The Antiquity Of Masonic Degrees.

The word Rose-Croix is of itself modern ; in 1793 , Dunkerley was styled Knight of the "Rosy Cross , " which is the exact translation of the Latin , de Based Griiee . " Rosa Crucis " tells us that it is a very ancient degree , and that it was well known in this country in 1314 . We were told , some time back , that it was founded by Edward the First , on his return from the Holy Land . Now we are told that it was well known in this country in 1314 ; will "Rosa Crucis" give some authority for an evidence of so important a fact ?

Perhaps some of your readers are ignorant of an . old controversy on tho subject of the use and antiquity of this Order . The first book seemingly published in respect to this mysterious Order was a German book , in 1615 , at Frankfort , entitled , in German , " Manifests and Confession of Faith of the Brethren of the Rosy Cross , " and which gives us the following account of its founder ,

a person of the name of Christian Rosencreuz , who was borii in 1378 , and died in 1484 ; that he founded an Order , first of four , and then of eight , who were to exercise medicine charitably and without reward , to dress according to the habits of the country they lived in , to attend the yearly congregations , and to choose his successor .

In 1617 , Robert Fhud , or "R . de Fhutibus , " as he calls himself , published , in Holland , " Tractatus Apologeticus integritatem Societatus de Rosea Oruce depudens , " mainly to answer the allegations of magic and imposture . In 1717 , Michael Maier also put out a "Tractatus Apologeticus . " ' ' . In 1723 at Paristhere was edited bHenri Neuhaus ,

, , y Maistre de Medicine et Philosophic , of Dantzic , "Avertissementprieux et tres utile des freres de la Rose Croix , " which was probably a copy of a Latin address or discourse printed in Germany in 1622 , with the same title in Latin . There are other and later works , but I need not notice them .

Now , in all these works , some vituperative , some defensive , which I have named , Christian Rosencreuz seems to be admitted as the founder of the Order , and that it was purely , of German . origin . I express no opinion on the subject , but , at any rate , it is important to bear in mind this fact . That a body of men , called " Rosicrucians , " or " Brethren of the Rosy Cross , " existed

in this country I am not prepared to dispute ; but what I am prepared to dispute is , that they were anterior to Masonry , or that their present formal Rose Croix Order is superior in antiquity to Craft Masonry . Rosencreuz is said to have studied in Egypt , and : to have brought back many mysteries from thence ; all that can fairly be saidif even that can be safelsaidisthat

, y , , the brethren of the Rosy Cross preserve some of the common traditions of Masonry . Dr . Leesonis quoted as saying that in 1720 certain constitutions were adopted by Grand Lodge , before the Duke of Montague , on St . John's Day . But was the Duke of Montague Grand Master in 1720 ? and where are those constitutions to be found ?

Will " Rosa Crucis " favour me with a reference to the constitutions of the French Langne in 1264 , and some account of the Holy Royal Arch brethren of Paris ? ' I might protract this letter still more unreasonably , if I did not feel reluctant to tread too much on your forbearance ; aud I will conclude , therefore , by asserting that the Chevalier Ramsay had no more to do with founding

the Royal Arch Degree than I had -, that it existed long before his time , and that all he did , for the purpose of propping up a fictitious and political system , was to incorporate , with his spurious degrees and orders , shreds and patches of the older , and truer and genuine system . No one can study this question calmly and carefully without being persuaded of this most certain truth . I still adhere to my original proposition , that our Craft degrees are older in tradition , older even in formilllaries , than

The Antiquity Of Masonic Degrees.

the Masonic Knights Templar , than the " Malta Pass , " than any " Rite Ecossais , " than even " Rosa Crucis , " or the " Ancient and Accepted Rite . " I am yours , faithfully and fraternally , EUOK .

On The Processions Of Ancient 'Freemasons, &C, In London.

ON THE PROCESSIONS OF ANCIENT 'FREEMASONS , & c , IN LONDON .

TO THE EDITOIt OF THE FHEEJTASOIfs' AIAGAZIITE AUD JIASOSIO MIEBOK . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As the columns of your excellent publication , THE MIRROR , are ever open to the proceedings of ancient and modern Freemasons , I beg leave to forward you a narrative of certain processions , anti-Masonic , in ridicule of those practised by the ancient brethren in the early part of the last century . '

It appears the last of these processions took place in 1742 , of which a print was published about that period by Benoisb , a foreign artist , then residing in London . This print was four feet long , full of . groups of small figures , in ridicule of the annual cavalcade and procession of the different lodges of Freemasons . This ; mock procession of scald Masons , which actually took , place' in the

year 1742 , was contrived by Paul Whitehead , the poet laureate , and his intimate friend , christened Esquire Carey , of : Pall Mall , surgeon to Frederick Prince of Wales . It is supposed that his Royal Highness favoured this frolic , as the mock procession cost the projectors no small sum . This expensive burlesque was thus described in the papers of the day : —

"Yesterday , March 20 , 1740-1 . —Some mock Freemasons marched through Pall Mall and the Strand , as far as Temple Bar , in procession ; first went fellows on jackasses , with cow horns in their hands ; then a kettle drummer on a jackass , " having two butter firkins for kettledrums ; then followed two carts drawn by six jackasses ,, having in them the Stewards with several badges'in

their Order ; then came a mourning coach drawn by ' -six horses , each of a different colour and size , in whieh wtere the Grand Master and Wardens . Besides these there were nuinerous ^ other pageants , with rough music of all kinds , making altogether , perhaps , the most ludicrous p . rocessioh . that ' . ever had appeared within a century of these most-humurous times . " . '•'¦ - ¦¦ .

: Ib seems that ridicule has ever been the most powerful corrective of public , as' well as-private , tomfoolery , for the processions of the real Masons 'after this burlesque ceased . ' - ¦ ' ¦ - ¦' . ' ¦¦ ' ¦¦¦ - ' .-

. The English had for ages / been . a . procession-loving people . To . afford some notion . of this almost last remnant of these public spectacles it may suffice to observe , that on the same day'of this cayalcadeof miserable scald Masons , the august body Of the-learned and enlightened Masons themselves made a grand procession from Brookstreet to Haberdashers' Hail ; where ' tlrey dined

magnificently , and passed the night With "all the decorum so peculiar'to -all fraternities of Free and Accepted Masons . .. This mock cavalcade failed Of-pne part of its object , however , for it . was intended to , proceed into the City , and fafLinto the great and magnificent procession ; but the Lord Mayor of the City of London , himself being a Freetook to prevent them from entering le

mason , care Temp Bar , as he sagaciously forboded what most likely would have occurred , a fray between the redoufcable brotherhood of Freemasons , and the dirty fraternity of dustmen , draymen , and chimney-sweepers . Trusting this article may be acceptable to your readers generally , I put it into your hands for insertion if you

think it proper and worthy of a place in the MASONIC MIRROR . With respect and fraternal regards , I remain , Dear Sir ancl Brother , yours fraternally , J . HAURIS , P . M . ASD P . Z . No . 1 , Freemasons' Asylum , East Croydon , November 5 th , 1863 .