The High Grades.

last number . I am perfectly ignorant of the "bitter animosity shown to the High Grades by Craft Masons , " where it is expressed , or when it has been made conspicuous . No doubt there are many most excellent Masons in this country , and other countries , who have grave doubts as to the value or realifcy , whether historically or ethically , of thoso numerous illustrious andhigh-sounding

grades , of which we see such frequent mention , but I am altogether unaware of those same doubts ever having "been expressed , whether publicly or privately , in any way , but in the language of fair discussion , and in a true Masonic spirit . Brother Findel , to whom your correspondent has made such special allusion , is quite competent to reply for himselfand

, , therefore , I will only say thafc any one who has been much abroad , and has there taken part in Masonry , will fully sympathise wifch Bro . Findel iu his warm and indi gnant protest against many of those professed degrees , which , the offspring of charlatanism and imposture , are confessedly so ridiculous in themselves , as to bo actuallaltogether excluded from what is called Christian

y Masonry , as practised at present in England . I entirely disagree wifch your correspondenfc when he says , rather dogmatically , " that the great source of error in existing histories is the endeavour to prove thafc speculative Masonry , as taught in our lodges , is of the same remote antiquity as the lodges or guilds of working Masons . "

Ou the contrary , much study now for some time , and many researches , and a careful examination and collation of ancient and modern authorities , have irresistibly led me to the conclusion that the only true historical theory of Masonry past and present is to be found , in the unbroken connection between our present speculative and adoptive Masonry , and the operative guilds of the early

and middle ages . To say nothing of the evidences now rapidly accumulating , from long-forgotten fabric rolls and monastic registers ; to say nothing of our own oral traditions , so singularly borne out by existing manuscript authorities ; to say nothing of the admissions of opponents , and the valuable illustrations of friends , we have not only in

our ritual the distinct marks of very great antiquity , on purely philological grounds , but the earliest "constitutions , " of our present fraternity , still happily preserved in the British Museum , are of themselves an irrefragable answer to those who would impugn the identity between operative and adoptive Masonry . Has your correspondent carefully weighed ( which I must venture respectfully to doubt ) the full force and inevitable conclusion of

his own argument ? If I understand it rightly , for ifc is not very clearly expressed , it amounts to this , that Craft Masonry is not , as we have always been . taught and rightly taught , anterior , to Templar Masonry ( to use a convenient phrase ) , but posterior to it ; that , in fact , our present Masonry comes to us , from and through the Knights Templar , and hence , that Christian Masonry , as

it is called , is more ancient than , and indeed the parent of , our Craft Masonry and the Eoyal Arch Degree . If there is one hypothesis wliich less can stand either the searching enquiry or the rigid test of historic truth , it is that " baseless fabric of a vision , " which owes its birth and parentage and education , to the ingenious brains of a French writer on Masonry , and which , though put forth

and ornamented with all the cleverness and " finesse , " of our lively neighbours , is in itself so improbable and visionary , as hardly to warrant a serious consideration . Tour correspondent , who seems to write wifch considerable authority , will , I hope , favour me with a reference to those " Papal Bulls or Charters , " of which he makes mention , but which have hitherto unfortunately escaped the research , of both Masonic and unmasonic

enquirers . I think , however , fchafc our brotherhood , generally , will be somewhat astonished to learn that the admission of others to a participation of Masonic privileges , whether

The High Grades.

Jew , or Hindoo , or Mahommedan , entails on all Christian Masons the startling description " of a body of men who did not , " and , consequently , do not , " believe in Christianity . " I really must ask your correspondent , before he again so describes the tolerant and genial basis of our great and universal order , in the language of a leading

statesman , "to amend his vocabulary . " Like Mr . Haliburton last Friday night , I should have read the remarks of your correspondent with greater pleasure if I , too , could think that M . H . S . 30 ° , " understood what he was talking about , " in reference to Masons' Marks . If there is one thing that is clear with reference to Masons' Marks it is that they were not

local , or individual , or in any sense " the distinguishing marks or monograms of Masters of lodges , " but that they were general and universal , governed by one law , and resolvible into one and the same geometrical and Masonic first principle—identical indeed , whether found on the pyramids of Egypt , or the temples of Mexico , the pagodas of India , the round tojers of Ireland , the Eoman wall and the Eoman tower , the ecclesiastical

buildings of the early and middle ages . I am not one of those , Bro . Editor , who are ever afraid of fair aud proper discussion , and I do not believe that" the halo of antiquity , " as your correspondent puts it , will be stripped off , or " the poetry of the Craft " destroyed by any such enquiries as the present ; on the contrary I believe , that the landmarks of our order ,

true and indestructible , will shine all the brighter when our history is more carefully considered , and our evidences more systematically put together , than has hitherto been the case . I hope ere long to make a humble contribution to the interesting and intellectual study of our Masonic antiquities , ever bearing iu mind that truth is what we all

ought to seek after , and that nothing can be a more righteous duty or grateful privilege to the faithful Mason than to uphold and to illustrate , to strengthen and to defend , the wondrous history of our time-honoured Craft . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , A . E . A . WOODPOED , P . M . 382 aud 72 , P . Prov . S . G . W . for West Torkshire , aud P . G . C . for Durham . Swilliiigfcon , Leeds , March 24 , 1861 .

Recent Innovations In Masonry.

RECENT INNOVATIONS IN MASONRY .

TO TIIE EDITOK 01 ? THE EREEMASONS ' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTUER , —The last number of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE ( March 29 th ) , discloses the fact that strenuous exertions are being made , in more than one locality , to introduce innovations in Masonry , by subverting tbe laws of the Order , and setting up new claims to jurisdiction and authority .

In the report of the festival of the Lodge of Fidelity ( No . 281 ) , held at Plymouth , at page 250 , it is stated that "Bro . Cole , S . W ., proposed "The Prov . Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , " which was responded to by Bro . C . J . Laidman . This meeting , it will no doubt be urged , was not a regular lodge , bufc a lodge festival , and thafc ifc was competent to the managers to introduce any subjects they

pleased ; bufc such a view is only a superficial one , for , on reading the whole report carefully , it will be seen that the Mark lodge was held immediately after the close of the Prov . G . Chapter , and that care was taken to blend the Craft and Arch brethren together , as evidenced in the toast of "Prosperity to the Eoyal Arch Chapter" being followed by " Tho Healths of the Wardens of the Lodge" Then

. , as if it had a relation to both Craft aud Arch Masonry , the proposition of what is styled the Prov . G . Lodge of Mark Masters was adroitly introduced , and , no doubt , dazzled many brethren who , from seeing ifc in such good com-