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generous measure of support from the brethren . Whatever is associated with Jerusalem , especially if it be of a charitable nature , must awaken a strong feeling of sympathy among Masons , and this Op hthalmic Hospital has already rendered , and will continue to render , much valuable service

for the afflicted poor of the country , once ruled over by King Solomon . Be it added , that subscriptions will be received by Messrs . Cocks , Biddulph , and Co ., 43 , Charing Cross , or by Mr . John H . Easterbrook , Secretary of the Hospital , The Chancery , St . John ' s Gate , Clerkenwell , E . C .

Royal And Select Masters.

ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS .

The proceedings of the 42 nd annual assembly of the Grand Council of R . and S . Masters for Pennsylvania ( February , 1888 ) , are of unusual interest , because of the important address by the M . P . Grand Master ( Bro . Chatles K . Francis , of Philadelphia ) . Therehas never before been delivered such an exhaustive and able address to Royal and Select Masters , on the

History of those Degrees in relation to Royal Arch Masonry , and we much wish that our space was sufficiently elastic to permit of its being printed in extenso . As it is , we can only briefly allude to a few out of the many valuable facts alluded to by Bro . Francis , who has long been an earnest

Masonic Student , and whose name is , doubtless , familiar to the members of the Quatuor Coronati " Lodge , No . 2076 , London , for he was one of the first to join the "Correspondence Circle" in connection with that famous Literary Masonic Centre .

Bro . Francis considers that these two Degrees " came from Europe , but like the Royal Arch , and other Degrees of Freemasonry , their origin is unknown . '' The works of the distinguished Craftsmen , Gould , Hughan , Lane , Lyon , Mackey , Oliver , and others , are then carefully noted , and the opinions of these Masonic Experts quoted in reference to the origin and

character of the Royal Arch , as well as in relation to the subject of Degrees generally , and as the address is based on an exhaustive examination of all authorities from early days even down to the latest volume issued ( Bro .

Sadler ' s " Masonic Facts and Fictions ' ' ) , it will readily be understood that whatever view is propounded , is well fortified by the best of e vidence obtainable , and copious references at the foot of each page , enable readers to test the matter for themselves .

Dr . Oliver , however , is in error in stating that " the introduction of the Royal Arch Degree into the Modern System could not be earlier than the dedication of Freemasons' Hall , in 1776 , " for Bro Hughan in his " Origin of the English Rite of Freemasonry " ( 1884 ) , so frequently referred toby the G . M ., furnished extracts from official Records , which prove that the year

should be at least ten years earlier than 1776 . Bro . Mitchell in his History favours the notion that the R . and S . Masters were introduced into America in 1766 , by being worked in the City of Albany . This may be so , but we should like to be favoured with the evidence of such an occurrence , for our researches have not tended to corroborate Mitchell ' s statement , who is

certainly not sufficiently accurate as a H istorian to be trusted oh such matters , without special scrutiny . Bro . Schultz is more cautious , and says "it is stated" that these Degrees were conferred in Albany , A . D . 1769 . Bro . Francis considers it settled "beyond dispute , " that they were worked in City

of Charleston , S . S ., in 1783 , and on Schultz s authority we know that the Select Master was under the control of a Body styled " Grand Council of Select Masters , " in 1792 , in Baltimore , Maryland . Our author reminds

his readers that at this period there were only 14 Grand Lodges in all North America , that the population of the United States was onl y four millions , and that the country . west of the Ohio river was almost an impenetrable wilderness !

Bro . Francis evidently considers that the chapter work was arranged b y Thomas Smith Webb , in 1795 , and it is likely that such was the case ; the Degrees being arranged in the following order—1 , Mark Master ; 2 , Past Master ; 3 , Most Excellent Master ; 4 , Royal Arch ; 5 , Royal Master ; 6 , Select Master ; 7 , Super-Excellent Master . We entirely concur with Bro .

Francis in the declaration that " the Degree of Super-Excellent Master has no historical connection with , nor does it explain anything in the Degrees of Cryptic Masonry . It belongs properly to Capitular Masonry , and , doubtless , at one time , formed part of the Royal Arch Degree . " The "American Rite , " however , virtually omits the seventh in the above

numeration , as respects general acceptance , thus making six , beyond the first three , nine in all ; The Committee took the same view as their esteemed chief , and recommended that the " Super-Excellent Master " be conferred as " an appendant Degree , " after the regular 9 th of the Series , which was agreed to by the Grand Council .

The same Committee , in report to the Grand Council , stated that "the Historical Sketch of the Royal and Select Masters Degrees , prepared by the Grand Master , is most valuable , and exemplify a large amount of labour and study in its preparation . " We are delighted to note that the Grand Council decided to present a testimonial to Bro . Francis in

appreciation of his services , and we are very pleased to find that Bro . John L . Young , one of the American " Masonic Pilgrims , " who visited the " Anglo-American Lodge , " London , and other lodges , last year , was elected as Bro . Francis' successor . An excellent choice we think , and we anticipate a successful year of office for the new M . P . Grand Master of the Grand Council of Pennsylvania .

We see , by these handsomel y got up proceedings ( ably edited by Bro . C . E . Meyer , the indefatigable Recorder ) , that Bro . M . Richards Muckle ( Philadelphia ) is the representative at , and Bro . C . F . Matier ( London )

from Pennsylvania , the latter well-known brother being also quoted as Grand Recorder of the Grand Council for England and Wales , of which Body the M . P . Grand Master is the distinguished Brother Canon Portal . M . A ., Past Grand Master of the Mark Grand Lodge ,

The Warrant Of The Grand Master', Lodge (No. I On The Register Of The Grand Lodge Of England).

THE WARRANT OF THE GRAND MASTER' , LODGE ( No . I ON THE REGISTER OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND ) .

By the favour of the W . M . of this distinguished old lodge , and th courtesy of its Secretary , I have been enabled to inspect and copy avery interesting and most unique relic of the early days of the Grand Lod of the "Ancients . " Original warrants issued by that body prior to I 7 K are , I need hardly say , extremely rare . Up to now I know of but six '

London . With the exception of the one now before me , they are all plain ! but neatly , engrossed on parchment , generally about 12 inches b y g ' with the number of the lodge in Roman figures about midway down on th ' leftside , and with no attempt at ornamentation . This one , however , bear evidence of not only greater care than usual in the engrossing of the docu

ment , but the three marginal lines , the two pillars , and the other embellish ments , as well as the names of the Master and Wardens , are , I have not the slightest doubt , the handiwork of the celebrated Laurence Dermott him . self . It is also singular in bearing no number , plainly showing the ori ginal intention of those from whom it emanated , that this lodge should not have

a number , but be placed in the "front of the Register , " and be distinguish ^ by its name only , after the manner of its predecessor in Dublin , established in 1749 , which I think has from that time to the present been known as the * ' Grand Master ' s Lodge , " but has not a number on the Register . Like the rest of the old warrants of the same period , the seal which it now bears is of a much more recent date ; the original one appears to have been cut

out , leaving a space in the parchment , over which tne seal of 177 c j placed , on the usual blue and gold ribbons . I may safely venture to express an opinion that this warrant is the only one of its kind ever issued , and as such it should be , and doubtless is highly prized and carefully preserved . HENRY SADLER ,

_ MASTER ' S > $ V /— ^ l ° £ ¦ oS * s \ ^ n ^ (\ V * / Five-pointed \ V fr / star within a \ - ^ » , / circle , in centre of \ which are Hebrew I characters sig- 1 \ r . ifying / \ Jehovah . /

Be it known , To all whom it may concern : £ That I William Earl of Blesinton Grand Master of the most Ancient & fj , . „• honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons ( according to the 'is o § Original Constitution granted by PRINCE EDWIN at York ) for divers "S- 0 good causes and consideration ? , particularly for the better improvment c » Q" 3 of the Social Virtues and establishing the Charitable and Laudable o £ Sj Designs of Free Masons Do hereby authorise and Impower my Trusty \ .

> rt and well beloved Brethren the Officers of the Grand Lodge To form t " "¦ " and hold a Lodge of Grand Officers to be distinguished by the Name o ° %$ and Title of the GRAND MASTER'S LODGE and I do hereby ° 2 Jsx Nominate , Constitute , and appoint my trusty and well beloved Deputy 35

S ~ Mr . Robert Goodman , Master of the said Lodge , my trusty and Zt S f well beloved Senr . Grand Warden Mr . William Osborn Senr . Warden | ° " "S thereof , and my trusty and well beloved Junr . Grand Warden Mr . = g 7 S David Fisher Junr . Warden thereof , and in said Lodge when duly 5 » "In congregated , admit , Enter and make Free-masons according to the Jj S ~ n most ancient and honorable Custom of the Royal Craft in all Ages | E j ? JJ and Nations throughout the known World . And I do hereby farther « « .

% ¦ " authorise and Impower my said Trusty and well-beloved Brethren . £ a o Messrs . Robert Goodman , William Osborn and David Fisher ( with the $ c g ; concurrence and assistance of former Grand Officers ) To nominate £$ Chuse and Instal their Successors whomthey are to invest with their power and Dignity and such Successors shall in like manner Nominate , Chuse , and Install their Successors & c , & c , & c . Such Instalation to be upon ( or near ) every St . John s day during the Continuance of this Lodge for ever .

Given under my Hand and Seal of the Grand Lodge London , this thirteenth Day of August , in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty nine , and in the Year of Masonry Five thousand Seven hundred and Fifty nine . / Seal or \ / the \ LAV . DERMOTT , G . S . Grand Lodge BLESINTON , Grand Master . UKirk ' s ) on / \ paper . y

Quebec V. England.

QUEBEC V . ENGLAND .

BY BRO . J . H . GRAHAM , P . G . M . No . I . In the Freemason of April 7 th our much esteemed Bro . W . J- r * n 1 of Torquay , with evidently good intent , and with his usual candou well-known ability , " re-stated " from his ( and , I suppose , the g

accepted English ) point of view , the case of " England v . Quebec , ^ present unhappy condition of their Masonic interjurisdictional affair . may , therefore , be opportune—and it may also , for certain reasons , vv ^ to Bro . Hughan and to other good brethren in England and else * ^ be a duty devolving upon me—unofficially , of course—to " re-stat 1

our stand point , the case of " Quebec v . England , " in re . , to Hence I shall endeavour concisely so to do , with the desire no jt promote , if possible , an early adjustment of existing differences , bu ^ may be , to aid somewhat in bringing about such an " understand" s ^ mav nerr . hanr . fi nrevpnt thf > rpnirrenrfi nf snrh and such-like UfiSee , j 1 1

r- - - - - -. ( jni' - ' unfraternal antagonism between the Mother Grand Lodges 01 >• ' ^ Kingdom and the Craft , in all the " self-governing" colonies an ^ dependencies of the British Empire , wherein Grand Lodges nave may be formed ,