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( Contents . PAGE . The Ritual Question—By Bro . Hyde Clarke 281 Lodge Minutes—By Bro . W . P . Buehaii 282 Masonic Reporting—By Crescent , 282 English Mark Lodges—By Crescent 284 Masonic Notes and Queries 285 Correspondence 288

Masonic Mems 290 CKAET LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 291 Provincial 292 Malta 294 . Royal Arch 291 Mark Masonry 295 Reviews 295 Literature ; Science , Music , Drama , and . the Fine Arts 298 Poetry 298 List of Lodge , & c ., Meetings for ensuing week 300 To Correspondents 300

The Ritual Question.

THE RITUAL QUESTION .

ZONBON , SATURDAY , OCTOBER 0 , 1869 .

By Bro . HYDE CLARKE . No one can peruse the remarks in your MAGAZINE on tlie Ritual question , or take part in the private discussions now so common , without feeling an interest in the subject . Some very able

observations at page 244 , under tbe signature of Crux , are well deserving of consideration , as they represent much of the case in its bearings on the brethren at large . We there find laid bare two difficulties that have to be dealt with , —the want

of scope for educated men , the necessity of providing words for ill-educated or uneducated , and then of being subjected to the consequences of their want of education in the clipping * and mutilation of what is set down for them .

If some surprise is felt that the ruling influences are not incited to obtain uniformity of Ritual , it is lessened when we consider what is the real aspect of the question as presented to our leading men in the present day . In the first place we have

not " yet arrived at any absolute conclusion as to what is the period of our Ritual , and consequently as to its mode of treatment . This is to a great extent a literary queston . If the Ritual be a mere

imitation of mediasval forms concocted at the constitution of Grand Lodge , then there can be no tenderness in dealing with it in any way . If , however , the Ritual rests on a mediaeval basis , then good taste suggests that it should be restored rather on this model than on a modern model .

There are scholars who admit this view , and to such those pieces of declamation , which most interest the celebrant , are precisely those which , jar most on his ear . There is , however , another difficulty , which

wasnot felt ' a generation or two generations ago , and that arises from the fact of the literary treatment of our language being in transition . For a long time there has been a growing feeling among our writers to throw off as much as may be the

Latinised clothing , and to get back to our old English shape . This feeling is now stronger since the teaching of our own tongue has been made the work of our Universities and better

schools . There is not , nevertheless , any full agreement among the general public on this head , and looking to the body of Masons their leaning is towards the Latinised types of the Ritual , while men of education are on the other side . It is

therefore , imposing a hard task on any committee that may be named to undertake such a task . All these things have their weight with our leading men , and hinder them from dealing hastily or rashly : but there is this further , that we have

no literary men ta . king a foremost part among ns whom we can ask to undertake such a duty , for the days when such men as Anderson and William Preston would be allowed to lay down a literary law for us are , it is to be hoped , passing away .

We need men of literary standing , and we need a better knowledge of the the men comprising great body of Masonry . It is , therefore , to be wished that no rude step

may be taken to bring about a forced settlement of the Ritual , but that we may content ourselves with the growing agitation , which will bring about a better understanding of what is truly needful to be done , and will put us in a better way to under-

take it . These very discussions show that there is a growing interest in our forms , our ceremonies , - - and our history and if we are successful in establishing a higher and safer antiquity for the Craft , ' itmust needs follow that we can deal with the Ritual

more safely , and we may then bring it to a state conformable to a true antiquity and the reasonable requirements of the present day , so as to insure it greater stability hereafter .