Innovations In Masonry.

politan Brother ; Christian Philosopher ; Master of Egyptian Secrets ; Esquire ; Soldier , and Knight . The Society constructed a vast building In Silesia , intended as a Grand Chapter of the Order , and which contained an excellent library , a

museum of Natural History , and a chemical laboratory . For a long time the African Architects decreed annually a gold medal , worth fifty ducats , to the author of the best memoir on the . history of Masonry .

In conclusion , it must be observed that the chapitral degrees of the York rite , the hamtas grades of the French rite , and the philosophic degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch rite , are not altogether innovations , but rather

illustrations of pure Symholic Masonry , and as such will be found to be the depositories of manyjinteresting traditions , and instructive speculations , which are eminently useful in shedding light upon the character , history , objects , and ceremonies of the institution .

Our Flag Was There.

OUR FLAG WAS THERE .

A TALE OE MASONRY IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS . Bright flag ! at yonder taperiug mast , Fling out your field of azure blue ; Let star and stripe be northward cast , And point as freedom's eagle flew ! Strain home ! oh lithe and quivering spars ' .

Point home my country ' s flag of stars ! The story and incidents we are about to relate are true—all true—or we would not record them We have never written aught of pure fiction , and most probably never shall . There is enough truth

in the world , enough in Masonry , to gratify the most ardent love of the wonderful , without reporting to romance to gratify a morbid appetite . The last expedition of Dr . Kane to the Arctic Regions , in search of the lost navigators from

England , reveals more of the wonderful , the startling , and the thrilling in narrative than the wildest fancy ever conceived ; and yet it is all unvarnished truth , and told with a child-like artlessness that fixes the seal of veracity upon it . If any are fond

of reading wild adventure , of strange providential escapes , of dangers appalling and terrible as death , yet bravely dared and heroically conquered , let them read Kane's Expedition .

On the 17 th of June , 1853 , there was lying at anchor in the harbour of St . John ' s , Newfoundland , a neat but strongly built little hermaphrodite brig , of 144 tons burden . It was

eveningsuch an evening as June furnishes m the high latitudes on the north-east coast of America—calm , starry , and beautiful ; and the little brig lay quietly upon the waters , like a living creature taking rest in slumber after a long and toilsome effort . Her

masts and spars , with the added rigging appeared like a dim but mysterious network traced by some fairy hand on the distant sky . From her masthead there floated a small flag which , when stirred by a fitful breeze , was discovered to contain the

much-loved " stars and stripes , " the emblem of our Union—the banner of the free ! That fittle brig was the Advance , under the command of that heroic and noble Craftsman , E . K . Kane , M . D ., of the United States Navy , His staunch but tiny vessel ,

manned with a picked crew of seventeen men—as noble a band of sailors as ever went forth on an errand of mercy . Dr . Kane had just started on his last voyage to the Arctic Regions in search of the long lost adventurers , Sir John Franklin and

party . The Advance had a stormy passage of eighteen days from New York , and Dr . Kane was giving his ci-ew two days' 2 'est , while receiving on board some necessary supplies for the uncertain and perilous voyage among the wintry regions around the North Pole .

It is well known to our readers that Dr . Kane is a Freemason—so was Sir John Franklin . Henry Brooks , the first officer of the Advance , is also a Freemason , and we judge from circumstances which transpired on the voyage that Mr . Morton ,

and probably several others of the officers and crew were also members of this ancient and mystic Order .

At St . John ' s , Newfoundland , in the harbour of which the Advance was riding at anchor at the time of which we write , there is a lodge , named St . John's Lodge , No . 844 , on the registry of the Grand Lodge of England . The officers and

members of this lodge , iu token of their brotherly regard for Dr . Kane and his crew , and their deep interest in the object of the search on which Dr . Kan & was bound , got up a festival in honour of his arrival , at which himself , Mr . Brooks , and others were

invited guests . At this festival the officers and brethren of St . John ' s Lodge presented to Dr . Kane , a Masonic flag , accompanied by the following touching and appropriate address : — " ¦ The Worshipful Master , Wardens , and brethren

of St . John's Lodge , No . 844 , hail the arrival of you , their most worthy Bro . Kane and your brethren , in this your last halting place on that