Masonic Fete At Knoppogue Castle.

MASONIC FETE AT KNOPPOGUE CASTLE .

J 9 th will be long regarded as a rubrical day in the memory of the masonic fraternity — their wives and families—in the district of North Munster . The Provincial Grand Lodge , according to precedent , "goes circuit , " so to

speak , throughout its bounds at the Summer Quartetly Meeting , and the noble Prov . G . M ., Lord Dunboyne , in a truly fraternal spirit , determined that the July meeting of 1873 should take place at the historic castle of Knoppogue . in the " Kingdom of Clare . " Invitations were

accordingly issued by order of the noble Lord to all the brethren who owe him Masonic allegiance , and in response a large number of gentlemen , accompanied by their female relatives , arrived by rail or vehicle at Knoppogue , which , by the way , is worthy of a much more extended notice than

we can at present devote to it . On entering the grounds about one o ' clock , there were evidences on all sides of approaching festivity . A large marquee was erected on the lawn , and servants were to be observed busy in ply ing the culinary art . The Royal Standard

unfurled its folds to a gentle breeze at a convenient distant—the Jack ( red-crossed)—held a cuigne of vantage on the " Clock Tower , " and over the main entrance , the banner of the ancient house of Butler or Fitz-Walter , with its lions rampant and scallop shells—remembrances of

Holy Land pilgrimages , was displayed . Hie croquet lawn was in readiness , and the band of the Clare Militia discoursed marches , quadrilles , mazurkas , and waltzes on the greensward . When the entire party had assembled , warning was given to the brethren by the sounding of a gong

that the P . G . L . was about to transact business , Lord Dunboyne s library , which is filled with many curious works of art , was fitted up as a lodge room . His lordship having taken his seat on the throne with the usual Masonic honours ,

Bro . Wilson acting as P . G . S . John Hill , S . W . Alexander Rowand , | . W . ; Henry Sikes , S . D . ; Rev . Dr . Mangau , " ) . D . j Rev . J . M'Mahon , Chaplain ; Isaac Banks , l . G . ; Rev . XV . F . Seymour , Tyler , ihe lodges represented were 13 . . 5 ° . 7 . 3- J 3 . 5 > 2 . 5 ° - 268 , 201 , 202 , 333 .

While the Prov . Grand Lodge were in . sederunt , the ladies availed themselves of the privilege kindly accorded by Lord Dunboyne of viewing the interior of the castle , the most curious feature of which is perhaps the spiral staircase

which ascends the old " Keep from basement to turret , where warders in less happy times than ours kept " watch and ward , " while the mailed barons held feudal state below . Many of the interior fittings are curious , and suggestive to antiquarians .

Time passed very pleasantly for an hour or so in this inspection , after which the Past Grantl Lodge having suspended labour , the united conq any sought refreshment in the spacious marquees erected on the lawn , not , however , before they had been photographed in groups through the medium of Mr . Belcher ' s camera . The entertainment was of the most recherche

description , accompanied with copious Bowings of generous wine . Nothing could exceed the courtesy of Lord Dunboyne , his daughter , the Hon . Miss 1 i nt L r , and his ¦ ion . Hon . 'P . Butler , in their as .-iduitv anil attention to their ¦ ' nests .

proving that they thoroughly appreciated the . sentiment that in honouring others we honour ourselves . After the repast , Bro . the Rev . J . McMahon said : —Ladies and brethren , I do not think \ k"V we ought to separate without drinking the health

of our noble Provincial Grand Master and our generous host on this occasion ( cheers ) . We have all had ample evidence often before to-day of the liberal mind and kind heart of Lord Dunboyne ( applause' ) . Much as we thank his Lordship for this day ' s great enjoyment at this beautiful residence , J am sure , my brethren , our

enjoyment is still further hei ghtened by the presence of so many fair ladies ( cheers ) . I will now ask you to join with me , as I am sure you will , heartily , in drinking health , long life , and hipp ' ness to our revered Provincial G-aud Master , ! uuds of applause ) . Lord Dunboyne was not present when this compliment was paid him , bu , st : bs' quently having entered the tent ,

Masonic Fete At Knoppogue Castle.

The Most Worshipful Grand Master said : — Brethren I was at the other end of the tent when I heard your hearty cheers , and it was intimated to me that you had done me the honour of drinking my health ( applause ) . I assure you it rives me a great deal of pleasure to see you all

nere , and I give you welcome with all brotherly love , ( cheers . ) I thank you , brethren , from my heart , for the honour you have done me , and I am proud to see you all at this happy re-union , accompanied by your wives , sisters , and daughters , and I may tell you that you would not

have been half so welcome if you had not brought them with you (\ ovid applause ) . I had hoped to have some little amusements provided for you out of doors ; but 1 am afraid the threatening state ot the weather will render it more desirable to keep in doors . I hope we shall

be able to , however , to pass the evening not the less pleasantly . I may remind you , brethren , that you are closely watched outside , for yesterday I was gravely told that the assembling of the Masonic brethren here to-day would bring bad weather and a blight on our

potatoes ( laughter ) . Well , we don ' t see much blight as yet , thank God , and the weather is not so bad after all I Looking around me I am really deli ghted to see such a splendid array of beauty and loveliness which would be an honour to any country in the world ( cheeis ) , and our

united meeting to-day is a sufficient answer to all detractors , anil will show what Masonry really is—an institution which cannot exist without the display of love , harmony and good fellowship ( cheers . ) In conclusion , brethren , I thank - \ ou heartily for the compliment you have

paid me in coming here , and for so cordially thinking my health ( loud and prolonged cheers . ) Bro . Richard Studdert , Knocknarcechy in concise anel elegant terms proposeel the health of

Bro . the Hon . i heobald Butler , who in response said he had no higher ambition than to follow in the footsteps of his father , either as a man or a mason , and thus secure the good wishes of all such as he saw around him ( applause ) .

Rev . Dr . Mangan , said their sentiments would be incomplete if they did not drink the health of the noble wife of a noble man . He need

hardly say he alluded to Lady Dunboyne ( cheers ) and her amiable daughters ( renewed cheers ) . The . toast was drank amid renewed cheers . The company then separated for out-door exercises , and later in the evening a dance and supper wound up the proceedings , and Loid Dnnboyne ' s guests departed after spending a day of unalloyed pleasure .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE . To the Editor nJThe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , If our eminent Bro . Holmes , 31 , took as much interest in Royal Arch Masonry as he does in the " Order of the Temple , " it would not be necessary to inform him that our Irish " P . K . " is the equivalent of the English " P . Z . "

My statement that the connecting link between Freemasonry and the old Templar working was " extremely slight , " satisfies our brother that I know " very little of Templar history , or the Templar degree . " I thought I had a fair knowledge of both ; but suppose I must be

mistaken , and regret that our brother does not condescend to enli ghten my ignorance by showing wherein the relationship consisted . I can quite understand that the matter could not be full y discussed in print , but I certainl y fail to see in the cerenriny cf Templars' installation anything

connecting it with Freemasonry , except the one " commemorative point , " to which I am sure I need not now more particularly refer . 1 bow to our brother ' s correction of my use of fhe word " order . " Society is the correct designation , and I may suppose that my language

has become sli ghtly demoralised by occasional contact with those whom our late Bro . Dalcho ( Frederick the Great ?) would have addressed as " my respectable brethren . " I do know that the great principle of toleration as it now exists in Freemasonry , took its rise at

Original Correspondence.

the revival of Grand Lodge communications in > 1717 , and that one of the first acts of G- ^ and Lodge was to excise sectarhnism from its ' working . As speculative Freemasonry , in its present form , is not traceable further back , it is " not to the purpose to state the well-known fact

that in the anterior society "Masons were Roman Catholics , and consequently Trinitarians . " Our society is " old " as continuing many of the " arts and mysteries " of the original framework . It is " grand " in its adoption and faithful rendering of the modern principle of universal religion-. / toleration . A

It is satisfactory to ieam that the " Ritual Commissioners" of the " United Order" intend " to teturn to the old chivalric secrela receptio . " Where on earth did they get it ? How does the new " Templar Order " propose

to deal with such encampments or preceptories as the " Baldwin , " whose possession of certain high grade degrees our brother Holmes admits Though I ask , with great diffidence , is he quite correct in ascribing their ori gin to the year

1836 ? 1 actually believed that the old Templar rite of seven degrees was regularly worked in England long before the close of the last century , that Bro . Dunckeriey was elected Grand Master of H . M ., K . H ., in 1700 , and that Baron

Ranclifte , the Duke of Kent , Judge Wright , and the Duke of Sussex , were successively heads oi the rite , till the year 1811 , after which Grand Conclave ceased to meet , and that in consequence the older conclaves formed a confederation ,

under which those " high grade" chivalric degrees were still conferred on duly qualified brethren . Is the law passed by Grand Conclave in 1866 to become inoperative ? providing as it did for the continuance of the privileges enjoyd

by certain encampments holding warrants grantee prior to 1791 ? Are those privileges to be " snuffed out" by the new arrangements ? And will the encampments referred to fall in will the views of Bro . Holmes , and quietly had

over the control of those degrees , whafevtt they may be intrinsically worth , to what he calls " the more legitimate authority of the Supreme Council ? " Knowing , as I presume they do , -the origin and history of the rite controlled by that

Supreme Council , remembering what it is , when and where it originated , and the authorities ot whisjiit puts forth its claims to recognition . ¦ Bro > iit 4 m < iS states that the history of " tht high degrees generally has yet to be written , "

and if that history be truly recorded , while it would , doubtless be found very interesting id instructive after its kind , I fear the publicatio : would not redound to the credit of Freemason : with which those " hautes grades " would t >;

surely , though improperl y confounded , by tlitis outside , as well as by many within our societr . The existing quarrel between the " Temp - rites , " and the " Dalchoites , " is " a very pre" one as it stands . " It might be " worth i ' '

while " of both parties to pause and com : M the probable results . F ' raternally yours , J OSEPH H . WOODWORTIIDublin , 16 th July , 1873 . J

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I cannot allow the letter of Bro . L « Holmes to pass without comment . I certainl y have not attempted to prove t ' 1 " United Ciders" an illegal organisation .

It is true that , for the purpose of argumc ^' adopted , for the moment , Sir Patrick Colqulw" " assertion that the Order of the Temple i ' Masonic , and I then proceeded to show tW his view was correct the legal , or rather i | k'S

position ol its members . .. 1 agree with Bro . Holmes that " it is sin ! ' ' nonsense to say that the mere abolition ^' title 'Masonic' makes us an illegal body ! " ' : here again Bro . Iiolmes has unintentionr !/ 1 doubt , misread , and put a false construction' P my letter .

I have said , and I reiterate , in the mosteXp ' ' terms possible , that if we are content to . i * ' the Arch Chancellor ' s decision that we are a . Masonic body ( and this is not a mere '' abed . of title" but a change of fundamental j > r ' pies ) we must be content to abide by tin ; C