Godfrey Higgins On Freemasonry.

the Cathedral at York , Avere Masons , I searched the masonic records in London , and I found a document which , upon the face of it , seemed to show that that lodge , ivhich Avasthe Grand Lodge af all England , had been held under the Cathedral in the

Crypt at York . In consequence of this I Avent to York , and applied to the only survivor of the lodge , who showed me , from the documents Avhich he possessed , that the Druidical Lodge , or Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , or Templar Encampmentall of which it calls itselfwas held

, , for the last time in the Crypt , ou Sunda } r , May 27 , 1778 . At that time the chapter was evidently on the decline , and it is since dead . From the books it appears to have claimed to haA ^ e been founded by Edwin in the year 926 . From a curious

parchment document , formerly belonging to the lodge , and restored to it by Francis Drake , author of the El . oracnm , as appears by anendorsementon the back of it signed by him , stating that it came from the Castle at Pontefract , it seems probable

that , according to the tradition to that effect the ancient records of the lodge had been sent to that place for safety in the civil Avars , as it is well known that many of the title-deeds of Yorkshire families at that time Avereand on its destruction

, , Avere like them , destroyed or dispersed . " Formerly , a contest arose among the Masons of England for the supremacy , — the lodge of Antiquity in London claiming it , and the York Lodge refusing to admit it . This Avas at last terminated by an

union of the tAvo parties , under the authority of the present Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex . The documents from which

I have extracted the above information respecting the York Masons , Avere given to me by — Blanchard , Esq ., andtran ^ ferredby me to the person who UOAV possesses them , and with Avhom they ought most properly to be }> laced , His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex . It appears from the

documents above named , that Queen Elizabeth became jealous of the York Masons , and sent an armed force to York to put them doAvn I do not pretend absolutely to prove that the Druidical Royal Arch Chapter , Lodge , or Encampment of the Temple of St . John at Jerusalem , or of the tabernacle of the temple of the HOLY WISDOM , as it calls itself , of

Godfrey Higgins On Freemasonry.

Jerusalem , Avas actually the same as that of the Culdees of the monastica , but j think the presumption is pretty stron « What more the books contain may be onfy known to Masons , of high degree . But if I do not by mathematical demonstration connect the Calideior Chaldeans and

, , Masons at York—I do it in the mathematici and Chaldsei at Rome . . . . However far back I search into history , I ahvays find traces of the Chaldei , and this not in one country only , but all over the world , 1 cannot help suspecting that they

Avere correctly , Freemasons from India . To myself the truth of my theories has several times been proA'ed in a manner the relation of Avhich to such persons only as know me , and have a dependanee on 1113 ' integrit y , Avill be of any Aveight . After I have , from a union of theory and reasoning and

doubtful records , concluded that certain events must have taken place , I have after-Avard found proofs of another kind , that such events really did happen . The discovery of the Masons at York is an example of what I mean . I concluded that the Culdees of York must have been

Masons , and must have held their meetings in the Crypt under the Cathedral . I examined the office in London , and I found a document , Avhich not onl y proved Avhat I have said , but showed that , as might from all circumstances be expected , it Avas

the Grand Lodge of all England Avhich was held there . Naming this to one of the oldest and most learned Masons in England , he told me he kneAV the fact very well , and that if I went to the Cathedral at York , and examined certain parts , I should

find pa-oof of what I conjectured . " ( Pp . 768-9 , vol . 1 . ) { To be continued . )

Woman's Choice —The Story Of A Hero.

WOMAN'S CHOICE —THE STORY OF A HERO .

CHAPTER II . THE game of hard bloivs and un ]) leasant falls from horses , celebrated Avith all befitting solemnity at Ploermel , Avas ended , and the victor of the day , a very young knig ht , Avho Avore his vizor down even after the lists Avere closed , stood listening to the proffers of several esquires , Avho tendered him ransom for their lords' steeds