The High Degrees And Bro. Manningham.

¦ three—Masters , Fellow-Crafts , and Apprentices—and none of them ever arrive at the honour of knight--hood _ by Masonry ; and I believe you can scarcely imagine , that in ancient time the dignity of knighthood flourished amongst Freemasons , whose lodges heretofore consisted of Operative , not Speculative Kni

Masons . ghts of the Eagle , Knights of the -Sword , I have read in romance ; the great Don 'Quixote himself was Knignt of the Brazen Helmet , when he had vanquished the barber . Knights of the Holy Land , St . John of Jerusalem , Templars , & c , have existedand I believe now exist in the Knights

, of Malta , but what is that to Masonry ? I never heard that those Orders or honours were obtained by skill in Masonry , or that they belonged to the fraternity of Freemasons , worthy members of their Order and honour , but imagine they did not think such -titles obtained by Masonry alone .

" Universal benevolence , brotherly love , friendship , and truth , acting by the square and living within ¦ compass , are , or ought to be , the tenets of Masonry , the rule and guide of our actions . Let us be good Masons ; we may look with scorn on other honours or titles . It is at all times in our power to be good

Masons , and I think we ought to be contented , and not search the aerial field of romance for additional -titles . Use your utmost endeavour , dear brother , to . prevent a really valuable society from degenerating aud being lost in obscurity , by aiming at titles , to which the very nature of our society cannot give us a claim .

" The only distinction of ribbons or jewels that we make in our lodges , you will find in our " Book of Constitutions , " viz ., Grand Oflicers wear their jewels gilt , pendant on blue ribbons , aud their aprons lined with blue ; those brethren that have served the office of Steward at our grand feast ( from which number

all Grand Officers , except Grand Master , must be elected ) , wear their jewels of silver on red ribbons , and line their aprons with red ; all other brethren wear white aprons , aud their jewels pendant on white ribbons , neither are thev suffered to wear other

jewels than ^ the square , level , and plutnb , the compass belonging only to the Grand Master . "You mention your design of electing a noble Grand Master amongst yourselves , I have communicated that part of your letter to our Grand Lodge ; they have no objection to such election , but seem leased with

p your intention , neither will they claim more than brotherly love and friendly correspondence from your Grand Master , and -will use their utmost endeavours to settle everythiug on a proper basis , and be cautious how they interfere or grant constitutions for Holland . The constitutions already granted by

us , I presume , your Grand Blaster will not disapprove ; their titles and places of meeting our constitution hook will inform you . Our Grand Master commands me to inform you that he is desirous of a correspondence with your Grand Master when elected , and we will use our endeavours that it be properly maintained bthe

y respective deputies or Grand -Secretaries , as we cannot expect Grand Masters , either in England or-Holland , to give themselves such trouble at all times ; and I hope you will find future deputies more alert in their correspondence than I have been to you , for which I sincerely ask your pardon and forgiveness .

The High Degrees And Bro. Manningham.

" The Marquis of Carnarvon has resigned the chair to Lord Aberdour , who is now G . M ., aud our worthy Bro . Eevis , D . G . M ., but I have permission to sign this letter as D . G . M ., aud if you favour us with a line , take the same method as before by Mr . Hopp's secretary , who will convey your commands to me , and

I will take care they are properly honoured . " The late and present G . M . desire their respects to our brethren ; please to accept likewise of the respects of , Dear Sir and Bro ., " Your most affect ., & c , " T . MANNINGHAM , "D . G . M . " "Jermyn-street , " 12 th July , 1757 . "

The Hot Weather, And Its Influence On Scottish Freemasonry.

THE HOT WEATHER , AND ITS INFLUENCE ON SCOTTISH FREEMASONRY .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIO MIRROR . " The sun ' s perpendicular height illumines the depths of the sea ; The fishes beginning to sweat , cry , . . " & c , & c . Dear Sir and Brother . —The intense heats we read and hear about as peculiarly the condition of tropical atmospheres have reached this hardcold country of

, ours , cooling down the little enthusiasm my countrymen ordinarily feel , even about kirks and polities Ice is at a premium , and—shade of Brother Burns—is even used just now to cool Scotch whiskey . Music halls are shutting up , theatres deserted , and lodges closed . By the wayit is said there is one still open .

, At the late grand demonstration in Perth , on the occasion of the foundation stone of a factory being laid , the chief functionaries dismissed the brethren without closing the lodge . Scotland has no Masonic homes or charitable institutions , so this said lodge has , no doubt , been left open for houseless brethren .

Grand Lodge is doing nothing . This puts me in mind of a class which ought to be muzzled as well as dogs . I mean those grumbling old fellows who say that Grand Lodge never did do anything except gather in fees and give diplomas , which are little use at home , and not much use abroad . They

say Grand Lodge now aud then gives her countenance to the laying a foundation stone , which these old grumblers say " doesn't better the building in the least . I can remember one occasion when the presiding Grand Master was not treated with that reverence he thought himself entitled toand got

indi-, g nant . I can't tell whether his indignation had got into the cavity along with the coins , & c , and had afterwards expanded ; but certain it is that the walls of the building afterwards bulged out , and had partly to be taken down . Those subtle in tracing cause and effect may solve the matter .

All this is to be mended . I don't mean the building—that is mended already—but the causes for grumbling are to be remedied . The energetic and respected nobleman , the Eight Hon . the Earl of Dalhousie , now filling the Scotch Masonic throne has already commenced lodge visitations , and it is expected that his large intellect and great influence will raise Scotch Masonry both in the estimation of the craft and the public . The lodges may be said to be closed for the season ; but during the past winter