The Mark Degree.

nition of the Grand Chapter of Scotland by the Grand Lodge , but the present M . E . First Principal , the Earl of Dalhousie , K . T ., as also the M . W . G . M . of Scotland . However , should "Crescent" feel inclined to

¦ establish an English R . A . Chapter in Scotland he is welcome to try , " . butlet him remember the Scottish motto nemo me impune lacessit . Personally and individually , I have the greatest possible respect and admiration for the zeal and

earnestness of the G . Mark Lodge of England , and when the happy day of reconciliation and union arrives , and when I can conscientiously . enrol myself undor their banner , they will find me , an humble , obedient and zealous brother . Straws tell us which way the wind blows , and from certain indications in the Masonic

atmosphere , I fancj'' a move in the right direction is being thought of . Whether these " tender leaves of hope , " will ever blossom , we know not , but clum spiro spero . " Crescent" concludes by saying , " Let us urge

the Scottish Mark Lodges in England , if any such still exist , to hasten to change their warrants , before it is too late and they find themselves left out in the cold . " The italics are mine .

Now , in the name of common sense , what does " Crescent" mean by this threat , for threat ¦ assuredly it is . We cannot crave for recognition from the G . Mark Lodge , for we , it is , who do not acknowledge or visit them , and they are

already tabooed . Whatever may be the meaning of this sybilline warning , of which I must confess myself totally ignorant , should we be ever " left out in the cold , " I trust we shall be enabled to bear with equanimity the doom of frozen out Mark Masters .

Masonic Celestial Mysteries.

MASONIC CELESTIAL MYSTERIES .

By Bro . HENRY MELVILLE . PAPER II . —SECOND SERIES . —LABOEOMINA VINCIT . It is admitted that the tribes ' of the children of Israel set up ensigns for signs , * and that the symbols on these ensigns were the pictured

constellations of the Zodiac . There are four standards enumerated in Numbers : that of Judah in the east , of Ephraim in the west , of Reuben in the south , and Dan in the north . Celestially they

denote the equinoxical and solstical points on the ecliptic , and which are called the cardinal points . * " Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch his camp by his own standard with the ensigao their father ' s house ; and on the east side towards

the rising of the sun shall they of the standard o f the camp of Judah pitch " . f The east side towards the rising of the sun does not indicate any particular spot on the earth , for the sun rises in the east perpetually throughout the interminable ,

circle . In like manner the sun to our earth is always vertical , or , in Masonic words , the sun is ever on the meridian . It is different in the heavens . There the cardinal points , as described , are fixed—there the sun rises in the east only

once a year , and that is at the moment he passes over the line at the vernal equinox—there then at the equinox is to be the standard of Judah , or Nisan , or Aries—Nisan means " standard , " and it is the first month of the sacred year of the

Jews . J " In the first place went the standard of the " camp of the children of Judah . " § Lions , it need scarcely be repeated , constitute symbols of the royal arms , yet it is not supposed the animals were aborigines of any portion of Great Britain . That there are celestial lions is

most certain . In order to test the efficiency of the Masonic keys and laws , it will be expedient to explain celestially the most important passages in the Scriptures where practical interpretation can be given of lions . The reading shall be according to

the laws placed in the hands of the Grand Registrar , Bro . M'Intyre , who declared in writing that what Masonic matters he examined were accurately pointed out by those laws . The Biblical references to the lion exceed one hundred , and to give the

interpretation of each passage seriatim would be tedious , but any brother desiring explanation of any reference not here ellucidated shall have the celestial interpretation given to him when he makes application .

There was a young lion in the house or sign of Judah . || That as explained is Aries , and it is thus confirmed : " Judah is a lion ' s whelp ; he couched as a lion , and as an old lion , who shall rouse him up . " If " Behold , a young lion roared against Samson , and the spirit came upon him mightily , and he rent the lion as he would have