The Ritual.

Another noticeable circumstance is that the Grand Lodge of All England , held at York , recognised five Degrees in 1779 . These were— 1 st . The Apprentice Degree . 2 nd . The Fellow Craft Degree . 3 rd . The Master Mason's Degree . 4 th . The Royal Arch . 5 th . The Knight Templar Degree . *

The full significance of this arrangement of the Degrees will be evident to every Christian Freemason . We would now draw the attention of those brethren who hold that Freemasonry has no religious import to certain references in the Ritual . The first working tool with which the Entered Apprentice is presented is , amongst other uses , to mark that portion

of time which should be passed m prayer to Almighty God ; we fear that the lapse of time has made some Masons forget this , or they could hardly argue or assert that Freemasonry has no religious significance . The second working tool , in a similar manner , is so to be used that our words and actions may ascend unpolluted to the Throne of Grace . Has not this been forgotten . Passing to the

Second Degree , the tools there presented to the brother are to be so applied , symbolically , that the candidate may hope to ascend to those immortal mansions whence all goodness emanates . In the Third Degree we are reminded of the straight and undeviating line of conduct laid down for our pursuit in the Volume of the Sacred Law . Is any Mason satisfactorily assured

that in every volume in this world , esteemed as sacred by some section or other of the community , there is a straight and undeviating line of conduct laid down ? We do not ask , has some one or other asserted that this is the case 1 but we ask the brethren who use this formula , do they possess any knowledge which carries with it the required conviction 1 The two tools , the last , which are

next presented to the brother are to remind us of God ' s unerring and impartial justice . We here admit that as He has defined in the Bible certain limits of good and evil , we shall be rightly punished if we disregard His divine commands . What we have stated must be familiar to every Mason , and it is impossible to apply this teaching to all sacred volumes , or to all that are so esteemed : the

application can only be to the Bible . There is one circumstance to which we think sufficient attention has not been paid , and which supports our arguments used in other places . This is the great difference in the obligations of performance expected from the Fellow-Craft as compared with the Apprentice Freemason . We find Preston and Emulation working

agree regarding this . After his initiation the neophyte is recommended to seriously contemplate the Volume of the Sacred Law ; he is charged to consider it the unerring standard of truth and justice , and to regulate his actions by the divine precepts it contains . This point is of the highest importance in considering what are the duties of a

brother , who is not a Christian at the time of his initiation . The Ritual makes it perfectly clear that neither at , nor after , his initiation is the brother obliged to support principles of which he was , previously thereto , ignorant . He is , in effect , merely charged , recommended to be a Christian , for the words used can only refer to the Christian's Bible .

It is obvious that after their disclosure he might disapprove of those principles and decline to conform to them without prejudice to his status as an Apprentice , but the position is changed wheu the Second Degree is taken . In taking this Degree a distinct approval of the principles of the First is given . To make sure of

this a preliminary and solemn engagement is exacted that the principles inculcated in the First Degree , which , as we have shown include Christianity , will be maintained . In the Charge after Passing the Craftsman is told that he is bound to perform certain duties , and that in his new character it is expected that he will conform to the principles of the Order .

Review.

REVIEW .

THE COSMOPOLITAN MASONIC CALENDAR AND DIARY FOR 1889 . Published by Bro . George Kenning , London , & c . Is a most comprehensive and useful work of reference , as well as an efficient pocket book and diary for Craft , Royal Arch , and Mark Master Masons , attached to the several lodges working under the English Constitutions at home and abroad . The members

of Rose Croix Chapters , Knight Templar Preceptories , and Red Cross Conclaves , and also Freemasons connected with the Scotch , Irish , and most of the foreign Grand Lodges , will find in it abundant information of considerable interest . The present is the nineteenth year of its publication , and a continual reference to its pages during all that period has proved it to ourselves to be as nearly perfect in

respect of the information afforded as could be possibly expected , having regard to the continuous changes taking place in removals of lodges , alteration of dates of meetings , and the substitution of newly-appointed officers of Grand Lodges for those named in it . The Diary of Metropolitan Lodges shows at a glance the forthcoming meetings of the several lodges , and affords space for the entry of

engagements . We commend the work for its utility , not only to those who have availed themselves of former issues , but also to those new members of our Order who may desire more general information than they could otherwise obtain , without much difficulty and loss of time . Its price ( 2 s . ) brings it within the reach of all .

The Masonic " Poet's Corner."

The Masonic " Poet's Corner . "

( Original and Selected ,. ) TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE BRO . DR . ROB . MORRIS , MASONIC POET LAUREATE , BY BRO . JNO . K . HALL . And thou art gone ,

And Masonry has lost A Pillar from her Temple . And while a Mason lives The memory of Rob . Morris ne'er will die . Through opposition he has fought his way ,

And spent a life in deeds of usefulness . No selfish motive ever had a place In all his acts of charity and love ; He lived for others , with no thought of self . When Masonry had need of a defender ,

She found a champion in Bro . Morris . His whole and earnest life Was spent in carrying out its principles . He journeyed from the rising To the setting sun ,

Disseminating its important truths . And living up to its requirements . No obstacle he did nob overcome ; He bore the slurs and taunts of those Who should have aided him ,

With meekness and compassion ; They , in envy of the position He held in every true Masonic heart .

Misrepresented and maligned him ; But true and faithful to our lessons He lived , and died A Martyr in its cause .

To use Bro . Morris' own words" We'll set the green sprig deep in love ; We'll water it with sympathy ; We'll give it fond and faithful care , Nor shall a single leaflet die . " FAITHFUL AND TRUE , HOW SWEET HE RESTS . [ Reproduced from the Masonic Review , Cincinnati , for November . ]

" THE CRAFT . " [ As GIVEN IN ST . MANGHOLD LODGE , No . 1075 , ISLE OF MAN . ] BROTHERS of the Craft arise !

Pledge with me Free Masonry ! Closer bind our mystic ties , Our motto— " Strength and Unity . " We strive for Freedom and for Truth ,

We labour for the common good ; With hand and heart , in age and youth , Promote the Perfect Brotherhood .

Let the Light of Knowledge spread ! Prosper , the Science of the Free I Heaven ' s blessings on our Royal Head ! Brethren—The Craft—with three times three .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of this institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , on the 12 th inst . Bro . Jabez Hogg , P . G . D ., presided as Chairman , and there were present Bros . James Brett , P . G . P . ; J . Newton , Samuel Brooks , W . A . Scurrah , Charles Kempton . A . II . Tattershall . Alexander Forsyth , M . D . ; Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; C . H . Webb , W . Hilton , Hugh Cotter .

H . M . Hobbs , J . J . Berry , and James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Secretary . The Secretary reported the deaths of ihree annuitants ( two men and one widow ) . The petitions were fifteen in number , ten being from men and five from widows . Seven of the former were accepted , two rejected , and one deferred , while four of the latter were accepted and one rejected . ^

MARK MASONRY . —A half-yearly communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Mark Masons of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire was held at the Masonic Hall , Cheltenham , on the llth inst . The Prov . G . M ., R . W . Bro . the Baron de Ferrieres , presided , supported by the Past Prov . G . M ., R . W . Bro . J . Walker , and a full attendance of Prov . Grand officers and members of the province ,

among them Bros . 0 . Shellard , P . M ., 243 and P . G . S . W . ; T . Blinkhorn , P . M . ; J . Marchant , P . M . ; John Davies . P . M . ; II . S . Marchant , R . M . ; John Barnes , P . M . ; Edward George , J . O . ; G . J . Caldwell , I . P . M . ; T . G . Chance , S . D . ; W . Margrett , I . G . ; 0 . A . Stephens , tyler , of St . Ethelbert , 243 , Hereford . The principal business was the appointment and investiture of W . Bro . Shellard ( ex-Mayor of Hereford ) as Deputy Prov . G . M ., in succession to the late Bro . IT . occurred after his to the

Jeffs , whose death shortly appointment office in July last . A vote of condolence with Bro . Jeffs ' s family was placed upon the minutes of the Prov . Grand Lodge , and a vote of thanks in aid of the proposed memorial to Bro . Brooksmith , the oldest Past Master of the province and a Past Officer of Grand Lodge , was also unanimously made . A banquet was afterwards held which was presided over by the Provincial Grand Master , supported by his deputy , Bro . Shellard .