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(( Contents . PAGE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE •—A Step in the Right Direction 221 Antiquity ofthe Craft 222 Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex 222

The Common Secret and its influence 225 Masonic Jottings—No . 86 226 A Good Masonic Life 227 Grand Lodge of Canada 228 Masonic Notes ancl Queries 228 Masonic Sayings and Doings Abroad 230 The Plumb 230 MASONIC MIRROR : —

Masonic Mems , 231 CRAET LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 232 Provincial , ' ... 232 Royal Arch 232 Mark Masonry 232 Scotland 233 New South AVales 233

Knights Templar 233 Royal Order of Scotland 233 Summary of Masonic Law 235 Obituary 239 Notes on American Freemasonry 237 Notices to Correspondents 240 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 240

A Step In The Right Direction.

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION .

LONDON , SATUBDAY , SJUPTMIBJED 16 , 1871

A . Step in the Right Direction is the notice ( given in our report last week ) which was posted in the Ante-Room of the Grand Lodge at the last Quarterly Communication , to the following effect : "N OTICE . —It having been represented to the Board of General

Purposes that brethren arc in the habit of attending Grand Lodge wearing jewels not recognized by the Grand Lodge , the Grand Pursuviant has been ordered to see the law carried into effect , viz .: " That no honorary or other Jewels shall be worn in Grand Lodge , which shall not appertain to , or be consistent with those degrees , which are recognized and acknowledged by ,

and are under the control of the Grand Lodge , as part of pure and Ancient Masonry . —By order of the Board of General Purposes , John Hervey , Graud Secretary . " It must have been observed by every regular

attendant at the Quarterly Communications of Grand Lodge that it is a growing practice , even with some brethren who may fairly claim to be considered as eminent Craft Masons , to wear jewels and other insignia connected with "degrees' "

and " Orders " which are not recognised by the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . This edict-, which prohibits the geegaws apertaimng to what must be termed antagonistic

Orders , being paraded within the portals of the Grand Lodge , will , we hope , prove but tlie precursor of the final blow that shall be struck , to put an end to the ridiculous tomfoolery which , under the guise of pretended Masonic connection ,

is , to the great detriment of the Craft , being perpetuated at the instance of , and for the benefit of , a clique of man-milliners and their satellites . Whether this edict is influenced by the introduction of Bro . Matthew Cooke ' s motion in Grand

Lodge or not , we shall not pretend to divine ; but it is very opportune , as expressing the feeling of the heads of the Craft ¦ upon the subject of these quasi-Masonic Orders . The attention of Grand Lodge having now

been called to the fact , some action upon the matter is imperative . It is not in the Grand Lodge of England alone that these parasitical pests are found to be a nuisance . A notice of motion has been given in the Grand Chapter of Canada by Comp . Ramsay ,

to the effect that he will move that the constitution be so amended as to include all the degrees ofthe Ancient and Accepted Rite , the Royal Order of Scotland , the Red Cross of Rome aud Constantine , the Royal Ark Mariners' Degree , and the

Council Degrees , as being recognised by this Grand Chapter . We do not suppose for a moment that Comp . Ramsay seriously desires that the " Red Cross of Rome and Constantino" an invention , as it were

of yesterday , should be tacked on to and form a part of ancient Ereemasonry . The real motive is , doubtless , to winnow the grain from the chaff , that the Supreme head of Craft Masonry should be be head and ruler of any and every thing that legitimately claims or , professes to belong to or he connected with , Masonry .

It is no argument to say , as the head of these orders claim , that" weare not antagonistic to Craft Masonry ; on the contrary we admit none within our portals but those who have received the Craft or Royal Arch Degrees . " The axiom " He that is not with us , is against us , " is in this case a trite

one . Admitting the correctness of their statements , and that these degrees have a connection Avith , and are properly a part—an advanced part—of Ancient Masonry , is it , we ask , proper and

decent that there should be degrees of which the Supreme ruler of Freemasons of this country , in his official capacity is not cognizant , and possessing secrets'into which lie is not initiated . Let some brother give notice for a similar motion in the Grand Lodge of England j but let it