Correspondence.

well known in this country in 1314 , and Dr . Leeson discovered traces of it in Holland in 1459 ; indeed , I cannot help being of opinion that , with certain modifications , it is founded on , if not identical with , the ancient Templar ceremony . Of the Kadosh degree , Dr . Leeson says , in the constitutions and lawsapproved of on St . John ' s Day 1720

, , , by Grand Lodge , the Duke of Montague Grand Master , all Masons were commanded to acknowledge Elected Knights , Kadosh , Superintendents , Knights of Palestine , Princes of Jerusalem , & c . Bro . "Ebor" most unintentionally asserts that I said that a century before 1813 the same Templar ritual was in full force in this country . . 1 never made use of any such words . There is a material

difference between the Erench and English ritual of the Order of the Temple ; it was impossible , without grossly profaning the services of the Eoman Catholic Church , to adopt tho ancient ceremony in its entirety in a Protestant community . Grand Conclave , in the revision of 1833 , erred too much , perhaps , on the other side . The . same be said of the revised ritual of the Knihts

may g -of Malta , if worked as in the Mount Calvary and Stuart Encampments ; with all proper adjuncts , it is as imposing , if not more so , than that of the Order of the Temple . The pass of Malta is no Masonic tradition , bub an historical fact . By the constitutions of the Erench Langue , in 1254 , no pilgrim could visit the Holy Land without a pass from the Holy Eoyal Arch brethren of Paris ; this

• order was attached to the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem , since called the Knights of Malta . It was purely sacerdotal , and very different from the Masonic E . A . degree , founded by the Chevalier Eamsa-y some centuries later . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , . November 10 , 1863 . EOSA CIUTCIS .

Can A Warden Initiate, &C.

CAN A WARDEN INITIATE , & c .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FKEEHASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC IMmOl ! . DEAR SIR AKD BROTHER , — "M . C . " has followed the example of most unsuccessful disputants . The arguments are against him , and he endeavours to diverge into other topics , aud so draw the attention away from the real question at isssue— "Can a Warden Initiate "—which - will not bo settled by the looseness of my " comparative

philology , " or my putting the cart before the horse when alluding to the York and Athol lodges . In entering upon the dispute , I had no intention to appear as a philologist . When I said the term " "Warden " is a Saxon word , I only followed the custom which , in my . general reading , I observe is adopted by most , if not all authors ( unless upon an ethnological subject ) to ive the

, g general term Saxon to words ivhich belong to the Teutonic family , whether they be old Saxon or low German , the Dutch , Flemings , or the Saxon of Transylvania , though I think exceptions are often made to the Scandinavian branch . However , I have not made comparative philology a parfcicular ' study , and will leave- " M . C . " to those who have , particularly to the lexicographer , J . the author of

Cragg , "An Etymological , Technological , -and Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language , " in which the word Warden ( ward ) is thus rendered , " Waerdean , Saxon ; Gnarder , French ; Guardare , Italian ; b-uardar , Spanish . " The hypercriticism of "M . 0 . " deserves a compliment . Neither did I intend to give a detailed account of the heretofore

two Grand Lodges , but used the terms indiscriminately , as they are used in passing conversation by Masons at the present day , and I tender " M . C . " my acknowledgments for the able manner in which he has corroborated and enlarged upon my assertion as to their being before the union , in 1813 , two Grand Lod ges with identical landmarks , but differently constituted . I have also to express my obligation to " M . O , " in pointing out my apparent inconsistency , by quoting my words as follows : — " Here is nothing about taking an

apprentice , only as to ' the management of the Craft in working , ' id . est , work already in hand , and in that sense only may a Warden rule a lodge at the present day ; " and then he draws certain inferences which I admit may present themselves to a superficial reader . Does " M . C . " mean that the working of a lodge is confined to the business named in the summons to the

members ? If so , I join issue with him . The "W . M . has , when he has opened his lodge , to employ and instruct the brethren in E . M . If the W . M . be absent , ^ jind no P . M . willing to occupy the chair , it should not only be a Warden ' s right but a Warden ' s duty to instruct the E . A . 's , and prepare them for passing by the Master ; and should he ( the Warden ) open the lodge in

the second degree , he should do so for the instruction and improvement of the craftsmen , and guide them , to a knowledge of that sacred symbol which will fit them to be raised by the W . M . to the sublime third degree . These I take to be some of the ancient landmarks of the Order , and to which allusion is made in the charges to the Wardens , as cited by "M . 0 . " — "That the bretlirenma , y

not suffer for want of proper instruction , "—but nothing about a candidate may not suffer by the absence of a Master . I know that all this work is presumed to be done in lodges of instruction , but the Warden has no right to usurp the duties of an installed Master , because the lodges of instruction take upon themselves his functions . Let him be faithful in that which is least , before he claims to be entrusted with that which is much . Bnfc

"M . C . " writes an imaginary case , but "founded on those of daily occurrence . " ( How a case can be imaginary which is founded on daily occurrence is as unintelligible to me , as my comparative philology is to him . ) A lodge has been summoned in which ceremonies have to be performed , but the Master is not there to do his duty , and no P . M . present , I presume , I hone such a case is imaginary of

exceptional , and not of daily occurrence . I hope the Masters of lodges , as a rule , are gentlemen , and men of business , and that no Master would commit an act of something Worse than rudeness as to have the lodge summoned for such business and not attend to it , either by his own presence ; or providing a fit and proper person to discharge his dubies for him . If a clergyman for some

cause absents himself from his duties he provides a substitute and does not leave it to chance , his churchwardens , or his parish clerk to discharge them . As to that unfortunate Saxon word Warden , I cited some officers , ancient and modern , bearing that name , and exercising extraordinary powers . " M . 0 . " says , " In no one case does his definition of an irresponsible

head apply to a warden who was tho chief executive officer under the head . " The curious may satisfy themselves by reading the exploits of many of these Lord Wardens in the good old feudal times , and be puzzled to know sometimes who was the head if not the Lord Warden . But " M . 0 . " allows thab the word Warden is from the pure low Dutch waerdenand means a "keeper

. , a guardian , a head officer . " It must allude then to the Master and nob to the Warden of the lodge , for a Warden has nothing to keep , nothing to guard , nor is he a head officer .

Merton College , Oxford , was founded in 1274 ; it consists of a Warden , 24 Fellows , 14 Past Masters , 4 Scholars , 2 Chaplains , and 2 Clerks . New College , Oxford , founded 1386 , for a Warden , 70 Fellows , 10 Chaplains , an Organist , 3 Clerks , and 16 Choristers . All Souls ' College , Oxford , founded 1437 and 1444 , consists of a Warden , 40 Fellows , 2 Chaplains , and 7 Clerks . Wadham Oxford

College , , was founded 1612 ; it consists of a Warden , 15 Fellows , 15 Scholars , 2 Chaplains , and 2 Clerks . These Wardens are the " heads of colleges : " how then can they be the " chief executive officers under heads " ? When " M . 0 . " has settled with the lexicographer of the Glasgow University , I will pass him over to the above " Dons " of the Oxford University . On page 359 , the paragraph at the bottom ofthe page :