Masonic Notes And Queries.

that not a drop of it escaped . Upon this ingenious reply , the applause was universal—the rule slept , or winked in his favour . The immediately presented to him the register upon which the successful candidate was in the habit of writing his name . He wrote it accordingly ; he had then only to thank them in a single phrase , but he chose to thank them without

saying a word . He figured upon the margin the number of his new asaociates , —100 ; then having put a cipher before the figure 1 , he wrote under it , their value will be the same , — 0100 . To this modesty , the ingenious president replied with a politeness equal to his address ; he put the figure 1 before the 100 , and wrote they will have eleven the value thev had—1100 .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor it not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents

TO SHE BDITOIt OT THE TBEElrASOfl-s' MAGAZINE Ah'D MASOHIC 3 IEHBOE . SUBORDINATION IN THE HIGHEE DEGREES .

Dear Sir and Brother , —Bro . Tarker has written to your contemporary what I confess is to me a very interesting letter , but it is no answer to mine . As a member of the Royal Order of Scotland , I am quite well aware of the antiquity and dignity of that Order , and of its intimate connection with both the Rose •% * and Templar degreesbut I am at a loss to know wh

, y it should he dragged into the discussion on subordination in the higher degrees , and Bro . Tarker ' s conduct in relation thereto . To Bro . Yarker himself let me say . one thing . I am heartily sorry that he has acted in such a bitter and hostile manner towards the S . C . —becauseI

, think he is a Mason who would have done credit to the Antient and Accepted Rite , as one of the few real students of Masonry . I am sorry he should try and run down the S . C , so called , as he is pleased to term it ; because , though his action cannot injure the members of the 33 ° it onlbreeds strife amongst

, y the brethren , and many of us would be glad to hold out the right hand of fellowship to Bro . Tarker , if he would only make his peace with the S . C . With regard to his statements as to the ne plus ultra degree , there is a good deal of truth in them , and this I have before admitted . The K . H . was

formerly given in the old K . T . Encampments , and I myself received it , together with the Red Cross * degree , in one of the oldest in England , —though in a mutilated form . But Bro . Tarker evidently forgets ( I certainly give him credit for knowing the fact ) that there were six degrees of Kadosh—the Kniht

g Kadosh ; Kadosh of the Chapter of Clermont-Philosophical Kadosh ; Kadosh Prince of Death , and Kadosh of the A . and A . Rite . Mackey ' s significant remark is worth recording . - ) - — " Of these degrees we

need pay little attention to any except that of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite—the most important of the few that continue to be worked . " As to Bro . Tarker ' s account of the origin of the A . and A . Rite , I must beg leave to again draw his attention to Mackey , who I presume will be considered an equal authorityeven with John

Tarker-, Mackey says in his article on the Emperors of the East and West . — "It is however a mistake to suppose as has been asserted by Thory and Ragon , that the Council of the Emperors of the East and West was the origin of the A . and A . Rite . The former had originally adopted ( like their successors the promoters

of the Mite of Misraim ) twenty-five of the degrees of the latter rite—but were subsequently reformed and re-organised by Frederick . " The words italicised are my own . But supposing it were true that the ori ginators of the A . and A . Rite wereone a tailoranother a

, , dancing master , as Bro . Tarker asserts , I am yet to learn that these occupations are not as good as that of a rag or yarn merchant who is dubbed by his friends , Grand Commander of the ne plus ultra , and Head of the Council of Rites .

Bro . Tarker does not believe that our esteemed Bro . Hughan would lend his name and reputation to support the A . and A . Rite . Perhaps not , and yet 1 have at my elbow a volume of the Freemasons' Magazine for ISG 5 , where I see Bro . Hughan is proud to put 18 ° after his name . Perhaps he wanted to be off with the old love of

the A . and A . Rite , before he was on with the new of the Order of Constantino ; at all events I see he has resigned membership of the Rose > i * Chapter , to which he belonged . For my own part I am sorry for it , because I feel sure Bro . Hughan would have risen in time to high position in the A . and A . Rite , a position which bis Masonic attainments amply

deserve . I cannot give the quotation from Mirabeau , Bro . Tarker asks for , as I have not the work by me . I dare say , however , it is in the library at 33 , Golden Square , and I am quite sure the courteous Secretary General will gladly give any member of the A . and A . Rite free access to the same .

In conclusion , I must say your readers will he glad to see the altered tone of Bro . Tarker's letter , and for my own part I am sorry if I have been led to speak harshly of any brother , though I felt bound to support the dignity and character of the Supreme Council against the unjust aspersions and calumnious statements of some of the correspondents

elsewhere . Permit me just to add one line as to the common sense view of this question . I take it that it is proved that no one in this country hut the S . Council has any right to confer the 18 ° , 30 ° , 31 ° , and 32 ; that it is admitted that certain old Encampments , notably Bristol , have given , or do now give , degrees similiar though not identical Q

with the 18 ° and 30 ; that [ these bodies have never given anything approaching to the 31 ° or 32 ° ; that the degrees they give are neither recognised by the Supreme Masonic bodies in this or any other country ; and that their certificates are so far useless as they will not gain their holders admission to any recognised Masonic bodies .