J . G . AVcbb ( 177 ) , G . R . Shervill ( 382 ) , AV . Goodyer ( 25 ) , H . Thorn ( 8 ) , F . Hockley ( 8 ) , Geo . Kenning ( 22 ) , and P . Hennell ( 145 ) .

THE BANQUET . After the proceedings in chapter , the companions , to the number of fifty-nine , adjourned to the Freemasons' Tavern , where the festival was held under the presidency of the genial and popular Grand Scribe E ., Comp . John Hervey . The cloth having been cleared , the Chairman , proposed the usual memories , and the toast of "The