The Early Organization Of The "Ancients."

At the meeting at the Turk ' s Head , on the 17 th July , 1751 , there were five lodges with an aggregate membership of between 70 and 80 brethren . At the election of Laurence Dermott as Grand Secretary , in succession to Bro . John Morgan resigned , there were nine lodges , mustering amongst them about 100 members . On the 27 th December , 1752 , when Nos . 7 and 10 were si ruck off the roll , and the lodges were closed up , more M ' odernorum ,

1740 . the number of lodges had been increased by five , and the number of members to between 220 and 230 . The fourth stage carries us to the election and installation of Bro . Robert Turner , of ( new ) No . 15 , as G . Master in December , 1753 , and proved a period of real and substantial progress . No less than 15 lodges were added to the roll , and the number of members was increased to upwards of 600 . During Grand Master Turner ' s rule the

Craft made a further increase of eight lodges , while the number of members was raised to from 870 and 880 . When the Register of members closes with the entry of No . 1014 on the 14 th August , 1755—that is , when Bro . the Hon . E . Vaughan had got through more than half of the first year of his Grand Mastership—there were about 920 members all told , the balance of between 90 and 100 required to make up the number 1014 being accounted

for by re-registries , deaths , exclusions , & c . The third list of lodges , of which I have given a description , but the value of which is seriously impaired by the almost total omission of particulars as regards the lodges numbered from No . 53 onwards , shows further that about April , 1757 , when the Earl of Blesinton had become Grand Master , there were 64 lodges on the roll , No . 64 being the last entry provided for in the list . Thus in the six years from 17 th July , 17515 the

" Ancient" Society had increased from five lodges to 64 lodges , and no doubt the membership had increased proportionately , while the organisation had extended itself to various important provincial centres and to the army . This betokens a large amount of energy and capable wofk on the part of the leaders of this branch of English Freemasonry , and the picture has this advantage , that all its details are derived from the authentic records now religiously preserved among the archives of our Grand Lodge .

Having concluded this portion of my task , I propose devoting a further article or two to the new position in which we find ourselves as regards the Organisation of our " Ancient" Masons through the fortunate discovery of this important volume referred to by Laurence Dermott in his minutes as Grand Secretary as "Morgan's Register . "

The Quebec Trouble.

THE QUEBEC TROUBLE .

The troubles existing between the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of Quebec on account of the three lodges in Montreal holding their warrants from the Grand Lodge of England , instead of returning them and affiliating with the Grand Lodge of Quebec , has been complicated lately on account of the edict issued by J . Fred . Walker , Grand Master of

Quebec , proclaiming that " all Masonic intercourse be suspended and cease from this date between this Grand Lodge , its subordinate lodges , and all brethren in obedience thereto , and the Grand Lodge of England and all

lodges and the brethren in obedience thereto ; _ and all brethren of the Grand Lodge of Quebec are hereby commanded to hold no Masonic intercourse with any brother in obedience to the said Grand Lodge of England , so far as Ancient Craft Masonry is concerned . "

To go back to the commencement of these troubles , which commenced in 1869 , and give a history of them would take too much space , but on account of the mis-statements that have occurred in a number of papers since July I , when the edict was issued , we feel like correcting some at least . Among other notices in regard to it is the following :

To a reporter , P . Dep . G . M ., Jerome Buck , of New York , said : " The American Masons all sympathise with their Quebec brethren . It has been a long and inexorable law of Masonry that each Grand Lodge is supreme in its own jurisdiction . * * $ & # & * x #

It is a gross invasion of the sovereign rights of a Grand Lodge when a sister Grand Lodge warrants a subordinate Iodge in another jurisdiction . Most certainly New York and all other Grand Lodges in this country will join in the edict and sever relations with the interdicted Grand Lodge . " We do not agree with the above and believe that a majority of the Grand

Lodges in the United States will have nothing to do with the question , but will allow England and Quebec to settle their own difficulties , in their own way and at their own pleasure . It is not a fight of any kind that affects the

Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , or any other , except the two between whom this trouble exists , and if any action is taken on it by any other Grand Lodge it had better be done only after the most calm and careful consideration of the subject .

As the lodges complained of in Montreal are older than the Grand Lodge of Quebec , we cannot see any "invasion of the sovereign rights" of the Grand Lodge of Quebec by the Grand Lodge of England , for when

those lodges were warranted by England they were in her own jurisdiction . As we said above this is a case where it will be decidedly better for the Grand Lodges of the United States not to interfere in Bro . J . L . Lyte in the Lancaster Daily Examiner , Pennsylvania , U . S . A .

Egyptian Priesthood.

EGYPTIAN PRIESTHOOD .

THE SYMBOLS HAWK AND 11001 ' . That which made the Egyptians astronomers , also made them painters and writers . The inspection of the heavens had taught them at least how to regulate the tillage . The custom of giving symbolical names to the objects that served them as rules , most naturally led them to delineate in

a rude manner the figures of these symbols , in order to inform the nation of the works in common to be done , and of the annual events with regard to which it was dangerous to misreckon . This service was performed by a number of persons appointed for that purpose and maintained at the public ixpt-n-e , whose duty it was to study the revolutions and aspects of the heavenly bodies , and to communi at' the neessary inforirrmon lo the

Egyptian Priesthood.

Such is the origin of the sacerdotal order , so ancient in Egypt ; the chief functions of which always were the study of the heavens , and the inspections of the motion of the air . Such was the origin of that famous tower where the company was lodged , and where the characters of the several works and the symbols of the public regulations were carefully delineated , which symbols in time appeared very mysterious when the

meaning of chem were forgotten . The tower , the structure of which has caused so much criticism , was at that time , without any affectation of mysteries , called the Labyrinth , that is , the tower , the palace . Now , if we would in a reasonable manner , unriddle some of the most usual of the Egyptian symbols , we ought to consult the Egyptian Priesthood in the Labyrinth . It is there we are naturallv to look for

the meaning of the figures which were exposed to the eyes of the whole nation assembled . The hawk and the hoop were the names and the symbolical figures given to the winds , the return whereof the Egyptians were most concerned to observe . The hawk signified the northerly winds , which is the beginning of the summer , and drives the vapour towards the south , which , covering Ethiopia with thick clouds , resolved them

into rain , and made the Nile swell along its course . The hoop , on the contrary , signifies the southerly wind which proclaimed the draining of the waters , and the return of which proclaimed the measuring of the land and the time of sowing . We here produce some analogy between the hawk and a northerly , and the hoop and a southerly wind . Naturalists observe , that the hawk delights in the

north ; but at the return of mild weather , and when she casts her feathers she makes southward with her wings spread , and looks toward the place whence a warmer air comes , which mayassist the falling of her own feathers , and restore to her the beauty of youth . In times of the remotest antiquity , and even before Moses , the Arabians , who were the neighbours and allies of the Egyptian , had an idea of the hawk in all respects like that which naturalists give us .

When God spoke with Job He shows that it is not man , but the Creator , who , by a special providence , has made all the parts of nature tor a good purpose , and has regulated the inclinations of animals . " Does the hawk in thy wisdom shake her feathers to get rid of them , and stretch her wings

toward the south ?"—Job . 39 , 29 . This bird then , on account of the direction of its flight , at the return of the heat was the most natural emblem of the animal wind , which blows from north to south about the summer solstice , and which , on account of the effects of this direction was of so great importance to the Egyptians .

The hoop , on the contrary , makes her way from south to north . She lives , upon the small worms , an infinite number of which are hatched in the mud of the Nile . She makes her way from Ethiopia into Higher Egypt , and thence towards Memphis , where the Nile divides . As the Nile retires within its natural banks , the hoop follows while making its way towards the sea . From this method of the bird , the Priests were perfectly able to characterise the direction of the south wind , and otherwise make useful this invariable sign . Thus were employed the Priests in the Tower of Labyrinth . — J AMES B . GRANT , 32 , in the Hebrew Leader .

MASTER OV A LODGE . —To become the model Master of a lodge should be the ambition of every brother , and to discharge with efficiency and zeal the duties of that important office , should be his most anxious desire , These duties are not confined to the mere repetition of a few phrases , learned by rote , but he should be able to instruct the Craft , not only as to the meaning and origin of our ceremonies , but also to explain to them the

philosophy which is veiled in its allegories , and illustrated by its symbols . He should be able also to convince his brethren that all science and all art , legitimately directed , are but lines that radiate towards the great " I AM ; " that the sciences are the " media " by which we are led to contemplate the goodness , greatness , wisdom , and power of the Great Architect of the Universe , and that the arts are the modes we have developed of

expressing our sense and admiration of the wondrous glories of an Almighty Father which are scattered around us . The Master of a lodge should also in his life and in his conversation be a model for his brethren to admire and imitate , and should himself practice , out of the lodge , those great moral doctrines and virtues which he inculcates within its walls . He should be punctual and methodical in all things , and

both by his character and conduct , command the respect , the esteem , and good-will of all men , for , as the Master is supreme in his lodge , and distinguished by his position in the Craft , so should he also be distinguished as the possessor of an irreproachable character , a dignified demeanour , an expanded intellect , and a liberal education . Happy and prosperous must those lodges be which are governed by such men ! their time of meeting is

looked forward to by the brethren with most pleasing anticipations . Prompt at the hour , every brother is at his station , and the work is carried on with pleasure and profit . The Worshipful Master who presides over his lodge with ability , firmness and decision—for without force of character there can be no force of impression—whose manner is courteous yet dignified , whose decisions are consonant with reason and

Masonic law , and who dispenses light and information among the Craft , will ever be regarded by his brethren as one who is entitled to their highest respect , and their most fraternal regard . The anxious inquirer after truth and light feels that he may appeal with confidence and safety to such a ruler of a lodge , as to one who is not only able and willing to reward and advance him according to his ability and worth , but to one whose duty and high

privilege it is to diffuse the beams of light , and to scatter abroad the seeds ol truth . The aspirant , animated by the love of truth , uninfluenced by mercenary motives , duly appreciating the philosopher ' s apothegm that "knowledge is oower , " and prompted by higher desires , eagerly presses forward , believing in a nobler destiny , and aspiring after a brighter record ; it is the Master ' s duty to assist him in his research , it is his high privilege to " pour the balm of instruction over the mind , " to fill it with light , to stir up its powers , and to raise it to its proper supremacy over matter . —Keystone

PIERRE DUFUY wrote the learned and valuable work ; relating to the condemnation of the Templars , in his "Traite concernant l'Histoire de France : " 1654 . Several editions of this work have appeared—one augmented with Giirther's " History of the Templars : " Brussels , 1713 . He also wrote " Histoire de l'Ordre Militaire des Templiers depuis son etablissement jusqu'i la decadence et la suppression . " This as a " nouvelle edii ion , rcnu , corrigce et augmentre , " appeared at Brussels , 1751 . It is a ... orehoube 01 information . —Ke .. tiiiij ' s Cjdopudia of Freemasonry .