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Contents . PAGE . Toleration in 31 asonio Administration 181 " Le 3 Ionde Maconique" and the " Freemasons' 31 agazine" 182 Masonic Discipline—By Crescent 183 Chips of Foreign Ashlar—By J . A . H 184 . Address delivered by Bro . George Reynolds 186

Masonic Notes and Queries 188 Correspondence 191 Masonic 31 ems 193 Grand Lodge 193 CRAFT LODGE 3 IEETISGS : — 3 Ietropolitan 194 , Provincial 194 Ireland 195 Canada

195 Malta , 195 India 196 Royal Arch 197 High Knights Templar 197 Lite' -atnre , Science , 3 Iusic , Drama , and the Fine Arts 197 The AVallace Sfonumcnt , 198 Poetry 199 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 200 To Correspondents 200

Toleration In Masonic Administration.

TOLERATION IN MASONIC ADMINISTRATION .

LONDON , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 4 , 1869 .

A paragraph in tbe " Notes and Queries" in a recent number of our paper has made us wonder It relates to the rite of Mizraim in France . Tbis rite is a recognisable concoction . Its pretensions were astounding and its ninety-nine degrees

preposterous . It was carried on by charlatans and dupes , and it excited the ire and denunciations of the legitimate authorities . It nevertheless held on for half a century , benefiting more than it suffered from " persecution , " and this in various

ways . However , the chief way in which it kept up its vitality was as an independent jurisdiction , and the exercise of what may be called a pretended sovereignty . With certain people the " persecuted " rulers of Mizraim , were only recognisable rivals of the M . W . G . M . of France and of the Supreme

Council , nor was it difficult to represent that the authorities claiming legitimacy , were jealous of some contemptible schemes , who made a great uproar in the gatherings of Mizraim . Our French brethren have been more sorely

tried than we have been , and just as prone to make a sharp fight for legitimacy , and for'keeping down contemporary or rival bodies . We who have had our own chronicles of ancient and modern Masons , and of the Preston war have little to say

on this head , and can only modestly refer to our own examples . The Grand Orient , as staunchly as any Grand Lodge in England did for a number of years fi ght all other bodies , and seek to reduce them under its supremacy , not neglecting the aid of the civil power and the police . What happened

with Mizraim has been referred to ; it was kept alive to be a menace to Masonry all over the globe , sending out its cheap warrants and disseminating its pretentious degrees . The worst feature has been the great split with the Supreme

Council , which left another Craft bod y to obtain permanence and solidity . A . new policy at length dawned in the Grand Orient , and we believe it is justly to be attributed to the example of the Grand Lodge of Ireland .

The Grand Lodge of Ireland found Mizraim offering its privileges to Ireland , and that there were persons disposed to accept them . The Grand

Lodge of Ireland met the matter very simply . It did not oppose the wishes of the applicants ; it regularised them by allowing the rite of Mizraim to be practised . There is this we believe to be said for the ninety-nine degrees of the rite of

Mizraim , that they are as harmless in their character as thirty-three degrees or any other of the combinations of degrees that now exisb . The Grand Lodge of Ireland , however , in accepting the rite of Mizraim and conferring its protection iu the

rite of Mizraim , necessarily assumed the Supreme Jurisdiction by placingitunder the Council of I sites , of which the M . W . G . M . and the Grand Officers are the supreme functionaries .

The rite of Mizraim Ave have no doubt made a very flourishing debut in Dublin ; but the rite of Mizraim left to its own merits , very soon collapsed . It made no progress in the provinces , and we believe must be defunct in Dublin itself . k . i all

events the rite of Mizraim is more flourishing in London than in Dublin . The Council of Rites in Ireland has charge of all the rites , except the Craft degrees , It affords them legitimate and honest government , all the

advantages of regular administration , and the use of the Masonic property . With all these benefits Mizraim dwindled . Had it flourished it would have become contributory to the funds of the Craft , and in no degree a rival or a detracter . The

Grand Orient in altering its policy , placed its-Council of Rites on a like footing . It nob only acknowledged what is called the Scotch or Ancient and Accepted Rite , but also the Rite of Mizraim . Many of us thought that tin ' s policy was

questionable in admitting a system which had no claims to legitimacy , and the charlatanism of which was made evident . At this time a new loclge may petition to be established under the rite of Mizraim solely , or to