An Initiation In Paris.

The first proceeding was the reading of a full description of the profanes seeking admission , their names , ages , residences , professions , moral characters , and many details of their private life . They were then balloted for in a somewhat

peculiar manner ; to my astonishment I and other visitors were pressed to vote . During this time , as I afterwards learned , each profane was separately immured in one of the Cabinets des reflexionssmall chambers hung with black , and decorated with

the most sombre and awe-inspiring emblems . Here they had to write the replies to certain questions submitted to them , which replies were now brought into the lodge by the Expert in a peculiar manner . On being read out they proved

satisfactory , and the four profanes were at once admitted and placed in front of the Venerable , who put a number of questions to them , such as : — Why do you wish to become a Freemason ? What do you expect to learn ? What

benefit do you expect to derive ? What is your idea of the society ? Have you learnt anything about it ? If so , what , and from whom ? The profanes having answered all these to the satisfaction of the lodge ( without any prompting ) ,

and having pledged themselves to persevere through the ceremony , the Experts were directed to conduct them on their premier voyage , for a description of which I think I had better refer the curious to Bro . Clavel s "Histoire Pittoresque . "

Again seated , they were asked what impression the voyage had made on them , and what they supposed it was symbolically intended to convey to their minds ; after each had replied to the best of his ability , the Venerable explained the true

meaning of that portion of the ceremony . They were then sent on their second voyage , about which there was nothing remarkable , excepting that the brethren made a peculiar noise . Having regained their seats , they were cross-questioned at great

length by any one who choose to do so on all possible subjects—theological , political , moral , metaphysical . As a rule all these were answered in an able manner . Having passed through this , I think the most trying portion of their ordeal , they made

their third voyage amidst fire ( supplied by the frere terrible with the aid of the lampe a lijcopode ) . This explained to them , they were sent out of the lodge , and again balloted for , this time by show of hands . Before being obligated , each had his right hand hashed , and la coupe sacree presented to

An Initiation In Paris.

him . They were then sworn on a " flaming sword , with which the Venerable afterwards dubbed them Apprentice Freemasons . Instead of presenting the poor-box to them , they were told to inform the Hospitaller in an undertone

what sum they would that night give for charitable purposes . This was afterwards collected . The ceremony being over , various matter of business were discussed with the formalities of a legislative assembly , and the Hospitallers having

taken the poor-box round , the lodge was closed with the usual French accompaniment , la batterie manuelle . With the exception of the premier voyage , I was much pleased with the ceremony , and thought many portions of it , more especially the extemporaneous charges of the orator , preferable to our own .

Old Freemasonry Before Grand Lodge.

OLD FREEMASONRY BEFORE GRAND LODGE .

I have read with much attention and no little interest Bro . Yarker s interesting and able communications from time to time , and as a fellow Masonic student rejoice to find that there is much on which we can most heartily agree .

I agree , for instance , with him entirely in all that he says about the Master s Degree , as a recent theory—that it was fabricated in 1717—is , as he well puts it , not only " very unlikely , but is really , I make bold to say , so absurd , as hardly to merit discussion .

It is quite true , as Bro . Yarker reminds us , that the Master ' s Degree was given only lor the most part in the annual Grand Assembly or Grand Lodge , and there is plenty of evidence to prove that this custom was retained in the Ancient

Grand Lodge at York until a late period of the 18 th century . With Bro . Yarker , I quite think that " other evidence of a Master ' s Degree will eventually appear , both in England and Scotland , with the

progress of Masonic archasology . " But in his able paper of October 16 th , Bro . Yarker has made several statements , for which he may have authority from his own researches , but of which , in my studies for some years , I have not myself

been able to find the slightest valid evidence . I beg , in the first place , most respectfully to demur to his statement that a " system of seven or eight degrees , practised at York , in London ,