Mark Masonry.

communications from the Grand Master on tho subject of a treaty with the order of Bed Cross of Rome and Constantino ; and also communications on the subject of a treaty with the Supreme Grand Lodge Council of the 33 ° . Bro . Eev . G . II . Portal G . M ., presided , supported by the Earl Percy as D . G . M . ; the Earl of Limerick , S . W . ; Col . Adair , J . AV . ; Capt . King , G . M . O . ; James Stevens , G . S . O . ; Joshua Nunu , G . J . O . ; R . Benson , G . Eeg . ; Eev . W . Taylor Jones ,

Grand Chaplain ; and F . Binckes , Grand Secretary ; Bros . E . Spencer , F . II . Gottleib ( Singapore ) , C . Hammerton , J . H . Wynne , Morton Edwards , G . Kenning , S . M . Lazarus , T . J . Sabine , F . Davidson , J . G . Marsh , A . D . Loewenstark-, G . Neull , W . Littaur , H . G . Lake , M . A . Loewenstark , W . AVarrell , S . Rosenthal , and II . Massey . After the opening of the lodge the G . Master invested the Earl of Limerick as S . G . AV .

The G . Master said he had received communication from Grand Chapters of Irelaud and Canada , acknowledging Mark Master ' s advances under the English Grand Mark Lodge , ancl stating that such Mark Masters would be admitted in the lodges of Ireland and Canada . He had also to inform the brethren

that he had thought it wise to ask a very important Masonic body , the Order of the Bed Cross of Kome and Constantino , to enter into n-treaty recognising the Grand Mark Lodge on this Grand Lodge recognising the authority of the Red Cross Order . An affirmative answer had been given , and the draft of the treaty was prepared , by which the contracting bodies agreed to acknowledge each other as the governing bodies of their respective degree- * , and if a member of either Order was for a good reason

suspended or expelled by the governing body of that Order , the other agreed to hold him as suspended or expelled . The Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third Degree would do the same , and hopes were entertained that the Knights Templar would come to a similar arrangement . Grand Craft Lodge might , perhaps , at some time or other concur . If it did the advantage of such a treaty was plain . English Mark Masters could not then be tauntedas they were now bScotch Ma'onsthat they

, y , wero not recognised by any body . He ashed authority to contract on the above terms with the Red Cross , the Thirty-third Degrees , and the Knights Templar , and that the Earl of Carnarvon might be associated with the Grand Master in carrying it out . Bro . the Rev . W . Taylor Jones , in seconding the motion , believed it would be most effectual in advancing the principles of the Order , and would be a credit to the brethren in nromotim .

unity , concord , and discipline , aud making Masons ol one mind and feeling . Bro . Wolf Littaur , believing it would not bo acceptable to the Jews , opposed it , as did also Bro . Abrahams ; but Bros . Lazarus and A . D . Loewenstark could not seo why the Israiditish brethren should object , as it did not interfere . with their faith in any degree . Bros . Earl Percy , the Earl of Limerick , Joshua Nunn , J . If .

Wynne , and It . Benson joined in the discussion which ensued , and the motion was carried with only three dissentient .- - . The report of the General Board was read by Bro . IJinckes , G . Sec ., and afterwards the special report on the Ark Mariners ' Degree was considered . The committee to whom the matter had been referred recommended a union between Grand Marl-Lodge and the Ark Mariners' Grand Lodge on certain terms , it appearing to them that many supreme jurisdictions were not

desirable . Bro- Joshua Nairn moved , and Bro . Abrahams seconded the adoption of the report , which was carried unanimously . Tho G . Master having protested against the action cf the G . Chapter of Scotland iu making Lancashire a province of Scotch Mark Masonry , said that during the autumn it was his intention to visit all the London Mark Lodges . Grand Loilge was then closed .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

SUFFOLK , IPSWICH . — Victoria Chapter Hose » J < Xt . S . D . M . — The Sovereign Princes of this Order met in Chapter at the Masonic Hall , on Monday last , the 8 th inst ., when the following brethren were present : —111 . Bro . Eev . E . N . Sanderson , 30 ° , P . M . W . S .. G . M . ; M . E . Bro . C . T . Townsend , 18 ° , M . AV . S . ; III . Bro . Emra Holmes , 31 ° , K . C „ Eoyal Order of Scotland , Recorder ; Ex .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Bros . Eev . Palmer , 11 . Prelate ; AVestgate , 1 st Gen . ; Goldiug , 2 nd Gen . ; W . Criekow , E . ; J . Townsend , Capt . of Lines , & c . The chapter was opened in solemn form , and the ballot having been taken for Bros . G . Cresswell and E . J . Robertson , of the Prince of AA ales Lodge , and Bro . James Bigley of the United Lodge , Colchester , and proving unanimous , the two former brethren being present , were , after receiving- the intermediate degrees at the hands of the 111 . Bro .

Sandersonadmittedin-, , installed , and perfected , as Knights of the Pelican and Eagle , and Sovereign Princes Rose Croix . The chapter at the conclusion of the imposing ceremony , was closed in solemn form , and the Sovereign Princes retired to refreshment , when the usual toasts , "The Queen and tho Supreme Grand Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite " were duly honoured .

Freemasonry: Its History, Principles, And Objects.

FREEMASONRY : ITS HISTORY , PRINCIPLES , AND OBJECTS .

{ From the Rectangular Revieiv . ) 1 . Freemasonry not rightly understood . —Tiie real nature of tho ancient institution of Freemasonry is but imperfectly understood by the outer ivorld , while even the initiated , as a rule , have only a faint idea of its true character . " AVibh most of the members of the Order the ceremonies are everything : then- secret and deep

meaning , however , escapes them . But tho Lodge , with all its symbols , is only the form of the Masonic thought , as the State is only the form of the social union—the Church , of the religious principle . These forms , as belonging to tho sensuous world , may vary , but the original thought , the essence of each , is alone the absolute and the real .

2 . Importance of rightly nndcrsianding Freemasonry . — Now , when we bear in mind that Freemasonry reckons its members by millions , and that its lodges " are found in every habitable part of the globe , wo cannot deny the enormous influence it must exercise on the destinies of tho human race : hence tho necessity of rightly understanding its principles ancl objects . To clo this we must

go back to its origin . 3 . Periods of Freemasonry . —Masonic writers generally divide the history of the Order into two periods ; the first comprising the time from its foundation to the beginning of tho eighteenth century , during which period the Order admitted only Masons , —that is , operative Masons , and artificers in some way connected with

architecture , whom it bound together as brethren , as world-citizens , without regard to country or language . The second , or present period , commencing at the abovementioned date , the }* denominate the period of speculative Masonry , when the Order no longer chooses its members only amongst men connected with the raising of material structures , but receives into its ranks all who

arc willing to assist iu building a spiritual temple—the temple of universal harmony . . Now , this division is right enough , as far as it goes ,, but it does not embrace the whole history of Freemasonry , which ought to be divided into three periods ; for Masonry , before it became operative , had been that to which it has now returned , viz ., purely speculative . Let us see

wh } - and how . 4 . Kuoidedge transmitted by Masons . —Some writers on Masonry have assorted that the principles of the institution ivere most fully communicated to Adam . This assertion , undoubtedly made at random and to glorify the Order , is nevertheless , founded on fact . What is Masonry stated to be ? Answer : "A peculiar system of

morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols ; the study of science and the practice of virtue ; a science embracing all human and divine knowledge , ancl the moral duties incumbent on all man . " ' Sow , Adam being created in thc image ancl likeness of God , could not bub bo perfect . Such knowledge as is implied in the above passage , could not , therefore , be hidden from him , and was necessarily imparted by him to his descendants ; .