The Clandestine Cerneau Rite.

been characterised by continuing evidences of viciousness , in the acts of the bodies themselves , in the rebellions and divisions which have severed even the Rite into factions , each claiming to

represent the only genuine governing body , and in the " cheap John" style of selling their so-called "high" Degrees for a song , or even giving them away where they would " do the most irood "—habits common to all factions of Cerneauism . Their

present attempt is to galvanize into life an illegitimate abortion which was long since defunct . One has only to read the Masonic history of the past to understand the clandestine character of the Cerneau Rite . This history unmistakably discloses the fact that at various times in

the past , both in Louisiana and New York , bodies of the Cerneau Rite have , without and against all lawful authority , assumed to warrant Blue Lodges , and such lodges , thus unlawfully warranted , have assumed to confer the Three Degrees of ancient Craft Masonry . They say they do not do it now , but they cannot say

their Rite has not done it in the past . It thus requires no argument to prove the clandestine character of the Rite—the statement of this fact is sufficient . It is this view of the subject which led the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to take the action which it did in warning

all members of its subordinate lodges who were members of the so-called Cerneau Rite to sever their connection therewith , which action has been followed by the happiest results , many of

the Cerneau bodies in Pennsylvania having surrendered their warrants , and very nearly all of their members having already voluntarily withdrawn therefrom . The same result must follow in all Masonic jurisdictions where similar action is taken .

A Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons is supreme over the three Degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry , and its authority in the premises no person and no power can successfull y dispute . The profane courts , if appealed to , will be appealed to in vain . If members of the clandestine Cerneau Rite are tried

and expelled by a lodge , and this action is Masonically unappealed from , or is confirmed by the Grand Lodge on appeal , the Supreme Courts of the States of Pennsylvania , Michigan , and Illinois have severally decided that in such a case "the Society acted judicially , and its sentence is conclusive , like that of any

other judicial tribunal . " No Cerneau member can find any redress in a profane court for his expulsion from Freemasonry . But there are other grounds which render the Cerneau Rite clandestine . One branch of it , which assumes to be the parent trunk , has entered into fraternal relations and opened

correspondence with the Grand Orient of France—itself notoriously a clandestine body , in consequence of having , a number of years ago , stricken the name of God from its Constitution , and become avowedly atheistic . This was an additional reason why the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania declared the Cerneau Rite

clandestine , and it is this action which has avowedly prompted the last Past Grand Commander of the Cerneau Rite—William H . Peckham , of New York—to publicly announce his withdrawal

therefrom . This is also the ground of the recent action of the Grand Lodge of the District of . Columbia against the Rite . It is a valid ground , and second only in importance to that previously mentioned .

Some Grand Lodges have given still another reason for their action—in that the Cerneau Rite , in all of its branches , is an irregular and illegitimate one , assuming , without authority , jurisdiction in territory which was previously occupied by legitimate and universally acknowledged bodies , conferring the same Degrees . The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has not made this its ground of action . This Grand Lodge claims no authority over the so-called " High Degrees "—Degrees which , in truth , are in no sense " higher" than the Ancient Craft Degrees , but are only additional .

It will be apparent to the reader , after comprehending the true nature of the strife engendered by the so-called Cerneau Rite , that Ancient Craft Masonry—the body of Masonry—stands m no danger of harm from these unbecoming dissensions . They are , primarily , between " additional" or so-called "High Degree " Masons , and they only touch ancient Freemasonry in this point , that bodies of this Rite have , at certain times in the past , assumed to warrant lodges to confer the ancient Craft Degrees . This cannot , has not , and will not be permitted , and this Rite , having at yanous periods in its history unlawfully exercised such authority , is thereb y for all time clandestine . This matter has been authoritativel y , conclusively , and finally settled in Pennsylvania , and we onl y thus refer to the subject now for the purpose of making it clear that the ancient Craft of Freemasons is not at war with

'tselt . Grand Lodges are each at unity in themselves , and are all < at peace with each other . Hence , when the profane press announces that a certain person has " seceded from the Order , " this "oes not signify that he has seceded from Freemasonry , but only ^ om the clandestine Cerneau Rite , which in reality is outside of , but antagonistic to , the ancient and honourable Fraternity of t ree and Accepted Masons .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND .

ANNUAL MEETING AT HEXHAM . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland was held at the Corn Exchange , Hexham , on Monday afternoon , when there was a large attendance of Provincial Grand Officers and brethren , the meeting being held under the banner of the Albert Edward Lodge , No . 1557 . A large number of the brethren left Newcastle at noon by special train , and on arriving at Hexham they assembled in the Corn Exchange , and having clothed , they formed a procession and proceeded to the Ancient Abbey Church , where Divine Service was held .

The sermon was preached by the Prov . G . Chap ., Bro . Rev . H . Borr , M . A .,-from Genesis i ., 3 and 4 : " And God said let there be light , and there was light ; and God saw that it was good ; and God divided the li ght from the darkness . " The lessons were read by the Rev . Canon BARKER , M . A . Bro . John Nicholson , P . P . G . O ., was choir master ; Bro . Seaton , of the Albert

Edward Lodge , officiated as organist ; and Bros . J . Walker , D . Whitehead , J-. Nutton , and Leatham , from Durham Cathedral , with the choir of the Abbey-Church , sang the anthem " Behold how good and joyful a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity . " . . \ The collection amounted to ^ 10 7 s . _ . . ; The service having concluded , the brethren returned to the Corn Exchange .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was then opened by the P . G . M ., Bro . Sir Matthew White Ridley , Bart ., M . P ., who was supported by Bros . R . H . Holmes , Past G . D . Eng ., D . P . G . M . ; James D . Dixon , P . S . G . W . ; J . H . Beckingham , P . J . G : W . Addison Potter , C . B ., P . G . D . Eng ., P . P . S . G . W . ; Hubert Laws , P . P . S . G . W . ; Rev . T . B . Nichols , M . A ., P . P . S . G . W . ; Robert Bradley , P . G . S . B . Eng ., P . G . S . Berks and Bucks ; J . Straker Wilson , P . P . S . G . W . ; Matthewman , P . A . G . Sec . West ,

Yorkshire ; R . Hudson , P . G . D . Eng ., P . G . S . Durham ; Rev . H . Bott , P . G . C . ' ; ' John Strachan , P . G . R . ; B . J . Thompson , P . G . Sec ; W . T . Wilson , P . J . G . D . ; R . H . Dickenson , P . G . S . of W . ; Adam Robertson , P . G . D . C . ; Henry Spittle , P . A . G . D . C ; J . B . Garland , P . G ; S . B . ; J . W . Lambton , P . G . Std . Br . ; James Carmichael , P . G . Std . Br . ; R . F . W . Liddle , P . G . 6 . ; W . Reed , P . G . P . ; John . Barbour , P . A . G . D . C ; John Duckitt , P . P . J . G . D . ; John Wood , P . P . I . G . W . Dur- '

ham ; John Spearman , P . P . J . G . W . ; G . F . Charlton , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . F . Carmon , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; C . Roope , P . P . G . O . ; John Calvert , P . P . G . S . of W . 7 John Gray , P . P . A . G . P . ; George Spain , P . P . S . G . W . j W . M . Bell , P ; P . A . G . D . C . ;> J . H . Bentham , P . P . G . D . ; G . E . M'Carthy , P . P . G . R . ; H . 'S . Bird , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Page , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . J . Ward ,- P . P . J . G . W . ; J . Barker , P . P . G . O : Durham ;

T . Douglas , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; R . G . Salmon , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; T . Dinning , P . P . A . G . D . C ; W . Percy , P . P . A . G . P . ; Rev . G . Robinson , P . P . G . C ; J . Hogg , P . P . G . S . B . ; P . H . Gibson , P . P . A . G . P . ; T . Ellis , P . P . J . G . D . ; John Purvis , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . W . Gibson , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . Cooper , P . P . J . G . D . ; Robert Jackson , ' P . P . G . P . ; Thomas Gillespie , P . P . G . R . ; W . Davidson , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . John Walker , P . P . G . C . ; J . C . Moor , P . P . J . G . D . Durham ; and others .

After other business had been transacted , including the election of Bro . Ral ph Carr as Provincial Grand Treasurer , in place of Bro . Thomas Anderson , whose resignation was received with much regret , after 25 years' valuable service , The Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Sir M . W . RIDLEY , Bart ., M . P ., addressing the lodge , said their meeting had been marked by the service at the Abbey Church , one of the most interesting specimens of mediaival church architecture in

Northumberland , and possibly in the United Kingdom , which he thought ought to " be a matter of satisfaction and congratulation to all who had been present . The basis of their Constitution and of their teaching was the volume of the Sacred Law , and , as they had heard in the excellent and eloquent sermon that day preached to them , their object , he said with all reverence , was to seek the glory of God and good of mankind . They would wish him to say how much they had appreciated

the service and the good-will of Canon Barker and his churchwardens , who placed the Abbey Church at their disposal , and who had assisted their officers and the lodge at Hexham in making the adequate and careful preparations which had been made for the service which had been held . Referring to the state of the province , he was happy to say that the lodges continued in a good position , numerically

and financially . A charter had been granted for the consecration of a new lodge at North Shields . On behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge , he thanked the Provincial Grand Chaplain , who had preached the eloquent sermon at the church , and also expressed his regret that they were unable to have the services of Bro . Anderson in future , through failing health . The thanks of the P . G . Lodge were expressed to Bro . Anderson . P . G . T ., on the motion of Bro . B . J . THOMPSON , P . G . S ., seconded by Bro . H . LAWS , P . P . S . G . W . It was afterwards stated that the annual meeting next year would be held under the auspices of the Blagdon Lodge , at Blyth . The meeting was afterwards concluded . The entire decorations of the Corn Exchange were artistically carried out b y the well-known firm of horticultural decorators , Messrs . William Fell and Co .., Hexham , and no effort was spared to produce a brilliant effect . The tables looked gorgeous , but not overdone . The following were appointed and invested by the Prov . Grand Master as the officers for the ensuing year :

Bro . Faraday Spence , P . M . 1557 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ George Simpson , P . M . 1167 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . Matthew Green , 1626 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Ralph Carr , P . M . 24 , P . P . S . G . W . ... ... Prov . G . Treas . . „ Andrew Aitcheson , P . M . 24 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ B . J . Thompson ( re-appointed ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Thos . Hudson , P . M . 541 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . , „ Alex . Hepburn , P . M . 16 7 6 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Jas . Treble , P . M . 1902 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ Adam Robertson , P . P . S . G . W . ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . D . C . „ W . H . Ryott , 685 ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ John Watt , P . M . 63 6 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . » Matthew ... ... - - 1 Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ Smailes ... ... ... •••¦••> „ Seaton , 1 557 ... ... ... •••Prov . G . Org . „ John Glass , 18 79 ... ... ... ••¦ Prov . G . Purst . „ Thos . Kidd , P . M . 1902 . ... ... - Prov . A . G . Purst . „ Joshua Curry ( re-appointed ) ... ... ¦••Prov . G . Tyler .

The first one the seeker after Masonic light encounters is the Tyler . To our mind he fills an office of the highest importance . First impressions are hard to eradicate . if this officer be a man slothful , ungentlemanly , or of a doubtful reputation , lie will surely work ill to the Craft . He should be the reverse of all this , and in addition should thoroughly understand the secrets of Freemasonry . Nothing can elevate our honourable Fraternity more in the estimation of a profane in search of light than to discover a clean ante-room , clean paraphernalia , and an intelligent Tyler , who is a gentleman . —Masonic Journal .

BERKELEY HOTEL ( late St . James ' s ) , 1 , Berkeley-street , and 77 , Piccadilly , London , W . First-class accommodation for residents , with a restaurant newlyattached for hig h class luncheons and dinners , at fixed prices and a la carte . — C . DIETTE , Manager . [ A DVT . ]