The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

by Dalcho himself , in a note to tho Kadosh degree at page 68 , where he says ; " His Royal Highness Prince Edward , Duke of Kent , & c , is at present the presiding officer of the degree of

K . H . in England . The assumption of authority over that degree , as over the Rose Croix by the 33 rd degree , is based on the statement that Frederick the Great ,

having been appointed head of the Order of "Sublime" Masons by the Councils of the " Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret , , 3 a , " thought fit to institute the 33 rd . degree , in order

to perpetuate the authority so vested 111 him personally , and for that purpose arranged that nine members in each country should constitute the " Supreme Council of the . 3 . 3 ° , " and we are told

that in the year 17 S 6 ; Frederick accordingl y ratified the constitution of the , 3 , 3 rd degree . The theory supposses that the various degrees up to the 32 ° , the then " Ne Plus Ultra " o ^

Masonry , formed a regular and connected series of Masonic degrees , and that the crowning degree was instituted to consolidate masonic authori ty > and give unquestioned headship to the system '

and the history of the actual formation and confirmation of such constitution reads very nicely and consistently . There is , however , the one slight objection to it , that from the beginning to

the end it is entirel y false . " Frederick never took part in , or recognized , any but the first three degrees of Freemasonry ' and the constitution purporting to be ratified bj

him . ' the matter originated 111 Charleston 111 1801 , and the Charleston Council themselves now admit the fraud of their predecessors ; and claim to be the " Mother Council of the World . "

In the year 1 S 24 a warrant oi" constitution for a Supreme Council of the . 3 , 3 ° for Ireland was obtained from Charleston , and thus the degree got footing in this country . Whether

Grand Lodge will think it consistent with its diginity and character to continue recognition of a degree possessed of such an origin , and such antecedents , remains to be seen .

There is , however , one point on which I think Grand Lodge cannot for a moment hesitate . In the " Annals " appended to our " Ahimati Re / . on "

the unfounded statements as to the origin and confirmation of the , 3 , 3 rd degree , are set out as historical facts .

If it is proved , and admitted , that those statements were a deliberate imposition on tin masonic world , without any basis of truth on which to rest , in any future edition of our annals

those passages in 11 st l-e expunged . It is one thing to make a statement in ignorance of facts ; rel ying on the good faith of those from whom the statement origininated ; it is another thing to continue

to publish , as truth , an admitted lie , and to lend the auhority of Grand Lodge to sanction an imposition . I would suggest that if it be intended to

republish those " Annals " a committee of Grand Lodge should be appointed to enquire into and report on those particular portions of masonic " history , " and it would be only prudent to confine that committee to members who are

not also members of any 01 the so called " high degrees . " As already explained here , Templar qualifications are required in selected members of the

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

"high degrees" and their natural allies would be the English Templar bodies , who have continued to work those degrees from time immemorial , and whose requirements and mode of

working are almost identical with ours . But in the A . and A . Rite , any Master Mason of " good standing" may obtain the Rose Croix degree , and may in fact become possessed of all the

degrees of that Rite ; without professing the Christian faith . As one result of this extraordinary alliance , an English Rose Croix Mason cannot be recognized

or admitted as such here , unless he has qualified himself by obtaining the Royal Arch degree , and the degrees worked here under Templar warrants . He must also be a M . M . of seven years standing ,

the P . M . of a Lodge , and . 3 , 3 years of age ; and some of the Brethren under the Irish Constitution who obtained the Rose Croix degree in England , from the authority with which the Irish Prince

Masons here are in alliance , had to qualify themselves subsequently by taking the Templar degrees , before they were admitted as visitors to an Irish Prince Masons Chapter . Further , several

Irish Brethren , who received the Rose Croix degree in England under its ancient legitimate authority , a H . K . T . warrant , cannot be

recognized here in that degree , unless they previously make their peace with the authorities of the A . and A . Rite , under which circumstances it is not at all likely that many of them will be inclined

to " qualify , tor the privilege of being admitted to the meetings of Prince Masonry in Ireland . The whole subject both here and in England , present many glaring anomalies and

inconsistencies , and as a " revolution " in England in the " highgrades " is far from improbable , and as their ( working here is most unsatisfactory and unmasonic , 1 do hope that when we come to deal

with our new laws here , we shall take good cure to keep " Craft Masonry " lclear from strife , by cuttingthe connection that at present unites it with an order , whose rules and practices are opposed to tis fundamental princi ples .

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS .

Craft lilasonvg . METROPOLITAN .

DORK : LOIXJK ( NO . 9 , 3 . 3 ) . —Amongst the many well-conducted and prosperous lodges in the metropolis , the Doric Lodge stands conspicuous . The visitor cannot help being struck with the order and discipline which distinguish the proceedings , and the evident desire of all the officers

to discharge their duties in conformity with the spirit of the beautiful ceremonies in which they are called upon to take a more or less active part . Few lodges can boast of such an array of talented Past Masters , amongst whom the names of Bros .

Barnes and Scurr are perhaps more generally known ; and the W . M ., Bro . Yetton , who presided at the anniversary meeting , which was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , KC . on Tuesday the 1 , 3 th inst ., will certainl y not be an unworthy addition to their ranks . On this occasion there were

candidates for all the degrees , and in each case the work was done with care , earnestness , and an amount of proficiency seldom equalled and more rarely surpassed . The business of the evening

included the installation ol Bro . James Griffin as W . M . for the ensuing year ; and in this , as in the former instances Bro . Yetton proved himself master of the work he had in hand ; the addresses were delivered with an intelligent appreciation , and

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

an impressiveness that commanded the undivided attention of his hearers . In this ceremony he was ably assisted by the active and efficient D . C , Bro . John Stevens , P . M . 554 , who for some years past has filled this important post , and at the same time

has given his services as Honorary Secretary of the Lodge . The newly installed Master appointed his officers as follows : Bro . Austin , S . W . Marsh , J . W . ; Scurr , Treas . ; Stevens , Sec . Ayton , S . D . ; J . Tavlor J . D . ; Hocking , l . G .

Sedden , Organist ; Bridgeland , W . S . ; Grant Tyler . A handsome Past Master ' s jewel was presented to the retiring Master , by the W . M . Bro . T . Barnes , P . M ., then made a pathetic appeal to the Lodge on behalf of Bro . Saqui , an old Past Master , and preceptor of various lodges , who has

been bedridden for upwards of three years and is in consequence , in great distress . That unfortunate brother being so well and favourably known to most of the members , he considered himself justified in moving that'five guineas be voted from the Benevolent Fund of the Lodge , to be handed over for his use and benefit . This of course was

unanimously carried . The business of the lodge being ended , the Brethren adjourned for refreshment . The banqueting table presented a cheerful appearance , and although , besides the members of the lodge , over fortv visitors had to be

accommodated , the lively and pleasant activity of Bro . Stevens very soon settled every individual in his appointed place , where each found a pretty little bouquet of real flowers for his buttonhole , which gave the assembly quite a festive aspect . Upon the

removal of the cloth the usual toasts were briefly given and as briefly responded to . Bro . Yetton in his repl y on behalf of the Past Masters took occasion to state , that three personal friends whom he had had the p leasure of introducing into the

lodge , had that evening presented him with a slight token of their gratitude towards him . The present was handed around for inspection . It consisted of a handsome pin with the masonic emblem set in diamonds . Some excellent songs and

recitations -were given by Bros . Mortloek , Gunn , Munyard , H . Wainwright , Yetten , Stevens and H . M . Levy . The music , both in the lodge and banqueting roonm , was most efficiently performed by Bro . Tedder , the Organist of the lodge .

Amongst the visitors were the following , Past Masters , Bros . Gee , 174 ; Wright , 72 ; Buller , 9 ; Bencey , 79 : Iron , 90 a ; Lacy , 174 ; Mortloek , 1 S 6 " ; Gottheil , 141 ; Foulger , 19 , 3 ; Chadwick , 554 ; H . M . Levy , 188 ; Motion , 45 , 3 ; and Charles Nash , W . M . 70 .

STOI . KWKLL LOIX ; K , ( NO . 1 . 3 . 39 ) . —A meeting of the members of the above Lodge , was held at the Duke of Edinburgh , Stock well , on Thursday , 15 th inst . The business of the eveninsr was the initiation of Mr . Price and the

installation of Br . William Worrell , S . W ., as Worshipful Master , for the ensuing year . There were present Bros . Hammerton , W . M . ; Francis , P . M . Sec . ; Pain , S . W . ; Brighten , S . D . ; Klinck J . D . ; Stolg , l . G . ; Sidwell , Timewell , and

Williams . The visitors were , Bros . Avery , j 66 ; New-ham , 192 , ; Benham , 100 ; Parker Ward , W . M ., 1257 ; Garrod , P . M . 720 ; C . Knight , 1 , 319 ; Leskey , P . M ., 72 ; Lovett , 1 , 314 ; Dodson , P . M ., 72 ; Simmons , S . W . 902 ; Packer , S . W .,

1257 ; Croysdale , 1 , 36 . After the opening of the Lodge , Mr . Price was initiated by the W . M ., Br . Francis , then took the chair , and in an impressive manner , installed Br . Worrell into the chai r of K . S . Br . Worrell then appointed

and invested his officers as follows : —Bros . Pain , S . W . ; Brighten , J . W . ; Klinck , S . D . ; Williams , J . D . ; Sidwell , l . G . The W . M . presented the Lodge with a magnificent banner , which was much appreciated , and he received a vote of

thanks . After the closing of the Lodge , the brethren adjourned to the banquet . The usual toasts were given , the W . M . making some feeling remarks on the restoration to health of our royal and worthy Bro . the Prince of Wales , which met with great applause . " The Initiate

was responded to by Br . Price , the W . M ., giving the E . A . song , con an / ore . "The Visitors , " was replied , to in excellent terms , by by Bros . Garrod , Dobson , and Packer . " The health of the W . M . " was proposed by Br . Hammerton who paid a deserved compliment to his masonic abilities . The W . M . in reply , said he