History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

P . W . The assisting officers Bro . M . Brougham , S . W . ; J , Conish , J . W . ; J . Roberts , S . D . ; R . Skins , J . D . ; Rev . S . Symons , Prov . G . C , Chap . There were also present , Bros . Knight , P . M ., Past D . Prov- G . M ., and R . Knight , W . M ., P . Prov . G . S . B . of the Redruth Lodge ; Moyle , W . M . Helston Lodge ; Johns , W . M .

Truro Lodge ; Treween , W . M . Penzance Lodge ; Lean , W . M . Crowan Lodge ; and Glasson , of the same lodge . The lodge was then opened in the first degree , and the ceremony of initiation was Avorked . The Inner

Guard acting as the candidate . The W . M . then opened up into the Fellow Crafts' degree , and having passed the acting candidate through that ceremony , he then declared the lodge of Master Masons opened with the usual observances , and the room being laid

out in order , the imposing ritual of that grand degree was then performed with " due solemnity , " and the various degrees closed in form down to the E . A ., amid the enthusiastic appreciation of the members of the Craft present .

The D . Prov . G . M . then expressed himself perfectly satisfied , and ordered the same mode of proceeding in all the degrees to be adopted by every lodge in the province , " and a copy of particulars written short by Bro . Vivian , the W . P . M ., was delivered to Bro . Knight , the W . M . of the Redruth Lodge , and the D , Prov . G . M . directed him to make a copy thereof ,

and transmit ifc to tire next senior lodge , and that each lodge should make a copy from the one received within fourteen days of its receipt , and send it to the nest , until the whole of the lodges throughout the province were in possession of a copy . " After a banquet in honour of the occasionthe W . M .

pro-, posed " The Health of Bro . Warren , D . Prov . G . M ., " which was responded to " with three times three , " and the worthy brother then suitably thanked the brethren for the kind and warm welcome he had received . The healths of the other Provincial Grand Officers Avere

then toasted , and in conclusion , the W . M . ot the Redruth Lodge proposed " The Health of the Worshipful Master presiding , " in doing which he Avas pleased to remark , among other observations respecting the business of the day , that in all the lodges which he

ever had the pleasure of attending ( and they were not a feAv in different parts of the globe ) , he neverhad witnessed the ceremonies so ably conducted as on this day , and he doubted not but that every officer and Master of a lodge present would fully concur in

that sentiment , and thanked the W . M . for the example he had shown , the trouble he had taken , and the ability he had displayed on this occasion . The W . M . in returning thanks for the graceful tribute that had been paid to his worth , said " That it was not to him individually , but to the members collectivelv , that the lodge owed its progress in the art ,

and more particularly to the persevering activity of our P . M ., Bro . Vivian , who was always the foremost iu a strict adherence to the laws of the Craft , and in ability to enforce them . " After much interesting conversation on Freemasonry in general , the lodge was finally closed in

peace and harmony , every brother expressing himself in the strongest terms of approbation , and being highly pleased with the business of the day . We mentioned fche fact of a visit being paid this lodge by Bro . Ernshaw , Avho gave such authoritative

instruction to the W . M . —as a representative of the Grand Lodge of England—that placed the lodge in so favourable a position . Such instruction was much needed—not only at that time subsequent to the union—but also before then .

It is supposed on good evidence , that the degree of Master Mason , ns a secret and distinct degree , was instituted about 1720 , and that its ritual then was vastly different to what it is now , as at that period the Royal Arch degree Avas unknown , and

itsmysteries formed part of the third degree from that year to about 1740 , when an alteration was made . These alterations , we believe , continued for someyears , and then another change was made , as also in the two previous degrees , and at the " Union in 1813 " ' the final and unalterable forms were decided upon and established- Before 1717 , Freemasonry as a

secret institution , was represented by the " Apprentice and Fellow Craft degrees , " since by the third degree , and now by the three Craft degrees combined , including the " Holy Royal Arch " of the Grand Lodge of England . The subject of the recognition of these degrees by

the various governing bodies of Masons in the two hemispheres is too important and extensive to be considered here , so we must reserve such a question for another opportunity , when we hope to avail ourselves of that privilege , premising , however , that

whereas English Masonry of the present day is-Jewish , and the Craft itself purely theistical , formerly it was Christian only , and all its lectures culminated in the truths of salvation . Hence in the higher degrees of the "Ancient and Accepted Rite " and

the"Royal Order , " pure and ancient Masonry is practised according to the ceremonies of the Craft before theunion , and the Christian element in them abounds ,, which in some measure accounts for the greatinfluence they exert in this country especially .

At a meeting of No . 110 held December 7 th , the-W . M . produced and read a letter from the Grand . Secretary to the Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall , in answer * to an application made by him ,. " whether any address was intended to be presented to the Prince Regent , from the Grand Lodge of England , at this eventful period , " the reply to which