The Royal Order Of Scotland.

that body to make use of certain MSS . in his possession , copied , I believe , from the MS . of Dr . Walker Arnott . It is possible that some portion of the MS . has already seen the light in your pages , but I

venture to think that this in its entirety may be of interest to many amongst your younger readers , who cannot obtain access to the earlier and

invaluable collection of articles , published m the old numbers of the ' Freemason ' s Magazine . " The Royal Order consists of two degrees , that of H . R . M ., and that of R . S . Y . C . S . It is now impossible to say when the degree of

H . R . M . was established , but there is every probability that originally it was not connected with architecture , and was the same as , or similar to , the rite practised by the Essenes , a body which , as has been satisfactorily demonstrated by a

writer in " Blackwood's Magazine " * was not in existence , as Josephus alleges , before the Christian Era . Its members were the early Christians themselves , who , to escape the persecutions ofthe Jews , took their name from the Essen , or

breastplate of the High Priest ; by instituting at the same time different degrees of instruction or initiation , they prevented the Jews from getting any knowledge of their tenets , except from the neophytes , who could communicate little . The

Culdees introduced . Christianity into Scotland , and there is every reason to believe that they preserved among them a knowledge of the ceremonies and precautious adopted in Judea . 'The building of the Abbey of Melrose and other places of

public worship iu the 12 th century , by a band of workmen from abroad , under the direction of an experienced Master Architect , was the means of Freemasonry being introduced , or revived in Scotland , and it ivould appear that the Culdees and the builders had soon come to a mutual

understanding . This , perhaps , is the period when the Order of H . R . M . became Masonic , and was employed to explain , in a correct Christian manner , the symbols and rites adopted by the Architects . This may also explain how the Royal Order is

purely Catholic ; not Roman Catholics , but adapted to all who acknowledge the great truths of Christianity , as common Masonry is intended to apply to all , ivhether Jew or Gentile , who

acknowledge a supreme God . It is also highly probable that it was in consequence of this understanding between the builders and the Culdees , that the three degrees of St . John ' s Masonry , and more particularly the Master's degree , were purified from the dross of Paganism , and even of Judaism . The -tradition connected with the

second degree of the Royal Order of Il . S . i . C . S . is that Robert Bruce having received great services from a party of Masons who had fought rmder him in the battle of Bannockbnrn , on St . John ' s Day , 1314 , conferred on them the civil

rank of Knighthood , with permission to them to accord it in their Grand Lodge to those faithful and patriotic brethren who might succeed them ; so that the degree is , strictly speaking , a civil Order granted to Scotch Masons . Originally none

were entitled to it but Scotchmen , or perhaps their allies the Irish , and there were only sixtythree members ; but that number has been since much extended , and Masons of other nations are

allowed to participate in the honour , provided they be first adopted as Scotch Masons , and registered on the roll of the Grand Chapter of H . R . M in Scotland . In the R . S . Y . C . S . there can scarcely be said to

be any secret further than the modes of recognition , the lecture containing merely the form of reception with a concluding address . The two degrees now constitute the Royal Order , but it is probable that originally the last only

received that name . Some , however , suppose that St . John ' s Masonry as well as the Royal Order together formed the Royal Craft or Royal Order , the Knights of the R . S . Y . C . S . having the superintendance of the whole system .

The degree of H . R . M . is divided into two steps , particulars of whicli it would not be proper here to communicate . This appellation has been variously explained . Some suppose it to refer to Herodium , a castle on a rising ground , in the territories of

the tribe of Judah , 60 Stodie south west of Jerusalem , built by Herod the Great to commemorate a victory he had obtained over the Parthians and Jews , who wished to hinder him retiring with his family to Massada . There was another Herodium

built also by Herod in the confines of Arabia ; both are noticed by Josephus . Others suppose it to be of Greek origin , aud to be derived from a sacred house , whilst others consider it to be the genitive plural of the Latin word Hyres , i .