Royal Arch Fees.

I will briefly refer to the condition of Royal Arch Masonry in this province , as exemplifying the result of the present protective system of hi gh fees . The Chapter formerly attached to the Knights of Malta Lodge , No . 58 , Hinckley , has long since died out , although prior to the union this degree , as well as the Mark , Ark Mariners , and Knight Templar degrees were regularly worked there , and only a

very few of the older members at the present time have rccci ved the Royal Arch degree , the majority of the former members of the Lod ge having been in a somewhat humble station of life .

^ The Chapter of Fortitude attached to St . John's Lodge , No . 848 , in this town , some twenty years ago possessed out few members , and no resident companion who could work the ceremonies of the degree , and consequently a meeting could only be held once in every one or two years , and even then only when the services of the late Comps . Sir Frederick Fowkc and Laurence Thompson could be secured as M . E . Z . and P . S . About that

time a considerable accession of members took place iu the Lodge , many of whom entered the Chapter , which gradually obtained a good staff of officers by whom the ceremonies were performed in a Yery efficient manner . After the cstablisment of the John of Gaunt Lodge , No . 76 G , a Chapter warrant was also granted in connection with it , and the ceremony of consecration was performed by Comp . Savage in his

usual admirable maimer , and all the earlier members of the Lodge entered the Chapter . Since that period ( 1 . 847 ) both the local Lodges have made progress in a hi ghly satisfactory maimer , and at the present time each has about fifty subscribing members . Not so , however , unfortunately , with the two Chapters . Although efficient officers have not been wanting , there has been a great paucitof candidates

y , compara tively few of the brethren taking the degree ; and this is even the case with several brethren who have been not only active Craft Masons , but have served the office of Worshipful Master in a hi ghl y creditable manner . The result is that after mature deliberation and every endeavour to change the state of things , it has been determined that only one Chapter shall be worked in Leicesterand the warrant

, of St . Augustine ' s Chapter has recently , by permission of Grand Chapter , been transferred to the Ferrers aud Ivanhoe Lodge , No . 10 S 1 , Ashby-de-la-Zouch . This result I can confidently say from experience has been almost solely produced by the ex-pense of exaltation , which , including fees , apron , sash , and jewel , is far too considerable :

and I cordially concur in the opinion of Comp . Havers , when lie said , " that after a brother ivas once admitted , there ivas no reason why he should be subjected to heai'y charges for that which he was informed was only the completion of a degree he had already taken . He was desirous of seeing all the charges reduced , so as to afford every encouragement for brethren to enter the Royal Arch Degree . "

That Comp . Savage ' s opinion , that " it was not the amount of the fees , but other reasons , such as want of time or attendance to their Craft duties , which hindered brethren from going beyond the M . M . degree , and he could not conceive that the amount of the fee would keep a brother out of the Royal Arch , " although doubtless true to some extent , is , I am sure , erroneous as a general rule .

That it is the expense , and not want of time or inclination that deters many brethren from exaltation , is proved here by the fact that many of those brethren who were years ago eli gible for admission to the Royal Arch degree , but have refrained from takingit , were immediately advanced as Mark Masters on the Mark Lodges being opened here , the fee for advancement in that degree being a moderate one , and also by the frank admission of several

of the brethren that it is solely the expense ivhieh prevents them entering the Royal Arch degree . I sincerely trust that the Supreme Grand Chapter may hereafter be induced to reconsider and reverse their decision ; and it would probably tend greatly to promote this desirable end if the members of Provincial Chapters would memorialize the Grand Chapter in favour of the reduction of the fee for exaltation , and thus

bring their views on the subject under tho notice of the members present at Grand Chapter . Although it might perhaps be desirable , it is certainly not of so much importance that the fee for a Chapter warrant should also be reduced . Apologising for trespassing so much on your valuable space , I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , WILLIAM KELLY , D . Prov . G . M . and Prov . G-. H . for Leicestershire , Leicester , May 9 th , 18 G 0 .

Serving Brethren.

SERVING BRETHREN .

TO THE EDITOR 01 ' THE KIEEHASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Sin AND BROTHER , —A waiter at an hotel , for the convenience of the Lodge hold there , was made a serving brother and raised to the third degree . A feiv years afterwards he took a house and has become prosperous in life . He is desirous of joining his mother Lodge , being balloted for , and paying his joining fee , and even of repaying the Lodge for the fees of

certificatework-, ing his way up , and taking part in the affairs of the Lodge as the other members , and " there is no other Lodge in the vicinity of his dwelling , " nor in the same town . The brethren of the Lodge arc very desirous of having him amongst them , but the Book of Constitutions , on Private Lodges , Art . 1 . 0 , appears to present an insuperable difficulty , and from the qualifying sentence at the end of that articleappears to have been enacted only to enable the

, serving , by paying dues for four years at least , to make him eligible for relief . In fact the article qualifies him for relief and disqualifies him from becoming a regular member of his mother Lodge . I beg to refer you to Dr . Oliver ' s Masonic Jurisprudence , chap , ii ., sec . ii , where the subject is ably and clearly treated with regard to a case which occurred in 1850 , and which was decided by the Board of General Purposes exactly parallel in every point

to the one I mention . Dr . Oliver thought " another instance of a similar nature might never occur again . " It appears a very hard case . Will some eminent brother take the matter up with the view of procuring an amendment of the Constitutions , or obtaining some " relief in the premises ? " I am , yours very fraternally , loth May , 1860 . TIIANET .

An Impostor.

AN IMPOSTOR .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DBAU Sin AND BROTHER , —With a view to prevent , as far as possible , an extension of the swindling practices on the part of a scoundrel who has lately succeeded in imposing on the Master , Treasurer , and many of the brethren of the Lodge of ( Economy in this city ( though it is some satisfaction to say he has not escaped without punishment ) I herewith furnish you with an outline of

, the circumstances under which we were deceived , and trust that the readers of your Magazine will receive the caution in time to sav e their money and their sympathy from being expended on false grounds . The fellow who swindled us arrived in this city on the 14 th of April , and introduced himself to the Worshipful Master ( Bro . Le Croix ) , and by him was directed to the Secretary and Treasurer .

The man represented that his name was James Mackie , and produced a petition purporting to be signed by several members of the Grand Lodge of England , also various members of Lodges in the district lying between London and Aldershot . He also had a certificate of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , of which the following is a copy : — " GRAND LODGE oi ? SCOTLAND . —To all and sundry to whose knowledge

these presents shall come greeting : These are to certify that the bearer , Bro . James Mackie , was duly entered an Apprentice , Past Fellow Craft , and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in the Lodge , St . Stephen , Edinburgh , holding of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , Me . 145 , as appears from authentic documents in the hands of the Master and Officebearers of said Lodge , produced to the Grand Lodge aforesaid . " In testimony whereof these presents are subscribed by our Secretary , and sealed with our seal , having also for the greater security tho signature of the said brother annexed on the margin . *

* James Maelue . " Given at Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , this 20 th day of June , iu the year of our Lord 1 S 59 , and of Light , 5 S 59 . "AV . H . LAURIE , "Secretary Grand Lodge of Scotland . "Date of registry , 20 th June , 1859 . "Name recorded , ISth November , 1844 . " At Aldershot he had been liberally relieved upon these

documents , and at Basingstoke he had also obtained pecuniary assistance . Mr . Hulbert , the ex-mayor , had given him one pound , and he was assisted by other individuals there . The man represented that on the 17 th March last he was on his way to Australia in a vessel called the Flora , and was wrecked off the Isle of Sark , and that his wife and one child were drowned , and all his property lostbut he and others were picked up by the brig Charlotte

, ( Capt . Fenwick ) who gave him two pounds , and brought him into St . Kathcrinc ' s Dock . He said he was now endeavouring to raise funds to enable him to sail from Southampton where his mother and daughter were awaiting him , and that on the following Wednesday they Avcrc going to Australia in the ship Celestial , and