Red Cross Knights Of Constantine.

Herald proclaimed the Right Hon . Thomas Lord Kenlis a duly enthroned Sovereign of the Order . Surel y the Herald knows very little of heraldry , or he would be aware that the Lord Kenlis , being simply a lord by courtesy , as the eldest son of an English earl , and not being a member of the Privy Council , has no more right to the title of Right Honourable

"than I have . Then we learn , under the head of the Phoenix Conclave , at Truro , that " the Red Cross Banner , which waves so proudly in the East , is therefore now uplifted in the West of England , " and the writer piously hopes that " the ancient standard of Christian chivalry formerly upheld by the father and

uncle of our gracious Queen will long continue to be cherished by the leal and loyal men of Cornwall ' s ancient duchy . " And so say all of us ; hut will Bro . Hyde Clarke kindly give the British public—at least the readers of your valuable magazine—a little more information

about this wonderful chivalric Order , for when Bro . Little was asked some rather pertinent questions respecting the alleged antiquity of the degree of Red Oross Knights of Constantine , he was remarkably reticent and obscure in his replies . I also note the fact that Bro . Mackeyin his

, learned and exhaustive work , "The Lexicon of Masonry , " is silent as to the verv existence of the Order . Yours fraternally ,

"Notes And Queries ."

"NOTES AND QUERIES . "

16 THE EDIIOK OE THE " EKEEMASONs' MAGAZINE AXD MASONIC MIIlilOE . " Dear Sir and Brother , —Some years ago—about nine years ago—being a contributor to " Notes and Queries , " and seeing the value of that publication , I induced the then editor of the Freemasons' Magazine to commence the series of Masonic Notes and

Queries . This has been continued uninterruptedly -until now , aud I suppose it would make two large ¦ quarto volumes of contributions to the history of Masonry .

So far the plan has been successful ; hut I doubt if it has achieved my original purpose of inducing numerous brethren having little time or literary acquirements to contribute their small experiences in Masonry . I strongly suspect that the bulk of the contributions have been from a few votaries of

Masonic archaeology , and that the main body take no part . Now each brother knows some curious fact , or some matter of lodge history , and if once a year , or once in ten years , he would jot it down , we should . get a large mass of facts , and a better collection than

we have now-. Yours fraternally , A MASON .

Bro. Metham's Oration.

BRO . METHAM'S ORATION .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS'MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —In the Magazine of the / th inst . I drew the attention of its readers to a paragraph in Bro . Metham ' s oration , and expressed a

Bro. Metham's Oration.

hope that some explanation would he given of the assertion , "That the irresistible flood of public opinion is alone able to thoroughly cleanse the Augean stable of Man ' s old and corrupt nature . " As no notice has been taken of my objection , or explanation offered , I think I am therefore fairly entitled to

assume that Bro . Metham still holds to his expression . If the expression had emanated from an obscure brother of the Fraternity , it would have been of little moment ; but Bro . Metham holds a deservedly hi gh position in this provinee and in the Grand Lodge of Englandand therefore his views may be

, regarded as the views of the Freemasons of England , and it is against that contingency that I am anxious to provide . Is it possible that the scores of Past and Present Provincial and Grand Chaplains , as well as the hundreds of reverend brethren in the Order , hold his inions ? May not their silence be construed

op into acquiescence ? And if there are no reverend brethren of the Craft ready to combat this error , surely there are some Reverend Sir Knig hts among the Templars ready and willing to defend the holy Christian faith . I think I know many well able to do battle in this causeand hope their obligations

, will remind them , as Bro . Metham in his oration says , " Let each brother feel his conduct to be of consequence to all , and live and act as if , in his person , Masonry was reflected before the world as in a mirror . " I therefore hope to see them boldly enter the lists .

Yours fraternally , VINCENT BIRD . March 25 , 1 S 6 S .

The Grand-Orient.

THE GRAND-ORIENT .

TO THE EDITOE OF THE EEEEMASONs' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MI 2 K 0 K Dear Sir and Brother , —With the greatest respect for our excellent Bro . Hyde Clarke , I submit that he has not shown that I have " misled " your readers in any way . 1 st . The Grand-Orient is the recognised Masonic

body in the Grand Lodges of Great Britain and Ireland , as is proved by the following facts : — a . The Grand-Orient has a representative in the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and has received a representative from that Grand Lodge . b . The Grand-Orient is also represented in the

Grand Lodge of Scotland , and has received a representative from that Grand Lodge . c . The Grand Lodge of England recognises degrees conferred by the Grand-Orient , aud has refused to recognise the degrees of the Supreme Conseil . For these reasons I contend that the Grand-Orient

is in a very different position with regard to Masonry in the United Kingdom to the Supreme Conseil du Mite Fccossais Ancien et Accepte . 2 nd . I certainly have not " misled your readers as to the character and constitution of the two French Masonic bodies . " The whole tenour of my remarks

was to show that" each is a daft Grand Lodge and each is a Supreme Council . " Bro . Clarke ' s anxiety to defend his friends of the Supieuie Conseil must have led him to give a very