The Spurious Chapter Of Antiquity.

here by declares that it does not recognise said Manchester body as MasonicalJy Iega _ , nor acknowledge any Degrees conferred by it ; and hereby cautions all Chapters of Prince Masons , ancl other bodies under its jurisdiction , against admitting to their meetings any Brethren claiming to have obtained any Masonic

Degree in said illegal Manchester assembly . All Prince Masons are likewise prohibited from holding any Masonic intercourse with such Brethren , in reference to said Degreps so illegally obtained . By Order , L . H . DEERING , Secretary-General .

The Reception Of The M.W.G.M. In The United States.

THE RECEPTION OF THE M . W . G . M . IN THE UNITED STATES .

The " Keystone " remarks as follows : The fact that some of the members of the late British High Commission are members of the Fraternity of Freemasons affects directly a large , influential , and respectable portion of our people .

The Earl de Grey is the Grand Master of Masons of England , succeeding in that highest Masonic office the Earl of Zetland , who held it for twenty - six years . Lorcl Tenterden is Past Master of the Lodge of Harmony , and Past First Principal of

the Chapter of Iris , England . Sir John A . Macdonald and Colonel Bernard are prominent and distinguished members of the Masonic fraternity of Canada . As Masons , they are bound by the tie of confraternity to half a million of the substantial citizens of the United States . These

gentlemen were not merely ornamental or honorary members of the Craft , holding ifcs high offices in virtue of their social rank , and leaving to others the performance of its labours . In the midst of his numerous official ancl social duties ,

Lord Tenterden found time to pay several visits to the lodges in this jurisdiction , and before two of them illustrated in a masterly mariner the workings of the order , according to the English ritual . He was elected an honorary member of

Pentalpha Lodge , in Washington city , and carries back to England a beautiful and costly Past Master ' s jewel , as a souvenir of his Masonic association with the brethren here . The other members of the commission were

also practical workmen in the Masonic art . To those who know what Freemasonry is , it stands in need of no indorsement or enconitims . But

there are always persons , superficial and supercilious , who confound it with the thousand ephemeral associations which have initiated and travestied its insignia and its rites , and whicli are so constantly seeking that publicity and parade which

is one of the first princip les of Masonry to avoid . It is a cherished prejudice with such persons that Masonry is " vulgar ; " and it must have been a severe shock to their feelings to discover that the cream of European aristocracy did not

disdain its honours , or shrink from public affiliation ivith the institution as it exists among us . Those who may chance to drop into Gardner ' s may there see the photographs of Earl de Grey and Lord Tenterden , clothed in the lamb-skin aprons and

full Masonic insignia . The occasion is not so inopportune to say something of the history and status of Freemasonary in this District , where it has reared a temple at a cost of 200 , 000 dols ., which is an ornament to our

city , and where it was lately played the host in princely style to noble and distinguished guests from foreign countries , and from every quarter of our land .

The early history of Masonry in this locality is naturally associated with the name of George Washington . He first learned to love the craft in the early provincinl and military lodges , which originally received the ritual of speculative

Masonry from England , and in which he met the first gentlemen of Maryland and Virginia . We are indebted to the researches of that well-known Masonic proficient , Major Ben Perley Poore , for many facts in the early history of the craft in this

latitude . He expresses the belief that Pofcomactic Lodge , of Georgetown , is descended from St . Andrew ' s Lodge , which was in working : order in

that place in 1 / 73 . Of Lodge , No . 9 , in Georgetown , the only relic is the marble gavel which was used by Washington when President , in laying the corner-stone of the Capitol . The first Masonic hall was erected iu Georgetown in 1810 .

The south-eastern boundary-mark stone of the District of Columbia was laid with Masonic honours , by the Craftsmen of Alexandria , April 15 th , 1731 . Federal Lodge , No . 1 , was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Maryland , September 12

1793 , and six days afterwards the corner-stone of the Capitol was laid by that lodge , assisted b y Lodge , No . 9 , of Georgetown , and 22 , of Alexnndria . The Masonic ceremonies were performed