Original Correspondence.

valuable paper , the names of the several degrees , as practised in English Masonry up to the 33 ° ? I fancy the English degrees are under the York Rite . I have made the enquiry from many old and generally well-informed Masons in my own neighbourhood , but , strange to say , not one of

them can give me the desired information . Please understand that I don ' t want the names ¦ of the 33 degrees under the " Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite , " those I have ; what I want is , the names of the 33 English degrees . Compliance with the above will greatly oblige Yours fraternally ,

W . M ., R . A . FREEMASONRY IN HEIDELBERG .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Perhaps some of your readers may be interested by a few words regarding the working of the M . M . degree at Heidelberg . I attended the lodge Rupprecht

za den 5 Rosen , by invitation from one of its members . The lodge itself is a large handsome building in the Byzantine style , and has not long been built ; it was used as a hospital during the

late war . Ihe whole ceremony of the M . M . ¦ degree differs materially from ours . Of course I am precluded from mentioning various points in which the German ritual varies from our own , but such as I can refer to I will .

The lodge was held at 10 a . m . on Sunday . The S . W . and J . W . were both placed in the W . The three candidates were all raised together . The brethren kept on their hats during almost

the whole of the ceremony . The lodge was not opened in the E . A . and then gradually raised to the M . ? iL , but was at once opened for work in the latter degree . The candidates were in no wise prepared , as in our lodges .

I here were other and greater differences in the manner of working , which I cannot more nearly refer to , but which made the ceremony entirel y unlike that of our own lodges . The whole , however , was most excellently performed ; the worthy W . M . went through his duty in a very impressive

manner , and his officers ( not always the case in our own lodges ) knew their work thoroughly . The lodge numbers nearly one hundred members , and the W . M . and brethren are always happy to see strange brethren at their meetings . Yours fraternally , G . E . C .

Provincial Grand Conclave Of Knights Templar For Devon.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CONCLAVE OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR FOR DEVON .

A meeting of the above Grand Conclave was recently held at Plymouth . Present : V . E . Sir Knights Rev . J . Huyshe , M . A ., P . G . C , and L . P . Metham , D . P . G . C . ; E . Sir Kts . J . Sadler , 1 st Capt . ; J . Shanks , 2 nd Capt . ; I . Watts , Treas . ; J . j . Clase , Chancellor ; F . Codd , Vice

Chancellor ; Hifley , 1 st Expert ; Austin , 2 nd Expert ; J . N . Blake , D . of C . ; E . A . Davis , Asst . 1 ) . of C ; P . B . Clemens , Capt . of Lines ; P . Holmes , 1 st A . D . C . ; Warren , Sword-br . ; Gregory , Equerry ; J . Rogers , Asst . Equerry ; also Sir Knights Bird ,

Harvey , F . R . Tomes , H . F . Hcarle , C . Godschalk , H . Bartlett , T . Hunt , J . Port , Coad , J . Seccombe , J . B . Kerswill , J . E . Curteis , T . S . Bayly , J . O . Oxland , J . Montgomery , J . Matthews , J . R . Hicks , J . W . Key worth , T . Dand , S . Jones , Robinson Rodd , & c .

Ihe stun of twenty guineas was granted from the funds of the Prov . G . Encampment to the Fortescue Memorial Fund , five guineas to the Boys' School , and two guineas to the Masonic Bed in the Devonport Royal Albert Hospital . The V . K . Prov . Grand Commander appointed

the following Sir Knights as officers for the ensuing year : —L . P . Metham , D . P . G . C . ; Colonel Elliott , G . Prior ; Capt . Shanks , G . Sub Prior ; Rev . J . Dickinson , G . Prelate ; John Way , 1 st Captain ; H . Dubosc , 2 nd Captain ; J . J . Clase , G . Chancellor ; F . Codd , G . Vice-Chancellor

Hambl y , G . Treas . ; J . R . Hicks , G . Almoner ; Curteis , G . Registrar ; Keyworth , 1 st Expert ; Band , 2 nd Expert ; Passmore , istCapt . ofLines ; Henry Bartlett , 2 nd Capt . of Lines ; Montgomery , Dir . of Cers . ; Kerswill , Asst . Dir . of Cers . ; Port , Herald ; Coad , Standard-bearer ; Hearle , Sword-bearer .

The Fair Sex And Adoptive Masonry.

THE FAIR SEX AND ADOPTIVE MASONRY .

( Continued from page 389 J ARTICLE IX . The songs , appointed by the Eastern Star Order , possess some merit in a literary point of view , and , when efficiently rendered , must add ,

very materially to the solemnity of the service prescribed . The compositions forming the repertoire of the Institution may be summarised thus : "The Lament , " " Pious Devotion , " " The Widow's Advent , " " Sublime Prayer , " " Inflexible Faith , " "Immortal Home , " "The Sister ' s

Funeral , 1 he Sister s Grave , " " Love and Light , " " Come Home Early , " " Good Night . " The restrictions as to the decorations that shall be worn by a sister are expounded in such a manner as to obviate all misunderstanding .

They are as follows : — " Ladies who receive the degrees of the Eastern Star are entitled to wear , as a decoration , any wellarranged device , emblematical of the Order , and they are earnestly advised to adopt some

appropriate badge , particularly when travelling , because , in case of an accident , their claims to the protection of Masons ( if any who may have received the degrees should be present ) would be easily recognised . The pin or brooch , in the form of a

fivepointed star , of gold , enamelled , or of precious coloured stones , may be worn , on all occasions , as a dress ornament . The scarf of silk ribbon , three inches wide , the five proper colours woven lengthwise through it , is most appropriate at Masonic

festivals , where Masons appear in regalia . The scarf should be ornamented with three rosettes ; one on the shoulder ( flat , of red and blue-coloured ribbons ) , one on the breast ( quilled , of blue , white , red , yellow , and green-coloured ribbons ) , one at

the crossing ( flat , of yellow and green-coloured ribbons ) ; each rosette ornamented with a fivepointed gilt star in the centre—the ends of the scarf to be finished with coloured silk fringe . It is to be worn from right to left . "

The certificate presented to each sister who has passed through the several degrees is addressed to members of the " mystic tie , " and appeals for the extension of favour from the Craft to the lady in possession of the document . The formula is in this wise : —

" The Order of the Eastern Star . " To all enlightened Free and Accepted Masons around the Globe , Greeting . —This is to certify that the bearer , , is Masonically vouched for to us as the ( wife , sister , or daughter ) of Brother , a Master Mason in good

standing in Lodge , No . , at . " She has received under solemn pledges of honour , from one of the patrons of the Eastern Star , all the light of this Order , and she truly emulates the virtues of the immortal characters therein commemorated . So faithful and so true a lady

deserves the favourable regards of Freemasons , whose principles she admires , and in whose benevolent work she is ready to co-operate . She is therefore recommended to the protection and fraternal respect of all Free and Accepted Masons ,

wherever dispersed . " In testimony whereof wc , the representatives of the National Order of the Eastern Star and of the State Branch of , have subscribed our names at , and caused the national seal to be affixed the day of , A . D . .

" , National Patron . ( Seal . ) " , National Treasurer . " , National Secretary . " Virtus Omnia Prolulilute . "

The Eastern Star Order has of late received some favour among the ladies in America , and has unquestionably wrought much good in the social condition of the country . The number of Master Masons associated with the Institution has not been divulged by the authorities , but it is , in many quarters , believed to be very limited

in consequence of the lukewarm interest in Us maintenance displayed by the regular Craft . If encouragement and support be not extended to the Society by the Fraternity generally , it may be reasonably predicted that the sisterly commttnity will not be able to increase its sphere of action beyond the limits of the continent , and may , therefore ( like many undertakings ) , even-

The Fair Sex And Adoptive Masonry.

tually collapse after a lingering existence . It would , of course , be quite impossible for uninitiated members of " the mystic tie" to identify any lad } '' connected with the Order , if they felt ever so disposed to award that protection and

respect which the principles of the Sisterhood demand . The operations of the Institution are at present almost exclusively confined to tbe fair sex , and unless powerful aid is afforded by Free ¦ and Accepted Masons throughout the world , the intentions of the founder cannot be realised .

There can be no doubt that the numerous platform women orators spread over the different States of the Union entertain no misgivings of the permanent success of the Order , because the sisterly community is viewed by them in the light

of a precursor ofthe "independence , " of women and the establishment of " rights " in civilised nations . This peculiar sect advocating woman ' s cause , as it is termed , must be credited with much persistency and aptitude in disclaiming

against the supposed wrongs and oppression suffered from the opposite sex . It must , however , be acknowledged that , notwithstanding the noisy and foolish demonstrations incessantly paraded before the public , there are in different parts of the world millions of sensible women who view

these scenes with great indifference , and who prefer to enjoy the confidence and goodwill of the sterner sex rather than waste time in frivolous behaviour that would surely disturb the serenity of the matrimonial firmament . It is hard to

comprehend the meaning of these " rights . How may they be interpreted ? Do they signify that women must be so exalted as to render man subservient for ever to her wishes , and that man must be deprived of the important trust given

to him by the Creator ? Do these " rights ' imply that woman shall till the soil , and do every conceivable out-door labour , while man must remain contentedly at home , doing nothing for the maintenance of the household ? If these

questions are answered in the affirmative , then may it be said that such a revolution in the social aspect of the world would prove incalculably disastrous to the respect and esteem the sex has hitherto enjoyed from the " lords of creation . " The

writer is impelled by his own feelings to assert that mankind would deplore the change greater than any other worldly consideration , because woman would , by taking a foremost part in the roughbusiness of life , become hardened in nature .

The deprivation of the attributes of woman would be felt throughout the world , and it is difficult to imagine the evils that would be entailed upon succeeding generations if this loss were a reality . It is to be hoped that the disaffection now observed in various places will soon

subside into oblivion . Let woman confine her attention to her home duties , and assiduously study to improve the condition of man , and she will assuredly sustain his admiration and ensure hislastingprotection and sympathy . The words of Goldsmith and Matthew Henrv are worthy of

being produced in this column for the consideration of both sexes . The former author says : "The modest virgin , the prudent wife , and the careful matron are much more serviceable in life thanpetticoatedphilosophers , blusteriiigheroines .

or virago queens . She who makes her husband and her children happy , who reclaims the one from vice , and trains up the other to virtue , is a much greater character than ladies described in romance , whose whole occupation is to murder

mankind with shafts from the quiver of their eyes . " The latter-mentioned author is equally explicit in his views . He observes that " Woman was made out of the rib , taken from the side of a man ; not out of his head , to rule him ,

but out of his side to be his equal , under his arm to be protected , and near his heart to be beloved . " The present writer is impressed with the idea that woman can exercise great influence over the actions and dispositions of man , rendering the roughest nature tractable to her will .

Shall one secret bc divulged for the benefit of wives in general , and of those ladies who meditate marriage in particular ? This proposition will possibly receive the ready assent of every fair reader , for what can be a more interesting theme than the proper managementof a husband ? ( To be concluded in our next . )